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Wednesday, 13 December, 2017, 14 : 29 PM [IST]
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Open to the New Shades of Thailand
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Rated as one of the top three destinations in the world (in terms of tourism
receipts), Thailand never fails to inspire its visitors. Be it FIT, a family holiday,
social visitor, or a religious traveller, the picturesque destination has something in
store for everyone. On a familiarisation trip organised by the Tourism Authority of
Thailand, Sumit Jha explores this beautiful land.
Chose to indulge in the hustle and bustle of the busy
malls and night markets of Bangkok - shopping to
your heart’s content; vibrant streets to experience
their rich culture and traditions; opt for holistic solace
by visiting some of the most serene temples; expose
your palate to a riot of flavours available across the
Kingdom; or chose to recuperate and rejuvenate
amidst the tranquil surroundings of one of the many
sought after tourist attractions, Thailand offers it all. Not a surprise then
that Thailand ranks 3rd in the world in terms of international tourism
receipts
PB Valley
To continue holding their strong position in the international tourism
market and offer visitors a variety of new and engaging experiences,
Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has embarked on its new marketing
concept of ‘Open to the New Shades of Thailand’. The promotion aims
to further strengthen the Thai tourism industry, focus on quality tourism,
create higher economic value, and distribute tourism income to the regional
areas of Thailand. As a prelude to the new policy, TAT organised a grand
familiarisation (FAM) trip for its partners (international travel agents) and
media from across the world (inviting over 300 representatives), to give
them a first-hand experience of the New Shades of Thailand.
The warmth of its people and their professional attitude towards
providing quality service to their visitors can be experiences from the very
moment you board Thai Airways to reach this picturesque destination.
Smooth as Silk, the adage used by the airline, does not just hold true for
their guests flying experience, but is also apt for their ground services as
well as on board facilities, making the ride to this sought-after destination
as Smooth as Silk. The sounds of Swathika (welcome) echo through
the corridors of the aircraft as the airline staff welcome us with folded
hands.
Open to the New Shades of Thailand
familiarisation trip was designed to
showcase the unknown aspects of
Thailand to our guests. There are a lot
of destinations in Thailand that are not
popular among Indian tourists and TAT
would like to promote these regions to
the evolving and growing markets. New
destination like Nakhon Ratchsima is a
good option to combine with Bangkok
for a short break in Thailand. Visitors
can do a lot of adventure activities such
as trekking, bird watching, canoeing, cliff
climbing in Khao Yai National Park which is
also listed as a World Heritage site. Apart
from nature trails, family with kids can also spend a day in the scenic world
theme park, visit several flower gardens which will be in full bloom around
December to February. Farm Chok Chai is another edutainment destination
for family where kids can enjoy riding the ponies or roam around the farm
by bicycle. For visitors who have been to Bangkok many times, they can
look for some new experiences such as helicopter tour, dining at the rooftop
restaurants with breath-taking views of Bangkok city. For those who want
to try local Thai experiences, taking a cooking class or a Thai boxing class
can be good options. There are also many attractions in Bangkok that await
for you to explore, such as sacred Buddhist temples and monuments, Thai
style house museum in the city centre and cool aquarium underground of
the high-end shopping mall. Thailand is open for everyone to explore and
enjoy their quality time with our Thai hospitality.
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Our group, which was accompanied by Soraya Homchuen, Director,
Tourism Authority of Thailand - Mumbai office, landed into Bangkok
at Suvarnabhumi Airport early in the morning and post our on arrival
visa formalities, were greeted by our guide for the trip Patihan Tao, a
representative of the World Travel Services.
After refreshments at the Novotel Airport Hotel, we were ushered
in a comfortable van to Khao Yai, which is home to a UNESCO World
Heritage Site, and hosts Thailand’s third largest and one of the most
visited national parks. During the drive, while our friendly guide Tao
continued to enlighten us with information about the various aspects
of Thailand, one could not stop looking around to soak in beauty of the
region and its complementing infrastructural development.
 Source: TAT
Our exploration of this mystic land started within the next couple of
hours of driving with a visit to one of the most popular wineries of the
region, PB Valley which spreads over an area of 800 acres. This provides
a unique experience, especially for visitors to Thailand, as most people
do not associate a holiday in Thailand with a visit to the winery. While a
tour of the winery with detailed inputs from their experienced staff and
wine-tasting sessions are the biggest draw for visitors to this winery, for
those not inclined towards the wine, PB Valley also produces a range
of fresh from farm produce including exquisite juices and coffee. The
excitement of exploring the vineyards was enhanced by enjoying a
sumptuous meal at their unique restaurant which couples delicious food
with stunning valley and mountain scenery.
