Destinations / The Best Places to Visit in Thailand / James Bond Island - a popular attraction in Thailand
James Bond Island - a popular attraction in Thailand
What is needed to create a world-famous tourist attraction on the world map? Beautiful beaches, crystal clear waters, mild climate? Not at all ... It is best suited for this purpose shooting a movie with the world famous actor James Bond ! In 1974 in the Bay of Phang Nga Bay were shot the films "The Man with the Golden Gun", which is the most memorable of all three factors: weapons (made of gold), an enemy of the human race (Scaramanga), and the unusual forms of a small island, near which Scaramanga kept their secret weapon.
This beautifully shaped island is officially called Koh Tapu, but worldwide it is known as James Bond Island, which became one of the most popular tourist attractions in Thailand. This is not only due to stunning scenery, gorgeous beaches and beautiful weather, the name which it received was due to cinema. Phang Nga Bay , with its unusual and very beautiful islands was virtually unknown to the world, until 1974 when the famous British actor Roger Moore came here, George (known to us all, as James Bond) for the filming of "The Man with the Golden Gun " . The mission 007 was as follows: to find and neutralize a professional assassin Scaramanga, who pays $ 1 million to kill people with a pistol with gold bullets. James Bond discovered Scaramanga on an island in the Bay of Phang Nga, where the bad guy was hiding laser weapons - that George Bush would call "weapons of mass destruction " to use for terrorist purposes.
Having received worldwide fame after the film to the screen, in this part of Thailand flew numerous tourists to their own eyes to see the island where the second most successful movie series in history were shot (series of 007 James Bond earned more than $ 5 billion, giving the palm championship only to Harry Potter). Since then, James Bond Island, took the place of honor on the tourist map of Thailand. Tour operators in Thailand had no rest from those wishing to visit the most famous part of the bay of Phang Nga , where tourists can take a picture, posing as a man with the golden gun against the backdrop of the island of James Bond. In fact, there are two islands located close to each other, which challenged each other's name, James Bond Island. The first of these is the official name of Kao Pinkan (Khao Phing Kan), which means " The Island of the mountain slope."
Pinkan Kao is the island, where the final scene of the James Bond movie was filmed. It has the shape of a butterfly and, in fact, consists of two forested islands with steep cliffs, connected by a sandy isthmus. Its name was received due to a huge cliff, which is slightly tilted toward the other rocks. The island has several caves and two sandy beaches - in the south-west and in the isthmus between the islands. During the tidal, the water rises to 2-3 meters, so that a large part of the beach goes under water and the access to some of the caves is possible only during low tides. The north side of the beach offers a huge crack in the rock, as is shown in the film. Kao Pinkan is located in the north-western part of Phang Nga Bay, six kilometers from the mainland, among a group of 42 other islands. The only way to get there is by boat (unless you have a light amphibious aircraft the Republic RC-3 Seabee, as well as the famous agent 007 James Bond). Customers sailing to the James Bond Island use high-speed motor boats, landed at the pier a few minutes' walk from the beach, but those who use a boat or a kayak, go right on the beach shore. Most tourists find the time on the island of Khao Pinkan limited. As a general rule, the stay of a tour does not exceed 30 minutes, after which the tourists must leave it and in their place comes another group of visitors and like this the whole day.
Most visitors arrive at Khao Pinkan with a single purpose: to see the well-known character, embodied in the James Bond film. It is not located on the island of Khao Pinkan but 40 meters to the west of it. This is another island also known as James Bond Island, which is the most iconic and a well-recognized rock around Thailand. Rising from the sea like a wedge, it is much less than the Kao Pinkan. The height of the rock is about 20 meters in diameter at the base of 4 m and 8 m at the top. It is not surprising that his Thai name Ko Tapu (Koh Tapu) is literally translated as the "nail", "wedge" or "rod" island that reflects its actual form .
Legend
A local legend explains the formation of the island of Koh Tapu as follows. Once upon a time lived a fisherman, who, usually, each time brought home a lot of fish. But the day came when he could not catch a fish. Despite all his many attempts, he managed to get only a rusty nail in his network. Every time he threw the nail into the sea, he caught it back again. In a rage, he took his knife and cut the nail in half. The blow half the nail jumped into the sea and stuck to the bottom of the sea, where it remained until today in the form of Ko Tapu.
