An eco-tourist at heart, Duncan Worthington's first impressions of Krabi, on the Andaman coast of southern Thailand, was that of an idyllic coastal retreat of outstanding beauty.

In short, he found the stunning vistas, virgin rainforest, easily accessible caves and healthy mangroves, just perfect for eco-tourism.

Worthington, managing director of Ensign Media, first came to Thailand in 1997 to work for Siam Safari, an international award-winning eco-tour company based in Phuket.

However, he was sent to work in Krabi to set up and operate one-day safari tours for Scandinavian tourists. After seven months in Krabi, he moved to Phuket, but in a marketing role. ''I spent a lot of time working with overseas tour company representatives, training them on our eco-tour programmes.

''And in Phuket I learned that it was not a place for eco-tourists. Mass tourism is already too established, what operators and tourist associations need to do now is look more closely at a sustainable tourism model for Phuket,'' he said.

After spending over a year in Phuket with Siam Safari in Chalong, Worthington made a subtle career shift moving from eco-tourism to managing design and photography for ifArtAsia, a Phuket magazine.

In his two years working with the magazine, his highligh is a photo shoot in the Butang Group of islands in south Thailand. What could beat a week on a beautiful boat, snorkelling, exploring islands, all in the name of photography.

What is your idea of a perfect vacation? Any suggestions on how to improve eco-tourism in Thailand.

My ideal vacation would involve nature. It may simply be snorkelling off shallow reefs or something more strenuous such as trekking. I plan one day to visit Nepal and trek on elephant back to see rhinos.

I don't think Thailand should focus on eco-tours. It should look more to promote sustainable tourism. It doesn't have to be nature-based. I think the country has so much to offer in terms of culture, not just temple tours but local communities, local life, religions and festivals. Most tourism products are for the mass market and seriously lacking in innovation. Thailand needs to look more to its strengths.

How adventurous are you as a traveller. Tell us about a few exciting experiences you have encountered in Thailand and abroad?

In the last few years, I have toned my adventurous spirit down, choosing to spend more time developing my publishing business. However, I have been on many trekking trips in southern Thailand and visited a whole variety of national parks. My favourites were probably a three-day trek in the North and a two-day rafting excursion in Pai, north of Chiang Mai.

Parachuting in northern Thailand is hardly glamorous, but it gave me a great adrenalin rush. I look forward to trying that again next time.
source: Bangkok Post

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An eco-tourist at heart, Duncan Worthington's first impressions of Krabi, on the Andaman coast of southern Thailand, was that of an idyllic coastal retreat of outstanding beauty.

In short, he found the stunning vistas, virgin rainforest, easily accessible caves and healthy mangroves, just perfect for eco-tourism.

Worthington, managing director of Ensign Media, first came to Thailand in 1997 to work for Siam Safari, an international award-winning eco-tour company based in Phuket.

However, he was sent to work in Krabi to set up and operate one-day safari tours for Scandinavian tourists. After seven months in Krabi, he moved to Phuket, but in a marketing role. ''I spent a lot of time working with overseas tour company representatives, training them on our eco-tour programmes.

''And in Phuket I learned that it was not a place for eco-tourists. Mass tourism is already too established, what operators and tourist associations need to do now is look more closely at a sustainable tourism model for Phuket,'' he said.

After spending over a year in Phuket with Siam Safari in Chalong, Worthington made a subtle career shift moving from eco-tourism to managing design and photography for ifArtAsia, a Phuket magazine.

In his two years working with the magazine, his highligh is a photo shoot in the Butang Group of islands in south Thailand. What could beat a week on a beautiful boat, snorkelling, exploring islands, all in the name of photography.

What is your idea of a perfect vacation? Any suggestions on how to improve eco-tourism in Thailand.

My ideal vacation would involve nature. It may simply be snorkelling off shallow reefs or something more strenuous such as trekking. I plan one day to visit Nepal and trek on elephant back to see rhinos.

I don't think Thailand should focus on eco-tours. It should look more to promote sustainable tourism. It doesn't have to be nature-based. I think the country has so much to offer in terms of culture, not just temple tours but local communities, local life, religions and festivals. Most tourism products are for the mass market and seriously lacking in innovation. Thailand needs to look more to its strengths.

How adventurous are you as a traveller. Tell us about a few exciting experiences you have encountered in Thailand and abroad?

In the last few years, I have toned my adventurous spirit down, choosing to spend more time developing my publishing business. However, I have been on many trekking trips in southern Thailand and visited a whole variety of national parks. My favourites were probably a three-day trek in the North and a two-day rafting excursion in Pai, north of Chiang Mai.

Parachuting in northern Thailand is hardly glamorous, but it gave me a great adrenalin rush. I look forward to trying that again next time.
source: Bangkok Post

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The organizers are the Wong family who have been at the forefront of tattoo art in Thailand for years now. They are the best known tattoo artists from Thailand and also have been featured in many international magazines.

When the zenithal top of worldwide professional tattooists gathered round together for the first time of history of Siam and Southeast Asia region to show off their excellence of skillful performance of tattooing, and intend to encourage inter-exchange tattooing culture each other. Thailand is one of many countries unique in tattoo culture since ancient time, ranging from magic tattoo to aesthetical tattoo. Tattooing culture has become attractive and famous among foreign tourists. In Thailand, tattoo shop can be recognized a colorful element of tourism fascinatingly.

