The memorable Thailand river cruise
By Shirajiv SIRIMANE in Thailand
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Spectacular Chao Praya
River, cruise |
With Sri Lanka's outbound traffic increasing, the Ministry of
Thailand is promoting three new destinations for Sri Lankan travellers.
This promotion is done with Cathay Pacific which takes the highest
number of Sri Lankans to Bangkok flying every Monday, Wednesday and
Friday.
Sri Lanka was first in the world film location map when the Bridge on
the Rive Kwai was filmed in Mount Lavinia and at Kitulgala way back in
1950s. Parts of the bridge built over the Kelani River still remain
bringing back memories.
The real story behind the movie happened in Kanchanaburi, a two and a
half hour drive from Bangkok.
During the Second World War, the Japanese wanted to go overland to
India and they decided to cut a railway through Burma and Thailand and
one of the biggest bridges to be built on this railway was over River
Kwai in Kanchanaburi.
The sad story behind the construction of this bridge, which saw the
deaths of several thousands of people, driven by the Japanese Army for a
lost cause, today is being turned into a major tourist attraction.
The bridge is being rebuilt with a train operating and is being lit
in the night and there are several souvenier shops, boat rides, museums
and even a cemetery to woo tourists to this venue.
This attempt is highly successful as it is one of the top five
destinations in Thailand and today the Kanchanaburi experience is being
offered to Sri Lankans.
The second destination that is offered is the up market Hua Hin beach
destination which too is around a two an half hour drive from the
airport. Hua Hin is closely associated with Thai royalty.
The five km long beach is pretty and the sea is relatively clean.
Besides just sunbathing, snorkeling and swimming, it supports activities
such as golf, spas, caves, peaks, waterfalls, shops, seafood and nearby
national parks.
There are several temples in the hills and a temple which offers
cable car rides.
Hua Hin also boasts of a domestic airport and a railway station.
Cathay Pacific is planning to introduce special tour package covering
all these places of interest and has selected the five star Sheraton
Resort and spa for this would-be promotion, which is located just off
the newly constructed main highway to Bangkok.
This Sheraton property is an amazing one with the property being
spread on a great scale with much greenery.
It also boasts of having one of the best swimming pools in Thailand
opening out to ground floor rooms. The hotel which has 228 deluxe rooms
has direct access to the beach.
A one hour drive takes a tourist to the picturesque Rose Garden that
is a living gallery of Traditional Thai Living. The 70-acre offers a
product of more than 40 years of care and creativity. It has a hotel,
large garden, a river cruise, outdoor restaurant and has many
traditional cultural shows.
Another experience the Thai tourism Authority is promoting is the
spectacular Chao Praya Rivers, cruise.
Shimmering temples, glistening skyscrapers and a rich stream of
passing nocturnal traffic will greet you from every direction in this
night river cruise on a luxury yacht.
Rounding off the experience will be a cool, tropical breeze and
romantic candlelit ambience, making this a simply unforgettable
occasion, said P. Pornchai who is liaising from Bangkok with Cathay
Pacific to present this package to Sri Lankan tourists.
Cathay Pacific is also planning to offer, Amari Watergate Bangkok for
this planned package.
The 569 spacious deluxe rooms and executive suites are all well
equipped for both business executives and leisure travellers. Amari
Bangkok puts the visitor in the heart of the vibrant Pratunam
neighborhood in downtown Petchburi, known for its bustling landscape of
shopping bazaars and lifestyle malls.
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