THAILAND COUNTDOWN 2009

Every provincial town celebrates the New Year with gusto, arranging concerts and food fairs, usually in the town square or on a river embankment. Some will splurge on firework displays comedy acts or beauty contests. But as the clock strikes 12 midnight, a sea of flickering candles will illuminate the scene as villagers and town folk around the country sing the national and royal anthems to ring in the New Year. If northern climes appeal -- hilly landscapes and cool evening temperatures -- then an adventurous traveller might find they are counting down the seconds to the New Year in tiny Loei, a provincial town noted for its cool season charm, impressive mountain scenery and delightful resorts and even a vineyard. Way off the beaten track for most tourists, Loei province is a favourite with Thai travellers who love the outdoors – trail walks through a hill-top national park, or simply taking sightseeing trips to chill out at small resorts on the banks of the Mekong River. They will also discover a province that still reflects traditional Thai values; where visitors can participate in simple, but heart warming New Year celebrations.Yet the description is true of most towns in the north and northeast provinces, some adjacent to the Mekong River that separates Thailand from Laos. Similar celebrations echo over the water as citizens welcome the New Year in Chiang Saen near Chiang Rai, Nong Khai, Nakhon Panom and Mukdahan, all popular Mekong River destinations.Mukdahan is where a new bridge spans the wide river linking it to the small town of Savannakhet in Laos. Considered a gateway town, travellers can begin their tour of Laos and Vietnam here. A 150 -km trip across Laos on a modern surfaced highway will bring them in central Vietnam in striking distance of popular destinations such as Hue and Danang.

BICYCLE TOUR SERVICE PROVIDER

Check out the Bangkok Bicycle Tours conducted by the Bangkok Tourist Bureau at a list of bicycle expeditions within the capital and its surrounding areas. The best guide to bicycle expeditions in Thailand is probably where the operator has received numerous awards and accolades for their unique expeitions. Other worthy websites are www.spiceroads.com/ , www.biketoursthailand.com and www.realasian.net/. The Thailand Ecotourism & Adventure Travel Association (TEATA) is also a good reference website for bicycle tours. As usual the Tourism Authority of Thailand website at www.tourismthailand.org/ and the Thailand Ecotourism & Adventure Travel Association (TEATA) at www.teata.org/ ane good starting points for research to get a generic idea on the options available.

BEST TIME TO GO BIKING

Bicycle Tours: Conducting any physical sport in Thailand is best during the cool season during November to January. The period that needs to be avoided is the rainy season during June to early October where heavy rains are expected. The Thai summer during March to July, in particular April, is the country’s hottest period making cyclists not used to the local weather susceptible to sun stroke and dehydration. However, the Bangkok Bicycle Tours can be conducted all year round as they run during the evenings. Some trips are conducted during the day time, however these trips are pretty easy-going and designed to be enjoyed in a more leisurely manner than the cross country expedition.

HOW TO SIGN-UP FOR BICYCLE TOURS?

Thailand’s traffic is heavy and driving styles are rather erratic. It is not advisable to conduct a bicycle trip on your own. Guidance and accompaniment by trained specialists are best to ensure safety and that you arrive at your destination through the safest and most scenic routes.

When planning and bicycle tour, please consult the travel company you are using very carefully and state the physical exertion your group will be able to endure. With the hot and humid Thai weather even the fittest cyclist will find this trying. Sunstroke and dehydration are very common for those unfamiliar with the tropics. In light of this, travel companies almost always intersperse cycling with a pleasant boat ride, some sea kayaking, elephant back riding or some other form of relaxing activity for cyclists to cool down

ABOUT MOUNTAIN BIKING

Mountain biking is a more rigorous type of cycling on off-track terrains and is a relatively new sport in Thailand, found mostly in the steeper terrain of the north. Thailand’s mountain biking routes are mainly located in national parks however, more and more new routes have been opened-up by specialists, some of which have not been officially mapped out, making for formidable challengers.

