Ayuhthaya - UNESCO`s World Heritage

Ayutthaya province or full named Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya located at upper area of Bangkok Metropolis where was the city of rivers and precious ancient places, Its dominant symbol of ever being the capital of Siam can be seen from its prosperity of arts and cultures especially in the area of Island Capital where was the locations of the ancient places, Wat Phra Si Sanphet and Bang Pa-in Summer Palace

Unlike other tourist centres, Ayutthaya's main attraction is not its beautiful scenery, but its calm atmosphere with the remains resulting from the destruction by the invading Burmese army in 1767. The ruins offer the visitors a glimpse of old Ayutthaya, with once was a prosperous and majestic capital with over 400 magnificent Buddhist monasteries.

Visitors can explore and appreciate Thai history in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, which is situated only 86 kilometers north of Bangkok. Visitors to Ayutthaya can marvel at its grandeur reflected through numerous magnificent structures and ruins concentrated in and around the city island surrounded by Maenam Chao Phraya, Maenam Pa Sak and Maenam Lopburi.

More importantly,Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Historical Park, an extensive historical site in the heart of Ayutthaya city, has been included in UNESCO's World Heritage list since 13 December, 1991.

How to get there

By Car:

Alternative I: Take Highway No. 1 (Phahonyothin Road.) then take Highway No. 32 to Ayutthaya.
Alternative II: Take Highway No. 304 (Chaeng Watthana Road.) or take Highway No. 302 (Ngamwongwan Road.); turn righ to Highway No. 306 (Tiwanon Road.), then take Highway No. 3111 (Pathum Thani - Samkhok - Sena) and turn right at Amphoe Sena to Highway No. 3263
Alternative III: Take Highway No. 306 (Bangkok - Nonthaburi - Pathum Thani Road.) then take Highway No. 347

By Bus:

Ordinary buses run between the Bangkoks Northern Bus Terminal (Mochit 2 Bus Terminal) and Ayutthaya's main terminal on Naresuan Rd. every 20 minutes between 5 a.m. and 7 p.m. The fare is 30 bahts and the trip takes around 2hours. Air-conditioned buses operate the same route every 20 minutes from 5.40 a.m. to 7.20 p.m. (every 15 minutes between 7a.m. and 5p.m.) at the rate of 47 bahts, the trip takes 1.5 hours when traffic to north of Bangkok is light, otherwise it will take two hours.

By Train:

Trains to Ayutthaya leave Bangkok's Hua Lamphong Station approximately every hour between 4.20 a.m. and 10 p.m. The 3rd class fare is 15 bahts for the 1.5 hour trip. Train schedules are available from the information booth at Hua Lamphong Station. Alternatively, call 0 2223 7010, 0 2223 7020, or 1690 or visit http://www.railway.co.th/ for reservations.

By Boat

There are no scheduled or chartered boat services between Bangkok and Ayutthaya. However, several companies in Bangkok operate luxury cruises to Bang Pa-In with side trips by bus to Ayutthaya for approximately 1,500 bahts to 1,800 bahts per person, including a sumptuous luncheon. Longer two days trips in converted rice barges start at 4,800 baht.

Major tourist Attractions (travel road map)

Because Ayutthaya is not so far from bangkok , 76 km. or about 1 hr. from Bangkok , so almost of tourists usually get hotel in Bangkok and go to Ayutthaya in the morning of the day.

The road map I would like to suggest you is start from Bangkok in the morning and then start from Bang-Pa-In Palace;

Bang Pa-In Palace , also known as the Summer Palace. Originally built by Ayutthayan King Prasat Thong in 1632 but abandoned after the sack of Ayutthaya in 1767, the site was partially restored by King Mongkut (Rama IV) in the 1850s. The site as it stands today, however, is largely the work of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V), who expanded the area into a Versaillesque garden filled with European-style buildings in 1872-1889. Last restored in 2001, the palace and its grounds are maintained in immaculate shape and well worth a visit.

