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Thailand Open

The Thailand Open Tennis Tournament will open tomorrow in Muang Thong Thani. Hosted at Impact Arena, the tournament features top players Novak Djokovic, Marat Safin and Carlos Moya, in addition to Danai Umdochoke of Thailand in the singles tournament. Following up on their wind in the doubles event last year, the Thai Raiwanta brothers will play in this year’s tournament again. With a top prize over $500,000, the event it expected to be highly competitive.

Koh Tao island (Ko Tao), or Turtle Island, is a relaxing getaway located in the southern Province of Surat Thani. Known for its beautiful beaches and wide-variety of diving opportunities, the island has recently undergone development that has produced world-class Thai cuisine and cultural choices. To maintain its pristine environment, the Island works hard to conserve and follow best environmental practices.

Travel to Koh Tao

Koh Tao Beach

Direct travel to Ko Tao is possible only by boat or ferry, which you can reach from nearby airports at Surai Thani and Ko Samui; both airports offer major connections from Penang and Bangkok. A ferry from Surat Thani takes three hours to reach the Island, while Ko Samui is just under two hours away by boat. Ferries can vary widely in quality and amenities, so make sure to get details before buying a ticket - to make sure you get there quickly, we recommend a Seatran boat or a high speed catamaran. If you’re coming from Bangkok and don’t plan to fly, you can buy a combined bus and boat ticket to save money.

Once you arrive at the island, you can catch a taxi or longtail boat to your destination. Some of the roads are unpaved, so be cautious about renting motorcycles or ATVs, unless you are traveling only a short distance. Once you arrive at your destination, there are a number of bicycle rentals available to get around, and many of the areas are within walking distance if you stay at a centralized hotel.

Koh Tao Diving

Koh Tao Diving

Scuba is the top attraction on the island with its pristine beaches and wide array of ocean life from turtles to tropical fish. The popular Chumphon Pinnacle features harmless bull sharks as well a beautiful coral reefs. During most months you can see over twenty meters in the water with a forty foot view under the best dive conditions, and a wet suit is needed only for deep sea diving.

Make sure that the dive shop (or diving school) you choose will allow you to get PADI open water scuba certification. Some shops will help you to train in a pool before entering open water, so ask in advance about their training policy. Top diving coaches will have a private diving pier, while others use beach locations or public docks. Ideally, find an experienced teacher who is well versed in English, has PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructions) certification and keeps classes limited to a small number of students.

There are dozens of choices for diving instruction, and we present a few of the schools we recommend. Ban’s Diving Resort is a large, PADI-CAC-IDC accredited diving school on the island with highly experienced teachers located at Sairee Beach. Another 5-star PADI-IDC school is Behhva View Dive Resort at Chalok Ban Kao Beach. Easy Divers and Planet Scuba are also PADI five-star dive shops with multiple locations throughout the island. Sunshine Diver’s Resort at Chalok Bann Kao Beach is Gold Palm certified as well.

Depending on your interests, there is a great selection of dive sites on the island. The most well known site is Sail Rock, which is a public site with options for all levels of divers and features a diversity of aquatic life from batfish to jack fish. The Chumphon Pinnacles are top sites offering giant gropers, lionfish as well as harmless grey reef sharks. We also recommend the Southwest Pinnacles off the southwest coast, which feature sea fans, whip corals and anemones. For a change of pace, two wrecked ships, the Unicorn Wreck and Torpedo Wreck, offer a variable of fish in an interesting environment.

There are also a large number of other sports available, including rock climbing and rappelling, mountain biking, water skiing and wake boarding, Muy Thai kick boxing and short cruises at Good Time Adventures.

Koh Tao Restaurants

There are some great restaurants in Koh Tao, serving fresh seafood including local barbecue specialties.  You can also find fresh juice, banana pancakes, pizza and pasta at most beaches. We recommend Thipwiwarn Restaurant in the north, which has a great view and reasonable prices. Those seeking a relaxed pub environment should check out British pubs Safety Stop and Choppers. If you’re in the mood for Indian, Noori India serves authentic cuisine and is known for its Tandoori. Zanzibar is a top local cafe serving breakfast, lunch and coffee all day.

