Travel, Holiday and Vacation Reviews and Photos from Bars, Restaurants, Hotels, Resorts and Destinations around the World.
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.
Papa Deli & Bakery
The Papa island bakery is located at north Kai Bae beach on Thailands island Koh Chang. Papa deli & bakery offer Bread, Croisants, Baguettes, Pizza; fresh coffee and much more. Here you can relax by a good breakfast on the balcony. This Restaurant have a good choice of European Salami, Sausage and Cheese. The bakery on Koh Chang open at 8 o´clock in the Morning with crispy bagutte sandwiches and fresh whole corn bread. My favorite here at Papa Bakery in Kai Bae Beach is the Baguette sandwich with Gouda and spicy Italian Salami. They serve all baguettes with salad, cucumber, fresh pepper, tomato and your choice of mustard or mayonaise. For me Papa is the best bakery on Koh Chang in the Gulf of Thailand. Try it out.
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
On the travel tour in 2006 i was staying in Ayuthaya to visit the Historical Park of Thailands old capital. We paid 170 Thai Baht for one double room with fan in the old BJ guesthouse in central Ayuthaya near Tony´s place which offer good meals, drinks and a pool table. We arrived by train from Bangkok. The travel turn took us 2.5 hours and it was 15 Baht per person. The City was from 1350 till 1767 the capital of this country in southeast Asia. After two years war with the burmanese the Royal family fled to Thonburi. The old historical temples and building of the national park are the tourist monopole at Ayuthaya.
Ayuthaya Historical Park
After we checked in we go to the old temples who are surrounded of three rivers. The Mea Nam Lopburi, Mae Nam Pasak and the Mae Nam Chao Phraya formed a natural barrier around the beautiful old buildings. The sunset at the national park of Ayuthaya is beautiful! The temple ruins shine in the red sun of Thailand. The park is easy to reach by foot or taxi. On this evening we was visiting the Wat Suwannawat, Wat Ratburana, Wat Thammikarat and the Wat Mahathat which is close to the Beung Phra Ram lake. The temples are connected by beauties walking streets.
Walking Street in Ayuthaya
When we come back we took a shower at old BJ and than we was going in the city in a pub to drink some Chang beers. Opposite of the Moon Cafe we meet some Australian and Japanese backpacker. We took a taxi to a disco where we made party till the early morning. On the next day we woke up at 2pm at our home stay hotel. On the way to the Ayuthaya historical Park we saw some elephants who share the streets with many cars and scooters. A nice view for two guys on the first big travel tour far away from home.
Elephants in Ayuthaya
Our point of interested was on this day the Wat Mongkhon, Wat Phra Si Sanphet, Wat Lokaya Sutha and the old Royal Palace. After this station we had enough of culture an we gone back to the city for yummie food at Tony’s place.
Historical National Park
The old ruins of Ayuthaya was a highlight of our travel tour at Thailand. I can recommend Thailand’s old capital for all travelers and backpackers in southeast Asia. Ayuthaya isn´t far from BKK. You have many options like train, bus and minibus to reach this amazing city in Thailand. From here we travel by bus to the Kanchanaburi province.
On the 11th of February 2009 Moun, a good friend and I was travel by car to the Nam Tok Phlio National Park. This National Park is in the Chanthaburi province of Thailand. The Phlio Waterfall is about 15 km out of town. If you travel with public transport it´s easy to take a sawngthaew (share taxi) from the market in Chanthaburi. The turn will take you about 30 minutes. The National Park fee was 200 Thai Baht for falangs and 40 Baht for locals. For the up to date price take a look inside the Lonely Planet Thailand. The Nam Tok Phlio is the most visited Waterfall in this Park. The Fall is beautiful but actual the carps are the attraction. Many huge black carps are in the natural pool on the foot from the fall. You can buy vegetables to feed this nice fishes. Swimming is allowed in the fresh, 10 meter deep water. From the parking place it´s about 400 meter walk on a good walking way to the waterfall. The Nam Tok Phlio Waterfall is one of the beauties i ever saw in Thailand. I can recommend this day trip to all travelers, tourists and backpacker who are in Thailands Canthaburi province in southeast Asia.
