To give you some context, Thailand featured in my RTW trip as a final stop off to break up the flight home from Australia. I knew it as a country that featured as one of the original must travel locations and being a hub for the whole South East Asia region.  However I did regard this as a generic itinerary and therefore I had tailored a different trip, one that was a little bit unique and not a carbon copy of ones my friends had been on. Having said this, I still couldn’t resist sticking in a stop off, and thought 2 weeks would be enough to satisfy me. How wrong I was.

Bangkok:
First stop was Bangkok, heading straight for Koh San Road. The little advice we knew about Koh San road before we got there was to inspect the hostel room before committing, and satisfied with our final choice we hit the street.

This was something I was keenly looking forward to, but previous drinking holidays to Greek Islands meant I actually found Koh San Road to be shorter than I expected and the clubs to close too early. Granted, we had only arrived at 02.00am, so the following night we set out earlier and threw ourselves into the typical backpacking scene of buckets and Chang beer.

The lively market scene gave way to the expected nights revelries, and all in all the opportunity to meet up with people heading off in your direction and soak up some advice is very enjoyable. Be warned that extremely cheap Tuk Tuk fares to locations elsewhere in Bangkok usually mean you will be stung with heavy return fees or entrance costs to the intended venue.

A Couple of Islands:
The next day, following a tour of the city taking in the Grand Palace and a couple of the many Temples, we booked our trip out of Bangkok to cram in as much of Thailand as we could. This first involved heading south to see a couple of islands. This meant 4 days on Koh Phangan to take in the Black Moon Party (supposedly the same and as good as the Full Moon) for a lively party then Koh Tao for its beauty and a bit of a chill out.

Koh Phangan
Having been told that you have to pre book a hotel on the island for the Moon parties turned out to be over cautious. This may be due to it being the Black Moon (also known as the Dark Moon) instead of the Full Moon, but it was obvious there were plenty of spare rooms. Like all of Thailand, the hotel was great value and we definitely got more than we paid for. Scooters are useful as the island roads undulate heavily, which makes whizzing around exciting and picturesque. It is, however, built up making certain areas tacky, particularly near the party beach. However, the actual beach as an all-night party location is pretty special none the less.  The dark moon party, for those wondering if it’s as good as the Full Moon, definitely isn’t unless you like a smaller crowd and some pretty niche, dark techno music.

Koh Tao – An extremely beautiful island and less built up, Koh Toa offers brilliant diving and has an excellent beach bar and restaurant scene. The pace is more laid back than Koh Phangnan but you can still let your hair down with a reasonable crowd at night. In addition to the main beach there are also other coves to visit that are well worth it and will boost your photo album.

Heading Up North:
Back on board the overnight buses there was a long trip back to Bangkok, arriving at 07.00am and having to spend another day in Bangkok waiting for the next bus up to Chiang Mai. Arriving in Chiang Mai was a pleasant surprise as parts of the city are picturesque, particularly the moated areas and the mountainous back drop. We had a 2 day hill tribe visit and trek, with Elephant riding and Bamboo rafting to look forward to. If you are ever looking to book one of these be cautious, we were lucky in that ours was extensive but we met others who had only had about 20 minutes on the Elephants and the bamboo rafting had been cancelled.

The trek to the village took us through gorgeous, uninhabited jungle, and really showed us some of the best of Thailand. The trek guides kept us entertained at the village, which despite its lack of electricity still sold cold beer and refreshments.  Be prepared for rigorous exercise as trainers were definitely needed, as was sun cream and water. The Elephant Trek was a welcomed break, but the Elephants were spurred on by pelts of small rocks from the trainers, so some may be upset by this.

The following bamboo rafting was an altogether different experience. Longer and less buoyant than I had hoped, it was still extremely fun and amusing, particularly due to some over ambitious navigating. There is a guide with you but expect to get wet in what was a deep but calm, narrow river.

