Unmissable Bangkok – The Grand Palace
Monday, October 19, 2009

Every city has its unmissable sights, and Bangkok is no different in that respect. So no matter where else you decide to go while you are there, the Grand Palace should be high up on your list of places to visit.

The Palace itself sounds like a single building, but its name is misleading. It is actually the name for a whole host of buildings created in the one space. Hence it is quite a sight to see, especially from a distance. The many spires and roofs all combine to make a distinctive mark on the skyline of the Thailand city.

As you would expect from a Palace like this, the King of Thailand used to live here. But that isn’t the case any more. It has been some decades since the King of Thailand has taken up permanent residence here.

Even though that is the case, you shouldn’t expect to see virtually all of the Palace buildings. Less than half of the location is available to look round, though that should be plenty to keep you occupied during your visit. Ironically if there is anything about the Grand Palace that will surprise you, it is the size. It does live up to its name in every sense of the word.

It is over two hundred years old too, and seeing the detail and dedication that went into the making of the Palace is something to remember for a long time afterwards. This is a building to be respected, as are the rules that surround any use of or admission to it. You might be on holiday but shorts and vest tops will not be tolerated. You must cover up – and that includes socks as well. It might sound strange but remember that this building also has religious connections so don’t underestimate what you need to do in order to see the inside.

Of course there is plenty to see outside as well, such as the statue of the half man, half bird called a Kinnara. This is just one of the many sights you won’t want to miss while you are marvelling at the delights of the Grand Palace, Bangkok.

Posted by Co-op Travel 9:15 AM 0 comments    

National Science Museum Thailand
Tuesday, July 24, 2007

19 July 2007

The Science Museum is located in Pathum Thani, north of Bangkok, the capital city of Thailand. It is the first museum that was opened under the management of the National Science Museum organization (NSM), and aims to involve its visitors in the excitement of science, ultimately to increase the public understanding of science and technology.

Through the use of interactive exhibits and everyday examples, visitors can see the links between science and technology that are present in nearly every aspect of our lives. By looking at examples close to home, science becomes more familiar and exciting.

The objective of the new traveling exhibition project of the museum is to reach out to audiences that are located in remote areas across the country and deliver hands-on science experiences not just those who visit the National Science Museum. Now, the museum takes this interactive exhibition on the road, spreading the fun of science throughout Thailand to schools, science clubs and organizations.

The prime targets are children and young adults. The content of the exhibition is curriculum-based and the themes are: mathematics, mechanics, magnetism, electricity, optics and light and perception.

Hüttinger won the contract to design and build the traveling exhibition consisting of 35 interactive hands-on exhibits. The initial set-up took place in July 2007 at the National Science Museum Thailand.

Posted by Co-op Travel 9:07 AM 0 comments    

Thailand Invests in Film Tourism
Tuesday, May 01, 2007

20 April 2007

More than 100 films from about 30 countries will feature in the fifth Bangkok International Film Festival (BKKIFF) that is scheduled to be held from 19-29 July, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). The festival, which was to be held in January, was postponed due to the unavailability of screening theatres.

"But we are all set to go now," said Chattan Kunjara Na Ayudhya, Chief Officer of the BKKIFF, who will be overseeing the festival, this year. He stated that it would be a "streamlined festival, where we’ve trimmed off the excesses" and added, "The focus will be on quality films which is really the heart of any film festival."

"This year, our main focus will be to provide the movie-loving audiences of Bangkok, with the films they’ve been waiting to see.” While there would still be a Red Carpet Opening night, it would be on a more modest scale as compared to previous festivals, in keeping with the Sufficiency Economy Theory of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

There will be more emphasis on the cultural and technical parts of the festival. "Promoting cultural events is an important part of TAT’s activities," informed Chattan. The Program Director of this year’s BKKIFF, is Kriengsak Silakong, who served in the same capacity when the festival was first started in 2003, before moving on to the World Film Festival of Bangkok. The former theatre stalwart from Bangkok said he hoped to work out a good program, with his team. The BKKIFF would have a strong Asian focus this year, with more movies and movie stars from the Asian region making their presence felt.

The jury members would also be mostly from Asia. "Asian films are in vogue now," said Silakong, who visited festivals in Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia, Hong Kong, and India, to acquire movies. The final stop, of course, will be the Cannes Film Festival, in May. Chattan stated that the TAT would possibly hold a small function to announce the BKKIFF in Cannes, along the lines of the modest reception they held at the Hong Kong Film Festival recently.

