Stargazers turned out in force at three viewing points around the country for the annual Geminids meteor shower on Wednesday night.
Around 1,000 people gathered at the Huay Lan Reservoir campsite in Chiang Mai, and the Chalermphrakiart observatories in Nakhon Ratchasima and Chachoengsao. Most were wearing warm clothing to keep away the cold season chill.
The Chiang Mai stargazing event was hosted by the Ontai community in San Kamphaeng district, where the first shooting star was spotted streaking across the sky at 8.08pm.
At the Chachoengsao observatory, people set up tents and telescopes to view the celestial fireworks show.
The Geminids meteor shower streams from the tail of an asteroid called 3200 Phaethon. It can be seen from December 4 to 20 as the space rock passes close to Earth. It is thought that the asteroid may have collided with another object in the distant past to produce the stream of particles that create the meteor shower.
This year, astronomers forecast the shower would peak on Wednesday with 150 meteors per hour and identified 8pm to 11pm as the best viewing period, before the bright moon obscures the phenomenon.
The National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand said the Geminids were best viewed in a dark clear sky. Stargazers can just lie back and enjoy the spectacle without a telescope, it added. It posted the photos of last night’s stargazing seen here.
Lopburi rolls out carpet of cosmos flowers for tourists
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2022
A field of cosmos flowers in Ban Sap Suea Maep is ready for an influx of tourists to Lopburi province until the end of next month.
Pimpakarn Phiphitthananan, a director of Tourism Authority of Thailand’s office in Lopburi, visited Ban Sap Suea Maep in Muang Lopburi district on Thursday to see the cosmos flower field.
She took some people along to see the beauty of cosmos flowers. People in the area usually grew corn and garden plants on the four-rai (0.64 hectares) field but they are now growing cosmos flowers because they are more unique than growing sunflowers, and tourists will be able to experience different kinds of flowers.
Pimpakarn said that the people of Lopburi grew different types of flowers and made flower fields in a bid to create new tourist attractions for the province.
She invited people to visit Lopburi. “Visit Lopburi only for a day and [you] will experience several flower fields.”
She said that the field will bloom until the New Year and is ready to welcome tourists in the cold season.
To visit the cosmos flower field, tourists must drive in the direction of Ban Sap Suea Maep, past the sunflower field.
The activity “Hidden Temple: Abandoned Temples” in the Community is being held at Wat Phumarin Ratchapaksi and Wat Dusidaram until Sunday.
Creative Economy Agency (Public Organisation) or CEA, in collaboration with Urban Ally, the Thai architecture archive, the Faculty of Architecture, Silpakorn University, and the network of the Bang Yi Khan community, arrange the activity, Hidden Temple, under the concept of “The Hidden Domain in the Sacred Ground” to reveals the temple areas that are existing and changing through the dynamics of the big community like Bangkok.
At Wat Phraya Siri Aisawan, the visitors will get to see the assumption of complete architecture of Wat Suaansawan, observe the sacred domain of this abandoned temple hidden in the Ban Poon community, and enjoy the musical activities and performances with three pagodas appeared in different shapes and forms in the background.
Highlight Activities
Projection Mapping: the contemporary art with interactive technology to portray the story of Jambudvipa within the Vihara of Wat Phumarin and offering Puang Mahot (traditional paper folding decorative item) to the Buddha image at the back of the Vihara.
Architectural Lighting: the lighting designed to give the temple and the neighborhood around Wat Phumarin Ratchapaksi a mood.
Community Performance: “Mae Si” “Phee Lob” “Ling Lom” the ritual plays that are the local wisdom of Bangkok Noi district, see the ancient Takhian boat and learn the relief from “Ghost” to “Buddha”.
Community Market: food and goods of Bangkok Noi community to revitalize the area around the abandoned temple. Participate in the traditional local cooking workshop from a local expert with a century of experience.
Visit CEA or Urban Ally‘s Facebook page for more information.
Lu Ko Pa Tor: New spot to enjoy rolling seas of mist in Tak
MONDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2022
The “Lu Ko Pa Tor” viewpoint in Tak’s Umphang district has recently become a new winter hotspot for tourists thanks to its sea of fog that lasts late into the morning.
