Editor’s Talk Life is journey!! Now, it’s June already. It’s the half way of 2013. Did you do something you’d planned on the beginning of the year? If not, don’t wait anymore! For the highlight of this issue, we will let you know more about Thailand Travel Mart Plus (TTM+), the largest B2B event, which was organized by Tourism Authority of Thailand and Thai tourism Industry. Not only event information, but we also provide you an interview of the Nomads Travel agent, who joint with this event. From this highlight, you will know that Thailand is the center of tourism of this region and also expanding all over the world. Like another issue, Lomprayah magazine still put various topics for you. You can enjoy with the traveller experience at the southern of Thailand ‘Real Story’, looking for an interesting destination, place or restaurant, take note of the ‘Tips to Trip’ and etc. And for the ‘Special’ we proudly to suggest you a good event at Koh Tao, that is Koh Tao Festival 2013, the event that you will get both of joyful and pride. Well, it’s time to check what we’ve put in this issue. See you again next month.
Lomprayah Team Editor in Chief Photjanard Kantiwong
Executive Editor
Wanitcha Sukchet Tinn Chacalanuwattanapong
Editorial Staff
Vorapong Vongvarothai Juntiya Laoniyomthai Areeya Pichittanabordeekul Jiraporn Boonta Muslin Chupradit Saksid Boonrawang
Art Director
Methakritsada Wanngoen Photjanard Kantiwong
http://www.facebook.com/lomprayah
Graphic Designer Seattakit Meunnak Pannachet Khwanphrom
Hilight
“
Thailand Travel Mart Plus 2013
”
W
ith cooperation between the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and the Thai tourism industry, Thailand has the honor to be the host of the largest B2B event ‘Thailand Travel Mart Plus Amazing Gateway to the Greater Mekong Subregion’ (TTM+). The event, first organized in 2001, has the uttermost objective to promote the tourism and service
business in Thailand and its Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) counterparts. Small and medium entrepreneurs (SMEs) have also been supported on the international stage with their products on offer. The major markets
include Europe, South East Asia, Eastern Asia, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand, as well as emerging ones; such as, the CIS countries, Eastern Europe, Middle East, South America, and South Africa. For the year 2013, the Thailand Travel Mart Plus is scheduled to be held on 5-7 June, at the Exhibition Centre Hall, IMPACT, Muang Thong Thani, focusing on trade and business talks among operators and participants. Mr. Suraphon Sawetseranee, The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Governner said that TAT expects that this event will promote that Thailand
is the center of tourism in this region. Besides, the entrepreneurs in Thailand also have an experience
about presenting and selling the services or products
to the foreigners for preparing to the international markets. This year four major products will be highlighted in a special pavilion; Ecotourism, Golf, Health & Wellness, and Wedding & Honeymoon. The 7 business categories also arranged for the event are Accommodation, Entertainment, MICE, Tourism Organization / Association, Tour Operator / Travel Agency, Transportation, and Other Travel Services.
Moreover, as an added bonus, TTM+ buyers and media can also enjoy a full range of pre and post tours from 8 June onwards, showcasing Thailand’s world-renowned natural beauty and rich cultural heritage. These include:
• • • • • •
• Supreme Arts: Arts of the Kingdom (New Collections) and Queen Sirikit Museum of Textiles • Thai Wellness: Thai Herbal Lozenges, the First Thai tradition of Medical School • Culinary: Thai cooking by the River (Amita Thai Cooking Class) • Trading Street: Chinatown, Sampheng Wholesale Market, Little India, Flower Market • New Fun in Bangkok: The Flow House Bangkok, and Thai Wake Park and • Martial Arts: Thai Kick Boxing The post-tours include a biking tour to Suphanburi in the Central region; the beach resorts of Pattaya, Rayong and Chanthaburi in the Eastern region, as well as those of Chumphon, Koh Tao and Koh Samui in the Southern region. The North and Northeastern regions are covered in the form of three connecting routes to the neighboring countries of the Greater Mekong Subregion, thus: o Thailand and Beyond Myanmar: Bangkok-Chiang Mai-Lampang-Yangon o Thailand and Beyond Cambodia: Bangkok-Buri Ram-Chanthaburi-Siem Reap o Thailand and Beyond Lao PDR: Udon Thani–Vientiane–Vang Vieng–Luang Prabang.
