Pulau Langkawi has everything you need on vacation: crystal clear water, blonde sand, tight jungle and tropical weather! The Malaysian archipelago of Langkawi comprises 99 tropical islands.
Pulau Langkawi
In the middle of 2007 I was staying at the Gecko guesthouse at the Pantai Cenang Beach. At Pantai Cenang are many options to stay, I get on Penang a recommendation for this hotel with easy rooms for 15 Ringit per night including a fan and shared bathroom.
Gecko Guesthouse
Many Asians of Japan and South Korea spent their holidays here in the straits of melaka. Langkawi Island is easy to reach by ferry from Kuala Perlis and from Pulau Penang where I was coming from. The ferry stop on a pier with many duty free stores and a big eagle statue who invite you to this tropical Paradise Island. ATM´s are widespread and for dinner you can find many traditional Asian restaurants. My highlight on this island in Southeast Asia was the Pulau Payar Marine Park of Malaysia. Here the black tip reef sharks come till the beach and I feed them with fish.
Black Tip Shark on the beach
The scuba diving over here is expansive; i paid about 80 USD for two dives at the National park included the admission fee. The East Marine Scuba Dive School gave me a lunch packed with some food and one bottle with one pint of drinking water. To less for a long diving day. We had 8liter tanks and my buddy used allot of air, so we come up every dive after about 40 minutes. But the conditions for scuba diving was perfect. We had about 20 meters visibility at 28 degrees water temperature. The first dive I did on the “Shark Point” which isn’t just a name. We saw many reef sharks and a nice reef dominated of hard corals with colorful marine life. The second dive spot was “Coral Garden”. Here at this shallow area of six meters are allot of beautiful soft corals protected of the National park.
Bat Fish on Langkawi
Here on Pulau Langkawi it isn’t a problem at all to travel with English. Nearly every Malaysian local speak the European language perfect what isn’t normal here in Southeast Asia. This Island is perfect for holidays but a bit to busy for backpacker and travelers. After 3 nights I was leaving by ferry and bus to the other side of Peninsular (west Malaysia). Kota Baru was my destination for one night. On the next morning I was traveling from this north Malaysian town to Pulau Perhentian in the South China Sea.
Middle 2008 i was with Moun in her hometown near Nong Han in Thailands Udon Thani province. We was starting on Koh Chang and going first to Korat to get the bus to Udon Thani in north east Thailand. The life here in this small farmer village is simple. Realy simple! The drinking water comes from the heaven and the water for shower and toilet out of a underground spring. Here you feel like back in the past. The most people eat the rice who grow up on the own field.
Ricefields near Udon Thani at Isaan
Every morning i woke up at about 6 o´clock of the chicken. Many people from Isaan (northeast Thailand) have chicken for eating or they have them for cock fighting. When the cocks fight to each other they have blades on they feeds. The fight is over when one animal are dead. Here in northeast Thailand the supermarkets are rare and unpopular anyways. Isaan people buy here thinks like meet, vegetables and clothes at the market. One time i needed a ATM, the next was around 40 minutes with the motorbike through rice fields in Nong Han. The life is on the street and everyone knows everyone. The people stand up in the morning and bring the kids to school, after they make thinks like washing clothes with the brush, cooking food or just sitting on the street and speak with the naibors or take a nap. The landscapes are mostly flat, just some mountains you can see on the horizon. Here at Isaan in the Udon Thani province the landscapes are dominated of ricefields with buffalows on. In the kitchen everythink work without electricity but not without cole or wood.
Kitchen in asia
The food is easy, some sticky rice with vegetables and meet, papaya salad or rice with egg on wood cooked over fire. I enjoyed the food, its tasty because everything is fresh and really healthy because everything is natural. For me it was the first time here at Isaan, so time for me to say hello to Mouns parents. They kill a chicken and maked “Nam Tok Kai” with is chicken with chilly and herbs. The sticky rice what you eat together with the chicken comes fresh from the fields. Everyone who say rice don´t have taste have to try fresh one! It´s delicious! To this event nearly the hole village comes and we was sitting on the ground, eat and drink together, and the people speak and laugh. We was like V.I.P. guests this evening and was sitting on the head of this round. All people witch i meet was friendly and always someone cheers with a beer. The habitats of this village in southeast Asia say like everywhere in Thailand Chock Dii what means good luck before drinking.
