Thailand Tourism Guide

Thailand - Malaysia - Singapore Part 2

2007-06-01T21:50:00.002-07:00

Tumpat station presented itself freshly renovated. It was reached within 26 Minutes with 2 intermediate piles-of-sleepers stops. The neat appearance of the time-honoured building was in strange contrast to the surprisingly shabby and run-down condition of the rolling stock with which the "local" stop-trains seem to be equipped. Our train, M/83, was bound for Gua Musang only. This is a kind of breaking point on the eastern line. There are 5 daily departures (6 on weekends) from Tumpat: - Local M93/94 - (ca) 03:40, for Gua Musang, arr. (ca) 09:25 ((ca) denotes timetable before 1st March, 04, new one not at hand)
- Local M91/92 - 05:35, for Gemas, arr (ca) 19:25
- Local M82/84 - 13:20, for Gua Musang, arr 19:30
- Express XST15/14 - 19:00, for Singapore, arr 09:05
- Express XW17/16 - 18:00, for Kuala Lumpur arr 07:25
- Express XK19/18 - 19:00, for Kuala Lumpur arr 08:08 (weekends only)
Also on the Eastern Line:
- Local M57/58 - Gua Musang 05:10 to Singapore arr 17:15

Our M/83 offered us an abundance of free seats at Tumpat but filled up quickly at subsequent stations. Carriages were of 1980ies vintage, probably down-graded from a former express train status and now utterly neglected. This seemed to apply to all trains north of Gua Musang; whilst express trains and the M/57 into Singapore were of much higher standard and state of maintenance. Heavy delays of upto one hour seem to be the rule, at least at the time we had the privilege of waiting! The line down to Gemas where it branches from the Singapore/Kuala Lumpur mainline, is single track throughout with token-operation. British style signals and turnouts operated with classical heavy levers and bars prevail. The major stations are in a decent state whilst many of the minor ones, eventhough still scheduled stopping points, are often in state of destruction and semi-demolished, down to the pile of sleepers serving as a platform.

Gua Musang, apart from being a kind of "railway town", had a history of a place trading with timber, rubber and other produce. The small towns, like Kota Baru and, as we should see, Kuala Lipis, are predominantly Chinese. We afforded ourselves a proper and modern Hotel and I instantly felt by design and style being back somewhere in China. Chinese restaurants offered Chinese food and Carlsberg beer (and we were still in Kelantan, under Islamic PAS-rule!). The next morning saw us waiting in the rain, having invested in one colourful umbrella. The delayed early morning departure M/93 came all way from Tumpat, terminating here and discharging loads of veiled ladies with their baskets and bags full of local merchandise.
Subsequent shunting to turn the M/93(south) into the M/94(north) allowed some photo taking of (TATA?) diesel 6665 and its decaying string of coaches. M/91 from Tumpas (scheduled/actual departure from Gua Musang 11:41/12:22) then took us on the 2hours/23 minutes run to Kuala Lipis in Pahang state.

Discharged from the conveniently located station right into the centre of a small town with rows of 1920ies Chinese shophouses we turned back-packers again. The guesthouse selected was the most suitable place with an owner/guide to get us into Kenong Rimba Park on the following day. It is almost inaccessible, requires a boat ride of 1 to 1-1/2 hours and involves fairly tough jungle-walking and sustained battles with leeches. Town and park are potential tourist treasures but remain largely untouched. A set-back was that even a Chinese restaurant (serving delicious fish from the local Sungai Jelai(River)) does offer neither beer nor pork: we have applied for a halal-license, you know, because the most affluent customer are Malays.

Just beyond Kuala Lipis ends the scenic part of the eastern line - running amidst jungle vegetation, alongside or across rivers and through about 8 short tunnels. Should anyone ever wish to go - take the slow day-trains, no aircon, open windows, local "folklore". The tickets are computerized, in general, but for the M/57 from Kuala Lipis we got a hand-completed "Tiket Tambah Tambang (Tunai)" - whatever that may mean. At least we can read what they write - and in contrast to Thailand suddenly you are not illiterate anymore... Tremendously helpful in food-outlets with Malay menus only: Ayam, Nasi,. Mee, Kari. no problem,one will soon know. No problem enjoying Kampung Ayam, village chicken, which we were so much missing in Thailand because of the bird flue - how come they did not get it in Malaysia?

M/57, although local, was airconditioned and clean. Regrettably, the - non-aircon - dining-car did not contain much else but a sleeping attendent, strange? There were no roving vendors either. The trick to avoid starvation of which most passengers seem to have been aware, is to jump and run at Gemas station to the station-based food stalls. The schedule presumably allows for this exercise - but since trains do not exactly run to schedule - who knows when they will move on? Pity, plinthed 1946 North British 504.36 was too far off to be captured for a photo. The train departed Gemas at 12:52 instead of 12:35, not so bad. But in Johore Bahru it was going to be 17:09 vs 16:16.

From now on it was more rubber plantations, palmoil plantations and other attractive scenery. Cities seemed to be considerably more bustling than Kuala Lipis; this was the west coast area.

