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December 7, 2007: Thailand's SouthEast Asian Games Winning (& SEA Games record setting) Women's 4x400 relay tests Gold Medals for 24k Thai gold.. using their best MBK 24k Thai gold assay testing technique. |
Thailand: The Land of Smiles. A genuine smile is a staple of Thai life.
January, 2008: Thailand named "Best Tourist Country in the World" by Norway's Travel News magazine. 5th year in a row!
2008: Bangkok rated #1 tourist destination on the planet by Travel & Leisure Magazine. Chiang Mai # 3 destination in Asia.
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December 7, 2007: Thailand's SouthEast Asian Games Winning (& SEA Games record setting) Women's 4x400 relay tests Gold Medals for 24k Thai gold.. using their best MBK 24k Thai gold assay testing technique. |
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The Thai outgoing friendliness / happiness rubs off .. you will find yourself greeting others with a friendly smile after a few days. One visit to Thailand & you will want to reside in a Land of Smiles. I always carry my Thai smile with me. ~ Khun Tem
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Enjoy a golf & scuba day .. or a shopping / luxury spa treatment day.. or EXPERIENCE an elephant trek .. Himalayan foot hills on elephant No matter, your time in Thailand will provide cherished memories!
Thailand has a population of over 60 million, 10 million in ultra-modern Bangkok. Acceptable Thai Hotels from us$15/ night, 45 Thai hotels w/ free WiFi. Thailand Regional Maps & Thai Road Maps
River boats, ocean boats, Klong boats.. there is always a boat ride waiting! October, 2007: Europe's leading travel magazine, Denmark's Stand By, again names Thailand the best vacation spot on the planet. 2007: Bangkok is again the 3rd rated global vacation spot by the US magazine Travel & Leisure. |
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 Thailand is located on 2 contiguous Peninsulas: the Indochina Peninsula & Malay Peninsula Indochina Peninsula = Peninsula between India & China.
The south region of Thailand is located on the narrow Malay Peninsula, with the Andaman Sea (Indian Ocean) on it's west side & the Gulf of Thailand (Pacific Ocean) on it's east. Laos, Myanmar (Burma) & Cambodia are Thailand's neighbors on the Indochina Peninsula. Malaysia & Singapore are Thailand's neighbor to the south on the Malay Peninsula.
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The Preah Vihear Temple sits atop a cliff at the natural geographic border between Thailand & Cambodia .. on the Thai side.
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The Preah Vihear Temple built in 1053 has become front page news in 2008. Thai & Cambodian forces are in a border face off with Thai news reports of Thai Army special ops crossing the border into Cambodia.
The border dispute is rooted in French
Indochina Colonial territorial expansion
into sovereign Siam in 1887.
There
have been 2 wars (1893 & 1940) between Thailand & French
Indochina over the colonialist expansion that created
the border disputes,
Prasat Preah Vihear
is only a small part of the border dispute.
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Bangkok Train Station: Hua
Lamphong
Bangkok Sky Train & Sub Way
map
Thailand has some of the most picturesque beaches on the planet .. above Jomtean, 15 minutes from Pattaya.
Thailand has a 21st century infrastructure. Boingo ( the world leading network provider) alone has over 4000 Wi-Fi hot spots in Thailand.
Links to 200 Thai hotels .. book direct .. 45 hotels with in room free Wi-Fi
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Free Thailand
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The Thailand land border length is 4,863 km (3,022 mi) .. does not include the considerable border on the Gulf of Thailand or the Andaman Sea.
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Even the most 'cost sensitive' traveler can afford first rate service, adventure & luxury amenities in Thailand. In Thailand YOU can experience Luxury .. and / or Adventure .. often reserved for movie stars, politicians & millionaires. Thailand is exotic & exciting + as expensive or as cheap as you choose to make it. |
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The far east awaits around any corner in a road or bend in Bangkok's klongs / canals. Krung Thep, City of Angels, is the Thai Name for Bangkok.
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Thailand has beautiful beaches. Thailand has many tropical Islands w/ inexpensive beach front huts or luxury 5 star private island villas. Tropical island resorts Koh Samui & Koh Chang (Elephant Island) on the Gulf Of Thailand. Phi Phi & Phuket on the Andaman Sea. Busy resort beaches .. packed with tourists & serviced by every amenity imaginable. Remote private beaches .. private island spa resorts.
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Elephants sharing the road with cars, tuk tuks, vans & buses. "I lub Chang tu mutt", Khun Tem I am always so happy to see Pong. I like to call my friends, so Pong can trumpet over my mobile. Pong's trumpet makes everyone happy! Khun Tem
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LIFE Magazine 1939: "On June 24, 1939 the Government of Siam, the only free nation in Southeast Asia, changes its name to Thailand, which means 'Free Land' ". (Thailand was the only non-European colony in SE Asia = Free Land)
Thailand ("ประเทศไทย") translates (actually transcription) to Free Land in English.