Thiti Chartsakulsri, the headman of Ban Palatha village which is about 7 kilometres from the viewpoint, said the sea of mist takes longer to dissipate because it has become quite cold in the mornings.
He added that some tourists discovered this spot last year and it has become very popular since.
The viewpoint is about 32 kilometres from Umphang’s main town.
Thailand and Taiwan Markets Lead the Nominations for Agoda Gold Circle Awards
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2022
Digital Travel Platform, Agoda, has announced the winners of its coveted 14th annual Agoda Gold Circle Awards (GCA). With travel markets opening up to international travel worldwide, this year’s Gold Circle Awards have been presented to more than 2,000 properties in 41 markets.
For the fourth consecutive year, Thailand retained its top spot with Taiwan soaring to the second spot, followed by Japan. India entered the Top 10 list for the first time while South Korea, Malaysia, United States, Indonesia, Philippines, and Vietnam retained their spots in the top ten rankings.
In addition, China has the highest number of properties that won awards for four consecutive years, followed by the Philippines, Thailand, Japan, Taiwan, Maldives, Vietnam, Indonesia, and South Korea.
Every year, the awards are presented to properties that have proven their place among the best, providing excellent value, pricing, service excellence and flexibility to guests. These hotels have worked proactively with Agoda to meet the constantly evolving opportunities open to partners and have not only set new benchmarks for themselves and also for the industry.
“Year on year, The Gold Circle Awards have given Agoda the chance to recognize partners who are expanding the boundaries of service and hospitality and also collectively move the industry forward in catering to evolving customer demands. In its 14th year, The Gold Circle Awards also continues the tradition of helping Agoda teams globally to evaluate changing industry dynamics, create improved products and services, and better drive our innovation practices,” said Liyana Jamil, Vice President of Partner Services, Agoda.
Winners will be featured on Agoda’s dedicated landing page (available on 1-31 December 2022) and honoured with a digital Gold Circle Award badge, along with Agoda Growth Express (AGX) credits, a special credit to boost marketing on the website. In an ongoing partnership with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), Agoda has made a donation to plant 5,000 trees on behalf of all GCA winners worldwide. This is a continuation of an idea that started two years ago to replace plastic gifts and raise awareness of environmental issues.
Thanks to its size, Koh Chang boasts of many unspoilt beaches, waterfalls and diving spots. There is also plenty of hiking terrain thanks to forested hills and cliffs.
Its most popular beaches are White Sand, Klong Prao, Kai Bae and Lonely Beach. Visitors also like checking out the Khlong Phlu and Than Mayom waterfalls as well as the Ban Salak Khok community.
The island also has many activities to offer including elephant rides, sailing and diving.
We advise travellers to stay overnight because the island is large and it will take more than just a day to explore. There are plenty of hotels to hang your hat with prices ranging between a few hundred to several thousand baht.
Koh Mak
This starfish-shaped island lies between Koh Chang and Koh Kood and boasts of sparkling beaches and crystal-clear waters.
Tourists can go snorkelling or jump in a canoe to go island hopping.
The less adventurous can pose for stunning photos at the Cinnamon Scenic Boardwalk that is part of the Cinnamon Art Resort and Spa or enjoy a cocktail at Koh Mak Cococape Resort.
Tourists can also check out Suan Yai Bay, Blue Pearl Bar, Laem Tukata, Laem Son and Ao Kao Beach.
There are plenty of hotels offering rooms at a variety of prices.
Koh Kradat
Designated as an “Unseen Thailand” location, this island lies to the northeast of Koh Mak.
It has a flat “paper-like” topography with Alocasia – kradat in Thai – trees growing wild, hence the name.
The 1,200-rai (192-hectare) island is covered in lush green grassland, perfect for the resident deer, while along its edge it has a long, white sandy beach with beautiful coral reefs.
This is the only island in Thailand that is privately owned and to visit, tourists will have to buy a package tour offered by Koh Kradat Resort.
Call (089) 099 7919 for more information.
Koh Kood (Ko Kut)
Despite being Thailand’s fourth-largest island, Koh Kood has remained an unspoilt haven of crystal clear waters, sparkling beaches, colourful coral and waterfalls.
