Good tourist spots to visit

[Megasin1]

After a recent post about some of the abysmal tourist spots around Pattaya I would like a thread to contribute to good things for people to visit in Thailand and would like to start with Khao Kheow Open Zoo, not too far from Pattaya and fairly friendly on ticket entry if you have a family group of Thais with you. I often visit the zoo and it is suitable for kids of all ages. My preferred option is to park the car and rent a golf buggy to tour the zoo (for which you will need to deposit your driving licence), however you can just drive around in your own vehicle. I would recommend this zoo to anyone who has kids, or even as a couple. The zoo is also home to the 'Flight of the Gibbon' tree-top zip line ride through the jungle, which is for the more adventurous, however if you take the tree top zip line it includes lunch and a free tour of the zoo. This is a large zoo and can be a full day especially if you catch all the show timings, so bare this in mind on how long you rent the golf buggy for. There are some nice play areas and it is not expensive to eat in the zoo. If you choose to do the zip line,  personally I would do it as a separate visit.

http://www.khaokheow.zoothailand.org/en/index.php

[Megasin1]

Ramayana Water Park - another good day out for the kids, weather permitting. This is a large water park close to Silver Lake Resort and has water slides and wave pools that will cater for all ages. Go prepared with plenty of factor 50. You can eat here in a large food hall type open restaurant and also order food delivered to the tables around the pools. You can hire private seating areas for the more affluent and whilst the kids can wear themselves out at the water park the more sedate can visit Silver Lake Resort (a vineyard) and relax with a 'not too bad' glass of local wine. Ramayana Water Park is a full day for the kids and my preferred option is to claim a table spot then let the kids wander off to enjoy the rides and they will return throughout the day to top up with food and drinks.

https://www.ramayanawaterpark.com/promotions-tourists/

[Jonathan Fairfield]

We recently visited Vana Nava Water Park in Hua Hin and it was great, the kids loved it and all the adults had a great time too.

[quandow]

Kanchanaburi - Bridge over River Kwai. As well, close by the bridge us a little bar/restaurant called "The No Name Bar." That damned chef will NOT part with his recipe for cheeseburgers, the best in the world in my not-so-humble opinion. And if you go there, you MUST visit the war museum. Look at the wall of railroad spikes. A very somber experience but worth the time.

[Laza 45]

49 minutes ago, quandow said:

Kanchanaburi - Bridge over River Kwai. As well, close by the bridge us a little bar/restaurant called "The No Name Bar." That damned chef will NOT part with his recipe for cheeseburgers, the best in the world in my not-so-humble opinion. And if you go there, you MUST visit the war museum. Look at the wall of railroad spikes. A very somber experience but worth the time.

...at trip up the river Kwai Noi to visit the parks & waterfalls and the riverside resorts is good too..

[wileycoyote]

I nominate Art for Art's sake.

Good fun for an hour ,or longer if a rainy day.

For younger children ,The Teddy Bear Museum

[Justfine]

1 hour ago, quandow said:

Kanchanaburi - Bridge over River Kwai. As well, close by the bridge us a little bar/restaurant called "The No Name Bar." That damned chef will NOT part with his recipe for cheeseburgers, the best in the world in my not-so-humble opinion. And if you go there, you MUST visit the war museum. Look at the wall of railroad spikes. A very somber experience but worth the time.

What's complex about mince and cheese?

[smotherb]

1 hour ago, Justfine said:

What's complex about mince and cheese?

Good beef, no fillers, just salt, pepper, garlic and cheese. I prefer a blue cheese, 90% fat prime beef on a toasted sour dough role.

[Megasin1]

3 hours ago, quandow said:

Kanchanaburi - Bridge over River Kwai. As well, close by the bridge us a little bar/restaurant called "The No Name Bar." That damned chef will NOT part with his recipe for cheeseburgers, the best in the world in my not-so-humble opinion. And if you go there, you MUST visit the war museum. Look at the wall of railroad spikes. A very somber experience but worth the time.

Can you recommend a hotel? When I went up there I stayed in the Felix Resort, which was quite nice but I was lucky to know a business hotel booker so I got a 66% discount. I would definitely recommend this as a trip for anyone. The JEATH museum was an eye opener and when I went you were allowed to walk on the bridge, I'm not sure if this is still allowed. 

