Cha-inn@Cha-am Thailand.

By Road: Cha-am is approx 2 1/2 hrs from Bangkok via Thonburi-Paktho road, pass Samut Sonkhram and Petchburi. Turn left into Cha-am. When you get to the beach road, turn left. Cha Inn is 700 metres down the road.

By Air: Internal flight from Bangkok Suwannaphumi airport to Hua Hin airport where you can get to Cha-am in 20 minutes by taxi.

By Train: From Bangkok Hua Lamphong Station to Hua Hin station where you can get to cha-am by taxi. Schedules and details can be obtained from State Railway of Thailand.com

Cha Inn @ Cha-am
Hotel Bar Restaurant

Address: 274/34 Ruamjit Road, Cha-am, Petchburi 76120. Thailand.
Tel: +66(0)32471879 Fax: +66(0)32472477

A unique contemporary and modern inn type hotel situated just across the road from the beach. Cha Inn is designed to specification by renowned Thai architects and interior designer. Each of the 11 Bedrooms is comfortable, individually decorated and well equipped with a TV and air conditioning.

The ground floor restaurant offers a melee of delicious Thai and European food. The bar is fully licensed, the place where you can enjoy a cold drink or two after a hot day in the sun.

Though we are located only 20 minutes from the famous and busy Hua Hin Beach, Cha-am offers a different atmosphere and is the place where you can truly relax and enjoy your holiday to the full. Cha-am beach is 2 km. long with golden sands.

Cha Inn @ Cha-am is approximately 2 1/2 hrs from Bangkok. It is in a bustling area where it is growing in popularity, though it still has the charm of typical Thai life.

Come and Join the Cha Inn Crowd!

If you”ve come to the point in your life where meeting and dating young sexy girls is a huge challenge maybe it’’s time to consider other options. I”m referring to your thinking of looking for a great Thai girl or Thai lady. I married a Thai girl over 2 years ago and I haven”t looked back since.

Now you might be thinking why Thailand girls? Well there are many reasons to look for a Thai bride, including the fact that they are gracious, welcoming and always ready for fun. You see, Thai’’s have a great attitude where they are always laid back and always trying to make things sanook (Thai for fun).

Thailand is not only on the other side of the world from us, it’’s like a complete opposite of our western world. People there don”t rush about, the weather is great and the women are thin and beautiful. When you arrive you”ll definitely think you”ve landed on another planet, but give Thailand a chance to grow on you. You may even come to think of it as home.

Along with all the differences you”ll find in Thailand you”ll also find many fascinating pleasures. Thailand is a crazy place to western thinking, but the Thai’’s keep it all running smoothly (in their eyes at least). Once you immerse yourself into the craziness known as Thailand you”ll find that maybe we in the west are the crazy ones.

I”ve found the people in Thailand to be welcoming, helpful, friendly and ever smiling. They are always interested in me and want to know more about me. You”ll find the food to be equally as welcoming. Nowhere else have I found a cuisine that is as diverse and delicious as Thai food.

And then there’’s the welcoming attitude of the Thai girls. Let’’s look closer at how you”re going to meet a Thai girl and possibly end up with a beautiful sexy Thai bride.

1. Search a bit on the internet and find sites dedicate to life in Thailand. Read and ask questions to learn more about the fascinating culture of Thailand and the best ways to get along in Thailand. It should be fairly easy to find out the best places to go, how to behave as a courteous guest in Thailand and what to expect.

2. Plan a trip to Thailand right away. Book your ticket and hotel as soon as possible. Once you arrive you”ll be greeted first by the heat. It’’s like stepping into a sauna and after the controlled temperature in the airplane will hit you like a ton of bricks. Don”t worry though, soon you”ll be slipping into an air conditioned taxi and you”ll be off on one of the greatest adventures of your life…into the heart of Bangkok.

3. Once you get to the hotel and get settled go out and meet people. Be prepared with a few phrases of Thai and dress nicely and you”ll have no problem at all. Yes, Thai’’s consider appearance VERY heavily. With a clean and attractive look you”ll go far. Add in a sprinkling of their native language and you”re gold.

4. Be yourself. You”ll get asked lots of questions and most Thai’’s will want to practice their English with you. Talk, laugh and enjoy the attention. Travel around and see the sights of Bangkok. Take a ferry boat on the Chao Phraya river and eat at the numerous street vendors.

5. That’’s it, that’’s all you”ll need. Remember not to be too serious in Thailand as Thai’’s like to have fun in everything they do. If you”re respectful and lighthearted you”ll have a wonderful time and you”ll meet some very wonderful people, many of them the beautiful Thai girls I mentioned earlier.

There’’s really nothing to it once you”ve made the leap and gotten yourself to Thailand. You”ll find that Thai’’s are very welcoming and friendly and as long as you maintain a sense of fun and adventure. Take your time and get to know several Thai girls, look for good relationships and mostly have a great time.

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

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

*The following story is incorporated in “My Friend Yu – the Prosperity Mentor: Book II,” Pantejo - Y.N. Vurce Publishing. Release Date: 2008.

“[Life] Amazing! Isn’t it?…”

- Medical Turf Wars -

“So, am I gon’na live?”

“Chief, I don’t know how you guys do it. I took a double-take on your birthday ‘cause your “biological” age and your “chronological” age just don’t match! What kind of veggies or vitamins are you taking? I haven’t seen a 28” waist since High School! I still lift (weights) regularly and am an amateur bodybuilder. What’s your bodyfat percentage?” He said.