• • •
Interview of Nomads Travel Agent Q: What do you think about the trip? Why do you want to choose that place to go? Agent: Backpack hits coming to this destination for years and years and years and they go home and they told the world about Thailand and more people come and more people come and Nomads has been sending people to Thailand for three years now. And this is my first time to come. Q: Do you enjoy about it? Why do you think that you have to go to Koh Tao? Agent: Yes, the diving there it’s a possibly amazing, so I’m looking for talk to the people about that. Um… and the people and things just lovely. Q: Do you want to talk with the people in around the world to come to join with you? Agent: Yeah, we have people from Germany, France, England, New Zealand, people all around the world travel with Nomads, and everybody wants to come to Thailand. Q: Does it mean that you invite everyone to come? Agent: We have a product called ‘the global Bed Hopper’. Where they can buy and go explore in the world. And it’s a big focus on Thailand, so we tell them come and stay at the place that you recommended and stay as long as possible. Q: Does it mean come with Nomads will have a good trip, good food and good accommodation? Agent: Also accommodation. Backpack is inside a research.
At present, the current number of sellers proves this trade event success. Out of 395 sellers, 309 or 78.23 % are repeat sellers while 86 or 21.77% are new participants. The current registered sellers are from different segments. For niche market participants in 4 categories – Health & Wellness, Wedding & Honeymoon, Golf, and Ecotourism – there are 22, 9, 3, and 6, respectively. For leisure market participants, these come from 9 associations, 5 national tourism offices (Cambodia, Lao PDR., Myanmar, Vietnam, as well as Guangxi province in the People’s Republic of China), 20 companies from the Greater Mekong Sub-region, 266 hotels and resorts, 31 tour operators and travel agents, 12 entertainment/theme park/cultural products, 6 transportation companies, and 6 other travel services. On the other hand, there are 413 registered buyers. The first ten major buyer nationalities are India (51), UK (38), Thailand (23), Australia (23), Russia (20), USA (18), South Korea (17), Israel (11), Italy (10), and New Zealand (10). From the data, this means that Thailand Travel Mart Plus is successful, because the number of both sellers and buyers are increasing and the Thailand tourism is expanding in every continent.
Destination Guide
Life of Fishermen @ Estuary of Chumphon
T
he Estuary of Chumphon is the most important seaport of fishing boats and the key source of economy of Chumphon province. In this seaport, there are big and small fishing boats going back and forth, so it is confirmed that this area is the firstly important fishing place of the country. If you visit here, do not forget to buy the most famous present, especially dried octopus.
On the right side of the Estuary of Chumphon, there are a lot of splendid beaches suitable for you to visit and continuously take a rest as long as you want. Furthermore, some beaches are the centers of seafood restaurant with delicious taste fresh seafood, located in a row along the beaches. At the seaport, there are the boats to be served for you to see the island and seabed of Chumphon so as to touch the beauty of nature both on land and under the sea. So, this area becomes the place for the tourists to dive that is well-known worldwide.
Place Guide
O
n 9 March 2010, the exhibition was officially launched. It invites the public to learn, appreciate and take pride in Thailand’s artistic and cultural legacies of the Rattanakosin Era. The word Rattanakosin refers to precious gems, so the museum’s logo features an elaborately-designed square that features nine colors, representing the auspicious gemstones of chrysoberyl, diamond, emerald, garnet, moonstone, ruby, sapphire, topaz and zircon. The building has two storeys, not including the mezzanine and the third floor at both ends of the building which serve as the viewpoints overlooking the city. The building has 4,800 square metres of floor space. Advanced technologies - such as presentation devices, models, four-dimensional multi-media technique, multitouch and multi-media animation technologies- are used in presenting the exhibitions about Rattanakosin City through interactive self-learning devices. The content is divided into nine topics in nine halls.
Besides the nine exhibition halls, the building also has a 300-square-meter Event Hall on the ground floor for artistic and cultural events organized by educational institutions and private agencies. The building also has a library, a souvenir shop and a coffee shop.
For more information, please contact • 100 Ratcha Damnoen Klang Avenue, Bawonniwet Sub-District, Phra Nakhon District, Bangkok 10200 • Tel: 0-2621-0044 Fax: 0-2621-0043 • www.nitasrattanakosin.com • E-mail : rtks2010@gmail.com
Opening Hours • Open from Tuesday to Sunday and Annual Holiday: 10.00 am - 7.00 pm. (Close on Mondays) • We provided in tour session which had every 20 minutes and entrance permitted until 6.00 PM. For the foreigners, the museum provides them the audio guide, which deposits 1,000 baht per Machine.
