Explore Samut Prakan
Posted by Sukhumwit Steve on July 30th, 2010 filed in Day tripsComment now »
Located 29 kilometres south of Bangkok, Samut Prakan is easy to get to and has many interesting tourist activities on offer for those who are willing to take a small step off the usual tourist trail. Built during the Ayutthaya period, Samut Prakan is home to numerous historical and cultural sites.
A great way to get an overview of all that Thailand has to offer is by visiting The Ancient City, which is also known by its Thai name of Muang Boran. This huge park contains large scale models of all Thailand’s major tourist attractions. Visitors can hire a bicycle or a small electrical cart and spend a few hours discovering sites such as the temples of Ayutthaya, Sukhothai and Surat Thani.
Many visitors combine a trip to The Ancient City with the nearby Crocodile Farm, while the Erawan Museum was constructed by the creator of The Ancient City and is the world’s first free-standing metal sculpture to use a hand-shaped technique. This mighty sculpture has to be seen to be believed as it measures 43.60 metres in height and contains hundreds of thousands of pieces of copper meticulously hammered together to form the shape of the beloved mythological elephant.
An alternative to the popular tourist spot of Damnoen Saduak, the Bang Namphueng Floating Market is newly opened. Unlike other floating markets, this is the real deal, created to help local farmers sell their produce and create employment for the community. The floating market is open Saturdays and Sundays 8.00 a.m. – 2.00 p.m.
Samut Prakarn is home to some interesting temples, including Wat Klang Worawihan, Wat Asokaram, Wat Phaichayonphonsep Ratchaworawihan and Wat Prot Ket Chettharam, which contains revered Buddha images and the Buddha’s footprint complete with valuable mother-of-pearl inlays.
Take a trip to sin city
Posted by Sukhumwit Steve on July 23rd, 2010 filed in Day trips, NightlifeComment now »
Located about 170 kilometres southeast of Bangkok, Pattaya makes a good destination for a weekend break, although with so many entertainment options to choose from, many people tend to stay in the small seaside city for several days. Pattaya means the ’south-west monsoon wind’ in the Thai language and ranks as one of the most successful beach resorts in the world, with more than 5 million visitors each year.
Pattaya is probably best known for its night life. For the curious, this is a good place to see a “Tiffany Show”, where stunningly attractive transsexuals dress in incredibly elaborate costumes and perform gracefully choreographed song and dance numbers on stage. There are also a wide range of go-go bars and discotheques to explore on Walking Street, which is the center of Pattaya’s nightlife.
By day, Pattaya offers a large number of intriguing diversions that are hard to find in most other parts of Thailand. A great entertainment option is the Million Years Stone Park and Pattaya Crocodile Farm, whilst visitors can ride the mighty beasts at the Elephant Village. The world class aquarium at Underwater World Pattaya has beautiful displays of local sea life and you can see scale replicas of Thailand’s key attractions in Mini Siam. Also popular with visitors to Pattaya is Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum, and the sign for this can clearly be seen for the beach front.
Pattaya is a great place to let off some steam, and the go cart course and shooting range and good places to do just that, whilst the many spas and massage parlours offer a different way to unwind.
But Pattaya isn’t all neon lights and lipstick, there are also some very beautiful nature spots waiting to be discovered. Pattaya Beach is situated alongside the city centre and is a popular spot for jet-skis and speed boats. Just south of the city is the pretty stretch of sand known as Jomtien Beach, which is much quieter than Pattaya Beach and a good place to chill out for a few hours.
Welcome to Monkey City
Posted by Sukhumwit Steve on July 16th, 2010 filed in Day trips, SightseeingComment now »
Often referred to as “Monkey City” due to the thousands of monkeys that are allowed to reside in peace, Lopburi is the capital city of Lopburi Province. The city is located 150 km north-east of Bangkok and draws thousands of tourists each year, who flock to the city to see the Crab-Eating Macaques as well as the elegant Khmer temples.
