Travel Journals

The Empress makes her grand entrance onto the city’s competitive convention-centre scene

Chiang Mai’s Empress Hotel rolled out the red carpet for the opening of its modernist-inspired Empress Convention Centre (ECC) last week. Located on Chang Klan Road, just 10 minutes by car from the Tha Pae Gate and a short walk from the Night Bazaar, the three-storey ECC is right next to the Empress Hotel.

With sophisticated technology and space for 1,500 delegates, the Empress is a fresh contender for the best convention centre in Chiang Mai.

“Unlike the many convention halls or function rooms in town that are part of hotels, the ECC stands alone, but with a hotel next door,” says Kanog Suvannavisutr, general manager of the Empress Hotel. “We’re very versatile. The ECC can handle meetings for 10 people or expos for a thousand.”

The modernist/minimalist complex is designed to deliver a wide variety of productive, stimulating and rewarding engagements. The convention hall boasts 980 square metres of open, pillar-less hall space and 660 square metres of meeting area. Read More

Home to Thailand’s largest fresh seafood markets, Samut Sakhon has a few other attractions to offer the weekend tourist

A seaport that 140 years ago was a base for the British operators of the country’s largest sugar factory, Samut Sakhon is now known for its salt farms, seafood factories and hardworking Burmese labourers.

Yet the province really owes its fame to just one man, Phan Thai Norasingh, a royal oarsman. In 1704, while trying to manoeuvre the royal barge, the Ekachai, through a 90-degree turn on the Khok Kham canal, Norasingh collided with a large tree.

The king, Phra Chao Sua, who was onboard for a private fishing trip to the mouth of Tha Chin river, did not complain as no one was hurt. But putting the king’s life on the line was punishable by death, so the oarsman proposed his own execution on the spot.

Impressed with his honesty, the monarch refused. But Norasingh insisted upon an actual beheading, so the king complied and had a shrine built in his honour on the river’s bank. He also ordered the digging of a new canal - Khlong Mahachai - to eliminate the sharp bends of Khok Kham.

Just 36 kilometres from Bangkok’s southern suburbs, Samut Sakhon - still known to many by its old name of Mahachai - is not usually considered a must-see destination, though it’s long been popular with seafood lovers in search of gourmet dinners at reasonable prices.

With factories everywhere, a haphazard network of poorly maintained roads and a city that’s grown without proper planning, Samut Sakhon is chaos at its most animated, so do take a map.

Shrines to the legendary oarsman can be found in several different spots, making it difficult to identify the original, so most interested visitors end up going to them all. Many locals point to the wooden shrine at Wat Khok Kham, one of the oldest temples in the area, which also sports the remnants of an old hardwood boat salvaged from the canal. While the temple is by one of the sharpest bends in the canal, there’s no proof that this is where the accident happened. Read More

India is a country of fairs, festivals and celebrations, There is no season in India without its particular festivals and festivities. They make life enjoyable and colourful by breaking the drudgery and monetary or routine life. Dipawali or Diwali is a major Indian festival observed with much enthusiasm, gay abandon and good preparation. It comes every year after rainy season in the Hindu month of Kartika (October - November). During this age-old festival there is festivity everywhere and people enjoy to their hearts’ content. The festivity is all pervasive and all the communities take an active part in the celebration.

During Diwali, days houses, shops and establishments are thoroughly cleaned, white-washed and repaired and then tastefully decorated. All over the cities, towns and villages there are meals and fairs and special shops are set up to sell sweets, fire crackers, lamps, pots and pans, fruits, flowers, toys, gift items etc. People are on a buying spree and purchase a lot of things including sweets, jewelery, new clothes and costly gifts. The bazzars and fairs are overcrowded and the businessman have excellent sales and profits.

It is an occasion of merry-making, exchange of sweets, gifts, greetings, good-wishes and for asking forgiveness from one another. At night earthen lamps are lit, fire-crackers burnt and visits are paid to friends and relatives. The exchange of pleasantries, gifts and sweets etc. give the much needed relief from the tensions, worries and routine of daily life. But gradually the earthen lamps are being replaced by candles and electric lights. This has affected the potter badly and his income has dwindled. The festival reminds us of Lord Rama’s triumphant return to Ayodhya after defeating Ravana of Lanka. On this day Rama was crowned as king of Ayodhya and celebrations were held on a large scale. And every nook and corner was lighted with lamps at night. During night Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth is worshipped and her blessings sought. The businessmen close their old accounts and open new books on this auspicious day. The Jains celebrate it because Mahavir, the 24th Tirthankara obtained Nirvana on this day.

