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Travel Tips
1) Exchange rate for U.S. dollars to Thai Baht. I know I mentioned this in the last issue but the news is still good for the Thai traveler. In a news report from Bangkok this morning the headline was that the Thai Baht was sill losing exchange strength to the United States dollar. While the exchange rate fluctuates daily, it seems like now is a great time to travel. The idea of predicting the rate of exchange is far beyond my capabilities. 2) Dengue Fever In reading news reports from Thailand I would be remiss if I did not mention Dengue Fever. It seems they are having a serious outbreak this year of the various levels or Dengue Fever. While this is not unusual during the rainy season it has been more severe than usual this year. Remember the mosquito that carries the virus only bites during the daylight. It is very important to use insect repellent during all daytime activities. Dengue Fever is rarely fatal. It can be very painful and is not something one wants to remember about a tour to Thailand. I have never had a person on one of my tours contact the disease and hope I never do. I can personally attest to how painful it can be. For more on this subject please read the article I wrote several years ago for the blog "Thailand notions and sundries." 3) Laundry While traveling, laundry may become a problem. While it is easy to hand wash your things, it my be very difficult to get them dry before you move to the next location. I personally make sure that when I stay in a hotel two or more days, that on the last day I turn in all laundry early in the next to last day. That way it is always back so I can pack the night before I leave to the next stop on the tour. Hotel laundry is relatively expensive but there is usually a laundry within a few feet of any hotel entrance. The prices are much more reasonable than at the hotel. The only problem you might have here is you must make sure you pick up your laundry in time to move on.
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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
2013 Tour 4 (November 10-23) Central and northern Thailand with the highlight being the celebration of Loy Krathong in Sukhothai.
Price is $2925 per person in double room.
An additional 3 day, 4 nights in Krabi for $786.00 per person in double room includes flights from Bangkok to Krabi and return to Bangkok plus hotel accommodations.
2013 Tour 5 (December 1-14) Once again from Bangkok, to Chiang Mai and then on to the beaches of Krabi. Lots of leisure and still get home for the Holidays. Price is $3460 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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The newsletter is once again late because I am traveling. I hope you will forgive any mistakes and miss-spelled words. It is harder to write these newsletters when I am not at home and therefore I am away from my reference materials. Time is drawing close for the final two tours of the year. Although both tours are full of adventure and fun, I especially like the tour in November. The idea of celebrating Loy Krathong in Sukhothai should really be a once in a life time experience. I have celebrated it in Ubonratchathani, Chiang Mai, Bangkok, and Cha Am. Now, I am excited about having the opportunity of being in the city where the celebration began.
There are only two planned tours as of this writing. I am hopeful some of you will join me on the November or December tours.
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 very good English speaking Thai guide(s) who will act on my behalf.
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Thao Suranari
 | | Thao Suranari Memorial. Photo by Lee Porter, 2012. |
Thao Suranari (Brave Lady) is the royal title given to Khunying (lady) Mo. Khunying Mo (also known as Ya Mo, Grandma Mo) was the wife of the deputy governor of Korat. She was born in 1771 and lived until 1852.
Korat at that time was the center for the Thai control over the Laotian speaking peoples of what is now the Isaan region of Thailand. In BE 2369 (1826 AD) Prince Anouvong of Vientiane, invaded the city of Korat to proclaim the area as part of his kingdom and get rid of the Thai claim to the area. Prince Anouvong was able to seize the city and enslaved the people. He attempted to resettle the people to Laos.
It was during this march to Laos that Khunying Mo, through cunning and bravery, successfully led a revolt against the invading army. This revolt surprised the soldiers and they fled back to Vientiane. There are many versions of how the revolt happened and even when it happened, but the results were the same. King Rama III of Thailand sent his soldiers to Vientiane and completely defeated Anouvong's military in three days. The Thai soldiers under the command of General Sing Singhaseni then completely destroyed the city of Vientiane.