A Final Night in Bangkok:
Due to the scheduling of our flight and the buses we had to return to Bangkok for another night before leaving for London. The travelling had clearly eaten into our time in Thailand, which made 14 nights feel like a lot less. However, I had seen enough of it to drive a desire to return. There are many islands in the South left to be explored and the feeling that we’d only touched on what Chang Mai had to offer made me feel like I’d missed out. Thailand is heavily popular on the travelling scene, but for good reason and the many backpackers you meet are all a satisfied bunch. There is also the ability to escape the crowd, and if anything it is a great starting off point and introduction to South East Asia. Two weeks simply wasn’t enough, and our itinerary was as packed as it could be. Internal flights are available and may have sped things up, but it is easy to see why people spend longer here.

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About The Author:   Matthew is a keen travel writer and has added some awesome locations to his portfolio this year. He has already started planning future Thailand Holidays to visit more of the country.
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Dining is a special delight at the Koh Samui Resort with Head Chef Rattavadee Vachaviputt crafting delectable recipes exclusive to the resort.

Chef Rattavadee Vachaviputt was born and raised in the seaside community of Trang, Thailand.  Chef Vachaviputt brings both the flavors of Europe and Thailand to his dish of Spaghetti Aragosta (Italian for spiny lobster).  In his early culinary education, Vachaviputt learned to appreciate the abundance of fresh ingredients from both the land and sea, and looks to use local ingredients in his cooking whenever possible.

His dish of Spaghetti Aragosta brings together Italian classics that will please the international guests of Le Meriden Koh Samui Resort & Spa, but also incorporates local Phuket Lobster from the nearby Andaman Sea.

Recipe for Spaghetti Aragosta

Ingredients:

• Phuket Lobster 200 gram
• 1/4 cup of garlic
• 3 tablespoons and 1 teaspoon of olive oil
• 1/4 cup of tomato
• 1 ½ pounds of linguine pasta
• 2 sprigs of fresh parsley
• 2 sprigs of fresh basil and thyme
• 1 teaspoon of black pepper
• 1/3 cup of dry white wine
• 2 cups of light whipping cream
• 1 teaspoon of lemon juice
• 1 cup of premium Parmesan cheese

Preperation:

1)      Chop the lobster’s body into 2 pieces, then place the pieces in a heated pan with cooking oil, garlic, and salt for 30 seconds until the shell turns red.

2)      Remove the lobster from the pan put it in the oven to roast for 2 minutes.

3)      While lobster is roasting in the oven, heat olive oil and butter in a large sauté pan over medium-high heat.

4)      Add the garlic and cook it until is lightly browned (2 to 3 minutes) and add white wine, tomato, parsley, whipping cream and cheese until the mixture reduces to half.

5)      Once it is reduced, add the al dente pasta to the pan (reduce the heat while pasta is cooking)

6)      Take the lobster out of the oven and put it on the pan to cook over medium high heat.

7)      Add pepper, salt, and basil until the pasta is well coated and creamy.

8)      Remove the pasta from the pan and transfer to a plate.

9)      Place the cooked lobster on top of the pasta, and sprinkle Parmesan cheese and serve.

I’m ready to book my flights to Thailand and sample more of Chef Vachaviputt’s delights at the very indulgent Le Meridien Koh Samui Resort and Spa!

Most travellers visiting the Philippine Islands will fly into the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, which serves the two largest cities in the country: Quezon City and Manila. The Ninoy Aquino International Airport is also the Philippine hub for cities in Asia such as Hong Kong, Singapore, and Tokyo. The best way to plan a trip is by arranging a vacation package that includes your airfare, hotel, ground transportation and even recreational activities. 

Manila is perhaps the most familiar city in the Philippines and is the capital as well as the cultural and economic center of the country. The City of Manila’s incorporated history goes back nearly 500 years and like any other major international city, it has all sorts of interesting attractions to see and do. Among the top attractions in the city are the Intramuros or “Walled City”, which is located in the oldest portion of the city and close the city’s waterfront. The walls were built during the time of the Spanish rule and the area also features the Manila Cathedral, the San Agustin Cathedral, Fort Santiago and the Museum of the Filipino People. As you would expect in the country’s capital there are plenty of outstanding accommodations and quality ethnic foods all over the city. The nightlife is also on par with any major international destination. Manila and the Philippine Islands are also well known for its many interesting shopping malls.