Entry 100 baht, open daily 08:00-16:00. The grounds are not too large to be covered on foot, but you can also rent a golf cart to scoot around in for 150 baht/hour. As at all royal sites, proper dress is required, but you can buy a 100 baht wrapwround skirt from the stall in front of the entrance if needed.

Ayutthaya is the once of most important province for Thai history,So there are many old temples in this province that the tourist should be visit to .It has many tour for visit to Ayutthaya that the tourist can ask from the counter of your hotel.

As I said at the first that Ayutthaya has been included in UNESCO's World Heritage list since 13 December, 1991.So don`t forget to visit there when you have a chance coming to Thailand.

Phuket

Phuket is a world class famous tourist destination, renowed for its beautiful beaches, clear waters, lots of offshore islands providing great sites for diving, as well as plentiful high quality resort accommodation.

Today the province's wealth comes from the vast tourism industry that has developed in recent years, as travellers around the world discover Phuket has a lot to offer in the way of sun and sea. By contrast the hilly intereriorhides forests, a national park, gibbon rehabilitation centre and promises of elephant treks.

Wonderful sea, beatiful beach ,good atmosphere, enjoy diving and delicious sea food etc. these are the reasons that why you must go to Phuket. I think you will get the good experience at there.

Location

Phuket is located on the west coast, in the southern part of Thailand. This largest island of Thailand, which is surrounded by other 32 islands, has total area 570 square kilometres. Phuket has it greatest breadth of 21.3 kilometres it greatest length of 48.7 kilometres, the province is bordered as follows :

On the north : is Pahk Prah Channel; Phang - nga Province is connected to Phuket by two bridges in the same area, Sarasin Bridge and Thao Thep Krasattri Bridge.
On the south : lies the Andaman Sea.
On the west: lies the Andaman Sea.
On the east : is the Bay of Phang - nga.

Weather
Phuket's weather is typical of its location near in an area influenced by monsoon winds: warm, humid, but pleasant all year long. There are only two seasons:
the rainy season, from May to November, during the southwest monsoon,
the hot season, from December to April, when the monsoon winds blow from the northeast. March has the highest average temperature, 33.4 c, and the lowest average temperatures are experienced early mornings in January, when the thermometer fails to 22 c. (Current Weather and Weather forecast click here)

How to get there

By Car :
Take Route 4 from Bangkok to the south. Along the way pass the provinces of Nakhon Pathom, Ratchaburi, Phetchaburi, Prachuap-Khirikan, and at Chumphon go right to Ranong. From Ranong, go south through Kraburi and Kapoe Districts to Phang-nga Province. In Phang-nga the road passes through Kuraburi, Takuapa, and Thai Muang Districts before reaching the town of Kok Kloy. Then, cross the Thao Thep Kasattri or Sarasin Bridge to Phuket Island. The distance is 867 kilometers.

By Coach :
Both air-conditioned and non air-conditioned buses leave the Southern Bus Terminal in Bangkok daily. Southern Bus Terminal Tel. (02) 4347192, 4345557-8, Phuket Central Company Tel. (02) 4355019, Phuket Travel Tel. (02) 4355018, Phuket Bus Terminal Tel. (076) 211480.

By Air :
Thai Airways International operates flights to Phuket daily. The travel time is 1 hour 20 minutes. Contact TG office in Bangkok Tel. (02) 2800060, 6282000 for flight schedule and reservation.

By Sea :
The Deep Sea Port (Port of Phuket) at Puket is visited by both cargo and cruise ship from Thailand and from abroad. Contact your travel agent for information about the many different ships that stop at Phuket.

