Thailand is not a “dive your brains out, get the T-shirt and go home” kind of destination. In fact, the diving, as satisfying as it is, is only one facet of this amazing country. The best way to experience it is to allow some time for land tours once you’ve logged your dives.

A visit to a Buddhist temple will serve as an introduction to Thai culture, even for those who aren’t into architecture, history or religious icons. Guided tours are not necessary, but can be very informative. Be sure to observe local customs when inside temples. The elephant is the national symbol of Thailand. Elephants have played an important part in the country’s history, once carrying soldiers into battle to protect the kingdom.

Until the late 1980s they were vital to the logging industry, but now that the government has outlawed logging, most elephants are used in tourism. I found Phuket’s rain forest jungle to be especially exciting when viewed from atop an elephant’s back.

In addition to elephant trekking, there are several elephant parks throughout the country that offer shows and tours.

Many travelers to Thailand arrive in Bangkok, head south to Phuket, fall in love with the diving and beautiful beaches and never want to leave. Patong Beach is the place for watersports such as sea kayaking, snorkeling and parasailing, and is a top people-watching spot. Just a few blocks from the beach is a huge selection of restaurants featuring Thai and international cuisine and every manner of raucous nightlife. (Bangla Road, with more than 100 “go-go” bars, whose action spills onto the street, is not the place for those who blush easily.)

You could indeed spend an entire vacation along the peninsula, but the northern province, particularly the city of Chiang Mai, holds treasures of a different kind. Founded in the late 1200s, the city is regarded by Thai people as a national Shangri-La thanks to its historic temples, arts and crafts centers and lush landscape. A trip along the northern route reveals beautiful golf courses, an orchid and butterfly farm, waterfalls, elephant camps and numerous arts and crafts centers. Many of the souvenir items sold elsewhere in the country — pottery, silverware, decoratively painted umbrellas, lacquerware and woodcarvings — are crafted in art complexes around Chiang Mai. Fine silk garments and tailored clothes also make most visitors’ shopping lists.

When the touring and shopping is done, it’s time for a Thai massage. Dating back centuries, traditional Thai massage is a clothes-on style of massage that is reputed to be an effective cure for many ailments. The Wat Pho temple in Bangkok houses stone slabs and figures that depict various massage postures. Thai massage services can be found in every city, in most hotels and even under brightly colored umbrellas along Patong beach.

A variety of accommodations are available in every region, to suit every taste and budget. Vacationers can “go native” in a thatched roof hut or live it up in a glamorous high-rise hotel. With a favorable exchange rate, many travelers find that they can afford to upgrade to more luxurious hotels than they could otherwise afford at home.

With its vast natural beauty, rich cultural history and smiling people, Thailand’s exotic menu is a real palate- pleaser, no matter what your taste. I hope to go back for seconds.

source Reference : Dive Training Magazine
source Photo : h.neu's photos

ROYAL Phuket Marina's phase 2 development was officially launched at a round breaking ceremony, late last month, attended by island's governor, Narin Kalayanmit, and the marina's owner and developer, Gulu Lalvani. Located on the sheltered east coast of the island, the marina's phase two features an Aquamininum condo with private internal yacht berths incorporated into the design and a collection of 8 Royal Villas, which will open on to views of the marina.

The entire US$ 150 million Royal Phuket Marina project is due for completion in 2010. Phase 2 involves an extension to the marina itself with a new 'inner-marina' exclusively for the use of private marina residents, operated by a lock system allowing easy access.

The outer marina is already open for commercial use, comprising 85 wet berths and 40 dry berths.

Phase one has 66 condominiums and penthouses. Gulu Lalvani made his fortune in the telecoms business providing digital cordless phones from a base in the UK. He became a resident of Phuket 10 years ago and has spent his time developing the island first international standard marina.

The marina is double the size of any other yachting haven in Phuket, with 350 berths for yachts up to 30 metres long. It claims to be the only facility with a non tidal boat lock, deep water basin and private moorings on the doorstep of residences.

More information at Royalphuketmarina.com

Family name : Rhincodotidae (called Rhinodontes before 1984)
Order name : Orectoloboformes
Common name : Whale shark
Scientific name : Rhincodon typus

The whale shark, Rhincodon typus, is a slow filter feeding shark that is the largest living fish species. The shark is found in tropical and warm oceans and lives in the open sea. The species is believed to have originated about 60 million years ago.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

The whale shark is a the biggest shark and the biggest fish. It is NOT a whale. It has a huge mouth which can be up to 4 feet (1.4 m) wide. Its mouth is at the very front of its head (not on the underside of the head like in most sharks). It has a wide, flat head, a rounded snout, small eyes, 5 very large gill slits, 2 dorsal fins (on its back) and 2 pectoral fins (on its sides). The spiracle (a vestigial first gill slit used for breathing when the shark is resting on the sea floor) is located just behind the shark's eye. Its tail has a top fin much larger than the lower fin.

The whale shark has distinctive light-yellow markings (random stripes and dots) on its very thick dark gray skin. Its skin is up to 4 inches (10 cm) thick. There are three prominent ridges running along each side of the shark's body.

This enormous shark is a filter feeder and sieves enormous amounts of plankton to eat through its gills as it swims.

Foods for the whale sharks

Whale shark live on plankton and nearby invisible tiny living creatures, floating in the sea water. Whale sharks swim and open their mouths for water and plankton to run and strain them from the sea through modified gill rakers and release water through the gill slits on the side of the body. Whale sharks are thus known as harmless fish - - not hazardous to neitherman nor fish school around them.

Whale Sharks In Thailand: Where To See Them

One of the great things of diving from Phuket is the possibility of whale sharks. These great creatures can be seen not only around Phuket and Phi Phi by day trip but also in the Similans islands and the southern dive sites of Hin Daeng and Hin Muang. In fact, these last two dive sites have probably given divers the greatest chance of whale shark encounters in recent times. Although they can be discovered all year round the most likely time to see one is during the months of February to April when plankton blooms tend to occur. However, bear in mind that, as with all wild creatures, nothing can be guaranteed. It is just a question of being in the right place at the right time. Just ask the Open Water student who recently saw one on only his third open water dive!

source Reference : wikipedia.org & www.sharkeyscuba.com