Don’t let that crazy summer heat spoil your festive pre-Songkran mood. Visit some of these amazing ice-cream shops before you load your super soaker and water balloon…
Farm to Table Organic Café
Farm to Table Organic Café not only grows their own vegetables out in Phu Chee Fah, but they take things one step further, making ice cream from their own produce—pumpkin, potato, carrots, and strawberries—which is guaranteed by the IFOAM (International Foundation for Organic Agriculture).
We’re particularly impressed by their ability to blend their organic milk with vegetables, a long process of trial and error they describe as very difficult, due to the flavours and acidity of some veggies.
179 Aussadang Rd., 02-115-2625, 081-868-9942. Open daily 10am-8pm.
Icedea
As crazy as it sounds, tonkatsu ice-cream (breaded, deep-fried, melon flavored ice cream topped with chocolate sauce, B145) has actually gained global appeal. Here in Bangkok, Icedea is the place to grab your ice cream cutlet.
Not weird enough? They do global warming ice cream (B49), which reflects the melting world we live in. Also, don’t forget to taste the popular Grass Brownie (B69), a brownie topped with green foi thong (Thai dessert made with egg yolk). They’ll also sculpt your ice cream in any shape you want.
4/F Bangkok Art and Cultural Center (BACC), 939 Rama1 Rd., 089-834-4058.www.icedea.com. BTS National Stadium. Open daily 10am-7pm.
Simple Day
As the name suggests, Simple Day is a pretty simple, yet satisfying, ice cream parlor. Owned by the same people as the adjoining Think Café, here you can sit back in the cute, clean space while licking great-tasting homemade ice cream flavors.
Served in cups adorned with cute scribbles, the ice-cream comes in many flavors, from favorites Ferraro Rocher and Forest Berries to rotating specials like Melon Sherbet. Enjoy them with a smiley shortbread cookie or some lovely macarons. Prices starts from B85 for two scoops with a cookie.
Sure, it’s a bit out of the way, and a bit hard to find if you don’t know your way around Tanao Road, but this half century-old ice cream parlor is a sure bet for light and refreshing Thai-style frozen treats.
Back then, they only offered coconut flavor, but now they serve up a slew of homemade flavors, including favorites like chocolate, Thai iced tea and coffee (all B25). Mix and match the ice cream with your favorite toppings or pair it with homemade buttered cake.
94 Soi Phraeng Phutorn, Tanao Rd., 02-221-3954, 02-622-2455. MRT Hua Lamphong Open Mon-Sat 9am-4pm.
Creamery Boutique Ice creams
This warmhearted boutique ice cream shop serves up frozen delights in a homey setting. Owned by a foodie who works in a five-star hotel, it offers some pretty weird and wacky ice-cream flavors, like Bacon & Eggs (aka Brit- Pop), alongside slightly more conventional concoctions, like Apple Crumble (huge chunks of cooked apple, caramel and cinnamon), Nutella Kid-Cad (a must for chocolate lovers) and the ever-popular Berry Cheesecake.
And it’s only B49 a scoop or B250 a quart. Their new creation is the Very Hot Pan-fried Cookie, a mountain of your favorite ice-cream served on an enormous, just-out-of-the-oven doughy cookie with choices of classic (B89), brownie (B99), choc-a-lot (chocolate lava, B119) and a generous amount of whipped cream on top.
U-Center Chulalongkorn University, Chulalongkorn Soi 42, Phayathai Rd., 087- 909-8080. Open Mon-Sat 11am-8pm.
Milk Solid Nitrogen
If you’ve ever had Dippin’ Dots (small icecream balls served in a cup), this ice cream of the future is even smoother.
The laboratory-like shop uses liquid nitrogen to flash freeze their ice cream in just 30 seconds, so as to avoid any ice crystals forming in the texture. More than 50 flavors are available with milk and summer flavors like passion fruit being the most popular. B99 for small and B149 for medium.
2/F The Portico Langsuan, 081-810-1681. BTS Chidlom. Open daily noon-10pm
Tongue Fun Ice Cream
This may be a street-side stall, but don’t expect cups of coconut ice-cream. The gimmick here is to serve their ice cream in moh fai (hot pot).
