Thailand Station

Full Moon Beach Party, Koh Samui

Article by Lopita Banerjee

The Full Moon Party is one of the most famous and visited beach parties in the world. It is held monthly at Haad Rin Beach in Southern Phangan. The Full Moon party started in the late 80′s with its popularity increasing steadily in the 90′s. A guitar, tape recorder and a beach fire under a full moon was the perfect setting for an intimate party arranged by friends.

Today, the full moon party has gained worldwide popularity for being one of the biggest and most entertaining parties of the world. Usually, every moth around 10,000-20,000 people participate in the Koh Phangan beach party. International and Thai DJ’s churn out the best foot tapping music to make the crowd go wild. Ultra Violet or UV colours that glow in the dark are painted on your body to give that electrifying effect. The DJ’s cover a wide genre of music such as techno, trance, goa, drum n’ bass, dub, reggae, “commercial hits”, house etc. These are played on about 15 sound systems along Haad Rin beach. There are also many small tables on the beach where you can sit down with your friends or meet new ones from all parts of the globe. You can order drinks and food from the restaurants and the bars next to the Had Rin Nok beach.

Quench you thirst with a “Thai whiskey set” with local spirits like Meakong or Sang Som. If you prefer beer, try a cold Thai beer such as Singha, Beer Chang, Kloster etc. There are often other beer brands such as Heineken, Tiger, Corona etc. available on many of the bars and restaurants and of course a number of non-alcoholic alternatives like fruit juices, fruit shakes and soft drinks. If you’re not into drinking check out all the delicious food laid out especially for you. The party provides delicious Thai food to all those dancers who worked up a ferocious appetite with all that dancing. Choose from a wide array of food ranging from the local delicacies to international favourites such as pasta, pizza, burgers, salads, soups etc. Prices are often very reasonable.Dates for the party might change if it clashes with a Buddhist holiday at full moon. To avoid disappointment do check with the hotel staff and local tourist information guides to get the exact date of the party. Book in advance to avoid last minute rush.

If you are planning to visit the party from Koh Samui, take one of the boats leaving several times daily from Big Buddha Pier (Bang Rak) and Maenam. Just book your ferry ticket in any travel agency on the island, or directly on the pier. You can also go by a speed-boat from the Bo Phut or Maenam piers on the North of Koh Samui. If you’re travelling from Bangkok you can either take a bus, train or flight from Suratthani. There are also several ferry lines going between Suratthani, Koh Samui and Koh Phangan daily. Catamarans are also available. Buy your ticket in any travel agency in Bangkok or on these islands. Try to book a bungalow or room in advance. You can also book your hotel from Koh Samui. There are a lot of people staying overnight so it can be really difficult to get a bungalow in the early morning. To find a bungalow, you can browse for safe Koh Phangan accommodation booking from our travel website.

Lopita Banerjee loves to write articles on how to book economical and low-priced hotels in your favorite destination spots and how to find reasonable hotels in Koh Samui that will soothe your senses and give you peace of mind

Top Ten International Events To Party At

Article by Nastasia Campanella

When deciding where to go on holidays we consider many factors. Weather, sports, food, money, distance and ofcourse bars, nightclubs and the general nightlife. If you love a good party and are one of those people who regularly hits up the clubs and bars in your hometown, then the party life of a place is something you should think about. Each country / city has its very own special festival or cultural celebration and getting involved is part of the fun. Perhaps when planning your next trip, you should check out these places for great traditional partying.

10: Calgary Stampede, Canada

A ten day rodeo which attracts millions of tourists annually, this is held in the second week of July. The festival features a huge parade and an after party in celebration where beer floes and hook ups in one of the pulsating bars, nightclubsor pubs are a huge.

9: All-Star Fiesta, Cancun, Mexico

If boobs, booty and booz are what you’re after, I hear this festival held over five days is just for you! You’ll find fashion shows, record releases, wild basketball games and generally, celebrities are found relaxing around the event alongside the other 10,000 visiters.

8: Okteberfest, Munich, Germany

Apparently, six million people converge on this historical city for a party where the drink of choice and the reason to get together during the month of October is beer. Get it in any form, made from anywhere, in any sized glass. This festival starts off with a huge parade through the streets, finishing up at noon where the Mayor of Munich sips the first pint. It’s a crazy time where local breweries compete for patron’s affections and the title of best beer. I hear the place to drink at during the month is Hofbaugaus but getting there before 10.30 is a must or you most certainly won’t get a table.