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Thousands of people travel to China each year to see the architectural and historical wonders of the Great Wall. It is indeed, a sight worth seeing and a memorable experience.

There are many options for your visit to the Great Wall. Most of the sections opened to visitors are nearby Beijing and there are particulars to each of them. Some segments are rough and steep, others are easier and more accessible. Many offer cable cars or trolleys to get up, or toboggans and ziplines to come down. Investigate the different alternatives to fit your needs and interests before you head out there.

These are some of the options:

• Badaling Badaling was the first section to open for tourism more than fifty years ago. Because of its proximity to Beijing it is one of the most popular and where most tourist buses come. This segment has been fully renovated and there are plenty of handrails to help you up the steep parts. If you don’t feel like climbing and battling the crowds, there is a cable car that brings you about two-thirds to the top. For the trek down there is also a trolley that winds slowly down the mountain and gives you some really great views. To enjoy Badaling, get there early before the crowds start to arrive and by all means, avoid National Holidays.
• Mutianyu Mutianyu is slightly further away from Beijing than Badaling. It is also fully restored with plenty of guardrails. Here you have a chairlift and a cable car to help you up to the top. To come down you can also take the Toboggan, which unlike the Badaling trolley, consists of individual “sleds”. You control your own speed with the hand brake to zip down the mountain. Mutianyu is an excellent choice if you are traveling with small children or people with limited mobility. The facilities and conditions make for a comfortable ascent, it doesn’t get as crowded as Badaling and kids will enjoy zipping down the toboggan.
• Simatai and Jinshanling The Jinshanling and Simatai Sections are about a three hour drive from Beijing. They are a bit more remote and in a more natural state than the previous two sections. Many parts along these sections have not been restored or “fixed up” in any way. It gives you a more authentic experience but also a tougher trek. There are small cable cars to bring you half the way up in Simatai, but they don’t always run because of high winds, so be prepared to hike. The hike from Jinshanling to Simatai is a popular one. It is about 10 km. and takes about 4 hours. Be prepared for some tough terrain with loose stones and debris. Be specially careful if it is wet or raining. Needless to say you need to be in fairly good shape to attempt this hike. Bring a picnic and enjoy the spectacular scenery and peaceful surroundings. Towards the end as you approach Simatai, you will encounter a zip line to whisk you over the last couple hundred feet and over the river to the other side. There is also a hanging bridge to get over if you prefer.
• Juyongguan Juyongguan is the closest section to Beijing and is the most recently opened portion. It is still not too crowded since tour buses are still heading over to Badaling. This might change in the future. This segment of the wall is totally renovated and has a “new” feeling to it, so one common complaint is that you don’t even feel you are standing in a piece of history. The climb is a steep one and there are no cable cars to help you up on this one. But if you’re in a hurry, this is your best bet.

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Who has not experienced a situation such as this? After a long flight you arrive tired and hungry at your destination. You head down to the restaurant around the corner from your apartment in Rome and the food is not exactly the typical Italian food you had hoped for… Thus, it is best to research economic and delicious restaurants that are scattered around the area before arriving.

If what you are looking for is a true Italian restaurant, I can recommend August Da, which is an old and traditional place in Rome. Sit at one of the tables directly on the Piazza and the waiter will run over to put down a paper table cloth. If you do not understand what the prattling waiter says, tell him to bring you the plate of the day without thinking twice. It may be “coniglio” (rabbit), “pollo” (chicken), etc. The restaurant is open Monday through Friday and Saturdays at noon. Address: Piazza De ‘Renzi 15. How to arrive: Tram 8.

Da Giovanni is also magnificent. However, you must arrive early because the small and simple Osteria (porterhouse, and one of the last of its kind) is frequented by workers and locals, thanks to the home-made pasta and delicious wine. Open Monday through Saturday. Address: Via della Lungara 41a. How to arrive: buses 23 and 280.

Finally, I want to recommend the Gino e Pietro. It is a family restaurant, where Mamma Adriana is an amazing chef and Papà Pietro chooses the very best vegetables. The restaurant is always full of regular clients. Rudi VÃller went there once when he was playing for AS Roma. Open every day except Thursdays. Address: Via del Governo Vecchio 106. How to arrive: buses 62 and 64.

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My mother grew up in a canal community along klong (canal) Bangkok Noi, our ancestors having made their way down from Ayutthaya at the end of the Ayutthaya Dynasty. Although part of my life is connected to this community, I enjoy it most during a cruise.

While there are several options along the Chao Phraya River, I chose a Bangkok Noi canal cruise program departing Tha Chang Pier on Ratchadamnoen Nai Road. There are three packages available, the prices based on the duration of your trip.

