Khao San Road #Bangkok.

In addition to being great for adjusting to the culture and climate,

Khao San Road is also a great place to ease yourself

into the intense sensory m-lange that is Thai cuisine.

 Restaurants, shacks and stalls on wheels abound,

and most of what’s sold at them toned down to cater to the unadjusted Western palate.

In particular, the spiciness of curries, salads and noodles is much less than locals enjoy eating.

If you like spicy, the phrase ‘ped maak’ should do the trick.

Don’t think its all tame variations on Thai cooking and Western junk food

(Burger King, McDonalds and Subway are all in attendence).

 

Recent years have seen an upsurge in upscale restaurants and bars,

and the variety and sophistication of the food

available on Khao San Road has rocketed proportionally.

Menus offering interesting fusions of Thai with Western cuisine are now common,

and many establishments and stalls specialist in gourmet international cuisine.

Pizza, sushi, felafel, seafood, fish and chips, and pasta all get a look in.

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James Bond Island, Phang Nga Bay

James Bond Island is a famous landmark in Phang Nga Bay.

It first found its way onto the international tourist map through its starring role in the James Bond movie ‘The Man with the Golden Gun’.

A distinctive feature of this famous bay is the number of sheer limestone cliffs that vertically jut out of the emerald-green water.

The bizarre, why-doesn’t-it-fall-over outline of James Bond Island or Koh Tapu,

lies next to the equally well known Koh Ping Ghan (sometime spell ‘Ping Gan’ or ‘Ping Gun’).

The entire area surrounding this island is indeed spectacular, but it can get crowded with tourist boats in high season.

 

Phang Nga Bay covers an area of 400sqkm and is home to some 100 islands,

many of which could feature in The Guinness Book of Records either for their beauty or for their freakish shapes.

 James Bond Island, with its signature rocky pinnacle, has been a major attraction ever since it featured in the 1974 Bond movie.

Luckily it is under national park protection and as a result no boats of any kind are allowed to go

too close to the island because of its precarious position big on the upper part and relatively slim at the bottom.

The two best ways to view James Bond Island are from boats or from the small beach on Koh Ping Ghan.

Koh Ping Ghan is another sample of how the Mother Nature works her magic.

Basically it’s a very high leaning rock that has some small caves inside.

It’s pretty amazing and fun to check them all out.

On its crowded eastern beach, there are stalls and stands selling souvenirs, mostly made from shells and woods.

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Phuket’s Old Town Renaissance

Fifteen years ago, the historic Old Phuket Town district in Phuket Town

was a charming but slightly faded place in danger

of being lost to modern development. However, Phuket residents

and tourism figures saw the potential in preserving Phuket’s fascinating past

and a restoration effort of the Old Town was launched.

In the years since, the five main Old Town streets,

Dibuk, Thalang, Phang Nga, Rassada and Krabi roads, plus Soi Romanee

and other small lanes have been given a facelift.

Much to every photographer’s delight, unsightly power lines along Dibuk

and Thalang roads have now been buried, allowing the beauty

of the centuries-old Sino-Portuguese buildings to shine through.

More power line projects are in the works for other streets.

 

Soi Romanee has seen the most striking changes.

This narrow one-way lane was once a rowdy red-light street

for Chinese immigrants back in Phuket’s heady tin-mining days.

Then it saw a decline, and up until about five years ago

most of its buildings sat in an unused and crumbling state.

Since then, nearly all of the two-storey structures lining

the Soi have been given a bright new coat of pastel-toned paint

and some hip cafes and offices have opened up.

A one-stop shop explaining Phuket’s past is found along Phang Nga road. 

This new Phuket City Information Centre has photos

and displays that explain the meaning behind

the different architectural details of the buildings in the area,

plus models of an old-style well and oven.

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THE WESTIN SIRAY BAY RESORT & SPA, #PHUKET

THE WESTIN SIRAY BAY RESORT & SPA, PHUKET

A tranquil resort on tropical Siray Island in Phuket

boasting breathtaking ocean views

from every of our 257 guestrooms, suites, villas,

and a calm, secluded beach.

  

The Westin Siray Bay Resort & Spa overlooking magnificent Siray Bay,

the resort offers a rejuvenating tropical haven with all you need to be at your best.

The Westin Siray Bay Resort & Spa on the exclusive east coast of Phuket,

the resort boasts contemporary design, spectacular ocean views

and the renowned warm Thai culture,

welcoming guests into this respite of tropical elegance.

Each of our 257 contemporary guestrooms, suites and pool villas

offers ocean views of Siray Bay as well as Heavenly Bed, Heavenly Bath,

White Tea by Westin bath amenities, rainforest shower, LCD televisions,

DVD players, outdoor balconies, audio jack packs and high speed wireless

Internet access. Other amenities include a refreshment center, in-room safe.

Relax in one of our six exquisite restaurants or bars,

providing a range of options where you can soak up your surroundings  in style.

To nourish your body we are proud to offer SuperFoodsRX™

selections amongst our culinary choices on every menu.