Quezon City was the capital city of the Philippines for nearly 30 years and along with Manila, is on the island of Luzon. The city is home to the University of the Philippines, known to be the only “national university”, as well as the 2nd oldest church in the country, the San Pedro Bautista Church. Another important church in the city is the Binondo Church, in a section considered to be the oldest known Chinatown in the world.

Also on the island of Luzon are the majestic Mount Pinatubo and the scenic Pagsanjan Falls. Mount Pinatubo is an active volcano and the nearby Lake Pinatubo, is popular for hiking and biking. Pagsanjan Falls is one of the most famous waterfalls in the country and also a top tourist attraction. One of the top activities at the falls is an exciting canoe ride that leads to the falls. Another famous mountain in the Philippines is the Mayon Volcano, with its almost perfectly shaped cone, in the Bicol Region.

On the island of Nayong, the Banaue Rice Terraces is the top attraction and long considered to be the “Eighth Wonder of the World” and a World Heritage Site. The rice terraces were carved out of the mountain ranges thousands of years ago. Today the terraces are still used by the local rice farmers.

Another very popular tourist attraction in the Philippines is the Camp John Hay resort in Baguio City. This world-class resort is host to elegant accommodations, fine dining and a Jack Nicklaus designed championship golf course. Other recommended sites in Baguio City are the Bell Amphitheater, Liberty Park and the Mermaid Garden.

The Philippine Islands also have some of the finest beaches in the world and resemble many of the more familiar locations such as Hawaii’s Waikiki Beach or the beaches of Tahiti. Among the most popular beaches near Manila are the Kabayan Beach and San Juan Beaches but the best beach in the country may be the beaches of Boracay Island.  If you do visit Boracay, you will soon discover that the journey to this magical island was well worth the effort. 

As you can see, there are plenty of interesting attractions to see and do in the Philippine Islands. Not only are the major cities of Manila and Quezon fascinating, but the outlying areas of Nayong and Boracay are as well. By visiting the Philippine Islands, you will treat yourself to an unforgetable  vacation full of real wonders.

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About The Author:  Kathleen Hubert is a blogger who writes on a variety of different sites. Check out more of her work at Lahaina hotels.
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Photo Credits
#1 Manila – Flickr: Lon&Queta
#2 Intramuros Fountain – Flickr: akosihub
#3 Mt. Mayon – Flickr: Storm Crypt
#4 Banaue Rice Terraces – Flickr: Storm Crypt
#5 Baracay Beach – Flickr: Trent Stohm

About The Island
The island of St. Kitts is shaped like a giant turkey drumstick with rainforest peaks at its center, a ring road that circles the island, and an array of pretty beaches and bays along the narrow South East Peninsula.  Many of St Kitts’ hotels are located in the south east region where sun worshipers can find white-capped rolling waves along the Atlantic side or clear calm lagoons on the Caribbean Sea side.  Beaches are most often a smooth cappuccino color – dark volcanic sand underneath and golden grains on the surface.   Be sure to bring beach shoes along as the dark sand gets extremely hot.  My croc sandals weren’t quite enough…. I was doing a quick step all the way down the beach as sizzling sand seeped in the sides.  Thank goodness the water was lovely and cool  so I quickly headed for the lapping waves.

Although St. Kitts and Nevis have been claimed by France, Spain and England over the centuries, it’s British rule that won out.  Driving is on the left and you’ll meet a substantial number of visitors from the UK during your vacation.  St. Kitts is also home to a well respected Veterinary School, Nursing School and  Medical School, who all attract a diverse population of international students.  Don’t be surprised to see students walking past the hotel in scrubs.

