Water, water everywhere and everyone soaked to the skin!! This seems to be the situation in Thailand at the time of Songkran, the Thai New Year. I was privileged to be present to witness Songkran 2010 in all its watery glory. The sight of young children running around with plastic water guns in their hands and buckets filled with water not too far behind, greeted me wherever I went. Though I was thoroughly drenched, I couldn’t hold back a smile at the bizarre yet amusing tradition of throwing water as celebration!

This tradition apparently traces back to ancient beliefs regarding Nagas or mythical serpents that brought about rain by spewing water from the seas. Since the Songkran month is the hottest month of the entire year in Thailand, throwing water symbolizes the wish for heavy rains.

The Songkran Festival takes place between April 13 and 15 every year and great festivities mark the grand occasion. This fateful year, however, the revelry and merry making was cut short by the Red Shirt protesters who soaked the capital city in the color of blood. Unending rallies, shoot-outs and mass protests threatened the onset of doom for Thailand.

As tourists we felt afraid to venture on the Thai roads and feared violent encounters such as we had heard of, the Thai people went about their business as usual. Spurts of water still ensued to counter the bloodshed and the city still gleamed in Gold, reed diffusers sweetly wafted up the streets. The Golden Land of Thailand seemed unperturbed and resolute in the face of crisis.

Now, when I look back at the spirited efforts of Thailand to make the Songkran a new beginning for itself, I salute the courage shown by its people. My stay in Thailand was not only pleasurable due to the various dances, parades and absolute splendor of the Songkran 2010 but it was strangely satisfying. I feel content knowing that in the battle of good vs. evil, whoever may eventually triumph, celebration of life still goes on.

Ko Phi Phi is the Thai Island which has made the best recovery from the 2006 tsunami. I wasn’t too sure what to expect when I got there: a complete wreck? Trash everywhere amongst total squalor? Not at all - this Island has made a come-back, and is totally geared up for the tourists once again, and the curving bays, white-sand beaches and jungles are shining brightly in the Andaman Coast.

I booked a days snorkelling trip round the Islands for only 500 baht (the equivalent of £9.50). This was value considering it was a 7 hour day and lunch was included of a large bowl of chicken and vegetable fried rice. It was a beautiful hot and sunny day and there were 12 of us on a longtail boat. We went round Phi Lei and Monkey bay where there were loads of wild monkeys hanging around the sea on the rocks and in the trees. We then went snorkelling around turquoise bays and the fish and coral were beautiful, then stopped for lunch on a proper Robinson Crusoe beach and went for a swim in the warm waters, then was the big baby. We went to Maya Bay which is where the film ’The Beach’ was filmed. The boats pulled up into a bay, so we jumped out and swam to the edge where we had to clamber over wet rocks almost breaking our necks, it was so amusing to see us all tentavely clambering over on our stomachs like toddlers learning to walk as we feared for our lives and safety of keeping our bones intact, and then there were some rope lines to help pull us up onto a bamboo ladder, so up the ladder, down the other side, clambering over more rocks then a 5 minute trek through bushland, round the corner and…… TA DA!!!! The Beach in all its glory. I was very impressed, Unfortunately Leonardo Di’Caprio was unavailable, caught up somewhere in Hollywood undoubtedly. The beach wasn’t very long, but it was perfect white sand and big cliffs on each side, and across the way the cliffs left a gap which led out to the sea. The water was pure turquoise and I could go so far out and it still only reached my waist. I was swimming away thinking “Oh my god, Leo’s been in this water, how cool is THAT?”. Lying on the white sand feeling the suns heat, basking in the tranquility of the moment was a THE highlight of the day. Then it was the mission back, and once back on the boat we sailed back to the mainland of Phi Phi, watching the sun set over the ocean as the waves bobbed us along.

The thing about Phi Phi is its actually quite expensive compared to the rest of Thailand, and I managed to get a Guesthouse for 300 baht a night (£5.70) which was way up in the hills, up a steep climb and far away from the beaches, but considering I would be paying about 10 times that amount to stay closer to the water, I felt the trek everyday would do me good. The accommodation is not great value for money, the place was really quite dirty and dingy, but overall, its still so much cheaper than Samui, and a million miles cheaper than home, - so who am I to complain? It was still a wonderful place to spend a few days, and once there, you realise you are not in Kansas anymore - and isn’t that the point of travelling?

