Thailand is the perfect destination for people looking to indulge in their inner thrill-seeker and those looking for anything that will make their vacation a little relaxing. Whether it’s a cooking class to learn more about Thailand‘s top cuisine or a beautiful pool villa koh samui has to offer, Thailand has a lot to offer. With a multitude of unique attractions, there’s something for everyone! Here are some of the best activities to do in Thailand that are worth checking out: Cliff Jumping Cliff jumping is a great activity while in Thailand because it’s an exciting way to get a rush of adrenaline, and the views are incredible. You’ll see Thailand’s beautiful coastlines from a new perspective and glimpse some of the country’s most beautiful sights. The water is warm and pristine, so it’s also an excellent way to cool off on hot days. Snorkeling Snorkeling is an excellent Thailand activity for travelers because it’s easy to learn and lets you see some of the country’s beautiful marine life up close. The best thing about snorkeling in Thailand is that it doesn’t require any prior experience or specialized equipment—all you need is a mask, fins, and snorkel. There are plenty of places where you can rent or buy these things cheaply (often for less than $10). If you’ve never done it before but want to try it out, there are lots of opportunities in Thailand—you can even find snorkeling tours that include guides who will help you get started and ensure your experience is safe and enjoyable. Muay Thai Boxing Muay Thai boxing is a great activity to do while you’re in Thailand because it offers a chance to experience something that’s truly unique to the culture of Thailand. You’ll get an opportunity to learn about the history of Muay Thai, and you’ll also get a chance to see how it’s used as a form of self-defense. You can even try your hand at the sport yourself.  Tour of The Elephant Nature Park If you’re looking for a great place to visit while in Thailand, The Elephant Nature Park is the place to go. The park offers visitors a tour where they can interact with elephants and learn about their lives, health, and well-being. In addition, you will be able to feed the elephants and bathe them. You will also get the chance to ride on an elephant’s back. Visiting this park is an excellent way of raising awareness about the plight of elephants in Thailand and helping them find a home. Thai Nightlife The nightlife in Thailand is an excellent attraction for those visiting the country. The Thai people are known for their hospitality and love of having a good time, so there are plenty of parties and events to go to, especially during the summer. Many tourists choose Thailand because they want to experience an exotic culture, and they can do this by going out at night when the local culture is really on display. In addition, the food is incredible, and there are plenty of bars and clubs where you can dance until dawn with other travelers or locals. Conclusion Thailand is full of adventure and waiting for you to explore. So whether your interest lies in cliff jumping, Muay Thai boxing, or cooking classes, you will find something suitable here. It’s not hard to understand why so many people love this beautiful place. The food is amazing, the people are friendly, and the culture is fascinating.

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One warm Friday evening I took my visiting friend and his son to Ao Nang Boxing Stadium, where each Tuesday and Friday night Muay Thai, or Thai boxing, takes place. My friends knew very little about Thai Boxing. We agreed that fighting sports are not our preferred choice of entertainment, but I was confident that my friends would enjoy Muay Thai, as it is not a conventional fight but a way of life and a traditional symbol of Thailand. Would Spain be the same without corridas? How about England or Italy without football? Could the world or Thai people imagine Thailand without Thai boxing? My friends were about to discover this. We arrived at the stadium, conveniently located near the beach at Noppharat Thara, at about 8pm and after a drink in the outside stall and a visit to the nearby shop that sells Muay Thai shirts, shorts, gloves and trophies, we made our way inside. There is an area high above the arena and the ring, where standard seats are located, and a lower area near the ringside with lines of comfy black leather sofas. As we were special guests, we were allowed by the event’s promoter to visit the offstage where the Muay Thai fighters were being prepared for the fighting matches by their respective teams. A few young Thai boxing athletes were lying on berths, wearing nothing more than their underwear, while their managers applied tiger balm to their muscular and athletic bodies, and bandaged wrists and fists. The spacious room was overwhelmed by the smell of the menthol and eucalyptus gel, and by the noise of vibrant hands massaging and rubbing. More athletes of even younger ages were slowly arriving. The atmosphere was getting thicker and thicker with powerful vibrations. Back to the arena, the seats were quickly being filled with a mix of Thais and foreign tourists. Foreigners were drinking canned beers while most of the locals drank Krating Deng, the original Thai version of the world famous drink Red Bull. It was around 8:45pm when the English-speaking commentator gave a brief introduction to the evening matches, which were 9 that evening. There were 4 judges, one per side of the ring, and one referee awaiting the first fight. At 9pm, the official starting time, the first two kids made their entrance with the Thai national anthem playing and all audience standing, after which the official ceremony started. The fighters wore a traditional Mong Kon headband, considered to be magic, and an armband of colored material; they performed an enchanting ritual charged with a captivating spirit. They started by walking slowly around the ring in an anti-clockwise direction, paying respect to each of the four corners. Their hands joined together and assumed the classic wai position; with their eyes closed and their heads slightly lowered, they seemed completely absorbed in deep meditation. These pre-match rituals are called Ram Muay and have a spiritual meaning: it is how the boxers pay respect to their trainers. All programmed matches for the evening started in the same style, though each of the pre-match rituals slightly differed from one another. As in boxing fashion, the two assisting teams occupied the outside diagonal corners of the ring, and at the end of the pre-match rituals, the fighting started. During the 5 rounds every fight lasts, the fighters displayed sophisticated fighting techniques making use of different parts of their bodies. While most foreigners watched the matches in silence and awe, on the right of the ring an excited group of Thai supporters cheered up fighters, shouting and inciting their favourite fighter in the peak moments of the combats. Fights ranged from young boys of 30 to 40kg, to older and expert fighters of up to 66 kg. As the weight of the fighters increased, so did the technique of the fight and the quantity and quality of the fight. Many Thais say that if foreigners want to experience the real pulse of Thailand, they have to attend a Muay Thai fight. My friend and I may disagree with this statement, yet if you have never attended a Muay Thai event I assure you a Thai Boxing evening will entertain you and add up to your book of memories from the Land of Smiles. MUAY THAI Muay Thai is a sophisticated fighting art and part of Thailand national heritage, a tradition enriched with ceremony, meanings and history. A Thai boxer’s first fight takes place at around age eight, though the actual intensive training begins at age six or seven. I have learned that the main glory for a Muay Thai fighter is to fight in the legendary Bangkok stadiums, Lumpini and Ratchadamnoen, glory obtained only by few fighters. Millions of Thai fans watch these thrilling fights on television every week. AO NANG KRABI BOXING STADIUM Muay Thai events are on every Tuesday and Friday night at Ao Nang Krabi Stadium in Noppharat Thara and regularly at the Koh Lanta Stadium. Both Ao Nang and Koh Lanta have a training camps open to foreigners. If you would like to see this astonishing sport live, these are the places to go to in the Krabi Province. Note that, however spectacular these matches are, they are not staged. They are real fights, regularly attended by local Thai fans, and the same is true of the complex dance ceremony performed before each fight. The only concession to tourism is the price tag: tickets for foreigners are 800 for a standard arena seat, and 1,200thb for sofas positioned on the lower area near the ringside. For this you will see up to 10 fights. Tickets to be purchased at box office near the stadium. Free pick up from Ao Nang areas. Phone 075 621042, 081 6062888, 083 2802968 Learn more by browsing www.aonang-thaiboxing.com Watch a fight on Youtube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBGvUTelw5o

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