#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Si Sa Ket offers up delicious lava durian to woo tourists

Thailand

Jun 23. 2020

By The Nation

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is encouraging people to visit Si Sa Ket province to indulge in the bounty of nature and tuck into delicacies like the famous lava durian.

Si Sa Ket governor Wattana Phutthachat said the lava durian has a unique taste, because it is grown in volcanic soil that is not found anywhere else.

“The lava durian comes in three varieties, namely Monthong, Chanee and Kanyao,” he said. “The volcanic soil in Si Sa Ket is full of minerals, which make it perfect for growing fruit such as lava durian, langsat, rambutan, longan, plums and beans.”

Sawang Kalaphat, a local farmer, said six districts specialise in lava durian, though the ones grown in Kantharalak, Khun Han and Si Rattana districts are the best.

“Approximately 8,552 rai has been devoted to lava durian, and 3,095 rai has yielded a harvest this year,” he said. “The farms should produce about 4,203 tonnes of durian, which can be sold for Bt150 to Bt180 per kilogram.”

Sarid Nakwarin, chairperson of the Si Sa Ket Chamber of Commerce, said provincial authorities are cooperating with related agencies to sell lava durian in both retail and wholesale quantities.

“We have teamed up with Kerry Express Thailand to deliver the fruit, which can be ordered via www.lavadurian.com until the end of August,” he said.

Meanwhile, Thamonwan Charoenwongphisit, director of TAT Surin Office, suggested that people wanting to taste the best lava durian can visit Ban Sam Tarom and Ban Maharat in Khantharalak district and Ban Sam Khilek in Khun Han district.

“TAT also wants to introduce Si Sa Ket’s other attractions like the Khao Phra Wihan National Park, the Phrai Phattana temple, the Phaya Kopri viewpoint, the Samrong Kiat waterfall as well as Pa Si Mongkhon Rattanaram, Maha Phuttharam and Sra Kamphaeng Yai temples.”

Call (044) 514 447-8 or visit the TAT Surin Facebook page for more information.

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Phatthalung’s Banthat mountain bustles with tourists as scenic viewpoints are reopened

Thailand

Jun 23. 2020

By The Nation

Tourists are flocking to revel in the natural beauty of Phatthalung’s Banthat mountain and catch a glimpse of the sea of mist from three scenic viewpoints after provincial officials reopened the range.

With Phatthalung reopening its attractions and abiding by the Public Health Ministry’s measures to keep Covid-19 from spreading, the number of tourists has suddenly jumped, especially to the Banthat mountain range that comprises the Kuan Nok Ten, Phu Rung Chaeng and Kuan Sawan Ta Kaew viewpoints from which visitors can see the sea of mist.

Most of the tourists so far hail from the three southern border provinces. Many choose to stay at accommodations and campsites near Kuan Nok Ten and Phu Rung Chaeng so they can get to the viewpoints before sunrise.

Phatthalung has not seen any new Covid-19 case for a straight 73 days, but the province is still implementing measures to guard against the dreaded virus.

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Famed ecologist hails Pattaya’s recovery after break from tourism

Thailand

Jun 23. 2020

By The Nation

Pattaya beach is cleaner than it has been for the past two decades after recovering from the heavy impacts of tourism, said prominent marine scientist Thon Thamrongnawasawat.

The water is clear and pristine while trash has almost completely disappeared from the sand, said Asst Prof Thon, who has over 100 books and several marine conservation projects to his name. Pattaya beach was now as beautiful as he remembered it 15 to 20 years ago before the latest boom in tourism, he added.

With local hotels offering big discounts on accommodation, Thon recommended that people grab the chance to visit the seaside city while it was at its prettiest.

Along with the beaches, the city’s markets are also free of crowds and more organised, he said, adding that visitors could help local businesses recover from the impacts of Covid-19.

Speaking as a former adviser to Pattaya authorities, he said the return of tourism should be carefully controlled so that the city and its marine environment remained clean and beautiful.

