Thailand is not only beaches, temples and huge statues of Buddha. In this country there are much more interesting places that should be visited, and classes that should be tried. We offer seven ideas that will help to take a new look at the vacation in this country.
Flight hotel
To look after elephants
In the province of Chiang May in the north of Thailand in the tropical jungle there is a natural park of elephants (Elephant Nature Park). There were a shelter of orphaned slopes, wounded and old elephants, from which their owners got rid of. Employees of the park and volunteers take care of animals, treat and prepare the kids for life in the wild, and then release elephants in the so -called harbor. There they live freely in a large territory. The park stands for ecological tourism without the maintenance of animals in captivity and without the use of physical strength to them (on ordinary excursions of elephants, they often drive, hitting the head with a stick or a sharp spear).
The natural park of elephants was created by a local resident of Lek Chaylert. For this, she got into the list of “Heroes of Asia 2005” by Time magazine, and the National Geographic, BBC and Animal Planet films were shot about the park itself.
The park offers one -day and two -day educational excursions and weekly volunteer programs. Having paid for a week from 12 to 15 thousand baht (1 baht = 1.7 rubles, the price depends on the program),
You will receive a transfer from Chiang May and vice versa, three meals a day of vegetarian food, accommodation at the hotel of the park or in a village hut, training and constant communication with elephants. But volunteering involves a lot of work. Together with employees of the park, you will feed animals, remove them, bathe them, help in treatment. And at the end of the shift (that is, at the end of each week), a walk with elephants through the jungle to the top of the mountain is organized for volunteers.
Live in a yoga center
Thailand is an ideal country to start doing yoga or increase its level.
Many hotels offer yoga classes – and you can in advance, when booking, to clarify whether there is such a service. But if you want to completely immerse yourself in practice, it is worth stopping in a specialized yoga center. They are especially popular on the islands: Samui, Pangan, Phuket, Ko-Yao-Nagay, Ko-Ngai, Malacca (Peninsula),
And also in the city of Chiang May and the village of Pai in the north of the country – these are the favorite places of adherents of yoga and vegetarians.
As a rule, yoga in such places will occupy most of your day – from 4 to 6 hours. Classes are often held at venues surrounded by nature or with views of sea or ocean. In addition, you are offered a healthy diet and create a motivating atmosphere around.
When choosing a yoga center, pay attention to the qualifications of teachers. They must have certificates and provide them at the first request of the client.
Take the Thai massage courses
The capital of Thai massage is called the city in the north of the country – Chiang May and its environs. There are dozens of salons and schools of this ancient art. There are also popular and eminent schools in Bangkok.
According to legend, Thai massage 2.5 thousand years ago was invented by a doctor from India named Zhivago Kumar Bhakka and he treated Buddha himself. Today there are a huge number of varieties of Thai massage. But its essence is the same: the impact is aimed at certain points throughout the body (including the heels and face),
And the master works not only with palms, but also in forearms and legs.
Once Thai massage was taught only in the local language. Today, basic knowledge can be obtained by everyone – schools work in English (and some in Russian) according to standard schemes with classes, teachers, textbooks and exams. Successful students receive certificates.
It is better to choose a school from those that have state -cinths. Amateur courses last from 5 days to two weeks, and professional ones – at least a month.
Learn Thai cuisine
There are culinary courses in Thailand in all popular tourist places, but in different regions of the country its own specifics. In the north, less sharp dishes are prepared, often using pork. In the southern regions where a large number of Muslims live, sharp dishes of chicken and seafood are common. Almost any school adapts the program for vegetarians.
The courses are taught not only to cook, but also to choose the right products – for this you will be taken to the local market. Thai cooks pay special attention to spices and herbs. Thanks to them, from an uncomplicated set of products (rice, noodles, seafood, chicken, meat), Thais prepare a large number of various dishes. In each dish, five basic tastes should be harmoniously combined: acuity due to chili or carry pepper, sweetness due to coconut milk, acid due to lemon, lemon grass or lemon sorghum, bitterness – due to fresh grass.
Culinary express courses for one day are widespread in tourist places. During this time, you will go to the market for food and learn to cook five popular dishes, including usually soup tomy, fried rice and noodles, several types of carry and papaya salad. But there are more professional courses lasting 5-7 days.
