Thailand Most Hospitable Place in the World
Thailand ranks the number one hospitable place for a vacation, according to a recent survey done by hotel booking engine Zoover. More than 1,400 Brits took part in the survey and were asked to rank popular vacation destinations according to hospitality.
Thailand took a whopping 25% of the vote, Australia came in second with 19%, and Greece third with 14% of the vote.
This news comes as no surprise to those who've already visited Thailand, since charm and hospitality are among the country's many attractions. Since more vacationers from the UK come here than Americans, it's also no surprise that they agree.
Meet Ultimate Thailand Explorers Contestants Ben and Brian
Ultimate Thailand Explorers contestants Ben and Brian were kind enough to answer a couple of questions about the upcoming competition. From December 10 through December 15, they'll be exploring Pattaya and sharing their experiences in real time with people across the globe.
Suzanne: Where are you from?
Ben and Brian: We live in Orlando, Florida
S: What do you think about Thailand?
B&B: Neither of us have been to Thailand before.
S:So you must be really excited about the contest?
B&B: We are looking forward to learning about the culture, sampling the local cuisine and of course discovering the many attractions and beaches that Pattaya has.
Pattaya is quite popular with European travelers but most Americans don't know about this bustling resort city. Find out more about Pattaya here. Ben and Brian already have their blog up, check out how they're preparing for their trip to Thailand.
Remember to log onto Ultimate Thailand Explorers to cast your vote and enter to win some cool prizes.
Ultimate Thailand Explorer Finalists Chosen
Free Seats on Air Asia
The free seat sale is starting at Air Asia's website on November 11 for flights from May 2010 to October 2010. You'll only pay airport tax, so tickets for flights inside Thailand will cost less than $5! Flights from Thailand to other countries in the region are around $20. Seriously good deals. You have to act quickly as the free seats go fast. If last year is any indicator of what will happen this time around, there won't be any seats left by the end of the day. Business as Usual along Thai/Cambodia Border
If you're following the news in the region, you may have noticed that Thailand and Cambodia have been arguing a lot lately. At the heart of the dispute is some land surrounding the Preah Vihear Temple. The temple itself is in Cambodia, some of the surrounding grounds are in Thailand. The two countries have literally come to blows over this (and sadly for tourists, you cannot access the temple through Thailand right now).
To make matters worse, Thailand's exiled former prime minister (the one ousted in a coup a few years ago), has now agreed to be an advisor to the Cambodian government. Thailand reacted by pulling their diplomats out of Cambodia. Cambodia did the same. Who knows what will happen next.
The good news is that, at least for now, the land borders between Cambodia and Thailand remain open. This is great news for people who need to extend their visas. You can only extend a visa on arrival for 7-days from inside Thailand, but if you cross a border and return, you'll get another 30 days in the country (you cannot do this indefinitely, you can only stay for 90 days out of any 180 with such visas). The Aranyapratet/Poi Pet border between Thailand and Cambodia is where most go since the trip can be done in one day.
Thailand's Cool Season has Arrived
Just like clockwork, Loy Krathong and Halloween are over and that means cool season has begun. Here in Bangkok we can really feel that the weather has changed. As of this week, things have finally started to cool off. At 7 a.m. this morning when I took my dog for a walk, it was actually cool! Not cool like I needed a sweater, but cool like at least I wasn't sweating. It rained a lot at the end of the rainy season and the weather was just stifling so some dry, comfortable weather is welcome!
Cool season is a really beautiful time of year in Thailand and will last for the next couple of months before the temperature starts rising again. Though you'll enjoy Thailand at any time of year, this is the best time to visit in terms of climate. Read more about the seasons in Thailand here.
Phuket Nightclubs Closing at 2 a.m.
Nightclubs in Thailand are supposed to close at 2 a.m. but that's a rule that is often broken. Recently in Phuket officials have been seriously enforcing the law, particularly in popular club areas on Patong Beach. For now it might be tough to find places to hang out after official closing hours.
In general, higher end nightclubs in Bangkok, Chiang Mai and on the beaches had to follow the rules since they attract a lot of attention. But less well-known clubs and underground clubs would push the envelope, staying open till 3, 4 or even 6 a.m. Read up about nightlife in Thailand and top nightlife spots in Phuket before visiting and, if you're looking for after-hours bars and clubs, you'll need to ask around, as they change frequently depending on how strict authorities are enforcing the rules.
Japanese Transexual Haruna Ai Crowned Miss International Queen
Haruna Ai took home the crown at this year's Miss International Queen beauty contest, held in Pattaya. The contest has been going on since 2004, hosted by Miss Tiffany's, the world's largest transvestite/transgender cabaret.
The 37 year old singer (that's not her in the photo) and TV host from Osaka prefecture in Japan beat out 18 other contestants from contestants from Thailand, the United States, Nepal, the Philippines.
Miss International Queen is a spectacular show, with plenty of singing, dancing and feathers, but the objective is bigger than just entertainment. Thailand has a large transvestite/transgender population and one of the most open and accepting cultures when it comes to alternative sexuality (it's not uncommon to see a "ladyboy" serving you coffee at a café, ringing you up at a shop, etc.). This beauty contest strives to bring that acceptance to the rest of the world.

