The Best Of Thailand | Travel in Thailand with Ashley

What do you have just outside the gates of Khao Yai National Park ?

The areas surrounding Khao Yai have become very fashionable European looking enclaves. This Italian complex below adjoins the Juldis Resort & Spa. A lot of Thai tourists seeking photo opportunities and simply a weekend out frequent these enclaves. The well heeled have begun to acquire their second or third residential property in Khao Yai's posh ozone rich real estate developments. Khao Yai is a far cry from what it was even five years ago. Let's hope that development is eco friendly though it is bound to come at the cost of the park's animal habitat.

 

Views from Khao Yai National Park

 

 

 

 

Go camping at Khao Yai National Park

If you are willing to give up the comfort of a hotel, try pitching a tent at the Khao Yai National Park with the stars as your ceiling and planet earth for your bed.  An experience that gives you the feel of the great outdoors but not one for the faint hearted. The Park has two camp sites. 

#1) Pha Kluai Mai 

I personally prefer this one as it gives you more of a feel of being in a National Park and if you avoid the weekends, you are likely to enjoy solitude here. 

#2) Lam Ta Kong

Some people say though that Lam Ta Kong is the better of the two sites. It's larger, a better variety of terrain to choose from, more water features & the food shop is probably better stocked.

As the sites are only a few km's apart, it's not too much trouble to check them out before deciding on where to picth your tent.

The toilet and bath facilities are decent and clean though they can get messy over long weekends and New Year. Forget about hot water though...you're better off staying in a resort if that is a must. 

There are many waterfalls in the area of the national park. The largest and highest waterfall is Haew Narok Waterfall, it is a highlight of this park that I think you shouldn’t miss it. It’s located at the south end of Khao Yai National Park. Some other waterfalls are Haew Suwat Waterfall, Wang Haew Waterfall, Kongkaew Waterfall, Pha Kloi Mai Waterfall, Mai Plong Waterfall, Haew Sai Waterfall, Manaw Waterfall, Tad Ta Phu Waterfall and so on. If you happen to visit for the day, at least go to Haew Suwat Waterfall, its easiest to reach just by car and beautiful. The Hollywood film "The Beach" was shot here. 

This is the restaurant block and you get basic meals here for a cost that will not exceed THB 50 per person per meal. They also have giant coolers with an array of non alcohalic drinks and water. 

You have a choice of bringing your own tent or renting one from the park authorities. I would rather bring my own tent though as the cost of buying a small tent for two is just under THB 1000. In comparison, the cost of renting could be as much as THB 150 a day. Add the hygine angle and buying becomes a clincher. 

 

Photo tour of the Reserve Villa at the Ritz Carlton Reserve Phulay Bay

12 villas. Size: 106 sq. meters (1141 sq. ft.) indoors; 246 sq. meters (2648 sq. ft.) outdoors.

Elegant and spacious Morocan style villa with tropical garden view, spacious beds (2 meters x 4 meters), walk-in wardrobe with wash basins, rainforest showers, indoor bath facilities, private plunge pool, garden and veranda with lounge beds.

Each villa’s layout varies slightly.

Best of Thailand: Toscana Valley Khao Yai is an ideal place to retire in Thailand

If you are into nature and are looking for a retirement home that has great ozone cover, look no further than Toscana Valley. And yes, a very fat bank balance would help you to buy a home here.

Toscana Valley Club House & Restaurant

Welcome to the ultimate  luxury living at Khao Yai's  most exclusive private community - Toscana Valley. Inspired by Tuscany in Italy, you'll reside in nearly 2000 acres of rolling hills, lakes, vibrant silky oaks and junipers. Enjoy the finest valley-style golf unique to Asia. Explore vast tropical mountainside on horseback. Grasp truly unique moments offered by the relaxing landscape. Or have an Italian meal at the  grand clubhouse and soak in the view.

Explore the Best of Thailand at the Toscana valley.

Is Pa-La-U waterfall in Hua Hin worth a visit ?

It really depends upon whether you are looking to relax or get physical. When you opt to go to Pa-La-U, you are signing up for some serious exercise. The Waterfall which is one of the largest in Thailand with 16 levels is part of the Kreang Krachan National Park and is located about 60 kilometres west of Hua Hin town. It is part of a nature reserve that is over a 1000 years old. 

The issue is that most  tourists do not make it past the 2nd level because of the level of difficulty. You need trekking shoes, shorts or swimsuit and also need to be in decent physical shape. 

As you can see from these photographs which was a Pathfinders group, clients will still wear their national costume and this makes getting beyond level 2 complicated and possibly even dangerous. 

The drive from Hua Hin to Pa-La-U itself is very picturesque through pineapple country with the hills of Myanmar as the backdrop. 

Here is a natural pool at level 3 with wild carp.

