Archive for July, 2006
A recent report (source: TTR Weekly - July 26-August 01) confirms Cambodia tourist arrivals during January-April this year reach 18.91% increase with 600,374 arrivals. The figures from Cambodia Ministry of Tourism shows that the arrivals at Siem Reap by air increased by 33.47% from 160,655 arrivals last year to 214,419 arrivals this year. The figures account for 35.71% of the share when compared to total mode of entrance.
July 29th, 2006
This is the first time that low-cost airline is operating international flights to/from Yangon, Myanmar (Burma)!
Thai Air Asia is going to start services on the new routing Bangkok-Yangon-Bangkok flights on August 16 2006. The airline will operate a daily flight on the route using a Boeing-737-300 that can accommodate 148 passengers. The promotional fare will start as low as THB 999.00 per person.
This might be a good news for those of you who are looking for budget airlines for traveling into Myanmar (Burma).
Those of you who prefer not to use low-cost airlines (because most of the times - its flights are always delay, no seating arrangements, limited baggage allowance) can choose to travel on the normal airlines such as Thai Airways (currently have 3 flights a day), Bangkok Airways (1 flight a day using 162-seat Airbus 320-232), Myanmar Airways International (currently 1 or 2 flights a day using a 151-seat MD82 aircraft).
July 29th, 2006
All systems are go for the first commercial flights by six airlines at Suvarnabhumi International Airport today, the president of Airports of Thailand Plc (AoT) said yesterday. ‘’The airport is 100% ready for these historic flights,'’ said Chotisak Asapaviriya, who has stayed at the airport for the past few nights to ensure its readiness.
Thai Airways International (THAI), Bangkok Airways, Thai AirAsia, One-Two-Go Airlines, Nok Air and PB Air will stage 20 flights in and out of the 125-billion-baht facility today.
The first and the largest airplane to touch down will be a THAI Boeing 747-400 jumbo jet with caretaker prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and cabinet members on board at 8.09 am.
The paid-for flight, TG 1881 with 375 passengers, is due to take off from Bangkok International Airport (Don Muang) at 7:45 am for the 24-minute trip.
By becoming a passenger himself, Mr Thaksin will personally see if the airport is up to scratch on arrival and departure.
He is due to fly back from Suvarnabhumi to Don Muang on flight TG 4555 at 11:19 am, according to officials.
Other flights will be taking off and landing throughout the day from Chiang Mai, Lampang, Udon Thani, Nakhon Phanom, Trat, Samui, Hat Yai, Phuket and Narathiwat.
Most of the aircraft will be Boeing 737s and Airbus A320s, capable of carrying 145 to 160 passengers each. The smallest plane is a narrow-bodied Brazilian-made Embraer 145 LR from PB Air, with 50 passengers.
Mr Chotisak said most of the 4,834 seats had already been booked.
All the navigation control systems, air and ground handling support and passenger service facilities such as restaurants and duty-free shops, and city-bound buses were in place, he said.
The Department of Civil Aviation has issued an interim operating licence for Suvarnabhumi in line with the operating and safety standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organisation.
The airport’s operation was covered by a policy from Dhipaya Insurance, ‘’so there should be not any doubts in the public’s minds that the airport is not ready or is unsafe,'’ Mr Chotisak said.
Charuek Kungwanphanich, the managing director of SET-listed Dhipaya, said the industrial all-risks policy covered a sum insured worth 42 billion baht, and personal liability for third parties worth US$200 million per accident.
Given the high risk and relatively large amount, Mr Charuek said the company had sought reinsurance cover from both local and international companies.
Mr Chotisak’s assurances came as aviation experts questioned the usefulness of today’s flights as a gauge of readiness, since they were limited in number and all domestic.
‘’If you want to test something, you have to take it to its limits, not just a small fraction,'’ said one industry executive, who asked not to be named.
Suvarnabhumi airport was designed to handle 45 million passengers a year, or about 125,000 a day, and 76 flights per hour.
‘’It is most likely that you will hear politicians and senior AoT officials come out to declare the test an unqualified success. Of course, it would be because the test is only superficial,'’ the executive said.