There are several resorts on the island and the main activities other than relaxation are walking, canoeing or diving. Tourists can check out the Ao Salat or Klong Mard sea gypsy villages.
Tourists can also check out the Khlong Chao, Khlong Yai Kee and Huang Nam Kaew waterfalls, or sunbathe on Khlong Chao, Ao Takhian, Ao Tapao and Ao Phrao beaches to name a few.
There are plenty of resorts and mid-range hotels on the island for different budgets.
Black Sand Beach
Located in Trat’s Laem Ngop district, this unusual beach is one of only a handful in the world and is protected under Thailand’s natural destinations development project.
Locals believe that black sand is filled with beneficial minerals and wallowing in it will help improve your health.
Apart from the unusual beach, visitors can check out the Laem Ngop lighthouse and stop to admire a stunning sunset over the Gulf of Thailand.
Trat is earning a name for itself as a responsible tourism destination as travellers become aware of community-based tourism initiatives. Among these are the Ban Nam Chieo fishing village, where Buddhists and Muslims live and work in harmony.
Apart from enjoying peaceful surroundings, visitors can try a “chicken-coop spa” massage at the Ban Chang Thun eco-village – a strangely therapeutic therapy that can offer a perfect end to your vacation.
Why tourists are still burning 1 million baht for a couple of nights on Koh Kut
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 07, 2022
A fire at one of Thailand’s most exclusive island resorts has failed to dent its popularity among ultra-rich Thai and foreign tourists.
Eight months later, Soneva Kiri is operating normally with activities and restaurants at full capacity.
The fire at the resort – where a night’s stay can cost 500,000 baht (over US$14,200) – is still reportedly under investigation by authorities.
The Nation takes a closer look at how this luxury phoenix emerged untouched from the flames.
What’s so special?
Soneva Kiri’ overlooks a pristine beach on Thailand’s fourth largest island. Koh Kut is sparsely populated and renowned for the untouched beauty of its natural surroundings.
Guests are flown by private plane from Suvarnabhumi Airport to the airstrip on Koh Mai Si before taking a 10-minute boat trip to the resort.
Awaiting them after check-in is exclusive luxury coupled with environmental sustainability and top-notch cuisine. The six-star luxury resort sits amid 150 rai (24 hectares) of lush jungle looking out over white sands and turquoise waters.
Soneva Kiri is owned by Indian-British hotelier Sonu Shivdasani, who has used the same eco-friendly luxury formula for his two other resorts in the Maldives.
The Koh Kut branch has 33 pool villas (34 before the fire) with between one and six bedrooms. The resort is constructed entirely from wood.
Choose a villa
Prices range from an eye-watering 40,000 baht ($1,140 dollars) per night to a whopping 500,000 baht for the most expensive villa.
If that’s within your price range, the next step is to choose your preferred type:
1. Bayview Pool Villa
Bayview Pool Villa Suites come in three sizes. The one-bedroom suite has room for three adults and two children in its spacious 464 square metres. Amenities include a dressing room, outdoor bathroom, dining table, sun loungers and a private pool.
Not big enough? A four-bedroom Bayview Villa (1,211sqm) will fit 12 guests while the five-bed version (1,845sqm) has room for 14.
2. Beach Pool Villa
Prefer a pad by ocean? The Beach Pool Villa comes with one, two, three or five bedrooms to accommodate anything from a small party of four guests to a crowd of 14.
3. The Sunset Ocean View Villa
Further up the hill are the Sunset Ocean View Villas, available in four sizes from a one-bedroom family unit to the five-bedroom party mansion.
Need an even bigger place? You’re out of luck – the six-bedroom Sunset Ocean View Villa was the one that burnt to the ground in March.
Let’s talk money
Super-rich tourists on a tight budget can choose the cheapest room: the Bayview Pool Villa Suite for 2-3 adults comes with a king-size bed (or two twin beds) for around 40,000 baht ($1,140).
