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Another Face of Bangkok

boem — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 02:02:36 +0000

This is a video clip posted on YouTube titled “Train Runs Through Bangkok Market”. Well even to me a Thai, this is amazing. I really wonder where exactly in Bangkok this is.

Koh Samui – A Calm Paradise

boem — Sun, 29 Apr 2007 05:52:49 +0000

An island off the east coast of Thailand, Koh Samui is the third largest following Phuket and Koh Chang. People come to Samui quite simply to enjoy the beaches which remain stunning after decades of development, helped by a height restriction on new buildings and other conservation measures.

Many visitors opt for just lying on the beach with a cold beer in hand and ogling at the babes and hunks sauntering past. There isn’t all that many activities nor much to see on the island. A certain pair of rocks on Lamai amuses some visitors, Bang Rak has a large but nondescript Buddha statue, and there are some waterfalls (notably Na Muang) of minor interest.

Samui also has many sister islands; Koh Tao, (one of the top diving islands in Asia) Koh Phangan, Angthong National Marine Park, Koh Tan and beautiful Koh Nang Yuan.

SIDEBAR
Full Moon Party on Koh Phangan – There are about 10,000-20,000 people every full moon night at this Koh Phangan beach party. It is of course known as the Full Moon Party. International and Thai DJ’s are making the crowd go wild. Paint yourself in UV colors and let your body lose control. Come with your friends or meet new ones from all parts of the globe.

Chiang Mai – Rose of the North

boem — Mon, 29 Jan 2007 12:52:09 +0000

Chiang Mai is the major center of Northern Thailand, some 700 km from Bangkok. It is one of Thailand’s largest cities with a population of over 500,000 and growing. Located on a plain surrounded by mountains, the peak of Doi Suthep looms just 13 kilometers away and looks over the city and surrounding lush countryside. With history dated back over 800 years, Chiang Mai is one of the oldest cities of Thailand embracing abundant historical and cultural heritage.

Agriculture, mainly fruit, vegetables and some rice cultivation, is the mainstay of the local economy. Tourism has become an important economic growth point for the city. Other industry includes cottage industry, handicraft production, exporting, small scale business and manufacturing.

With a cosmopolitan air and a significant expat population, it’s much greener and quieter than Bangkok, factors which have led many Thais from other part of the country to settle permanently in Chiang Mai.

Phuket – An Introduction to the Pearl of Andaman

boem — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 01:58:54 +0000

Phuket is an island in the Andaman Sea of the Indian Ocean, South of Thailand. Phuket is Thailand’s largest island and enjoys great popularity as a travel destination dubbed ‘the Pearl of Andaman’. The island measures 21 km by 48 km at its widest.

The pristine green sea waters surrounding Phuket contain much varied marine life, and the town is notable for its Sino-Portuguese architecture. Phuket is a very attractive island for sightseeing, with lovely seashores and forested hillsides. Phuket is famous for its many nice beaches and most of its visitors spend their time on the beaches and in the bars. You can also use Phuket as a launch pad for expeditions to nearby destinations. Some of the most popular outings off Phuket are the splendid islands of Phi Phi, Similan, Surin, Racha and Coral.

SIDEBAR
Put off by media coverage depicting the area as a disaster zone, many have cancelled their plans to visit Phuket. Two years after the tsunami, all damage has basically been cleared or repaired and both ethically and financially, now is the best time to go. Many have taken the opportunity to refurbish or re-build completely, adding even more comfort and even better facilities. To celebrate their rebirth, a number of hotels are offering special deals with lots of value added extras to add an extra sparkle to your holiday

Things To Do in Bangkok.

boem — Mon, 11 Dec 2006 10:43:42 +0000

Bangkok has a lot to offer to her visitors. It is one of the fastest-growing, most economically and socially dynamic cities in Southeast Asia. On the other hand, it embraces many of the Thai cultural attractions ranging from the many Buddhist temples, to old palaces, to great museams. Taking a boat trip along the Chao Phraya River around Wat Arun or the Temple of Dawn, you will feel likeÂ being in a city of angels.

Bangkok is full of shopping malls and street markets of all types, especially in the Sukhumvit area. Prices can be ludicrously cheap by Western standards, especially for locally produced items such as clothes, although bargaining is expected and required. Dump a teenager in MBK with a few thousand baht and they’ll stay occupied for the rest of the week! A major attraction on weekends is the gigantic Chatuchak Weekend Market, in northern Bangkok but easily accessible by Skytrain and Metro. Slightly more manageable in size and open nightly is the Suan Lum Night Bazaar, covered in the Silom section.

Bangkok’s nightlife is notorious. The main party district is Silom, home not only to perhaps the world’s most famous go-go bar strip Patpong, but plenty of more (and less) legitimate establishments catering to all tastes. For a drink with a view, the open-air rooftop bar/restaurants of Vertigo and Sirocco are particularly impressive. Similar bars to the ones at Patpong can be found in the lower Sukhumvit area, at Nana Entertainment Plaza (soi 4) and Soi Cowboy (soi 23). A large number of more trendy and more expensive bars and nightclubs can be found in the higher sois of Sukhumvit as well (eg soi 33). Hippie hangout Khao San Road is also slowly gentrifying and there are even some Thais venturing into what were once mere backpacker bars.

Hope your next trip to Bangkok will be full of enjoyable activities.

Retirees’ Paradise Thailand

boem — Sat, 09 Dec 2006 09:56:58 +0000

Many foreigners have chosen Thailand as their retirement homes. Some move to Thailand to live and start businesses. Relatively low cost of living, good climate, Thai hospitality are among the reasons. Broadband Internet and other telecommunications infrastructure in Thailand has become more of international standards and very affordable pricing. Many international schools have popped up lately in Bangkok and major cities of Thailand to cater for both Thai and foreign children.

In fact, more people have bought properties in Thailand for the purpose of moving to and living in Thailand or for pure investment. See my previous post about Thailand property market here.

Pattaya – The Changing Face

boem — Sun, 29 Oct 2006 05:37:43 +0000

Pattaya, once Thailand’s sleaziest resort, is trying to improve its image. Historically, a sleepy fishing town, it boomed as an R&R spot during the Vietnam War and has been a sex tourism destination ever since. The beach is dirty and lackluster and rampant overdevelopment has long since destroyed any natural charms it once had.

But Pattaya remains one of the popular resort cities of Thailand and arguably one of Thailand’s best spots for practically any sport imaginable from golf and horseback riding to watersports like jetskiing or parasailing, not to mention bungee jumping, go-karting and a whole lot more. The convenient location near Bangkok also makes it a popular weekend getaway, and with over a million tourists packing in yearly Pattaya also offers an excellent range of eating choices.