See Thailand by Sea

A pound goes a long way in Thailand, so even if your flights aren’t cheap, you will spend far less than you would visiting a European destination. Thailand has retained much of its rich culture whilst offering gorgeous white sandy beaches, soaring limestone cliffs and crystal blue waters. September is monsoon season in much of Thailand, so if you’re considering a trip this autumn, be sure to research the safe areas of this vast and multi-cultural country before you book your holidays in Thailand.

Explore Phang Nga Bay

Image by Jeff Gunn

The Phang Nga Bay in Northeast Phuket, with its giant limestone cliffs which emerge from the beautiful green waters is one of Thailand’s must see hotspots. Take a boat trip to Koh Panyee, a small but beautiful village built over the water on stilts. Eat at local restaurants and buy souvenirs to take home. Phang Nga Bay itself is famous for starring in the James Bond movie- The Man with the Golden Gun and fans can take tours of this part of the island to sample the tranquil scenery which made the movie famous.

It’s the ideal place to visit during the autumn as its waters remain calm all year round, protecting it from both the Southwest and Northeast monsoon seasons. If your budget allows, it’s a good idea to look into boat chartering. If you do not require a skipper or crew, you can hire a motor boat or small yacht for a week or more for unlimited sailing with your family and friends. Sailing is by far the best way to see Phuket, it’s reasonably inexpensive if you have an experienced sailor in the family, and you can reach all of its many isolated beaches and corals with greater ease.

Scuba Dive in The Similan Islands

Image by Electrostatico

The Similan Islands are a group of rocks and islands which lie about 8 hours by boat from Phuket. It’s a lengthy trip but if you are interested in either snorkelling or scuba diving, it’s worth it. The Similan’s surrounding waters are home to some of the most exotic and colourful reefs in the world and some of the best under water visibility too.

There are many scuba diving instructors operating tours for beginners, so be sure to do your research before you get on the boat. The area was declared a marine national park in 1982 and remains largely undeveloped to this day- so it really is one of the best spots in the region to see unspoiled beaches, white sands and clear blue waters.

Check out some Floating Markets

Image by Russ Bowling

Before you head home, you simply must visit the Bang Khu Wiang floating market. Unlike anything you have ever seen, Monks arrive by boat very early in the morning, their boats piled high with fresh Thai produce like fresh coconut juice, tropical fruit and vegetables and other local delicacies. You can even sample some authentic Thai cuisine cooked on one of the floating kitchens nearby.

The Bang Wiang market begins at 4am each day and runs until 7am, where you can catch a boat every 15 minutes from the the Wat Chalo Pier. This will cost you around 5 baht (less than £1) and it lasts around 45 minutes. Don’t worry if you aren’t an early riser- the Damnoen Saduak Fmarket runs from 7- 11am and is a short bus journey from Bangkok- and well worth a visit.

Watch a Ko-Lae Race
The Ko-Lae boat race is an annual event first hosted in 1976 in honour of the King and Queen when the Royal Family travelled to Narathiwat on a state visit. The boat race itself runs from the 21st- 25th September and attracts teams from all over Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and the Philippines on the Bang Nara River.

Local teams race their Ko Lae- traditional, brightly painted boats usually used by the South Malay’s communities for fishing. The boats are painted free-hand by self-taught local artists and the bow is carved to resemble the naga, or serpent, or more often a mythical bird. Each team works hard to select his crew and train each competitor months before the race. It’s to watch in victory or defeat. Afterwards guests can also enjoy a number of other traditional events such as a bird cooing contest and many stalls and shops selling local cuisine.

Thailand is a country best seen by boat. What’s your favourite way to travel?

Celebrating the World Thai Arts Festival

Once again the beautiful and ancient city of Ayutthaya in Thailand is preparing itself for an influx of martial arts enthusiasts to the 2012 World Thai Martial Arts festival and Wai Kru Muay Thai ceremony.

Visitors from across the globe will be flocking to the festival which this year runs between 17-23 March. The festival is a great place to immerse yourself in everything Thai and around 300 boxers descend upon the city to take part in competitions and tournaments hoping to earn a name for themselves.

The week-long festival features a packed programme of events and is a must for lovers of the ancient art of Muay Thai. Muay Thai boxers from around the world attend the ceremony to pay respect to their teachers and also to pay homage to the legendary Muay Thai folk here Nai Khanom Tom.

From dazzling ceremonies and rituals, to live demonstrations of Thai martial arts, culture, arts and crafts – visitors to the Thai Martial Arts festival will be absorbed not only in the elegant art of Muay Thai, but also other fascinating aspects of Thai culture.

Image courtesy of idirectori

 An ancient art

 Muay Thai has come to be regarded as Thai’s national sport and many claim its history can be traced back over a thousand years. Some say its origins can be found in an unarmed combat method used by Siamese soldiers after losing their weapons in battle. Muay Thai soon developed into a sport for entertainment and became considered as an art form – becoming an integral part of Thai culture in festivals and celebrations.

Muay Thai has strong roots in folklore, and the mythical figure of Nai Khanomtom is linked to ancient stories of how the martial art came to be. Today the martial arts festival in Thailand commences on 17^th March – Thailand’s national Boxer’s Day – as a tribute to Nai Khanomtom.