Nam Tok Phlio
Thailand Hotels
Click here for Hotels in Bangkok
Wat Pho
My first time in Bangkok was in 2006 when I did my Thailand travel-tour. Since then I spent allot time in this southeast Asian metropolis. Actually I don’t like the capital of Thailand because of the fumes and the mass of peoples who walk around. But when you live there is no way around to avoid BKK. For nearly every destination where I want to travel I have to go first to Ekkamai (the eastern bus terminal of Bangkok) to get a connection. It’s totally different than Koh Chang, the island of the Trad province where i’m living in the moment. In the biggest Thai city it’s hard to find a lonely place to relax, one option is the Lumpini Park in the center near to the Lumphini metro station on the Th Rama IV road. Since 06 Bkk have a new airport. The Suvarnabhumi Airport Bangkok is the new hub of southeast Asia.
Suvarnabhumi Airport
If you want to traveling Bangkok I can recommend the Lonely Planet Thailand for this trip. Here you find many Hotels, Resorts and guest houses for backpacker. I always go to the Sri Ayuttaya Guest House in the Thewet district. When this guest house is fully booked behind the Sri Ayuttaya is the Tavee Guesthouse Thewet which is ass well a good address to stay in Bangkok. Thewet is about 1km north of the traveler street Khao Sarn Road and offer nice and quiet Restaurants like the Khao Tha on the river. Here are many more options to stay. Many Bars, Massage studios and street shops dominate this street at Bangkoks Banglamphu quarter. The rooms at Sri Ayuttaya Guesthouse are clean and the staff helps for bookings and visas. From here it’s just a five minutes walk to the river express. This boots are the most comfortable way to travel in Bangkok. From the Central pier you have connections to the skytrain. The public transport in Bangkok have ass well a Metro with some stations in the center. From the sky train stations Sala Daeng, Mo Chit and Asoke you can switch to the metro.
The Skyline from Bangkok
On the river there breeze a “fresh” wind compared to the busy streets and you have a nice view to the temples in the capital of Thailand. There are three “must see” wat’s: the Wat Pho or Wat Po (contains the relying Buddha), Wat Arun and the Wat Phra Kaew witch homes the Emerald Buddha. This statue is the most important of the Kingdom of Thailand. The admission fee of about 2 USD for the Royal Grand Palace include the fee for the Wat Phra Kaew. Inside Wat Pho is a really famous university for Thai massage courses. All these temples are easy to reach by the river express boats, by a typical Tuk Tuk or by air condition Taxi, they are all perfect to do some nice temple pictures. If you choose the Taxi option ask before for a price or take care that the taxi driver took on the taximeter.
A Buddha Statue at Wat Po
The boats drive till around seven pm on the “Mae nahm Chao Phraya” river. If you are on Wat Po it’s not far to the for me most interesting district of Bangkok. From here it’s not far to Chinatown witch invite for shopping and catch some yummy street Thai food. A bit north from Chinatown near the Tha Saphan boat station you will see a beautiful bridge. The Rama 8th bridge you can watch from a riverside restaurant.
Sunset at the Rama bridge
The biggest shopping malls in Bkk you find at Siam station. Here you will find everything what you need for holiday or traveling. The shopping in Bangkok can be expansive at the biggest malls like: MBK, Siam square, Siam center, Siam discovery center, Emporium Shopping Center or the Pantip Plaza. If you looking for a cheap alternative you will be right at the Chatuchak Weekend market which open on Saturday and Sunday. On Khao San Road you find as well alot of shops with t-shirts, souvenirs and used Lonely Planet travel books for every countries in southeast Asia and nearly every Lonely Planet destination worldwide.
A flower in Bangkok
If you stay in Bangkok don’t miss a Ping Pong show at Patpong! It’s a funny but actually not sexy pussy show and couples are welcome. We paid 200 Thai Baht admission include one drink. If you don’t like entertainment like this there are many clubs, bars and good pubs in central bangkok and around Khao San. More sights of Bangkok are the Dusit Zoo, Lumphini Park, many cinemas, the aquarium where you can scuba diving with sharks, and and and… For more information contact your guesthouse, hotel or resort or just take a look into the travelbook. the Bangkok is a extreme city and i can recoment to stay here to all people who want to see something new, for shure the capital of Thailand offer something intersting for you. I don’t like but i don’t want to miss the visits in this city of extremes!
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.
Click here to find Thailand Hotels.