7: La Tomatina, Spain

Spain is the place to party around the world [and believe it or not has the highest density of bars and nightclubs in the world]. This place also has an amazing tradition which marks the end of the harvesting season. Since 1945, on the last Wednesday in August, 30,000 people hit the little town of Bunol in the Valencia region for the worlds largest food fight. Imagine chucking tomatoes at your friends while drinking and dancing and enjoying dishes like paella and a glass of warm sangria.

6: Bay to Breakers, San Francisco, California

Started in 1906, this party, held on the third Sunday of May is a college drinking bash meets fancy dress party. Imagine over 70,000 beautiful people dancing, drinking on a seven mile beach with no shoes, dressed up in all kinds of crazy costumes. There is carts with beers spilling out the top and lots of nude fun both outside and inside the wide selection of bars and nightclubs.

5: Glastonbury Music Festival, Pilton, England

An absolute celebration of art, culture and of course, very good music. The festival has played host to acts like MGMT, Hot Chip, Florence and the Machines, La Roux, Snoop Dogg, Julian Casablancas and the Flaming Lips. In 2009, 177000 attended the five-day outdoor, party which has now been going for 40 years. Tents, sleeping bags and gumboots are essential. Be quick for this one, tickets generally go on sale online in early October for the festival which is always held in the last weekend of June.

4: Midnight Madness, Reykjavik, Iceland

On the night of June 23, this city plays host to a Viking-inspired festival with bonfires, live music, fresh traditional food, art and dance. Sure, this place is chilly, but hang out at one of the warm lagoons or sip on one of the many types of vodka provided at the markets and you’ll be on fire.

3: Fuji Rock Festival, Naeba, Japan

Held annually over three days at the end of July, this festival started up in 1997 and got its name as the first ever event was at the foot of Mount Fuji. It hosts 100,000 people who travel to the city to hear 250 different musical acts from Japan and around the world. Acts like Oasis, Fall out Boy, Basement Jaxx, Gossip, Jason Mraz and The Chemical Brothers have played this festival. There are plenty of ski resorts nearby, but if you miss out on one of those, bring along a tent and your set for the weekend.

2: Full Moon Party, Koh Phangan, Thailand

Legend has it that this festival started as a huge beach Birthday party in the 80′s. Backpackers have returned to Thailand many a time for the famous beach party and while many say the event [celebrated on a full moon each month], has lost its charm, but some 20,000 people still bring their dancing and drinking boots here at any one time. Many of my friends have traveled here and tell me the Full Moon Party was one of the most amazing nights of their life. Highlights for them included magic mushroom milkshakes and fond memories of every second person going to the toilet in the beach.

1: Carnival, Rio De Janiero, Brazil

Believe it or not, but this festival, celebrated in Feb was established for religious reasoning. Brazilian’s put on the festival in the early stages because it was a method of wishing away all the bad things in a season of religious discipline, to practice repentance and prepare for Christs death and resurrection. Prices on just about everything go up during this festival, but I’m told its well worth it. I know from personal experience that Brazil is the place for hot men and ladies, very little clothing and brilliant food. If only I had stayed for the amazing festival. Catch costumes of all kinds, pleanty of dancing and drinking in the streets and kissing and nakedness like you’ve never seen before. One thing to watch for though, is pickpocketers – they love this time of year.

Nastasia Campanella is writer/editor for http://www.barsandnightclubs.com.au

Full Moon Party – Moonlight Madness

Article by Pushpitha Wijesinghe

If nighttime entertainment that won’t disappoint is what you want: then Bangkok, Thailand meets your match as it morphs into a hub for entertainment at sundown. With its world famous entertainment and shopping districts, Bangkok is one of the few places that can match any mood you are in whether it be high-end discotheques or underground clubs.

Not only does the appearance of the full moon herald days of religious significance but it also summons multitudes of enthusiastic party animals to the coast of Koh Phangan for one of the most exotic gatherings in the island: Full Moon Party.

