In addition to And the Thieves’ Market runs every day, though it does get busier on weekends. I doubt the guy pictured above gets much busier, though.
Source: Gridskipper and World66
This well-enclosed bay and fishing village surrounded by forested hills is one of the most beautiful beaches in Phuket. Tranquil and calm, the pretty white sands of Kamala beckon most people by day, but if you're seeking more than sunbathing on a perfect beach, there are other options. Hire a long-tail boat and go snorkeling at the north end of the beach, explore the neighbouring beaches of Laem Sing or Surin, or take an island tour.
Local and friendly, Kamala represents the face of old Phuket with village markets, welcoming people and cosy restaurants. The Tsunami sadly caused extensive damage to this sleepy enclave, but the area is recovering fast. Fishing boats still line the shoreline, local cafes and bars are open for business and hotels unaffected by the wave are welcoming visitors.
With its quieter pace Kamala has, over the last few years, become a favoured spot for retirees and other longer-term visitors staying in small hotels, home and apartment rentals nestled around the village. On the headland to the south, are a number of luxury villa developments, with great views of
Dining options are beginning to expand as more local restaurants open their doors. For stylish holiday dining,
Soon, on the 22nd of March until the third of April to be exact, it is time again for the Bangkok Motor Show, the biggest and best in South East Asia.Billed as "the greatest automotive show in Southeast Asia", this international motoring event attracts an estimated 1.7 million people to
The show features classic cars, bikes, sports mobiles and car audio inventions, as well as the Miss Motor Show Beauty Contest, an off-road training demonstration and an autosalon for that essential beautification. In addition, you can attend lectures, seminars and workshops on topical subjects like energy consumption, road safety and even improving your driving skills.
source: Whats on When
The monsoon season of May-October can make for rough swimming conditions, but it's this time of year that the surfers come out. The south end of the beach is the best place to watch, or join in on, the surfing action. Rentals are available for those who leave their boards at home.
Late in the year as the waters turn calm, Kata bay becomes populated with beautiful yachts, which arrive from all over the region to compete in December's King's Cup Regatta, Asia's premier sailing event.
While Club Med takes up most of the beachfront, a shaded footpath along the road fronting the resort makes for a pleasant stroll. Continuing on through the village, walkers will find an abundance of shops to browse in, from souvenir and ready-to-wear outlets, to 7-11 and local mini-marts, to name brand fashion stores. There are also plenty of dive shops and tour operators to assist those looking to explore beyond the beach.
Steak and seafood seem to be the most common offerings of Kata's many restaurants. Most roadside restaurants display their selection of lobsters, tiger prawns and plump fish right in front of their shop for all to see - and for diners to handpick. There's no shortage of Thai restaurants, and for international fare there's Scandinavian, Tex-Mex, Indian and Italian places to choose from, just to name a few.
Among the hotels and bungalows available in Kata, Mom Tri's Boathouse boutique resort offers the most elegant option, not to mention an award-winning wine cellar at its restaurant.
More information is available on Kata Beach website. Click here to discover the Kata Beach Restaurants or here to find Hotels and accommodation.
Nightlife in
Prior to the fight, Nong Toom swore to knock out her Japanese opponent within three rounds, but she conceded that the sexual reassignment surgery that made her a woman last year had taken its toll.
Trekking around Chiang Mai and
Treks can run from two days to a week or more, as you hike through the jungle pathways on foot, by elephant (a daunting prospect at first), and by bamboo river raft, breathing fresh air, watching abundant wildlife and tiring your limbs, until you come upon the welcoming hilltribe village that you will call home for the night.
An evening with a Thai hilltribe is an unforgettable experience. After your hike, the food tastes fantastic, and along with the villagers you settle sit around the fire, singing songs and watching traditional dances – be prepared to do a number or two yourself from your home country.
After a few hours with these charming people, you may find yourself tempted to give up your career in accountancy, or whatever it is you do back home, shed yourself of all your possessions and live the simple life of honest hard work and a bowl of rice at the end of the day. Tempted, yes, but after a little reflection on the labours you have to put in for that rice bowl, you’ll probably opt to take home a few of the colourful handicrafts, and treasure your memories from the land of comfort from whence you came. Really, it’s better this way.Trekking: Exploring the North of
Chiang Mai, in
One young upstart in
Also becoming popular is the charming little town of Pai, which has developed into a Bohemian arts center for disillusioned hippie folk from both
source: Thailand Grand Festival Website
Adventure takes many forms: a new relationship or job, sushi for the first time, or even a walk through an 
The (in)famous beach of Phuket
In the first part of “Beaches of Phuket” I’m starting with Patong which is probably by far the most famous of all and that’s not always because the beach is the most beautiful. It is more famous for its nightlife than anything else. It is the ideal place to party and play so it might not be the most suitable area for everybody.
