See the Cultures in Nakhon Ratchasima

Nakhon Ratchasima does not only have nature attractions from Khao Yai National Park, but also cultural and archeological attractions for it used to be ancient communities of Khmer. You can cover these attractions by taking the highway 2 (Mitraphap Road), which is also called "the Cultural Route" ++ Amphoe Sung Nern ++ Muang Sema Ancient Site Around 37 kilometers away from Nakhon Ratchasima Town, Muang Sema used to be the location of Dvaravati's community. Therefore, there are many ancient objects found here, especially the Buddha image in reclining posture made from a grand red sandstone. Tambol Khorat Ancient Site Located in Tambol Khorat, this is the first ancient site found in Nakhon Ratchasima. There are three ancient sandstone buildings found here, Phrasart Muang Khao. All were created according to Khmer style of art. ++ Amphoe Pimai ++ Pimai Historical Park Located in Amphoe Pimai, around 60 kilometers away from town, this is the grandest and most beautiful archeological site in Nakhon Ratchasima. Covering an area of 46 acres,facing south, the site consists of many buildings. The most important one is the main stupa located in the middle. There is also a bridge called "Naga Bridge", archways, and walls with sculpted decorations. In Order to fully appreciate the significance of the place, you should also visit Pimai National Museum, which is only 300 meters southeast ward of the stone buildings. For more information of Thailand and finding hotels please visit www.thaitoproom.com

See the Natures in Khao Yai National Park

Nakhon Ratchasima, or Khorat, in one of the biggest provinces in Isan. the South, Nakhon Ratchasima is the gateway to the Northeast. Its unique highlights "Phrasart", and Khao Yai National Park, as well as such fine products like silk and pottery. From here, you could either get to the upper Isan or to the southern Isan very conveniently.

Khao Yai National Park could be regarded as the model of the national parks in Thailand. Established more than 40 years ago, Khao Yai is the first national park and is the most abundant ones in Thailand. Moreover, this evergreen forest with various kinds of wild animals is also close to the town and suitable for everyone who wantsto appreciat the natures. See the Natures While DrivingThe road that cuts through Khao Yai links Nakhon Rachasima and Prachinburi together. Travelers may choose to get to Khao Yai from Prachinburi (51 kilometers), or from Nakhon Rachasima (40 kilometers), many people choose to get there on one way and return on the other in order to see the complete scenery. While driving, you may be able to see wild animals living in nature. Moreover, you can get to some waterfalls quite easite easily by car, like Namtok Heaw Suwat, Namtok Heaw Narok, and Pha Glouy Mai. Treking: See the View, watch the BirdYour can enjoy the nature in Khao Yai not only by driving, but also bu walking. Khao Yai has many different treking trails, some are best for scenery watching, some for plants studying, and some for pure adventure. For more information, you can directly contact the Tourist Information Office on Khao Yai. Moreover, if you pass Amphoe Pak Chong while traveling, you might very well visit grape orchards along the way, as well as Lam Ta Khong Dam which is a very beautiful place.www.thaitoproom.com

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Isan the Plateau - Northeast of Thailand

Isan, the Northeast of Thailand, is the driest and most seasonal area in Thailand, thus the geographical features of the region are mainly dry dipterocarp forest, savannah and stony soils

Isan attractions are, undeniably, affected by these features, including the two kinds of mountains, flat-topped mountains, and Cuesta mountains, which is similar to the blade of the machete.

Most travelers are attracted to the charm of pine forests and savannah on those flat-topped mountains like Phu Kradung, Phu Luang, and Phu Keaw, which are mostly over a thousands meters high.

However, Cuesta mountains also produce such attraction as Phu Phan, Phanom Dong Rak, and San Kampaeng Mountains. These mountains are generally 500-1,000 meters high. They occur from the unevenly liftings of earth layers, so that they have a steep cliff on one side and a slope on the other.