Before March, you could have grabbed the top-price Sunset Ocean View Pool Reserve Villa for a bargain 500,000 baht per night (it was 800,000 baht before Covid-19). It boasted 2,928sqm with six bedrooms on two floors. The lower floor housed a pool, dining room, wine cellar, gym, bedrooms, and dressing room. The upper floor featured the master bedroom, bedrooms, dressing room, reading room, living room, and spa.
Since the fire, large groups of ultra-wealthy tourists have had to slum it in the smaller five-bedroom villas.
Beyond the private villas, the resort is dotted with outdoor pools, restaurants, and fitness centre. Butlers are also on hand to provide personal service for guests.
The “No News No Shoes” theme is designed to root barefooted guests in nature, disconnecting them from the stress of the outside world.
When tummies begin rumbling, there’s buffet breakfast and dinner and an a la carte menu for lunch. For a culinary highlight, try the Treepod Dining five metres above the ground.
Day and night activities include cycling, boat trips for firefly watching, water sports, and outdoor film screenings. For pampering, there’s a spa, massage, sauna, and hot spring. For exercise, guests have the option of the fitness room, yoga room, or tennis courts.
Those who desire to see the globe in a unique way typically decide to travel alone. As the modern overlord that is social media constantly surrounds us with other people’s thoughts and experiences, making it increasingly important for us to disengage from it and live life from our own perspectives.
By K Tanzeel Zaman
Traveling alone can be intimidating, especially for those who consider themselves to be social butterflies. But a lot of solo travellers find that their most contented and joyful moments in life are spent by themselves.
There is surely something special about travelling with friends, but here are a few reasons why taking a solo vacation will be the perfect way to relax and grow as a person.
Freedom on the road
You will start to experience a great sense of freedom and clarity once you decide to take that step and set off on a trip to a foreign nation. It might take a bit of time, and the transition might be subtle as our minds gradually let go of all the unnecessary concerns and baggage we gather throughout the day.
We frequently spend too much time at home worrying about our things, debts, and obligations to “feel” or to simply be present. If you can break free from this and limit your possessions to what would fit in a backpack, you can feel “waking up” and realise how little you have lost and how much you still have to gain. One of the most invaluable advantages of travelling alone is undoubtedly this!
You will never experience a feeling of freedom as intense as when you are travelling alone with your backpack, letting go of the past, and facing no obligations in the near future. This is living in the moment, and this is driving freely.
Lose yourself
We are an accumulation of words, stories, labels, emotions, and expectations that we have gathered over the years. The impulse to retain the overarching tale of the “self” is powerful because this jumble of words and ideas affects how we and others interact with one another if you have had a powerful sense of disassociation from that narrative and have attempted to make changes but have been met with fierce opposition from friends, family, and co-workers.
Backpacking has the advantage because nobody knows your story! Any elements of your past that you no longer identify with are yours to lose. You can leave the conceptual clutter surrounding you at home and speak honestly about your thoughts and feelings.
For a day, try having a different personality! Go out and mingle with everyone for a day if you were perceived as shy back home. If you were the life of the party back home, try to spend some time by yourself. You will not ever have to see any of those individuals again if it does not work out! To keep this notion working, always recite this mantra: “I am not what I think I am; I am not who you think I am. I am who I think you think I am.”
Look in between the pictures
Thanks to social media platforms like Instagram, we are constantly inundated with images from other places. Seeing some of the world’s most incredible natural and man-made wonders can be magnificent and awe-inspiring, but after travelling for a while you realise that this is not the most rewarding aspect of doing so.
The real tale, which you can only experience when travelling, lies between these images. When you try to communicate with people who do not speak your language, when you look down an alley and see an ancient shrine in disrepair when you watch the antics from your bed on an Indian sleeper train, or when you suddenly and suddenly realise how crazy your life is right now, you just stop and laugh. The daily myriad of small events that make solo travel what it is, in between the images, may end up being the things that draw you back again and again.
Vietnam’s Qung Ninh fully taps local ethnic cultures for tourism development
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 01, 2022
Quang Ninh, home to more than 20 ethnic minority groups, is well-known among tourists not only for its magnificent natural scenery but also for its distinct local cultures.
This year, provincial authorities have organised a variety of activities aimed at boosting tourism and improving the accessibility of tourism products tied to ethnic cultures.
