The Tourism Authority of Thailand with help from the public and private sectors has a new campaign called “We Love Local” that’s designed to get more people visiting specific communities around the country.

“Travelling to individual communities to share in local experiences is a popular tourism trend all around the world right now, with more and more companies and organisations becoming interested,” says deputy governor Noppadon Pakprot.

“This increasing corporate desire for experiences in lesser-known areas of Thailand is an excellent sign for local community tourism because of the greater purchasing power and fewer limitations in terms of the seasons to travel.

“However, the size and dynamics of each company differ and so do the demands and interests. This is why the TAT is ensuring both variety and flexibility for this particular market, with 50 local communities to choose from.

“These destinations have all been categorised in terms of their unique characteristics, identities and main tourist activities, making the difficult task of corporate tourism planning much easier and rewarding for organisations.”

The 50 communities are grouped in 10 categories – the King’s Wisdom, GI (Geographical Indications) Products, Culture, Highlanders, Agro-tourism, Thai Fabrics, Gastronomy, Eco-adventures, Homestays, and School and Family Outings.

TAT governor Yuthasak Supasorn will personally promote communities devoted to His Majesty the King’s philosophy and Thosapone Dansuputra, director general of the Commerce Ministry’s Department of Intellectual Property, will represent the GI product communities.

Agro-tourism is in hand hands of Kessuda Raiva, CEO at S&P Syndicate, and Suphajee Suthumpun, CEO of Dusit Thani Group, will promote highland communities.

Cultural communities will be boosted by Piya Yodmani, former CEO of Nok Airlines, and Vana Bulbon, CEO of UOB Asset Management (Thailand), will take care of Thai Fabrics.

Chih-Hung Lin, director and COO of KGI Securities (Thailand), will oversee gastronomic communities, and Apisilp Trunganont, co-founder and CTO of Pantip.com, will promote eco-adventures.

Yod Chinsupakkul, executive director and one of the founders of Wongnai.com, will represent homestay communities, and Pimpat Yomnak, a board member of Bangkok Prep International School, will take care of school and family communities.

Noppadon says the We Love Local campaign aims to generate Bt1 million in revenue for each community within the first year.

Find out more at http://www.WeLoveLocal.travel.

Costing around Bt4 billion, the park has been created by Nusasiri Company and brings together Thai history, arts and culture and shopping experience under one roof.

“Our park aims to represent the pride of Thailand and to support Thailand’s tourism industry and economic growth,” explains Visanu Thepcharoen, chief executive officer of Nusasiri.

Legend Siam is spread over 10,000 square metres and features three zones: Siam Vilize showcases civilization of Siam, Araya Thai representing Thai traditions and culture, and Bhumi Pan Din wisdom portrays the pride of Thailand.

Visitors can enjoy a special show titled “The Echoes of Legend Siam”, a music and art performance presented through the vision of Manop Meejamrat, a Silapathorn Artist. Other performances include Miss Grand Thailand’s “Legend Siam Culture Fashion Show”.

“This mega project will create a different image for tourism on the East Coast of Thailand. We will see the private and industrial sectors working with community. In the past, people focused on beach and outdoor activities when talked about Pattaya. From now on, people will be attracted by its coastal beauty and cultural traditions that will showcase Thailand as the Land of Smiles,” said Weerasak Kowsurat, the minister of Tourism and Sports.

The new park will dazzle visitors from the first step with the magnificent arch at the entrance, where five-storey tall Tossakan and Sahasdecha act as the guardians. Inside, several attractive displays showcase the glorious days of Rattanakosin era, the ways of life, and Siam of the past, with mesmerising architecture.

“Legendary Royal Elephants” tells the story of ancient Thai ceremonies while Araya Thai presents a temple fair, mythical creatures from Thai literature, and Wat Phra Si San Phet from the Ayutthaya era which has been brought back to life.

Visitors can experience the innovative 3D performance and enjoy shopping at the floating market and traditional market. The Bhumi Pan Din zone, meanwhile, presents the legend of Bang Rajan warriors who sacrificed their lives for the country.

Find out more at http://www.LegendSiam.com.

EVER IMAGINED yourself welcoming friends to your luxury pad for a slap-up meal? Well, you can now do exactly that thanks to #Mypenthousesundays, an initiative of the Park Hyatt Bangkok’s Penthouse Bar and Grill, which allows you to bring your pals along to a Sunday brunch featuring terrific food, drinks, music and games in an ambience so private that it feels like your own home.

 Luxury vintage leather club chairs dot the main sitting area

Located on level 34 of the hotel, Penthouse Bar and Grill is a three-floor entertainment complex featuring a restaurant, bars and lounges, namely The Grill, Chef’s Table, the Cocktail Bar, the Whisky Room, the Mezzanine, and the Rooftop Terrace. Guests can wander around freely and explore.

The food is carefully crafted from the very best organic ingredients and guests can choose whether to pile their plates at the buffet or have lunch served at their table or booth.

Conceived and designed as a private penthouse, the venue acts as a permanent open house for those who share a passion for life with their irrepressible host. The Penthouse Bar and Grill offer the best views in the building and features such exclusive amenities such as private elevators and rooftop gardens. Natural light pours in through windows that offer a spectacular view of downtown Bangkok.

 Fresh oysters for the taking 

Lavish elements such as antiques, artworks, toys, opulent custom-designed furniture, velvet and leather upholstery and asymmetrical brass structures add to the feeling of luxury and the dining tables made of marble and chestnut woods can be rearranged according to the way the space is being used. The main sitting areas are furnished with vintage leather club chairs perfect for chilling over a drink and the modern open kitchens add a touch of theatre to the proceedings.

After a welcome glass of punch, guests have the run of the grill for the meat and seafood starters and mains, sides and salads for which Penthouse Bar and Grill is renowned.

The finest selections of grilled beef include Prime Tenderloin from USA, Ranger’s Valley Ribeye from Australia and Wagyu Beef Tomahawk while BBQ Braised Wagyu short rib and Chicken Viennoise are also up for the taking. Seafood choices cover salmon, jumbo prawns, and Hokkaido scallops. There’s plenty of pasta too as well as perennial kids favourite Mushroom Mac and Cheese, mashed potatoes, sweet potato wedges, French fries, onion rings, creamed spinach, sauteed mushroom, corn on the cob, asparagus and cauliflower gratin.

