Towards the north of the island of Ko Larn is the 7500 metre sweep of Hat Ta Waen Beach with its exotic white sand, lined with a string of stalls and shops. It is on Hat Ta Waen Beach that the sightseeing boats dock. They leave Pattaya South Pier every two hours. A day trip to the island of Ko Larn costs around $150.00. If it is beaches you have come to the island for, there is the 700 metres stretch of Laem Thian Beach and the smaller Samae Beach, both situated on the south-west of the island. Both these beaches are designated places of natural beauty and tranquillity, with Laem Thian Beach particularly standing out for its immaculately clean white sand and waters so clear you can easily see the nearby coral fields. A hotel has now been built on Nuan Beach towards the southern tip of the island.

Pattaya Bay is a 4km long beach, dotted with the many boats carrying tourists to and from the offshore islands. The sweep of the bay is in a north-south direction, lined with trees along its promenade and strings of hotels and restaurants along its northern and central areas. Chonburi Province in which Pattaya is situated is separated into eleven districts. The coastline of Banglamung consists mostly of the Greater Pattaya area. The northern section consists of the area east of Naklua Beach, Pattaya’s most northern beach. The main beachfront is Pattaya Beach then, to the south is Buddha Hill Headland which is east of Jomtien Beach. Immediately south of Buddha Hill is Dongtan Beach. The most family friendly of Pattaya’s beaches is Jomtien Beach which has a sedate and tranquil atmosphere.

Just to confuse issues, the districts in Pattaya are topsy-turvy, with central Pattaya being described as north and south Pattaya described as central! It is the sub-districts which cause the confusion as they refer to Pattaya Beach and not specifically to the whole of Pattaya itself. Pattaya Nua lies adjacent to the northern end of Pattaya Beach. Pattaya Tai lies to the south of Pattaya Beach and Pattaya Klang is the section of Pattaya which corresponds with the centre of Pattaya Beach. This division of districts is a local convention, often ignored officially which is where the confusion comes in. Naklua which lies to the north of North Pattaya is well served by local buses and is a particularly popular location for German tourists. It is much quieter here and a bit more sedate than Pattaya Beach itself.

Songkran and the Wan Lai Festival- Bring your swimming suit for this one!

On the days of 13-15th of April, people of the community come together for an outrageous event of celebrating the coming of the new year by the young dousing the elders hands with water (usually scented and always clean) in which the elders would then give them their blessings. Asking for forgiveness for bad deeds from the past years. Depending on which region you visit they all celebrate Songkran, but with slight differences. Some celebrate by bathing images of Buddha and preparing food for the monasteries and monks.

The Wan Lai (meaning flowing water day) Festival is a lot like Songkran, but it starts on the 16th and ends the 19th of April. They have religious activities, processions, showing their elders respect, and of course the throwing of water! Pattaya, Thailand is usually hot this time of year so it’s an excellent way to cool off.

Pattaya Marathon – for competitors!

This event starts in July and features four different marathons. They have a full marathon, half-marathon, a quarter marathon, and a wheel chair marathon for those that are physically impaired, but still love to compete. It is an international event that attracts thousands from all over the world each year. They start this event early (usually 4-4:30am) because of the heat at that time of year. Despite the sweltering heat, spectators line the streets to cheer on their fellow competitors.

Chonburi Buffalo Races ‘For one and all!

This event is centered around the water buffalo in the province of Chonburi in the month of October. The water buffalo are dressed in silk and satin then paraded around town to determine which one is the best decorated and healthiest animal. The races of the buffaloes are a spectacular site to behold. These huge beasts can run at amazing speeds for their massive size. There is also a beauty contest for the local young ladies and farm maidens as well. This is a popular event for both locals and tourist to enjoy.

So make sure to check these events out when you stay in Pattaya, Thailand. Not only are they are family friendly and entertaining, they are steeped in traditions and culture.

According to archeologists, Nong Bua Temple was actually located around 500 meters from its present location near the Nong Bua swamp. However, the remains of the old temple no longer exist. The temple was later constructed at its present location and it was registered by the Religion Department, which was established by Monk Sunanta and the locals in 1772.

The temple is constructed in the Thai Lanna style of architecture. It is considered to be quite a rarity as architecture like this is hardly seen these days. The walls of the temple are decorated with beautiful murals but unfortunately not much is known about the history of this beautiful temple. All the information that is present is based on the stories told by the elders of the village.

