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Thailand

Tropical Islands of Thailand

Tropical Islands of Thailand

I have travelled extensively in Thailand. The country & its beautiful locations fascinate me no end. So when I received a guest post from Sankara about pristine locations of Thailand, I was more than happy to publish it here.

Over to Sankara now.

It is that time of the year when most of the world is fleeing to the warmer tropical destinations of the world to spend their beach holiday. And what better way to spend it than the beautiful tropical islands of Thailand. These tropical islands ensure that the tourists are spoilt for choice when it comes to white sands, great diving spots, fresh sea food, a relaxing experience and lots of sunshine.

Like most of the tourists, I too have been spending a little over one month in different tropical islands of Thailand and below is a collection of some pictures that I took during this time. Hope these pictures entice you to explore these islands yourself.

Top Indian Couple Blog by Nisha Jha and Vasudevan R - Tropical Islands of Thailand

Stay at Ko Nang Yuan – one of the prettiest beach destinations that you can stay on.

Looking back at 2012

Looking back at 2012

Another year has passed and it’s time to look back and take stock, time to update the set of to-dos, time to see how was the year 2012 for me in terms of travel and otherwise.

As I always say, I count my memories, not the places and I am happy that my travel memories are far more & better than the destinations. Some road trips, some train journeys and a few flights took me places almost every month. I made some new friends, consolidated my bond with old ones.
I also moved to a new place.

Apsara dance @lemonicks.com

This was also the year when

City of angels!

I have been to these parts so many times but to this particular city, never. Did I have chance of visiting this place? Well.. one must make their chances. I could have planned my itinerary differently. The fact is I have not been to Bangkok ever.

There are so many other places in Thailand that I always gave it a miss. Even now when I took a train for Langkawi, had I not alighted on time, I would have reached Thai border and of course beyond that. The train goes upto Bangkok !

Even now, as I am in Malaysia, the City of Angels (as it’s called in Thai), is only about a couple of hours away. When this

Making merry in the middle of La mer

Making merry in the middle of La mer
From time immemorial the vast expanse of water, that we call the sea, has held the human beings in awe. From then till now and I am sure into the future, our visits to the beaches or cruise on a boat will never stop. Such is the attraction of water.

I am no different. I love going to the beaches, I love cruises, I love island hopping boat rides.

I had signed for this much touted island hopping trip in Krabi on one of my solo trips to Thailand. Idea was to hop from one island to another after some time in each. You get the idea! 🙂

If you are short on time, this is the best way to see the best of these islands. Well, on the appointed day the van driver, a short lady, picked me up from my guest house and then went around town picking other passengers before parking at the dock.
It was very well organized, as usual… something I quite don’t see in India. We had our lunch on the second island and spent lazing around. A few passengers were playing beach volley and football. I was busy taking their pictures. 😉
Soon we left for the third island. I could

Top 10 holiday destinations in Asia

Asia is one of the most popular tourist destinations throughout the world – and for very good reason. Offering travellers diverse cultures and awe-inspiring natural beauty, it is often hard to resist the temptation of holidaying in Asia. Holidaymakers will have the luxury of deciding whether they laze on the beach all day or trek some of the most famous landmarks around the globe. For some inspiring ideas for planning your next escape, check out our favourite holiday destinations in Asia.

Ubud, Bali – Experience the luxury of private villas, set amidst the lush Balinese rainforest, in the arts and music hub of this beautiful island. Browse the local markets to find hand crafted jewellery and traditional Balinese pieces.
Phuket, Thailand – The party capital of Thailand, Phuket never fails to attract a crowd. Affordable accommodation and cheap nightclubs make this destination a backpackers dream.

phuket party @lemonicks.com

Phuket : Party anytime, anywhere !

Thrills of underwater world

A lot of you must have wondered about what does the see look like from the inside. When one of my family members learnt scuba diving and brought wonderful photos and stories of underwater world from Thailand, I was sold to the idea.

Oceans and seas offer great, breathtaking views. Unless you go down under, you can not realize how fascinating the underwater world is. The attraction of those amazing colors, the wonderful living things and the feel of being at sea bed makes you want to spend more time there… even if your oxygen cylinder indicates the opposite. 😀
Do you remember the photo below?

underwater world @lemonicks.com

The fascinating life & colors of underwater in Thailand.