 Grilled Hokkaido scallops

Other stations offer different kinds of egg dishes as well as pizzas. Cheeses lovers will sure to enjoy the Cold Cuts zone, which has a wide selection of goat’s cheese, Truffle Gouda, Brie de Meaux Comte and Fourme d’Ambert plus Parma ham, chorizo, pork rillettes, Pate Grand-Mere and more.

Another area is home to starters, fresh green salads and a superb oyster bar. The Caesar Salad is a generous mix of Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese and bacon while the Cobb Salad offers chicken breast, blue cheese, cherry tomato, bacon, avocado, poached egg and a cider dressing. The Heirloom Tomato Salad, meanwhile, features Burrata cheese, basil, red onion and pesto and the Red salad lives up to its name with sweet beetroot, roasted pepper, cabbage, tomato, radish and pomegranate. Both the prawn cocktail and smoked salmon salads are great but the winner is the Yellow Fin Tuna Tartar, which is served with wasabi peanuts, pickled ginger, sesame, and ponzu.

Diners can choose from a wide selection of wines and champagne, beers, cocktails, and juices.

And the kids will go wild for the special chocolate and vanilla soft serve ice cream.

Delicious cold cut

Sunday brunch doesn’t end with the food though. Up in the Grand Bar, you’ll find delicious desserts and drinks served from various specialist stations, from Frozinis to DIY G&Ts to red, white and sparkling wines, and surprise shots.

Kids and teenagers can linger in their personal playground and watch some TV, play Nintendo and other video games, kick a football around or play darts and various board games.

And while they’re occupied, the adults can chill to the sounds being spun by the Sunday vibe DJ specialist who may even get you up and dancing.

What a way to spend a Sunday!

THE SKY’S THE LIMIT

>> Brunch is available every Sunday from 12 noon to 4pm

>> The food and soft drinks only package is priced a Bt1,990-plus. To include the beverage package, add another Bt1,000-plus.

>> A Chef’s Table can be organised on request.

>> Book a table by calling (02) 011 7480 or pop off an email to bkkph.penthouse.reservation@hyatt.com.

FORMERLY KNOWN as the Kingdom of Ligor, Nakhon Si Thammarat is one of the most ancient cities in Thailand with a history that can be traced back more than 1,800 years. Located some 600 kilometres from Bangkok but easily accessed by air, the town is promoting itself as a new weekend escape for people of all ages.

With a good selection of homestay accommodation and plenty of old markets scattered in and around town, this southern province is a great place to unwind and revel in the charms of the good old days.

Nakhon Si Thammarat is the hometown of veteran artisan Nikom Nok-aksorn and his students from the Nakhon Crafts club. In 2004, Ajarn Nikom turned his house opposite Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan into the Nakhon Nielloware Learning Centre from where he happily demonstrates the art of making elaborate niello jewellery and household items.

Master Nikom Nokaksorn and his students show off their skills in crating elaborate gold nielloware.

In 2012, he was selected as a Master Artisan of Thailand by the Support Arts and Crafts International Centre of Thailand (Sacict) and is best known for the exquisite one-of-kind gold-lacquered amulet case crafted especially for Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn.

“Nakhon Si Thammarat has been famous for nielloware for centuries. Our ancestors formulated a perfect mixture of sulphur, lead, tin and silver with five per cent copper to ensure the durability and maintain the beautiful shape of niello. It’s a skill that has been passed down through the generations,” says Nikom, who graduated in art and crafts from Poh-Chang Academy of Arts and studied nielloware at Nakhon Si Thammarat Art & Craft College.

“Nielloware can be divided into three categories: silver-lacquered, gold-lacquered and gold-painted. Different skills are required for the painting, carving and moulding.”

Inspired by local leaves, flowers and plants, Nakhon Si Thammarat’s original nielloware is carved by hand to create sharp, long-lasting designs, different from the nielloware produced in Thailand’s central region for which acid is used.

Visitors to the centre can admire striking gold-lacquered clutches and camera cases, silver-lacquered glasses, bracelets and bowls as well as gold-painted niello clutches, ranging in price from Bt8,000 to Bt90,000.

After joining a handicraft workshop, we head to Chian Yai district and board the Choomai Riverside Resort’s ferry. Our private cruise along the Chian Yai River takes an hour and rewards us with striking views of lush jungle, fishing villages and temples.

On the way we stop at Baan Yai Homestay, where former teacher Wilai Srirordpet, 63, greets us with refreshing herbal drinks and home-made Thai sweets. Seven years ago, Wilai and her architect son transformed their 100-year-old house into a small boutique resort on the theme “when was the last time you cuddled your grandma?”

Shaded by towering trees, this lovely compound accommodates three comfortable cottages modified from the original rice granary and kitchen. The prices are ultra reasonable: Bt200 for a mattress and Bt300 for a bed.

There’s no air-conditioning and the decor is simple but the cottages boast TVs and fans and the shared bathrooms are spotless and kitted out with all amenities. A pavilion on the bank is designed as both a living room and open-air spa where during the day guests can enjoy a herbal compress massage and footbath given by the villagers.

“Guests can also go fishing or paddle a boat along the river. My house is surrounded with banana plantations and rice fields so I’m planning to create some creative activities like a mud slide for children,” Wilai says.

Baan Yai Homestay offers accommodations in an adapted rice barn and kitchen. 

The boat drops us off at the popular Chian Yai Riverside Market that is packed with booths and stalls every Saturday. A group of students performs cultural dances on the stage and the market presents a wide range of local desserts, rare Southern delicacies and OTOP merchandise at reasonable prices.

Well worth sampling are the khao yum (spicy rice salad with vegetables), khanom jeen namya koei (rice-flour noodles in a shrimp gravy), khanom ta bod made from sticky rice flour and topped with residue of coconut oil and khanom khuen (nipa palm cake). All the food and drinks are served in eco-friendly banana leaf floats, bamboo glasses and wickerwork.

“Nakhon Si Thammarat is rich in nature and culture. We’ve set up street markets to help communities generate more income while also conserving our traditions. The markets combine OTOP products and handicrafts, which make great souvenirs,” says Khajornkiet Rakpanichmanee, vice governor of Nakhon Si Thammarat.