Trying to get on his good side, I said, “I don’t know. Four months ago, the Aviation Medical Technician doing the prelims for one of my physical exams said it was ‘too low to be healthy’, I think. Whatever that means?”

He was the DMO (Diving Medical Officer), a lieutenant (Officer Grade 3 in the Navy), and in his mid-thirties (my age at the time). He was already beginning to bald, and slightly paunchy. He still had the big arms and barrel chest of a Navy Diver, but probably hadn’t seen a six-pack on his body for years.

“So, what’s your secret? My wife would go totally ga-ga if I could get my college body back.”

I didn’t want to tell him that the simple answer was to get rid of his wife. Single men tended to be more “hungry” and had less extraneous obligations.

And it took a very understanding spouse to put up with the lifestyle of “an athlete in uniform.” The hours of training were just too long for even the most loving wife.

I knew. I was on my second wife and the marriage’s prognosis looked very bleak.

Grinning at the doctor I said, “Amazing, isn’t it? I attribute my girlish figure to celibacy and pure thoughts.”

(In reality, I PT’d [physically trained] for at least 3 hours a day, ate like a pig all day, then drank beer and chased women at night.)

The rest of the time I wasted on frivolous things (like work).

We both laughed.

Then I asked, “Sir, when can I leave?”

“If it was up to me, I’d let you go now. But as you know, you need to be cleared by the ‘other guys’ too,” the DMO said.

“I can’t be medically disqualified right now. I got some important orders,” I desperately whined.

The truth was that I was to do some “exchange student” exercises with a few of my counterparts from foreign military units (e.g., Republic of Korea, British, Australian, and Thailand teams) in the next few weeks.

“Cobra Gold” was the official name of the annual joint military exercises held on and around the Pattaya Beach area of Thailand.

I looked forward to this yearly “Work Hard, Play Hard” event.

I especially loved the beautiful women. They’re always amazed that: 1) I am American, not Thai (I’m a mix of everything Asian) and 2) in spite of being “gaa” (Thai: old), like a Tantric Sex Master, I can go on for hours in the bedroom.

Similar to Jack LaLane on his birthday (who?), I added more “degrees of difficulty” (meaning, participants) to my personal exploits every year.

“Chill out. I’m sure you’ll be discharged in time to go to Cobra Gold. Jeez! I love that place! Anyway, I’ve arranged for my most responsible Corpsman to keep you company. Just don’t corrupt her too much” he said, smiling like the devil.

These “Medical Turf Wars” were a hassle for people like me.

Instead of periodic physical examinations by one doctor, I had to be cleared by several different doctors (e.g., Med/Specwar guy, Diving Doc, Flight Surgeon, PTSD Psychiatrist, etc.).

This meant having at least three, instead of one, rectal exam every year!

I never got used to that.

One year, after getting past the point of being pissed off, I invited all the nurses to witness my rectal exams.

Since all Military Hospitals double as learning institutions, there was never a shortage of an audience (mostly interns, new Corpsman, and fresh Nursing school graduates).

Laying prone on the examination table and my bare ass in the air, I proclaimed to the giggling group of students, “Have your way with me. My ass is your ass!”

The responses (and phone numbers afterwards) were well worth it.

But when I saw who was going to be my companion during her Duty Day, I didn’t mind that I’d be here (on a Submarine Tender Medical Ward) overnight.

“Thanks Doc!” I shouted as the DMO bade his farewell.

- Those Medical Slackers -

Looking down at the cute Filipina Corpsman at the foot of my bed, I asked, “Are you sure you want to hear this?”

“Yes, of course. I’ve read about it, but I’ve never met anyone who has actually experienced it,” she said, momentarily breaking her gaze away from my powerful erection to smile a little, naughty smile.

Did she just lick her lips?

Then, silently, she stood up, walked to the “wrong” side of the patient bed, reached across my body, and checked the I.V. bag and drip chamber hanging on a metal hook on the other side of the bed.

“Accidentally” smothering me with her chest, she whispered, “Oops. Sorry.”

“No problem, no problem at all, HN (Hospitalman, E-3 paygrade) Marisol.”

During my short stay in her Sickbay/Ward, we had already established a close, informal rapport. I teased her by addressing her by the appropriate military title “HN,” but then finished it with the totally inappropriate, overly friendly use of her first name (Marisol) instead of her last name.

I could usually tell when to cross the line or not.

Medical personnel (officer and enlisted alike) were notorious for employing lax military standards and sloppy decorum.

Line Officers called them “Slackers, referring to their apparent lack of military bearing. I couldn’t blame them (the medical personnel). In fact, initially, when I first joined the service, I was just like them.

You see, most military medical personnel were just biding their time, simply repaying the military back for their medical training. After one hitch (tour of duty), they usually left active duty to pursue a more lucrative, civilian medical career. This applied to the majority of doctors, nurses, and Corpsmen within all branches of the U.S. Military Services (Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps).

The U.S. Marine Corps had no indigenous medical personnel. That was why I, a Navy Independent Duty Corpsman, was technically a sailor, but, for all practical purposes, was a Marine at heart. Except for my mandatory stints at Navy Hospitals and “Tin Cans” (small ships), I spent the bulk of my career deployed with Marines (specifically, the Diver/Jumper types).

