Travel Thailand Guide: Trekking Khao Yai National Park

Apart from number of great famous beaches and night-life entertainments, the beauty of the cloud forest, wild animals and waterfalls from Thailand National Parks also attract lot of adventurous tourists to come and see these wild animals and bird singing through the trekking route.

Located just 200 kilometers from Bangkok, Khao Yai is one of Thailand's natural gems. The oldest and most internationally renowned of the country's national parks, Khao Yai is a beautiful and mysterious place brimming with mango fields, dense forests, towering waterfalls and vibrant wildlife. Walking trails stretch more than 50 kilometers. Families moved here to plant rice more than 100 years ago, and remains of their original settlements can still be found.

Perhaps most interesting to visitors is the enormous population of bats living in a cave near the outer perimeter of the park. Every evening at sundown, more than 3 million of these creatures emerge to find their evening meal. The spectacle lasts for more than an hour.

Wine lovers may already be aware of Khao Yai's place on the wine map. Although Thailand's wine industry is but ten years old, it's fast making a name for itself in the regional market. Thai wine's home is now firmly in Khao Yai. Several wineries offer tours, where visitors are treated to picturesque surroundings and a warm, peaceful atmosphere. You can explore scenic landscapes or sample the delights of grape juice and wine in all of the region's wineries.

Khao Yai is easily accessible by bus, train and car, and there are several options when staying in the park, including camping. The Visitor Center can provide all necessary information. Many travelers book a hotel in Nakhonratchasima or Bangkok, using it as a base for traveling to Khao Yai.

Travel Thailand Guide: Thailand Open 2008

Regarding as the only men’s top-level professional tennis tournament in Southeast Asia, for tennis lovers who reside in Thailand or the surrounding countries, the Thailand Open 2008 is a must-see event. With top ranking ATP players headlining the tournament and seats available at very affordable rates, the Thailand Open is like the Wimbledon of Southeast Asia, minus the walloping a real Wimbledon will have on the wallet. Besides, the ATP Thailand Open is now in its sixth year as part of the ATP Tour and returns to Bangkok from September 21-28, 2008.

Even without the Thai favorite

Paradorn Srichaphan in the past 2 year because of his wrist injury, the Thailand Open has grown and grown and has been fortunate to have seen many of the world’s top players compete in Bangkok. As such, for this year, there will be many World Tennis players involve in the tournament as usual including Danai Udomchoke(THA), Jo-Wilfried Tsonga(FRA), Marat Safin(RUS), Novak Djokovic (SRB) and The twins - Sonchat and Sanchai Ratiwatana(THA).

These top tennis stars together with other 30 professional tennis players from all around the world will be chasing for this year’s prize money of US$ 576,000. The games take place in Impact Arena, Muang Thong Thani, Bangkok. The tournament is now on; do not wait if you want to joy this great competition atmosphere. There aren’t many chances for some prime viewing of the world’s top tennis players.

Travel Thailand Guide - Enjoy a unique trip of Bangkok via its waterways

Rivers and canals have traditionally been the lifeline of Thai people since ancient times. Today, they present a fun and exciting way of seeing Bangkok rather than usual traffic-congested, chaotic channels normally presented to tourists.

Rivers (mae nam) and canals (klongs) were the main pathways for trade and travel in Bangkok and most of the country for centuries. The Thai way of life is serene by the banks of the Chao Phrya, which is dotted with beautiful architecture and temples.

When Bangkok became the Kingdom’s Capital in 1782 (which marks the beginning of the Rattanakosin era), canals crosscut and converged at various points across the city. Thus, the main reason why early Western merchants and diplomats dubbed Bangkok the “Venice of the East.”

Early Bangkok residents lived life by the banks of the Chao Phraya River or close to it as Chao Phrya literally means ‘Great King.’ Today, many foreigners opt to stay in apartments and hotels along the river, because of its calming force and interesting views. Touring the waterways will give you a glimpse of the city’s glorious past, especially if you take a peak at the Royal Barge Museum – where you can imagine how wonderful a royal entourage of more than 70 barges down the river would look like. While Bangkok may be fast-flying towards technological development, the genuine charm of the waterways seem to provide an unruffled source of temperance. Perhaps the nature of the river is best reflected by the famous Thai smile and hospitable disposition.

Many boat services along the Chao Phrya connect various ports in Bangkok with northern provinces as well. River cruises are ample, with some of the best offering sumptuous lunches – look out for some of the more traditional barges such as those operated by the Peninsula and Shangri-La. Canal tours are also widely available around the busy pier of Ta Chang.

Once you’re in a long-tail boat (kind of like a Thai style racing boat for passengers that is popular for touring) or a classic, gracefully moving barge, you will witness magnificent temples and other historic buildings of interest. You will see the Royal Thai Navy Dockyard, the Thai Maritime Navigation Company, the Old Customs House, Wat Prayunrawong temple, Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn), the Grand Palace, Wat Rakhang Kositaram, and the Royal Boat House.

If you have got more time, a visit to the river island of Koh Kret is also a good choice. A shuttle boat leaves Wat Sanam Nua temple, which is a brisk walk from the Pak Kret Pier and runs from 6 am to 9 pm. Basically, within the island, a community of traditional potters lives and peddle their wares for over a century. Descendants of Mon ancestry, their forefathers who arrived in Bangkok from Burma. Spending their lives perfecting the art of terracotta ceramics, tourists are very welcome to purchase their products.

However, try to stay off the river during the evening rush hour as the waterways remain a popular method of travel for much of the city’s population, a clever way to avoid the infamous Bangkok traffic.