Attractions

Attractions

[Published on 2011-10-28 in Attractions by Jesse Schule]

The Island Of Phuket

One of Thailand's Most Popular Beach Resort

Since the 2004 South Asian tsunami, the Island of Phuket has become a household name worldwide. These days Phuket is one of the most popular beach resorts in the world, with an estimated 8 million visitors expected in 2011. Phuket has changed a great deal since 2004, with several new luxury resorts, giant shopping centers, and McDonald's and Starbucks on every corner. All this development has attracted a new breed of tourist, people coming to enjoy the tropical beaches and exotic nightlife without sacrificing familiar comforts like fast food and designers retail stores.

accommodation and entertainment in Phuket is much higher than it is in Pattaya

Nightlife is what draws many people to Phuket, and Patong Beach has a wild club scene that rivals that of Bangkok and Pattaya. Bangla Road in the heart of Patong is home to a handful of world class nightclubs, dozens of go go bars and hundreds of smaller beer bars. This is no place to take your mother, and definitely no place for children, Patong is a true sin city if there ever was one. There is no shortage of adult entertainment venues in Patong, and despite the law stating that bars and nightclubs are supposed to close at 1AM, the party goes on until the daylight hours.

Outside of the main beach resort of Patong, the rest of the island is far more laid back, more appropriate for couples and families. Over the hill to the south, Kata and Karon Beach are popular with Scandinavians, many of the Scandinavian owned guesthouses and restaurants fly Swedish and Norwegian flags, to welcome their fellow countrymen. The beaches at Kata and Karon are much more pleasant than the overcrowded and heavily polluted beach in Patong. There are jet-skis for rent, para-sailing and beach volleyball all laid out along the beautiful white sandy beaches.

Phuket is also home to many more pristine, less developed beaches that offer tourists an opportunity to get away from the crowds of the popular resort beaches. Located on the southern tip of the island, Nai Harn Beach has Le Meridian Yacht Club at one end, and the rock cliffs of Laem Promthep Cape at the other end. Nai Harn is one of the nicest, and least crowded of all the beaches on the island, and the nearby Promthep Cape is considered to be an ideal spot to enjoy a romantic sunset. On the opposite side of the Promthep Cape, there is a small beach with only a tiny patch of sand along an otherwise rocky shoreline, and this makes for some fantastic snorkeling.

On the north end of the island, close to the airport, there are several large beaches that are much less developed, the most popular being Nai Yang Beach and Nai Thon Beach. Most tourists never see the stunning scenery and pristine natural beauty of these quite beaches, however they are only about a 45 minute drive from the the main beach resorts of the Island. One of the most popular of all the beaches in Phuket is Laem Sing, located between Kamala Beach and Surin Beach. The only access to Laem Sing beach is through a steep set of stairs from high up on the hillside just off the main road. The crystal clear water at Laem Sing looks like something you would see in a travel magazine or on a post card.

Phuket is changing rapidly, growing larger day by day, and these days there is something for everyone. The only downside is that as Phuket grows and the number of visitors increases, so do the prices. The cost of food, accommodation and entertainment in Phuket is much higher than it is in Pattaya, and other Thai beach resorts. Phuket is one of the world's premier beach resort destinations, and as long as you can afford to spend a few bucks, it is a lovely place to spend your holidays.

[Published on 2011-10-14 in Attractions by Jesse Schule]

Medical Tourism In Thailand

When most people think of a holiday in Thailand, the first thing that comes to mind is likely the world class beaches, the weather, or the legendary hospitality of the local people. The advertisements in the travel brochures will showcase the country's ancient Buddhist temples, tropical sandy beaches and luxury beach resorts, however there is a growing number of tourists that are coming to Thailand for a very different reason. People are coming from all over the world to visit the country's hospitals for various surgical procedures that cost much less in Thailand than they do abroad. 

more international patients than any other hospital in the world

Medical tourism has been growing in popularity in Thailand over the past decade, as more medical tourists have been arriving each year. The quality of health care facilities and the low cost of surgical procedures draws a large number of foreigners into Thailand. Tourists come to Thailand for various cosmetic surgical procedures such as breast augmentation, facelifts and even gender reassignment surgery. With modern hospitals, state of the art equipment and doctors educated in the U.K. and North America, Thailand's affordable health care is attractive to people from all over the world. 

Leading the way is Bumrungrad International Hospital in Bangkok, treating more international patients than any other hospital in the world. In 2008 alone the hospital treated almost a half million foreign patients from over 190 countries. The staff at Bumrungrad International include more than 200 doctors that are educated overseas and board certified in the U.S., and many hospital staff are fluent in English language. Another major player in the medical tourism industry is the Bangkok International Hospital Group, with 15 hospitals spread around the country. The Bangkok International Hospital in the Thai capital of Bangkok boasts a medical center catering to Japanese patients, complete with Japanese speaking doctors and nurses. 