I spent equal time honing my technical skills AND my Marine (grunt) skills. Consequently, I had little time to gather dust. If I wasn’t doing the required CME (Continuous Medical Education - emergency medical training), I was busy diving, jumping, or shooting.

Since I love those activities, the years zoomed by. Before I knew it, over two decades had past and it was time to retire. Mainstreaming into regular, civilian life was hard for me. (But that’s another story).

Back to this story.

Almost sadistically, I prayed for missions because they had an immediate and direct focus (no trivial, unrealistic training and classes by some civilian geek or hospital administrator with no clue about real life operations)
.

Ninety-percent of any mission was spent on prep time (warning orders, mission briefs, physical examinations, immunizations, equipment checks, etc), travel time (ship, submarine, or airplane); and, once the mission was completely executed, aborted while in progress, or cancelled before going operational, there was the required extensive de-brief time and after action reports.

- My Angel of Mercy Revisited -

Turning my attention back to the sexy Corpsman, I said, “Hell, I’m just glad to have company!”

I had a big sh*t-eating grin on my face; mainly because I was not talking directly to her face, but to the uniform-bursting breasts that were currently dancing in front of my nose.

She blushed again.

With a half-smile, she resumed her position at the end of my bed –fixing her eyes on my blatant hard-on and continued her “Watch.”

“Imagine That…”

Marisol propped her elbows at the foot of my bed and held her face in her hands. The posture instantly conjured up “peek-a-boo, hide-n-sneek” breast fantasies in my head (both of them)!

In any other situation I would have initiated “full-body, hand-to-butt/bust CQB (close quarters combat),” but held back to examine my angel of mercy, visually savoring her youthful beauty and tight, yet buxom, body.

After looking at her full lips and angel face, I wondered if she liked big popsickles?

Then I continued my story about the first time I suffered from “Priapism,” an uncontrolled erection that often becomes a medical emergency…

…Okay, there I was, wildly falling through the air. My main parachute had malfunctioned and all my attempts to correct it proved futile. I was losing altitude by the second and now it was time to use the last resort: the reserve parachute.

The reserve chute was considered the last resort for a couple of reasons. First, it was much smaller than the main chute; and secondly, the reserve chute for this particular Army Infantry configuration was worn on the stomach. It was called “the belly pack,” because the rest of the soldier’s gear was worn below the main parachute pack on the soldier’s back. Located at the small of the back and extending down past the buttocks, this additional gear worn under the main chute was called the “butt pack.”

In this way, supposedly, the soldier was somewhat balanced in the weight distribution of his gear. Nevertheless, especially with a deployed (opened) butt pack (and its accompanied, lanyard connected, extracted gear), the normal, preferred vertical posture was almost impossible to maintain.

I had to jettison the main chute via its harness clips (specialized buckles with a two-step process for separating the shoulder harness straps from the main parachute risers).

The real trick was timing. Ideally, both buckles are to be opened simultaneously.

Bad news for me.

I couldn’t open both buckles together because I was wildly oscillating through the air. The parachute canopy above me looked like a bag of worms, while I felt like the main attraction at a public hanging, dangling by one riser.

This meant that I could only reach one buckle. The other riser was far above the first, tangled amongst shroud lines and the beginning of the canopy skirt.

The furthest buckle had to be opened first. If I opened the nearest buckle, I would have had to wrestle with a taught riser and a buckle buried under tight material. (It would be like trying to get to a coin embedded in a fist full of tight shoelace knots.)

Doing a pull-up and climbing past the exposed buckle, I cut away a mass of shroud-lines with my hooked shroud-line cutter, found the buried buckle, and released. Immediately my body assumed an awkward “hanging by one arm” position. The jolt of repositioning was felt all along the left side of my body. Not much pain (probably due to adrenaline). My left hand, arm, and shoulder felt numb and clumsy. I tried to re-stow my hooked shroud-line cutter, but…but, it was gone! I must have lost my grip on it when the opening shock jolted my body.

“Imagine That…”

Oh well, if I survive this, I guess I’ll have to bribe another Survival Equipment person for another cutter. (I wasn’t the best at sanitizing my actions. I lost or forgot gear often - a bad habit that would severely impact my life later on. Yet again, another story for later consumption).

Bribing a lower ranked Marine in the Survival Equipment shop was much easier than filling out the mountain of paperwork required when reporting missing gear for replacement.

Then I released the second (last) buckle, dramatically accelerated downward, and saw the tangled mess of the main parachute assembly, shroud-lines, and canopy material fly away from me like a bird of prey releasing a mouse that was too small to eat.

I put one arm out and rolled to my back (facing the sky) and assumed a “reverse free-fall position,” that is, instead of the normal free-fall position (face toward the Earth and spread eagle), I now looked more like a dead cockroach.

Ironically, through all this, I smiled while I rolled.

I always loved maneuvering during free-fall. It is intoxicating and called “relative work.” It really feels like you’re swimming through the air. It’s like doing gymnastics in a loud, raging river. For example, if you do a stiff-legged, double leg lift, your body is put into a reverse somersault. If you stick one arm or one leg further away from the body, you rotate in that direction. One birthday I did an ungodly amount of jumps and went to sleep that night exhausted, happy, and dreaming of being Superman.

Supine, I pretended to be a badminton birdy.

And within seconds, my free-fall was controlled.

Reaching to my belly pack (reserve parachute), I found the pull ring, and prepared to pull. In one, symmetrical motion I pulled the ring with one hand and abducted my arm (moved the arm away from my body) while simultaneously mimicking the same motion with the other arm.