[Megasin1]

1 hour ago, wileycoyote said:

I nominate Art for Art's sake.

Good fun for an hour ,or longer if a rainy day.

For younger children ,The Teddy Bear Museum

Where are these ones?

[Megasin1]

Farm Chokchai - A good day out for the kids and a good steak in the restaurant. A western themed dairy farm, semi educational showing the milk production and ice cream manufacturing with some rodeo shows, rides on ponies and carriages etc. Quite interesting that it started life as a beef farm and the original owner built one of the first skyscrapers in Bangkok with a beef restaurant on the top floor. Now a dairy farm.

There are quite a few varying reviews, possibly as it has become more commercialised but there are some nice areas to visit and stay nearby so it is worth putting on your 'to see' list if you have younger kids.

http://www.farmchokchai.com/en/contactus.php

[Justfine]

19 minutes ago, smotherb said:

Good beef, no fillers, just salt, pepper, garlic and cheese. I prefer a blue cheese, 90% fat prime beef on a toasted sour dough role.

Hate blue cheese.

[smotherb]

40 minutes ago, Justfine said:

Hate blue cheese.

Yeah, well, I did say, "I prefer."

[Lacessit]

2 hours ago, Justfine said:

Hate blue cheese.

I loathe pumpkin. King Island Blue Brie is the king of cheeses. We all have our foibles.

[Lacessit]

Northern Thailand Chiang Mai/Chiang Rai has a lot of tourist attractions, some are free. Doi Inthanon ( expensive ) San Kamphaeng Hot Springs, Chiang Mai Erotic Gardens. Further north, Wat Sang Kaew Phothiyan ( much better than Wat Rong Khun ), Doi Chang, Doi Angkhan, Doi Mae Salong, Phu Chi Fa, Mae Sai markets, Chiang Saen.

[geisha]

Sukhothai historical park and kanchanaburi, bridge, town, Jeath museum and the rail track. Sukhothai parc is wonderful, take a bike and  cycle round. Kanchanaburi , a walk down the memory lane of war and the suffering those poor men went through . A visit to the cemetery in town too. Great little inexpensive hotels and super restaurants. Lovely people in both places. I liked Buriram too, tho a bit quiet, lovely temple on the hill Prasit Phanom Rong. 

[Jeremia Juxtaposed]

If in the Kanchanaburi area why not stay one more night and visit https://www.elephantsworld.org/ 

 

No shows, no rides, no painting, no log work,no football, no animals in skirts...nothing but elephants that have been emotionally and physically abused, having fun...Fantastic day out feeding and bathing them!!!

 

They pick you up in the morning at your hotel and then drop you off at night...If you don't leave exhausted,with a tear in your eye and a personal promise to return then you are not human...

Edited May 13, 2018 by Jeremia Juxtaposed

[malt25]

14 hours ago, Justfine said:

Hate blue cheese.

I don't !

[malt25]

8 hours ago, geisha said:

Sukhothai historical park and kanchanaburi, bridge, town, Jeath museum and the rail track. Sukhothai parc is wonderful, take a bike and  cycle round. Kanchanaburi , a walk down the memory lane of war and the suffering those poor men went through . A visit to the cemetery in town too. Great little inexpensive hotels and super restaurants. Lovely people in both places. I liked Buriram too, tho a bit quiet, lovely temple on the hill Prasit Phanom Rong. 

Yes, Sukhothai & Kanchanaburi both a must on any visit. One bit of advice about hiring a bike at Sukhothai park. Take a few minutes to "thoroughly" check the bike before heading out on your journey. Many are in a very poor state of repair. Loose chains, low tire pressure, buckled wheels. No problem exchanging bikes but annoying when you are some distance from the hire office & have to walk the bike back to exchange for another.

[mogandave]

There is a nice (and inexpensive) water park in Sakaew, they also have day rooms inside the park with AC & private bath.

Buffaloes “training” center close by you can hit on the way there or back. You can see how the buffalo are worked and cared for. It’s free, you can drive through and they have a nice open-air restaurant on the water with good inexpensive Thai food.

I agree with the previous poster about “Farm Chokchai”. Kids got to milk the cows, watch ice cream made, Wild West show, tram-ride, hay-making & something of a John Deere museum...a fun day...

[Suradit69]

20 hours ago, smotherb said:

90% fat prime beef

I suppose it depends on how you read that but taken as it's written I could feel my arteries clogging.

