On a recent trip to Northern Thailand, I had the opportunity to visit Fern Paradise, the #1 rated hotel in Chiang Mai by the readers of TripAdvisor. Walking around the property, I felt like I was in the middle of a rainforest as I was surrounded by a sea of green - many species of ferns (as well other plants and trees) grew profusely, and the air (unlike most of Chiang Mai) was so fresh and pure. Dr. Niwat, the owner of this small family run resort, explained to me that the many fern plants cleaned the air, filtering out the pollutants and producing a healthy supply of oxygen. An architect by trade and a fern enthusiast, Dr. Niwat gives every visitor a proper briefing and tour of Fern Paradise. According to the good Doctor, he would like to do his part in saving the world from environmental degradation and pollution through the planting of ferns, plants and trees.

Surveying the property, I didn’t get a chance to visit the rustic looking rooms, but from what I understand they include such modern amenities as cable TV and a DVD player. As a lover of plants and all things green, I was truly impressed by the concept of Fern Paradise. Located only 20 minutes or so from the heart of the Chiang Mai’s tourist zone, Fern Paradise is definitely a breath of fresh air and a return to nature. Rates are from $88 – 148USD per night including daily breakfast.

For a little diversion, you might want to check out Traveler IQ challenge, a very fun and quirky game on Trip Advisor’s website that tests your knowledge of world geography. Presented with a small world map, the game requires you to click with your computer mouse on the location of famous world cities and capitals. Having to navigate through twelve levels of difficulty from easy to very difficult, your cumulative score is based on both accuracy and speed of identification. I have played this game a number of times, and “the Great Ling Yai” got as far as Level 11 before he crapped out.

Playing this game on a laptop computer can be very frustrating, because the scroll mouse often has a mind of its own. While trying to click on the location of San Francisco, my mouse inadvertently clicks on somewhere out in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Damn mouse! This is a great game to play when you’re flying on a plane somewhere overseas. Before I play again, I think I’m going to study an World Atlas so I can improve my geography knowledge. Hey….Where is exact location of Bishek, Kyrgyzstan anyhow? Must be somewhere near Pakistan, Afghanistan or one of those – xxxxxx stan countries, right? How about Alice Springs, Australia, anybody know?

The last time I was in Barbados (September 2003), I stayed at the Casuarina Beach Club. Located about ½ mile south of the busy tourist hub of St. Lawrence Gap, the Casuarina was an absolutely wonderful place and had done so much towards community tourism and safeguarding the environment. It was only 1 ½ years later (in Spring 2005) that the Casuarina closed up shop and the property was sold to Almond Resorts. In my Eulogy to the Casuarina Beach Club, I discussed my feelings towards this hotel in detail.

At this time, I would like to share some memories with you of this special hotel in a short video that I put together. Enjoy!

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Speaking of Bangkok, I have produced a short video on the fascinating urban culture of the “City of Angels”, the #1 ranked city in Travel and Leisure’s 2008 travel poll. Highlights include a tour of Soi Cowboy, a popular entertainment zone which caters to men and Khao San Road, the so-called tourist ghetto of Bangkok. With the exception of one mildly graphic scene there is absolutely no nudity or vulgarity. ENJOY!

Travel and Leisure, an American based magazine devoted to tourism, recently published their 13th annual travel poll. Voted by their readers as the top city destination in the world was Bangkok. My hometown of San Francisco was voted as 10th best. In the world’s best hotels poll, India and luxury tented camp resorts in East and South Africa dominated the rankings. Keep in mind that their readership is mostly American - as travelers, they are not the budget, backpacker types and their choice in accommodations is geared towards deluxe and luxury class hotels.

Why is Bangkok #1? I can understand why travelers from the west (farangs) would be attracted to the City of Angels. Bangkok has that magical allure – in many respects it is very westernized but at the same time it is so very exotic and foreign. Pluses are fantastic shopping opportunities, a variety of fascinating cultural attractions, a great selection of fine restaurants representing cuisines from around the world - Thai, Indian, Chinese, Italian, French, American, Japanese etc - and a most titillating nightlife. In addition, Bangkok has some of the best luxury hotels in the world – not necessarily where I stay when I go to Bangkok as I like more humble surroundings. By the way, in T & L’s poll, The Oriental Hotel in Bangkok was voted as the 13th best hotel in the world - the highest ranking of any hotel in Thailand. Also as far as big cities go, Bangkok is one of the safest in the world. On the downside, like most big cities, Bangkok has horrendous traffic jams and there are problems with air pollution. Oh well, you can’t have everything. Bottom line, if you’re a foodie and shopping is your thing, then you’ll love Bangkok.

