Author: Ms. Elle

travel tips to Thailand

Travel Tips to Thailand

Posted on by Ms. Elle
travel tips to Thailand

If you’re travelling to Thailand on a budget, these few tips might help.

Our family has been living in Thailand for the last 16 years and so we can say we are quite familiar with the do’s and don’ts of being a tourist here. And while traveling here is relatively safe, the most common headache a tourist/foreigner can encounter in this country is getting overcharged. I know there are some foreigners who don’t really mind shelling out some extra cash to make their hosts happy but for those who are on a budget, like us, can’t really afford to be that generous or extravagant.

  • Clinics: Getting sick or getting hurt on your vacation is the last thing in mind but it does happen and it’s during this time that we become vulnerable. If something like this ever happens always ask where the nearest public hospital is. Public hospitals here are good. They can be crowded but they are good. One of the biggest tourist traps in these areas are private clinics/hospitals. Clinics like these could charge you as much as 800-1000 USD for an overnight stay due to diarrhea.
  • Restaurants: I have seen many tourists resorting to eating at 7Elevens or the usual Western food chains like Mc Donald’s and KFC which will end up costing you a lot of money and missing out on the authentic Thai experience. Eating at local restaurants can save you a ton of your budget but the only thing is it’s a bit daunting. The communication barrier is a headache and most of the time their menus are all in Thai and you end up relying on faded photos on the menu when choosing your food.

Choosing a local restaurant is actually easy. Just go where the locals go. If you see an old looking rundown two story restaurant building with a lot of locals eating in it, that’s your best bet in that area. And as for ordering food, make sure that you have done your research beforehand and saved the photo and name of the food you’d like to have in your mobile device so you can just show it to the old lady taking your order. A meal can cost from a dollar and fifty to two dollars per person unless you order a dish ala carte which is usually good for two to three persons and will cost you more.

  • Dubious Deals/Cheap Deals: As the saying goes “If it’s too good to be true, it probably is”. Avoid deals that are questionable. There’s always a catch to it.  We’ve done some questionable/cheap deals over the years we have been here and we can accurately say we regretted every single one of those deals. A good example of such deals is our first ever island hopping trip in Krabi.  We opted for the cheapest private group trip after a long discussion with the hotel front desk. When she offered us the lowest rate trip it was as if she was kind of hesitant and as if she wanted to say something to us about it but we were kind of adamant of getting that trip since it was within our budget and it had the same amenities as the expensive ones. Welp… let’s just say saving a few thousand baht was not worth it. It felt like we came from the movie castaway with our rundown long tail boat. Our lunch was sticky rice with fried chicken but… it seemed to me more like a drumstick from a house bird. And our boat was not allowed to dock with the regular tour boats. We docked on the opposite side of the island and had to walk quite a distance to where the toilets and restaurants are so we could at least buy the kids some decent lunch and drinks.
  • Prices: Always ask for the price then confirm it again before you get on the tuk-tuk/motorbike taxi even if it makes you look annoying. For the taxi always ask them politely to turn on their meter. If they don’t and ask for a fixed price, it’s best to politely walk away from that deal.
  • Smile: In the land of smiles it really helps when you are smiling and friendly when dealing with the locals. In this part of the world a genuine smile really pays. The locals become more helpful when they are helping a smiling and friendly visitor. They would even go out of their way to walk you to your destination if it’s just within the area.

Other Reminders

  • Before booking a flight/hotel, please check Thailand Travel Restrictions.
  • To be aware of the latest happenings, Thaiger provides the latest news and information about Thailand.
  • For the latest news on CoviD-19 cases in Thailand, check out their official Facebook page @ไทยรู้สู้โควิด (https://www.facebook.com/thaimoph)

MORE HERE

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toddler reading

Vaccination

Posted on by Ms. Elle

Getting a vaccination could soon be as simple as eating a potato. Researchers at the University of Maryland, led by Dr. Carol Tacket, are developing edible vaccines that could grant immunity against some diseases.

To be inoculated against a virus, bacterium, or toxin, the antibodies of our immune systems must be exposed to the illness-bearing agent, or pathogen. Vaccines work by exposing the body to pathogens that have been killed or disarmed. Once sensitized, antibodies can mobilize rapidly against familiar enemies by binding to them and preventing their growth and activity.