From these two kinds of mountains, the Northeast owns many view spots from the cliffs and on the hill, sa sandstone waterfalls, natural stone gardens, and numerable stone temples, which were built since ancient times. All of these natural and cultural attractions are really unique, and it is indeed an amazing experience to explore this region, at all times.[All information of Thailand]

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Thailand Grand Festival - Loy Krathong Festival

There are many grand festivals in Thailand for celebrating in the same time of every year from the past until now a day. Some of festival is about Thai tradition but some is about religion. Around the forth quart months of every year (October - December), there are a few grand festivals which very important for Thai and one of them is Loy Krathong Festival, one of festival of the world. Loy Krathong Festival is on the full moon of the twelfth lunar month, around November. This festival is for apologizing to the queen of the river. Some believed that to homage to the Buddha’s footprint which located near the great Namtha River. On Loy Krathong Day at night, Thai people will go to the river to celebrate this festival by floating Krathong into the river in their ways. Thai people and foreigners like to go Sukhothai provice which in the North of Thailand, to celebrate this festival because Sukhothai is an old city with ancient history and can reserve the right way of this old tradition from the past until now. For this year, Loy Krathong Day is on November 5, 2006. Who like to go to celebrate this festival in Sukhothai should book for the accommodation as soon as possible because some of hotels in Sukhothai almost full booked. The celebrating area is in Sukhothai Historical Park, located in Muang Khao, A.Muang from 1 to 5 of November. www.thaitoproom.com For more information of Thailand and finding hotels please visit www.thaitoproom.com

The Kingdom of Thailand

The Kingdom of Thailand , the land of old culture with a beatiful nature for relaxing, traveling , and your vacation.

Thailand, or Siam , or The Land of Smile which is located in Southeast Asia , the capital's name "Bangkok", the population amount 60 millions and most of people are Buddhist, has well known in beautiful traveling places. Every year there are many foreigners come and visit our country. The popular places are the beach and sea, island, waterfall , forest and mountain, and cultural places.

There are two side of the sea here ; 1. Andaman sea side and 2. Gulf of Thailand sae side.

Andaman sea is full of under water world marine life such as corel, fishes, sea flower, etc. So Andaman sea is the paradise of scuba diving and snorkeling. The beach is very clean and has white sand which attract the tourist for sun bathing. Phuket Island is one of the province of Thailand which located at the Andaman sea side. This island is the most popular in Thailand. Every year many tourist come and visit Phuket expecialy the Europain and American because it has beautiful sea and beach. Around Phuket Area, there are many places which very popular for scuba diving and snorkeling. At Phuket you can choose to stay with economic hotel to 5 stars hotel because there are many hotels here.

At night Phuket changes to the civilize town for tourist who want to eat and drink, lot of bars, pubs and restaurants are open for service you. That why the foreigner who love to come and visit Thailand never forget to go to Phuket also.

The islands which are located in Andaman sea side such as Koh (meaning island in Thai) Phi Phi, Koh Lanta, Koh Similan, Koh Tarutao , etc. are very popular and beatiful not less than each others. Oh!! more than word to say and explain with them.

Gulf of Thailand sea side is beatiful not less than Andaman sea side. The most popular island is Koh Samui wich located in Suratthani province. Europian and American likes to visit here. Near Koh Samui, there are Koh Pha-Ngan , Koh Tao, and Angtong islands which have nice sea and nature. In The East of Thailand, the popular island are Koh Chang, Koh Samed, Koh Mhak, Koh Man-Nork, Koh Man-Nai. The Asian likes to visit them.

Contined to talk about the the waterfall, forest, and mountain. Kanchanaburi is the large province located in The West of Thailand. Here is full of the perfect forest. The popular waterfall here is Erawan waterfall which has 7 tires. The City is old with the history of The World War II. War Cemetery and The Bridge over The Kwai River are located here.

Furthermore, the perfect and large forest in The Northeast of Thailand is Khao Yai has beatiful nature, waterfalls, you will enjoy adventure in the forest.

