EyeOnThailand

Thursday, 20 July 2017

Chang-ing times for Thailand's original Jumbo

Elephant-memory, my dear Wat san

The Elephant or Chang in Thai -make sure you specify a beer when you order a Chang at a Thai bar- has long been an important part of Thai society. Now that technology has replaced working elephants in the timber forests, many found themselves redeployed to take tourists on joy rides. This practise is now rightly being shunned by tour operators and will fade away.

Instead, a number of welfare sanctuaries are opening offering a much more enjoyable interactive experience with these amazing animals such as washing & feeding them in a free environment, something that they will obviously remember for a long time! I encourage anyone going to Thailand to visit one of these venues and avoid riding on elephants.

Travel News

Bangkok Airways: an award winning BA

Not to be outdone by their larger rival,
‘boutique’ Bangkok Airways has picked up its own awards including best regional airline in the World. The main operator to Koh Samui operates flights within Thailand and as far afield as India & the Maldives.

Accor blimey: that’s handy for the airport

Accor Hotels have just opened the Mercure Makkasar Hotel in Bangkok, which directly accesses the airport rail link to Suvarnabhumi airport.

Top Thai Tip: Taxis

Tuk Tuks: The fastest taxis in the World

Taxis in Thailand are plentiful and cheap - if you follow the rules. Make sure that any taxi with a meter has it switched on. If it is ‘broken’ find another taxi.

If there is no meter (especially Tuk Tuks), you must agree a price in advance before you get in and this is what you pay. If you like excitement, offer a Bangkok Tuk Tuk extra if they can get you somewhere extra quickly...and hold on!

Featured Destination: Khao Sok National Park

Elephant Hills: Elephants & Hills...

KHAO SOK is a National Park in southern Thailand covered in hills and rainforest and is an ideal place to enjoy nature. You can explore the waterways surrounded by limestone cliffs or venture into the jungle looking for wildlife.

One of the best places to stay is at the Elephant Hills luxury camp where you can stay at the Elephant Camp and enjoy interacting with the free roaming elephants of the sanctuary.

Elephant Hills: It’s a jungle out there...

You can also stay at the floating camp in the rainforest and enjoy guided wildlife safaris and kayaking on the river. All accommodation is of a high standard and meals are included.

Elephant Hills offers a variety of inclusive packages of which the best seller is a 3 day 2 night Safari including an elephant experience with feeding & washing - the elephants, not you-, trekking and kayaking.

How: Transfers are included from Koh Samui, Phuket, Krabi or Surat Thani
When: The camp is open all year and different seasons offer different experiences
Multi-Centre: Combine with Gulf or Andaman beaches and Bangkok or Singapore

Sign of the Week: Cucumber manufacturing prohibited

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David Sutherland, EyeLine Travel, Crawley; 20 July 2017
e: david@eyelinetravel.co.uk
t: 020 8123 2569

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Wednesday, 5 July 2017

Visiting Thailand in the Green Season. Is it worth it?

Koh Lanta during the Monsoon period

Welcome to EyeOnThailand where I will be providing news and information about Thailand. I am an ABTA Travel Agent specialising in holidays to Thailand which I first visited in 1987. Things have changed!

Most of Thailand is currently in what is known as the ‘Green Season’. That’s a polite way of saying ‘Rainy’. But it doesn’t rain all day, everyday and low season pricing can make this an ideal time to visit. The exception is Koh Samui where our Summer is peak season as it has a different weather pattern.

Travel News

Thai Airways: Making Economy great again

Qatar Airways has added flights to Krabi from Doha meaning one stop connections are available from Heathrow, Manchester, Birmingham & Edinburgh. Krabi joins Bangkok & Phuket on the route network although plans to serve Chiang Mai have been postponed. If you have a flight with British Airways during the current cabin crew strike, you might get to experience the 5⭐️Qatar Airways service as they have 9 aircraft covering BA routes.

THAI AIRWAYS has been winning awards again including the World’s best Economy Cabin by Skytrax who presumably didn’t need to try out the Ryanair product.

Don’t Miss... Wat Pho Temple in Bangkok

What? Pho Temple & its very big Buddha

BANGKOK has some spectacular sights including the incredible 46m long Reclining Buddha at Wat Pho near the Royal Palace. Afterwards head to the Massage School for a real Thai Massage - a must visit every time I go to Bangkok.

Get there by River bus (Chao Phaya Express to stop N9, Tha Chang, 30p) and it’s around £2 to get in. A Massage at the Wat Pho Massage School is £10 for 1 hour.

Featured Destination: Koh Samui

Koh Samui: Mae Nam beach. Yes, it’s real

KOH SAMUI has evolved into a world class destination in recent years as people are attracted by it’s beautiful beaches and the warm water of the South China Sea.

Measured development has meant that no high rise buildings have been built which means this is boutique hotel paradise. Access is via the island’s small airport which shuttles visitors down from Bangkok.

The eastern side of Samui is the most developed and home to the island’s best beaches. Lively Chaweng and Lamai are the tourist hubs with many more smaller beaches and communities around.

Water sports abound and divers and snorkelers should visit the neighbouring Ang Thong marine park as one of the many excursions here.

How: Fly to Samui via Bangkok, Phuket, Kuala Lumpur or Singapore
When: The weather is at its best from December-September
Multi-Centre: Combine with Bangkok, the West coast or Khao Sok National Park

Sign of the Week: Pushing Vegetables
Easy mistake to make. Plak means push whilst Pak means vegetable

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David Sutherland, EyeLine Travel, Crawley; 5 July 2017
e: david@eyelinetravel.co.uk

t: 020 8123 2569

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