Most vaccines are delivered in shots or pills, but the new one will be incorporated in raw potatoes. The potatoes have been genetically engineered to produce the key piece of an E.coli toxin that causes acute diarrhea. As the spuds move through the intestinal system and are digested, the toxin fragment is released and exposed to the immune system, which then generates antibodies against the toxin.

Dr. Tacket’s group is waiting for approval from the FDA to test the potato vaccine on humans; it has already been tested successfully in mice. The next step would be to genetically modify bananas to carry vaccines, because raw bananas taste better than raw potatoes.

The potential for edible vaccines is tremendous, especially in developing countries. Whereas current vaccines are expensive to produce, store, transport, and administer, an edible vaccine could be grown where it is needed in the quantity desired, and requires considerably less medical expertise to use.

EXERCISE 1: Below are list of vocabulary from the reading article. Complete the table by providing the definition and sample sentence for each of the given vocabulary. You may download, link below.

vocabularymeaningsample sentence
edible fit to be eaten as foodFruits found in the forest may not be edible.
grant (verb)to giveTheir request for monetary allowance was granted.
immunitythe condition that permits either natural or acquired resistance to diseaseVaccines help the body build immunity to diseases.
disease
inoculate
toxin
antibody
immune system
expose
pathogen
genetically engineered
generates
potential
tremendous
current
administer
quantity
desire
vocabulary tableDownload

EXERCISE 2: Reading Comprehension Questions

Download questions to test your reading comprehension.

Questions-article-4Download WORD file
Questions-article-4PDF

EXERCISE 3: Write a short essay on any of the following topics.

  1. How a CoViD-19 vaccine works?
  2. Benefits of CoViD-19 vaccine
  3. Advantages of a vaccinated person over unvaccinated individual
  4. Importance of vaccination
  5. How are CoViD-19 vaccines administered?

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toddler reading

Mobile Phones

Posted on by Ms. Elle

Just a few minutes’ chatting on a mobile phone reduces the brain functions of children for almost an hour, according to new Spanish test results quoted in Norwegian media.

The tests, conducted by the German investigator Michael Klieeisen at the Spanish Neuro Diagnostic Research Institute in Marbella, are the first to show how children’s brains react to the use of mobile phones. With the help of a scanner, Klieeisen was able to create pictures of how the brains of an 11-year-old boy and a 13-year-old girl reacted while they used a mobile phone. The results were compared with similar tests using adult subjects.

The tests showed that the brain activity of the child subjects was reduced significantly, especially on the side where the mobile phone was held, a few minutes after the call was begun, the report said. Also, brain activity was lower than normal in large sections of the brain for 50 minutes after the end of the call, the test results showed.

“My advice to all parents is not to allow children to use mobile phones.” Klieeisen was quoted by Aftenposten as saying. “Not only are electrical activities affected, but also bio chemical processes. We do not know if it is dangerous, but we do know that children’s brains, which are not fully developed, are more vulnerable than adult brains are,” the researcher added.

Researchers in Britain confirm the Spanish results, and Norwegian and Swedish experts are also studying the health risk posed by mobile phones.

Reading Comprehension Questions

Questions-article-2Download
Questions-article-2Download

MORE HERE

american culture

American History, Language, and Culture

Posted on by Ms. Elle

American culture encompasses the customs and traditions of the United States. “Culture encompasses religion, food, what we wear, how we wear it, our language, marriage, music, what we believe is right or wrong, how we sit at the table, how we greet visitors, how we behave with loved ones, and a million other things.

The United States is the third largest country in the world with a population of more than 332 million, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. A child is born every 9 seconds, and a person dies every 11 seconds.

In addition to Indigenous Americans who were already living on the continent, the population of the United States was built on immigration from other countries. *Despite recent moves to close the U.S borders to new immigrants and refugees, a new immigrant moves to the United States every 666 seconds, according to the Census Bureau.

The United States is sometimes described as a “melting pot”, in which different cultures have contributed their own distinct “flavors” to American culture. Just as cultures from around the world have influenced American culture, today American culture influences the world. The term Western culture often refers broadly to the cultures of the United States and Europe.

Because of this, the United States is one of the most culturally diverse countries in the world. Nearly every region of the world has influenced American culture, most notably the English who colonized the country beginning in the early 1600s, according to the Library of Congress. U.S. culture has also been shaped by the cultures of Indigenous Americans, Latin Americans, Africans and Asians.

The way people “melt” in the United States differs. “Different groups of immigrants integrate in different ways. For example, in the United States, Catholic Spanish-speaking communities might keep their language and other cultural family traditions, but are integrated in the urban community and have embraced the American way of life in many other ways.