 Food stalls line the colourful Chian Yai Riverside Market every Saturday. 

Back in downtown Nakhon Si Thammarat, the one-kilometre road in front of Wat Phra Mahathat Worawihan is converted into a colourful market every Saturday night. Operated by the local Chamber of Commerce, this iconic walking street was set up last year as a new tourist attraction.

“It’s a collaboration between the community, provincial officials and the private sector. We want tourists to stay in our province for an extended period rather than just passing through. We added arts and culture to the market to represent the unique lifestyle of Nakhon Si Thammarat,” says Kiattikorn Charoenpanich, the Chamber’s deputy secretary.

“Currently the market is generating some Bt3 million a week and has been named as one of the

top 10 Cultural Street Markets by the Culture Ministry.”

The Old Market in front of  Wat Phra That features traditional performances, workshops and local street food.

The market is divided into three zones. The Art and Culture section offers Do-It-Yourself workshops on batik, shadow puppets and textile dyeing. The OTOP corner combines all kinds of local handicrafts including refined Yan Lipao bags in different designs and gold niello jewellery from Nakhon Crafts.

Local vendors dressed in period costumes man the 300 stalls, many serving tempting dishes and sweets in banana leaves, paper bags and coconut shells. The lively entertainment zone is popular with young visitors, with classical cultural performances by

veteran and new-wave artists of manorah, likay hulu, rong-ngeng and shadow puppets.

The Wisdom Village showcases all sorts of local handicraft products and hosts cultural performances by students. 

A little out of town, the Wisdom Village in Tha Ruea district is open every Sunday. It belongs to Ajarn Thawee Plaiduang and features more than 30 fashion boutiques, souvenir shops and food pavilions plus a mini shadow puppet theatre.

“This green market combines culture and local wisdom under one roof. We have more than 40 members selling food made without MSG along with handicrafts and agricultural products,” Thawee says.

“I’m developing 100 courses in arts and crafts so we can turn this market into a lifestyle learning centre. I’m also working with other local craftsmen to develop new designs of lipao and krajood bags and nielloware inspired by shadow puppets.”

Hemmed in by lush gardens, guests can spend a few hours checking out the latest collection of colourful batik fashions, krajood bags and mats, bamboo wickerwork and home decorative items. And in addition to the many snacks and herbal beverages on sale, there’s a mini super market packed with vegetables and fruits from local farms.

The Pak Phanang Old Market is packed with vendors dressed in Thai period costumes selling signature local dishes and desserts. 

In Pak Phanang district, Bang Chalang Canal is home to the first old market in Nakhon Si Thammarat and boasts some 50 pavilions with nipa leaf roofs and more than 300 street stalls.

Every Sunday evening local vendors dressed in period costumes offer a rare selection of Pak Phanang signature desserts and specialities including traditional red fried rice, nine-filling sticky rice dumplings, khanom patung (coconut-filled soft waffle made from Nam Hom coconut juice, duck eggs and butter), and khanom krok (soft coconut crepe roll made from rice flour, eggs, coconut milk and shallots).

“Pak Phanang district was a marine trade hub before the U Tok Vibhaja Prasid Barrage in the Pak Phanang River Basin Royal Development Project was constructed in 1996. Three years ago, the mayor set up this traditional market to help villagers earn more income and promote tourism. The fee to rent space is just Bt10 so the vendors are able to keep their own prices low. We adhere to the sufficiency economy philosophy and use local natural materials like lotus, banana, nipa palm leaves and paper bags that are friendly to the environment and save money,” says Nattanun Juntaratip, deputy mayor, Municipality of Pak Phanang.

The Pak Phanang Old Market is packed with vendors dressed in Thai period costumes selling signature local dishes and desserts. 

Also on offer is a collection of innovative handicrafts made with coconut shells, handmade Chinese-style bamboo hats known as muak piew and baskets and accessories made from nipa leaves. Members of the local club for the elderly keep the entertainment going with folk songs and cultural dances.

“Visitors can also take a 90-minute river cruise that allows them to learn about the mangrove forest and experience the lifestyle of fishing villages in the Pak Phanang basin. We recently received a Bt63 million grant to develop our landscapes and security system. We are also opening a new vintage-themed night market that will run from 8pm to midnight,” Nattanun adds.

IF YOU GO

>> Nakhon Nielloware Learning Centre is on Sarieng Road, Muang District. Call (075) 346 391.

>> A private cruise along Chian Yai River is priced at Bt2,000. Visit the Choomai Riverside Resort Facebook page or call (061) 750 2224.

>> The Chian Yai Riverside Market is open every Saturday from 3 to 9pm.

>> The Old Market in front of Phra That is open every Saturday from 5 to 9pm.

>> The Wisdom Village is in Tha Ruea district and open every Sunday from 9am to 6pm.

>> The Pak Phanang Old Market is next to Pak Phanang Prison and open every Sunday from 3 to 8pm.

WHILE LOW-COST airlines make travel both easy and cheap, there’s something truly rewarding about winding back and looking at the countrywide go past from a train carriage so luxurious that you’d forgiven for thinking you were back in the days before commercial air travel.

Most Thais will know about the State Railway of Thailand (SRT)’s projects to construct a dual track railway and high-speed train system but far fewer are aware that it offers private and luxury carriages for rent as a premium alternative option whether for a board meeting and business conference or a family vacation.

Four different types of exclusive and luxury  SRT Prestige carriages are available for private rental.

In operation since 2016, the carriages called SRT Prestige are refurbished from old compartments given by JR West of Japan. The exteriors are painted in blue and gold and the interiors have undergone a sophisticated facelift with wood predominating and warm lighting giving off a classic grandeur. Comfortable five-and-three foot beds, bunk beds, sofas, a meeting room, a kitchen, a mini bar, TVs and an audio system change the perception of a railroad journey.

“The SRT Prestige carriages are a good choice for people who have no time constraints but like modern comforts and privacy. The carriages can be attached to commuter trains on your choice of routes nationwide for both one-way and return trips,” says Supat Worrawatnutai, the deputy director of SRT’s Freight Service Department.

The first-class sleeper is fitted with a five-foot bed, a TV screen and en-suite bathroom.

