Bangkok Natural Spa & Resort – in BKK

With the heat lately I’ve been trying to cool myself off in Bangkok and relax myself after a huge event, so I decided to go to the spa, but not just any, because I’ve been to many (which are all very good), but I wanted to try out the realllly good ones for once, and I must admit it was really worth it. So I decided to go to the Bangkok Natural Spa & Resort

There are hosts of spas selection I found in the http://www.tourismthailand.org/7wonders/ which were pretty good as well, depending on where you like to go. It’s in the “Wellness” section.

I suggest most of you to reserve first before you go because although the place is big (trust me, it’s huge!). The location is right next to Pattanakarn Soi 32 (on Pattanakarn road, the parallel road to Sukhumvit road).

They’re quite a few packages, but I went for the Body and Facial Scrub, which is very relaxing, after a long week of hard work, it is sooooo worth it, I finally understood the word ‘rejuvenated’. There are many other packages as well, including going to the Skin Treatment section, fitness center, relaxing room (very relaxing indeed, with jazz music or oriental music). The deco of the place is of course in Oriental, but modern oriental. This place is a resort as well, so try sleeping over and really enjoy yourself then you’ll feel rejuvenated (I prefer to stay a night).

The price is not so cheap, but i still prefer it for the quality, which is pretty surely one of the best around.

Actually, the Miss Universe competition that took place in Thailand a couple of years ago used this spa for their contestants as well before the competed, so I’m sure it’s that good ;)

Go spoil yourself!

Doi Angkhang – untouched spot in N.Thailand

Doi Angkhang is a very well known place in Northern Thailand right in the Chiang Mai province. This mountain (doi means mountain)is in the northern part of Chiang Mai, so the weather is just amazing (very nice and cold during winters, actually gets to 4-5 degrees Celsius during winter season).

Doi Angkhan actually doesn’t feel like the normal Thai place you’d usually go to, because of a lot of Chinese (Yu-Nan) influence, as well as Yu Nan Chinese folks living there. You can actually see Sakura flowers blossom there during the winter (which is when I had the opportunity to visit). Many of the places there is virtually untouched and kept as it always was.

What you cannot miss is the Royal Agricultural Project, which has many amazing sights and seeing with the strawberry farms, miniaturized plants, beautiful gardens, and many more that I just want to go over with. These include: fruits, flowers, vegetables, herbs, crops, etc. In the Royal Project Cooperative’s Compound, you can buy the fresh fruits and products straight from the farm.

I particularly liked the strawberry farm because of how it is laid out, which is just very beautiful (see it for yourself in my pics).

The hill tribe people there are very nice and generous, and you can see them farming most of the time. More info from the place where I went and other northern spots that I found out about and was able to visit is at  http://www.tourismthailand.org/7wonders/

The road there is just spectacular with no rough pathways and very beautiful trees and sceneries from the mountains on both sides of the road. It’s quite steep however, but still very safe to drive by yourself if you want, it’s around 26 kilometers up the hill but it’ll be a very nice and peaceful drive for sure.

Toscana Valley Golf Course, Khao Yai – Thailand

Khao Yai is once again reviewed because there’s just so many new places springing up in this mountainous part of Thailand and it’s just too good to leave out.

This latest place to review is a gigantic project called the Toscana Valley which is a residential housing project, a golf course, town square, and so much more. What’s the highlight about the Toscana Valley is the Italian architecture of all the buildings, which just looks very luxurious and magnificent (in a grand scale) at the same time. Another fact that they sell very well is the scenery and the landscape, which they claim to have mastered. This I must agree because it is just truly gorgeous. The concept seems be like the residents just live in the development project with everything you need there for you.

The golf course, the Toscana Valley Country Club is an 18 holes golf course which is very new and right next to the Khao Yai National park. Many golfers claim this is one o the most challenging golf courses in Thailand because of the landscape and it is just truly beautiful (I mean you can just check out the scenery if you don’t’ golf!).