 Highlights of the Annual Thai Martial Arts festival

 Some must-sees during your visit to the Thai martial arts festival are -

-       The tournament for the Nai Khanomtom belt

-       The ancient weapons exhibition

-       The Wai Kru Muay ceremony – where Muay Thai fighters pay respect to their masters and pass initiation rites

-       W.M.F. World Championship Professional Title bouts

-       Muay Thai training camps – where you can have a go yourself.

 

Getting to Ayutthaya

It couldn’t be easier to reach Ayutthaya – there are buses running directly from Bangkok which only take around 20 minutes, and there are flights into Bangkok international airport from all over the world, which means it’s easy to reach for anyone on a Thailand holiday. For cheap accommodation Bangkok has plenty of options, or Ayutthaya itself has plenty of guesthouses but just make sure you book well in advance.

 

Bangkok International Jazz Festival

Image via v a i r o j on Flickr

Each year in March, over 30 000 jazz fans congregate in Bangkok for one of Thailand’s most prestigious jazz events: the Bangkok International Jazz Festival , which attracts an enthusiastic mixed audience of locals, tourists, students and music professionals. In a city with a vibrant jazz scene that boasts numerous live performances throughout the year, this festival is an eagerly anticipated event, bringing the cream of local and international jazz talent to the heart of this buzzing city.

A fixture on Thailand’s music scene since 2003, the Bangkok International Jazz Festival has in recent years moved from its original location – in the peaceful, traditional surrounds of the Dusit Palace in Sanam Sua Pa – to the cutting-edge modernity of the Central World Plaza, southeast Asia’s second largest shopping complex. Against this edgy backdrop in the bustling Ratchaprasong shopping area of the Pathun Wan district, the week-long festival draws big names in jazz from around the world.

Frequent performers include acts such as Christian McBride and his band Inside Straight; Danish singer Annekei; and renowned trumpeter Randy Brecker, who performs with the stellar line-up of the Soulbop band. Also catch performances from the likes of Chielie Minucci and Special EFX, Melody Gardot, Jazz Kamikaze, Mariko Edno, Inger Marie, and Jirapan and Blue Sapphire. It’s an eclectic line-up which offers something for fans of every type of jazz.

The jazz festival is one of many attractions in a city that is a fascinating blend of the modern and traditional. From the royal splendour of the Grand Palace to the crowded  charm of the many street markets, from the serenity of the Buddhist temples to the sleek sophistication of the metropolis’s many trendy hotels and bars, there is something to capture every interest in Thailand’s capital city. Book your flights to Bangkok now and start planning a wonderful foray into an exotic country with a cool edge, and – if you time your trip well – soak up the flavour of some of the world’s best jazz.

To get your toes tapping now, check out past performances from some of the festival’s favourite acts in this video playlist of Bangkok International Jazz Festival performers.

 

Thailand’s rich cultural history

Thailand has a rich and ancient cultural heritage, often epitomised by travellers in its temples, shrines and monuments.

It has two UNESCO World Heritage sites with strong significance dating back more than 750 year since Siam became united as a nation.

Located in the north-west of the country is the kingdom of Sukhothai, seen the spiritual centre of Thailand and with the help of Unesco visitors can see the lovingly restored ruins of the palaces and Buddhist temples. It was Thailand’s capital in the 13^th and fourteenth centuries and was considered one of the most advanced civilisations in the world. The beautiful temple of Wat Phra Si Ratta Mahathat had pride of place along with an immense Buddha, in the sanctuary which you can see strong Cambodian influence in the distinctive styles of Khmer architecture and art.

In the south of the country, north of Bangkok, is the magnificent ancient city of Ayutthaya. Becoming a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991 it was the seat power for more than 400 years as the country’s capital from 1350 until it was sacked by the Burmese in 1767.

Ayutthaya’s most important temple is Wat Phra Si Sanphet which is only paralleled by Wat Phra Kaeo in Bangkok. Founded in the 15^th century, it was a residential palace and became a monastery in 1500 where a 16-metre tall Buddha was erected and covered in 170kg of gold. When the city was sacked by the Burmese the gold was pillaged and much of the surrounding architecture razed to the ground.

Phananchoeng Temple is one of the oldest architectural sites of the region, believed to have been constructed by the Khmer in 1325, before the Ayutthaya empire existed.

The region of Ayutthaya is less than 80km from the current capital, Bangkok, home to some of the most visited temples in the country.

Temple of Emerald Buddha – Wat Phra Kaew – located in the historic centre of Bangkok is considered the most important of all the Buddhist temples in Thailand. It houses the highly revered Emerald Buddha which was carved out of a single piece of jade. The only person allowed close to it is the king, who ceremonially changes a cloak covering the statue three times a year to signify the change of seasons.

In the west of the city on the banks of the Chao Phraya River is Wat Arun. When King Taskin fled the besieged Ayutthaya, he arrived here at dawn so renamed it Wat Chaeng, the Temple of the Dawn. This was once home to the Emerald Buddha and the Phra Bang – a standing Buddha cast from bronze and covered in gold leaf.

Visitors to Bangkok can learn meditation techniques at Wat Mahathat, home of the largest monastic order in Thailand. This is hugely popular and has Vipassana meditation programmes in English. It’s one of the oldest temples in the city and was originally build to house a relic of Buddha.

Thailand holidays are a must for anyone who wants to see how much care and reverence is placed on the religious icons and buildings of a region. Visiting at least two of the many temples in Bangkok is a must, and travelling further afield to Sukhothai and Ayutthaya will give you an unforgettable insight into Thailand’s past.

Have you visited any of these temples? Would you recommend any others?