A Frenzied atmosphere with roaring bonfires, fiery cocktails, rhythms of base and techno bellowing over the sound of the crashing waves. The waxing full moon provides the ultimate backdrop to the eventful proceedings just as the ocean shore lit up by the full moon, exposing the waves as they rock and roll is an unforgettable sight. You can join the dance-floor and let yourself go to the music or just bask in the atmosphere of things and enjoy being a part of one memorable party. There are also jugglers and fire eaters to take it up a notch. As the night wears on the sky will be lit up by brilliant fire displays. And you don’t have to worry about it being not your kind of party for there is music to suit everyone from hard-core techno and trance to pop to reggae and more. If you are hungry there’s always plenty to eat with scores of beach vendors hanging out at the event. And if you want to cool off you can always take a dip in the ocean.

The Full Moon Party was started up by a group of tourists who believed that the best full moon could be observed from Koh Phangan. Today it has become a coveted monthly event where the coast of Hard Rin is lit up for the occasion.

There are many accommodations to choose from in Bangkok but after a hectic night out and all you want is comfort and convenience then Royal President Bangkok is the ideal accommodation that has spacious rooms and rooftop penthouses along with a swimming pool, free tuk-tuk shuttle service, fitness and spa treatments to add to your blissful stay, Royal President Bangkok is an elegantly appointed luxurious Hotel Sukhumvit Road is proud to call its own.

Pushpitha Wijesinghe is an experienced independent freelance writer. He specializes in providing a wide variety of content and articles related to the travel hospitality industry.

Thailand Travel Ideas

Article by Nordthailandrun6

When you arrive in Thailand, you’ll probably fly into Bangkok and be thrown into a world of organised chaos. This city is the essential way to begin any Thailand trip. Street vendors selling fried scorpions and huhu grubs, tuk-tuk drives zigzagging their way in and out of the traffic and the amazing aroma at every street corner of spices and incense. Bangkok has a marvellous choice of temples, Wats and Buddha’s and haggling at the markets for a fake Gucci watch or the price of a tailor made suit is an experience I would recommend to everyone travelling in Thailand. However In the last 15 years or so Thailand has been evolving from faraway destination for hardened travellers to what is becoming a package holiday. With air travel so readily available Thailand is now also a family travel destination. Thailand is also a great place to travel for the elderly and the inexperienced gap year traveller alike, and of course at a budget price. However, travelling in Thailand has something other than just the tourist route to follow and this article will give you some of those hidden gems that the throng of Thailand travellers will not have found… yet.

The majority of international flights to Thailand arrive in Bangkok and although this is not an area to miss, once you have seen the golden temples, Wat’s and floating markets why not head a little out of the city to the north east to a street called Soi 1. Although it was previously a dirty little street with a smell rivalling that of open sewers things have now changed and in 2007 it was cleaned up and serves the most amazing local food to the locals and few Thailand travellers lucky enough to stumble across it. Intestines and entrails may be on the menu on many of the stalls but when travelling in Thailand why not try everything! And of course there is an array of locally cooked curries, pad thai and sticky rice for those Thailand travellers with slightly weaker stomachs. The cost to eat is minimal as it is off the tourist trail and you will get a true experience of what Bangkok used to be like before the Weston invasion.

From Bangkok you have many options at your disposal for your Thailand trip and with a travel agent on every corner offering you jungle treks and trips to the River Kwai you can quickly get sucked in to their sales patter. My advice is to avoid the mass route and if you are looking for something different on your Thailand trip jump on a bus to Sida, 3 hours north east of Bangkok passing through the stunning jungles of Koh Yai on the way. In the little village of Sida get off the bus and arrange a night in one of the few guest houses. From here the guest house owners will help you organise a home stay with a family in the local area – an unforgettable part of any Thailand trip. You can visit schools, live in with a local family, go frog hunting and depending on the time of year see how they harvest their crops, celebrate festivals and get a true idea of how a typical Thai family lives in the country side. A true Thaiand travel experience.

Travelling to the north of Thailand is a must as the jungle are dense and teaming with wildlife, but rather than stop at Chiang Mai where the majority of travellers in Thailand get off, keep on going. A night in Chiang Mai will give you time to visit local markets and explore the old town but don’t stay too long as there is so much more to offer in this region. Heading North West by bus you will travel through some of the most beautiful serene country side and the winding road up through the mountains will make you feel a little queasy but the views and little towns you pass through will make this journey well worthwhile. Mae Hong Son a little further west is the home to the Paduang hill tribe famous for the numerous golden rings around their neck, “The long necks”. Exploring this area by motor bike is the best way to see all the little hidden gems, meet the locals and with the Mekong River flowing along the border there is the opportunity to go white water rafting with a local guide. These experiences really will help you get hte most out of your Thailand trip.