Chiang Mai is the largest province of Thailand which has beatiful nature , forest and mountain. There are many cultural places here for cultural traveling. The tourist loves to go to Chiang Mai during Songrand Festival which call Thai New Year, in the middle of April to join with this tradition.From the above details is talk about the beach and sea, waterfall , forest and mountain in Thailand but if you are the one who love cultural traveling you should go to Ayutthaya and Sukhothai. They will attract and impress you with the old cultural places.

All of Thailand information that I describe for you is just a little part of us. Come to visit and touch us by yourself, you will love us never forget Thailand.

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Phi Phi Islands

Regarded by travelers from all walks of life as being among the most beautiful tropical islands of the world, Phi Phi Islands have become one of the most popular tourist attractions in Thailand. In addition, the islands are famous as the location where the movie "The Beach" featuring Leonardo Di Caprio was shot. The islands, together with the nearby Noppharat Thara Beach, a total area of 390 square kilometers, were recently established as a national park.

Phi Phi Islands are located just 40 kilometers away from both Krabi and Phuket. Thus, despite the fact that both Noppharat Thara Beach and Phi Phi administratively are a part of Krabi Province, most tourists think that Ko Phi Phi is part of Phuket Province.

The islands and the coastal hills are composed mainly of limestone and are an extension of the limestone mountain range in Phang-Nga Province. The main characteristics of these mountains and islands are their steep cliffs, large caves and dwarf trees growing out of the rock crevices, like those in Phang-Nga Bay. The island group is composed of two rocky, tree-covered islets Phi Phi Don and Phi Phi Le. Phi Phi Don, the larger islet to the north, is well known for its fine beaches and coral formations. Above average tourist facilities and accommodations are available along two beautiful curved bays, namely Ton Sai Bay and Lodalam Bay. Several shops at Ton Sai can arrange diving and snorkeling trips around the island or the nearby islands - Ko Phi Phi Le, Ko Yung and Ko Mai Phai.

About 2 kilometers to the south is Phi Phi Le. Contrary to Phi Phi Don, this islet is uninhabited as there is no beach area as the island descends abruptly into the sea on all sides and it is prohibited by the administrative body. The main attraction is a large cave about 3.2 square kilometers in size known as Viking Cave derived from one of the numerous drawings on the wall which resembles a Viking ship. The cave has a 10 to 15-metre high ceiling which contains many ledges inhabited by thousands of swallows, thus a bird's nest collection demonstration is a regular feature of guided tours.

Ao Maya and Ao Lo Sama - Phi Phi Islands scenic coves are favorite snorkeling places while the sea around the islands, especially the southern part, which are deep and full of coral formations are popular diving spots. With its emerald crystal sea, secluded beaches, mountain cliffs, colorful coral reefs and undersea life, Phi Phi is a paradise in the Andaman Sea. The best time to visit Phi Phi Islands is from November to April, when the sea is calm.

Ko Yung, an island to the north of Ko Phi Phi Don, has a stone beach on the east and small sandy beaches amid valleys. In addition, the island is teeming with diverse colorful coral reefs. Ko Phai, another island to the north of Ko Phi Phi Don and not far from Ko Yung, has spectacular beaches in the north and east of the island. The bank of coral reefs comprised mainly of antler corals stretches from the north to the south of the island.

Getting to Ko Phi Phi

Phi Phi Islands which are equidistant to Phuket and Krabi Provinces can be reached by boat.

From Krabi

Chao Fa Pier: Passenger boats leave Chao Fa Pier twice daily at 10 a.m. and 2.30 p.m. The trip takes about 2.30 hours.

Ao Nang: There is one express boat trip leaving daily at 9 p.m. taking 40 min.

From Phuket

Many tour companies in Phuket organize one-day trips to Phi Phi Islands. Tickets can be obtained from any hotel.

