Na Jomtien beach various photos

 

Na Jomtien beach (จอมเทียน) or Jomtien Beach (หาดจอมเทียน, Haat Jomtien), on road signs and road maps also often written Chom Tian, is a town on the east coast of the Gulf of Thailand about 165 km southeast of Bangkok in Chonburi Province. It is about 3 km south of Pattaya and is home to high-rise condominiums, beach side hotels, beaches, and restaurants.

There has been a construction boom in the last several years with many new condominiums as well as housing developments built in the Jomtien area. It has become quite popular with Bangkok residents seeking a second home, as well as with retired expatriates.

The Jomtien Complex includes a large group of shophouses, many restaurants, bars and stores. A recent trend has been the opening of many upscale restaurants along Thappraya Road, the main thoroughfare connecting Pattaya and Jomtien. Also Second Road (running parallel to Beach Road about 400 m inland) was completed in the last few years and now features many new developments and the Jomtien market adjacent to another complex of about 60+ open-air bars.

A large number of Russian and Scandinavian nationals visit or live in the area.

Jomtien Beach is known for its water sports (jet skis, para-sailing, scuba diving), and for several annual sponsored sports events and festivals, attracting visitors from around the world.

A 265-meter section of Jomtien Beach (also known as Dongtan Beach) is Pattaya’s only gay beach.

Getting there by bus.

Pattaya is served by frequent bus services from Bangkok’s Northern Bus Terminal (Mo Chit) and the Eastern Bus Terminal (Ekamai). Buses from Pattaya serve nearby provincial towns and direct long distance routes serve many provincial capitals. City and suburban services are mainly provided by blue songthaews. They are available to the Pattaya Nuea bus terminal to take passengers to Jomtien Beach.

There is now a regular bus service from the bus depot on Thappraya Road (just north of Theprasit Rd intersection) to Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Read more here about Na Jomtien beach

Ayutthaya Thailand

Pictures of Ayutthaya Thailand, various Wats and Buddhas

 

Ayutthaya Thailand founded around 1350, Ayutthaya became the second capital of Siam after Sukhothai. Throughout the centuries, the ideal location between China, India and the Malay Archipelago made Ayutthaya the trading capital of Asia and even the world. By 1700 Ayutthaya had become the largest city in the world with a total of 1 million inhabitants. Many international merchants set sail for Ayutthaya, from diverse regions as the Arab world, China, India, Japan, Portugal, the Netherlands and France. Merchants from Europe proclaimed Ayutthaya as the finest city they had ever seen. Dutch and French maps of the city show grandeur with gold-laden palaces, large ceremonies and a huge float of trading vessels from all over the world. All this came to a quick end when the Burmese invaded Ayutthaya in 1767 and almost completely burnt the city down to the ground.

Today in Ayutthaya Thailand only a few remains might give a glimpse of the impressive city they must have seen. Its remains are characterized by the prang (reliquary towers) and big monasteries. Most of the remains are temples and palaces, as those were the only buildings made of stone at that time. The great cultural value of Ayutthaya’s ruins were officially recognized in 1991, when the Historic City became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its proximity to Bangkok make it a popular day-trip destination for travelers from Bangkok.

The temples with entry charges are usually in ruins, so there is no dress code, although visitors are still requested to refrain from blatant stupidity like clambering up the Buddha statues. Working temples tend to charge no fees and there are often no officials to check that a dress is appropriate (though it is advised to follow these customs to show respect for sacred places).

This site, Ayutthaya Thailand is steeped in history and is really interesting to visit and  I would recommend that you add it to your list.

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Chiang Mai photographs, various. December 2014

 

The City of Chiang Mai lies at 300 m elevation in a vast mountainous area. Approximately 700 km from Bangkok, Chiang Mai and its province is known for its relatively high mountain ranges (Doi Suthep, Doi Inthanon, Doi Luang Chiang Dao, etc.), abundant flora and fauna, and cooler weather at higher elevation. The province is one of the country’s largest in area, covering 20,107 square kilometers.

The meaning of “Chiang Mai” is “new city”. It was founded as the capital of the Lanna Kingdom in 1296 by King Meng Rai. Chiang Mai not only served as capital of the kingdom, but also as its religious centre, thus innumerable temples were built there.

Chiang Mai’s historical centre is the walled city (city is chiang in the northern Thai dialect while mai is new, hence Chiang Mai or New City.) Sections of the wall dating to their restoration a few decades ago remain at the gates and corners, but of the rest only the moat remains.

hiang Mai’s northern location and moderate elevation results in the city having a more temperate climate than that of much of Central, Eastern and Southern Thailand. Chiang Mai has a tropical wet and dry climate, tempered by the low latitude and moderate elevation, with warm to hot weather year-round, though nighttime conditions during the dry season can be cool and are much lower than daytime highs. The maximum temperature ever recorded is 42.4 °C (108.3 °F) in May 2005. As with the rest of Thailand there are three seasons.

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Photographs of Bang Saray beach, Sattahip, Thailand

Bang Saray beach

Bang Saray Beach

Until recently Bang Saray was a sleepy fishing village where the only activity was the coming and going of the small wooden fishing craft as they depart each day to make their catch.