It looked like I was doing the top half of a ballet dancer’s pirouette. The reason for this was aerodynamic symmetry. If I didn’t copy the motion of the pulling arm, there was a chance that I may rotate onto my stomach again – not a good thing with a “belly pack” reserve setup.

Experiencing “temporal distortion,” I saw the flaps of the reserve shoot open in s-l-o-w m-o-t-i-o-n. A small drogue chute peeked out of the pack and began to extract the rest of the material. It all seemed surrealistic, like I was sliding face down on a giant synthetic “silk” slide in the sky.

(My mind flashed to the briefing before this jump. Almost as a premonition, I asked the PR [Parachute Rigger] what were the procedures for a malfunctioned reserve chute.

With an evil grin, he said, “Do a Michael Jackson.”

“A what?” I asked.

“Beat it! Beat it! Beat it!” he chuckled.

“Imagine That…”)

Then the wall of moving silk disappeared and all of a sudden shroud-lines pulled taught and slapped me in the face.

In spite of being a smaller chute, the combination of my relatively light Asian frame and no additional weight from Infantry Gear made the reserve parachute’s opening shock turn me into the helpless victim of a T.V. Wrestler. I was getting the infamous “back breaker” maneuver.

Great.

Earlier, the first opening shock of the now defunct main chute made me feel like I was being split in half (from the crotch up); and now the God’s were trying to bend me in half backwards - like I was some chemlight stick that needed to be activated!

Oh well, at least my day was getting a little better.

I was now under a full reserve parachu

te, swaying like an airlifted cargo crate.

- Pondering my PLF -

The next challenge on my checklist was the task of doing a decent PLF (Parachute Landing Fall). The purpose of the PLF was to distribute the impact of landing across the whole body, therefore; theoretically reducing the chances of injury.

But my experiences over the years showed me that even the most perfect PLF’s can result in sprained ankles, broken legs, shattered clavicles (collar bones), fractured hips, dislocated shoulders, etc.

The Landing Procedures and textbook PLF is as follows:

1.Maneuver (steer) into the wind, so the chute falls behind you. This is easily done during training jumps. One only has to orient himself into the opposite direction of the wind as indicated by a windsock (on land) or a boat’s flag (over water). Just think “stab yourself with the windsock or flag” and you’re going into the wind. But during real missions, one had to use other clues (e.g., whitecaps on waves, swaying branches of trees, etc.).
2.Keep your eyes on the horizon – don’t look down. Looking down makes the jumper incorrectly anticipate ground impact because of the illusion of “ground rush.” It also compromises the vertical posture needed to perform a good PLF.
3.Raise hands over your head, grasp, and hold onto the parachute risers throughout the PLF. This minimizes injuries to the shoulders, arms, and hands by preventing the chance of “flail” injuries - if you’ve ever stubbed your toe, replace your toe with an arm and you know what I mean.
4.Point toes downward and slightly bend the knees.
5.Tuck in the head (chin to chest).
6.Upon impact, immediately allow the body to roll laterally to whichever side that momentum, wind, and terrain moves your body.
7.Spread your impact force over the following parts of the body: balls of feet, calf, side of thigh, buttock, side of back, rear shoulder.

When performed correctly, the body should naturally fall and roll; ending up in a sitting position and opposite your parachute.

But instead of vertical, I was laying backward at a 45-degree angle. The reserve chute attached to my stomach and absence of butt pack weight forced me to keep as upright as possible by continually pulling on my risers.

I felt like I was stuck at “half-rep” on a Lat-Pull Down machine in the gym set with a full stack of weight.

Oh well, the horizon was in full view. I’d just have to make do.

- Ouch, that’s got’ta hurt! -

If you saw the way I landed, you’d probably wince with empathy.

Like fans at an American football game who witness a particularly nasty hit (tackle), you’d probably say that familiar American cliché: “Ouch, that’s got’ta hurt!”

Instead of balls of feet, calves, quads, glutes, lats, delts, and roll; my heels hit first.

Then came the vicious ground impact on my coccyx (butt bone).

The next assault was to the back of my head (Thank God, my Protech helmet didn’t shatter).

I tried to stand, but only made it to my knees. Everything was a spinning, blur. I wasn’t sure if my chute was in front of me or behind me.

My question was promptly answered. It was in front of me.

How did I know?

It re-inflated and began dragging me, head first, along the dirt, grass, and rocks of the drop zone!

Whack! One lens of my goggles breaks. Now one-half of my limited vision looked like a muddy spider web. Afraid of plastic chards going into my eye, I shut both eyes and ripped the goggles off my face.

Whack-whack-whack! The side of my helmet kept bouncing off the uneven ground.

(Another gust of wind.)

I tried to lift my head.

Bad idea.

The wind shifted into second gear and the chute began dragging me faster.

Shroud-lines that had wrapped themselves around my helmet and neck forced my head back down into the rock-strewn earth.

Great, now I’m digging a trench with my face.

“Imagine That…”

(Continued in “Imagine That…[4]”)

Your friend in this Intrepid Journey called Life,

Carl “J.C.” Pantejo
Pantejo@ynvurcepublishing.com

Cobra Gold, Thailand, Sexy, Filipina, PT, physical training, Corpsman, Medical, Turf, tantric sex, parachute, reserve chute, PLF.

