What to know about traveling in Thailand

Traveling in Thailand

Thailand is actually quite inexpensive and you can stay in the best of hotels for a reasonable price. First travel tip would be to carry some cash on you when you reach the Bangkok International airport. There is no cash machine/ATM inside the airport, so if you want to buy something and the shop doesn’t accept credit cards, you’re in trouble. After that when you take a taxi, make sure the driver knows exactly where your hotel is otherwise it can be a long ride.

Thai food is good and if you drop some inhibitions and get into the casual mode, try even roadside Thai seafood which can be quite delicious, but of course restaurants have a great variety. In Bangkok, take the Skytrain and go to the Siam shopping area which is too good and has a huge collection of clothes and stuff, and many items are reasonably priced, so shopping can be a great experience in Bangkok, even if you’ve been to Paris, London and New York for that matter.The variety and price would be the positive points here.

A day trip to Pattaya and few days in Phuket can also be a very good idea and you can collect the unique Thai souvenirs, garments etc in these regions rather than in Bangkok. If you’re planning long term stay in Thailand and want a taste of the resident culture, visit Hua Hin which attracts a lot of people who want to buy property or stay long term. Enough for today….ciao

Bangkok – Angels and Canals

Bangkok is certainly a modern city with many skyscrapers and extensive shopping malls, but some descriptions of it as a concrete jungle are a trifle harsh. It is definitely the country’s most built-up city but there are a few oases of green within the city boundaries, and just a short ride outside the Thai capital is a whole world of eastern promise just waiting to be discovered.

The Thais call Bangkok ‘Krung Thep’, which translates as the City of Angels. It is the economic heart of Thailand, has a population of over seven million, and draws millions of tourists each year from all over the world. The city has a massive park in its midst called Lumphini Park – Bangkok’s own equivalent of New York’s Central Park – and is a popular destination for many locals and tourists.

Canals criss-crossed the city known as the ‘Venice of the East’ in the mid-19th century well before the invention of the internal combustion engine and concrete allowed the building of roads and highways. Just a short ride in a boat down the waterways and you’ll be transported away from the hustle and bustle of modern life into a sample of often unseen Thailand.

The River Chao Phraya waterway is almost 250 miles in length and snakes it way between the commercial heart of Bangkok and the rural suburbs. Here the visitor gets a glimpse of the non-westernised heart of the City of Angels; crowded in amongst crude wooden jetties and piers are houses whose residents get the ‘shops’ to come to them. Small boats laden with fresh fruits and vegetables sail door to door to selling their produce to residents along the busy waterways.

Monks are revered in Thailand and at the King of Thailand’s temple at Wat Rajbopit they offer a warm and friendly welcome to visitors. It is prohibited for Monks to touch women but they can converse quite freely with the opposite sex and they will happily tell you about their religion and the temple’s history.

Eating ‘street food’ in Bangkok is definitely worth a try. It tends to be cheap, delicious and will be nothing like the international cuisine featured at top hotels in Bangkok! Available at any time of day or night, street food is for the adventurous; menus are in Thai so unless you can read them everything you order, usually by pointing directly at the food, will be a mystery dish!

Cambodian Beaches, the Next Best Holiday Place

Like they always do, the backpackers led the way to the next best holiday spot, the white sand beaches of south western Cambodia. They did it in Goa, in Bali and Phuket. Now they have done their bit to show us a wonderful new place to truly relax.

So where is south western Cambodia, I hear you say? Well Cambodia is part of the dynamic region of Indochina in the heart of South East Asia. Sitting between Thailand, Laos and Vietnam, the capital Phnom Penh, (nom pen), is serviced daily by all the regional carriers. The capital itself is fascinating in itself, but for me it serves as the gateway to the coastal town of Sihanoukville; about 3 hrs down a sealed road.