“The most popular route is latching on to the full-day train trip to Kanchanaburi that stops at such points of interests as Phra Pathom Chedi, River Kwai Bridge, Death Railway Bridge and Sai Yok Noi Waterfall.

“Each month, there are about 10 groups from both the government and private sectors renting these luxurious compartments. Tour operators are interested in operating private train trips for their customers. Our next booking is a police group boarding from Bangkok to Chiang Mai.”

The medium-size bedroom has a three-foot bed, a TV screen and a wardrobe.

SRT Prestige has four different types of carriages from which guests can choose. The first-class sleeper offers one room with a five-foot bed, TV screen and en-suite bathroom, another with a single bed and two rooms with bunk beds. The front and rear areas are furnished with comfy six-seat sofas – perfect for chatting and reclining.

The meeting room compartment is designed as mobile conference room with 20 to 50 seats, a 10-metre-long meeting table, microphones, TV screen, a compact karaoke room, and a dining room with a six-seat sofa.

The SRT Prestige meeting room carriage is equipped with all the facilities for a mobile conference room.

Keeping guests watered and fed is not forgotten either with a hot kitchen carriage offering tables with either two or four seats, a counter bar with stools, a kitchen to cook your meals and audio systems – ideal for hosting a banquet on the way to your destination. It can accommodate about 22 people and the catering must be arranged by customers.

The last type is the cold kitchen carriage that is suitable for hosting a cocktail reception for more than 30 people as it offers a 530-cm-long mini bar with stools, sofas as well as two and four-seat dining tables.

The hot kitchen compartment is like a moving dining room, with passengers able to make their own catering arrangements. 

“Customers can rent the cold and hot kitchen carriages individually. But if they want to rent the meeting room compartment or the sleeper, they have to rent either the cold or hot kitchen carriage to generate electric power,” adds Supat.

The rental fees for the first-class sleeper range from Bt37,000 to Bt57,000 for a one-way trip, and Bt74,000 to Bt114,000 for a roundtrip. The prices for the hot or cold kitchen carriage range from Bt17,000 to Bt27,000 for one-way and Bt34,000 to Bt54,000 for roundtrip.

“If you want to arrange the routes on your own and don’t have the carriages attached to commuter trains that will stop at multiple stations, a minimum rental of 10 SRT Prestige carriages is required,” he says.

A barista from Arabitia Coffee prepares drip coffees for passengers.

In order to help SRT to promote these luxury carriages, Favori Media International and Fond Publishing International – the publishers of The Thailanders and Numero magazines – recently hosted the SRT Prestige trip from Bangkok to the seaside town of Hua Hin for some 100 guests and media to sample the unusual railway approach.

Seven SRT Prestige compartments of four different types were attached to the rapid train running from Hua Lamphong Railway Station to the Southern border town Su-ngai Kolok in Narathiwat.

Two bedrooms with bunks make up the rest of the accommodation in the first-class sleeper.

“I like travelling by train. It’s more relaxing than sitting in a car. You can sit back and enjoy scenery that’s unlike anything we see from the highway,” says Amornsiri Boonyasit, group editor-in-chief of the publishers.

“I only just found out that SRT has these exclusive and luxury carriages for private rental. Travelling in the privacy of your very own train carriage, you and your group will have the freedom to work or play as much as you like, without any interruptions. This can be a travel option for people who favour a slow journey mixed with nostalgia and pampering.”

With the cold kitchen carriage, renters can arrange their own drinks and snacks.

The aromatic fragrances of Jo Malone diffusers greet us as we board. The hot kitchen compartment served grilled duck over rice while the baristas from Arabitia Coffee by CP Retaillink in the cold kitchen carriage prepare coffees and drinks as well as sweet treats.

Guests can also relax with a hand and neck spa massage or sample the make up from Korean herbal cosmetic brand Sulwhasoo. Another compartment allows us to try out the Huawai P20 Pro smartphone ourselves or have our pictures taken by a professional lensman.

Activities on board include a hand-and-neck massage treatment.

“I want to visualise how we can customise diverse activities to make the journey even more fun. As the ever-changing scenery flashes past the windows, you can be pampered with a neck and hand massage or enjoy a cup of aromatic coffee and sweet delights while taking selfie, courtesy of Sulwhasoo, CP Retaillink and Huawai,” says Amornsiri. “The SRT Prestige is a good service but the volume of use is still low. To me, the rental fee is affordable compared to those offered in foreign countries for similar services. I want to promote the culture of classic train travel.”

Sulwhasoo offers makeup for passengers.

“This journey brings back childhood memory,” says Pensupa Gajaseni, one of the guests. “Twenty years ago, my grandfather Thanom Kittikachorn (the late prime minister) rented a simple carriage to attach to a train travelling to Pa Sak Jolasid Dam in Lop Buri for a family outing. It was a fun and memorable experience but I have never boarded a local train since.”

The Eastern & Oriental Express is the train that comes to Pensupa’s when thinking about luxury railway journeys in Southeast Asia. She, too, had never heard of the SRT Prestige.

“I think there’s an enormous potential for SRT to develop these comfort carriages for full-service day-trips to popular destinations such as Hua Hin without stopping at many stations,” she says.

Chetniphit Rueangnitiwit tells The Nation Weekend that he has never even considered travelling by train in the country. Saving time and an affordable price are his first priorities.

“Car and plane are my choices,” says the 22-year-old student. “This is the first time I have travelled on a train and I’m only here because I’m accompanying my mother. I’ve always thought of trains as old, slow and subject to delays. But even though the SRT Prestige carriage is much more luxurious than I would have thought, rail travel is not for me.”

As it marks 122 years since the first railroad route from Bangkok to Ayutthaya was inaugurated by King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) in 1896, SRT is implementing new projects designed to bring a bright future to the railway system and attract people like Chetniphit who refuses to travel by train. The first phase of the dual-track railway is expected to be finished by 2023 while the Sino-Thai high-speed railway from Bangkok to Nong Khai has been under construction since last December.

Passengers on the exclusive SRT Prestige train ride disembark at the seaside town of Hua Hin.

The SRT Prestige took about four hours from Bangkok to Hua Hin where guests later proceeded to Holiday Inn Vana Nava via luxury coaches supported by True Leasing.

