Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai is the land of beauty, warm hospitality and good manners, the land of fascinating, mist-shrouded mountains and fertile valleys ...the land of relig ion with over 1,100 Buddhist temples and the land of Thai arts and handicrafts. An old city of over 700 years, Chiang Mai has rooted its culture so deeply that it has its own dialect, its own architecture, its own costume, its own dances and its own cuisine. Though modernization has crept into this faraway region for decades, Chiang Mai still retains its natural charm and old culture. If you have a chance to visit this tourist paradise, you will understand why people call it "The Rose of the North".

Mountain

Doi Inthanon National Park Most visitors to the park go by car all the way to the summit where to enjoy the cool and fresh air and the magnificent wide view of the entire basin of Chiang Mai. On their way up or down, they can stop to visit three well-known waterfalls of the park, viz. Mae Klang, Wachirathan and Siriphum. Mae Klang is the largest waterfall and the easiest to get to. Just next to the waterfall is Borichinda Cave which has beautiful stalactites and stalagmites and a small stream inside.
There are also vantage points along the road to view the scenic landscape. The most impressive are the Twin Royal Pagodas which contain the Buddha's relics and were built by the Royal Thai Air Force in commemoration of the 60th birthday of Their Majesties The King and Queen in 1987 and 1992 respectively. For nature trekkers and bird watchers, many trails are available, some of which are old routes used by hilltribes. Visiting Doi Inthanon National Park is possible throughout the year, but the best period for viewing the forest is November through February. For accommodation, contact the national park office at Km. 31.
How to get thereThe most convenient way to go to Doi Inthanon is joining a guided tour party. But getting there by yourself is also enjoyable.
Follow Highway 108 from Chiang Mai. At Km. 57 just 1 km. before Chom Thong District, turn right to Highway 1009 for 8 km. to the fork and turn right to the summit. The total distance is 106 km. As some sections of the road are steep, a good car and an experienced driver are needed.
From Chiang Mai town, you may also take a bus to Chom Thong which leaves regularly from just inside the Chiang Mai Gate at the south moat. From Chom Thong, there are regular songthaeos (mini-buses) to Mae Klang Waterfall, where you can take another songthaeo to Doi Inthanon.

Doi Suthep/Doi Pui National Park Covering an area of 262 sq.km., this luxuriant park is home to more than 300 bird species and nearly 2,000 species of ferns and flowering plants. Some hiking trails in the park pass Hmong villages while others lead to a few small waterfalls where local people come for picnicking on weekends. Accommodations are available near the park headquarters. Here are interesting spots in the national park.



Refer: http://www.thaiwaysmagazine.com

Bangkok

Bangkok is the capital city which can be seen as the heart of Thailand. It is the cultural, educational, political and economical center of Thailand, This very highly populated city is currently faced with some unavoidable urban pollution problems in addition to traffic congestion problem like any other large cities. Bangkok is not only the center of tourist attractions in Southeast Asia but also the important city in this region's industrial and financial sectors.

"Suvarnabhumi International Airport", is designated to be the aviation hub in Southeast Asian region which is estimated to be up to 58 million passengers per year in 2008 while the full-scale development of provided plot of land at Nong Ngu Hao with its capacity to accommodate 45 million passenger per year, 76 flights per hour and 3 million tons of cargo per year.

Bangkok is also well known for a lot of canals and rivers that wind in and around the city that have made it famous as "Venice of The East". Bangkok is also the center of transportation in Thailand with major roads and railways branching out to various parts of the country. In Bangkok, numerous beautiful temples can be found featuring traditional Thai architecture. The old sections of Bangkok are immensely popular tourist spots, especially the Royal Grand Palace. Bangkok is an interesting blend of traditional buildings and modern skyscrapers waiting for visitors to discover.

Palace

THE GRAND PALACE
The Grand Palace is a truly amazing architectural construction. It is a large complex covering an area of 218,000 square meters which was built in the early years of Chakkri dynasty.



NATIONAL ASSEMBLY (ANANTASAMAKOM THRONE HALL) This hall was built at the command of King Rama V and Finish in the region of king Rama VI for visiting foreign dignitaries and for state council meetings. The Italian architecture, Tamango; designed it in the Renaissance style.

Temples

WAT PHRA KAEO The Temple of Emerald Buddha , the Upper Terrace, and the Subsidiary Buildings on the north. The point we are at is the Upper Terrace in front of the Prasat Phra Dhepbidorn .

WAT PHO This large and extensive temple neighbours the Grand Palace on Thai Wang Road and houses the very impressive gigantic gold plated reclining Buddha which is some 46 metres long and 15 metres high.

