TRAVEL INFORMATION : SHOPPING ADVICE

Shopping Tips

Department stores and a number of shops in Bangkok have fixed prices, but at most of others bargaining is acceptable and expected; some department stores will even offer a discount on expensive items like jewellery and fine furniture. No fixed rules can be given on the process depending as it does on the bargainer’s skill and the shopkeeper’s mood, but the final price may be reduced as much as 30% to that first quoted. An important point to keep in mind is that Thais admire good manners and a sense of humour and tend to be put off by a loss of temper. Providing you have the time, a good general rule is to make a survey of several shops selling the sort of items you want before coming to a final decision.

The Jewel Fest Club

Jewellery and gemstones from Thailand are also a favourite item for many visitors to the kingdom. Their beauty, quality craftmanship and reasonable price have earned Thai precious and semi-precious stones a worldwide reputation. Yet occasionally, there have been visitors who complained about the action of few unethical jewellers who persuaded them to purchase jewellery at an unreasonable price.

Through the cooperation of the Thai Gem and Jewellery Traders Association (TGJTA) and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), the Jewel Fest Club has been established, bringing about 100 leading jewellery manufacturers and wholesalers. The club’s aim to offer quality products at reasonable prices with a money-back guarantee if buyers are not completely satisfied with their purchases.

When you purchase an item of jewellery from a store that is clearly identified as a member of the Jewel Fest Club, your purchase will be duly recorded, and a certificate detailing your purchase will be issued. Not only does this certificate of authenticity clearly state the nature and price of your purchase, it also guarantees your refund should you wish to return the purchase. Contact The Jewel Fest Club at Tel: 0 2630 1390-7, Fax: 0 2630 1398-9, or visit website : www.jewelfest.com.

Packing and Shipping Services

Thanks to the ever-increasing number of tourists coming to Thailand, most shops are experienced at shipping abroad and will attend to all the documents such as insurance, customs and necessary permits. The Central Post Office also offers a parcel-wrapping service for those who want to make small shipments themselves. For larger items or bulk shipments, there are several Bangkok companies who specialise in such matters.

VAT Refund

Visitors entering the Kingdom on tourist visas are entitled to refunds of the 7% value-added tax (VAT) paid on goods purchased at shops and department stores displaying “VAT Refund for Tourists” signs. The refund may be claimed if the claimed amounts in all P.P.10’s have been totaled 5,000 baht or over. Tourist is eligible to receive P.P.10 form when the total purchase of 2,000 baht or over is made from the same store on the same date. Before checking in at the international airport (Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Hat Yai, Phuket, Utapao), tourist must show your purchases, completed P.P.10 form and tax invoices to the Customs Officer for inspection. Certain luxury goods must be shown to an excise official. Refunds may be in bank draft form or credited to a credit card. For more information, please contact the VAT Refund for Tourists Office, Tel: 0 2272 9388, 0 2272 8195-8 or www.rd.go.th/vrt/engindex.html

BHUMIBOL DAM INVITATION INTERNATIONAL MOUNTAIN BIKE CHAMPIONSHIP 2008

Bhumibol Dam in Tak province will be hosting the Bhumibol Dam Invitation International Mountain Bike Championships for the fourth consecutive year on August 23 – 24, 2008. Noted for its scenic landscape, Bhumibol Dam provides an ideal setting for the mountain bike races.

The event is being jointly organized by the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat) and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) in cooperation with the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) and Bhumibol Dam to promote ecotourism in tandem with outdoor sports at both a national and international level.

ACTIVITIES :
1. Sweat Mountain Bike (60 km.) on 23 Aug.
start 08.00 hr. Tak Province - Bhumibol Dam
2. Family Bike (16 km.) on 23 Aug.
start 13.00 hr. Bhumibol Dam
3. Funny Bike (10 Km.) on 23 Aug.
start 14.00 hr. Bhumibol Dam
4. Conqueror Bike (5 km.) 0o 23 Aug.
5. International Mountain Bike (39 km.) on 24 Aug.
start 09.00 hr. Bhumibol Dam
6. Amateur Bike (24 km.) on 24 Aug.
start 09.30 hr Bhumibol Dam




Other activities :
- Funny bike (sightseeing around Bhumibol Dam)
- Bike equipment shops (special price)
- OTOP products of Tak Province
- Flok music by Bhumibol Dam youth club. (evening)
- Youth activities for environ mental prootection and global warming concerns.