Before I run, the val d isere ski bookings for our next group trip have been sorted out. Next monday is the cut off for the overall cost, please get it to me when you have it.

Is it possible to party on the beach at the full moon hedonistic extravaganza on Thailand’s Island Ko Phangan, and come back in one piece without losing your money or dignity?? Of course it is, I am living proof.

Arriving at the party at Ko Phangans resort of Hat Rin with my 7 friends in tow at 12 midnight, we were instantly catapulted into the heaving masses of partygoers. In high season the crowds can reach 30,000, we went in September and there were 12,000 people, still busy but not claustrophobically stifling. Winding our way down a side lane full of bright lights and drink stands, we were as excited as children at Christmas, no idea what to expect but we came with no real expectations. The night didn’t disappoint. Some may call it tacky, but that is half the appeal, and a MUST do event if in this part of the world. Bursting onto the beach the first question was “What to do first, where to go, which direction, left or right?” The answer became clear, first up was to get painted in UV paint of course! Every single person dancing or stumbling past was covered in UV paint, so after studying the selection of weird and wonderful psychedelic colours and patterns, we all became adorned with some fantastic creation of multicoloured stars and swirls over our faces and every inch of exposed flesh. Naturally the next stop was to purchase a bucket of vodka and red bull, and then with gathering anticipation we sauntered happily up the beach, past the skipping rope, which was on fire. Throngs of drunken and spaced out half naked guys were showing their prowess by taking on the fire rope. I haven’t skipped since I was about 8 years old, and the rope wasn’t on fire, and I hadn’t consumed a bucket of vodka, so that activity was safely observed from the sidelines. Miraculously there were no serious injuries on my watch. The music was booming out from all different DJ booths lined up on the beach, a selection of dance, funk, hardcore trance and drum and bass – a fine selection for all tastes. Stopping to dance at each place, I looked around me and everyone was in their own happy place, and I felt like the Joker, having a huge smile plastered over my face with the thought running through my head – “I can’t believe I’m partying in a little dress and flip flops, on the beach of a Thai Island. How cool is this??” Eventually some refreshment was required to reboost the energy levels, so a cup of tea and muesli was consumed in one of the buy cafes down a lane, full of other recovering revellers. Once refuelled it was back to the beach where the sun had risen, blinding us with the dazzling rays. The music was still pumping, the hardcore guys were still dancing and I looked around me at the total carnage on the beach. Bottles, rubbish, cigarette butts strewn all over the sand, and somewhere in the night I had broken my flip-flops and discarded them, so whilst picking my way through the leftovers, desperately trying not to cut my feet open on glass, I was still dancing as I moved along surveying the scene, and as the waves lapped the shore I realised I still had that insane grin on my face, and the same thought of “I can’t believe I’m partying here in a little dress, minus my lost for ever flip flops, on the beach of a Thai Island. How cool is this?”

The only downside, I may need to book an appointment at tattoo removal brentwood when I get home…

Political intrigue, a diplomatic rift that has split two countries, an international mystery centred on a priceless piece of jewellery: perhaps these aren’t the first things that spring to mind when you think of our country’s favourite longhaul destination? Thailand is an incredibly beautiful nation, with its landscape as captivating as its people and where endless strectches of golden, sanded perfection contrast with the exhilirating bustle of Bangkok. For twenty years now Thailand has been embroiled in an international scandal that has seen Saudi Arabia sever all ties with the country, but this week the Thai government took significant steps to end the rift.

The affair started in 1989 when a janitor from Thailand stole jewellery from a palace in Saudi Arabia. Amongst the jewellery was an incredibly rare blue diamond worth an estimated $20million and from then on the story resembles the plot of a Hollywood blockbuster.

The thief escaped back to Thailand, to the consternation of Saudi Arabia, but tensions between the two countries increased further when within a year of the incident three Saudi Arabian diplomats were shot dead in the Thai capital. Diplomatic ties finally reached breaking point when this was swiftly followed by the as yet unexplained disappearance of a Saudi businessman, Mohammad al-Ruwaili, who is believed to have been a witness to the shootings.

The janitor was eventually arrested in Thailand and the jewels were supposedly returned to Saudi Arabia but anger grew in Riyadh when it transpired that most of the jewels were fake and that the blue diamond itself was still unaccounted for.