Thailand is a place where the Ancient Far East has selectively melded with the 21st Century West.
.. a wonderfully natural & often seemingly random blend .. a glorious selection of Ancient East & Modern West.
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The train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai is HIGHLY recommended. Get a 'sleeper room / compartment' with picture window. Tropical mountains, Southeastern Himalayan foot hills, in the north. Chiang Mai & Mai Hong Song. You enter the Himalayan foothills about dawn! View unspoiled mountainous tropical jungle out your window with your morning Nescafe :-(. |
Thailand Travel DVDs From Amazon.com
Video: Klong Saen Saep Water Bus .. at Chitlom, near Siam
Square.
The canals / "klongs" provide extremely functional transportation in the
21st century.
Bangkok is Shopping Paradise!
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The Best Thai Water Taxi rides? At the Golden Triangle Point .. where Laos, Myanmar & Thailand meet on the Mekong River .. get it on!..
"An exhilarating blast! Lub id tu mutt!", Khun Tem |
Thailand Medical Tourism, as featured in 2005 on CBS' 60 Minutes, is globalization for the benefit of the individual!
Outstanding Thai cuisine is available.. well, like everywhere ..every shopping area .. every hotel .. every Soi
Fruit carts are on most streets with chilled fresh watermelon, papaya or pineapple for 10 BT, 25us cents.
Tourism accounts for 14% of Thailand's Gross Domestic Product .. 14% of the Thai economy is based on tourism.
The main cities are Bangkok, Chiang Mai in the north ( Golden Triangle) and Udon & Ubon in the east ( Issan ).
Chiang Mai Thailand Hotels w/Free WiFi & Spas Complete Thai 10 digit dialing directions w/ "Thai time" clock
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Bangkok is a wonderful cultural melting pot ..at first glance a chaotic blend of Ancient Far East & Ultra Modern West
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Tokyo Joe's, Bangkok's home to the Blues, has moved to a beautiful new home. 25/9 Sukhumvit Soi 26 (1 long block past the Emporium, take a right on to Soi 26, Tokyo Joes is on your left 1 block, directly opposite the TARA Hotel) IT'S BEAUTIFUL! ..check it out Directions? 02 661-0359
give Big Jeff a "high
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music video on myspace.. : Jeff & Soi Dog do traditional Blues .. Blues sung in Thai (way Cool!)
Soi Dog live music video, Hey Joe, from the Phuket Blues Festival .. also on myspace.
The 'coolest hot rod', :-o)) , water taxis are on the Mekong, at the Golden Triangle.
The Mekong River / Golden Triangle is about 30 minutes south of Mai Sai .. good two lane blacktop road.
Thailand has modern hospitals staffed with western educated doctors.
The savings on required medical / dental care can more than pay for a nice vacation.
Pay for a nice vacation with the savings on medical modalities by American / European educated Thai doctors / dentists.
Uninsured & need an MRI ( MRI = $200.) or dental, dermatology, cosmetic, rehabilitation .. flu shot.. ?
Thailand Medical Tourism ( the savings on 1 tooth repair, root canal & crown, can pay for an 'economy level' vacation, including air to Thailand! )
Savings on 1 root canal / cap will 100% cover a 4 day exotic Asian vacation with transpacific air included ..
2 teeth will provide sufficient savings for a month on a tropical beach .. or money in your bank + a short vacation!
Email Inquiry or call our Bangkok representative for rates & options <66> (02) 229-4681 (2)
Exercise Program Laughter The Best Medicine AntiAging Project Thai / English / Thai translation / transliteration.
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From street cart vendors or on the beach or local Thai neighborhood restaurants, or 'fine dining' 5 star restaurants & it's all excellent.. in fact, "wonderful" is often my post meal proclamation. I have never resisted Thai Cart Cuisine & 'gastric events' have NEVER followed.
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Tropical mountains, Southeastern Himalayan foot hills, in the north. Chiang Mai & Mai Hong Song.
The train to Chiang Mai is highly recommended.
In the Chiang Mai / Chiang Rai area some incredible Lanna Thai style house are available for short term rental .. quite marvelous houses built from 100% teak. Beautiful custom homes rent for a little as 17, 000 Thb ( US$400, Euro 325 per month )
Nice Houses on Phuket from 10,000 Tbt per month. ( $250US, EU200 month
)
Apartment & Hotel Links Thailand Newspapers The functions and stages of sleep. Thailand has an incredible number of tropical islands.
& English is spoken in
'ALL' tourist /
shopping locations & menus are generally in both Thai & English.
Thailand offers incredible shopping opportunities.