If you are interested in the cheeky monkeys, who scamper around stealing food from tourists and causing general mischief, particularly good spots to see them are around the Khmer temple, Prang Sam Yot, and Sarn Phra Karn. All these temples are also interesting in their own right, as are Wat Phra Si Ratana Mahathat and the former royal palace of Phra Narai Ratchaiwet, which also houses the Lopburi Museum, a great place to cool down and learn more about the local history.
The people of Lopburi take good care of the city’s monkeys as they believe them to be descendants of the monkey lord Hanuman. According to the holy book the Ramayana, Hanuman was a great hero who rescued Sita from her imprisonment in Sri Lanka and built Lopburi as his kingdom.
To the north of Lopburi, the famous and beautiful Saplangka Wildlife Sanctuary provides the perfect day trip for nature lovers. Also worth visiting is the nearby European Palace of Chao Phraya Wichayan, which has many interesting design and style features and some beautiful gardens in which to relax for a while.
Steeped in interesting history, Lopburi is full of temple ruins, which mainly date from the Ayutthaya period. Particularly of note are Wat Nakhon Kosa, Wat San Paolo, Wat Sao Thong and Wat Indra.
A great time to visit Lopburi is during the Monkey festival at the end of November, when the furry inhabitants are treated to a huge feast at the expense of their human neighbours, who take good care of them throughout the year.
Also look out for the King Narai Festival, which occurs in the middle of February and lasts for three days. The festival is marked which displays of local food and textiles, singing and the much anticipated traditional lakhon ling drama which, believe it or not, is performed by monkeys!
Accommodation in Thailand
Posted by Sukhumwit Steve on July 9th, 2010 filed in AccommodationComment now »
Thailand offers a wide range of accommodation options, from the flimsiest wooden shack to luxury, five star hotels. Generally, accommodation goes up by as much as a third during the peak tourist seasons and around two or three days before the full moon party on Koh Phangan. Opting for a room with a simple fan and cold water can save a lot of money, whilst luxuries such as power showers, air conditioning and satellite television are often available but don’t come cheap.
Here is an overview of what is available and how much you can expect to pay.
Beach Huts tend to be very rough and ready. If you are looking to save a few baht this might be a good place to hang your hat, although it is a good idea to keep your valuables in a separate safety deposit box – most places offering beach huts also have these. It is a good idea to make sure that your hut comes equipped with a mosquito net as insects come as standard. Prices start from as little as 50 baht per night for the most basic hut away from the beach to 1000 baht for a hut with a bathroom and ocean view.
Tents are another cheap option, especially if you are spending the night in a national park. You can generally get away with paying just 30 baht per night if you have your own tent, or tents can be hired for around 100 baht. Many camp sites have very limited facilities, so it is a good idea to bring your own provisions.
Bungalows are usually found in beach areas. They are generally more comfortable than beach huts as the mattress tends to be thicker and the amount of insects fewer. Most bungalows also have bathrooms, which saves you staggering into a tree in the middle of the night. Prices range from 150 baht for a basic bungalow with a fan and bathroom with cold water to around 500 baht for air conditioning.
River Rafts make an interesting way to view an area, especially if you are staying in a place with stunning scenery such as Kanchanaburi. Most river rafts have large wooden balconies where you can sit and watch the world go by. Expect to pay a minimum of 600 baht for a fan room on the river.
Guesthouses are generally very cheap and cheerful. Many are set up to cater for backpackers and you can get a basic room with a fan and shared bathroom for as little as 100 baht. Most guesthouses serve popular backpacker food such as French fries, pad thai and banana pancakes. They usually have a communal garden or restaurant to chill out in, which can be a good place to meet other backpackers and swap tall tales and travel advice. Most guesthouses do not make a profit from renting out rooms, so it is a good idea to sample one or more of their other services such as food or booking a tour.
Hotels vary dramatically in terms of luxury, facilities and cleanliness. The most basic hotels rooms tend to be very small, have noisy fans and shared bathrooms. Prices start from around 200 baht, whilst the equivalent rooms with air-con start at around 400 baht.