The Northeast, South, Midwest, Southeast and Western regions of the United States all have distinct traditions and customs.  

*As the American government changes from Trump to Biden administration, there have been changes and modifications regarding laws on immigration and refugees.

**Sources: https://www.livescience.com/author/kim-ann-zimmermann

Guide Questions

Answer the following questions. You may need additional information from other internet sources.

1. What is culture?

2. Who are considered indigenous Americans?

3. What is “melting-pot”? Give examples.

4. What countries have contributed to the diversified culture of American people?

5. Give examples of ways on how immigrants integrate their culture in American society?

6. What is being referred to by the term western culture?

Test Your Vocabulary: American Culture part 1

American Culture Part 2

Language

The United States has no official language according to the U.S. government. While almost every language in the world is spoken in the United States, the most frequently spoken non-English languages are Spanish, Chinese, French and Filipino. Ninety percent of the U.S. population speaks and understands at least some English, and most official businesses are conducted in English. Some states have official or preferred languages. For example, English and Hawaiian are the official languages of Hawaii.

The Census Bureau estimates that more than 300 languages are spoken in the United States. The bureau divides those languages into four categories: one, Spanish; two, other Indo-European languages, which includes German, Yiddish, Swedish, French, Italian, Russian, Polish, Hindi, Punjabi, Greek and several others; three, Asian and Pacific Island languages, including Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Thai, Tamil and more; and number four, “all other languages,” which is a category for languages that didn’t fit into the first three categories, such as Hungarian, Arabic, Hebrew, languages of Africa and languages of native people of North, Central and South America.

Religion

Nearly every known religion is practiced in the United States, which was founded on the basis of religious freedom. About 71% of Americans identify themselves as Christians, according to information gathered by the Pew Research Center, a nonpartisan research group, in 2017. The research also found that about 23% had no religious affiliation at all and around 6% of the population is made up non-Christian religions. The number of people who identify with no religion seems to be decreasing. According to the Pew Research Center, this category is expected to drop from 16% in 2015 to 13% in 2060.

Fashion

Clothing styles vary by social status, region, occupation and climate. Jeans, sneakers, baseball caps, cowboy hats and boots are some of the items of clothing that are closely associated with Americans.  Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, Michael Kors and Victoria Secret are some well-known American brands. American fashion is widely influenced by celebrities and the media. And fashion sales equal around 200 Billion per year according to a paper published by Harvard University in 2007. More and more Americans are buying fashion, electronics and more online. According to the Census Bureau, U.S. retail e-commerce sales for the first quarter of 2017 totaled around 98.1 Billion USD.

Food

American cuisine was influenced by Europeans and Native Americans in its early history. Today, there are a number of foods that are commonly identified as American, such as hamburgers, hot dogs, potato chips, macaroni and cheese, and meat loaf. “As American as apple pie”, has come to mean something that is authentically American. There are also styles of cooking and types of foods that are specific to a region. Southern-style cooking is often called “American comfort food” and includes dishes such as fried chicken, collard greens, black-eyed peas and cornbread, according. Tex-Mex, popular in Texas and the Southwest, is a blend of Spanish and Mexican cooking styles and includes items such as chili and burritos, and relies heavily on shredded cheese and beans. Jerky, dried meats that are served as snacks, is also a food that was created in the United States, according to NPR.

The Arts

The United States is widely known around the world as a leader in mass media production, including television and movies. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, the United States comprises one-third of the worldwide media and entertainment industry. The television broadcasting industry took hold in the United States in the early 1950s, and American television programs are now shown around the world. The United States also has a vibrant movie industry, centered in Hollywood, California, and American movies are popular worldwide. The U.S. film industry earned $31 billion in revenues in 2013, and is expected to reach $771 billion by 2019, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce.

The United States’ arts culture extends beyond movies and television shows, though. New York is home to Broadway, and Americans have a rich theatrical history. American folk art is an artistic style and is identified with quilts and other hand-crafted items. American music is very diverse with many, many styles, including rhythm and blues, jazz, gospel, country and western, bluegrass, rock ‘n’ roll and hip hop.

Sports

Baseball is called America’s favorite pastime. The United States is a sports-minded country, with millions of fans who follow football, baseball, basketball and hockey, among other sports. Baseball, which was developed in colonial America and became an organized sport in the mid-1800s, is known as America’s favorite pastime, although it has been eclipsed in popularity by football for the past three decades, according to the Harris Poll.

