Koh Lipe - Thailand’s Last Secret Island
Is this relaxing or what?
Pierre Drake
Most of Thailand’s secrets have long been common knowledge, but
there is still one little island - Koh Lipe - which stands out as a
slice of paradise and is only now just being discovered.
Koh Lipe (http://www.koh lipemap.com), a small island in the Andaman
Sea, is a little gem 60 km off the coast inside the Tarutao National
Marine Park. Koh Lipe has become the southern anchor of the busy
north-south Andaman tourist route and getting there these days couldn’t
be easier with boats arriving from all up and down the coast including
Koh Phi Phi, Koh Lanta, Krabi and Trang. Koh Lipe is also the jumping
off point to Langkawi and Malaysia.
At its largest, the island is only 2 km long and 1 km wide. With 2 main
beaches each with their own distinct character, there is something for
everyone. The busy one, Pattaya Beach has a wide beach stretched in a
long crescent of fine white sand. In the evening it transforms as
restaurants and bars set out chairs and bamboo mats on the sand and lit
by candle lit, reggae tunes drift down the beach.
Two
storey bungalows right on the beach.
On the other side of the island is Sunrise Beach with views of several
small nearby islands and a cool onshore breeze most of the year. Sunrise
Beach is the opposite of Pattaya Beach, with just a few resorts and
bars, it is very laid back. It also has a very large coral reef with the
best snorkeling on the island directly from the beach.
There are no cars on the island, and thankfully few motorbikes so people
get around by walking. The whole island can be explored on foot in a
couple of hours. Pooh’s Bar (http://www.poohlipe.com) in the middle of
the island is run by the charismatic Pooh and is almost an institution
on the island. Famous for its live music in the evenings it draws a
large crowd.
Karma Bar (http://www.kar mabar.net) at the north end of Sunrise Beach
is well known on the backpacker scene with its mellow music and great
location. At the other end of Sunrise Beach is Castaway Resort
(http://kohlipe .castaway-resorts.com) has stunning sea and island views
which viewed from its raised candle lit deck has to be the ultimate in
chilled out dining and drinking.
Tarutao National Marine Park has some of the best dive sites in all of
Thailand. Within easy boat reach of Koh Lipe are hundreds of coral reefs
with an amazing variety of huge hard and soft corals. The corals and
seas around Koh Lipe are full of marine life, offering everything from
turtles to huge rays. Even if you aren’t a diver you can enjoy the
marine world drifting along the edges of coral reefs with a mask and
snorkel. Compared to other dive and snorkel areas there is so much to
see and no competition to see it.
Koh Lipe still has a lot of cheap backpackers accommodation, with places
like Varin offering simple bamboo huts close to the beach. At the top
end is Sita Beach with a swimming pool and Castaway Resort with its 2
story breezy bungalows which was described by the Lonely Planet as ‘the
most chic on Lipe’.
Tips for Travelers
* If you are travelling from Hat Yai, be in Pak Bara before
11 a.m. to catch the speedboat.
* If you are travelling from Langkawi, the boat journey is shorter and
there is a small efficient immigration on Koh Lipe.
* There are no ATM’s on the island so make sure you bring enough cash
for your stay, and then double it as you’ll end up deciding to stay
longer!
* Varin 2 on Sunrise Beach has the newest and cheapest bamboo bungalow
huts.
* Castaway resorts has the chicest accommodation
(http://kohlipe.castaway-resorts.com)
Contact: [email protected]
Bangkok Airways and Etihad Airways announce code - share agreement
Chaiyavut Chomsakorn (2nd left), sales &
marketing manager Thailand and Mekong Region, Etihad Airways; Florian
Preuss (3rd left), manager Thailand and Mekong Region, Etihad Airways;
Peter Wiesner (center), senior vice president - corporate
communications, Bangkok Airways; M.L. Nandhika Varavarn (3rd right),
vice president - corporate communications Bangkok Airways; and Prote
Setsuwan (2nd right), vice president - marketing, Bangkok Airways during
the announcement.
Bangkok Airways and Etihad Airways have jointly announced the first
code-share agreement between the two airlines. The new code-share
agreement is set to fly passengers between Abu Dhabi to Thailand’s most
popular beach destinations - Phuket and Samui.
LTU International Airlines official name change to Air Berlin
LTU announces their re-branding to Air Berlin
on February 24 at Sofitel Centara Grand Bangkok.
LTU International Airlines is delighted to officially announce its rebranding to
Air Berlin on February 24 at Sofitel Centara Grand Bangkok.
Air Berlin and LTU merged in 2006, which made Air Berlin the 5th largest airline
in Europe serving passengers from more than 130 destinations worldwide,
including Bangkok - Berlin, Dusseldorf, Munich and Phuket - Munich.