But the flavors, too, are out of the ordinary (B30): milk, seasonal fruits, beer and Red Bull vodka. This amazing local parlour also has a branch at Terminal 21.
In front of Elvis Suki, Soi Yosse, Plubplachai Rd., 089-111-6836. Open daily 7-11pm
5/F Terminal21 Food Hall Pier21.Open daily 10am-10pm
Bored of Bangkok? Here are 6 Euro themed attractions within a few hours’ drive that will transport you far, far away.
The Santorini Park, Cha-am
Offering entertainments for the whole family, Santorini Park (www.santoriniparkchaam.com) is an amusement park with architecture inspired by Greece’s Santorini Island. Not only does it offer many rides, it also has a shopping area with premium brands, numerous restaurants and The Water Fantasy Park next door, which offers a host of different slides, pools and waterways. While you are at the water park, try the Ares’s King Cobra a huge slide that lets two people race on tubes through the twists and turns of the snake’s back, hitting speeds of up to 50kph before appearing to be swallowed into the snake’s mouth. Entry is B50 per person. For the water park, tickets are B700 for adults and B400 for children. Open Mon-Fri 10am-9pm, Fri-Sun 9am-9pm.
Swiss Sheep Farm, Cha-am
The farm is home to numerous fluffy sheep that you can play with. Set opposite the Greek-themed Satorini Park, Swiss Sheep Farm (www.swisssheepfarm.com, 032-772-495) is operated by the owner of Swiss Valley Resort, in Suan Phueng. The story goes that the sheep-loving owner wanted to make his ovine friends available to a wider audience. So if you want to cozy up to wooly sheep, the Cha-Am location allows you to pet, feed and pose with the creatures for B50. A Christmas-themed shop, windmill and activities like archery are also available on-site. Open Mon-Fri 10am-7pm, Sat-Sun 9am-7pm.
Primo Piazza, Khao Yai
After a massive revamp what was formerly called Primo Pasto, Primo Piazza (www.primopiazza.com) opened in December last year in Khao Yai, a popular country getaway a couple of hours north of Bangkok. The spacious complex features classic Italian architecture and is set in a tranquil spot amid copious greenery. Here you’ll find Western and Thai fusion cuisine, a wine bar, café, souvenir shop and an Australian-inspired barn housing numerous fluffy sheep. While you are there, have a drink or a meal outdoors to take in the fresh cool air. Open daily 9am-10pm, closed on Tue-Wed. Admission fees before 6pm are B100 for adults and B50 for children. Only the restaurants, wine bar and souvenir shop are open after 6pm.
Palio, Khao Yai
Still popular among Bangkokians who visit Khao Yai, the Tuscan-village themed walking street and shopping complex has a good selection of fashion boutiques, restaurants and bars. Palio also has the boutique resort Palio Inn (www.palio-khaoyai.com), which offers 12 boutique rooms with Italian countryside architecture. In the evenings, sit on the second floor and watch the busy shopping streets below. The room’s terrace is a perfect spot for a cozy breakfast or a chill glass of pre-bedtime wine. Open daily 10am-1pm.
The Venezia, Hua Hin
Inspired by the Italian river city of Venice, The Venezia Hua Hin (www.theveneziahuahin.com) features replicas of Venice’s landmarks like St. Mark’s Square and Bell Tower at the main entrance and, of course, human-made canals running throughout. Covering a total 20,000 sq meters with more than 361 retail outlets, the complex features a spacious shopping area, pubs and restaurants, spas and bookstores, an arts and décor zone and a kids zone with mini zoo. Each zone has a different color of buildings, decorated with Venice-style art pieces, flowers and fountains. Open Mon-Fri 11am-8pm , Sat-Sun 10am-9pm.