Koh Tao Resorts

Koh Tao Resort

While you can book a hotel upon arrival, it is often best to have reservations, especially at the more upscale resorts. Sairee Beach resorts offer the most access to the Island, although Chalok Bay hotels are recommended for those seeking relaxation. Recommended  Sairee accommodations include Sivler Sands Beach Resort, Narakaan Hotel and Blue Wind resort.

Ko Chang

Ko Chang is Thailand’s second largest island, located within Trat Province. Once considered a relatively calm island frequented by hikers, a wide range of development has increased the profile of the island with a number of new resorts.

Located in the Trat province, travelers has a number of options for arriving at the island. Direct flights are available from Bangkok to Trat (1 hour flight time), and there are bus and ferry options to get to the island from there. It is also possible to take a bus directly from Bangkok to Trat (just a 5 hour drive). To get to the ferry crossing at Laem Ngop from Trat there are a number of buses which travel from surrounding areas. Ferry crossings take roughly 45 minutes and offer many daily crossings, as well as amenities on car ferries.

A number of small, local villages on the island celebrate traditional Buddhist culture, as well as providing a number of industries. Baan Khlong Son is a fishing village offering visitors tours, as well as squid Ban Salak Phet is another fishing village located on the Ao Salak Phet bay, and its ancient culture has largely been left intact, including a temple commemorating King Rama V. Locals also celebrate Ko Chang Yutthanavani which honors the Royal Thai Navy and their liberation of the island.

The island is just over 400 square kilometers with a wide range of cliffs, evergreen forests, waterfalls, reefs and beaches. Namtok Khlong Phlu is a 3-tiered waterfall near Long Beach and Klong Plu, Klong Nueng and Kongoi are among the most beautiful waterfalls in the country. There are also several coral reefs, including those at Ao Khlong Son at Klongson Beach. A number of beaches, including White Sand Beach, Lonely Beach, Ao Bai Lan and several others offer waterfront relaxation, as well as a variety of activities.

In additional to natural sight seeing, Ko Chang offers a variety of fun options for travelers. With its pristine beaches, snorkeling, canoes and diving offer an opportunity to experience the water. For those seeking to see more of the island, there are firefly boat trips, aircraft flyovers, ATV rentals and elephant treks available (Ban Kwan Chang Elephant Camp). Those seeking a bit more leisure can enjoy the island’s many resort spas, and shop with the local vendors at White Sands Beach. Most of the restaurants in the area serve traditional Thai cuisine, especially in the White Sands area. Local specialties include fresh fish and local fruit wine.

Ko Chang Resorts

The island offers a number of hotel options, ranging from guest rooms to resort hotels. Near the White Sands area, you can find basic rooms as well as the Koh Chang Kacha Resort, which features several rooms as well as villas, a pool and a tropical garden.

At Klong Prao Beach, the Amari Emerald Cove Resort is the island’s only 5-star resort and offers the finest luxury accommodations. Kai Bae Beach features a number of quality resorts including the bungalows at Gajapuri Resort and Spa.

Lonely Beach offers the widest array of Resorts on the island. Bhumiyama offers the best quality accommodations, and is within walking distance of the Nature Resort. The recently renovated Siam Beach Resort also offers bay views with pool villas also available for those seeking a getaway.

Patong Beach

Patong Beach is a center of beach, shopping and night life in Phuket. The beach runs over a mile long, and is the most extensive resort on the island. Life along Patong is defined by the shops, restaurants and clubs that run along it. The area serves as a cultural melting pot, with a wide variety of both traditional and alternative sub-cultures co-existing in the area.

