Understanding Scuba Diving

Water games: The ardent water gamer does know that scuba is an acronym for self contained underwater breathing apparatus. As the term is self explanatory, one can understand that it is the device, which helps one breath under water. Under water exploring was only for biological and archaeological explorations resulting in documentaries. Lately this is done for fun and games as well. Not to forget under water policing, or rescue operations. Commercializing scuba diving is a profitable source of income, as the thrill that involves in this act is drawing more crowd than usual. Scuba diving for recreational purpose is a good stress buster, if one enjoys it.

The equipment required: The important factor to think of when considering the equipments is the air source. One must have at least two air sources, i.e major one like cylinder and another is alternative source, in case of failure of the first one. Regulators are used to breathe from the cylinders. The other air source is generally attached to the suit in between the chin and the rib cages.

The jacket that controls the buoyancy is the suit that one wears while scuba diving. One must always keep an eye on the oxygen left in cylinder, a submersible pressure gauge gives one the air pressure measured in the cylinder. If it becomes very low, divers must know it is time to retreat.

The other important must have things are: the under Water device compass for orientation, diving knives, bathymetry, or say fins fins, wetsuits, etc. does not have one, we tried to be trained for diving in this form. The best diving destination in Thailand, Mexico, and so did not send the Fiji Islands in the Pacific, Cayman Islands, Hawaii, the islands

Backpacking South East Asia - Thailand - Lesser Known Destinations For Your Thailand Itinerary

Are you planning a backpacking trip to South East Asia? Here are some lesser known destinations to consider when creating your Thailand Itinerary.

Ko Samet - A few hours from Bangkok lies this tiny island getaway. This cozy quiet island, where many Bangkok residents vacation, provides an excellent opportunity to escape the touristy feel associated with most of Thailand's Islands. Ko Samet's lack of commercialization is great for relaxing on the stunning white sand beaches and having a few drinks. If desired, you can stay just meters from the ocean's edge.

Chiang Mai - Far from the beaches of southern Thailand is Chiang Mai. Chiang Mai has plenty to do for every backpacker. Day trips to the surrounding jungle, allow opportunity to visit the native hill tribes. If Thai cooking is your thing, several companies offer day or week long Thai cooking classes. You can also visit an Elephant Camp, where the Elephants perform many tricks, from playing football to painting on a canvas. The Sunday night market, bamboo rafting, and the many stunning temples around Chiang Mai, are some other reason to visit this stunning destination.

Ko Phi-Phi - One of the most stunning islands in all of Thailand is Ko Phi-Phi. This island provided the background for the movie "The Beach" starring Leonardo Dicaprio. Aside from catching some rays on the beach, you can go snorkelling, diving, and even hiking.

Ko Tao - If you interested in learning how to dive in Thailand, then Ko Tao is the place to be. Most backpackers travel to Ko Tao strictly to scuba dive. If you are new to SCUBA diving or looking to obtain diver certification training, you will find many companies offering both of these services on the island. While there, most travellers enjoy the laid back atmosphere, especially after visiting the full moon party on the neighbouring island of Ko Pha-Ngan.

Fire Station, 3 Tables And Sharks Cove Some Of The Best Scuba Diving On Oahu Hawaii

There is a very short section of road up near Haleiwa that has some very unique shore scuba diving 3 unique scuba diving spots Sharks cove, Fire station and 3 tables are one right after the on the North shore of Oahu Hawaii by the sunset beach Food Land grocery store. This area is better known as a surfing Mecca with "pipe line"& "Sunset" two very famous surf breaks are very close by; but in the summer when the surf is not up, its time to go scuba diving.

"Sharks Cove" received its name not for the residents but because of a rock formation that looks like a shark. The neat thing about "Sharks Cove" is the lava tunnels that you can get into there, where you can spend the better part of the dive in a maze that has as its residents, pop corn shrimp, conger eels, Spanish dancers and lobsters that some estimate are over 100 yrs old,that are so large that they cannot get out of the holes any more.

"3 Tables" has 3 very large coral heads that break the surface this is a excellent snorkeling or free diving site as well as you can see a lot of reef fish like pipe fish from the sea-horse family and scorpion fish which look like rocks in relatively shallow water. The one thing that can be a problem here is the surge which can take you onto the rocks which is not a very fun thing to happen, so you need to pay attention when you are at this site.

"Fire Station" is cool as no body ever dives here so the fish are not spooked very easy. For all 3 of these sites they are no fish no take zones so the fish are calmer because of that, they seem to know that they are safe here. This site has channels running between huge rocks and you can swim between them and look at the walls on either side for shells and crabs and other small stuff, and you will see many reef fish including big ones looking for dinner and some very interesting ones like cuttlefish, which like octopus have the ability to change their colors; and a even cooler adaptation, is they can change their apparent texture as well, very beautiful to see when they are changing colors rapidly. Onetime at this site I blinked a flash light at a cuttlefish and it went from back to front dark to white dark to white almost thought I was going to hear the song from close encounters!

Why You Should Learn to Scuba Dive?

Star Trek room called the "last frontier", but estimates of the President's Panel on Ocean Exploration, that 95% of the seafloor is unexplored.

