July 1st, 2009 at 12:05am
Thailand extends visa-fee exemptions
Continuing its efforts to expedite the revival of the Thai travel and tourism industry, the Royal Thai Government has agreed to extend the exemption of the visa fee for tourist visa applications until 4 March 2010.
The exemption will apply to all applicants for visa on arrival at all international airports in Thailand as well as those applying at Thai embassies and consulates abroad for stays longer than the period for which they are normally eligible.
Thailand presently gives a Visa on Arrival for citizens of 20 countries for a stay not exceeding 15 days. Citizens of another 42 countries are allowed a visa-free stay in Thailand not over 30 days.
Those who wish to stay longer than those periods have to apply for visas at the Thai embassies or diplomatic missions abroad before their arrival in Thailand.
The extension is one of several measures taken by the Thai tourism industry to revive itself in the wake of a number of global and local events that have led to a temporary decline in visitor arrivals.
For more information, please contact:
- Visa Division, The Customs Department
Tel: 02-575-1063
E-mail: consular03@msa.go.th
- Royal Thai Consulates and Embassies Abroad
- Immigration Bureau
Tel: 02-287-3101-10
E-mail: immcallcenter.agent6@gmail.com
Hotline: 1178
June 30th, 2009 at 3:16am
Exotic Food in Thailand - Kai Mot Daeng (Red Ant Eggs)
Beside spotting carts selling an assortment of tasty insects for snacking in Thailand, I found another an exotic ingredient Kai Mot Daeng ( Red Ant Eggs) for cooking at the Phuket Old Town fresh market located across from Seng Ho, the oldest bookstore in Phuket on Krabi Road two weeks ago.
It looked like small, white beans but if you look close enough, these little “beans” were RED ANT LARVAE! The eggs have a very mild sour taste a bit like lime and full of nutrients. Kai Mot Deng is most commonly eaten in northern and eastern Thailand as well as in Laos in a variety of ways such as freshly comsumed, red ant egg salad (Yang Kai Mot Daeng), fried with eggs (Kai Jiaw Kai Mot ) or make into soup (Gaeng Kai Mot Daeng).
June 29th, 2009 at 3:18am
Koh Yao Noi - Pradu Seafood Restaurant and Bungalow (Phang Nga, Thailand)
I just came across a question from one of the visitors visiting my blog: Where to eat in Koh Yao Noi? Well, We asked the same question when we took a short sightseeing trip around the island two weeks ago. We were recommended Pradu Seafood Restaurant & Bungalow during our stay at The Paradise Koh Yao Boutique Beach Resort.
The Gang of Seven
Altogether, there are seven villages in Koh Yao Noi suport a population of 4000 people. Here you can find a wide range of restaurants and accomodations from back-packer units to boutique resorts. Pradu Seafood restaurant and Bungalow is a local popular restaurant located right on the ricefields at Ton Pra Doo village next to Tha Ton Do Pier. The restaurant is named after a majestic tree: Pterocarpus indicus ( Angsana in Malaysia and Singapore). The yellow sweet-scented flowers only last for one day and the winged-seeds are dispersed by wind. The tree is the focus of the village where villagers gather exchange news and gossip.
These baskets were once used to carry rice from field to market
The rustic wooden kampong style, family-run restaurant is decorated with Thai artifacts and provides a very friendly and homely service. It offers a magnificent unobstructed view of the ricefield like rural Bali and plenty of dining space. Most importantly, it is inexpensive as compared to dinning in Koh Lanta. We paid only 300 Baht for a kilo of mangrove crabs. In Koh Lanta, I paid 700 Baht for a kilo of flower crabs from the sea. We had a seabass steamed in lemon sauce for 250 Baht and a big bowl of freshly cooked Tom Yum Pla for 7 pax for only 150 Baht. In total, we paid 1450 Baht for seven main dishes. Here I found another interesting dish: Yum Sam Krob (Spicy mixed crisp salad)
The Pradu Seafood Restaurant & Bungalow also offers holiday bungalows for the budget travellers visting the island.
Thai Style Fried Pepper Crabs (Koh Yao Noi, Phang Nga)
Pradu Seafood Restaurant and Bungalow (Phang Nga, Thailand)
