Enjoyable Dinner Cruise on the Chao Phraya River

If there's one thing, among many others, that you shouldn't miss to do during your trip in Thailand is experience a dinner cruise on the Chao Phraya River.

Don't you think that everything becomes much more romantic and different when you sail on the water with your loved one(s)?

You can feel a certain kind of freedom, you can also feel that every thing is an experience.

Experiencing a dinner on the Chao Phraya River will make you sail on the waters of time on which you'll have the priviledge to admire Thailand's finest architecture dating from Rattanakosin's era:

the Grand Palace, Wat Arun (or the Temple of Dawn) and a few other stunning temples and homes.

At night, Your amazement will even be greater for the main places of attractions are lit up.

Another reason to give a try to a dinner cruise is that, on board, you'll be served very traditional Thai dishes accompanied by the show of just as traditional music players and dancers.

It definitely is a very unique experience to live, that's why I recommend it to everybody.

Tips

-  If you're ready to dine aboard a ship that proposes this service (dinner cruise), make sure that the company has a website you can rely on to check if tables are available, to compare the prices...

-   For Bangkok residents, I advise you to directly go to Queen Sirikit National Convention Center because it is the place where you can find tickets at the most reasonable price (in most cases).

-   Aboard, the lunch buffet is almost always cheaper than the dinner buffet.

-   Some companies sell packages. For example : Bangkok-Ayutthaya cruise (get more details from the company)

Price

Price varies according to the number of customers but you can reasonably count on a ticket price costing from 600 to over 1000 bht  per person.

More information about the cruise offers

- http://www.cruise-thailand.com/bangkok_cruise/

- http://www.chaophrayacruise.com/index.html

- http://thaicruise.com/home_en.php

- http://www.grandpearlcruise.com/en/

- http://www.whiteorchidrivercruise.com/

-  You must ask the company if you want to have a table for two.

-  Inform the hotel where you stay that you bought a ticket for a cruise. In most cases, the hotel will manage to find you a company that organises the transport to the ship.

-  Cruising time : in most companies, the cruise will normally last from 6.30 – 7 p.m.(make sure not to be late) until 9 - 9.30 p.m.

Amphawa Floating Market : a charming town crossed by the river

Amphawa Floating Market

Amphawa is a charming little town crossed by the river Mae Klong, in Samut Songkhram province.
If you like to travel and experience a very traditional lifestyle, much more different from the one you could experience in Bangkok or any other major Thai cities, Amphawa is, then, the town for you.
Considered, in the past, as a major fluvial transportation hub due to its proximity to Bangkok (exactly 71 km), Amphawa has successfully kept all its charms and attraction despite the evolution of means of transportation in surrounding cities.Surrounded by ancient wooden houses by the river, you'll be astonished to see people rowing their small boats not only to travel but also to sell their products, mainly food.

Amphawa floating market in the past

Amphawa today

The principal attraction of Amphawa, as you will probably have realised, resides in its fluvial activities and, in particular, its floating market. The very fact that this market takes place on boats makes it very special and attractive, but it becomes all the more attractive when you know that it is only open three days per week.
You will definitely not want to miss it, won't you ?

  Amphawa floating market is held on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 4 p.m. until late at night.
While visiting Amphawa, I really felt that I was in a unique place where nothing had changed, as if I was attending to actions of another time.

 activities in Amphawa 

So far, nothing, or practically nothing has changed there. People still row their small boats on the river and sell all different kinds of products : local fruits, vegetables, desserts...to the amazed eye of the tourist.

Here's a list of diverse activities I recommend that you do :

• Taste local food :

desserts, fruits and whatever you like to. Personally, my preference goes to seafoods that are freshly caught. You can eat them grilled with spicy sauce, it's absolutely delicious !
By the way, give Kuay Tiao Ruea a try, it's the best place to try it (Check my article about Kuay Tiao Ruea to learn more about it).

• Visit small shops : 

Fancy a postcard or more? Souvenirs can be bought almost anywhere in Amphawa. If you like painting, you can buy paintings or have your portrait painted for a very reasonable price.

• Take part in a cruise, at night, that will lead you to unseen places of Amphawa. As a bonus, you'll probably have the privilege to observe hundreds of fireflies living in trees. It is definitely an enjoyable experience you won't forget.

Discover the place and meet the locals. It is often one the best ways to make your trip much more fun and meaningful.

How to get to Amphawa :

• By Bus

From Southern Bus Terminal (in Bangkok), you can either take the direct bus 996 (Bangkok-Damnoen Saduak-Samut Songkhram-Amphawa market), the direct bus 76 ( Bangkok-Damnoen Saduak-Amphawa) or the bus 976 (Bangkok – Samut Songkhram-Samut Songkhram) followed by bus 333 (Maeklong-Amphawa-Bang Nok Kwaek- Amphawa market).

• By Van

Take a van at the Victory Monument (Phaholyothin side, under the motorway) or close to Century Movie Plaza (close to the Victory Monument) : Bangkok-Maeklong, one way 70 bht, daily trips from 6.30 a.m to 8 p.m. Once arrived at Maeklong market, take one of the many buses there that go to Amphawa Floating Market (one way 10 bht, from 5.30 a.m to 7 p.m).