Restaurant Guide
Sung Wean Seafood Restaurant
Khiang Le, a fresh seafood restaurant in Surat Thani. This restaurant will make you touch of the nature, because it is located near the mangrove forest, and in the evening, you can see the beautiful sunset at here also. Location: 825 Jamnong-Phuvet Rd., Cha-Am, Petchburi 76120
Tel : 032-472-280 086-0964799
Real Story
A Leap of Faith: Deep Water Soloing in Thailand
by Alex
O
ne might think learning to rock climb would be enough accomplishment for a week in Railay. But if you know me you know that if there is an adventure to be had, I’m going to have it. Unless said adventure involved eating bugs. In that case, I’ll meet you at the after party.
But deep water soloing? There’s something I could get involved in. I know what you’re thinking — deep water whating? DWS is a form of rock climbing in which no harnesses, ropes, or anchors are used. Instead, it is practiced on sea cliffs backed by deep water, which protects climbers from both intentional jumps and unintentional falls. This is a relatively new sport but is already much buzzed about as a must-try on the famed Southeast Asia backpacker circuit. And it’s hard to imagine a more idyllic setting for it that Railay. Our climbing school, Basecamp Tonsai, advertised full day 5-6 hour DWS trips for 700 baht ($25). We met with our group at the shop in the morning, then set off on the boat for a day of adrenaline-shooting fun. When we arrived at the first stop the mute guide (who I would later realize spoke no English whatsoever) handed us a laminated photo of the rock wall with MS-paint style drawings of the different climbing routes layered over it. We spent the morning on that wall, tackling harder climbs for each pass. The feeling off climbing with no harnesses or safety equipment was a pretty big adrenaline rush in itself… and then when you reached the top, it was time to jump! I couldn’t complete the most challenging climbs but I did jump from the highest spot. I loved it!
At lunch time we parked our longtail in a quiet bay where we could snorkel, kayak, or snooze. I chose the latter. One thing I really liked about Basecamp was that they bucked the Southeast Asia Styrofoam trend and went for reusable containers for our lunches. I always make a point to thank companies who do this! For the afternoon, we headed to a new sea cliff — and this one was much bigger and more intimidating. I decided to relax on the boat and watch a few others go first. There were many strong climbers in the group and a few of them made it to the highest point with ease. I’m horrible at estimation but I would think it was at least 100 feet. We waited on pins and needles for ages for one of them to get the courage to jump, and finally a German girl stood up and flung herself off. She hit the water awkwardly and I knew something was wrong immediately. When she came up for air she was crying out in pain and the guide kayaked over to her and quickly helped her on. After that I was pretty much done with the deep water soloing. I did play around on the ropes a bit but once someone gets hurt, that suspension of reality is broken and it was just too much. I emailed with the girl later and she told me while she was in pain for a few days, she did eventually make a full recovery. That aside, I had a great day and I would recommend others to do the same trip, but just remember to be true to their own comfort level.
Special
Koh Tao Festival 2013
K
oh Tao Festival is 2013 is set on 18th -19th June. It is an annual festival which is organized 2 day-2 nights at Koh Tao, Suratthani. The purposes of this festival are for increase awareness and involvement on social and environmental projects, and promote local businesses. are various campaign activities in this festival for the people to join. For example, bicycle parade to raise awareness about global warming,
clean up the beach and the underwater, Sea Turtles and Giant Clam release, and reduce foam and plastic using campaign. Moreover, there provide you a lot of food and drink, and also have many joyful activities all night such as raffle, live concert, games and Mr. and Mrs. Save Koh Tao pageant. This festival is not just a party, but it is an opportunity to raise awareness of people about global warming issue and take care of the island.
Horoscope Predictions for the month of
June 2013
By Mr.
Rup Krishen Baqaya
Aries: You are busy with events and activities. Work takes a back place as you do a lot of socializing. A friend who has been wavering will offer you unqualified emotional support.
Taurus: You need to be objective and reassess your life and your attitudes. You may realize that you are not centred and are being pulled in many directions simultaneously.
Gemini: A lot is on your mind and they are all not happy thoughts. This may cause confusion and you may start working at cross purposes. The less you talk the better for you.
Cancer: There is a hard slog ahead at work and you are not sure if you will be able to cope. At one level you are slipping,but at another level this could be the platform to launch yourself in a big way.
Leo: Professional matters may intervene in your personal life. Fulfilling your ambitions will be a difficult process now though the tide is slowly turning in your favor. A new romance is likely.
