Thailand | Hole In The Donut Cultural Travel

Ritz-Carlton Reserve Opens Phulay Bay Resort in Thailand

Published February 9, 2010 | By Barbara Weibel

When someone learns that I am a travel writer, the next question out of their mouth is usually, “What’s your favorite travel destination?” It’s a question that’s almost impossible to answer. There are so many incredible places in the world, and every destination has a different allure. I adore Italy for its passionate culture and colorful seaside villages where ancient buildings hang from cliffs. Zimbabwe was a particular favorite because the people were genuinely warm and welcoming, despite the political struggles and economic adversity they were enduring. New Zealand had the friendliest people I have ever met, and breathtaking scenery, to boot. But, if forced to narrow it down to one place, my favorite travel destination would have to be Thailand.

Krabi islands and karst stones in southern Thailand

I’ve visited Thailand four times and will be traveling there for a fifth visit this fall. Just the thought of returning is exciting, but this time something extra special is in the works. I have been invited to stay at the the world’s first Ritz-Carlton Reserve Phulay Bay, located in Krabi on Thailand’s southern peninsula. I have been to Krabi – or I should say I have been through it; on my most recent trip I caught the ferry from Krabi to the Phi Phi Islands – but I have never stayed in Krabi. In this area of Thailand, jungle-clad limestone pinnacles protrude from a sea of such pure turquoise that it makes my eyes hurt. The scenery is so exquisite that it’s it’s how I imagine heaven must look, and the photos I’ve seen of the new Ritz-CarltonReserve Phulay Bay are equally gorgeous. I simply cannot wait!

The Ritz-Carlton Reserve at Phulay Bay arrival pavilion

The property has been designed for those who wish to escape the stresses of everyday life and immerse themselves in a personally-tailored-to-suit luxury vacation experience. Set on the shores of the Andaman Sea, Phulay Bay is a striking 54-villa and pavilion boutique hotel offering unspoiled views of the naturally rugged shoreline.

The resort is the vision and work of Thai architect Lek Bunnag, who has combined modern styling with distinctive accents from Thai, Middle Eastern and Moroccan cultures. Bunnag takes inspiration from beautiful things from around the world to create an environment where the senses are continuously Continue reading →

Posted in Accommodations, SE Asia travel |

Tagged blogsherpa, Krabi, peninsula, Phulay Bay, resorts, Ritz-Carlton Reserve, southern, Thailand |

20 Comments

My Three Best Travel Secrets

Published December 4, 2009 | By Barbara Weibel

Remember playing tag when you were a kid? Slapping someone on the back and yelling, “Tag, you’re it!” Well, I’ve just been been ‘virtually tagged.’ My friend and fellow travel blogger, Shannon Lane, was ‘tagged’ to participate in the meme known as My Three Best Travel Secrets (a meme, which rhymes with cream, is a catchphrase or concept that spreads rapidly from person to person via the Internet). From what I understand, the game was started by Katie of Tripbase.com, the lovely folks who awarded me second place in the category of best North/South American blog of 2009 in their annual Travel Blog Awards.

After sharing three great secrets about her home state of Louisiana, Shannon ‘tagged’ me to be next in line to divulge my best travel secrets. My first reaction was, “Only three?” How could I possibly narrow it down to only three. Should I talk about little known secrets in Sarasota, Florida, such as the $40 annual membership to GWiz Science Museum that provides FREE admission to over 300 other science centers throughout the U.S. as well as other attractions around the State of Florida? Or about my list of little-known coffee shops around the country that let me work on my laptop all day for the price of a cup of coffee, like Sippin’ Internet Cafe in Key West, Pastry Art in Sarasota, or Rev Coffee in the Atlanta area?

In the end, I decided to reveal my secrets for booking last minute accommodations and transportation around the world without breaking the bank. Frankly, I detest being locked into definite travel plans. My preference is to book the first night at a destination (two nights at most), and then wing it from there. Fellow travelers are always eager to share secrets about spectacular, little-known towns or sites they have visited and not being locked into reservations allows me to take advantage of these tips, but it also means I am often looking for last minute bookings, which can be frustrating as well as expensive. However I do have a few tricks to help with this process, which I’ve detailed below: Continue reading →

Posted in Travel tips |

Tagged airfare, airines, Australia, coffee shops, discount codes, Europe, Florida, GWiz, hotels, internet cafes, New Zealand, online booking, Sarasota, SE Asia, Thailand, three best travel secrets, Travel, U.S., USA |

81 Comments

Wordless Wednesday – Blind Thai Vendor

Published December 17, 2008 | By Barbara Weibel

thailand_blind_vendor

Posted in SE Asia travel |

Tagged blind, happy, photos, Thailand, Travel, vendors, wordless wednesday |

4 Comments

Wordless Wednesday – Thailand Punk

Published November 19, 2008 | By Barbara Weibel

OK, maybe a few words. These teens at Bangkok's Chatuchak Market stared at me intimidatingly until I took the photo, then broke out into wide grins.

OK, maybe a few words. These teens at Bangkok's Chatuchak Market seemed intimidating when I snapped the shot, but when I lowered the camera, they broke out into broad grins.

Posted in SE Asia travel |

Tagged Bangkok, Chatuchak Market, photos, punk, SE Asia, teens, Thailand, Travel, wordless wednesday |

26 Comments

The Sounds Of Silence

Published August 16, 2008 | By Barbara Weibel

Mixed in amongst the rock, R&B, blues, and folk songs that comprise my music collection is a CD that contains a 20-minute recording made at a lake at the Khlong Saeng Wildlife Sanctuary. In 2004 I visited this Sanctuary, which is located in a remote area on the southern peninsula of Thailand. There are no generators at Khlong Saeng. No planes fly overhead. And cell phones get no reception, thus the ‘music’ of the CD is the mating calls of wild gibbon, the whoosh of giant hornbills soaring overhead, and the sounds of waterfalls cascading off the limestone towers that surround the pristine lake.

Ha Roi Rai Khlong Saeng Sanctuary Thailand There is a resort of sorts at Klong Saeng. The only family living at the lake has constructed a series of thatched-roof bungalows that float on giant bamboo logs along the shore, tied together like boxcars on a railroad siding. Continue reading →

Posted in SE Asia travel, Washington State travel |

Tagged environment, Gordon Hempton, Ha Roi Rai, Khlong Saeng Sanctuary, noise pollution, Olympic National Park, Olympic Peninsula, One Square Inch of Silence, photos, rain forests, Ruby Beach, silence, Thailand, Travel, Undiscovered Places, Washington |

4 Comments

In Memoriam

Published February 19, 2008 | By Barbara Weibel

I learned today of the death of my dear friend, Ron Wilcox. I met Ron last May as I was walking through the village of Pai in northern Thailand. I was standing at an intersection that didn’t appear on my map, puzzling as to which way to go, when he pulled up on his little red scooter and inquired, in his delightful Welsh accent, “Are you lost, luv?” Little did I know it then, but this was Ron’s modus operandi; he was always helping people. And although I wasn’t lost, I took him up on his offer to give me a lift and hopped on the back of his motor scooter. Ron and Nicky Wilcox Five minutes later we were at his modest house, where I was introduced to his wife, Nicky, and his two year old daughter, Briony. As I munched on fresh-picked lychee fruit and drank steaming hot coffee, Ron regaled me with the story of how he came to live in Thailand. Upon retirement, he’d come for a short visit, met Nicky, and never left. He’s been helping the local people of northern Thailand ever since (you can read about some of his good works in one of my earlier posts, here).