The Causeway connects Malaysia's Johore Bharu and Singapore . The surprise came at the Singapore end. A new immigration complex has replaced the former facilities at Keppel Road, obliging all passengers-cum-luggage to disembark, push through customs and immigration and reboard the train - minus those who decide to end their journey at the Woodlands area. Not few did so decide, in fact it seemed to have been the majority. The remaining 30-odd kilometer through Singapore showed the city from its greenest side. No trace was there of any of the spur lines to Jurong, still shown on earlier maps. At least at one level crossing British style gates were in place. Keppel station is still pretty busy with 6 daily arrivals/departures from/to Kuala Lumpur (3 pairs), Tumpat, Gua Musang and Gemas. The station in its location remains in isolation, and even a tourist map titled "Singapore by rail" neither depicts it nor the line. Hotel staff, challenged for comments, referred to "politics" which are not subject to any public expression of opinions. For many years the Singapore government has been pondering over cutting the line at Woodlands - practical implementation seems to be blocked by Malaysia who is the souvereign over the railway land. Should the day come eventually, one wonders how passengers are expected to reach downtown Singapore, considering the probably "purpose"-built border facilities are a distance away from the Woodlands MRT-line.

One more Singapore development: MRT is now on a contact-less ticket-system only. Effective 4th November 2003 the "ez-link"-card (which used to be along the lines of Hong Kong's "Octopus"-card) now incorporates non-refundable card costs of S$ 5.--, besides a "Refundable Travel Deposit" of S$3.-- and a stored value of S$7.--. The single ride tickets incorporate a S$1.--deposit which has to be redeemed at the end of the trip at the ticket vending machines. We donated our S$2.-- to the Cathay check-in girl because we failed to redeem them. Wonder which sick brain has conceived that system - and Hong Kong, beware!

Thailand - Malaysia - Singapore Part 1

2007-06-01T21:50:00.001-07:00

The following shall try to describe an(almost)all-rail-journey from Bangkok (Hua Lamphong Station) to Singapore through the eastern line of the Malaysian Railways, Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTM).

Itinerary:
5-6/3/04:Special Express no. 37, Bangkok/Sungai Kolok
7/3/04: Local M/84 Wakaf Bharu/Tumpat
7/3/04: Local M/83 Tumpat/Gua Musang
8/3/04: Local M/91 Gua Musang/Kuala Lipis
10/3/04: Local M/57 Kuala Lipis/Singapore
11/3/04: CX 712 Singapore/Bangkok

The Journey:
Departure from Bangkok on time at 15:15 , "seen off" by Rob Boer who managed to just being around. 2nd class aircon sleeper, which apart from the economic factor, is always a challenge: does one want to hear and smell the progress of the trip by opening the windows and allow in fresh and mostly country-side air, accompanied every so often be a wave of engine-emitted diesel fumes (The scent of steam would be a different story)? Does one enjoy the occasionally remaining clicky-di-clack of the joints and the inevitable rattling when going over turn-outs? Is one ready to pay the price of begging that for the sake of air-movement the train may please move on, everytime it is sitting in tropical heat waiting for the up-train to pass or having to be content being at the mercy of the ceiling fan? Or sit in the sometimes ice-cold comfort of airconditioning, concealed from the outside world and life at the wayside stations? Our concealment was exacerbated by SRT's latest fad of wrapping their coaches including the windows in all-over-advertising. The fact that the "wrapping" of our coach no. 14 was - I believe - sponsored by Beer Chang did little to improve the impaired view. A consolation was, though, that Beer Chang and many other brands of drinks, alcoholic and non-and alcoholic, along with the usual array of Thai food and snacks, came inside by means of a relentless succession of "resident" and station-confined vendors. My favourite station in this regard is Nakhom Pathon, allowing a late lunch of hotx2 food (freshly cooked and spicy).

Nakhom Pathom was reached with a mere 8 minutes delay. Double track operation on the Southern Line between Bangbanru and Nakhom Pathom probably helped to be "almost in time".( The second track, laid years ago from Bang Sue, across Rama VI bridge, and up to Bangbanru, shows clear signs of decay through a long period of non-use). Wake-up time was in Pathalung where we would not have woken up had the train not be so helpful as of giving us an extra 30 minutes sleeping time, a very reasonable performance, I would say. However, upon departure and after dwelling there for half-an-hour we left Hat Yai at 8 o'clock against the scheduled 07:10. By the time we had reached Sungai Kolok it was 11:36 vs 10:40 and we had clocked up a journey-time of just over 20 hours. Most passengers had disembarked by the time the train left Yala. 7 pairs of trains serve Sungai Kolok, thereof no.171 and our 37 over all the 1143km from Bangkok. The station building, fairly sizeable, seems to have had facilities for railbound border clearance into Malaysia; yet today, passenger trains end here and it is left to the determined traveller to find his way towards the southern neighbour. There are no obvious signs helping to direct you, and no "formal" means of transport; the track continuing southbound being the best pointer. The station compound has to be circumvented by public road, passing the plinthed North British no. 175 and, on track beyond the turntable, a vintage British-made steam crane. A walkway through a small park gave access to the track which allowed the immediate conclusion that it was indeed in use.