Attractions

Patong Beach

Phromthep Cape

Karon-Kata Beaches

Wat Chalong

Phuket Aquarium

Attractions Beach
The west coast of the island has some of the best beaches to be found anywhere and, during the sunny and dry November-May season, the water is calm, clear and warm. Each beach has its own style and distinctive points of interest. Some, like Patong are hot spots for nightlife, while others, like Nai Yang are quiet havens away from the crowds. The main beaches are as follows: Patong Beach ,Sai Kaew Beach ,Bang Tao Beach ,Surin Beach ,Karon Beach,Kalim Beach ,Kata Beach ,Kamala Beach,Kata Noi Beach,Nai Harn Beach ,Nai Yang Beach ,Viewpoint ,Nai Thon Beach ,Rawai Beach ,Mai Khao Beach

you can see more detail of each beach by visit to http://www.phuket.com/island/beaches.htm

Krabi - Unseen in Thailand

Krabi is the once wonderful place of my travel expereince , I had a chance to visit to Krabi in last year (2006).Krabi after Tsunami is more beautiful than the past , more clear water make us can clearly see the fish and coral. Many tourists known that Phuket is the beautiful island while just less people known that Krabi is also the paradise of trvelling and not different from Phuket.

Krabi province is not so far from Phuket , many beautiful islands is located between Phuket and Krabi ,so the tourist can go to island from both Phuket and Krabi. Because Phuket is very famous for many foreigner, so it is very crowded with the tourists while Krabi is not so. So I think Krabi is very wonderful place for the tourist who do not like noise and crowded people.

And Ao Nang beach (Krabi)is the best of my experience that I want to suggest you to visit.

The tourists do not need to advance booking any tour because you can search for tours from many tours company at Ao nang beach or at the counter information of every hotel at there.

Krabi information

This seaside province is located in the Andaman Sea. The province is full of white sandy beaches, crystal clear seawater, beautiful islands, verdant forest with caves, and waterfalls, including more than 100 offshore islands

The province consists of mountains, hills, plains, and mangrove forests, including more than 130 large and small islands. Krabi town has a 5 kilometre-long river, which flows through town and ends at the Andaman Sea in Tambon Pak Nam. There are several canals in Krabi including Khlong Pakasai, Khlong Krabi Yai and Khlong Krabi Noi, all of them originate from Phanom Bencha mountain range, the highest mountain range in Krabi.

Ao Nang beach - Krabi
Ao Nang is Krabi's vibrant tourist centre. It has the relaxed vibe of a small town, the beauty of a beach resort, the modern comforts of home, and the friendliness the sets Thailand apart.
The town itself is small; an hour-long stroll takes you from one end to the other. Given that floating buildings are impractical and sheer cliffs don't readily lend themselves to development, this paradise won't be paved over anytime soon.

By road, Ao Nang is just minutes from Krabi Town and Klong Muang Beach and mere seconds to Noppharat Thara Beach. Via sea, Railay's beaches - including Ton Sai - and a grab bag of small, intimate islands are nearby. Pick a direction and give your waterborne taxi thirty minutes. A world of adventure waits.

Of course, leaving Ao Nang is far from necessary. Great food, interesting people, cheap shopping, and a stellar beach make it a standalone destination. For plenty of travellers, this is the end of the road. Use it as a jumping-off point to see the rest of Krabi's wondrous secrets, or make it your only target. Either way, you'll thoroughly enjoy Ao Nang.

Krabi weather

Weather in Krabi is typically that of the tropical monsoon, providing the province with just two seasons,the hot season from January to April, and the rainy season from May to December.
Monsoon winds, which change according to season, blow from the southeast, the southwest, and the northeast.Temperatures range between 16.9 and 37.3 degrees Celsius and the yearly rainfall averages 2,568.5 millimeters.

Beachs and Islands in Krabi

1. PHI-PHI ISLANDS -The most important island

The most important is Hat Noppharat Thara-Ko Phi Phi National Park, better known as Phi-Phi Island, due west and south of Phuket Town. The park contains extensive mainland beaches, over 80 lesser islands, and two islands of outstanding physical yet contrasting beauty which have become the symbol of the perfect tropical island.

Phi Phi Lea covers an area of just six square kilometer and is characterized by rugged, steep and lightly vegetated cliffs rising from the seabed, hidden bays concealing small pristine beaches and calm clear water whose colour is a kaleidoscope of greens and blues. Its Viking Caves gets its name from the ancient murals depicting Viking-like sailing vessels. The caves are home to sea swallows whose nests are much sort after for the Chinese delicacy Birds Nest Soup.

