Tuesday, 23 July 2019

Where to go shopping in Hua Hin, Thailand

Hua Hin has all sorts of shopping experiences lined up for visitors. Local markets like the Day or Night Markets offer a diverse array of merchandise, while Cicada Market epitomizes Hua Hin’s artistic heritage with its lineup of boutique craft shops, live music entertainment and a hip, next-gen crowd as its patrons.

Where to go shopping in Hua Hin, Thailand

If you are looking for unique handicrafts, vintage items or antiques then you are in the right place because Hua Hin has an abundance of such items readily available. Also, beachwear and summer accessories are readily available if you are planning on hitting the beach. Cha-Am and Pranburi are a little more on the quiet side on the shopping front, so for variety and choice you’d be better off exploring in Hua Hin town.

Cicada Market

Where to go shopping in Hua Hin, Thailand
Cicada Market’s art-inspired concept is the first of its kind around here. Divided into four sections, the market offers mainly everything art-related, such as paintings, sculptures, home accessories and handicrafts. The landscaped garden features live music and dance performances most Friday and Saturday evenings, starting 19:00. Cicada Market is as chilled out as lounging on the beach but with a bit of colour and festivity thrown in.

Plearn Wan

Where to go shopping in Hua Hin, Thailand
Plearn Wan is like a living museum where you can experience a slice of life in 1950s Hua Hin. The two-storey courtyard building houses a community of period-style shops, a food court, an outdoor cinema screen and a 20-room guesthouse. The collection of one-off souvenirs and fashion accessories is quite impressive – even if you don’t buy anything, it makes for quite a pleasurable look around.

Cha-Am Night Market

Where to go shopping in Hua Hin, Thailand
Known as ‘talat nad’, the market is popular mainly with locals, who come here to check out new clothes, DVDs, CDs and cutesy accessories. Other than this, there is a few food stalls. Fridays are usually the busiest when more traders turn up. This market is not necessarily loaded with things that you would want to buy, but it has a great atmosphere and is a good way to gain an insight into the Cha-Am market experience.

Read more: The amazing day trips from Bangkok

Cha-Am Premium Outlet Mall 

Where to go shopping in Hua Hin, Thailand
If you are looking to buy authentic brand-name clothes at discounted prices then Cha-Am Premium Outlet Mall should be your first port of call. Stocking brands such as Naf Naf, Lacoste, and Jaspal, G200 you should expect to find a few steals here. Some items are discounted as much as half of what you would usually pay. Some stuff even competes with the prices you would pay for counterfeit brand-name goods in Thailand’s markets.

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Top 6 best hotels in Chiang Mai’s old city

Top 6 best hotels in Chiang Mai’s old city
Chiang Mai is one of the most popular cities in Thailand where tourists come to taste delicious Thai food, experience the culture of Lanna people and explore the mountainous surroundings. Chiang Mai Old City is the most convenient area to stay in Chiang Mai as from there you can easily reach city’s main cultural attractions, shops and restaurants. If you are looking for the best place to stay in Chiang Mai, check the list of best hotels in Chiang Mai Old City and choose the right place for you.

Pak Chiang Mai

Pak Chiang Mai
This small upscale Chiang Mai guesthouse embodies everything that’s great about the capital of the north, comfort, style, friendliness and a relaxed atmosphere. Rooms are simply designed but elegant and comfortable. The on-site restaurant and small spa get consistently high marks. There is friendly service, complimentary and organic breakfast and Wi-Fi top off the experience.

Dhara Devi

Dhara Devi
Located outside the walls of the city center, the Dhara Devi Hotel feels more like a small village than a hotel. The luxury resort was designed as a self-contained ancient city, offering breathtaking architecture and scenery. Visitors can take their pick from two-story villas, colonial-style suits or signature residences, set up much like palaces.

Aside from its magnificent rooms, the Dhara Devi is home to some of the city’s best restaurants. The most notable is Falang Sed, meaning French in Thai, which provides an unforgettable dining experience. Dhara Devi can hardly be described in words and has to be seen to be believed. Feel like a member of the Thai royalty when wandering around the extensive garden areas.

Makkachiva

Makkachiva
With a stay at Makkachiva in Chiang Mai (Old City), you will be a 5-minute walk from Wat Chedi Luang and 8 minutes by foot from Chiang Mai City Arts and Cultural Center. Featured amenities include complimentary newspapers in the lobby, a 24-hour front desk, and luggage storage. A roundtrip airport shuttle is provided for a surcharge (available on request).