Instead of re-joining the road for the about 1 km walk we decided to "play train" towards the border, traversing landscaped, if decaying surroundings. The German-style signal was in our favour and it appears as though we could have rolled directly into Rantau Panjang station. At least no border-style
barriers were in view before, on, or after the girder bridge accross Sungai river.
At this point the "official" road access was parted from the railway track by topography and a row of border-related dwellings. Lest encountering possibly less appreciative border guards of Thai or Malay >description, we decided to "derail" ourselves and entered through the backdoor of a building which turned out to house the office of the Tourist Authority of Thailand. Here the first relevant piece of information came to hand: yes, there are cross-border trains, one goods train per day and direction. Why no passenger trains?: mairou, I don't know!. Leaving Thailand and entering Malaysia was fairly uncomplicated, although the chap at the Thai border took longer to process the passports than the slowest of his colleagues at Don Muang would have done. Malaysia has new entry forms, Singapore-style, and the ones prepared at home could be scrapped.

Rantau Panjang station came prominently in view from no-men's-land - i.e. it is right at the border and not as remote as its former counterpart in Thailand. The view became incredibly good when crossing the track by foot bridge right after border clearance. What it revealed was a modern station with all regular facilities, an airconditioned lobby and a staffed ticket-counter. Trains? no trains, except goods trains as per demand. Daily? not necessarily. When was the station built? 1998, commissiond in 2000. Maybe.
Yes, there were trains in the past, local ones, and they may just, perhaps, reappear one day. How to get to Kota Bharu? By bus or taxi, 100 meters down the road. How good that the Malays speak English so well! 30 or 35 km by taxi, an old Datsun of 1973-vintage, strangly familiar to the one we used to have in Germany (many more did we see in Kelantan. Paradise for friends of antique Japanese cars). We were passing Pasir Mas station on the way which is the junction for the line to Thailand. The closest station to Kota Bharu is Wakaf Bahru, 10 Ringgit by taxi. There are buses, but we opted for slightly more convenience. The buses by appearance, standard and type did not offer any particular incentive to someone who prefers walking railway tracks as the next best thing to riding trains over them. The lodging in Kota Bharu was decidedly backpackerish, nothing wrong with that, friendly local Chinese landlord with a framed reward on the wall, certifying cleanliness of the place. The price was slightly above what one would have had to pay in similar establishments in Thailand. Premium for the absence of any language barrier? Rather not, as we subsequently found the general level of prices for everyday commodities just a shade above those in Thailand.
But this was, of course, the Capital city of Kelantan state. Beer? Yes, we got after a water-accompanied night-market dinner, in a small Chinese haunt next to the guest house.

The next morning saw us waiting at Wakaf Bharu station for about one extra hour for our train to Tumpat, the end of the line. Why north to Tumpat, if you want to go south to Gua Musang? Precisely, because it is the end of the line and we wanted all of it. The British style barriers of the level
>crossing closed, mainline diesel class 24, 24109, and later an inspection trolley came along; fun they were having whilst we were waiting for our train. But we got our reward: 24109 came to pick up a string of (empty) SRT goods wagons, presumable to haul them back to the Rantau Panjang border crossing. Empty makes sense: the shops and supermarkets in what we saw of Malaysia were full of Thai merchandise, rice, canned tuna, what have you. I have no trade statistics, but it seems that, in that region at least, Thai exports to Malaysia overwhelm.

Thailand Ko Pha Ngan

2007-05-31T21:44:00.000-07:00

Although best known for its full moon parties, which attract thousands of travellers from all over the globe, there is a lot more to stunning Ko Pha Ngan than getting trashed and passing out in the powder-soft white sand.

Ko Pha Ngan has swathes of beautiful beaches, great walks, adventurous boat and fishing trips and even kite-boarding. Equally compelling for many is just spending a few weeks in a hammock, watching the sun rise and fall.

Ko Pha Ngan is the second largest island after Samui in the southern Gulf of Thailand, and is around 100km from the mainland. Stretching over an area of 168 sq km, 70% of its topography is mountainous with the remainder beaches and coconut groves.

Over 10,000 people permanently live on the island, with the majority concentrated around Thong Sala. A huge number of migrants also call the island home, so the guy taking your dinner order is as likely to be from Roi Et as Thong Sala. As in the rest of Thailand, most people are Buddhist, but some Muslims live in the village of Baan Tai. The first inhabitants of the island are believed to have been Muslims from Pattani or Malayans from Nakhon Sri Thammarat.

Aside from the tourist trade, the mainstays of the island's economy are fishing and coconuts. It's worth knowing that between them, Ko Pha Ngan and Ko Samui produce more than one million coconuts each year for export to Bangkok.

The best time to visit Ko Pha Ngan is during the hot season from January to April. May to December sees the monsoon set in, with poor weather and a quick deterioration in road quality. The crowds thin out then, however, making the island appealing to some travellers

Thailand Phuket

2007-05-31T21:43:00.001-07:00

Phuket province is primarily comprised of Phuket Island itself, Thailand's largest, but it also encompasses the smaller islands to the west, south, and east. Referred to in glitzy TAT brochures at the Pearl of the Andaman, the province is visited by over a third of all international visitors to Thailand in any given year. Its huge popularity has brought largely uncontrolled development to the most popular destinations over the past couple of decades and much of the main island today bears the scars of yesterday's short-sighted development.