Sihanoukville is where the beaches are, and the nations only deepwater port, but hey, its the beaches that will grab ya! The sand is white, the waves are turquoise and beer is $1 a can. A clean and comfortable room you can smell the sea from will set you back about $15, with 3 meals costing only around $12 more.
Have a look at the link in the resource box at the bottom. It will take you to the site of a great little guesthouse in Sihanoukville, (The Ochheuteal Guesthouse), with plenty of pics to browse.

Ok, you are interested in this town of Sihanoukville, so how do you get here? Well again, you can shortcut to the Ochheuteal Guesthouse link and check out the faq page, which will answer most of your questions. Anyway, if you are coming from the northern hemisphere the easiest way is to transit through either Bangkok Thailand or Kuala Lumpur Malaysia. From the southern hemisphere, Singapore is your best bet. All of these are only a short flight away from Phnom Penh airport. Even better, all of these hubs are serviced by the budget carriers like Air Asia and Value Air. If you would like to hit the salty stuff right away, grab a car and driver for around $35 or a bus for about $5, and before you can blink, you will be there.

This place, like the rest of the tropics, has basically got two seasons, the wet and the dry. The dry season is understandably the peak time and runs from mid October to the mid April. The days are almost dry and sunny and the nights are balmy. In the remainder of the year, you can expect steady rainfall more days than not. A great time for even cheaper prices with less people around as well.

Are you worried about getting malaria or standing on a landmine? Relax, there is no malaria in the region and you have more chance of standing on the moon than a landmine these days.
All in all Sihanoukville Cambodia is a wonderful place for beach lovers everywhere. Come and experience it before the rest of the world!

Bangkok Nightlife Guide: Read All The Tips And Advice

A leading travel magazine has named Bangkok the best place in Asia. Six of the top 100 hotels of Asia are in the city of Bangkok. Visitors arriving in Bangkok will find attractions, culture and history for the young and old, along with some of the best places to stay.

If you want to get the most out of the city, you should purchase a Bangkok nightlife guide. While no book can describe everything Bangkok has to offer, a guide can help a first time visitor discover the best attractions, bars and clubs. Those with limited time want to tour efficiently. A nightlife guide offers tourists tips on finding great hotel deals and savings on dining and show tickets.

Bangkok Thailand nightlife is wild, colorful and vibrant. The city is alive at night, and visitor will thrill at the exotic entertainment available. However, tourist must use caution and avoid areas known for illicit activities. A Bangkok nightlife guide can suggest well managed clubs and bars that are safe for tourist wanting a cleaner taste of Bangkok.

It can be hard for a visitor to Bangkok to get around if he or she is not familiar with the modes of transportation. A good guidebook will detail the various options and provide some phrases for tourists to use while getting around. Taxis are common, but keep in mind that taxi drivers are competitive in their attempts to earn their fares. Again, the guide will tell you how to get the best possible price.

Because of Bangkok’s political situation, there are some travel restrictions tourists will need to know about. Keep your travel documents safe, and make sure they are all verified. If they are stolen or lost, locate the closest national embassy in a guidebook. At an embassy, you can replace those documents more quickly and avoid any possible delays.

For a tourist visiting Bangkok, your best friend is a good guide. You can get the most out of your trip by going over all the good information a good guide can give you. By doing so, you are guaranteed an unforgettable experience.

Get to Phuket

AIR

Air Thai operates nearly a dozen daily flights form Bangkok. The direct flight takes and hour and 25 minutes, but some flights stop in Hat Yai for half and hour. There are also regular flights to and from Hat Yai.

Bangkok Airways flies between Samui Island and Phuket Island twice daily (once a week in June and September).

Angle Airlines recently introduced flights to Phuket Island from Bangkok and Singapore. Angle’s office is at Phuket international Airport.

THAI flies between Phuket Island and several international destinations, including Penang, Langkawi, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taipei and Sydney. Other international airlines with offices in Phuket are: Malaysia Airline, Silk Air, Singapore Airlines and China Airlines.

