Chiang Mai

Welcom to Chiang Mai (Thailand)

The chedi at Doi Suthep, outside Chiang Mai (Picture form http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiang_Mai)

Chiang Mai is approximately 700 km north of Bangkok among some of the highest mountains in the country, The city stands on the Ping river a major tributary of the Cho Praya river. It has over 300 Buddhist temples .
Example;
Wat Phra Doi suthep , Wat Chiang Man, Wat Phra Singh, Wat Chedi Luang, Wat Ched Yot, Wiang Kum Kam, Wat U-Mong and Wat Suan Dok

Chiang mai's festivals

1. Loi Kratong is a festival celebrated annually throughout Thailand. It is held on the full moon of the 12th month in the traditional Thai lunar calendar, in the western calendar this usually falls into November. ( infromation from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loi_Kratong )

2. Songkran is celebrated every year on 13 April to 15 April. It is also celebrated in Laos (called pi mai lao or 'Lao New Year' in Lao), Cambodia, Myanmar (where it is called Thingyan), and by the Dai people in Yunnan, China. Sri Lanka also celebrates a similar festival called Sinhalese and Tamil New Year on the same dates.
The date of the festival was originally set by astrological calculation, but it is now fixed . If these days fall on a weekend, the missed days off will be taken on the days immediately following Songkran falls in the hottest time of the year in Thailand, at the end of the dry season. Until 1888 the Thai New Year was the beginning of the year in Thailand; thereafter 1 April was used until 1940. 1 January is now the beginning of the year. The traditional Thai New Year has been a national holiday since then. ( infromation from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Songkran )

3. Flower Festival: A three-day festival held during the first weekend in February each year, this event occurs when Chiang Mai's temperate and tropical flowers are in full bloom. The festivities include floral floats, parades, traditional dancing shows, and a beauty contest. ( imformation form http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiang_Mai )

Chiang Mai is a regional centre for a number of activities, including:

Hill-tribe tourism and trekking: A large number of tour companies offer organised treks among the local hills and forests on foot and on elephant back. Most also involve visits to the various local hill tribes. These include representatives from the Akha, Hmong, Karen, and Lisu tribes.
Elephant Nature Park: Approximately 60km north of the city or about one hour drive, the Elephant Nature Park is home to approximately 30 rescued elephants. You can visit the park with options ranging from a day trip to volunteering.
Other outdoor activities: The varied local terrain offers opportunities for mountain biking, elephant riding, bamboo rafting, and kayaking. The area has several golf courses. The nearby national park that includes Doi Inthanon, the highest mountain in Thailand, features many hiking trails.
Shopping: Chiang Mai has a large and famous nightly bazaar for arts, handicrafts, and counterfeit products of all descriptions, and a number of large, well-appointed modern shopping centres.
Thai massage: The back streets and main thoroughfares of Chiang Mai have a variety of massage parlours which offer anything from quick, simple, face and foot massages, to month-long courses in the art of Thai massage.
Local museums: These include the Chiang Mai City Arts and Cultural Centre, the Hill Tribe Museum, and the Chiang Mai National Museum.
Thai cookery: A number of Thai cooking schools have their home in Chiang Mai (see also Thai food) ( information form http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiang_Mai )

Transportation

1. Bus : take approximately 10–12 hours.

2. Plane: receives up to 28 flights a day from Bangkok

3. Train : railway operates 14 trains a day to Chiang Mai Station from Bangkok. Most journeys run overnight and take approximately 12–15 hours.

Accommodation

1. Amari Rincome Hotle : 1 Nimmarnhaeminda Rd., Chiangmai

Tel. (053) 221130, (053)221044 Fax (053)221915

2. Chiang Mai Plazza : 92 Sridonchai Rd., Amphoe Muang, Chiang Mai 50100

Tel. (053)270036-50 Fax (053) 272230, (053)279457

3. Chiang Mai Orchid : 23 Huay Kaew Rd., Amphoe Muang, Chiang Mai 50200

Tel. (053)222091-3, (053)222099 Fax (053)221625

4. Diamond (Petngam) : 33/10 Charoenprathet Rd., Amphoe Muang, Chiang Mai 50100

Tel. (053)273947 Fax (053)273947

5. Felix City Inn : 154 Rajmanka Rd., Amphoe Muang, Chiang Mai 50200 Tel.

(053)270710-6 Fax (053)270709

6. Holiday Inn Green Hill : 24 Super Highway Rd., Amphoe Muang, Chiang Mai 50300

Tel. (053)211226, (053)220100 Fax (053)221602

7. Novotel Chiangmai : 183 Chang Puek Rd., Amphoe muang, Chiang Mai 50300

Tel. (053)225500-4 Fax 225505

Phuket

Amazing Phuket




Looking north from Kata View Point over Kata Noi Beach, Kata Beach and Karon Beach. ( Picture fromhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phuket)



Phuket is the biggest island in Thailand, located in the Andaman Sea off southern Thailand. The island is mostly mountainous with a mountain range in the west of the island from the north to the south. The mountains of Phuket form the southern end of the Phuket mountain range, which ranges for 440 km from the Kra Isthmus. The highest elevation of the island is Mai Thao Sip Song (Twelve Canes), at 529 m above sea level.

Map of Phuket (map from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phuket)

Map of Phuket
70% of the island is covered by forest. The western coast has several sandy beaches, while on the east coast beaches are more often muddy. Near the southernmost point is Laem Promthep (Brahma's Cape), which is a popular sunset viewing point.
In the mountainous north of the island is the Khao Phra Thaeo Non-hunting Area, protecting more than 20 km² of rainforest. The three highest peaks of this reserve are the Khao Prathiu (384 m), Khao Bang Pae (388 m) and Khao Phara (422 m). The Sirinat National Park on the northwestern coast was established in 1981 and protects an area of 90 km² (68 km² marine area), including the Nai Yang beach where sea turtles lay their eggs.

Looking north from Kata View Point over Kata Noi Beach, Kata Beach and Karon Beach.
One of the most popular tourist areas on Phuket is Patong Beach on the central western coast, perhaps owing to the easy access to its wide and long beach. Most of Phuket's nightlife and its cheap shopping is located in Patong, and the area has become increasingly developed. Patong means "the forest filled with banana leaves" in Thai.
Other popular beaches are located south of Patong. In a counterclockwise direction these include Karon Beach, Kata Beach, Kata Noi Beach, and around the southern tip of the island, Nai Harn Beach and Bang Tao Beach. These areas are generally much less developed than Patong, and sought out by individuals, families and other groups with a preference for more relaxed and less crowded environs than Patong.
There are several coral islands to the south of Phuket, the Similan Islands lie to the north west, and Phi Phi Islands to the south east. All the islands are suitable for diving (information from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phuket )