Virgo:
Libra: Pay extra attention to financial arrangements. Do not allow an old friendship to be ruined on account of a misunderstanding. Listen well to what others say.
Scorpio: Work increases and you have no time to party. A favorable phase though for making progress. Investments made now will give good dividends in the future.
Sagittarius: Work is progressing well as there is travel also thrown in. You grow as a person and earn the respect and admiration of your peers
Capricorn: You slow down a bit now and make the correct decisions. You could meet many new people during this month. Some of you may show interest in higher studies or religion and spirituality.
Aquarius:
Pisces: Your adventure stars are on the rise and travel could be on the agenda,though probably to nearby places only. You are happy and contented during the month.
Your need for privacy leads you to long periods of solitude. At work you impress your employers. Your rewards may not come straight away,but they will come quite soon.
If you are pursuing a new job,exploit personal contacts for all they are worth. Legal issues may need attention. Health may also need care. Cut down on expenses.
Trend
13 types of shoes every woman’s closet needs
http://www.examiner.com/list/13-types-of-shoes-every-woman-s-closet-needs
L
ike most ladies you probably have a closet full of shoes. Some are your favorites that you can’t live without while others are probably some you bought on the spur of the moment and will never really wear. Guys don’t understand why a woman has to have so many shoes and trust me it’s not something easy to explain. Shoes are beautiful and an extension of ourselves and our style. Shoes give a woman confidence and make her feel beautiful. Ask any woman and she’ll tell you that the right pair of shoes can make a bad day turn great. They also match our mood so in an essence shoes are an extension of ourselves. No matter of how many shoes you own there are certain types of shoes your wardrobe needs like these 13 definite must haves.
Tall Boots A winter and fall must have, boots keep your feet warm as well as stylish. Boots are truly versatile footwear since they can be worn with just about everything in your wardrobe as well as worn tucked in or covered up. A sure bet is to have 4 pairs of boots two heeled and two flat each in brown and black. Flat boots are great for everyday wear whereas the heeled boots will help elongate your leg and take you into evening wear.
Kitten Heels Every woman needs a pair of comfortable reasonable heeled black shoes. These shoes are great for interviews, work affairs and generally when you just need a comfortable heel that’s not a stiletto or higher than 2 inches. Also considered the classic pump, you really can’t go wrong with these in your shoe wardrobe.
Ballet Flats Personally, these are the most versatile pair of shoes you can own. They’re great for work and the weekend, traveling, shopping, hanging out and just about anywhere you go they can go too. You can never have too many flats but stick to a few basic colors like black patent, leopard print brown metallic and a fun poppy color.
Sneakers Whether working out or running around a good pair of sneakers is a must have. Not just a pair of casual shoes but sneakers with support for your arches to prevent injuries and comfort for when you have to be on your feet for long periods of time.
Nude Pumps When in doubt, wear a nude pump. Totally versatile the nude pump is the perfect neutral shoe to wear to any event with any outfit whether skinny jeans or an evening dress.
Wedges Easier to wear than a traditional stiletto, wedges are great transitional shoes that will carry you from summer into fall. They give you the height and elongation you want with less stress on your foot that regular high heel shoes.
Oxfords A male shoe at best, the oxford shoe is a great shoe to wear with vintage clothing. They’re ultra classy and give a strong feel to any outfit.
High Heels Going out for a night on the town or ladies night? Either way this is the time to let your feet shine. High heels have a no hold bars appeal to them so you can have fun with them. Go with a pointed toe or a peep toe to elongate the line.
Ankle boots Perfect for leggings and skinny jeans, ankle boots are a great go to shoe when you want the look of a boot without the added bulkiness of a tall boot.
Espadrilles Thinking about doing some traveling? The perfect shoe to have in your wardrobe then is a slip on espadrille. Not only is a chic and fashionable shoe but the slip on and off ease is great at airport terminals. Go either flat or add some height in a wedge, either way espadrilles are a definite must have in a summer shoe collection.
Flat Sandals Classier than flip flops, flat sandals are a definite go to wear in the warmer months. Flip flops are meant for the beach or when taking a shower in an unknown place whereas flat sandals are just as comfortable and look so much better on your feet.
Rain boots A great way to perk up a dull and dreary day is to wear some fun and colorful rain boots. Not only will they keep your feet warm but they also save you from ruining your good shoes.
Canvas sneakers Regular tennis sneakers are for running and working out so for a causal yet fashionable pair of sneakers to wear with jeans have a pair of canvas sneakers on hand.
