Top 3 Thailand Travel Destinations

Thailand is one of the most popular travel destinations in South East Asia.  It is visited by a wide variety of people from the business man to the family vacationer.  This is a country rich in cultural history, with a wide assortment of places to visit and sights to see.  Whether you are a backpacker or company man, this is the destination of choice for thousands of travelers every year.  I’ll cover three of the top tourist destinations in Thailand.

Phuket
This is the most popular location and island to visit in Thailand.  It has several distinct beach resort areas, each with it’s own fell.  The main resort areas are Patong Beach, Kata, and Karon.  Patong is the most popular for it’s night life and wide variety of entertainment and dining establishments.  Kata and Karon beach are more for the relaxed family traveler.  If you are looking to get away from the crowds than these are the areas that you want to go to.  Not to fear, if you want a little night time entertainment Patong is not that far away.  It is an island after all.

Koh Samui
This is the next most popular island in Thailand for tourists.  It is smaller than Phuket and more laid back.  Yet don’t let that description fool you, there is still plenty to do on this island.  Water sports are a big attraction to those visiting the island.  This is a key destination for the young backpack crowd.  The full moon party on Koh Phan Nang is the stuff legends, and Movies like The Beach are made from.

Pattaya
This is a destination that is not for all people, and not really one for families.  Yet families seem to flock here in droves, mainly from Russia and other Asian countries.  I have to believe the marketing is done quite well in those countries to get people to travel to sin city by the sea instead of the other two amazing destinations listed above.  Many a Thailand Travel Blog has been filled with stories from this beach resort.  Better known for it’s sordid night life than it’s sewage strewn beaches, it maybe popular but not the best destination in Thailand.  However well worth a few day visit if you are on an extended tour of the country.

Those are the 3 most popular destinations in Thailand.  I’m sure no matter what kind of holiday you are looking for, Thailand will deliver.  It is a magical place that will hook you from your first visit and never let you go.

Flooding In Bangkok Send Many To Pattaya

Thailand has seen some of the worst flooding in over a century.  The total dollar figures in damages are still coming in, but most news sources now tout this flood as being one of the major billion dollar disasters of the last hundred years.  Entire areas of the country were or still are under water.  It is no surprise that the flooding sent many people looking for dry land in other parts of the country.  Pattaya, a beach resort town about an hour and a half south east of Bangkok was one of the major recipients of flood refugees.

This has been both a good and bad things for the residents, business owners, and tourists of Pattaya beach.  For the residents, whether they be expats or nationals, there has been an increase in the population of the city.  This could be looked upon as a bad thing as their favorite spots are now inundated with people.  However the good new is that any additional revenue coming into the city is a good thing for them.  The global financial crisis has caused havoc with the tourist trade and businesses have been shutting down across the city.  This new revenue stream is sure to bolster the local economy and keep many favorite bar and restaurants a float.

On the other hand, this is not your normal tourist crowd looking to spread their cash around at all the local establishments.  Many are truly refugees looking for a place to stay while they wait out the natural disaster.  They are spending money, but not at the same rate as international tourists.  Businesses are happy to have the money, but I’m sure they would much prefer the hotels be booked full of western tourists looking to blow their cash reserves on a wild holiday.

For the tourists of Pattaya this has been more of a negative.  Hotels are usually hard to come by in high season, and with many families from Bangkok on the move down to Pattaya it is even harder to find a hotel.  The streets and tourist venues both naughty and nice don’t seem to be affected in a serious manner.

The aftermath of the flooding should be over soon and things will once again return to the ‘crazy’ normal that is Pattaya.  In the mean time, it is best to just go with the flow and try and empathize with the plight that many of the citizens of Thailand are now facing.

Is Thailand Heading To Civil War?