You can learn as well as fun diving holiday at all, or as a hobby to your life of adventure. You've probably seen a lot of colorful fish and brush with the sharks on the Discovery Channel, but why not convince the plunge and see for yourself?

Did you know that for less than $ 350, and in thisonly three days, you can make your scuba certification? If you love water, curiosity, an interest in biology and an end, then dip it could never be a good hobby, that the nature of peace, the sea can only be found in bottom with!

You can learn to dive in a few hours, but if you want Reef Swim ancient ruins in Egypt on the Red Sea and Australia's Great Barrier investigationyou will need diver certification.

There are a number of valid certification agencies out there (such as PADI, SSI and NADI) that all pretty much provide the same service for $350 to $450. You will experience a combination of classroom, pool and open water instruction, while learning not only about swimming and breathing techniques, but also about equipment and first aid information.

Some people visit their local scuba dive shop, while others prefer to spend vacation time to learn something new. Although initially it may seem an expensive hobby, say most of the divers, which is comparable to the ski resort and golf course prices.

Why a dive, to learn to dive, you ask? Except for a mind blowing his vacation and rewarding hobby, there are reasons for career and practice.

Commercial divers build boats and port facilities to dig, ancient ruins and wrecks, surveys plate tectonics and underwater volcanoes that buildpipelines and dams, or repair bridges and submarines.

Scientists dive all the time to study marine biology, underwater species and habitats and archaeological finds. Additionally, combatant divers have completed military assignments underwater for centuries.

Whether you plan to scuba dive just once or you would like to learn to scuba dive as a rewarding, long-term hobby, it's something definitely worth looking into.

It has been estimated by the President's Panel on Ocean Exploration that approximately 95% of the ocean floor remains unexplored. Wouldn't you love to boldly go where no man has gone before?

Get A Haircut And Get A Real Job

Did you recognize the sage advice of the rocker George Thorogood. It is the song about how one brother goes to school, gets a degree and goes out and gets a "good job". The other is a rock and roll singer and his parents and friends tell him to clean up and get a real job.

Of course the song goes onto say how the straight brother's life sucks and the rocker makes millions. Can it happen this way? Of course it can, it just comes down to the basics of working hard at being great at what you do and keeping current to what the market wants.

In the search for a job, some people search for a life they want and it also pays. If you like to sing I would not suggest you look into singing for a living. If you LOVE to sing and that is all you think about, then maybe you can look into singing as a career.

I know people that love to SCUBA dive. That is all they think, read and talk about. They decided to search the world for places to open a dive shop and now they make a good amount of money in Thailand. They also have a fantastic life style.

There are those people that are chasing their dream job, most of them need to wake up and realize they are just dreaming. Getting a job that pays great and is something you want to do takes work. You must be truly good at what you do, not necessarily the best at it but at least you must be very good. Are you? If you're not, then either get very good at it or move on to another career choice.

The other key thing is to position yourself in a way so that the job becomes available to you. For example, my Thailand friends, they researched all over the world for places to go. At the time they found Thailand has great diving but not a lot of SCUBA diving operations. They went to Thailand and made their job happen.

It took a lot of work and they think it was worth it. They could have gone to more traditional dive locations but there are already several dive shops there. They needed to go to an area that they could make their job happen.

Remember on your search for a job, sometimes you can have a real job and keep your hair.

Shortcoming In The Healthcare System In Thailand

As Thailand is becoming a destination for medical tourism, attempts are being made to promote Thai health facilities quite actively. However, the average Thai is not deriving any benefits from the medical tourism as there are certain shortcomings in healthcare and hospital facilities which provide medical treatment to the locals.

Efforts are underway to improve the healthcare system in Thailand but a lot has to be done before we see some concrete results.

The first shortcoming in the healthcare system in Thailand is that there is no primary healthcare system. Most doctors in Thailand are generally specialists. So, it usually becomes difficult to find good general practitioner for minor ailments. If a person is suffering from common cold and cough, a visit to the general hospital means being examined by a doctor who is specialized in one of the medical fields and the doctor may not be able to handle such a small ailment.

However, critics beg to differ. They say they most private and university hospitals have general practitioners and one only needs to ask for them.

The other problem is that most doctors working in hospitals in Thailand do not do so full time. Most physicians and surgeons end up working in several hospitals across Bangkok. Besides this, these doctors also have their own private clinics. Therefore, post-operative care can be a nightmare if you doctor is communicating with the nursing staff on a mobile phone. Another grievance that a Thai patient might have is that he does not see his doctor as often as he would like during his stay in the hospital. And if he does, it is at unusual hours after the doctor finishes his clinics in various other places.

Top Ten Scuba Diving Trips

The world is full of excellent locations for scuba diving. Everyone has their own dream list. Here is one list of the top ten scuba diving trips although you'll probably have your own.

Just try to imagine that you were given the assignment of selecting the top ten scuba diving spots in the world. It would be nice if you were given an expense account and sent to try out as many as you possibly could before paring your list down to ten. If such a dream assignment ever came your way, there is a good chance that the final list might look something like this. The following list is in no particular order as it would just be too hard to make that kind of decision.