Southern Helicopter service at the airport charters a seven passenger helicopter. The service covers all of Phuket Island and Ao Phang Nga beach, including Phi Phi Island. Southern Flying Group does small aero plane charters.

BUS

All direct air-conditioner buses from Bangkok’s Southern Bus Terminal make the journey overnight, leaving at approximately half-hourly intervals between 5.30pm and 7pm and arriving about fourteen hours later. Most air-conditioner buses from Phuket to Bangkok also make the journey overnight, though there are a few departures during the morning. There is no train service to Phuket, but if you can’t face taking the bus all the way from Bangkok, a more comfortable (and less nerve-wracking) alternative would be to book an overnight sleeper train to Surat Thani, about 290km east of Phuket, and take a bus from there to Phuket (about six hours). There are fourteen buses a day between Surat Thani and Phuket, all traveling via Khao Sok, Takua Pa and Khao Lak; and six private minibuses a day from Phuket to Surat Thani. Takua Pa is a useful interchange for local services to Khuraburi and Ranong, though there are four direct buses a day between Ranong and Phuket. As for points further south : seventeen buses a day run between Krabi and Phuket, via Phang Nga, and there are also frequent services to and form Trang, Nakhon Si Thammarat and Hat Yai.

Boat

If you’re coming to Phuket form Phi Phi Island or Lanta Island, the quickest and most scenic option is to take the boat. During peak season, up to four ferries a day make the trip to and from Phi Phi Island, taking between ninety minutes and two and a half hours and docking at the deep-sea port on Phuket’s southeast coast; during low season, there’s at least one ferry a day in both directions. Travelers from Lanta Island have to change boats on Phi Phi Island. Minibuses meet the ferries in Phuket and charge 100B per person for transfer to Phuket town and the major west-coast beaches, or 150B to the airport.

Tgr Asia Developers Of Jumeirah Private Island Phuket Commence

HONG KONG (Insert date) – Jumeirah Private Island Phuket, Asia Pacifics most exclusive development is scheduled for completion in 2009 and set to offer levels of luxury, privacy and security as yet unseen in Asia Pacific. It will also be home to an elite super yacht marina and the private members only Jumeirah Private Island Yacht Club.
The super yacht marina will have 101 berths and will offer true super yacht facilities with 24 hour deep water access. The marina will double the number of designated super yacht berths in Thailand (thailand property, thailand homes), with 7 slips measuring in excess of 45 metres and an average slip length of over 22 metres.
The marina, located in a protected lagoon on the east coast of the island is surrounded by tropical mangroves, and will be built to top international standards. The marina will include facilities such as helicopter and/or ferry access to and from Phuket, fuel dock with pump out facility, yacht maintenance and repair services and individual berth technology pipes.
The Jumeirah Private Island Phuket Yacht Club (megayachts phuket, islands phuket, mega yachts phuket, phuket islands) is planning to host regattas and black tie functions and will offer a range of facilities; club house, swimming pool, accommodation, formal and informal waterfront dining, business centre and fitness centre.

The benefits of berthing in Phuket (phuket property, real estate phuket) include fuel, crew and dockage costs up to 80 percent cheaper than Europe and no luxury yacht taxes.
TGR contact : Anthony Franklin Partner, Marketing Director.
Note to editors:
TGR
TGR Group develops and markets award winning luxury hotels and resorts. The management team has over 100 years combined experience working with leading, global construction companies and a successful track record across three continents.

Jumeirah

Jumeirah properties are regarded as amongst the most luxurious and innovative in the world and have won numerous international travel and tourism awards. The rapidly growing Dubai-based luxury international hospitality management group encompasses the world renowned Burj Al Arab, the worlds most luxurious hotel, the multi-award winning Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Jumeirah Emirates Towers, Madinat Jumeirah and Jumeirah Bab Al Shams Desert Resort & Spa in Dubai, the Jumeirah Carlton Tower and Jumeirah Lowndes Hotel in London and the Jumeirah Essex House on Central Park South in New York.

