Hip Guide to Thailand

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Holidays Thailand 2012
 
Date                    Week Day         Name
January - 01       Sunday             New Year's Day
January - 02       Monday            New Year's Day - Observed
March - 07          Wednesday     Magha Puja
April - 06              Friday               Chakri Memorial Day
April - 13              Friday               Songkran
April - 14              Saturday          Songkran
April - 15              Sunday            Songkran
April - 16              Monday            Songkran - Observed
May - 01               Tuesday           Labor Day
May - 05               Saturday           Coronation Day
May - 07                Monday            Coronation Day - Observed
June - 04              Monday             Vesak Day
August - 02          Thursday           Asalha Puja
August - 12           Sunday             The Queen's Birthday
August - 13           Monday             The Queen's Birthday - Observed
October - 23         Tuesday            Chulalongkorn Day
December - 05     Wednesday     The King's Birthday
December - 10     Monday             Constitution Day
December - 31     Monday              New Year's Eve

The large island of Phuket and many of the surrounding islands and Thai mainland were affected by the December 26th, 2005 Tsunami that devastated many countries and caused a large loss of life in the region.

A bit of Tsunami debris washes up on Karon Beach

Today Phuket had fully recovered from the Tsunami, and life among the Thai people is back to normal. Tourism on Phuket has yet to recover completely, despite the fact that most hotels and bungalows escaped damage or have been restored already. This presents an excellent opportunity to visit Thailand and enjoy its wonderful attractions free from crowds, and often at reduced rates.

When I visited Thailand 22 years ago I stayed in Ko Samui and from my funky bungalow I could see Koh Phangan dominating the vista out in the Gulf of Thailand. Back then few people visited Ko Phangan probably because they still didn't have electricity and there were only about half a dozen small, even funkier bungalow resorts around the island.

Tranquility is easy to find on Koh Phangan

Unable to find a good reason to visit 22 years ago, as Ko Samui was about as funky as one needed, I never took the boat over to Ko Phangan. But now it's a major destination for the backpacker set, thanks to the famous Full Moon parties that take place in Haad Rin.