The first thing many people think about when travelling to Thailand are the idyllic white sands of a picture perfect tropical island and with so many to choose from the question is which is the best. Well to be honest with such a large number of islands there is something for everyone travelling in Thailand. However if the thought of sharing a beach with a hundred other backpackers drinking Chang Beer and riding jet skis isn’t your cup of tea then why not try one of the islands off the south west coast. There appears to be a trend of Thailand traveller who will go to a certain distance and explore no further but taking that extra little effort will open up and array of empty beaches, less developed little islands and friendly genuine locals. Taking the sleeper train from Bangkok south, almost every backpacker gets off at Surat Thani which gives you great access to the east coast islands but instead of following the crowds, stay on that train for another couple of hours to the station of Trang. From here you are reaching an area which has been largely kept out of the Thailand tourist route. The train station is 20 miles or so to the west coast and so getting a taxi to the port of Pak Meng and jumping on a boat out to one of these remote islands is easy to do. For a lot more info, you need to go to: nordthailand-rundreiseKoh Ngai which less than a 1 kilometre wide and with only 3 or four resorts is a great spot to start and an amazing place to relax during your Thailand trip. You can spend your day’s snorkelling in the warm waters, reading your book under a palm tree or simply taking a walk along the white sandy beaches to one of the restaurants that serve an array of fish caught that morning. You truly will feel like you have found paradise.

When you arrive in Thailand, you’ll probably fly into Bangkok and be thrown into a world of organised chaos. This city is the essential way to begin any Thailand trip. Street vendors selling fried scorpions and huhu grubs, tuk-tuk drives zigzagging their way in and out of the traffic and the amazing aroma at every street corner of spices and incense. Bangkok has a marvellous choice of temples, Wats and Buddha’s and haggling at the markets for a fake Gucci watch or the price of a tailor made suit is an experience I would recommend to everyone travelling in Thailand. However In the last 15 years or so Thailand has been evolving from faraway destination for hardened travellers to what is becoming a package holiday. With air travel so readily available Thailand is now also a family travel destination. Thailand is also a great place to travel for the elderly and the inexperienced gap year traveller alike, and of course at a budget price. However, travelling in Thailand has something other than just the tourist route to follow and this article will give you some of those hidden gems that the throng of Thailand travellers will not have found… yet.

Thailand Travel – Regions of Thailand

The vast culture and tradition makes Thailand a famous and memorable country to travel. Most of the people give more preference to Thailand Travel when compared to other countries in Southeast Asia. It is no surprise that Royal Kingdom of Thailand offers everything any traveler might desire. Some of the famous tourist attractions in Thailand include living arts, exciting nightlife, hospitality of Thai people, stunning beaches and islands, and last but by no means the least it offers the best cuisines over the globe.

You may wonder which mode of travel to choose in order to visit Thai. With the availability of excellent network of trains, frequent airplanes and buses, it is quite easy to travel in Thailand. Many visitors choose airplanes as their mode for Thailand Travel. Chiang Mai located in Northern Thailand reflects the country’s culture and scenery.

Northern Thailand

This place is renowned for its breathtaking trekking, interesting hill tribes, and Lanna culture.

Chiang Mai has been gaining increasing popularity for conducting a center for learning, which includes classes on Thai culture and tradition, yoga, Thai cooking, meditation, Thai massage and fruit carving.

Southern Thailand

Southern Thailand is famous for the exotic beaches that seem to appeal ever traveler. You can stay back and relax yourself in the most beautiful beaches in Thailand, including Koh Tao, Koh Phangan, Trang, and Krabi. All these beaches and resorts are located just a few miles away from Bangkok.

If you decide on a trip to Thailand, you ought to learn certain aspects about this country to act wise in Thailand. Be sure to choose a Thailand Travel package that offers all sorts of accommodation at affordable prizes.

Explore interesting features and facts about Thailand Travel and enjoy what this amazing country has to offer.

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