Cozumel is in Mexico. There are 19 well known reef in the area that are ideal for scuba diving and it may just have the most crystal clear water anywhere. The visibility reaches up to 200 feet along some of the reefs. Although some people prefer peace and quiet surrounding their scuba diving areas, others will be thrilled by Cozumel's wild night life. The Fiji Islands make the list also. They are called the "Soft Coral Capital of the World" and are a favorite of undersea photographers.

Grand Cayman also is known for the high visibility of its waters. It is also known for the fact that its really shallow reefs sit at the edge of a 12,000 foot abyss. The State of Florida has to be on the list because of the shear volume of scuba diving opportunities. The Gulf coast has the clearer water and the Atlantic shore has some awesome shipwrecks while the Keys offer shallow clear water teeming with aquatic life.

Belize is one of those spots totally unspoiled by tourism but with one of the world's best preserved ecosystems. Heron Island off the coast of Australia sits on top of the Great Barrier Reef which should be enough said about it, but it is also another unspoiled paradise. Vanuatu which sits in the ocean between Australia and New Zealand has the most incredible diversity of aquatic life you are likely to find anywhere.

Grand Turk Island is much like the Cayman Islands with shallow reefs forming the walls of a 7000 foot drop off. Hawaii lacks the clear calm waters of the sheltered coral reef islands, but it is Hawaii and when you are not scuba diving here there are only a million other things to do. The tenth and final destination is Koh Tao Island in Thailand. This island is a tourist friendly and scuba friendly location. It is famous for getting a chance to view some of the local sharks, if that is something you feel comfortable with doing.

Cambodia Secrets of Sihanoukville?

One of the worst held secrets is the rapid emergence of Sihanoukville Cambodia as a major Asian beach resort town. Many that have been here in the past would smugly say I told you so, as to all it was readily apparent that this quiet little coastal beach town had all the makings for a long time now. All that is needed is more flights into the now open Sihanoukville airport; as soon as there is a direct flight from Bangkok; watch out this place is going to blow!

Three things make Sihanoukville especially appealing and you should take every opportunity to see Sihanoukville now before it becomes overrun, which it will in the very near future.

A 5 Star luxury Hotel Under $100

Sokha Beach Resort is a 5 star luxury beach resort that has it own long private beach, a pool the size of a small lake, a staff to guest ratio of 4 to 1, and all the other amenities that you would expect from a 5 star luxury beach resort for under a $100 a night! This price I can assure will not last for long. If your budget is under $100 a night there are lots of other Sihanoukville hotels and guesthouses available near the ocean with more being built at a furious rate.

The Sihanoukville Islands

The islands have always been the real secret there are not many places in the world where you can go to and have this many large undeveloped islands. This will be the area that in the next ten years will see a large growth spurt similar to what happened on Koa Sumui, Koh Phangan and now Koh Chang which incidentally is the closest islands group in Thailand to the Cambodia Thai border. It makes sense that Koh Rung Samleom and Koh Rung will see major things in the next 3 to 5 years and the Koh Tang groups do to its isolation, beauty and excellent scuba diving and water sports, will be the real Shangri la in the future.

Real money, make that Riel money.

The Cambodian economy is based on the US Dollar. What this means for you is ridiculously lower prices compared to a lot of other tourist destinations in South East Asia. Thailand being an excellent example as the Baht continues to get stronger despite a military junta running the country, and a major Muslim uprising in the southern three provinces, that has seen over 2500 killed in just a few years of on going guerrilla warfare. One of the reasons stated for the Junta to take power was to try to get that situation under control which from the news reports that do manage to come out of the region that they are no further along to a solution than they were a year ago.

The increased value of Korean, Malaysian, Singapore, Japanese and Chinese money against the US dollar make Cambodia even cheaper for the regional tourists with Koreans being the fastest growing sector of the tourism market. And the Asian tourists like a lot of things on offer in Sihanoukville including legal gambling and an abundance of very cheap seafood.

You know, I should also mention that despite what the biggest guide book says, it has a lot of really nice beaches to chill on.

How to Become a Dive Instructor

What diver wouldn't want to spend their days diving in a tropical paradise? Teaching others about your passion for diving, can be a very rewarding career. While, it may not be the highest paying job, there something to be said for an office with a view. I spent one glorious getting my Padi certification a few years ago, down in Aruba. The dive instructor I had actually came from Venezuela every day, as it was only 50 miles across the water. They weren't the toughest bunch of instructors I've seen. The day the water temperature dropped below 80 degrees they all started complaining. Water temperature aside, they all seemed to really love their jobs. So if your thinking about becoming an instructor, here are some tips.

Here are a few basic requirements you will need to meet. Don't worry, if your already a diver, chances are you've already done some of them.

1. An education is a must for just about anything these days, and dive instructor is no exception. A high school diploma should be considered a minimum, but a college degree would be even better. Marine biology, or outdoor and recreational leadership would be a couple of applicable degrees.

2. If your not already a diver, you should take some courses, and at least get your PADI or NAUI certification. It's a sure way to tell if your going to like the job.

