Hua Hin is a tranquil and peaceful city located in Prachuabkirikhan province. The beaches and sea breeze promises to give you a good time. Plearnwan, a vintage village was recently built in this lovely city, allowing us to happily reminisce about Thailand’s  past. Plearnwan offers just about every imaginable retro-ness you can possibly ask for. Movies playing at open-air cinemas, ’70s clothing at Chai Lai boutique, original thai-style deserts at Plearnwan Coffee are all waiting to satiate you. There is also a ‘ngaan wat’ or a traditional temple fair, which usually consists of numerous food stalls and a huge ferris wheel.

To fit in with the vintage theme, various outlets at Plearnwan have been given old-Thai names that have fallen out of popular usage. The barber shop is called ‘Lert Samantan’, which means ‘cool’ back in the days.

The area is decorated with Thai retro-style with splashing vivid colors and style. ‘Enjoy various sensations’ at the Plearnwan Bar, where you can indulge yourself with oldies Thai music. ‘Dance in the twilight of the dust as in yesteryear”.

‘Plearn’ means enjoy in Thai and ‘Wan’ is yesterday. Plearnwan resembles the kind of small town before all the modern-style malls started to grow. The sentimental setting will stir up memories of yesterday.

Plearnwan promises to take you down to memory lane all over again…

http://www.plearnwan.com
http://www.pranburitravel.com/english/hua-hin/plearnwan-hua-hin.html

Khaosan is a little wonder street, it offers delights beyond your expectations. The street itself can be seen as a haven for hippy-types, bohemian characters and is teeming with  backpacking tourists. Packed in this 1 kilometer long street are countless bars, pubs, vendor stalls, massage parlours, tattoo shops and so much more is  provided throughout the lively street. Everything a tourist needs Khaosan has.

Khaosan is also famous for its affordable accomodation. There are a variety of accomodations to choose from, depending on your likes and budget. Most backpacker tourists prefer their stay at guesthouses because of the price and the welcoming atmosphere.

There is a wide selection of cuisines to fill your stomach with, ranging from the famous Pad Thai to many other western cuisines. During the night, Khaosan transforms itself to one of the most lively hotspots for tourists to relax and enjoy their evening. Bars and restaurants are filled with backpackers every night, with a mixture of both the new and old.

Khaosan also offer backpackers everything they need to plan and organize  for the next stop of their journey. Independent travel agents and booking desks of almost every guesthouse and hotel in the area are well prepared to offer travel related services aimed at backpacking holidaymakers.

Discover the backpacker trail of Thailand at Khaosan Road. Come see it with your own eyes.

http://www.updux.com/bangkoks-khao-san-road-bohemian-bastion-or-lively-rendezvous-point/
http://www.bangkok.com/area-khao-san-road/index.html

Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi is proud to offer the most wonderful cultural yet luxurious travel experience that mirrors the essence of Chiang Mai. It promises the most exclusive and royal accomodation at this 60 acres of peaceful landscape. Their natural landscapes are among serene paddy fields and exotic plantations of Northern Thailand. Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi represents Chiang Mai’s only luxury hotel and resort where you can indulge in one of world’s most beautiful spas and surround yourself with the rich heritage of the Lanna Kingdom.

It is created as a tribute to Lanna architecture and the beautiful natural surroundings. In addition, it also home to rare Northern antiquities. Guests can enjoy authentic recreations of Lanna palaces brought to life in their space and residences. There is a total of 144 rooms providing all conveniences and comfort that you truly deserve. There are many leisure facilities to satiate you as well, such as the outdoor pool, whirlpool and fitness center and also the hotel’s Dheva Spa that cant be missed. The Spa itself offers a wide range of both traditional and signature treatments.

Cuisine and dining at the Dhara Dhevi will give you a heavenly feeling and definitely make your day! With a team of highly-experienced Thai and Foreign chefs, Dhara Dhevi offers an excellent range of culinary options. Craving for a relaxed poolside meal or fine Asian and European cuisines in architechurally unique buildings? Your wish is granted here at Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi.

Indulge yourself in the midst of magic at the Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi.

www.mandarinoriental.com/chiangmai/

The Amazing Thailand Grand Sale is the country’s annual shopping extravaganza that gives a warm welcome to shopaholics from all around. It offers a world-class shopping experience with a diverse selection of name brand products and quality services. This year’s grand event begins on June 1 and lasts until August 31. Special discounts of 5 to 80 percent as well as promotional offers are extended by leading department stores and shopping complexes. The main city and towns that take part in this promotion are Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, Phuket, Hat Yai and Songkla.

Be sure to look out for the distinctive ‘Amazing Thailand Grand Sale’ sign and don’t hesitate to join this shopping paradise!

http://thailandexhibition.com/Exhibition/Exhibition-Details.php?id=280
http://www.tatnews.org/events/events/2010/june/4646.asp

The core of the Songkran festivities are held at temples in the vicinity of the city’s gates around the city moat. Parades and cultural performances as well as arts demnostrations keep the streets alive. One of the highlights of the festival is the parade of Buddha images that are accompanied by attendants on floats and the town’s people. The procession begins at Naowarat Bridge on the Mae Ping River and moves to Thapae Gate before reaching the final destination at Wat Prasingh.

Songkran is best known for bountiful quantities of water thrown from  buckets to passers-by during the peak of the summer heat wave. The craziest water-throwing experience is within the heart of the city, the Thapae Gate and the moat area.

Cultural elements are practiced throughout this fun festival as well. The annual bathing of Buddha images and showing respect for the elders are essential during the New Year. While religious and cultural aspects are not forgotten, this three-day festival is certainly an unforgettable experience for the fun-loving people!