Chiang Khan District : Beautiful City of Memories

    
 “Chiang khan” is a very small and peaceful district in the northern part of Loei Province, Northeast Thailand, 579 km away from its capital, Bangkok. The area stands alongside the banks of the Mekong River separating Thailand from Laos.In the past, Laotian people, mainly Luang Prabang immigrants, moved to Chiang Khan bringing along their traditions and culture. Chiang Khan and Luang Prabang can almost be considered as  twin cities, culturally, linguistically and historically speaking.

       Nowadays, Chiang Khan’s popularity has grown among Thai tourists who seem to be discovering or rediscovering a region that had been neglected by tourists years before.This recent renewal of interest can be partly explained by the increasing number of websites dealing with travel experiences, tourism...One of the first websites that promoted the region and made it more attractive to the eye of the tourist is a very famous Thai website named : www.pantip.com where people can post and share their experiences, pictures and many other things on forums. Since then, Chiang Khan has been unofficially renamed the “ Beautiful City of Memories” whose principal place of attraction  is undoubtedly  the “old wooden houses”.Those old wooden houses are located on Chai Khong Road and will give you a living and authentic moment of history since most of them have been kept as is (some houses are over 100 years old).

        More and more tourists are visiting Chiang Khan.Year after year, this little part of Thailand seems to bring satisfaction and joy to those in quest for a more rural aspect of Thai lifestyle, to those who want to take the time to live more authentic moments, in an almost idyllic place, far from noise pollution and the stressful urban way of life.

       “Peace” is the word that will pop up to your mind when you think about Chiang Khan. Time, there, seems to spin slowly; the hospitality of  the locals, their gentleness and politeness is remarkable. It’s an experience that can’t be experienced in big cities.

         Nowadays, more than half of the wooden houses on Chai Khong Road have been refurbished or converted into restaurants, souvenir shops...to respond to the increasing number of tourists.Most shops have opted for the “made in Chiang Khan” marketing strategy which puts the emphasis on local products such as : textiles (t-shirts, scarves, shorts...), postcards, souvenirs...

       If you wish to stay there for a few days, you might be interested in staying in a “homestay”( located on Sri Chiang Khan Street or on Chai Khong Road) rather than in a hotel.This practice can be a very efficient way to immerse yourself in Thai rural lifestyle for you will have the chance to live with the homeowner(s) at a lower cost for a couple of days.

Here is a list of the various attractions you might be interested in when travelling in Chiang Khan :

· Kaeng Kood Koo (at about 3 km away from Chiang Khan)

         This place, located near the Mekong River, offers an astonishing view on big blocks of stones (immersed in the river) that become visible depending on the level of the river, which gives very different perspectives of that landscape throughout the year.

There, you'll enjoy eating by the river (I advise you to try the local Tom Yum Pla, a dish prepared with fish from the Mekong River), walking around and sailing on the Mekong River...

Don't forget to taste the most famous dessert in the place: coconut dessert (Maprow Keow).

The best period of the year to go there is between February to May since the level of the river is low and that it is at that time that the view on the stones are spectacular.

·   Pu Toke (at about 3 km away from Chiang Khan)

        This mountain is very appreciated by tourists since it is from that place that you can have the most beautiful view on Chiang Khan and the Mekong River during the day. In the morning, Pu Toke reveals all its charms under a veil of mist.

I advise you to contact a “qualified” person before trying to go up to the mountain by yourself.

It is strongly recommended that you use public transportation to visit it. Driving there, on your own,can be risky. Preferably avoid the use of a mountain bike or a motorcycle to go up there.

·  Wat Tha Kaek

This very nice temple is located along the Mekong River, 2 km away from Chiang Khan churches. It's a worth a visit.

 

www.agilenttour.com

·  Wat Phra Phutthabat Phu Kwai Ngoen

         This temple is located in Tambon Bu Hom, Chiang Khan. Every year, on the 15^th day of the 3^rd lunar month, the temple organizes an annual ceremony.

www.chiangkhan.com

How to go to Chiang Khan :

By bus :

        trips between Bangkok and Loei are organised every day. You'll find both types of buses : ordinary buses and air-conditioned buses. The trip generally lasts 10 hours. For more details, contact :Northeastern Bus Terminal on Kamphaeng Phet 2 Road.( Mo Chit 2) Tel. (02) 936-0667, 936-0657.

By air plane :

Limited company Nok Air has flights Bangkok - Loei every day. If you're interested, please contact the following number: 1318.

Songkran Thailand 2014 Where to go?

First, let's talk about what the Songkran festival is. The word Songkran (สงกรานต์) comes from the association of two words : Sankhara ( in Pali language ) and Sankranti (in Sanskrit language). Those two words indicate the idea of movement or change.

Every year, in April, during Thailand's hottest period (from April13^th to April 15^th ), the Thais gather to celebrate Songkran Day during what is called the Songkran festival, world widely known as the biggest Water Festival.