American holidays

Many holidays are celebrated only in the United States. Americans celebrate their independence from Britain on July 4th. Memorial Day, celebrated on the last Monday in May, honors those who have died in military service. Labor Day, observed on the first Monday in September, celebrates the country’s workforce. Thanksgiving, another distinctive American holiday, falls on the fourth Thursday in November and dates back to colonial times to celebrate the harvest. Presidents’ Day, marking the birthdays of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, is a federal holiday that occurs on the third Monday in February. The contributions of veterans are honored on Veterans’ Day, observed on November 11. The contributions of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. are remembered on the third Monday in January.

*2021: 350 languages

Guide Questions

Answer the following questions. You may need additional information from other internet sources.

  1. Why do you think the USA has no official language?

2. In the context of American society, what does “religious freedom” mean?

3. How has American celebrities influenced how people around the world view beauty?

4. Suggest ways on how American media have permeated into the world.

5. Which American sport is popular in Thailand? Why is it popular?

6. What American holiday(s) can be matched to any Thai holiday(s)?

Test Your Vocabulary: American Culture part 2

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united kingdom culture

United Kingdom: History, Language and Culture

Posted on by Ms. Elle

Woven into the fabric of the United Kingdom of Great Britain is a rich history defined by wars, rebellions, royals, social upheaval and the rise and fall of what was once the biggest empire in the world. The Romans occupied Britain from AD 43 to AD 410 and left behind straight roads, a sewage system and hot baths, amongst other things. After that the Romans, Jutes, Saxons and Angles all established kingdoms south of Hadrian’s Wall before the Normans arrived and gave rise to the myth that it was the last time England was invaded. It wasn’t. England was subsequently invaded several times by the French, a few times by the Scots, at various intervals by pretenders to the throne and once by the Dutch. The Spanish and the Germans also had a go but neither actually set foot on dry land.

King Henry VIII is not only famous for having six wives, but also for breaking away from the Church of Rome, setting up the Church of England so he could get divorced. After Henry, battles between monarchs, nations, nobles and sections of the population invariably became tussles about how to run the country, culminating in the English Civil War (1642-1651), which was won by the Parliamentarians.

The constitutional monarchy that exists in the United Kingdom today developed during the 18th and 19th centuries as power came to be increasingly exercised by an elected parliament. In 1801 Great Britain – that’s England, Wales and Scotland – were formally united with Ireland. The subsequent reign of Queen Victoria, whose role was now little more than symbolic, coincided with a period of great economic success and unfettered empire building before events of the 20th century, notably two world wars, resulted in the dismantling of the empire.

In 1920, Ireland gained independence from the United Kingdom, leaving behind Northern Ireland, whose troubled relationship with the UK led to an ethno-nationalist conflict better known as The Troubles (1968-1998). World wars and internal conflicts led to social upheaval, which resulted in universal suffrage, the Welfare State, the repeal of the death penalty and the legalization of homosexuality. In 2014 Scotland held a referendum to determine whether it would continue being part of the United Kingdom or not. It voted to stay, but calls for independence can still be heard across the land.

Did you know? Cricket, football, boxing, rowing, rugby (league and union), tennis and golf were formalized into sports in the UK. • The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is the world’s oldest and largest broadcaster. • The Orkney Vole has inhabited the islands for 4,600 years and does not occur on mainland Britain.

United Kingdom Culture

Religion in United Kingdom. Predominantly Christian (Church of England, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Methodist), sizeable Muslim, Sikh, Jewish and Hindu minorities. Around 15% of the population have no religion. Social Conventions in United Kingdom Handshaking is customary when introduced to someone for the first time. One or two kisses on the cheek is gaining popularity for close friends. Normal social courtesies should be observed when visiting someone’s home and a small present such as flowers or chocolates is appreciated. It is polite to wait until everyone has been served before eating. Some nightclubs and restaurants do not allow jeans and trainers, otherwise casual wear is widely acceptable. For business, a suit and tie should be worn, although in some workplaces an open neck is acceptable.

Topless sunbathing is allowed on certain beaches and tolerated in some parks. Smoking is banned in all enclosed public places, including stations, pubs and restaurants, throughout the UK. The monarchy, though now only symbolic politically, is a powerful and often subconscious unifying force. Members of the Royal Family are the subject of unceasing fascination, with their every move avidly followed and reported by the popular press, both in the UK and abroad.