Cows at Isaan in Thailand
From while to while some cows pass the sandstreets folow by a thai farmer who bring his animals back to home. One time i was going with Moun to Udon Thani city to buy something. The province capital is not really different as all other cities in Thailand. Traffic, fumes, many people and one shopping center with a KFC. Udon Thani is near the border to Laos, so the Isan language is the same as in Laos. But everybody speak Thai aswell. With English to communicate is hard because nearly nobody speak it. Some people speak two or three words like hello or how are you, but if you answer they don´t understand. So i was really happy to have my girlfriend with me not just for translations. Everywhere i come everybody was looking to me because white people from the west are rare. Many Isaan people try to speak and help the travellers but it´s difficult because of the leanguage barrier.
Landscape near Udon Thani in northeast Thailand
This part of Isaan is beautiful and quiet nearly everyday i was sitting on the way and reading a book and nothing disturb me. Northeast Thailand especially this small village i will never forget because of the relaxed atmosphere and the nice people. The walking on the lonely path are nice and you can forget everything while watching some buffalo’s on the neon green rice fields. This part of southeast asia is special, don´t miss the Isaan on your Thailand traveling tour! The Lonely Planet travel book will help you to come here and find the right accommodation on this adventure trip.
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Longbeach Pulau Kecil
The Perhentian Islands, composed of Pulau Besar (besar = big) and Pulau Kecil (Pulau = Island, Kecil = small). I call it paradise Island because of the turquoise-blue water from the south china sea and the perfect white sand at longbeach on the small island. There are no streets, no high rises and no ATM´s on this beautiful Pulau at north Malaysia near Kota Baru. The tight jungle start direct where the beach ends and the coralreefs begin when you stay 5 meters in the warm clear sea. I was staying at Long Beach on Pulau Perhentian Kecil in the Lemon Grass Chalet. The beach is around 250 meter long and you can find some small guesthouses two small restaurants with local and western food. Spice Divers have a monopol here on this amazing beach in southeast Asia. The scuba diving is fantastic here! I saw nearly every dive sharks and turtles. The highlight was a Humphead Parrotfish school at “The Iron Cape”. About 50 colosses up to 2 meters around, under and over me, amaizing! One dive with a 12L aluminium tank and full equitment was 80 Malaysian Ringit. From the beach the small boat can reach nearly every divesite in about 10 minutes and you go out every time for one scuba dive. Maximum time here by Spice Divers is one hour or 50 bar.
Humphead Parrotfishs
On Pulau Perhentian Kecil there are more or less just easy backpacker chalets. If you want to have more comfort Pulau Besar will offer you some options with international standart. I recomment the Lemon Grass Chalets or the small huts of Spice Divers. For more options look inside your Lonely Planet travelbook. The “Padi Golden Palm Resort” Spice Divers have beautiful beach terass where you can chill, hang around, meet people and of course book scuba diving for small money. A Padi Open Water Diver for example was 800 Ringit. The exelent dive sites are widespread. The “Sugar Wreck” offer good scuba wreckdiving and with “The Temple of the Sea” Perhentian have a great and intact multilevel reef for beginners and advanced divers.
Seaturtle at Pulau Perhentian
If you want to come to this beautiful part of southeast asia in Malaysia you can fly over Kuala Lumpur to Kota Baru. From the airport to the pier are driving minibuses. The ferry need about 1,5 hours till you arived in paradise. With small taxi boats you can visit other beaches for example to watch small seaturtles by the first challenge of their live. The run to the sea is dangerous for the baby turtles because the seabirds wait allready for this nature spectacle. On Perhentian Islands you can find what you eccept of total beach life, allday you will meet every traveler at least two times. You will meet people easy for play beach volleyball, go for dinner or dive with tham. This islands of Malaysia are a tropical dream, take some books and visit Pulau Kecil. The best way to enjoy this marine nationalpark: let your watch and mobile on the mainland and relax on this white beach in a heangmatte direct on the south china sea. The fee for the “Taman Laut Malaysia” (Marine Park) was 5 malay ringit witch is abaut 1,5 US.