Dream World Theme Park
Posted by Sukhumwit Steve on July 2nd, 2010 filed in Day tripsComment now »
An interesting day out for kids and adults of all ages is Dream World, which is a large, Western-style amusement park just outside Bangkok. Here, the natural Thai flare for fun and style has been utilised to make the park a true fantasy wonderland.
First stop is the obligatory roller coaster, an elevated orange tangle of track, which loops suddenly and violently, causing its passengers to scream loudly.
The Giant’s House is also popular and inside the house everything is blown up to 50 times the usual size, which instantly makes visitors feel like small children.
Everything seems realistic and yet magical at the same time; it feels just like being inside a fairy tale. There is a magic mirror, goose with golden eggs and even large cobwebs with spiders. Fantastic. The best part is that you are free to play with things and climb on them as you choose. For once, there are no barriers.
Perhaps the main attraction is Snow Town as for most Asian people this is a rare opportunity to experience snow, and a room has been specially created with rooms around 0ºC. Visitors are handed a large padded coat each and a pair of rather large wellington boots and then waddle their way in to the snow room.
Snow Town is suitably snowy and filled with quaint decorative touches such as model penguins, Eskimos and a colossal snowman. To one side is a long icy slope and people are queuing up to ride large padded tyres down the slope.
Information:
The park is open daily from 10:00 – 17:00. Entrance to Dream World costs 450 baht for foreigners, which includes most rides, although attractions such as Snow Town and go-karting cost extra.
Most travel agencies offer a package tour that includes transfer to and from your hotel, entrance fee, a guided tour and lunch. The tour costs 1,000 baht and is a pretty good deal.
Alternatively, it is easy to find Dream World on your own. Air-con bus 523 from the northern bus terminal and bus 538 from Victory Monument will take you right there.
The address is:
62 Moo, 1 Rangsit Nakornnayok Road, Km 7 Thanyaburi, Pathumthani.
For a full colour map, go to
http://www.dreamworld-th.com/english/index.php email: info@dreamworld-th.com
tel: 02533 1152 extension 0
All about pad thai
Posted by Sukhumwit Steve on June 25th, 2010 filed in Culture shock, Dining and wining, Getting by, Living hereComment now »
I first tried pad thai several years ago in a restaurant in London. It was my first experience of Thai food and I had no idea what to expect. Shortly after ordering, I was presented with a plate of thin noodles, vegetables and tofu, topped with group peanuts and lime. The dish was beautifully presented and it seemed a shame to demolish it, but I was glad that I did. The food was delicious; full of rich flavours, interesting textures and just a little bit spicy. For me it was love at first bite.
When I first arrived in Thailand I was delighted to discover that the pad thai I had enjoyed in London for £5 could be bought for as little as 20 Baht – 35p! Not only that, but the delicious dish can be sampled right on Khaosan Road, allowing you to soak up the atmosphere while you eat. Of course, the price varies according to the quality of ingredients and where you eat it, but a large serving of pad thai made with quality ingredients can be bought for 40 or 50 Baht, which is still less than £1.
I quickly discovered that the ingredients, flavours and presentation of pad thai dishes vary significantly between restaurants and areas. Before long I had sampled the dish at most of the restaurants in my area of Bangkok and found my favourite places to eat.
I have found that the tastiest pad thai is located not in fancy restaurants but in small, traditional Thai restaurants or from carts on the street. Eating on the street also provides the opportunity for people watching, always a welcome diversion.
One of my favourite places to eat and watch the world go by is on Soi Rambhutri in the heart of Bangkok’s Banglampu. Here, the blend of Thai people, seasoned travelers and hapless tourists makes interesting and often comical entertainment.
Noodles were first brought to Thailand by Chinese immigrants. They also brought chopsticks and woks, essential equipment for enjoying pad thai. However, Thai people traditionally eat rice three times a day and noodles were overlooked for a long time.
The Prime Minister of Thailand, Luang Phibunsongkhram; introduced pad thai and made it a national dish during World War II. Thailand was faced with a rice shortage and budget crises at this time and the Prime Minister promoted the eating of pad thai to combat the problem.
