The unusual destinations you might not know in Thailand

When you think about Thailand, you may think about white sand beaches and sparkling blue seas in Phuket, or maybe busy streets and magnificent temples in Bangkok. But hidden deep in the unknown, there are many places in Thailand where you see it, you would not believe these places even exist, not in Thailand, nor even in this world.

Sam Phan Bok

Located in the beautiful low key province of Ubon Ratchathani close to Laos, you will find Sam Phan Bok, otherwise known as the Grand Canyon of Thailand. Unlike the Grand Canyon in Chiang Mai, Sam Phan Bok is a natural land formation made up of unique land formations, as well as a river with little pools of water. The place is called Sam Phan Bok which translates to three thousand holes due to the 3000 icecream-scoop-like holes on the ground.

Holes, basins, and various depressions fill the area as far as the river stretches. As the place is very peaceful and tranquil, it is common for photographers to come to this place at night in order to capture the beauty. Most people recommend visiting during the dry season (December-June) in order to see the many holes and imprints that you can see when the water levels of the river is low.

Talay Bua Dang (Red Lotus Sea)

Located near the Udon Thani Province, you can head to the Kumphawapi district which is located between Udon Thani and Khon Kaen. From the Udon Thani Airport, the lake is around 50km.
You can hire a boat to get close to these beautiful flowers. When you are out in the lake, gliding among the floating beauties, you cannot help but feel imbued with a touch of magic and romance. That is why Talay Bua Dang is very popular destination for many pre-wedding photo shoots.
The best time to go is before 10am when the flowers at their peak bloom, and if you are there to take photos, remember to wear white clothing. It will make you really pop in the photo among all that red.

Lalu, Sa Kaeo

A natural oddity close to the Cambodian border, Lalu is a formation of eroded earth. Strange jagged pinnacles rise from the dusty terrain or, if viewed from above, a strange canyon gorges its way into the earth, filled with odd protrusions. The means of accessing the site is also a little bit unusual and plenty of fun, you must go there along a bumpy road in a cart pulled by a tractor.

Sra Morakot

Located in the popular town of Krabi, Sra Morakot is a day trip that we urge everyone to take. The pond is created from a natural water stream coming from the forest. There is an entrance fee of 200 THB which is collected by the entrance. It is recommended to go during the weekday to avoid the crowds. Mornings are also best as it is often uncrowded. As soon as you get there, you will see the crystal lagoon or the crystal pond gleaming in the sun. Here, you can take an enchanting dip to cool off.

Hin Sam Whan, Phu Singh Forest Park

It is impressive enough how these massive and ancient (over 75 million years) rocks can sit on top of the mountain 350 meters high above the ground. But from a drone view, it has been revealed that these giant rock formations look like a family of whales. The heads of the whales stick out from the mountain as if they were about to fly off from their mountain home into a magical land. The surface of the rocks are so smooth, and even has bumps and scratches like real whale skin.

You are allowed to walk on the rock but do be cautious as there are no guard rails, and you should not walk too close to the steep edges. There are also many shapes of rock formation in Phu Singh Forest Park. According to locals, you can find Elephant Stone, Heart Stone and Stone Wall along the way.

Read more: Top 10 tourist attractions in Thailand

Source Internet

All about beers in Vietnam

In Vietnam, beer is everyone's favourite drink to cool down and refresh after a long day. In fact, most of Vietnam's nightlife is based on beer. This makes Vietnamese beer inexpensive and rich in variety.

1. Draft Beer

Draft Beer or Bia Hoi is the most common kind of beer you will find in Vietnam. Bia Hoi is brewed in 7 - 10 days and hence has a shorter shelf life. It is pasteurized and has a lower ABV and sugar content than other beers. During the fermentation process, no preservatives are used. After fermentation, the beer is extracted into kegs and sterilized with compressed air and warm water, sodium hydroxide and hot steam. It is then cooled down with carbon dioxide gas. This is the kind of beer you will see on sidewalks throughout Vietnam. Bia Hoi is cheap (VND 10,000 per mug) and is a local delicacy you cannot afford to miss. 

2. Craft Beer

Craft Beer is brewed with a lot of skill and care and is often very expensive. Some popular Vietnamese Craft Beer producers include Platinum, Pasteur Street Brewing, east West Brewing, Winking Seal and Heart of Darkness. Craft Beer is brewed from all sorts of substances such as cocoa beans, local fruits, coffee beans, passion fruit and durian. The brewing process is highly complicated and sophisticated as a result of which craft beer is often very expensive, starting from VND 100,000.

Vietnam has a number of beers that you must not miss. These beers include:

3. 333 

This beer was first produced in 1893 and initially known as Beer 33. Later, another digit was added to it. It is most commonly available in the south.