The wide range of dining options, along with an innovative international

approach at all of our restaurants, ensures guests can sample different cuisines.

For added convenience and comfort, 24-hour In Room Dining is available,

complete with SuperFoodsRX™ to promote your absolute wellbeing.

Private dining options and picnic baskets are also available upon request.

The Westin Siray Bay Resort & Spa, Phuket is a tranquil setting

for guests to restore the body and expand the mind.

Located on the east side of Phuket, it boasts the latest in modern conveniences

and facilities with warm Thai culture, and sweeping ocean views.

Phuket is an island of coves and bays. It is the leading island holiday

destination in Southeast Asia, and travellers come to enjoy some fun, sun,

great seafood, great watersports and a taste of the warm

welcome that is synonymous with Thai culture.

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Flying Hanuman Adventure, #Phuket

Flying Hanuman is an adventure

like no other on Phuket.

It shows that the island’s beauty

goes far beyond the sea, sun and sand

that it is famous for. The hillsides of Phuket overflow

with thick forest that is great for exploration and outdoor activities.

 

What Flying Hanuman aimed to achieve was to provide travellers

with exceptional service, enjoyment, excitement and memories without

impacting the natural balance within the forest environment surrounding it.

There is no better way to take in the other face of the Pearl of the Andaman.

 

The site of Flying Hanuman stand almost exactly as it did before construction began.

A wide variety of trees and small animals occupy the 80,000 square metre plot,

and the natural rubber trees are harvested by locals

who are still allowed to live on the hillside. A small creek runs through the land

during the wet months and even the trees within

Flying Hanuman’s reception area have been left untouched.

Flying Hanuman is an adventure because it is part of the forest that surrounds it.

Great care has been used to make sure the zipline adventure

does not have a negative effect on the trees

it uses and the species who call the area their home.

It took hard work to put the course into place, but once it was done,

the forest is what makes the attraction so special.

 

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Tham Morakot, Trang

Tham Morakot one of the fantastic attractions of the Unseen in Thailand

is located at the west of Ko Muk. The exciting journey to Morakot Cave besides

seeing the marvelous nature creation is the way to reach the cave by swimming

one by one into the entrance of the cave.

This can allow only a small boat to pass through during low tide along

the channel of 80 metres long. After passing the entrance to the other side,

one will stand at the large hall roofed by the sky looking like standing

inside the very large funnel. The sand beach will be seen in the middle to the hall

surrounded by high cliffs. Some species of plant are found either on the beach

The sunlight during midday will be straight through the mouth of the funnel.

The reflection of the sea creates the emerald color

as the name “Morakot Cave” which means ”Emerald Cave”.

Tham Morakot is visited by swimming or by small inflatable boats.

Starting from a ship, the swimmer has to enter the cave

until he reaches a water filled chamber,

which is lit by sunlight through a hole in the ceiling.

The entrance passage is rather small and low,

and it is passable only during low tide.

The name of the cave means Emerald Cave.

It describes the emerald colour produced by sunlight filtered through sea water.

Inside the cave is a secluded beach of white sand.

To get to Ko Muk and Morakot Cave, boat service leaves Kuan Tung Ku Pier

at 08.00 hr everyday charging 40 baht per person.

One trip by the rented boat will charge 400 baht and takes 30 minutes to Ko Muk.

Upon arrival at Sapanyao Pier in front of the island,

one have to rent a long-tailed boat to Morakot Cave rested

at the other side of the island (100 baht each).

Another way is to rent the boat from Pak Meng Pier

straight to Morakot Cave at Ko Muk.

The rate is 1,800 baht/day taking about 40 minutes.

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Novotel #Phuket Resort

At Novotel Phuket Resort,

first class accommodation

and service

are a natural extension of daily

mission to provide you

with the ultimate resort experience.

 

Novotel Phuket Resort is perfectly located in the green hills

above beautiful Kalim Bay and just minutes walk from Patong beach

and the centre of Patong Novotel Phuket Resort blend essential

modern comforts with Thai inspired decor.

Each room has a private balcony providing magnificent views of Patong Beach

and the Andaman Sea. Three stunning restaurants over looking the ocean

provide diverse dining options and a perfect place to watch the sunset.

Superb location by the beach in 8 acres of lush tropical garden

within walking distance from Patong, exciting shopping

and nightlife. As the hotel is located on a higher ground,

it was not affected at all by the tsunami.

Magnificent views and stunning tropical sunsets over Patong Beach

and the Andaman Sea. Peaceful and serene environment providing an exclusive

hidden paradise for comfort and relaxation.

Warm and genuine hospitality with only 215 rooms.

Magnificent three tier swimming pools with connecting waterfalls

A combination of classical Thai style architecture with modern facilities.

Situated at the Premier location in Patong,

this International chain managed resort enjoys magnificent views

across the Andaman Sea and Patong Beach from every food and beverage outlet,

swimming pools, lobby and almost everywhere in the resort.

The Resort is also surrounded by lush landscape and exotic gardens

with a serene and quiet environment.

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