Welcome and thank you for visiting Needtraveling.com. We designed this travel site to be a great resource for traveling to destinations here on the Internet.We offer stories that are honest personal experiences and not the hype of travel agencies and promotional writers. http://www.needtraveling.com 2010-03-10T08:00:26+01:00 text/html 2008-10-29T05:56:10+01:00 http://www.needtraveling.com http://www.needtraveling.com/general/travel-to-nakhon-si-thammarat-province.html Acknowledged as one of Southeast Asia’s most ancient cities, Nakhon Si Thammarat has been in existence for over 1,800 years. Not surprising, therefore. That this province reveals traces of civilization and is of historical significance. Ancient sites are found on both sides of ratchadamnoen Road, the main road in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province. Running through the heart of the city the road separates several aancient temples into two parts. Among these is Wat Suan Luang divided Eastern Wat Suan Luang and Western Wat Suan Luang. To explore Nakhon Si Thammarat we start at the National Museum and National Library both located on the original site of Eastern Wat Suan Luang. Historical evidence found at the museum stands as testimony to the cultural heritage of Nakhon Si Thammarat, which still serves as the cultural center of the upper south of Thailand. Next, we take you to admire the art of stucco relief fashioned by native craftsmen of Wat Suan Luang. Here, stucco figures depict the history of Buddhism on the vihara (secondary chapel) walls. Two houses for monks, or kuti, over a hundred years old clearly reflect the art of building ancient houses in the southern style. A canal lies to the north of Wat Suan Luang believed to be the old city’s original moat. The Suan Luang Canal is located between the old ancient city (Phra Wiang City) and the new ancient city officially called “Ancient Nakhon Si Thammarat City”. Across the Suan Luang Canal passing through the old Victory Gate to the south to enter the Ancient Nakhon Si Thammart city, you come across Wat Thao Khot a temple covering an area that used to house five, unattended temples. Scattered traces of ancient objects and archaeological sites are in evidence, such as pagoda bases in the Sri Vijaya style, ancient stone slabs and planks... text/html 2008-10-29T05:56:10+01:00 http://www.needtraveling.com http://www.needtraveling.com/general/to-explore-the-jungle-of-tham-tharn-lawd-national-park.html The droplets of water on the leaves of the thick branches are evidence of the rain that fell the night before. The fertile jungle in Chalerm Rattanakosin National Park - more popularly known among tourists as Tham Tharn Lawd National Park - in Nong Prue district of Kanchanaburi welcomes tourists with a particular freshness at this time of year. The clock never stops. As if on clue, the rains come at about the same time every year to wake up the sleepy creatures in the forest and bring them back to life, signalling the beginning of the season for exploration and adventure in this vast wilderness. Tham Tharn Lawd National Park offers an interesting natural tourist site in Kanchanaburi. The green area boasts more than 18,750 acres of greenery, with grottoes, cascades and valleys suitable for trekking and experiencing a close brush with nature. The nature trail through Tham Tharn Lawd Noi and Tham Tharn Lawd Yai may look short distancewise, but it could easily tire countless numbers of amateur trekkers. Trekking in the rainy season in particular, special attention must be given to the preparation of trekking gear. If trekkers intend to spend the whole day in the jungle, they are well advised to bring enough food and drinking water for the trek. They must also bear in mind that the Tham Tharn Lawd Noi cave is only illuminated from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., hence they must return before 4 p.m. From the National Park Office, trekkers know they have arrived at Tham Tharn Lawd Noi when they reach the stream called Lum Kraproi that flows throughout the year. With a height of 1.5 meters, the first stretch of the cave presents tourists with the first challenge as they have to be careful not to hit their head on the ceiling. The glittering... text/html 2008-10-29T05:56:10+01:00 http://www.needtraveling.com http://www.needtraveling.com/general/thi-lor-su-waterfall-umphang-in-a-veil-of-rain.html I became embroiled in a dream-chaser affair when I decided to witness for myself Thi Lor Su waterfall in the lush green forests of Umphang Wildlife Sanctuary in Thailand's northern Tak Province. Said to be Thailand's mightiest waterfall, it is also renowned as one of the world's most beautiful examples of cascading falls. I am told, rather than brave the forest rain for over ten kilometers after a halt-day boat trip on the tributary of the Mae Klong river, or Mae Klong Kee river, it might be worth waiting until the drying effect of wintry winds allows the reopening of laterite roads along the thick forests leading