Krabi's main attractions are the numerous and yet unspoiled beaches nearby that offer a wealth of snorkeling and scuba diving opportunities. The most important is Hat Noppharat Thara-Ko Phi Phi National Park, better known as Phi-Phi Island, due west and south of Phuket Town. The park contains extensive mainland beaches, over 80 lesser islands, and two islands of outstanding physical yet contrasting beauty which have become the symbol of the perfect tropical island. The boat ride to Phi Phi Lea and Phi Phi Don from Krabi Town's Chao Fah Bridge Pier, at the right time of year, November to April, is a pleasant journey and can take anything from an hour and a quarter to three hours depending on the size of boat taken. The rest of the year conditions in the Andaman Sea can be choppy and the weather can cause involuntary changes of travel plans while at sea.

Beaches

Krabi's major attractions lie beyond but, in every instance, within three hours of the somnolent provincial capital, which is little more than a dormitory town, and entertainment and dining centre.
Nearest in physical proximity, and of major importance, is the Hat Noppharat Thara-Ko Phi Phi National Park due west and south of the provincial capital. The park contains extensive mainland beaches, over 80 lesser islands, and two islands of outstanding physical yet contrasting beauty which epitomise everyone's ideal of the perfect tropical island.

Caves and Waterfalls

Travellers 'suffering' from a surfeit of the traditional pleasures of 'sea, sand'n sun' can delight in several inland destinations comprising largely national parks and caves.
Khao Khanap Nam, reached by longtail boat from the provincial capital's pier, has a cave filled with stalactites and stalagmites.
Tam Sua ( Tiger Cave ), some 9 kilometres from the provincial capital, houses a meditation monastery of the same name. The complex is noteworthy for an eclectic mixture of Thai Buddhist and Chinese statuary.
Khao Phanom Bencha National Park, covering approximately 50 square kilometres, is characterised by forested mountains, streams and waterfalls, and can be reached by a 30-minutes drive from the provincial capital.
Two Waterfalls, Namtok Huai Sad and Nomtok Huai To, number among major park attractions. A popular cave, Tam Khao Phung, is filled with stalagmites and stalactites.
Nature lovers will also enjoy the Than Bok Korani Arboretum, some 40 minutes from the provincial capital. A natural reservoir supports hundreds of birds and provides an idel setting for leisure activities such as picnics and swimming.

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Krabi's main attractions are the numerous and yet unspoiled beaches nearby that offer a wealth of snorkeling and scuba diving opportunities. The most important is Hat Noppharat Thara-Ko Phi Phi National Park, better known as Phi-Phi Island, due west and south of Phuket Town. The park contains extensive mainland beaches, over 80 lesser islands, and two islands of outstanding physical yet contrasting beauty which have become the symbol of the perfect tropical island. The boat ride to Phi Phi Lea and Phi Phi Don from Krabi Town's Chao Fah Bridge Pier, at the right time of year, November to April, is a pleasant journey and can take anything from an hour and a quarter to three hours depending on the size of boat taken. The rest of the year conditions in the Andaman Sea can be choppy and the weather can cause involuntary changes of travel plans while at sea.

Beaches

Krabi's major attractions lie beyond but, in every instance, within three hours of the somnolent provincial capital, which is little more than a dormitory town, and entertainment and dining centre.
Nearest in physical proximity, and of major importance, is the Hat Noppharat Thara-Ko Phi Phi National Park due west and south of the provincial capital. The park contains extensive mainland beaches, over 80 lesser islands, and two islands of outstanding physical yet contrasting beauty which epitomise everyone's ideal of the perfect tropical island.

