PHUKET CITY: The incessant rain today did not stop Phuket City’s ethnic Chinese from turning out en masse to pay their respects to the dead on the first day of the annual “Por Tor” festival.

The festival, officially opened by Phuket Governor Niran Kalayanamit at 1 pm, saw hundreds lighting joss sticks and offering cakes in the shapes of turtles, the Chinese symbol of longevity, from 10 am to 6 pm. Stalls selling food, snacks and handicrafts have been set up along the road, many with turtle cakes on display. The turtle cakes are not for sale, though many are given away as a way to make merit. A large screen has been set up to show movies tomorrow evening. Although the movies are being shown to honor the dead, the living are invited to come and enjoy them too.

The festival is being held between Suriyadej Circle and Jui Tui Shrine on Ranong Rd, which is closed to traffic until Friday.The festival will conclude on Friday with a ceremony at Bang Niow Shrine on Phuket Rd, just south of Ong Sim Phai Rd.

source Reference : phuketgazette

Thailand has some of the world's most incredible beaches. Whether you're in the Andaman Sea on Thailand's Indian Ocean coast or the South China Sea on the Pacific side of Thailand, opportunities abound to play in the sand, snorkel, swim, dive and sun bathe (perhaps in the buff in a few locations). There are other things to do in Thailand, but the country's beaches are a huge attraction for foreign tourists.

1. Phuket: Pearl of the Andaman
Thailand's most popular beach destination. The island includes several nice beaches and access to small nearby islands. Patong Beach is the most popular beach on the island. Kata Noi and Kata Yai sit next to each other near the town of Karon on Phuket. There are a number of other beaches. The island also has golf courses and a great nightlife.

2. The Phi Phi Islands
In Krabi Province, south of Phuket and west of the town of Krabi in the Andaman Sea, the two main islands of this cluster are beautiful examples of tropical paradises. Leonardo DiCaprio's movie "The Beach" was filmed here. The islands have been restored since the 2004 tsunami all but destroyed them. There are some excellent beaches, great snorkeling, a pretty good nightlife, and 1500 hotels rooms.

3. Rai Le Beach
Located in Krabi Province, this beach is divided in to East Rai Le and West Rai Le beaches. East Rai Le includes an area of mangroves and mud flats. West Rai Le is the more popular tourist destination. It is a marvelous sandy beach and includes some areas where rock wall climbing is popular. (A note on spelling: I've seen this romanized a vatiety of ways - Railay Beach, Railey Beach, Riley Beach; it's all the same beach...)

4. Koh Samui
Thailand's third largest island and is among the country's most popular destinations. About half a million visitors each year come to Koh Samui. And with good reason: the long, white sand beaches and vibrant nightlife make it worth the trip.

5. Koh Lanta
Off the coast of Krabi, this is one of Thailand's least developed beach destination. There are almost two dozen pristine beaches. Basic accommodation of the island is cheap and easily available. You can find jet skis or go parasailing if you want. But peace and quiet are among the main attractions to this beach destination.

6. Hua Hin
Hua Hin was the first of Thailand's beach resort towns. In the 1920's King Rama VI brought the royal family here to escape the heat of Bangkok. When compared to the country's other resort destination, Hua Hin is described as "unspectacular and undistinguished" by one travel guide. But that could be another way of saying "family-friendly" or "relaxing." The beach is not an excuse for other attractions; Hua Hin's three miles of sea front is the attraction.
( King Rama VI liked the place so much that he built a summer palace called Phra Ratchaiwet Marukhathayawan, which is now a tourist spot.)

7. Koh Pha Ngan (Phangan)
Some excellent beaches exist on this island, but the main attraction to Koh Phangan is the monthly Full Moon Party that draws between seven thousand and ten thousand participants each month. The parties run dusk-to-dawn and including music and dancing, jugglers and fire-eaters, alcohol and (of course) swimming. The parties have been taking place every full moon now for about 10 years.

8. Koh Samet
In Rayong Province takes. It about two and a half hours to get to Koh Samet by bus from Bangkok. Then you have a ferry ride that lasts another 30 to 45 minutes. The trip is worth it. The tiny island some four miles off the coast is relatively untouched by development and is home to some of the most beautiful fine white sand beaches in all of Asia.

9. Pattaya
A nice beach, but the attraction really is that Pattaya has some of the best (meaning rauchiest) nightlife in Thailand. Walking Street is filled with go-go bars and clubs.