The St. Kitts Marriott Resort

Smiling bellmen set the stage welcoming you into the St. Kitts Marriott Resort.  The large brightly decorated lobby invites you to wander through its center to the grand staircase leading down to the tiled courtyard below complete with whimsical replica sailing ship.   Beyond awaits several pools, lots of shaded lounge chairs, a variety of restaurants and a long stretch of soft sand  beach.  Our room was comfy and large, done up in traditional Marriott shades of calming pastels.  We chose the Blu restaurant on the waterfront to dine on our first evening and had a memorable dinner of 3 local fishes sauteed to perfection. Mornings found us chomping on a carrot nut muffin in the lobby cafe which were not only yummy, but totally big enough for two.

One laudable characteristic of this hotel is that it appears to be completely assessable for guests with mobility challenges.  We saw several guests making their way around the resort in  ‘Hoveround’ style mobility chairs and they appeared to be navigating all areas of the main hotel with ease.

View From Our Ocean Front Room

Everyone who enjoys a large modern resort style hotel with spa and golf amenities will feel right at home at the St. Kitts Marriott.  The Royal St. Kitts Golf Club is located along the entry road to the hotel and the hotel is noted for their great golf getaway packages.  While gambling isn’t top of my personal list of things to do, we did poke our head into the Casino and it appeared to be have lots of happy patrons.   Many of the guests we met were actually staying in the Marriott Vacation Club which occupies the space between the hotel and the beach.  Every one of the Vacation Club members we met were raving about St. Kitts units.

Buck-A-Beer Happy Hours & Rocking Beach Parties -
Who Knew St. Kitts Was A Party Paradise?
A test of a great island experience is as much about the kind entertainment you find as it is about beautiful scenery.  It turns out that Kittitans (what locals call themselves) are experts at throwing rocking beach parties and you’re invited.  Exuberant beach bars line  many of St. Kitts’ nicest beaches, so come “Limin” with the locals and try a Ting-With-A-Sting (grapefruit soda with rum, or I opted for vodka – way too good).

4:45 pm saw us walking out the front doors of the Marriott hotel for a brisk walk down to Frigate Bay where happy hour begins at the Timothy Beach Hotel’s Dock Bar promptly at 5:00 pm each day.  Grab your bar stool in the sun or shade and line up to watch a dramatic sunset as Clovis serves up Carib Beers for a buck! (Key West you’ve been knocked off my list of favorite places to watch a sunset).

As day falls to night, it’s a natural  progression down Frigate Bay visiting beach shack after beach shack searching for the best local grub – there are lots of contenders.  Mr. X’s Shiggidy Shack is a must on Thursday and Friday nights. On Thursday night arrive by 6pm to snag a table for the famous beach bonfire and firewalker dance.  We dug into heaping plates of fresh caught snapper spiced up with local seasonings, sensational yams and rice & beans. Yummy! We’ve heard the jerk chicken, ribs, and grilled lobster are delicious as well.  Next comes the floor show with the local fire eater – limbo man… and then a pumping band.  (It’s harder dancing in the sand than you might think – the more your foot twists the deeper you go!!) At midnight as we reluctantly called it a night, we’re told to come back on Friday when the Reggae party goes from dusk until dawn.  Phew…. I’ll have to do some serious beach napping at the Marriott to save up enough energy for that!

Other beaches and local joints worth a visit:
Taking the taxi ride to Cockleshell Beach is reason enough to go.  Beautiful hidden beaches are revealed as you traverse the winding mountain road making your way to the very end.  The offshore island of Nevis provides a constant scenic backdrop to your journey.  Arriving at Cockleshell, most visitors begin their visit with a cold drink at the Reggae Beach Bar where you’ll not only meet the bartender, but a menagerie of adopted pets as well.  Wilbur the 700 pound pig wanders by clearing everything in his path.  There’s a Ververt monkey, goats, horses, donkeys and who knows what else all vying for a spot in the shade.  Wander up the beach to find a colorful cockleshell and you’ll see the sand turn from volcanic black to pure white by the time you reach The Spice Mill – an elegant restaurant on the beach.  Snorkelers and scuba divers will want to head for Whitehouse Bay where two shipwrecks are located in less than 10 feet of water just offshore.