Pulau Perhentian Kecil
My result for Perhentian Islands: A “must to go” for all travelers and backpackers in Malaysia and south Thailand. I never saw something like that before, just amaizing! I hope the goverment take care of this perl of Asia to keep the spirit on this beautie small island. This archipelo should be perfect for honeymoon, dive holidays or to come down while traveling. On this trip my Lonely Planet travelguide southeast Asia was my follower and give me good tips where to stay and what to watch in this great islam country.
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Koh Chang belongs to the Trad province and has about 5000 habitats. I´m one of tease lucky ones, since four years i living here on the island in the northern Gulf of Thailand. It´s the fastest growing tourist and backpacker area in Thailand. Every year from October to February the tourists and traveler come from all around the world here to our island. The most are Europeans like Swedish, dutch, France and Germans but the Russians coming more and more like everywhere in world. My First time on Ko Chang was in 2006 and it was love on the first view! I enjoy here the easy island life and while high season i work as a Divemaster. The area around Koh Chang belongs to the “Mu Koh Chang National park” and is perfect for scuba diving. That means the reefs and the jungle should be protected by law, should be… But still we have here one of the most intact jungle in southeast Asia. And compared to other regions the underwater world and the reefs are in a acceptable situation. Another nice destination is the Wat Klong Prao Temple on the west coast of Chan Island in Thailand.
Jungle "Pool" on Tham Mayom Waterfall
The options what to do on Koh Chang (elephant island) are nearly endless. I can give you just a cut of the attraction’s what we have here. The main attractions on Koh Chang are: scuba diving, round flights, tree top adventure (challenges in the jungle), jungle trekking, snorkeling and of course elephant riding. I recommend the “Ban Kwan Chang” elephant camp because the owner give the money to projects in north Thailand where they bring elephants back in the wild jungle.
Elefant at Ban Kwan Chang
Jet ski and stuff like this they don´t have and they don´t want to have! Here you can still relax on the beach. For the girls: nobody want to see you in a string or without a bikini top!!! It´s too bad that i have to write but allot people don´t respect that part of Thai culture. If you want to lie half nude on the sands, go to Pattaya or to Phuket and not to Ko Chang!! As swell we have some waterfalls but actually in high season they don´t have that much water, it´s better to visit them during the rain time from April to September. The most travelers going to the “Nam tok Klong Plu” or to the “Nam tok than mayom” witch is my favorite. If you go there don´t forget swimsuit if you want to swim in a natural pool in front of the waterfalls.
Every time when i come with the taxi from the ferry the half of the people even don´t know witch beach on Koh Chang they want to stay, so i hope i can give some options where to stay.
Fishermans house at Klong Son
Where to stay on Koh Chang is a difficult question, anytime people ask me this question. My answer is always: what do you accept from your holidays? The possibilities reach from 100 baht for a windy beach hut with atmosphere to 20000 Thai baht per night for a first class luxury apartment.
Chinese style temple at Klong Son
If you come from the ferry and catch a taxi the first village is Klong Son, here are some hotels, resorts and restaurants but Klong Son haven´t that much tourists than other beaches. The follow list shows just the most visited beaches of Koh Chang, for more information visit this homepage.
White Sand Beach (Had Sai Khao)
White Sand Beach is the most popular beach on the Island. The beach is nearly white and you can relax on the sands or cool down in the warm Gulf of Thailand. Here You can find everything what you need during your holidays. On the main road there are many luxury hotels, boutique resorts, restaurants, tour booking offices, bars and souvenir shops. The most hotels here at white sands are family resorts with air condition and swimming pool. My recommendations are KC Grande, Alina Resort and Tantawan Bungalows witch is direct on the beach next to Tapas Bar with a good atmosphere. The restaurants serve farang and Thai food, in the evening there is sometimes live music.
White Sand Beach
The best location for live music is Oodies place in the north of the beach near cookies resort. Another option is Sabay Bar Disco witch open at 9pm till late in the night. Here you can dancing, make party or meet people. You can sit on the beach and smoke a Indian shisha with fruit tobacco. In south of Had sai kao there is a bar complex with many “girlie bars”. The people from Chang island call it “little Pattaya”. You can flirt with Bar girls, play free pool or just drink some Chang beers. Couples are welcome. White sand beach is the right choice for young people who will go out in the evening. Many families prefer had sai khao because of the good offer on high class hotels and restaurants from all around the world. Here on white sands you can find the biggest steak of Koh Chang, with one point two kilos “buffalo bill steak house” offer the biggest meat loaf here on the island. If you eat everything you get a free t-shirt from the Swedish owned steak house. Many Scandinavian people go here to buy Swedish salted candies. The most travelers on white sands come from Scandinavian and west Europe. This is the busiest beach on the elephant island, but some people like to have entertainment at holidays, for this traveler is Had Sai Kao the right option.
