In an bid to tell world golfers what Asian golfers already know, the golf establishment in Thailand has launched ‘Golf in a Kingdom: The Thai Golf Experience’, a cooperative itinerary that matches the country’s top courses with its most desirable hotels.

The Kingdom of Thailand has for decades been the destination of choice for Asian golfers, thanks to its stellar courses, superb year-round climate and welcoming culture. By banding together to form ‘Golf in a Kingdom: The Thai Golf Experience’ (www.golfinakingdom.com), these courses and hotels mean to cement a place for Thailand alongside the world’s premier golf destinations.

“I think golfers in North America have an inkling that golf is played in Thailand; Europeans have slightly more of an inkling, but I don’t think golfers on either continent fully realize that this is a country with more than 250 courses, many of them as good as you’ll find anywhere in the world,” said Mark Siegel, president of Bangkok-based tour operator Golfasian.

The Tourist Authority of Thailand (TAT) has partnered with eight premium golf properties, Golfasian and six of the country’s premier hotels to form ‘Golf in a Kingdom: The Thai Golf Experience’.

The cooperative effort has been in the planning since 2007, but its launch this month is timely. According to TAT, some 3.2 million visitors arrived in Thailand the first quarter of 2009 — a 19 percent decrease from the previous year. It’s unclear whether this drop is attributable to the peaceful-but-ongoing political disquiet in Thailand or the worldwide economic slump.

“I live here and the reality is, the political issues in Thailand haven’t had any effect on the day-to-day lives of citizens or tourists — but the economic slowdown has surely affected tourists: prices have dropped across the board,” Siegel asserted. “I don’t think there’s ever been a more economical time to visit here. That’s not hype; it’s a fact. Launching ‘Golf in a Kingdom’ now has allowed us to offer value we could not have offered in 2008.”

In May 2009, a CNN International tourism poll asserted that Thailand, among first-world nations, represents the best value for travelers in the entire Asia Pacific region. Conducted across CNN English websites, the survey had more than 5,000 respondents globally.

“The world gets a bit smaller every day,” Siegel continued. “We hope to shrink it just enough with ‘Golf in a Kingdom’ to give North American and European golfers a taste of Thai culture and hospitality, because one visit is normally all it takes. The number of golfers who try Thailand then return for a second and third helping is pretty extraordinary.”

From the mystical hill country of Chiang Rai in the northwest corner to the breathtaking beaches of Koh Samui in the Gulf of Thailand, ‘Golf in a Kingdom: The Thai Golf Experience’ takes in some of the most lush and varied terrain on the planet. That sort of real estate — linked by Thailand’s enviably modern transportation infrastructure — translates into the Kingdom’s stunning golf properties, including:

* Banyan Golf Club, a new hillside course just outside the charming coastal town of Hua Hin, preferred holiday retreat of the Thai Royal Family for almost a century.
* Chiang Mai Highlands Golf & Spa Resort, an inventive Schmidt/Curley design 1,000 feet above sea level in the cool, northern region.
* Muang Kaew Golf Club, the closest course to bustling Bangkok, with sterling greens and a par 3 that looks eerily similar to the 12th at Augusta National.
* Santiburi Chiang Rai Country Club, where Robert Trent Jones II crafted 18 dramatic holes that either skirt a chain of lakes or flow over the low hills of Bang Bor.
* Santiburi Samui Country Club, site of the newest Asian Tour event, the Queen’s Cup, and traversing a jungle of towering coconut trees at the foot of Khao Pom Mountain.
* Siam Country Club, Plantation Course, this 27-hole Schmidt-Curley design played host to the 2009 Honda LPGA Thailand just two years after opening
* Siam Country Club, Old Course, always immaculately maintained, it hosted the 2007 Honda LPGA event and features perhaps the toughest closing stretch in the country.
* Thai Country Club, site of Tiger Woods’s 1997 Asia Honda Classic victory and the ‘Best Championship Course in Asia’, as voted by Asian Golf Monthly readers in 2008.