Photo Credit: NICOLAS ASFOURI/AFP/Getty Images

Things seem to be getting worse in Thailand.  This is not the first time the country has seen itself embroiled in civil unrest and mass protests.  In recent years they have all ended rather peacefully, with the dissolution of their government and new elections being held.  On the other occasions it was a Military Coup and martial law.  In one bloody year, the conflict was ended after the King spoke.  Today the King spoke again, but no mention of resolving the conflict, only that the courts do their job to ensure peace and return the country to order.  Not the powerful overwhelming speech most were expecting.  People are already trying to debate what his words meant and read between the lines.

However I can’t help but feel that the country is on a collision course to a final bloody conflict, or worse, civil war.  I was there during previous protests and it all seemed so much more benign.  Exercising democratic freedoms, that were overly tolerated by the government in power.  But looking at today’s encampment of the redshirts, and the violent rhetoric coming out of their leaders mouths, trouble seems evident.

This is also the first time I’ve seen trouble spreading outside of Bangkok and heading up to the rural areas.  There are red shirts stopping military and police convoys from leaving bases in the north.  This is rural farmland, areas with a large majority of Red Shirt support.  I’m often amazed at how much the Thai government and military will tolerate.  If this was going on in a western country, the protests would have been broken up long ago, and those causing civil unrest arrested.  There is a difference between a peaceful protest and hijacking a city or country.

Their logic never ceases to amaze me.  Different groups go back and fourth in attempts to overthrow the government by way of protests.  First the PAD, or Yellow Shirts were successful after taking over the airport in November of 2008.  Stranding tourists for over a week.  Now the UDD, or Red Shirts are not happy and it is now their turn to do the same.  So what will happen next?  The Yellow Shirts hit the streets and look to overturn any government the PAD puts in power.  And on it goes, until the Military once again steps in and quells the unrest and declares Martial Law.

However the worst case scenario is that this doesn’t happen in time and the country errupts into a civil war.  Do I think this is a real possiblity?  Yes, but not a large scale.  It seems to me that there are a core group of supporters on each side of this.  However most Thai’s just want to get back to business and know that a civil conflict is not in anyone’s best interest.  That doesn’t mean you might not see the fanatics shooting it out, and the Military having to come in once again.  Should that happen, it would be a horrible blow to Thailand’s economy.  Not just tourism, but standard industries as well.

And what would happen to the value of the Baht should that happen?  A major devaluation is probably in the cards.  Though this might not be a bad thing should their be stability gained quickly.  This would help their exports and their tourist business as it would once again be a very cheap destination to visit.

One hopes that this conflict will be resolved shortly and with minimal additional damage or blood spilled.  I know my travel plans to visit the country are on hold till they can get this worked out.

Pack Your Bags – Bangkok Hotels Moving Tourists Out

You don’t have to go home, but you can’t stay here.  Due to the protests in down town Bangkok, hotels in the area are sending there guests away some place safer.  People seem to be honestly worried that these protests are going to turn more violent and are taking precautions.  Some Thai hotels are not accepting new guest until at least Monday.  Things have ratcheted up in recent days. With the Thai Army saying they will be using live ammo to defend themselves and the Silom Business district, and the Red Shirt protesters rumored to have grenades, fire bombs, and seen making sharpened bamboo polls by the stack, this could get ugly.

There is no doubt the Army is going to put an end to this, with the show of force currently in down town Bangkok, and some tough words coming out.  The Red Shirts have backed down for the moment, but they expect a show down.  I’d like to a swift end to this nonsense, but with any more lives being lost.  But it seems like the core of the civil unrest is a die hard group, and they seem to enjoy the confrontation and violence.  With the Thai Army weapons that have be taken and not returned, there is a good chance there will be a shoot out at some point.

They need to think about what being a democracy really means, and not resort to this type of thing.  But with all the fear mongering, hate, and violent rhetoric being spouted off by the Republican party in the United States, it seems like we are getting close to walking a similar line.  So I’m not sure how much room we have to talk.