For the rebranding event, Air Berlin was honored to have H.E. Dr. Hanns Heinrich
Schumacher, the German Ambassador to Thailand preside over the ceremony, and
Aggaphol Brickshawana, deputy governor for tourism products, Tourism Authority
of Thailand as the honored guest. 400 business and cooperation partners were
invited as VIP guests to witness the ceremony.
TTM Plus 2009 drawing positive response
Watchiranont Thongtep, TTG Asia
The Ninth Thailand Travel Mart (TTM) Plus 2009, scheduled to be held in
Bangkok from June 3 to 7, is expected to help Thai sellers boost business for
the coming high season and showcase new products.
Sunshine Hotels and Resorts group executive director, Thanet Supornsaharungsi,
said local small- and medium-sized Thai tourism operators, most of whom lack
funds for international trade and road shows, would be able to discuss business
with overseas buyers at the annual TTM.
“The business discussion may even create business for them in the second half of
this tough year,” he said.
Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) deputy governor for international marketing,
Santichai Euachongprasit, said about 280 sellers and 250 buyers had registered
for the event. The figures are double that of forward bookings recorded during
the same time last year.
Santichai said he was confident the event would meet its targets of 400 sellers
and 300 buyers.
TAT is spending 30 million baht (US$828,473) staging the event. A one-day onsite
appointment session will be held on June 3 at the Bangkok Convention Centre at
CentralWorld, while the mart will be held at IMPACT Muang Thong Thani.
Centara Hotels and Resorts sales and marketing senior vice-president, Chris
Bailey, said the group plans to showcase its newest hotel in Thailand, the
555-room Centara Grand Mirage Pattaya.
38th Skål Asian Area Congress: Incheon May 21-24
Andrew Wood
The 2009 Skål AA Congress will take place this year in Incheon, Korea
May 21-24 (Thur-Sun). Incheon is located close to Seoul and has excellent air
links.
For full details of the Congress and registration please check the following
site: www.skalkorea.com
The
organizing committee is expecting a larger attendance this year, with the
success of Visit Korea 2009 promotion. Korea is an important source market for
inbound tourism to many ASEAN and long haul destinations and the congress will
provide an excellent platform for networking.
As with all Skål Congresses, the National Tourism Office (this year the KTO &
Incheon Tourism Office along with the Office of the Mayor of Incheon
Metropolitan City) play a leading role, supporting and sponsoring the local Skål
Club. Therefore all delegates can expect not only excellent value but also a red
carpet welcome.
Incheon, Korea’s third largest city with 2.7million people, has been designated
as the host city of the 2014 Asian Games and the 2009 Incheon World Expo (Global
Fair and Festival 2009).
Special AD 50% discount airfares have also been made available to all delegates.
See the registration form for details of how to apply.
The official hotels are the Hyatt Regency Incheon Airport (HQ); Best Western
Premier; Ramada Songdo Hotel and the Paradise Hotel Incheon.
See you in Incheon!
Tourist visa exemption now in effect
Tharit Charungvat, Director-General of the Department of Information of the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the cabinet’s decision to exempt the need for
a tourist visa for those traveling to Thailand came into effect last Thursday
and will continue to June 4.
In regard to the cabinet’s approval on January 20 as part of the economic
stimulus package, the need for a tourist visa for all travelers would be waived
for three months starting from March 5.
This included the waiving of a tourist visa on arrival and visitors having to
apply for a visa to Thailand at Thai consulates and embassies worldwide.
Foreigners applying for a visa other than a tourist visa must still pay the
regular rate. (TNA)
Seminar focuses on helping homeless children
Sawittree Namwiwatsuk
Father Lawrence Patin chaired a seminar on a strategic project to
support and develop children. The seminar was hosted at the Pattaya Redemptorist
Father Ray Children’s Home on March 5 and 6.
Supachai
Satheerasilapin, director of the Pattaya Redemptorist Fr. Ray Children’s Home.
Supachai Satheerasilapin, director of the Pattaya Redemptorist Fr. Ray
Children’s Home, and Ticha Na Nakorn, director of Ban Kanchanapisek, invited 40
lecturers and foundation employees to attend the two-day seminar.
Director Ticha, Thongchai Mulphan and Anantanawit Anusasanan from the Office of
Welfare Promotions, Protection, and Employment of Vulnerable Groups, were
speakers at the seminar.
Director Supachai reminded people at the seminar of the continuing work needed
for Pattaya homeless children because the city “has several locations for vice.”
He said more children are moving into the city with their working parents and
many homeless and destitute families work by collecting recyclables. Some
children have to go out to beg for money from tourists.
The problem affects child support offices, the government sector and private
organizations such as the Father Ray Foundation that has homeless children under
its care.
Some 200 children are at the Pattaya Children’s Redemptorist Center, another 60
are under the center’s responsibility, 30 are at the Psychological
Rehabilitation Home, and 60 are at a home with impoverished families that live
along the railroad, he said.
