Ubon Ratchathani Thailand

October 25, 2011 By

If you are on vacation in Thailand and got tired of the beaches and the sales people – constantly addressing you – Ubon Ratchathani is an unstressed and warm experience, and the city has many new and exciting things to give you. Ubon Ratchathani is filled with tourist places. Here you will find parks, waterfalls, monuments, temples, museums and many more.

Ubon has a magnificent culture heritage, and keeps it. Festivals are held year after year and the residents of Ubon Ratchathani put their heart and soul into it. Every year the Ubon candle festival takes place in the city, and everywhere you see the local people work on candle sculptures and preparing for the big parade. Also the Songkran water festival in april is celebrated here. Ubon Ratchathani is one big water park for 3 days when everybody meet downtown the big water fight. A very refreshing experience the hot period where the temperature can go as high as 45 degrees Celsius.

Even though Ubon Ratchathani has preserved its old Thai culture it still is a very modern city. The transport infrastructure is convenient and fast, with both tricycle, tuk tuk, bus and taxi to get you around the city. Ubon is also well connected with every major city in Thailand, using VIP busses, trains and flights. You will find shopping centers, cinema complexes, bowling centers, and many other things that will support a modern lifestyle. Actually the biggest Toyota car dealer in Thailand is placed in Ubon Ratchathani. Well worth a visit too.

Even though the city of Ubon Ratchathani has plenty of historic sites to fill your day, the vicinity of the city also has a lot to offer. Several national parks are only an hour away, offering both beauty and history. The Pha Taem national park alone covers an area of 340 square kilometers. The park history dates back several million years, seen in its rock formations and rock pillars, and it gives a stunning view over the Mekong river.

Next time you want to experience something new and exciting in Thailand, try Ubon Ratchathani.

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Holiday in Haad Rin

October 8, 2011 By

I live in Japan and one of the most commonly heard stated benefits of living in Japan for an ex-pat is the fact that you can take your holidays in Thailand. My wife and I have been doing just that for over 10 years. Each trip to Thailand we try and check out a new beach. This year we decided to give Haad Rin in Koh Phangan a go.

The choice of Haad Rin came about because a friend of ours was going to be in Thailand at the same time and he was keen to go to the Full Moon Party.

After an overnight bus journey from Bangkok followed by 2 hours on a ferry we got to Thongsala in Koh Phangan. Most of the taxis were going to Haad Rin. I had read that it was the most popular tourist place on the island and this was quickly confirmed when we arrived in Haad Rin. The small town was bustling with people. The streets were lined with bars, restaurants and shops. There is a strong commercial feel to Haad Rin compared to the other beaches we’ve visited in Koh Phangan which tend to be just a small collection of bungalow resorts and a couple of shops.

Because it was nearing the full moon we had problems finding a place to stay. Everywhere on Haad Rin Nok beach was full. Eventually, we found a hotel near the quieter Haad Rin Nai beach called Phanganburi Resort and Spa. We got the cheapest bungalow but were still shocked that it cost $125 a night. We were used to paying no more than $30 for bungalows in Koh Phangan.

The main beach at Haad Rin was good. It had soft sand and the swimming was good. The beach tended to get busy in the afternoon. By early evening one of the bars would fire up their sound system to draw the full moon crowds.

The same was the case in the town. There were lots of places offering DJ music, pizzas and happy hours to get the punters in. Despite the wide selection of restaurants in Haad Rin we didn’t find a place that was particularly memorable.

On the night of the party our friend arrived. He couldn’t get a place to stay for love nor money. In the end he just left his stuff in our bungalow and the 3 of us went to the party.

I thought I would hate the Full Moon Party but I ended up quite enjoying it. We found a place playing drum and bass and we stayed there most of the night. It was amusing watching the never ending parade of fluorescent painted bodies dancing, drinking and passing put on the sand. It was hedonistic to say the least.

The next day we checked out and had an argument about ‘minimum stay requirement’. In the end we bargained them down to half the price. The 3 of us took a boat up to Than Sadet and spent a blissful week on a virtually deserted beach. The bungalow was $30 a night.

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My Experience of the Full Moon Party, Koh Phangan

October 3, 2011 By

The Full Moon Party in Koh Phangan is at the top of many young people’s list of ‘must do’ things when they consider their itinerary for a journey to South East Asia. The area is rich in culture and has some of the friendliest people in the world. South East Asia holds Ankor Watt, the Golden Triangle, the Plain of Jars, Bangkok and a superabundance of beautiful natural scenery.

It is thus with a sad fatalism that I speak to 20 somethings starting their tour of S.E Asia and hear them rave with excitement about the prospect of going to the Full Moon Party in Haad Rin.

Yes, I’ve been a couple of times to Asia’s biggest beach party. Normally, I’m dragged along with a group of people keen to experience the crowds and ‘buzz’ of the big event. When you are staying in Koh Phangan unless you stay at one of the remote beaches such as Than Sadet, Haad Khom or Plaay Laem it is hard not to know that a ‘FMP’ is kicking off soon. The whole island seems to brace itself for the invasion of party goers and their cash that the completion of the moon signifies.