Other articles by the author:

“Imagine That…(1) - The Asian Angel of Mercy and Assassins.”

“Imagine That…(2) - Hazardous Duty Incentive Pay HDIP:  Anything for a Buck?”

“Alternative Notions of Life, a Different Path, articles (1) – (7).” (This is an ongoing series of articles that focus on self-improvement, success, and happiness).

“Experiences from ‘The Flow’ series, articles (1) – (23).” (This is another ongoing series of articles about love, romance, Asian/Western relationships, relationship analysis, and more.)

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

“Remember Who You Are!”

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

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

And much more!

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

Bangkok has proven to be a hugely popular destination for tourists and expatriates for many years now. However occasionally people visit Bangkok and find themselves getting a bit more than they had bargained for and not in the positive sense.

Whilst the vast majority of Thais are overwhelmingly friendly and happy, (in fact they are world famous for this) there are of course, as in any country a minority that can and will attempt to take advantage of you. Why would they do so? Well, Thailand is still a developing country and whilst Bangkok is highly developed in many areas it is still a developing country and the mindset of the people occasionally reflects this. Many Thais come to Bangkok from the countryside looking for work and the salaries in Bangkok do not really providea satisfactory level of living, even for qualified individuals. Indeed it is said that even to flip burgers in MacDonald’’s you need to have been to University, which is often an expense a family can ill afford.

The need for money is also exacerbated slightly by the type of family structure that exists whereby once children become adults it is deemed it is now their turn to repay their parents for looking after them during their childhood by providing them with a good standard of living, namely by giving them money. Caring for their parents is often seen as the number one goal for their lives, being more important than anything else! Often the Thai persons drive to provide for their parents is fiercely overwhelming and can on occasion make them do things they would otherwise not do. Again it must be emphasized this is far from the norm, but does these things do happen.

These factors of course provide impetus for all sorts of different money making activities. A few common methods for unscrupulous people to extract money from foreigners, ranging from simple rip-offs to intricate scams are as follows:

a) Taxi drivers, these can spot a newbie from a mile off, they will gladly take you where you want to go via all the shops that they are given commission at. These are often suit shops, gem shops, massage parlours, gold shops and so on. Also you had better ask for them to switch on the meter or you could end up paying a much higher price than necessary. A aimple rule of thumb, if they refuse to put the meter on, get out of the cab! There will be plenty more. An easy solution to this problem is to walk a block away from the tourist area and you will normally find a taxi driver unused to taking tourists and very happy to turn on the meter (without you asking) and take you wherever you wish, no questions asked.

b) Card scams. At some point you maybe approached by a foreigner seemingly quite incidentally. Maybe you are looking at your map and a friendly stranger offers you help. You may then be asked normal everyday questions such as where you are from. Do not be surprised to hear an answer such as ”Really, my sister is due to go and study there next month.” this will open a lead of conversation to get you to meet their sister. Yes this is a real account reported on numerous occasions. If you are suitabley gullible or willing they will very hospitably lead you to a house somewhere in the suburbs where they may offer you food and drink. The sister will probably not appear but another person may do and so the introduction of card games becomes reality whilst awaiting for the sister to arrive. Whilst the story sounds implausible these people do this for a living and are very slick and excellent confidence tricksters. For a tourist caught off their guard by dis-orientation, fatigue, alcohol, excitement or whatever this can lead to considerable loss of money and dangerous situations. Be warned. 

c) Simply not knowing the prices. Do not buy from the first place you see. You may be offered a bag for 1000 baht and whilst you know you are supposed to negotiate a lower price you settle on 600 thinking you have got a bargain, however wander around the corner and you may only be asked for 300 and be able to get this down to 180 baht. A few words of advice, negotiate with a smile and yes whilst you can get the same price as a local, prices in Bangkok are more based on the ability to pay as opposed what the price is. In their eyes you may be a rich foreigner therefore it is only fair that you pay more than a local. Whatever you do though, do it with a smile, it will go a long way!

d) Collecting change. It is common in night clubs in Bangkok for the waiters to be on as little as 3,000-6,000 baht per month (100 pounds sterling or 200 US dollar per month), it is possible for them to just about live on this, however if someone who has had a couple of beers pays for a drink with a thousand baht note and there are a couple of hundred notes missing in the change, don”t be surprised! Always check, even ask the name of the person collecting the money beforehand and point out that you are giving them a thousand baht note as opposed to a 100 or 500 baht note at the time of paying.

The above are just a few helpful hints on what to look out for. If you should ever find yourself in trouble the tourist police are used to dealing with these type of complaints in their own inimitable way. Furthermore if you did find yourself losing all your money it is possible for a family member to transfer money overseas to you using a money transfer service, these are quick and simple services that can get you out of trouble fast.  Having said all this Thai people are fantastic and you will be very unfortunate indeed to encounter the above situations, so relax and enjoy yourself in the Land of Smiles.

Thailand is a culinary treat, it’’s famous for its delicious and spicy menu.  Dishes typically use lemongrass, coriander, garlic, chili and lime juice to flavor their meals.

Seafood lovers will feel that they have arrived in paradise, rock lobsters, squid, large prawns, oysters, muscles, fresh crabs and fish are available in Phuket.  Thai Pork is tender, tasty, and juicy, often better than the chicken that can sometimes be overcooked, and you should order imported steak unless you need to exercise your jaw.