Other golf courses in Thailand are very nice as well, like the Black Mountain Golf course that’s also really famous, but that’s in Hua Hin, southern part of Thailand (also 2 hours drive from Bangkok, like the Toscana Valley in Khao Yai). Easily, you can get a list full of places to check out at the http://www.tourismthailand.org/7wonders/ website in the “trends” section.

Koh Chang - Bang Bao Beach, Thailand

Koh Chang is a well known island located in the southern region of Thailand, and the beaches there are crystal clear, and that, anyone who’s been there including myself can guarantee you. This one beach that I particularly like is the Bang Bao Beach, which is on the southernmost tip of the west coast of the Koh Chang island. Keep in mind that the west coast is the most beautiful part of the island, so I’m pretty sure this is the place to be (as many have said that).

The Bang bao beach has a well sheltered bay with a small and quiet beach, and most of the people living in the area are part of a fishing community. What’s really neat is how these locals still live in houses built on stilts and are connected by wooden bridges, which is very typical.

What’s really common for people who go there is scuba diving because of the clear water in the area, so there are many scuba shops around. Also, on the southern tip of the island, its’a perfect spot for snorkeling and diving by taking boats and going around close-by islands.

For restaurants, seafood restaurants are everywhere and really abundant with choices, since this region does a lot of fishing, you’ll find good fishes for good prices. There are cheap seafood restaurants, as well as up-scale restaurants on the bay area s well. There’s really so much to choose from so try going to the http://www.tourismthailand.org/7wonders/ website and look up Koh Chang and Bang Bao Beach on there to get a better picture.

Have fun!

Ayutthaya historical city (pt.2)

Touching back on the Ayutthaya province, I took a more extensive tour of the rides down the river and got it touch with the scenery a lot more. What a lot of groups do when they go there is rent a “rice boat” and stroll down the river (usually takes around half a day or a full day if you want to) and enjoy meals on there (prepared by yourselves, this is no restaurant) but what’s exciting is the atmosphere and the scenery.

But also, there are these rice boats that transformed into floating restaurants that anyone can go and eat as well, the menus are pretty similar, with normal dishes and seafood dishes as well, and the prices don’t vary so much (as far as I can tell)

These rice boats aren’t run down or anything like that, but they do have television and karaoke and even refrigerators in some of them.

Oh, instead of taking the rice boat as your means of transportation down the river, you can also take the ‘long tail boat’ which is a lot quicker and a lot smaller, so the trip will be more brief (though still takes up an hour or two of enjoying the scenery). If you’re pretty interested in traveling around this town (Ayutthaya) and all, the 7 Thailand wonders website (http://www.tourismthailand.org/7wonders/) has quite good resources and locations to travel and eat, so you can give it a try.

What you’ll get from these boat rides is seeing how people live along the river and enjoy the scenery of temples and ancient buildings and bridges along the river, if you haven’t done anything like this before, I highly suggest you do so.

Enjoy!

Panda tour in Thailand

If you’ve been in Thailand lately, you must have heard of the Panda by the name of Lin Ping. This Panda is becoming the biggest superstar in town, and it even has its own t.v. channel! (no, I’m not kidding here…)

This superstar’s name is Lin Ping (which is named by a child who entered the nationwide contest of naming the panda) and is actually a present from the Chinese government. The Panda is at the Chiang Mai Zoo (which is in northern Thailand) and the panda has attracted a considerable amount of attention from all over the nation. As a result, the tourist attraction in Chiang Mai has just skyrocketed and many new places have opened up (not to say that the Chiang Mai tourism business has already been doing great all these years).

There are already many reviews done in Chiang Mai, but I highly suggested all of you to go and check out this adorable panda that is probably the most well known animal in the nation. There’s also a lot of info on Chiang Mai at this website  http://www.tourismthailand.org/7wonders/ if u want.

Overall, I just think it’s a great trip and experience to check out the Panda Lin Ping, and the hype surrounding it, which is just amazing. As a result of this panda, many businesses are booming in Chiang Mai, especially restaurants and places to stay.

