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Travel Tips
1) Malaria Pills
Always follow the advice of your physician on this matter. I always check with my travel nurse and the CDC (Center for Disease Control) before I make a trip to Thailand. Malaria is still a problem in some areas of the country and depending on the tour, I follow my physician's advice. 2) When should I arrive in Bangkok? Your arrival time in Bangkok is really up to you but I would like to offer a couple of suggestions. Try and arrive between 8 AM and 4 PM if at all possible. I realize that this may mean being charged for an extra days lodging, but I feel it is worth it. This gives you time to acclimate and be fresh and ready to begin the tour the next day. Arriving at 3 AM and then trying to begin a tour at 7:30 AM can be very difficult. Secondly, try a foreign carrier. They seem to arrive at the optimum hours while most American carriers arrive in the middle of the night. Also, if flying from the east coast, look at flying through Europe or the Middle East. It is the same distance and sometimes there are great bargains in airfare. 3) Hair dryers and electric razors. Battery razors are good, but don't trust the razor outlets in most hotels. Hair dryers are standard in most hotels and you do not need to pack and carry anything that you can use locally. The electricity is 220 volts and not the 110 volts that we are used to. Most cameras, telephones, laptops and tablets can be charged without any problem. If electrical adapters are necessary, then most hotels will be happy to supply them.  |
Comments, questions, additional information , and suggestions on articles in this newsletter may be posted on the Facebook page for Hand Held Trips to Thailand.
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Tours The prices for all tours are pretty much all inclusive. This means that from the time you are picked up at the airport until the time you are returned to the airport for transfer home, everything is included in the price you have paid for the tour. Things included are: 1) Accommodations in air conditioned rooms unless specifically mentioned in the daily itinerary, such as the Flotel. 2) Meals included are stipulated in the daily itinerary, but as a minimum include all breakfasts. Some tours include all meals. 3) All in country transportation is included. This means all flights, boats, buses, trains, elephant, horse carriage, samlows, ox carts, etc. that are mentioned in the itinerary are included. 4) Entrance fees to all sites and venues are included. 5) Tips to Thai guides and drivers are paid. What are you responsible for? 1) International flight to and from Bangkok. 2) Drinks other than coffee or tea at meals. 3) Tips to bell hops. 4) Your own travel/medical insurance. 5) Laundry and personal expenses. 6) Meals other than those stipulated in the daily itinerary. |
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Prices
2012 Tour 4 ( November)
Christmas shopping tour Dates and complete itinerary have been posted.
Price is $3390.00 per person in double room.
2012 Tour 5 (December)
Relaxing tour itinerary and price now published on the web site.
Price is $3460.00 per person in double room.
Prices are in United States dollars per person in half twin rooms. Single supplements vary and are printed on the web site. Please contact Lee@H2t3tours.com for additional information.
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Greetings once again from on the road. This time I am in Colorado, but still away from much of my reference materials at home. Writing the newsletter while traveling is always a challenge as I really depend on my proof readers to catch my many errors.
I did not have enough persons for the 2012 Tour 3. This tour was the Lenten Candle Festival and Parades of Ubonratchathani. Rooms are very hard to get unless planned well in advance, as this is a favorite festival for Thais to visit. If there is interest I will reschedule the tour for 2013 when it will be held in July. The 2012 Tour 4 will place emphasis on the Loy Krathong Festival in Chiang Mai plus attendance at a three day cooking school. Don't forget, the last tour of this year will be the first time one of my tours will go to the beautiful area of Krabi and will return you home in plenty of time for the end-of-the-world (if you are still doing your planning with the Mayan calendar). I have not finalized any of the tours for 2013, but hope to have them posted on the web site by the time you receive the August newsletter.
You can always check the web site for the projected dates of any of the tours. Also, for complete information and the itinerary for any tour, go to the Tours page of the web site. If you click on the highlighted words of each tour it will take you to a brief itinerary. At the end of each brief itinerary is a second link that leads to the daily itinerary of each tour. This will give you a breakdown of what will be happening each day of the tour.
Remember, I will only accompany tours with six or more persons. However, when less than six persons sign up for a tour, I will make arrangements to have a very good English speaking Thai guide who will act on my behalf. |
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Royal Barges Museum
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The Anantanakharat Royal Barge. Photo by Barbara Sorber 2012 |
There is nothing to compare to the sight of a royal barge procession down the Chao Praya River. However, for most of us westerners we have to be content to visit the Royal Barge Museum. It is located on the Noi Canal on the Thonburi side of the river. It is best and easiest to visit this museum by boat. This museum is only one location for royal barges and houses only eight of the fifty-two barges presently included in the Royal Barge collection. The recent floods in Bangkok have done damage to several of the barges and repairs are being done as of the last visit.