The Jumeirah Group portfolio also includes Wild Wadi, regarded as one of the premier water parks outside of North America and The Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management, the regions only third level academic institution specializing in the hospitality and tourism sectors.

Building on this success, Jumeirah Group became a member of Dubai Holding in 2004, a collection of leading Dubai based businesses and projects, in a step that aims to initiate a new phase of growth and development for the group.

Jumeirahs ambitious expansion plans to grow its portfolio of luxury hotels and resorts worldwide to 57 by 2011 are well underway with projects currently under development in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Aqaba, Doha, Phuket, Shanghai, Bermuda, Mallorca and London.

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Royal Caribbean Cruises Paradise Onboard

Royal Caribbean Cruise is known for luxurious and amazing facilities. Ships remain no more ships but turn into a fantasy land with various bars, restaurants, casinos, spas, pools, fitness centers, and scheduled twilight entertainment. These facilities and amenities give the ship a royal status and so called Royal Caribbean Cruise.
Those who have a family with children need not have any concern at all as this cruise has all that one can expect. Children can play and enjoy themselves and there are persons employed to care of them. Even games for adventure like a rock climbing wall ice skating and a Surfinder are available to let you miss no moment of life.

If one is really looking for an exotic cruise with a large range of fabulous things to see and incredible opportunities for duty free shopping, Royal Caribbean Cruise is a dream come true experience. At the same time onboard lodging, some drinks and most of the onboard entertainment and the majority of meals come to ones way to keep one on toes.
One willing to check out and be part of the magnificent Asian way of lavish life can join Spice of Southeast Asia cruise, or The Legend of the Sea which departs from Singapore. This is ideal for cruising amid cultural differences, enjoying food, drinks and entertainment that gives varied tastes of life and language across the globe.
Singapore is the starting point of this cruising and it continues to be in the sea and by the evening it is in the Andaman Sea. Cruising for a long time in the sea gives a great opportunity to relax amid the blue, getting in touch with many from different places and joining a good number activities made deliver a power pack life each individual there. By the morning time the ship docks in Phuket, Thailand and remains there the whole day. Here people can enjoy the whole island in a very short time as it is not so big. Visiting the Khao Phra Taew National Park, strolling on glorious beaches, forest trekking and a ride on an elephant are a few things which they never like miss any way.
Passengers join the ship again and carry on with their life onboard so they can arrive at the next destination. In course of the journey they come across mysterious 99 islands are encompassed with legends, myths, caves and mist shrouded mountains, prehistoric geological wonders giving a panoramic view. Thus, this Royal Caribbean Cruise really offers a great opportunity to experience this tropical heaven with ultimate luxury in a traditional way.

Thailand – X2 Samui officially opened its doors

Koh Samui, Thailand – June 2008 – After successfully opening X2 Kui Buri in 2007, X2 Resorts (pronounced “Cross To”), Thailand’s first chain of designer resorts, is ready to unveil the latest X2 Resort at Koh Samui on the 15th June 2008.

Koh Samui, Thailand – June 2008 – After successfully opening X2 Kui Buri in 2007, X2 Resorts (pronounced “Cross To”), Thailand’s first chain of designer resorts, finally opened its doors from the latest X2 Resort; Koh Samui.

Koh Samui Island, the 3rd largest island and one of the most famous beach destinations in Thailand, is becoming increasingly popular for luxurious resorts.

The management team and owner; Astudo Hotel & Resort Management; is holding hands with LIFESTYLEHOTELS to deliver a unique experience of “luxury by design”.

Located on the tranquil Beach of Hua Thanon (South of Lamai) on the south-east coast of Koh Samui, X2 Resort overlooks the Gulf of Thailand with 100 meters of private beachfront where 50 year-old trees provide a true X2 atmosphere……designed to satisfy the spirit.

The resort occupies 5 acres (12 Rais / 20,235 sqm) of land embracing 27 unique designer villas:
- 1 Owner’s Villa
- 1 Suite Pool Villa
- 21 Pool Villas
- 4 Garden Bungalows

The villas range from 110 to 225 sqm with pools of approximately 30 sqm.