Eating out in Phuket is a pleasure, and relatively inexpensive.  There are some charming garden-style restaurants such as Nok & Jo’’s, and of course those that cater for you on the beach front enjoying the view of the Andaman Sea.  Most restaurants in Phuket offer International cuisine which consists of a Thai menu and a western style menu; plenty of pastas, pizzas, BBQ’’s, Tex-Mex, hamburgers and sandwiches.   There are also some fusion style restaurants serving dishes from all around Asia including Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, and India.

Thai waiters are happy to play and entertain your children so that you can enjoy your food peacefully.    Thai people are smiley and friendly, often supplying mosquito coils and happy to explain or even show you various Thai dishes that you may be unfamiliar with.

There are a number of bakeries, delis and cafe’’s on the island serving fresh bread and pastries.      Paula’’s Cafe Retro, Surin, lets you start the day with Eggs Benedict and smoked salmon, or a  breakfast burrito and good coffee.  They also have an interesting lunch menu and specials board.

If you prefer fine dining, this is usually found in a high-class air-conditioned restaurant, and there are many good chefs in Phuket.  You could try Weaves, part of ManaThai hotel which has a stunning interior, beautiful flower arrangements, and interesting articles from around Thailand.  This restaurant has character, history, and friendly, attentive staff.  Wines from around the world are available in these types of restaurants, but do expect to pay a premium because of import duties.

If you would like to try some gourmet Western cuisine try Les Anges run by chef Peter Webber. It is a café, deli, bakery (with the most divine cakes, pastries and home-made chocolates on Phuket,). It is also a restaurant and bar. It can be found on the East Coast of Phuket at the Royal Phuket Marina along with Limoncello, a fine Italian restaurant and Skippers bar and restaurant.

If there is one thing that the Thai’’s adore it’’s rice.  Local Thai people will eat rice three times a day and it forms the basis of most meals.  The best type of rice in Phuket is the Jasmine rice, grown only in Thailand; you could try red, purple or even black rice.  There are also rice noodles, and egg-noodles in various sizes.

”Phad Thai”  is Thailand’’s signature dish, noodles fried with garlic, small pieces of tofu, egg, and either shrimps or chicken, sprinkled with peanuts, and maybe some chill-powder and lemon on the side.  This is a great lunch time dish, and popular with children as it closely resembles pasta. 

There are some other great dishes that you must try whilst you are in Phuket, such as ”Tom Yam Kung” spicy sour prawn soup, or red, yellow, and green Thai curries made with coconut milk, spicy salads, and minced chicken fried with basil are all delicious.  You could try Lemongrass Restaurant, on Suirn beach road, which serves good Thai food.

Fresh fruits and ice-creams form the basis of most Thai desserts, look out for ”Dragon Fruit” named because of it’’s amazing pink and green colour, or the juicy mangos which are often served with sweet sticky rice. 

Whatever you choice, from ”Phad Thai” noodles to Italian pizza the tropical island of Phuket offers great food for everyone at a range of prices, there are many restaurants to choose from.  We hope that you enjoy your stay in beautiful Thailand.

For more information on shopping, restaurants and things to do in Phuket, Thailand see our websites:
Phuket Vacation Apartments and Royal Phuket Marina Apartments

If you are searching for an Exclusive Luxury Resort in Thailand that would be just right as a Honeymoon resort, or could be suitable as a family vacation resort, and you don”t want to be with masses of other people then you should take a close look at the area of Pran Buri close to Hua Hin, and particularly at the Aleenta Resort & Spa

The Aleenta is a small and intimate hotel with a variety of accommodation, from the Pool Suites which means a romantic bungalow by the sea with your own plunge pool, ideal for a romantic getaway or a honeymoon. There is the beachfront splendour of the Beach House, ideal for a party of four, or the Ocean Suites with indoor and outdoor living space. If you really want it special, then there is the Penthouse, totally romantic for honeymooners.

The Grand Villa with all the comforts of home, with the trappings of an exclusive luxury resort which is Aleena Resort & Spa.

For families there is the Frangipani Wing with a large inviting pool by the sea, and the beach is but a few steps away, so ideal as a family vacation resort. The New Frangipani Wing has its own infinity pool, with a poolside bar serving snacks day and night

The Aleenta Resort and Spa is a simple and unfussy place which whilst laid back well deserves its burgeoning reputation as one of Thailand’’s leading luxury resorts. It is the small details which matter.

The wireless broadband connection throughout. The Aleenta Spa offering the full range of treatments to pamper and unwind you, and there is even an area set aside for Yoga, complete with instruction.

Thai and Fusion Cuisine are served in the restaurant which helps you to eat healthily with the right healthy lifestyle choices. Having said that, the breakfasts are just out of this world!!

There is a Sandwich Bar for all day snacks and a lounge and open air bar overlooking the sea.

To this you can add inevitably excellent room service, a library, a CD library, a Boutique, a Wedding Centre on the beach, a Business Centre, and extremely efficient Concierge service and security.

Whilst you might expect to find similar facilities at most luxury exclusive resorts, but some of the things that sets the Aleena Resort and Spa apart from others is the situation. Pran Buri has not yet been spoiled as have other areas of Thailand, so what you have to enjoy is a deserted beach, a no television policy, organic food with the vegetables from the hotel’’s own garden.

The staff of the Aleena resort just smile all the time, and nothing is too much trouble.

