Travel, Holiday and Vacation Reviews and Photos from Bars, Restaurants, Hotels, Resorts and Destinations around the World.
Patong Beach Hotels
Sunset at Patong Beach
My first time in Patong Beach was in April 2006, I was here with a friend for holidays. We was staying in the first-class Hotel “Phuket Graceland”. On the two weeks vacation we made what the busiest city on Phuket offer: Party, Party and again Party. Nearly every day we had some Chang Beers at “Rock City” before we was going to the Bangla Road Walking Street in the Heart of Patong. My second time i stayed about one week on my Thailand travel tour with Marius at the “Touch Villa” guest house which we found in our Lonely Planet travel book. We comes from Phuket Town with a Bus, it took us about one hour. Touch Villa offer simple but good rooms with fridge, tv, air-con and hot water for backpacker prices. Many traveler make a stop in this hostel on their Southeast Asia travel tour.
Hotel Phuket Graceland
At the “Bangla Road” there are many discos, pubs, massage shops, restaurants and Thai Girl Bars. Many male tourists from Europe and America come here for cheap sex with young Thai girls. Young means a bit over 18. It looks straight when the old sex-tourists walk at long the beach with the young bar girls. But if you stay longer here it becomes normal in this abnormal city in Thailand. At daytime the Th Bangla sleep, when the sun goes down the walking street wake up! The neon light is the sunrise of Patong on Phuket. Loud Music, thousands prostitutes and drunken tourists dominate the picture of Patong City at night.
Th Bangla Road
But Patong offer more than Sex, Drugs and Rock n Roll! I did my Padi Open Water Diver here. The Open Water is the first scuba diving license of the Padi education System. I did it in 3 days, the first day was just theory and swimming pool. In the pool we did some underwater diving skills. On the second day I did my first Open Water Dive in the Andaman Sea at Patong Bay. All in all i did four dives during my Padi Open Water. On day three we did three dives. The dive sites was: Banana Bay, Bungalow Bay and The Home Run Bay at Racha Yai. I did my Padi license whit the “Scuba Cat” Dive School at Patong Beach.
My first Beer Chang
This city is for shure not a typical backpacker or traveler destination. But if you decide to stay here plan a bit more money than on your other travel destinations because Patong is expansive compared to other regions of Thailand. From here we took a bus to Phang Nga.
"Papa 2000"
On the way from Ranong to Petchaburi we took a travel stop for two nights at Chumphon in Thailand. Our plan was to stay one night at the “Easy Divers” guest house. More guest houses in Chumphon you will find in your Lonely Planet Southeast Asia. At the first evening we go for dinner at the Kaew Sukiyaki Restaurant. After we look a bit around in the city. Than we found a Thai-Disco. The “Papa 2000″ had a life show so we was staying till the end and we was not able to wake up next morning to reach the bus to our next destination. The second evening we was on the Chumphon Night market to catch some Thai Food. Before we took the bus from the bus terminal we had a good backpacker Breakfast at the “Farang Bar”. Chumphon had not much to offer for us. We saw already many temple and cities in Thailand. After a while everything looks similar to other places when there is nothing really special.
Night Market
But still Chumpon is a good stop for traveler and backpackers on the way up to north or central Thailand.
Thailand Hotels booking system.
Chinese Temple
During our Thailand travel tour 2006 Marius and me was in Phang Nga in the south of the Kingdom. We stayed at the Thawisuk guest house. The price for a doble room with fan was 150 Thai Baht for two persons. At this Hostel is nothing special, a bed, a window and thats it. But for 150 Thai Baht the Thawisuk is one of the cheapest guest houses in Phang Nga Town and a good address for backpackers and travelers. More accommodations you can find in the Lonely Planet Guide for Thailand or Southeast Asia. We travel here from Phuket by public Bus. The Hostel is just a short walk from the Bus Terminal. The landscapes here in this city in Thailand are dominated by chalk rocks and tight forests. It’s a nice view when the mountains catch the clouds.
Phang Nga City
We come here to visit the Sa Nang Manora Forest Park a bit out of Phang Nga Town. Here you will find a small river who flow slowly thru the jungle. The water pass many small waterfalls and rattan palms. The way threw the Sa Manora Park is a normal jungle way how you can find in many National Parks in Southeast Asia. The entry to the Forest Park was free, we just had to pay for the taxi. The best way to travel here is with a Motorbike because in lowseason its difficult to get a taxi back to Phang Nga Town in Thailand.