Songkran is the busiest time of the year in Chiang Mai and it can get a little chaotic and frustrating. A word of advice is to book hotels in advance because most hotels will be fully booked at that time.

Make yourselves ready to get wet and wild in the lovely city of Chiang Mai!

http://www.chiangmaispotlight.com/index.php/upcoming-events/songkran-festival-2010.html

http://www.worldeventsguide.com/event/1513/Chiang-Mai-Thailand/Songkran-.html

It is every woman’s dream to have the most unforgettable and perfect wedding. And if you’re looking beyond just the typical hotel-organized ceremony and for something more spontaneous, then Trang is the perfect escape. Trang is located in the southern part of Thailand, best known for its heavenly beautiful beaches.

Do masks, tanks, flippers, white wedding dress, waterproof certificates and pens that write underwater sound like an enticing choice?

Trang’s underwater wedding ceremony has put Trang on the map amongst lovers all around the world. It promises the most unforgettably romantic wedding on Valentine’s Day, the day of love. Now in its 14th year, this underwater love still continues from February 12 to 14. The event hosts both Thai and foreign couples at Pak Meng beach, one of the best beaches known for its beautiful atmosphere. The beach is picturesque as the wedding’s backdrop.

The ceremony itself is quite straightforward once couples learn the scuba diving basics and are certified by NAUI or PADI, two internationally recognized diving training organizations. On that special day, couples dive down the clear blue water to the seabed where they legally bind vows using divers’ sign language. Not only do couples tie the knot the underwater way, they also get to experience the Thai ceremony as well.

In 2000, Trang’s underwater wedding ceremony was recognized as the largest underwater ceremony by the Guinness World Records.

This is the  most romantic event of the year that’s not to be missed for the sweetest couples all around the world.

http://www.tourismthailand.org/festival-event/grand-content-6814.html%20
http://hubpages.com/hub/Underwater_Wedding
http://m.bangkokpost.com/articlelifedetail.php?channel=4&articleID=32721

Thailand never fails to run out of some sort of music festival for music addicts. Of course there has been some jazz shindigs, indie buzz and easy-listening gatherings. But can these be compared to the world’s greatest music festivals like England’s famous Glastonbury?

For many years Yuthana ‘Ted’ Boon-aom has dreamt of producing a music event along the lines of his admired Woodstock and Glastonbury music festivals. Yuthana has worked in the music industry for years, managing ‘Gay Ray’ records under GMM Grammy Thailand. This same determined man was the one who started the great ‘FAT Fest’ 10 years ago. On February 5 and 6 he came back with something bigger and better, Big Mountain Music Festival (BMMF)! ”It’s really BIG”. Three days and two nights of music madness. Let’s just say that it was impossible to stroll around without ankle strains or dehydration.

Big Mountain got its name from the forest and mountains of Khao Yai district, Nakorn Ratchasima province. Yuthana had transformed the quiet Bonanza Khao Yai Resort into an amazing little town of its own. Around 30,000 enthusiasts rocked out to the quiet resort town.

The festival emphasized decoration and design, creating a new playground for the younger generation. The main symbol and landmark of Big Mountain Music Festival was the surreal-size cow at the Forest Stage, which also served as a ferris wheel. With six huge stages around the festival, bands and music genres were divided perfectly. Being the main stage, Forest Stage hosted the bigger and hardcore artists, attracting the most audience throughout the festival. Food sections were divided into 3 parts, Siam Paragon, Yaowaraj and Silom. Washroom facilities were well organized and set up all around. Sponsors also provided services such as the Nokia Spa where massages were offered along with mobile chargers. Everything was readily set for the big day at Big Mountain Music Festival.

Big Mountain Music Festival was financially supported by GMM Grammy, but sources stated that it did not feel like an event promoting the label. It was borderless. Everyone was a part of one big happy family!

We await your return, BMMF.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/entertainment/music/32650/big-mountain-high
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2010/01/27/entertainment/entertainment_30121200.php

Bangkok, Thailand’s ‘City of Angels’, is the capital city and the greatest gateway to the land of smiles and happiness. It is one of the most animated cities, during both day and night. Simply, Bangkok never sleeps. This city definitely has a lot to offer, ranging from glittering temples to bustling malls for shopaholics, to the craziest night life. Smiles and fun are essential passports to this lively city.

Bangkok itself covers roughly 1,568 square kilometers of Thailand. It is the home of nearly 10 million residents. Not only does Bangkok serve as the capital, it also serves as the cultural heart of Thailand as well. The city still continues to keep many traditions and culture visibly unbroken. Although modernity is creeping up in this city, it still strives to preserve the country’s uniqueness in many ways.

High-end shopping malls, skyscrapers, luxurious glass-cad condo juxtaposed by tin-roofed slums and markets are what makes this city alive. Located in the heart of Bangkok, Siam Paragon is one of Thailand’s greatest mega shopping complex. Not only does it house various world-class international brands, it also houses South East Asia’s largest aquarium, Siam Ocean World. Jatujak Market is another place not be missed!  The variety and lively atmosphere of Jatujak Market adds color to this city’s weekends.Bangkok is the combination of culture and the contemporary.

Although the weather may be quite hot for most visitors, it is nice to experience a real ‘summer’ in the big city. As far as Thailand is concerned, there are no absolute extremes in weather. It would be best to avoid the rainy season during July to October, but then again, there is always sunshine after the rain!

However, heavy traffic and excessive pollution can make Bangkok a little overwhelming. Bangkok still has its charms, regardless. All you have to do is be adventurous so you won’t miss out the beauty that awaits around its every corner.

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thailand/bangkok
http://travel.nytimes.com/frommers/travel/guides/asia/thailand/bangkok/frm_bangkok_0071010001.html
http://porbital.deviantart.com/art/This-is-Bangkok-133079133