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Krabi at a glance

Krabi at a glance Located approximately 814 kilometers from Bangkok is Krabi Province, one of most attractive destinations in southern Thailand. Encompassing an area of 4,708 square kilometers, the western border of Krabi is the Andaman Sea, the northern borders are Surat Thani and Phang-nga Provinces, the southern borders are Trang Province and the Andaman Sea and the eastern borders are Nakhon Si Thammarat and Trang Provinces. Krabi is an ideal getaway destination teeming with natural attractions including white sandy beaches, fascinating coral reefs, numerous large and small islands and verdant forests with caves and waterfalls.

Krabi's topography is mostly mountains and highlands separated by plains in some parts. Flowing through Krabi City to the Andaman Sea at Pak Nam Sub-district is Maenam Krabi which is 5 kilometers in length. In addition, there are several canals originating from the province's highest mountain range, Khao Phanom Bencha including Khlong Pakasai, Khlong Krabi Yai and Khlong Krabi Noi. Lush mangrove forests line the canals and the banks of Maenam Krabi particularly before it empties into the Andaman Sea. The provinces sandy soil conditions are suitable for growing various agricultural products, particularly rubber trees, palms, coconuts, cashew nuts and coffee.

Due to the influence of the tropical monsoon, there are only two seasons in Krabi; the hot season from January to April and the rainy season from May to December. Temperatures range between 17 °C and 37 °C.

Krabi is administratively divided into 8 Amphoes (Districts): Amphoe Mueang, Khao Phanom, Khlong Thom, Plai Phraya, Ko Lanta, Ao Luek, Lam Thap, and Nuea Khlong. The provinces jurisdiction covers not only in-land districts and sub-districts, but also extends to more than 130 large and small islands including the world famous Phi Phi Islands.

In addition, Krabi is the location of two world class beaches Ao Nang and Hat Rai Le which offer numerous diving trips, restaurants, shops etc. Additional attractions in the province are stunning limestone cliffs and rock formations which make it a heaven for rock climbers and a National Park located approximately 40 kilometers outside of town with lakes, caves and spectacular natural scenery.

History of Krabi Some archeologists claim that Krabi City is one of the older settlements in the country as there is archaeological evidence indicating that this area had been home to homosapiens during the prehistoric times or between 25,000 - 35,000 B. C. The assumption has been strongly supported by the discovery of stone tools, ancient colored pictures, beads, pottery and skeletal remains in the provinces cliffs and caves.

In 1200 A.D., the area was known as Ban Thai Samo, one of 12 royal cities that had a monkey as the town symbol. During this period of time, Krabi was under the rule of the Kingdom of Ligor, a city better known today as Nakhon Si Thammarat.

During the reign of King Rama V (1868-1910), the community was known as Pakasai Sub-county and remained under the direct jurisdiction of Nakhon Si Thammarat province.

Around 1872, King Rama V elevated Pakasai Sub-county to Krabi Province with the provincial administration office situated at Krabi-yai Sub-county (currently, the office is located near the estuary at Pak Nam Sub-district) and in 1875, ordered the separation of Krabi Province from Nakhon Si Thammarat Province.

During the present reign, the corps of civil servants, merchants, and the people of Krabi and nearby provinces have collectively organized the construction of a royal residence at Laem Hang Nak Cape which is thirty kilometers west of Krabi Town on the Andaman coast to be presented to His Majesty the King.

Origin of the name Krabi There are two legends concerning the origin of the name "Krabi". The first is that villagers presented a large ancient sword (or krabi) that was discovered by chance to the governor. Later when a smaller, on discovering a smaller one, it was also presented to the governor. Regarded as sacred and auspicious, the governor decided to keep them in the province. As the process for the establishment of the province was still in progress, the swords were placed crossing each other in Khao Khanap Nam cave. Since then, the crossed swords have remained a part of the provincial seal.

