Showing 31 - 40 of 59
Timeless elegance
Life, Pichaya Svasti, Published on 22/02/2016
» Nestled in lush green ground in the Chidlom area, Nai Lert Park Heritage Home is a hidden treasure in the heart of the capital. Apart from the architectural beauty of the house, the 14 rai Nai Lert Park has historic importance as Bangkok's first Western-style park that existed even before Lumpini Park was initiated by King Rama VI in 1925. In his day this private property was open for the public to enjoy its tranquil atmosphere.
An eco-friendly alternative
Life, Pichaya Svasti, Published on 12/11/2015
» Riding on a long-tail boat for a leisurely trip along the more than 150-year-old Maha Sawat Canal in Nakhon Pathom province could be a thing of the past soon due to the recent launch of a prototype solar-powered boat for tourists. If this pilot project is successful, similar boats will be introduced to Amphawa in Samut Songkhram.
In harmony with nature
Life, Pichaya Svasti, Published on 08/10/2015
» In Kaeng Khoi district, Saraburi, 125km from Bangkok, is a lesser-known park designed in an English cottage garden style that is well on its way to becoming a role model for other public parks in terms of environmental friendliness.
Roads are a dammed hindrance
Life, Pichaya Svasti, Published on 25/09/2015
» Earlier this month, I visited the Thai-Danish Dairy Farm and Training Centre in Saraburi province and heard some terrible news. A guide told me that the farm's Burmese Rosewood (Pterocarpus macrocarpus) forest, home to over 10,000 naturally grown trees would soon be gone as it has been marked for land expropriation under a motorway project.
A dairy farm diary
Life, Pichaya Svasti, Published on 17/09/2015
» When it comes to the Muak Lek district of Saraburi and the nearby Pak Chong district of Nakhon Ratchasima, many immediately think of waterfalls, farms, vineyards, milk, steak and curry puffs. Although a large proportion of tourists flock to privately-owned farms and theme parks in the area, they may not know of the country's first dairy farm, despite its importance for agriculture and agro-tourism in Thailand.
More Wonders of Hua Hin
Life, Pichaya Svasti, Published on 20/08/2015
» As the resort town of Hua Hin has grown rapidly over the past decade, it often has new tourist destinations and activities to offer. Strolling along the beach, swimming, sunbathing, horse riding, playing watersports, worshipping Thailand's largest statue of the late revered monk Luang Pu Thuad at Wat Huay Mongkol and enjoying beautiful sea views with cool sea breezes are what holidaymakers love to do there.
Whale watch
Life, Pichaya Svasti, Published on 14/08/2015
» Campaigners and government agencies are determined to add the mesmerising Bryde's whale to the conserved species list
River temples by a free boat
Life, Pichaya Svasti, Published on 30/07/2015
» It was both a sunny and rainy day in Nonthaburi province. Sprays of water were sprinkling our skin as a chartered boat whisked us down the Chao Phraya River around Koh Kret, an island where the descendants of Mon immigrants during the Thonburi period live and still maintain their Mon culture. Throughout this five-hour trip, we hopped on and off the boat to visit 10 temples on and around Koh Kret during the Nonthaburi Provincial Administration Organisation's annual boat excursion project. The PAO provides two free five-hour boat trips per day on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays until the end of September. Temples on the list feature good examples of the Ayutthaya and Rattanakosin periods' architecture, art and murals.
Slaying the beast of human-elephant conflict
Life, Pichaya Svasti, Published on 23/07/2015
» A Thai proverb says, "You can't hide a dead elephant with a lotus leaf". This means a guilty conscience needs no accuser. It is absolutely true. The consequences of last week's brutal killing of a family of three wild elephants at a meditation centre in Hua Hin district, Prachuap Khiri Khan, prove the rule of karma does exist. The tragic deaths made headlines and raised public concerns. Officials later found the three pachyderms were electrocuted. An employee of the meditation centre was finally arrested for erecting the electrified fence that killed the elephants. He was charged with hunting protected animals and faces up to four years imprisonment and a 40,000 baht fine under the Wildlife Conservation Act if found guilty.
The green dream
Life, Pichaya Svasti, Published on 18/06/2015
» Located 315km southeast of Bangkok, the resort island of Koh Chang in Trat is a five-hour drive from the capital city and a 30-minute ferry ride from the mainland. Technically, travelling to any destination increases carbon emissions. Koh Chang is a long-time popular tourist destination, meaning it has long been exploited as well.