Thailand – Overview of a Lovely Trip
First let me state that my partner & I love Thailand! Probably the main reason for that is the Thai poeple, who are so friendly & eager to help without being pushy or intrusive. Of course, it also helps that the exchange rate means that a good time can be had eating out, shopping & enjoying a Thai massage!
We spent a few days in Chang Mai in the north of Thailand, which was cooler but still green & tropical. It is a former capital in a scenic area, quite close to the Burmese border on one side & North Vietnam & Laos on the other. We will return there to explore further. We also went to Kanchanburi to see the Death Railway & Bridge on the River Kwae. Whilst the Railway and cemetery were very moving and the stay in the floating hotel moored on the banks of the river was relaxing, we found the area quite arid compared to Chang Mai and considerably less scenic.
Our main stay this time was in Patong, the major tourist area of Phuket in the Southern peninsular of Thailand, which has completely recovered from the tsunami. It is brash, with plenty of shopping and nightlife and a crowded beach, although there are quieter beaches close by, one of which we stayed at. However, if it is shopping you are principally interested in, go to Bangkok instead, as it is cheaper and there is plenty of nightlife and things of interest there too.
Phuket has several world class golf courses, my main interest, most of them carved out of old tin mining areas resulting in large water hazards with steep, deep sides in many cases! Blue Canyon and the Lakes are two adjoining courses near the airport, exclusive & with residential facilities attached. Laguna is halfway between the airport and Patong, is flatter and is part of a resort complex. Country Club is near Patong and has 27 holes. Loch Palm is also near Patong and has a second course next to it completed only a couple of years ago, Red Mountain, which I think is the best course of the lot. It is very scenic and although all these courses are challenging, this is probably the most challenging, with the advantage that if you are not having a good day, you can relax and enjoy the views! There is another course, Mission Hills, which I have not played. Prices vary, but are not cheap by Aussie standards and there are caddy fees and tips on top. I have heard that courses in Pattaya are cheaper, so that will be on the agenda for the future. Although I have a mate in Phuket who provides me with a lot of advice and information, I’ve found the following sites useful for a range of information as well http://www.discoverythailand.com and http://www.sawadee.com.
About the Author
Louis Siedle is a retired company secretary whose many interests, apart from golf, include travel to interesting parts of the world, where he particularly enjoys trying out local food and drink. His blog covering travel can be seen at http://info-nomad.blogspot.com
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