Ko Samui



Ko Samui is the premier island destination in the Gulf of Thailand. Samui is easily accessible, features beautiful beaches and a variety of activities, and caters to visitors on any budget. Ko Samui, Thailand’s second most popular island destination, is located in the Gulf of Thailand roughly 700 km. south of Bangkok and 80 km. from Thailand’s southern coast. Samui is the third largest island in Thailand and the largest in an archipelago of more than 80 islands that includes the Ang Thong National Marine Park, a kayaking paradise and day trip from Ko Samui. While Samui is small enough to be circumnavigated in just a couple of hours by motorbike or car, the island features such a variety of beaches and activities that it would be impossible to experience everything in a single visit. However, this was not always the case. Until the late 20th century, Samui was home to a small community engaged primarily in fishing and harvesting coconuts. There were not even any roads on the island until the early 1970’s. However, once foreign visitors discovered this island gem, lush with tropical forest, fringed with palm tree lined stretches of golden sand, and surrounded by pellucid, aquamarine water, development quickly followed. Today the beaches of Chaweng and Lamai are bustling beach towns with fabulous beach resorts, internationally acclaimed restaurants, and world-class nightclubs. Activities around Ko Samui include cooking courses, yoga instruction, Muay Thai training, scuba diving, and even golf. While there are a few quieter beaches that are ideal for relaxation, particularly those that feature some of the finest 5-star resorts in the world, and some that exude old world charm, such as Bo Phut, which features converted, old Chinese shop houses, Samui is a lively, exciting place than it was a few decades ago. Ko Samui has developed into its own style of island paradise, retaining much of its natural beauty while offering nearly every imaginable activity or service for the ultimate beach holiday.



While affordable and convenient, motorbikes are the cause of numerous accidents and fatalities; always wear a helmet, never drive drunk, and drive defensively at all times. 

Negotiate all taxi and tuk-tuk fares prior to departing for your destination.

Be careful walking on the beach or swimming at night, particularly if alone.

Make sure your scuba diving instructor is fully certified.

Respect Thai values regarding dress: women should not go topless on the beach and men should not walk around shirtless other than at the beach.

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Wiang Kum Kam เวียงกุมกาม

          Wiang Kum Kam is a recently discovered ancient lost city in Chiang Mai. It was flooded and abandoned more than 200 years ago. This ancient city was built in the reign of King Mengrai in 1296.

 

From the discoveries, there are 20 ancient remains in and around Wiang Kum Kam including buildings and temples of Wat Chedi Liam (originally: Wat Ku Kham), Wat Chang Kham, Wat Noi, Wat Pu Pia, Wat Ku Koa, Wat E Kang, Wat Hua Nong, and Wat Pu Song. The remains are dating from 21-22 Buddhist centuries.

 

The whole site of Wiang Kum Kam is too large to explore on foot. The best way to get around is to hire a local guide with a pony carriage, open-air tram or bicycle. Visiting Wiang Kum Kam Information Center first is recommended. At the information center, you will see the importance and history of Wiang Kum Kam, details of the discoveries and exhibitions.

Koh Lan เกาะล้าน

 

                   Pattaya has a number of islands in its vicinity of which “Koh Lan” is the largest. The island is somewhat an extension of the mainland activities, featuring water sports such as diving snorkeling, windsurfing, waterskiing and para-sending. A key attraction is boats sailing around the island for sightseeing purposes. Some of the boats have glass bottoms enabling passengers to see coral and marine life at the bottom of the sea.

 

The island has a number of beaches, the main beach hosting a number of excellent seafood restaurants selling dishes made from freshly caught seafood. The area also features deep sea fishing boats around Koh Lan’s neighbours, Koh Krok and Koh Sak.

Phi Phi Island  เกาะพีพี

        The Phi Phi islands are located about 45 Km southeast from Phuket, 42 km south of Krabi Town and 40 km from Ao Nang Beach. They can be reached in between 1 to 3 hours depending on the type of boat you choose. Boats leave from Phuket, Ao Nang and the Chao Fa Pier in Krabi Town on a daily basis.

 

The name 'Phi Phi' is derived from Malay, and the original was Pulao Pi ah Pi, where in pulao is the Malay word for island , and Pi, pronounced with a soft 'p' sound, was very close in pronunciation to the English word 'bee'; the ah was dropped, so the name was said something like Bee Bee.

 

Later the p was pronounced with a stronger aspiration and the name became the Phi Phi (Pee Pee) we know today. The name originally referred to the mangrove wood found there.

 

There are 6 islands in the Phi Phi group; Phi Phi Don, Phi Phi Ley, Bida Nok, Bida Nai, Koh Yung, and Koh Phai; total land area is 42 square kilometers. The islands were declared a National Park in 1983, and development is limited to Koh Phi Phi Don only. All other islands are uninhabited.

