Monday, December 20, 2010

Thailand - An Asian Caprice

Latest hotel establishments open in Thailand:

1. SIRRIPAMMA VILLA & GALLERY RESORT - CHIANG MAI. This hotel is inspired by Lanna architecture, with its 76 rooms mimics the perfect forms of worship. Despite its structure, meals are not monastic, but luxury. You can find a spa, a restaurant with garden, and a pool.

2. BAAN RAJPRASONG ANANT SUITES - BANGKOK. Has 97 centrally located apartments equipped with all comforts that a hotel has. The pool has a special area for children, perfect if you want to travel with family.

3. KIRI Soneva by Six Senses - Koh Kood. You have to travel by plane from Bangkok, then take a speedboat, and finally a buggy. Getting to this remote jungle make you feel pure contact with nature. You can enjoy a romantic dinner overlooking the beautiful Gulf of Thailand.

4. BANYAN TREE SAMUI - KOH SAMUI. Set in a near Lamai beach. All villas have their own pool, you only have to choose one of them, your choice.

5. Surai - KOH SAMUI. Designed as a quiet village hall, this six bedroom villa situated on the north coast is ready for you to have a good time. It has a resident chef, and if you go with children, with baby sitter.

6. PHULAY BAY, RITZ CARLTON RESERVE - KRABI. This hotel commitment to a new boutique hotel concept. In this case offers dream villas in Krabi. The facilities are completed with a first class restaurant, where you can taste from seafood to modern Thai cuisine.

7. Sri Panwa - Phuket. After swimming at the pool, you can approach the new Baba Poolclub bar and order a "lycheetini. The resort also features a restaurant and cooking school. Plans also a spa.

8. PAIRS - PHUKET. From the villas, spa and restaurant you will delight in the hues of the Andaman Sea. The "Infinity Experience enables you to dine at the floating pool terraces.

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Flights to Koh Samui - The Start of a Vacation in Paradise

Flights to Koh Samui are provided by Bangkok Airways all year round and as visitors fly over the picturesque Buddha into the airport, they are greeted with the island's ambiance of 'getting away from it all'. Visitors certainly do not have to wait to disembark to feel like the getaway has begun - they can feel it during the 1 hour flight from Bangkok to Koh Samui.

The island offers a wide range of pleasurable activities. In addition, it is renowned for housing many of the best health conscience resorts anywhere in the world. No wonder it is called 'The Healthy Island'! Upon arrival, travelers are greeted by an eco-friendly environment marked with pristine beaches, natural luxury, tropical plants and thatched roof bungalows. Coral Bay Resort on Chaweng beach stands out with their 56 bungalows built on 10 acres of lush tropical gardens. Relaxing in one of these bungalows is the perfect way to unwind after travelling on one of Bangkok airways flights to the island.

A number of cheap flights to Koh Samui are offered through Vayama. You're not just another travel company, but we specialize in international travel and to bring hundreds of awards in private, Consolidator and exclusive to the island. You can start your holiday booking a cheap Emirates flight with them Samui on Bangkok Airways, Thai Airways, Lufthansa o.

As soon as the off the beaten track for backpackers and hippies, > Samui Island is definitely a tropical delight to live at least once. With openings of luxury hotels, the island is fast becoming the island in the Far East of choice for discerning travelers in search of exotic and beautiful peaceful place to relax. The decision on where to spend your holiday is probably the most difficult decision for the holidays. But once you have left for Thailand this tropical jewel, there is always only a moment because the flights to Koh>Samui are easily obtained.

Thursday, December 16, 2010

International Schools in Samui - What Are the Advantages of Schools in Samui?

International Schools on Samui are plentiful. The large community of expats living and working on the island and the process of globalisation has led to the development of a number of seriously high quality international schools on the island that follow the British National Curriculum.

These schools on Koh Samui take children from all kinds of backgrounds, races, cultures and religions and use a British-led international syllabus to educate students with a global perspective. If you want to provide your children with the highest quality of education, and provided you can afford to pay for it, then sending them to an international school on Samui is a must-do. These institutions have highly qualified teachers (the true international schools requiring fully-qualified teachers with teaching degrees) and their subjects follow internationally-recognised accreditation standards from education authorities like the University of Cambridge.

When compared to the local Thai schools, Panyadee, Bluewater and Samui Centre of Learning are significantly better-funded and as a result can offer your children:


Fully qualified teaching staff
Cutting-edge science and computer labs
Well-funded libraries and resources
Interesting and exciting school trips
Engaging after-school and extra-curricular activities
First class facilities and classrooms

These organisations provide students with a unique blend of internationalism and local culture. As such, expect to find your kids learning Thai language and culture, eating Thai food and learning Muay Thai in P.E. lessons.