When coming to
In the daytime Patong has a lot of activites to offer. You can choose from several parasail and jet ski operators if you want some excitement or do any of the many available water sports like surfing, wind surfing, sailing or just take a banana boat for some action.
Like on all other beaches in
Other activities available at Patong or things you can plan for at Patong include diving, bungee jumping, water-skiing or you can make arrangements for a Harley Davidson tour, a favorite among travelers.
In the night time, Patong gets very busy. Numerous small bars, go go bars, restaurants, nightclubs, shows and other entertainment possibilities make up Patongs nightlife and that’s what makes Patong so (in)famous.
Eating ranks high on the Thai scale of pleasures, and meals are informal affairs. The staple is rice, either ordinary or glutinous, accompanied by a variety of dishes that can be eaten in almost any order, and seasoned to individual taste with several condiments such as fish sauce and chilli peppers. Most often there will be a soup of some kind, a curry, a steamed or fried dish, a salad, and one or more basic sauces. Desserts may consist of fresh fruit or one of the many traditional Thai sweets.
Much of what is known about Thai cuisine evolved in the central region of the country. Rice, fish, and vegetables, flavoured with garlic, black pepper, and nam pla (fish sauce), along with an abundance of fresh fruit, comprised the basic diet of Sukhothai. With the rise of
A century ago, meals were eaten by hand, pressing the rice into the little balls; today a spoon and fork are used for eating rice, while chopsticks are used for Chinese-type noodles.
The Central region also has what is called the Royal cuisine, a more sophisticated version of the regional cuisine. Influenced by the kitchens of the
A favourite regional speciality is a spicy pork sausage called naem. The traditional form of meal is called a Kantoke dinner during which diners sit around a small low table. Nightly gala performances of a royal version of the Kantoke banquet can be enjoyed at reconstructed wooden palaces. These performances include troupes of local dancers, resplendent in traditional costume and can be pre-booked at this link.
Northeastern food reflects the influences of neighbouring
In the South, the coconut plays a prominent role in many dishes; its milk tempers the heat of chilli-laced soups and curries, its oil used for frying, and its grated meat serves as a condiment. Fresh seafood from the surrounding waters is abundant: fish, prawns, lobsters, crab, squid, scallops, calms and mussels. Cashew nuts from local plantations are eaten as appetisers or stir-fried with chicken and dried chillies, while a pungent flat bean called sator adds an exotic, if somewhat bitter, flavour much admired by southern diners. Chinese-Thai food is popular in large cities as well. Other foreign influences can be found in such dishes as kaeng matsaman, a mild Indian-style curry seasoned with cardamon, cloves and cinnamon, and sate - skewered meat with a spicy peanut sauce that originally came from
With Thai cuisine enjoying an outstanding world-wide reputation for its unique flavours and tastes, there's no better way to learn about this cooking style than in
Other Eating Possibilities in the North.
I have met folk who actually didn't like rice and although it was tempting to send him back home immediately with a "you're in the wrong country" retort if didn't cause much of a problem at all. I realise that not everyone loves the mouth-watering hot dishes that typify Thai cuisine. The main cities all boast of a number of excellent Chinese and Western restaurants. Chiang Mai is the centre with an astonishing number international first class dining areas. Hawkers stalls abound and the city has ample representations of English, Irish, French, German, Swiss, Spanish, American, Korean, Japanese outlets as well, of course, as most of the regular fast food franchises. Not easy to be hungry in such a diners paradise. Pubs are also easily found and there is a great variety of small road-side beer stalls to fully-fledged disco's.
The best deal in the country has to be the daily buffet lunches held at the major hotels. For as little as $2.50 diners can experience local and international delicacies until their hearts content or belly full.
Chiang Mai has an annual food festival in November where the city's best chef's compete in friendly rivalry at presenting the best cuisine both Thai and international.
The traders sit in their boats and sell their goods to people living in the houses right at the ricer as well as to each other. If you have never seen a floating market before, the sight of the narrow boats overflowing with fruits and other food products is not to miss.
Every year, Shake your thang along with dance and hip-hop beats, get down to pop and rock or dance on the white sand to the sounds of lazy jazz and easy listening. Pattaya is close to
Hand-feeding a hungry elephant is an unnerving experience. At the first whiff of a banana, its leathery gray trunk snakes out, probes the air and sucks it from your hand with a squelch. It is like shoving fruit into a wet vacuum cleaner nozzle.It may be unpleasant, but if you're about to plunge into the jungles of northern
Just half a day's jeep ride from the city of
"Hold onto its forehead and dig your heels into the side of its neck," said Chan, my enthusiastic guide. "Kick left to go left and right to go right. And if he stops to eat bamboo, just give him a good slap."