Language in United Kingdom. The main language is English, but Welsh is spoken in parts of Wales, and Gaelic in parts of Scotland. The many ethnic minorities within the UK also speak their own languages like Cantonese, Greek, Hindi, Mandarin, Turkish, Urdu, so on and so forth.

*Source: https://www.worldtravelguide.net/guides/europe/united-kingdom/history-language-culture/

Guide Questions

  1. How has Great Britain’s invaders enriched the countries culture?

2. What was the initial purpose for setting up the Church of England?

3. What comprises Great Britain? United Kingdom?

4. Look for additional information regarding the ethno-nationalist conflict known as “The Troubles”.

5. How does UK’s social courtesies differ from Thai social customary?

6. Why do you think the UK Royal Family fascinates people around the world.

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australian culture

Australia: History, Language, and Culture

Posted on by Ms. Elle

History of Australia

There were numerous early European explorers to Australia, among them Willem Janszoon, the Dutchman generally credited with being the first outsider to land on Australian soil doing so in 1606, and his compatriot Abel Tasman, who in 1642 discovered the large island off Australia’s southern coast – hence its modern name, Tasmania. It was Captain James Cook, however, who landed at Botany Bay in 1770 and changed the fate of the land forever. When he and his men stepped onto Australian shores, they encountered an Aboriginal way of life that went back some 40,000 years. The first governor, Arthur Phillip, was ordered to encourage a positive relationship with the indigenous locals, although a mixture of disease, malice and mutual suspicion meant this was over-optimistic. The first settlers treated the Aboriginal population with appalling brutality, which gave way to racist policies from subsequent administrations. Tensions still exist between mainstream Australia and the guardians of the Aboriginal way of life. While the native way of life was being strained, the island’s new settlers were putting down firm roots. A British colony had been established not long after Cook’s arrival, and by 1868 (recognising the powerful crime deterrent afforded by penal transportation) London had sent more than 160,000 convicts to Australia. By this time there had also been the mass arrival of free settlers and speculators, many of them pouring into the country in the gold rush of the 1850s. It led to significant economic expansion. By the 1880s the majority of people in the colony had been born and raised in Australia, which in turn was creating a deeper sense of nationalism. The Commonwealth of Australia came into being in 1901.

The nation was deeply involved and affected by both world wars and the Great Depression, but it continued to develop into a modern, versatile nation and grew as both a domestic and international power. Racial reconciliation was given a boost in 2008 when government issued a formal apology to the indigenous population for the past.

Australia remains a constitutional monarchy, with Queen Elizabeth Il as its present monarch. The country saw its first ever female prime minister in 2010, when Labor’s Julia Gillard won a narrow election victory. Her rule lasted three years, before a political merry-go-round then saw Labor’s Kevin Rudd, the Liberal Party’s Tony Abbott and prime minister Malcolm Turnbull all have stints in power before 2015 was up. Turnbull, of the Liberal Party, is currently serving as Prime Minister, having been reelected in 2016 and served until 2018. He was replaced by Scott Morrison who is currently serving as of the recording of this video in 2021.

Did you know? • Melbourne is said to be home to the most sizable Greek population in the world outside Greece.• The country’s largest cattle station, Anna Creek in South Australia, is more than three quarters the size of Belgium. • Former PM Bob Hawke once held the word record for downing the equivalent of a yard of ale. Australia Culture Religion in Australia 35% Protestant, 25% Roman Catholic, and the rest are smaller minorities of all other major religions.

Social Conventions in Australia. A largely informal atmosphere prevails; shaking hands is the customary greeting. Casual wear is worn everywhere except in the most exclusive restaurants, social gatherings and important business meetings. Most restaurants forbid smoking.

Language in Australia. The official language is English. Many other languages are retained by minorities, including Italian, German, Greek, Vietnamese, Chinese dialects and Aboriginal languages.

Source: https://www.worldtravelguide.net/guides/oceania/australia/history-language-culture/

Guide Questions

Who are considered indigenous to the country now known as Australia?

Where does most of the mainstream Australians came from?

Why are there tensions between the mainstream Australians and the indigenous people?

What is “Common Wealth of Australia”?

In what manner did the Australian government reach out to the indigenous locals to mend their broken relationship?

What is a constitutional monarchy?

Who was the prime minister when the great Australian wild fire happened? Where was he at the time of its occurrence?