Each designer styled private villa features a spacious private terrace, a garden patio, entertainment including a home theatre/ DVD/ LCD with satellite TV, a movie and music library, a selection of magazines and of course free high speed WiFi internet access throughout the resort.

X2 Samui is also equipped with its popular X2 Spa and an impressive outdoor massage pavilion to deliver a combination of traditional massages and spa treatments.

As well as in every other X2 Resort, the well known 4K restaurant and bar (pronounced “fork”) which provides a ‘mix & match’ of eastern and western dishes and the best of fusion, will ensure that every single guest never gets bored. Local products in season and organic ingredients do dominate the menu.

According to Astudo CEO and co-owner Anthony McDonald X2 Samui is truly a totally unique resort. “It is the kind of resort that guests do not want to leave. The service is of course 5-star and the private villas are a sublime relaxing oasis. The peaceful and spacious atmosphere of the resort provides a feeling akin to a 21st century temple experience alike”.

For reservations please telephone +66 2696 8239 or email reservations.samui@X2resorts.com.

For media enquiries please contact:
Piangporn Chaiphet (Ms.)
PR & Events Manager
Phone: +66 2696 8239
E-mail: pr@astudo.com
Web: www.astudo.com / www.X2resorts.com

Experiences From the Flow (22)- Farang: It’s Songkran. Hide Your Wallet! Part 2

By Carl “J.C.” Pantejo, Copyright April 2008

(Author “My Friend Yu – The Prosperity Mentor,” Copyright August 2007. Pantejo – Y.N. Vurce Publishing.)

“Prosperity: The eternal flow of all that’s good in life…”

*Below is the twentieth episode based on a series of real life events experienced by the author. The only deviations from the truth may be the names of people and places. These stories are also incorporated in “My Friend Yu – the Prosperity Mentor: Book II,” Pantejo – Y.N. Vurce Publishing. Release Date: 2008.

- They NEVER go away for good. -

I didn’t hear from her for about three weeks. I was beginning to think I’d escaped the hassles and horrors that usually accompany breaking up with a girlfriend in Thailand.

But then the inevitable happened. Noot called me and said she was nearby and wanted to “talk.”

- The Taxi -

Although suspicious, I said “Chai, tee rak” (yes, darling). I honestly was missing her everyday since she left. The only thing that bolstered my resolve was the constant flirting of almost every other woman in the vicinity of my condo.

Of course, my numerous forays into Bangkok “eased the pain” quite a bit too!

When Noot arrived (one hour late) in the taxi, I left the lobby, jumped in the cab, and said, “Bai Daddy’s Home, kraap (Go to “Daddy’s Home,” a modern, foreign style restaurant, bar, and karaoke that I like – located near Future Park)” to the driver.

The driver was confused. Obviously, he thought he was taking his customer to see a Farang (foreigner) at the high-class condominium complex. Since I am Asian, the driver looked at me and assumed that I was a Thai man.

Noot asked for the taxi driver’s cell number and said to wait for her call. She didn’t realize that I’d spent the last three weeks intensively upgrading my Thai skills and now understood most of what she and the driver were saying. The driver could tell that I understood and was visibly uncomfortable.

Noot was oblivious. She declined the offer for dinner, drinks, and karaoke at Daddy’s Home. She got out of the taxi and headed straight for the lobby of my condo.

The driver asked for 350 baht! I said “Tam mai (why)?” He said that it was a long trip. So much for the truth. Noot said she was “glai” – short word (meaning: nearby), not “g-l-a-i” – long word (meaning: far)” when she called.

I looked at the taxi meter. Of course, it wasn’t on. I said, “Mai dai! Pang maak! (I can’t! It’s too expensive!)” We settled on 200 baht – still way too expensive, but I had other, more immediate issues to deal with (meaning, Noot in the lobby without me).

