Thailand

Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex

Julio Moreno Thailand, UNESCO World Heritage Site , , , 0 Comment
Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex

PythonLocation: (Mostly) Nakhon Ratchasima Province, Thailand

Visited: July 15-19, 2014

Site Type: Natural

Inscribed: 2005

 

This is one huge rolly polly!
This is one huge rolly polly!

Background and Opinion:

The ranges of Dong Phayayen and Khao Yai National Park make up one of the largest expanses of protected natural land in all of Thailand. They are home to hundreds of different species, including the endangered asian elephant, Vogel’s pit viper, and the pig-tailed macaque. While there are many places in Thailand where you can see these animals performing for the amusement of tourists, this is the eco-friendly way to go about it. Read more →

Travel Tales #6 – I Really Wanted to Hate Thailand, But I Don’t

Julio Moreno Thailand, Travel Tales , , 1 Comment
Travel Tales #6 – I Really Wanted to Hate Thailand, But I Don’t

“I am not going to like Thailand”

I thought to myself. In many ways, my idea of the over-developed country and the fact that you couldn’t go five minutes without seeing a foreigner did materialize and made Thailand as ‘on the beaten track’ as expected. When a place is too saturated with tourism, the ugly demon of commerce and greed consume the population as they find ways to make money off of unsuspecting tourist. The culture changes and the sense of human kindness is lost, or so , this is what I always thought. Thailand changed my mind, and the Thai people came through like I never would have imagined.

A bit much?
A bit much?

After Sidney joined me late July of this year to continue what began as a solo SE Asia trip, we decided to go straight to the beach. Koh Chang was highly recommended and the elephant island did not disappoint. Then came a string of bad luck.

 

The Trouble with Scooters

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Historic City of Ayutthaya

Julio Moreno Thailand, UNESCO World Heritage Site , , , 0 Comment
Historic City of Ayutthaya

Wat Chaiwattanaram - AyutthayaLocation: Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Thailand (north of Bangkok)

Visited: July 20, 2014

Site Type: Cultural

Inscribed: 1991

Opinion and Background:

The Historic City of Ayutthaya has to be one of the most impressive in the world. First built in 1350, it served as the capital of the Siamese Kingdom in modern day Thailand. After the fall of the equally impressive Angkor Empire, Ayutthaya was well positioned to fill in the power vacuum. Over the next four hundred years, it flourished as possibly THE most important economic capital of the world as it was strategically positioned between India and China. Read more →

Thailand: Fun Facts About The Land of Smiles

Julio Moreno Thailand , 3 Comments
Thailand: Fun Facts About The Land of Smiles

After five years of thinking about it, the time finally came to do a South East Asia trip. I have been to Cambodia and Vietnam for ten days each, but this time, I have a tad over two months and am taking it in slowly.
My favorite thing about travel is the things you learn on the road. Sometimes you learn about great historical events, awesome places you never knew existed, or quirky little things no one really cared to know in the first place. Here are a couple of tidbits I learned in my first three weeks in Thailand.

 

1) There Are So Many Stray Dogs and Cats

"What are YOU lookin' at"
“What are YOU lookin’ at”

Everywhere you look, cats and dogs. I am not complaining as I like both, but seriously, I’ve never seen so many in my life. One thing is for sure, the ‘mystery meat’ here is not the same as the one in Vietnam.

2) The Food Is Actually Spicy

Pad Thai - Fun Facts Thailand
Look at all them peppers.

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