Chai Chet
Chai Chet is between white sands beach and Klong Prao. Here you find some hotels on a quiet beach and fire shows at the beach bars and restaurants in the evening. The small center have everything what you need, a good choice of Thai and international restaurants, Thai massage shops, Internet Cafes, supermarket and some cocktail bars at the Koh Chang Plaza. The beach look with the many coconut palms like what you expect from a tropical beach in Thailand. From Chai Chet cape you have a nice place to watch the colorful sunset on the horizon of the Gulf of Siam at the Cape. Chai Chet is a good option for people who like it quiet but don´t want to miss the luxury and food from home. Here are many families, couples and honeymoon tourists.
Klong Prao Beach
Here i´m living, for me the beautifulest village on Koh Chang because of the quiet tropical beach with coconut trees and the good choice of bungalows and hotels. On Klong Prao Beach you can find from windy beach huts till 5star resorts everything what you like. The only think is that there is not a real center but with a scooter witch you can rent nearly everywhere or with a taxi its 5 minutes to Kai Bae or 10 minutes to Chai Chet. Here i was living 1.5 years direct on the beach at Thale Bungalows.
Party at Thale Bungalow
This was really the paradise on earth. The small Beach Huts was handmade from bamboo and a good choice for backpackers and people who like adventure. At Thale Restaurant they served good Thai food for a good price. At least two time per week here you found live music on a perfect beach. The question where to stay on Koh Chang don´t was any question for me when i saw Thalé Bungalows! But now the contract of the rented land is expired and Siri the owner have now new bungalows named Stone Free Bungalows at Pai in north Thailand. But still you can find some nice and easy bungalows on the beach, Tiger Hut is one of these. My restaurant recommendation’s are Yummy Hut, Nids kitchen on the main road and Baracuda Restaurant direct on the beach with a good view for the sunset.
Sunset from Klong Prao Beach
Both serve Sea- and Thai food, the prices are cheap for that what you get and the Thai owners are friendly and will invite you with a smile. Big Elk steak house on the road offer a good mix of Thai and Farang food and nice cheap wood bungalows with a swimming pool for a fair price. Here you can come in the evening for good food, good friends and good atmosphere. Every 1st and 15st here at big elk you have the “Chang Spirit Party”, enjoy by a Chang beer the rhythms of reggae, blues and rock n roll. The Chang Spirit Foundation helps to protect the nature on Koh Chang and bring Thai locals and foreigners closer together. Join this party and support this foundation to keep the nature on Ko Chang. Klong Prao Beach is for everybody who like it quiet and relax in holidays. Here you can lie on the beach or inside a hang mock to read a book or watch the beautiful sunset of Thailand‘s third biggest island!
Colorful sunset at Klong Prao
Kai Bae Beach
The village Kai Bae is a good option for couples, families and people who stay longtime over winter. Scuba diving schools, Internet Cafes, restaurants, supermarkets and souvenir shops are just some of the bright offer that Kai Bae have. Don´t miss a Thai massage at north Kai Bae near the KB Clinic at “Smai Burapa Beauty and Massage”. The possibilities to stay are endless, It starts with small beach huts like “Siam Cottage” go over the Sea Breeze rooms with comfort and style and ends with first class hotels like “The Chill”. In a suit with sea view at The Chill you can spent comfortable Thailand honeymoons or deluxe beach holidays. Hotels and Resorts are widespread on this honeymoon and vacation village. There are some bungalows who offer special prices for long stay tourists like the “Kai Bae Beach Resort” direct on white sand for around 5000 Baht per month. Many good Restaurants like “Sawadee Seafood” offer Thai food. There are as well allot of international restaurants like “O2″, “Jungle View” or “Oodies brothers” witch offer meals in European and western style. Oodies is famous for live music, every evening you can listen to Rock, Blues and Love Songs. The street invite for walking or shopping in the evening. Kai Bae Beach is much more quiet than White Sands but here are nearly the same kind of shops instead of the discos and the Nightlife on Koh Chang in Thailand. “Kai Bae Hut Speedboats” bring tourists for small money to a lonely island named “Koh Yuak” for snorkeling and relaxing. Direct after the 7eleven at the south end you can walk up a way to the jungle and a small but nice waterfall. Drink the best fresh coffee on Koh Chang at “Mochacchino” with a crispy salami baguette from “Papa” bakery and see how easy the life can be in this sleepy and familiar tourist village.
