Travel destinations in Thailand – Part 18

Krabi! Its a very good place to visit! Cheap and very important not too crowded like Phuket and Bangkok…

I had been there twice and I really love the peace and beautiful beaches and islands =)

The place I stayed at is in Krabi town which is far more cheaper than at Aonang beach where most are beach resorts…

The place that I stayed in is called "Chan cha lay" very nice little place which only cost me about USD10 per night for a fan room, double bed and very nice decoration… the room is cool enough with the ceiling fan… but the bathroom is really great for such a price… you will be very very surprised how great it is! Ask for room number 1 which I stayed in for the two times I been there… Don’t go for the backpackers room cause I think its small and the price difference with this double room is not too far apart… =)

I rented a motorcycle for only about USD4 for a day (24hours) very very cheap and great way to get around =) you do not need a licence for it just your passport as deposit. Its safe to let them keep the passport =) but choose the rent from a shop not from any road side offers which who knows may not be there the next day! =P

There is a nice place in town for dinner, local food very cheap and nice =) every night one of the road converts into stretch of food stalls…

For island hopping, go to "chicken island" very beautiful, extremely clear waters and you can even walk from one island to the other during low tide =) You can rent a whole boat for about USD13 to get you round a few islands from Aonang beach =)

Bangkok International Festival of Dance and Music

 

Thailand is wondrous, an amazingly different place when it comes to culture, tradition, customs and history. But, while on the outlook it may seem very different to a western traveler, there are many modern aspects in the country too. Bangkok is among the most visited destinations in the world and the reason for this is its wide variety of things to do and places to see. One such crowd-drawing event that’s been taking place for a decade now is the Bangkok International Festival of Dance and Music.

 

The Bangkok International Festival of Dance and Music is a breathtakingly beautiful collection of performances. Over 800 special artistic performers are flown in from several countries and these countries include Russia, Italy, Netherlands, France and Spain. In conjunction with Thai artistic performances, the festival puts on a spectacular gala of ballet, opera, jazz, modern dance, symphony orchestra and pop music for everyone to enjoy. The Bangkok International Festival of Dance and Music is hosted annually by Thailand’s Cultural Center.

 

The concept for this festival arose from a dire need to put Thailand in the world’s cultural destinations map and also as a way to reintroduce culture into Bangkok, which was rapidly becoming modernized. There was no cultural aspects in the big city’s entertainment and daily life, so the steps were taken to introduce the first Bangkok International Festival of Dance and Music in 1999. The festival was dedicated to His Majesty King Bhumibol as an honor on his 6th cycle birthday.

 

From its inception, the Bangkok International Festival of Dance and Music has been a huge success, drawing acclaimed international performers and a massive local and tourist crowd each year. The festival is held between September and October of each year, and the venue and ticket prices vary annually. Tickets are available through Thailand’s Cultural Center.

 

If you are planning on visiting Thailand for the festival or a vacation, consider Bangkok serviced apartments for your accommodation. Bangkok hotel accommodation can be expensive, especially during events and the tourist season, so Bangkok serviced apartments can provide you with great accommodation, facilities and services for less than half the cost you would pay for a major hotel.

Memoirs: Traveling – Part 1

Thailand – Day 2

Its 1030am here and hot, hot, hot. I woke up at 5am after falling asleep in my stinky shoebox at 630 last night. I was so tired that if I had flung myself over a clothes line, I would have slept well. I only woke up once at 1am and for a couple of seconds, didn’t know where I was, then it hit me – I’m in Bangkok!

My bed is really hard – it has no bounce at all so no playing trampolines. But it was extremely comfortable. The 2 pillows are like sacks of sand but also comfy. The bed has a bottom sheet with stains on it that I don’t even want to think about and there is a thin blue blanket (not needed at all!) with dozens of puncture marks from cigarette burns. The pillows also have dark, blood like stains on them but I’m telling myself they’re coffee stains. I’m really not too concerned, it’s all part of the adventure. Also, I can’t expect much when I’m paying peanuts. I can just imagine what some of you are thinking when you’re reading this! Is she crazy – probably am but I’m having a hoot of a time. Its amazing what you will tolerate away from home.

Did I mention the bathroom which was described as an ensuite? The loo has so many cracks in the seat that my bum gets pinched every time I stand up and the shower is just a short hose attached to the wall. I didn’t even think there was a shower when I first looked. I stand in the middle of the bathroom after having first squished myself on top of the loo in order to shut the door, turn the tap and hope that the 3 weak trickles of water actually reach my body and get me wet. Washing my hair last night took careful planning at an advanced engineering level. The bathroom is so small that I would break my arms at the elbows if I stretched them out. All I can say is its lucky I’ve lost weight!