The province however is home to more than just the single island and as some of the crowds become increasingly dismayed by what they find on Phuket, they're flocking to the offshore destinations such as Ko Maiton, Ko Racha and others. For many, though, the very developed and westernised beaches that run down the western coast of Phuket are exactly what they are looking for. With over a dozen beaches and bays to choose from, you can opt for tourist and deck chair madness one day and follow it with a hidden-away bay the next.

Phuket is also a rapidly-growing real estate market for those looking at retiring or at least buying a holiday home. Massive upscale development is going in all over the island and the prices are not cheap. With an international airport, top standard medical care (Phuket is the sex-change capital of Thailand) and all the western creature comforts, it is easy to see why for some, Phuket is indeed their very own Pearl of the South.

Thailand Information

2007-05-31T21:40:00.000-07:00

Understand
Garlanded statue, Wat Rajanadda, Bangkok
Garlanded statue, Wat Rajanadda, Bangkok

Thailand is the most popular tourist destination in South-East Asia, and for a reason. Exotic, yet safe and largely hassle-free; cheap, yet equipped with every modern amenity you need, there is something for every interest and every price bracket, from beach front backpacker bungalows to some of the best luxury hotels in the world. And despite the heavy flow of tourism, Thailand retains its quintessential Thainess, with a culture and history all its own and a carefree people famed for their smiles and their fun-seeking sanuk lifestyle.

This is not to say that Thailand doesn't have its downsides, including the considerable growing pains of an economy where an agricultural laborer is lucky to earn 40 baht per day while the nouveau riche cruise past in their BMWs, and a highly visible sex tourism industry. Bangkok, the capital, is notorious for its traffic jams and rampant development has wrecked much of once-beautiful Pattaya and Phuket. In heavily touristed areas, some lowlifes have made scamming tourists into an art form.
[edit] History

A unified Thai kingdom was established in the mid-14th century. Known as Siam until 1939, Thailand is the only South-East Asian country never to have been taken over by a European power, and fiercely proud of the fact. A bloodless revolution in 1932 led to a constitutional monarchy. In alliance with Japan during World War II, Thailand became a US ally following the conflict. After a string of military dictatorships and quickly toppled civilian presidents, Thailand finally stabilized into a fair approximation of a democracy and the economy, hobbled by the 1997 Asian economic crisis, is booming once again. Above it all presides the King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX), the world's longest-reigning monarch and a deeply loved and respected figure of near-mythic proportions.

In September 2006, a swift and bloodless military coup endorsed by the King overthrew the previous democratically elected but widely criticized government, promising elections in late 2007. Although martial law still applies and political gatherings are restricted, there has been no violence, no curfews are in effect, there is no longer any significant military presence in public places, and all services are functioning normally.
[edit] Climate

Thailand is largely tropical, so it's hot and humid all year around with temperatures in the 28-35°C range, a degree of relief provided only in the mountains in the far north of Thailand. The careful observer will, however, note three seasons:

* Cool: From November to the end of February, it doesn't rain much and temperatures are at their lowest, although you will barely notice the difference in the south and will only need to pack a sweater if hiking in the northern mountains, where temperatures can fall as low as 5°C. This is the most popular time to visit and, especially around Christmas and New Year's, finding flights and accommodation can be expensive and difficult.

* Hot: From March to June, Thailand swelters in temperatures as high as 40°C. Pleasant enough when sitting on the beach with a drink in hand, but not the best time of year to go temple-tramping in Bangkok.

* Rainy: From July to October, although it only really gets underway in September, tropical monsoons hit most of the country. This doesn't mean it rains non-stop, but when it does it pours and flooding is not uncommon.

There are local deviations to these general patterns. In particular, the south-east coast of Thailand (including Ko Samui) has the rains reversed, with the peak season being May-October and the rainy off season in November-February.
[edit] People

Thailand's people are largely Thais, although there are significant minorities of Chinese and assimilated Thai-Chinese throughout the country, Muslims in the south near the Malaysian border and hill tribes such as the Karen and the Hmong in the north of the country. The overwhelmingly dominant religion (95%) is Theraveda Buddhism, although Confucianism, Islam, Christianity and animist faiths also jostle for position.
[edit] Culture
Wat Doi Suthep, Chiang Mai
Wat Doi Suthep, Chiang Mai

Mainland Thai culture is heavily influenced by Buddhism. However, unlike the Buddhist countries of East Asia, Thailand's Buddhists follow the Therevada school, which is arguably closer to its Indian roots and places a heavier emphasis on monasticism. Thai temples known as wats, resplendent with gold and easily identifiable thanks to their ornate, multicolored, pointy roofs are ubiquitous and becoming an orange-robed monk for a short period, typically the three-month rainy season, is a common rite of passage for young Thai boys and men.

One pre-Buddhist tradition that still survives is the spirit house (ศาลพระภูมิ saan phraphuum), usually found at the corner of any house or business, which houses spirits so they don't enter the house and cause trouble. The grander the building, the larger the spirit house, and buildings placed in particularly unlucky spots may have very large ones. Perhaps the most famous spirit house in Thailand is the Erawan Shrine in central Bangkok, which protects the Erawan Hotel (now the Grand Hyatt Erawan) - built in 1956 on a former execution ground - and is now one of the busiest and most popular shrines in the city.