- Halt! Who goes there? -

She got to the front desk before me. An argument ensued and the staff physically blocked her from going to the elevators because they knew that she was not my girlfriend anymore. When I finally caught up with her, I told the security staff that it was okay.

Noot looked furious and upset.

The taxi debacle had me extra paranoid. In the two months of being “girlfriendless” (my first two months in Thailand), I already knew – from many painful experiences – the makings of the ole’ “hit and run” scam when I saw it. I wasn’t going to be a victim again.

Too bad. The con games, lies, callousness, and outright exploitation of kind-hearted, honest men, so commonly seen among Thai women (whether in “The Game” or not) was the main reason why I chose to have a regular, live-in girlfriend.

As an aside, I am not saying that men are always the victims.

The biggest reason there is so much distrust between Farang men and Thai women is the temporary nature and reciprocal callousness of most Farangs.

For Thai women, a kind-hearted, honest man (Farang or Thai) can really be hard to find.

Furthermore, the double-standard held against women in Thai society allows men (both Farang and Thai) to generally fool around on their wives and girlfriends.

Thai society always blames the woman for unsuccessful relationships.

It [Thai society] lays the fault of any broken relationship squarely on the woman’s shoulders, not the man’s. No matter the reason for the break-up, everyone assumes that she wasn’t a “good enough” woman to “keep” her man. Too add insult to injury, now she will be viewed as “used goods,” and will most likely be shunned by all Thai men.

With all these things hovering over Thai women, I can see why they are “the way they are.” Most are just protecting themselves from the emotional pain, public shame, and financial ruin from a temporary relationship with a fly-by-night Romeo.

Knowing the above, it’s no wonder why most Thai women want to keep their boyfriends from meeting their families, friends, and colleagues (keeping them totally secret) until eminent marriage is secured.

The repercussions from a break-up can often be devastating and have long-lasting negative effects on the rest of their lives (e.g., huge loss of “face” for the woman and her family; and now that she is judged as “impure” by Thai society, any future “sin-sot” – the dowry given to the family of a Thai bride – automatically diminishes or vanishes altogether).

- Turn on/off tears -

In my room, I asked Noot why she wanted the taxi driver’s number – wasn’t she going to stay for awhile? Surprised that I understood what happened in the taxi, she remained silent for a few, long seconds. Then, as if on cue, she burst into tears. Trembling, she laid her head on my shoulder. (I hate it/love it when women did that.)

Yes, the tears were real, but I already knew how she could instantly perform an academy award-winning scene at will. Her histrionics amused me, but I wasn’t buying into it for even one second. I swear, she must have been a soap opera star in a past life!

She told me that she missed me, but had to go home for Songkran. And, of course, she was broke.

She said that if I give her money to go home, she would come right back to me – if I wanted her to. She kept saying that she loved and missed me over and over again.

I said that if she loved me, she would not have done so many bad things to me.

She said she had changed and would be a good wife now.

I said that I was sorry, but I do not give money to women who do not live with me.

She continued to sob, wale, and convulse. I went to the bathroom to get some tissue. While in the bathroom, I realized that the beers I drank while waiting for Noot were now screaming to leave my body. As I stood there relieving myself, I could hear the rustling of bags in my bedroom.

Not wanting to give away when I was coming out of the bathroom, I didn’t flush the toilet, and quietly opened the door.

The bedroom was empty. When I went into the living room, I saw Noot hurriedly stuffing some hats and shirts we’d bought during our last shopping excursion into some large “Lotus, Robinson, and Central” shopping bags. She looked totally guilty. I said, “Mai bpen arai, tee rak.”

While she turned on the tear faucet again, she pleaded with me for “go home money.”

I stood my ground.

- Cruelty is Sexy? -

When she finally realized that I’d changed (I’d actually grown a set of balls while she was away), she stopped begging. Then I saw that familiar look on her face and in her eyes. She was horny! Can you believe it? My obstinacy was turning her on! She jumped onto me, wrapped her arms and legs around me, and starting to passionately kiss me!