It is believed that murals in the temple were created by an artist named Thid Bua Phan, who was from Laos. The artist created the paintings on request from the Nan king and he was assisted by a monk and a soldier. It is estimated to be around 100 to 142 years old.

The details in the murals and painting estimated experts to calculate the age of the temple. Some paintings show a steam boat and Caucasian soldiers; and we know from historical documents that the first steam arrived from Europe during the reign of King Rama IV.

This one year visa will allow you to stay 90 days for each entry, with in the One Year Period. If you would like to stay in Thailand for longer than 90 days then you will only have to do go cross the border or leave Thailand and come back to renew your 90 days Visa. It is not difficult to extend your stay, you just cross the border and when the Immigration officer proves your visa in your passport. They will automatically stamp a visa in the passport. That means your visa has been already extended. You may travel in Thailand’s neighbouring countries or you can immediately back to Thailand.

With this One Year Non-Immigrant Visa from oversea, you will be able to obtain a work permit and apply for the Business Visa in Thailand or if you are qualify; you can also convert this to a Retirement or Marriage Visa while you are in Thailand, which will give you a One Year uninterrupted stay in Thailand.

In addition, if you utilize your visa the last time just before it expire, you will get an extra 3 months, so the total validity of this one year visa will be nearly 15 months.

2. Business Visa

All aliens who intend to work/conduct business in Thailand, they are required to provide the following documents from companies, affiliates or institutes in Thailand:

2.1 Original Invitation Letter from companies where you will participate in them
2.2 Business registration
2.3 List of shareholders
2.4 Company profile
2.5 Details of business operation
2.6 Map of the company
2.7 List of alien employees
2.8 Balance sheet, statement of Income Tax (Por Ngor Dor 50) and Business Tax (Por Ngor Dor 30) for the latest year

3. Retirement Visa

To apply for a Retirement Visa in Thailand, you must be able to show your financial evidence between :

3.1 THAILAND BANK ACCOUNT SHOWING THB 800,000 (must be able to show the evidence of transfer the money to your Thai Bank account and this sum of money must be depositted in your bank account at least 3 months) OR

3.2 PENSION/MONTHLY INCOME OF AT LEAST THB 65,000 (must present a letter from your embassy to prove the pension and the letter from the government or social security) Both of documents must be certified by your embassy in Bangkok as well.

In case you do not have the pension, I would recommend you to open a Thai Bank Account as soon as possible because as I suggested you, your money of at least 800,000 Bahts or more must be depositted in your Thai Bank Account for 90 days before applying for a Retirement Visa. Then you have to ask your Thai bank to issue the certified letter and also need to show the evidence of transfer your money from your side when you submit the visa application at the immigration office.

For the processing procedures of a Retirement Visa, we will first help you to receive a 90 Days Non Immigrant O Visa, we will send your our questionnaire email for the visa application. Then you have to respond us your personal information for us completed in the application form. The next step, we will send you back our prepared documents and you have to print them out, sign your name in our prepared application form and other documents before mailing your passport and documents to the Thai Consulate in your country as we instruct. You can receive a visa stamped on your passport within a week once the Thai Consulate received your visa application’s documents. When you arrived in Thailand with a 90 Days visa, we will accompany you to your embassy in Bangkok for getting the pension certified letter. Once you got the certified letter, you just have to wait until your 90 days has remained at least 3-4 weeks before it expires. The final step, we will go together with you at the Immigration Office along with your financial evidence for extending from a 90 Days Non Immigrant O Visa to a One Year Retirement Visa.

4. Marriage Visa

To apply for a Marriage Visa, you need to show your financial evidence as the monthly income of at least 40,000 Bahts. This income can be shown as a “combined income” and also able to include both the husband’s and wife’s income.

Requirements:

- Married to Thai Citizen, must provide a marriage certificate

- 40,000 Baht per month income.

For the financial evidence, you can choose the most appropriate evidence from the following options:

Option 4.1 In the case of working inside Thailand: You must provide your work permit and taxation records.

Option 4.2 In the case of Working outside Thailand: You must provide a certified income statement from your embassy. You may also be requested to provide a letter from your employer, or other documents to support the proof of income such as: your bank statements.