For information on the SRT Prestige, call 1690 or (02) 621 8701 or visit http://www.Railway.co.th.

But the island’s hotel association is hoping to change that with a series of initiatives aimed at reducing the use of plastic, tackling the garbage that washes up on its shores, and educating staff, local communities and tourists alike.

“Hotels unchecked are huge consumers and users of single-use plastics,” said Anthony Lark, president of the Phuket Hotels Association and managing director of the Trisara resort.

“Every resort in Southeast Asia has a plastic problem. Until we all make a change, it’s going to get worse and worse,” he told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

Established in 2016 and with about 70 members – including all Phuket’s five-star hotels – the association has put tackling environmental issues high on its to-do list.

Last year the group surveyed members’ plastics use and then began looking at ways to shrink their plastics footprint.

As part of this, three months ago the association’s hotels committed to phase out, or put plans in place to stop using plastic water bottles and plastic drinking straws by 2019.

About five years ago, Lark’s own resort with about 40 villas used to dump into landfill about 250,000 plastic water bottles annually. It has now switched to reusable glass bottles.

The hotel association also teamed up with the documentary makers of “A Plastic Ocean”, and now show an edited version with Thai subtitles for staff training.

Meanwhile hotel employees and local school children take part in regular beach clean-ups.

“The association is involved in good and inclusive community-based action, rather than just hotel general managers getting together for a drink,” Lark said.

CREATORS AND VICTIMS

Phuket, like Bali in Indonesia and Boracay in the Philippines, has become a top holiday destination in Southeast Asia – and faces similar challenges.

Of a similar size to Singapore and at the geographical heart of Southeast Asia, Phuket is easily accessible to tourists from China, India, Malaysia and Australia.

With its white sandy beaches and infamous nightlife, Phuket attracts about 10 million visitors each year, media reports say, helping make the Thai tourism industry one of the few bright spots in an otherwise lacklustre economy.

Popular with holiday makers and retirees, Phuket – like many other Southeast Asian resorts – must contend with traffic congestion, poor water management and patchy waste collection services.

Despite these persistent problems, hotels in the region need to follow Phuket’s lead and step up action to cut their dependence on plastics, said Susan Ruffo, a managing director at the U.S.-based non-profit group Ocean Conservancy.

Worldwide, between 8 million and 15 million tonnes of plastic are dumped in the ocean every year, killing marine life and entering the human food chain, UN Environment says.

Five Asian countries – China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Thailand – account for up to 60 percent of plastic waste leaking into the seas, an Ocean Conservancy study found.

“As both creators and ‘victims’ of waste, the hotel industry has a lot to gain by making efforts to control their own waste and helping their guests do the same,” Ruffo said.

“We are seeing more and more resorts and chains start to take action, but there is a lot more to be done, particularly in the area of ensuring that hotel waste is properly collected and recycled,” she added.

CHANGING MINDS, CUTTING COSTS

Data on how much plastic is used by hotels and the hospitality industry is hard to find. But packaging accounts for up to 40 percent of an establishment’s waste stream, according to a 2011 study by The Travel Foundation, a UK-based charity.

Water bottles, shampoo bottles, toothbrushes and even food delivered by room service all tend to use throw-away plastics.

In the past, the hospitality industry has looked at how to use less water and energy, said Von Hernandez, global coordinator at the “Break Free From Plastic” movement in Manila.

Now hotels are turning their attention to single-use plastics amid growing public awareness about damage to oceans.

“A lot of hotels are doing good work around plastics”, adopting measures to eliminate or shrink their footprint, said Hernandez.

But hotels in Southeast Asia often have to contend with poor waste management and crumbling infrastructure.

“I’ve seen resorts in Bali that pay staff to rake the beach every morning to get rid of plastic, but then they either dig a hole, and bury it or burn it on the beach,” said Ruffo. “Those are not effective solutions, and can lead to other issues.”

Hotels should look at providing reusable water containers and refill stations, giving guests metal or bamboo drinking straws and bamboo toothbrushes, and replacing single-use soap and shampoo containers with refillable dispensers, experts said.

“Over time, this could actually lower their operational costs – it could give them savings,” said Hernandez. “It could help change mindsets of people, so that when they go back to their usual lives, they have a little bit of education.”

Back in Phuket, the hotel association is exploring ways to cut plastic waste further, and will host its first regional forum on environmental awareness next month.

The hope is that what the group has learned over the last two years can be implemented at other Southeast Asian resorts and across the wider community.

“If the 20,000 staff in our hotels go home and educate mum and dad about recycling or reusing, it’s going to make a big difference,” said Lark.

THE FORMER capital of the ancient Langkasuka Kingdom, Pattani province in Thailand’s far south has traditionally been feted for its multiculturalism, though sadly the ongoing violence has kept it well off the tourist path for more than a decade.

But not all the residents have given up on drawing visitors to their home. On a recent visit that saw a group of journalists wrap up a tour of all three southernmost provinces, we were taken around China Town by Melayu Living, a club of innovative artists who are hoping to bring tourists back to this thriving trading hub on the bank of the Pattani River and the border of Thailand and Malaysia.

Pattani’s China Town is located on Anoru Road and lined with old Chinesestyle houses built in the reign of King Rama III

The group has also collaborated with the Association of Siamese Architects under Royal Patronage to create maps and guidebooks to illustrate the city layout and indicate the locations of tourist attractions.

Along the 1.4-kilometre walking route, visitors can learn about history, enjoy some local delicacies and get a feel for the simple way of Southern life. Contrary to the negative pictures painted by the media, it’s normal to see Muslims sitting alongside Chinese-Buddhists eating roti and drinking coffee or tea and sharing space in an art gallery.

Sulaiman “Lee” Chemae is our tour guide for the walk and one of my travel companions greets him not with “hello” but a question – “It is safe to roam on foot?”

Lee doesn’t appear put out. “This area is like the yolk of an egg, protected by checkpoints controlled by armed soldiers. So, yes, tourists can feel safe. I admit we can’t guarantee 100-per-cent safety but we can recommend places to which visitors can go as well as those best avoided,” he says.

China Town is populated by Hokkian Chinese, whose ancestors migrated from Fujian and set up shop on Anoru Road. Lined with old Chinese-style buildings mostly constructed during the reign of King Rama III, it’s home to the Lim Ko Nieo Shrine, worshipped by local residents and seafarers alike to ask for fortune, success, good health and protection. Built in 1634, it was originally called Leng Chu Kiang Shrine.