If you are considering an schools on the island of Koh Samui, take a look at the websites of Panyadee, Bluewater and Samui Centre of Learning. Each website has a unique feel and style to it, and speaks volumes about the way in which the school is managed and run. Furthermore, it will put you in touch with key staff members who can help you to choose a school that suits you and your children.

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Koh Samui Luxury Villas and Attractions

Koh Samui also called as Ko Samui or Koh Samui is the 3rd biggest island in Thailand's. It is rapidly emerging as a preferred holiday destination for both families as well as honeymooners. The best holidays in Koh Samui are enjoyed in sumptuous holiday villas. Private villas are distinctly located and assure you an experience that your entire family will not forget forever. These villas are situated in unusual places with elegant architecture, elegant furnishings and best 24 hour services to fulfill your each requirement. Koh Samui villas are also equipped with private pools and your personal chauffeur-driven cars. Complete security in the villas provides you with a peace of mind, thus giving you a stress-free holiday.

The boutique villas are an excellent alternative to 4-5 star hotels, as they offer the same standards of cuisines and services. Many of them have private pools where you can spend private time with your partner. And if you're married, go for a villa in Samui Wedding, permanent treasure. Virgin white sandy beaches, unusual flowers, the turquoise sea and the company of friends and family, Koh Samui is the ideal of the perfect fairytale wedding romantic area.

There are numerous attractions in Koh Samui, ethos and charm to the island. Instead of ultra-modern theme parks and attractions, click themonkey show or the aquarium or rent a car for sightseeing. The most famous attraction in Koh Samui is the 12 m tall golden Buddha, seen from afar. Go trekking and visit the temples and pagodas. Other prime attractions in Samui include the renowned Hin Ta & Hin Yai (Samui's phallic rocks), Butterfly Garden and Bug Museum, Lamai Overlap Stone, Crocodile Farm, Na Muang Waterfalls and Samui Aquarium & Tiger Zoo. Go and see buffalo fighting or spend a passionate evening at the Tongtakien bay.

Remember, these unusual locations and surroundings are not easily obtained. There are lots of hotels in Samui, but Park Samui Hotel is the best.

Monday, December 13, 2010

Thai Shock

I remember how naive I was before I went to Thailand. Firstly, I knew nothing then of Southeast Asia and Thai cuisine had not yet caught on in Japan or the States. I was an exchange student protected in Japan, ready for a real adventure. The ultimate goal was the island of Koh Samui (which bore the slogan it ain't what it used to be but it's still worth it). That slogan probably lasted thirty years before the last hopeful backpacker had to admit it's now Club Med beach to beach.

Still, I did many things on that island; I caught a beautiful and big bright green tropical fish that we had for dinner. I discovered the durian Mecca of Southeast Asia in the village of Surat Mai, I chased down and with a rock killed a chicken that we made into curry, and I went to the most fantastic seafood restaurant of my life there.

But this anecdote is not about Koh Samui and the famous night boat to Sura Thani. It's more about Bangkok. You see, I distinctly remember us as a bunch of ignorant college kids in Hong Kong the night before we were to depart to Bangkok. We were eating in an outdoor market/restaurant and everything- the glasses, the chopsticks, the plates, were, well, just plain filthy and unsanitary. As was the concrete beneath our feet. Everything stunk too.

One of friends knowingly remarked, Just wait until we get to Thailand. You ain't seen nothing yet! It was very anti-climatic of him to say that though. Bangkok (twenty years ago, mind you) was indeed poor, polluted, and crowded, it was also very clean, colorful, and the people were energetic and happy. Buddhas were at every corner, and everyone was grinning. I fell in love with a world that deep in my subconscious I had been longing for. The only problem was that it was February and it was HOT! I remember as I was nearly about to pass out at a temple a middle aged macho guy coming up to me and proudly saying, My country is hot! That voice still echoes in my mind as surely as he has grown old.

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Thailand Holiday Deals

Do you want to know how to get a cheap Thailand holiday deal that is packed with quality 4 star accommodations? The secret will be revealed below!

The best thing about Thailand is everything is so modern and the people are so friendly. The food and accommodation is so cheap. Remember to stay at least two weeks to enjoy your time there.

The other highlight about Thailand is people speak good English there so it isn't hard to communicate.

