Category: THAILAND

architectural beauty of Chiang Rai White Temple in Thailand

architectural beauty of Chiang Rai White Temple in Thailand Chiang Rai White Temple or Wat Rong Khun allures visitors by its breathtaking architectural beauty. At first glance, your heart will race against time seeing this fully white structure; the exterior is so perfectly designed, it more or less appears to look like a frozen temple. It has a curious design symbolizing life and death. The premises has a bridge of “the cycle of rebirth” and below you can notice outreaching hands. Likewise, there are many statues and symbols each having meaning of its own and in order to truly understand the depth of Wat Rong Khun, a visit here is a must. It has since been re-opened, with non-Thai visitors now being charged an entrance fee of 50 THB, a nominal price I would gladly pay to preserve this spectacular masterpiece by local artist Chaloemchai Kositpipat. Inside the temple, the decor swiftly moves from pristine white to fiery and bewildering. Murals depict swirling orange flames and demon faces, interspersed with Western idols such as Michael Jackson, Neo from The Matrix, Freddy Kruger, and a T-800 series Terminator. Images of nuclear warfare, terrorist attacks, and oil pumps hammer home the destructive impact that humans have had on earth. The presence of Harry Potter, Superman, and Hello Kitty confuses the message somewhat, but the overall moral is clear: people are wicked. Kositpipat’s juxtaposition of traditional Buddhist imagery and pop culture has drawn criticism from the Thai government. Photography of the interior murals is prohibited, but visitors are welcome to purchase prints in the temple gift shop. On May 5 of this year, a 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck Mae Lao, located 17 miles southwest of Chiang Rai. Wat Rong Khun sustained significant damage, and a devastatd Kositpipat initially declared that the temple would have to be demolished. Subsequent evaluations, however, have found that the cracked pillars, damaged murals, and broken spire can be repaired. The restoration process is expected to take about two years. Travelers can still visit the temple, but may not be allowed inside depending on the work being undertaken at the time. Click Here : – architectural beauty of Chiang Rai White Temple in Tailand

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Most Fascinating Sukhotani Historical Park in Thailand

Most Fascinating Sukhotani Historical Park in Thailand Sukhothai Historical Park is one of Thailand’s most fascinating world heritage sites, it consists of a large complex that houses the ruins of the Sukhothai Kingdom of the 13th and 14th century. This historical attraction is located in northern Thailand and its walled-in park has a wide collection of nearly 200 sets of remains of the past that include 26 temples, royal palaces, large lakes, interesting wats and statues etc. In addition, the visitors can also visit the Ramkhamhaeng National Museum and learn about the Sukhothai culture. The Sukhothai Historical Ruins is really a enchanting site complete with an excellent assortment of historic temples, artifact, ancient monuments and sculptures, along with beautifully maintained landscapes and well preserved streams. You can find a multitude of diverse temples and remains within as well as beyond the park. The largest and the probably the most important of them is the Wat Mahathat ruins, in the heart of the park. As an apt portrayal of Thailand’s glowing era, Sukhothai Historical Park is every photographer’s dream spot. Each and every part of the park is a perfect picturesque scene worth to capture on film. Encased within an enormous square wall, the park has a few streams surrounding the circumference of the city. Most of the temple ruins you will find inside the park tend to be surrounded by ponds, with bridges giving you entry towards temple premise. Given that the area is so extensive, a lot of people hire a bicycle so that you can find their way around from one ruin to another, inside the park. Nearly 430kms to the north of Bangkok, Sukhothai Historical Ruins is a fascinating park, well earned of the UNESCO Heritage Site label. Though there are several ways to reach Sukhothai, the best would be to take a train/bus ride from Phitsanulok, which is just 60km away from the city. Click Here : – Most Fascinating Sukhotani Historical Park in Thailand

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Visit KHAO SOK Natonal Park, SURAT THANI Province in Thailand

