Thailand Stories

My three day trip to the South of Thailand with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is now coming to an end. I had a great time doing product testing for quality tourists in Trang and Satun. The time went very quickly but at the same time it is hard to believe it has …

Our last stop on the 3 day TAT trip to the south was the Peninsuar Botanical Gardens in Amphoe Muang, Trang. The highlight here was the impressive canopy walkway that takes you up to the tree-tops. It is open every day from 8.30 a.m. to 3.30 p.m. It was built back in 2003, with six…

Our next stop on day 3 was the small island of Koh Khai. This is a picture of the speedboat that we have been using the last two days. It is owned by Sita Resort but our tour was arranged by Pink …

Our next island on day 3 of the TAT trip was Koh Tarutao. This is the largest in the group of 51 islands in the national marine park. It is 26.5 km long and 11 km wide. The island is covered in green rain forests and surrounded by sandy beaches. The topography…

Early on the morning of day 3 of our TAT trip to Trang and Satun, we sadly checked out of our beach resort after only one night. I would have loved to have spent longer on Koh Lipe, which is in Tarutao National Marine Park. Before leaving we went to do a site inspection of Sita…

This evening we checked in at the beautiful beachside resort called Bundhaya. It is on the island of Koh Lipe in the Tarutao National Marine Park in Satun. Koh Lipe is one of the few islands that has hotels and resorts. There is an old fishing village here too…

On day two of our TAT trip to do product testing for quality tourists, we checked out of our hotel in Trang and drove 90 minutes further south to Satun. Our destination was Pak Bara Pier which is the jumping off point for people who want to take a boat to Tarutao National Park. This…

A Thai soldier keeps guard during a pro-government rally in support of the government’s rejection of not agreeing to the anti-government ‘Red Shirt’ protesters request of dissolving parliament on April 24, 2010 in Bangkok Thailand. Thailand’s political crisis plunged back into deadlock Saturday after the…

Our final hotel inspection on day one of this TAT trip for the media and travel agents was Sevenseas Resort on the beautiful Koh Kradan. This hotel has 32 villas with beachfront views. The prices range from 6,000 to 15,000 baht. This island is blessed with powdery white sand and crystal clear water. After visiting this hotel we took the boat down…

From the mainland of Trang we took a speedboat for the short trip to the beautiful island of Koh Muk. Our destination here was Koh Mook Sivalai Beach Resort. This beachfront property has a total of 36 villa guestrooms. The white sandy beaches were complimented by the crystal clear waters. A great and safe place for …

As part of the TAT trip I am on, we have to do site inspections of some hotels along the way. This first one by the sea in Amphoe Sikao is called Anantara Sikao Resort & Spa in Trang This is the view from the deluxe suite. The swimming pool seen …

Pro-government supporters wave a giant Thai national flag in the crowd during a rally at the Royal Plaza in Bangkok April 23, 2010. “Red shirt” protesters offered a compromise to the Thai government on Friday a day after a series of grenade attacks in Bangkok, saying they would accept …

After all the stress of red shirt protests over the last month, I was happy to get an invitation from the Tourism Authority of Thailand to join them on a 3 day trip to Trang and Satun in the South of …

Thai army soldiers evecuate an injured foreigner after a blast was heard on Silom road in the financial district of central Bangkok on April 22, 2010. Two blasts were heard in Bangkok’s business district Thursday and one injured foreigner was taken away by ambulance, amid a standoff between rival protesters. (Getty Images) …

‘Red Shirt’ anti-government protesters hold protest placards during a demonstration outside the United Nations offices in Bangkok on April 22, 2010. Thailand’s ‘Red Shirt’ anti-government protesters appealed to the United Nations to send a peacekeeping force to Bangkok in the face of a threatened crackdown by the army. (Getty Images) More Thailand pictures…

This is the famous Erawan Shrine in Bangkok at the Ratchaprasong Intersection. Thousands of tourists and local people come to this shrine every day to pray and wish for good luck. It is always teeming with life. I have never seen it so …

A Pro-government protester uses a sling shot towards Red shirt anti-government protesters as tensions rise between both sides at Silom street April 22, 2010 in Bangkok, Thailand. The army have vowed not to let the protesters move warning that they will use decisive measures to…

This morning I attended a press conference at the Ancient Siam in Samut Prakan about the extension of the Sky Train route from Bang Ping to Bang Pu. The press conference was led by Suphot Suplom, the Director-General of the Department of Highways, seen here talking …

The movie is about the life of Ajan Noo the master of yantra tattooing. He first started to study about magic spells and yantra tattooing at the age of only six. His name became renowned as many people tried to test the efficiency of his ability even though he tried to avoid them. The …

Something that is happening in Thailand now is that a new group of people are emerging. Not Red or Yellow. They say that they don’t represent any colours. They say that they understand that there is a need for change. But they just don’t…