Tiger Temple in Kanchanaburi Thailand

Thailand, known as the southeast Asia's premiere holiday destination, offered a remarkable experience for tourists from all over the world. Therefore, my husband and I travelled all the way from Philippines to visit the said country.

It was midnight when we landed at Thailand Airport. As soon as we got our luggage and successfully passed all custom controls, we headed to the lobby. It was not as crowded as I thought, or maybe due to the fact that it was already midnight.

We have reserved a room at Loma Resort and Spa in Pattaya, so a taxi was all we needed. Some drivers refused because their route was just around Bangkok. Using meter was not an option and other drivers already set a fixed fare amount. The price was quite inappropriate, but we haven't had the time to bargain, as we were quite exhausted. Although we had been ripped off by the taxi driver, the most important thing was to safely reach the resort.

Pattaya, which was located 150 kilometers southeast of Bangkok, was a terrific place for families and couples who wanted to have a memorable holiday. It was famous for vibrant nightlife, especially in Walking Street, where bars, restaurants, discotheques, pubs and cabarets stood in every corner. It was probably a remarkable place for single men and women, as well as homosexual and bisexual people.

During daytime, white beaches and shopping malls would definitely be very enticing. A wide variety of local and international cuisines and entertainments also contributed to Pattaya's success as a tourist destination.

Aside from Pattaya, we also spent some days at Koh Chang - Thailand's next largest island after Phuket.

We stayed at the Grand View Resort and Paradise Resort & Spa on the third week of June, during the early rainy season. The weather was not an obstacle to experience some rain forest adventures, such as elephant trekking and motorbike riding. Scenic views of water falls and Buddhist temples were splendid, so as the beaches, restaurants, bars and resorts.

The journey would not be completed without staying in Bangkok. We stayed at the Viengtai Hotel, a two minute walk to Khaosan Road. The hotel was also near to Sunset Street, a phenomenal street surrounded with restaurants and entertainments, as well as tourists from various countries.

Some of Bangkok's attractions were The Grand Palace, Cobra Show, Tiger Temple, River Kwai Bridge and golden temples like Wat Phra Kaew, Wat Po and The Golden Mount.

Travelling with a tuk-tuk, enjoying a Thai massage, drinking Singha and Chang beers and selling fried squids, cockroaches and grasshoppers were also part of Thailand's culture and tourism.

In addition, Thailand was absolutely the "Land of Smiles" as most of the Thai people offered their great smiles.

Shopping would be very interesting, too. There were street stalls on Silom, Sukhumvit and Khaosan Road, shopping malls, Floating Market, Flower Market, Chatuchak Weekend Market, Patpong Night Market and Bangkok's China Town.

Moreover, our three-week holiday experience in Thailand was extremely spectacular.

Bridge River Kwai is a grand hotel based in Kwai, Thailand. It is a classic and country style hotel with old among the hills, gardens and paths. The hotel offers venues for functions such as weddings, conferences and other events. It also offers great food at one of the award winning family restaurants as well as stay accommodation for families and couples.

The hotel, Bridge River Kwai, offers high quality accommodation services. They are comfortable and luxurious with the enchanting design of the classic country time to renew the traditions and culture. It offers great function venues and specializes in wedding services. Its restaurant offers a number of different food items and beverages with delicious taste and healthy ingredients.

There are total 10 accommodation rooms. They offer all the facilities and requirements for the stay that the guests can ever wish for. Six of these family suites are located in the historic inn while the other 4 are located in the School Master's Cottage. All these family suites have queen size beds and complimentary breakfast is provided to guests in all the accommodation rooms. Each of these family suites have arm chairs, a bundle of interesting books, lounge with TV, open fire place and grand piano.

The hotel offers wedding venues for perfect traditional weddings. There are about 4 choices for wedding venues that include the garden, the verandah, Georgian building and even the oak tree premises. The hotel management helps to make your special day even more special and perfect with such romantic sites and classic touch.

The inn is ideal for different private, social and corporate events. The inn has conference rooms for organizing private talks, lectures and meetings. The delegates can then enjoy in the lounge, play tennis, golf or walk in the garden. The restaurant is the only family restaurant in the town that offers all the tasty cuisines of the world. It offers food and beverages even for parties and event held at their function venues.