Even relaxing on a Thai beach can become an incredible Technicolor memories.
During one twilight swim near Karon ( Phuket Island), a Thai elephant handler & 10 elephants came upon us on the beach. No idea where they were going or why, but quite a memorable sight. They were just traveling on the beach instead of the road.
We were 'alone' ( no one else visible in any direction ) & here comes a guy with 10 elephants truckin' down the sand .. TIT!
KHAO LAK, Phuket, Thailand (Reuters) - Agitated elephants felt the tsunami coming, and their sensitivity saved about a dozen foreign tourists from the fate of thousands killed by the giant waves.
"I was surprised because the elephants had never cried before," mahout Dang Salangam said on Sunday on Khao Lak beach at the eight-elephant business offering rides to tourists.
The elephants started trumpeting -- in a way Dang, 36, and his wife Kulada, 24, said could only be described as crying -- at first light, about the time an earthquake measured at a magnitude of 9.0 cracked open the sea bed off Indonesia's Sumatra island.
I keep wondering if it was any of the same elephants we saw that day who were heroes of the tsunami ..
TIT, "This is Thailand", applies to so many things you will see & experience in the Land of Smiles!
water taxis & shopping & eating & snorkeling & eating & sight seeing & eating & trekking & golfing & exploring & eating & elephants & ..
There are literally 1000s of riverside restaurants in Thailand!
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A "Thailand Historical Site Tour / Vacation" is wonderful. Ancient walled cities, huge ancient temples and well preserved historical sites are present in all areas of Thailand.
A ancient site tour is a reason to leave the crowded modern cities ( YES!! for even a few hours )
& will be the most remembered part of any vacation you have ever taken! FACT!
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Excursions with an experienced bilingual guide into the rural areas are more than memorable, they are life perspective altering. The guide should have a 'full quiver' of narratives ( animated, please! ) on history / relevance and be able to present appropriate options relevant to any issue at hand. Days spent traveling in a pick up truck on 'rural red dirt roads', where the third world can be 'felt & touched', can put life into a different perspective. |
Buddhist Temples can be quite elaborate .. generously embellished ..
Crowded city beach fronts ( Pattaya & Patong Si ) with every jet ski, paraglide, boat ride & concession imaginable .. + some unimaginable!
Isolated pristine beaches with no one else in sight. ( miles & miles of pristine beach south of Patong Si, Phuket Island )
Beaches at the end of a steep jungle trail w/ a fresh water stream for a shower & the dressing room is behind a large bolder. ( Liam Sing north of Patong Si ).
Liam Sing is becoming more & more popular, but still not THAT crowded. ( Nov, 2005 )
2004 Update, tourism is down ( worldwide ) & the beach is way less crowded.
Liam Sing can have a pretty good surf break, body surfing.
I've seen pics of 9' / 3m waves there, I've never seen more than 4' / 1.5m.
Very similar to Makapu'u on Oahu's east coast.
Dinner theater with traditional Thai dance performed to soothing classical Thai music.
98% tourist events.
Pretty cool the first time.
Or rowdy Muay Thai kick boxing.
If there is no Thai betting it is a fixed tourist event.
Very cool every time!
http://www.muaythai.com/ Rajadamnern Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand . 72 kg Muaythai extravaganza comprises 8 invincible contenders all over the world. The winner gets 1,000,000 Baht. More detail ... lots of pics of Thai Professional Muay Thai Boxers.
& discos packed with tourists, seekers & travelers from all continents.
Bangkok has the most incredible mix of 'international' types.
A totally intercontinental random assortment mix, shaken well. :-)
& it seems most of whom are overtly willing to lend assistance.
Persons from all 'corners of the globe' trying to meld into the uniqueness that is Thailand.
Mountain vistas, dramatic coast lines, rivers busy with commercial traffic as well as scenic & serene river view points.
It is fairly easy for Westerners coming from the "advanced western culture" in Europe & the U.S. to become enamored with the wonderful friendliness that prevails in the Land of Smiles!
The cultural differences between the Thai and the Farang ( westerner ) are almost over whelming.
In my experience the people
of
Near universal incredible graciousness is exhibited by the service personal, hotel & restaurant staff as well as retail sales clerks.
After just a few visits to the convenience store near my apartment in Bangkok I felt as though the employees were friends.
I cannot help but smile
The best part about shopping in Thailand is the retail staffing. From the 7-11 to Foodland to Robinson's to MBK to The Emporium incredible 'customer assistance & relation' staffing.
Thailand is relatively crime free.
2007: The seedier part of Thailand .. namely Pattaya .. is to be avoided .. organized gangs prey on tourists.
the rest of Thailand is mainly violent crime free.. Not scam free, but violent crime free.
Buying "rubies & emeralds" from a street scam artist is NOT recommended. :-o).
