Get away from the hectic cities and enjoy yourself in the parks and gardens around the world.

Thursday, October 26, 2006

Benjasiri Park Bangkok - A Good Place to Relaxing

Benjasiri Park, BangkokBenjasiri Park was built in 1992 to celebrate the Queen's 60th birthday, Benjasiri is often referred to as "Queen's Park." This is definitely the place to be for sculpture lovers, as several of the best examples of Thai sculpture are scattered around the parks.

Benjasiri Park is located next to The Emporium shopping center on Sukhumvit Road. You can take the Skytrain to Prompong station for instant access to the park.

Benjasiri Park : Between Sois 22 and 24, Sukhumvit Road Klongtan Sub-District Bangkok 10110

Source : at-bangkok.com

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Friday, October 20, 2006

Phu Hin Rong Kla National Park, Phitsanulok, Thailand

Generally steep mountains. The park borders with Laos in the northern part, in Chaiburi dstrict. The southern part of the park runs into Phitsanulok province in Thailand. The mountain range includes the peaks of Phu Pangma, Phyu Lomloh, Phu Hin Rong Kla and Phu Mahn Yow, the tallest in the park at 1,800 meters above sea level. The second tallest in the park is Phu Lomloh at 1,664 meters. The park is the source of headwaters of many streams including Huay Muad Kon and Huay Luang Yai.

Phu Hin Rong Kla National ParkThe climate is similar to that of Phu Kra Dung and Phu Luang. Because of its high altitude, the park is cool all year round, especially in the cool season (November to January) when temperatures can occasionally drop to near freezing point.

The park has mixed deciduous, dry dipterocarp, dry evergreen, and hill evergreen forests. The mixed deciduous forest tends to be spacious and open. Tree species commonly found include Dipterocarpus obtusifolius, Shorea obtusa, Shorea siamensis and Dipterocarpus tuberculatus.

The dry evergreen forest has better and moister soil, particularly in higher elevations and along the streams. Species include Dipterocarpus alatus, Hopea ferrea, Hopea oborata, Anisoptera cochinchinensis, Dalbergia oliveri, Chukrasia venlatina, bamboo, and Brahm among others.

Hill evergreen forest is seen at higher elevations of 1,000 meters and up. Species tend to be soft woods. Important species include Dacrydium elatum, Betula alnoides, Eugenia cumini, Anneslea fragrans Podocarpus imbricatus and Pinus merksii P. kasiya.

The sandy flat areas on ridge tops support Sphagnum recuryum, algae and perennial plants such as Burmannia disticha and Osbeckia chinensis. In addition, may orchid species can be found in rocky areas, including Lycopodium phlegmaria and rhododendron. These flowers bloom between the rainy and cool seasons, in November.

It is believed that the park areas, in the past, had a large diversity of wildlife. During the years of fighting between the communists and government forces a lot of forest area were disturbed and much of the wildlife was gone. Remaining wildlife includes tigers, leopards, Asiatic Black Bears, wild boar, fox, monkeys, leopard cats, wild hare and many bird species such as boves barbets, common Flameback, Asian Barred Owlet, Brown Hawk-Owl, jungle fowl, bulbuls, and swallows.

Highlights and tourist attractions

Communist headquarters: Three km from the park's headquarters are located the former office buildings from which the communists insurgents carried out their administrative functions. There are a cafeteria, cloth shop, meeting place, jail and intelligence center.

Villages: There are villages with 40 to 50 houses each. The houses are small, having dirt floors and wooden tiles roofs. Each house has a dug out area used to hide during the air raids.

Hospital: Two km from the headquarters was a hospital equipped to treat the sick and injured. Doctors could perform a variety of minor surgeries. China provided training, technical assistance, and intensive courses. Among the remaining artifacts were Chines medical texts.

Lan Hin Tak: 300 meters to the west of the Thai army headquarters (Than Pacharin) is Lan Hin Tak (broken rock field). Along the path, growing in rock crevices, are various plant species including mosses, ferns and ground orchids. Peering into the depth of crevices can be eerie. Some crevices are narrow enough to jump across. Loud echoing of running water below can be heard in several of them. The crevices could have been used by the communists as hiding places.

Lan Hin Pum: About 4 km from the park's headquarters, near the cliffs, is a field of nodulated stone, Whose lumps are roughly equal in size. It is believed that this formation resulted from physical and chemical erosion. Patients from the hospital suffering from fever would used the area as a rest spot, as a cool breeze blows over the area almost continuously.