I went for brek at 7am this morning to a place I’d been walking passed yesterday that was always packed. I was surprised how many travellers were up and about that early but it was bloody hot even at that hour. Maybe that’s why people were up so early – too hot in their own shoeboxes.

It is so noisy here. All the cafes along this road have music playing, most have movies playing at the same time, street stalls selling cds have music pumping, tons of people on the tiny, cramped footpaths and on the road dodging the ever present taxis, motorbikes, tuk tuks. And the smell – it’s a mixture of pollution, exhaust fumes, exotic food cooking, sweaty people, humidity, rundown buildings

Travel To Krabi And Phi Phi Islands Amazing Thailand Attractions

Krabi is a province of Thailand located in the southern area and has fantastic beaches along the shore plus many wonderful islands that you just cant imagine how beautiful they are. Phi Phi Islands is one of the very famous spots in Krabi that travelers cant miss.You can get to Krabi by car or by plane. If you drive there from Bangkok, you go along the highway number 4 through many provinces. The overall distance is approximately 946 kilometers. If you go to Krabi from Phuket, you can use highway number 402 connected to highway number 4 through Pangnga province and Krabi province. The total distance is approximately 185 kilometers. Also, the public transportation companies provide air-conditioned buses for people everyday from Bangkok and Phuket. If you decide to go there by plane from Bangkok airport, it takes about 1 hour and a half to Krabi province.Phi Phi Islands is one of the famous islands in Thailand located in Krabi province. The word Phi Phi comes from a tree named Pi-a-pee. In 1983, the government of Thailand announced that Phi Phi Islands became a member of Nopparatthara – Phi Phi Islands national park. This park includes six islands which are Phi Phi Don, Phi Phi Le, Bidah Nok, Bidah Nai, Yung and Phai Islands. The distance between Krabi beach and Phi Phi Islands is approximately 42 kilometers.Ao Nang is a place that has wonderful scenario with beautiful beaches such as Rai Le Beach, Tam Pra Nang Beach and Nam Mao Beach. These three beaches cannot be reached by car because they are surrounded by mountains. You can go there by boat from Ao Nang.

You can read more about Krabi and Phi Phi Islands at my web blog @

Bangkok Tour – the Insider’s Tip

Bangkok presents itself as a vibrant cosmopolitan city, gleaming with beautiful temples, palaces, and alluring specimen of architecture at every nook and corner. Bangkok has a rich cultural past which is still as visible, and attracts tourists from all over the world. Translated as the city of angels, Bangkok features as an exotic destination with a tropical feel, and along with the presence of grand architectures, travelers can witness the traditional lifestyle in the day to day life of the people.

 

Bangkok’s most mystifying aspect is the coexistence of its tradition and a very hip and happening lifestyle. This perhaps gives Bangkok its unique identity; a place where you can spot the latest in fashion and dip your taste-buds in the secret recipes preserved through generations. A charming aspect of Bangkok, not easily found in most places is its waterways, which are a unique way to discover more of the Thai capital. A trip in the early hours of the day provides ceaseless opportunities for shutterbugs to capture the essence of the daily life of the common people.

 

There are a lot of historical attractions in Bangkok, the most revered of them all being the Grand Palace, which is a celebrated example of Thai architecture and design. Visitors to the palace can also see the famous Emerald Buddha. Among a multitude of temples, The Temple of Dawn, locally known as Wat Arun, is the most visited. Also worth a visit is the Wat Pho, which is home to the world’s largest reclining Buddha. Apart from monuments and temples, another important allure of Bangkok is shopping, which is sure to get the most attention due to its fascinating variety.

 

Bangkok has created a niche for itself in the hospitality industry with an overwhelming number of hotels, ranging from budget to luxury ones. Bangkok hotels offer world-class facilities and services, along with a wide choice of locations. The best hotels in Bangkok are mostly centrally located and offers excellent communication. However, the surrounding areas also feature fantastic hotels.

Phuket – Web Guide To Travel To Phuket Thailand

Phuket is Thailand’s largest island, and is approximately the size of Singapore. Phuket nestles in balmy Andaman Sea waters on Thailand’s Indian Ocean coast-line 867 kilometers south of Bangkok.