Thames Valley, Khao Yai
Inspired by country homes along the River Thames which flows through southern England, this new resort offers a chance to pretend you’re staying at your weekend retreat in the British countryside. Consisting of 58 rooms offering seven different room types, the resort is set on Thanarat Road five minutes from Khao Yai National Park which means you get plenty of nature and some great mountain views. To complete the picture, the resort is home to the Castle Restaurant, offering homemade English favourites like fish & chips and pork chops in an old English manor house setting, which is decorated with dark woods, high ceilings and lots of bare stone walls. Maenwhile, the Clotted Cream Tea Room offers a good selection of TWG Tea, pastries and sandwiches and, of course, the chance to order an English High Tea. Rates start from B6,000 for a 40-sq-meter deluxe room and it’s B22,000 for a 185-sq-meter duplex pool villa. For more information, visit www.thamesvalleykhaoyai.com.
Who says you need to take a lot of days off for a trip to an island? To welcome the summer, here are 6 islands close to Bangkok that you can travel to easily over the weekend.
Koh Larn, Pattaya
Perhaps the most popular island near Bangkok, Koh Larn is only 30 minutes by boat from Pattaya’s Bali Hai pier. The ferry service runs every 1.5 hours to two hours starting from 7am to 6.30pm daily and the fare is B30 per person. A speedboat service is also available at about B1,500-B2,000 per trip. The island is not only popular because it’s convenient to get to, though, but is also home to a few nice long stretches of beaches with clean white sand and clear seas. Among the island’s most beautiful beaches are Ta Waen and Samae. Here, you can also partake in para sailing, banana boat riding, jet skiing or you can just explore the island on a motorbike. As there are a number of resorts on the island, you can spend a night here or just enjoy a day out and take the last ferry which leaves at 6pm back to Pattaya.
Koh Si Chang, Chonburi
Just a little further from Sriracha, there’s Koh Loy Pier from which you can take a ferry cross to Koh Si Chang, 12km away. The ferry runs daily from 6am-7pm and the journey to the island takes about 50 minutes. The island has nice beaches, but the main attractions are its rich history and the charm of its fishermen’s village. The island was home to King Chulalongkorn’s Judha Dhut Palace, which in 1912 was relocated and restored in Bangkok’s Dusit District, today known as Viman Mek Mansion, the world’s largest golden teak wood mansion. Other attractions are the Chinese temple called Saan Chao Pho Khao Yai and Wat Tham Yai Prik. You can also enjoy activities like swimming, kayaking, hiking, biking or simply enjoy fresh seafood on the beach or by the hill looking over the gulf of Thailand. There are many resorts on the island. Check out Malee Blue resort (www.maleeblue.com), which offers Moroccan-inspired rooms at rates starting from B1,200 per night.
Koh Kred, Nonthaburi
This must be the nearest island to Bangkok. Different from what you might have imagined an island should be, Koh Kred is neither near the sea nor does it have beaches. In fact, it’s a tiny island in the Chao Phraya River. The island is accessible by boat from Pakkred Pier in Nonthaburi or you can take a ferry straight from Sathorn Pier near BTS Saphan Taksin. Here, you can enjoy a slower pace of life as there are no roads for cars to travel on. There are quite a few temples and museums on the island for you to explore. We recommend a visit to Wat Poramaiyikawat, which has Mon architecture and a reclining pagoda near the pier. The temple has a museum next door which displays items like votive tablets, crystal ware and porcelain. There is another museum on the island called Kwan Aman Pottery Museum, which exhibits a number of ancient Mon-designed ceramics. Another highlight is the local market which has stalls selling pottery, handmade decorative items, local products and a variety of food including local dishes like tod mun nor kala and Mon-style khao chae. Get a drink here and it’ll be served in pottery that you can take home with you.
Koh Kham, Chonburi
Located further from Pattaya, south of Sattahip, Koh Kham is a 61-rai H-shape island set 9km from the shore and it takes about 20 minutes by boat to get there. Under the management of the Royal Thai Navy (tinyurl.com/kr5fmzh, 038-422-170), the serene island is well preserved and only open for ecotourism from November to April, 9am-4pm on Sat-Sun and public holidays. Visitors are not allowed to stay on the island so you can only spend a day out there and catch the boat back at either 1pm or 4pm. Though it’s close to Pattaya, Koh Kham has nice white sandy beaches, clear sea water, abundant coral reefs and a number of species of underwater creatures. With its unspoiled nature, the island was announced a marine national park in 1993. Activities you can do here include snorkeling, coral reef viewing from a glass-bottom boat, swimming in the sea off the island’s northern beach and exploring the island’s rich nature. Note that the island is limited to 300 visitors per day and there are rules you have to follow like no touching or walking on coral reefs and you are not allowed to take anything from the island. There’s no restaurant so you have to bring your own food, and make sure to take all rubbish back with you.
