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If you're visiting Pattaya in Thailand, and can tear yourself away from the beach for a couple of hours, there's a quirky little museum with a unique take on art that will leave you thinking about it long after you've gone. The Pattaya Bottle Art Museum features more than 300 miniature works of art that were all created inside glass bottles, and the creativity of the micro-sculptures knows no limit. With everything from Asian pagodas to European castles to the serene figure of the Buddha all contained within their own glass worlds, visitors are left wondering exactly how an artist is able to work in such a confined medium. The answer: very carefully. The museum is the brainchild of Dutch sculptor Peter Bedelais, who has spent the last 15 years decorating the hall with his intricate creations, and the only secret is attention to detail and a very steady hand. In fact, if the site of such small wonders inspires you, give it a try in an on-site workshop that provides you with everything you need to make your own work of bottle art. But just in case you'd prefer to leave it to the expert, you can pick up your own souvenir in the gift shop. They'll make your standard ship-in-a-bottle from the shore look like a mere tchotchke. The museum is a short drive from the luxurious Sheraton Pattaya Resort.

[image via thailandhighlight.com]

Peter Foreman is the Director of Sales & Marketing at Le Méridien Kuala Lumpur and thelobby.com's expert on Asia.

Trying to perfect that swing?  Head to Chiang Rai, an hour's flight from Bangkok where the recently opened Le Méridien Chiang Rai Resort in Thailand's northernmost province could just well be your school of choice.  Chiang Rai is situated on the Kok River and borders both Myanmar and Laos. Nearby you'll find Santiburi, acclaimed as one of the leading golf courses in Asia. Amidst the Chiang Rai hills, this Robert Trent Jones Jr. designed course is set into the contours of a valley and laid out over vast fields. With excellent placement of holes and an abundance of water hazards and bunkers, the course is widely regarded as one of the best conceived and maintained golf courses in Asia. Yet, Santiburi is playable for golfers at all skill levels. Enjoy a round with our Chiang Rai Golf Getaway, a package that includes accommodation and daily breakfast at Le Meridien Chaing Rai, round-trip limousine transfer, green fees, and caddy. The best time to visit is between November and February.

Bankgok is a modern world capital, with glimmering towers and cutting-edge technology at every turn, but the beauty and mystery of ancient Siam can still be found, if you know where to look. An ethnographic museum called Muang Boran (Ancient City) is a microcosm of the Thailand of yesteryear, with recreations of old buildings, farms, and villages, as well as guides in period costume who demonstrate the simple chores that have been a part of traditional life for generations. Founded by a local entrepreneur who wanted to preserve the old traditions for new generations, the 350 acre museum is divided by region, providing visitors with a vivid glimpse at the country's various styles. Highlights include a 9th century reclining Buddha that inspired Dvaravati art, the Sanctuary of Prasat Phra Wihan - a 16th century Khmer temple for the religious rights of Saiva Hinduism - and the Dusit Maha Prasat Palace (Grand Palace), a throne hall built under the command of King Rama I for royal ceremonies. Reserve at least half a day to explore the grounds, and bring your appetite, because a floating market provides everything you need for a delicious and authentic picnic lunch on the many lawns and green spaces. It's a beautiful place to pick up some historical knowledge and get a feel for what life was actually like for the peasants and royalty alike in Ancient Siam. The museum is a short drive from central Bangkok, home of several Starwood hotels including the Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel & Towers.

Peter Foreman is the Director of Sales & Marketing at Le Méridien Kuala Lumpur and thelobby.com's expert on Asia.

For the last six years, I have had my business suits and shirts tailor made in Bangkok - always giving me a good excuse to go back to the city of angels for a holiday, with the excuse of updating my corporate wardrobe. I hear so much talk about which tailor is the best - best value, best fabrics, etc .. etc ..well, I will share with you my secret. In business since 1978, Siam Emporium is where I head to when I'm in Bangkok. Ask for Mr Jit, he and his team will look after you. The street front store is within walking distance of Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit and The Westin Grande Sukhumvit.

I suggest that you need at least three days in Bangkok so that you have time to go back to see the tailor for your fittings. I prefer at least two fittings, so that my suits fit well. There are so many different options for you to consider, so I always try to take a few pages with me from the latest fashion magazines. Do you want regular cuffs or French cuffs? What sort of collar on your shirt? How many vents at the back of your jacket and how many buttons? Then, you must choose the fabric, which determines the price of the end product. With business shirts costing around $50 US dollars, you will never need to buy off the rack again!

Starwood's Thailand destination page is a great starting point to gather information on your visit to Thailand, and highlights news and offers on the region, including the recent opening of Le Méridien Bangkok on Surawong Road.

Elephants were once an important part of daily life in Thailand, performing tasks that required a unique mix of strength, dexterity, and intelligence that only pachyderms possess. While most of the population prized elephants as symbols of wealth and productivity, none were revered more than the emperor's white elephants, which enjoyed the royal treatment at the Dusit Palace complex. Today, the Royal Elephant Museum provides a fitting tribute to these noble beasts, with various displays showing the influential roles the royal white elephants had in Bangkok life in the early- to mid-20th century. Ironically, while depicted in paintings as completely white, the royal elephants were actually reddish-brown to light pink color. Still, they were prized enough to join the royal elephant stables, avoiding wartime duty to instead serve ceremonial purposes. Those lucky elephants. Starwood has properties throughout Bangkok, including the nearby Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel & Towers.

[image via bangkok-traveltips.com]