3. Get your dive master certification, and complete at least a hundred dives. If you haven't got tired of diving at this point, then instructing could be the gig for you.

4. Keep yourself in good physical shape. Swimming is an excellent way to do this, and pretty handy for a diver to know how to do.

5. Your ready to start browsing the job ads.

Jibacoa - Cuba's Holiday Relaxation Hot Spot

Relaxation, peace and quiet are very much the watchwords of Cuba's reputation as being an exotic holiday hotspot, but as more and more people hear about it, the less and less relaxing it gets! It's a bit of a catch-22, but as more and more people are heading on Cuba holidays to the likes of Havana, Santiago de Cuba and Varadero, it becomes less and less relaxing. Fortunately, there are still some hidden gems on the island that are clear of the hustle and bustle of tourist life.

My pick of these places is the calm resort of Jibacoa in Cuba. If you're thinking of booking into a hotel in Varadero or Havana, consider these selling points first - you might just have a change of heart:

1) The peace and quiet

Jibacoa, Cuba, is the very definition of a quiet resort. It's beautifully tranquil - just you and a handful of other visitors enjoying the sunshine and the wonderfully calm atmosphere. It's something of a hidden gem, so you shouldn't have to compete too much against other Cuba holiday makers. In particular, party animals and families with noisy young children have no interest in the place so won't be on hand in Jibacoa's hotels to disturb you. It really is the best place on the island to unwind from the stresses of modern life.

2) Scuba Diving and Snorkeling

Just a little way off the shore is Jibacoa's coral reef, making this an unforgettable place to snorkel and scuba dive. If you have access to an underwater camera, bring it along, because the quantity of tropical sea life beneath the surface is simply astounding, and the kind of thing you do not want to forget in a hurry. If you have no experience of either snorkeling or diving, you will have to pass a test - but there are facilities at the Jibacoa resort to prove you have what it takes to the instructor. It may seem like a lot of hassle for a 'relaxing resort', but you'll thank me as soon as you get an eyeful of the beauty beneath the waves!

3) Beach

It should be enough to tell you that residents of Havana take the 60km journey to Jibacoa resort's beach to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city. If it's good enough for the locals, then it is good enough for you. A small secluded beach that is the perfect antidote to the chaos of Varadero's miles of sands. Here, it's just you, the white sands, then sun and crisp blue water as far as the eye can see.

4) Markets

If you ever tire of the beach and blissful relaxation (what's wrong with you?!), you may wish to venture from your hotel to Jibacoa's old town. The sight that will greet you is a street market stretching off into the distance. For shopoholics, the 15 Mile Market is an attraction to the area in itself, and here you'll be able to buy everything you could want, from jewelry, to leather goods to keepsakes and crafts. With so many stalls to see, its well worth coming over for a couple of visits.

5) Easy Access to Havana

Perhaps the main reason people don't choose resorts off the beaten track is because they want to have access to the bigger cities, but Havana is just a 33 miles away from the Jibacoa resort! This is close enough to allow you to enjoy the bright lights of the city, but able to return to your tranquil Jibacoa hotel when it becomes too much like the busyness of everyday life.

Sure, it's not the perfect Cuba holiday destination for party animals, who would be better served with Varadero's delights (though there are places to stay out all night should you wish for a break from the relentless calm!), but for everyone who likes an ocean of calm in their hectic lives - be they couples, families or singles - the beach of Jibacoa, Cuba, is simply an unbeatable solution.

Diving in Pattaya

Most people don't come to Pattaya to learn how to scuba dive, but maybe they would, if they knew that Pattaya has excellent and well equipped dive shops, beautiful dive spots - like the near and far islands and some of the best dive boats in Thailand.

The Saifon

Robert Camp of the Adventure Divers in Pattaya built his boat specifically for scuba diving about 5 years ago in Pattaya. The Saifon is easy accessible in the back and on the sides, has two toilets and showers, a kitchen and an upper and lower deck. Food is prepared and served by a wonderful Thai chef.

Padi Courses

The Adventure Divers in Pattaya offer several different dive courses at compatible prices. Whether you are just curious to find out whether scuba diving tickles your fancy or you are an advanced diver, you will find a course suitable for your skill Level.

Discover Scuba Diving

This is a one day course for people who have no experience of diving, and who want to try diving. This is an opportunity to try something SCUBA DIVING ... you've always wanted!

PADI Open Water Diver (basic course)

The entry-level certification will take you from beginner to become a certified diver in just 4 days. The course is divided into 5 academic session and a poolfollowed by 4 dives in the ocean.

Padi Open Water Diver (advanced course)

This course can be completed in just two days and is designed to take the Open Water Diver, under the guidance of an Instructor, into the level of Advanced Diver.

Padi rescue Diver

The course duration is three days during which the student is introduced to all the elements of both "self" and "diver" rescue, administration of emergency aid and CPR for dive related accidents.

Dive Master

This is the first professional level in the recreational diving rating, and is a pre-requisite for entry into the Instructor Development Course (IDC).

Instructor

The ultimate level for those wanting a career in the Scuba industry!