Wat Niwet Thammaprawat on an island in Chao Phraya River, Ayutthaya
Set on an island in Chao Phraya River, Wat Niwet Thammaprawat is very unique in its architecture and the way you get there. After your visit to the nearby Bang Pa-In Palace, you can get to the temple on a cabin-sala ride across the river. Yes, it’s not a typical cabin car. You have to ring the bell so a few monks on the other side can pull your cabin, which is in fact a Thai pavilion, flying you across the river to the temple. The excitement doesn’t end there. Once you get to the temple, you’ll be greeted by architecture which was built in the reign of King Rama V with the aim to replica European cathedral architecture and design. Drawing inspiration from gothic art, the temple features decorative glass in many bright colours. A peaceful trip that’s also rich in history.
Koh Singto, Hua Hin
Hua Hin-lovers must have seen this island before. Set 800 meters off Khao Takiab Beach and Suanson Pathipat, Koh Singto (literally translated as Lion Island) has a shape that from a distance looks like a crouching lion. You can get to the island by hiring a fishing boat at the fishermen’s village in Khao Takiab. The journey should take about 40 minutes and the activities you can do there include fishing, snorkeling and swimming. The island has a very small beach for you to chill out on, but there is no accommodation so you can’t spend a night there. The sea water is not always clear so it’s best to ask the local fishermen about condistions when you get there. But if you like fishing and snorkeling and are looking to have a small adventure near Hua Hin, it makes for an easy option.
7 amazing ice-cream shops in Bangkok
Don’t let that crazy summer heat spoil your festive pre-Songkran mood. Visit some of these amazing ice-cream shops before you load your super soaker and water balloon…
Farm to Table Organic Café
Farm to Table Organic Café not only grows their own vegetables out in Phu Chee Fah, but they take things one step further, making ice cream from their own produce—pumpkin, potato, carrots, and strawberries—which is guaranteed by the IFOAM (International Foundation for Organic Agriculture).
We’re particularly impressed by their ability to blend their organic milk with vegetables, a long process of trial and error they describe as very difficult, due to the flavours and acidity of some veggies.
179 Aussadang Rd., 02-115-2625, 081-868-9942. Open daily 10am-8pm.
Icedea
As crazy as it sounds, tonkatsu ice-cream (breaded, deep-fried, melon flavored ice cream topped with chocolate sauce, B145) has actually gained global appeal. Here in Bangkok, Icedea is the place to grab your ice cream cutlet.
Not weird enough? They do global warming ice cream (B49), which reflects the melting world we live in. Also, don’t forget to taste the popular Grass Brownie (B69), a brownie topped with green foi thong (Thai dessert made with egg yolk). They’ll also sculpt your ice cream in any shape you want.
4/F Bangkok Art and Cultural Center (BACC), 939 Rama1 Rd., 089-834-4058.www.icedea.com. BTS National Stadium. Open daily 10am-7pm.
Simple Day
As the name suggests, Simple Day is a pretty simple, yet satisfying, ice cream parlor. Owned by the same people as the adjoining Think Café, here you can sit back in the cute, clean space while licking great-tasting homemade ice cream flavors.
Served in cups adorned with cute scribbles, the ice-cream comes in many flavors, from favorites Ferraro Rocher and Forest Berries to rotating specials like Melon Sherbet. Enjoy them with a smiley shortbread cookie or some lovely macarons. Prices starts from B85 for two scoops with a cookie.
The Bloc, 18 Ratchaphruk Rd. (next to Think Café), 085-370-6367. Open Tue-Sun 2-9pm.Facebook.com/simpledayicecream
Natthaporn Ice Cream
Sure, it’s a bit out of the way, and a bit hard to find if you don’t know your way around Tanao Road, but this half century-old ice cream parlor is a sure bet for light and refreshing Thai-style frozen treats.