Enjoy!

Sri Panwa – ultra exclusive resort in Phuket, Thailand

When talking about top-notch getaways, Thailand’s surely in the top list with Maldives and other getaways and that’s because of Sri Panwa, that’s something I can guarantee. This super exclusive pool villa resort is in the famous island of Phuket, south of Thailand.

There are only around a dozen pool villas in this resort and boy do they cater you like a prince. The service is just flawless, including the rooms, that all give u a panoramic view of the ocean, with the pool below your bed.

The concept of the place is what they call “tropical contemporary” because it really gives you that ‘maldives’ feeling but just at another level of being spoiled.

The only problem with this place is its price, which I’m sure for those of you looking for this level of luxury. This niche market is spectacular, especially for those who can afford it, but it’s actually a growing business in Thailand, and you can find many forms of these exclusive resorts all over the country. Try out the http://www.tourismthailand.org/7wonders/ website and you can look up for a selection of these sorts of resorts.

It’s a must try!
Enjoy!

Palio de Khao Yai – Thailand’s

Once reviewed before, Khao Yai is becoming a very well known spot for everyone to visit and even spend a weekend. The hotels and resorts popping up in Khao Yai is at such an amazing rate that it's really unprecedented elsewhere in Thailand (maybe Phuket and Hua Hin over the last decade).

What many people like doing is going to the different restaurants that follow the European theme, (since Khao Yai is in the mountains), and there's been a lot of booms lately, especially in restaurants and community malls, so i decided to pick up on one of them.

The place is called Palio, which is relatively new and interestingly, one of the owners of this place owns the Famous restaurant in Khao Yai called "Primo Posto", and i loved it, so of course i'll love this place as well, but just on a much larger scale. This community mall has over a hundred shops/stores, including coffee shops, restaurants/pubs, even spas, and all that stuff.

This place is actually pretty close by the famous Kirimaya Golf Course/resort , just on the same main road but before it. The thing is, these types of places have really been popping up and i just want ya'll to help share it and post up ur own places that u've been, i got mine from http://www.tourismthailand.org/7wonders/ so u can check it out there as well.

Hope you have a good time!

Enjoy!

Climbing the beautiful Soi Dao Waterfall, Thailand

This is meant for the more adventurous ones of you, but you dont' have to be a master of anything to enjoy this trip. There's a series of beautiful waterfalls very well known in Thailand for it's beauty and many people visit it, in Chantaburi province.

The waterfall is located in the Khao Soi Dao Wildlife Sanctuary, so it is very well kept and preserved. If you guys want to breathe in some true green nature air, this place is it. The Kaho Soi Dao Waterfall consists of 16 tiers total. It may seem like a lot but actually it isn't that much.

For armatures, it'll be a great and exciting challenge, but you're not to be left out because many people who go there have never journeyed up tears tot eh water fall like you, so it's really fun and challenging.

The higher you go, the more chance there is for you to enjoy the panoramic view of the Khao Soi Dao forest, especially with the waterfall at your feet. What you need to be cautious on is the slippery rocks that you may sometimes encounter, but nothing too dangerous. Also, leeches may be a problem, but if you wear the proper protections, it'll be easy.

What's great is there is actually a place to stay, in the bungalows arranged, although i'm not ery sure if we can still stay there now.
Enjoy the adventure!

Climbing the beautiful Soi Dao Waterfall, Thailand

This is meant for the more adventurous ones of you, but you dont' have to be a master of anything to enjoy this trip. There's a series of beautiful waterfalls very well known in Thailand for it's beauty and many people visit it, in Chantaburi province.

The waterfall is located in the Khao Soi Dao Wildlife Sanctuary, so it is very well kept and preserved. If you guys want to breathe in some true green nature air, this place is it. The Kaho Soi Dao Waterfall consists of 16 tiers total. It may seem like a lot but actually it isn't that much.