This sensible lady decided to camp at base camp level 1. 

Butterflies are a nice surprise and they do not get disturbed easily. 

So is Pa-La-U worth a visit ?  

 

Fancy riding an elephant in Chiang Mai?

 

One thing you must do when in Chang mai is go on an organised elephant ride into the hills and jungle that surround the city. easily organised (so many tours arranged in Chang Mai) that can either be on its own or spend a full day incorporating visits to local villages, trekking and waterfalls. Make friends with your Elephant, he will remember you the next time....

What most tourists do on Chiang Mai is  to book a tour to one of the nearby elephant camps. I went to the camp in Chiang Dao, about 30km north of Chiang Mai. To reach the camp you must cross over a river on a rope bridge before walking through the forest to the training area. First, the elephants are bathed by their trainers, or mahouts, in the river. Then the elephants perform for the audience by hauling and rolling logs. Afterwards, you can take an elephant ride through the forest. I enjoyed the elephant ride the most, although it was rather bumpy, and I enjoyed seeing the baby elephants up close in their pens. This is definetly a touristic experience, but it is a little more authentic than visiting elephants at your local zoo.

Bamboo rafting in Chiang Mai is a relaxing and nostalgic soft adventure activity

Be sure to ride a lazy bamboo raft down one of the rivers. It's relaxing and nostalgic.Plan on getting wet!! The local children have no fear when it comes to splashing tourists coming down the river. In fact, I suspect they plan their day around it!!!

The Mahout family unit is as important as the elephant conservation project

Wife and children of the Mahout

Children of the mahout at play

An elephant at Mae Taeng in Northern Thailand

The Mahout here whose name was Somchai made all the difference between the "elephant experience" and an "elephant ride" to the clients in the picture above taken at Mae Taeng. Somchai grew into this profession from the time he was a lad. He stays just next to the elephants in a little mahout community. 

A mahout is a person who drives an elephant. The word mahout comes from the Hindi words mahaut and mahavat. Usually, a mahout starts as a boy in the 'family business' when he is assigned an elephant early in its life and they would be attached to each other throughout the elephant's life.

The most common tools used by mahouts are chains and the Aṅkuśa (or ankus, anlius)–a sharp metal hook used in the training and handling of the elephant by stabbing the elephant in the head, and in areas like the mouth and inner ear, where the animal is most sensitive.

Deeply rooted in Thai culture, elephant training has traditionally been a familial heritage passed down through the generations. Before 1989, most domestic elephants were used for logging business and forest service to haul logs up mountains. This became illegal as widespread destruction of Thailand's forests resulted in worsening monsoons. Unlike the elephant populations of India and Africa, 95% of Thailand's elephants are domesticated working elephants and privately owned. Today most work for mahouts is in the tourist business, since elephant rides are popular among travelers to Thailand.

In Thailand, tame elephants are regarded as a type of livestock and are not covered under Thailand's Conservation Act of 1992. If legally owned, there is minimal protection or welfare for them under Thai law.

The Elephant Nature Park in Northern Thailand aims to "provide a sanctuary and rescue centre for elephants". The majority of the elephants at the park were rescued after sustaining life-threatening injuries from phajaan. Most of these elephants have permanent physical and mental injuries, including blindness, broken backs or legs, abscesses, and post traumatic stress.

Similarly, the Elephant Refuge and Education Centre (EREC) run by the Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand, provides a refuge for elephants who have been rescued after decades of backbreaking work - formerly in the logging industry, but more recently in the tourist industry, working in camps and begging on the streets.

 

 

Yachting using Pattaya as a base can be a fun activity for the entire family

Pattaya has been associated with plenty of activies and yachting using Pattaya as a base can be a fun activity. Did you know that Pattaya has a superb marina called Ocean Marina ?  Ever thought of chartering a yacht and heading out for the deep blue ?  

 

In the marina here, you can see sail boats and yachts of different sizes that belong to the rich and adventurous. I went out in a yacht that belongs to the owner of the Thai Garden Resort. This one though is not for rent as it is for the personal use of the owner and his friends. I am sure that there are rentals out there though and this is something you might want to try. Set out for the islands around Pattaya. We went to Coral Island (Koh Larn) but you could set out for longer trips such as Samet Island or some of the islands that belong to the Thai navy. Drop anchor and laze away the day.  Jump over the side like we did and float in the waters of the Gulf of Thailand. 

The boat has 4 decks with 3 cabins including a master cabin that sits below the captain's cabin with faboulous views on all sides through tinted windows. 

There are two sets of controls on two levels. This is the upper level where you can take in the view while letting the ocean's gentle breezes play on your face and the other is an enclosed cockpit like cabin where you have instrument panels surrounding you. 

Here is the Yacht's open air dining room. All in all a great way to experience the sea and appreciate the beauty that Pattaya offers in a family setting.