Back then, they only offered coconut flavor, but now they serve up a slew of homemade flavors, including favorites like chocolate, Thai iced tea and coffee (all B25). Mix and match the ice cream with your favorite toppings or pair it with homemade buttered cake.
94 Soi Phraeng Phutorn, Tanao Rd., 02-221-3954, 02-622-2455. MRT Hua Lamphong Open Mon-Sat 9am-4pm.
Creamery Boutique Ice creams
This warmhearted boutique ice cream shop serves up frozen delights in a homey setting. Owned by a foodie who works in a five-star hotel, it offers some pretty weird and wacky ice-cream flavors, like Bacon & Eggs (aka Brit- Pop), alongside slightly more conventional concoctions, like Apple Crumble (huge chunks of cooked apple, caramel and cinnamon), Nutella Kid-Cad (a must for chocolate lovers) and the ever-popular Berry Cheesecake.
And it’s only B49 a scoop or B250 a quart. Their new creation is the Very Hot Pan-fried Cookie, a mountain of your favorite ice-cream served on an enormous, just-out-of-the-oven doughy cookie with choices of classic (B89), brownie (B99), choc-a-lot (chocolate lava, B119) and a generous amount of whipped cream on top.
U-Center Chulalongkorn University, Chulalongkorn Soi 42, Phayathai Rd., 087- 909-8080. Open Mon-Sat 11am-8pm.
Milk Solid Nitrogen
If you’ve ever had Dippin’ Dots (small icecream balls served in a cup), this ice cream of the future is even smoother.
The laboratory-like shop uses liquid nitrogen to flash freeze their ice cream in just 30 seconds, so as to avoid any ice crystals forming in the texture. More than 50 flavors are available with milk and summer flavors like passion fruit being the most popular. B99 for small and B149 for medium.
2/F The Portico Langsuan, 081-810-1681. BTS Chidlom. Open daily noon-10pm
Tongue Fun Ice Cream
This may be a street-side stall, but don’t expect cups of coconut ice-cream. The gimmick here is to serve their ice cream in moh fai (hot pot).
But the flavors, too, are out of the ordinary (B30): milk, seasonal fruits, beer and Red Bull vodka. This amazing local parlour also has a branch at Terminal 21.
In front of Elvis Suki, Soi Yosse, Plubplachai Rd., 089-111-6836. Open daily 7-11pm
5/F Terminal21 Food Hall Pier21.Open daily 10am-10pm
Source – http://bk.asia-city.com/restaurants/article/bangkok-best-ice-cream-shops
6 Euro weekend escapes close to Bangkok
Bored of Bangkok? Here are 6 Euro themed attractions within a few hours’ drive that will transport you far, far away.
The Santorini Park, Cha-am
Offering entertainments for the whole family, Santorini Park (www.santoriniparkchaam.com) is an amusement park with architecture inspired by Greece’s Santorini Island. Not only does it offer many rides, it also has a shopping area with premium brands, numerous restaurants and The Water Fantasy Park next door, which offers a host of different slides, pools and waterways. While you are at the water park, try the Ares’s King Cobra a huge slide that lets two people race on tubes through the twists and turns of the snake’s back, hitting speeds of up to 50kph before appearing to be swallowed into the snake’s mouth. Entry is B50 per person. For the water park, tickets are B700 for adults and B400 for children. Open Mon-Fri 10am-9pm, Fri-Sun 9am-9pm.
Swiss Sheep Farm, Cha-am
The farm is home to numerous fluffy sheep that you can play with. Set opposite the Greek-themed Satorini Park, Swiss Sheep Farm (www.swisssheepfarm.com, 032-772-495) is operated by the owner of Swiss Valley Resort, in Suan Phueng. The story goes that the sheep-loving owner wanted to make his ovine friends available to a wider audience. So if you want to cozy up to wooly sheep, the Cha-Am location allows you to pet, feed and pose with the creatures for B50. A Christmas-themed shop, windmill and activities like archery are also available on-site. Open Mon-Fri 10am-7pm, Sat-Sun 9am-7pm.