Contact information :
- TAT Call Center: 1672
- Events Promotion Division, Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)
Tel. 66-2250-5500 ext. 3495-8
- TAT Tak, Tel. 66-5551-4341-3 E-mail: tattak@tat.or.th
- Public Relations Department, The Electricity Generation Authority of Thailand
Tel. 66-2436-4822, 66-2436-7864
- Reservation Department, Bhimibol Dam
Tel. 66-5554-9509, 66-5559-9093-7 ext. 4001, 4002
- www.bhumiboldam.egat.com, www.tourismthailand.org

Amazing Thailand Grand Sale 2008

If your hobby is shopping, you have to visit the country from 1 June to 31 August. During the sale, we have goods from all over the world from renowned brand names of clothing and accessories to new collections of Thai handicrafts for home decorations. Products made of Thai silk will also be on sale. Moreover, the beautiful folk-designed and hand-woven fabrics can fill your heart with joy. Sports equipment, sportswear and electrical appliances are reasonably priced, too.
To make your stay more convenient, different services are meticulously arranged to ensure luxurious convenience while you do your shopping here. We have a wide selection of hotels, serviced apartments, restaurants of various cuisine, theme parks, and travel agencies, to name just a few.

Contact:
Tourism Investment Department, Tourism Authority of Thailand
Tel : 0 2250 5500 ext. 2951
TAT Call Center 1672

The Natural Appreciation of Doi Toong

Felicity Gate, the main entrance into the summer palace of Doi Toong Royal Villa, was built with the following Lanna Kingdom prayer in mind.

"May the gate to true happiness be rimmed with the rays of the sun. May your soul soar high like the birds of heaven and the celestial horse. May the eye of the owl be vigilant and keep the forces of evil at bay."

The prayer's emphasis on the natural protective forces of the world is not misplaced here at Chiang Rai's popular mountainside tourist destination. Indeed, the grounds and the buildings themselves seem to be imbued with an omnipresent sense of the natural spirit, a living testament and memorial to the visions of King Bhumibol's mother, Somdet Phrasrinakarintara Boromrachachonanee, affectionaltely known as Somdet Yaa, who passed away in 1995.



The Doi Toong Royal Villa was built in November 1988, from Somdet Yaa's personal funds and incorporates a delightfully congruous mix of Northern Thai and Swiss architectural themes. Dark teakwood is topped by chalet-style roofs that are in turn topped by the Thai "galae," the double-ended pointed roof decorations common throughout the north. Somdet Yaa spent a number of years in Switzerland, while her children completed their education. Upon returning to Thailand, she brought back a unique appreciation for the lifestyles and lodges of that mountainous country.

Wide-ranging views of the nearby forests, mountains and countryside can be had from the porches and depending on the clearness of the day, there is even a chance to see the nearby mountains of Myanmar. At the peak of Doi Toong mountain, 1800 metres above sea level, are the twin Lanna-style chedis of Wat Phra That Doi Toong, ostensibly erected in 911 AD. Like Doi Suthep in Chiang Mai, Wat Phra That Doi Toong is considered a holy pilgrimage site for many Thai, Chinese and Shan Buddhists.



There are hill tribe villages, including Shan, Akha and Lahu, all about Doi Toong and many are visible from the road to the Villa. The summer palace reflects the Royal Family's active presence in hill tribe affairs and their ongoing search for agricultural alternatives other than opium cultivation.

The grounds of the Royal Villa include the building itself, a spacious garden and gift shops with upscale clothing, books and other keepsakes. Also present are a small canteen and an outdoor fresh coffee shop overlooking the garden. The coffee brewed in this quaint cafe is some of the freshest you can find in Thailand, as the beans are cultivated around Doi Toong.

Somdet Yaa was not the only resident of the summer palace; the Villa also contains the private living quarters of Princess Galayani Wattana, the elder sister of the King, and her granddaughter, Thanpuying Tassanawalai.

Visitors are encouraged to explore the outside of the building, but all have to wait their turn for the official tour of the East Wing, the Grand Reception Hall and the porches lining the Princess mother's former quarters. This is a ceremonial affair much like the tour of the Grand Palace in Bangkok.



A tour of the Villa reveals a true dedication to the aforementioned natural world. Guides are keen to point out the environmentally-friendly source of the panelling in the palace, namely recycled pinewood shipping crates. Flowerboxes are in abundance, especially on the porches, lending a multitude of colour to each and every railing. Her Royal Highness was an avid gardener during her life.

The legend of Doi Toong, or "Mountain of the Holy Banner," captured in a large painting in the side hall of the Villa, tells of the long ago visit of King Lawacahkalaj. Legend says that he ascended from heaven on a silver ladder onto the mountain, in order to protect and uphold the Buddhist religion. Thai numerals and consonants are carved into the stairwell leading to the service areas.
The Grand Reception Hall marks the end of the official tour, after which patrons are encouraged to wander the unrestricted areas and especially the porches. Guests can view Somdet Yaa's private chamber from outside. Evidence of her final embroidery piece is carefully preserved on the desk, as well as other embroidery and cards made from pressed flowers. During her lifetime, these cards were often framed and donated to charity.