Apart from the deserted beach Pranburi is very peaceful which will suit some but not others. If nightlife is a necessary part of your vacation, then this probably isn”t the place for you, but if you want to eat out then there are a couple of good restaurant shacks a ride away.

An important point is that the Aleenta resort and Spa is right on the beach, whereas the resorts in northern Pranburi have a small road in between, but you”ll not find that fact widely available on their websites.

Go to Pranburi soon before it becomes spoilt, and you must stay at the Aleenta Resort and Spa, one of Thailand’’s best exclusive luxury resorts.

For other Resort Hotels in Thailand go to http://www.worldwidevacationspots.com/categories/Far-East-Hotels/Thailand/

The third largest island in Thailand, Koh Samui is a tropical paradise, situated in the Gulf of Thailand in the South China Sea, about 85 km east of Surat Thani and 700 km south of Bangkok. Bestowed with natural scenic surroundings, spectacular as well as diverse flora and fauna, wonderful beaches, magnificent coves and bays, amazing islets, and dazzling waterfalls, Koh Samui is truly a mix of all that are best in the country.

Since Koh Samui gives harvest to more than two million coconuts each month, the island is also sometimes referred to as the ”Coconut Island.” Until 1970s” Koh Samui was only popular as a backpackers” destination. But, Koh Samui has now grown to include a range of attractions and facilities to enjoy a variety of activities from diving, snorkeling, and sailing to trekking and hiking.

The major draw of the island is undoubtedly its coastline, endowed with pearl-like white sandy beaches and coves and beaches. Of the beaches in the island, most popular is Chaweng beach, which is the longest in the island.

The beach and its surroundings are a center for fun and entertainment. Further, the area is dotted with a range of world-class hotels, resorts, restaurants, and nightclubs. Another fantastic beach in the island is Lamai Beach, which is much favored for its teeming nightlife. For a magical experience, take a tour to Bophut beach, whose surroundings are strewn with an array of old Chinese shops, superb gift shops, and eateries with sumptuous pizza.

Close to the Bophut Beach is Choengmon Beach, which is also a much sought recreational area. Likewise, for vacationers seeking solitude amid serene setting, then one of the best choices would be Maenam beach, situated in the north of Samui Island. Also, popular are Samui Beaches such as Big Buddha Beach, Taling Ngam, and Lipa Noi Beach.

With these spectacular as well as tranquil beaches, Koh Samui is truly a mecca to enjoy an array of leisurely and adventure activities such as para sailing, scuba diving, sea skiing, fishing, and sea canoeing. If you don”t want to indulge in any of the aforesaid activities, then simply take a stroll along the stunning beaches to experience its unrivalled beauty and elegance.

Apart from the activities that are revolved around its unparalleled beaches and shorelines, Koh Samui offers much more. Thai cuisines are regarded as among the best in the world. Hence, become an adept in Thai cooking by taking advantage of superb Thai cooking courses rendered by some of the excellent restaurants in the area.

If you are looking for something different while your stay at Koh Samui, then head to the nearby stadium to spectacle amazing Thai boxing, which includes five rounds of three minutes each. Likewise, if you don”t mind some violence, take opportunity to spectacle such traditional activities as buffalo fighting. One of the best options for fun lovers would be monkey show. Further, nothing would be better than a hiking or trekking trip for those interested in exploring the natural serenity of the place, comprising lush green vegetation, verdant hills, and brilliant waterfalls.

Above all, Koh Samui’’s sightseeing options are aplenty, with a range of unusual as well as refreshing attractions. Probably the most significant of the Koh Samui’’s landmarks is Big Buddha, a temple whose focal point is a 12 m high golden statue of Buddha that can be seen even away from several kilometers. For nature lovers, a visit to the Butterfly Garden with hundreds of rare species of spectacular bufferflies would be a unique experience. Also, found within the garden are a bee house and a museum featuring some rare species of insects from across the nation as well as other countries. Similarly, take a tour to Samui’’s Crocodile Farm to have a fascinating look on different types of crocodiles such as Siam crocodiles, saltwater crocodiles, and Caimans.

Not to miss attractions in the island also include phallic rocks, which is popular among the locals as Grandfather Rock and Grandmother Rock; Lamai Overlap Stone, which is considered a challenge to climb this impressive boulder; Secret Buddha Garden, which is home to beautiful temples, statues, and waterfalls; Snake Farm, which has to its credit some of the most poisonous as well as scary snakes in Asia; and Samui Aquarium and Zoo. Equally marvelous are the temples or wats in the region, such as, Hainan Temple, Hin Lad Waterfall Temple, Laem Sor Pagoda, and Pagoda Khao Chedi.

From stylish sea view villas and bungalows to beachfront resorts and world-class hotels, all of the accommodation options in Samui are superb. Majority of them provide top-notch facilities including air-conditioned rooms coupled with en-suite bathrooms, lounge, kitchen, and dining room. Additionally, many of the villas and apartments offer maid service, apart from facilities such as superb swimming pools and complimentary airport transfers. Fantastic accommodation options are also available for budget conscious travelers.

With these incredible attractions and activities to enjoy, Koh Samui is truly a pearl of the Gulf of Thailand.

Bangkok, acknowledged as the ”City of Angels,” is a thriving destination, situated in the heart of the South-East Asia. Bangkok is a fantastic blend of modern luxuries and traditional heritages, and you can see here gleaming skyscrapers overlooking ancient, stunning temples.