Thailand also harbors the Asia’s newest and broadest collection of 5-star accommodations -— at prices North Americans and Europeans may not believe at first. ‘Golf in a Kingdom’ embraces that development by bridging rounds of golf with nights at posh, brand-name resorts, including:

* Anantara Phuket, a collection of 83 private pool villas set within indigenous gardens of jasmine, orchids and birds of paradise. Conde Nast Traveller magazine just named this property to its coveted worldwide “Hot List” for 2009.
* Bangkok Marriott Resort & Spa, located across the Chao Phraya River from the city center but with all the tranquility and kick-back appeal a traveler could wish for in an urban setting.
* Anantara Golden Triangle, a luxury nature retreat set amid 160 acres of tropical jungle, all of it hewing to the winding Mekong River and a border dividing three countries.
* Anantara Hua Hin, nestled in 14 acres of luxuriant tropical gardens along the white sand beaches on the Gulf of Thailand.
* Anantara Koh Samui, serenely perched above a quiet stretch of sand, and just steps from the shimmering waters that lap Samui Island.
* Hua Hin Marriott Resort & Spa, whose architecture combines space, color and natural light with traditional Thai design themes to create a sense of harmony and grandeur.

“The beauty of this marked shift toward high-quality lodging, which has been taking place here for 20 years actually, is that Thailand remains affordable,” said Boyd Barker, Hua Hin Marriott’s general manager. “If there’s a positive to the hit tourism has taken here, of late, it’s that prices reflect this drop in demand. There’s no better place to go on holiday, and there’s no better time than right now.”

The attraction extends beyond golf and resorts. Never colonized by foreign powers and known as Siam until 1939, Thailand remains a constitutional monarchy. But during the past half century it has managed to seamlessly blend Western influences and Buddhist beliefs, producing a first-world destination with an Old World feel.

Six distinct geographical regions — ranging from 8,000-foot-high mountains in the north to a maze of limestone islands rising out of the Andaman Sea in the south — only add to the country’s diverse allure.
“Of all the countries in Southeast Asia, Thailand provides the greatest value,” said Santi Chudintra, Director of TAT Los Angeles. “The people are welcoming, the culture is unique and the scenery is spectacular. Thai food, which everyone wants to talk about, is just a small part of the menu.”
http://www.etravelblackboardasia.com/

Camping with your baby can be a lot of fun, and can be a special time between you and your baby. Babies adjust easily and seem to enjoy the new sights and sounds of camping.

You can use the items made for babies on your camping trip. These items help make camping with your baby convenient, which leaves more time for you to spend doing fun activities with your baby.

Most babies enjoy the water, and many campgrounds have baby pools. Take your baby swimming and keep your eyes open for the excitement he/she will show. If there is a beach where you camp, you can take baby with you. It is important to protect your baby from the sun and heat. Sunscreen is a must to protect baby's delicate skin. Shade is always a good idea for baby when he/she is not in the water.

Backpack baby carriers are a good idea when camping with baby, since there are frequently places that are hard to push a stroller. If you like hiking, or going for a walk around the campground, a baby backpack carrier could be just the thing for you. Baby backpack carriers are used for babies who can sit up on their own. Some of these backpacks are available with a hood to help protect your baby from the sun. Most babies love the closeness of Mom or Dad while riding in their baby backpack.

Backpack diaper bags are also very useful when camping with your baby. Backpack diaper bags are comfortable and can generally hold more supplies than an traditional style diaper bag. Some of these backpacks are available with an insulated pocket that aides in keeping bottles and snacks cool for baby. Also, when walking long distances or hiking, it is better to wear a backpack diaper bag that evenly distributes the weight across your back and is better for your body and balance, than to carry a heavy diaper bag that hangs from one shoulder. Taking walks and/or hikes with your baby can be a fun, exciting, and interesting time together.

A child locator is a great item to bring while you are camping. Child locators come in different styles. One style of child locator has a whimsical device which clips to your child's clothing while you hold a small hand held device, and if you lose track of your child you push a button on your handheld device causing the clip on your child to emit a friendly beep. Another style of child locator has a fun device to clip onto your baby's/child's clothing and one for the parent, and operates by using a distance zone, so if your baby/child is outside of that distant zone, a continuous beep goes off. These devices are very helpful in helping you keep an eye on your baby/toddler during times when you may get distracted. As every parent knows, it only takes a few seconds for your baby/toddler to disappear out of your sight.

