Thailand today

Photos by Pepper Teehankee on a Canon Digital Ixus

Some 500 travel agents and journalists from all over the world were invited by the Thai Airways International Public (Thai) and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) for the “Thailand Today” Mega Familiarization trip. Thai and TAT felt the need to showcase some of Thailand’s best tourism destinations and products. The event was organized as part of the 50th anniversary celebrations of Thai and TAT. Thanks to Thai Airways GM Nivat Chantarachoti and TAT Philippine representative Dave de Jesus, I was lucky enough to be part of the Philippine contingent consisting of 12 journalists and travel agents.

I had flown a few days earlier than the rest of the group to catch up with some friends in Bangkok. I should say the shopping, both in high end malls and night markets, was amazing and prices have dropped because of the crisis. I did my old Thai routine of shopping until nothing fit my bag anymore. I went there with two pieces of       luggage and went home with four. I also had fun watching the World Cup finals in a Spanish restaurant Rioja with my friends and former Manila residents Angela Reyes-Dinglasan and Carlos Santamaria. It was a pleasant surprise to bump into former Spanish Ambassador to the Philippines Ignacio Sagaz and his wife Aurora. Mr. Sagaz is now the Spanish Ambassador to Thailand and told me that he still follows The Philippine Star online to this day!

I met up with the rest of the group at The Centara Grand (www.bangkok.com/centara-grand-centralworld) for the welcome dinner. Sadly, my favorite mall Central World was destroyed during the riots but it is being rebuilt. The reception was held at the Centara Grand & Bangkok Convention Center attended by Thailand’s Minister of Tourism and Sports Chumphol Silpa-archa, Thai Airways president Piyasvasti Amranand and TAT’s Governor Suraphon Svetasreni. Amranand said the Thai-TAT “Thailand Today” cooperative effort aims to boost tourism and air travel to and from Thailand on a global scale. For the past 50 years, Thai has provided “Smooth as Silk” services to the international travelers and it hopes that the “Thailand Today” Mega Fam Trip will further build confidence in Thailand as the destination of choice, boost air travel and tourism from the rest of the world to and from Thailand. Suraphon Svetasreni said that TAT and Thai are proud to have played a major role in making Thailand one of the world’s most popular destinations, well-regarded for the quality and variety of its tourist attractions, a premier shopping venue and value-for-money products and services. After the recent turmoil, Thailand is back on its feet and is slowly picking up. It still remains one of my favorite destinations in the world.

After the dinner, Stephanie Zubiri, Tessa Prieto Valdes and I, decked out in evening wear, proceeded to Paragon Mall right beside our hotel to do some shopping, with the girls thinking they wouldn’t have time to shop with our very hectic schedule.

The next morning, we flew to Chiang Mai and were billeted at Le Meridien Chiang Mai (www.lemeridienhotelchiangmai.com) for a night. The hotel is centrally located and is in the middle of the bustling night market, a few steps away where the best roti in the world can be had (in front of McDonald’s)! We also visited Maesa Elephant Camp (www.maesaelephantcamp.com) to watch elephants play football and paint. This was my third visit to the same camp and I never get tired of watching these gentle giants. Something new in Chiang Mai was the Tiger Kingdom (www.tigerkingdom.com) where people can have their pictures taken with baby, medium or large tigers. I had only known about the Tiger Temple in Kanchanaburi before so this is an alternative for big cat lovers when in Chiang Mai. Other points of interest here are the Wat Prathat Doi Suthep and several handicraft villages producing umbrellas, fans, wood carvings, silk and lacquerware. 

The next day, on a road trip to Chiang Rai, we visited Wat Ron Kun, an all white temple considered by many to be the most beautiful temple in Thailand. The temple’s designer Chaloemchai Khositphiphat was present to welcome us. Our beautiful hotel was Le Meridien Chiang Rai Resort (www.starwoodhotels.com), where we stayed for one night. Tessa and I had to leave the next morning to fly back to Manila since we had another trip the following day to Malaysia but that’s another story (next week in my column). The rest of the group continued into the Golden Triangle where the borders of Thailand, Laos and Myanmar meet. It is an interesting place where one can see three countries in one spot!

It was a short and quite hectic trip but it definitely was fun to experience Thailand again with such a fun bunch of travel companions! Can’t wait for my next visit.

(Thai Airways is a member of Star Alliance and flies daily (12 times weekly) to Bangkok from Manila. Visit www.thaiairways.com.ph or call 817-5442. Check out the Tourism Authority of Thailand at www.tourismthailand.org.)