Some traditional arts popular in Thailand include traditional Thai dancing and music, based on religious rituals and court entertainment. Famously brutal Thai boxing (muay Thai), derived from the military training of Thai warriors, is undoubtedly the country's best known indigenous sport.

In addition to the mainland Thai culture, there are many other cultures in Thailand including those of the "hill tribes" in the northern mountainous regions of Thailand (e.g., Hmong, Karen, Lisu, Lahu, Akha), the southern Muslims, and indigenous island peoples of the Andaman Sea.

Thailand Activities

2007-05-30T20:04:00.000-07:00

Thailand - Activities

Diving and snorkelling
Some of the best underwater scenery in the world can be found off the coasts of Thailand. All the major resorts have diving schools which provide tuition, trips to outlying islands and the necessary equipment. Pattaya and the east coast have all year diving. Gulf Coast resorts such as Ko Samui and Ko Pha Nang offer diving from January to October and the diving season on the Andaman coast is November to April.

Kayaking, canoeing and rafting
Sea kayaking tours of the islands, limestone caves and rock formations around Phuket and Ao Phang-Nga are popular. Inland raft trips are available on the Mae Klong and Kwai Rivers in Kanchanaburi Province and there's excellent white water rafting on the Pai River in Mae Hong Son Province.

Cooking Classes
Lessons on how to prepare Thai food are widely available in most towns and tourist resorts.

Thai Boxing
English language courses in Thai boxing are available in Bangkok and at Naklua, north of Pattaya. It's quite a bruising sport and the training is demanding.

Meditation programmes
Many temples and meditation centres provide instruction in English on the art of Buddhist meditation. Instruction and accommodation are often free, but donations are expected. Staying in a monastery means sticking to the eight Buddhist precepts which include not eating after mid-day, no sex, alcohol, tobacco or use of cosmetics.

Climbing
The south coast has a lot of limestone cliffs that make for good climbing. Laem Phra Nang in Krabi province has several climbing schools and equipment can be rented.

Cycling and mountain biking
Bikes are a good way of getting around once you're away from busy cities such as Bangkok with bike rental available in many towns and guest houses. If you're after flat terrain, head for the area around the Mekong River area in the north. Mountain biking is popular in the north around Chiang Mai with a good network of dirt roads in the hills.

Trekking
The main trekking areas are around Chiang Mai, Mae Hong Son and Chiang Rai. Treks here are more about seeing the way the local hill tribes live rather than hikes for the sake of scenery. The attraction initially was the isolated and unique lifestyle of the villagers, but the tens of thousands of trekkers who go to observe this each year are likely to change that. Independent trekking is difficult as there are few maps, but hundreds of agencies offering guided treks can be found.

Singapore Guide

2007-05-28T06:01:00.000-07:00

Malaysia Vacation guide is your one stop source of trusted updated information to Visit Malaysia.
Visitors to Singapore should have valid passports and visas to enter Singapore. Applications for such visas can be made at the respective countries' high commissions or overseas missions. However, visas are not required for Commonwealth citizens, British passport holders, and Republic of Ireland citizens for a stay of up to 14 days. All onward visitors should have passports valid for at least three months from the time of arrival. They should also have return tickets, and sufficient funds for the length of their stay in Singapore.

The currency is the Singapore dollar (S$). Singapore uses 1c, 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, and S$1 coins. Notes are in denominations of S$2, S$5, S$10, S$50, S$100, S$500, and S$1,000. The islands also has a S$10,000 note.

Money changing services are available at Changi Airport and at most banks, hotels, and shopping complexes.

Singapore's country code is 65. There is no city code for Singapore.

Generally, business hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mondays to Fridays and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays. Shopping hours are usually from 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. daily.

IDD calls can be made from the numerous card and credit card phones, which are located in post offices and around the city area. Phone cards come in denominations of S$2, S$5, S$10, S$20, and S$50.

Loose and light summer clothing is recommended, especially for outdoor activities like sightseeing. "Smart casual" is usually acceptable everywhere except for formal business dining or when specified in an invitation. Smart casual usually means shirts (long or short-sleeves but not T-shirts) or blouses, and trousers or skirts.

As the cleanest of all cities, it is safe to drink water straight from the tap.

As English is widely understood, it seldom acts as a barrier when conducting business in Singapore. Singapore business people expect the people whom they are dealing with to be punctual for meetings and appointments. They give and receive business cards with both hands after the handshake upon first meeting. It is best to admire the card for a few moments before putting it away. Meetings can take place anywhere, be it in boardrooms or restaurants. Most business people rarely wear suits due to the island's tropical heat. However, the men do usually wear ties.

Singapore's voltage is 220-240AC, 50 Hertz. Most hotels can provide a transformer to convert it to 110-120 AC, 60 Hertz.

With well-qualified doctors and dentists, Singapore's medical facilities are among the finest in the world. Registered pharmacists work from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., with some open until 10 p.m. Most hotels have their own doctor on 24-hour call.

Tipping is not a way of life in Singapore. It is prohibited at the airport and discouraged at hotels and restaurants where a 10% service charge is included in the bill. A tip should only be exercised when the bill does not include a service charge.

A S$15 Passenger Service Charge should have been incorporated into your air ticket. If this is not the case, you are required to pay during check-in at the airport.

