Chonburi Buffalo Racing Festival Wing Kwai
Thai Rodeo, Buffalo Beauty Contests & the Best of the Eastern Seaboard
18 Nights - Chonburi, THAILAND
Photo by jhoparianto on Pixabay
INFORMATION
Thailand's Wildest Rodeo
HIGHLIGHTS - Beautiful queens & buffalos
Bangkok 3N
Chonburi 5N
Si Racha 1N
Ko Si Chang 2N
Pattaya 4N
Ko Samet 3N =18
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Wat Arun
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Ko Kret
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Skylab
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Buffalo Races
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Riverside Bars
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Grand Palace
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Amorosa Bar
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Krua Apsorn
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Thip Samai
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Giant Swing
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Emerald Buddha
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Reclining Buddha
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Duck Noodle Soup
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Bangsaray Beach Club
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Buffalo Beauty Contest
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Old Lady Competition
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Birthplace of Sriracha Sauce
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World's Best Pina Coladas
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Lam Morrison - Thailand's Jimi Hendrix
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Ko Samet Beaches
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The World’s Largest Outdoor Museum
All travel information including hotels etc is at the bottom of this page
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Most Thai festivals work on the Lunar Calendar so the dates change every year and it can be frustrating trying to find out what they are early enough to get your bookings in. This festival is usually at the end of Buddhist Lent usually a day before the full moon of October. You may want to come and go depending on what events are on which days. This is no problem as Si Racha, Ko Si Chang and Pattaya are just up the road. When you know the program you can fine tune your movements.
1 Bangkok - 3N
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Fly in and out of Bangkok's main airport (BKK). An authorised taxi is the best way to get into town if there are two of you or more. Otherwise take the Airport Rail Link. Stay at or near the New Siam Riverside near the Khao San Road area. Spend your first night getting acquainted with this unique neighbourhood. This is one of the premier places to sit (with a bottle of Sang Som Thai Rum) and watch the world (literally) go by. Spend a few days seeing the sights and experiencing some of what this amazing city has to offer.
2
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Off for a walking tour today to cross the major bucket list items off of your list. The restaurant Krua Apsorn doesn't open until 10.30 so you can have a bit of a sleep in.
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Watch out for pickpockets around the Grand Palace and Wat Pho. Make sure you have Maps.me downloaded with the appropriate maps to help you find your way. You can get a sarong at the entrance of the Grand Palace to cover your legs or arms.
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Make your way to the the 14 October 1973 Memorial - 500,000 people gathered here to protest the Three Tyrants
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Then down to the Democracy Monument - where it all began in 1932 and it has become a place for protesters to assemble
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Brunch at Krua Apsorn (Apsorn's Kitchen) a famous place to eat that uses recipes that were used in the palace to feed Royalty - (Stir fried crab in curry powder is highly recommended)
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The Giant Swing (Sao Ching Cha) - hard to miss this one at 21 meters tall, at one time Louis Leonowens the son of Anna (as in the King and I) donated the teak for the swing)
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Next door is Wat (temple) Suthat Thepwararam Ratchaworahawihan - is one of the oldest and most important temples - King Rama 8 is buried here
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Nuttaporn Ice cream - time for a cool break, they have local flavours and have been making ice cream pretty much since Bangkok has had it and use the finest mangoes money can buy
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Phraeng Phuton Square - next to Nuttaporn and has some classic old shops that are worth a look
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Bangkok City Pillar Shrine - this was the first building put up on this side of the river
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The Grand Palace (Phra Borom Maharatchawang) and the the Emerald Buddha (Phra Kaeo Morakot) - which has had an interesting life with lots of travel
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Wat Pho - the home of the Reclining Buddha and Thai massage
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Wat Arun - aka the Temple of Dawn. The central tower represents Mount Meru the centre of the universe
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Museum Siam - an interactive and fun lesson in Thai history and Thai culture
Photo by image monster on Pixabay
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At 4.00 it's time to start thinking about beer o'clock and make your way over to the Amorosa Bar at Arun Residence. It's one of the best places for sundowners and has a magic view of Wat Arun from the balcony. Get there early to get a good seat. Their bar snacks are pretty tasty too.
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Avenir Light is a clean and stylish font favored by designers. It's easy on the eyes and a great go-to font for titles, paragraphs & more.