Over 30 years, tattoo exhibition has been established yearly for tattoo lovers in Europe, U.S.A, and Japan. The purpose of tattoo exhibition is aimed to exchange information and technology advance of tattoo implements, and provide those interested people with knowledge in tattoo art field. Physical body art and body piercing shall be demonstrated at any conference hold.

Europeans, Americans and people in Asia countries are highly interested in World Tattoo Art Festival and Exhibition Thailand, because of its first time celebration in well-know countries for tourism. In Thailand, inexpensive travel expense and media promotion spreading worldwide are prominent. Surely, “World Tattoo Art Festival & Exhibition Thailand” exhibition has been welcomed and interested among tattoo tours and public media domestically and internationally.

source: official world tattoo arts festival in Thailand website

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The organizers are the Wong family who have been at the forefront of tattoo art in Thailand for years now. They are the best known tattoo artists from Thailand and also have been featured in many international magazines.

When the zenithal top of worldwide professional tattooists gathered round together for the first time of history of Siam and Southeast Asia region to show off their excellence of skillful performance of tattooing, and intend to encourage inter-exchange tattooing culture each other. Thailand is one of many countries unique in tattoo culture since ancient time, ranging from magic tattoo to aesthetical tattoo. Tattooing culture has become attractive and famous among foreign tourists. In Thailand, tattoo shop can be recognized a colorful element of tourism fascinatingly.

Over 30 years, tattoo exhibition has been established yearly for tattoo lovers in Europe, U.S.A, and Japan. The purpose of tattoo exhibition is aimed to exchange information and technology advance of tattoo implements, and provide those interested people with knowledge in tattoo art field. Physical body art and body piercing shall be demonstrated at any conference hold.

Europeans, Americans and people in Asia countries are highly interested in World Tattoo Art Festival and Exhibition Thailand, because of its first time celebration in well-know countries for tourism. In Thailand, inexpensive travel expense and media promotion spreading worldwide are prominent. Surely, “World Tattoo Art Festival & Exhibition Thailand” exhibition has been welcomed and interested among tattoo tours and public media domestically and internationally.

source: official world tattoo arts festival in Thailand website

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On New Year's Eve, take the path of resistance

On New Year's Eve at the Chaweng Buri Resort, all guests were compelled to buy a $100-per-person ticket to the New Year's Eve party. The buffet served a wide variety of inedible foods as a Thai variety show kicked off on a makeshift stage next to the pool. Unbearable. It was a rip-off to end all rip-offs.

But I thought to myself: What would Buddha do? Just roll with it. Eat a few chicken satays and head to town. As the dharma teachings go, "Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional."

There really is something to those Noble Truths, after all.

"It's Easier Than You Think: The Buddhist Way to Happiness," by Sylvia Boorstein, is an accessible introduction to the basic tenets of Buddhism.

source: The Denver Post

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On New Year's Eve, take the path of resistance

On New Year's Eve at the Chaweng Buri Resort, all guests were compelled to buy a $100-per-person ticket to the New Year's Eve party. The buffet served a wide variety of inedible foods as a Thai variety show kicked off on a makeshift stage next to the pool. Unbearable. It was a rip-off to end all rip-offs.

But I thought to myself: What would Buddha do? Just roll with it. Eat a few chicken satays and head to town. As the dharma teachings go, "Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional."

There really is something to those Noble Truths, after all.

"It's Easier Than You Think: The Buddhist Way to Happiness," by Sylvia Boorstein, is an accessible introduction to the basic tenets of Buddhism.

source: The Denver Post

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Don't be afraid to suffer a little for good food.

OK, at some street markets you can buy fried crickets, grasshoppers, worms and chicken heads. You are allowed to fear these delicacies.

In addition to bugs, Thailand offers every cuisine imaginable, much of it delicious. My stomach doesn't take to hot foods, but only the food in Chiang Mai seemed to be too spicy. Everywhere else, I ate well, perhaps too well. Three restaurants on the banks of the Ping River in Chiang Mai were hot, but standouts: The Gallery, the Good View and the Riverside. They all sit side by side on Charoen Rat Road, and they are always crowded.

Live music in the Riverside was mostly cover bands playing classic American pop, like The Doors. I had a ball. In Bangkok, lunch at the Oriental Hotel's patio overlooking the Chao Phraya River made me feel like James Bond. The New York Steak restaurant at the JW Marriott was a good break from pad Thai. And if you feel adventurous, drop into Galaxy (19 Rama 4 Road), a well-known "no-hands restaurant" in Bangkok. Young women and a mamasan feed you and wipe your mouth - it's like practice for being senile. Cabbages and Condoms (10 Sukhumvit Soi 12) is a racy name for a tame (inexpensive) and wonderful Thai restaurant that raises money for Thailand's family-planning nonprofit.

On Koh Samui, The Shack, (88 3 Moo1, Bophut), is an open-air steakhouse run by Larry Snyder, a self-proclaimed nervous, heart-attack-prone New Yorker. Poppies (Samui Ring Road) serves the best Thai food in Thailand on Chaweng Beach. And Prego, run by chef Marco Boscaini, also on Samui Ring Road, is one of the best Italian restaurants I've ever encountered. Need a hamburger fix? Chaweng's most popular bar, Tropical Murphy's Irish pub, serves a tasty one on Samui Ring Road.

source: The Denver Post

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