Recently, due to the superb location it has been “slightly” developed by one or two high end villa projects. However, it still maintains its “olde worlde charm”. The gentle sloping beach and the calm turquoise waters are rarely busy and offer an excellent opportunity for relaxing and eating local barbecue and seafood dishes.

Bang Saray (sometimes spelled Sere) is a small but growing village built around its fishing pier and safe harbour. While naturally the main population is Thai the remainder is made up of mostly European nationalities including Norwegian, Dutch, British, Irish, French, Italian and some Australians. This is reflected by most nationalities occupying a bar or restaurant in the village.

 

The sun going down over Jomtien, Pattaya, Thailand

 

The sun going down over Jomtien

Maesa elephant camp, Chiang Mai

Maesa elephant camp

 

“Maesa Elephant Camp” flanks a rushing river in a beautiful lush tropical valley a mere twenty minutes scenic drive from downtown Chiang Mai. Having been open for nearly thirty years and currently home to seventy eight elephants, we have become leaders and experts in the field of elephant breeding, training, healthcare and sustainable tourism. Asian elephants have long been used as beasts of burden by man – transportation, timber logging or in war.

In the early days of elephant camps these were the main abilities showcased, but it was the camp’s founder,Choochart Kalmapijit’s understanding of the deep intelligence of elephants that inspired him to establish Maesa Elephant Camp in 1976. Over the years Choochart purchased elephants from all over the country, and with their mahouts and other experts, worked and fell in love with the elephants, revealing one skill or fact after another about these pachyderms that have not only helped to develop Maesa’s reputations over the years, but help further the cause of the conservation and future of the Asian elephant.

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Wat Sanam Chacheongsao

 

Wat Sanam Chacheongsao

Chachoengsao or Paet Rio is a province in Eastern Thailand. It has a history dating back to the reign of King Borommatrailokkanat in the Ayutthaya period. People originally settled by the Bang Pakong River and along canals.

“Luangpho Phuttha Sothon” is a centre of faith of the people of Paet Rio.

In the past, Chachoengsao was a fourth-class city under the Ministry of Defence. During the reign of King Rama I, it was attached to the Ministry of Interior, until the reign of King Rama V who changed the administration system, Chachoengsao became a city in the Prachin Buri Circle. In 1916, its status was changed from a city to a province.

Ko Lan Island Pattaya

Ko Lan Island Pattaya

 

Ko Lan is the largest of the “near islands”, off south Pattaya. It is at the southeast end of the Bay of Bangkok, on the east side of the Gulf of Siam. Administratively Ko Lan belongs to the Amphoe Bang Lamung, Chonburi Province.

Ko Lan lies 8 km from the nearest shore. It is about 4 km in length. It is a hilly island, covered with low tropical forest; its highest point reaches 205 m where there is a Buddhist shrine. The island has two small villages on it: Ban Ko Lan and Ban Krok Makhan where there are lodgings and restaurants. There are ferries connecting Ko Lan to the mainland. Some local tour operators in nearby Pattaya organize picnic and snorkelling excursions to Ko Lan because there is a relaxed atmosphere and beaches with clear water. The ferry ride takes about 40 minutes. Ferries leave south Pattaya Bali Hai pier daily from 07:00 to 18:30. The one-way fare is THB30. The return ferry leaves Ko Lan’s Na Ban Beach from 06.30 to 18:00.

Most of Ko Lan’s beaches are on its west side. Most visited is Tawaen Beach, where there is a small harbor. The length of the beach is lined with small tourist shops, behind which are restaurants whose menus are based mainly seafood. Other beaches are Tonglang Beach, Tien Beach, Samae Beach, and Naon Beach.

Wat Sothonwararam Chachoengsao Province Thailand

Wat Sothonwararam Chachoengsao Province Thailand

Wat Sothonwararam is a temple in Chachoengsao Province, Thailand. Located in the Municipality of Mueang Chachoengsao alongside the Bang Pakong River, it was initially named ‘Wat Hong,’ and was built in the late Ayutthaya period.

The temple has the ‘Luangpho Phuttha Sothon,’ the revered Buddha image of Chachoengsao province, which is 1.48 metres high, with a lap width of 1.65 metres.

I took this picture last year when we visited and it was a fantastic day out, I would recommend this to be put on your to do list.

The sanctuary of truth Pattaya

The sanctuary of truth Pattaya

The Sanctuary of Truth is a gigantic wooden construction which covers the area of more than two rais. The top point of the building is about 105 meters high. It was constructed to withstand the wind and sunshine on the seashore at Rachvate Cape, Tumbon Naklea, Amphur Banglamung, Chon Buri Province.

The building was constructed according to ancient Thai ingenuity and every square inch of the building is covered with wooden carve sculpture. The purposes of decoration with wooden carve sculptures are to use art and culture as the reflection of Ancient Vision of Earth, Ancient Knowledge, and Eastern Philosophy. With in this complex, visitors will understand Ancient Life, Human Responsibility, Basic Thought, Cycle of living, Life Relationship with Universe and Common Goal of Life toward Utopia.

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