Tiger Temple in Kanchanaburi Thailand

Without doubt Thailand is becoming one of the fastest growing golf destinations for visiting tourists throughout the world. Only recently, the association of world golf travel agents voted Thailand the best up & coming destination, enhancing the excellent reputation it already has.

In order to assist you in planning your Thailand golf holiday, I have detailed below the most frequently asked questions.

When is the best time to visit?

Without doubt, the best time of year for golf is from November - February/March. This is the 'cool' season, although is also the peak season for visiting tourists. As such, be prepared for busy golf courses and try to plan your holiday well in advance.

What about the rest of the year?

You can play golf throughout the year in Thailand outside the cool season, and the weather is a mixture of very hot days, to very wet days. However, do not let this put you off as there are a number of great advantages. You can get some great deals on hotel prices and the courses are much quieter to play.

April is still a 'dry' month, with the rainy season not really starting until May. However, April & May are without doubt the hottest months of the year. June - August is not quite as hot, although you tend to get daily downpours. Again, do not let this put you off as they are normally short lived, and the courses dry out very quickly. September and October, the weather tends to be similar to that of the summer months although things tend to be drier and the weather becomes more predictable as the year wears on.

Where is the best place to play?

This depends very much what you are looking for. Bangkok has a huge number of courses, infrastructure that you would expect from any major capital and the city is very lively, providing a great experience for everyone.

The coastal resort of Hua Hin and the northern cities of Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai are a bit quieter, and very popular with couples looking for golf, relaxation, and a sampling of true Thai culture.

Pattaya is without doubt the entertainment city in Thailand, and not for the shy and retiring type, although it also boasts a large number of excellent courses.

Phuket, the famous tropical island, offers a combination of great golf and stunning beaches, and there is also now a championship course on Koh Samui, another tropical island.

North of Bangkok, lies the famous Khao Yai National Park, and there are a number of excellent courses now open in this region, which boasts spectacular scenery and views.

Finally, the area of Kanchanaburi, and the famous River Kwai, also has a number of fine courses, historical sights, and can be a great alternative to the other popular tourist destinations.

What are the courses like?

The majority of golf courses in Thailand are nothing short of first class. With many being designed by famous golf professionals such as Jack Nicklaus and Nick Faldo, together with top golf course architects such as Pete Dye and Robert Trent Jones, you will be amazed with the quality.

What about the caddies?

Caddies are compulsory on a Thai golf course and are a fantastic experience. Included in your green fee, they cost around 250 baht (approximately 7 US dollars) a round, which has to be the best value for money in the world. In most cases they will carry your clubs on 'caddy car' (trolley), should you wish to walk, although they will also ride with you in a cart if you prefer. Please note it is compulsory at only a few Thailand golf courses to use a cart. Your caddie will be allocated upon arrival, and will look after your clubs until you tee-.off and are of particular assistance for easy golf in Thailand. Always helpful with a smiling face, your caddie is another part of the unique Thailand golf experience. They mark and clean your ball, give guidance on the line of putts, and try to keep you cool when things get a bit hot during your round.

What is there to do outside golf?

You will certainly never be short of things to do outside golf. As a leading tourist destination Thailand has a number of alternative attractions and exciting opportunities to combine golf & travel, and its tourist magnetism remains unrivalled in any other part of the world.

From the many temples and night markets, to the state of the art shopping malls, from stunning beaches, to the stunning waterfalls and scenery, there is something for everyone.

The culture and customs in Thailand also provide a fascinating insight to this wonderful country leaving you completely amazed.

Thailand also hosts some the best Spa facilities in the world, allowing you to relax and enjoy the rejuvenating treatments, and unbelievably friendly service that goes with it all.

I recommend all golfers allocate some time after their rounds for, at least, a one hour foot massage. This treatment is available throughout the country at clean specialized shops located almost on every street corner in the tourist areas. For around 200 baht (approximately 5 US dollars) is an experience not be missed. For the golfer who has walked his 18 holes, this papering of his feet and legs only goes to further the pleasure of the total golfing experience only available in Thailand.