Photo by Tuan Nguyen on Unsplash
Wat Arun - representing the Centre of the Universe
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On your way home get a tuk tuk to drop you off at Pratu Phi or Ghost Gate for dinner. There are two famous establishments here. Sister Mole or Jay Fai is a one woman powerhouse who has collected herself a Michelin star. The other one Thip Samai is the most popular place to have Pat Thai in Bangkok.
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Continue on to Khao San for another night out not too far from home.
3
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Have a sleep in you've earned it. Today will be nice and relaxed and you can travel at your own pace. With a nice long boat cruise to start things off. You are going to a riverine island called Ko Kret. This one was Mon made when a short cut was forcibly dug in by hand. The Mons ended up settling on the island. Mons actually inhabited this area before the Thais came along.
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It gets very busy on weekends and some people prefer the serenity coming here during the week. When you're ready make your way down to Phra Athit Pier. Did you know the CIA used to have an office on this road you are walking down? If you're hungry there's a very good beef noodle shop here.
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You're heading North today, all the way to the last stop - the Nonthaburi pier. From here you can hire a long tailed boat to take you up to the island which is another 20 minutes North.The island is nice and flat and there is one 6 km ring road so hiring a bicycle is the best way to get around. You can do it on less than an hour. You can also hire a motorbike taxi lady if you'd rather.
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The island is famous for it's pottery and there are several villages which specialise in this. It is also famous for it's Thai Desserts. Also there is the leaning Pagoda. So get yourself a pushbike and start exploring.
Avenir Light is a clean and stylish font favored by designers. It's easy on the eyes and a great go-to font for titles, paragraphs & more.
Avenir Light is a clean and stylish font favored by designers. It's easy on the eyes and a great go-to font for titles, paragraphs & more.
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The Rongsi Studio is a cafe set in an old rice mill and a great coffee stop. Find somewhere interesting for lunch. And even pick up a souvenir or two on the way around. At the end of the tour settle into Chit Beer for a few frothies looking out at the river. It has an interesting back story about taking on the big boys. And a little further on De Pala is another good beer stop.
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Catch the ferry back straight across the river to the mainland. You're going back a different way to what you came. Get a taxi to the Nonthaburi Civic Centre. Ask him if he'll use the meter before you get in. Catch the MRT to Tao Poon Station where you will transfer from the purple to the blue line. Next stop Sukhumvit - this station connects with the Asok BTS Sky Train Station which travels up and down Sukhumvit Road. (Which goes to the Cambodian border by the way - and it has numbered Sois (lanes) to help you work out where things are). Odd numbers head North and even numbers South. Numbers increase from West to East. They also have their own names as well.
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Now Bangkok is your oyster and you have some decisions to make. (Some of these will need pre-booking of course) Have a look around the -
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Terminal 21 Shopping Mall which is basically where you are.
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Dine in the Dark - a short walk away at the Sheraton Grande
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Octave Rooftop Lounge & Bar, Soi Sukhumvit 57 - for sunset
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Dinner at Gaggan Anand Restaurant - one of the world's most famous
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Siam Square - shopping Mecca and upscale everything
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Sukhumvit Soi 11 - Soi 38 Street Food Night Market and the other hundred + Sois.
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High speed Tuk Tuk home
4 - 8 Chonburi - 5N
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Hire a car with driver so (you'll find their are many offering this service) you can visit Muang Boran (Ancient City) on your way to the festival today. You can visit all of the most important historical sites in Thailand in one day. It is a huge park set out in the shape of Thailand with everything situated where it is located in real life. To get around you can ride a bicycle, rent a golf car or even ride a segway. There is a floating market, villages where you can shop and eat. There are petting zoo's and allsorts of interesting things to look at as you go around. As it's so big you'll want to get an early start. Then make your way to Chonburi for all of the buffalo action you can handle. See below for details.