Why would a huge discount on legitimate goods be offered on a sidewalk? "Duuuh UUH!!! DOH!"
Many many tourists are stung by obvious scams. If it's to good to be true it might be!
The Thai population is mostly devout Buddhist.
The second largest religious group is Muslim, mostly located in the southern region bordering on Malaysia.
There is a current, 2004, Muslim Separatist movement in Southern Thailand.
The rural area of Thailand near the border with Malaysia is currently under martial law.
A large aid package, March 2004, was approved for the residents of this region during this difficult period.
This 'problem' does not affect any other region of Thailand.
There's a representative Christian community throughout Thailand.
Thailand is "some sort of democracy" with both an elected Parliament and a Monarch that provides a stable and benevolent government.
King Rama 9 & his entire family are sincerely loved & deeply respected by the Thai people.
Thailand is so wonderful, one afternoon at the Silon Square BTS station I was quite surprised to encounter the kings daughter & her royal entourage getting on the sky train ... putting their tickets into the toll machine like the rest of us
Always be respectful of the Thai King!
The Thai Monarch is mostly symbolic but is held to same level of esteem as a God (This is a remnant of the Khmer / Hindu influence in Thai culture).
Money exchange.
The latest & greatest new currency from your home country may be difficult to exchange in Thailand.
The newish ( big face ) US $100s & ( Oct, 2003 ) & US 'tie dyed peach bills' were often hard to exchange through March, 2004.
I once took 'a bunch' of US $2. bills to Cambodia, almost could not give them as a tip!
ATMs are everywhere & you get a good exchange rate.
"bank cards" often have a daily cash limit, you might want to address that before you leave home!
Banks will take credit cards for larger cash exchanges.
Hotel currency exchange is not suggested, ATMs & banks will give the most THB per $.
Snorkeling & scuba diving opportunities are offered at any of the island or beach resorts.
Any and all water sports are offered on both the Gulf of Thailand & the Andaman sea.
Low cost near primitive beach huts, bargain tourist level hotels & opulent luxury resorts are available.
Check out: Phi Phi Island Scuba
Phi Phi is the picturesque lush tropical island location chosen for Leonardo DiCaprios' movie "The Beach".
Many many picturesque islands!
Big game fishing in the Andaman Sea.
Charter sail & motor yachts are available for hire.
World class golf courses.
Check out: Thai golf guide
Mountain trekking.
Multi-day elephant treks are offered in the mountains surrounding Chiang Mai & Mai Hong Song.
Check out: trekthailand.com
Cafe Racer bikes ( Hondas & Harleys for luxury cruising are also available ) for daily hire in the Golden Triangle or on Phuket.
There's not much radar enforcing of speed limits on the curvy rural roads, but watch out for Chiang Noi ( elephant! ).
The same bikes are available for rent in Bangkok or Pattaya, but heavily congested traffic can take the fun out of riding.
The major cities are Bangkok in the south central, Chiang Mai in the northern Golden Triangle area, Udon & Ubon in the unspoiled east, Pattaya is a hectic beach resort near Bangkok and Phuket Island is the most world famous of the Thai beach resorts
Click here for a synopsis of Thai History
We have received several complaints regarding a Thailand based on line TESOL School
What do you get when you
cross an elephant with a kangaroo?
Bloody great holes all over Australia
Exercise Basics in Thai Language เป้าหมายของโปรแกรม �ที่สุดของแอโรบิค� คือ การแนะนำให้ผู้ที่มีความสนใจในเริื่องของ
สุขภาพและผู้เริ่มต้นที่ยังไม่มีประสบการณ์ได้รู้จักว่าอะไรคิิือการออกกำลังกายที่ปลอดภัยและการมี
Health Tourism? Western level Medical / Dental care is available for a small % of western fees!
Uninsured & need an MRI ( dental, dermatology, cosmetic, rehabilitation .. )?
Medical Care is an area in which individuals can take advantage of Globalization.
Pay for a nice vacation with the savings on medical modalities by American educated Thai doctors..
The savings on one 'major tooth repair' can pay for an economy level 2 week vacation!
Root canal & cap front tooth 14,000THB US$354 AUD$481 EU284.
Diagnostics, imaging, lab analysis, physical rehabilitation, cosmetic .. all 80% off US pricing.
MRI is less than 10,000 THB US$200, EU170, AUD$265.
Laughter the Best Medicine Quote Me!.. 1000s of famous quotes by topic
computer links news links health & fitness
Thai Domestic Flight Schedule ( Phuket Air )
Thai Domestic Flight Schedule ( Thai Air )
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Have a yen to travel: TESOL / TEFL can be a good career choice. Medical Tourism:Globalization for the individual. Laughter The Best Medicine
well done"
(it's Jeff's voice on our videos)