As Noot began unbuckling my belt, I couldn’t help thinking that this must be why Thai men get away with so much abusive behavior? Some Thai women think it’s actually sexy! Weird.

Anyway, I didn’t give-in. I wanted to. Believe me, I REALLY wanted to! But I knew what the result of all this would be. After some (probably great) sex, she would ask for money again. And then what was I supposed to do?

Nope. This wasn’t going to happen tonight.

I bit my lip, peeled her off me, straightened my clothes, and said that it’s best that she go now. Maybe she had enough time tonight to find another sucker, I mean “friend,” that would give her money to “go home.”

Stoically, she grabbed her bags and left.

I smiled and waived to her from my balcony as she got into the taxi. (That would be the last time I would see her).

Then I went to the bathroom and flushed the toilet.

I knew I did the right thing, but it didn’t help.

I felt like I was swallowing my heart. A lone tear crept out of my left eye, traced itself down my cheek, dribbled off my chin, and in slow motion, plopped into the bowl.

Thai women. They have a kind of magic over us, don’t they?

Grabbing another beer, I went back to the balcony, smoked, and shed a couple more tears of self-pity. But within seconds, a comforting thought entered my mind. This is THAILAND! Hot and cold running women abound!

I looked into the starlit sky, thanked Noot (aloud) for the good times and hard lessons learned. I sincerely wished her a nice life. Then I felt a smile beginning inside. It started in my heart, radiated throughout my body, and before I knew it, I was back to my old self again – ready for all the exciting things to come.

“So many more adventures ahead,” I whispered to myself.

Beer and smoke finished, I immediately got ready to go out…

- Update -

A whirlwind of women have come and gone since last Songkran. Some were quite memorable. Others are better left unmentioned.

Why do I remember Noot and Songkran 2007 during Songkran 2008?

Well, it just so happens that among the dozens of women calling me this year (for Songkran money) is Noot. She called me today. With her pheromone-laced voice, she said that she wanted to meet me and just “talk.”

Feeling nostalgic, I said, “Chai, chai, tee rak.”

Same, same.

(I admit it. I’m such a sucker).…

“Until next time, find ‘The Flow’ and jump in!”

Your Friend in this Intrepid Journey called Life,

Carl “J.C.” Pantejo

Farang, Thailand, Songkran, call, SMS, girlfriend, ex, sexy, cruelty, sucker, same-same, friend.

Note: If you want to read more about Asian and Western cultural differences, finding unconditional love, exorcising past personal demons, Universal Laws, and the Illusive Secret of Happiness, please read the following articles:

“Experiences from ‘The Flow’: From Heartbreak to Happiness”

“Experiences from ‘The Flow’ (2): Coincidence or Synchronicity: FROM RELAPSE TO MIRACLES…”

“Experiences from ‘The Flow’ (3): LOST AND FOUND – Kindred Spirits and Mistakes made in Haste.”

“Experiences from ‘The Flow’ (4): LOST AND FOUND – Meant to Be?”

“Experiences from ‘The Flow’ (5): “The Stray”

“Experiences from ‘The Flow’ (6): “New Beginnings, Old Endings”

“Experiences from ‘The Flow’ (7) – Living Well? Farangs and Finance: The Myth”

“Experiences from ‘The Flow’ (8) Living Well? Farangs and Finance: The Reality, Stupidity, and Hard Knocks.”

“Experiences from ‘The Flow’ (9): New Girlfriend, New Life.”

“Experiences from ‘The Flow’ (10): Farangs and Asians – Polarized Views.”

“Experiences from ‘The Flow’ (11) – Farangs: In (or considering) a long-term Western/Asian Relationship? Read This Now!

“Experiences from ‘The Flow’ (12) – Farang: Square Peg, Round Hole? Compatibility Issues.”

“Experiences from ‘The Flow’ (13) – Farang: Compatibility Issues II”

“Experiences from ‘The Flow’ (14) – Farang: Tipping the Scales. Good or Bad?”

