Special…spend the Songkran Thai New Year at Chiang Mai
Song Kran Festival -- Chiang Mai, Thailand: 13 April 2007 to 15 April 2007
It's only 5 days Songkran, Water fight festival will start every whaer in Thailand ... However, I recommend you to stay and join this cooling holiday in Chiang Mai (my hometown!!)
Songkran is the celebration of Thai New Year and means to pass or to move.This relates to the solar calendar, when the sun moves past twelve zodiacs which correspond to one year.
Many locals wear new clothes to pay respect to elders and, in a polite manner, can splash water on friends and family.This is perhaps the crux of the festival and the Chiang Mai tourism authority makes it clear that aggressively throwing water at people, through water guns or bombs, isn't allowed.
Many sources depict Songkran as a crazy water fight and indeed in many regions it is just that. However, those who visit Chiang Mai will witness a more traditional celebration attempting to phase out the water fights in the street.
Regardless, Songkran is an interesting festival to observe and is still the focus of a great deal of fun.
All we, Thai worker, are very happy for this long holiday acorrdinglt to the cabinet meeting on April 3, 2007 has agreed to set Tuesday 17 April 2007 as an additional public holiday for Songkran Festival. Therefore, the holidays of 13-16 April 2007 is changed to 13-17 April 2007, total of 5 consecutive days.-- Read More about Song Kran Festival --P.S. Don't forget to try original Thai-Lanna food when you are in Chiang Mai or even in Bangkok Lanna food is accessible anywhere. Well, if you're not fancy Thai-Lanna food -- you then should try "Kao Chae": the combination of fresh, aromatic, and subtly saccharine tastes.Labels: All about Chiang Mai, Fancy holidays celebration, Reccomend all attractive places to go and things to eat and join, Thailand, Travel Safety on Earth
More Things To Do...
Waterfalls, Trekking and Rafting
Song Phraek is in Pa Ton Priwat Wildlife Conservation Area. From Phang Nga Town drive about five(5) kilometers to the east along Highway 4, then turn left towards Kapong. Go another three(3) kilometers and turn right. This will you towards Song Phraek. After about 10 kilometres you’ll come to the Tambon Song Phraek rafting center.
This stretch of rapids shouldn’t be missed by any traveler wanting a challenge. Rides down the river vary in length from five to 15 kilometres.
Nearby is a 2.4-kilometre forest walk. Or, if that seems like too much work, tourists can take an elephant ride through the trees. If you’re lucky, you may get to see a Rafflesia, the world’s largest flower.
You can finish off with a picnic or by setting up camp next to the 40-metre-high Ton Priwat waterfall. The pool at the bottom is perfect for a cooling swim.
Not far away is Sa Manora National Park which consists of a number of streams at different levels surrounded by plants and trees such as bamboo and fern. The park is perfect for exploring the area’s plants, birds and animals – such as the Asian fairy bluebird, the orange-chested flowerpecker and the pig-tailed macaque – as well as limestone caves such as Khang Khao Cave.
Island
For a full-day boat trip, head for Tab Lamu on the west coast and take a boat to the Marine National Parks of the Surin and Similan Islands off Kuraburi District. The Similan Islands have some beautiful deep-water dive sites ranked in the top in the world. Just simply snorkeling is also delightful. The Surin Islands have the biggest and most pristine shallow-water reefs in the country, and both island groups have beautiful clear water.
Phang Nga Bay National Park is another place where you can see the beauty of nature. There are 42 islets, some well known ones are Koh Hong and Koh Tapu, better known to tourists as James Bond Island as it was used in the filming of Tha Man with the Golden Gun. The sea here has coral clown fish and giant clams. Even whale sharks can sometimes be seen.
More to be continued… Labels: Going tan on the beach, Reccomend all attractive places to go and things to eat and join, Thailand
Can be hazardous by walking on the sidewalks here in Bangkok
Public Safety: Defensive Walking!By: GAG
Well, I hate to be an "I told you so!! But I have heard through the "Grapevine" (otherwise known as the "Gossip Mill") that one of our numbers has switched membership in the "Type of Faarangs that live in Bangkok Club"What!! You don't remember that there are two(2) types of Farangs that live in Bangkok! Well, here is the joke again!
...Two Farangs (Foriegners) are talking1: "Do you know there are two types of Farangs here in Bangkok?"2: "No!... Really? Tell me, what are the two types?"1: "Farangs that have fallen into a hole in the sidewalk, and those that haven't fallen into one yet! Ha! Ha!"Yes!! One of our gang has fallen into a hole in the sidewalk and suffered an injury!! Please take note of the suggested precautions below.The sidewalks here in Bangkok ... can be hazardous and most of the sidewalk areas are poorly lighted (if lighted at all!)Not only do we have to be careful while walking along the sidewalks because of the uneven surfaces we encounter (also, watch out for grease on the sidewalk in areas where sidewalk food vendors are located), but, in some cases, there are very deep holes in the sidewalk ares. Some of the holes are actually covered by the sidewalk surface bricks held together only by the side friction of the bricks. (It is almost like a deadfall trap used to capture animals in the wild!)So, be observant when you walk along! Be aware of the possible danger areas and exercise caution!!