There are many available items on the market to help make camping a more convenient, enjoyable, and fun for you and your baby!
Author:David Cummings

Think Thai food and the first image that comes to your mind is usually a spicy dish or one with a lot of curry. This is partly true – to an extent. Believe it or not, you might have probably had Thai food at least once in your life without knowing it, or maybe you do. Thai food is internationally famous, and for many a reason. All Thai dishes are rarely ever bland and always have that one special ingredient that makes you wonder how it's done.

Rice is the main staple food of Thailand and this is usually what accompanies a set meal, if weren't a meal on its own (eg. fried noodles). There are two kinds of rice the Thais love: standard white rice and glutinous sticky rice. Glutinous rice is more loved by the northern Thais as you see it more frequently in their meals. Thai food differs from one place to another. Spice is famous in most dishes but the Thai's balance out their spicy food with ingredients such as lemon, lime and lemon grass.

For the northern areas, apart from the glutinous rice, a lot of their food has influence from neighbouring countries like Laos with most of their food highly seasoned and spicy e.g.: spicy roast pork. A favourite dish of the northerners would be khanom chin nam ngiao (Thai vermicelli in spicy soup). Vegetables are seen a lot in the dishes here as well because most northerners are agriculturists.

If you're in the Central region, the cuisine is somewhat "Royal cuisine", as some dishes are inspired by the kitchens of the Royal Court back when Thailand was known as Siam. The dishes are more elaborate and tend to look like beautiful masterpieces that took hours to make instead of something that's whipped up in 5.

For the southern region the dishes get really interesting. Coconut is a prominent ingredient in many dishes. It usually is present to offset the heat of curries and chilli based soups and its oil is widely used for frying. As the southern bit tends to be near the coastal regions, fresh seafood such as crab, lobster and prawns are usually the centre of many dishes and curries.

The most popular Thai dishes of today include those such as Tom Yam Kung (spicy shrimp soup), Kaeng Khiao Wan Kai (green chicken curry), Phanaeng (meat in coconut cream) and Pad Thai (fried noodles) which is probably Thailand's most famous noodle dish.
Author:OrsonJohnson

Asian countries are known for its beautiful beaches and Thailand has many of those relaxing and white sand beaches that you should not miss when visiting Thailand. I will list some of its beautiful beaches for you to choose from when visiting Thailand

White Sand Beach, Ko Chang – being the second largest island Thailand, Ko Chang or some called it as the Elephant Island is the most popular in Thailand. It is located near the border of Cambodia or over 180 miles east from Bangkok. If you have enough time, you explore the whole island and see some hidden bays in the place..

Hat Sai Kaeo in Ko Samet – if you like other activities other than swimming, you can go to Hat Sai Kaeo in Ko Samet. This is also called as Diamond Beach or Crystal Sand Beach. With is size of around one third mile long, you can enjoy jet skiing, windsurfing, and riding the exciting banana boat.

Ao Manao in Prachuap Khiri Khan – also called as the Lemon Beach, Ao Manao is located six miles away from the border of Myanmar. Despite of it being a battlefield for Thai and Japanese forces, Ao is now one of the quietest beaches in Thailand. When in Ao Manao, grab the chance to try on their freshest seafood offered by their restaurants.

Phranang Bay and Railay Peninsula in Krabi – professional and first time rock climbers will surely love the Railay Peninsula, because it is known for its extraordinary rock climbing opportunities, and from Railay East Beach, one can take a 15 minute walk and they will reach the Phranang Bay that is perfect for swimming, kayaking, snorkeling, and exploring.

Ao Nang Beach in Krabi – its well-developed beach, a chance to do street shopping, affordable rate, with top western and Thai restaurants are just a few of the reasons why Ao Nang is one of the most popular beaches in Thailand.

Tonsai Bay in Ko Phi Phi – Ko Phi Phi is one of the world’s famous islands. It composed of two separate islands, the larger one called the Don and the smaller one called Leh, and Tonsai Bay is located on the southern side of Ko Phi Phi Don.