Many traditional festivities, such as the harvest ceremony, the San Chi ethnic costume show and women’s football tournament, as well as the running race for locals and tourists, were some of the highlights of this year’s “San Chi Ethnic Culture and Sports Festival” which took place in October and made a lasting impression on the attendees of the event.
The event returns after a two-year hiatus to promote the beauty of the land and people of Quang Ninh, in addition to the province’s well-known coastal culture.
During this month, Culture-Tourism Week and Binh Lieu‘s District Golden Festival 2022 were also celebrated. These events featured a wide variety of exciting traditional cultural and athletic activities.
According to the organisers, they are doing their best to make the event a local tourism product, contributing to the promotion of the traditional cultural splendours of the region’s ethnic groups and putting Bình Lieu on the international tourism map.
Over 21,000 people came to Binh Lieu to celebrate the 2022 Golden Season Festival, which took place on November 4-6, according to the district’s Culture and Information Department report.
Binh Lieu tourism, which makes use of the region’s plentiful natural resources and vibrant indigenous culture, continues to thrive despite the traditional “hibernation” of the industry in the winter months, as evidenced by a new analysis.
According to Trinh Dang Thanh, deputy director of the Department of Tourism, Quang Ninh will create nine more community-based tourist attractions with outstanding values in terms of tourism resources, cultural and historical values of the locality, and meeting the criteria of supply ability, community, and sustainable value between 2023 and 2025.
After 2025, the province will concentrate on evaluating and reviewing the outcomes of policy implementation, as well as adjusting and updating the remaining number of community-based tourism development sites based on actual conditions and the balance of budget resources.
Along with the province’s cultural conservation efforts linked with community-based tourism, local tourism enterprises also leverage tourism models associated with indigenous cultures.
Some homestays in Binh Lieu’s ethnic minority areas, such as Song Mooc, A Dao and Hoa So have become popular places to stay for tours.
In Tien Yen, a new eco-family tourism model was launched in mid-2022, offering fishing and cake-making experiences with local residents.
In addition, homestays in Pac Sui Waterfall, which include tours of farming vegetables and harvesting rice with ethnics, are incredibly popular among tourists.
Discover the hidden splendour of the Long Coc tea valley
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2022
The Long Coc tea valley is in Phu Tho Province’s Tan Son District, roughly 125 kilometres from Hanoi. One of the most beautiful tea plantations in Vietnam, Long Coc is made up of hundreds of hills facing each other and is popular with tourists all year.
Between March and December, a green carpet of new tea plants grows here, evoking a sight full of vigour.
A birds-eye view of people working in the tea hills. From above, the vast area resembles a giant green carpet. VNA/VNS Photo Anh TuanAerial view of the tea valley. VNA/VNS Photo Trung Kien
After the tea plants are harvested in December, the landscape of the tea hills will take on a kaleidoscope of colours, curves, and angles.
Those who enjoy snapping photos are drawn to the area because of the breathtaking dawn.
The hours between 4 and 5 in the morning, when the mist is still there, but the sun’s rays are just beginning to illuminate the scene, are often regarded as the best time to see the hills by many photographers.
Aerial view of the tea valley. VNA/VNS Photo Trung KienFrom above, travellers can enjoy the stunning views of the Long Cốc tea hills rising out from the mist. VNA/VNS Photo Trung Kien
Visitors to Long Coc may also taste numerous appealing native delicacies and teas and immerse themselves in the cultural space of the Muong ethnic community.
Traditional Midland tea, Bat Tien tea, and Shan Tuyet tea are some of the region’s well-known beverages.
If you’re a nature lover who doesn’t want to spend too much time travelling but wants to get away from the city, a visit to Phu Tho’s Long Coc valley is a wonderful option for the weekend.
A birds-eye view of people working in the tea hills. From above, the vast area resembles a giant green carpet. VNA/VNS Photo Anh Tuan
Aerial view of the tea valley. VNA/VNS Photo Trung Kien
Aerial view of the tea valley. VNA/VNS Photo Trung Kien
From above, travellers can enjoy the stunning views of the Long Cốc tea hills rising out from the mist. VNA/VNS Photo Trung Kien
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