Go to the tracking of jungle
Thailand jungle tracking is an affordable and safe entertainment if Lian and huge ficuses do not go into the thickets. Popular national parks laid paths with signs. Most often, they do not exceed 20 kilometers. Near the national parks, cafes, hotels and a bungalow are equipped. You can get by public transport or a leased bike. If you want to delve into the jungle away from the laid paths, it is better to contact the travel agencies that will provide a guide and tents.
In the southern regions of the country, the most popular national parks are Khao Sok in the province of Surattani, Syrinat on Phuket, Khao Phang Bench in the province of Krasi. Here you can meet the boar of a vines, a bathhouse with powerful roots, braided everything in their path, lakes with lotuses, mangroves, mountain rivers, canyons, caves and rocks, and if you are lucky, gibbons and deer. But be prepared – even on tourist paths near reservoirs there is a risk that leeches will suck at your feet. This is not dangerous, but not very pleasant. Therefore, in the jungle you need to put on sneakers and pants, which are best tucked into socks.
In the north of the country, popular national parks are Doi Inthangon, famous for the highest mountain peak of Thailand (2,565 meters above sea level),
And the National Park Obluang.
Tracking depart from the cities of Chiang May, Chiang Ray and May Hong Sleep by public transport, bike or travel agencies. In the north, excursion companies love to offer organized tours to parks with a visit to the villages of ethnic tribes “lost in the jungle”. For example, the Padawung tribe, which has the custom to pull their neck to women with the help of wearing metal hoops. But most likely you will be brought to the village full of tourists, and they will be shown a performance that has little in common with reality. Think about whether you want to pay for it.
When choosing a travel agency, pay attention to whether it has a TAT (Tourism authority of Thailand) license. The minimum price for a high -quality group tour in the jungle starts from 1000 baht per day. If you are offered a tour at the hotel, most likely these are intermediaries who will have to pay interest. It is better to take a walk along the main street of the city and find direct organizers.
Learn meditation in the Buddhist Monastery
There are several Buddhist monasteries in Thailand, who accept Europeans for teaching meditation. The most affordable and therefore popular is Tam Wua Forest Monaster in the north of the country in the province of May Hong Song. This is the Vipassana International Meditation Center. It is believed that this is the same meditation, which 2,500 years ago in India was taught by Gautama Buddha. Translated from the ancient Indian language, Vipassana means – to see things as they really are. That is, without a prism of their own emotions.
Tam Wua is one of the few meditation centers that are accepted without preliminary registration. You can come here at any time and at any time. Accommodation and vegetarian food – free. At the end of their stay, students leave a donation – how much they can or consider it necessary. It is on donations that the monastery exists and accepts guests.
Meditations in the monastery take most of the time: three times a day for about two hours. Before the start of meditation, monks in good English give lectures, and in the evening they arrange a joint singing of songs with students in the ancient Indian language. Students help between meditations with monastic affairs (most often, leaves are marking),
read (the monastery has its own library with books in a variety of languages),
They are engaged in personal affairs or just walking. The territory of the monastery is large and very beautiful: flowering trees, lawns, rocks, caves, ponds with large carpas, a mountain river.
You can stay in the monastery for any time, but the monks recommend spending at least 10 days with them to feel the effect of meditation.
Do climbing with an instructor
The place of attraction of climbers from around the world is the Peninsula of Sao’s Ton in Krasi Province. On the shores of the Andaman Sea, more than 500 rocky routes of different levels of complexity, with a rich relief: from flat walls, to winding strokes and huge hanging stalactites, fit on the shore of the Andaman territory. A diverse relief made it possible to create many simple routes for those who have never tried this unusual sport. Rock climbing schools work right under the cliffs, which offer all those who wish instructors and equipment for rent.
Classes are held in the early morning and after lunch to darkness (it darkens in the tropics at 18 o’clock). The rest of the time you can walk along the peninsula, explore a mountain lake or caves, swim on nearby beaches with snow -white sand and azure water – Reilly and Pranang. The latter is considered one of the most beautiful in Thailand – powerful rocks hang over the water, forming many grottoes.
In the evenings, a sports tone-sai turns into a party-numerous bars and fish restaurants open, one fire show is replaced by another, and between palm trees are practiced in equilibrium on slamscians.
The most convenient search engine of hotels and hotels is OneTwotrip.
The author of the text: Denmark Gaisina