For armatures, it'll be a great and exciting challenge, but you're not to be left out because many people who go there have never journeyed up tears tot eh water fall like you, so it's really fun and challenging.

The higher you go, the more chance there is for you to enjoy the panoramic view of the Khao Soi Dao forest, especially with the waterfall at your feet. What you need to be cautious on is the slippery rocks that you may sometimes encounter, but nothing too dangerous. Also, leeches may be a problem, but if you wear the proper protections, it'll be easy.

What's great is there is actually a place to stay, in the bungalows arranged, although i'm not ery sure if we can still stay there now.
Enjoy the adventure!

Easy Japanese food in Thailand

Any of you love japanese food?> every now and then, i need my weekly dosage of Japanese food and whenever i run out of ideas, i just go for the Fuji restaurant. THey make contemporary and even fusion food.

This is probably the most famous and well known Japanese restaurant in Thailand, but actually that's because they have the most branches, almost at every department stores, and they cater to large amounts of customers at once. Some people may no tlike it because of hwo they feel it is not "japanese" enough for them, although to many they can't evfen tell the difference.

I ordered a few dishes that i can't find anywhere else since it's their famous dish but also the ordinary ones. THe fried shrimp on rice was only okay for me, not spectacular. The Salmon fried rice is always a favorite though, highly suggested. For desserts, i'm never disappointed, with their green tea ice cream and red beans.

THe price is okay but actually a little too pricey i think. However, that doesn't change the fact that they're still the most famous japanese restaurant in Thailand. If you want more info on other restaurants in Thailand, try visiting the site http://www.tourismthailand.org/7wonders/ and you should be able to get a lot of places to try out, give it a try!

Bon Appetite!

Fried Chicken Noodles in Bangkok!

i'm been on a rampage to try out all the street food in bkk over the past few months, and now i'm compiling them up and i want to share with you a selected few.

This one is conveniently located at the Ari BTS (Skytrain) station and it's just a few minutes walk into the front of the sub-road. The food is considered typical Thai street food and they cook it right next to you. With this type of food, price is never the concern. Expect to pay only 30-40 baht per plate (around $1) and u'll be pretty much stuffed.

There's only a few drinks to choose from, i went with the "Splash" it's mixed orange juice, pretty sweet.

I've got to say, i've tried this dish at many places, both cheap and expensive, and since it's a common dish, i have it often. They either make the noodles very crispy or make it normally like at this shop.
Like many of you may already know, the food selection in Thailand, especially Bangkok, is just endless and most of the places, the taste is just so awesome. Just to get an idea, try going to http://www.tourismthailand.org/7wonders/ and just look at the “where to eat” section to get an idea.

Give it a try and u'll know what i'm talking about!

Lanta Islands - untouched part of Thailand

Ko Lanta Yai. The name of the island that is off the western coast of the infamous Krabi island and probably best known for it's clear clean waters on it's white beaches. The Lantai Yai island is actually the largest of the over 50 small secluded group of islands; hence, Lanta IslandS.

What's accommodating about the Lanta islands is that there are all sorts of budget travels u can choose from, with the cheapest u can find around to the top notch ones, which r of course super exquisite. When i mainly go there i just go to the ordinary ones but from time to time there r special rates available. There's lots to choose from, check out http://www.tourismthailand.org/7wonders/ for a handful of selections

An activity that i must suggest for all visitors is fishing, u'll see a lot of fishing boats known as the 'long tail' boats that the local fisherman use. It's a great experience, especially if u go with ur friends.

Oh yeah, and of course snorkeling and diving are main attractions of these islands as well. Many diving schools use the Krabi area as the place to practice or do professional diving because of the nice corals and clear beaches.

Give it a try!

Nan, Little green mt. city in N. Thailand

Nan, a northern city in Thailand is a common place for local and foreigners to go, especially with the increasing popularity of touring the north of Thailand. This small city is rich wtih historical monuments, especially temples and the nature is very green with the national forest of Nan being visited by many from all over the country.