Primo Piazza, Khao Yai
After a massive revamp what was formerly called Primo Pasto, Primo Piazza (www.primopiazza.com) opened in December last year in Khao Yai, a popular country getaway a couple of hours north of Bangkok. The spacious complex features classic Italian architecture and is set in a tranquil spot amid copious greenery. Here you’ll find Western and Thai fusion cuisine, a wine bar, café, souvenir shop and an Australian-inspired barn housing numerous fluffy sheep. While you are there, have a drink or a meal outdoors to take in the fresh cool air. Open daily 9am-10pm, closed on Tue-Wed. Admission fees before 6pm are B100 for adults and B50 for children. Only the restaurants, wine bar and souvenir shop are open after 6pm.
Palio, Khao Yai
Still popular among Bangkokians who visit Khao Yai, the Tuscan-village themed walking street and shopping complex has a good selection of fashion boutiques, restaurants and bars. Palio also has the boutique resort Palio Inn (www.palio-khaoyai.com), which offers 12 boutique rooms with Italian countryside architecture. In the evenings, sit on the second floor and watch the busy shopping streets below. The room’s terrace is a perfect spot for a cozy breakfast or a chill glass of pre-bedtime wine. Open daily 10am-1pm.
The Venezia, Hua Hin
Inspired by the Italian river city of Venice, The Venezia Hua Hin (www.theveneziahuahin.com) features replicas of Venice’s landmarks like St. Mark’s Square and Bell Tower at the main entrance and, of course, human-made canals running throughout. Covering a total 20,000 sq meters with more than 361 retail outlets, the complex features a spacious shopping area, pubs and restaurants, spas and bookstores, an arts and décor zone and a kids zone with mini zoo. Each zone has a different color of buildings, decorated with Venice-style art pieces, flowers and fountains. Open Mon-Fri 11am-8pm , Sat-Sun 10am-9pm.
Thames Valley, Khao Yai
Inspired by country homes along the River Thames which flows through southern England, this new resort offers a chance to pretend you’re staying at your weekend retreat in the British countryside. Consisting of 58 rooms offering seven different room types, the resort is set on Thanarat Road five minutes from Khao Yai National Park which means you get plenty of nature and some great mountain views. To complete the picture, the resort is home to the Castle Restaurant, offering homemade English favourites like fish & chips and pork chops in an old English manor house setting, which is decorated with dark woods, high ceilings and lots of bare stone walls. Maenwhile, the Clotted Cream Tea Room offers a good selection of TWG Tea, pastries and sandwiches and, of course, the chance to order an English High Tea. Rates start from B6,000 for a 40-sq-meter deluxe room and it’s B22,000 for a 185-sq-meter duplex pool villa. For more information, visit www.thamesvalleykhaoyai.com.
Source – http://bk.asia-city.com/travel/news/6-weekend-escapes-you-wont-believe-are-in-thailand
6 island escapes close to Bangkok
Who says you need to take a lot of days off for a trip to an island? To welcome the summer, here are 6 islands close to Bangkok that you can travel to easily over the weekend.
Koh Larn, Pattaya
Perhaps the most popular island near Bangkok, Koh Larn is only 30 minutes by boat from Pattaya’s Bali Hai pier. The ferry service runs every 1.5 hours to two hours starting from 7am to 6.30pm daily and the fare is B30 per person. A speedboat service is also available at about B1,500-B2,000 per trip. The island is not only popular because it’s convenient to get to, though, but is also home to a few nice long stretches of beaches with clean white sand and clear seas. Among the island’s most beautiful beaches are Ta Waen and Samae. Here, you can also partake in para sailing, banana boat riding, jet skiing or you can just explore the island on a motorbike. As there are a number of resorts on the island, you can spend a night here or just enjoy a day out and take the last ferry which leaves at 6pm back to Pattaya.
