Thailand
Showing posts with label Thailand. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Thailand. Show all posts

Cebu and Bohol, here we come!

A planned excursion or trip especially to a nice place always leave me with dreams after dreams of activities that I'm gonna do come the time of me being there already. And if it's like days before the trip transpire, the difficulty of putting myself to sleep starts to hit me. At the moment, I am into the dreaming thing. But I'm expecting things will get worst in the coming days as our date of departure draw close.

www.etravelpilipinas.com
With so many great reviews online and first hand information and testimonies from local friends who live there not to mention friends who are going to join the club, I bet this upcoming trip of ours in the islands of Cebu and Bohol in April with a few days stop in my hometown of Palawan will absolutely make other people envious to death lol. 

Kidding aside, I am indeed excited. In fact, I already bought a trolley luggage a week ago that can accommodate 40 kilos to 50 kilos, tops. This is kind of a really massive luggage for me and my wife including our 8th month old angel who will be travelling for the first time internationally. Despite its size we found it quite handy because we don't like the idea of carrying a few luggage here and there just because they're small.  

Check this out: Phitsanulok to Bangkok, Bangkok to Manila, Manila to Antipolo, Antipolo to Manila, Manila to Cebu, Cebu to Bohol, Bohol to Cebu, Cebu to Palawan, Palawan to Manila, Manila to Antipolo, Antipolo to Manila, and Manila back to Thailand only for two weeks. For us that's just fine but how's that for an itinerary of an 8th month old? It's gonna be tough, we know, but I think she can handle that. 

See you in a jiffy, Cebu and Bohol!
Read More

Nong Nooch Garden, Pattaya

If you're tired of searching for a place with great landscape, aviary, small zoo, orchid house, and cultural show rolled into one, then I guess you're about to take the rest you've been dying to have. Where exactly? I'm sure sure you've heard the city of Pattaya, but let me just clarify that we're not talking of night life and the happenings from dusk till dawn, alright? This blog is wholesome :)


Just to clear your mind from the dark side that is starting to eat your thoughts, I'm actually talking of a garden. Is something ringing a bell now? I hope so. If not, let me introduce to you this well-managed tropical garden in Pattaya, Thailand known as Noong Nuch. Aside from it holding the crown of the largest variety of orchids and other flora and fauna in the country, Noong Nuch is also one of Asia's largest and most beautiful gardens with 2.0 km2 land area.

So before my mom and my mother-in-law travelled back to the Philippines, we stopped for a few hours to have a taste of it. You know what? We liked it very much especially the elephant show where the giants happily played football, basketball, painting, and the like. It was fun watching them and let me wondered as to how they were trained. If you see that kind of show, would you leave the place without a smile on your face? If you say yes then I dare you to try it yourself. 
Read More

Pattaya Floating Market

One of things that make Thailand different from the rest of its ASEAN neighbours is its floating markets. These markets are like cockroaches, meaning, they're everywhere! Aside from temples and beaches that attract hundreds if not thousands of tourists every single day, floating markets sit on top as well. When we say Thailand, these floating markets cannot be ignored. One of Thailand's landmarks to simply put it.
I've been living here for more than 4 years but it was just in March that I was able to witness a real floating market. Pattaya's floating market is a little bit different as you can see from my photos because of less boats compared to the biggest and most popular market in Ratchaburi. But the thing is even if it doesn't posses all those glittery and colourful boats of other markets, flocks of tourists are still everywhere, locals and internationals. They are jewels of the land of smiles.
These floating markets are among the most photographed tourist destinations in Thailand. They depict what Thai life was long before the supermarkets, skytrains, and skyscrapers alike. Real Thailand? Yes it is!

 PS: Photos were taken in places were tourists seldom go.
Read More

Twice in Lampang - Wat Phra That Lampang Luang

My school journeyed the mountainous province of Lampang last week (Thursday and Friday) to attend the annual sports activities of Rajabaht Universities of the 8 provinces of Lanna. In my four years in the university, only this year I was able to join. 
We made a few stops along the way for the wash room. But because i was dead tired the day before, I slept silently on the bus instead. The only thing other than having breakfast that made me get off the bus was when we arrived in Lampang's Wat Phra That Luang. It looks like a fortress from a far. A citadel of the eighth century fortification that guarded the routes to Lampang.
It was my second visit to the temple but never made a dedicated post of it yet. If you want to see my first Lampang experience you can check out this LINK. 
Anyway, unlike other temples in Thailand especially the popular ones, Wat Phra That Lampang Luang does not posses the modernity of Thai traditional temples. Its courtyard is still sandy and all sides of the prayer hall are still open. Sacred relics that had been worn out by time are open for display near the centre. And if you wish to have a picture backdrop of some artifacts created during the 17th century, you can do so on the right hand side facing the main hall. Tourists can't help but click their shutters.
Read More

Wat Kiri Wong: A sanctuary in the sky

Thailand is blessed with several temples wrapped in beautiful and intricate designs. They play an important role in everyday life for Thai people in merit making, praying, and such. 