Thailand Protests – A Different Vision Of Democracy

Democracy has a pretty clear definition, but can be implemented many different ways across nations.  You may find direct, complimentary, or representative democracies scattered around the globe as well as many other different variations.  The core belief is a government by the people, either directly or through representation.  Thailand is a democratic nation, however looking back at their past history, they implement it in a uniquely Thai fashion.

The military coup has played a large part in Thai politics throughout their recent history.   But once again, how they go about it is something you will only see in Thailand.  The military takes over to oust an unpopular government, stabilizing the country under martial law, only to turn the government back over to the people for elections.  They are not trying to seize power and have a military dictator installed like in a majority of Military coups across the globe.  In a strange way, the military acts as a political arm of the people.  Some would say there is a higher power at work behind the curtain during these coups, but that is a topic all to itself.

The protests that go on are another interesting vision of Democracy that seems to be unique to Thailand.  There have been at least three rounds of major protests in the last two years.  The first lead to the ousting of the government installed after the last military coup, leading to elections.  Another Prime Minister was elected that was more favorable to the group of Yellow Shirt protesters.  This made the Red Shirts take to the streets in protest.  This has been going on for the last year.  They in turn are looking to oust the current PM and want to dissolve the government.

For a democratic government, this all seems so strange.  Why not wait for the elections?  If the PM is as unpopular as the Reds would have you believe than he is sure to be voted out of office.  But if the majority of the people think he is doing a good job then he will need to be reelected.  The losing party has to deal with it till the next election.  Unfortunately a democratic government is one of majority rule.  Instead they would do their best to hold a country hostage in order to get elections called early.   This is not democracy is most peoples eyes,  however the more I think about it, the more I realize this is part of Thai Democracy.

For being such a modern country, it still has a lot of history to deal with.  The conflict between rural poor and the social elite is not a problem that is going to be solved overnight.  Once given a chance and a helping hand up by Thaksin’s government, it was hard to go back to the way things were.  They are exercising there democratic right to protest, and try and get massive action.

Do I agree with the way they are going about it?  No.  Violence, grenade attacks, and murder are not part of democracy, but they seem to be a part of these protests.   There is a fine line between a peaceful democratic protest and civil unrest.  Civil unrest is not good for democracy or the country.

Is There More Violence On The Way For Thailand Protests

Thai soldiers are securing the area around the Silom business area and planning to retake a key intersection from the Red Shirt Protesters.  Could we see more violence and death in the next few days?  The last major confrontation between the Army and the Red Shirts left many people dead and injured on both sides.  The Army withdrew, and even had some of their weapons seized.

In a recent article is was told that the soldiers will be carrying live rounds instead of rubber bullets.  The reasoning is that they need to defend themselves as there were soldiers shot at and killed in the last confrontation.  I can’t say I blame them for wanting to carry live ammo.  But this has the potential to get ugly.  I hope calmer heads prevail, but these protesters are attempting to hold a city and country hostage to get their demands met.  And they are willing to fight and kill to get their way.  This is breaking into civil unrest and the government needs to put an end to it before it gets out of hand.

It was said that one of the PM’s staff has sought an audience with the King in hopes that he will intervene in the Political struggle.  He is revered and his wishes are always respected in Thailand.  Though in the last two protests he remained silent.  The protests in November of 2009 was resolved before the King’s birthday as it would have been disrespectful to carry on during his celebration.  However his birthday isn’t till December, and I think something bad will happen long before then if things aren’t worked out.

I love Thailand and it’s people, it is such a great country.  I hate to see the struggle and pain that these events are causing.

Are The Protests In Bangkok Harming Tourism

I was there during the Suvarnabhumi Airport seizure in November of 2008.  I was stuck in Bangkok when I should have been on my way to Phuket.  It sucked but I in know way felt that I was in danger.  Quite frankly, if the airport hadn’t been shut down, or the protests televised, you wouldn’t have known any thing was wrong in Thailand.  Then the political tensions escalated in Spring of 2009, this time there was rioting and some violence.  It settled down quickly and I returned for another vacation in the end of May.  By November when I made my most recent trip, the tourism numbers still had not quite recovered.  This was in part due to the political unrest, but probably more so due to the global economic crisis that was going on.