Caves and Waterfalls

Travellers 'suffering' from a surfeit of the traditional pleasures of 'sea, sand'n sun' can delight in several inland destinations comprising largely national parks and caves.
Khao Khanap Nam, reached by longtail boat from the provincial capital's pier, has a cave filled with stalactites and stalagmites.
Tam Sua ( Tiger Cave ), some 9 kilometres from the provincial capital, houses a meditation monastery of the same name. The complex is noteworthy for an eclectic mixture of Thai Buddhist and Chinese statuary.
Khao Phanom Bencha National Park, covering approximately 50 square kilometres, is characterised by forested mountains, streams and waterfalls, and can be reached by a 30-minutes drive from the provincial capital.
Two Waterfalls, Namtok Huai Sad and Nomtok Huai To, number among major park attractions. A popular cave, Tam Khao Phung, is filled with stalagmites and stalactites.
Nature lovers will also enjoy the Than Bok Korani Arboretum, some 40 minutes from the provincial capital. A natural reservoir supports hundreds of birds and provides an idel setting for leisure activities such as picnics and swimming.

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The most popular of Northeastern festivals with foreign tourists is the Surin Elephant Round-up which is held annually in November which is held in Thailand. The people of Surin have long been renowned for their skill in capturing and training wild elephants and the round-up. In the past wild elephants lived in the forest areas of nearby Cambodia. Unfortunately, these areas have been inaccessible due to civil war in Cambodia, and at the same time, the elephant population is markedly decreasing thus the elephant catchers must now make a living by taking their charges around the country giving shows.




The greatest event of the Surin round-up is a beautifully organised display of the talents and abilities of these superb beasts. The round-up first look place in 1960. It begins with a mass procession of all the elephants taking part, usually 120-150, ranging from calves only a few weeks old to the well-trained elephants with many decades of experience.



During the show, hundreds of the huge animals demonstrate their prowess at moving logs, playing soccer and winning a tug-of-war against human teams. Other demonstrations are designed to show not only the great strength of the elephants but also show they can be very intelligent, gentle and obedient. The show concludes with a mock battle illustrating what was formerly an important part of their duties.

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The most popular of Northeastern festivals with foreign tourists is the Surin Elephant Round-up which is held annually in November which is held in Thailand. The people of Surin have long been renowned for their skill in capturing and training wild elephants and the round-up. In the past wild elephants lived in the forest areas of nearby Cambodia. Unfortunately, these areas have been inaccessible due to civil war in Cambodia, and at the same time, the elephant population is markedly decreasing thus the elephant catchers must now make a living by taking their charges around the country giving shows.




The greatest event of the Surin round-up is a beautifully organised display of the talents and abilities of these superb beasts. The round-up first look place in 1960. It begins with a mass procession of all the elephants taking part, usually 120-150, ranging from calves only a few weeks old to the well-trained elephants with many decades of experience.



During the show, hundreds of the huge animals demonstrate their prowess at moving logs, playing soccer and winning a tug-of-war against human teams. Other demonstrations are designed to show not only the great strength of the elephants but also show they can be very intelligent, gentle and obedient. The show concludes with a mock battle illustrating what was formerly an important part of their duties.

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There is an amazing festival called Phi Ta Khon happening in Thailand next week, as it does every July. Sadly I won't be able to attend as I'll be in Malaysia, but I would dearly love to see this - a sort of Thai Halloween which celebrates the story of the Buddha returning from a long journey and the celebrations being so loud they wakened the dead who joined in the festivities. The festival is celebrated with spectacular spirit masks and ghostly clothing - as you can imagine, the kids love it. The festival is centred around the town of Loei in northern Thailand.

Phi Ta Khon is a type of masked procession celebrated on the first day of a three-day Buddist merit-making holiday know in Thai as "Boon Pra Wate". The annual festival takes place in May, June or July at a small town of Dan Sai in the northeastern province of Loei. Phi Ta Khon is held with the arrival of the sixth or seventh lunar month. Young male villagers prepare their ghostly attire and masks, while children roam around town playing tricks. Sheets or blankets are sewn together to look like shrouds while traditional wooden bamboo containers used to store sticky rice (huad), are creatively fashioned into bizarre hats. The huge masks are carved from the bases of coconut trees. The spirit masks are the integral part of the celebrations, which last for three consecutive days.