Bangkok is one of the largest and busiest cities on the planet and trying to find your way around can be something of a challenge for even the most seasoned traveller. But don't despair - with a cool heart, plenty of patience, an icy bottle of water and a bit of forward planning, you'll be on your way across town before you know it.

Here are some tips on Bangkok transport options and how best to make your way around this bustling metropolis

1. Avoid Tuk Tuk Scams

Tuk Tuks (3 wheeled motorised taxis) can provide you with a quick and readily available means of getting around Bangkok, but don't be tempted by the '20 baht' offer of a full day tour of the city. These scams invariably take you from one dull & overpriced shopping venue to another, each one selected on the sole basis that if you buy something, your tuk tuk driver will earn himself a nice commission bonus. Not all tuk tuk rides are scams but just make sure you negotiate a reasonable price for your (direct) trip before jumping on board.

2. Utilise the Bangkok Skytrain and newly opened Underground

The BTS Skytrain and newly opened Underground (or subway) network will get you around Bangkok in the fastest possible time. If you want to get across town in a hurry and avoid the infamous Bangkok traffic jams, then these two transport systems will serve you well. From most points around the city you can take a quick walk or taxi ride to the nearest station and be on your way in air-conditioned comfort in no time at all. Just remember, during peak times, you'll be sharing the ride with thousands of Thai commuters, so you'll be lucky to get a seat, but it still beats sitting in traffic for up to two hours.

3. Try the Chao Phraya Ferry Service

For a scenic journey across town, try one of the many ferry services operated on the main river, the Chao Phraya, which winds its way through Bangkok. Only available during daylight hours, this is one of the most relaxing and stress free ways to get around Bangkok, plus you'll see a terrific blend of old and new architecture as you pass by sweeping skyscrapers and humble wooden abodes. There are ferry stops all along the river, usually marked on any map of Bangkok and if you're not sure which ferry to take to get to where you're going, just ask one of the other commuters or ticket staff - they'll be happy to help you on your way.

4. Taxis are cheap but traffic moves slowly

In Bangkok, you can hire a metered taxi for very little cost. For example, a journey from the airport to your downtown hotel is likely to only cost you in the vicinity of 200 THB (or about $5). Keep in mind, however, that as reliable and comfortable as Bangkok taxis can be, they are still subject to peak hour traffic jams. If you need to be across town during peak times, consider leaving for your destination earlier to avoid traffic, or else take a combination of taxi and public transport (skytrain, underground or ferry) to avoid getting stuck in one of those notorious Bangkok traffic nightmares. Also, when taking a taxi, make sure you select a driver who uses a meter, not one who quotes you a set fee, as choosing the second option will invariably end up costing you more.

5. Leg Power

If you want to sightsee in Bangkok or don't have far to travel across town, consider donning a pair of good walking shoes, grabbing a bottle of water and setting out on foot to explore this vast and exciting city. Especially during peak traffic times, you'll find this a much more enjoyable mode of transport and you'll get to see some of the intricate details which make up this cosmopolitan city. In addition, you'll get closer to the people and probably make a few new friends along the way.

6. Public Buses & Trains

Public buses run everywhere in Bangkok but trying to work out which bus goes where can be a bit daunting, even for veteran Bangkok travellers. If you've got a sense of adventure and a bit of time on your hands, you'll find this a fun and inexpensive mode of transport, as well as a great way to meet people along the way. Just keep in mind that peak hour in Bangkok will mean very full buses, sometimes not even standing room will be available.

Public trains (not the underground) are mainly for travel to regional destinations, so unless you're heading upcountry, travelling by train around Bangkok is probably not your best option.

7. Motorbike Taxis - Not for the Faint-hearted

Their ability to duck in and out of the congestive Bangkok traffic and the low cost make motorbike taxis a popular choice for many living in Bangkok. If you only need to travel a fairly short distance, a motorbike taxi could be a fast options for you. Keep in mind though that this mode of transport is not the safest form of getting around and you'll require nerves of steel as well as great trust in your driver if you choose to travel by motorbike taxi around Bangkok.

Copyright 2006 Kris Gardener. Please feel free to pass this article on to your friends, or use it in your ezine or newsletter. It's a shareware article.