Article Category - Hotel & Tourism

"They paved paradise and put up a parking lot," crooned Joni Mitchell in the '70s. Parking in cities of the Kingdom during the '80s and '90s was still child's play. Nasty devices like the yellow wheel clamps were still unknown, and parking was mostly free.

Remember the Korean cars in Bangkok pre-1997 Asian economic "tom yam kung" crisis--the Daewoos, the Hyundais, the KIA's and the Ssanyong's? The new Koreans were affordable and compact city cars, including a monster SUV, one of the first sport utility vehicles in Thailand: Ssanyong Musso. After the economic bubble burst, Daewoo vanished from Thai shores, and today three Korean brands are available: KIA, Hyundai making a strong comeback, and Ssangyong.

It's amazing how much even a clinically sterile arrival section at an airport can tell you about the country you are just about to discover. A muslim immigration official with a pretty head-scarf is chatting with her colleague- of a South Asian origin I cannot guess- before she turns to smile and stamp my arrival. The whole process takes a minute, as I'm the only one in my 'line'.

The air here is weighty; thick with humidity and tinged with the smell of spices. Around us are shouting vendors, pedaling local delicacies from tiny stalls and thrusting out their hands to clasp those of wide-mouthed tourists, of which I am one, along with my best friend, Chris.

A little apprehensive and a whole lot excited, my fellow-reporter Jang and I headed out to face our first-ever day at sea armed with essentials. Sun block, swim suits and great big hats in tow, we began by finding our way South to Ao Yon, one of the most beautiful bays on Phuket, near Cape Panwa.

Record numbers of tourists have grabbed their bags and hopped on a plane to Phuket in 2007. With the best Low Season numbers in the last few years, hopes have been high for the High Season 07/08 and so far, arrivals have been living up to expectations.

A relaxing massage is an essential component of any holiday in Thailand. While massage parlours of varying nature and objectives mushroom in almost every available space on the island, choosing where to go can be tough.

Phuket continues to place itself firmly on the top list of places to visit, with international standards in service and hospitality. In another thumbs up for the island and its dining options, The Art of Travel book, published in Europe by Mr. Nick Zirkee and Mr. Frns van der Voort, and featuring the world's top luxury hotels, resorts and restaurants for the discerning traveler has just picked the Burasari Resort, Patong for their latest Top list. Burasari Resort welcomed Mr. Nick Zirkzee and Mr. Frans van der Voort for dinner at Floyd’s Brasserie Restaurant on their recent trip to Phuket to select the island’s top resorts for their upcoming book to be published in 2008.

Phuket has a new face and on first impressions it appears celebrity Keith Floyd is the island’s latest ambassador. Dressed in a white tuxedo, champagne glass in hand, the television chef beams from a billboard near the airport welcoming visitors on arrival – to his signature restaurant Floyd’s at Burasari, in Patong.

Every year for nine days, Phuket puts on a sparkling white garb and gets ready to celebrate of one of Thailand's most unique festivals. Buddhists of Chinese ancestry give up meat, alcohol and sex for nine days in a fastidious attempt to cleanse the mind, body and soul.

If you're absolutely rolling in it, and the prospect of parting with a mere US$30,500, doesn't faze you... the Renaissance Koh Samui Resort & Spa has a “Millionaire Package” to help you lighten your material load.

Shambhala Estate at Begawan Giri near Ubud, Bali, one of the world’s leading residential health retreats has just launched five well-priced programmes to cater to the issues most commonly seen among guests: Get Fit, Cleansing, Stress Management and Beauty Enhancement, as well as an Ayurvedic Programme for those interested in this ancient Indian form of holistic healthcare.

Relish the “Amazing Bangkok Package” package of 3 days 2 nights is valid now until March 31, 2008 priced at Baht 5,200 for single and Baht 8,100 for double, at the award winning Chaophya Park Hotel on Rachadapisek Road, 10 minutes from Sukhumvit Road.

Startling news from one of the most travel happy countries in the world, one in three Australians will reportedly cut down on overseas travel in the next six months, due to the increase in global warming.

Tour de France goes oriental. Village Focus International are organising the 2007 Angkor Wat Bike Race and Rally at the world famous Heritage Site at Siem Reap, Cambodia. The event will take place on 1 December 2007. Following last year's event, when riders joined from countries all over the world, including Japan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, the UK, France, Germany, Belgium, Canada, the USA, Korea and, of course, Cambodia.

One evening my wife and I were sitting amicably in the living room enjoying a Thai curry. Everything seemed normal. There was certainly no indication that a nuclear remark was about spring from my wife’s mouth. “Let’s go for a stroll,” said my wife, almost casually, like we did this sort of thing everyday. “A what?” I asked, confused.

Like it or not, that's exactly what it is. It's the gateway to Thailand for the majority of international visitors and local residents returning from overseas travel. So much has been said, written and rumoured about Bangkok's new airport before it was finished and after. I'm a fan (on the whole).

Most airplanes take off with a cause of course, to deliver their passengers to their desired destination. However, when the first A380 (yes, finally) takes off, it'll be holding more than passengers aloft. Singapore Airlines – the first airline in the world to fly the new Airbus A380 – is preparing for the first commercial flight of the new double-decker jumbo jet, from Singapore to Sydney and return. It will take place in October 2007.

Half a century ago, a glorious vision of a new Malaya; a country with people from a multitude of cultural and racial backgrounds becoming a nation that would shape its own destiny prompted a forthright bid for independence. Malaysia has never looked back since. For fifty years of being independent, the country has made tremendous strides towards economic progress and prosperity. Malaysians had never been in doubt that their country would prosper, and in five decades, it has come to occupy a special place in the region and rest of the world.