Pattaya is one of those places that have an exotic ring to it, and people who’ve gone there are gushing about the experience, with equal parts pristine beaches, modern hotels, and a tropical adventure to write home about. It’s a nice place to visit, and definitely nice to stay in for the long haul as well. It has the right mixture that would keep you wanting to go back to Pattaya time and again. Its part of the province of Chonburi, and Bangkok is around one hundred sixty five km away.

History and Geography

Up until the sixties, Pattaya was simply a local fishing village before it became a tourist destination. However, Bangkok residents began flocking to Pattaya in droves as word spread about its superb beaches. The USAF servicemen in the area who used the place as a rest and recreation site during the Vietnam War led to the growth of the area. After the war, tourism became the main growth factor in the city, and this led to modern developments, with Pattaya becoming a full-fledged city in 1976. Recent times have brought the area to another level of tourism, becoming more family-oriented especially among the westerners looking for a tropical vacation site.

In the movie from the James Bond franchise, The Man with the Golden Gun, there are scenes from the story set in the natural wonders of the island bay of Phang Nga, taking it into international levels of fame and letting the world catch a glimpse of its famous beaches. For tourists visiting Phang Nga, it’s one of the first things on their mind as it’s what made this place famous in the first place.

Geographical Background

The International movie scene always had the major boost when it comes to the economy of Phang Nga, giving rise to the modern developments in place and under way today. The perimeter of the town is mostly surrounded by mountains, enveloping the town. The total area amounts to almost four thousand two hundred square meters of mangrove areas and forests of evergreen trees. Eight administrative sub districts are also in placed in Phang Nga. In fact, there are plenty of places to go to in the region and things to see in each of these sub districts.

History of the Town

Currently Phang Nga is a town and the capital of its province and namesake. Officially, the town was founded during the reign of Rama II in 1789, and the town was inhabited because of the protection that it afforded the townsfolk, with mountain ranges on all sides surrounding them and keeping the invaders at bay. Tin mining also became one of the chief industries in Phang Nga, and the government received a large part of its revenues from these mines, having a huge market in the international trade scene for tin.

Phuket, located in the southern part of Thailand, is the largest island in the country, including its own province. It also has a capital city of the same name. Its old name, Thalang, is derived from the Malay word meaning “Cape”. Its modern name is derived from the word for “Mountain”. The island has it all, from nice beaches to mountain areas and rainforests found in the center of the island.

Geography of Phuket

The island topography is mostly covered in mountain ranges. These mountain areas are covered in forests, totaling about seventy percent of the land area in the island. The western end of the island has the more desirable beaches, which are sandy as compared to the east, having more mud than sand in it. There are more than twenty square kilometers in the island covered in rainforest. This area is zoned as a non-hunting area, and there is also a marine environment protected as a reserve, called Sirinat National Park. Sea turtles lay their eggs each year on the sandy beaches there.

The modern-day city of Surin was founded before the reign of Rama I in Thailand. The first leader of the city was a man who gave a tribute to Rama I before he was crowned king, it was a white elephant. The same man, called Chiangpum, became the first governor of the province when Rama I became the king. The elephant has become so entwined with the history of the province that a white elephant is on the seal of the province, and there is an elephant day in the city.

Geography of Surin

Surin is located on the southern part of Thailand, and in fact, just over the border is Cambodia, which shows just how close it is in proximity to another country. The Dongrek Mountain Chain surrounds the area and serves as the natural boundary between Thailand and Cambodia as far as Surin goes. The Mekong River has a tributary that runs through the northern part of the province, the Mun River and its valley. Surin was already considered as a city even during the reign of Rama I, which was quite a long time ago. Currently, it has seventeen districts that monitor each of the one hundred fifty-eight sub districts in the area. Surin is around four hundred and fifty km away from Bangkok by car, and if you’re traveling by train, thirty km less.

Koh Samui is one of the islands of Thailand under its jurisdiction. Technically it’s a district of the province of Surat Thani, and is the third largest island in the country, but more people know of it as a tourist paradise and a pristine location untouched by modern civilization. The tourist industry is one of the economic sources Samui depends on for its revenue, along with agriculture and exports. It’s truly a wonderful place to stay in, with beaches, a laid-back atmosphere, and the relaxing pace of life that can’t be had in big metropolitan areas.

Koh Samui’s Location and Geography

Koh Samui is under the province of Surat Thani, and though it’s on a distinct island, Surat Thani is the closest in proximity to the island, which would explain why they are grouped together. It’s just approximately thirty-five kilometers from the mainland, Surat Thani being the closest point. Along with the large island, there are small islets which together make up one of the marine parks of the country.