Noppharat Thara in Krabi – also in Khrabi, Noppharat Thara was then a free public beach until 2008. However, today, tourists are already charged with 400 Thai baht as the entrance fee. The Noppharat Thara is located at the western part of Ao Nang also in Khrabi.

Tong Takien Bay in Ko Samui Island – another great place for snorkeling, swimming, and kayaking is the calm and secluded bay in the southeast side of Ko Samui called the Tong Takien, which is also called as the Silver Beach.

Sairee Beach in Ko Tao – Ko Tao is a remote beach in Thailand that became the choice of tourists who wanted to get away from crowded Ko Phangan and Ko Samui. It can be reach via two to three hours boat ride from Chumpon. When In Ko Tao Sairee is the popular spot because they offer massage, drinks, and all types of food and services. Author:Amit kumar

Contestants competing in the 2009 Miss Poland contest will gather in Pattaya and Phuket in October 2009 to participate in the “Polonia Preparation Camp” — a segment of the contest that features a special programme of extra-curricular activities organized in collaboration with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and EXIM Tours, a travel wholesaler, and one of twelve Polish tour operators offering Thailand tourism products.

The hosting of the Miss Poland 2009 campaign in Pattaya and Phuket is in line with TAT’s destination marketing and tourism promotion strategies to further raise the visibility and awareness of Pattaya and Phuket as world-class travel and holiday destinations among the Polish travel audience, especially first-time visitors to Thailand.

TAT Deputy Governor for International Marketing, Mr. Santichai Euachongprasit, had an opportunity to be interviewed together with Miss Poland 2008 on the “Pytanie na Sniadanie” Morning Show, a popular Polish television show, on 28 May, 2009. During their stay in Thailand, contestants will be presented with an opportunity to participate in various activities. These include learning Thai cooking, experiencing first-hand relaxing traditional spa treatments, and enjoying water sports.

Mr. Santichai said that “Pattaya and Phuket, as beach resort destinations, are both very well-known among European visitors. With the very significant growth potential of the tourism industry in Pattaya and Phuket, this helps to stimulate the Thai economy overall. We plan to continue our heavy and extensive promotion of these world-renowned seaside resort cities”.

From 1-14 October 2009, 24 contestants from the various cities in Poland, together with the members of the film crew, will arrive in Bangkok by charter flight from Warsaw. They will be in Pattaya and Phuket for the “Polonia Preparation Camp”. During their two-week stay, a TV programme will run a documentary about the beauty pageant with segments in Pattaya and Phuket to be telecast via the Miss Poland 2009 final contest on 24 October 2009. Given the broad spectrum of media channels covering the Miss Poland 2009 campaign in Phuket, TAT hopes that the extensive media coverage will inspire Polish travellers to choose Thailand as their next holiday destination.

For years, Poland has remained one of the most important Eastern European markets for Thailand’s travel industry, along with the Czech Republic and Hungary. The Polish travel and tourism industry has registered positive growth since 2006. This growth is largely attributed to Poland’s accession to the European Union (EU) in May 2004, which has paved the way for numerous positive social and economic developments. The ongoing social and economic integration of Poland into the EU results in the westernisation of Poland’s travel and tourism market as well as consumer habits and preferences, which in turn influences trends in outbound leisure travel and the choice of travel destinations.


In 2008, Polish visitor arrivals to Thailand totalled 27,800, representing an increase of 29.36 per cent. They had an average length of stay of 12 days, and average daily expenditure of 4,200 Baht or US$120 or 91 Euro (US$ 1 = 35 Baht, 1 Euro = 46 Baht) per person. This resulted in approximately 6.5 billion baht (equivalent to US$ 186 million or 141 million Euro) in tourism revenue and foreign exchange earnings for the Thai economy.

While first-time visitors from Poland opt for Pattaya as their first destination of choice, beach and island resorts in the Andaman region have proven to be a favourite with return visitors. Samui, Krabi and Koh Lanta are gaining popularity. There has also been a rapid increase in the number of Polish divers. Golfing in Thailand is also on the list of popular activities.

