[Lapsinuibense]

first off thanks for your quick reply! any help is welcome
second you didn't understand my question. it's pretty obvious that the secret society depicted in the movie doesn't exist, etc, i meant the physical location, the real beach, and that does exist as your answered has shown me, and it is acessible as i've read in those sites
thanks again!

As in movie/the book's content, that beach and that island are fiction. But you can visit the location where they filmed the movie. Actually there is the website (which is in the same network with this forum) where you can get more details http://www.thaistudents.com/thebeach/
and http://www.thaistudents.com/thebeach/phiphi.htm
The rest of your Qs I think somebody else will be able to reply better than me so good luck anyway

[Lapsinuibense]

First off I am new to this forum and I really like the debates going on here, they really have gave me an interesting insight on thai social culture, and have increased my curiosity over this part of the world.

So i am currently undertaking a Master's Degree in Computer Science in Coimbra, PortugaL (http://www.dei.uc.pt), which i will finish next year. For the the second part of the my next year (from about december to august) i want to go to Thailand and elaborate / research my Master Thesis over there.

So now that I've explained the situation i have some questions that i would like you to answer, and i'm open to any suggestions that all of you might be willing to give me.

First off, what are best places to be in Thailand? This will be my first time there, Bangkok would be my obvious choice, it's a city with which I dream off, but let's hear it from you, are there best places to be in in Thailand? I've read about Koh Samui and stuff like that. Keep in mind, i'm not asking here the best place to study / research in, but the best place to live / be in in Thailand.

My second obivous question would be, what are the best universities? Specially gifted towards international students like myself, because i don't know Thai, and i'm not thinking about learning it well enough to study in thai. Also in my area of studies, sciences / computer sciences.
I've read much about this so far and the best site that i found was (http://www.pathfinder.com/asiaweek/f...index.html#16).

My third question would be how much do you think that one would spend to have a nice life, and a very good life over there? Per month obviously.

Fourth question, how easy / cheap is it to travel? I would like to know burma, laos, vietnam, and everything that i can for the time i spend there. Also all thai islands / etc. Suggestions for travelling over there?

Fifth (pretty stupid) question. About the movie the beach, does that beach really exist and is it reachable? This an off-topic to the rest of the questions, but just a curiosity of mine, ever since i saw that movie i wanted to go there .

This is all for the time being! really need help with this and with sugestions because i have to deliver my thesis proposal somewhat soon and if i don't reach agreement with a thai university i won't be able to go there, and i would really love to.

Thanks in advance.

[r7rGOhvd]

Fifth (pretty stupid) question. About the movie the beach, does that beach really exist and is it reachable? This an off-topic to the rest of the questions, but just a curiosity of mine, ever since i saw that movie i wanted to go there . As in movie/the book's content, that beach and that island are fiction. But you can visit the location where they filmed the movie. Actually there is the website (which is in the same network with this forum) where you can get more details http://www.thaistudents.com/thebeach/
and http://www.thaistudents.com/thebeach/phiphi.htm
The rest of your Qs I think somebody else will be able to reply better than me so good luck anyway

[Lapsinuibense]

hey help!

[Caursedus]

it's pretty obvious that the secret society depicted in the movie doesn't exist, etc, i meant the physical location, the real beach, and that does exist as your answered has shown me, and it is acessible as i've read in those sites

In February 2006, "the beach" was jammed with boats full of tourists, covered with unattractive scrub, and featured a gigantic pile of trash just next to the rise where you get the best view.

At least the water has cleared up so you can snorkel without getting hit in the head by lumber and other debris from the tsunami.

It's worth cruising the Phi Phi islands, but there are much nicer beaches to visit.