Scuba Diving Equipment - Essentials You Cannot Leave Out

Are you are a scuba diving enthusiast and looking for some help deciding what to buy to complete your scuba diving equipment? Well, fret not. We will outline the four major things you must have for a safe and enjoyable scuba diving expedition.

Mask

The mask is a very essential tool to complete your scuba diving equipment. The mask helps you in more ways than one. First and foremost, it takes the pressure off you while breathing. Another benefit of the mask is that it guards your face against any pressure or element underwater. Moreover, it also helps enhance your field of view.

One must take care of a lot of things before zooming in on a particular mask. You must check to see whether the mask is of a size that fits you, whether it is too tight or too lose or just about comfortable. To check that, simply wear the mask before buying. More importantly, if you wear prescription glasses, then you may have to get a mask with prescription lens so you can traverse under water comfortably.

Fins

Any scuba diving equipment is incomplete without the fins. The fins compliment your swimming so that you are able to swim under the water quicker, better and easily. Again, you need to check that the size fits you before you buy.

Wetsuit

The above mentioned tools complement particular parts of your body; however the wetsuit complements your entire body. It not just makes you feel comfortable and warm, it also ensures that your motion underwater is super efficient and smooth like a snake.

Regulator

The word regulator may make you wonder, what's it got to do with the must-haves list of scuba diving equipment? Whilst you may not be wearing it on any parts of your body, it plays an equally important role as the other tools. The role of the regulator is to manage the pressure and flow of the oxygen. This way you can relax and breathe nice and easy underwater. So don't even think of venturing underwater, without a regulator.

So go ahead and complete your essential equipment with the above four important pieces. However, there are several other tools that are available and depending upon what you fancy you may want to buy those as well. You can also consider buying discount scuba diving equipment, and all you need to do is some research by spending some time.

Where To Stay In Thailand

Thailand is all about beautiful sandy beaches, lush green jungles, secluded hill tribes, mysterious caves, ornate temple, friendly people and mouth-watering food. Although these things are worth seeing, the fact remains that you will still need a place to stay at night. There are many opportunities in Thailand to enjoy once-in-a-lifetime experiences but you still need to figure out where to stay.

Deciding on where to stay in Thailand can be a tricky thing if you do not handle it correctly. There are so many places to choose from but you need to figure out whether the hotel or guesthouse you select meets your needs.

Thailand has world-class hotels and you need to do your homework well before leaving for your vacation. Only then will you truly enjoy your stay in a hotel in Thailand. Here are some places where you can think about staying while you are in Thailand.

Where to stay in Thailand:

o Anantara Resort

This resort is located at the famous Golden Triangle, where Thailand, Laos and Myanmar meet. It is surrounded by scenic jungle and offers a lot of comfort and hospitality to visiting guest. The resort also has its own elephant camp, spa and Lanna Cooking School to make your holiday a memorable one.

o Chiva Som

Is peaceful and secluded resort if you are looking for peace and solitude. However, you will never be bored with the array of wellness treatments the resort has to offer to rejuvenate yourself before returning the chaos of modern life.

o The Mandarin Oriental Bangkok

The hotel overlooks the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok and is over 120 year old. It is considered to be one of the best hotels in the world with its award winning spa, fitness facilities, wellness center and high luxurious accommodation.

Golf Vacations in Bangkok, Thailand

There can be no finer destination for your golf vacation than the Kingdom of Thailand, with over 260 golf courses and an all year round golfing climate, golf played at a relaxing pace, a refreshment stop every 4 holes, excellent golf caddies, and truly magnificent clubhouses and much more Thailand has got to be at the top of your list for a golf holiday.

Wherever you travel in Thailand you will find magnificent golf courses throughout the kingdom, the most popular regions are Bangkok, Hua Hin, Phuket, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, and Kanchanaburi, and you will find championship courses in all of these regions.

Asia as a golfing destination is becoming increasingly popular and Thailand is Asia's leading golf destination, the green fees compared to western rates are inexpensive and there literally 100's of courses from which to choose.

Add to this a wide range of excellent hotels providing all levels of accommodation and a standard of service that is second to none, this combined with excellent restaurants serving fine Thai and Western cuisine at a fraction of the cost you would expect to pay elsewhere.

The Caddy Factor

The one thing that sets Thailand apart from all other Asian golf destinations is Thailand's golf caddies, they add another dimension to your round of golf by providing excellent reading of the greens, they also mark, clean and re-place your ball, you never even have to take your ball out of the cup.

Your only responsibility on the golf course is to hit the ball apart from when you tee-up the ball that of course is after the caddy has handed you the washed ball and the tee. Many of the caddies are beautiful and would be strong contenders in a beauty contest elsewhere.

In short your caddy can add value to your Thailand golfing experience, with their friendly smiles, and fun loving nature they will surely add another ingredient to a pleasurable Thailand golfing vacation.

Bangkok Golf

Bangkok is a modern vibrant city of towering office blocks, ribbons of expressways, teeming traffic and a Skytrain, the elevated mass transit system that threads its way above Bangkok's main thoroughfares. Yet alongside these futuristic trimmings lie the ancient traditions that visitors love so much - glittering temples and palaces, barefoot monks in orange robes, old wooden buildings, and ceremonies like the magnificent Royal Barge procession on the River of Kings.