to the wildlife sanctuary. I respond with my usual sweet smile, while preparing myself for the adventure. The 164 kilometers from Mae Sot on highway 1090 to Umphang presents the first challenge for any visitor, given the more than 80 kilometers of winding and steeply ascending roads through mountain ranges and steep gorges that reach heights exceeding 1,000 meters above sea level. Traveling in these conditions calls for special care. Eventually, after negotiating 1,219 curves, one arrives at the tiny town of Umphang, to be suddenly confronted by those tales of the forest . Tu Ka Su Cottage is the chosen operator to arrange board and lodgings and the trip to Thi Lor Suo The appointment time with our guide, and his team, is a little before noon. The start of our cruise on the Mae Klong Kee river, whose tributary begins at Baan Mae Klong Kee in Umphang, is only a short distance away and a large rubber boat is ready to take its passengers on this adventure trip. Having spent some time enjoying the company of wild birds and the scenic views, I am at once greeted by... text/html 2008-10-29T05:56:10+01:00 http://www.needtraveling.com http://www.needtraveling.com/general/the-shrine-of-wat-triprasith-the-great-valuable-thai-tradition.html Similar to elsewhere, the effects of modern development have slowly washed away many Thai traditional beliefs and practices. The “Sim”, a simple native Buddhist shrine with certain outstanding characteristics reflecting the traditional lifestyle of people in the northeast of Thailand is disappearing. A “Sim” is the word used by Thai northeastern people to describe a small Buddhist shrine. The word derives from “sima” or “sema”, a demarcation mark identifying the borders of a monastic area. In olden days, a “Sim” was built both on land and water, called either “Sim-on-land”, or “Sim-on-water”, the latter being phased out in the last few decades, leaving only “Sim-on-land” to be seen today. Its structure can be roughly grouped into two styles: no-wall Sim and closed, four-wall Sim. The Sim replicated the northeastern traditional and native Sim of the Buddhasima Temple at Tambon Fangdaeng, Amphoe Thadpanom, Nakorn Phanom Province. It is a closed, four-wall Sim-on-land. The replica was built at Wat Triprasith in Tambon Pralab, Amphoe Muang, Khon Kaen Province, selected because of an absence of a proper shrine for monks to perform religious rituals, and for lay-follower to use for their religious functions. The external characteristics of the new Sim of Wat Triprasith are the same as that of the Buddhasima Temple, with a simple, sufficient and compact architectural style that complies with His Majesty’s principles of self-sufficiency. In addition, “Hoob Taem”, or wall paintings by native painters, reflects the indigenous understanding of Buddhism. This is one way of conserving local traditions and native arts for future generations. The simple drawing of Hoop Taem chronicles stories of the Buddha, local folklore and beliefs according to Buddhist precepts. These symbolically reflect how close the Thai people in olden days were bonded to their Buddhist beliefs and practices. Apart from its external structure, the Sim of Wat Triprasith is also... text/html 2008-10-29T05:56:10+01:00 http://www.needtraveling.com http://www.needtraveling.com/general/singapore-more-than-meets-the-eye.html Singapore is known for its cleanliness, order and safety. Recognized as one of the world’s major commercial harbors, this island republic serves as a connection point between Europe and Southeast Asia and has the reputation of being an Asian Tiger. Clearly, Singapore’s modern-day miracle rests on its ability to tap the skills of its human resource. The first page in Singapore’s history books suggests that the word Singapore, a derivative of its Sanskrit name Singapura, means “city of lion”. Situated at the tip of the Asian continent, it is close to the equator; therefore, regardless of the month of mainland, the country has some 60 tiny islands. The first thing one should do upon arrival at Singapore’s Changi Airport is to adjust one’s watch to the local time, which is an hour ahead of Thailand. Given its diverse races, languages, cultures and lifestyles, the initial experience in Singapore could be quite surprising. Malay, Mandarin, Tamil and English are the four official languages spoken in Singapore, although Malay remains the national language. It is also known for “Singlish”, or the unique Singaporean English spoken by its people, although the government is campaigning heavily to ensure that proper English is spoken. Singapore’s racial diversity gives the country many festivals to celebrate. Muslims, Chinese, Hindus, Christians and Buddhists all have their share of festivities, in addition to other forms of entertainment, art, culture, sport and performances. But one of the events supported by the government is the Sales Festival that takes place every year during June and July, when all the shops offer hefty discounts on brand-name merchandise