Qatar Ambassador is fascinated with Thailand

The exotic Thai culture, hospitality and friendly nature of the people have made a big impression on Abdalla Al-Hamar, the Qatari ambassador to Thailand.

"I have travelled extensively for both business and leisure, and I can honestly say that I have never come across such delightful people. People around the world are stressed living in a cut throat and fiercely competitive society. Thais don't let stress get the better off them," he said.

Before taking up his post here a year ago, ambassador Al-Hamar first came here in 1999 as part of a Qatari delegation visiting Thailand and immediately fell in love with the Kingdom's charming people and culture. He fondly recalls how his delegation, impressed by what they saw and experienced here, decided to extend their stay in Thailand by two days in order to understand the country better.

Mr Al-Hamar says Thais have a remarkable way of helping foreigners blend into their society. Arabs love Thailand because they feel free to be themselves and nobody gives a fig.

Approximately 10,000 Qataris visit Thailand annually for shopping and medical reasons, whereas Thais travelling the opposite way mostly constitute manual workers, although Thai businessmen have lately started making more forays to the Middle East country.

The ambassador revealed that Thai architects were part of the team that built the Athletes' Village for the Asian Games later this year in Doha, the Qatari capital.

As a matter of fact, the torch for the quadrennial event is scheduled to pass through Thailand shortly. After the games the facility will be turned into a hospital.

How would you describe yourself as a traveller?

I am an active and curious person by nature, so when I'm on vacation I like to explore my new surroundings. And by that I mean everything. I am never truly relaxed because I find every living thing around me interesting. My mind keeps wandering as I travel about how people live in different habitats.

What do you usually do to get a better feel of a country you are visiting first time?

My normal practice is to sit in a coffee shop, enjoy the local brew or tea and watch people go about their daily chores. Chatting and exchanging ideas with locals is another way to learn about their culture and traditions.

How popular is Thailand among Qataris?

Qatar is a wealthy country so normally people travel to Europe on vacation. However, Thailand is becoming increasing popular for its great shopping malls, top hotels and medical services which are much cheaper than in Europe. Thai hospitality is also well-known at home. Middle Easterners feel comfortable in Thailand because they can wear their traditional attire, eat Arabic food and listen to Arabic music in restaurants they frequent.

Arab people tend to travel with their family. I have found that during high season there's not enough accommodation in Bangkok. So I would like to see more serviced apartments and hotels built to cater to these long-staying guests.

What type of tourism-related projects you have in mind to promote Qatar in Thailand?

Shortly, our embassy will organise a 'Qatar Week' to showcase the nation's culture and traditions and highlight it as a tourist destination using cutting-edge multimedia technology.

We will participate in the Royal Flora Ratchaphruek 2006, an international horticultural exposition to be held in honour of His Majesty in Chiang Mai later this year. I believe that these events will not only improve relations between Qatar and Thailand, but also be instrumental in promoting tourism either way.

Meanwhile, the Tourism Authority of Thailand has been proactive in attracting Qatari travellers. Last year, it organised a series of roadshows in Doha. The response has been overwhelming. The number of Qatari travellers to Thailand has increased dramatically since.

I would like to invite Thai people to come to Doha during the Asian Games, not just to cheer their sportsmen, but also use the opportunity to visit some interesting historical sites.

What three attractions would you recommend Thais to visit in Qatar?

Qatar is a blessed country. Doha is a nice modern city by the Persian Gulf. We also have beautiful beaches and mystical sand dunes. I would recommend anybody visiting Qatar, even if it is for a short period of time, not to miss Al Corniche.

Al Corniche is the heart of Doha. It's a seven-kilometre stretch along the coast, a great place to feel the pulse of the nation because families go there to picnic. It is also a popular place to go for a stroll or jogging. Al Corniche also gives visitors a bird's eye view of Doha and the Gulf of Persia.

Souq Waqif is another must see attraction in Doha. 'Souq' in Arabic means market. Souq Waqif is the oldest and most popular market in Qatar. Apart from the fun and exotic atmosphere, you will find yourself lost in time shopping for a wide variety of goods that are on sale. You can also bargain the prices down.

Going on a desert safari is just as interesting as surfing and our beaches are breathtaking. Just imagine swimming or camping by the desert. It's a truly rare experience. Tour operators are selling packages which include a night spent in a traditional Arab tent sampling local cuisine and enjoying traditional Arab music and performances.

What have you to say about the cartoons of the Prophet that appeared in a Danish publication, the fallout and the issue of freedom of speech?

Qatar is home to the popular television network Al-Jazeera and Doha Debates which is aired on BBC. On this very sensitive issue I would like to say that we are all for press freedom, and don't mind anyone making fun of other aspects of the Arab world, but when it comes to disrespecting Prophet Mohammed or the Koran, we Muslims can't brush it (caricatures) under the carpet.

People should not cross the line when it comes to issues that a certain group of people hold in high esteem. I would however like people to protest peacefully and rectify the issue through dialogue.

source: Bangkok Post

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by Jour ~ Tuesday, February 28, 2006 0 comments

Thai Movies on the Rise

Tom Yam Goong (2005) is the 2^nd action movie from one of Thailand’s biggest stars after the Ong Bak movie (2003). Starring Tony Jaa, who could be called Thailand’s Jackie Chan, it garnered great attention not only in Thailand. Ong Bak was one of the few Thai movies which made it internationally. As people got bored with every single fighting movie playing in China, a Thai movie with Bangkok as its back setting was received very well by Thais and Western people alike.