My personal take - I must admit that while I am not particularity fond of big cities, I find the City of Angels to be absolutely fascinating. Despite concessions to modernity and to the West, Bangkok carefully maintains the essence of Siam culture – the old ways and traditions remain as strong as ever. Notwithstanding numerous trips there, Bangkok continues to be a puzzle and mystery to me. Maybe that’s the reason I keep returning – to solve the puzzle.

If you have traveled in Thailand, I’m sure you may have probably come to the conclusion that if you’ve been to one Thai city – excluding Bangkok and Chiang Mai of course - you’ve been to them all. What I mean to say is that most town and cities in upcountry Thailand are relatively nondescript with their cement-block and egg carton architecture.

Of course this is somewhat a generalization, but it does have some merit in the eyes of a Westerner. Behind this obscurity of sameness, there’s lots of color and vitality in the alleyways and backstreets of Thai cities. So bottom line, don’t judge a book by its cover.

While doing some research for ecotourism efforts and environmentally friendly hotels in my favorite destinations, I came across some very startling information. According to The Best Green Hotels website, the most ecofriendly hotel in Thailand is the Royal Cliff Beach Resort located in Pattaya. I was quite surprised that a resort hotel of this nature would exist in Pattaya, one of the most polluted and eco-unfriendly resort destinations in all of Thailand. Not only is Pattaya an environmental cesspool but as one of the world’s most popular sextourist destinations, it is a moral cesspool as well. Going through the heart of the resort area, almost all the vegetation and greenery has been stripped to accommodate the uncontrolled tourism development, where loud open air beerbars, strip clubs and girlie bars, cheap hotels, shops, restaurants dominate the landscape. Not only that, but air and water pollution is a problem as well - swimming at the beach is not recommended here. Pattaya has very few redeeming qualities, one of which is the aforementioned Royal Cliff Beach resort. Next time I pass thru Pattaya, I will have to visit “this green resort”.

Located just south of town, Royal Cliff is one of the greenest hotels in the world with its comprehensive environmental friendly policies. The hotel’s green actions include Xeric landscaping, water conservation, eco-friendly food, guestroom recycling bins, compostable disposables, donation to charity and cotton towel/sheets. As someone who markets ecotourism and environmentally friendly travel, I truly support their efforts towards make this world a greener and better place.

I came across an interesting story in the online edition of the Bangkok Post about a unique type of homestay tourist service in Thailand. A number of proprietors who manage fish farms not far from the pier at Rayong, a small city on Thailand’s Eastern Seaboard, have become tourism entrepreneurs as well. Their unique “homestay hostels” consist of small floating rafthouses which are connected with each other by wooden walkways. While facilities and accommodations are rather basic, these floating homestay hostels are especially popular with Thai Tourists who are looking for a unique and affordable weekend getaway. Snorkeling, crab hunting and squid baiting are popular activities here, and seafood delicacies for dinner – including squid sashimi and barbequed fish - is one of the featured attractions.

If you’re a seafood connoisseur, you might want to check these places out.

Have you ever totaled up the number of countries that you have visited in your lifetime? Furthermore, how many times have you traveled to each particular country? Breaking it down even further, what places/cities have you visited (with at least one overnight stay) in each destination/country? If you answer all these questions carefully, you’ll have put together your own TRAVELER’S RESUME.

Let’s start out with yours truly. My inaugural trip as a traveler happened in Dec. 1973 when I went to Mexico for 3 weeks. Over the ensuing 35 years, I have traveled to 25 different countries. If you look at my RESUME, you will see that I’m very partial to the tropics. Call me the tropical traveler if you may.