Today, pad thai is enjoyed all over Thailand and indeed all over the world. It is loved by Westerners because it is not spicy like many other Thai dishes and can be eaten at any time of the day or night.
Guide to using the Skytrain
Posted by Sukhumwit Steve on June 18th, 2010 filed in Getting by, Living here, SightseeingComment now »
It’s no secret that Bangkok has a traffic problem, and traveling between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. can be frustrating and time consuming as you become lost in a series of traffic jams. However, there is an alternative that can make traveling through the city easy and enjoyable.
The Bangkok Mass Transport System – usually called the BTS or Skytrain – began operation on December 5, 1999. it is an elevated metro, consisting of two lines and 23 stations. For people wishing to explore the center of Bangkok, the Skytrain offers a fast, pollution-free service and a different vantage point.
The average journey costs 10-30 baht, much cheaper than a taxi or tuk-tuk. The automatic ticket machines only take 5 and 10 baht coins, so take plenty of change if you want to avoid queuing at the change counter. You can also purchase a day ticket, which offers unlimited trips for just 120 baht.
Called Rot Fai Fah in Thai – car with fire up in the air – the Skytrain connects with areas such as Siam, Sukhumvit and Silom. The best way to experience the Skytrain from Khaosan Road is to take the ferry from pier 13 to Saphan Taksin, which connects with the last stop on the Silom line. It is good to note that the stations on the Skytrain use a slightly different phonetic spelling to usually seen on maps and signs around Bangkok. Try saying the words aloud and if they sound similar then you’re on the right track.
Splash around at Siam Park City
Posted by Sukhumwit Steve on June 10th, 2010 filed in Day trips, SightseeingComment now »
It can get pretty hot in Bangkok, especially in the summer when temperatures soar and it becomes humid. If you want to keep cool in the capital and are looking for entertainment, pay a visit to Siam Park City. Located on Sukhaphiban 2 Road near Suvarnabhumi airport, this is a large amusement park covering 120 acres.
My first glimpse of Siam Park City – known as Suan Siam in Thai – is complete sensory overload. There are flashing lights and loud sounds everywhere, while huge mechanical puppets loom above is, their arms and legs moving menacingly. I manage to resist the urge to run away and follow my friends past stall selling cheap toys and souvenirs.
There are a large number of rollercoaster’s and other rides here, such as the Viking Ship. The Vortex rollercoaster is one of the park’s star attractions. This gigantic orange structure is 33 meters high and twists and spirals for an impressive 765 meters.
However, the main feature of Siam City Park is the water park, which is located at the far end. There are plenty of places to play in the water park. There is a water channel flowing around the park and you can hire tubes to float around it, or play in the many fountains, waterfalls and Jacuzzis.
Another large pool has been turned into an artificial seaside, complete with wave machine, lighthouse and deckchairs to relax in while you soak up the sun.
After enjoying lunch on the ‘beach’, visitors can check out Dinotopia, which is a cheap and cheerful dinosaur museum with gaudy montages depicting dinosaurs as they might possibly have looked when they roamed the earth. The sight of these mechanized beasts creaking and squeaking next to papier mâche volcanoes is funny rather than scary, but bizarrely entertaining nevertheless.
Information
Siam Park City is open daily from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. there are a range of tickets available, from 200 baht tickets for just the water park or tickets that include all rides.
You can take bus 559 directly from Suvarnabhumi airport or buses 60, 71, 96, 115, 168 or 519 from around Bangkok.
For more information visit www.siamparkcity.com
The mystery of spirit houses uncovered
Posted by Sukhumwit Steve on June 3rd, 2010 filed in Culture shock, Living hereComment now »
They can be seen everywhere in Bangkok; the tall, slender wooden structures which are set in prominent places outside every house and building. Available in a wide range of sizes and available in all the colours of the rainbow, these spirit houses are an intriguing mystery to westerners.
Spirit houses vaguely resemble bird houses, which can be found in many gardens in western countries. However, rather than attracting birds, these houses are intended to serve as resting places for the spirits.