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sai thong resort

Sai Thong Resort (ทรายทอง รีสอร์ท)Trang

Posted on by Ms. Elle

On our way to Krabi we decided to have a stopover in TRANG. We immediately started thinking of an accommodation that would not break the bank as we already have booked a nice resort in Krabi, Green View Village Resort. While we were discussing the plans for the day we remembered a resort our university booked us in during our annual university sports meet held in Trang a few years back.  Sai Thong Resort is located at 8WJ+64H, Mai Fat, Sikao District, Trang 92150.

Sai Thong Resort (ทรายทอง รีสอร์ท) was a good experience the first time we stayed so we decided to spend our stopover night there.  We walked in and booked for a night. The family room that we got costs 800Thb (23.8USD) per night. We opted for the cheapest family room thinking that it’s only for a night. Not really the best decision. ^_^

Room

The cheapest room is part of a quadruplex bungalow, one of the older structures the resort has. Inside the room is like a time machine that brings you back to the late 90s to early 2000s with the dated items you can find inside. A picture tube TV attached to a TV Box, old switches and electrical outlets, a vintage shower head, and the room itself is showing its years. The good thing is that they retrofitted an Air conditioner which seems to have been added recently. With all that being said, for us, as long as it works we don’t really mind. ^_^

Bathroom

The bathroom was clean. Old but clean. The bowl and sink are either new or just well-maintained. As for the shower set, the bidet, the mirror and the rack beneath it have seen better years.

Amenities/Complimentary 

We had at least 3 water bottles when we got in the room and presumably will be replenished daily.   A roll of toilet paper and a bottle of body shampoo. There’s a mini ref to store your drinks and food.

Wifi:  The room has free WiFi, but connecting our mobile phones was a struggle. Two out of four phones could connect and get decent feed. The moment a third and fourth phone logs in the feed starts to lag. This is something the management needs to look into. At this day and age we all know that having a good wifi signal is akin to having air to breathe. ^_^

Swimming Pool

This resort does not have a pool but is very very near Pak Meng beach. We also did not mind this aspect since it’s only a stopover for a night. ^_^

Food

They did not offer breakfast during our stay but we clearly remember a buffet breakfast was available during our first stay. I think they only offer breakfast to big group deals or something like that. But it does not matter though since it is surrounded with restaurants with affordable prices and with actually good food. ^_^

Recommendation

Do we recommend Sai Thong Resort??? ABSOLUTELY!!! You have options to either save money or be comfortable in your stay.  We opted to save money and we got what we paid for but they do have better rooms for a higher price. This resort is not only near Pak Meng Beach and restaurants… it is also near Rajamangala Trang Aquarium, an affordable place where you can have a bit of an educational fun with the kids. It’s a very convenient resort to be in with your family. A good place for a short getaway from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Affordable Family-Friendly Hotel/Resort

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Green View Village Resort

Posted on by Ms. Elle

Green View Village Resort is located at 2RMM+R98, Ao Nang, Mueang Krabi District, Krabi 81000 (2RMM+R98 ตำบล อ่าวนาง อำเภอเมืองกระบี่ กระบี่ 81000).

It is comfortably situated at the heart of Ao Nang, surrounded by tropical trees and picturesque mountain cliffs. It is a pretty big resort with two main buildings and several bungalows spread around the resort. And true to its name, this place is surrounded by all sorts of greens. Although there are so many foliage, it doesn’t feel like there are scary animals or insects around.

We booked a family room for 3 nights to celebrate Songkran, Thailand’s water festival. The booking was made online through booking dot com just a few days prior. Having only a few days left before the holidays, I thought it’s going to cost us a lot, but to my surprise, we booked the room, a family room at that, for just 149 USD (5000 THB). Honestly speaking, I didn’t have so much expectation considering the price.

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Here’s our experience in Green View Village Resort

Hotel room

The family room is really large, high-ceiling, and clean. It’s got two large beds, which are not too soft nor too hard. They were comfortable. The room has two large sinks with a wall-sized mirror in front, maybe a powder area or wash area, it’s nice (watch the reel to see what I mean). It also has a balcony with a massive wooden table and benches. We had our brunch here, and despite the hot temperature, it was relaxing and refreshing with the trees around.

Bathroom

The bathroom was something I did not expect because all I really prayed for was a clean bathroom, however to our surprise, did we not only have a clean bathroom, we got TWO bathrooms! And each has two sets of showers, one attached to a heater (on the wall), and a rain shower attached to the ceiling.