Lonely Beach (Had Tha Nam)
This beach is´t lonely anymore but still it´s number one of many backpackers. Nearly all travelers come to Lonely Beach because of the cheap huts and the bucked party’s at “Treehouse“, Joy Cottage, Stone Free Bar or Ting Tong Bar. In the center are many options to go out and rest. To meet people from all over the world is easy. Compared to other villages the resorts are rare, there are some but the backpacker huts, bungalows and guest houses dominate the city. The atmosphere of this village remember a bit of the 60s.
Lonely Beach near Nature Beach Resort
The most visited Bars at nighttime are “Treehouse” and “Nature Beach Resort”. At Treehouse you can sit direct over the water and drink some beers, meet open minted people or just read a book in your hang mock. At Ting Tong Bar (crazy bar) playing some solo artists live music till late in night. But my absolute favorite for live music and go in the evening to meet open minded people is the Stone Free Bar. Here at lonely beach you will forget the time! Feel a touch of the late 60´s at the Woodstock of Koh Chang.
Bang Bao Fisherman village
Pier at Bang Bao
Bang Bao is a small fisherman village build on a pier over the Gulf of Thailand. From while to while we go here to relax and to run away from the all day turn. If we have a day off we stay many times over night at the “Bang Bao Sea Hut” Hotel which is in the end of the pier. The Nirvana Resort is another top accommodation in Bang Bao on Kochang. The pier at Bang Bao is the biggest on Koh Chang. Many tour operators like snorkeling boats, scuba diving schools and of course fisher boats go out every morning from here to the sea.
Fisherboats at Bang Bao harbor
Many locals earn they money with fishing but like everywhere here the tourist boom come more and more. There are many Guest Houses, Hotels, Restaurants and Souvenir Shops on the walking pier witch invite for a day trip to Bang Bao for shopping and sightseeing. I recommend the “Bang Bao Sea Hut” hotel witch is direct on the pier. They serve the breakfast direct on the balkony with view of the harbor. In the evening You have a nice view of the sunset between two hills, beautiful. The Sea Hut charge at this moment about 1500 Thai Baht for a bungalow with TV, hot shower, fridge and air condition direct on the sea. For budget travelers i can recommended the “Cliff cottage” huts because of the nice view and the warm atmosphere. This small bamboo huts are build on a hill with view over Bang Bao village. They have a sunset terass on the water where you can relax and drink some Chang Beers in the evening.
Sunset from Bang Bao pier
The beach of Bang Bao is one of the nicest of Koh Chang. After 5m walk in the warm Gulf its already deep enough for swimming. The beach is still quiet and you get that what you expect from a tropical beach: white sand, blue water, coconut palms and beverage like cocktails or fresh fruit shakes are served from the cosy The End Beach Restaurant.
We always enjoy to go to Bang Bao because the pier is always busy, but still you have options to relax in the resorts and hotels or take a brake in one of the widespread seafood restaurants on the pier. In the morning you can watch the wife’s of the fisherman’s how they clean and sell fish and all kind of fresh seafood from the Gulf of Thailand.
Koh Chang east coast
The east coast is quiet and possibilities to stay are rare. The most popular beach on this part of the Island is Long Beach, this beach isn´t actually long but very beautiful. Here located is the “Treehouse Longbeach” witch offer easy beach huts for backpackers and a small restaurant for day visitors. Everyday there is a taxi from “Treehouse Lonely Beach” to this beautiful spot and accommodation on Kao Chang.
Long Beach Koh Chang
The coast is better to explore with a scooter because public taxis are really rare and you must be lucky to catch one. If you do a day trip don´t miss the “nam tok than mayom” waterfall in the middle of Koh Chan Island. Near the center point ferry pier there is “Funky Hut” hotel witch is my favorite on the east side. The view over the sea to the mainland is fantastic, a perfect destination for honeymoon because of the distance to the civilization. At Funky Hut Restaurant they serve all kind of food and fresh fruit shakes.