10. Koh Si Chang
Fairly close to Bangkok, the island has some pretty beaches. There is also an old summer palace that King Chulalongkorn used to take the family to, but if has been abandoned since 1893.

source Reference : Apply Now

Known as the 'jewels of the Andaman Sea ', the six islands in the Koh Phi Phi group are Phi Phi Don, Phi Phi Leh, Bamboo Island , Yung Island , Bida Nok and Bida Nai. The first is the only one inhabited; the rest can be visited on organised day trips from the mainland, or from Phi Phi Don itself. Phi Phi Island was made famous by the movie ”The Beach” a visit should be a top priority on any Krabi holiday. In a province filled with amazing and dramatic scenery, Phi Phi is even more amazing and more dramatic! Picture towering green cliffs, rising up from a glittering turquoise sea, and endless white sandy bays dotted along the shore, and you begin to have some idea of what awaits you here. But even after seeing the photos, the reality never fails to blow people away.

One is completely free of human inhabitants (Phi Phi Lei), and the other is without roads (Phi Phi Don). There’s no schedule, no hustle-and-bustle, no reason to be in a hurry.

Accommodation Guide :

If you wish to stay in Phi Phi to take full advantage of what the islands have to offer, this is possible in one of the many hotels and resorts on the largest island of Phi Phi Don. Bungalows are the accommodation of choice on Phi Phi; in fact, there aren’t many other options. The place is very kind to budget-minded backpackers – rooms at the one-star (or less) end of the rating scale far outnumber upmarket resorts – but there are a few havens of luxury for those who wish to experience paradise in style.

Travelling to Phi Phi is easy. Ferry services make return trips twice daily departing from Phuket and Krabi, with prices for one-way trips starting at 250 baht. A regular ferry service from Koh Lanta direct to Phi Phi also operates in the high season. Tickets can be booked at any travel agency or at the piers.

source Photo :
gkamin's photos
huskeydogg's photos

Phuket Surfing Contest 2007
on 31 August - 2 September 2007


Karon Municipality , TAT Phuket , Sport Ministry Phuket ,Kata-Karon Hotel's Business Association , KATA-KARON SURFING CLUB

Objectives of the Contest

- publicities on tourism for Kata-Karon Beaches and in Phuket Province, introduction to surfers specially during the months of August and September which is the end of current season and the beginning of the new tourist season.
- to promote and support tourists who love the challenge of board surfing
- to promote and support youth and general public to have interest in sports and physical exercises under the Government’s policy with the stress of keeping youth away from drugs
- to support water sports that are not destructive to the environment
- to allow surfers to modify use of surf board in rescue of tourists at sea

Participants

This year the organisers expect at least 120 competitors, most of them visitors who head for Phuket in the low tourist season just to surf. Last year, in addition to local surfers, the competition attracted about 80 participants from the UK, the USA, Japan, Australia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore and elsewhere.

Classes and Prizes

There are five classes as follows (with prizes in brackets):

• Long board open (8,000, 6,000, 4,000 and 2,000 baht);
• Short board open (8,000, 6,000, 4,000 and 2,000 baht);
• Grommet (4,000, 3,000, 2,000 and 1,000 baht);
• Girls (4,000, 3,000, 2,000 and 1,000 baht);
• Body board (4,000, 3,000, 2,000 and 1,000 baht).
• In addition, the top five competitors in each class will receive trophies.

The entry fee is 400 baht for the long and short board open competitions and 300 baht for the other classes. For more information or to enter the contest, contact Wallop Nadon by email to:
wallopsurfshopkatabeach@hotmail.com

Date, time & venue for enrolment : Friday 31st August 2007 from 09:00 hours onward at Kata Beach

Date, time & venue for Contest : from 31st August to 2nd September 2007, 08:00-16:00 hours at Kata Beach (contest for individual categories)

Anticipated result
1. At least 120 contestants from over 10 countries to participate, most of which will be tourists who visit with the purpose of surfing in particular such as tourists from Japan, England, United States, France, South Africa, Norway, Finland, Sweden, Australia, Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore.
2. Tourists becoming interested in physical exercise, especially in board surfing
3. Surfers may be able to provide assistance to tourists upon mishap at sea

source Reference : phuketsurfingcontest

Koh Lipe is located in the Thailand's most Southern province: Satun Province, in the Andaman Sea. The island lays about 40-50 km. from the mainland and is part of the Tarutao National Marine Park. Koh Lipe is a small island, about 2 to 3 kilometers wide. There are 3 main beaches and a small Chao Ley village, all connected by small sandy paths. You can do a full island tour (at a leisurely pace) in less then 2 hours.