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Ajarn Mitch (@mitchryansblog)

Amenities/ Complimentary

It has the usual free bottled water, and toiletries . It also has free coffee and tea, which are replenished daily. Having coffee is how we start our day, so having free coffee is big for us. I’m saying this because we’ve been to a hotel on a similar price range and yet does not offer free coffee. Of course, the room has an electric kettle, a small fridge, drinking glass and coffee cups, closet with hangers, a hairdryer, and a flat-screen TV mounted on the wall.

WiFi connection

The room has free WiFi, but connecting our mobile phones was a struggle. We managed to connect our laptop eventually. Although some guests might have their own internet connection on their mobile phones, others don’t. This is something the hotel management has to look into. In this day and age, it is necessary to have a reliable internet connection.

Swimming pool

Most often we book a hotel with a swimming pool. Our kids love swimming and hanging around the pool. Green View Village has TWO swimming pools. One has a great view of the mountain and a wide lounging area for sunbathers. There’s a swimming area for toddlers, and the adult area has a depth of 1. 20 to 1.70 meters. The water is clean and clear. The other pool is around 1.60 meters deep all through out. It’s rectangular shape makes it perfect for swimming laps. Since it’s situated in front of one of the buildings, it is shaded in most part of the day, totally perfect for those who want to swim but don’t want to get toasted by the sun. But keeping the water clear and clean is something the hotel has to improve on.

Food/ Restaurant

The hotel restaurant is spacious and high-ceilinged. What’s unique about this is that, it is decorated with ornamental plants and flowers of all sorts. Beautiful! The food is another surprising thing. We’ve had a bad experience regarding breakfast in one of the hotels in Ao Nang, since then we opt-out breakfast in our bookings. This time we had room service for brunch, honestly speaking it tasted way better than the takeout we had from one of the popular resto near Ao Nang beach. Plus the price is local rate and the serving size is good at just 60THB (roughly 1.80USD).

Do we recommend Green View Village Resort?

It’s a big YES for us!

From experience, we tend to go back to a place where we are familiar and at home with. Over the past years, we’ve stayed a couple of times at Rimlay Park Resort in 2017 and again in 2019 we went back to Rimlay Park Resort. Another resort we feel at home with and booked twice is Ibis Styles Ao Nang Krabi , in 2019 and we had our 2021 family staycation when the lockdown was lifted. This year although we really wanted to go back, we also thought of exploring other hotels. Luckily, we had a great deal with Green View Village Resort through Booking dot com.

Other Hotels in Krabi

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past story

Past Stories

Posted on by Ms. Elle

Dear Diary

Story by Mitchelle Juaban

Dear Diary, I ran into the kindest person in the world yesterday. I didn’t see him coming as I walked hurriedly into the university canteen. I bumped unto him and hit my face hard unto his chest. I felt dizzy for a while, and as I looked up to see who it was I saw his handsome face staring back at me. I blushed! He then asked me if I was alright to which I timidly answered yes. It was then I realized that he was actually holding me on both arms. Oh my gosh, I blushed some more. I didn’t know what to do! I was frozen. I just stared at him with my mouth opened for what felt like eternity. After a while, he asked if there was something wrong. “Oh. I’m so sorry. But… but I think I got your shirt stained with my lipstick” I explained hurriedly. He let go of me, and intently glanced at the lipstick stain on his shirt.

I was nervous. A lot of things were running in my mind at that time. “Will he get angry? Should I ask him to take his shirt off, so I could wash it? Oh no I should not say that. Does he think I’m crazy? Will he ever talk to me again?” ……Then I heard him say, “Not a big deal. Anyway, I like the way it looks on my shirt.”

Guide Questions

  1. Where did the story happened?
  2. How was the narrator of the story and the handsome guy related?
  3. How did the narrator of the story feel about the handsome guy?
  4. What was on the handsome guy’s shirt?
  5. How did the handsome guy feel about the narrator of the story? Give your reason(s)

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The Best Hamburger of My Life

When I was thirteen years old, I had a great surprise at the Grand Hotel in Toronto. My favorite soccer team was visiting from Mexico, so I went to the hotel to get autographs from some of the players. When I got there, I waited outside for a long time because I was very nervous. Finally, I told my legs to start moving, and I went up to my favorite striker, Sergio Verdirame, and asked for his autograph. My voice was trembling, but I controlled it. He stopped to listen to me, and then an amazing thing happened. He invited me to his table for dinner. I could not believe it! Suddenly I was sitting across the table from Sergio Verdirame! I ordered a big hamburger with everything on it except onions. When the food came, my hands were shaking, and I could not eat or talk. After a while, I took a deep breath and said to myself, “Hey, this happens just once in your life.” I got rid of my nerves and started talking with the team and enjoying my hamburger. They were really great guys, and we had a good time laughing and joking together. That was the most delicious hamburger I ever ate in my life because I was eating it with my idol.