Since I

Overland Border Crossing

Overland Border Crossing

How do you feel being at the border of two countries?

Not just flying into a country but being able to see the other side, the other country and its land from this side?
Most times travel to foreign involves flying into that country. But after so many years of travelling I find it quite boring. Of course, it is still the most preferred way as it saves time and may be other hassles that I’ve talked about earlier.
For me it is always intriguing when I cross borders overland where I can stand on a no-man’s land and where the territories are marked by welcoming gates if not any other.

Following are a few of the borders crossed (or almost crossed) overland, by road or by train. Some of the European borders mentioned are before the formation of Schengen.

Shankaracharya gate.jpg @lemonicks.com

Shankaracharya gate, Indo-Nepal border.

India – Nepal: We had consciously decided

Thailand Visa experience and information

Warning – A long post. 😛

Thailand, the favourite destination for most of us, exempts requirement of short term tourist visa for most western countries citizens and for several Asian countries as long as they stay only for 30 days.
On the other end of the scale there are a whole lot of people from countries who have to compulsorily get a visa prior to entering Thailand.

In the middle are some countries like India where generally you are expected to get a visa up front but on certain conditions you may get VOA (visa on arrival) at the port of entry.

The ports of entry are several airports, sea ports and also overland borders. I will list them separately.

hat yai airport @lemonicks.com

Waiting to board.

During my first

When granny sang a song !

When granny sang a song !

Travelling is counting number of memories, not places.

That’s my tag-line. If you read my profile anywhere, this is what I always maintain. For me memories of a journey are far more important & cherishable than places. Places change their shapes, sizes and the looks with time. Memories never.
– – – – – –
“Excuse me; can I help this lady in some way?” I asked a woman standing behind the push cart pointing towards an old woman, her neighbour, who looked dazed sitting behind another food stall.

February, 2010. Seven in the evening, I was in night market at Krabi, Thailand where I stayed for a fortnight while solo backpacking in South East Asia. Being alone, I had all the time in the world exploring things around me and it was my second day here.

“What?”
“Yeah, I would like to help that woman sell her things”.

She laughed.
“No, I am serious. I had her

Cheapest room I ever stayed in

Among other things, backpackers often look for budget accommodation. I was also backpacking and traveling on tight budget. However, I am yet to stay in a dormitory … mostly because I need my comfort zone especially when I travel alone. I do not mind shared baths but when it is time to relax or to take a nap after a tiring day, I need a quiet place and some private space to myself.

So, when I was backpacking to Malaysia & Thailand earlier this year, I was always on the lookout for a suitable place to stay that would
1. be clean
2. be inexpensive
3. Maintain privacy
4. be safe for a single woman

and I found this room !! In Krabi!
The cheapest room I have ever stayed in any country including India. Bonus was 24 hours free wi-fi, good location and a friendly staff.

cheapest room i ever stayed in Krabi @lemonicks.com

A comfortable, clean and non creaky bed with 2 soft pillows & a thin blanket. Do you remember that famous red hand bag ? 😀

Though India is quite light on pocket when

Hi-tech worshipping !

The life is fast.
In this mechanical era, no one has time to sit and breathe. At the same time one also likes to continue with age old customs and rituals. But who has time to do things in traditional way ?

Look at the picture below. Though I was apprehensive of clicking this photo, I also wanted to show it to my people back home.

hi-tech worshipping @lemonicks.com/Travel

Electronic worshipping in progress…. in Tiger Cave temple

Traditionally worshipping

Night Markets at Krabi – II

Other night market of Krabi or Part I is here.

This night market (pasar malam) on Maharaj Soi 10 in the centre of town is not very far from river Krabi. Off the main road and near the central Songthaew station, this is actually a weekend market. Every weekend (Friday till Sunday), the market starts at 5 PM and goes on till 10:30.

Bigger in size compared to first one, this is the night market to head for if you are looking for more than just food. It has lots of things for sale. From clothes of all kinds (T-shirts, ladies dresses, lingerie) to hand made stylish bags, souvenirs to footwear … you’ll find everything here.
You can get a Thai massage done on a pavement or a