The Thai elephant faces a decline in natural habitat, ivory poachers, and even death at the hand of man if caught trespassing into human settlements close by forested areas of the country.
At the height of the controversy about elephants roaming the streets of Bangkok, mahouts were dubbed “pimps,” and their faithful companions “prostitutes” for selling their services in the city for whatever money they could get.
“I can’t understand how a once honorable profession, between man and beast, could become tainted in the worst possible way,” says Pittaya Homkrailas, who has devoted a decade studying elephants within the Thai way of life.
In a small village, only a few kilometers outside of Surin Province, man, and the mighty elephant live together in perfect harmony. Remote Traklang village and the indigenous guay people boast a unique lifestyle enjoyed for generations.
Thailand’s northern mountains, at the very edge of the Himilayan ridge, are home to many hilltribes that have their own unique culture of clothing, food, architecture and social traditions.
The leisurely cruise down the river form Huai Say (Laos-Thailand border) to Luang Say lodge near the small town of Pakbeng in Lao take about 7 hours while the second leg of the journey from Pakbeng to the ancient and exquisite city of Luang Prabang takes another 7 hours or so. En route, the river winds its turbulent way passing jungles, jagged rocks, mountains, teak plantations and farmland.
Gaze out over the emerald waters and towering archipelago of Phang Nga Bay or Koh Samui, and sooner or later, you’ll set eyes on an elegant, red-sailed junk. As a long–standing icon of the region, the Suwan Macha sets a relaxed course around Phuket or around Koh Samui.
For centuries, Chao Phraya River or the River of Kings has been the lifeblood of Thailand, carrying with it the history and culture of this proud nation. Flowing down from the fertile central plains for almost 400 kilometres (235 miles), this birthplace of Thai civilization connects the ancient Siamese capital Ayuthaya with the modern capital Bangkok, where it remains an essential artery in the region’s economic life.
One of the benefits of going to the southern coast of Thailand on a beach holiday is that you can visit there almost all year round. Certainly, there is a rainy season but even then the sudden showers are unlikely to spoil your holiday.
The Himmapaan Foundations first tree planting ceremony is enthusiastically received. With the enthusiastic support of locals, volunteers, students and government officials, the first tree planting ceremony of the Himmapaan Foundation marked an impressive start for an innovative reforestation project.
10. Angkor’s Reign Continues
In 2007, Cambodia topped the two million-tourists mark for the first time. Most flew straight in and out of Siem Reap to gawk at Angkor’s tons of temples. But Phnom Penh is undergoing a rapid-fire transformation from…