Flag-ple cliff: A steep cliff overlooking a valley to the west. The communists used this cliff to fly their red flag after each victory over the government forces.

Romglao and Paradon waterfalls: Romglao waterfall is located 5 km from the park's headquarters. As you approach the road to the School of Military Politics, the path to the waterfall is on the left and leads about 1 km off the road to the waterfall. The forest in this area is in a healthy condition with many large trees. A side trail leads to Paradon waterfall, which is a downstream of Romglao waterfall.

Sripachrin waterfall: This medium-sized waterfall is located about 600 meters off the road, near Huay Namsai village.

Ganglad and Tadfa waterfalls: Set at the foot of Phu Hin Rong Kla, Ganglad is located about 2 km from Huay Namsai. At the base of the fall is a small hydro-electric generator. If you climb 3 or 4 km further up the mountain, you will reach Tadfa waterfall (also known as Tan Gawsahng waterfall), an impressive, towering waterfall.

In addition to these spots there are many other interesting places there.

Source : Trek Thailand

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Friday, October 13, 2006

Most Popular Parks and Gardens in Bangkok - A Good Place to Relax

Bangkok's parks and gardens offer welcome respite from city heat and noise.
They include:
  • Lumphini Park at the northern end of Silom Road, and bordered by Wireless and Rajdamri roads. Lumphini Park is popular with joggers, keep-fit enthusiasts, families and sportsmen, particularly during the early morning and late afternoon.
  • Chatuchak Park near the Paholyothin and Viphavadi Rangsit Highway junction at Lard Prao, on the way to Bangkok's Don Muang Airport, is also the site of a famous weekend market that sells almost everything made and grown in Thailand.
  • Khao Din Zoological Garden is an artfully landscaped enclave with an artificial lake. The zoo neighbours Ratchadamnoen Avenue's Royal Plaza, and National Assembly Building, and contains a fine collection of African and Asian mammals, reptiles and birds.
  • King Rama IX Park or Suan Luang Gardens is an extensive park with fine botanical gardens deep inside Sukhumvit Soi 103 in Bangkok's eastern suburbs. The botanical gardens were opened with private and public donations in 1987 to celebrate H.M. King Bhumibol's auspicious 60th birthday.

Source : sawadee.com

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Monday, October 09, 2006

Most Popular National Parks Top Five in America

Americans have treasured their national parks since 1872, when the United States government established Yellowstone, the first national park in the world. Today, national parks can be found in all corners of the country, allowing visitors to enjoy some of America's most spectacular places. Which parks do we love the most? Listed in alphabetical order, these 15 are some of our favorites.
1. Acadia National Park, Maine
2. Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah
3. Death Valley National Park, California
4. Everglades National Park, Florida
5. Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, Alaska

Source : encarta.msn.com

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Monday, October 02, 2006

Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska - Most Popular National Parks

Glacier Bay National Park, AlaskaGlacier Bay National Park is located in southeast Alaska, approximately 60 air miles west of the state capital of Juneau. The nearest town is Gustavus, Alaska located 11 miles away. Glacier Bay National Park now encompasses over 3 million acres, and is often referred to as one of the Crown Jewels of the National Parks system. The Park has snow-capped mountain ranges rising to over 15,000 feet, coastal beaches with protected coves, deep fjords, tidewater glaciers, coastal and estuarine waters, and freshwater lakes. In addition to spectacular scenery, there are plentiful wildlife viewing opportunities with a wide variety of seabirds, marine and land mammals. Many visitors experience Glacier Bay National Park while on large cruise ships that visit the Park for the day, while others stay inside the Park at the Glacier Bay Lodge.

Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska : Transportation

While there are no roads to Glacier Bay National Park, you will find convenient air connections to Gustavus from Juneau, Skagway and Haines. Ferry service is also available from Juneau. From Gustavus it is about 10 miles by road to Bartlett Cove. Glacier Bay Lodge and Tours is located at Bartlett cove and is home to the visitor center and departure point for day boat tours to Glacier Bay National Park.

Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska : Activities

Glacier Bay National Park activities include the Glacier Bay Tour by day boat,Beach Relaxing, whale watching, sightseeing, wildlife viewing, boating, flightseeing, kayaking, fishing, photography and the parks ranger programs.

Glacier Bay National Park : PO Box 140 Gustavus, Alaska 99826-0140

Source : alaskatravel.com

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