Primo Piazza
Next stop was at The Bloom Garden – the largest flower garden in Khao
Yai, spread over an area of 160,000 square meters, welcoming tourists
from around the world to get surrounded by the blooming flowers. Well
appointed rooms, tents and conferencing facilities, nestled amidst the
beauty of flowers in irreplaceable atmosphere surrounded by mountains
with several joyful activities, make the place ideal for a family getaway
or any event. One can also chose to visit the garden for an outing with
their group. The attractions include The Garden Maze, Giant Vegetable
Tunnel, Ivy Tunnel, Sheep Farm, Fountain of Love, Butterfly Pavilion,
among others.
A short drive away was nestled an Italian Village under the aegis of
Primo Piazza. With the complex’s classy Italian architecture, cobbled
streets and lush green surroundings, one can easily be mistaken for
thinking to be in a remote Tuscan village. Ideal getaway for a romantic
getaway or a family escape, Primo Piazza casts a spell with its authentic
architecture and charming atmosphere. The developers of Primo
Piazza have succeeded in creating a warm and relaxing Mediterranean
atmosphere, with an array of cafes and restaurants on hand to help
unwind.
Farm Chokchai
After the refreshing break, it was time for some adventure, as we
stepped into the gates of the Khao Yai National Park. Spread over
an area of 2,168 square kilometres, Khao Yai became Thailand’s first
national park in 1962 and is an ASEAN World Heritage site because of
its variety of flora and fauna. The high altitude and lush jungles ensure
that the park has a cook climate even during the summers. Wild animals
that can be seen include deer, wild boars, monkeys, tigers, gaurs and
mountain goats. It was an adventurous drive into the dark alley of the
jungle with a torch bearing guide searching for wildlife. We were able to
spot a large number of grazing deer, tree climbing wildcat and a couple
of other species. On our return to the park office, we encountered and
chased some porcupine for photographs outside the park office area.
After the day-long busy schedule of capturing beauty of this lesserknown
region of Thailand among us Indians, we checked into our hotel
- The Greenery Resort. This integrated resort is a unique place to visit
for many different interest groups. While the resort in itself offers various
conferencing and social function areas, the leisure options includes
LIFE Park - the resorts adventure zone for fun and thrill seekers, The
Greenery Spa for relaxation, luxurious indulgence and pampering. We
wound up our day with authentic Thai dinner spread that tantalised our
taste buds while being a visually satisfying treat.
Como Metropolitain Bangkok
Next morning we checked out of the hotel and drove towards the
famous Choke Chai Farm. The Farm, which was started way back in
1957, attracts more than a million people annually and is home to over
3,000 dairy cattle that produce more than 22 tons of raw milk per day.
It is the first farm in Asia to have internationally acceptable breeding
standards for dairy cattle exporting programme. Here visitors learn
more about how research and technology can enhance the breeding of
high milk yielding cows and the production of super quality milk and
their speciality ice-cream. An exciting tractor ride through the farm
showcases prowess of the 800 acre farm which produces 3,500 tons of
animal feed per month. After enjoying Cowboy Skill demonstration at
the Agro-tour it was time to relished a sumptuous lunch in the beautiful
settings of the Chokchai Steak House.
Como Metropolitain Bangkok
Our ride back to Bangkok was a smooth one, with stop-over at a gas
station to understand the convenience of taking a break while driving.
On reaching our abode for the rest of the trip – COMO Metropolitan
Bangkok, a hotel inspection by their friendly staff revealed that the
recently renovated 160 room and 9 suites along with conferencing facilities
of the hotel in the heart of the city offered high standards of comfort
and luxury. COMO Shambhala Urban Escape, their renowned wellness
centre offers topof-
the-line facilities
and treatments
for rejuvenation,
including
complementary
Yoga classes for
their guests. Their
award-winning
restaurant Nahm
takes inspiration
from Thailand’s
culinary traditions
by using local ingredients and fresh produce from the region.
“This is a fam trip on a grand
scale and its purpose is to
inform participants about the
TAT’s new marketing concept,
‘Open to the New Shades of
Thailand’. What better way to do
this than to give them first-hand
experience in Thailand.” |
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Our next destination was Asiatique, the river front night market, which
had a history of housing a temple and was once a bustling international
trade port. With over 1,500 boutique shops and 40 restaurants housed
under a huge replica warehouse complex, this outing was ideal for
picking up gifts and souvenirs for friends back home. While there are
also various entertainment options available at this beautiful venue,
one of the major attractions besides shopping here is Thailand’s tallest
ferris wheel - Asiatique Sky which promises unforgettable views of the
city skyline. While browsing through the market, we stopped by for a
sumptuous traditional Thai meal at Baan Khanitha Restaurant by the
river front.