So here we are, almost a year later and once again Thailand, or more specifically Bangkok, is once again embattled in a fight of red vs. yellow.  I understand the politics, at least as well as any foreigner might, though not as well as a Thai.  But I have to wonder if the Red’s, which is predominantly made up of the rural poor, really understand the effect these type of protests really have on their economy.  It is true that exports make up a larger portion of their GDP, but the tourism industry is still a large part of their economy.

People seem to be really concerned this time.  Tourists fled the well known Khao San road, a mecca for backpackers and tourists, to head to safer areas outside the area, and in some cases outside of Thailand.  Somehow this protest has a more ominous feeling than the last two I was witness to.  People have been killed, in the worst violence in over a decade, and the Reds don’t see any signs of backing down.  It seems to be about ousting the government at all costs.  Including lives and financial costs.

This could have a severe effect on the tourists and tourism dollars that will be flowing into a country that is already experiencing a downturn due to the GFC.  I have some friends that are die hard Thailand vacationers, and they are still planning on heading there in May, which is not that far off.  However they will be heading down to Phuket and Pattaya where the sight of protesters is very rare.  However I think the main group of backpackers and families will be looking elsewhere till this political unrest settles down.

Preparing For A Trip To Thailand

We all have our way we prepare before an upcoming trip.  Me I pretty much forget about it till a couple days before hand…Yeah right!  I’ve been counting down the clock for the last few months, and even though work has been going by pretty fast, It still feels like it is taking forever to get here.  Then the days will pass by too fast and It will all be over and I’ll be back to work for another year.

I go through my normal routine, checking off a few things here and there on my pre-trip to-do list.  I’ve still got a few things left to do, like get a booster shot for one of my vaccinations.  It is important to make sure you are properly immunized before heading anywhere overseas, especially the third world.  It helps keep you healthy.  I still need travel insurance, book my car from the hotel to the airport, and to pick up a few sundries for the trip.  Other than that, I’m good to go and anxiously awaiting liftoff.

This trip will be a combination of locations.  Bangkok, Phuket, Phi Phi, and Pattaya.  That’s  a lot of P’s, I wonder how that B slipped in there.  Now I’ve been to all these locations save for Phi Phi island before.  I can honestly say that I enjoy them all.  They each have their own attraction to me.  However Phuket and Pattaya are my two favorite destinations so far.  Phuket for the beautiful beaches and Pattaya for the crazy nightlife.

I’m meeting a few friends over there which makes it even more of an enjoyable vacation.  My first trip to Thailand I traveled alone.  I had a great time, but didn’t realize what I was missing till I met up with some friends for the first time last year.  It made the trip so much better.   Each time I return I seem to add another friend to the list.  And no, I’m not talking about bar girls here.  Though I’ve added a few of those as well.

It is strange sometimes that I find the idea of moving to Thailand as my next step, and that I must find some way to make it happen in the next year.  I don’t really have a good plan to do this right now, but I’m working on it as we speak.  I don’t know why I’m drawn to it so.

Well the trip preparation will continue for the next few weeks and I’ll keep you updated on the progress.

The Thailand Experience Is Online

Well, I’ve decided to join the small group of  bloggers out there who focus on Thailand.  Sharing our experiences on traveling in this wonderful country is part of what we love, and if we can encourage a new generation of visitors to visit, so much the better.

There are many diverse and interesting places in Thailand which offer a treasure trove of experiences.  It is no wonder we keep coming back year after year.  You are trying to explore an entire country and take in the culture, that type of thing can’t be done in 10 -14 days.  It just gives you a taste, and you have to keep returning till you experience it all.  The fun part is that there is always something new and exciting to see or do.  It is like they are always adding to the menu, or at least you are seeing pages that you didn’t know were available the last time you went.