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Brewing happiness in Songkhla’s Saba Yoi district

Thailand

Jun 22. 2020

By The Nation

Songkhla province is extending an invitation to travellers, encouraging them to come visit and enjoy the friendly surroundings of its Saba Yoi district.

Local resident Jeerawat Noonsri has turned from a civil servant to coffee farmer, growing Robusta beans near the Tam Khok cave.His farm has now turned into a community enterprise, with locals shifting from growing rubber to coffee.Though Tam Khok coffee is cheaper than other types of coffee in the market, the locals appear to have found their source of happiness.

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Phetchaburi, the birdwatching capital, beckons

Thailand

Jun 22. 2020Green Bee-eater

By By Kaset Sudecha
Photos: Kaset Sudecha, Wirot Wonganan

Phetchaburi is one of the top tourist attractions in the country, being just 123 kilometres from Bangkok. In 2019, nine million tourists visited the province, generating at least Bt32 billion in income for local people.

Kaeng Krachan National Park

One of the outstanding activities in this province is, of course, birdwatching, an activity which can be conducted any time of the year. The Tourism Authority of Thailand, together with Kaeng Krachan National Park, the Bird Conservation Society of Thailand and local birdwatching groups have held a campaign called “Phetchaburi, the capital of birdwatching”, to promote the province.

Common green magpie

Birdwatching is a well-known activity for both domestic and foreign tourists. Foreign birdwatchers have been estimated to visit the province for 1-3 days and spend at least Bt20,000 a day.

There are more than 600 species of birds to spot, with over half of them being rare.

Asian golden weaver

Kaeng Krachan National Park, the highlight for birdwatching, is located in an area of Tenasserim and Phuket Hills, stretching from southern Thailand to Myanmar. Birds seen in the national park are not just from Thailand but also wing in from India, Myanmar and Malaysia.

Wreathed hornbill

The Bird Conservation Society of Thailand and BirdLife International have therefore listed the park as an “important area”. Kaeng Krachan has also being proposed as a new World Heritage Site in Thailand.

Black-and-yellow broadbill

Some of the beautiful birds that can be seen in the park are the black-and-red broadbill, the wreathed hornbill, the orange-breasted trogon and the ratchet-tailed treepie, the latter limited only to Thailand.

Steppe eagle

In addition to the national park, watchers can scout for birds that immigrate temporarily to the seaside in Ban Laem district. More than 50 bird species normally arrive in this Thai district from October to May. The area has proven safe for these sea birds as no big factory or hotel is located there to pollute the natural resources.

Phetchaburi has also been listed as a Flyway site by the East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership. Spoon-billed sandpipers are the highlight of the seaside district as they number fewer than 400.

Spoon-billed sandpiper

In accordance with a “new normal” sustainable economy, natural resources and the local people’s way of life need to be preserved for long-term benefit and happiness.

Seagulls

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

A taste of the past

Thailand

Jun 21. 2020Photo by Tanachai Pramarnpanich

By The Nation

A village in Kanchanaburi province is inviting people to experience Siamese lifestyle during the reign of King Chulalongkorn (1873-1910).

The period marked the start of western influence on Thailand and the integration of cultures.Mallika RE 124 Village was built to pass on ancient Thai knowledge to the younger generation.Visitors can pick Siamese style garments during the tour and they can appreciate not only the tradition but also the memories of Thai ancestors that have been lost in time.The village has reopened after being closed during the Covid-19 lockdown.Visitors must fully adhere to precautionary practices during the new normal.

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Visitors return to Thanbok Khoranee as Krabi’s ecological treasure emerges from lockdown

Jun 18. 2020

By THE NATION

The jewel in Krabi’s ecological crown has been given the safety all-clear, allowing visitors to return to Thanbok Khoranee National Park and its island gem of Koh Hong.

“The national park has set up screening checkpoints to limit the visitors to a maximum 490 persons per round,” said Krabi Governor Kittibodi Prawit, after his safety inspection this week.