With an array of attractions covering incredible palaces, traditional Buddhist wats, sumptuous Thai cuisines, and warm services of amicable Thai people, it is not a wonder why people from across the world visit the Land of Smiles.

Apart from these, Bangkok offers superb choices for business travelers. As a business destination, Bangkok is home to the Stock Exchange of Thailand, with about 500 listed companies of such arenas as garments, technology, and project management. Further, many of the leading financial institutions in the country have been headquartered here.

In short, Bangkok has wonderful options for all types of visitors; no matter you are sightseers or leisurely traveler, history buffs, tourists interested in exploring palaces and temples, honeymooners, and business travelers.

In order to cater to the varying needs of tourists, Bangkok presents an astounding range of accommodation choices, ranging from high-end hotels and resorts to serviced apartments, villas, and condominium complexes. However, the most preferred among the accommodation choice for short term stay in Bangkok is hotels and resorts.

If you are well-heeled and can spend extravagantly spend for your Bangkok trip, some excellent choices are available in the form of five star hotels and resorts. These hotels provide superb options to choose from a number of choices such as guest rooms, standard and deluxe rooms, executive suites, and honeymoon suites.

Many of the hotels contain more than 300 rooms, all of which are tastefully decorated and arranged with top-end amenities including air conditioning, television, direct dial telephones, round the clock room service, tea/coffee making facilities, television, mini bar, and superb bath area. Some of the most sophisticated hotels come with rooms that are IT equipped and coupled with features like flat-screen TV, movable work station, and a la carte room service.

For business travelers, some of the hotels provide excellent facilities, such as elegant as well as spacious ball room with capacity to accommodate up to 400 guests and fully equipped meeting rooms that are perfect for seminars and conferences. Whether you are leisurely travelers or business travelers, there are hotels that provide opportunities to make use of such facilities as excellent lounge attached with evening cocktail, complimentary tea and coffee, free internet, meeting rooms, massage chair, and secretarial services and business center, where secretarial and translation services are made available upon request.

A host of world class facilities are also available for health conscious as well as weary travelers, including fitness centers with state of the art fitness equipments and spa centers offering excellent traditional as well as modern spa treatments like massages, hand and foot care, body care, and conditioners.

Many of the hotels and resorts are attached with two or more restaurants, which in turn allow you to dine in style your favorite cuisine. From authentic Thai cuisines and Japanese and Chinese cuisines to American and Mediterranean cuisines, al most all types of cuisines would be readily available here. Some of them may even include a pub or section exclusively to serve award winning wines and other beverages.

Additionally, some first class hotels in the city render fabulous choices for shopping enthusiasts, such as duty free shops and art galleries attached within the hotels. Above all, there are hotels that provide some fantastic options for art lovers by conduction regular cultural Thai performances.

In fact, these hotels provide everything that is required in order to make your stay in the capital city memorable as well as fun-filled. One can easily find a luxury hotel or resort via browsing through the internet. Many of the hotels, both budget and high-end, have their sites on the web and that too with details regarding room features, pictures, and pricing. This in turn enables a tourist to an accommodation of his choice.

Furthermore, many of the hotel websites also include online booking system, which is a great advantage as it allows you to choose and book a room within the comforts of your room or office. All you have to do is to let them know your likes, budget, and facilities you need, and rest they will look after and try to render the best services in order to make your stay in the city unforgettable.

 

Trang, a gem of Thailand, is a land of pristine beauty, sun soaked beaches and lush greenery. Located 828 kilometers from Bangkok, this city of Thailand is renowned for its islands, parks and beaches. Embark on a trip to the Ko Kradan or explore the Khao Chong Wildlife and Nature Education Centre. You can lie back on the beaches, indulge yourself in the varied sport activities or soak yourself in the history and the culture of the land. To meet the needs of all types of travelers, there are many Trang Hotels.

Be it the hotels in the town or the hotels in the beach areas, all of them offer excellent accommodation facility to all. The Thumrin Thana Hotel located close to the airport, bus terminal and the train station is a good option of accommodation. Trang Plaza Hotel located opposite Praya Rasadanupradit Mouument Park offers 196 guest rooms that are well appointed. Thumrin Hotel is proud to be the first luxurious international first class hotel of Trang. Wattana Park Hotel where you can get style and comfort under the same roof offers international standard of services to all.

Apart from these there are a good number of resorts in beach areas. The Chang Lang Resort, the Lay Trang Resort, the Amari Trang Beach Resort and the Pak Meng Resort are some of them. The islands of Trang also feature a good number of accommodation option. Koh Mook Charlie Beach Resort in Koh Mook beach is a paradise for nature lovers. The traditional bungalow of Koh Ngai Villa which overlooks panoramic seas and gardens is worth mentioning. Most of the hotels and the resorts in Trang, Thailand are located in the midst of natural beauty. If you are a nature lover, then the beachfront Cottages are the best for you.

It is one of the prime destinations for honeymooners. To welcome you there are special honeymoon suites with a host of modern facilities that shower the much desired comfort. The hotels of Trang feature a number of well appointed rooms that assure you the comfort and the warmth of your home. Apart from the standard rooms, there are honeymoon suites for honeymooners, executive suites for business travelers and disabled rooms for physically challenged ones.

Trang Hotels. also offer excellent dining, business and recreational facilities. You can dine the regional dishes served in the restaurant or can sip a glass of your favorite drink in the bar. Most of the hotels of the city also offer a well equipped conference rooms for all its guests.