Plagued by construction flaws, delays and corruption allegations, Suvarnabhumi missed its Sept 29, 2005 opening deadline, which was rescheduled to June and then to Sept 28 this year.
Symbolic first test flights involving two Thai Airways aircraft were held on Sept 29 last year.
Aviation groups, such as the International Air Transport Association and the Board of Airline Representatives in Thailand, remain sceptical about the new opening date, warning that a premature inauguration would cause embarassment to the country.
Cathay Pacific chief operating officer Antony Tyler was among those advocating a prudent approach.
‘’Often it is not what we see that matters, but it is more about systems _ the computers, IT and baggage systems. What you see is not always the most important thing,'’ he said earlier this month.
Mr Tyler said Thailand should avoid making the same mistake as Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur, which opened their new airports early.
But Mr Chotisak yesterday expressed confidence that a Sept 28 opening was realistic and achievable.
Meanwhile, THAI, Thai AirAsia and Bangkok Airways have initially agreed to make their first international test flights in and out of Suvarnabhumi on Sept 1, according to Mr Chotisak.
Source: Bangkok Post - July 29 2006.
July 29th, 2006
Where is Pak Chong?
Well, Pak Chong is in Khao Yai, Nakorn Ratchasima. It is roughly 160 kms. (2 hours drive) from Bangkok.
Where to stay?
Most resorts are located close to Khao Yai National Park.
What to do?
Aside from being the place to relax by nature and enjoy the cool mountain breeze, Pak Chong is also well known for its numerous orchards, ranches, wineries, resorts and outdoor activities ranging from mountain biking and trekking to fun games. Here is the places and things that you can do:
PB Valley Khao Yai Winery
Located on 2500 rais in the heart of Khao Yai. The winery provides guided tours of vineyards and other fruit orchards. The tour includes wine tasting, meals and plant visit to observe wine production. Try its famous PB Khao Yai Reserve and Prom Khao Yai Reserve (the Khao Yai Reserve Shiraz 2000 was chosen to serve at the gala dinner for heads of the governments during the APEC Conference in 2003). Great place for wine lovers! There is a restaurant that serves speciality dishes and a great view of the beautiful mountain scenery!
Thong Somboon Club
If you are traveling with the kids, this will be an interesting choice. It sits on a rollling hill behind which is an amusement park. They can glide down a cable and come back by cable car. They can ride downhill in a car or ride logs or boats in the lake. For adults, there is ATV (all-terrain-vehicle) which they can ride up and down the steppes to explore the mountainside. If they go downhill, they will arrive at a town that is cowboy mountry. They will see cowboys and cowgirls roaming around freely.
Chokchai Farm
If you want a taste of live on the ranch, go to Chockchai Farm which sits on a sprawling 20,000 rais. It is open to visitors who are mostly drawn to its cowboy lifestyle. Scheduled tours are available. You will be shown cowboys at work, cattle feeding, milking cows and the role of sheepdogs. There is even a small zoo. You can also choose to spend the night here, there’s a 200 rai private jungle plot operated by Boutique Camp offering air-conditioned tents, 24-hours security, Food & Beverage services as well as WI-FI internet!
Have fun!
July 27th, 2006
Am sure many of you who have been to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) must have visited its famous China town in Cholon during the day time. What about at night time? Has anyone tried that before? It is obviously quite fun to walk along the street at night time as the area can be as busy as ever!
Where is Cholon?? Cholon is in district 5 of Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Say - if you are staying at any hotel in District 1 (most of the good hotels are located in this area), it should take you about 10-15 minutes by car or by the local cyclo to Cholon.
For many years, people in Ho Chi Minh City have had a saying about what they regard as living in style: “Dining on Chinese dishes and living in western houses” or “Dining in District 5 and Living in District 3″. Cholon has a host of hotels and restuarants which are popular among the Saigonese as ideal places to hold wedding parties. There are also many kinds of food and beverages which are made in sophisticated fashion at these restaurants. On the pavements, small stalls selling beer, wine and some simple fast food. These can be found in the residential areas of Xom Cui and Cau Tre or near the small houses along the Ham Tu Quay. There you can also see porters work through the night to load goods transported from Mekhong Delta or Cambodia.