When you are in Thailand, it is always worth a trip to “Mangpoong” or “Scorpion”. This is a big DVD chain selling DVDs all over Thailand. If you see a big red sign of a scorpion on the outside its what I’m talking about. They will sell Hollywood as well as Thai movies. Now Thai movies, even when they are new, can sell for as low as 5 US$. So it is definitely a good present for when you go back again. Some movies, like Ong Bak, are very entertaining. Just be careful to buy the version which has English subtitles.

So the story of Tom Yaam Goong (which by the way is the name of a famous Thai dish, a spicy shrimp soup). Tony Jaa here plays another story close to his heart. Coming from a mahout family, his childhood was closely involved with elephants. In Tom Yam Goong, Tony Jaa plays a young mahout, Kham who is also trained in the Jaturongkabat martial art, Koshasarn. Jaturongkabat soldiers were trained to protect Thai war elephants in battle, parallel to the armoured infantry squads that assist tanks units. When the elephants in his family’s care are stolen and taken to Australia (Sydney), Kham goes to their rescue.

The first chase sequence in the streets of Bangkok suffers an event flow break. When the container truck carrying both elephants finally manages to break free from traffic, the next shot shows Kham giving up the chase though it wasn’t possible for him to know this. This flaw heralds a series of other event flow and logic flaws in the movie. Now how does Kham locate the elephants, he seeks out an old woman who performs an oracle ritual. This oracle ritual is interesting; the oracle woman is seen dowsing using a pendulum while doing a dance to locate the elephants.

Once in Sydney, it become all about fighting. These action sequences still retain certain superb characteristics of Tony Jaa's pugilistic skills and choreography. Form (kata) or stances are visible. This is a mark of skill contrary to what many have been told. While Jaa is a fan of Bruce Lee (who advocated a free style form of fighting with his Jeet Kune Do), fortunately he has not abandoned his training and “fight like children”. The term “fight like children” is used by Shaolin Wahnam founder Wong Kiew Kit to describe the free sparring seen in martial art tournaments where little form can be seen.

I think Tony Jaa with his “no sling, no stunt” motto is set to replace Jackie Chan as the Asian action movie star for the next decade or two. But Tom Yam Goong looks and hopefully is more of a learning experiment. Story is still important to an action movie else it becomes like a porn movie, people just wait around for the “banging” sequences. Jackie Chan’s story driven New Police Story (2004) with less action and more story did better at the box office than The Myth (2005). Jaa also seems to be finding his style for his action sequences. His present attempt to incorporate Jackie Chan type of acrobatics does not blend into his main style, a modern day Mas Oyama. To take up the vacuum of Jackie Chan does not mean one has to be like Jackie Chan. Jackie Chan after all, did not appear as the best of the numerous Bruce Lee clones, he came across as Jackie Chan. And Tony Jaa needs to do just that, to come across as Tony Jaa. We saw that in Ong Bak and this got adulterated in Tom Yam Goong.

source: The 10 of Clubs MovieWatch

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by Jour ~ Monday, February 27, 2006 0 comments

Dizzying Heights - Sikkim

Sikkim- Of snowy peaks, dreamy rivers , frozen lakes and misty monasteries ...
We have been dreaming of this for many years …To wake up and see the misty Kangchendzonga , to go up to Nathulla pass to see the Indo China Border …and mainly to touch and feel snow ..I decided to brave the cold and my fear of heights to get here…



We had decided on Pelling and Gangtok in Sikkim and a stop over at Kalimpong . We had poured over so many websites and books that the places started sounding so familiar ..but we were not prepared for so much beauty .It was almost a sense of déjà vu as we drive down from Bagdogra to Pelling , where we were told that we could get to see Mt Kangchendzonga , the guardian deity ,if we were lucky . Teesta with it many hues ..sometimes emerald green or azure blues , kept us company . At every curve she threw us a surprise , a camp here, a wooden bridge there ..but her virgin beauty held us in thrall ! …We wanted to capture every curve of the Teesta into a picture, freeze every moment into our memory

It was dark when we reached Pelling . We stayed in a beautiful resort Norbu Ghang where the mist entered our rooms and gently lulled us to sleep. We woke up ready for the mountain view and stared endlessly into the sky from our beds , trying hard to see through the mist. We waited and in a flash the veil lifted itself and before we could say wow…the mountains wrapped themselves again …. It was just for a moment ,yet everlasting …


The first thing that struck us about Pelling is that its absolutely quiet and stunningly beautiful ..The conversation was about the momentary mountain glimpse .Apparently the clouds and the mists had been stubborn for many days , covering the mountains . Small hamlets , lakes, waterfalls, monasteries filled our day. We went to the Khecheopalri Lake also known as the wishing lake and wished we could come back again to see the peaks . This unusually tranquil lake, surrounded by verdant forest is considered as one of the sacred lakes of Sikkim both by the Buddhist and the Hindus and no water sport or other activities besides prayers are allowed around it. It is believed that birds do not permit even a single leaf to float on the lake surface.


Our next port of halt was Yuksom, a hamlet set in the hills and for trekkers, this is the starting point to explore West Sikkim .Historically it was here in the 17th century, the first Chogyal (King) Phuntsok Namgyal of Sikkim was consecrated by the three wise lamas. Yuksam literally means the meeting place of the three learned monks. This was the first capital of Sikkim.