Two kilometers north is the larger Phi Phi Don covering an area of 28 square kilometers. The island is famed for its palm fringed white sand beaches protected by the mountain masses. Beach side bungalows and chalets are available. The area immediately adjacent to a Muslim fishing village contains bars with live music; restaurants specializing in western and Thai cuisine; cabarets; souvenir shops; dive shops and charter boat operators offering game fishing and day trips to Ko Paid (Bamboo Island) a half an hour boat ride from Phi Phi Don and claimed by many locals to be one of the most beautiful and unspoiled, uninhabited islands in the area.

Yachtmen and scuba divers that can discover and enjoy peaceful anchorage, tranquility and privacy in various locations favouring the Phi Phi group of islands. It has become the start and finishing point for Phuket's prestigious King's Cup yacht race each December. And was recently the location for the film "The Beach" staring Leonardo di Caprio.

Tour

There are many kind of tours for the tourist ,you can search its from many companies at Ao Nabg beach or the information counter of every hotel.The staff from tour company will pick you up from the hotel in the morning for going to the peir.

Photoes - from my expereince

Pattaya

Only 2 hours from Bangkok, this resort city(pattaya) caters to every whim. Lazy afternoons on the beach, go-karting, paintballing, golf, and full steam ahead nightlife are just a few of the entertainments provided.

Pattaya is the wonderful place for holiday fun and provides it with the utmost convenience. A tiny fishing village only twenty-odd years ago, it has swiftly developed into an extraordinary vacation spot catering to the holiday maker’s every whim. Pattaya has it all: tranquil beaches, lavish resorts, luscious seafood and a gamut of sporting and leisure activities – all less than two hours from Bangkok’s concrete jungle.

Traveling to and around Pattaya

Pattaya is just 140 kilometres east of Bangkok. The town can be accessed by road and railway. Starting from Bangkok, tourists have a number of options in terms of a road trip such expressway, motorway and elevated highway. A trip by bus can take from the Eastern Bus Terminal in Bangkok takes merely 2 hours to get to the first beach of Pattaya.

Traveling around Pattaya is easy. Motorbike taxi and pickup truck converted bus (locally known as Song-Taew) can be seen everywhere. The beachside road is one-way street that connects North Pattaya, Middle Pattaya and South Pattaya – the last one is a walking street at night. Additionally, you can also drive along its inner city road to Jomtien beach.

On Land

Pattaya town offers a range of museums, indoor and outdoor shopping, countless golf courses, and even a world class go-karting track. Fifteen minutes out of town is “Nong Nooch”, a gorgeous orchid-studded botanical garden that features cultural performances of music, dance and martial arts. Not far off is the Elephant Kraal, where elephants show off their skills as foresters, footballers, and most impressively, as warriors – re-enacting Siam’s ancient battles.

At Sea

Though Pattaya’s 4 kilometer beach is unspectacular, it’s a short boat ride to one of several lush islands just off the bay. Koral Island, or "Koh Lann" is a popular spot for waterskiing, sailing, scuba diving, boat tours of the coral reefs and deep sea fishing. Want something more sedate? Head out a bit further to Bamboo island and deepen your tan on a quiet white sand beach.

Nightlife

At night, Pattaya becomes a neon hive of activity. Though notorious for the “naughty nightlife” along the beach strip, there is a wide variety of cabaret-style entertainment for the more sophisticated visitor. The Alcazar Show is probably the most famous of these. For detailed listings, pick up the Pattaya Mail weekly newspaper.

Beaches in Pattaya

North Pattaya: nostalgic serenity
North Pattaya or Pattaya Neau is the most peaceful beach among the three main beaches in town. Mass tourism originated on this beach before it spread to north and south Pattaya. Many hotels that were established three decades ago can still be seen lining this brown sandy beach, proving its longevity and popularity. The beach starts from the Dolphin roundabout in front of Dusit Resort. Beach chairs and umbrellas are available for rent along this shady beach while restaurants, bars and convenient stores are just walking distance.