According to statistics from the Immigration Bureau, the number of tourist arrivals to Pattaya in 2007 is over 4.48 million people — an increase of 9.61 per cent from the previous year. On the other hand, Phuket welcomed over 3.28 million international tourists in 2007, an increase of 14 per cent from 2006.

Contact information:
International Public Relation Division
Tourism Authority of Thailand
Tel: +66 (0) 2250 5500 ext. 4545-48
Fax: +66 (0) 2253 7419
E-mail: prdiv3@tat.or.th
Web site: www.tatnews.org

GASTRONOMIC INNOVATION
Thai Culinary Art Goes International

Thai cuisine has without doubt taken the world by storm, and Thai culinary art has gone international along with it. This cooking transition, or evolution, takes several different forms and reflects gastronomic innovation and collaboration on an international level.

Long gone are the days when Thai cuisine could be simply identified by carved vegetable garnishes, or a basic flavouring of fish sauce and chilli. Today's culinary auteurs have raised the benchmark — and there's no looking back!

Western kitchens now commonly house Thai and Asian cooking utensils. Food columnist Cherry Ripe notes in her book Culinary Cringe that even a decade ago, some 60 per cent of Australians already had a wok, and stir fried meals were common. Celebrity chefs like Jamie Oliver today tout Thai-style mortars and pestles — and not only for crushing garlic. You just don't get the right feel and texture using an electric blender.

Foodies today are likely to encounter excitingly new Thai creations playing old and new together. Cookbook author and restaurateur Vatcharin Bhumichitr's marriage of oysters on the half shell topped with mangosteen segments dressed with a yum (Thai salad) dressing is but one example. Pongtawat Chalermkittichai's baby back ribs with bitter chocolate and Thai spices, is yet another. There is also Neil Perry's use of traditional Thai herbs and native ingredients in cosmopolitan cuisine, or in a non-Thai setting. Furthermore, the absence of oil in Thai salad dressings (de rigueur in classic French) is showing up in lighter-style Western dishes as well.

There is a true international exchange occurring on the culinary level with the use of Western ingredients in traditional Thai dishes and the adaptation of traditional Thai dishes to non-Thai/Western tastes and preferences.

DEFINING THAI CUISINE
But what defines “Thai cuisine”? Is it the flavour? The technique? Or the ingredients?
Please click here to view the full story with images.

Giant butterflies dance through prehistoric plants, monolithic limestone cliffs hide misty waterfalls, and the cries of strange animals can be heard in the distance. If it wasn't for the neatly maintained pathways and bamboo clad rubbish bins, you could almost believe you were in Jurassic Park, but this not a Hollywood movie, this jungle is real. This is not Jurassic Park, but it is a national park, a Thai national park and anyone prepared to pay the entrance fee can experience the wonder and magic of this truly ancient landscape.

And if you go down to the woods today you are going to be in for a pleasant surprise. Thailand's national parks are well organized places, where you will not only get to witness some magnificent scenery, but you can also take part in a wide range of activities including: trekking, cycling, kayaking, camping and white water rafting. True nature lovers will delight in the vast areas of unspoiled wilderness, rich in tropical and exotic vegetation, where natural hot springs bubble from the ground, and fresh water streams cascade through limestone crags. Here, a turn in the jungle track will reveal holy shrines, ancient ruins, hidden temples or dark caves full of prehistoric paintings.

However, this wasn't always the case. Following the Second World War, Thailand experienced a population boom, which led to an increase in the demand for food and clothing. Naturally, the local farmers were attracted to the rich, fertile soil of the forest and so they cleared large areas of jungle in order to cultivate more crops. At the same time, firearm production was also modernized. This meant that hunting became easier and as a result more game was taken from the forest. Many species were adversely affected; some were even driven to extinction.

With the destruction of the forest and the depletion of the flora and fauna, Thailand was in danger of losing much of its natural resources. However, in 1961, the Thai government, recognizing that they had a problem, passed the National Park Act. The Act allowed for the establishment of a system of national parks, which help to protect and preserve the country's precious natural landscape for future generations for educational and recreational purposes.