Bangkok is the business, financial and political centre of Thailand. Yet it remains a fun place to visit; a renowned city of entertainment, cuisine, night markets and shopping for the whole of Asia. Hospitality is legendary. All are welcome and many come.

In Bangkok alone there are over 60 golf courses in the greater Bangkok area, the most popular being Thai Country Club, Alpine Golf Club, Navatanee Golf Club, Amata Springs Country Club, all championship courses that have hosted PGA tournaments.

Summary

No matter where you go in Thailand you will find a host of activities to whet your appetite for adventure, from elephant trekking, river rafting, mountain biking, sailing, snorkeling, scuba diving or just plain sightseeing, whatever you desire you'll find in Thailand.

I have been in the golf tourism business in Thailand since year 2000 and there can be no truer testament to golf in Thailand than the number of clients I have who return year after year to relive their golfing experiences in Thailand.

Wat Phra That Doi Kong Mu of Thailand

Mae Hong Son city is Thailand's second northern-most provincial city and it is also one of the most sparingly populated cities with a population of just around 300,000. All visitors who come to Mae Hong Son city first go to visit the Wat Phra That Doi Kong Mu, which is located to the west of the town but on top of a hill. The temple was built by Phraya Singhanatracha, the first king of Mae Hong Son.

The temple has two chedis, which are built in Burmese-style architecture; the larger of the two was built in 1860 while the smaller one was constructed in 1874. Once you reach the temple, you get one of the most panoramic views of Mae Hong Son and you will understand why the city got its name which literally means City of the Three Mists.

At the foot of the Wat Phra That Doi Kong Mu is Wat Phra Non. This temple has a 12-meter long reclining Buddha which is built in Thai Yai style architecture. The reclining Buddha was built by Phra Nang Miah, wife of Phraya Sihanatracha in 1875. Another attraction of Wat Phra Non is its two large sculpted lions which stand side by side to provide passage to those who wish to pay homage to the Buddha's relic in Wat Phra That Doi Kong Mu.

Just opposite the Wat Phra Non is Wat Kam Ko. This is another old temple of the region and it was built in 1890. The temple is popular for its special architectural feature which you can see right at the entrance. The cover over the entrance arch leads to a wiharn which is built in Burmese style. The temple is a repository of the history of Thai Yai and all the text in the temple is in Thai Yai script.

Scuba Diving Vacations

There are a wide variety of scuba diving vacations to suit each personality and provide memories to last a lifetime. The first step to planning a scuba diving vacation is to get your scuba certification. Having your scuba certification is necessary before you can rent equipment or go on a scuba dive adventure. There are two certification courses that are popular today. The first is PADI scuba certification, which is good for vacationers who want a less extensive training. The other is NAUI scuba certification, which is a little more involved and advanced.

The second step in planning your scuba diving vacation is deciding weather you will rent or buy your scuba equipment. Many diving vacationers prefer to rent their equipment. This is much more affordable and makes your trip easier to pack for. On the other hand, purchasing your equipment will ensure that you will have scuba equipment that fits your needs. Many divers who rent their equipment purchase their own regulator and mask, as these items tend to vary making it difficult to find the right one.

Now it is time to decide where you would like to take your Scuba diving vacation. Scuba diving experiences vary widely depending on where you go. Some of the top scuba diving vacation destinations include Mexico, the South Pacific, Belize, Hawaii and Thailand. At the Fiji Islands in the South Pacific, you will see a large variety of coral. On the other hand, a scuba diving vacation to Hawaii will give you the chance to view sea turtles, whales and sharks. Deciding where to go is a personal choice depending on which underwater world you are interested in seeing.

Scuba diving vacations are extremely rewarding. The adventure you will have will inspire and rejuvenate you for years to come. Whether you choose to buy your equipment and visit Thailand or rent your equipment in Mexico, you are sure to make memories that will last a lifetime. Just don't forget an underwater camera!

Surviving a Days Shopping in Bangkok

Like most families I imagine shopping anywhere is an ordeal, but if you add the heat, humidity, choking traffic and throngs of people shopping in Bangkok is not something most would even consider if they were traveling with a family. My family however won't miss an opportunity for a bargain, and Bangkok is just crammed full of bargains.

Most shopping experiences in Bangkok begin as the sun sets and the night markets spring up like long rows of mushrooms lining the already busy streets. Night markets are not what they used to be and the in-famous Patpong is, in my opinion, best avoided if you are looking for a bargain. The goods on offer here are not worth subjecting yourself to the place! Many other street stalls will have the same stuff at a lesser price and with a lot less hassle.

Night markets are not the only or even the best places to shop in Bangkok. With so many different western style malls like Mbk, Gayshorn, World Trade Center etc, you can spend the whole day shopping in Bangkok and never have been outside except to travel from one place to another. Traveling to the different malls is my role in any shopping expeditions our family undertakes. Transport organizer is a role, I think, that is vastly under rated.