A 15 minute walk from Yuksom and you can actually see this at Norbugang.A stone throne shaded by a 300 year old fir still stands here today. A foot print in stone in front of the throne is said to belong to Lhatsun Namkha Jigme, and a nearby chorten (stupa) contains soil and water from all over Sikkim. It was already getting dark and we were well steeped in history . We went to Rabdentse, the second capital after Yuksom , where the ruins lie hidden from the main road .

We ended our day with a visit to Pemayngste Monastery for a silent ,spiritual experience Pemayangtse: It is the oldest monastery here and houses priceless thankas, icons, Buddhist texts, paintings and frescos. Built on the 18th century AD, this monastery follows the Nyingmapa sect of the Tibetan Buddhism. On the top floor of the temple, there lies the Architectural Design of Heaven called the Zangdoplari. It's a masterpiece art crafted single handedly out of wood by the late Dungzim Rimponche and photography is prohibited. The walls of this area is hundreds of years old and are original and on vegetable paintings .



Our next halt was in Gangtok,where we had carefully chosen to stay away from the city in a beautiful homestay called Hidden forest retreat…lovely people and some great cuisine...It was a great feeling to wake up amongst the flowers . What a riot of colours ! I recommend this plave to anyone who wants to visit Gangtok.

We went to the 300 year old Rumtek Monastery or the dharma chakra centre , the largest in Sikkim . It embodies the vision and aspiration of the Sixteenth Karmapa, Rangjung Rigpe Dorje, .where they perform the sacred rituals and practices of the Karma Kagyu lineage.Many sacred objects are housed within the complex, and one of the most magnificent is the Golden Stupa, which contains the precious relics of His Holiness the Sixteenth Karmapa


Then we went to the open zoo to see the panda and the snowleopard . And then was the best part of our trip – Nathulla pass at 14000 feet above sealevel and Tsomgo lake a few thousands below it . The journey was breath taking – what with clouds stopping us virtually as we climbed on. The roads were the best I had travelled anywhere in the country – it could put many a city road to shame.




It was a three hour drive from gangtok as we had to cover 60 kms but scale up to 14,450 feet to reach there . So we stopped over to acclamatise. Our first halt was Kyangosla cafe at about 10,400 feet where we stopped for a steaming cup of coffee..As we proceeded down the steep mountain, we saw a few yaks grazing and absolutely no people. It was just us , mountains and yaks.

And then we saw , at 12,400 feet , the Tsango lake with colourful flags around it Normally its frozen, but this time there was crystal clear water. Like any tourst destination, vendors, shops and yak rides surround you ! We proceeded on towards Nathulla Pass . Security scrutinised every vehicle and our journey became a bit slow. We showed our permit and we were asked to wait with a row of jeeps . And finally the roads opened and we saw the border . Our driver parked the vehicle and pointed to a snow covered peak ..Thats China he said.


It was freezing as the temperature was well below 0*. It was a great feeling as we climbed up to reach the border .It was a little awkward as we saw the chinese across the fence trying not to react to a group of enthusiastics Indians feeling jubliant .
Encountering the Indian army was a great feel, a sense of awe and respect swept us through as we saw what they endured .. ..It is another moment ,etched in our minds .,.

Every journey leaves us with an emotion – peace, awe, love ,adventure, joy, nostalgia , fun …Sikkim gave me a sense of pride as well…

Getting there
Our journey was a long one ..we went to Kolkata and then onwards took a flight to Bagdogra . You could also take a train from Kolkata to Siligiri or New Jalpaigiri ..these trains need to reserved well in advance . From bagdogra , you could either either drive to Gangtok or Pelling to get a view of the snow capped peaks .Its a 4 -6 hour drive and its better to start by afternoon as it gets dark very quickly. . Several hotels and resorts are there and I recommend very strongly the Norbhu Gang Resort in Pelling and Hidden forest retreat in gangtok . You need to plan earlier to get to Nathulla as we needed a permit .

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by Jour ~ 0 comments

New biking trail opens in Chet Khot park

Let's start with some good news from Chet Khot-Pong Kon Sao Nature Study and Eco-tourism Centre in Saraburi Province, Thailand. Yes, that "Chet Khot Forest Park" as most people call it.

From now on, cross-country mountainbikers camping at Chet Khot no longer have to venture outside its boundary - a new biking trail has been created through the reforested area around the park's reservoir.

The loop is less than two kilometres long but, of course, you're free to do as many rounds as you wish.

Literally, that means you can bike for 40 kilometres straight or more without having to worry whether you're going to make it on the way back.

In other words, no matter how many hours you've been riding, your tent (or bungalow, in case you manage to book one) is always just a few minutes away. And that's great for both newbies and training racers.

By the way, Chet Khot also has a well-maintained downhill trail for bikers seeking the thrill of gravity. And this weekend there'll be a big gathering of downhillers at the park.

If you need more information, call the centre at 09-237-8659 or 036-227-156.

source: The Bangkok Post

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by Jour ~ Sunday, February 26, 2006 0 comments

Chiang Mai: The Pearl of the North (Part 2)

Shopping

Chiang Mai is, quite simply, Thailand's major centre for quality handicrafts. The visitor need merely visit the nearest city emporium or night market to purchase an extraordinary variety of antiques, silver jewellery, hilltribe opium pipes and embroidery, Thai silks and cottons, basketry, celadon, silverware, furniture, lacquerware, woodcarvings and parasols.