 

Yung Island lies to the north of Phi Phi Don. there is a rocky beach on the east side, and a smaller strand of sand in a fold of the hill. Many beautiful and various corals are found there. Good for shallow snorkeling.

 

Phai Island lies also to the north of Phi Phi Don, not far from Koh Yung . Sandy beaches are on the north and east sides of the island. Broad coral reefs stretch away into the south.

 

Phi Phi Don Island covers a total area of 28 square kilometers: 8 km in length and 3.5 km at its broadest point. At the north end is Cape Laem Tohng, where there is a Chao Ley, or sea gipsy village. These sea gipsies emigrated from Koh Lipeh in Tarutao National Park, near the border with Malaysia and lived on the islands long before tourism arrived. There are two long beaches next to the main town - the two curving bays of Ton Sai and Loh Dalam. The town was hit hard by the tsunami on December 26th 2004, but now things are all back to normal.

ที่มา Engjang

phuket ภูเก็ต

        Phuket is expected to be distorted from the word Bukit (the Malayan meaning mountain) or knew, but on behalf of the ancient city of Thalang, the province in Southern Thailand Geography different from other provinces, totally is the largest island in Thailand, Phuket is a province near the north eastern province of Phang Nga and Krabi provinces are. 

     The island surrounded by the Andaman Sea. And the island of Phuket in territory south and east. In addition to travel by boat to Phuket and then. You can travel by car, which has only one path through Phang Nga province Sarasin Bridge and Saphan Khu parallel Thao is a bridge into the city Thepkrasattri. And air, which supports the Phuket International Airport. Airport is located north of the island.

History of Phuket

        Phuket is the same word for word means Packages Phu Kaew. Match the original meaning, which the Tamil people call Manee Kram Act 1568 as evidence of Phuket is known navigator of the route between China and India. Through the Malayan. The oldest evidence is Maritime geography books and maps of Ptolemy, when about 700 BC and the second trip down to the airport from Cape Malayan. This must be pointed Jungceylono of island

         Of Thai history. Phuket is part of the Kingdom of porn Links. The period until kingdom Siritham city. Run island that Thalang town lead to a 11 cities in 12 cities Zodiac brand with the dog. To the Sukhothai period. Thalang town to town in the Takua Pa in Ayutthaya Hollander to storage location to purchase in from Phuket town.

Khaosan Road ถนนข้าวสาร
 

                Khaosan Road or Thanon Khaosan is a popular tourist street in central Bangkok, Thailand. It is located in the Banglamphu area about 1 kilometer north of the Grand Palace (Wat Phra Kaew) 'Khaosan' translates as 'milled rice', a reminder that the street was once a major Bangkok rice market. In the last 20 years, however, Khaosan Road has developed into a world famous 'backpacker paradise.” It offers cheap accommodation, ranging from 'mattress in a box' style hotels to reasonably priced 3-star hotels. Khaosan shops sell handcrafts, paintings, clothes and second-hand books, plus many useful backpacker items.

 

Khaosan Road in recent years has become popular with local residents, especially artists and art students. At night, Khaosan is a lively street packed with tourists come to explore walking street and night life. There are clubs, bars, food stalls and shops open until 2 a.m. The area is internationally known as a center of dancing, partying, specially during the traditional Thai New Year (Songkran festival April 13-15), when  water splashing festival turns into water fight. 

 

Khaosan also has a Buddhist temple under royal patronage. The centuries old Wat Chana Songkram is directly opposite Khaosan Road to the west while the area to the northwest contains an Islamic community and several small mosques.

 

Chiang Dao Cave ถ้ำเชียงดาว

 

                    The Peak of Doi Chiang Dao Mountain is 2225 meters above sea level making it one of Thailand’s highest mountains. Although impressive in its own right, and playing host to a number of sites worthy of a visit, Chiang Dao Caves are of special interest. The caves extend around twelve kilometers into the mountain and only experienced potholers should venture beyond the 5 areas designated for visits (Tham Maa, Tham Kaew, Tham Phra Nawn, Tham Seua Dao, and Tham Naam).

 

The caves contain crystals that have formed through dripping water - these are extremely impressive formations and make the visit well worth it. The air inside the caves is at times cool, at others, extremely humid. This is not a place for the claustrophobic and you should consider the visit carefully if you have any ailments or illness.

 

However, these precautions aside, the caves are quite safe and guides are available to guide you through the caves and steer you out of harms way (although you may have to crawl through some smaller gaps!). The two main caves (Tham Phra Nawn and Tham Seua Dao) have electric lighting and can be visited without a guide. The caves contain a number of sacred Buddha images.