Bangkok Airways -- the surprisingly affordable choice in Thailand

Bangkok Airways, Asia's Boutique airline which services all the exotic destinations in Southeast Asia that come to mind, is travelling about 30% better than last year.

“Our most popular destinations are Samui, Phuket, and Chiang Mai," said a pleased Bangkok Airways’ president, Mr. Puttipong Prasarttong-Osoth. "We have improved our performance over the year, especially on the Bangkok-Phuket route where we now fly six flights daily. For Bangkok-Chiang Mai, we fly five flights per day. Direct flights from Chiang Mai to Samui are especially popular with an 80 per cent cabin factor.”

Although not a Low Cost Carrier (LCC) -- in fact, they are the opposite, with fancy lounges and nice meals -- they are often priced similarly to Air Asia and the like, and therefore are my first choice for short-haul travel in and around Amazing Thailand, jing jing.

FREE Flights on Thai Air Asia -- HURRY!

Air Asia Thailand is making an irresistable offer: FREE FLIGHTS to BANGKOK. That's right, FREE! Jing Jing! Hey, that suits my budget perfectly!

Jump in now because you have to book before 1st June, and then travel any time from 7 June to 31 August.

Any fine print? yes, obviously. Such as you pay the normal taxes applicable, etc. Also it only applies to non-Thai citizens.

Why fly Air Asia? It just won the SkyTrax best low-cost carrier in the world for the second year running.

Why go to Bangkok, isn't that like Baghdad or Kabul or something at the moment? No. The Red Shirts have packed up and gone home and in the downtown area where they camped, life is back to its normal vibrant self. Meaning go-go-go, bright lights, big city.

For example, both Siam City Hotel and Grand Centara Hotel at CentralWorld (remember that building that was supposed to have been burned to the ground, in danger of collapse etc etc according to the media?) will both re-open for business on June 1. And they were right at the epicentre of the protests. CentralWorld shopping centre will re-open in 3 months. Virtually everywhere else outside of that Rajprasong Intersection -- yes folks just one intersection in a sprawling metropolis -- was and is unaffected.

Now, if you'll just excuse me, I'm going online to book some FREE tickets. See you in Bangkok, eh?

Chiang Rai - Lisu hilltribe festival

Colour. You have never seen anything like this in your life. Reds and blues and purples and oranges and greens. A spectral riot, a jubilee. Dazzling in the hazy highland sun.

We are in Doi Laan (doi being the northern Thai word for mountain) to attend an annual cultural festival of the Lisu hilltribespeople, at the invitation of my Lisu friend, 'Mimi from the Mountains' as she calls herself. The Lisu originated somewhere near Tibet and are mostly domiciled in Yunnan, although a few have filtered down to Burma and Thailand over the centuries.

'This festival is a good chance for the whole Lisu in Thailand to meet, a once-yearly meeting point; they chose this month because of the school holiday so all the students can join the festival,' the charming university worker tells me. Somewhere between 500 and 750 (plus about five farang guests including us) have descended on this spartan village amid dramatic mountains, valleys and lakes about an hour southwest of Chiang Rai city. Every spare bit of floor of Doi Laan's homes, shacks and mud huts is occupied by guests. You can tell the ones who've come back from the 'big smoke' of Chiang Mai -- they're the ones sporting dyed Korean-style hair-dos and cellphones.

Lisu women don’t hold back when it comes to dressing up. (My Chiang Mai Tour)

The centrepiece of imparting Lisu history is song, and dancing can go all night for three or so nights. But this is no Full Moon Rave. To the untrained eye (mine) it looks like Ring-a-ring-a-Rosie. 'It is the way to respect the holy tree,' explains Mimi over the rather discordant rasp of the full bamboo flutes.

But before you go wading into the mosh-pit with abandon, it pays to know the strict rules of the game. 'Any man can hold the woman's hand unless she is the man's relative or cousin or the same last name. It is forbidden to hold the relative's hand, it is taboo. If it is necessary then women or men must have something like a handkerchief to block the hand so that their hand will not directly touch each other.'

During the dance, only men can ask women to hold their hand or to join the dance. 'Except if that woman is a bit drunk or wanted to make a joke to some men,' laughs Mimi with her trademark glowing smile.

Indeed, corn whisky has a lot to answer for. It is served up in liberal lashings. It's not too dissimilar to the worst Scotch you've ever tasted, but with a burnt earthy aftertaste (OK, it'll be a while before I get a job in PR with the Lisu Corn Whisky Marketing Board.) Flushed cheeks radiate in the late afternoon sun. Mimi ushers us into her mum and dad's house (which doubles as the village clinic), where we sit on tiny wooden stools raised just inches above the dirt floor. The meal is stunning, a mixture of spicy vegetable and meat dishes, all courtesy of the jungle. 'We don't go to market for anything except sometimes meat,' declares Mimi proudly. Chickens tip-toe gingerly through the house. Pot-bellied pigs bask in the sunny pen outside. She is momentarily distracted by a call on her mobile phone.

The only other modern intrusion here seems to be Crocs shoes. I spy several fluorescent pairs competing for visual attention with the rest of the blinding outfits. Jing jing!

But no garment is richer than their hats called U-thue, garnished with a thousand or more red strings and beads. Imagine Liberace in a Foreign Legionnaire's cap and you get the idea. 'It is more like fashion now with all the colour;  in the past we use the knitting wool. The strings hanging down are to please the spirit; the spirit likes to see the colour. It is springtime for the Lisu so the spirit would love it and be happy to see spring as well.'