Phang Nga Forest Park
From here we traveling to Ranong by public 3th class bus the travel turn took us about five hours. Phang Nga is a nice and quiet city with many untouched nature. I can recommend this town for one or two days stop for traveler and backpacker in Thailand. For more Informations about Hotels, guest houses and Restaurants read your Lonely Planet travel book.
Thailand Hotel booking here.
This photo Serial shows Pictures from colorful marine life in warm tropical sea water. All pictures i did with my Casio Digital Camera Ex-Z 1000 on Scuba Dives in Southeast Asia. If you have any questions about diving just sent a email to me.
Lionfish
Tulamben – Bali – Indonesia
Vase Coral
Marine National Park – Koh Chang – Thailand
Manta Ray
Nusa Penida – Bali – Indonesia
Humphead Parrotfish
Iron Cape – Pulau Perhentian – Malaysia
Anemonefish
Pulau Langkawi – Malaysia
A Fish School
Koh Phi Phi – Thailand
Mantis Shrimp
Nusa Penida – Bali – Indonesia
Sugar Wreck
Perhentian Islands – Malaysia
Leaf Scorpionfish
Chrystal Bay – Bali – Indonesia
For more Picture Serials click here.
Here you get travel Reports and Pictures from Southeast Asia.
Phuket Hotels
Sunset at Phuket Town
Marius and I was coming, on our Travel Tour 2006 with the ferry from Phi Phi Island. When we arrived we took a taxi from the pier to the On On Hotel in the center of Phuket Town which we found in our Lonely Planet Thailand travel book. The On On Hotel was coulisse for the movie “The Beach” with L. Di Caprio. This old Chinese guest house have a good choice of fan rooms with own and share bathrooms. We paid in 2006 300 Thai Baht for a room with a toilet per night. On the reception you can book tours and transport to many destinations in Thailand and southeast Asia.
Oplation table from a Buddhist Temple
The most of the tourists who come here are coming for a day trip from the busy beaches of Phukets west coast. The public busses leaving from the Bus terminal in Phuket City to all touristic beaches on Thailands biggest island. The public bus to the International Airport on Phuket start here as well. The most tourists and backpacker come for shopping on the market or in the Robinson Ocean Plaza shopping mall. We stayed her two nights and was watching some sights. Close to the On On Hotel in Thailand is the Chinese Shrine of the Serene Light. It’s a small shrine with many flair. Like every Chinese temple this shrine in Phuket Town is decorated with many dragons and other holy statues.
Chinese Temple
On our last day here at this city in southeast Asia we walked up to the top of a hill near the center of Phuket Town. From here we had a nice view over the city to the andaman sea. The Capital of the Thailands biggest city offer many posibilities for shopping, i can recoment a visit to this City in southeast Asia for all people who are bored of the buisy beaches on the west side of this island. The Center have many point of interesting and beautiful Chinese Temples. The posibilities for dinner and activities are nearly endless over here compared to other cities in Thailand. For all backpackers and travelers who stay on the island it´s a good stop to relax from the trouble on the rest of Phuket in the Andaman Sea.
Koh Phi Phi Don
2006 Marius and I visited on our Thailand travel tour the island Koh Phi Phi in the Andaman Sea. This beautiful island belongs to Thailand’s Krabi province. My first time on this Island was in April 06 when I was on holidays at Phuket. Here at Koh Phi Phi are two islands. Ko Pi Pi Leh and the habitat island Koh Phi Phi Don. On Ko Leh are no guesthouses, resorts or hotels. Just some rangers of Thailand’s Marine National Park living here in tents. The only constant habitats are the monkeys, snakes, spiders and birds. Phi Phi Leh is famous for Maya Bay which is the amazing beach from the American movie “the Beach” with Leonardo Di Caprio. This beautiful Asian spot you can reach easy by speedboat from the pier on Phi Phi Don.