Cultural stops along Bangla Road provide a wide array of choices for visitors, including upscale shopping and traditional Thai food, while Paradise Complex caters more to alternate lifestyles. while the area suffered damage in the 2004 tsunami, it has been rebuilt with hard work from locals to restore the resort town. Today, Patong is among the most bustling, fully developed beaches in the country, with an active local music scene and vibrant clubs for visitors of all walks of life. Transportation to the beach is available locally via bus or taxi, although you will likely find that most of the prime areas are within walking distance. For those traveling from outside the area, Phuket International Airport is within a 45 minute drive.

Patong Activities

Patong Club

In addition the life along the beach, there are a number of water-based activities including Scuba, snorkeling, jet-skis and para sailing. You can also take a river boat cruise, or try you hand at surfing or motor boating.

There is also an active Thai boxing and martial arts (Muay Thai) scene at Bangla Stadium with nightly competitions. Muay is a fierce, competitive sport that combines a number of martial arts elements. Additionally, you can take kick boxing lessons from some of the participants.

For those looking to relax, the dancing is lively at the wide selection of disco clubs including Baya Beach, Banana Disco, Tai Pan and the D-Club. There are also cabaret shows on display at a number of clubs at night. The most lively bar scene in the area is Thanon Bang La which features a number of energetic pubs. For those seeking a more relaxed pace, the traditional Irish bar Molly Malone’s provides a good pub atmosphere.

Patong Shopping

Shops in Patong range from small, local merchants selling hand-made clothing, scarves and souvenirs to luxury shops selling fine international goods. Most local shops will negotiate prices, and bargains are available to those who seek them out. The area also has a large Jungceylon shopping mall, as well as the OTOP Shopping Paradise market.

Patong Restaurants

The area has among the most diverse choices of cuisine, ranging from traditional Thai food to a full selection of global cuisine. Among the finest restaurants near the beach is Ali Baba, which serves both Indian and Arab cuisine, as well as having a hookah bar at night. For those seeking traditional Thai food, the Baan Yin Dee restaurant provides traditional hospitality and menu choices, along with La Diva which has a Latin American theme to spice up the delicious traditional Thai menu, Oceanview Restaurant which offers Thai at a great value and the Green House and Balcony which serves upscale Thai in a relaxed environment.

Patong Hotels

For travelers on a budget, consider staying at the Kaya Guest House which provides a good value with clean, air conditioned rooms with amenities for much less than traditional hotels.

Traditional hotels near the beach include the Patong Inn, which has an ideal location near Bangla Road and the Quality Resort Patong Beach, a high-quality value resort within walking distance of the beach.
Travelers seeking a luxury resort will find a wide range of choices in Patong. Those seeking a romantic setting off the beaten path will find the Amari Coral Beach Resort to be an ideal choice with views of the private beach and professional staff. Another ideal option is the Diamond Cliff Resort, which has a startling view of the Andaman Sea as well as a complete resort garden. The Impiana Phuket Cabana is a resort with luxury rooms and service, and is highly recommended. The Thavorn Beach Village and Spa offers a non-traditional setting with private villas and bungalows across from Nakalay Bay. Within walking distance of the beach, the Deevana Patong Resort and Spa offers a private tropical garden and a relaxing atmosphere.

The area offers a full selection of options for every traveler, so make sure to chose carefully to get the most from your beach experience.

Peter Reid, a well-known coach who has led UK clubs Manchester United and Leeds has signed a four-year contract to coach Thailand’s national football team. Reid’s goal is to help the team compete at the World Cup after previous disappointing performances at the international level.  Reid is returning to coaching after a three year break, and will replace outgoing coach Chanvit Phalajivin who resigned after his team failed to qualify for the 2010 World Cup. Reid’s main task is to ensure the team qualifies for the 2014 World Cup, although the new coach admitted he did not has much previous experience with Asian football.

Coach Peter Reid

Reid had a long career as a player, beginning with his first professional contract at the age of 18 with the Bolton Wanderers. He won a second division championship with the team in 1978 and then won a FA Cup, Winners Cup and Football League championship in a career with Everton, winning 1985 footballer of the year and starring on England’s 1986 World Cup team.