to attract shoppers from far and near. Orchard Street, in Singapore’s world-famous commercial district, is lined with more than 30 department stores. To ensure that you get quality and inexpensive goods, look for the Singapore Gold Circle sticker the quality... text/html 2008-10-29T05:56:10+01:00 http://www.needtraveling.com http://www.needtraveling.com/general/scenic-southern-thailand-offers-a-host-of-learning-courses-in-the-great-outdoors.html I know that flying over the south of Thailand piqued my curiosity as to what lay below. The view from the plane’s small window only allowed me a fleeting glimpse of some of the most impressive scenery in the world; surely there would be ways to enjoy such splendor at a more leisurely pace? I would quickly discover the answer in Phuket. Pastimes requiring physical dedication usually follow training programs, some concentrate around water; either on it or beneath the surface. Scuba diving, for instance, brings the world of color out of the imagination and into reality, while sailing majestically around limestone monoliths in such locations as Phang Nga Bay brings the views caught from the aircraft to life. Moving away from the water but continuing around those karsts, rock climbing has become one of the main attractions to the beaches of Krabi Province, climbers of all levels of experience descend here only to re-ascend,, albeit to a lesser height. Those viewpoints in the clouds? They’re reserved for the areas newest sport, paragliding. One thing that all four of these seemingly unapproachable pastimes have in common is that they can all be learnt at reasonable cost in glorious surroundings, and the majority is awarded with an internationally recognized certificate of competence. Starting at the bottom – the bottom of the ocean, that is – is scuba diving. Dive centers on both Phuket and in Krabi offer a choice of two. First are non-certification packages running over two days, giving a hint of breathing underwater, with chances to see all manner of marine life in relatively shallow water? The second option qualifies you as a novice diver, again under direct supervision of a professional. The majority of courses are taught under the internationally recognized PADI banner, with the entry-level Open Water Diver Course running... text/html 2008-10-29T05:56:10+01:00 http://www.needtraveling.com http://www.needtraveling.com/general/indochina-s-open-door-policy.html A part from its impressive length of over 4,000 kilometers, the mighty Mekong River has another important distinction: vast historical evidence of ancient civilizations. These civilizations predominate in an area of Southeast Asia known as Indochina, comprising Lao PDR, Vietnam and Cambodia, former French colonies and scenes of centuries of bloody wars and conflicts. Today, peace prevails over the region and the ravages of past wars have gradually been replaced by growing interest from around the world in Indochina’s rich cultural heritage, much of which has been passed down from these ancient civilizations. As the three countries increasingly introduce open-door policies to attract overseas visitors to inspect their cultural “assets”, the impact of tourism, as a major source of foreign currency earnings, is abundantly clear. This prompted the formation of the Mekong Sub-Regional Cooperation Program to facilitate intra-regional networking to expand travel and tourism by increasing air links and other, important infrastructure. From its place as a regional aviation hub, Bangkok plays a strategic role as a gateway to Indochina and Myanmar (as well as Thailand) by helping to promote inbound and outbound travel between neighboring countries and the rest of the world. It is probably the charm of Indochina and Myanmar that attracts tourists from all over the world to this land rich in cultural heritage. In the ancient city of Luang Prabang (formerly the capital of Larn Chang) in today’s Lao PDR, tourists are frequent visitors to this small, peaceful town situated in a valley bordering the Mekong River. The city is also known as Ban Pha Muang Phu – the birthplace of Larn Chang culture. Running through Laos from north to south is a 1,825 kilometer stretch of water called the River Kong, its smooth flow broken by rocks, cascading... text/html 2008-10-29T05:56:10+01:00 http://www.needtraveling.com http://www.needtraveling.com/general/batik-a-colorful-of-krabi-province.html Although batik is not strictly Thai folk art, it is considered an interesting handicraft full of craftsmanship, with a unique technique of printing colored design on cloth. Steps in batik production are not complicated, and can be learned through practice. You can also create batik designs with your own style. Printing batik designs starts by washing the cloth to expunge any oil or flour. The cloth is then dried in the sun before being printed with colored designs, which may be imprinted by paper of drawn by pencil. But first you must boil wax until it dissolves in water, and then use a brush to