Scientific version
The scientific version of the form Ko Tapu says the following. During the Permian in this area was a barrier reef. The tectonic movements of the earth's crust split and raised its parts and then flooded the aspiring sea level. The wind, the waves, the water flew the ebb and the flow slowly caused the erosion of the islands, forming unusual and peculiar forms, examples of which we can see on Koh Tapu. The erosion of the tides is especially visible at the bottom of the cliff. Scaramanga Pinkan Kao and Koh Tapu are located close now and are often referred to as the islands of James Bond by the locals and the tourist guides. Until 1974 the island of Khao Pinkan was rarely visited even by the local residents. The remote and the unknown paradise from the time of filming, till now on is flooded with tourists who cross the road 86 km by bus from the nearest major city of Phuket and then make a short trip by boat or a boat to see the "James Bond Island". It became the most photographed object in the entire territory of Phang Nga Bay, although there are many other beautiful islands.
James Bond Island became the most famous tourist attraction created in 1981 by the Marine National Park, Phang Nga. Since 1998, a ban was led for the approaching boats. This measure aims to minimize the erosion of the limestone rocks of the island, which can eventually lead to its destruction. The experts were scratching their heads over how to strengthen the foundation for a tiny rock in order to save one of the most beautiful natural attractions of Thailand - Koh Tapu, which the vast majority of tourists continue to call the James Bond Island and recently was considered a true island.
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The country is often called the "land of smiles", because here there are more people smiling than in any other part of the world.
Only in Thailand you can take a cruise on a converted rice barge, you can scream upstream in a boat or bamboo raft, you can go into a dizzying journey and you can stay in jungle tree houses or homes of villagers floating on the river.
Equally memorable are the trails leading deep into the rainforest past cooling waterfalls and beautiful endless white sand caressing the translucent sea.
Do not miss the dynamic city of Bangkok, with its futuristic buildings juxtaposed against the glittering Grand Palace.
Early morning, monks dressed in robes leave the sanctuary of temples to receive alms from the people or in a dusty village or on crowded city streets.
Here Buddhism is a way of life and, with the respect people have for the monarchy, a dynasty that has maintained an independent country for centuries, resulting in a blend of tradition and contemporary living.
His Majesty King Bhumibol is the longest reigning monarch in the world, having come in 1946.
With the end of absolute monarchy, Thailand moved towards democracy, but this was thwarted by the military, who staged coups in protest at government policies.
The latest blow came in September 2006 when a bloody revolt overthrew the Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and replaced him with an interim prime.
Thailand has surpassed the economic collapse of 1997, SARS, avian flu and the devastating tsunami in December 2004 to become a popular destination for tourists, with its many natural beauties and rich cultural heritage.
Thailand is a tropical country, so it's warm all year round, but the best time for tourists is from November to March during the dry season.
The main attractions • Wonder at the beautiful architecture in Bangkok Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaeo, a temple complex which houses a statue of the Emerald Buddha.
Further up the river are the royal barges.
They are richly decorated and are only used for special processions on the Chao Phraya River.
• Do not miss Wat Pho, Bangkok's largest temple and the place where Buddha is Down.
The statue is huge - 46m long and 15m high.
• Discover Vmanmek, a lovely palace with 18 rooms, the former royal summer residence, rebuilt in Bangkok in 1900.
Let yourself be excited by the former house of silk merchant, American Jim Thompson.
• Travel north to Chiang Mai, the second largest city of Thailand and a center for excursions to temples in the region, hill tribes and the Golden Triangle.
Climb its 300 steps to the temple of Doi Suthep to have wonderful views of the city.
• Visit Kanchanaburi, a place about the horrors of the Second World War and Allied forces forced to build the Death Railway and the Bridge over the River Kwai.
From the town you can go on trips to explore the waterfalls and the jungle region.
You could spend a night on a floating house.
• Take a trip back in time and visit Ayutthaya, the former Thai capital.
Wander among the ruins of palaces on foot,by bike, or even on the back of an elephant.
• A visit to Ayutthaya is not complete without a trip to Sukhothai, an ancient capital of the Thai.
Beyond the city walls there are ruins of ancient temples and a few ancient engravings.
• Visit the north-eastern Thai, less known, especially Phimai, one of the most important Khmer historical sites in Thailand, dating from the eleventh century.