There are four types of escort barges for the Royal Barges. These are classed by function and design. They are the Ekachai class that has the horn of a mythical dragon on the bow, the Krabi class which has the Monkey God on the bow, the Garuda class with a garuda in flight on the bow, and the Asura Vayupak class with a half bird half giant ogre on the bow. With the exception of the Ekachia class all of the escort barges have a cannon on the bow.
 | The Royal Barge
Narai Song Suban His Majesty King Rama IX. Photo by Barbara Sorber 2012 |
The history of the the Royal Barges dates back to the Ayuthaya Kingdom when hundreds of boats were in use in the Royal processions. The barges were also used in war. When the Burmese destroyed Ayuthaya they also torched all the barges. King Rama I had new barges built in the images of the old barges when he established the new capital in Bangkok. The barges were largely used for ceremonial purposes.
With the end of the absolute monarchy in 1932, the barges were confiscated by the military and civilian government. The barges were left to fall into disrepair and were further damaged by Japanese bombs in World War II.
Several years after ascending the throne, King Rama IX, the current monarch, began a project to restore the old barges. In 1996 the newest barge was launched to celebrate the 50th anniversary of His Majesty's reign.
Over 2000 oarsmen are needed when a procession of all 52 barges takes place. This is in addition to the umbrella bearers, helmsmen, navigators, flagmen, rhythm keepers and chanters.
 | | The throne on the Anantanakharat Royal Barge. Photo by Barbara Sorber 2012 |
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Princess Maha Chakri Siridhorn Art Center
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Sign on highway. Photo by Lee Porter 2012 |
The Princess Maha Chakri Siridhorn Art Center is located approximately 23 kilometers south and east of Loei. This seems to be a very unlikely location for a world famous art school. The truth is that many students of this institution have won awards and international recognition.
 | | Sculptures. Photo by Lee Porter 2012 |
The school is rather new and it began as an initiative of the teachers and pupils of the nearby Si Songkhram Witthaya School. It was founded to honor a local school teacher, Sangkom Thongmee. The students of this teacher, mostly children of local farmers, had won literally hundreds of awards for their art work.
The school teaches all areas of art work including graphic arts. Large outdoor murals as well as a sculpture garden are delights that should not be missed. There is no admission charge to visit the center but donations are always welcome.
 | | Bulletin board collage of art work. Photo by Lee Porter 2012 |
It is impossible to make a list of the many eclectic collections in the museum. Suffice it to say no one should ever come away disappointed if they take time to enjoy the entire museum. |
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Wat Sala Loi
 | | Wat Sala Loi. Photo by Lee Porter 2012 |
Wat Sala Loi is located on the northern side of the city of Korat (Nakornratchasima). It is believed to have been founded in 1827 by Thao Suranari (Khun Ying Mo) who is famous for her defense of Korat against the Vientiane forces. Within this temple complex, there are several statues of Khun Ying Mo. The name of the temple Sala Loi means floating pavilion.
The beautiful old chapel still exists, and is well preserved and the many Buddha images are worth seeing. This is a very active temple complex and is well attended. The grounds are immaculate and a relaxing stroll in the wonderful landscaped gardens is a real delight.
 | | Mosaic tiles at Wat Sala Loi. Photo by Lee Porter 2012 |
Ceramic tiles from the village of Dan Kwien have been used to tell the life of the Lord Buddha as a decorative aspect of a new preaching hall (Bot) that was built in 1967. This new chapel is built to resemble a Chinese Junk riding the waves. Inside the chapel is a large standing white Buddha. In 1973 the Siam Society declared this building the winner of the best avant guard religious building award.
 | | Multi colored flowering shrub at Wat Sala Loi. Photo by Lee Porter 2012 |
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This newsletter is being sent out shortly after H2T3 Tours, LLC celebrated its fifth anniversary of becoming a tour business. The years have gone by quickly and the fun and excitement of sharing the Kingdom of Thailand with others has not faded. Thanks to the readers of this newsletter, I have formed new friends, found many exciting people, and most of all, I have been able to continue my dream.
As I stated in the last newsletter, I am sharing a few of the places in the northeast that we visited on the Isaan tour. We were so fortunate at the art school to have the honor of being escorted by the director of the school. Also, the new chapel at Wat Sala Loi has been built since my last visit and it was exciting to see the use of the Dan Kwein ceramic tiles in the construction.
Again, my sincere appreciation to all of you who forward this letter to others. It is one of the ways new readers are added. Each month a few more people sign up with your help. When you forward the newsletter, the recipient is not automatically added, but they must sign up for future issues.
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Sincerely,
Lee Porter
H2T3 Tours, LLC
P.O. Box 2114
Springfield, VA 22152
571-244-4363
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