It is a real privilege to experience this cultural life from the inside as we have. But just one marketing suggestion if I may: add some snappy break beats to the raspy music and package this festival as a -- wait for it -- Fulu Moon Party.

FACT FILE 

The Legend Chiang Rai (supplied)

Stay: The Legend Chiang Rai Boutique River Resort & Spa Relaxed riverside resort

Getting there: AirAsia has 41 flights every week to Chiang Rai [more about AirAsia]

Find more activities and adventures in Chiang Rai at www.thailand.net.au

TOP FIVE ATTRACTIONS IN CHIANG RAI

- The White Temple (Wat Rong Khun): This iconic temple is a must-visit, famous for its unique blend of traditional Thai architecture and surreal, modern art. Its construction began in 1997, and it's still a work in progress 

Wat Rong Suea Ten (c) Roderick Eime 2022

- The Blue Temple (Wat Rong Suea Ten): Another stunning temple, known for its vibrant blue hues and intricate details. The temple's design is a mix of traditional Thai and modern art, making it a fascinating visit 

- Wat Phra Kaew: This historic temple is home to a replica of the famous Emerald Buddha, which is now housed in Bangkok's Grand Palace. The temple's architecture and tranquil atmosphere make it a great place to explore 

- The Golden Triangle: This historic area marks the confluence of the Mekong River and the borders of Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar. It's a great spot to learn about the region's history and take in the stunning views 

- The Night Bazaar: For a taste of local culture and shopping, head to the Night Bazaar, which takes place every evening. You can find everything from souvenirs and clothing to street food and local handicrafts 

Low Cost Airlines review -- Thai Air Asia

It is probably fair to say that ‘Asian low cost airlines’ and ‘safety’ are not synonymous in travellers’ minds. In recent years, there have been a proliferation of such airlines, and unfortunately there have been a few incidents along the way that reinforced that notion.


But one success story has been Air Asia. Just look at this action photo of the ground crew checking that the number of wings and engines is correct, for example.

In the sky with its no frills concept – ‘Now everyone can fly’ is its slogan -- since end 2001 it now boasts a fleet of 28 aircraft serving 60 destinations in Southeast Asia hubbed in Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta, making many destinations, especially in Thailand and the Indochina region, more accessible. (Thailand is the perfect springboard for Indochina destinations.)

In Thailand they fly to BKK, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Hat Yai, Krabi, Nakkon Si Thammarat, Narathiwat, Phuket, Surat Thai, Ubon Ratchathai, and Udon Thani (which always sounds like some sort of Japanese noodle soup to me!)

So how do they live up to their philosophy of making flying affordable, easy, convenient and fun for all?

Overall, the aircraft look and feel for all the world like Virgin Blue. Clean and modern, certainly; upbeat definitely. Oh, and coincidentally red and white too. But I think the Air Asia stewardesses are prettier! The regional fleet is Boeing 737-300s.

Passengers should be reassured and impressed by the fact that Air Asia won the Skytrax World’s Best Low Cost Airline in 2009 and the TTG Best Asian Low Cost Carrier Award in 2008.

Their on-time performance is sometimes the subject of rants and blogs by detractors but it usually performs better than 85% on time (I've flown Air Asia dozens of times and encountered only two minor delays.) Meals, drinks, and seating preferences all come at an extra cost, as does any check-in baggage, especially anything over 15kg. This is the biggest drawback for most international travellers who arrive with the usual 20-plus kilos of luggage. Book online and you can now select a 20kg luggage option for a marginal extra fee.

They've recentlly started a Phuket-Chiang Mai direct service, which takes about two hours. As you fly over the amazing limestone upthrusts of Krabi and Phangna this alone is worth the airfare. Jing jing!

Caveat emptor: even though Air Asia are a 'low cost' carrier, don't be decieved by that assumption. Check the fares of other carriers first. For example, I can often get cheaper fares on Bangkok Airways on some routes, and they include a meal, normal baggage allowance, and use of the airport lounge where they have one.

Time for lateral thinking about Thailand

Ok, Ok, Ok, you've seen the news and the mobs of Red Shirts all over Thailand. Wrong! The reality is that the Red Shirts are disrupting only small parts of downtown Bangkok (admittedly the business centre) but even there my friends and colleagues are able to go to work as normal every day and move through the Red Shirt lines to get to their favourite shopping centre or whatever. Bangkok's Suvannabhumi airport is operating fine and absolutely trouble free. Phuket -- where I am today -- beautiful and fun as usual. Chiang Mai, charming as usual, nothing out of the ordinary. Koh Samui, couldn't care less about the rest of the world anyway.

In short, outside of Bangkok, the only red shirts you see are Manchester United supporters.

But, I understand that all of this is maybe a bit disturbing for the less hardy holiday maker (er, the Red Shirts I mean, not the Man U supporters, although they can be a bit scary too). So, time to put on your thinking hat. Better still, dear readers, I've done it for you.

Here's how to enjoy a holiday in Thailand without going anywhere near Bangkok ...

Nok Air is a low-cost airline in Thailand operating mostly domestic services out of Bangkok's Don Mueang International Airport.

Bangkok Airways can fly you from Singapore direct to Samui (which only takes about one hour on their new Airbus). http://www.bangkokair.com/. You can also fly from many exotic points within Indochina like Luang Prabang into Chiang Mai.

Air Asia, another budget carrier, can get you from Kuala Lumpur to Phuket, Chiang Mai and Krabi. See www.airasia.com

So come on in, the water's fine. Speaking of which, I'm off for a swim at Patong Beach now (and see if I can shake that hangover from the lively bars of Soi Eric last night).