The reopening of the park and other local attractions is expected to boost Krabi’s economy, which is heavily reliant on foreign tourists and has been hit hard by the Covid-19 lockdown.

“Park staff were instructed to clean crowded areas every two hours and monitor visitors closely. No swimming, smoking or drinking alcohol is allowed in the park at the moment.”

Thanbok Khoranee National Park covers 120 square kilometres of limestone caves and evergreen and mangrove forest along Krabi’s coastline.

“During more than two months of the Covid-19 shutdown, the park’s nature and wildlife have begun to revive,” added the governor. “It is important to limit visitor numbers to ensure that the natural balance and wildlife are not disturbed. The park offers a small number of lodgings, while camping is allowed in specific areas only.”

Meanwhile, tourists are also back at Krabi’s popular Ao Nang beaches, which were unlocked from lockdown earlier this month. Local resident Navaporn Chuchaisong, 56, said most of the beachgoers were Thais, with foreigners still a rare sight. “Most of the [few foreigners] are stranded in Thailand due to the Covid-19 situation and unable to return home yet,” she added.

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Wildlife flourishes as humans kept away due to lockdown

Thailand

Jun 18. 2020

By The Nation

With humans keeping away due to lockdown measures, the Huai Nam Dang National Park is once again full of wildlife and lush nature.

The park’s chief Bancha Ramsiri said on Thursday (June 18) nature has had an opportunity to recover now that the humans are away.

Macaques, white gibbons, barking deer, wild boars, mongooses, martens, musks, wild fowls, marmots, rare birds and Thailand’s distinctive species of salamander are spotted more frequently now.Even the crested finchbill, which was rarely spotted, is now visible from time to time.However, this peace will not last for long because the park plans to reopen on July 1, though it promises to follow Covid-19 prevention measures imposed by the Public Health Ministry.

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Baby serow ‘Covid’ goes viral at Khao Kheow Open Zoo

Thailand

Jun 18. 2020Photo Credit to Khao Kheow Open Zoo

By The Nation

Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Chonburi is celebrating a cute new arrival, just days after reopening to the public for free. A baby serow born at the 5,000-rai wildlife park was welcomed into the world by keepers, who promptly named it “Covid”. 

Members of the public are now flocking back to the park to take advantage of the free entry until June 30. However, only 2,000 visitors are permitted per day, in line with anti-virus measures. 

Animal lovers eager to feast their eyes on the vast variety of wildlife are booking up the daily slots fast, through the zoo’s online reservation process.

Zoo director Attaporn Srihayrun said “Covid” is a healthy female and the fifth member of a serow family.

Serows are a species of goat-antelope with a short body, long legs and black fur that turns white as they get older. They are a protected species in Thailand.

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Longest skywalk into Betong’s sea of mist to open end of year

Jun 17. 2020

By The Nation

Yala’s Betong district is waiting eagerly for the opening of a new tourist attraction – a 61-metre skywalk that allows visitors to enjoy Ai Yerweng’s sea of mist from an altitude of over 600 metres.

This skywalk, believed to be the longest in the Asean region, is scheduled to be officially opened by the end of this year, though tourists can still enjoy Ai Yerweng’s famous sea of mist at sunrise and sunset from the Ai Yerweng Tower.

Melissa Yotkhayan, a tourism developer at Ai Yerweng Subdistrict Administrative Organisation, said the skywalk is nearly 77 per cent complete and once it is ready for tourists, the authority will improve the surrounding scenery.

“The delivery of some materials from China has been delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic,” she said.

Meanwhile, Aree Noochoosuk, chief administrator of the Ai Yerweng Sub-District Administration Organisation, said the Betong Airport is almost ready.

“Once the airport is officially opened, we expect the Ai Yerweng skywalk to draw a lot of tourists, both Thai and foreign. This skywalk will not only stimulate tourism but will also create jobs and generate income for locals,” he said.

“Villagers can also earn extra by renting motorbikes to tourists.”