In the background of the photo above you can see
the city gate to the west side of the city of Korat. It is called the Chuphon Gate and it is the only original gate still standing from 1656. This gate was built on the orders of King Narai of Ayuthaya.
 | | Statue of Thao Suranari. Photo by Lee Porter, 2012. |
The Thao Suranari memorial was built in 1934 during a time of Thai nationalist movement. It has been suggested the the story of Khunying Mo might have been embellished upon during this time. The Statue in the first photo is located in the center of the city of Korat and the base contains the ashes of Thao Suranari. The statue in the second photo is in a small park dedicated to Thao Suranari.
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Once again I am writing about my favorite state (changwat) in Thailand. Ubonratchathani is where I served in the Peace Corps and it has been the place for several of my articles.
 | | Mushroom rock in Pha Taem National Park. Photo by Lee Porter. |
Pha Taem National Park was created in 1991 as the 74th national park in Thailand. The park lies 80 kilometers to the east of the city of Ubonratchathani and a few kilometers north of the village of Khong Chiam. The park is 340 square kilometers in size and is home to many types of wildlife. The terrain is mostly plateaus and hills with sheer cliffs. The park is forested with valuable hardwood trees, typical of the forests of Southeast Asia. The wood is also valuable for its aromatic oils and resins. Several waterfalls are in the park but are usually only flowing during the rainy season and briefly into the cooler month of November. One of the most spectacular waterfalls is Sang Chan waterfall. It flows through a large hole in a rock instead of over a cliff. Near the waterfall of Soi Sawan is what is known as "Thailand's largest flower field."
 | | Pha Taem National Park. Photo by Lee Porter, 2012. |
There are many mushroom rock pillars to be seen in the park as seen in the photos above. These are formed from sandstone rock. While the mushroom type are the most numerous, and the first you will see upon entering the park, many other odd and fascinating stone formations can be found in this park.
 | | Rock art at Pha Taem National Park. Photo by Guy McDonald, on tour 2012. |
I think one of the most important aspects of the park is a long cliff named Pha Taem which can be reached by a 500 meter walk from the park headquarters. By following this path for several kilometers, one can view cave paintings which are estimated to be between 3000 and 4000 years old. The paintings depict many things including fish, elephants, human hands, tools used for cultivation of rice and catching fish and many other geometric designs. One of the most interesting items to me is the fish traps which are very similar to the ones still in use today.
When one reaches the top of the cliff spectacular views of the Mekong River and neighboring Laos are added incentives to make this trek.
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Wat Chetiya Khiri Wihan
 | | Chedi at Wat Chetiya Khiri Wihan. Photo by Lee Porter, 2012. |
At the base of Phu Tok (newsletter of December 2012) is a small wat which would probably remain completely unknown if it weren't for the more famous mountain behind it. It is called Wat Chetiya Khiri Wihan and was the home of Adjan (teacher) Juan. Adjan Juan was a very famous instructor and practitioner of Buddhist meditation. The chedi in the photo above is in this temple grounds and contains the ashes of Adjan Juan. He and several other forest monks were killed in an airplane crash while going to Bangkok to take part in a celebration for the birthday of the Queen.
 | | Lee with pre-school students at Wat Chetiya Khiri Wihan. Photo by Lee Porter. 2012. |
The setting of the wat is very relaxing and includes the chedi with Adjan Juan's ashes, a small lake with a beautiful pavilion, and a dormitory for people to stay in while on meditation retreats. This dormitory is no longer available for foreign travelers. At one time it was available to anyone but because of some problems with foreign guests it is no longer available to them.
While setting in the pavilion waiting for the tour guide and guest to climb Phu Tok, I was fortunate to be visited by a group of pre-school students who were most impressed with a "farang" who could speak some Lao.
The picture below is another view from the trail on Phu Tok.
 | | Walkway and view from Phu Tok. Photo by Khun Wachara tour guide, 2012. |
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Thanks to everyone for all your comments on the article on the Spirit Houses. I just hope it added a little understanding about these very important objects that are often so misunderstood.
As always I thank you who share this newsletter. You have my sincere appreciation. 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 to the mailing list, but they must sign up for future issues themselves.
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Sincerely,
Lee Porter
H2T3 Tours, LLC
P.O. Box 2114
Springfield, VA 22152
571-244-4363
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