Option 4.3 In the case of Spouse’s income: Spouse must provide his/her taxation records.

For the processing procedures of a Marriage Visa, it is similar to a Retirement Visa. We will help you to receive a 90 Days Non Immigrant O Visa from your country before converting to a Marriage Visa when you arrived in Thailand.

5. Education Visa

To apply for an Education Visa, you must provide the original acceptance/invitation letter from the schools, universities or institutes in Kingdom of Thailand specifying the name of applicant, passport number, latest educational background and duration of the course. The applicant should also provide the schools/universities or institutes’s registration notarized by authorized director.

Almost everyone is aware of Thailand’s beautiful beaches, but it would surprise many to know that recreational tourists come flocking to Thailand because of golf.

Golf has become very popular in Thailand and as a result many world-class golf courses have come up in the country. These golf courses are challenging with full range of services and are set against breathtaking backdrops. Most golf courses in Thailand offer their patrons fine dining, luxurious accommodation, carts, caddies and full equipped pro-shops with knowledgeable pros. The courses are also equipped with saunas and massage centers. Most golf courses in Thailand are located quite close to beach resorts, making it a win-win situation for tourists who can play off golf and then go to the beach and relax.

The climate is conducive to golfing right round the year. One can even go for a golfing holiday during the rainy season as it seldom rains for more than a couple of hours at a time. In winter, northern part of Thailand does get a bit chilly and it is advisable to pack a sweater for your golfing holiday to Thailand. Many golf courses have installed floodlights so that golf enthusiasts can still be on the green even after the sun sets.

Green fees in Thailand are well below international standards and playing golf is not an expensive affair. Golf courses may charge a paltry amount of 250 baht on weekdays with the amount increasing marginally at weekends. Phuket has the highest green fees in Thailand, which is still lower than what one would pay in golf courses in other parts of the world.

Are you in search of a perfect holiday destination? Think about Thailand. This South-East Asian country has won over the hearts of millions of travelers all over the world with its tropical climate, vibrant culture, and exotic beaches. When it comes to living in ultimate luxury you will be offered an assortment of luxury hotels in Thailand.

Apart from the capital city of Bangkok, Thailand luxury hotels are also spread over other happening hubs of the country including Chiang Mai and Phuket.

Accommodation

If you want to experience Bangkok in complete peace and opulence come to any of the 5-star hotels. Some of the noted luxury hotels in Bangkok like, Conrad Hotel, Evergreen Laurel Hotel, Grand Hyatt Erawan, and Swissotel Le Concorde have been serving the guests with unrestrained hospitality.

These Thailand hotels offer you excellent choice of guestrooms and world class dining facilities. You will be pampered with an endless number of recreational facilities in these magnificent hotels.

Phuket, one of the most sought after destinations for the beach lovers, is gifted with a number of luxury hotels. To enjoy the dual benefit of enjoying the beauty of these beaches and availing top class hospitality, spend some days in any of the luxury hotels in Phuket.

Banyan Tree Hotel, Le Meridien Phuket Beach Resort, and The Racha Hotel are among the reputed luxury hotels in Thailand which are hot favorites among the travelers to Phuket. During your stay in these elegant hotels you will have the privilege of venturing out on a tour to the beautiful beaches and indulge in myriad range of water sports.

Napasai Hotel in Koh Samui Island, Dusit Resort in Pattaya, and Fours Seasons Hotel in Chiang Mai, are among the popular luxury hotels in Thailand which render you complete lavishness. You can embark on a memorable holidaying experience in these Thailand hotels.

Bangkok’s Chatuchak Market is a must-see. There is nothing like experiencing a market place spread across 35 acres of land with over 15,000 stall selling everything from Buddha statues to exotic pets and T-shirts.

Chatuchak Market is located right next to Chatuchak Park, which is at the northern end of Bangkok. The market is only open at the weekends and you should make sure you get there early, around 9.30 a.m. or 10 a.m. at the latest. You will find out that by noon the market is buzzing with people and you will get jostled quite a bit by the crowd. Make sure you keep a sharp eye on your wallet or purse otherwise you could end up losing it to the pickpockets in the marketplace.

An easy way to get to Chatuchak Market is taking the Skytrain and you have to get off on the last stop on the Sukkhumvit line which is going north. The stop is Mo Chit and you will clearly see the numerous stall as the Skytrain pulls into the station. From the Skytrain station, the market is a 5-minute walk. Alternatively, you can take the subway and get off at Kampangphet. The entrance of this MRT subway station is right in the middle of the market.