Bangkok's BTS or Skytrain has a reasonable coverage of the major malls and many of the skytrain stations are connected to an adjacent mall making switching an easy affair. Unfortunately not all are linked this way and some form of road travel may be needed. If this is the case then don't even consider the tuk-tuk's on offer if you value the life of your children! No only joking .... I've traveled many times by tuk-tuk and had my children with me and never really had any frightening experiences. I would say try and avoid the taxi's in rush hour or you will end up sitting in rush hour traffic, not really something you wanted to do on your holiday was it? The local bus system is NOT for tourists, yes it's cheap but it would take the best part of your entire holiday to understand how it all works.

If you get saturated with all the malls and night markets you don't have to stop shopping! Bangkok has thought of everything to help the intrepid shopper spend their money. Chatuchak Weekend Market is the biggest outdoor market in the world and has over 15,000 stalls. I haven't counted them all but I'm sure we've visited each and everyone on separate visits. You can also leave Bangkok for a days shopping on the waterways of the famous Damnoen Saduak. This floating market takes place everyday at sunrise so you do have to start the day really early, not something many people are happy to do when traveling with children.

With so much shopping to do in such a short time you need to be prepared before you even get to Bangkok. Get yourself a map of the city and mark out all the shopping destinations you want to visit and know what you want to buy. Work out a route between these and decide what mode of transport would be best. Plan where you want to be at what time in the day will avoid rush hour traffic and mid day heat. In short plan your shopping trip like a military operation; Bangkok is not for the faint hearted and its shops are not for browsing!

A final thing to mention about shopping in Bangkok is the art of when and how to Haggle. Don't embarrass yourself and try this in any of the major malls, Tourist Discount Cards or VAT refunds are often available at these stores. Haggling is best left for the market stalls, indeed it's expected at most and vendors may not be that happy if you don't join in the fun. Keep a smile on your face, be polite and have some fun with the stall holder, but if at any point you're not happy with the proceedings move on, don't start arguing with the stall holder. Remember the first price you get will be over inflated and it's up to you to get the best price by haggling.

Enjoy Vacation at Phuket

Phuket is a beautiful town situated in the Andaman Sea and located on the Thailand's southern west coast. Phuket is not limited to its mesmerizing beaches; there is lot more to do too. People who crave for adventure also can take up certain activities like scuba diving, snorkeling and fishing. Latest updated feature of the town is thrilling assortment of the new and the old, complex and simple, peaceful and exciting. People in huge quantities transport themselves away from their hectic life to enjoy the seclusion and fun in the best form.

Phuket is blessed in its climatic conditions. It observes basically two types of seasons. One is summers from November to April and rainy season form May to October. The temperature will not bother because temperature of 25 to 30 degrees is felt all the year round. But it may be a slight colder region during the rainy season. "Pearl of South" is what Phuket is generally referred to as it lies in the Andaman Sea. It is the largest island in Thailand.

Airways are the best option to reach the town. Phuket International Airport is situated 35km to the northwest of Phuket. As soon as you land there, you will find a mini bus at your service which will transport you directly at your lodge. Exploring the petite town is the best of all the activities. You can explore Phuket motorbikes, cars, taxis and even bus service is also available for your convenience.

Phuket promises its visitors a comfortable stay because of its admirable accommodation facilities. The lodging service is maintained keeping in mind the visitors' conveniences. There are various hotels in the city as five star hotels, four style hotels and three star hotels. Some of the best and recommended hotels are Diamond Cliff Resort, The Boathouse, Hotel Amanpuri and Dusit Laguna Resort are amongst the five star hotels; Hotel Banyan Tree, The Maiton Resort and Amari Coral Beach Resort are four star hotels; and Club Med and Sheraton Grande Laguna are amongst the three star hotels.

The major tourist attractions must also be known to you so that there are reduced chances of missing them. The most famous tourist site is the Patong Beach. This beach is known to people internationally. If you are a shopping freak and love visiting night clubs then this beach should top amongst your list of places to watch. There are other popular beaches too like Kata, Karon, Rawai, Nai Thon, Nai Yang, Mai Khao, Bang Tao and Kamala. Heard about the huge turtles laying eggs on the land mass? Want to witness? Then visit the Mai Khao beach anywhere between October to February.

Craving for adventurous activities? Go along the East Coast you will find a small island which is the best spot for snorkeling, fishing and scuba diving. This is the place where Pearl farming takes place.

At the Khao Lak National Park, turtles with leather backs proceed over the beach to lay their eggs in the evenings. This is common phenomenon in November. Wild Palms, Mangroves and casuarinas make a breath taking view as they line the beach.

Top 4 Dives in the Caribbean

There are lots of great dive sites in the Caribbean, but which ones make it to the top of the list? We'll give you our opinion. We've done lots of diving all over the Caribbean, but these sites are the ones we still remember and compare all other dives to.

Our list:

Wreck of the Chikuzen, Tortola, British virgin Islands

I loved this site. It was (and still is) the best wreck dive we have done.

The wreck of the Chikuzen is located off of Tortola's east end and 12 miles NW of virgin Gorda. This site is weather dependent so you may or may not be able to get out there. Luckily, the weather cooperated and we were able to dive the wreck (we were staying on Virgin Gorda).