ABOUT BICYCLE TOURS

Going on a tour by bicycle is probably one of the best ways to visit some of Thailand’s important sites whether in the capital, Bangkok, or neighboring provinces close to the capital such as Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Phetchaburi, Kanchaburi, Chon Buri and Rayong. Depending on your preference, the BEST bicycle experience is probably right here in Bangkok where easy-going bicycle trips through areas surrounding the Grand Palace are available.

ADVENTURE TO THAILAND FOR YOUNG TRAVELLER

Before embarking on you journey to Thailand, it might be best to check with your international clubs and associations within your university or school to start establishing ties with a friend your age in Thailand. Having a friendly contact in Thailand before you arrive is a good idea as you have someone to look forward to meet. Such clubs as Rotary International and Skal Club would normally have worldwide presence in all educational institutions. Being in touch with these types of organizations well ahead of your intended trip gives you the opportunity to exchange thoughts with someone your age, as well as ensure that you have a group of friends even before you arrive, making your trip to Thailand even more memorable. Another good idea is to be in touch with the various international language centres in your country that are affiliated with a school in Thailand such as British council, AUA (American Alumni Association), Goethe Institute, ect. These language centres are idea for you to be associated with as they are usually a hub for young people around the world to learn a foreign language and this means the opportunity to make even more friends. Also visit the Federation of International Youth Travel Organisations (FIYTO) for travel ideas as well as a listing of accommodation in Thailand. Visiting your local YMCA(Young Men’s Christian Association) and YWCA(Young Women’s Christian Association) is also a good idea in order to get information concerning their location in Thailand and the type of accommodation and support provided. Before starting your travels to Thailand, it may also be a good idea to drop by at a Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) office closet to you or, visit http://www.tourismthailand.org/ for more information.

LOY KATHONG A ROMANTIC FESTIVAL

This most charming of all Thai celebrations takes place on the full moon night of the 12th lunar month . Loy Kathong is a romantic festival which usually falls in November. As night falls, the country’s waterways are illuminated by tiny floats filled with flowers, incense and a candle. Couple go to float their Krathongs together. Along the riverside, visitors can buy ready-made, cheap Krathong and join in the festivities. On the water, a thousand twinkling lights bob up and down, representing people’s hopes and dreams. This celebration is a delight for all the family and should not be missed.

FOREST TREKKING : NORTHERN FORESTS

From the young world travelers of the 1970s who organized informal groups to explore the mountain forests of northern Thailand, the trekking industry has developed rapidly in the northern capital of Chiang Mai. There are innumerable trails through jungle terrain, across flower-strewn meadows, beside fast-flowing streams. Chiang Mai’s Pai District and Ma Hong Son’s Mae Chan have the biggest selection for first-time or experienced trekkers. Further off the beaten track, the rugged back-country around Phrae and Nan, or between Chiang Rai and Fang, offer new paths into the unknown. Along the trail, trekkers meet the hilltribe people who make their homes in the area: Karen, Lisu, Akha, Hmong, Lawa and Meo, each with their distinctive traditional dress. A typical hilltribe tour trekkers, a guide, a cook, overnight stays in hilltribe villages and a hike of four, five or even ten days.

While trekking has become a more upmarket industry—often with elephant rides and raft trips included in the package—the slog up and down mountains, coupled with hot sun, drenching rain and basic food, still demands youthful stamina.

The Kok River is a favourite thoroughfare for visits to hilltribe north and south of its banks. At riverside town of Tha Thon, hiking and rafting can be arranged. The rafts may be either traditional bamboo craft or inflatable.

West of Chiang Mai near the Myanmar border, Mae Hong Son has guesthouses which specialize in hilltribe treks. South of Chiang Mai, in Tak Province, the small town of Umphang is populated mainly by Karens, and is a popular jumping-off point for treks to more remote villagers.