High season starts every year in November, when the first ferries start running from the mainland. The last ferry to the Thai mainland runs in May, when most of the places close for low season. From May to November there are ferries in the weekend to and from Langkawi island (Malaysia). There are about 500 to 600 bungalows on Koh Lipe and the island often fills up completely. People often have to camp on the beach for a few nights (some of the resorts rent out tents) until a room becomes available. During Christmas and New Year, Chinese New Year, Songkran and other Thai holidays the island is often booked solid and showing up without a reservation is pointless. December, January and February are the most busy months, with the weeks around Christmas and New year as a peak.

How to get here?
There are 4 places from where you can take a ferry so you need to get to one of these:

• Pak Barra: This is by far the most popular spot to take a ferry. In high season there are about 5 ferries a day to Koh Lipe, the last one usually leaving around 13.00h. All ferries from Pak Barra stop at Koh Tarutao.
• Satun: There is one daily ferry to Koh Lipe. In Satun you can also take a ferry to Langkawi.
• Langkawi (Malaysia): 2 ferries a day leave Telaga Harbor on Langkawi for a 1 hour trip to Koh Lipe.
• Koh Lanta: A speedboat runs every other day between Koh Lanta and Koh Lipe, stopping also at Koh Ngai, Koh Muk and Koh Bulon.

There is no pier on Koh Lipe

The ferry you arrive with will moore at one of the buoys spread around the island. Where exactly depends on the company, type of boat, tides and weather conditions.

The local Chao Ley will come with their longtail boats and take you anywhere on the island for 50 baht per person. If you don't know where you are going you usually get taken to the closest beach. The prominence of Li Pe lies on the natural beauty of colorful corals around the island. Particularly fascinating are the ones in the front of the island where visitors can see mazes of colorful corals and exotic tropical fishes under the clear water, a site comparable to a giant aquarium.

source Reference : SongkhlaTourism.org & Koh Lipe Thailand
source Photo :
kicapu's photos

Argenberg's photos

November to May is the season for diving in the Andaman Sea. If you would like to fully experience the tropical skies, sunlight and clear undisturbed waters, February to April is best. April to October is the dive season in the Gulf of Thailand. The best Time is between August and September.

source Photo : Tourism Authority of Thailand

source Reference : andamantimes.com

Surfing is becoming a popular sort among tourists and locals in Phuket, doubling as a great business opportunity during the Green Season.

Although it may be the low, Monsoon or Green season, the atmosphere on Kata Beach in Phuket seems otherwise as many European and Middle Eastern tourist are still seen in abundance, swimming, sun bathing and surfing.

Locals and tourists enjoy surfing the waves on Kata and other beaches that have waves only the Monsoon season can provide, since the high season seas are flat. Surfing is therefore a popular pastime from May to October and is becoming an activity that is gaining popularity with riders, as more surf rental stalls are seen along the beaches, according to Andaman News.

Although an owner of one surf board rental stall in Kata says that this year the waves and winds in the sea have reduced a bit and so less tourists are renting out boards when compared to last year, with around 50-60 people renting a day, this is still a fairly high number, and enough to generate income for locals during the Monsoon Season.

Despite seeing the waves at Kata Beach as much smaller and less powerful than beaches down under, a New Zealand tourist said he still enjoy the surfing here as it’s still a good combination of sun and waves.

Surfing in Phuket is not just a business; it’s a lifestyle and community of close knit friends that welcome people from all walks of life, as long as they have a love for surfing.

Surfing’s growing popularity in Phuket can be witnessed just by taking a look at the surfing competitions being organized with the main annual one coming up on the 31st of August till the 2nd of September.

One of the main organizers of the Surf Competition in Kata Beach khunWallop Nadon is busy preparing for the event with surfers from around the globe participating in the event, not to mention local surfers including Phuketsurf.com shop co-owner Noppasit ‘Kho’ Bunchuai. The competition will include different divisions from long to short boards, grommet and body boards and a beginners division with surfer girls and Phuketsurf.com shop co-owners Kulab Boonchareon (Ying) and Winna Nernnila (Joom) coming in 4th and 5th place respectively last year.