The severing of friendship between the two previously cordial countries was confirmed when in 1994 the Saudi charge d’affaires claimed that the murdered Saudi diplomats had been silenced on the official orders of the Thailand government. Saudi Arabia had been home to a large number of Thai workers, around 300,000 in 1989, but less than 15,000 were living there by 2009. This incident is estimated to have cost Thailand billions of dollars in trade.

Thailand’s Prime Minister, Abhisit Vejjajiva, is now in discussions with the Saudi charge d’affaires to discuss improving diplomatic ties between the two nations. In a major development this week five Thailand police officers have been arrested and charged with the abduction and murder of Mohammad al-Ruwaili in 1990. Whilst this is seen as an important step in mending the two decades old rift, the murder of the diplomats is still a mystery and until the day when the fabled blue diamond is returned then Saudi Arabia may remain the only country to evade the charms of Thailand.

Speaking of jewels, I was chatting to my brother who works in economics and he believes that there is massive money in buying stocks for red diesel suppliers. To be honest, I’m not convinced, all of this is making me think that purhaps we are forgeting all the true beauty in the world and just focusing on the wealth that it could bring us. I mean do you really think that a theif ever stops to think about how precious the thing in his hand is?

Thailand is a country located in Southeast Asia. It is heavy with tourism and attracts crowds of several different countries. Visitors are fascinated with it’s beauty and hospitality of the Thai people. The majority of the Tai people practice the Theravada Buddhist tradition worshipping ancestors and animism. Some, however, are involved in the Muslim community which is a large religious group in Thailand.

The Thai people are strong on their beliefs of the Buddhist tradition and pay a lot of respect to their ancestors. They are very hospitable and generous people who go out of their way to make people feel welcomed.

One thing sacred in Thailand is the food. This might be because of the way it is presented which is not like your typical meal consisting of an appetizer, main course and then dessert afterwards. The Thai meal is presented all at once and there is not a single dish for one person. This is why it is custom for many guests to sit together and share the same dish together. In fact, it is considered bad luck to be dining by yourself or with only one other person in Thailand.

You can expect Thai food to be seasoned with a sweet, salty, sour or spicy seasoning. Also, the food usually includes fish, meat, noodles, soup and vegetables.

Prepare to be inspired with local music and classical Thai dancing. This classical dance is typically performed by the Thai women in elegant Thai costumes. This type of dance is still performed in Thailand to this day. In fact, you will find many hotels and resorts which offer this dance to entertain foreign visitors.

If you are planning a visit to Thailand, prepare yourself for a truly amazing experience and a wonderful time. With plenty to see and do, you should plan for at least a week’s visit if not more.

I think the post on this blog about miniature guns is quite worrying. If you read it and have a look at the attached link to ‘BoingBoing’ then you will see what I mean.

These guns are so small that they could easily be concealed. I don’t think that it would be very difficult for someone to smuggle one onto a plane. That doesn’t even bear thinking about.

I am sure that whoever made these is incredibly clever; the engineering Read the rest of this entry »

I don’t know if I want to raise my arms and cheer or grab a tissue and sob. The school season has just began and I have sent two of my kids off with their backpacks and lunches. One of them was my wee little one who is only 4 years old. That was heart wrenching. First day of Pre-K. Oh come on now, I’m such a fool. It’s only school. But wait, what is that I hear? Silence? Only Read the rest of this entry »

Hi there. Welcome back to Thai Main, the website that brings you all the information you need in the wonderful, mystical and enchanting world of Thailand.

Unfortunately we got hacked into by some computer nerds (some kind of internet marketing scheming tricksters or something) who wanted access to our valuable content. We therefore had to look into what on earth they were up to and stop them with our very own almighty internet wizards – hence why there’s been no access to the page for quite some time now.

Anyway, we’re up and running again now and since you’re here you’re probably wondering what we’ve got to offer you. Well, amongst other things in the pipeline, here’s a brief glance at what you can expect…

Travel information, where to eat, the best sights to see, a whole range of accommodation venues to suit your needs, entertainment, festivals and events, maps, Thai traditions and culture, scuba diving and other nautical activities (including sailing trips), shopping including clothes, accessories, the best food halls and markets and also where you can find cheap electrical items (ebay anyone?)

So, just a quick glance there at all the great information that’ll be, at the click of a button, at you fingertips. All this plus we’ve taken a long hard look at our sites general look and have decided to give it a bit of a makeover, just for you! Enjoy! We’ll keep you posted on all the details, so until then, see you again soon.