A major advantage of shopping in Chiang Mai is that the visitor may watch artisans working within the city and in several outlying villages, particularly along the Bor Sang San Kamphaeng road where, in genuine cottage industries, parasols, silk and cotton weaving, jewellery, woodcarving, silverware, celadon and lacquerware are manufactured, and number among popular purchases.

Major Chiang Mai products include:

Cottons and Silks

First-class Chiang Mai cottons and silks are of incomparable quality. Cottons and silkshave innumerable fashion and furnishing applications. The largest possible selection is available in San Kamphaneg.

Umbrellas/Parasols

These are inextricably associated with Bor Sang where villagers have been engaged in their manufacture for at least 200 years. All materials, silks, cottons, sa paper (manufactured from the bark
of the mulberry tree), and bamboo are produced or found locally. Visitors to Bor Sang will see literally hundreds of designs and sizes ranging from the miniature to the gigantic.

Silverware

The finest Thai silverware is exquisite, and is made in Chiang Mai, where certain families have prectised their art for several generations. Traditional skills and a guaranted content of at least 92.5% pure silver invest bowls, receptacles and decorative items with authentic value. Silver shops are concentrated on Wualu Road, where silverware artisans and their families live.

Lacquerware

Striking black and gold designs give lacquerware its visual appeal and sheen. This decorative art enhances items made of wood, bamboo, metal, paper and baked clay, in the form of receptacles, ornaments and various souvenirs.

Furniture/Woodcarving

Chiang Mai is a major centre of furniture making. Major woods and materials include teak, rosewood and rattan. Items may be unadorned or, especially with teak and rosewood, artfully carved in traditional or modern designs. Woodcarving is a traditional northern Thai art featured in numerous temples. In recent years, wood carving has increasingly embellished furniture, gracing screens, chairs, tables, beds, indeed anything bearing a wooden surface large enough to be carved. Carved elephants, figurines and tableware number among other popular purchases.

Hilltribe Products

These include silver ornaments, such as bracelets, necklaces, pendants, hairpins and pipes of intricate design, and embroidered items including tunics, jackets,bags, purses, caps and dress lengths.

Gold Plated Orchids and Butterflies

Orchids and butterflies are preserved and plated with 24carat gold to create unusual gift items such as necklace pendants, hairpins and earrings.

Pottery

Chiang Mai is the major centre of Thailand's pottery industry. Prized items include high-fired celadon which is produced in many forms, including dinner sets, lamp bases and decorative items

Source: http://sunsite.au.ac.th

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by Jour ~ Saturday, February 25, 2006 0 comments

Chiang Mai: The Pearl of the North (Part 1)

Chiang Mai is Thailand's principal northern city. Chiang Mai is the pro-vincial capital of a largely mountainous province, also called Chiang Mai, which is some 20,000 square kilometres in area.

Chiang Mai city is 700 kilometres north of Bangkok, was founded in 1296, and is located in a fertile valley some 300 matres above sea level.

Chiang Mai was the capital of Lanna Thai (Kingdom of One Million Ricefields), the first independent Thai kingdom within the fabled Golden Triangle. Chiang Mai flourished as a major religious, cultural and trading centre until 1556 when a Burmese invasion reduced it to a vassal state. The Burmese were expelled in 1785, whereupon Lanna Thai once again became part of northern Thailand.

Many lowland Thais regard Chiang Mai city and province as being something of a national Shangri-la, thanks to its beautiful women, distinctive festivals, historic temples dating from the 1300s, arresting scenic beauty, temperate fruits such as apples peaches and strawberries, and a crisp, invigorating cool season climate

Places that you should visit:

Wat Phra Singh
Sam Lan Road
This lovely temple dates from 1345 and is one of the focal points of Songkran festivities each April 13-15 when people bathe the revered Phra Buddha Sihing image. The temple compound includes the lovely Lai Kham chapel with its exquisite woodcarvings and northern-style murals, and a magnificent scriptural repository with striking teas relief.

Wat Suan Dok
Suthep Road
This temple was built in a 14th century Lanna Thai
monarch's pleasure gardens and is a favourite spot for photographers, particularly for striking sunsets. Several of the white chedis contain ashes of Chiang Mai's former royal family. The 500-year-old bronze Buddha image in a secondary chapel is one of Thailand's largest metal images.

Wat Chiang Man
Ratchaphakkinai Road
This is Chiang Mai's oldest temple and probably dates from 1296. The temple was the residence of King Mengrai, who founded Chiang Mai, and is noteworthy for a chedi supported by rows of elephantine buttresses, and a small ancient Buddha image, Phra Kaeow Khaow.

Wat Ku Tao
near Chiang Mai Stadium
This temple is noteworthy for an unusual bulbous pagoda. The structure is decorated with colourful porcelain chips and is believed to represent five Buddhist monks' alms bowls which symbolise five Lord Buddhas.

Wat Chedi Luang
Phrapokklao Road
This temple is the site of an enormous pagoda, originally 280 feet high, and which was partially destroyed by an earthquake in 1545. At one time, Wat Chedi Luang housed the revered Emerald Buddha image now enshrined in Bangkok's Wat Phra Kaeo. A magnificent Naga staircase adorns the chapel's front porch.

Wat Chet Yot
Super Highway, north of the Huai
Kaew Nimmanhemin Roads intersection

This temple dates from 1458. The seven-spired square chedi was inspired by designs at Bodhagaya, the site of the Buddha's Enlightenment in north India over 2,500 years ago, and was built by Lanna Thai architects after visiting the holy site.