I chose to take the one-hour option at 800 baht (US$24). Alternatively, you could take additional half hour additions at 200 baht per section. So a one-and-a-half hour trip costs 1,000 baht or a two-hour trip 1,200 baht.

This allows you the option of traveling further with fewer stops, or a more intense but shorter trip with more stops, including a temple or floating market along the way.

The 800-baht package left from Tha Chang Pier, crossing into Klong Chak Phra, then connecting to Klong Bangkok Noi. I was a little nervous about traveling in a long-tailed boat, but since the vessel looked safe and robust, I took the plunge, and off we roared to explore the canal.

I found the surrounding wooden houses along the canal particularly soothing and soon found myself venturing off back to my childhood, when we came along here to visit my grandmother. I often sat on her balcony and watched the passing boats, waving when the tourists passed by.

I was jolted back to the present by some youngsters playing guitars along the bank. They waved, but I was just too shy to wave back. Maybe next time, I thought. And before I knew it, another long-tailed boat passed by, filled with friendly faces. By now I had started to relax and waved back. Another boat had pulled up at a dock, its passengers enthralled by something.

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The beach is very attractive spot for summer. This is top 9 beautiful beaches of the world for you. Ready! Go!

1. Anse Source d’Argent

Most people believed that this beach is ‘Garden of Eden’, the attractive features are fine pink sands, granite boulders, and giant, arching palm trees.

Enjoy : Swimming, snorkeling, and scuba diving are ever-popular in these calm. The perfect time to visit is in May-September.

2. Grace Bay

Revered as one of the last frontiers of the Caribbean, Turks and Caicos is an oasis for those seeking to do little more than lounge on the beach. The fine white sand here is easily one of the finest swaths of beach we’ve ever seen in the Caribbean.

Enjoy : Snorkeling and scuba diving are very popular. Also check out for dolphin at JoJo island.

3. Ipanema

‘The Girl from Ipanema’, the famous song described about bathing beauty ladies who lounge and strut on this stunning stretch of sand in Rio de Janeiro. Even four decades after the song’s debut, trendsetting bikinis still set the standard here.

Enjoy : Besides the Capoeira dancers, volleyball games and soccer, there is a scantily clad ‘Cariocas’ (locals) command to attend.

4. Lanikai Beach

That Lanikai is considered the best swimming beach even by local Hawaiians should come as no surprise-after all, its name does mean ‘heavenly sea.’

Enjoy : A coral reef is offshore, making the surf relatively mild and ideal for splashing around as well as kayaking, sailing, canoeing, and windsurfing. Don’t forget to discover the twin islands-Mokulua and Mokumanu, the most beautiful scenery of sunrise in the world.

5. Manly Beach

This beach is best for people who love both beautiful beach scenes and sophisticated city culture. Enjoy all of the cultural goodies that Sydney has to offer and one of the world’s most alluring beaches, Manly.

Enjoy : The most popular activity is surfing. It also provides surfing competitions, beach volleyball, festivals, and much more unfold every summer.

6. Paradise Beach
If paradise means rambling golden sands met by the deep-blue Aegean, beach bars bumping with Euro tunes, bikini-clad bodies dancing on tables, topless girls sprawled on the sand, Paradise Beach on the Greek isle of Mykonos is it.

Enjoy : If you love music and party, then this beach doesn’t let you down.

7. Plage Malendure

Our favorite black sands are found on the dazzling shores of Plage Malendure, at the base of steep jungle-covered mountains and the towering, still-active La Soufriere volcano on Basse-Terre, Guadeloupe. The result of a 1976 volcanic eruption, which saw molten lava leave pearly black ash in its wake that now sparkles under the sun.

Enjoy : Snorkeling and diving exhibitions here visit an underwater world filled with abundant aquatic life and vivid coral and fauna.

8. Plage de Tahiti

The most famous of Plage de Tahiti is sunbathing because Hollywood celebrities like Brigitte Bardot and Beyonce love to come here every summer. That’s why is so crowded.

Enjoy : The northern beaches along the Baie de Pampelonne, is one of the best spots to bask on golden Mediterranean shores.

9. Trunk Bay

St. John may be the smallest of the three U.S. Virgin Islands, but it is home to Trunk Bay -an extraordinary beach that’s sure to leave the biggest impression of any on the three

U.S. islands. One of the most photographed-and photogenic-beaches in the world. Its attractive powdery sand offset by a verdant inland replete with palm trees and a turquoise shoreline drenched in the tropical sun.

Enjoy : Here is a perfect place for beginning snorkelers.

Source : Travel Gateway to Thailand