Thailand : The unseen beauties of undiscovered areas
W
hen it comes to Thailand, it is needless to say that its tourism industry has flourished in the past few decades. Its blissful beaches and exotic islands with nature reserves and historic monuments untarnished by man or climate and its traditional food that tourists yearn for in their home countries are the two most interesting things that capture the attention of all travelers.
However, there are numerous other reasons for tourists to consider Thailand as their forthcoming vacation destination. To begin with, this gem of a country has not yet been totally discovered by social media. There are many provinces and islands that are still virgin and not less beautiful than the famous Phuket or Koh Samui.
In addition to enjoying the gorgeous scenery, the translucent sea, the mountains and the religious temples, one can also visit the most sophisticated medical facilities for a quick full one-day check-up. We embarked on a five-day voyage to different provinces to enjoy the unseen beauties of undiscovered areas, engage with the locals known for their hospitality to foreigners and whatever else Thailand has to offer. During our trip we were joined by Dusit Manapan, Ambassador of Thailand to Kuwait, and Ms Pittara, counselor at the Embassy of Thailand in Kuwait. Thailand the welcoming country
The 20-year-plan, as proposed by Thani Thongphakdi, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, is to become a developed country. He expressed how “Thailand is a welcoming country and that there is harmony between all religions”. His words expressed the attitude and truthfulness of the citizens, which were proven during our exciting journey of Thailand.
On meeting Pataraporn Sithivanich, Executive Director to Europe Africa and Middle East, Tourism Authority of Thailand, I felt the enthusiasm in her voice while she was speaking about the yearly increase of tourists, which gave her a sense of pride in the developing country. As any director would, she desires to open the country’s doors and welcome more tourists to experience unlimited exotic adventures as well as growing medical facilities.
After a long ride to Lopburi province, we were welcomed by the Betagro Company known for their uncompromising quality standards of branded chicken. I realized that the afternoon will include some intense knowledge and delicious food. S-Pure stands for quality and safety of all its products, which is expanding internationally. What I found to be extra fascinating was how you can trace back the manufacturing process via their QR code on the chicken packaging to monitor the origin of the S-Pure chicken. They have been exporting their outstanding 100 percent antibiotics-free chicken to parts of Asia and Europe and are tackling the Middle East, starting with Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.
Departing to Phuket on the 7.50 am flight to proceed to Phang Nga province in spite of the hot weather was well worth it. Upon arrival, we were met by a warm Thai greeting followed by a meeting with Sittichai Sakda, Governor of Phang- Nga.
Phang-Nga is a province with forests and mountains near the sea, which keeps the temperature constant throughout the year, giving tourists a chance to come visit as they please. Phang-Nga can be reached by flying to Phuket or Krabi and taking any other means of transportation, since they don’t have any direct flights. Visitors usually enjoy boating while watching the scenic islands, mountains and forests. Pan Yi Island
We proceeded to Pan Yi Island, a one-of-a-kind fishing village, which currently consists of 360 families and is strangely built on stilts that look like a cluster of colorful floating houses. Here in this Muslim village, where an Indonesian leader migrated over 200 years ago, stands a mosque, school, shops and restaurants.
As we ate delicious seafood while chatting with the locals, and got a sense of how close and involved everyone is in their own roles in this small community. By visiting this village, you will never miss the feeling of togetherness between all residents. I noticed that there was football field built on the water surface - truthfully, I have never seen anything similar before. I asked a local girl about who came up with this idea. She replied: “It was built many years ago, and as a tradition, you must jump into the water to retrieve the ball.”
We got onto a speedboat and headed to Ko Ta Pu, also known as James Bond Island, since it gained popularity after a part of “The Man with the Golden Gun” was filmed there. Not only James Bond attracts tourists, but also the beauty and fascination of this large rock built by nature that has been standing erect in the sea for millions of years.
After a long day of historic attractions, we arrived at the J W Marriot to relax and unwind before dinner. The resort is fascinating and blends extraordinary natural beauty, from its beachfront to tropical spas.
Our final visit was to Piyavate Hospital, an internationally accredited care facility with over-the-top quality of care. We came across a few Kuwaiti patients, who after a few minutes of conversation, could not stop raving about the intense quality and care of the doctors, staff and hospital administration. Committed to family care
Burin Nuchniyom, MD, International Medical Director said: “We are committed to family care, providing physical and emotional support for patients and families. Future plans are to have continuous care in GCC countries.” After patients leave the facility, they would like to be offered support from a place closer to home. A rehab center would make it easier for patients to fly out and stay close to their countries and families.
They take comfort levels very seriously, where not only the overall surgery success is important, but how you are admitted and discharged without any hurdles. As success rates and popularity rise, they are expanding from 150 to 350 beds in the coming years. ‘Tria’, is the hospital’s wellness center - a building of serenity and healing. Not only does it provide pain management, integrative detox and anti-ageing procedures, but also a relaxing spa and fitness center for patients.