Gerrit Tienkamp (Peter.BKK)

Wednesday, 23 September 2015

Boathouse Hotel, Kata Beach, #Phuket

With superb dining and a magnificent stretch of beach, Boathouse by Montara is a great place for a holiday.

If you're looking for a cosy and peaceful hideout on your next trip to Phuket, Boathouse by Montara has exactly what you want and far more besides.

Located at Kata Beach, the compact 24-year-old boutique hotel boasts ample beach access and pleasingly simple facilities. The hotel takes its name from the L-shaped building that is designed to look slightly like a boat. All 38 rooms, which are newly renovated, are lined up along a narrow corridor to assimilate cabins aboard a ship. You might feel a little claustrophobic as you make your way to your room but once inside, you'll be greeted by a relaxing, airy and peaceful vibe thanks to the simple yet thoughtful design.

Spanning from 36 to 136 square meters cross eight categories, all rooms come with private balcony or terrace, flat screen TV and cable channels, complimentary Wi-Fi access, bath or rain shower, fully equipped mini bar, espresso machine and Cafes Richard Grands Crus coffee pods and a selection of Ronnefeldt teas.

Not all rooms have ocean view and the compact size of the building also means you won't get much privacy, as you are either facing the pool or the common lounging area.

Food and beverage wise, Boathouse offers two outlets: the renowned Boathouse Wine & Grill, which became the first establishment in Thailand to win the Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence in 2006, and the newly added Re Ka Ta beachfront restaurant, which received the same award in 2012. If you're feeling adventurous, the Kata Beach restaurant and bar scene is an easy walk from the hotel.

The real highlight of Boathouse is the beach, which stretches along the side of the hotel and offers stunning views of the ocean from sunrise to sunset, especially from the restaurant and the beach club. You can lie down on the sand, or lounge around in one of the cabanas by the infinity pool and enjoy an unobstructed panoramic view of the ocean unlike anywhere on the island. As the hotel is located on the far end of the beach, it is much less busy and feels almost like a private beach dedicated only to hotel guests.

The location is also decent for surfing. Boathouse offers surfing and stand-up paddle boarding at reasonable prices. You can also learn how to surf at the Re Ka Ta Surf School. Other amenities include cooking class on weekends, pampering spa, airport transfer, medical service on call and baby-sitting service and baby cots.

Boathouse does not offer grand luxury but has enough comfort and style enhanced by genuinely friendly and helpful staff to make it a decent sanctuary for any holidaymaker looking for a perfect balance between tranquillity and fun.

Source: The Nation

*****

For the Best ‪#‎Hotels and ‪#‎Resorts
We help you with your ‪#‎Bookings
BOOK NOW SIMPLE CLICK ON THIS LINK ON OR THE BANNER
http://gerrit-tienkamp.blogspot.com/
http://planet-asian.blogspot.com/
https://asiabesthotels.wordpress.com/
https://europeanbesthotels.wordpress.com/
http://www.tripadvisor.com/members/Gerrit_Tienkamp

Celebrities on Hooters Bangkok’s delightfully tacky launch party.

Sek Loso at Hooters

Hooters, the long-admired American chain restaurant famous for tackiness and large-breasted female servers, opened its first Bangkok branch on Friday night.

"Damnnnnnnnn. Look at that thang!" was the emotion on most of the (mostly male) guests who showed up at the Four Points by Sheraton hotel to get their first taste of Hooters magic.

Of courses, they totally lost their cool because of the variations menus and ~~breast~~ portion sizes available.

The very ambitious Hooters “job fair” was announced in June, and the Bangkok ladies who made the cut reportedly received training by original American Hooters gals on how to strut their stuff and serve fried chicken.

One of the trainers commented at the party that the Bangkok Hooters girls did a phenomenal job, despite the fact some ladies looked a bit annoyed as they had to squeeze through a packed crowd to serve the food

Besides local Hooters girls, some Euro models were hired to look hot and tell the guests that they didn’t work there.

The highlight of the night had to be an adorable cupid-shuffle dance from the waitresses, continuing Hooters’ wonderful tradition of family friendliness.

Source: Coconuts

Koh Samet unveils new mermaid statue embodying motherly love

A new and beautiful check-in spot has opened up for locals and tourists alike at the ever so popular Sai Kaew Beach, literally “the beach of glass sand” here on Samed Island. Perched atop the soft white grains is the new and improved mermaid statue, the more modern counterpart of the national classic Pra Apai Manee’s mermaid that has stood the test of time and inspired many readers, students of literature, and lovers alike as they looked out on the gentle waves. Many generations of Thai children grew up with the statue as the front cover of their literature textbooks and as inspiration for all the magical and wonderful creatures a child envisions.

The statue has always been and will always be about the beauty of love. In this current interpretation, creator Haritorn Akarapat, master sculptor whose works are greatly unique and nationally renowned takes inspiration from the love of “Nang Nguek” and “Sutsakorn”, characters from the classic and powerful literary creation of Sunthorn Phu, a national poet. Combined with the natural beauty of the island, the statue reflects the connections between Mother Nature and the creatures under her love and care, not unlike the generosity between mother and child. Nothing epitomizes “true love” like the unconditional love of a mother.

And in turn, the Rayong province officials are showing some love to nature with the new landscaping project of the beach and the surrounding areas to provide the island with a beautiful front, welcoming tourists, both foreign and local, making it a breath-taking and blog-worthy spot, if there ever was one. With new signs for important shrines, hills, multipurpose open area, sturdy stairs, and a large parking space, the beach is more equipped than ever for those who are looking to take in nature’s stunning sights, looking on as “True Love” becomes a new symbol of love, life, and happiness with every visit, reminding us to love nature back and preserve its splendor for years to come.

The landscaping project is undertaken by PTT Group, intending to participate in the development of Rayong, dubbed a second home for the company, in both social and economic aspects, in conjunction with Rayong Province, Laem Yah national park, Samed Islands, District Administration, Open Local Government Units, and communities on the island.

And for those of you, who are worried about the original statue, fret not. The mermaid statue, along with the Pra Apai Manee statue have been repainted to revive their full glory and have been moved to the foot of the hill leading to the multipurpose open area where children can run and play and look on in wonder as most of us did when we first read the stories.

It is definitely worth a trip to soak in all the joys nature has to offer and to witness an artistic masterpiece that blends in so beautifully with the scenery. When Instagramming this marvel, don’t forget to #Welovesamet so we can all look back on the commencement of Sai Kaew Beach’s new era together.

Source: Coconuts

*****

Tuesday, 22 September 2015

New multiple entry tourist visa for Thailand Confirmed: available from November

BANGKOK: Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that a new multiple entry tourist visa will be available from 13 November 2015.

The announcement, made via the Ministry’s Facebook page reads:

Thailand will soon grant multiple-entry visas to visitors to facilitate the forthcoming ASEAN Community and to boost Thailand’s tourism industry.

The multiple-entry tourist visa (METV), costing 5,000 baht, will grant travelers multiple entries during a 6-month period, for up to 60 days per entry.

All foreign nationals are eligible to apply for METV.

Thailand’s METV will be available from 13th November 2015.

This new multiple entry tourist visa was first announced back in August but was officially confirmed earlier this week following its publication in the Government Gazette.

Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs

*****