What about transportation and getting around?

Your package booked with most tour operators will provide transportation from the airport to your hotel, and return transfers to the golf course each day. You can reserve this private transportation in the evenings although there is no shortage of local transportation.

Taxi's are very cheap, and in abundance. Also, you have the famous 'Tuk Tuk's', a smaller open air version of a taxi that will transport you around town at very little cost.

In summary, if you are thinking about a golf vacation to Thailand, then one company, Golfasian, http://www.golfasian.com, will be more than happy to answer any additional questions you may have. We pride ourselves on our high level of service, and repeat customers we get each year by providing as much customized assistance as needed to our golfing customers.

Amazing Thailand is a traveller's paradise. Not only is Thailand crawling with sandy white beaches and islands, it's heaven for people who love food and shopping. Thailand cuisine is famous worldwide for its fresh herbs and spices. For food lovers, Thailand tourism does not restrict itself to restaurants of fame. Whether an outdoor stall in downtown Pattaya, or a classy restaurant in Bangkok - the tastes of Thailand come out in full glory. And if food isn't exactly what you're looking for, then Thailand also offers a rich shopping experience. Bangkok houses some of the biggest shopping malls in the world with almost everything under the sun on offer - be it international or local brands of household articles, electronics or fabrics.

What makes tourism in Thailand all the more amazing is its culture and festivals. The legendary Thai massage gets its own flow of tourists - some come for the massage and some come to take courses in Thai massage. National festivals in amazing Thailand include the fun-for-all water splashing 'Songkran', and the almost fairytale like quality of 'Loy Krathong'.

Popular tourist destinations in Thailand are:

Phuket, Ko Samui, and Hatyai in Southern Thailand; Bangkok, Pattaya, Kanchanaburi, and Ayutthaya in Central Thailand;Sukhothai, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Mae Hong Son, and Pai in Northern Thailand; and Khao Yai National Park and Phimai historical park in North-eastern Thailand.

Bangkok

Bangkok was originally a small trading centre is one of the most visited tourist places in the world today. The city has innumerable tourist spots and attractions like the Siam Ocean World, The Grand Palace, Thonburi Snake farm, Dusit Zoo, Chao Phya river and its canals, Wat Pra Kaeo - the temple the emerald Buddha, Pat Pong night bazaar, and the Calypso Cabaret.

Pattaya

Originally a fishing town, Pattaya also attracts as many tourists as Bangkok. The Sri Racha Tiger Zoo, the Vimantaitalay tourist submarine which offers trip underwater to see corals and deep sea life, The Million Years Stone Park, Pattaya Crocodile Farm, Pattaya Park Beach Resort Water Park, Funny Land Amusement Park, Siriporn Orchid Farm, Underwater World Pattaya, the Thai Alangkarn Theater Pattaya, Bottle Art Museum, Ripley's Believe It or Not Museum are amongst the hundreds of tourist attractions here.

What started off as Rest and Recuperation for American soldiers in Vietnam in the 1960s is today one of the most preferred tourist destinations. Amazing Thailand as it's popularly known has seen an exponential increase in tourism through five decades now, with predictions of even better future prospects.

Bangkok is a buzzing city criss-crossed with canals & rivers.  The sky line is one of high rises, shopping malls & international hotel chains but at the canal banks and side streets of the city the traditional side of Thai life is clearly visible.  The business hub of the city is easily navigated using the skyrail & underground but the more touristy areas around the Koh San road are less well supplied & Tuk Tuks are the main mode of transport.  Negotiate hard with your tuk tuk driver - a taxi will always be cheaper & has the advantage of air conditioning however be sure to agree that you're charged according to the metre as opposed to agreeing a fixed price.  Taxis will only take you at an agreed price after 3pm as from this point on your in to rush hour and they are highly likely to spend hours with you stuck in traffic! 