As for the different sections of the festival, there would be three competition sections that would present the Golden Kinnaree Awards to the winners - International, ASEAN and Short Films. The ASEAN category is unique to this festival, and this year boasts of an arresting package of 10 films from the newly developed cinema of countries like Malaysia and Indonesia. The Short Film Competition is new to this year’s BKKIFF.

An important highlight of this year’s festival is that many of the competition films will have Thai sub-titles. The World Cinema section has about 20 movies from countries like Germany, France, Denmark, the U.K., while the Asian Cinema section has nearly 30 films from the region.

"The Asian films contribute to more than 50% of this year’s festival," said Silakong. As for the Thai Panorama section, he said they had a rich crop of 12 newly released films. There was also the possibility that the Opening Film would be from the kingdom, too.

Other features at this year’s festival, which are still being negotiated, are a special package of Greek movies, as well as a cluster of rare films from French master Luis Bunuel. A Lifetime Achievement Award would be given to the great special effects guru Ray Harryhausen. The festival also plans to have a tribute to a well-known director or actor, with five of the artist’s movies screened, in his presence. This is still being finalised.

"We also plan to hold seminars and workshops, which are a vital part of any film festival," said Chattan. He said the seminars would discuss topical subjects like anti-piracy, censorship and film shooting in Thailand. They would be conducted by well-known Professor Kittisak Suwannabhokin. There would also be an animation workshop, conducted by a well-known animation company from Okinawa, with a special focus on clay animation.

An important aspect of the BKKIFF would be the Bangkok Film Market that is being organised by the Federation of National Film Association of Thailand, from 23-25 July. With the big demand for Asian cinema on the world festival circuit, Chattan said the Film Market would give a boost to the sale of Asian and Thai films.

Posted by Co-op Travel 12:54 PM 0 comments    

Ihg Grows Thailand Portfolio With New Hua Hin Resort
Tuesday, February 20, 2007

19 February 2007

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) announces the signing of the InterContinental Hua Hin Resort, scheduled to open in the fourth quarter of 2008.

InterContinental Hua Hin Resort is being developed by Proud Resort Hua Hin Company LTD, and will be managed by IHG. Occupying a prime beachfront location along Petchakasem Road, the contemporary Thai-style resort will have 120 rooms and three beachfront villas with private plunge pools. All rooms will have spacious outdoor lounges with daybeds and dining space, with some ground floor rooms featuring either private gardens or direct pool access.

Other facilities planned for the resort include a Spa InterContinental with outdoor garden treatment pavilions, five different pools spread across the grounds, specialty Thai-Chinese, Japanese and grill restaurants along with a tea lounge set within a courtyard.

Of the development, A. Patrick Imbardelli, chief executive of IHG Asia Pacific, said: “The entry of an InterContinental property in a key destination like Hua Hin reinforces InterContinental Hotels & Resorts’ appeal as a provider of memorable resort experiences.

This highly-anticipated luxury beachfront property will complement the unique offerings of our other Asia Pacific InterContinental resorts in Bali, Bora Bora, Tahiti and Moorea. With the anticipated increase in visitor arrivals to Thailand and the strength of IHG’s operating systems, we look forward to maximizing the potential of this unique property.”

Khun Sangvorn Lipatapanlop, Chairman of Proud Resort Hua Hin Co. Ltd, said: “We are very pleased to be working with IHG on this project. We are confident that their knowledge of the industry in Thailand and the InterContinental brand’s track record as a global leader in hotels and resorts management will ensure the success of InterContinental Hua Hin Resort.”

Hua Hin is acclaimed as Thailand’s first seaside holiday destination. Just two-and-a-half hours from Bangkok, Hua Hin is well known for its excellent beaches, historical attractions and golf courses. Frequented by Thai royalty and home to the Summer Palace, the destination is fast becoming a popular vacation destination for international and domestic travellers.

For more information visit Hotel Asia Pacific

Posted by Co-op Travel 2:47 PM 0 comments    

New Bridge Brings Swell of Thai Tourists
Monday, January 29, 2007

The new Second Friendship Bridge linking Thailand and Laos has provided for a swell of tourists entering Viet Nam on the Trans-Asia Highway.

The new bridge across the Mekong River has connected the central coast of Viet Nam with Thailand via the Trans-Asia Highway, which runs from central Viet Nam through Laos and Thailand to Myanmar.

Between 1999-2003, only 1,300 Thai visitors crossed into Viet Nam at the highway’s Lao Bao border gate in the central province of Quang Tri.