 

 

 

 

[Lacessit]

3 hours ago, Suradit69 said:

I suppose it depends on how you read that but taken as it's written I could feel my arteries clogging.

 

 

 

 

Marbling of fat in steaks seems to be part of American food culture.

The fat is supposed to enhance the taste, although it does nothing for me.

I've never tasted Argentinian beef, which is claimed to be very good. IMHO an Australian eye fillet steak cooked medium with a full-bodied shiraz is a meal fit for a king.

[mogandave]

Marbling of fat in steaks seems to be part of American food culture.
The fat is supposed to enhance the taste, although it does nothing for me.
I've never tasted Argentinian beef, which is claimed to be very good. IMHO an Australian eye fillet steak cooked medium with a full-bodied shiraz is a meal fit for a king.

Marbled ground beef?

I think the 90% was a mistake. There would be nothing left after you cooked it.

Should be 10% fat...

[smotherb]

4 hours ago, Suradit69 said:

I suppose it depends on how you read that but taken as it's written I could feel my arteries clogging.

 

 

 

 

Yeah, it was meant to be 90% fat-free; or 90% lean

[dddave]

On 5/12/2018 at 5:51 PM, Megasin1 said:

more sedate can visit Silver Lake Resort (a vineyard) and relax with a 'not too bad' glass of local wine.

Also, near Silver Lake is one of the great, unknown (to westerners) attractions of the Jomtien area.

"Anek Kusola Sala", also called "Viharn Sien" is a very large Chinese-Thai museum, 4 stories tall with an amazing collection, and kids will love it because it has many weapons, 2000 year old chariots and is the only museum outside of China to be permanently loaned several genuine "Terra Cotta Warriors".  It's well worth an afternoon and last time I was there 2 years ago, entrance fee was less than B100.

There is a large terrace on the front of the second level with dozens of beautifully sculpted, life size figures in martial arts action poses.  Bring a pair of heavy socks because shoes not allowed and the surface of the terrace can get very HOT. 

Even many veteran taxi and baht bus drivers don't know how to find it as it is tucked away on a dirt road behind a lake so look it up and check the map before you go.  As I said, close to Silver Lake Vineyards and the complex of 5 or 6 temples.

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/thailand/pattaya/attractions/anek-kusala-sala/a/poi-sig/1243161/357676

Edited May 14, 2018 by dddave

[Lacessit]

1 hour ago, smotherb said:

Yeah, it was meant to be 90% fat-free; or 90% lean

Eye fillet is 100% lean. Just so you know.

[mogandave]

Eye fillet is 100% lean. Just so you know.

While it is a lean cut, it more like 10-15% fat

[smotherb]

2 hours ago, Lacessit said:

Eye fillet is 100% lean. Just so you know.

Not talking about a steak sandwich. You need some fat to allow the ground beef to stick together in a patty--remember, no other ingredients other than the ground beef, salt and pepper and maybe garlic. Some say 85% fat-free is optimum for burgers.

[Lacessit]

15 hours ago, mogandave said:

 

While it is a lean cut, it more like 10-15% fat

 

I suggest you are confusing the cut with Scotch fillet, which does have visible fat at the percentage you quote.

[Megasin1]

19 hours ago, dddave said:

Also, near Silver Lake is one of the great, unknown (to westerners) attractions of the Jomtien area.

"Anek Kusola Sala", also called "Viharn Sien" is a very large Chinese-Thai museum, 4 stories tall with an amazing collection, and kids will love it because it has many weapons, 2000 year old chariots and is the only museum outside of China to be permanently loaned several genuine "Terra Cotta Warriors".  It's well worth an afternoon and last time I was there 2 years ago, entrance fee was less than B100.

There is a large terrace on the front of the second level with dozens of beautifully sculpted, life size figures in martial arts action poses.  Bring a pair of heavy socks because shoes not allowed and the surface of the terrace can get very HOT. 

Even many veteran taxi and baht bus drivers don't know how to find it as it is tucked away on a dirt road behind a lake so look it up and check the map before you go.  As I said, close to Silver Lake Vineyards and the complex of 5 or 6 temples.

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/thailand/pattaya/attractions/anek-kusala-sala/a/poi-sig/1243161/357676

wow, thanks for this one, didn't know about it and will put it on my list.