The second legend is that "Krabi" was derived from the name of a local tree known as "Lumphi". The Malay and Chinese merchants mispronunciation of the name to "Ka-lu-bi" or "Kho-lo-bi" finally resulted in "Krabi" (or sword).

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International and Domestic Travel

International and Domestic Travel Flying is the most convenient mode of transportation for most visitors traveling to Thailand. Domestic flights are also easy and convenient, cutting down on journey time. A number of domestic carriers service a majority of large provincial cities dotting generously across the country. Travel to neighboring countries is cheaper when booked within Thailand. Train services connect Bangkok to all regions of the country at reasonable prices. A regular rail service also runs between Bangkok and Singapore via Malaysia. Long distance coaches, both air-conditioned and open-aired, connect all major cities. At the local level, diverse forms of transportation are provided: provincial buses, city buses, songthaews, tuk-tuks, rickshaws, boats, and even rental cars. International Travel Air : With Bangkok serving as the international travel hub of SE Asia, the capital serves as the landing port for numerous international airlines, most with direct flights from their destinations. Some chartered and regional flights may land at one of the other international airports within Thailand, consisting of Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Hat Yai, Phuket, and Ubon Ratchatani. Thecountry's national airline is Thai Airways. Airport departure taxes for international departures costs 500 baht/person. The check-in counters open 2 hours and close half an hour prior departure time. Reservation / Ticket Angel Air (662) 937-8908 Bangkok Airways (662) 265-5555 PB Air (662) 261-0220-5 Thai Airways (662) 628-2000 SGA Airlines (662) 535 7050 - 1 Tickets can be purchased through travel agencies (cheaper for international flights, same for domestic flights) or by booking with the airlines themselves, either via phone, internet, or e-ticketing kiosks (Thai Airways only). International Flights Information (662) 535-1254 (departures) (662) 535-1301 (arrivals)Those traveling from neighboring countries may enter Thailand via road, rail, ships, or ferries. Domestic Travel Domestic travel during public holidays and on weekends, particularly to popular destinations, should be booked well in advance for all modes of transportation. Booking is particularly difficult during the Songkran Holiday and New Year's Holiday. Air : Local carriers Thai Airways(TG) and Bangkok Airways (PG) fly to most major provincial airports beyond 250 km distance from Bangkok. Thai Airways' 2 most popular routes are Chiang Mai and Phuket. Services to Koh Samui and Sukhothai are only provided by Bangkok Airways. Other smaller local carriers include Angel Air (mainly servicing Phuket) and PB Air which flies to fewer destinations. Air Andaman services is limited to the Southern cities only. The domestic terminal is located at the southern end of the Bangkok International Airport. Normally, check-ins for domestic flight is one hour prior to departure time and closes half an hour before flight time. Departure tax has already been added to your ticket fare. Domestic flights Information (662) 535-1192 (departures) (662) 535-1253 (arrivals)

Thailand Information : Geography:

The kingdom of Thailand lies in the heart of Southeast Asia, making it a natural gateway to Indochina, Myanmar and Southern China. Its shape and geography divide into four natural regions : the mountains and forests of the North; the vast rice fields of the Central Plains; the semi-arid farm lands of the Northeast plateau; and the tropical islands and long coastline of the peninsula South.

The country comprises 76 provinces that are further divided into districts, sub-districts and villages. Bangkok is the capital city and centre of political, commercial, industrial and cultural activities. It is also the seat of Thailand's revered Royal Family, with His Majesty the King recognised as Head of State, Head of the Armed Forces, Upholder of the Buddhist religion and Upholder of all religions.

Thailand is a constitutional monarchy with His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, or King Rama IX, the ninth king of the Chakri Dynasty, the present king. The King has reigned for more than half a century, making him the longest reigning Thai monarch. Thailand embraces a rich diversity of cultures and traditions. With its proud history, tropical climate and renowned hospitality, the Kingdom is a never-ending source of fascination and pleasure for international visitors.