Fell like in paradise and visit Koh Chang for a vacation you will never forget!
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Koh Chang Hotels Booking & Reviews:
Hotel Bookings and Reservations
Koh Chang Hotels – Koh Kood Hotels – Koh Mak Hotels
Trat province Destinations
Koh Kood – Koh Mak – Mairood – Trad
Koh Chang Topics
Nightlife – Scuba Diving
Koh Chang Accommodation and Hotel Reviews
Aana Resort- Amari Resort – Banpu Hotel – Big Elk – Blue Lagoon – Chai Chet Resort – Chang Buri Resort – Chang Park – Chok Dee Resort – Cliff Beach Resort – Coconut Beach Resort – Cookies Hotel – Coral Resort – Dusit Princess Resort – GajaPuri Resort – Garden Resort – Grand Cabana Resort – Grand Lagoona Resort – Grand View Resort – Joy Cottage – Kacha Resort – KB Resort – KC Grande Resort – Keeree Ele Hotel – Klong Prao Resort – Koh Chang Resort – Koh Chang Sea Hut – KP Huts – Lagoon Resort – Mac Resort – Magic Resort – Mai Pen Rai Guesthouse – New Treehouse – Nirvana Resort – Nisa Cabana Resort – Orchid Resort – Panviman Resort – Paradise Resort – Plaloma Cliff Resort – Remark Cottage – Sang Arun Bungalow – Sanook Sanang Resort – Sea Breeze Bungalows – Sea View Resort – Siam Cottage – Sofia Garden Resort – Tantawan Resort – Thale Bungalows – The Chill Resort – The Dewa Hotel – Tiger Hut – VJ Hotel
Attractions, Activities and Sights
Ban Kwan Chang – BB Divers – Chai Chet Cape – Keeri Phet Waterfall – Klong Plu Waterfall – Koh Yuak – Nang Yom Waterfall – Scenic Area Kai Bae – Smai Burapa Massage – Than Mayom Waterfall – Tree Top Adventure – Klong Prao Temple
Clubs, Bars and Restaurants
Bar del Mar – Buffalo Bill – Cafe de Koh Chang – Mochaccino – Nids Kitchen – Oodies Brothers – Oodies Place – Paddys Palms – Papa Bakery – Sabay Bar – Stone Free – Tapas Bar – The End Beach – Ting Tong Bar – Treehouse – Yes Bar – Yummy Hut
2001 i was with my father at Berchtesgaden by car. It was the first holiday in Bavaria for me, but not the last. Berchtesgaden is a national park in south Germany close to the border of Austria. The landscapes are dominated by mountains, Forrest and cold but beautiful lakes. Till this travel tour i don´t know how beautiful Germany can be! The people are relax and friendly. In the summer You have allot of beautiful viewpoints over the mountains with tight Forrest and small villages in the valleys.
Mountains at Bavarian
This part of Bavaria have many sights and memorials of the WW2 because Adolf Hitler had a residence on the “Obersalzberg”. The eagles nest (ger.: Kehlsteinhaus) is on top of the mountain with a beautiful view of the surrounded mountains, sometimes the view reach till Salzburg in Austria when the weather is sunny. A. Hitler did allot of important meetings with leaders of the SS and other heads of the WW2 here at the eagles nest. Near the “Obersalzberg” is a museum in a old bunker who documentate the time of the second world war for the locals.
Eagles Nest on the Obersalzberg
At Bavarian you have many options for walking thrue woods and climbing on walls, the Watsmann for example is famous for wallclimbing. Of the valley of the Watsmann mountain is the Kingslake (ger.: Königssee) where you can make boots tours to a beautiful church with a red roof. The St. Bartholome church is one of the main sights of Berchtesgaden and landmark of the kingslake (Königssee). As well famous is the echo of the walls around the kings lake. On the boatstrip a man blow for a small tip into a bugle and let bang the echo.
Kingslake at Berchtesgaden
The national park Berchtesgaden is a paradise of nature friends! If you are lucky you can see the landmark of Germany the stone eagle while it is huntings mouses and other small animals. There are a lot trekking ways to clime up the mountains or you have on many places the option to take a cablecar or a lift witch brings in winter the sportler on the apex. The villages around Berchtesgaden invite with small glacier rivers and beautie churches for a visit.