Read more: The holy temples you can visit in Chiang Mai

137 Pillars House

137 Pillars House
Retaining a tasteful balance between the elegance of former times and modern elements, the structure of the 137 Pillars House dates back to 1889. With its magical setting close to the heart of the city, visitors will have a hard time leaving the place.

Shrouded in jungle-like gardens with dark wooden houses, this place has truly managed to capture the essence of the Lanna culture. The home-style residences offer all sorts of comforts and the spacious rooms have been decorated with colourful themes. This is not only one of Chiang Mai’s best places to stay, but one of the best in the country.

Estia Chiang Mai

Estia Chiang Mai
Estia Hotel is located in the heart of Chiang Mai near the Chiang Mai City Arts and Culture Centre, and Three Kings Monument. There are many room types available at the hotel, including superior rooms, deluxe rooms and family rooms with full facilities. There is also a swimming pool, Jacuzzi, coffee bar, restaurant, and spa massage. That is all you would need for a comfortable stay in Chiang Mai.

Parasol Inn

Parasol Inn
Just around the corner from the Pan Tao temple is this small, personal hotel. Rooms are clean, bright and simply furnished but have little extras such as in-room refrigerators and televisions. There is plenty of space to relax and enjoy a cup of local Northern Thai coffee at the adjacent restaurant.


Source Internet

Monday, 22 July 2019

Top 5 hot springs in Japan

Top 5 hot springs in Japan
Japanese has enjoyed bathing in the island’s natural hot springs for centuries. Here are the best and most beautiful places to enjoy hot springs like a local.

Kusatsu

Kusatsu
About 3 hours from Tokyo, Kusatsu is situated in scenic Gunma prefecture, with an actual hot water field in the town center. This is Japan’s most prolific source of geothermal waters, with 100 hot springs gushing 34,000 liters of water every minute.

This water reportedly helps heal a variety of human ailments, including indigestion, arthritis, and poor circulation. For the full rotenburo (outdoor bathing) experience, visit the spacious Sainokawara onsen. Not far from the town’s water field, two bathhouses offer the traditional jikanyu experience, where bathers sit in an extremely hot bath (118 degrees Fahrenheit/48 degrees Celsius) for exactly three minutes.

Beppu

Beppu
Cannot make a decision as to what kind of hot spring you would like to experience? Well if that is the case, then Beppu is certainly the place you should go to! Located at the Oita prefecture, this resort promises you an abundance of options and high standard hot springs.

Beppu is famous for housing the largest number of hot springs in Japan, which offer treatments that deviate from the typical hot water baths. Here, visitors can explore steam baths, sand baths and even mud baths, all of which have their positive healing properties! It’s time to broaden your onsen experience at this resort as you try the myriad of treatments available here.

Noboribetsu Onsen

Noboribetsu Onsen
It is recognized as the best Onsen in Hokkaido as far as access, notability, history, and quality goes. Hot spring quality includes sulfur and hydrogen sulfide which soften and lighten your skin, and also includes iron spring which has tremendous effect on your fatigue.

See more: Top favorite summer dishes in Japan

Minakami

Minakami
You can get to Minakami in a few hours’ time from Tokyo, but this hot spring destination feels worlds away from Japan’s high-energy capital. Nature surrounds everything here, and guests can enjoy the scenery while lounging in one of the many rotenburo, or outdoor baths.

Highly recommended is the Takaragawa Onsen, where there are both shared gender (and women only) facilities. Hoshi Onsen Chojukan offers drop-in bathing passes, but it is wise to take advantage of the ryokan’s elegant Japanese-style accommodations. There is also a bath here that is over a hundred years old.

Yurari in Kawaguchiko Onsen

Yurari in Kawaguchiko Onsen
Located just two hours from Tokyo by bus, this onsen hub sits at the base of the legendary Mount Fuji. The hot baths, as well as the accommodations, are designed to give guests a clear view of the mountain at all times. The baths at the Yurari facility are unbeatable. It is a complex that is home to over 10 different hot spring baths, but the main drawcard is the large outdoor bath, which boasts a panoramic view of neighbouring Mount Fuji. There are also relaxation spaces and shops inside, too, so it is easy to spend an entire day relaxing here.

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