NORTH AMERICA:

• Mexico (18)

Puerto Vallarta (3), Mexico City (3), Guadalajara, Villahermosa, Merida,
Mexican Caribbean – Cancun (4), Playa del Carmen (2) and Tulum; Oaxaca (5),
Puerto Escondido (5), San Blas(2) Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo,
Baja California - Cabo San Lucas (4), La Paz and Loreto,
Costa Alegre - La Manzanilla (2) and Bahia de Navidad

CARIBBEAN:

• Jamaica (30+)

Kingston, Blue Mountains, Port Antonio, Montego Bay, Ocho Rios, Negril,
South Coast - Black River, Treasure Beach and Milk River Bath; Cockpit Country,
Mandeville and Christiana

• Barbados (6)
• St. Lucia (2)
• Antigua
• Dominican Republic

Santo Domingo and Sosua Beach

• Cuba

Havana and Varadero Beach

• St. Vincent
• Trinidad
• St. Maarten/St. Marten
• Bahamas

Nassau and Eleuthera

• Caribbean/Panama Canal Cruise

SOUTH AMERICA:

• Colombia

Bogota, Cartagena and San Andres Island

• Peru

Lima, Cusco, Sacred Valley including Machu Picchu, Amazon basin

• Ecuador

Quito, Otavalo and Mindo

CENTRAL AMERICA:

• Costa Rica (6)

San Jose (6), Heredia (2), Sarapiqui (2), Manuel Antonio (3), Dominical,
Pacific Lowlands – Carara ; Guanacaste – Canas and Palo Verdes NP (2), Tamarindo Beach (2), Ocotal and Los Innocentes; Jaco, Tortugero, Monteverde (2), Osa Peninsula, La Fortuna and Arenal (4),
Caribbean Coast- Cahuita (2) and Puerto Viejo; Wilson Botanical Gardens
(San Vito), San Gerardo de Dota and Nicoya Peninsula - Playa Samara

• Guatemala (2)

Guatemala City (2), Antigua (2) and Lake Atitlan

WEST AFRICA:

• Ghana

Accra, Gold Coast, Kumasi

• Togo

Lome

• Mali

Bamako and Mopti

• Ivory Coast

Abidjan

SOUTHEAST ASIA:

• Thailand (7)

Bangkok (7), Chiang Mai (5), Mae Sa Valley (2), Phuket (3), Koh Lanta, Koh Jum,
Koh Samui (2), Koh Chang (5), Pattaya (3), Khao Sok National Park, Chiang Rai Province – Doi Tung (2), Mae Salong (2) and Chiang Kong; Kanchanaburi (2),
Sangkhlaburi, Sakaeo, Sukhothai (2), Ayutthaya and Mae Hong Son Province-Pai (2), Soppong and Mae Hong Son (2)

• Laos

Vientiane, Luang Prabang, Mekong River Cruise

• Cambodia

Siem Reap(Angkor Wat)

EUROPE

• England

London Area

Please note: Number in Parentheses () indicates the number of visits

Feel free to submit your Travel Resume here!

Travelers grow and evolve over a period of time. The desire to experience different things, new cultures and places is a very strong motivating factor for a traveler. He looks forward to his next adventure and to exploring a new destination. When a traveler stops traveling, a certain part of him dies - sometimes when we get very old it becomes physically impossible to travel; other travelers may retire prematurely when they settle down to raise a family or become absorbed in a career. Some people go to the same place year after year for their annual holiday – that becomes their comfort zone. As an example, I know some middle-aged ladies who have traveled to Negril, Jamaica every year for the last 15 years but really haven’t been anywhere else in Jamaica or in the Caribbean. Negril is their comfort zone. Their sense of adventure got lost at some point in their lives. Travelers they are not.

On the other hand, yours truly, Hanumann aka Ling Yai is definitely a traveler. After getting my baptism in 1973 on a 3-week adventure to Mexico, I have kept growing over the years as a traveler. While I often return to some of my favorite haunts, I always make it a point to explore some new places and destinations. I never remain static. In 1995, I traveled to West Africa and in 2001, I began traveling to Thailand and Southeast Asia. In my 7 trips to Thailand, I have traveled all over the country and every time I go, I make it a point to check out some new places – whether it be Sakaeo, Koh Jum , Khao Sok or Sanghklaburi. Last year (2007), I made three trips – late March, I spent 10 days in ‘My Secret Paradise’ (La Manzanilla) on Mexico’s Costa Alegre; in late August, I traveled to Peru and Ecuador in South America and in November, I returned to Thailand.

Coming up - in November 2008, it’s back to Thailand, then I am off to Malaysia for the first time. I guess you can say that I am a traveler.