Lompraya News
Happy Air now opens the new route The Chumphon route of Happy Air is now opened. This route is start from Suvanabhumi Airport five days per week and will be one stopover at Ranong before landing on Chumphon Airport. Click www.happyair.com for more information.
Lomprayah joined the National Day of Argentina
Star Cruise was moored at Lomprayah pier, Samui
On Wednesday 29th May 2013 Lomprayah was invited by the ambassador of Argentina to join with the 203rd anniversary of the National Day of Argentina event at Swissotel Nai Lert Park Bangkok.
On 11th June 2013 Star Cruise which off from Singapore was moored at Lomprayah pier, Samui, Suratthani. The Star cruise took 2000 passengers to Samui for travelling at many famous attractions. This trip makes Samui has the income about million baht.
Global News Free AirAsia shuttle bus between Mandalay airport and city center Published : Monday, June 10, 2013 Location : Thailand
BANGKOK - AirAsia launches a new free shuttle bus service for its passengers in Mandalay, offering convenient daily transfers between Mandalay Airport and downtown Mandalay. The 45-kilometer journey is free of charge for AirAsia passengers only, starting from today onwards. To celebrate this value-added service, AirAsia is offering promotional fares on their daily flights from Bangkok to Mandalay, until June 16th, 2013. Travel must take place from August 16th to December 15th, 2013.
Chinese tourists now biggest source of travel spending Published : Friday, April 5, 2013 Location : Thailand
The Chinese have become the single biggest source of global tourism income after spending $102bn (ÂŁ67bn; 79bn euros) while travelling abroad in 2012. The total is 40% higher than the year before, and puts them well above the next two highest-spending countries, Germany and the US.
Tip to Trip
Student Travel Tips
http://www.travelsense.org/tips/studenttravel.cfm
T
he permission slips are signed, your bags are packed and you’re, like, so ready to ditch the classroom and head out on your class trip. Travel is an exciting opportunity to experience different places and wondrous cultures, so the key is not to blow it by doing something that will ruin the trip for yourself and others. While it’s tempting to forget about all the rules as soon as your chaperones turn their backs, you should keep in mind these tips from ASTA (American Society of Travel Agents). Some of the most travelwise people in the world, ASTA members know that studying for your upcoming trip is a homework assignment you’ll actually enjoy.
• •• • •
Before You Go • Before you go, learn about the local laws and customs of the countries you’re visiting, especially those concerning drinking age, drugs and curfews. You are not immune to a country’s laws just because you’re a visitor, and you can be arrested. • Bring an extra pair of glasses or contact lenses. It’s hard to enjoy the sights when you can’t see them. • Pack a simple first aid kit with bandages, antibiotic cream and pain relievers. It’s a good thing to have “just in case.” And tell your trip leaders about any medications you’re taking. • Give your parents the phone and fax number of your hotel, the cell phone numbers of the chaperones and a full itinerary of your trip. If anything changes during the trip, e-mail your parents immediately with the new info. • Pack all valuables, medications, travel documents and passport in your carry-on bag. Occasionally checked luggage gets lost at airports, so you want to have your important items on you.
• • • • •• •
While You’re There • Do not carry all your cash at once, especially if all you need is enough to buy lunch and a few sodas. And keep your wallet in a zippered pocket, preferably inside your jacket. If you need to exchange money in a foreign country, only use authorized vendors like banks. • Don’t be flashy. Wear an old, inexpensive watch and leave the bling at home. You don’t want to be a walking target for thieves. If you bring a fancy digital camera or an MP3 player, don’t flaunt them. • When you check in at your hotel, grab a card from the counter with the hotel’s name, address and phone number on it. Keep this card on you at all times. • Look both ways before crossing the streets. Yes, you’ve heard that a billion times, but you’ll be surprised how easy it is to step into oncoming traffic in foreign countries, especially the ones where they drive on the other side of the road. • Travel with a buddy at all times and never wander off alone from the group. • Be respectful around, and ask permission before taking photographs of, churches, mosques, temples, synagogues and other religious sites. Also, ask permission before taking photographs of government buildings and military installations. In some countries you can be detained for taking a picture of the wrong building. • Talk to your trip leader or to a travel agent about types of food or beverages to avoid, and don’t buy food from street vendors.
•
Class Dismissed • Going on an extended class trip may be the most fun you’ll ever have while actually learning something. If you follow the rules above and stay out of trouble, the only memories you’ll bring back are good ones.