Legend has it that Lim Ko Niao crossed the South China Sea from China to Pattani to bring her brother back home to be with their dying mother. The young man, Lim To Kiam, declined her request, preferring to stay in Pattani because he had married a daughter of Phraya Tani and converted to Islam. Lim Ko Niao was frustrated by her brother’s refusal and ended up hanging herself from a cashew nut tree. The villagers later carved a wooden statue to her memory.

Lim Ko Nieo Shrine is always packed with pilgrims and seafarers praying for protection and good fortune. 

A short distance from the shrine is the former residence of taxman Luang Wichit Sulkakorn. Made from wood and cement, the main structure has been maintained to celebrate its long history.

When Wichit and his family moved out, the house was turned into a Thai dessert shop by Xuan Lui Kowittaya and became the first grocery on Anoru Road. Today, it’s under the care of the Kamolwittaya family.

“In the past, the Chinese residents traded with sea merchants from Singapore, Malacca and the Malay Peninsula, while the Muslims made their living from fishing. King Rama III recognised the potential for border trade, so he sent a tax collector to Pattani, making our community stronger,” Lee explains.

Next door is the White Building, which was constructed in 1883 by Luang Cheen Kananurak. Anan, the third generation of the Kananurak family, recently had it completely refurbished and gave it a more modern look.

The building is divided into three zones linked by walkways from the front building to an old wooden house in the middle. There is a kitchen and a lush courtyard at the back, where the air-raid shelter hastily constructed during World War II, has been turned into a fish and lotus pond.

Commonly known as Baan Kongsee, the bright blue, 150-year-old house was constructed by another tax collector, Luang Samret Kitjakorn Jangwang – an ancestor of the Kanaurak family, during the reign of King Rama III.

The roof has a perforated design that resembles ancient currency, symbolic of fortune, while the front of house features two windows to protect against inauspicious happenings in line with feng shui beliefs.

The structure is built with glazed bricks coated with white honey-mixed lime and oversize earthenware tiles cover the floor. The living room has a huge stand to accommodate the many statues of Chinese deities.

Baan Kongsee boasts traditional Chinese architecture and is based on feng shui philosophy. 

Khun Phitak Raya, the two-storey house in the corner of the compound now belongs to Senator Anusat Suwanmongkol, who runs the Pattani’s

CS Hotel. He has poured some Bt8 million into restoring the old structure, working with skilled craftsmen from the Fine Arts Department.

Lee leads us to Pattani Phirom Road, once home to a theatre, a smattering of opium dens, Chinese-style taverns, a foundry and gold shops. Surrounded by European-style buildings, the Melayu Living club has set up its own In_t_af Cafe & Gallery and this has become a hip hangout for Pattani’s younger generation.

“It’s not easy to teach other local residents what this art space is all about, which is setting aside fear of violence and bringing tourists to Pattani. Even with the support of the provincial officials, it took us a few years to persuade the Chinese residents to open their houses and welcome visitors,” Lee says.

Our sightseeing tour ends at the present-day shopping district on Ruedee Road, home to a block of colonial buildings influenced by British construction designs with a gap between them to prevent fire from spreading. This street once housed a big market that sold fabrics and spices and was operated by Indian entrepreneurs.

The newly opened Sky Walk offers a panoramic view of the Gulf of Thailand and the swamp forest. 

“Before the violence, this area was really colourful. It was lined with restaurants and always packed with foreign labourers and local fishermen. Because of its proximity to the huge fish market and pier, some Bt100 million changed hands every night,” Lee says.

“We want to promote other tourist routes that take in artisan villages and encourage people to take a cruise to a swamp forest in Yaring district so that visitors can experience our culture.”

Just a 15-minute drive away from downtown Pattani next to Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana Garden is the recently opened Pattani Adventure Park, which is billing itself as the best vantage point for admiring Tachee Cape and azure waters of the Gulf of Thailand.

The 400-metre skywalk stands as high as a three-storey building and can hold up to 400 kilogram per square metre, thus ensuring safety for all visitors. It’s also connected to a long nature trail on the ground, home to a lush massive swamp forest.

A mere 35 kilometres from town is

Sai Khao, which won the Most Outstanding Community-based Tourism Award back in 2007 for its eco-cultural tours and homestay services. Local residents have modified their vintage Jeep trucks to transport visitors to the Namtok Sai Khao National Park, where a golden statue of the Buddha looks down at visitors from the top of the mountain.

Baan Sai Khao village arranges farm tours in a jeep. 

“The province invested Bt32 million to construct the Buddha statue and it took 41 years to complete. It is a great viewpoint to look out over the verdant landscapes of Sai Khao district,” says Uncle Chanin Siannin, the head of Baan Sai Khao community.

The mountain is also home to a sacred pond, which the monk Luang Pu Tuad discovered during a pilgrimage in the jungle, a huge snake-like rock attached to the steep cliff and the Sai Khao waterfall, which is a popular picnic spot for local families.

Our day out ends with a visit to the massive rubber plantations and orchards, where we’re allowed to pick durian, bananas and rambutan straight from the tree and stock up on such snacks as preserved garcinia and miang kham made from banana to remind us of our visit.

IF YOU GO

>> Tourists can arrange a walking tour with Melayu Living by visiting its Facebook page.

>> The eco-cultural tour organised by the Baan Sai Khao community costs Bt500 per person. For a private tour by jeep, you pay an additional Bt1,000. For more information, call (089) 737 9553.

BORDERED TO the west, north and east by Pattani, Narathiwat and Songkhla and to the south by Malaysia, the landlocked province of Yala is a veritable showcase of Malay, Thai and Chinese culture.

The provincial capital, which is laid out like a spider’s web with a park at its centre, is the much-loved home of master craftsman Phiya Sawanpruk, owner of the Sri Yala Batik brand. In 2005, he converted his house, just 10 minutes away from Yala Railway Station, into an art studio and it is from here that he proudly presents his batik fashion garments and home furnishings.

An artisan at Sri Yala Batik demonstrates her craft.