Koh Si Chang, Chonburi
Just a little further from Sriracha, there’s Koh Loy Pier from which you can take a ferry cross to Koh Si Chang, 12km away. The ferry runs daily from 6am-7pm and the journey to the island takes about 50 minutes. The island has nice beaches, but the main attractions are its rich history and the charm of its fishermen’s village. The island was home to King Chulalongkorn’s Judha Dhut Palace, which in 1912 was relocated and restored in Bangkok’s Dusit District, today known as Viman Mek Mansion, the world’s largest golden teak wood mansion. Other attractions are the Chinese temple called Saan Chao Pho Khao Yai and Wat Tham Yai Prik. You can also enjoy activities like swimming, kayaking, hiking, biking or simply enjoy fresh seafood on the beach or by the hill looking over the gulf of Thailand. There are many resorts on the island. Check out Malee Blue resort (www.maleeblue.com), which offers Moroccan-inspired rooms at rates starting from B1,200 per night.
Koh Kred, Nonthaburi
This must be the nearest island to Bangkok. Different from what you might have imagined an island should be, Koh Kred is neither near the sea nor does it have beaches. In fact, it’s a tiny island in the Chao Phraya River. The island is accessible by boat from Pakkred Pier in Nonthaburi or you can take a ferry straight from Sathorn Pier near BTS Saphan Taksin. Here, you can enjoy a slower pace of life as there are no roads for cars to travel on. There are quite a few temples and museums on the island for you to explore. We recommend a visit to Wat Poramaiyikawat, which has Mon architecture and a reclining pagoda near the pier. The temple has a museum next door which displays items like votive tablets, crystal ware and porcelain. There is another museum on the island called Kwan Aman Pottery Museum, which exhibits a number of ancient Mon-designed ceramics. Another highlight is the local market which has stalls selling pottery, handmade decorative items, local products and a variety of food including local dishes like tod mun nor kala and Mon-style khao chae. Get a drink here and it’ll be served in pottery that you can take home with you.
Koh Kham, Chonburi
Located further from Pattaya, south of Sattahip, Koh Kham is a 61-rai H-shape island set 9km from the shore and it takes about 20 minutes by boat to get there. Under the management of the Royal Thai Navy (tinyurl.com/kr5fmzh, 038-422-170), the serene island is well preserved and only open for ecotourism from November to April, 9am-4pm on Sat-Sun and public holidays. Visitors are not allowed to stay on the island so you can only spend a day out there and catch the boat back at either 1pm or 4pm. Though it’s close to Pattaya, Koh Kham has nice white sandy beaches, clear sea water, abundant coral reefs and a number of species of underwater creatures. With its unspoiled nature, the island was announced a marine national park in 1993. Activities you can do here include snorkeling, coral reef viewing from a glass-bottom boat, swimming in the sea off the island’s northern beach and exploring the island’s rich nature. Note that the island is limited to 300 visitors per day and there are rules you have to follow like no touching or walking on coral reefs and you are not allowed to take anything from the island. There’s no restaurant so you have to bring your own food, and make sure to take all rubbish back with you.
Wat Niwet Thammaprawat on an island in Chao Phraya River, Ayutthaya
Set on an island in Chao Phraya River, Wat Niwet Thammaprawat is very unique in its architecture and the way you get there. After your visit to the nearby Bang Pa-In Palace, you can get to the temple on a cabin-sala ride across the river. Yes, it’s not a typical cabin car. You have to ring the bell so a few monks on the other side can pull your cabin, which is in fact a Thai pavilion, flying you across the river to the temple. The excitement doesn’t end there. Once you get to the temple, you’ll be greeted by architecture which was built in the reign of King Rama V with the aim to replica European cathedral architecture and design. Drawing inspiration from gothic art, the temple features decorative glass in many bright colours. A peaceful trip that’s also rich in history.
Koh Singto, Hua Hin
Hua Hin-lovers must have seen this island before. Set 800 meters off Khao Takiab Beach and Suanson Pathipat, Koh Singto (literally translated as Lion Island) has a shape that from a distance looks like a crouching lion. You can get to the island by hiring a fishing boat at the fishermen’s village in Khao Takiab. The journey should take about 40 minutes and the activities you can do there include fishing, snorkeling and swimming. The island has a very small beach for you to chill out on, but there is no accommodation so you can’t spend a night there. The sea water is not always clear so it’s best to ask the local fishermen about condistions when you get there. But if you like fishing and snorkeling and are looking to have a small adventure near Hua Hin, it makes for an easy option.
Source – http://bk.asia-city.com/travel/news/six-islands-close-bangkok