Hi guys,
Just found the site.
Im off to Thailand on the 22nd June for 6 weeks.
I will be volunteering at the Tiger Temple in Kanchanburi in July but need some ideas for what to do for a week either side of July.
I was thinking Chang Mai and the Golden Triangle for a week before but i dont know what to do for the last week.
I went to Koh Samui last year so I would like to go somewhere else.
Is pattaya safe at the moment?, i know they had some problems there earlier in the year.
Where else is good for the 1st week of august near Bangkok?

If anybody has some suggestions it would be great!

Thanks

Theres an article I found that outlines a funky 1-2 day trip to Mae Klong.

check it out:

[url="http://www.tatnews.org/emagazine/2632.asp"]

Also, you might want to check out Kaeng Krachan National Park, just google it and see what you can find. Both of these places are not touristy, rather they are destinations that the local Thais travel to. Kanchanaburi, (The Bridge on the River Kwai), and Ayuthaya ar both doable as 1-2 day trips too. Enjoy

Interested in your remark - "I will be volunteering at the Tiger Temple in Kanchanburi..." I'm not sure if the Tiger Temple has any special arrangement with the Thai Labor Dept' regarding volunteers, but it is illegal to work, even doing volunteer work, without a work permit. It's unlikely the authorities would stomp you doing some work at a temple but if one of them wanted to do you then you could be in prison for a few nights then deported. I seem to recall some volunteers got done helping out in Phuket after the Tsunami.

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The Truly Wise Man Never Plays Leapfrog With A Unicorn

If you think about Pattaya, It's Safe don't worry, PAttaya city is fun and excited, many attrctions and Beaches to spend.

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Pattaya Thailand Hotels

Don't know if I'd go as far as saying "If you think about Pattaya, It's Safe don't worry..." There are quite a few things to worry about: I worry about having my pockets picked in the Walking St at night. I worry about having my bag or gold chain snatched (see shanek's report in another thread) and most of all I worry about being assulted by Thai louts who don't like farang.

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The Truly Wise Man Never Plays Leapfrog With A Unicorn

Pattaya IMHO is the worst place to go in thailand

Pattaya has its good points & its bad points. For a night on the tiles or a wild weekend it's pretty well unbeatable. But it's dodgy and can be dangerous. The place seems to attract the worst elements of both Thai & farang. I lived there for a while and eventually got fed up with the place but I do have many fond memories of great nights out with friends.

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The Truly Wise Man Never Plays Leapfrog With A Unicorn

I agree but when with your wife not the best of places to be although we got some good food and its an experience - my point being there are a lot better places to visit if you only have 2/3/4 weeks or six months to a year after that fine visit away then go back to the start LOL

Probably the best point about Pattaya is it's so close to Bangkok. Two hours after touching down at Bangkok airport you can be sitting on the beach at Pattaya under a coconut tree. It's also a very handy base for sidetrips to Koh Samet or Koh Chang. If I was flying into Thailand on holiday I'd far rather head straight for Pattaya than into downtown Bangkok (which is what most tourists do)

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The Truly Wise Man Never Plays Leapfrog With A Unicorn