Also, you have to watch out for vehicles. Vehicles actually on the sidewalk (mostly motorcycles and motorcycle taxis) and those vehicles driving very close to the curbs.A very good practice to exercise at all times is --- "Don't walk close to or right on the roadway curb"Why? ... Both trucks and busses have rear view mirrors that stick out quite far from the sides of the vehicles and if the driver has his wheels almost on the curb, it is very possible for pedestrians on the sidewalk, to be struck by the rear view mirror. The streets here in Bangkok are narrow and when large vehicles pass by each other, they invariably "hug" the curbs to be sure not to strike the oncoming vehicle. The driver is watching the oncoming vehicle and not the pedestrian standing or walking along the roadway ... So ...... Pedestrians Beware!Practice Defensive Walking!!Labels: Thailand, Travel Safety on Earth
Phang Nga Bay is the sheer limestone cliffs
Phang Nga: Caves, Waterfalls, Trekking, and Rafting
Rich in Things to Do and See
Major By: Anongnat Sartpisut
It may not be the biggest city in Thailand, but Phang Nga Town, a former tin-mining centre offers a rich variety of things to do and see. I'd love to give a quick rundown on the attractions of the town and its surroundings.
Phang Nga has the longest stretch of beaches in Thailand, running from Kuraburi District south to the southernmost tip of the province - about 40 kilometres.
If you are coming from Phuket, as many people do, you can stop at Haad Khao Pi Lai, a long, pristine beach in Khok Kloi District. This is also a good fishing spot, though you have to be careful as the sea is deep and shelves steeply, so it is not so good for inexperienced swimmers. Other well-known stretches of sand in the area are Bang Sak, Nang Tong and Bang Niang beaches, all in the Khao Lak area.
Cave:
There are many limestone caves scattered around Phang Nga Town and the various islands in the province. One of these is Samnaksong Tham Tapan, which is decorated with depictions from Buddhism. Here you can walk through the Dragon Cave, which is about 100 metres long and represents "Hell", with depictions of punishments inflicted on people who have lived an immoral life. The "Heaven" section is an 800-metre-long natural cave with running water, stalactites and stalagmites. Outside are stairs leading up to the "Hall of Heaven". At the top are stunning views of the province.
Phuang Chang (Elephant Belly) Cave is part of Khao Hua Chang (Elephant Head Hill), which is a symbol of Phang Nga. A stream flows through it and you can take a boat ride past stalactites and stalagmites that glitter when light hits them.
Other caves around Phang Nga Town are Suwan Khu Ha Cave and Reusi Cave. By the coast and on the province's islands you can find Lod Yai Cave and Nak Cave.
Waterfalls, Trekking, and Rafting
(...to be Continued)Labels: Going tan on the beach, Reccomend all attractive places to go and things to eat and join, Thailand
Looking at our City and our House
Fact! About our property and publicI’ve heard someone said that "Usually Thai people don't care about anything outside their own fences because they think it is not their own." This might because they think it is not interesting to keep watching and take care whatever not their own, if they want to throw something away, they just throw it outside their area -- because they think it is not their responsibility.I think this is true when I see public area such as footpaths, pathways, sidewalks, littered on, or destroyed. There are departments that have responsibility of taking care of these areas, but this is not enough. We use these public areas, so it is also important that we improve and take care of these places as well. In fact, it is more important that we do our part to ensure they are always useful, since we are the ones who use them.Let's think about this. When you have to walk or you have to use a pathway, I believe you will think it will be difficult to trek in the wild. Why? Because you have to sidestep the several shops which are scattered beside the pathway. And you must always be careful to avoid traps such as gutters and holes. Then there are the cracks in the pathways which you must also train yourself to avoid, and if it's raining you must also beware of holes in the awnings overhead. Merely thinking about using the pathways makes me tired. Then there is the heat, in sharp contrast to the cold air conditioning in the department stores. Like I said, walking on the pathway is an adventure.Perhaps this is the definition of the term "Concrete Jungle"?The question is why we can't have great pathways like other cities. Why we don't have pathways that we can proudly say we really own?If we focus on Chiang Mai City, we will see the pathway around the moat. This is a good pathway that we want to around, quite unlike the busy pathway at the Night Bazaar. 
Also, Walking Street is a good place to walk. It gives pedestrians a good opportunity to enjoy walking along a wider pathway, and it's a very good place to walk in the evening during the cold winter weather in th North of Thailand (however this summer this Walking Street still continued open and attractive for all Thais and foreigners). But the point is that when we talk about these public pathways, we must always ask this question: in our culture, what do we use the pathways and the public areas for?
In the past, waterways and thoroughfares were quite similar. In the country, pathways built around paddy fields to contain water were especially luxurious, and were the best way to connect field and field to house. But nowadays, in the big cities, the number of people living in them have made difficult. They need more signals. The designer must consider the needs of disabled people, motorcyclists, and even pets.There are many pathways and public areas in other countries, because foreigners usually like the sunlight. This makes the design of public areas or pathways necessary. But since Thai people don't like the sunlight, designing public areas and pathways is not so important. Walking outdoors simply to enjoy being in the sun isn't popular here. Thus, any pathway built here must serve purposes. It may be for walking in the daytime but becomes a place for papaya salad shops or milk stores in the evening, a bustling shopping center in the nighttime, and cluttered with rice soup shops in the early morning. This is to say that, for an Asian road or pathway to be attractive to the public, it must serve several functions.But how can we improve our pathways to be cool, beautiful, and appropriate? In this article, I just want to introduce this point for my first time greeting. I want to introduce this point for my first time greeting. In the next issue, I'll take you to visit the lovely public areas and show you that the grounds of these areas are attractive to our eyes, and that even though they are outside our fences, they can make us proud when we take care of them as if they were our areas as well. In fact, they are, and we should be proud of our country's great public areas and grate public pathways.Labels: All about Chiang Mai, Reccomend all attractive places to go and things to eat and join, Thailand, Travel Safety on Earth
