Amazing Thailand ~ truly one amazing trip for the last 7 days.
Initially I was a bit reluctant to go especially when I knew it is a 7 days trip..The impression is that 7 days in Thailand would definitely be bored. Nevertheless, I went on as planned, it is a hosted trip by Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). A trip to introduce the Amazing Thailand and its many wonders in Thailand.
We went to a few provinces namely Ratchaburi, Phetchaburi and Chachoengsao. If you are familiar with the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, that is located at Ratchaburi, and if you know where is Hua Hin, it is near Phetchaburi and Chachoengsao is about 80km from Bangkok city towards the East.
The first night, we went for a large scale show with 2000 seating capacity called Siam Niramit. It has a good entertainment value and well organised too.
The following day, we began our traveling on coach to various provinces, firstly we visited a factory outlet for interior and home linens. We did 7 wonders in one day which includes visiting soft toy factory, a privately owned park that preserved the culture and history of Thailand, candle factory, hot spring and lovely boutique resort with only limited number of villa at Suan Phung. This small town is located at the border of Myanmar and it was naturally rich in mineral previously. Now the township is turned into exclusive resort for the local Thai. Each villa can go as high as RM500 per room per night and is fully booked every weekend.
Our journey continued with a visit to Cha Am, another small town where it is not highly populated and located about 30 mins from Hua Hin another busy resort city similarly to Krabi and Phuket. A place that you can find Starbucks and other franchise outlet. The trip is never complete without Thai massage and I had one at Cha Am. The hotel we stayed is called Tara Mantra which is 3 mins walk to the beach front. This is one of the best in Cha Am with only 88 rooms and a very modern design infinity pool that comes in 3 levels.
We continue our journey back to Bangkok, our trip has added excitement and thrill when we narrowly escaped an accident with a truck. We were all screaming and thankfully the coach stopped in time. Enroute, this is the place for those who loves local Thai cookies, dried pork, candies, dried fruit and etc. The Thais are so creative in designing that one will not want to eat it.. simply happy looking at it. We had simple meal like "mixed rice" what the local eats...yummy. We also tasted the local "O liang" meaning black coffee and fried banana.
We got back to Bangkok on Halloween Day and we were hosted a buffet dinner at Siam City Hotel and the buffet spread was creatively decorated with Halloween deco and scary looking bloody eye balls...We had a good get-together and know each other night, a very happy evening. A visit to Bangkok is not complete again without a visit to Four Face Buddha. We went for prayers and asked for blessing for another great year ahead. This place is forever crowded and never short of people. In fact, we went to so many temples and had many blessing...I am sure life ahead will be good and blessed.
On Sunday morning, about 150 tourism friends attended a product updates for Thailand. It was good to know what Amazing Thailand has to offer and its 7 wonders. A very nice video presentation that promotes everyone must have "once a life time visit to Thailand".
Thai food is something we are not unfamiliar at all, yet we are never tired of Tom Yam every meal. In Hua Hin, we had the best seafood, everything was so fresh but EXTREMELY spicy. We were introduced a must try "Khao Man Kai" means "Chicken Rice" which operates 24 hours near Pratunam area. It was good and nicely fragrance, and not too oily. Last but not least, the mango with glutinous rice....delicious.
The other thing that we couldn't resist is the shopping temptation surrounding our hotel at Pratunam area. Pratunam is a wholesale market for fashion and a lot of clothes that you see in small boutiques are actually from this market. If you wish to enjoy lower price like savings of RM5-RM10 per piece, you need to buy 3 pieces and above.
One of my favourite visits for the past 7 days was a visit to Chachoengsao, we took a boat cruise (Bang Bakong River) and we stopped at the restaurant by the river for lunch. The lunch was by the river bank...sort of like a floating style and what amazes me was the 100 years ago market. The original condition of the shops and its original wooden structures are conserved still. As we walk passing the small market, we stopped by to see the local making "Kratong" for loy kratong festival. We took part as well in the evening, walking in jam packed street towards the Chao Phraya River where we let go of our kratong. There are many version of the festival and for us it is to take a way our bad lucks with the kratong. The kratong came in many sizes and priced differently too and again the Thais showed off their creativity and I am impressed.
The trip has come to the end where we have a few hours of last minute shopping before we visit our local agent and the tiger breeding farm. We had a chance to cuddle the 2 months old cub and another round of mango glutinous rice and an irresistible brownies from Imperial Queens Park Hotel
The trip ended with lots of great memories and met a few new friends from the industry. We exchanged ideas, so it was an event to create and share great experience.
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