Phuket is an island connected by bridges to southern Thailand’s Andaman Sea coast, in the Indian Ocean, lying between 7′ 45 ” and 8′ 15″ north latitude, and from 98′ 15″ to 98′ 40″ west longitude on the map. Thailand’s largest island, Phuket is surrounded by 32 smaller islands that form part of the same administration, with a total area of 570 square kilometers. Measured at its widest point, Phuket is 21.3 kilometers; at its longest, 48.7 kilometers. It is bounded thus:

About 70 percent of Phuket is mountainous; a western range runs from north to south from which smaller branches derive. The highest peak is Mai Tao Sip Song, or Twelve Canes, at 529 meters, which lies within the boundaries of Tambon Patong, Kathu District (no roads go there yet). The remaining 30 percent of the island, mainly in the center and south, is formed by low plains. Streams include the Klong Bang Yai, Klong Ta Jin, Klong Ta Rua, and Klong Bang Rohng, none of which is large.

History of Phuket

Phuket Island has a long recorded history, and remanins dating back to A.D.1025 indicate that the island’s present day name derives in meaning from the Tamil manikram, or crystal mountain. For most of history, however, it was known as Junk Ceylon, which, with variations, is the name found on old maps. The name is thought to have its roots in Ptolemy’s Geographia, written by the Alexadrian geographer in the Third Century A.D. He mentioned that in making a trip from Suwannapum to the Malay Peninsula it was necessary to pass the cape of Jang Si Lang.

Phuket was a way station on the route between India and China where seafarers stopped to shelter. The island appears to have been part of the Shivite empire (called in Thai the Tam Porn Ling) that established itself on the Malay Peninsula during the first Millenium A.D. Later, as Muang Takua-Talang, it was part of the Srivichai and Siri Tahm empires. Governed as the eleventh in a constellation of twelve cities, Phuket’s emblem, by which it was known to others in those largely pre-literate times, was the dog.

During the Sukothai Period Phuket was associated with Takua Pah in what is now Phang-nga Province, another area with vast tin reserves. The Dutch established a trading post during the Ayuthaya Period in the 16th Cent. The island’s northern and central regions then were governed by the Thais, and the southern and western parts were given over to the tin trade, a concession in the hands of foreigners.

After Ayuthaya was sacked by the Burmese in 1767 there was a short interregnum in Thailand, ended by King Taksin, who drove out the Burmese and re-unified the country. The Burmese, however, were anxious to return to the offensive. They outfitted a fleet to raid the southern provinces, and carry off the populations to slavery in Burma. This led to Phuket’s most memorable historic event. A passing sea captain, Francis Light, sent word that the Burmese were en route to attack. Forces in Phuket were assembled led by the two heroines, Kunying Jan, wife of Phuket’s recently deceased governor, and her sister Mook. After a month’s siege the Burmese were forced to depart on 13 March, 1785. Kunying Jan and her sister were credited with the successful defense.

In recognition King Rama I bestowed upon Kunying Jan the honorific Thao Thep Kasatri, a title of nobility usually reserved for royalty, by which she is known today. Her sister became Thao Sri Suntorn.

During the Nineteenth Century Chinese immigrants arrived in such numbers to work the tin mines that the ethnic character of the island’s interior became predominantly Chinese, while the coastal settlements remained populated chiefly by Muslim fishermen.

In Rama V’s reign, Phuket became the administration center of a group of tin mining provinces called Monton Phuket, and in 1933 with the change in government from absolute monarchy to a parliamentary system, the island was established as a province by itself.

Boundaries

On the North Is the Pak Prah Strait, spanned by two bridges running side-by-side, the older Sarasin Bridge, and the newer Thao Thep Krasatri Bridge.

On the South Is the Andaman Sea.

On the East Is Ao Phang-nga Bay (In the Jurisdiction mainly of Phang-nga Province).

On the West Is the Andaman Sea.

Climate

Phuket’s weather conditions are dominated by monsoon winds that blow year round. It is therefore always and humid. There are two distinct seasons, rainy and dry. The rainy season begins in May and lasts till October, during which the monsoon blows from the southwest. The dry season is from November through April, when the monsoon comes from the northeast. Highest average temperatures, at 33.4 degrees Celsius, prevail during March. Lowest averages occur in January, when nightly lows dip to 22 degrees Celsius.

Transportation

By Car

Take Route 4 from Bangkok south. Along the way pass the provinces of Nakorn Pathom, Ratchburi, Petchburi, Prajuab-Kirikan, and at Chumporn go right to Ranong, From Ranong, go south through Kraburi and Kah-Perr districts to Phang-nga Province. In Phang-nga the road passes through Kuraburi, Takua Pa, and Takua Tung districts before reaching the town of Kok Kloy, just beyond which is the Tao Thep Krasatri Bridge and Phuket. Distance is 867 kilometers.