Monkeys on Ko Phi Phi
The island is nearly perfect for water activities like scuba diving and snorkeling. In the small village are many scuba dive centers who offer dive trips to the marine national park. I did here two fun dives with “South Siam Divers”. The service and the food on board of this luxury dive boat were excellent and the crew had an open ear for all questions. On my first dive we were at the “Bida Nok” dive site were we seen a leopard shark and a sea turtle. The scuba dive was 45 minutes long and my maximum deep was 25 meter. The second dive site was “Bida Nai”, here we was 48 minutes on 20 meters. On the 2nd dive spot we saw allot of colorful marine life. The visibility was not that nice, we had about 8 meters on the first and 10 meters on the second dive here at the Koh Phi Phi National Park in Thailand.
Leopard Shark
Maya Bay is amazing but the other beaches on the island are as well beautiful but a bit busy. The archipelago is one of the most visited destinations in southeast Asia. Two years after the tsunami 2004 the most hotels and resorts was already rebuild. We were staying on the quiet Hat Yao beach in the Phi Phi Paradise Perl Resort. This resort offered for 400 Thai Baht a massive room with fan and an own bathroom. The restaurant offer delicious sea and Thai food. The balcony of this resort is direct on the Andaman Sea with view on Koh Phi Phi Leh. Our second night we spent as well on the Hat Yao beach but in the “Phi Phi Long Beach” guest house. The small beach huts with own Toilet and shower was 300 Baht per night. This beach is much quieter than the Hat Hin Khom beach in the AoTon Sai bay.
Landscapes of Koh Phi Phi Don
From the Ton Sai village there is no real way to the Had Yao paradise beach. If you want to stay on this or on the Hat Ranti beach you have to climb thou the jungle or the easier way is by a long tail boat from the main pier. The Thai fisherman’s bring you for small money from the Ton Sai village to the beaches on the east coast of this tropical Island in Thailand. The highlight was the scuba diving and the sunset behind the chalk mountains. The landscapes on Koh Phi Phi are unique! Visit this beauty destination in Thailand. For more information about this tropical archipelago read the Lonely Planet for Thailand or southeast Asia.
Sunset on Phi Phi Island
The Islands at Krabi province count to the beauties I ever saw and it’s one of the “must see” destinations for every traveler or backpacker. For people who want to do beach holiday, Pi Pi Don offer a great choice of high-class hotels with swimming pool and everything what you need on vacations.
Koh Phi Phi Hotel deals
Picture of Koh Tao
In 2006 Marius and I was during our south Thailand travel tour on Koh Tao. We come by ferry from Koh Samui to this Island in the Gulf of Thailand. Ko Tao is one of the most popular diving destinations in southeast Asia. Our first station was at the north of this tropical island. On the Leam Nam Tok you don’t have any street and no electric. We choose the CFT Here and Now guest house. This hostel is direct in the tight jungle. When we arrived it was about 4 pm. We bring our back bags in our bungalow and go back to the restaurant of this small possibility to stay. From the balcony of these simple huts we had a really nice view to the small island Ko Nang Yuan. For swimming it’s not the best place, the way to the water is difficult to walk. You have to climb over big squeeze rocks.
Cancers at north Koh Tao
After two nights we traveled to the south of Koh Tao. Here are many tourists and it’s croudy. Many scuba diving schools are located here on the Ao Chalok Ban Kao. On this beautiful but busy beach we were staying in the “Sunset” Guesthouse. We paid here 500 Thai Baht for two people in a good wooden bungalow with fan and sea view. On our balcony we had a hang mate where I was sleeping once under a mosquito net. Here it was windy because it was close to the sea.
The Sunset Restaurant
I did here my first two fun dives ever. I choose the Scuba Shack dive school. The service was ok and the divemaster was friendly. The dive sites where I have bin was Ao Leuk and Rocky Bay. First we decide to go to the shark point dive site, but the current was to strong and the Gulf of Thailand was too wavy. Our visibility was around 10 – 12 meters of this day. On the way back to the “Sunset” Guesthouse we enjoyed the nice view over the sea from a view point close to the Ao Chalok Ban Kao. In the evening we had dinner at our hostel, the restaurant offered Thai and Farang Food for a good price and in a nice atmosphere. The balcony of the Sunset Restaurant is direct on the sea and you can listen to the ocean sound.
View Point Koh Tao
After some days we traveled back to the mainland by a night boat. The ferry brings us direct to the pier from Surat Thani. From here we took a public bus to a small village in Thailand. The name of this small southeast Asian city is Sichon.