The center gives scholarships so that the children can stay with their families
and not lead homeless lives.
Supachai said children at the center come from different family situations, at
times resulting in behaviors such as aggressiveness and thievery.
His center’s work continues to support and develop quality of life for children
through rehabilitation and development to take care of them and teach them to
live in peace in society.
The Father Ray Foundation was established in 1990 and has 159 male and female
children under their care and receiving education. Some 400 children have gone
out from the center to normal lives in society.
Aquagym looks to set Guinness world record
Aquagym looks to set a world record demonstration of
aquatic exercise.
Pramote Channgam
Now the slogan says “Reduce fat, reduce global warming” and as many as
3,000 people are expected exercise in the sea in the world largest Aquagym
lesson on Pattaya Beach on April 25, which may set a record in the Guinness
world book of records.
But just how does obesity affect global warming?
Non-contagious diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and
obesity add to the increasing cost of health services. So diseases and global
warming are interrelated as more natural resources are being used up faster than
normal for health services, may be the answer given by the organizers of this
whale of an exercise.
Chonburi administration is working with Ayuraphaet College, Ministry of Public
Health and the Naval Medical Center to organize a campaign of reducing fat.
On March 3 at city hall, Thani Samartkit, deputy governor of Chonburi presided
over the meeting to prepare for the Aquagym event with Dr Marut Jirasrattasiri,
Prof Dr Somwang Darnchaivijit, Prof. Dr Amorn Leelarasami and Verawat Khakhay,
deputy mayor of Pattaya.
Dr Amorn, who is president of Ayuraphaet College of Thailand, said that since
this was the 25th anniversary of the college, the big sea water exercise will be
held on April 25.
It is expected that around 1,000-3,000 people will participate. Aquatic exercise
is said to be good for the elderly and people suffering from knee problems and
those that may not be able to run or jog on land. The exercise will take around
30 minutes on Pattaya Beach.
All are invited to apply at http://www.rcpt.org/index.asp from March 10 onwards
to become fitter and reduce weight plus perhaps contributing to a Guinness world
record.
Navy joins university sea research
Patcharapol Panrak
The Navy signed an agreement with Burapha University to collaborate in a
research center to study and preserve rare aquatic species and ones facing
extinction in Thai waters.
Vice
Admiral Srivisut Rataroon (right), Commander of Sattahip Naval Base, signs a
joint research agreement with Dr Suchart Uppatham (left), Dean of Burapha
University.
On March 2 at the naval base in Sattahip, Vice Admiral Srivisut Rataroon,
Commander of Sattahip Naval Base, welcomed Dr Suchart Uppatham, Dean of Burapha
University, and teachers of the university to sign the joint research agreement.
Vice-Admiral Srivisut said that the Navy and the university will use a tower in
the naval base as the research center.
He said the main work of the center would be to observe and monitor changes that
occur in the ocean that may affect life in the sea to gain a deeper
understanding in order to pass this knowledge on to students and the public.
It is important to be aware of our role in our environment and be responsible
towards all living organisms, he said.
Vietnamese inspect
wastewater treatment
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Bich Dat
and 14 ministry officials came to Pattaya to study our wastewater treatment
system.
The Vietnamese team came to ask advice on environmental management, especially
regarding Pattaya’s wastewater treatment system, which is known to be
successful, attracting other study visits from within the country and abroad all
year round.
Deputy
Mayor Wutisak Rermkitkarn (left) presents a key to the city to Nguyen Bich Dat
(right), Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment.
On March 4 at city hall, the Vietnamese team met Pattaya’s management team,
having already met with Chonburi Governor Surapon Pongtadsirikun on the previous
day.
Deputy Mayor Wutisak Rermkitkarn and Sittiprap Muangkoom, chief of city
administration, presented the visitors a key to the city.
Nguyen said that Pattaya has greatly developed its tourism industry and
management of public services, especially in environment and the water treatment
system.
Sittiprap said that currently Pattaya produces 50,000 cubic meters of wastewater
per day, one-third of which is processed through the treatment system handled by
two treatment plants.
A pollution control center plans and designs the treatment system so that no
wastewater is being drained into the sea.
The system is planned to cope with increase in the flow of wastewater in the
next 20 years.
One treatment plant is at Soi Wat Nongyai on Sukhumvit Road, North Pattaya and 2
km to the east on 80 acres of land.
It receives wastewater from Pattaya and Naklua in a system of activated sludge
on 28.75 sq. km and can treat 137,500 cubic meters per day. Its construction
budget was around 1.8 billion baht.
The other treatment plant is at Soi Wat Boonkanchanaram which receives water
from Jomtien in a combination of fixed and activated sludge mode covering 5 sq
km of land and can take in 20,000 cubic meters of wastewater daily.
Treated water then flows to Soi Wat Nongyai for further processing.
Studies are being made by treatment plant operators to calculate the right fees
to be charged for water treatment.
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