Thailand has many wonderful places one can visit. You can take a trip to modern cities that are reminiscent of the best metropolises in the world. You can also take a step back and visit places where life goes at a slower pace. There are also green forests you can tour just outside the city borders. Chonburi, one of the many provinces in Thailand, is somewhere in between. Hence, it is a bit of a stretch to call it an ultramodern hub, but it is progressed too far to be considered as just another sleepy town that is seemingly stuck inside a time warp. Whatever the case, there are lots of activities to do, places to see, and things to discover when you go to Chonburi. Top attractions in the city include beaches, fine culinary treats, handiwork and buffalo racing, an exciting pastime for residents.

A Historical Background

The Ayutthaya period is the time when the earliest records about the existence of Chonburi are officially acknowledged. Many small towns and villages make up the province before they were gathered and put under the name of just one province. In fact, that is the Chonburi that exists until today. Chon literally means water, and Buri means town, making the literal meaning of the name City of Water. During the sixties it was just a small fishing village but the Vietnam War brought changes that made it into a top tourist destination. The tourism industry, brought with it, growth for the city. Aside from this, it allowed the town to evolve into its current form.

One of the nice things about going to the beach in a far-off country is that you can really enjoy going there for walks on the shore, playing and swimming in the sea, or simply enjoying the sea breeze wafting through you hair. Unfortunately, most of these beaches are now modernized. In fact, there are clubs, sports complexes, and other things that distract you from what’s really nice about spending time on a lonely beach. Good thing there’s Hua Hin, which is a large fishing town that has been transformed into one of the most still-pristine beaches in Thailand, or anywhere else for that matter.

Historical Background

Hua Hin has always been situated right on the beach front. For a long time, even up to today, the area still serves as a fishing port, with fishermen still active during their day to day fishing trips. If you’re taking a vacation here, you can watch them do their daily trade and catch fish the old-fashioned way. The current incarnation of the city as a beach destination began during the twenties. This was when the railway system was finally implemented in Bangkok and going to Hua Hin, letting people enjoy trips to Hua Hin with much faster travel time. Recognizing this trend, the Railway Hotel opened its doors two years later in 1923, and another year later, a golf course was put up in the area. The royal family has a palace in this area and they still go here for their vacations.

Access to Hua Hin

You can also travel to this area of Thailand through all popular methods like rail, road, or Air Travel. If you’re flying into the city for the first time, scheduled flights operate on a regular basis to and from the area, operated by SGA Aero, a carrier servicing this route. One of the more mainstream ways of getting to the area is via railway, and you can hop on board a train during their schedules running daily. Third-class is where you want to be while on the train ride, it has all the makings of an adventure in its own right. They say that getting there is half the fun, and in this case it literally is. There are also air conditioned seats on the trains. Before long, Thailand will also have its own high-speed railway system, which should really undercut the time spent by a commuter on board a train going to Hua Hin.

The town of Chawang, Thailand, is part of Nakhon Si Thammarat. It is classified as one of the many districts in the province. There are ten districts in all, and together these make up the province. The province itself is a coastal area but due to geological activity, the coastline has moved away from the settlement. It is located more on the southern region of Thailand. Aside from this, the province has a rich background in history. The province of Nakhon Si Thammarat is historically significant in Thailand. Hence, during the seventeenth century, it was an important center for traders coming from Europe.

The history itself of the city goes back to well before most other towns in Thailand. Although the history is contended and the origins are hard to confirm as a historical fact, there are two parts of the story, going back to the precursor of the city, which was the city of Tambralinga. It was a province that then became independent as its own kingdom, but eventually became part of Siam. This is before the country became Thailand. In 1932 the town was classified as a capital of its province.

Historical Monuments and Places to Visit

One of the most important temples in the city and for the people of Thailand is the Wat Phra Mahathat Woromaha Vihan which was built at the same time as the city was founded. It is decorated with many statues of Buddha. Statues of demon giants serve as guardians of the temple. To the north, there is a small museum. The chedi is also displayed on the provincial seal, and as evidence of its importance to the country, each 25 satang coin is minted with an image of the chedi on one of its sides.

When mentioning Thailand, it’s hard not to use Bangkok in the same sentence. It’s one of the most important centers of culture and economy in Thailand. It is also connected even with other Southeast Asian countries. This is in terms of economics as well. Tourists visiting Thailand mostly stop over in Bangkok because the city has so much to offer to its tourists. Whether you’re going to Thailand on business or for leisure, it’s still a nice place to go to.

Geography and Climate

Bangkok covers a six hundred square mile worth of territory. It is located along a river basin, and the area surrounding Bangkok is also a water system of one sort or another. The city itself is just two meters above sea level, which can be a big problem during the monsoon season, primarily due to floods that can easily enter the city streets, from the many rivers and canal systems crisscrossing the city. The city government is also coping with this situation by installing higher boundaries on the canals themselves so that the water doesn’t overflow as easily.