Both air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned buses leave the Southern Bus Terminal in Bangkok daily. For details call the individual bus companies: Borisat Kohn Sohng Jumkat Phuket Transport Co, Ltd., in Bangkok tel. (02) 4351200, or in Phuket (076) 211480

By Air

Details about flights to and from Phuket International Airport can be obtained from Thai Airway, in Bangkok Tel. (02) 2800070,2800080, or in Phuket (076) 211195, 212499, 212946 or from travel agents around the world. There are also many regular and chartered flights from other airlines.

By Sea

The Deep Sea Port (Port of Phuket) at Phuket is visited by both cargo and cruise ship from Thailand and from abroad. Contact your travel agent for information about the may different ships that stop at Phuket.

Title: Find Out About Possible Liver Damage Using Fibroscan Technology in Bangkok, Thailand

The liver is the largest organ in your body and carries out many vital functions. Its responsibilities are, or example, digesting proteins and fats, removing toxins from your body, producing chemicals that stop the blood from clotting, and releasing bile in order to aid digestion. Any disruption or disorder on one of these functions could result in fatality.

 

Some of the diseases that might lead to liver damage or liver cancer are such as cirrhosis (a serious condition that destroys healthy tissue), hepatitis B and hepatitis C (both are blood-borne viral infection that can gradually cause damage to the liver), haemochromatosis (a rare genetic condition where the body absorbs an excess amount of iron from food, causing cirrhosis), and alcohol abuse (where the liver is unable to cope with the amount of alcohol and become damaged).

 

Somehow, there are standards for predicting the state of the liver and how much liver damage one may or may not have is done by the process of liver biopsy; which is executed by removing and examining a small piece of tissue from the patient’s liver for signs of damage or disease.

 

Prior to the liver examination procedure, the patient must refrain from eating or drinking for at least 6 hours. The procedure is done by making a small incision, and then inserting a biopsy needle to retrieve a sample of the liver tissue. After the procedure, the patient also has to lie under observation for another 12-24 hours.

 

Now a new device in clinical trial is developed and known as the fibroscan. Fibroscan is a technique used to quantify hepatic fibrosis or damage to the liver in a totally non-invasive and painless manner, with no contraindication for the patient. With this technology, we are able to get an accurate assessment of the liver damage resulting from all pathologies that cause damage to the liver, namely, the metabolic syndrome and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, chronic viral hepatitis and excess alcohol intake without having to use biopsy needles.

The fibroscan uses ultrasound, which emits a vibration that is tracked by the machine. The faster the wave travels, the harder and more scarred the tissue. Or in other words: the device measures the amount of stiffness of the liver. With fibroscan, there is no restriction on the frequency of use and is an ideal diagnostic tool to identify patients with significant liver disease and monitor the progression, stagnation or regression of the patient’s liver disease.

But no matter what, the best way to stay in good health is the best course. Some of the ways to do so are:

-          To prevent hepatitis C – always have safe sex by using a barrier-form of contraception, do not share drug needles, and be careful if you need to come into close contact with blood products. As for hepatitis B you can take a vaccine to prevent it.

-          To prevent cirrhosis of the liver which is the leading risk factor for liver cancer – limit the amount of alcohol you drink. The recommended daily amount of alcohol consumption is about 75-100 ml for men and 50-75 ml for women.

Travel destinations in Thailand – Part 21

It is difficult to determine the type of culture which existed in Thailand before the Christian era, since no written records or chronologies exist but archeological excavations in the area north of Nakorn Ratchasima indicate that there were people living here over 4000 years ago. Thailand (previously known as Siam) has been populated ever since the dawn of civilization in Asia. There are conflicting opinions of the origins of the Thais. It presumed that about 4,500 years the Thais originated in northwestern Szechuan in China and later migrated down to Thailand along the southern part of China. They split into two main groups. One settled down in the North and became the kingdom of “Lan Na” and the other one is in further south, which afterward was defeated by the Khmers and became the kingdom of “Sukhothai”.

In the early 16th century, the European visited Ayutthaya, and a Portuguese embassy was established in 1511. Portugal’s powerful neighbor Spain was the next European nation to arrive in Ayutthaya forward the end of the 16th century. In he early 17th century they saw the arrival of two northern European, the Dutch and the British, and France in 1662.

In the mid-16th century, Ayutthaya and the independent kingdom in Chiang Mai was put under the control of the Burmese, but Thais could regain both of the capitals by the end of the century.