Wat U-Mong
Suthep Road
This delightful meditation temple is completely different from Chiang Mai's other major temples and enjoys a bucolic forest setting. The ancient chedi is of particular interest.

Source: http://sunsite.au.ac.th

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by Jour ~ Thursday, February 23, 2006 0 comments

Magha Puja: Buddhist Festival in That Phanom

During the holiday between sowing and harvesting the rice, thousands flock to the famous Ngan Phra That Phanom temple to celebrate the Buddhist festival of Magha Puja.

The wat (temple) faces both the Mekong river and the rising sun, so the best approach to it is by water. It is thought to have been founded in 535 BC, eight years after the Buddha's death, when five local princes built a simple rick chedi (temple) to house bits of the Buddha's breastbone.

The temple rests on a gleaming white marble platform, where pilgrims leave their offerings under an umbrella made of 16kg of gold. This arch is inlaid with precious gems and gold rings embedded in each tier. Around this magnificent edifice music, delicious food and drink stalls, theatre performances and traditional Isaan-style dancing take place.

Pilgrims and lay people gather to give prayers to the Buddha and to meditate, with the culmination of the festival on the full moon evening when monks hold a candlelit procession around the temple. We have given you the date of the full moon alone, but be aware that celebrations begin a few days before, and may last a few days beyond.

One of the special things about this particular temple festival is that Lao people from the other side of the Mekong are allowed to come over in their boats (under the beady eyes of the customs and immigration officials) to pay homage to what was once their shared inheritance with the Thais.

The festival is in March 2006 and you can take aplane from Bangkok to Nakkon Phanom which is about 50 km away from That Phanom.

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by Jour ~ Wednesday, February 22, 2006 0 comments

Zebra Dove Cooing Contest has a Long Tradition in Thailand

It has long been believed in Thailand that doves bring good luck to those who raise them. Some are even believed to endow great wealth and honour upon the owner. Every year, Khwan Muang Park in Amphoe Muang celebrates the voice of the treasured bird with this cooing competition.

Years ago it was popular for Thai people to raise zebra doves - especially in the lower southern provinces. A local dove-cooing contest was organised in time, and has since grown into the international event that it is today. The event includes cooing competitions in the small, medium, large and combined voices categories.

Other animals are involved in various fighting competitions - animal rights fans may want to avoid the whole show.

source: World Event Guide

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by Jour ~ Tuesday, February 21, 2006 0 comments

Visit Thailand and enjoy Spa

As part of the Thailand Grand Invitation celebrations in 2006, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), the Federation of Thai Spa and Visa International (Thailand) Co., Ltd., (VISA), will jointly launch ‘Thai Spa Invitation’ in conjunction with the annual Chiang Mai Flower Festival being held at Suan Buak Haat Park in the northern city of Chiang Mai during February 3-5, 2006.

The kingdom’s spa sector has experienced phenomenal growth in recent years. Designed to promote Thai spa products and services to local residents as well as international visitors and encourage increased patronage of Thai spa services, the Thai Spa Invitation 2006 theme highlights the tremendous range and diversity in spa products and services available in Thailand.

Many of these — including ‘Thai Royal Spa Package’, a special spa package created for the Thailand Grand Invitation celebrations — will be presented during the Thai Spa Invitation launch event in Chiang Mai. The annual Chiang Mai Flower Festival attracts a large number of visitors from around the world and provides an ideal platform for showcasing the full range of Thai spa products and services, and particularly the Lanna Thai spas of Northern Thailand.

he ‘Thai Royal Spa Package’ offers Royal Thai massage and a traditional Thai massage applied with heated herbal compresses or poultices (luuk prakob) and will be offered in spas throughout Thailand.

Simply look out for the "Thai Spa Invitation" signage on display at participating spas.

VISA card holders enjoy a 25 per cent savings on the ‘Thai Royal Spa Package’ and discounts of 20 to 50 per cent on other spa packages.

Thai Spa Invitation 2006 is part of the Thailand Grand Invitation celebrations and encompasses the key themes: Grand Destinations, Grand Events, Grand Festivals, Grand Service and Grand Openings.

The Thai Spa Invitation Grand Opening will be launched in Bangkok in March 2006 and in other key tourist destinations around Thailand throughout 2006 with Samui, Surat Thani province in May, in the beach destinations of Hua Hin, Cha-am and the provinces of Petchaburi and Prachuap Khiri Khan in July, in Phuket during November 17-19, Krabi in December and Pattaya in January 2007.

source: Tourism Authority Thailand

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by Jour ~ Monday, February 20, 2006 0 comments

Luang Prabang and China now connected

A new bus service will be introduced next month linking Luang Prabang in Laos and Jinghong in Xishuangbanna in China's southern Yunnan Province. Luang Prabang can easily be reached from Thailand. Also, Bangkok Airways offers service to Luang Prabang, a beautiful little town with colonial style.

The service to be launched March 1 is a joint effort between Laos' Thongdee Koonruan Transportation and Xishuangbanna Kunnan, both private companies that will operate the route under a concession. There will be one service either way daily.

The Xishuangbanna region is also known as Sipsong Panna or the Land of Twelve Thousand Rice Fields.

Separately, a second bridge linking Thailand and Laos is expected to open later this year. It will link Thailand's Mukdahan Province with Champasak in Laos.