Surfing in Phuket really has its own community of like minded surfers having a place to meet and socialize and its popularity can only grow with a surf documentary movie made by Thai surfers having come out this year, being the first of its kind to feature surfing in Thailand.

source Photo:
Michael Sze's photos

The Koh Adang and Koh Rawi are located 60 km. from the mainland near the Mu Koh Tarutao National Park. these two gems offer visitors serenity, fantastic beaches, scuba diving, and a glimpse into the lives of the island locals, which can be reached by boat and offer clean water for both swimming and scuba diving. At the end of the day you can retire for the evening at Koh Adang or Koh Li Pe.

KohAdang :Mu Koh Tarutao National Park Ranger Unit is located in Koh Adang. Tourists can find accommodations shaded by pine trees and beaches suitable for swimming and camping. There are many restaurants, which serve food at reasonable prices. Opposite Koh Li Pe are long white sand beaches where you can bask under the midday sun. From the viewpoint, you can see Koh Li Pe surrounded by the deep blue sea.

Activities :

Snorkelling Diving

Scuba Diving

Activities on Beach

Camping

Passengers are dropped off at Adang's Information Centre, and can find activity resources and accommodation information from rangers who speak varying levels of English. There's an information panel that describes some of the varied colourful coral around Koh Adang: Some look like Flower, Mountain, Deer or Cabbages. Snorkelers and divers with lesser imaginations still rave about the coral formations around Adang, which have been reasonably well protected. One traveller recently noticed a group of youngsters trampling coral as they learned to swim atop the reefs, though.

How to get here :

There are public boats departing daily from Pakbara to Tarutao and on to Li Pe (near Adang) during the touring season. The boat ride takes approximately four hours.
To contact the Mu Koh Tarutao Marine National Park call: 0-7472-9202-3

source Reference : Tarutao National Park
source Photo :
phimmy1185
Scruffy Dan and Breanne

A short getaway in the tropical island of Phuket, this program includes a luxury accommodation at the Amanpuri (which means “peaceful place” and opened in 1988), two private Thai cooking classes in your villa and a romantic dinner cruise on the Andaman Sea on board a traditional junk-rigged schooner.

Day 1

Arrive at Phuket International Airport, meet with our representative and transfer by private limousine to the Amanpuri. Welcome drink. Dinner of fine Thai cuisine at the restaurant.

Day 2

American breakfast on the terrace of your private villa. The first cooking class is conducted by the villa chef. The lesson will be focusing on Thai appetizers and salads. After the class you will have a chance to taste the food you cook. In the afternoon, explore the island or relax at the beach. Sunset Cruise onboard June Bahtra. Overnight at the Amanpuri.

Day 3

American breakfast on the terrace of your private villa. The second cooking class concentrates on the traditional main courses and desserts, including tips of Thai culinary art and culture. Afternoon at leisure to relax and have a Thai traditional massage in your villa. Overnight at the Amanpuri.

Day 4

American breakfast on the terrace and rest of the morning free at your own leisure. Check out. Transfer to the airport by a private limousine.

Amanpuri Is Situated Above Pansea Beach On The West Coast Of Phuket Island And 25 Minutes Scenic Drive From Phuket Airport. Forty Thai Style Pavilions Are Interspersed Among The Coconut Palms While A Small Selection Enjoy The Best Views Of The Andaman Sea. They Feature An Outdoor Sala - King Size Bed - Separate Bath And Shower - Safe And Air Conditioning. Two Restaurants - A Thai Style Terrace Facing The Main Pool Features Thai Cuisine And An Enclosed Sala Facing The Beach Offers A Fresh Italian Menu. Other Facilities Include A Gym - Library - Gallery - Boutique - Tennis Courts - Water Sports And A New Created Standalone Spa.

ACCOMMODATION

Forty pavilions and 30 Thai villa homes are interspersed throughout the coconut grove. The resort’s pavilions are 115 square metres each, including the private outdoor terrace. Pavilion rates are determined according to view and location.

All pavilions feature an outdoor sala, a king-size bed, separate bath and shower, refrigerator with fully stocked minibar, electronic safe, stereo CD cassette system, IDD services and wireless broadband connections, also available in public areas of the resort, and air-conditioning. Pavilions 105 and 103 enjoy the best views of the Andaman Sea.

source reference : Tourism Authority of Thailand
source Photo :
B-listed

Kamala Surfing Contest 2007
will be on 25-26 August

* Shortboard Division
* Longboard Division
* Bodyboard Division

This north end of Kamala's northernmost beach is a beach break with stable sandbanks, due to the reefs. Here, there are consistent waves of up to three metres and they build up the closer to shore you get.

Details: Variable winds with swell up to three metres. There is a point break for experienced surfers.

