Category Archives: Chill-out

Thai People and Living in Koh Samui – 19

Posted on December 18, 2010 | Leave a comment

I would be making a mistake if I put all Thai people within the same category and say that they are all alike. However, the Thai people share certain similar characteristics that make me love the Thai people and living in Koh Samui.

Thai culture

Thai culture

I enjoy living in Koh Samui with these people because they are a relaxed and unhurried lot, it would seem as if it is their nature to be gentle and polite. Thais attach a lot of importance to good food, friends, family members and community living, which makes them very friendly towards foreigners. They are also a fun loving and peace loving people, who are both reasonable and sensible, conforming to established rules and laws, and very tolerant of outsiders. If you find yourself in Koh Samui, you are sure to find yourself warmly welcomed and accepted.

 I also cannot help appreciating the Thai love for food since I share it. The Thai people not only eat well, but also make sure that you do the same. The most common question asked in Koh Samui is if you have eaten. Surprisingly, the Thai people hardly get fat although they snack all the time.

The best feature of Koh Samui is the abundant availability of food stalls, where delicious snacks are offered throughout the day. The most popular Thai breakfast is jok, which is a type of rice porridge served with pieces of pork and eggs. Other popular Thai dishes are khanom krok, which is a type of rice and coconut pudding; pad Thai, which is a dish of lightly fried noodles and ba mee, which means egg noodle soup.

I love living in Koh Samui with the Thai people not only because of their delightful nature, but also because Koh Samui offers great shopping locations, entertainment centres, food stalls and restaurants. The only downside is that you cannot expect to live in a 100 percent Thai community because a large percent of the population of Koh Samui comprises expatriates. Learn more about Thailand including Bangkok Travel for visitors to the country.

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Posted in Chill-out, Cultural tours, Culture, Excitement

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Oaxaca, Mexico – Further afield – 17

Posted on October 18, 2010 | Leave a comment
Oaxaca Mexico

Oaxaca Mexico

Visitors to Oaxaca, which is pronounced as “wah-hah-ka,” will find no dearth of new and exciting travel ideas, given that they have the required creativity, time and the willingness to experience this unique place.

The fifth largest state in Mexico, Oaxaca is flanked by the Chiapas in the east, the Guerrero in the west, the Puebla and the Veracruz in the north and 316 miles of Pacific coastline in the south. The state is surrounded by the magnificent Sierra Madre del Sur and is, therefore, a paradise for nature lovers.

Renowned as the culinary capital of Mexico, Oaxaca is the best vacation destination not only for nature lovers, but also for gourmets. If you are a food enthusiast, who has just landed in Oaxaca, start your vacation by eating, taking cooking classes and trying to unravel the mysteries of Mexican cuisine. For instance, the most exciting dish happens to be mole, a traditional sauce made by grinding together thirty ingredients.

If you want the authentic Mexican experience, you will have come to the right place because Oaxaca is a great place to observe local farmers and artisans at work, weaving fabrics, making pots, or carving wood. This place is home to many great handicraft villages known for their wool weaving, black pottery, carved wooden animals and embroidered dresses.

You must also take the time to visit places of attraction such as the Museo de las Culturas de Oaxaca, the Iglesia de Santo Domingo, Basilica de Nuestra Senora de la Soledad, Catedral de Oaxaca and others. Oaxaca has some splendid museums and breathtakingly beautiful sixteenth-century churches.

You will never feel bored in Oaxaca as long as you take the time to appreciate its handicrafts, study authentic Mexican living, taste the culinary wonders of the place and enjoy its amazing beaches, monuments, museums and churches.

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Posted in Chill-out, Culture, Daring, Excitement, hot climate, Thrill Seeking

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Cuba: Visiting a cigar factory in Havana – 12

Posted on April 19, 2009 | 2 Comments

Aiming to visit a country such as Cuba and make it to a cigar factory in Havana, is not perhaps up there witth thrill seeking and adrenaline rushing travel. In terms of a cultural experience and holiday or vacation to remember though, heading to Cuba is a wonderful option.

