Koh Phi Phi- Enjoy the Underwater Life around the Islands
Koh Phi Phi means pristine white beaches, red reefs jutting out of the Andaman Sea, beautiful coral gardens and a colorful and diverse marine life. You are in the presence of the beaches and rocks once you reach Phi Phi, but to experience the corals and the marine life, you will need to go snorkeling and scuba diving beneath the waters.
Snorkeling tours are arranged by island authorities and these tours generally cover all the main diving points around the islands. But you would also like to go for night diving expeditions arranged by many of the Phi Phi resorts. The most spectacular diving point at Pi Pi Island is the Maya Bay, already made famous by the film The Beach.
Phi Phi Marine Life
The most typical sea creatures you will get to see from an underwater dive are the many varieties of marine fishes from Damselfish to Pufferfish, from Clown Anemonefish to Moorish Idols. There will also be all the different species of shrimps, lobsters and squids. And if your luck is in favour, you can also strike up a conversation with a Mink Whale, a Zebra Shark or a Manta Ray!
The Coral Gardens
The coral gardens are no less beautiful and varied. There are yellow and red corals, hard and soft corals, the giant gorgonian fans, giant barrel sponges, anemone and a lot of other varieties of gorgeous corals peopling the water around the Koh Phi Phi beaches. While daytime diving is okay, you will have to glide under the waters at nights to catch these corals in their full splendor.
And while you are at it, you can also pay a visit to the Tsunami Memorial, an underwater bungalow now bolted to the ocean bed. The bungalow was gobbled up by the sea during the tsunami in 2004 and is now regarded as a memorial for people who lost their lives in tsunami.
Udon Thani Attractions
Considered to be one of the more prosperous provinces in Northeastern Thailand, Udon Thani has prospered as a transport hub and agricultural market center for Northern Isaan. As land travel to Laos expands in combination with trips to Northern Isaan, the Udon Thani Airport plays a more significant role.
Most of the attractions can be found outside the city which has a bustling modern ambiance. Without a doubt, the most important site is Ban Chiang where diggings have revealed a civilization dating from 7000 years ago. Located 56 kilometers east of Udon, the site is considered as the main spot of the ancient culture in Thailand. The people who lived here about 5000 to 7000 years ago were skilled at making bronze tools, but their clay potteries were the ones which attracted more attention. The potted vases and urns are characterized by their unique designs and patterns. A museum was also established at the site that has an exhibition hall that displays an extensive collection of artifacts. In December of 1992, Ban Chiang was declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Nong Prachak – a park located in the northwest suburb area of the city. This Udon Thani attraction is a gently rolling landscape that has large ponds and picturesque footbridges which make the park a delightful retreat from the surrounding bustle and hustle of the city.
Udon Sunshine Fragrant Orchid Garden – was originally established as a horti-cultural center for raising orchids some 10 years ago. One of the successful projects is the discovery of a new species called the Miss Udon Sunshine.
Ban Na Kha Village – a well-known place for “khit” which is a complex cloth weaving technique used to make cotton fabrics and decorative materials.
Phu Phra Bat Historical Park – this Udon Thani attraction is located in the foothills of the Phu Phan Mountains in the district of Ban Phu, 68 kilometers northwest of Udon. In this place, you will see bizarre rock formations and shrines that were built around the boulders. There is also a rock plain called the Non Sao Eh Stone which was the basis for the local tale named Nang Usa and Tao Baros. There are also several Buddhist shrines and temples located inside the park, as well as some stone markers and sandstone Buddha images. Evidence of prehistoric settlement and cultures can also be found in the number of caves where paintings of humans and animals can be seen.
Hat Yai Activities
Aside from birdwatching, bullfighting, and visiting the Bottled Temple, there are still many activities that tourists can enjoy during their visit to Hat Yai, Thailand. One of the most popular is the foot massage which is offered at almost all hotels, resorts, and recreational centers in this place. Haircuts and facial treatments are also popular, but local business centers get bigger earnings from foot massages. This massage is quite popular among Chinese and Malaysian tourists. It is a very pleasant and relaxing experience especially after walking or trekking for several hours or days. One therapeutic massage is reflexology which involves massaging reflex points that connect to the different organs of the body. What’s nice about massages here is that the shop owners have agreed to have the same rates so expect to pay an amount of 250 Baht for one hour of massage.
If you want to purchase fresh goods, one Hat Yai activity that you will enjoy is visiting the Fresh Market. This place is not for people with sensitive noses though as sometimes the smell can get squeamish and hangs in the air. Here you can buy internal organs, pig’s heads, intestines, and fresh seafood like fish and shellfish as well as fresh meat, and fruits too.
Gim Yong Market is place to visit if you want to be in an authentic Thai street market. It is located within walking distance from Lee Gardens Plaza. Many of the street traders here are Muslims who sell clothes, ready to eat food, dried fruits, chestnuts, groceries, toiletries, cheap electronics, toys, watches, and household items.
A visit to Greenway Market is also a fun Hat Yai activity as they sell antiques and secondhand goods like shoes, clothes, bags, magazines, toys, office equipment, and many others. You can also buy new items here like handmade handicrafts such as picture frames and postcards.
For sports minded individuals, it pays to visit the Hat Yai Sports Club which houses some sporting facilities like an outdoor swimming pool, tennis courts, basketball courts, a gym with weight training equipment, and snooker tables. You can either pay for each session or you can choose to be a member of the club for one, three, six, or twelve months.
Another place to drop-by is the Hat Yai Nai Sunday Market which is a typical Thai street market held every Sunday. It is quite similar to the Sunday Market in Songkhla although is it much smaller. Items that are sold here are clothes, handicrafts, food, fruits, and a selection of dangerous weapons.