The first day is marked by a masked procession, accompanied by rejoicing, music and dancing. On the second day, the villagers dance their way to the temple and fire off bamboo rockets to signal the end of the procession. Along the way, they tease onlookers as they accompany a sacred image of the Buddha through the village streets. Monks recite the story of the Buddha's last incarnation before attaining enlightenment.

On the last day of the event, the villagers gather at the local temple, Wat Ponchai, to listen to the message of the thirteen sermons of the Lord Buddha, recited by the local monks. The ghost dancers then put away their ghostly masks and costumes for another year, return to the paddy fields and continue to earn their living with the onset of the new crop season.

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There is an amazing festival called Phi Ta Khon happening in Thailand next week, as it does every July. Sadly I won't be able to attend as I'll be in Malaysia, but I would dearly love to see this - a sort of Thai Halloween which celebrates the story of the Buddha returning from a long journey and the celebrations being so loud they wakened the dead who joined in the festivities. The festival is celebrated with spectacular spirit masks and ghostly clothing - as you can imagine, the kids love it. The festival is centred around the town of Loei in northern Thailand.

Phi Ta Khon is a type of masked procession celebrated on the first day of a three-day Buddist merit-making holiday know in Thai as "Boon Pra Wate". The annual festival takes place in May, June or July at a small town of Dan Sai in the northeastern province of Loei. Phi Ta Khon is held with the arrival of the sixth or seventh lunar month. Young male villagers prepare their ghostly attire and masks, while children roam around town playing tricks. Sheets or blankets are sewn together to look like shrouds while traditional wooden bamboo containers used to store sticky rice (huad), are creatively fashioned into bizarre hats. The huge masks are carved from the bases of coconut trees. The spirit masks are the integral part of the celebrations, which last for three consecutive days.

The first day is marked by a masked procession, accompanied by rejoicing, music and dancing. On the second day, the villagers dance their way to the temple and fire off bamboo rockets to signal the end of the procession. Along the way, they tease onlookers as they accompany a sacred image of the Buddha through the village streets. Monks recite the story of the Buddha's last incarnation before attaining enlightenment.

On the last day of the event, the villagers gather at the local temple, Wat Ponchai, to listen to the message of the thirteen sermons of the Lord Buddha, recited by the local monks. The ghost dancers then put away their ghostly masks and costumes for another year, return to the paddy fields and continue to earn their living with the onset of the new crop season.

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From all works of life especially young children in the countryside. The Kite-flying season usually take place between February and April when the south -west monsoon blows from the Gulf of Thailand and the rice harvesting season is over.

Kite-flying was said to have its origins in China at least 3,000 years ago during the Hun Dynasty .The Chinese armies made kites attached with bamboo piper to fly over the enemy When the wind passed through the pipes to fly over the enemy When the wind passed through the pipers ,it made an errie whistling sound causing the enemy to panic and ran for their lives.

In the early Siamese kingdom of Ayutthaya, kite - flying was so popular that it was prohibited to fly kites over the royal palace as they might damage the architectural spires. Meanwhile , kite -flying gained its highest popularity in the reign of King Rama IV when a royal decree allowed citizen to fly kites as Sanam Luang , opposite the Grand Palace.

To Preserve the Summer tradition and promote the tourism industry of the country, kite-flying has now received a greater attention from the authorities. Kite enthusiasts from several countries have been invited to display their craft and skills in the kite-flying contest held in the country Several. Thai teams also took part in the contest. Spectators were able to see Thai kite fighting contests held in the country Several Thai teams also took part in the contest . Spectator Were able to see Thai kite fighting contests between the traditional Chula and Pakpao kitws as well.

Above all. They are able to discover hundreds of different kinds of kites of kites in a myriad of sizes, colours, shapes and styles flying in the clear Summer sky above the Sanam Luang ground.

Out of the contest, at this time of the year kites,large and small,of every colour ,shape and dimension always fill the sky all over the country, They are spinning. Floating, soaring ,swooping and even crashing to the ground.Grown-ups and children alike enjor watching the clear sky decorated with extraordinary kites throughout the Summer vacation .

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