Many people may choose to travel to Thailand for surgical procedures simply because it might be more affordable than having the same procedure done in their home country, however Thailand is known for pioneering certain surgical procedures such as gender reassignment surgery. Thailand leads the world in sex change operations and Dr. Preecha Tiewtranon is the country's leading gender reassignment surgeon, preforming more than 3500 sex change operations over the past 30 years. Contrary to popular belief, over 80% of patients receiving male to female gender reassignment never lose the ability to experience climax during sexual intercourse according to Dr. Preecha. 

Aside from the surgical procedures available and the affordable cost of health care in Thailand, the same things that attract traditional tourist to Thailand also appeal to medical tourists. The tropical climate, affordable cost of food and accommodation along with the legendary Thai hospitality allow people to enjoy their stay in Thailand while recovering from surgery or medical treatment. Medical tourists traveling to Thailand are more than likely to return in the future as traditional tourists, coming to enjoy the beaches, the weather and the nightlife much like the rest of Thailand's annual visitors.

[Published on 2011-10-11 in Attractions by Jesse Schule]

Sukhothai Thailand

The Ancient Capital Of Siam 

Prior to the Ayutthaya period, the capital of the Kingdom of Siam was located at Sukhothai, which today is in central Thailand. During a period that lasted between 1238 - 1376, Sukhothai reigned as the first capital of the ancient Thai Kingdom. The origins of Thai language can be traced back to Sukhothai, thought to have been established by King Ramkhamhaeng. It is believed that it was during the reign of King Ramkhamhaeng that Thailland adopted the practice of Theravada Buddhism as the national religion. The period in which Sukhothai enjoyed it's reign over the Kingdom marks a coming of age for Thai culture and is a very important moment in the country's History. 

Sukhothai is is perhaps the most underrated of all the ancient sites in Southeast Asia

Today the ancient ruins of Sukhothai are recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, and the ruins of the ancient temples have since been restored. During the 1970s the government of Thailand began restoring the ruins, and in 1988 the Sukhothai Historical Park was opened to the public. Within the walls of the park, most of the temples have been restored to what is believed to be their original state, however there are various temples on the outskirts of the park that remain in a state of ruins. The park is an immaculate display of meticulously maintained gardens and man made waterways that provide a stunning presentation of the history of the former Thai capital. 

While Thai people may recognize the historical significance of Sukhothai, foreign tourists often overlook the former capital and choose to visit Ayutthaya instead. With the close proximity to Thailand's capital city of Bangkok, perhaps it proves to be easier to travel to, and this is why more tourists end up visiting Ayutthaya. If you ask anyone who has traveled to both sites, you will likely hear that Sukhothai is by far the more impressive of the two. The beautiful landscaped grounds and the near fully restored temples make for a photographer's paradise. Even the most amateur photographer will find that their photos look to be worthy of a postcard or magazine cover. 

Getting to Sukhothai is relatively easy from Bangkok, there are trains leaving several times per day heading north, and it will take roughly 6 hours to reach Phitsanulok. From Phitsanulok it is only about an hours drive to Sukhothai. There are plenty of buses and taxis offering service between Phitsanulok and Sukhothai. It is also possible to fly to Phitsanulok from Bangkok with one of the country's many airlines, however this will prove to be slightly more costly. There are no shortage of modest accommodations available in the town of Sukhothai, however tourists will find more luxurious hotels with more facilities in nearby Phitsanulok. 

Motor vehicles are prohibited within the historical park, and visitors are encouraged to use bicycles that are available to rent as the preferred method of transportation. In order to see the entire park, and all the ruins scattered on the outskirts, it would take at least a few days of pedaling around from site to site. Tourists will be charged a fee to enter the park, it is 150THB per person for foreigners, and slightly less for Thais. There are several ruins located outside the walls of the historical park that tourists may visit free of charge, with the exception of Wat Si Chum, also known as "The Temple Of The Bodhi Tree". 

While Anchor Wat is the undisputed Holy Grail of Buddhist temple ruins, Sukhothai is is perhaps the most underrated of all the ancient sites in Southeast Asia. With more tourists favoring Ayutthaya, Sukhothai is a lesser known gem that is overlooked by many, however should be given far more credit as a premier tourist destination. There are few places on the planet that rival the beauty and historical significance of the ancient ruins of Sukhothai.