About 3 hours out of Bangkok towards the Burman (now Myanmar) border, in the province of the same name, is the town of Kanchanaburi where you can walk over the famous but tragic bridge of the River Kwai.  There are some interesting museums here where you can learn more about the history of this place of wartime tragedy & cinematic fame.  There are also many opportunities for elephant riding in the surrounding area.  A 20 min drive out of the town will take you to the Tiger Temple - a real highlight of any trip to this province.  This functioning buddhist temple is also home to about a dozen tigers of varying ages (& sizes!). 

The temple first took on this unexpected side line in 1999 when a tiger cub was found in a near by village, it had lost its mother to poachers and needed round the clock care to survive.  The villagers took the orphaned cub to the temple where the monks agreed to offer it sanctuary.  Word spread in the surrounding area and over the years more and more orphaned cubs were bought to the temple - word also spread amongst the tourist population and in the present day a mutually beneficial relationship exists between the tourist dollar and the conservation of the tigers.  A few dollars gains you entry in the afternoons when the tigers are napping in their canyon, photos can be taken from afar for free and if cubs are around there are opportunities for photos here also.  For a few extra dollars you can have a picture taken with a fully grown tigers head in your lap - not an experience easily found any where else in the world!  

Don't listen to Chinese whispers that the tigers are drugged - they aren't and are in fact very well looked after thanks to the diligence of the monks and the many (often western) volunteers.  Of course queuing up with lots of other sightseers to get your picture taken with a tiger isn't exactly the 'genuine' experience a backpacker is after however getting that close to fully grown tigers remains awe inspiring and your money is going to a good cause so if you can stomach the crowds get yourself down there.  If you want a more personal encounter then there are two other options open to you - firstly you can volunteer, you must remain at the temple for an agreed minimum stay (think it's 1 month) and assist as required, meals and basic accommodation is covered.  Secondly if you're lucky (this is not an every day offering) and if you can afford it (c. $50 when we visited) then you can spend the morning with the tigers - only 5 people maximum allowed for this so you will get the one on one experience. 

A morning with the tigers involves arrival at 7am for breakfast with the monks where you will get to bottle feed & play with the tiger cubs (including being locked in a cage with them & some squeaky toys for an hour of play time!).  Next you will get to walk the 'teenage' tigers down to the canyon for their morning exercise - incredible to watch them pouncing on each other in the water (check out the photos in the photo section of this website).  Following exercise time you will walk the tigers back up to their cages and give them a quick bath - just like their domestic cousins they aren't great fans of this so handle with care!

Today the Tiger Temple in Kanchanaburi is one of the most popular of visitor attractions for visitors to Bangkok. Just a couple of hours from the city it now forms a part of many different tours. In fact there are visitors to Thailand who come especially to see the Tiger Temple.

One could very easily believe that the Temples tradition of rearing and living with tigers is a long established humane pursuit. It isn't though. The temple has only been involved with tigers since 1999.

At this time two orphaned tigers, probably taken from a poached mother, were handed in to the temple. The monks decided to rear them. Very quickly it was noted that the tigers stimulated an interest in visitors. Visitors were also prepared to pay to touch the tigers and have their photographs taken with them. Commercial greed reared its ugly head. Far from needing money to pay for a couple of tigers, more tigers were purchased illegally. There was trade in tigers against international law. They also started breeding tigers, pulling the cubs from their mothers and rearing them on pig milk.

There was talk of course of 'conservation' which the people involved do not have an inkling of understanding about and of 'saving' the tigers which is just as laughable. The tigers were neither being conserved nor saved. It was even suggested that they would be returning tigers to the wild. This is a specialist job and could not be done with semi humanised tigers of unknown parentage and besides the tigers already in the wild were already in enough problems without having their territory encroached on by other animals.

Visitors to the tiger temple only see the tip of the iceberg and can be forgiven in believing that they are seeing something wonderful. The 'Lion lays down with the Lamb' but in this case the monk with the tiger. Visitors can be forgiven in getting a kick out of being so close to a big cat.

Lions or Tigers having been hand reared are always going to be that little bit tamer than a mother reared animal but they are not 100% safe. They are not domesticated. They are wild animals. There is an ever present risk that at some point someone is going to get killed.

