Best things to do in Na Chom Thian

Surrounded with forested hills, Sai Kaew Beach features a shallow crescent of white soft sand, clear water, several bars and restaurants, and a water sport area where you can rent jet skis and banana boats. This pristine and idyllic beach is kept clean and tidy by the Royal Navy. Go kayaking or canoeing, and pay a visit to the nearby monkey island. The gentle slope of the seabed makes this beach perfect for inexperienced swimmers and small children. Amenities include public restrooms and showers.

Stroll the extensive grounds of Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden and enjoy a diversity of onsite activities. The 202 hectares (500 acres) of expertly crafted gardens also house a major scientific center dedicated to the collection and study of cycads--woody evergreens that were once much more abundant than they are today. Explore the charmingly themed gardens (including French gardens, an orchid and bromeliad display, and a butterfly hill) and then catch a martial arts demonstration or enjoy a traditional Thai massage. If you work up an appetite, tuck into a meal at one of the two onsite restaurants. Accommodations are available for those wishing to extend their visit.

Marvel at a giant golden Buddha at Khao Chi Chan Buddha. A laser carved the 109 m (357 ft) tall, 70 m (229 ft) wide image out of the cliff face, which was then picked out in burnished gold. A lake filled with water lilies sits at the foot of the cliff, surrounded by a decorative rock garden. A number of souvenir shops and a cafe cluster around the site, and Buddhist monks can sometimes be seen chanting prayers here.

Pick up some souvenirs at Mimosa Pattaya, a shopping center with interesting architecture and a popular live performance featuring Thai talent. Watch acts like ladyboy shows, impersonations, and fire-spinning artists. Afterwards, check out the museums and shops in the complex, and grab a meal at one of the international restaurants.

View more than 2,500 marine creatures at Underwater World Pattaya, an exciting aquarium filled with educational and interactive displays. Get to know the sea's smaller inhabitants at the touch pool, where you can feel small sharks, sea cucumbers, rays, starfish, and more. After a quick hand wash, continue on to see sea otters, stingrays, and giant groupers. Admire nature's artwork in the reef tank, where the colorful coral formations play host to exotic fish, and try to catch a live feeding. Shark, ray, and otter feedings tend to be the most popular and the best seats go early.

Once a tiny fishing village, Bang Saray Beach developed into a tourist haven thanks to its soft sand and traditional family-owned seafood restaurants. Relax on the relatively untouched and narrow beach under thickets of natural green canopies hanging over the white sand. The beach draws mostly Thai tourist, so expect to meet few Western visitors and be aware of possible language barriers.

Ko Samae San is a small island with many sandy beaches providing excellent swimming opportunities and access to good snorkeling spots. You can bike around the island or trek through the lush forest, as well as visit a small natural history museum housing a whale skeleton. Because of the proximity of a Thai naval base, you need to book a tour through a local operator to visit this destination.

This is a Facebook page created by a student, with the permission from the Sea Turtle Conservation Center Royal Thai Navy. My purpose is to make the Sea Turtle Conservation Center Royal Thai Navy wider known and create awareness for the Sea Turtles.

Information and facts are translated from Thai to English, referring to the Sea Turtle Conservation Center Royal Thai Navy's website (www.navy.mi.th/turtles/).

Some photos that aren't mine are all credited, please follow the link to their Flickr's photostream for further information.

Attracting scores of tourists and locals, the vibrant Nang Ram Beach remains among the most popular coastal spots in the area. Tourist infrastructure includes traditional seafood and other restaurants, souvenir shops, and modern restroom facilities. Look also for the tiny offshore islet surrounded by a multitude of colors--a shallow coral reef.

Explore the local underwater wildlife with a trip to Ko Kham Undersea Park, an ecotourism site under protection by the Royal Thai Navy. You can explore the underwater natural world by snorkeling or by taking a tour on a glass-bottomed boat. The sandy shores of the beach also boast a small aquarium, where visitors can feed fish and turtles, walk through a glass tunnel, and see jellyfish.

Feed and play with friendly monkeys at Monkey Island. Bring bananas and other fruit if you wish to interact with these fun and furry creatures inhabiting an island that also contains an important shrine dedicated to the goddess Obchoey. Although you cannot drive on the island, glass-bottom boat tours let you view the surrounding corals. Visiting requires paying a fee.