KHAO SOK Natonal Park, SURAT THANI Province Immerse amid the natural beauty and rejuvenate in Thailand’s rainiest spot, Khao Sok National Park. This is one of the most visited places and it is home to the largest expanse of virgin forest. A visit here will baffle you with its stunning beauty; making you feel you are in a place anew. Its misty mountains that traverse through thick forest is a worthy sight to watch. Khao Sok National Park is without a doubt a famous place to visit as here you do not only get to marvel the beauty of nature but also plunge in comfortable hotel beds at many top-notch accommodations flanking that forested property. It is here you will see some spectacular attractions along many activities such as jungle trekking, canoeing, kayaking and bamboo rafting. There are other recreational activities as well like bird watching, boat tours and meeting asiatic elephants. Geography Beautiful sandstone and mudstone rocks rise about 300–600 m above sea level. The park is traversed by a limestone mountain range from north to south with a high point of 950 m. This mountain range is hit by monsoon rain coming from both the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea, which makes it among Thailand’s wettest regions with an annual rain fall of 3,500 mm.Heavy rainfall and falling leaves led to the erosion of the limestone rocks and created the significant karst formations seen today. Activities Khao Sok National Park has various activities for tourists who like adventure such as trekking, canoeing, bamboo rafting or a boat tour to Cheow Lan lake. Trekking Due to Khao Sok being a tropical rainforest, there are many wild animals such as “wild elephants, serow, tigers, Malayan sun bears and over 180 bird species to watch”. If you are interested trekking you can hire a local guide. If you are lucky, you will find Rafflesia Kerrii Meijer,and visit waterfalls. Moreover, you can stay in the forest at night and cook with bamboo. Canoeing and Bamboo rafting Sok River is a perfect place to relax yourself. You will enjoy beautiful views along the river. Most commonly seen animals for example are birds and fish. Moreover, the view of limestone cliffs, mountain range and wide sky are amazing. They have local guides for you to hire for canoeing and bamboo rafting. Boat to Cheow Lan lake After trekking into the deep forest, there are many caves to explore such as Diamond cave, Khang Cow Cave and Nam Talu cave which connect to Cheow Lan lake. Nam Talu cave is about 12 kilometers from the headquarters of Khao Sok National Park. If you a buy trip they will have staff waiting for you and boat you from the waterfall to the lake. These are activities that are suitable for adventurers. Khao Sok is not only a relaxing place but also exciting.Click Here : – Visit KHAO SOK Natonal Park, SURAT THANI Province in Thailand

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Visit Similan Island, PHANG NGA Province in Tailand

Similan Island, PHANG NGA Province in Tailand The postcard perfect place of Thailand, Similan Islands, has a group of nine upwellings formed by hot magma and it is located off the coast of Phang Nga Province in southern Thailand. Every year, the island witnesses a melange of travellers and thrill seekers coming from all directions to partake in activities like diving and island hopping. These islands boasts its rich coral reefs and underwater rock formations that offer divers a fascinating experience. Two mostly visited sites by divers are the East of Eden and Elephant Head Rock. Similan Islands are best visited during March when the water is clear and air is calm, it is then you get to witness colourful species of fish wiggling their tail fins amid turquoise waters surrounding the Similan Islands. Dive sites Similan National Park is famous for its dive sites. It has typically two different kinds of diving. East side diving consists of gently sloping coral reefs with sandy patches with the occasional boulder in-between. The west side is known for its huge underwater granite boulders with numerous swim-throughs. Maybe the most famous east side dive site is East of Eden, off island number 7. Elephant Head Rock is arguably the most famous west side dive site with a maze of swim-throughs and the reputation for spin-cycle like currents running in every direction. Elephant Head Rock was named by Horst Hinrichs from Germany in the mid-1970s, founder of one of the oldest dive shops in Phuket, Santana Diving.Other popular dive sites include North Point, Deep Six, Boulder City and the awesome pinnacles off Ko Bon and Ko Tachai.  A dive boat in the Similan Islands The most important of all dive sites in the Similans, in reality part of Surin National Park, is Richelieu Rock, famous for its variety and abundance of marine life. Whale shark sightings are not uncommon here. However, since 1999, its once most beautiful dive site, Fantasy Reef, has been closed from all diving activities after its condition had significantly deteriorated. Park chiefs officially blame diving for the deterioration, while dive operators in the area claim that fishing boats, with or without permission, enter the national park during low season, when no dive operators are allowed in the national park.The national park also claims that the dive site suffered significant damage from the tsunami in 2004, and continues to keep the reef closed. Since only national park staff are allowed to dive Fantasy Reef, it has been impossible to confirm that statement. Click Here : – Visit Similan Island, PHANG NGA Province in Tailand 

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Main Attraction of Ayutthaya Historical Park in Tailand