Singapore's laws may be severe enough to surprise most visitors. Trafficking in narcotics is punishable by death. The sale and importation of chewing gun is banned although possession is not necessarily an offense. Smoking in air-conditioned areas is illegal. Littering and jaywalking are also considered an offense. Speeding is also frowned upon with several speed-trap cameras installed around the island.

Singapore has earned the distinction of being one of the most crime-free countries in the world. The streets are usually quite safe at all times, even at nights. However, there are occasional pickpockets and purse snatchers who prey on unsuspecting victims. There are no specific areas, which are crime prone but it is better to avoid dark and secluded streets, especially if you are alone.

Thailand travel stories

2007-05-27T01:45:00.000-07:00

The only thing separating me from a splattery death is a chain-smoking Frenchman and 30 meters of plastic. I am floating in a tandem paraglider with my instructor above the Nepalese Himalaya maintains and as I look down several hundred feet to the forest and village below I start contemplating what type of a mess I would make if we fell. Would I become unconscious and die of shock before I hit the ground? Would my bones pop out of my skin on impact? Would my corpse have a doofy blank expression with the eyes rolled up in their sockets, my head flopping around on a broken neck like a second-hand rag doll?

Paragliding Aboue Pokhara

Following this train of thought, I realize that it would not be such a bad way to go. Most of the people I know who have died, died of illness and after too much suffering. Their last day on earth was probably not the best of themselves. But a paragliders has at least the option of a fast and glamorous death, whether by accident or intent.

Pokhara Nepal

Pokhara is a small tourist town in the mountains of Nepal and it is a base for several famous treks into the Himalayas. Trekking is fun and physically taxing but if you don't feel up to it (as I didn't presently) Pokhara is a great place to hang out, do nothing and absorb the atmosphere. There is yoga, nice day walks, fine restaurants, paragliding and an overall laid back feel. Also, lucky for me, I arrived during the Pokhara street festival.

In Pokhara I stay at the Fewa Hotel, which is castle-like enclave on the banks of Fewa Lake with a great restaurant called Mike's that serves organic ground Nepalese coffee and American style Mexcan food. Mike, the owner arrived in Nepal with the Peace Corps many moons ago and became a local celebrity bridging the gap between western tastes and Nepalese food sources.

Chidren and Ducks

During the morning sipping coffee by the lakeside in the cold season, you can observe a cotton candy fog resting majestically on the water and a few scattered boats paddling through the mist creating an ethereal Zen like picture frame.

Fewa Hotel and Mike's restaurant are located down a lane in the middle of a rural community and off the main drag. There are farms, water buffalo, ducks, dogs, cats and families all along the lane. Walking upon and down the pastoral scene is like a visiting a children’s petting zoo

Thailand Travel Tales

2007-05-26T17:18:00.000-07:00

“Only 13”

A Young Victim of Thailand’s Prolific Sex Tourist Industry Speaks Out
Only 13 will enlighten the reader to the status of females in rural Esarn, Thailand.

One will learn what it is like:
*To be born female in a land where “Women are pawns in times of need.”
*To sell one’s virginity at the age of 14.
*To be a girl who becomes involved in the sex-tourist trade for seven years to compensate for her father’s death—only to learn that her sacrifice will never win her mother’s love.
*To be only 15 and paid by the man she loves to have an abortion instead of his baby.
*To be only 18 and attempt suicide to escape forever the life of a teenage prostitute.
*To flee the sex-tourist scene of Thailand for prostitution in Germany, and be faced with the consequences of more poor choices, before escaping to Sweden and becoming a stripper.

*One will learn what it is like to be Lon.

Very few of the women and girls who work in Thailand’s sex trade deliberately chose their path, but each one has a story. This is the story of one incredible little girl.

Lon’s story, made live by the authors Julia Manzanares and Derek Kent, is told in a matter-of-fact, straightforward style about her descent into prostitution and her journey back out again. It’s far more than just a tell-all sex book; it travels deep into the psyche of Thai society and it’s views of women so that the reader can understand why Lon and so many like her got into prostitution, and why it was (and is) so difficult for them to leave.

The first thing Lon makes clear is that she is not Thai. Rather, she is Esarn, from the province of Ubon, located in the northeastern area of Thailand. Esarn supplies at least 80% of the sex workers for the tourist trade in Bangkok, Pattaya and Phuket.

The Thais look down on the people of Esarn, as they tend to be coarser in appearance and less educated. They live in crude rural villages and their lives are defined by superstition, poverty, and hopelessness, as well as obedience to the Asian concept of “saving face,” which is to keep up appearances, no matter how difficult or costly. Lon endured those costs while her family reaped the benefits.

In Esarn society, the gender roles are clear: the women work, the men do not. The women support the family and raise the children, while the men drink and gamble. A quality education is unheard of. Most female children rarely get past the sixth grade. There is very little work that pays well, and proper medical care is near non-existent. The Esarn villagers are always being victimized by criminals and crooked government officials.

It is in this environment that sex trafficking flourishes.

Sex Trafficking

As there is such a wide gap between the rich and the rest, and so very few opportunities to cross it, sex trafficking of women and children has become quite profitable. Every year, thousands of rural children and women are lured into Bangkok with the promise of normal jobs, only to be forced into prostitution. Research indicates that nearly two-thirds of 16- to 19-year olds working as prostitutes do so against their will.