Refreshing winds welcomed us to the base camp of the Advance
Aviation centre early next morning, where a twin-engine helicopter
(Golden Albatross EC-135) was waiting for us to board and take a sky
tour over the city of Bangkok. The sight from the top was awe-inspiring
and one could not stop gazing at the skyscrapers and centuries-old
pagodas, tourism hotspots, and the overlaying interweave of the city’s
well organised roads network. This half hour ride over the city gave
a glimpse of the entire city and provided the ultimate VIP treatment.
At Advance Aviation, which also offers their helicopter and private jet
charter services in Phuket and Chiang Mai, one can get tailor-made
charter packages to best suit their requirement.
Post our aerial survey of the city, Siam Kempinski Hotel Bangkok,
located in the heart of the city’s premier shopping area, combining
European flair with the traditions of Thai hospitality, was our host for
lunch. The 401-room hotel hosting three restaurants and two bars, with
multiple banqueting and conferencing areas, has been built in a circle
with lush landscape tropical gardens and three saltwater pools in the
centre. It is a favoured destination for shoppers, and social functions
like weddings. With a strong sales team, backed by high level of service
standards and top-of-the-line facilities, the hotel is popular among
stand-alone and group travellers not only from the subcontinent, but
also from European region.
Visit to Jim Thompson House & Museum, revealed the love of US
Army personnel for Thailand. After the Second World War, he settled
in Bangkok devoting himself to promotion of the long-neglected silk
weaving industry. With his continued efforts he contributed substantially
to the industry’s growth and to the worldwide recognition accorded to
Thai silk. He was also known for his artistic collections and for the house
combining six teak buildings (the museum), which represent the best in
traditional Thai architecture.
Asiatique
While eating out in Bangkok is a joyful and very satisfying experience,
when you are dining under the stars on the 61st floor restaurant Vertigo,
the experience gets electric. Vertigo, a restaurant of the Banyan
Tree Hotel, offers al fresco dining experience set atop a roof terrace
overlooking the glittering cityscape of Bangkok. Moon Bar, on one end,
puts visitors at ease in an informal setting. Sumptuous offerings of the
restaurant ensure that you unwind and sink into the combination of
taste and the splendid atmosphere late into the night.
An early morning appointment at the RSM (Rajadamnern Singha)
Muay Thai Academy exposed us to the shades of Thai boxing. A training
session here exposes the participants to the fundamentals of Muay Thai
in an intimate group-training environment. Commencing with stretches
and rope jump warm-up; the session progresses to stance and footwork
training. Development of ‘weapons of Muay Thai strike’ (fists, elbows,
knees, feet) for basic defence skills are taught.
Continuing our culinary journey into this rich gastronomic destination,
our next stop was at the busy century-old mansion housing Blue
Elephant Cooking School and Restaurant. Founded by celebrity chef
Nooror Somany Steppe, popular as the unofficial culinary ambassador
of Thai cuisine, and run by her along with daughter Sandra, visitors to
the restaurant experience the culinary wonders of Royal Thai cuisine.
Experience at the Sea Life Bangkok Ocean World at Siam Paragon
was an exploratory one with an opportunity to step beneath the waves
and get closer to the creatures and features of the world’s oceans. Spread
over an area of over 10,000 square meters this aquarium has hundreds
of different species on display including Penguins and sharks. Close
encounters through its 270 degree glass tunnel and glass bottom boats
leaves the visitors in admiration of the marine life.
Golden Buddha
Our last destination
before heading out to MBK
Centre for last minute
shopping before boarding
our flights back was to
get blessing of Sukhothai
Traimit Golden Buddha.
This temple houses the
largest golden Buddha
image in the world in the
mara conquering attitude,
the typical style of the days
when Sukhothai was the
capital of Thailand. The
image measuring 12 feet 5
inches in diameter and with
a height of 15 feet 9 inches
from the base of the crown
weighs 5.5 tons, was made
in pure gold and ages over
700 years.
Our visit to Krung
Thep Maha Nakhon,
the official name of
Bangkok in Thailand,
unveiled its spiritual,
political, cultural, artistic,
culinary, commercial and
educational side. Open to
the New Shades of Thailand to get exposed to a vast array of tourism
activities, world-class cuisine, fantastic shopping, incredible nightlife
and above all the warmth of friendly local people.
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