Spirit houses are built for two purposes: to attract the spirits from the heavens and as alternative accommodation for the spirits that live in the homes of humans. It is believed that if the spirits are treated with respect they have the power to grant wishes, protect people and bring them good health and luck.
If, however, the spirits feel as though they have been mistreated or disrespected, they can cause businesses to fail, loss of fortune and health. For this reason, the spirits must be informed when an important venture – such as a new business or marriage – is planned.
The spirits that reside in spirit houses are known as Phra Bhum Jowthee, or Guardian Spirits of the Land. There are nine different types of Phra Bhum Jowthee, each performing different functions and bestowing various blessings. When selecting their spirit house, Thai people are careful to decorate and adorn it with objects that will appeal to a specific type of spirit.
The main types of spirits that are revered are The Guardian of the House and The Guardian of the Gardens. In fact, these are the only types of spirits that have permanent spirit houses built for them, although temporary spirit houses may be built for other spirits on special occasions.
The main role of The Guardian of the House is to watch over and protect the home. Without exception, every spirit house in modern Thai society has a spirit house for this function and the spirit is also expected to provide financial security and help in business matters.
Spirit houses can be seen absolutely everywhere in Bangkok and the rest of Thailand. People looking for outstanding examples could go to the spirit house in the Grand Palace complex, where hundreds of people gather to make offerings, say prayers and have wishes granted. Other examples can be found outside large hospitals, markets and hotels.
Festivals and events
Posted by Sukhumwit Steve on May 25th, 2010 filed in Living here, SightseeingComment now »
There are a wide variety of festivals in Bangkok, all of them vibrant and colourful. Although the majority of festivals take place from November to February when the weather is cooler, practically every month is marked by some sort of celebration or public holiday.
Most festivals are full of traditional cultural practices, and although many celebrations seem light-hearted, most are also marked with a visit to the local temple to give gifts, say prayers and make wishes (known as making merit).
Although usually revolving around traditional Thai and religious practices, most Thai people are happy for westerners to join in the festivities and welcome the opportunity to show off their culture and as a way to make new friends.
Here is a list of the main festivals. Most festivals revolve around the phases of the moon, so these are only rough dates.
Chinese New Year
Not to be missed, this vibrant festival usually takes place around the end of January and is known as trùt jiin in Thai. Celebrated all over Thailand with a week of house-cleaning, lion dances and fireworks, a good place to witness the festivities is China Town.
Magha Puja
Held around the full moon of the third lunar month, this festival commemorates Lord Buddha’s preaching to 1250 enlightened monks who came to hear him 'without prior summons'. Naturally, alcohol is banned during this festival, which features a candle-lit walk around the (main chapel) at every wat.
Songkran
Also not to be missed, this celebration of the Thai New Year takes place between April 13 – 15. Perhaps the liveliest festival of the year, people celebrate by visiting the temple, exchanging gifts and throwing water at each other.
Khao Phansa
In mid-late July, this festival marks the start of Buddhist 'Lent'. This is the time of year when many young men enter the monkhood, where they will stay for three months during the monsoon season. The festival is celebrated in most towns and especially schools by parades of huge carved candles on floats in the streets, culminating in a visit to the temple, where offerings are made to the monks.
Vegetarian Festival
Usually taking place in October, this is a great opportunity for visitors to try the delicious selection of Chinese and Thai vegetarian food which suddenly fills the streets during this nine-day festival. As well as visiting the temple, many people demonstrate their devotion with displays of self-mortification.
Loi Krathong
One of the most awaited festivals of the year, Loi Krathong takes place at the start of November, when people float small boats made from lotus leaves, candles and incense to apologise to the water spirits for polluting the water. This is a vibrant celebration filled with fireworks, dancing and drinking.
King's Birthday
December 5th provides people with the perfect opportunity to demonstrate their love and devotion to His Majesty the King. The best place to experience this festival is Bangkok, which is lavishly decorated, especially along Thanon Ratchadamnoen Klang, near the Grand Palace.