In a society where a newly-minted doctor can expect to earn less than $2,500 per year, sex trafficking is an easy way to earn a lot of money in a short time. People from all areas of Thai society have become part of the industry, including many of the authorities who are supposed to be fighting against it. This includes police, politicians, monks and even the occasional Catholic and Mormon missionary.
Lon is “The One”

The eldest daughter in every poor Esarn family is supposed to be “the one.” That means, she is expected to support the family by whatever means available. All too often, the means is found by working the Bangkok and Pattaya sex tourist trade as soon as she shows signs of physical maturity. Many Esarn mothers even sell their daughters to the sex traffickers themselves.

By age 13, Lon had run away from home three times due to mistreatment from her elder family members. Lon knew how her life would be if she stayed in her village, but upon returning from her third “runaway,” she learned that her father--the only one who loved her, had died while searching for her. Her mother gave her a little money to leave the house and never to return. She took a train to Bangkok, where after sleeping at the bus station and begging, she found a job working as a barmaid in one of Bangkok’s many go-go bars. For her efforts, she worked 28 days per month and earned $100 in salary and tips, of which she sent home as much as possible.

Guile, Cunning and Charm

Soon after starting work at the bar, at the age of 14, Lon sold her virginity to a Swiss pedophile for $1,200. The experience was so horrible that she blanked it out, but the money was more than she would earn in one full year of mopping floors. Besides the commission earned by the mamasan, nearly all of this made its way back to her mother. From this, Lon realized that prostitution could be the key to her survival. It would allow her to live comfortably. It would also support her family and give her sisters a good education so that they too would never have to work in the bars as she did. It would help her family to gain face, and make up for the death of her father.

When Lon became a prostitute, at the age of only 14, she stood 4 feet 7 inches tall, and weighed 70 pounds. She was the perfect sexual fantasy for those men who were after that stereotypical, innocent-looking Asian girl.

Lon found most of her customers to be very unattractive, both physically and emotionally. She believed that they were in Thailand only because they could not find any women back home, and also because they could treat the Thai women in ways that women in their home countries would not tolerate. Although Lon hated being with these men, her desperation drove her to be successful at her job. She soon learned that deception was the name of the game.

Money is Number One

Lon soon became skilled at flirting with her customers, stroking their egos, and appealing to their fantasies. She also learned to speak English, because it gave her an advantage over the other girls and helped her get more money from each and every customer.

She and her friends practiced pick-up lines on customers just as men practice them on women. She and her friends always approached the older or more unattractive men first, because it was easier to get them to spend the most money possible. They tended to avoid the rare, attractive men, as they were not so easily fooled or relieved of their cash. Soon, Lon became the main attraction wherever she worked. She made a good side income by asking many of her more naïve customers to send her money after they returned home, in return for her promises to leave the bars and wait for their return.

Most of Lon’s career as a prostitute took place between the ages of 14 and 18, when most Western girls are just beginning to discover boys. Sex with prostitutes under 18 is illegal in Thailand. However, this is not often enforced due to corruption. Police and politicians can be bribed. Sex workers can also make enforcement difficult by carrying fake ID cards that overstate their ages.

A Vicious Cycle

By age 18, Lon was living a comfortable life in Thailand, based on her income alone. She had a nice apartment and motorbike in Pattaya and still supported her mother and siblings, but her job was making her mentally and physically sick. She could no longer tolerate it, but she was trapped. She could live with seeing her mother lose face with the other villagers. The only way out, she finally decided, was suicide. She survived her attempt, but knew that she would soon have to look for another way out.

Leaving the Bars

Lon met a very young and naïve Swiss man whom she decided would become a worthwhile financier. After fleecing him for a year, they wed. Both Lon and her new husband could not form a normal relationship. Her husband had little if any experience with women outside of prostitution, and Lon now saw men as walking ATMs. He believed that his support for her family would end upon her arrival in Switzerland, she begged and bit to differ. The marriage was very brief, and ended with him in the hospital and in her deportation.

Lon returned to Pattaya, planning to stay out of the bars. She briefly worked as a nude model, and then traveled to a number of foreign countries, where she went from one disappointing relationship to another. She worked as a strip-dancer at Swedish strip-clubs and in a massage parlor in Germany.

A New Chance at Life
Lon ends her story by telling us about her escape from yet another bad relationship and her plans to work with organizations that help girls like herself avoid becoming involved in the sex industry, and how to get out if it.

She speaks with the powerful and determined voice of an activist bringing to light the injustice that she and many other girls from her background have suffered.

A survivor’s story, sociology lecture, cross-cultural lesson, humanities discussion, the story’s impact will make you think, and re-examine your own views regardless of where you stand on many issues concerning poverty, prostitution and women in SE Asia.

Thailand travel

2007-05-25T18:51:00.000-07:00

Thailand has a rich and colorful culture, and many exotic and exciting monuments testify to this. In recent decades, Thailand has rightfully transformed itself from primarily a backpacker destination into one of the world’s top tourist ‘honeypots’, catering for all tastes and budgets. There is certainly no shortage of things for the visitor to enjoy.