There are still certain restrictions and the best way can often be to head to Cuba as part of a package tour. I asm not a

Cuba and Havana travel

Cuba and Havana travel

great fan of package tours but at the time of writing, and being based in England, by far the easiest way to visit Cuba is with a company such as First Choice Holidays or Virgin Holidays.

As well as a tour of a cigar factory, there are some quite stunning beaches, excellent Cuban food and some very vibrant and catchy music, including Jazz Cubano. You can learn more about Traveling to Cuba

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Posted in Chill-out, Culture, Exciting holidays, Unusual vacations

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Art Deco sauna in Amsterdam – 11

Posted on February 27, 2009 | Leave a comment

In tough economic times and in the heart of winter, a few hours or even a long weekends holiday mixed with a few days of sauna and massage is a great travel idea. There are many excellent spa facilities  worldwide and in a city such as Amsterdam, Holland the saunas in their own rights can often be very classy.

One of my favourite’s in Amsterdam is Art Deco sauna based near to the city centre and located specificaly at Herengracht 115. A great way to combine a relaxation or wellness trip is to:

  • Do some tours in the daytime. Visit the Amstel museum or one of the excellent museums.
  • Enjoy 2 or 3 hours in a venue such as Art Deco sauna in Amsterdam.
  • Then head to one of the excellent bars ot restuarants locally.
Saunas in Amsterdam.

Saunas in Amsterdam.

In a venue such as Art decon sauna you can also combine a massage or floatation tank session. Relaxation is number 11 for 1000 travel ideas!

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Posted in Chill-out, Holland, Relaxation, Wellness

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Route 66: Driving one of the most famous roads – 8

Posted on July 24, 2008 | 1 Comment

If you are interested in driving and want to do something unusual and visit quite very interesting towns and cities over the course of a 1 to 2 weeks, then driving the famous Route 66 in the U.S. is one holiday which can be a whole load of fun.

Route 66 has become famous worldwide and the whole route goes from Chicago, illinois (near the Great lakes, and towards the East of the U.S.) to Santa Monica, California (on the West coast). Route 66 has been depicted in many movies and its popularity in the 30s was with migrants using the road to go West.

The road is a drive of roughly 2,500 miles (about 4000Km) and goes the states:

  • Oaklahoma
  • Kansas
  • Missouri
  • Illinois
  • California
  • Arizona
  • New Mexico
  • Texas.

The road as such does not exist on many new maps because a new road system was introduced. There has been a revival though of Route 66, a road included in one of John Steinbeck’s books. Route 66 is an amazing
Driving Route 66experience because of the such different towns and cities it takes you through and riving from Illinois, heading to California on the mother of all road trips is exciting.

For accommodation if you just want familiarity you could try somewhere such as Days Inn and for car you can always do a car delivery so you only pay gasoline (petrol).

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Posted in Chill-out, Driving, Unusual vacations, USA

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Glastonbury Music Festival – 7

Posted on June 15, 2008 | Leave a comment

Tickets are still available for the 2008 festival and the weather is predicted to be settled. Taking place on the 27 -29th June 2008 and an annual event, Glastonbury is one of the largest Music Festivals in the world. With roughly 150,000 each year and hundreds of performers, this years line up is scheduled to include:

  • Editors
  • Kate Nash
  • Amy Winehouse
  • Manu Chao
  • Leonard Cohen
  • Neil Diamond
  • The Hoosiers
  • Pete Doherty
  • Dizzee Rascal

The line-up is huge and in addition to musicians, there are the other tents including the comedy tent, circus tent and theatre tent. If you have never been to a Glastonbury Music Festival in the past this year is your Glastonbury Music Festivalchance, with tickets still surprisingly available.

Tickets are not cheap but at £155 for 3 days entertainment where you can see dozens of fanmouse musicians, you cannot go wrong. If I myself had not already accidently already booked that weekend for a trip to France, I’d be going to Glastonbury again this year.

View photos of Glastonbury Music Festival.

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Posted in Chill-out, Exciting holidays, UK

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