CEBU, Philippines - I first came to know about Thailand through books, TV and newspapers, until last December 10 to 14, 2011 when the Tourism Authority of Thailand invited 300 media personalities from various countries to join the “Beautiful Thailand Mega Fam Trip” – a showcase of the government’s intervention amid the flooding in some parts of the country.
I was lucky to be part of the Philippine delegation in a mega familiarization trip to this kingdom (headed by Rama IX, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, longest reigning monarch) in central Indochina peninsula, particularly Pattaya and Bangkok. With me were Bb. Pilipinas 2010 candidate Cai Subijano of The Philippine STAR, Liberty Pinili of SunStar, Carmencita Patricia Sioson of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Ronald Jayme of Manila Bulletin, Roselle Rebano and Dave de Jesus of TAT Philippines.
We first felt Thai culture aboard Thai Airways from Manila to Bangkok. Flight attendants would welcome passengers with “Sawasdee” – Thai customary greeting coupled with a slight bow and both palms clasped together in a prayer-like fashion. I was flabbergasted to see the gigantic Suvarnabhumi Airport (also known as the Airport of Smile) in Nongprue, Bangphili, Samut Prakan, because of its well-organized facilities (like the walkalators and clean toilets), not to mention its colossal and uniquely-designed structures.
TAT Philippines and Singapore Director Kanok Kittika Kritwutikon welcomed us at the airport and we proceeded to Pattaya City for dinner at Rimpa Lapin, a scenic bar and restaurant beside the sea, where we had authentic Thai “so spicy” cuisine. After dinner, we stopped at an Outlet Mall before proceeding to our hotel, the Garden Cliff Resort and Spa.
Our second day in Pattaya was so exciting! We visited the Sanctuary of Truth – an extraordinarily built wooden temple whose workers utilized special techniques in the construction. The top point of the sanctuary is about 105 meters high, and constructed to withstand the wind and sunshine on the seashore at Rachvate Cape in Chon Buri province, just five minutes drive from Garden Cliff. The sanctuary is decorated with ancient Thai sculptures in every corner, reflecting ancient vision of Earth, Knowledge and Philosophy.
After a lunch of hot spicy Thai food in Central Festival Mall, we visited the scenic 800-acre vineyard, Silverlake. This agrotourism attraction amazes visitors with the vast plantations of grapes in open farmlands and in greenhouses. Grape drinks are only 30 Thai baht.
Since Day 1, I yearned to see elephants which is what Thailand is known about. Then, TAT’s Kon Kit and Dave brought us to another wonderful attraction, the Nong Nooch Garden and Resort Pattaya. This place is a must-see, especially for families who want time with the elephants. A cultural show had Thai ethnic dances, the famous kick-boxing Muay Thai, and weapons sparring with both fighters on top of two elephants. After that, the crowds were guided to an area where some 42 elephants waited to show off their talents – bowling, basketball, balloon-targeting with dart, and the terrifying back and front massage to tourists by the elephant’s giant foot. This garden resort, called the “Young and Beautiful”, is within in 600 acres of rolling hills and valleys at Sukhumvit Road, Conburi province.
After the Nong Nooch experience, we went to the See Pak 4-region floating market in Pattaya where we bought “pasalubong” for 20 baht per pack of sweets and other Thai native souvenirs.
Russians top the list of tourists in Pattaya, according to TAT statistics. So, there are streets with signages in Slavic.
We roamed around Bangkok on the third day, visiting the Grand Palace in Thonburi, on the west side of Chao Phraya River. This elegantly built bastion is a royal residence and a throne hall. Numerous government offices are in the area. The holiest side of the Grand Place is the Royal Monastery of the Emerald Buddha – clad with three seasonal costumes (summer, rainy season, and winter). The Emerald Buddha is in fact carved from a block of green jade and was first discovered in 1434 in a stupa in Chiang Rai. Visitors, young and old alike, would have a quick understanding on Thai culture’s evolution if, like us, they would visit the Pavilion of Regalia, Royal Decorations and Coins right inside the Grand Palace.
After lunch, we headed towards Platinum Mall, the largest wholesale mall of more than 1,000 shops selling jeans, shirts, shoes and children’s wear, with prices ranging from 100 to 500 Thai baht. If one buys a pair or three pieces in this mall, a big discount is given. Two buildings away is the Pantip Plaza, an all-electronics mall selling items ranging from cheap but branded laptops, cellphones, TV sets, etc. In Cebu, I visited several camera shops for a battery replacement of my Olympus water-proof camera. I was told to first place an order at 1,900 pesos. But in Pantip Plaza, I was able to buy the original battery for only 1,000 Thai baht (around 1,300 in Philippine peso). We were able to buy laptop jackets at only 150 baht each.
In Bangkok, our delegation was billeted at the 5-star Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok Hotel and Spa. Strategically located on Rajdamri Road in the commercial district of Ratchaprasong, the hotel is beside the holy Pra Phrom Erawan shrine of the four-face Buddha, where Thais - young and old - drop by to pray. Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok is a five minutes’ walk to some of the most exciting shopping centers. The hotel features an ample array of dining options, including Tables restaurant, the Italian Spasso, Erawan Tea Room, the Asian Dining Room, Erawan Bakery and You & Me casual Thai restaurant. For an enhanced experience of luxury, especially for a family or group of friends, the hotel has a rejuvenating package at I.Sawan Residential Spa & Club. We toured this poolside spa on our last day in the hotel, just before the hotel’s Filipino director for sales and marketing, Eugene Tamesis, treated our group to a sumptuous authentic Thai lunch at a restaurant near the hotel.
Aside from the Nong Nooch experience, three important sites are a must-visit: the original, transvestite, cabaret called “Tiffany’s Show” in Pattaya, “Siam Niramit,” and Madame Tussaud’s wax gallery. Siam Niramit is certified by Guinness World Records as the grandest in the world as this theater has the largest stage productions with amazing special effects, state of the art technology and luxurious 2,000 theater seats. A spectacular revue on Thai arts and cultural heritage in a huge stage with real river water flowing on top of the stage, where we, the spectators, felt like we were in a rural Thai village.
On December 13, our group witnessed the culmination of “Beautiful Thailand.” This program is the strategy and recovery initiatives of the Thai government to send a message to the whole world that not the entire Thailand has been affected by the flooding. Mr. Sansern Ngaorungsi, deputy governor for international marketing, briefed international media participants about the over-all situation in Thailand and the interventions undertaken by the government to address the crisis.
In the evening, His Excellency Chumpol Silaparcha, deputy prime minister, and the minister of tourism and sports indulged the media visitors with a celebration at the Anantara Bangkok Riverside Resort and Spa in Thonburi. Both officials assured tourists that Thailand is still a safe destination in Southeast Asia.
Before we depart Bangkok, Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok’s Filipino public relations manager, Annabelle Daokaew, treated the group to a lunch in the hotel.
Four days and five nights in Thailand is not enough as there are still so many spots we were unable to visit. However, the sites we saw are worth remembering for the rest of my life. (FREEMAN)