Built with Japanese assistance, the new bridge is expected to facilitate road travel between the two neighbours and to other countries viz. Cambodia and Vietnam.

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by Jour ~ Sunday, February 19, 2006 0 comments

Phu Phrabat Historical Park

It was early morning when the 24-seat VIP bus taxied at the terminus in Udon Thani, 564 kilometres northeast of Bangkok. Cool breeze shook us up from our reverie forcing us to zip up our jackets. Tuk-tuk drivers approached us from all directions, all asking the same question: "Where would you like to go?" Udon Thani is very a quiet town these days, a far cry from the bustling place it used to be during the Vietnam War when it served as a US air base. Today, most visitors prefer going to Nong Khai, a neighbouring province where they cross the Mekong River on their way to Laos.

However, the province is a hub of transport and agricultural products in the entire northeast region and also boasts some unique tourist attractions such as the Phu Phrabat Historical Park which could well be on its way to being declared a World Heritage site after receiving a fair rating in the first round by the Unesco committee scrutinising its candidacy. So before the park makes the list and becomes another tourist hub, I thought it would be nice to sneak a visit. Exploring the park can take anything from 40 minutes to a day depending how much and what you want to see.

According to park officer Somdee Aranrut, there are three trails. The first is the shortest and leads directly to major highlights. The second route passes more attractions and takes around an hour to walk, while the last route is a two-hour trek leading to every important stop to the Phu Phrabat mountain top that stands 320-350 metres above sea level.

"We have arrows clearly marking the direction to every attraction together with brief descriptions of the places. Holding this map (the park brochure) just follow the signs and I assure you won't get lost," assured the officer. As suggested by Somdee, we took the longest route. The map, available in both Thai or English, proved quite useful indeed. We started at eight in the morning. The forest, full of hardwood trees, was still covered in a layer of fog. The path was neatly maintained. Small signs attached to trees told us their names and utility.

Phu Phrabat is an important source of water for various streams that eventually flow into the Khong River in Nong Khai. Trees here were big: we spotted the Ormosia, Pterocarpus, Shorea and Dalbergia and plenty of native herbs. At the first stop some 150 metres from the park information centre, we were stunned by the sight of bizarre rock formations. Boulders sat on top of each other as if they had been put there on purpose. Later we found out there were huge moraines in the area. Some of them looked like giant mushrooms while others resembled enormous boots that grew on rocks. A team of archaeologists from the Fine Arts Department was sent there in 1972 to study the rocks. It found that the 3,430-rai Phu Phrabat park sat on sandstone rocks dating back to Ice Age. When the world became warmer, it led to glacial erosion. The moraines were the result of changes in the earth's topography, while rain and wind later shaped the sandstone rocks to what they are today.

Get the rest at the Bangkok Post

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by Jour ~ Friday, February 17, 2006 0 comments

Wat Pho Temple: Take a Thai massage course at Bangkok's famous temple

Historical Background:

Wat Pho is a large Buddhist temple south of the royal palace. Although its history extends back at least to the 16th century, the current structures all date from 1793 or later. When the future King Rama I, the founder of the Chakri dynasty, unseated his rival Tak Sin in a bloody war, he transferred the capital across the river from Tonburi to what is today downtown Bangkok. As part of his grand development scheme, he renovated a dilapidated monastery called Wat Potaram. He renamed it Wat Pho Chetuphon, or the Bo-Tree monastery, and funded a construction effort that lasted seven years. The centerpiece of the temple was an enormous statue of the reclining Buddha, over 46 meters long and 15 meters high. Covered in gold leaf, it is housed in a special building built for its protection.

Massage Courses:

As of today, several massage courses can be taken at Wat Pho. Many foreigners choose to do it. Courses take a few days only and you will have the chance to learn from specialists and also try it yourself several times.

Wat Pho is located right next to the Grand Palace. The best way to get information on the courses is to go there in person.

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by Jour ~ Tuesday, February 14, 2006 0 comments

Eco Tours in Thailand: Interview with a specialist in the field (Part 2)

Which three places would you recommend eco-tourists to visit in Thailand and why?

One trip to appreciate nature would be a road trip around Trang Province. There are so many fascinating caves, including Tham Thale which you have to access by boat and then at certain points lie flat with your nose almost kissing the cave's low ceiling.

Also, the scenery on the mainland and nearby islands is spectacular. I would also recommend Khao Sok dam and spending a few nights on floating bamboo rafts.

Lastly, I'd recommend Mae Hong Son. Just get there, rent a motorbike and go driving anywhere. The surrounds are stunning with many natural secrets waiting to be found. Beware of the Burmese border though: I ended up crossing to Burmese side purely by accident.

You have visited several provinces in Thailand. What in your opinion makes the Kingdom such a big hit among foreigners?

It's a cliche, but if there is one thing that needs mention it has to be the people. Overseas holiday brochures promote beaches, temples, shopping and low prices. But when tourists come here they depart saying the people were the high point. I also think the variety of activities and locations, and the diversity of natural attractions are a huge plus.

The latter I think hasn't been properly exploited. Then again, maybe it shouldn't be?I have enjoyed spending my free time with local folks around southern Thailand.

Share a couple of your personal travelling tips with our readers?

If exploring nature, take a bottle of water (or two) with you, good for you if you get lost. And take lots of sun cream. Respect the people you will meet and they will respond in kind. That way you will enjoy your time in Thailand all the more.