One of his proudest achievements is reviving an ancient fabric known as pa la nging. Once popular in Thailand’s three southernmost provinces, it’s a luxurious yok dok brocade silk with motifs of gold leaves and local flowers that merges tie-dying, printing and batik techniques.

“I first discovered the pa la nging textile in my grandmother’s room. In the past, civil servants used pa la nging to make sarongs and turbans but it vanished almost a century when the newer generations turned away from sericulture to cultivating rubber trees and other economic crops,” says Phiya, who graduated in crafts and arts from Rajamangala University of Technology Rattanakosin.

“I’ve worked with skilful weavers in Khon Kaen’s Chonnabot district on developing designs for hand-woven gold-thread silk and cotton to conserve our traditions. Khon Kaen’s cotton is famous for its soft texture, which looks smooth after being dyed making it ideal for batik.”

All pa la nging fabrics are organically dyed using extracts from local plants – banana gives brown and green, Indian almond, clay orange and lac, pink. Phiya also carves his own woodblocks for printing more than 200 different patterns including tiles, balusters, saba banana and khao tom mad (steamed sticky rice wrapped with banana leaves).

“I paint the fabric piece by piece, making them into one-of-a-kind artworks,” Phiya says, adding that he also lectures at several universities around the country to pass on his knowledge to the next generations.”

Shophouses in Betong are adorned with street arts depicting the local lifestyle. 

Visitors to his studio will be fascinated by the collection of fashion apparel for men and women, as well as totes, shawls, scarves, key rings and tissue boxes. The pa la nging textiles, meanwhile, are available at King Power, leading resorts and on Thai Smile flights.

“I want to help women in the community to generate more income and our members can earn at least Bt5,000 a month. I also want to invite tourists to my home, where they will see the Muslim and Thai-Chinese Buddhist villagers living and working happily together and not focus on the violence in this part of world,” Phiya adds.

Leaving Yala, we drive through the breathtakingly beautiful Bang Lang National Park towards Betong, the southernmost town in Thailand.

We explore the small town on foot and admire the stunning street art that covers many walls and portrays the Thai-Chinese lifestyle including old coffeeshops, dim sum shops, vegetable stalls and Betong’s iconic post box.

The clock tower circle is a popular shopping and dining venue and is home to boutiques, barbers, Chinese and Thai restaurants, noodle shops and bakeries. Here too we find the roti pushcart run by two young girls, which has been highly recommended to us by a group of military volunteers. Its popularity is evidenced by the long queue but soon we are munching on roti that are crisp on the outside and soft on the inside and smothered in egg, banana and coco powder.

Two Muslim girls serve roti from a pushcart near Betong’s clock tower. 

The next morning, we leave Betong at 5 to travel to the summit of San Kala Khiri Mountain. Crowded with Thai and international tourists, it’s the best vantage point in Aiyoeweng district to take in the beautiful sea of mist though we are unfortunate with the weather and see only one per cent of mist.

We continue to Piyamit Tunnel in Tano Mae Ro district, once a stronghold of the Communist Party of Malaya. Spread over one kilometre under the mountain, it was built in 1976 with multiple entrances to serve as an air raid shelter and to store food.

Hemmed in by a tropical forest, the Piyamit Histories Museum is boasting a rare collection of old weapons, self-produced prosthetic legs, black-and-white photographs, kitchenware and musical instruments. Also on view is a Chinese shrine and an imitation smokeless stove made of clay.

“We had almost 1,000 members who wanted to fight for democracy. The battles continued for 50 years and in 1987 our party split after the Thai government offered us 15-rai of land per family for farming,” says Uncle Sue Chong,68, who serves as a tour guide.

IF YOU GO

>> Sri Yala Batik is at 85 Soi Weruwan 12, Amphur Muang, Yala. Call (087) 837 4007 or check out the Sri Yala Batik page on Facebook.

>> Piyamit Tunnel is open daily from 8am to 5pm. Tickets are Bt40 for adults and Bt10 for children.

Catering to the whole family, the resort boasts two freeform infinity pools overlooking the whitesand beach at La Ba Gao Bay, which boasts clear, protected, shallow waters perfect for swimming and snorkeling.

The resort also offers plenty of engaging activities with a fitness centre, yoga classes, tennis court and watersports centre. Four restaurants include kids’ meals, and babysitting and childfocused services are also available, as well as a schedule of activities collectively known as the Phi Phi Family Playground.

“Parents choose to stay with us because they want their children to get away from the screen and enjoy nature with fun, energising, activities to fill their day,” says general manager Chao Treenawong.

All the rooms, bungalows, suites and villas are designed for three or more occupants, and many come with an extra sofabed suitable for a child. There’s also a spacious twobedroom Family Bungalow, also with a sofa bed, perfect for four or more guests. Meanwhile, cots and extra beds are available on request.

When it comes to dining, families have plenty of choice with international buffet breakfasts, a la carte lunches and dinners, as well as snacks, icecream, juices and fruit served from the pool bar or bean/Co caf้. There are also plenty of dishes designed specially for younger guests.

The unique Phi Phi Family Playground ticks all the family friendly boxes. Youngsters are kept entertained with a Little Islanders Programme for 310 year olds while older kids can enjoy the Young Explorers Programme, specially designed for 1016 year olds with activities that range from crafts to swimming classes, kayaking adventures to beach games and fitness boot camps, cooking classes to handson sustainability workshops.

Creating a healthy connection between families who stay at the resort and the environment is part of the ethos at Phi Phi Island Village Beach Resort and new Marine Discovery Centre launched earlier this year as an interactive attraction to showcase local marine life with colourful displays and an integrated clownfish and bamboo shark nursery onsite.

“The centre not only teaches families about how we’re taking an active role in protecting Thailand’s endangered marine species,” explains the GM. “It also encourages young people to get involved and feel connected to the destination, which adds tremendously to their enjoyment.”

Another family friendly bonus at Phi Phi Island Village Beach Resort is that guests looking to book a late summer getaway or an early winter vacation in 2018 can take advantage of the Early Bird Promotion with a special 15% discount for bookings made 60 days in advance.

For more information, please call (075) 628 900 or visit reservations@phiphiislandvillage.com.

THE TURQUOISE waters of the Gulf of Thailand sparkle in the afternoon sun as the plane banks ready for landing at Narathiwat Airport, a mere 90-minutes flight from Bangkok.