Magnificent Beast
Go to Bangkok Tours 1
9 Si Racha - 1N
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Take the train from Chonburi to Si Racha Junction. It's a 25 minute trip then just take the local transport into your hotel in Si Racha. Or just take a taxi. No rush so have a sleep in. Si Racha is where Sriracha sauce was invented. The most famous one is made by Huy Fong Foods a company started by a Vietnamese refugee named David Tran in California. He registered the trademark for the Rooster logo and the distinctive cap but never the name sriracha. This has meant that their are many other brands of sriracha on the market. Some of them have tried to register the name but have been unsuccessful. The original sauce was invented in the 1930's by a Thai housewife from Si Racha named Thanom Chakkapak. Her recipe is sold as Sriraja Panich and is thinner and sweeter than Huy Fongs Foods.
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There is a wonderful old hotel here on the waterfront with the best views around. So old in fact it doesn't have a lift. No problem though as the cheerful and energetic girls behind reception will carry them up and down to your room. There are several excellent seafood restaurants nearby and a Night Market with some nearby bars and night clubs.
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Si Racha Sunset
10 -11 Ko Si Chang - 2N
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Head to Ko Loi Pier where a ferry to the small island of Ko Si Chang leaves every hour and takes 45 minutes to get there. You will be here for a couple of nights. Leave your main pack on the main land and hire a scooter when you arrive at the port on the island. (There are no cars or trucks on the island). If you don't ride just take a "taxi" to the resort. Chill out for a couple of days. Hang by the pool, see the sights and eat lots of good seafood. You're on the right side of the island to enjoy the sunsets. This place gets very busy on weekends so come during the week if you want to avoid the crowds.
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Being close to Bangkok meant that Ko Si Chang became a weekend seaside retreat for the Royals. Kings Rama IV, V and VI used to enjoy coming down here. The French even occupied it for a short while. Few tourists visit the island and before the Gulf became overfished it was primarily a fishing island.
12 - 15 Pattaya - 4N
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It is just another 30 minutes down to Pattaya and you might as well take a taxi. Pattaya the once sleepy fishing village with an image problem. Those first US servicemen who came here in 1959 for a little R & R would have a hard time recognising the place.
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You can do and spend as much or as little as you like. It's all here. From great street food and street corner bars to high end hotels and restaurants and everything in between. Sundowners at the Hilton open air Horizon Rooftop restaurant and bar are recommended. 2 for 1 cocktails and the views are amazing.
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The Floating Market is good for a look (until it burnt to the ground / water - hopefully they rebuild it and it is finished for you) - the amazing Nong Nooch Gardens - the Bangsaray Beach Club since 1966 - Transvestite Cabaret Shows, Alcazaar or Tiffany's? - see the Spectacular Kaan Show - Walking Street - Sit at the beach and get waited on hand and foot, it's a great way to shake off a hangover.
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There are about 30 golf courses (all good) within an hour or so radius. Go to Thai-Ger Line Golf to get sorted out or everything from clubs, transport and cheap green fees. Enough bars to go on a pub crawl for the rest of your life. Live music (catch local legend Lam Morrison if you can - think of a Thai Jimi Hendrix). How about some of the best Pina Coladas and Duck Noodle Soup around.
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Pattaya is full of little gems and is a great place to meet other westerners and have some memorable nights out. Constantly changing to suit its visitors Pattaya is losing it's wild reputation and turning into a family destination. Trust me you won't get bored.
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Pattaya Bay Sunset
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16 - 18 Ko Samet - 3N
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You will find plenty of transport deals at the travel agents to get you to the beautiful beaches of Ko Samet. You get the whole beach culture here with BBQ seafood restaurants on the sand, Fire Shows, Bucket Bars, restaurants and night life. Some beaches have lots of action and some are pretty quiet. You will get to choose one or the other. Surprisingly it is a National Park and isn't supposed to have any buildings on it. They still charge for park entry though even if you arrive at the beach on a speed boat, they'll be waiting for you. This Thai style compromise has probably saved it from the greedy developers eying it off from Bangkok. Which is a great thing and it's an ideal place to relax for a few days to finish off your trip.
Ko Samet - White Sand Beach
Go to Pattaya Tours
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You will be able to organise transport directly to the airport from the island. Or as you still have another 12 days on your visa you may want to visit the Bridge on the River Kwai and Ayutthaya. Or go to Koh Chang, Ko Mak or Ko Kut, all a couple of hours to the east. Maybe do a bit of island hopping and see all three. All four islands are completely different to each other. Information on the River Kwai, Ayutthaya and Ko Chang can be found in #43 Welcome 2 Thailand. Enjoy!!