Any concern you would like to pass on to the Tourism Authority of Thailand as part of its drive to promote the country?

Stop focussing on the number of tourists. Spending power and where the money is spent is what matters. Most of the money is centered in a few prime tourists hotspots, little reaches other provinces and communities.

What are three things you can't live without on your leisure travels?

A good guidebook (if it's a place I've never been to before), a good novel to read in my spare time and my watch.

How do you mix business with pleasure on work-related trips?

If meeting clients, I try to do so in a formal atmosphere so we can discuss the serious issues, and then follow with a more social atmosphere in the evening drinks or dinner. If attending an exhibition, -then I try to extend my trip a few days so I can enjoy the city and the people.

Your company Ensign Media has grown and now has offices in Bangkok, Phuket and Samui. Just how competitive is the publishing industry?

The publishing industry is very competitive. There are in the region of 700+ titles sold in shops, and even more free tourist guides. Tourist guides aside, there are not many English language publications (which is where we focus) and there are even fewer I would consider to be of decent quality.

We focus on niche products, such as a publication for the property industry, and as a result, I spend a lot of my time with clients, keeping up-to-date with industry movements.

I used to call Phuket my base, but that is now changing as I divide my time between the three offices.

What does it take to succeed in the publishing business here; any advice for newcomers?

A lot of perseverance. I started very small and grew slowly. I advise newcomers to first think carefully about why they want to go into publishing.

It's not quick, easy money like many people think. And I would also like to advise them to focus o nniche products.

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by Jour ~ Friday, February 10, 2006 0 comments

Eco Tours in Thailand: Interview with a specialist in the field (Part 1)

An eco-tourist at heart, Duncan Worthington's first impressions of Krabi, on the Andaman coast of southern Thailand, was that of an idyllic coastal retreat of outstanding beauty.

In short, he found the stunning vistas, virgin rainforest, easily accessible caves and healthy mangroves, just perfect for eco-tourism.

Worthington, managing director of Ensign Media, first came to Thailand in 1997 to work for Siam Safari, an international award-winning eco-tour company based in Phuket.

However, he was sent to work in Krabi to set up and operate one-day safari tours for Scandinavian tourists. After seven months in Krabi, he moved to Phuket, but in a marketing role. ''I spent a lot of time working with overseas tour company representatives, training them on our eco-tour programmes.

''And in Phuket I learned that it was not a place for eco-tourists. Mass tourism is already too established, what operators and tourist associations need to do now is look more closely at a sustainable tourism model for Phuket,'' he said.

After spending over a year in Phuket with Siam Safari in Chalong, Worthington made a subtle career shift moving from eco-tourism to managing design and photography for ifArtAsia, a Phuket magazine.

In his two years working with the magazine, his highligh is a photo shoot in the Butang Group of islands in south Thailand. What could beat a week on a beautiful boat, snorkelling, exploring islands, all in the name of photography.

What is your idea of a perfect vacation? Any suggestions on how to improve eco-tourism in Thailand.

My ideal vacation would involve nature. It may simply be snorkelling off shallow reefs or something more strenuous such as trekking. I plan one day to visit Nepal and trek on elephant back to see rhinos.

I don't think Thailand should focus on eco-tours. It should look more to promote sustainable tourism. It doesn't have to be nature-based. I think the country has so much to offer in terms of culture, not just temple tours but local communities, local life, religions and festivals. Most tourism products are for the mass market and seriously lacking in innovation. Thailand needs to look more to its strengths.

How adventurous are you as a traveller. Tell us about a few exciting experiences you have encountered in Thailand and abroad?

In the last few years, I have toned my adventurous spirit down, choosing to spend more time developing my publishing business. However, I have been on many trekking trips in southern Thailand and visited a whole variety of national parks. My favourites were probably a three-day trek in the North and a two-day rafting excursion in Pai, north of Chiang Mai.

Parachuting in northern Thailand is hardly glamorous, but it gave me a great adrenalin rush. I look forward to trying that again next time.
source: Bangkok Post

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by Jour ~ 0 comments

1st World Tattoo Arts Festival Thailand

The organizers are the Wong family who have been at the forefront of tattoo art in Thailand for years now. They are the best known tattoo artists from Thailand and also have been featured in many international magazines.

When the zenithal top of worldwide professional tattooists gathered round together for the first time of history of Siam and Southeast Asia region to show off their excellence of skillful performance of tattooing, and intend to encourage inter-exchange tattooing culture each other. Thailand is one of many countries unique in tattoo culture since ancient time, ranging from magic tattoo to aesthetical tattoo. Tattooing culture has become attractive and famous among foreign tourists. In Thailand, tattoo shop can be recognized a colorful element of tourism fascinatingly.

Over 30 years, tattoo exhibition has been established yearly for tattoo lovers in Europe, U.S.A, and Japan. The purpose of tattoo exhibition is aimed to exchange information and technology advance of tattoo implements, and provide those interested people with knowledge in tattoo art field. Physical body art and body piercing shall be demonstrated at any conference hold.

