Thailand

[iaos]

Hi Folks,

I'm off to Thailand in Feb/March for a trip. Can anyone recommend any bird parks / zoos / bird markets or any other worthwhile attractions? And any worth avoiding? I'll be going to Bangkok / Phuket / Chang Mai.

Cheers
Ian

[Jayburd]

never been so no idea, but have fun and take LOTS of pictures!!!

[Canary]

There is a huge market in Bangkok. I can't remember the name - from searching google I think it was Chatuchak weekend market. ( http://chatuchak.org/pets.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;). We caught the skytrain from our hotel in Bangkok to a station that was right at the entry. The staff on the skytrain were very helpful. It says that it is only open Saturday and Sunday.

It was a huge market with one part just all pets. The cutest animals were the squirrels. Plenty of birds for sale. Well worth a visit.

If you get a chance I would highly recommend a visit to the Tiger Temple which is a full day tour, as you have to travel about 2 hours from Bangkok in a bus. You can walk with the tigers and pat them. When we were there they had 2 baby tigers that the monks let us pat.

In Phuket I would recommend the Phi Phi island tour and also an elephant trek.

[iaos]

Thanks for your reply Canary. I'll try and get down to the market if we are in Bangkok on a weekend. I'm undecided about the tiger temple, I have read a lot of mixed reviews.

Jay, there will be plenty of photos.

[kimberley breeder]

I am going for 2 weeks in January! I cant wait!! Planning on doing Phi Phi Island, Koa Samui, Elephant trek, Game fishing charter. Im keen on going to the markets in Bangkok, but moght be a tad too busy for our tastes. We are taking our 7 year old as well so a bit anxious about taking into busy areas...

[Nrg800]

In the actual Chatuchak markets there are very few bird, but around the back somewhere there's a better place (I only saw it at night, but I remember seeing White-breasted Waterhen and an Sicklebill species, I think it was a black Sicklebill. Around Bangkok I can't comment on the zoos there (I only went to Chaing Mai Zoos), but Dusit I remember being abit ordinary, and Khao Khiao Open Zoo is apparently very good!

Edit: Here's a species list for Khao Khiao: http://globalspecies.org/zooinsts/display/12221" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
And here's one for Dusit: http://globalspecies.org/zooinsts/display/12287" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;