Volunteers who have worked at the temple talk of the tigers being drugged, of being beaten and of being illegally traded.

The International Tiger Coalition wrote an article to the Thai Government in 2008 outlining their fears and hopes. The reply they received said the Tigers were now the property of the Government but cared for by the Monks whilst a decision was made on their future.

In August 2009 the Tiger Temple was given permission to operate as a zoo. This means that they now have virtual free rein to continue with their crimes.

Train Travel

Hop aboard the Eastern and Oriental Express

If you like constantly changing views whilst eating your breakfast, why not book a passage on the Eastern and Oriental Express. As you enjoy breakfast the train exposes your eyes to water buffalo, elephants and the jungle.

To begin this journey, you will need to arrive at the main station in Bangkok and board the green and gold carriages which will then carry you over 2,030 km to Singapore. The train will take you past remote hamlets with people smiling and waving at level crossings. As the train crosses the country you begin to realise that the people here still get excited when they see such a huge, beautifully painted vehicle.

To ensure you can take full advantage of the beautiful sights, try to get into the last car of the train. This is an observation deck, wood and brass panelled, and it has a lounge and bar. The train pulls out of Hualamphong Station and passes through the shanty towns of northern Bangkok.You can keep cool on the observation deck because of the breeze that whispers across it.

The carriage attendants deliver your luggage to your compartment, while you enjoy the views. Prior to the trip you will have chosen which compartment you would like, either a presidential suite or a compact. The presidential suites are spacious and contain twin beds, the compact is a pullman compartment with two bunks, the upper folds back during the day and the lower one becomes a sofa. All compartments are en-suite with shower and toilet, they also have carefully hidden storage space.

This train is a five star hotel. It attracts clients from all nations and many of these people are there to celebrate a special occasion. You are summoned to dinner and must dress formally. A typical dinner on offer could be : terrine of tiger prawn and mango with a vanilla and lobster vinaigrette dressing, shiitake and enoki mushroom soup perfumed with truffle and steamed sea bass with tofu followed by roast pineapple tart with banana tuille and coconut jam cream. People tend to head for the bar after dinner but a few prefer to go into the observation car to watch the jungle pass by. If you can persuade the staff to switch off the lights then you can enjoy the spectacular show of the stars in the overhead sky.

When you finally retire to your compartment, you will find the carriage attendant has been and turned down your sheets. After a good nights sleep, if you can rise by 6am you will be able to join the throngs of people in the observation car as the train climbs the Tham Kasae wooden viaduct. This is just before the train crosses the bridge over the River Kwai.

This bridge, built by Allied prisoners of war and native slave labour, is a famous reminder of the Death Railway. 100,000 labourers died building this railway for the Japanese military, 16,000 prisoners of war also died, some of them are buried in the Kanchanaburi Allied War Cemetery. The bridge itself is a simple structure of black painted steels that still bears the scars of the bombings during the war
After lunch the train heads south down the peninsula. The scenery changes from the hilly regions of western Thailand and through countryside that is becoming more cultivated. You will see water buffalo pulling old-fashioned ploughs through the paddy fields.

The train crosses the border with Malaysia during the night. The next morning you disembark for a ferry ride to Penang island, while you do that the carriage attendants complete the immigration procedures on your behalf. You visit Khoo Kongsi, a short way outside Georgetown. Khoo Kongsi is a preserved clan village which consists of a theatre, rowhouses and a decorated Chinese temple that has frescoed walls and lanterns. You are then taken to the Eastern and Oriental Hotel by rickshaw. The Hotel dates from 1885 and is totally independent from the Orient Express company.

The last night on the train and after dinner you are treated, in the bar, to a performance of traditional Malay dancing.

You are woken by a knock on the door so you can marvel at the views as the train crosses the causeway that links Singapore to Asia's mainland.

General Information: Ads are not allowed on this site. It's for this reason that I do not include contact or other details. These are available on my website. Most articles mention trains starting from London but you can join these trains in Europe

It's goodbye from me,

That's it folks

Barry