The most famous museum here is the national museum of Nan in the temple called "Wat Phumin" and you can ask anyone in the city and they'll easily point out where it is. The national museum itself is actually a former palace of the previous feudal lords back in the old days, and it is kept very well and maintained very well.

Nan actually borders Laos so there's a lot of history there, considering how Thai and Laos are historically.

The historical sites in Nan are just everywhere, naming a few would be: Wat Phra That Chae Haeng, Wat Hua Khuang, Wat Suan Tan, and the list would just go on and on. All of these places can be found at the 7 Wonders Thai website that went to ( http://www.tourismthailand.org/7wonders/ )These are all temples that are very very well ornate and richly done so as well. Many people go there to visit these temples because of their significance religiously and architecturally, and for people who just want to meditate peacefully, these temples really do it.

Since there's the Nan river close by, many activities go on by the river, especially rafting, and the historical and traditional boat racing where people dress up in traditional clothes and help race the long boats, which is a tradition dating back centuries. Oh yeah, if you guys like mountain hiking or biking don't miss out too because it's a mountainous region, over a thousand meters above sea level so the weather's pretty nice as well.

This city is really worth a try if you like to take pictures with temples and the forest and the river. Otherwise, for those of you who love the beach more, i doubt it u'd enjoy it here, but hey, always worth the try, i really enjoyed the peaceful life there, especially when i'm close to the mountain or the river.

Cheers

Montblanc Cake – homemade awesome bakery in Chiang Mai, Thailand

Heading up north again, they're countless restaurants, bakeries, coffee shops, etc. opening up in Chiang Mai and they're all just very unique shops that are just so worthwhile checking out, so i went to one of them and decided to do a review on it. I got it from the 7 wonders website ( http://www.tourismthailand.org/7wonders/ ) and they’re many other places to go (or stay) at in the website, just search for it, pretty simple stuff.

The bakery that i went to is called "Montblanc Patisserie" which is located in the Niman Hemin road, a famous road filled with hip restaurants, cafes, clubs, and loads of shops. This shop has been around for quite a while and has grown in its popularity ever since. They also have their own home made icecreams that i find very fascinating, aside from the cakes, and also the cookies.

Their signature Montblanc Cake is always high on demand and runs out pretty quickly. There's also a seating area right outside the shop and the weather's usually cold (colder than bkk) most of the year (although hot for many country's standards!!)

The interior of the shop is very well decorated with many sofas and cool paintings (prints as well) in comic forms. you can park your car right next to the complex, and get a stamp for ur car so that you don't need to pay for parking! The shop is located in a newly built complex, i think it's called the "cotto complex" or something because the "cotto" company is in there with their own showroom.

Bon Appetite!

Hat Yai – S. hub of Thailand

Many people my only recognize southern Thailand as being the Phuket or Krabi, but actually there are many cities in the south that are very interesting to visit, Hat Yai being one of them. Hat Yai is a very lively city in the Province of Songkhla province, which is almost bordering Malaysia.

Hat Yai is argued by many to not be the most interesting city in Thailand. yes i must agree. But Hat Yai's importance to the southern region and Malaysia makes it always filled with tourists within the region and from far away. There are plenty of hotels in Hat Yai for this very reason, and many people like to stop in Hat yai to enjoy the local market, because it acts as a hub for the rest of the region. As for restaurants, seafood is very famous in Hat Yai as well, and also fried chicken, which you can find in almost every corner of the city.

The details on where to stay or where to eat exactly can be found here --> http://www.tourismthailand.org/7wonders/ and just search for it, pretty easy to find.

Transportation there is plentiful as well, with the Hat Yai international airport, railway transportation, or bus, whatever suits you best.
The markets i'd suggest you to go to are: Santisuk (peace) Market and Kimyhong Market, you can ask any local and they'll point it out for u very easily.

For natural sight seeing, you can go to the Tone Nga Chang waterfall, which is famous for it's seven layers, or the Public Park of Hat Yai which is well known for its serenity, and the Hat Yai temple, which is the main temple in the city, a very beautiful one too.