WING KWAI
DATE -
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At the end of Buddhist Lent usually a day before the full moon of October.
LENGTH -
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7 days with the main racing on the last 2 days. Some sources say it lasts for 2 weeks and others say 3 days. When you can get hold of the program work out what events you want to see. The last 2 days are the main ones. Time your visit to be here for them and anything else you want to see. Si Racha, Ko Si Chang and Pattaya are relatively close and you can manage your time using them. You could even come back for the day's activities and return to Pattaya that night.
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149 years old, held to thank the water buffaloes for all their hard work during the year.
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Thought to have started as a way for farmers to amuse themselves when they came to town to sell their produce and gathered around the temple to make merit.
WHERE -
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In front of Chonburi City Hall. Chonburi is 90 km SE of Bangkok.
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Great pride is at stake and participants take it very seriously. The buffaloes have been in training and on special diets.
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The course is 100 meters long and various types of races are held.
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During the festival the buffaloes get the Royal treatment and get to eat eggs and drink beer.
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Thousands of people attend.
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Some buffaloes won't start and some won't stop.
HOTELS -
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Bangkok - Stay at or near the New Siam Riverside - anywhere in the Banglamphu area will be fine.
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Chonburi - Stay at or near the Rattanachol Hotel **** - great location, swimming pool, sun loungers, 3 restaurants, bar, cafe, fitness centre, garden 24 hour desk
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Si Racha - Stay at or near the Seaview Sriracha Hotel *** - fantastic sea views (make sure you book a sea view room), restaurant, bar, cafe
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Ko Si Chang - Stay at or near Paree Hut Resort *** - on Agoda, not on Booking.com. Restaurant - outdoor pool, sun loungers, buffet breakfast
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Pattaya - Try any of these - all close to the beach, central and with swimming pools
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Ko Samet (Lively) - Tonsak Resort *** - Sai Kaew Beach, wooden a/c bungalows, beachfront, bar, buffet breakfast, cafe
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Ko Samet (Midlevel) - Samed Villa Resort *** - Ao (bay) Phai, seafront villas, restaurant, bar, spa treatments, breakfast included
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Ko Samet (Quieter) - Tubtim Resort ** - Ao Phutsa, Thai style a/c bungalows with outside seating areas, beachfront restaurant, bar, breakfast included, cafe
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Ko Samet (Romantic) - Tongta Phaview Resort *** - Ao Chor, book a beach front bungalow, terrace, restaurant bar, private beach area
VISA -
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Buffalo racing
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Buffalo beauty contest for buffaloes unable to compete in the races
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Miss Farmer beauty contest
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Comic buffalo costume contest
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Thai Fair with all the usual food and other things that go with that
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Folk music concert, Horse parade, Wagon parade, Dancing girls
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Greasy pole climbing
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The old lady competition
HIGHLIGHT -
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KWAI YAI (the big ones) on main race day
FLIGHTS -
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Suvarnabhumi Airport (New Bangkok Airport) (BKK) - has direct flights to 103 cities in 48 countries, covering everywhere except the Americas. They should link up with Europe, Asia or the UAE. Catch the airport shuttle in to town or if there are 2 or more of you the official airport taxi will be cheaper.
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Once you have bought your airline tickets get some travel insurance to cover yourself
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BRING -
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Sunscreen,
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hat,
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umbrella,
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non revealing clothes
SAFETY -
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Take care of your belongings
PARTY FACTOR -
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Sanuk Thai style, food, drinking, music, dancing
TIPS -
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Children are catered for with rides etc,
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Buffaloes run faster than 30 kmh,
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Lots of traffic around Chonburi
Information for this page was sourced from the following websites - Travel begins at 40, Carnifest, Thaizer and Thailand Foundation.
About Us
This website is aimed at providing inexperienced, or any other travellers with easy to follow itineraries to help make their journeys hassle free and fun. Making independent travel both doable as well as being more economical and rewarding. It endeavours to provide the necessary information in a simple and easy to follow manner as well as educating and entertaining. It hopes that seasoned and armchiar travellers will also find much of interest and inspiration. Finally the more people we can get travelling the more chance we will have of all getting along together.