coat a wooden frame with liquid wax to prevent the cloth from slipping down the frame. The cloth to be printed with designs is placed into the wooden frame and then tightened. Newspaper is put on the back to prevent colors from spreading over the other side of the cloth. The next step is to print designs with liquid wax. The wax should be boiled at an appropriate temperature over an electric stove, as wax is flammable. Adding water to hot, liquid wax is strictly forbidden. When the liquid wax is hot enough to percolate through paper, and is clear like oil, the liquid is then used to print designs on the cloth. All lines on the designs should be drawn to connect with one another, with no spaces, because colors will percolate and spread into them. You may buy only primary colors and mix them to produce the desired colors. In order to paint, a color should be dissolved little by little in sufficient volumes of water in a covered container. Leftover colors can be kept for reuse in the next production. Even so, they should not be kept for over two weeks, since their quality will... text/html 2008-10-29T05:56:10+01:00 http://www.needtraveling.com http://www.needtraveling.com/general/tropical-icons-nothing-conjures-up-an-image-of-paradise-faster-than-the-humble-palm-tree.html Whether lining a coral-white beach front or framing a glittering Buddhist temple, the coconut palm, the “tree of life” is an essential element of the archetypal tropical paradise. Like many of the seasoned travelers who find their way to Thailand’s fabled beaches, the coconut is an intrepid voyager. It’s the only palm that is common to both the old and the new worlds, and is capable of months-long sea journeys that span thousands of miles. With probable origins in Southeast Asia, it has spread by ocean currents and human migration across the tropical world. Growing to 25 meters or more, the coconut palm has a slender, leaning trunk rising from a swollen base and is crowned with a parasol of fronds. Thailand’s islands and coastal areas, with their generally sandy, well-drained soil plus both abundant sun and rainfall, provide ideal growing conditions, making this country one of the top producers in the world. Most iconographic of all the tropical palms, the coconut is also the most versatile and important in economic terms. But the visitor encounters a wide variety of other palms. More than 160 species are found in Thailand where, as in much of tropical Asia, a number of them together represent a vital part of the rural economy – indeed, these plants are second only to grains in worldwide importance. Palms also serve far more diverse uses than do the grains, while at the same time they’re prized for their beauty – whether in gardens or growing wild, their distinctive appearance adds much to our enjoyment of the landscape. Although most palm species are distinguished by their single trunk and crown of leaves, some grow in clumps; still others are creepers or even climbers. Many individual species themselves serve a variety of uses. Taken together, the palms – sap, fruit, hearts and... text/html 2008-10-29T05:56:10+01:00 http://www.needtraveling.com http://www.needtraveling.com/general/hello-krabi-joyful-beach.html Surrendering to nature, and filling the lungs with clear, clean air, as you lie on pure, white sand, is something that is never boring to anyone. Oftentimes, as we look fondly at old postcards, and feel so enchanted by them, we can hardly resist the urge of wanting to pack and head for that very destination. And doing so, without having to know why that venue remains a sought after beach destination for relaxation among travelers, its beauty and attractions so well known in the world and, in particular, the exciting cliff climbing adventures. The mere depiction on postcards of white sands, crystal-clear seas, beautiful coral reefs, caves, mountains and water falls is fascination enough for many who cannot resist the thought of visiting Krabi. For this is one of the destinations travelers seek in their quest for a beautiful beach resort location where they can truly relax. Krabi, one of three beautiful southern provinces in Thailand, along with Phuket and Phang-nga, is a popular destination for weekend breaks. Among its attractions are the beaches and dive spots that unveil the underwater world of the Andaman Sea beneath Phi Phi Island, one of the world’s top ten most outstanding tourist sights, where fish of many species and colors thrive in shallow- and deepwater corals. Flights operated by THAI make the journey to Krabi a convenient choice as tourists can choose from three daily direct flights to Krabi from Bangkok. Alternatively, visitors can make use of the Eurng Luang tour with a diverse range of tour packages on offer, generally inclusive of both a return ticket and shuttle bus service between the airport and the hotel. Downtown Krabi has many fascinating sights to offer tourists, be it the rich forest environment of Phanom Benja Hill National Park; the mangroves right in...