The Burmese invaded Ayutthaya again in 1765. This time Burmese caused much fear to Thais. Burmase soldiers destroyed everything, including temples, manuscripts, and religious sculpture. After the capital fell in their hands for two years, the Burmese effectiveness could not further hold the kingdom. Phaya Taksin, a Thai general, promoted himself to be the king in 1769. He ruled the new capital of Thonburi on the bank of Chao Phraya River, opposite Bangkok. Thais regained control of their country and thus scattered themselves to the provinces in the north and central part of Thailand. Taksin eventually turn himself to be the next Buddha and was dismissed and executed by his ministers who did not approve his religious values.The British gained a colonial foothold in the region in 1824, but by 1896 an Anglo-French accord guaranteed the independence of Thailand. A coup in 1932 demoted the monarchy to titular status and established representative government with universal suffrage. At the outbreak of World War II, Japanese forces attacked Thailand. After five hours of token resistance Thailand yielded to Japan on Dec.

A Cruise On Bangkoks Sea

An exciting traveler activity that can get pleasure from a slight way out of the town of Bangkok is a journey on the Bangkok Sea. Although situated more or less 20 kilometers far from the town, it can be an exciting knowledge for travelers or a fantastic day out for Thai inhabitants. The little dock that gives ship or in local jargon Klong drives to a small caf that only is phrased as ancient, when evaluated to the stylish cafes and graceful bistros in the city. Yet the gastronomical pleasures, the astonishing sight of the ocean joined with the freshness of feasting out, balanced on cane stilts in the center of the sea is an incident one should never overlook.

Guests to this appeal can park their means of transportations and get on a long end cruiser that transfers them up the channel and into the open sea. The whole journey lasts for about half an hour. The water of the passage is fresh and passive. The greenish hint is due to algae enlargement because of natural substance in the water. The journey is peaceful and diplomatic and presents great imminent into the life of Thais that live on the banks of the channels.

The Klong roll all along in to the extensive sea up to a typical formed indicator that is suspected has some kind of past implication, though it was incapable to confirm the doubts. The indicator in fact shows the external border of Bangkok and the ship ride is a huge means to see the seashore of the town.

The ship afterwards does to a certain extent a theatrical about turn and heads to the caf that is situated in the center of the sea, the wobbly caf is in fact constructed on large cane stilts that have to be restored once in a while. Don’t get delayed by the Spartan look despite the fact that the food here is healthy for an emperor. Many seating choices are obtainable from European method of dinner service and good chairs and tables, which is the customary Thai way of consumption.

The food is baked in the most genuine Thai custom with ample of flavors, using lots of seafood. The food is very good and can be illustrates as a gastronomist’s pleasure. A restricted continental set of choices is also given, but the customary Thai food is suggested.

Tips for using GPS when traveling outside the US

When traveling outside of the United States, a GPS enabled device can be an indispensable tool. With many new countries being added by NAVTEQ and Tele Atlas, you can have the same detailed street level maps that you are accustomed to with your in-car system in the US, with you on your phone or handheld device as you travel around the globe.

Nokia’s Nseries phones now offer over 150 countries with detailed navigable maps that you can download for free from their website. If you have the navigation feature you can have a full navsystem in your hands that can offer voice-guided turn-by-turn instructions. That would be handy when you get lost in the streets of Bangkok searching for that shop you were told about, or when you need to route to your hotel from the airport in Rio after picking up a rental car.

There are many features that Nokia offers with their navigation enabled phones, but what if you don’t have a navigation enabled Nokia, or if you don’t have a Nokia at all? Plenty of mobile phone providers offer navigation enabled maps now. Do you have a Blackberry? If so then you have access to Blackberry Maps, which offers coverage areas in North America, Asia, South America and Europe. With routing capabilities that display step-by-step directions, and the ability to view maps of locations in your address book, it is a handy built in device for international travel. Of course, coupled with a GPS-enabled Blackberry smartphone or a wireless Bluetooth type GPS receiver your Blackberry can become a full fledged navigation system right in your hands.

Besides the mobile phone options for displaying maps around the world, there are plenty of portable handheld GPS receivers built specifically for the traveler in mind. Take the Garmin nuvi for example. While it does retail for close to US$500, it is packed with features that will enhance any trip abroad. Garmin offers map coverage across Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East and North and South America. The little pocket sized device is loaded with handy features other than just maps: currency converters, language guides, world clocks, mp3 player, picture viewer, measurement converter, calculator…and the list goes on. Some of the features mentioned are add-ons and will cost extra.

These are just a few suggestions for GPS enabled devices to use with you on your next trip overseas. Do not fret, the maps for Thailand are not written in Thai…Moscow maps do not display in Cyrillic; NAVTEQ and Tele Atlas offer dual language capabilities for all countries with an official language other than English. Be at ease with a GPS enabled smartphone or handheld device such as the Garmin nuvi on your next trip outside of the States, and don’t spend your time trying to read the local maps or getting lost in the side streets.

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