I advise that you go to Thailand and ask the local travel agents for cheap hotel deals. Buying them overseas could be more expensive and you wouldn't have the benefit of the local knowledge. You can also score a bargain and get free tours. Top 10 destinations you should visit include:

1. Bangkok - hustle and bustle, great for shopping and bargain hunting

2. Phuket - gorgeous beaches

3. Chang Mai - where there are plenty of historical relics

4. Chang Rai - beautiful temples

5. Phuket - lovely resorts and delicious seafood

6. Hua Hin - beautiful beach near Bangkok

7. Pattaya - shopping and water sports

8. Krabi - natural mountains and beaches

9. Koh Samui - paradise and coconut island

10. Phang Nga - conservation park and unspoilt beaches

If you are planning for a trip to Thailand, always do a quick research on the reputable Thai eateries and plan to make a visit to them.

The top 10 food you should try include:

1. Tom yum Gar soup

2. Pud Thai noodles

3. Juicy red curry with roast duck

4. Hot Green curry with fresh coconut juice

5. Basil seafood

6. Chilli fresh mud crab

7. Spicy beef salad

8. Crispy green papaya salad

9. Cashew nut chicken stir fried

10. Open grill BBQ satays

I am a chef and I love my Thai food! Why? Thai cuisine is so interesting with all its flavours and fresh ingredients, you can hardly fault it. Thai food can also be very healthy for you if you use lean meat and fresh ingredients in your cooking. To be honest, it isn't hard to cook Thai food. The most important thing to remember is to use fresh in season produce and avoid frozen ingredients. Frozen ingredients usually have lost a lot of their flavours. Thai food can be made and served at dinner parties. It is also very easy to adapt to different peoples tastes. So if you have fussy guests it isn't difficult to satisfy them. The food has so many rich flavours it is hard for any food critic to find weakness in properly made Thai cuisine.

Have a safe trip and have a lovely time!

Saturday, December 11, 2010

Island Fun in Koh Samui

The 3rd largest island in Thailand Samui is only 247 square km and much smaller than Phuket and Ko Chang who beat it hands down in the size department. Coming from Bangkok, a distance of some 800km, it can be reached in an hour by plane and between 10 and 13 hours if travelling by bus or train, and boat. Around a million tourists travel to the island every year by whichever route, keen to discover its beautiful beaches and sunny skies for themselves.

Samui has come a long way from its backpacker days where the only accommodation you could find was a simple wooden bungalow on the beach. Booking accommodation nowadays you'll find a wide range of options from simply furnished but tasteful beach bungalows to 5 star luxury resorts, combine this with a nice blend of entertainment and serene beaches and you have the perfect island getaway that has a lot of attractions for visitors.

One main road runs around the island's coastline and only takes around a hour to complete. Lots of other smaller roads lead off from it and if you decide to go exploring you can easily get away from the tourist areas and discover the local way of life. The inner region of the island is mountainous and the roads can be quite bad so take care if you do want to explore. You can hire motorbikes for inexpensive rates, or a jeep or car for a day and cover the whole island in a short time.

Koh Samui is located in the Gulf of Thailand and this is evident when eating out at one of the many restaurants. Fresh fish and seafood is typically offered at the many beachside restaurants whether they are local Thai run places or large resorts, the many palm trees provide fresh coconut milk which is added to Thai local dishes, and as Thai people like their food spicy you might have to ask them to refrain from adding too many red hot chili peppers.

Apart from eating and sunbathing there are lots of other activities to keep you entertained in Samui. Golf is popular with locals and holiday-makers - Santiburi Golf Course is situated close to Maenam and Bang Por beaches and set within the country club of the same name, this 18-hole championship golf course is set in a lush tropical setting with coconut trees and panoramic views of Maenam Beach and Koh Phangan. Royal Samui Golf and Country Club is another 18-hole golf and recreation facility, and there is a 9 hole course at Bophut.

Samui is one of the best places to go to learn to dive, or if you are already an experienced diver it has great dive sites to explore with an abundance of marine life. Koh Tao, the Angthong Marine Park and the famous Sail Rock are all in the local area and numerous PADI diving schools can arrange courses and diving trips for beginners and experienced divers seeking out delightful colouful corals, schools of tropical fish, reef sharks and the grand whale shark.

Muay Thai is also an option on Samui and there are a few camps dotted around the island that can teach the basics to beginners and train advanced fighters. The World Muay Thai Council in South Lamai and Thai Pinyo Boxing School in North Lamai are the best well-known. Some Muay Thai camps offer accommodation for trainees but if you prefer to stay in more lavish surroundings then check out Koh samui hotels online for an extensive choice of lodgings.

Chaweng lies on the east coast and is one of the busiest beaches, you can find all kinds of watersports here from windsurfing and catamaran dingy, to jet skiing, water skiing and parasailing. Although busy day and night with cuisines from all over the world, bars and entertainment to satisfy everyone, it's still a stunning beach where you can find yourself a quiet corner to chill out with a good book.