Make sure you carry a bottle of water and wear comfortable clothes and shoes. As you can get any and everything in Chatuchak Market, buy your gifts there as you will be able to pick up things for half the price of a conventional “touristy” shop. You will get the best bargains at Chatuchak Market for Thai silks, handicrafts, wooden carvings, jewelry and gems.

There can be no finer destination for your golf vacation than the Kingdom of Thailand, with over 260 golf courses and an all year round golfing climate, golf played at a relaxing pace, a refreshment stop every 4 holes, excellent golf caddies, and truly magnificent clubhouses and much more Thailand has got to be at the top of your list for a golf holiday.

Wherever you travel in Thailand you will find magnificent golf courses throughout the kingdom, the most popular regions are Bangkok, Hua Hin, Phuket, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, and Kanchanaburi, and you will find championship courses in all of these regions.

Asia as a golfing destination is becoming increasingly popular and Thailand is Asia’s leading golf destination, the green fees compared to western rates are inexpensive and there literally 100′s of courses from which to choose.

Add to this a wide range of excellent hotels providing all levels of accommodation and a standard of service that is second to none, this combined with excellent restaurants serving fine Thai and Western cuisine at a fraction of the cost you would expect to pay elsewhere.

The Caddy Factor

The one thing that sets Thailand apart from all other Asian golf destinations is Thailand’s golf caddies, they add another dimension to your round of golf by providing excellent reading of the greens, they also mark, clean and re-place your ball, you never even have to take your ball out of the cup.

Your only responsibility on the golf course is to hit the ball apart from when you tee-up the ball that of course is after the caddy has handed you the washed ball and the tee. Many of the caddies are beautiful and would be strong contenders in a beauty contest elsewhere.

In short your caddy can add value to your Thailand golfing experience, with their friendly smiles, and fun loving nature they will surely add another ingredient to a pleasurable Thailand golfing vacation.

Bangkok Golf

Bangkok is a modern vibrant city of towering office blocks, ribbons of expressways, teeming traffic and a Skytrain, the elevated mass transit system that threads its way above Bangkok’s main thoroughfares. Yet alongside these futuristic trimmings lie the ancient traditions that visitors love so much – glittering temples and palaces, barefoot monks in orange robes, old wooden buildings, and ceremonies like the magnificent Royal Barge procession on the River of Kings.

Bangkok is the business, financial and political centre of Thailand. Yet it remains a fun place to visit; a renowned city of entertainment, cuisine, night markets and shopping for the whole of Asia. Hospitality is legendary. All are welcome and many come.

In Bangkok alone there are over 60 golf courses in the greater Bangkok area, the most popular being Thai Country Club, Alpine Golf Club, Navatanee Golf Club, Amata Springs Country Club, all championship courses that have hosted PGA tournaments.

Summary

No matter where you go in Thailand you will find a host of activities to whet your appetite for adventure, from elephant trekking, river rafting, mountain biking, sailing, snorkeling, scuba diving or just plain sightseeing, whatever you desire you’ll find in Thailand.

I have been in the golf tourism business in Thailand since year 2000 and there can be no truer testament to golf in Thailand than the number of clients I have who return year after year to relive their golfing experiences in Thailand.

During The monsoon season (July to October) Thailand’s lush jungles becomes a white water adventurers dream, with heeps of small creeks and drainage’s pumping from the seasonal rains.

Thailand and S.E.Asia have not been know for its whitewater .. only until a few years ago has Thailand’s White water started attracting both novice and experienced whitewater paddlers from around the world.

S.E. Asia’s white water was “discovered” back in the 1990′s when A white water outfit in Malaysia organized a multi-country white water comp. That was held in Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia. The competition attracted some of the the World’s best pro paddlers such as Eric Southwick, Sam Drevo, & Nate Nash. The compitetion seemed to get off to a great start however when they reached Indonesia the government wouldn’t pay up the prize money and all hell broke loose!

In Thailand there are literally hundreds if not thousands of runnable creeks and rivers. It seems that most of the “better runs” are situated in the North of Thailand around Chiang Mai, Chaing Rai, and Nan Provinces but there are some around Bangkok and the South of Thailand.