WAT ARUNRATCHAWARARAMRATCHAWORAMAHAWIHAN The prang of Wat Arun on the bank of Ch Phraya River is one of Bangkok 's world-famous landmarks. From a French map of Thonburi made in the reign of King Narai it can be seen that the temple existed when Ayutthaya was Siam 's capital. The temple was formerly known as Wat Makok, and when King Taksin built his palace, he ordered the temple to be annexed to it. The king restored it and renamed it "Wat Jaeng". It was restored again by King Rama II, and renamed "Wat Arunratchatharam". King Rama IV later changed the name to "Wat Arunratchawararam"

Downtown

Siam / Ratchadamri This is the biggest and busiest shopping district in Bangkok which is accessible easily by skytrain. In this area, almost all kinds of goods are on sale, including cloth, clothes, jewellery, handicrafts, books, antiques, etc. Apart from the well-known Central World Plaza (formerly World Trade Center), located here are large department stores, several shopping arcades and countless smaller shops as well as a dozen cinema theatres and mini theatres. So you can satisfy all your needs if you stay in one of over a dozen first-class hotels in the area.

The Pratunam Market next to the Indra Arcade, though not a high-class shopping centre, is worth visiting if you want to broaden your vision and to see more about the ordinary Thai. It is also the market of garments for export.Another interesting place in this area is Baiyoke II Tower, the tallest building in Thailand. The building is 309 metres tall with 2,060 stairs from bottom to top. From the deck on the 77th floor visitors can enjoy the vast panoramic view of Bangkok.


Old Town / Chinatown The old Bangkok town is the original area of Bangkok when it was first established as the capital over 200 years ago. Here are located the Grand Palace, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, two universities and several ministries. The town was formerly surrounded by walls. Now only a few sections of wall are preserved as historic sites. It is from this side of the Chao Phraya River that one takes a boat to visit the Temple of Dawn and the canals nearby. Chinatown is located just to the southeast of the old town. It began to take shape at the same time as the establishment of Bangkok, when the Chinese inhabiting the old town areas were moved outside the city walls. The goldshop street named Yaowarat, and the Temple of the Gold Buddha are in this area. The area around Yaowarat Road is also the best place for Chinese food. You can find hundreds of food sites here ranging from restaurants to pushcarts and sidewalk stalls. Moreover, Hualamphong or Bangkok Railway Station is located near this area, at which a subway station is available.




Refer: http://www.bma.go.th/

KoChang

Ko Chang is in Trat Province, in Eastern Thailand, about 330 kilometers from Bangkok. It is Thailand's second largest island, and the biggest in Ko Chang National Park. With about 5000 permanent residents the island is not heavily populated, but tourism (and development) has increased dramatically over the last few years.

How to get around

Hillside road on the southern part of the islandIn the daytime, you can catch a songthaew on its route around the main road. These taxis are also waiting at the Dan Kao Pier. At the Dan Kao Ferry-Pier there may be no taxis available. If you arrive without a vehicle you may have to walk the 400 metres to Dan Kao Pier.

Small motorcycles can be hired for 150-250B. The main road almost circles the island and there are plans to complete the circuit in the near future. Cars are also available for rental, most hotels can help with it. 4x4 car recommended, since some roads might be in bad condition, especially near Lonely Beach.

View point

• The Mu Ko Chang National Park. A Marine National Park that comprises of Ko Chang and 46 other islands.


• War monument. In the very south of the island there is a war monument being built. As for spring 2005, there was nothing but a small store and an unfinished hotel at the site.


• Waterfalls


• Klong Nonsi waterfall is located at the east side of the island.


• Klong Nueng waterfall has of all waterfalls on Koh Chang the most of everything it is surely the most breathtaking.


• The Thanmayom waterfall is situated near Thanmayom pier on the East-side of the island
  

Activity

• Elephant rides


• Package tours for snorkeling, diving, elephant riding etc. are widely available.


• Thaifun day cruise to southern islands. Relaxing and snorkeling. Very nice crew on board.


• Khlong Plu waterfalls is medium size waterfall within a half a mile walk from parking area.


• Swimming possibility. Entrance fee to park 400 baht.


• Snorkeling and Diving Koh Chang is maybe not the best diving spot in Thailand, but diving around Koh Chang gives some adventurous feeling.
  

Gift

Market stands along the main road. Pretty much the same pirate-products in every stand. Lots of salesmen on the beaches, especially White Sands Beach.

ATMs and 7-Eleven convenience stores can be found alongside the main western coastline road.

Eat

Similar to the rest of Thailand, including the prices. There are many restaurants at the beach open both daytime and evening.

Drink

Beer Chang, if you wish to sample the famous "Changover" the following day.

Refer: http://wikitravel.org/en/Koh_Chang