 Among the many temples in the Kingdom, Wat Kiri Wong will always be one of my favorites. It sits on Daowa Dung Hill in Nakhon Sawan province. It houses a replica of Lord Buddha's Footprint and a pagoda encasing the relic of Lord Buddha built when Sukhothai was the country's capital.
We didn't have a concrete plan of visiting Wat Kiri Wong. But since we heard good stories of the temple in question from people who were able to see its magnificent splendor, we decided to give it a go.

 We did not make a mistake because it was indeed beautiful. The temple stands on top of a hill overlooking the entire province in a stunning 360 degree view. Trust me, you're going to love the panoramic view.

Getting by bus

 Nakhon Sawan is only a two-hour drive from Phitsanulok by bus. There is a regular trip from Phitsanulok to Nakhon Sawan (vice versa) every hour or so which cost more or less 100 baht. 

 Air-conditioned buses run daily from Bangkok and Nakhon Sawan which takes about four hours or so that depart from Mo Chit Bus Terminal. For inquiries you can call them at 66-2279-4484-7.

 If you're departing from the North, say, Lampang, the ride takes about five hours and cost 280 baht.

 Getting by train

 Trains run daily from Bangkok to Chiang Mai and stops in Nakhon Sawan Terminal. For further information, ring their Travel Service Division at 66-2223-7010.
Read More

Visiting the old Thai Kingdom of Sukhothai

One of the most memorable trips I had was in January 2011. Just before my sister left for Italy, we brought her to the amazing architectural ruins of Sukhothai; one of ancient kingdoms that controlled much of present day Thailand.

 Although it can't compete with the great Angkor of Cambodia, the ancient ruins of Sukothai which date back to the 13th century are amazing just the same. It is regarded by many as the birthplace of Thailand. Seeing the ruins gives a feeling of being transported back time.

The Sukhothai Historical Park

 The Sukhothai Historical Park is divided into five zones; north, south, east, west and central zones. The central zone is the largest and houses the most ruins including Wat Mahathat, the most famous and most important temple. 


 On December 21, 1991, UNESCO declared Sukhothai as a World Heritage Site. This 70 square kilometer area halfway between Bangkok and Chiang Mai receives thousands of visitors each year. Tourist tour the massive park either on foot or a bicycle. I recommend riding a bicycle costing only 30 baht which can be rented from the stalls outside the entrance.

Park Admission

 Entrance fees for foreigners are different compared to the locals. Foreigners are charged 100 baht per zone as opposed to 30 baht for Thais. However, you can purchase a pass to all five zones for 350 baht but it's only good for one day.

How to get there?

 Bangkok and Chiang Mai have regular buses that stop in Sukhothai. From downtown, it's another 12 km drive to the old city via a songthaew (a pick up truck turned shared taxi), tuk tuk and motorbike taxis.

 If you're staying for a couple of days, it is best to rent a motorbike which you can use to go to different places like the old city, bus station, hotel and other places of interest for only 250 baht a day. Renting is more convenient and way cheaper than commuting as well.

 Where to stay?

 Nothing is more economical than looking up online as to where you plan to stay and which restaurant to eat before making your trip to Sukhothai. If you want to stay close to the old city, there are guesthouses which aren't that pricey and only takes about less than 5 minutes of walk. Apart from that there's an evening market where you can order different foods - fresh ones and made to order.

 We didn't stay for a night when we visited Sukhothai. I live in Phitsanulok which is only an hour away. But if we did, the Old City Guesthouse which is only 250 baht a night will be on our list. It doesn't have air-conditioner but it has a private bathroom with soap, towels and water.

 We had so much fun. I would gladly do it again if given a chance. How about you? Do you fancy seeing Sukhothai?
Read More
Subscribe to: Comments (Atom)