Bavarian Church
In the evening You can enjoy bavarian draft beer in beergardens, restaurants or in the widespread small pubs in the small cobblestone streets in the center. Many time the “berchtesgadener Hofbraeuhaus” invite to a Bavarian night with draft beer, good German food and people in Bavarian liveries who make traditional dances. In the valleys you will see old Bavarian frame houses decorate with European blooms and flowers. Many guesthouses are family established and most of them still have companion animals. In this kind of hotels they will serve you homemade yoghurt, chease, fresh milk and many more homemade Bavarian dishes.
Alp in south Germany
My result for Berchtesgaden in summer: Nature, nature and again nature! The national park is beautiful and the food, the wheat beer and the hospitableness of the locals is great! This part of Europe is for sure one of the beauties places in Germany. Visit Berchtesgaden and take a priese of the fresh air of the national park. This holiday region have many thinks to visit and to explore, visit here the official homepage.
In 2005 i was with my sister and my mother on Yucatan in central America. All in all this holiday was two weeks, one week at Playa del Carmen and one week at Cancun in Mexico. Yucatan belongs to the east coast of Mexico. Both cities are on the Caribbean sea. In the north of the peninsula are the Gulf of Mexico. Our hotel in Playa del Carmen was the “Hotel Riu Yucatan” witch belongs to the Riu Resort with 5 other Riu hotels. The beach at Playa del Carmen is beautiful, white sand and crystal clear water and with about 29C watertemperature perfect for swimming. We saw alot iguanas and pelicans while flighing over the sea and fishing.
Pelican in Mexico
Nearly every evening we was with a taxi in the center for dinner, shopping and walking in this nice village. The walking street are decorate with old trees witch goes sometimes true the roofs and the floors of the wooden small pubs and restaurants. The All inclusive of “Riu Yucatan” was good but always to much 
. By around 45C in the shadow you can refresh yourself with a “cuba libre” (rum and coke) or some cocktails from the cocktail bar. The spoken language was Spanish but english speaken people are widespread in the tourist areas.
iguana at playa del carmen
We had a direct flight from Düsseldorf Germany to Cancun Mexico with LTU airlines. The locals are friendly and try to help where they can. Most of the time the Mexicans have a smile in their faces witch say something like: when you let me in peace, i let you. The most used word of the Mexicans should be “manjana manjana” witch means tomorrow tomorrow. The locals are relax and a bit lazy in positive mean. It seems that nothing bring them out of control instead of trouble and the stress of the European and north American tourists. From Playa del carmen in central America i booked a minibus traveltour to Chichen Itza witch is one of the important maya staetten in Mexico. The tour start i the morning and the trip needs about 3 houers thrue the jungle of Yucatan. Our travel group arrived at first the maya remains. It was nice because there don´t was the tourist masses than usual. First we was going to the old observatory ruins of the mayas. The highlight for me was the stone pyramid and the “ball game field” where the mayas was playing for death or allive, the looser of this game become a oblation to the mayagods. On the oplationtable they take out the heart of the losers of this game and of prisoners by full awareness. Chitzen Itza was the most interesting sight for me on this vacation.
Chitzen Itza Yucatan
After one week we change the place to Cancun witch is about 150 km north of Playa del Carmen. ass well at Cancun the beach is white and the water of the Caribbean sea is perfect. In this “party and pleasure” city you can have everything: restaurants, discotheques, shopping center, pubs and much more of entertainment stuff. I call Cancun the “Pattaya” of Mexico. We was staying at the “Riu Palace Las Americas” hotel direct in town with a beautiful beach and some corals near the white sands for snorkeling in the Caribbean sea. The snorkeling gear was as well included in the all inclusive packet of the resort.
Riu Palace Las Americas
Two weeks holiday is to less in general but sure to less for a country with culture like Mexico. I miss allot of sights and places in Mexico because of the time and the fact that we booked resort holidays and don´t go on travel tour. But i can´t say that i´m not enjoy, central America is great and more than a small brother of north or Latin America. I like the food the people and last but not least the beach and the turquoise warm sea. I think that this was not the last visit for me to Mexico but i think next time i bring more time and a Lonely Planet travel guide!
Sunset at Cancun Beach
I hope i have the possibilities to come again to central America again to see more of this beautiful part of the world. Viva Mexico!
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