Where else but Thailand can you cruise on a converted rice barge, roar upriver in a long-tail boat and take a white-knuckle ride on a bamboo raft, then stay in jungle tree houses as guests in the homes of hilltribe villagers, or on rafthouses floating on a river? Equally memorable are the trails leading deep into the rainforest past cooling waterfalls, and the simple beauty of the translucent sea lapping onto endless white, soft sand.

A holiday in Thailand can combine the beauty of the Golden Triangle’s temples and remote hill tribes north of Chiang Mai, the beaches of Pattaya and more pristine Krabi, and the dynamic capital Bangkok with its futuristic high-rise buildings juxtaposed against the exquisite beauty of the gleaming Grand Palace. In every town and city, bargain-hunters thrive in the street markets crammed with all manner of goods, where good-natured bartering is the norm.

Early morning is when the saffron-robed monks leave the sanctuary of their wats to receive alms from the people, be it in a dusty village or on crowded city streets. Buddhism is a way of life here and with the reverence the people have for the Monarchy, a dynasty that has maintained the Independence of the country for centuries; the result for the Thais is a blend of tradition with contemporary living. Thailand’s distinctive character was largely shaped by the combined influences of strong Monarchy and a powerful military. Formerly known as Siam, the country has been ruled by the Chakri Dynasty, of which the current King, Bhumibol Adulyadej, is a member, since the late 18th century. Although the nation is now a constitutional Monarchy (which it became in 1932 following a bloodless coup), he remains a powerful figure.

The country adopted its current name (which means ‘Land of the Free’) in 1939. This became something of a misnomer two years later when Japanese forces invaded, and Thailand became embroiled in the Second World War. Following this, in 1947, a military coup seized power, which it would retain until the early 1970s, and the subsequent tale of natural disaster, collapsed Governments, further coups and corruption allegations has continued to dog Thailand’s leaders. For all this, it has become a hugely popular destination on the long-haul tourist trail, possessed as it is of great natural beauty and a very rich cultural heritage.

Geography
Thailand is bordered to the west by Myanmar and the Indian Ocean, to the south and east by Malaysia and the Gulf of Thailand, to the east by Cambodia, and to the north and east by Laos. Central Thailand is dominated by the Chao Phraya River.

why visit thailand

2007-05-24T08:40:00.000-07:00

Thailand is one of Asia's most popular tourist destinations and offers something for everyone. But what makes it so popular?
GoThailand.com has been running travel websites here in Thailand for over seven years. They regularly ask visitors what they enjoyed most about their stay:
The people: Friendly, smiling, charming, polite and graceful are the most common descriptions. Thais also have an infectious sense of fun and humour. It really is pleasant to have so many strangers offer a ready smile. It's natural to smile back in return.
The hospitality: It's no accident that many Thai hotels feature in the Top 10 lists of the world's best hotels. Whether it's business, leisure, golf, spas, or beach resorts, you'll see Thai hotels at the top of most lists.
The scenery: Thailand's islands and beaches are amongst the most scenic in the world. The cities retain a surprising amount of scenic attractions including Wats (temples) and Palaces. The National Parks offer a tremendous variety of tropical rainforests, hill-tribe villages, coral reefs, mountains, rivers and lakes.
The food: Thai cuisine is world-renowned and justifiably popular. Whilst the hot spicy curries and soups are trademark dishes, the fresh seafood, crisp salads, fresh vegetables and, of course, the rice and noodle dishes are all very tasty. Then there's the fruit, and the desserts, and the . . You'll never go hungry!
The value: The Thai baht offers a favourable rate of exchange for most major currencies. This makes eating out, travelling around, shopping, enjoying the nightlife and even staying at the world's leading hotels surprisingly affordable.
GoThailand.comNow we haven't yet mentioned:
- personal safety, climate, transport, nightlife, shopping, spas,
- golf, diving, sailing, fishing, trekking, rafting and so on.
Our visitors mention all of these, and they keep coming back!

Thailand Tourism Guide

2007-05-23T05:20:00.000-07:00

General Information

Bangkok was founded in 1782 by the first monarch of the present Chakri dynasty. It is now the country's spiritual, cultural, diplomatic, commercial and educational hub. It covers an area of more than 1,500 square kilometres, and it is home to approximatlely ten million people or more than 10% of the country's population.

Over the last few decades, Thailand's capital city, Bangkok, has changed into a modern, exciting and sophisticated city. It offers to visitors not only the cosmopolitan amenities they would expect from other big cities, but also a unique treasure trove of cultural attractions. Thailand, in the heart of Southeast Asia, was never colonised and thus kept its unique culture and heritage intact. Bangkok offers visitors the opportunity to experience fascinating glimpse of Thailand's gentle culture amidst the bustle of a great and dynamic metropolis. This great city has had astounding success in combining the ancient and modern world.

For tourists, Bangkok has a feast of attractions to offer. The city is dotted with 400 glittering Buddhist temples of great beauty and fascination, magnificent palaces, classical dance extravaganzas, numerous shopping centres and traditional ways of life, especially along the "Venice of the East" timeless canals and the Chao Phraya River of the "River of Kings" winding through the city. It is worth taking a trip along its waters before exploring further into different canals to take a glimpse of old Bangkok.