But thanks to the bridge’s opening on December 20, more than 1,500 Thai tourists entered Viet Nam via Lao Bao on the first day of the new year (January 1, 2007), according to the provincial tourism authority.

Recent policies to waive visas between Thailand, Laos and Viet Nam have also supported the boom.

The bridge is part of the Trans-Asia highway or the East-West Economic Corridor (EWEC) initiative which aims to boost trade, tourism and transportation along the highway.

Established at a Greater Mekong Sub-Region (GMS) group meeting in 1998, EWEC aims to integrate the region’s economies by renovating sections of the highway and strengthening its cross-border links.

Yood, a Thai driver who has transported goods between Laos and Thailand for ten years said the new bridge takes two hours off his journey by cutting out a tedious ferry queue.

The Friendship Bridge now offers north-eastern Thai residents much easier access to central Laos and Viet Nam where they can visit shopping centres or tour the Laotian countryside and Vietnamese coast.

EWEC tourism development aims to bring Laotians and Thais who live inland to central Viet Nam’s beaches.

Director of the Quang Tri-based DMZ (De-militarised Zone) travel agency Le Van Tham said that tours of central Viet Nam target high-income Thais at US$300 for an average four-day trip.

He added that World Heritage Road tours to the Central Highlands have also become increasingly popular with Thais and Laotians.

Bringing tourists to Laos

The bridge also makes it easier for Vietnamese tourists to visit Laos and Thailand.

Savanakhet, Lao’s second largest city, boasts tourist attractions such as the Ing Hang Tower, Huan Hine stone house, Phone Temple, and the Hortai Pitok ancient library.

The Noong Lom and Don Deang districts on the outskirts of Savanakhet attract travellers interested in visiting primitive forests.

Many Vietnamese tourists may also choose to visit the overseas Vietnamese community in northeastern Thailand. Large groups of overseas Vietnamese live in Mukhdahan, Nakhon Phnom, Sakhon Nakhon, Kalasin, Khonkaen, and other Thai towns.

Posted by Co-op Travel 4:49 PM 0 comments    

Trisara Voted Hotel of the Year 2006

Phuket-based resort spa Trisara has been crowned ‘Hotel of the Year 2006’ by the editors of The Gallivanter’s Guide, reinforcing the resort’s status as one of the most luxurious and illustrious spas not only in Phuket, but in the world.

Gallivanter’s Guide is a monthly newsletter with the aim of “unearthing idyllic places for the dedicated traveller” and the ‘Awards of Excellence” honour excellence in the industry from their objective, no-adverting point of view.

“Trisara has set a new benchmark for comfort, ergonomics and service,” said the newsletter’s editor and publisher Lyn Middlehurst. “It is a place in which one can truly relax as everything has been thought of. You would expect numerous high-end beach resorts throughout the world but in fact there are very, very few… Trisara has set a new standard of excellence that will be hard to match.”

The 42 suite and villa resort has also scooped numerous other awards including the ‘Number One Resort in South East Asia’ and ‘Third Best Resort Worldwide’ by Gallivanter’s readers, but also has been included in the Conde Nast Traveller’s ‘Hot List Hotels 2005’ and ‘Hot Spas 2006’.

For more information and reservations at this ocean view island resort, visit www.trisara.com.

Posted by Co-op Travel 10:23 AM 0 comments    

Thailand named world's best tourist country
Friday, January 19, 2007

Bangkok, January 19: Thailand has been voted as the World's Best Tourist Country in the Norwegian Grand Travel Awards 2007 held in Oslo, Norway earlier this month, according to the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Ministry said that the Thai Embassy in Oslo reported that it is the fourth consecutive year Thailand won the annual award organised by Travel News Magazine of Norway.

Greece, Denmark and Italy ranked second, third and fourth respectively.

Meanwhile, Thai Airways International was also voted Best International Airlines in the airline category.

Norway's Travel News Magazine sponsors the Grand Travel Awards annually, this year being its 12th yearly event.

The awards were divided into 17 catagories.

The award granted to Thailand resulted from an opinion poll of more than 300 tourism industry-related companies in Norway.

Meanwhile, the Chicago Tribune newspaper in the United States on January 7 ranked Thailand as first among the top ten Top Value For-Money Countries under the Country Brand Index 2006 rankings.

To complete the top ten list, Indonesia, the United States, Turkey, Spain, India, Vietnam, Singapore, Greece and Hungary are included in the rankings.

Posted by Co-op Travel 12:55 PM 0 comments