If you have time for the “taste of local Saigon”, try its noodles, “Mi go” for only VND 2,000-3,000 for a bowl. Its delicious!
Its a good fun and much cooler to wander around Cholon at night time!
July 27th, 2006
The agreement is likely to be signed end of July during the annual meeting of the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations). When the agreement takes force, citizens of 10 member countries of ASEAN can travel within the region of Vietnam for a period of 2 weeks without visa. ASEAN countries include:
Singapore
Malaysia
Thailand
Indonesia
Philippines
Brunei
Vietnam
Cambodia
Laos
Myanmar
This is a VERY good news for all ASEAN fellow travelers to Vietnam as obtaining Vietnam visa prior to entry the country has been quite a hassle for all of us. It is indeed a good news travel freely at any time we wish without having to go through all the visa formalities any more!
July 27th, 2006
A 600-km bus route links central Vietnam to southern Laos, with ongoing connections to Ubon Rajthani in Thailand.
Vietnam and Laos opened a bus link between Quy Nanh in Binh Dinh province and Pakse in Champasak, Laos. The route is intended to draw overland tourists across the border between Thailand and Vietnam.
The new service, luanched on July 04 2006, covers 600 kms. and take some12 hours for a US$ 16.00 fare. The buses, operated by Binh Dinh Trade and Transport Joint-Stock Company, currently run 4 weekly trips on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday.
The service starts in Vietnam’s coastal city of Quy Nhan on Route 19 and heads to Plei Ku in Gia Lai province before turning onto Route 4 and the trip north. The road passses through the mountains to Kon Tom province and the Lao border at Attapeu province. The bus then travels to Xekong before entering Champasak and its provincial centre, Pakse. Pakse is a key tourist city in southern Laos. Currently, there is a regular bus service linking it to Ubon Rajthani in Thailand. The visa excemption for Thai visitors to Laos and Vietnam is expected to drive Thai tourism to Pakse, which become an overland gateway to central Vietnam. Ubon Rajthani is easily accessible from Bangkok using either full-service or low-cost airlines. There are also daily rail service. News reports stated that the transportation authority of Vietnam had given permission for the company to extend the service to the Laos capital, Vientiane.
Source: TTR Weekly - July 19-25 2006
July 21st, 2006
We have to thank you our friend from Australia, Ken Matthews for giving orientalcompass.com a chance to help supporting the Ban Phou Dam School, outside of Luang Prabang (Laos). We are very happy to be a part of this contribution that Ken and his friends had made to the school recently. They were so kind in gathering all the gifts, stationaries, toys as well as some donations from people from Australia, Thailand and many countries in the world to help the children in that school. Please see some pictures that Ken had forwarded to show us all in the office. Once again, thank you very much for giving us a chance to put the smiles on those faces of the children in Ban Phou Dam. Again - Ken, many many thanks!
July 21st, 2006
South Korea, USA, Japan, Taiwan, Australia, France, Thailand and Singapore are among the top 10 arrivals into Vietnam in the first half of the year in 2006.
Vietnam National Administration of Tourism just announced its top 10 Arrivals for
January-June 2006:
Rank no. 1 - China (down by 23.40% from 2005)
Rank no. 2 - South Korea (up by 35.40% from 2005)
Rank no. 3 - USA (up by 19.70% from 2005)
Rank no. 4 - Japan (up by 25.80% from 2005)
Rank no. 5 - Taiwan (down by 0.90% from 2005)
Rank no. 6 - Cambodia (up by 20.10% from 2005)
Rank no. 7 - Australia (up by 20.30% from 2005)
Rank no. 8 - France (up by 0.90% from 2005)
Rank no. 9 - Thailand (up by 59.50% from 2005)
Rank no. 10 - Singapore (up by 37.10% from 2005)
The authorities is crediting sales promotions by the national carriers and other Southeast Asia Airlines as well as the low-cost carriers for boosting the arrivals in the first half of the year by 7.2%
Source: TTR Weekly - July 19-25 2006
July 21st, 2006
Life Resorts Management Company has announced news name and logo for its resort in Hoi An from “Life Resort Hoi An” to “Life Heritage Resort Hoi An”
Source: TTR Weekly - July 19-25 2006
July 21st, 2006
Previous Posts