Recently there have been “crews” of paddlers coming over to paddle the world class white water. In 2006
some of the world’s top white water pro’s such as Steve Fischer, Ben Brown, and Thailand Local Eric Southwick where here to film an episode of “Focused” which was shot by Scott Lindgren & Nate Nash of SLP Productions.

The program “Focused” is reality based adventure series that concentrates on extreme sports and them in the action of making of paddling the rivers, getting there and getting away safely.. In the Thailand episode New Zealand’s Ben Brown ends up braking his back on his first drop of the trip. Not too worry, Steve Fischer & Eric Southwick continue there Journey Through the jungle’s of Thailand for some more serious whitewater adventures.

Last Year another set of paddlers came out, this time a younger group from the UK and NZ. Paddlers Josh Neilson, Will Clark and Sam Ward. These guys got about 10+ first descents on some incredible whitewater and waterfalls in and around Chiang Mai and Chaing Rai as well as in Nan.

To sum this all up, Thailand offers a wide range of Whitewater for novices and advanced paddlers alike, not to mention, great food, great people, cheap accommodation & Travel and a wonderful Culture.

See you on the water!

Asia is probably one of the most enigmatic continents in the world. Not only is it rich in very diverse cultures, but it is also rich in history. You will never run out of wonderful places to visit in this wonderful and mysterious continent.

1.) Indonessia’s Breathtaking Bali

Bali is one of the very beautiful places to go to once you are in Indonesia. Do not miss out on Batubulan Village, famous for sculptures made out of fine stone. Get to enjoy Bali’s culture like the Barong Dance and enjoy the beautiful crafts of its goldsmiths and silversmiths.

2.) Exotic India

If India is in your Asia tour itinerary, then you will never regret it if you went on one of those boat rides in the Ganges River. Get to see, too, the devout citizens of India while they pray and bathe on the sacred waters of the Ghats. If you want to see their temples, then the Khajuraho Temples is for you, an architectural wonder

3.) The Wonderful Side of Pakistan

Pakistan, although an intimidating country, has a lot of sceneries that tourists will love. Get to see a majestic view of the Himalayan Mountains and the Monkial Ranges. If you want to know more about Pakistan’s culture and people, then the Swat Museum is a must place for you to visit.

4.) Buddhas of Bangkok

There are a lot of statues of Buddha that you can see in Bangkok, and one of the temples tourist flock to is the Reclining Buddha Temple. You must also visit the Erawan Shrine as well as the Snake Farm of Bangkok that is located near the shrine. For a more modern tour, visit the Safari World and Bangkok’s Pattaya and Coral Island.

5.) What Vietnam has to Offer

Vietnam is now one of the favorite destinations of tourists. Tourists love exploring the city on their own and tasting the different food Vietnam has to offer. There are also cruises that a tourist can enjoy like the cruises along the Mekong River, and they also get to visit the smaller islands to taste the wonderful fruits Vietnam has.

6.) Unforgettable Katmandu

Another unique place to visit is the Katmandu where you will get to know more about its culture and people by strolling in the Katmandu Durbar Square. Do not forget to visit, too, the Buddhanikantha Temple, another one of its famous tourist destinations. You can also go to Pashupatinath Temple.

7.) Big China

You cannot tour all of China in a week, but here are some of the top places to visit in China. The Yangtze River Cruise is one of the favorites of not only the tourists but the local citizens as well, and in this tour, one gets to have a closer communion with nature. The other places that you must not forget visiting is the Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City as well as the Temple of Heaven.

8.) Delightful Turkey

Turkey is one country you should not fail to visit. There are a lot of museums you can visit like the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations. You can also visit famous archeological sites like Pamukkale’s Hierapolis as well as famous mosques like the Blue Mosque.

9.) Enjoying Japan

Get to experience both old and new Japan in your Asian tour. Visit the wonderful and exciting City of Tokyo, a big contrast to Japan’s mountain villages where the old culture is still palpable. Also, get to know more about its people and culture by visiting the temples, shrines and palaces of Japan.

10.) Modern Singapore

Singapore is one of the world’s business regions. Also, this is famous for being one of the major shopping centers in Asia and is rightfully called Shopper’s Paradise. Its stores’ competitive prices as well as air-conditioned malls are one of the favorite places tourists go to.