In the early days of the Full Moon Party the police largely ignored the event. The crowd at these parties was a good mix of people and the prices for Haad Rin rooms were much more reasonable. With fame comes press attention and inevitably police came from all over Thailand and even the UK to bust hippies on the beach.

Despite the heavy policing of the event all manner of drugs are still taken. Plenty of young people find themselves in a world of expensive trouble because of drug taking at the FMP.

The only constant about the Full Moon Parties has been the music. It remains mostly derivative Goan trance that people in New York and London stopped listening to over a decade ago. Most of the DJs at the Full Moon Party remain a small group of Thais and ex-pats with zero interest in varying the music or getting in big name DJs.

While the FMP is a good night out and a great opportunity to meet new people and go wild on a beach it is not actually a ‘rave’ or music event. It is more an orgy of drunkenness played out to an outdated sound track.

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Guide to Lipa Noi Beaches

October 2, 2011 By

Lipa Noi is a stretch of white sand beach on the west coast of the famous Thai island of Koh Samui. The beach is just south of the principal town of the island, Nathon. Lipa Noi does not have the same international reputation or the number of visitors as such beaches as Chaweng, Lamai and Bophut. It is nevertheless a great beach and ideal for people looking for a quiet beach that is still near plenty of amenities and facilities.

The beach at Lipa Noi is fringed with coconut palms and is suitable for swimming. Unlike other beaches on Koh Samui the seabed is free from dead coral. The sea only gradually gets deeper and so Lipa Noi is a good choice for children. Lipa Noi is blessed with a beautiful sunset over the ocean.

On the beach there are a few resorts, restaurants and bars. At night there isn’t a party scene. The most popular restaurant on the beach is undoubtedly Big John Seafood. People come from all over the island to enjoy the fresh and well prepared seafood.

There are a few mid-range resorts in Lipa Noi all with their own swimming pool that offer rooms with air-con, hot water, TV and fridge. The Little Pearl Family Resort and The Lipa Lovely Resort have rooms starting from $30 a night.

For those looking for luxury there is the Kanok Buri Resort and Spa. It has well appointed private villas some of which feature Jacuzzis and swimming pools. Room rates at the Kanok start at $60 and go up to $500 a night.

Wellness courses are provided by the Samui Dharma Healing Center. This is a center with accommodation that focuses on Buddhist principles, controlled fasting and meditation. For those looking to detox and deepen their understanding of spiritual matters the center is recommended.

Lipa Noi has a tranquil atmosphere perfect for those who want a relaxing beach holiday. And if bright lights or shops are needed then Nathon and its markets and shops is only 10 minutes away by car or motorbike.

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Thailand Vacation Packages Provide A Great Experience

September 13, 2011 By

Thailand really is a very popular and fun Asian holiday location. You will find everything available there ranging from great spots to take your kids on vacation to fairly rigorous and adventurous trekking through some of the hill tribe territories at the north of the country. You will find tour groups located all throughout the country, with the majority being either in the capital city of Bangkok or in the larger at northern city of Chiang Mai. Many tour groups operating from Thailand also offer tours into neighboring countries such as Cambodia, Laos and even Vietnam.

Popular Package Deals
Some of the more popular package deals available include hill tribe trekking tours, family holiday packages, Chiang Mai packages, motorcycle tours, off road adventures and even golfing package holidays. Basically, no matter what type of vacation you enjoy you should be able to find something to satisfy you when visiting Thailand.

Cost of Vacationing in Thailand

Thailand remains one of the cheapest places in Southeast Asia to visit and tour. While the overall standard of living may not be the highest in the world, when it comes to accommodation for tourists you will find that some of the best hotels in the world are located in this country. For example, hotels in the beach resort of Phuket are cheaper than yet as good as the best hotels in Airlie Beach, Australia. The country itself is very much geared towards tourism as they generate a lot of their national income from this trade and as such, they offer great value for money for any tourist visiting. You will certainly find that you get great value for your money in Thailand.

Looking for a Good Tour Company

If you are looking for a reputable company that offers Thailand vacation packages one of the best things you can do is search online and specifically look at different reviews from people who have traveled there. There are many talk companies operating out of Thailand, most of them are reputable and offer good services. When determining what the company has to offer you should look for those who keep their vehicles in good condition, are willing to pick you up from the airport and to have a variety of different tours available.

Four ‘Must See’ Destinations

The four main destinations people usually traveled to while visiting Thailand include Bangkok, Sukhothai, Chiang Mai and Phuket. You will find tours that taking all four locations, or some packages that will just visit one or two spots. Most tour companies also offer daily tours which will take you to different historic locations around Thailand. Some of the favorite historic locations people visit include some very impressive Buddhist temples, the Hill Tribes, their cabarets are phenomenal and they also offer rafting tours as well.

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