A Few Words About The Cruise Ships…..
I was disappointed to see just how much the arrival of cruise ships has affected the tourism product on St. Kitts.  (Sorry cruisers that’s my opinion).  On most days of the week you will find multiple ships  docked in Basseterre (capitol of the island) where the town has taken on the appearance of every other t-shirt happy cruise ship town from Alaska to Williamstead.  Just how many Columbian Emeralds are all you people  buying??  We asked about an island tour in Basseterre and were quoted $80 for a one hour tour.  We asked again from the taxi drivers near the Marriott and were quoted $80 for 3 1/2 hours!  This is a great example of the get-em in, get-em out, cruise passenger mentality that affects tour products.  Clearly both type of travelers need their services, but be sure if you’re a land traveler that you do some extra investigation and select tours that will get you off the cruise ship fast lane.  Also be sure to inquire about which days of the week fewer cruise ships are in port so you can visit sites without the crowds.

As we depart St. Kitts we have smiles on our faces as we remember the good times we’ve had, the friendly folks we’ve met and the delicious food we’ve consumed.  That’s a lot of good vibes for one destination.

Authorized Tiger Tours have failed to protect the population of tigers while attempting to bring tourists ever closer to their natural habitat.  Safari lodges have been built in Eco sensitive areas and some block the tiger’s traditional migratory routes.  Ever growing numbers of tours have resulted in tigers being herded by elephants to parade in front of a traffic jams of jeeps piled high with photo snapping tourists.  Worst of all, poachers have continually raided and killed tigers, which today almost guarantees the eventual extinction of tigers in India.

It is hoped that by taking the drastic measure of banning tiger sightseeing tours, the majestic Indian tiger will be able to repopulate their habitat undisturbed and rebuild their population.  What remains unknown, is whether the poachers will be able proliferate once attention is taken away from the tiger’s territory.  Many worry about what will become of the dozens of tour companies and their employees who live near the tiger reserves.  Will the tigers be left in peace to flourish, or without the spotlight of tourism will poachers thin the population to tragic levels?  This is indeed a very tentative and dangerous time for India’s tiger population.  Here’s hoping India can stabilize the population and prevent the eventuality when the only tigers that can be seen are in a zoo!

The folks at TheChinaGuide.com (an American managed/Beijing based travel company) offer a unique and intriguing tour to The Great Wall that includes a “Sleep On The Wall” experience.  (Less adventurous travelers can opt to stay in a traditional courtyard hotel at the base of the wall instead.)  The tour visits a section of the wall that is less frequented by tour buses, so you will have plenty of opportunity to roam.  Following dinner in the village and an evening hike along the wall, tour participants who opt to ‘sleep on the wall’ climb to a watchtower along with their guide, and bed down in a cozy sleeping bag with sleeping mat.  After a night of imagining you’re a trusty tower scout watching for an invading Mongol army, breakfast arrives (hot coffee, muesli and fruit) and it’s off for a 6 mile walk to discover more mysteries of the wall along with your guides.  Imagine the stories you’ll have to tell when you return home.  “I not only climbed the wall, I lived on it like Chinese soldiers did thousands of years ago”!  Here’s a link that will bring you to a full description of this unique Sleep On The Wall tour.  You might also like to read the trip report and watch a video by a Toronto Star reporter.

Now for the rest of us who are not entertaining a trip to China in the near future…. TheChinaGuide website has an outstanding feature -   360 degree panorama videos of  major sights in and around Beijing including The Great Wall,  Summer Palace, Temple of Heaven, The Forbidden City, and Olympic stadiums – you’ll almost feel like you’re there.   Enjoy this virtual tour of Beijing!

ps – the photos in the article were not taken on The China Guide tour – they are my photos from a previous visit to China.

1) Cook Islands and New Zealand - Explore two exotic destinations with Goway Tours‘ Super Special.  The 15 day adventure includes roundtrip airfare with Air New Zealand from LAX, 9 nights lodging in the Cook Islands, 3 day car or scooter rental, 3 nights lodging in Auckland (NZ), airport transfers and lots more for $1,759 per person (including the fuel surcharge).