The Grand Reception Hall is a tour in itself. Embroidered silk wall panels, gifts from villagers in Chiang Mai, line one wall, while two paintings of Doi Toong offer dawn and twilight views of the mountain. A fervent interest in astrology is evident in the wooden ceiling. Ornate carvings of all the signs of the zodiac are imbedded, as well as a series of white lights, which represent the solar system and the alignment of the planets at the exact moment of Somdet Yaa birth on October 21, 1900.

Further evidence of astrology may be found on the porches. Dark brown carvings of each zodiac symbol stand out from the light brown wood, below the flower boxes and vistas of the accompanying terrain. In all, there are four large terraces facing north to the ridge that forms the border between Thailand and Myanmar.

Flora enthusiasts are encouraged to head just below to the expansive landscaped walkways and ponds of Mae Fah Luang Garden. The climate of Doi Toong is cool enough to allow for a variety of flowers and plants from different ecosystems and all of these are spread about a sizeable area, forming rich blankets of colour in between concrete and wooden walkways. Within several walkthrough greenhouses, workers tend to sprouts and seedlings, intended for sale in the Villa shops or for planting in the garden itself. Terrace planters in the garden are carved with elephants.



A good part of the day can be spent wandering the grounds of the Doi Toong Royal Villa in the cool air of the slopes of Doi Toong. Those who become tired may wish to retire to the balconies of the coffee shop and indulge in a cappuccino or latte and enjoy the view.

Visitors to Doi Toong will leave with a renewed appreciation for the work and history of the Thai Royal family, the beauty and abundance of flowers and of course, the sights and sounds of the natural world, echoed in the words of a prayer above Felicity Gate.

Markets in Bangkok

well as the market, there are many clothes and textile shops in this area. A little down Phetburi road is the Nai Loet (also called Nai Lert) market, a kind of scaled down Chatuchak. If you've already been to Chatuchak there's little point in coming here as the goods on offer are similar, but it's worth a visit if you can't make it up to Chatuchak market proper. Ordinary buses 2, 11, 23, 38, 58, 60, 62, 72, 93 113, 139, 140 and air-con bus 12 all stop near all these markets.

The large Banglamphu market extends over Phra Sumen road, Chakrapong road and others nearby. Despite it's proximity to touristy Khao San road, this is still mainly a market frequented by locals to buy clothes, household accessories etc...There's a separate market on Khao San road itself, which sells anything the foreign backpacker could need including backpacks, stereos, pirate CD's, books, clothes, traveling accessories etc...Ordinary buses 2, 15, 39, 44, 47, 59, 68, 79 and air-con 3, 9, 11, 39 and 44 all stop on Ratchadamnoen Klang road, just a few minutes walk from either of these markets. Alternatively, get a taxi to dta-laht bahng-lam-phu (Banglamphu Market) or tanon kao sahn (Khao San road). Not far away is Bo-Be market, located where Khlong Saen Saep meets Krung Kasem road, a wholesale clothes and textiles market with cheap prices. There are a couple of amulet markets nearby also at Wat Ratchanada (in Banglamphu) and Wat Mahathat (in Ko Rattanakosin).

Across the river from Banglamphu is the Pin Klao - Nakhon Chaisi road area, which has a general market in the area close to the Southern bus terminal ('Sai Tai'). South of here in Thonburi, close to the King Taksin statue roundabout, is another large general market. Tourists are pretty rare in either of these areas.

Pak Khlong market is a very large and busy wholesale market for fresh flowers and vegetables. Many flower vendors throughout the city buy their stock here at night and sell it on the following morning. It's best to go between 2.00am and 4.00am when boats on the Chao Phraya River and trucks from nearby provinces arrive with large quantities of flowers, vegetables, spices, and fruits. These all are piled high inside the market and along nearby streets, making the market very photogenic, though the smell given off by some off the produce can be quite overpowering.

The market takes place where Khlong Lawt meets the Chao Phraya river, next to the Memorial Bridge on the northeastern edge of Chinatown. To get here, either walk south on Maharat road from Wat Pho, take a river taxi to Tha Saphan Phut or ask a taxi to go to bpahk klong dta-laht (Pak Khlong Market) or sa-pahn put (Memorial Bridge). The wholesale market is mainly near the river, the cheap normal market in small streets nearby. Ordinary buses 3, 4, 7, 9, 10, 21, 37, 42 and 82 all pass nearby. The market is over by about 10.00am. Very close to here is the Memorial Bridge night market, a large all-purpose market night market with very cheap prices if you bargain.

Bamboo and breakfast

A forest of nature materials in stylish forms greets guest at a small Chaing Mai Hotel…by Pabphim
A few metres doen quiet nimmanhemin Soi 3 in Chaingmai is the newly opened Gerard Habitat, a small hotel furnished with exquisite bamboo furnished.
This stylish ticket is a clue to the hotel’s roots- it sprang from respected home décor shop Gerard Collection, whose unique bamboo designs are also displayed in a showroom on the hotel’s ground floor