Travelrific® Travel Journal
Picture postcards in prose.™ Check out the blogroll on the front page for official merchandise and other resources!Archive for thailand
Off the Grid in Thailand
By Linda Tancs
As tropical beaches go, there aren’t too many places in Thailand that one would consider to be off-the-grid, especially if it’s the fourth-largest island. Yet that’s the case for Ko Kut (Koh Kood), a beach lover’s haven where relaxation is the prime attraction and palms outnumber people unless you travel in-season (November to February), when a lively open-air music venue breaks the silence. You can get there via Trat Airport by ferry.
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Perpetual Stew in Thailand
By Linda Tancs
A Bangkok bistro is giving new meaning to the term “slow cooking.” To wit: a pot of beef stew has been cooking for nearly half a century at Wattana Panich, a local institution in the Bangkok neighborhood of Ekkamai. The secret to its longevity is the retention of some of the broth for the next day’s brew. And on and on it goes, through three familial generations (so far). The secret to its success is the taste—an aromatic mix of a dozen Chinese herbs, plus garlic, cinnamon, black pepper and cilantro root added to beef that’s allowed to simmer for seven hours. This is one dish for the ages.
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To limit the spread of COVID-19, attractions may be closed or have partial closures. Please keep those affected by the virus in your thoughts and be sure to follow the safety practices advocated by the Centers for Disease Control. Stay safe, and be well.
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Seclusion in Thailand
By Linda Tancs
Fans of Leonardo DiCaprio will remember the 2000 film The Beach. It was shot in the Phi Phi Archipelago, a secluded island chain in Thailand. Well, it wasn’t so secluded after word got out about its beauty. Many locales, like Maya Bay (the actual “beach”) were forced to close due to damage done by overzealous tourists. But 2021 promises a reopening of this lustrious location following the replanting of natural coral. The area is part of Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park.
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To limit the spread of COVID-19, attractions may be closed or have partial closures. Please keep those affected by the virus in your thoughts and be sure to follow the safety practices advocated by the Centers for Disease Control. Stay safe, and be well.
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A Shell Cemetery
By Linda Tancs
At first glance it might look like abandoned granite sidewalk slabs on a beach, but Thailand’s Shell Cemetery is actually thousands of shells stuck together to form a solid mass. At least 20 million years old, the cemetery came into being after limestone deposits in the water covered and fossilized gastropods, creating these prehistoric blocks. The site, reportedly one of only a handful in the world, is located just miles east of Ao Nang, a resort town in southern Thailand’s Krabi Province.
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The White Temple
By Linda Tancs
Typically adorned in brilliant colors, there’s one temple in Thailand that breaks the mold—the White Temple (Wat Rong Khun) just outside Chiang Rai. The brainchild of artist Chalermchai Kositpipat, its ghostly, otherworldly appearance is intended to convey Buddha’s purity. Funded entirely by the artist, the structure depicts Buddhist ideals of life and death. For temple “purists,” there is an ornate, gold building next to the temple; it houses a public restroom popularly referred to as the most beautiful in Thailand.
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Canal Adventures in Bangkok
By Linda Tancs
Chao Phraya River, Bangkok’s aquatic roadway, provides a leisurely and scenic alternative to touring Thailand’s capital city. A day-long teak boat tour provides an English-speaking guide along a visit to the temples, markets, an orchid nursery and even an artists’ colony dating back hundreds of years. A Thai lunch is included. Wear appropriate clothing for temple visits.
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Rose of the North
By Linda Tancs
Affectionately known as the “Rose of the North” for its pristine natural resources, Chiang Mai was built in the 1200s as a walled city surrounded by a moat. Established as a center of Buddhism in northern Thailand, its centuries-old pagodas and temples belie the city’s ethnic diversity as the home of several hill tribes. Each hill tribe has its own customs, language, dress and spiritual beliefs, drawing the interest of tourists from around the world. In fact, the hill tribe trekking industry is booming, a welcome development for tribes interested in promoting native arts and handicrafts.
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Upside Down in Thailand
By Linda Tancs
At the Upside Down House in Phuket, Thailand, you really can dance on the ceiling, Lionel Richie style. The directionally challenged home is a popular attraction that, it’s fair to say, will challenge your perspective. If your senses aren’t altered enough by the experience, then be sure to proceed to the garden maze behind the home.
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The Paper Island
By Linda Tancs
Thailand’s southernmost island is Koh Lipe, a quiet paradise in the Andaman Sea near Malaysia. Its name has been roughly translated from the local language to mean “paper island.” From the looks of it, that’s an apt description. The island is flat, and its pure white beaches (three main ones) resemble a sheet of white paper. Now in low season, the good weather is coupled with low tourism (although the island in no way approaches the hustle and bustle of Phuket even in high season). Accessible only by boat, in low season the main transport hub is the pier at Pak Bara in Satun. Don’t go there via Phuket, though; the ride to Pak Bara is about seven hours’ long. From Hat Yai it’s only two hours by taxi to the pier.
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Two Heroines
By Linda Tancs
Phuket, Thailand’s largest island, is no stranger to adverse forces. Although most might best remember the damage wrought by the 2004 tsunami, this southern province has battled against adverse influences for centuries. For instance, during the Battle of Thalang in 1785 the Burmese sought control of this island paradise and might have won it were it not for the marshaling of troops led by two sisters. Driving the Burmese to retreat, the two women became local heroines and were bestowed honorary titles by a grateful King Rama I. The Two Heroines Monument is located on Krasattri Road.
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