A stone’s throw from the airport are the white sands of Ban Ton Beach where I stretch out while my media friends tuck into a Southern-style lunch in Chulabhorn marine camp’s Sala Koei Had restaurant. Trepidation at being smack in one of the three southernmost provinces in Thailand where violence has been part of life for more than a decade prevented me for joining them but the tension seeps away as I fall under the charm of the local life and calm beach vibes.

Ban Ton village is famous for its traditional korlae traditional boats. 

The fishing village of Ban Ton is famous for creating colourfully painted traditional korlae boats in an interesting mix of Thai, Malay and Javanese styles. Veteran craftsman Ahama Salae, 51, has been building the boats for 37 years and beams happily as he welcomes us to his dock to explain the basics of carpentry.

Using takhian sai wood (Shorea gratissima) to ensure durability, Bae Ahama has adapted the designs to resemble a Thai-style long boat so that a fisherman can easily pull his boat up onto shore. The bow and stern are higher than the hull and can hold two to five tons of goods.

“Our young generations are no longer interested in this career so I’m the only korlae boat builder in the village now. I have 10 customised orders on my waiting list and I reckon it will take me about three years to finish the work. The prices start from Bt400,000 including materials and painting,” says Bae Ahama, who also serves as village head.

Korlae boats come in lengths of six to 12 metres and are real workhorses, lasting for seven to 30 years. Bae Ahama says he fumigates all the wood to soften the texture before shaping the pieces into the structure of the boat.

“I use special glue made from amber, chopped hemp sacks and coconut residue to connect all the pieces of wood to give the boat a seamless look. I spend four to eight months creating each vessel based on size and patterns, which I design to suit each customer.”

A short distance from the deck is the house-cum-gallery of artisan Horsee Binda-oh, who crafts model korlae boats ranging in size from 12 centimetres to 2.5 metres and is also happy to show how it’s done. Prices start from Bt500.

“We use santal wood to produce miniature boats because it’s durable and resistant to termites while the oars are made of bamboo. The design is the same regardless of the size of the model but it’s the colours that catch the eye. They’re painted with unique Javanese Yawo motifs as well as traditional and contemporary Thai graphics,” Bae Horsee says.

We are reminded of Narathiwat’s history of violence by the multitude of checkpoints manned by armed soldiers as we make the one-hour journey along Highway 4084 to Tak Bai district. It’s home to the popular Pa Eng shop, which offers a selection of top-quality fragrant, salted fourfinger threadfin and is run by Prasit, the second generation of the Chaikitwattana family.

Considered as the king of salted fish, Tak Bai’s fourfinger threadfin make their home in the rich mud at the confluence of the Sungai Getting, Bangnara and Golok Rivers. The price starts at Bt1,600 per kilogram.

“Salted fourfinger threadfin fish is a popular Chinese delicacy that tastes great with both steamed and boiled rice. My mother always used her special recipe to cook the salted fish for our family and friends and it became so popular that she set up her own shop,” Prasit says.

Pa Eng shop in Tak Bai district has produced salted fourfinger threadfin for three decades.

After a thorough wash and removal of the offal, the fish is fermented in quality sea salt from Pattani for two nights. Prasit spends two or three weeks drying them in a net dome to protect them from flies and other creatures.

“The secret technique is to thresh the fish with a bottle four or five times while they’re drying to make them tender. We pick only fish measuring about 40 to 60 cm or weighing around 800 grams.”

We cross the Tak Bai River by the way of the iconic 345-metre-long Koi Roi Pee Bridge, a popular place to watch the sunset, and learn that the original one was built with wood to transport villagers from the mainland to Koh Yao.

Spread over nine km, the island houses a Muslim fishing community and a giant Thai flag flutters in the breeze indicating the border of Thailand and Malaysia. As we go further into the island, we’re greeted by friendly young residents and spot a herd of goats munching contentedly on the pastureland. It’s a far cry from the Narathiwat that so often makes the news.

In Su-ngai Kolok district, the highly revered To Mo Shrine is crowded with local residents and pilgrims from Malaysia and Singapore, all of them asking the gods for fortune, business success and good health. Built in 1952, it houses a carved wooden statue of the Goddess of the Ocean along with her old joss stick pot that was moved from the original shrine on To Mo Mountain after World War II, as well as sculptures of other Chinese deities.

To Mo Shrine in Sungai Kolok is popular with tourists from Malaysia and Singapore. 

The next day starts with a Southern-Chinese-style breakfast of bak kut teh with deep-fried doughsticks and dim sum, hot coffee and Thai tea.

Tummies full, we head to the Pikunthong Royal Development Study Centre in Kaluwo Nuea district and learn about His Majesty the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s soil aggravation project. Stretching over a 1,740-rai plot of land, the centre was established in 1982 and offers visitors a free 40-minute farm tour conducted by specialists.

Lush with towering local plants, it bills itself as a living museum featuring massive rice fields and demonstration plantations of Nam Hom coconuts, durians, 36 kinds of bananas, palms, citrus tangerines, Hom Kradang-nga rice and torch ginger flowers.

“Acid soil covers 1.7 million-rai of land around Thailand and 40 per cent is in the South. Some 900,00 rai have been developed already. Our centre conducts research to help local farms boost their output of agricultural products like Pattalung and Hom Kradang-nga rice,” says specialist Anurak Buaklekly.

“Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn has also set up a botanical garden to research and interbreed 60 kinds of purple plants and flowers as well as economic crops like paco, cucumber, Chinese kale and pak choi.”

Visitors can walk along a long bridge to explore the swamp forest and say hello to the very tame goats at the open farm or check out the soil museum that combines acid soils from around the country. There’s also a unique collection of handicrafts, garments and home furnishings from a local community on show and for sale.

A SHORT TRIP AWAY

>> Thai AirAsia and Thai Smile offer daily flights between Bangkok and Narathiwat.

>> Pa Eng shop is in Jehhe Market, Tak Bai district and open daily from 8am to 5pm. Place an order by calling (073) 581 145.

>> Pikunthong Royal Development Study Centre is in Kaluwo Nuea district. Admission is free. Call (073) 631 033 or visit http://www.Pikunthong.com.a28.readyplanet.net.