Steering an elephant sounded easy enough. But 10 minutes into the trek, my thighs were chafing on Dumbo's course hide. And despite his frequent snack stops, I was wary of slapping a beast strong enough to knock over a tree. It wasn't luxury travel, but as we searched in the tropical heat for a Lahu village — one of the largest hill tribes in
It is estimated that some 550,000 hill tribe people live in the mountainous regions of
Most of these chao khao (mountain people) have no nationality, and instead live according to tribal law in their jungle clearings, with their own language, dress, customs and religious beliefs. Most have no electricity, running water or sanitation, and resist assimilation into mainstream Thai society and the practices of the 21st century.
Although you can strike out alone in search of the hill tribes, armed with a map and a phrase book, it is inadvisable. Clashes between the Thai army and drug runners from
Just as I thought my thighs could take no more chafing, we broke through the lush forest into a jungle clearing containing around 20 bamboo huts, raised six feet off the dirt floor on poles. A dozen small children, dressed in the traditional black, blue and green homespun clothes of the Lahu people, raced toward our group of 12 sweaty and tired Westerners. As we dismounted, they gathered round, pulling the hairs on our arms and legs playfully, before growing shy and running away.
Beyond the huts, men and women toiled under the tropical sun, harvesting rice from tiny, tiered fields on the mountain slopes. Nearby, a man tilled the soil with an ox yoked to a wooden plow. These were the Lahu people, a 59,000-strong ethnic group originally from
Like the other main ethnic groups in northern Thailand — the Lisu, Mien, Hmong, Akha and Karen tribes — the Lahu primarily live off the land, eating a diet of rice, corn, chicken, pork, and whatever food can be found in the jungle. With no phones, computers, radios or televisions, their world is limited to the affairs of their village, population 150, and their neighbors in other jungle settlements.
After a simple but tasty meal of rice and vegetables, the village elders told us — through Chan, our interpreter — of the Lahu's tribal laws. With no regard for the regulations that govern mainstream Thai society, the Lahu marry and divorce with a minimum of fuss. A prospective groom merely pays his bride's family around $15 and throws a feast to formalize the marriage.
Unless he has a few hundred dollars saved up, which is unlikely in a subsistence economy, the husband must then live with and work for his new in-laws for a year, before he is free to set up home with his wife. And if he chooses to divorce, he merely seeks permission from the village chief and pays another $15 — half to the family and half to a village fund.
After a sleepless night on the hard floor of a bamboo hut, we left the Lahu people, and trekked on through the jungle, heading for other villages and tribes.
The paths that wind through the forest, past waterfalls, over streams and up the steep slopes of the mountains can be demanding. Would-be trekkers need to be reasonably fit, especially as you are expected to carry a backpack with enough clothes for three days.
But the pace is leisurely and there are frequent stops to bathe in rock pools, talk with people you encounter, and eat snacks of rice and noodles in villages en route.
A trek also offers a chance to walk through beautiful forests and jungle, with flora and fauna you would never see at home. It also gives you a window into an ancient way of life that still manages to flourish and retain its uniqueness in a modern world. On top of that, you learn how to steer an elephant, and you never know when that may come in useful.
source: USA Today
From the 15th to 19th of March 2006, over 30 Thai designers and a select number of international fashion gurus send their latest designs down the catwalk at The event is scheduled to take place twice a year to coincide with the traditional launch of the spring and autumn collections. Everything from high fashion to textiles, jewellery and accessories are showcased at the accompanying trade fair and designer's showcase held in the convention centre.
Thai designers have come out in force in support of the event, including Nagara, Metta, Issue, Grey, Senada, Kloset, Anurak, Zenith, Tube Gallery, Fly Now, Mae Fah Luang, S318 (Kornkanok) AB-Normal and Tango.
Source: What’s on When website
The exotic Thai culture, hospitality and friendly nature of the people have made a big impression on Abdalla Al-Hamar, the Qatari ambassador to
"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
Mr Al-Hamar says Thais have a remarkable way of helping foreigners blend into their society. Arabs love
Approximately 10,000 Qataris visit
The ambassador revealed that Thai architects were part of the team that built the Athletes' Village for the Asian Games later this year in
As a matter of fact, the torch for the quadrennial event is scheduled to pass through
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
Arab people tend to travel with their family. I have found that during high season there's not enough accommodation in
What type of tourism-related projects you have in mind to promote
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
Meanwhile, the Tourism Authority of Thailand has been proactive in attracting Qatari travellers. Last year, it organised a series of roadshows in
I would like to invite Thai people to come to
What three attractions would you recommend Thais to visit in
Al Corniche is the heart of
Souq Waqif is another must see attraction in
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?
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.
Tom Yam Goong (2005) is the 2nd action movie from one of
When you are in
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
The first chase sequence in the streets of
Once in
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.