Clouds in the Mountains
On our Thailand travel tour 2006 we visited Ranong to see the mineral hot springs. This city is the home of about 30000 Thai people. We was coming by bus from Phang Nga.The turn with a public bus 3th class took us about five hours. I our Thailand Lonely Planet we found the “Spa Inn” hotel direct on the highway. This hotel took the water direct from the Ranong mineral hot springs in the bathtub of our hotel room. It was nice to have a hot bath after about one month low budget traveling.
Mineral Hot Springs
For eating we was mostly in the Springs Guest House. The owner from Australia offer good breakfast. The first evening we was searching for the Chuan Aksam Bookshop in the city, we walked and walked threw the center of Ranong but we don’t found. This evening we was eating a great sandwich near the Th Phoem Phon road. On the next day we walked along hills with tight jungle on. The big trees cached the clouds. A beautiful view! On the way from our guesthouse to the springs we pass a big Buddha statue in the mountains.
Buddha at Ranong
The 65C degrees hot water from the springs come out of earth near the Khlong Hat Sompaen river. The locals believe that the water from the mineral springs is holy and care many sicknesses. Here we was the only farang tourists who are traveling through Asia. Many Thais from all provinces come in usual on weekend here to clean them self with the holy water. Near the springs are many restaurants guesthouses and hostels. For more information about possibilities to stay in Ranong look in the Lonely Planet travel book or ask at any booking office in Ranong. If you are a scuba diver than don’t miss a diving trip to the Burma banks. You can book small liveabord tours from two days in nearly every guest house. The price was in 2006 for two days on a diving boat with full scuba equipment and divemaster or Padi instructor about 200 USD. From here we traveled after two nights at the “Spa Inn” to Chumpon in north direction. This spot in southeast Asia is good for every Backpacker or travelers who want to do a short break on the way up the north. Ranong is nothing special but still it’s a nice city in Thailand with flair.
Thailand Hotel Reservations.
Travel from Surat Thani to Samui
The island Koh Samui belongs to the Kingdom of Thailand in southeast Asia. Many tourists, backpacker and travelers come here every year for holiday. I was here with a friend from Germany on our Thailand travel tour in 2006. We was staying at the “New Hut” guest house on Hat Lamai Beach in the south of the island. The hostel is direct on the beach with view over the Gulf of Thailand. The main Beach on Ko Samui is the Hat Chaweng Beach in the north east. Here are many guesthouses, hotels and resorts. The island is busy compared to other islands like Koh Chang. But still many people enjoy here the tropical Asian sun. Hat Chaweng have many possibilities to go out, eat or relax on a hotel pool.
New Hut Guest house
At New Hut we meet some travelers from Australia and Europe. One evening we took a taxi to a Reggae Pub in the north at the main beach. It was nice but we was happy that we don’t stay at the Chaweng holiday village with many Bars, Restaurants and Souvenir shops. We took a ferry from Surat Thani to the Na Thon Pier. There waiting many taxis who bring you to every place on the island, like everywhere in Thailand is is easy here to find transport. Once we was visiting the Nam Tok Na Muang Waterfall. This Waterfall is easy to reach by taxi. The taxi driver took you out about 500 meter away from the fall.
Na Muang Waterfall
From here it’s a pleasant walk threw the jungle of Koh Samui. The water falls down from about 80 meter in a natural Pool where you can swimming. If you want you can climb up next to the fall to see nice jungle pools with many crabs and fishes on top from the Na Muang. Many butterfly’s let you feel like in paradise. Many people decide to make a Padi diving course. The most scuba schools here in the gulf of Thailand go to dive sites around Koh Tao and in the Ang Thong Marine National Park. In 2006 a Padi Open Water Diver Course cost about 10000 Thai Baht. For fun diving with a boat it was 3000 Baht per day (two dives). The diving in the Koh Samui area is famous for black tip reef sharks and whale sharks in the season. The prices are mostly including pick up from your hotel or guest house and full scuba dive equipment.
Buffalo on Ko Samui
We was leaving from Samui from the pier on the big Buddha beach to Koh Tao. We enjoyed Koh Samui in the Gulf of Thailand. It’s busy but still here are some nice areas to relax. Our highlight was for sure the huge Waterfall in the heart of the beautiful island under the sun of Siam.
Koh Samui Hotels and Accommodation