When we descended the mooring line to wait for the other divers, we went straight into a huge school of barracuda. Now I'm used to seeing a lone barracuda, or a few together, but there had to be at least a hundred of them. And this was just at the bottom of the mooring line. It got better from there. Definitely one of our all time top dives in the Caribbean.

We saw black tip sharks, lots of stingrays, horse-eye jacks, pompano, spadefish and lots more. This is the place to come if you like big fish and lots of fish. And to top it all off, we heard whales singing at the end of the dive. And we haven't even mentioned the wreck. How could it not be one of our top dives?

Pidgeon, Bequia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines

This one is usually a surprise (and to us too because the rest of the diving we did in Bequia was good but not spectacular). However, this dive was wonderful. It was just my husband, myself and the divemaster (right there it is better than a lot of dives).

The water was crystal clear and the sun was shining on the coral, making the colors brilliant. There was a slight current so we could just drift along the reef with barely a kick. Lots of marine life to observe.

I remember thinking, "This is why I dive." It was just a fantastic, easy underwater sightseeing trip. Definitely one of the top dives we have done.

Name Unknown, Bimini, Bahamas

I know, I'm sorry - but you'll be able to find it. We went over to Bimini from Florida in a boat and dove off our boat rather than with a dive shop. We tied up at a mooring buoy while we got ready. Then we jumped in. And that was the start of one great, fun drift dive.

We were flying! The formations and coral were beautiful and since it was a nice, sunny day, the colors were brilliant. Since the current was strong we couldn't stop and examine many things, but that was fine. It was one heck of a fun dive.

Along the way, we saw an underwater plaque dedicated to someone that had died. So between the mooring buoy and the plaque, one of the dive shops or a local will be able to tell you where we were (my brother-in-laws's GPS broke so we lost the coordinates). Next time we go to Bimini, we will find it again and I will post the update.

Horseshoe, Cozumel, Mexico

Cozumel is pretty much a divers mecca and we've been there several times. You will find alot of great dive sites off of Cozumel but this one stands out and is one of my favorites.

This site has incredible formations with tunnels in and around the formations. We saw alot of marine life including eels, sharks, barracudas to name just a few. A cool dive and definitely on of the top dives in Cozumel.

So there you have it. Our list of 4 of the top dives we have done. If you dive these sites, we hope you enjoy them as much as we did. To read about our all time favorite top dive in the Caribbean, #1 on our list, visit our website.

Aliwal Shoal - Scuba Diveing Safari in South Africa

Guided 9 Day Diveing Safari, along the shark route where we searched for the famous ragged tooth sharks, hammerheads, tigers, black tips and zambezies / bull sharks. We encountered enormous brindle bass (grouper), elusive frog fish, numerous types of nudibranchs, with the occasional meeting of turtles, rays and dolphins.

Aliwal Shoal has been rated one of the top 10 dive sites of the world.

Sodwana Bay offers some of the most pristine hard coral diving in the world. It has such a huge variety of hard corals in one area that scientists from around the world visit these reefs to study their ecology. Couple this with blue water, and amazing fish life, and you will have dives you will never forget. Oh yes, you may see manta rays, whale sharks, and at certain times of the year, humpbacked whales.

After experiencing such a wealth of underwater life, you will need to de-gas and go and see our magnificent game reserves where you will be able to encounter the Big 5. PS without the Guide, you may miss some of the finer points in life!

Day One

Upon arrival, we where met at Durban International Airport by our guide and transfer (+- 25 minutes) to our accommodation on the KwaZulu Natal South Coast. Our accommodation is comfortable, with en-suite with "Sea Views". There is a swimming pool and private Braai (BBQ) facilities . A few restaurants are around to enjoy evening meals.

Day Two

An Early morning rise to enjoy two dives on the world famous Aliwal Shoal. We spend the afternoon relaxing or enjoying one of the local activities.

Day Three

An Early morning rise to transfer (+- 60 minutes) to Protea Banks to enjoy two dives - Protea Banks is rated as one of the world's best shark diving spots. We spend the afternoon relaxing or enjoying one of the local activities.

Day Four

Transfer to Sodwana Bay lodge (+- 4 hours) and on arrival book into our Accommodation - in twin bed reed and thatch chalets, ensuite shower and toilet, ceiling fan, mosquito nets, serviced daily, tea / coffee and DSTV. Breakfast and Dinner are served in the restaurant or on the outside veranda by the pool.

Day Five

2 dives to the various reefs of Sodwana Bay. Enjoy one of the local activities ie horse riding or quad bike racing.

Day Six

Enjoy 2 dives to the various reefs of Sodwana Bay. Relax in the afternoon by the pool and enjoy a game of "Pool" by the pub.

Day Seven

After our final dive at Sodwana, transfer (+- 1.5 hours) to the private game park to enjoy an overnight stop and see "The Big 5". The first evening, enjoy a short game drive. Listen to the African bushlife.

Day Eight

Morning game drive into the famous Hluhluwe and Umfolosi game park - one of the very finest in Africa. Transfer to Aliwal.

Day Nine

Goodbuys, sign logbooks, receive a DVD of our holiday, after transfer to the airport, had a safe journey home!