The complicated structure resembles that of Angkor Wat.
• Thailand is not about just beaches and temples.
Venture Khao Sok National Park exploring the southern Thai.
Here the rainforest covers the limestone cliffs crossed by streams and waterfalls.
Experience the lifestyle of a tree house or a house on the water, made of bamboo.
• Make a day trip from Bangkok by train over the River Kwai in Kanchanaburi, on the bridge that was built by Allied prisoners, led by the Japanese during the Second World War.
• Admire the skills of kite fighters.
Your opponents kites male Chula and female high Pakpao in a battle of the sexes.
Do not miss playing takraw, which involves handling a cane ball from one player to another, which are disposed in a circle, using in acrobatic feet, knees, thighs and chest.
The goal is to keep the ball in the air and place it in a suspended basket.
• Take in a Thai kick-boxing match.
This traditional sport can be seen every day in stadiums across the country.
Boxing matches are preceded by elaborate ceremonies and accompanied by music.
• Get rid of all worries through meditation.
Thailand has dozens of temples and meditation centers specializing in vipassana .
You can attend one lesson or you can follow a whole.
• Meet more closely with northern Thai, especially remote provinces of Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and Mae Hong Son, hiking, riding elephants and rafting on the river.
• Join the crowd that goes to Suri, where elephants assembly occur in November.
There are demonstrations of techniques and re-training scene of episodes in history.
• Enjoy thousands of kilometers from the Thai coast on the sand or under water.
Try kayaking, canoeing in the limestone islands of Phang Nga Bay and explore the grottoes and caves that are half under water.
• Learn traditional massage and the healing properties of herbal medicine at ancient Wat Pho.
• Try Thai cooking at one of the many cookery schools.
Learn how to blend herbs and spices for the unique flavors of Thai food.
In some schools students encouraged to buy food in the market themselves.
• Take a boat trip through Bangkok's Floating Market or network of channels of the river, lined with dwellings opening directly to water.
Life has hardly changed over the centuries to those who live on canals.
• Dive with the Sharks at Siam Ocean World aquarium in Bangkok and experience to tell the tale.
• Take tea in the afternoon at the Oriental Hotel in Bangkok, one of the most famous hotels in the world.
The former residence of Somerset Maughan and Joseph Conrad, today is attended by kings, princes and celebrities.
Gastronomy Thai cuisine is famous for the way that balances the five fundamental flavors in all meals and dishes - spicy, sour, sweet, salty and bitter (optional).
Thai cuisine which includes specific four main regions of the country - North, Northeast (Isan), Central and South America.
The cuisine of each region is influenced by neighboring countries of that region.
Thai dishes include plenty of fresh, not dried herbs, spices and fish sauce.
Nam pla is a fish sauce, flavored, which is found in almost all dishes.
It is widely used and shrimp paste.
Thais are accustomed to eat so much rice at every meal even.
Most of them consider sandwiches not a meal but a snack.
Also, locals do not really sit at table, because, especially children and teens eat when hungry.
If you do meet a Thai, you may be wondering "gin khao yung" every time you meet, meaning " did you eat ?" or better said "have you eaten rice?".
If you visit Thailand and stay at a local family take care not too eat too much, your body will get fat.
History Thailand existed as several small states since 1000.
Influenced more by India, Burma and Khmer people, the region was quickly engulfed in Buddhism.
By 1350 the kingdom of Siam was created.
At a distance of more than two centuries the Portuguese arrived, along with other Europeans, dealing with trade or were missionaries.
Siam avoided European colonization but was forced to cede control of more distant areas (portions of Malay, Laos and Cambodia) France and Great Britain.
Occupied by the Japanese in 1941, Siam declared war on the United States and Great Britain, while secretly monarchy suppressed resistance movements against the Japanese.
During the Vietnam War Thailand was significant especially for the U.
S.
Army.
Attracting investors and tourists, Thailand developed until 1996, when the military government triggered a decline in the economy.
Tips The royal family is highly esteemed in Thailand, which must be respected by visitors.
Locals are concerned with the public manifestations of anger as a fact and creates a very humiliating public image.
It also discourages emotional manifestations gender and touching a person's head or your foot to straighten, it is a lack of good manners.
Take care of your shoes before entering someone's house or a temple.
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