Mu Koh Surin National Park

For 31 years Mu Koh Surin has been announced as the 29th Thai national park. These groups of five islands are known as one of the most remarkable destinations for inspecting the most beautiful shallow coral reefs in Thailand.

Located in the Andaman Sea, Mu Koh Surin consists of five islands including, Koh Ri, Koh Kai, Koh Klang and two large islands, Koh Surin Neua, Koh Surin Tai. It takes about 1.30 hours traveling by a speed boat from Kuraburi harbor, Phang Nga. In addition to green forests, the crystal-clear sea water and white sand beaches, Mu Koh Surin is a primary snorkeling spot providing a number of clownfish and rare sea turtles. Furthermore, visitors can easily travel to Mu Koh Similan, the nearby islands, to explore one of the best places for Manta Ray observations.

Chatuchak Weekend Market in Bangkok

Known as the one of the largest markets in the world, Chatuchak is located opposite to the old northern bus terminal along Phahonyothin road, covering the area of 35-acre (68-rai), and having more than 8,000 individual booths with everything under the sun.

The market opens only at the weekends, Saturday and Sunday from 7 a.m. until late. Travelling here, you may spend at least half a day, so wearing comfortable clothes is suggested as there are more than 200,000 visitors come here. When buying goods at Chatuchak, it is recommended to bargain with every stall you are interested in since almost everything here can be discounted.

Songkran Khao San Road

When it comes to April, Songkran festival is what people have been waiting for. When thinking of celebrating Songkran festival in Bangkok, Khao San Road is the place that the celebrants should not miss. Every year, thousand of celebrants come to throw and splash the water wildly as the road is closed for water splashing just like some provinces in the north.

That is why Khao San road is crowded with both Thais and foreigners. Khao San Road is so busy that you cannot move with the atmosphere of a water fight battlefield. People splash water to each other frenziedly and there is no exception whether you are a businessman, a visitor, or a backpacker. If you do not want to miss this memorable experience, go for it this April!

Credit: image by Mr.Pornchai K.(creativeculturethailand.com)

Phuket - How to Get In

Phuket is undeniably one of the most popular tourist destinations of Thailand. The city attracts thousands of travelers from all across the globe every month. Getting in to Phuket is easy and convenient as there are a number of transportation modes available at your choice.

Flying into Phuket is considered the quickest and most comfortable way as the airport has numerous flights connection to all of the important cities of Thailand, directs flights to other cities in the world such as Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, and direct charters to Australia and Europe.

Every year Phuket International Airport welcomes millions of travelers from countries all over the world. The Airport is located on the southern part of the island having Thep Kasatri road leaded to Phuket downtown.

"Forest: Nature at Your Service" - The Latest Campaign for World Environment Day 2011

Fall upon every June the 5th, this year the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) decides to celebrate World Environment Day 2011 in Mumbai and Delhi, two of the most vibrant capitals of India. The motto of the year is "Forest: Nature at Your Service" focusing on encouraging people to take action and help save the world by being aware of their footprints.

There will be a number of activities including tree planting in school, Car Free Day campaign, community cleaning service, public park cleaning, drawing contest under a topic of forest and plantation, bird watching, debate upon forest preservation, and many more activities to promote World Environment Day.

The 2011 motto will be supporting activities related to 2011 public notice of UN as an International Year of Forests and as the continuity of the 2011-2020's "Decade of Biodiversity" campaign for the International Year if Biodiversity.

Visakha Bucha Day

For all Thai Buddhists, Visakha Bucha Day is the most auspicious religious day for it celebrates the three anniversaries in the life of the Lord Buddha: birth, enlightenment, and death. To recall to the worship of the Lord Buddha, Buddhists have regarded Visakha Bucha Day as an important Buddhism Day which religious activities will be held. It is the date of birth of the Lord Buddha, the day that the Buddha achieved the ultimate of enlightenment, the same day that he freed himself to the cycle of death and reached to the mortal.

In this day, the common activity is merit making. People offer a food to the monks in the morning, go to the temple to listen to the sermon and set birds and fishes free. In the evening, Buddhists will go to the temple again to walk clockwise around the hall with the candle lit in their hand. All in all, the Visakha Bucha Day is like the day that wants to purify us from any desires and lead lives peacefully. The point is that it is not only this day but we should act ourselves tranquilly everyday instead.

Chiang Mai Songkran Festival 2011

Each year on mid-April, there is an important event on the Buddhist calendar which Thais are always expecting for the whole year – Songkran Festival, the New Year celebration of Thailand. An atmosphere of the soaked battlefield of the water splashing in the city during a hot summer breeze of the year decorates Chiang Mai with full of joys and happiness. The festival warms this long holiday into a great time of a family reunited, celebrating with love and chatting after haven’t seen each other for the whole year. Being considered as the hot spot of Songkran Festival, Chiang Mai draws people from all over the country and many tourists from all over the world to be a part of this joyful festival for its unique custom and traditional one.

On 12th – 15th of Chiang Mai Songkran Festival, all routes along a moat will be jammed with pick-up trucks and crowd throwing water side to side of the road. As the festival begins, the moat turns into a swimming pool where people hunt for victims to soak and get them as wet as possible!