Middle Pattaya: The beach of fun
Just a little bit south of North Pattaya passing the golden mermaid and dolphin statues is Middle Pattaya, the beach of fun. This is the most popular and, certainly, lively beach in Pattaya. This is the area where shopping malls, boutique shops, bars, restaurants and coffee shops are crammed along a busy beachside road. There are more beach chairs, umbrellas and tourists in Middle Pattaya than other beaches. During the day, the area is enthusiastic with beachgoers frolicking on the beach or enjoying several kinds of water sports activities such as jet skiing, banana boat, paragliding and parasailing. At night, the street is illuminated with pubs, bars and restaurants. Middle Pattaya may not be the most favourite place in Pattaya but it is usually the place ones choose not to be missed.

South Pattaya:
South Pattaya is located next to Middle Pattaya. The area may not have an attractive beach like North or Middle Pattaya. People seem to come here for a different reason. Looking more energetic at night, it draws many fun-loving tourists who stroll this 500 metre lane looking for a fun time after dark. Numerous shops, restaurants, bars, discotheques, nightclubs line the streets. Thus, it is the place for adults only.

Jomtien Beach - The most famous beach in Pataya
Situated 3 kilometers southward of the downtown, Jomtien is a spin-off from Pattaya. This 6 kilometre long beach may bear some resemblance to Pattaya beach in terms of beach activities. However, it has an ambience of isolation. Thanks to its distance from Pattaya.
The beach is suitable for swimming as plenty of water sports activities are available. Accommodations on this beach are relatively cheap and there are enough restaurants to serve diners.

Off the street to Jomtien Beach is another beach named Dong Tan. It has a more relaxing atmosphere than its neighbouring beaches due to its no-car parking policy. Indeed, cars are allowed to pass and park on this beach only before 10 am and after 5 pm. The beach is shady with pine trees and beach umbrellas. Therefore, this is the place where you will see beachgoers joyfully basking in the sun.

Koh Lan (Lan Island) -7 km. from Pattaya

Pattaya has a number of islands in its vicinity of which Koh Lan is the largest. The island is somewhat an extension of the mainland activities, featuring water sports such as diving snorkeling, windsurfing, waterskiing and para-sending. A key attraction is boats sailing around the island for sightseeing purposes. Some of the boats have glass bottoms enabling passengers to see coral and marine life at the bottom of the sea. The island has a number of beaches, the main beach hosting a number of excellent seafood restaurants selling dishes made from freshly caught seafood. The area also features deep sea fishing boats around Koh Lan neighbours, Koh Krok and Koh Sak.

Beaches in Koh Lan

Haad Ta Waen is the longest and most popular beach of Koh Lan. Located in the northwest of the island, this 750-metre-long beach has clear waters and white fine sand. The beach, which is popular among Asian tourists, is lined with colourful beach chairs, shops and restaurants.

Located in the west of Koh Lan is Haad Tian. This scenic beach in the cove stretches 500 metres long and features some coral reefs. It is as popular as Haad Ta Waen with loads of sport activities and restaurants on the offer.

Another beach near Haad Ta Waen is Haad Sungwal. It is a small beach, only around 150 metres long. Without any shops or restaurant in the area, the beach is quieter than Haad Ta Waen and good for sunbathing.

For those who prefer basking in the sun in peace, Haad Samae and Haad Ta Yai may serve your purpose. The first beach, which is only 10 minute walk from Haad Tian, is relatively quiet with shops and restaurants dotting the area. Nestling on the northern tip of the island, the latter beach has fewer beach goers and only one beachside restaurant.

Details: Koh Lan is 45 minutes from Pattaya beach by boat or 20 minutes by long-tail boat. Most of the tour boats make anchor to take advantage of the foodshops and stalls along these beaches. Facing Hat Thong Lang are coral ranges. Visitors can choose glass-bottom boats and surface-diving. Hat Samae is located to the southwest while Hat Ta Phan is to the west of the island.

How to get there: Ferries leave South Pattaya Pier daily from 10:00 to 18.30, the one-way fare being 20 Baht. The return ferry leaves Koh Lan Na Ban Beach at 12:00 and 14:00.