4. Bia Hanoi 

It is the most popular beer in Vietnam. This beer is brewed and served fresh and has a nice and crisp taste. It is found easily in Hanoi and the northern region in general but not as much in the south. It is estimated that around 3 - 4 litres of Bia Hanoi are sold in Hanoi every day.

5. Saigon Beer

These are relatively lighter beers produced in the south but are found all over Vietnam. The beer has about 4.7% alcohol and has a very distinctive Asian Rice flavour.

6. Huda 

This beer's name is derived from Hue (Hu) and Denmark (Da). This beer is confined to Central Vietnam and rarely found outside.

7. Heineken

This foreign beer brand is vastly popular amongst the foreigners and expats in Vietnam.

8. Tiger 

This beer is brewed by the Asia Pacific Breweries and is considered a premium brand everywhere else in Asia but is the cheapest international beer you can buy in Vietnam.

See more: 8 beverages you should try when visiting China

Source: holidify

Phongsaly, the hidden gem in Laos

Wake up at a house on the mountain, watch the sunrise, enjoy trekking and admire the beauty of sunset behind the mountain chains, you can find all of these alluring views in Phongsaly, Laos. Phongsaly is the highest city in Laos, it may be not as significant as others, but it will satisfy you like nature heals every soul.

Phongsaly is located in the North of Laos, which shares with Yunnan (China) and Dien Bien (Vietnam). Phongsaly province lies at a high altitude so that its climate is always pleasant and fresh compared to the common weather of Laos. The population is made up of 28 ethnic groups and the most common groups are Khmu, Phounoy, different Akha, Tai Lue and Hor with their own culture, traditions, costumes, and languages. The large forests are home of abundant flora and fauna, and many undiscovered species new to science. Generally, Phongsaly’s topography mainly is mountain and less delta or the midland, besides, it has not affected by urbanization and tourism, which makes Phongsaly remain its pristine beauty. Come and enjoy the green nature and the slow pace of living peacefully and gently.

✦ Highlights in Phongsaly

Harvesting tea leaves

The city is famous for its high quality green tea and the ancient tea plantation. Therefore, picking tea leaves is an interesting experience visitors must try in Phongsaly. Besides, they are able to take part in the complex tea making process including harvesting, drying, roasting, stirring by hand, etc. with teamakers in the villages. According to several tea experts, there are some of the oldest tea trees in the world at the 400 year old plantation in Phongsaly. That the large root system of the old trees is deep into the mineral-rich soil makes the "Phongsaly tea" a distinctive smell and taste.

Having a trekking trip

Going trekking in Phongsaly helps you discover special, hidden parts of the countryside that are rarely visited. You will have a chance to trek through dense forests, see some of Phongsaly’s surrounds, meet people in minority groups. It is said that treks in this area is usually hard and long but it is really stimulating and worth the effort. The official Provincial Tourism Office will provide helpful information about trekking trips lasting from one day to some days. These arranged journeys include guides, visits and overnight stays in villages of traditional ethnic hill tribes such as Phou Noy, Akha, Lao Seng, Lue and Ho.

Climbing to Mount Phu Fa

For those who loves adventure, then conquering the Mount Phu Fa will be the best things to do in Phongsaly. Travelers have to walk across 400 stone stairs to reach the peak of the Mount Phu Fa. At the tophill, visitors will have a chance to view the whole Phongsaly town at height of 1,625 metres. It is very easy to take a picturesque photo of the peace town and surrounding countryside. Watching spectacular sunrise or sunset from the summit of the hill is also one of the reasons urging visitors to move up to the mountain. In addition, travelers will take a sightseeing to a splendid That Phou Xay stupa and an outstanding Buddha statue.

Visiting museum of tribes

This museum gives you a chance to deepen your understanding of the ethnic peoples of Phongsaly province. It contains a wealth of cultural information on animism and customs, with photos and historical background, as well as displays of the vividly coloured costumes you likely see on your travels. If the door is locked, ask for the key from the post office across the road.

Read more: 5 activities to do in Vang Vieng, Laos

✦ Cuisine in Phongsaly

To anywhere, the cuisine is a favorite part for all visitors and Phongsaly also has no exception. Phongsaly offers a variety of delicious and exotic cuisines that consists of wild forest ingredients like fragrant herbs, bamboo and rattan shoots.

After the meal, let try a shot of strong wine, a special kind with the green color absorbed from the freshly picked raspberry leaves during the final stage of the distillation process.

Another cuisine is Chinese-style green tea of Phongsaly, which received worldwide recognition for high quality and superb taste. Tea leaves are picked from the 400-year-old tea trees with 6m in height and 30cm in diameter. These tee trees are grown and taken care carefully by Phounoy minority women, no fertilizers and chemicals. After that, the precious tea leaves are compressed in bamboo cylinders and kept in cigar-shaped tubes. Phongsaly people drink a daily cup of tea to keep the body in health, reduce fat and have a clear mind.

Source Internet