Europeans, Americans and people in Asia countries are highly interested in World Tattoo Art Festival and Exhibition Thailand, because of its first time celebration in well-know countries for tourism. In Thailand, inexpensive travel expense and media promotion spreading worldwide are prominent. Surely, “World Tattoo Art Festival & Exhibition Thailand” exhibition has been welcomed and interested among tattoo tours and public media domestically and internationally.

source: official world tattoo arts festival in Thailand website

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by Jour ~ Thursday, February 9, 2006 0 comments

The 4 noble truths of Thailand: Part 4

On New Year's Eve, take the path of resistance

On New Year's Eve at the Chaweng Buri Resort, all guests were compelled to buy a $100-per-person ticket to the New Year's Eve party. The buffet served a wide variety of inedible foods as a Thai variety show kicked off on a makeshift stage next to the pool. Unbearable. It was a rip-off to end all rip-offs.

But I thought to myself: What would Buddha do? Just roll with it. Eat a few chicken satays and head to town. As the dharma teachings go, "Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional."

There really is something to those Noble Truths, after all.

"It's Easier Than You Think: The Buddhist Way to Happiness," by Sylvia Boorstein, is an accessible introduction to the basic tenets of Buddhism.

source: The Denver Post

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The 4 noble truths of Thailand: Part 3

Don't be afraid to suffer a little for good food.

OK, at some street markets you can buy fried crickets, grasshoppers, worms and chicken heads. You are allowed to fear these delicacies.

In addition to bugs, Thailand offers every cuisine imaginable, much of it delicious. My stomach doesn't take to hot foods, but only the food in Chiang Mai seemed to be too spicy. Everywhere else, I ate well, perhaps too well. Three restaurants on the banks of the Ping River in Chiang Mai were hot, but standouts: The Gallery, the Good View and the Riverside. They all sit side by side on Charoen Rat Road, and they are always crowded.

Live music in the Riverside was mostly cover bands playing classic American pop, like The Doors. I had a ball. In Bangkok, lunch at the Oriental Hotel's patio overlooking the Chao Phraya River made me feel like James Bond. The New York Steak restaurant at the JW Marriott was a good break from pad Thai. And if you feel adventurous, drop into Galaxy (19 Rama 4 Road), a well-known "no-hands restaurant" in Bangkok. Young women and a mamasan feed you and wipe your mouth - it's like practice for being senile. Cabbages and Condoms (10 Sukhumvit Soi 12) is a racy name for a tame (inexpensive) and wonderful Thai restaurant that raises money for Thailand's family-planning nonprofit.

On Koh Samui, The Shack, (88 3 Moo1, Bophut), is an open-air steakhouse run by Larry Snyder, a self-proclaimed nervous, heart-attack-prone New Yorker. Poppies (Samui Ring Road) serves the best Thai food in Thailand on Chaweng Beach. And Prego, run by chef Marco Boscaini, also on Samui Ring Road, is one of the best Italian restaurants I've ever encountered. Need a hamburger fix? Chaweng's most popular bar, Tropical Murphy's Irish pub, serves a tasty one on Samui Ring Road.

source: The Denver Post

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by Jour ~ Tuesday, February 7, 2006 0 comments

The 4 noble truths of Thailand: Part 2

Don't be too attached to your comfort level.

Thailand is a land of dichotomies. Great beauty and wrenching poverty. Ancient religions and rampant prostitution. Expect to be dazzled and confused.

The beaches are one of the most frustrating contradictions. For instance, take Koh Samui, an island off the east coast of the Gulf of Thailand. I stayed there in a bungalow on Chaweng Beach, and while I loved the foot-caressing sand and the wondrous scenery, I expected a secluded paradise, mainly because Thailand has mastered the art of the seductive website.

Instead I found a Mexican beach town with twice the number of cheesy hawkers. An endless parade of vendors interrupted my "serenity" to hawk soccer balls, sarongs, bracelets, ice cream, wooden flutes, henna tattoos, doughnuts, carpets and sunglasses. (They also sold delicious roasted corn.) The town itself was a postmodern madhouse, with hundreds of Germans who looked like Mike-Myers-as- Dieter, all shuffling down nearly nonexistent sidewalks or wedging themselves into knockoff stores. (Fake watches, Armani suits, DVDs.)

Shoehorned between the knockoff stores are massage parlors. Most aren't fronts for prostitution (no need for fronts in prostitution-friendly Thailand) but places to drop in for, say, an after-dinner, one-hour foot massage, which goes for about 50 cents a toe. Luxury is a national obsession in Thailand, and the foot massages are well worth a try, as are the traditional spine-bending Thai massage. Aaah - right there - that's the spot!

One of the more interesting contradictions in Thailand is how people interact with Buddha, whose likeness is everywhere. Everyone gives offerings to monks who pass on the streets, and yet everyone also tolerates behavior that seems straight out of Sodom and Gomorrah.

Even the prostitutes are pious. When you see a go-go girl leaving a hotel in the morning, you'll also see her stop to bow three times to the Buddha. If you're not familiar with Buddhism, be sure to read some basic texts before visiting Asia. The more you know, the more you'll appreciate the way religion is woven into everyday life.

A word or two more about prostitution. It is as ubiquitous as the Buddha. It's a way, perhaps the only way, for females to escape the rice paddies of the countryside and earn money for their families. (At least this is how Thai people I spoke with rationalized it.) There seems to be absolutely no stigma attached to it.

Consequently, every lurid story you've heard about wild bars filled to overflowing with girls-for-hire is true. In some bars, the dancers wear numbers the size of plastic coat-check receipts as a way of expediting selection. Guidebooks that claim families can vacation in Thailand and remain unaware of this seedier facet of life are off the mark. Prostitutes even come and go in the very best hotels.

source: The Denver Post

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by Jour ~ Monday, February 6, 2006 0 comments