“Experiences from ‘The Flow’ (15) – Farang: Interpretation of Your Results.”

“Experiences from ‘The Flow’ (16) – Farang: Make Your Scale Sway or Walk Away.”

“Experiences from ‘The Flow’ (17) – Farang: Further Interpretation. Lopsided Scales.”

“Experiences from ‘The Flow’ (18): A Good Tilt with a Bar Girl?”

“Experiences from ‘The Flow’ (19): Another Good Tilt with a Bar Girl?”

“Experiences from ‘The Flow’ (20): The Good Tilt – Enhancing your Compatible Relationship.”

“Experiences from ‘The Flow’ (21): Farang: It’s Songkran. Hide your wallet! Part 1”

“Alternative Notions of Life, a Different Path: Guardian Angels and Universal Laws.”

“Alternative Notions of Life, a Different Path (2): Trying too hard?”

“Alternative Notions of Life, a Different Path (3): First, Be Effective.”

“Alternative Notions of Life, a Different Path (4): Intend. Be Certain.”

“Alternative Notions of Life, a Different Path (5): Why me or why not me? Your choice.”

“Alternative Notions of Life, a Different Path (6): Gratitude – What’s Your Perspective?”

“How Dare She! Out of Desperation I Learned How to Forgive”

“Remember Who You Are!”

“Need to Heal Your Broken Heart? Read on. Overcome Heartbreak and Learn the Illusive Secret of Happiness.”

“Simple (and Priceless) Life Lessons from the Most Influential Prosperity Mentor in My Life – My Father”

And much more!

(By Carl “J.C.” Pantejo and published internet-wide, keyword: [title of article] or “Carl Pantejo”)

Enjoy them, my friend.

Pantejo@ynvurcepublishing.com

Thailand Travel 10 Tips

1. Koh Chang – Don’t stop at only Koh Chang because Koh Mak, Koh Kood and Islands surrounding Koh Chang also have more beautiful beaches and water.

2. Chiang Mai – Try to find hotels outside of the city such as on Hangdong – Samoeng and Samoeng – Sankamphaeng routes because there are better views and hotels along the mentioned route are less expensive than the hotel in the city with the same standard. The true nature of northern Thailand can also be experienced.

3. Phuket – Don’t pay too much attention to sea-view rooms because the limitation in space. The sea could not be seen directly from rooms in most hotels. The tourist should pay more attention to the standard of the hotel and the distance from the beach.

4. Koh Samui – If you have limited fund, the best way to travel to Koh Samui is by speed boat from Lomprayah Catamaran Company. Lomprayah offers less expensive service than taxi for hire and service provided by the hotel directly. Nevertheless, if you have no problem with fund, you should hire a taxi because this would create job for the locals.

5. Andaman Sea – Trang Sea is as beautiful and interesting as nearby provinces such as Krabi. The prominent tourist spots in Andaman Sea are Koh Libong, Koh Hai, etc.

6. Krabi – Although Railay beach in on the mainland, you still have to travel by boat from Ao Nang beach because it is surrounded by mountain and cannot get to by land transportation.

7. Pattaya – North Pattaya beach and Central Pattaya beach have many facilities but the true nature can be found at Koh Lan, which is 7.5 kilometer from Pattaya. You can get there in 45 minutes by regular boat and 15 minutes by speedboat.

8. Hua Hin – Hua Hin is a popular beach that is close to Bangkok but that does not mean that it is the most beautiful. Not far from Hua Hin, Pranburi beach is much quieter and more suitable for relaxation but the transportation may not be as convenience as at Hua Hin.

9. Koh Samet – You should contact travel agency or the hotel in order to find out which pier to get on the boat. Some hotels provide their own service. Don’t trust strangers because you might end up higher price.

10. Bangkok – Jatujak market has products from all over the country e.g. cloths, decoration, house hold items, souvenir, food, pet, etc.

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