Guide Questions

  1. How old was the person narrating this story?
  2. Who was the person’s favorite soccer player?
  3. Who did the person eat with in the restaurant?
  4. What did he have for dinner?
  5. What vegetable he didn’t eat with it?
  6. How did the person get rid of his/her nerves?
  7. Decide if the person narrating the story is a female or a male. Give your reason(s).

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The Hero

**Story by Betty Erickson

After a week of rain, the sun came out. Nick ran out to play. He found a puddle full of tadpoles under his swing.

Day after day, Nick watched the tadpoles. They grew legs. Their tails got shorter. Nick was afraid that the puddle would dry up before the tadpoles turned into toads. So he scooped the tadpoles into an old watering can.

Two weeks later, Nick watched a tiny toad come out of the spout. It jumped into the grass. Then two more toads came out of the spout. At last Nick counted six happy toads hopping in the grass. Nick felt like a hero. He had saved a whole puddle of toads!

Guide Questions

  1. Where did Nick put the tadpoles?
  2. How many happy toads did Nick see?
  3. Where was the puddle?
  4. For how long had it been raining?
  5. How did the first three toads get out of the watering can?
  6. Why did Nick have to save the tadpoles before the puddle dried up?
  7. Write down two differences between tadpoles and toads.

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koh nang kham grand canyon

Koh Nang Kham Grand Canyon (แกรนแคนยอน เกาะนางคำ)

Posted on by Ms. Elle

Type in แกรนแคนยอน เกาะนางคำ on Google Maps for direction.

Plus code: 995V+QX Ko Nang Kham, Pak Phayun District, Phatthalung

We had loads of fun!

FEATURED WRITER

Naruebate Kaekpong

Writer

English Major

Rajamangala University of Technology Srivijaya, Songkhla Thailand

Koh Nang Kham Grand Canyon (แกรนด์แคนยอนเกาะนางคำ), also known as “Bodin” or “Napa” by the locals, is located in Bankohnangtong village, Kohnangkham sub-district, Pakpayun district, Phatthalung province. The Koh Nang Kham Grand Canyon is considered a new landmark of Phatthalung. The highlight of this place is a stunning stone cliff with unusual rock formations, set in a broad and tranquil field ideal for leisure.

Back in the day, this location was known as “Khuansaotong,” and it served as a reminder to navigators that they were going to arrive at Pak Payun. This mountain is rather tall, so the navigators can see it well from the lake. In fact, if you ascend to the highest peak, you will be able to take a glimpse of Songkhla Lake, which surrounds this island. You can also see the opposite villages, Ban Rakang and Ban Tahin, both of which are in Songkhla. Later, soil, rocks, and other minerals were quarried leaving these enormous, unusually shaped rock formations as we see it in the present. This location is now one of the most popular tourist attractions in Koh Nang Kham. Locals and tourists alike frequently visit this place. Some come here alone, while some come with friends, or with their families. The majority of them come to snap photos, picnic, or go on a walk.

Aside from the amazing strange stone, there is also a steep incline that challenges the local resident bikers and cyclists from other villages or provinces to come here to ride bicycles. Furthermore, during the rainy season, the marsh at this place is filled with sparkly emerald water. This, together with the colorful rocks underneath, creates a very magnificent sight. Kids around the neighborhood come here to swim with their friends. Some people come with their picnic baskets and enjoy a meal or a drink, and others come to unwind and enjoy the moment.

Koh Nang Kham Grand Canyon is one of the most remarkable sights in Phatthalung because of its unusual rock formation, and with its lush greenies around it provides a pleasant ambiance that is ideal for recharging your lungs. Having gained popularity, it is frequented by visitors time and again. Now, Koh Nang Kham sub-district municipality intends to develop it more comfortably, and the villagers believe that Koh Nang Kham Grand Canyon will serve as a landmark of their community and make other people more familiar with Koh Nang Kham in the future.

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