Lots more to check out!
Enjoy!

Pattaya - legend of Thailand

Pattaya itself used the be the highlight of attractions for people who want to head to the beach or enjoy a day trip to beach. But nowadays, Pattaya has been overlooked by the further away islands and towns down south such as Phuket or Krabi, but i had the opportunity to go to Pattaya the other week and i found the place to be very developed.

I stayed at the Dusit Thani Pattaya Hotel, which is close to teh Southern Pattaya area, and very close by the Hard Rock Hotel down the beach. It's a 5 star hotel but every now and then, there are promotions so you should check it out if they're any updates on promotion. My stay was awesome for the fact that it was a five star stay!!

I was surprised after not going to pattaya for so long to see how developed it became. I enjoyed the Hard Rock Cafe' which every now and then has foam parties in it's pub which is just a blast. The restaurants are just always popping up so you never really get enough of the food there, and it's just great, especially the seafood. For the restaurants and the places to stay, there's a load of details you can get from this website > http://www.tourismthailand.org/7wonders/ in the "beaches" section.

Need i remind you of how exciting Pattaya is at night because this tourist hot spot is filled with discos, a hi-tech extravaganza filled with flashing lights and anything you can imagine, so go and enjoy it!

Good luck!

Touring the little northern town in Thailand - Pai

The northern part of Thailand is becoming a more and more famous trend each year for locals and foreign tourists to visit. I mean, it's not very surprising for its popularity to rise so much, because the city is just engulfed in a relaxed atmosphere, especially during the winter.


There are many types of resorts or hotels/guesthouses there as well, from the low budget ones for backpackers to the top end ones that people just get envious for you to stay there. there are lots to choose from, but i'm not very particular about any, maybe some other time i'll do a review on the places to stay there, try going to http://www.tourismthailand.org/7wonders/ and search for it there.

What people love doing there is just being rejuvenated from city life and kicking it back and relaxing. What most people do when they go there are: enjoy a cruise on a raft down the river to enjoy the scenery and greenery of course, then a lot of people like to go try riding on the elephant and rent bicycles to tour the town on their own, since it's not a very big town, you can enjoy it for a few days.

Sometimes, many people just go there to just detox themselves by enjoying the fresh air, some people just enjoy teh vegan restaurants there as well, it's really up to you, but i must say that what all of you should do is try touring the mountains and the river to really let the nature sink in, because it is truly something special that's hard to find anywhere else, so give it a try!

enjoy!!

Restaurant on top of mountain - Chiang Mai Thailand

During the winter season, most Thais head up north, likewise to many tourists. Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, and Pai are the common places to go these days and i couldn't agree more that i visited Chiang Mai myself.


During my visit, i had the opportunity to go to this one particular restaurant, that i must say is one of the most memorable places i've been in Thailand. It sits on top of a mountain and is very cozy, a restaurant by the name of Palaad Tawan Ron. This restaurant is a very well known restaurant that many visitors and locals of the city of Chiang Mai love visiting because of its spectacular view.

The food here is also great, although many people say the food is not so exceptional compared to the flabbergasting view of the city of Chiang Mai. Right below the restaurant, hovering the view of the town is a beautiful lake and lots and lots of trees, so you feel very much in the green.

For dinner, i ordered fried fish, tom yum goong, mixed vegetables, crab fried rice, and a nice cool beer. The price was around 800 baht, which is very ordinary, especially considering the location. Overall, i was very pleased with the dishes, they also came quite quickly, but they also became cold quite quickly, because the weather up there is a lot cooler than in the city.

To get there, you can rent a truck, taxi, or you can drive by yourself up the mountain. The path is pretty steep so driving is actually quite fun, around 10-15 minute drive up the mountain.

There are more of these types of restaurants and places if you like these types of places, go to http://www.tourismthailand.org/7wonders/

Try it out and enjoy!