Main Attraction of Ayutthaya Historical Park in Tailand Ayutthaya Historical Park displays the ruins of once the largest cities in the world, Ayutthaya. What’s so interesting about this place is that it displays brilliant examples of Thai art and today, a section of this historical site is under UNESCO protection. The secured attractions in the Ayutthaya Historical Park include Wat Ratchaburana, Wat Phra Sri Sanphet, Wat Mahathat, Wiharn Phra Mongkhon Bopit and Wat Phra Ram. Out of which, the famous place is Wat Mahathat, the main attraction here is the head of Buddha that protrudesout from the branches of a tree, this probably is the most photographed object in the park along with Wat Yai Chai Mongkol. Nonetheless, this restored city allows the visitors to experience a wide-range of Thai architectural styles enclosed with an array of fossils and wats giving an eclectic mix of feels. Situated 60 km north of Bangkok and within easy reach of Ayutthaya is the illustrious Bang Pa-In Royal Palace. The palace complex was used as a summer dwelling by the Siamese royalty and their consorts.  Also called ‘Bang Pa In Summer Palace’ the park comprises several iconic buildings dotted around a large park and renting an electric cart is a good way to get around, especially on hot days. Coming all the way from Bangkok just for the palace might not be worth the trip but it is a great stop on the way to Ayutthaya. Ayutthaya Historical Park comprises four temples – Wat Phra Ram, Wat Phra Si Sanphet, Wat Mahathat, Wat Ratchaburana – the Royal Palace and Wiharn Phra Mongkol Bophit. Outside of the historical park, the sites are randomly peppered along the west, south and eastern parts of the outer island. Many of the archaeological finds from the ruin sites around Ayutthaya are exhibited at Chao Sam Phraya National Museum, so this is a good place to visit if you are interested to learn more about Ayutthaya’s heritage. Click Here: – Main Attraction of Ayutthaya Historical Park in Tailand

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Visit Grand Palace in Bangkok Tour

Visit Grand Palace in Bangkok Tour As the sun sets, the golden pagodas illuminate the city of Bangkok. A visit to Thailand’s capital without paying a visit to the Grand Palace is similar to that of not visiting Taj Mahal when in Agra. Tucked in the walled-in complex, the Grand Palace is a famous attraction that draws tourists from every corner.                                                   Located on the bank of River Chao Phraya, the complex houses a series of halls, pavilions, wats and other buildings intermixed with sprawlinglawns, impressive courtyards and lustrous gardens. It offers a picturesque setting, perfect to take stunning photographs. The famous attraction in the vicinity is the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, it is located to the left as soon as you enter from the main Visetchaisri Gate. Grand Palace Layout and Orientation The palace complex, like the rest of Ratanakosin Island, is laid very similar to the palaces of Ayutthaya, the glorious former capital of Siam which was raided by the Burmese. The Outer Court, near the entrance, used to house government departments in which the King was directly involved, such as civil administration, the army and the treasury. The Temple of the Emerald Buddha is located in one corner of this outer court. The Central Court is where the residence of the King and halls used for conducting state business were located. Only two of the throne halls are open to the public, but you’ll be able to marvel at the exquisite detail on the facades of these impressive structures. The Inner Court is where the King’s royal consorts and daughters lived. The Inner Court was like a small city entirely populated by women and boys under the age of puberty. Even though no royalty currently reside in the inner court, it is still completely closed off to the public. Click Here : – Visit Grand Palace in Bangkok Tour

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Top Place To Visit In Thailand PHANG NGA BAY

Top Place To Visit In Thailand PHANG NGA BAY A seductive and angelic bay flanked by Phuket, Phang Nga and Krabi, Phang Nga Bay is one of most scenic places to visit in Thailand. Here, the only thing you will feel like doing is to dive into the emerald-green water. Phang Nga Bay is a mere 95 kilometres from the aforementioned places and has a popular island called Khao Phing Kan also known as James Bond Island (as some part of the Bond movie, The Man with the Golden Gun was shot here). One of the prominent scenes in the movie showed a glimpse of a sea stack called Ko Tapu, which now is quite famous amongst tourism. At the bay other attractions to see include aquatic grottoes, limestone caves where you can even kayak and explore the clastic rock ceilings. Highlights Kayak through the caves, islands and cliffs of Phang Nga Bay on this trip from Phuket Explore the surreal geology of Phang Nga Bay, made famous by the James Bond film ‘Man With a Golden Gun’ Navigate inside a ‘Hong,’ an enclosed tidal lagoon surrounded by steep cliffs on all sides Cool off with a swim on a secluded beach Great trip for nature lovers and those looking for outdoor adventure. What You Can Expect Canoe Cave Explorer Tour at Phang Nga Bay This is a unique experience that takes you into the famous Phang Nga Bay. Made famous by the James Bond Movie – Man with a Golden Gun. The newly discovered sea caves and ‘Hongs’ are an exciting feature. Hong is the Thai word for room. These Hongs are open-air cliff-lined cylindrical tidal lagoons connected to the outside world only through stalactite-filled tunnels which were undiscovered until the spring of 1990. Of course, there are many secluded beaches here and this trip would not be completed without visiting one for swimming. Click Here : -Top Place To Visit In Thailand PHANG NGA BAY