Today, there are 102 national parks (including 21 marine parks) situated all over Thailand, each with something unique to offer. From the top of spectacular limestone peaks to the bottom of silver sanded coral reefs, the parks encompass every form of natural environment.

Having been mainly left undisturbed for years, the parks are home to an incredible diversity of plant and animal species including wild elephants, water buffalo, deer, tapir, lizards, snakes, porcupines, monkeys, gibbons, baboons, bats, parrots, parakeets, hornbills and a further 450 species of other birds. There are even rumors of tigers, clouded leopards and bears living here.

Visit for the afternoon or stay for few nights, come under your own steam or as part of an organized tour, however you visit one of Thailand's national parks, a truly unique and amazing experience is ready and waiting for you to explore.
Author:NeonX

- Cultural and Community-based Tourism
Exhibits, cultural presentations and live demonstrations in this zone offer insight into local customs and traditions. Activities undertaken reflect the local way of life. In addition to live demonstrations of traditional village crafts, enjoy the lively scenes presented by the traditional markets and floating markets.

- Ecotourism and Adventure Travel
For nature lovers, Thailand offers a tremendous diversity of natural habitats that includes land-based eco-systems, forests and mountainous landscape, waterfalls and streams, mangrove forests as well as marine eco-systems. Learn about environmentally-friendly travel and ecotourism options that will help to minimize our carbon footprint and help reverse the effects of global warming. Also make the most of this rare opportunity to learn about environmentally-friendly initiatives spearheaded by a selection of award-winning organizations. For adventure seekers, Thailand’s military camps are offering innovative Green Adventure activity programmes.

- Health Tourism
This special activity zone promotes a better understanding of health tourism. Visitors will be able to witness (or experience) a live demonstration of traditional Thai massage and the regional variations of this ancient healing technique. Leading hospitals participating in the fair will be offering visitors a basic health check-up on site. Wellness promotional packages will also be available on offer. In addition to live demonstrations of food for health and yoga for health, health and wellness professionals will also be on-hand to provide health tips and advice.

- Traditional Crafts and Souvenirs
Thai artisans are noted for their tradition of artistic excellence and superb craftsmanship. Enjoy live demonstrations of a range of village crafts from various award-winning communities throughout Thailand and shop for some of the finest hand-crafted items brought together under one roof at the Thailand Tourism Festival.

Challenger Hall 1-2, Impact Muang Thong Thani Exhibition Centre

Because no holiday maker is the same, and nobody's holidays are the same, there are also different types of Travel Insurance available to accommodate everyone. The question is: what should you be looking for in your Travel Insurance? These days, policies are very specific to allow for variety, so it shouldn't be difficult to find a policy that is right for your travel needs.

If you are a frequent traveller, exploring many different locations each year, your best bet is to go for an annual policy. Bearing in mind that cover from different companies will vary, this should be able to cover you for as much travel during the year as you want, and will generally work out cheaper than single trip insurance if you plan to make many journeys.

If you are taking a gap year, an extended holiday, or have itchy feet and want to get lost in another country for a bit, it is important that you find an insurance policy that caters to your needs. These days, many insurance companies offer ‘Backpacker Insurance’ which covers longer periods abroad and takes into account the additional risks a backpacker may need to consider. Cost can also be a major factor for student travellers, though you must be sure of what your money covers: there's no use having cheap travel insurance if it doesn't cover what you need.

Many families settle for one significant family holiday.. In this case, you may put thought into considering whether or not you’d be better off getting single trip insurance rather than annual, especially if you don’t think you’ll be venturing off again during the year. Many companies also offer to insure children under a certain age for free, which should help to reduce stress when you’re planning your holiday.

Many insurance companies have also recognised a need for a different type of policy to cater to people wanting to travel for winter sports. Even if you're the best sportsperson this side of the equator, there are always going to be greater risks involved in a winter sports break than in, for example, a holiday by the beach. Policies will put more emphasis on accident and medical expenses cover, letting you enjoy yourself without having to worry about what might go wrong and how much it could cost you.

In a period where there are a multitude of travel insurance policies to look at, it’s always worth taking the time to consider what’s best for you and your holiday, just to be sure that your policy is tailored specifically to you.
Author:Elmo Populous