2) Singapore Airlines Vacations have a whole host of offers for amazing journeys which combine breathtaking Far East capitals including Singapore + Bangkok for $1,145 pp, Singapore & Phuket for $1,488 pp, Singapore & Bali for $1,182 pp, or Singapore and Hanoi for $1,290 pp.  Packages include roundtrip flights, deluxe hotel accommodation, city tours and more.

3) Let Central Holidays whisk you away to Europe’s most romantic cities for a winter escape.  Their 9 day Venice & Paris tour spends 4 nights in each city for a mere $1,061 per person.  You’ll miss all the frantic summer crowds and enjoy the best seats on boats, barges and in the cafes.

4) European Destinations has combined 3 night stays in Rome and Athens for one great price – $896 per person including roundtrip airfare.   I’m thinking a gastronomic whirlwind on this trip!

I’m sure there are various terms and conditions for these journeys, so click through to read what’s included in each trip and dates that they are available.

Americas
New York - Chelsea Market, a hub of foodie activity
San Francisco - Ferry Plaza Farmers Market, large Organics Markets, operates 3 times per week
New Orleans – Crescent City Farmers Market, Uptown and Downtown fabulous fruits
Seattle – Freemont Sunday Market – more than fruits & veggies – treasures of all description
Hawaii – Hawaii Farmers Markets Online, several gorgeous markets on every island
Vancouver – Granville Island Public Market, The ethnic diversity of Vancouver makes this market a sensory explosion
Mexico City - Mercado de la Merced, nirvana for chili pepper lovers – every color of the rainbow!

Europe
Rome – Campo de Fiori – on every tourist map and well worth the visit
Paris – Wonderful markets in almost every neighborhood – Gayot List and descriptions. And don’t miss a visit to Fauchon, considered “the Tiffany’s of food purveyors”.
Provence – lavendar and sunflowers in every town! Don’t miss the huge market in Carpentas, with 350 stalls – operating since 1155!  French Entre full list of markets.
London – Borough Market – London’s oldest market, and don’t miss the food halls at Harrods and Selfridges
Barcelona – La Boqueria - take a virtual tour!
Stockholm – Ostermalm Saluhall – closed food market with a smorgasboard of delights!
Vienna – Naschmarkt, since the 16th century – anyone for a torte?
Jerusalem – Mahane Yahuda Market – highly recommended by good friend  and avid traveler, Deanna

Far East
China – In every city, don’t miss this experience, it will redefine your definition of food! Shop at the Red Bridge Market in Beijing
Hong Kong – A kaleidoscope of sensory encounters In every neighborhood – Virtual Tourist List
Tokyo – Tsukiji Market – it’s all about the fish – largest fish market in the world! Visit the Tokyo Food Page
Singapore – Kreta Ayer Wet Market – named for the water carts (not the food), you’ll find every kind of food, spice, and ware – be sure to visit Food Street and the Chinatown Night Market.

To find a farmers market experience wherever you travel in the USA, visit LocalHarvest.org

We’ve found one TEFL certification program that condenses the study course to two weeks, and throws in a whole lot of fun while they’re at it.  The World TEFL School is currently offering a two week TEFL course on the “Full Moon Party” island of Koh Phangan, Thailand. Koh Phangan is famous for their pristine beaches, exuberant backpacker population, and the full moon revelers who gather each month for one of the worlds biggest beach parties.  This unique program requires participants to complete a forty hour online TEFL course before arriving in Thailand for the 2 week onsite course.  And they offer two exceptional guarantees: a money back guarantee if you’re not satisfied with the program, and a guarantee of a paid job placement in Thailand upon completion of the Certification.  (Of course there’s probably some fine print and conditions, so you’ll want to check it all out at WorldTEFLSchool.com.

Now if Thailand is not your particular thing…  Fear Not – there are TEFL certification courses and teaching posts available in almost every country you would care to visit.  You might want to start with a visit to TEFL.com or do a search “teach English as a foreign language in ________ ” and insert the destination you’re interested in.

This is a great way to experience other world cultures on a very personal level, travel economically, expand your own resume, and meet some wonderful people along the way!