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Pattaya Tour Packages

Pattaya Tour Packages When his army arrived in the vicinity of what is now Pattaya, Phraya Tak encountered the troops of a local leader named Nai Klom, who tried to intercept him. When the two met face to face, Nai Klom was impressed by Phraya Tak’s dignified manner and his army’s strict discipline. He surrendered without a fight and joined his forces. The place the armies confronted each other was thereafter known as “Thap Phraya”, which means the “army of the Phraya”. This later became Pattaya, the name of the wind blowing from the south-west to the north-east at the beginning of the rainy season. The Pattaya area of Thailand’s eastern seaboard is host to a beguiling range of attractions. The range includes anything from ancient Thai traditions to modern adventures. You can find the simple pleasures of the nation’s most lively party street or be humbled by unique religious treasures. Explore nature, art, science and culture in ways you would never have imagined. Enjoy the raw beauty of the rainforest canopy or the glitz and glamour of the cabaret stage. Our list of the 10 best attractions in Pattaya is just a sample of the amazing variety you can find in the area. These are the absolute must-see features which every itinerary for every visitor should include. Many of the items on our list are unique in Thailand while some are unequalled in the entire world. They rented several houses at the south end of the beach from a prominent Thai, Lord Sunthorn. Despite their short stay, the soldiers had a great time and raved about the place. The word spread among other American soldiers stationed in the region and Pattaya quickly became a hot alternative to Bangkok. View Package: – Pattaya Tour Packages

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Main Attraction of Dolphin World in Pattaya

Main Attraction of Dolphin World in Pattaya Pattaya Dolphin World situated in the city of Huay-Yai in Pattaya has become one of the city’s greatest amusement venues including Coral Reef Aquarium, Fish Farm, and a research centre. This unique facility has been primarily developed to educate and entertain visitors of all ages while emphasizing the need for the conservation of dolphins and other endangered aquatic species in a safe manner.        The major draw of the facility is undeniably it’s 45 minutes long fantastic performance by dolphins wherein they dance, juggle, paint and even play basketballs.Thinking of visiting the Pattaya Dolphin Show, here’s a selection of photos and video (see below) from the show at the Dolphin World Resort which opened in August 2011. For directions to Pattaya Dolphin World just click on the “location link” at the bottom of this post. The dolphinarium at Pattaya Dolphin World has tiered concrete seating, is roofed, sheltered from the sun and cooled by fans. Commentary is in both Thai and English.The dolphin show lasts about 1 hour, food and drink is available on site. The Pattaya Dolphin World brochure claims many more activities are on site, including BB gun, Airsoft gun, Children’s playground, Fishing park and water park, most of these activities will not be available until mid 2012, best to check first to avoid disappointment. Many dolphin shows and dolphinariums claim that the dolphins used in their show are rescued dolphins, usually after the dolphin supposedly collided with a boat or becoming entangled in fishing nets. Timings: Opens daily from 9 AM to 5 PM.

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Visit Night Bazaar in Pattaya Tour

Visit Night Bazaar in Pattaya Tour Visit the Pattaya Night Bazaar to have a pleasurable shopping experience. Unlike the outdoor markets which become too crowded and hot during the day, Pattaya Night Bazaar offers you the opportunity to shop in the relaxing covered and air-conditioned structure. It is a perfect place to buy souvenirs of your journey or to shop for trendy summer outfits. There are a number of shops inside which sells an assortment of items that you can buy as souvenirs like Thai Crafts, furniture and more. If you are looking for summer wares, you can get a lot of them at a very reasonable price. Whether it is jeans, t-shirts, shorts, tops, hats or scarves, you will find everything here. Pattaya Night Bazaar also sells a number of accessories like scented soaps, shoes and also bags and luggage. It is also known as Made in Thailand Market. Location: Pattaya Second Road, South Pattaya When you are visiting Pattaya Night Bazaar, Pattaya, it is important to have emergency contact numbers to make a safe trip. This page also provides you with a list of nearby pharmacies if you are not feeling well. You will never know when you will need money while travelling in a foreign country and that is why we provide a list of the locations of nearby ATMs and banks. If you are using a car or taxi for transportation, you can take a look at the list of nearby gas stations and parking lots given on this page. If you are planning on using public transport, the page will tell you all about nearby bus stations and railway stations. TripHobo is more than happy to give you the list of lovely homestays and hotels to make your stay comfortable. If you still need more information, you can head to the nearest tourist information centre mentioned on this page. Finding a good restaurant to pamper your taste buds is always hard. But, not when you are using TripHobo! This page will give an elaborate list of places to eat. If you are looking for refreshing drinks, you will find nearest Bars, Hotel Lounges, Jazz and Blues Cafes, Sports Bars, Wine Bars, and Breweries. If you are craving for desserts and coffee, then check the list of places that offer Bagels and Donuts, Bakeries, Cafes, Coffee and Tea Houses, Dessert, Ice Cream Parlors, Juice Bars, and Smoothies. There are plenty of options when it comes to finding places serving quick bites like Delis, Diners, Fast Food, Pizza, Burgers, and Food Trucks. If eating is an elaborate affair for you, then a list of specialty places like Barbecue, Buffets, Seafood, Steakhouses, Vegan, Vegetarian, and International can also be found here.

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