Entry Fee 300THB (party and t-shirt included)

Click here for online entry

Organizer: Kamala GO Surfing Club & Phuket Boardriders Club

Most of Koh Samet, including all of the good parts, is a national park and has an entry fee. Foreigners pay about 400 baht - a classic example of Thai dual pricing. If your ferry arrives at the main pier and you take a songthaew (local open air taxis) to the beaches, there will be a stop at the main ticket checkpoint. If your ferry arrives at one of the beaches, an officer will collect the fee as you step out of the surf. Note that there is plenty of foot traffic in and out of the park to the 7-Eleven, ATM or other shops and restaurants and if you have no bags you can nonchalantly walk into the park without anyone checking your ticket. There is a road via the temple which avoids the checkpoint entirely.

The 1st class bus from Bangkok's Eastern Bus Terminal (Ekamai) to Ban Phe usually takes just over 3 hours, costs 276 baht, and terminates opposite the ferry piers (there's no direct service to Ban Phe from Moh Chit - nearest alternative is to Rayong, from there you can take a Song Thaew to Ban Phe). If you take a regular bus from Pattaya or Sattahip, you'll need to take a songthaew or charter a tuk-tuk to the ferry piers. Minibus services go straight to the piers.

Ferries from Ban Phe to Koh Samet take around 30 to 45 minutes. Only buy a one-way ticket, as there's no discount on round-trip tickets and you won't have to worry about losing it. The ticket sellers may also offer to sell you the national park ticket - don't bother.

The nearest airport fielding commercial flights is U-Tapao, just east of Sattahip - about 45 km from Ban Phe.

Many of the resorts and guest houses around Hat Sai Kaeo (Diamond Beach) - the most developed beach on the northeast cape, are linked by a local path. Diamond Beach is also only a 10 minute walk from the ferry port at Na Dan. You can also hike the shoreline path between beaches. This tiny island (about 7 km long, and 5 km wide) lies about 6 km off Thailand's east coast in the province of Rayong. Ferries leave the small fishing village of Ban Phe (about 20 km east of Rayong town) to Koh Samet daily from 06.00 - 17.00 hrs. The trip takes about 30 to 45 minutes depending on which part of the island it goes to. It's possible to hire a local "long-tail" boat which makes the trip in about half the time. There is also a 20 baht entry fee to the National Park.

Traditional on almost every South-East Asia beach, Ko Samet has started featuring "Full/Half/Dark Moon" nights. These should not be confused with the massive Full Moon Parties on Koh Pha Ngan or other parts of Southern Thailand - here they are simply an excuse for drink specials, which are present every night of the year anyway.

Source Photo :
Kris_B
lubow

PHUKET: This year’s green season has seen a healthy increase in the number of holidaymakers visiting Phuket, said Suwalai Pinpradab, director of Tourism Authority of Thailand’s (TAT) Southern Region 4 Office. Hotel occupancy rates are reportedly about 80%, marking a 20% to 30% increase on last year, with Patong being one of the busiest places on the island, according to TAT figures.

Phuket Tourist Association (PTA) President Maitree Narukatpichai reported that the PTA’s statistics were less impressive but he was still happy with the situation, saying that hotel occupancy in Phuket was currently between 60% and 70%.

K. Maitree told the Gazette that hotels such as the Holiday Inn Phuket Resort and the Phuket Merlin Hotel are operating at up to 90% occupancy. Hotels in Kata and Karon are running at about 50% occupancy, while Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort and Spa is at 60%, he added.

Methee Tanmanatragul of the Thai Hotels Association Southern Chapter said, “The occupancy rate has increased partly because there are more Middle Eastern and Indian people visiting Phuket.”

Other reasons for the busy green season include other Asian source markets, such as Hong Kong, China and Taiwan, experiencing particularly hot seasons; TAT’s tourist-enticing roadshows held in Middle-Eastern countries; and more direct flights serving Phuket from places including Australia, Hong Kong and Taiwan, said K. Suwalai.

“We are all doing our best to promote tourism during the green season. For example, for Phuket Walk & Run on September 30 we have been working with 21 Japanese tour operators to sell about 500 packages for people to visit Phuket. The Japanese like this kind of sport,” added K. Suwalai.

“Tourism in Phuket has been gradually improving since the tsunami. I think that next year will be even better, especially with more charter flights from places like Scandinavia,” said K. Methee.

source reference : Phuketgazette Click to read more.
source Photo : Me!! :D