CrazyExpat

I have lousy luck in learning to speak Thai. I have tried in the past to learn the Thai language but I find it VERY VERY difficult.

This is of no surprise to me as I have been to several hospitals in Thailand while on my visa there and the place was packed with foreigners who flew in ONLY for medical purposes. I find more to Thailand than that but apparently it is an amazing bargain. HANOI, Dec 28 (Bernama) -- The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) will boost medical tourism in earnest in 2010, Vietnam news agency (VNA) reported Monday, citing the National news Bureau (NNT) as saying. NNT quoted Deputy Governor of the TAT's Public Relations Division Surapol Sawetserani that Thailand has high potentials and marketing opportunities for the business, as most foreign visitors using the service are those with high purchasing power. The TAT is in the process of gathering information relating to health service providers, accommodations, rehabilitation facilities and tourism programs for companions, to be displayed on its website. Road shows will be later scheduled to target countries, as part of the marketing strategy, the Vietnam news agency said. President of the Thai Hotels Association, Prakit Chinamourphong said the medical tourism industry in Thailand has high prospects for expansion. Statistics showed that over 1.2 million tourists were seeking health care service in Thailand each year. The number is believed to reach 10 million within the next five years. NNT said the Ministry of Tourism and Sports has called a meeting of private entrepreneurs and related units on 28 December 2009, in order to discuss the business potentials and their cooperation for best absolute outcome. http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsworld.php?id=464749

There are links on this url to several Asian Fusion recipes. Malaysia’s position in the trade routes between Europe, the Mediterranean, and the Spice Islands in what is now Indonesia has been its destiny. The country straddles the South China Sea, with the west region occupying a peninsula it shares with Thailand and Singapore, and the east portion on the island of Borneo, which it shares with Indonesia and Brunei. As a result, Malaysian cooks fashioned a cuisine of Chinese, Indonesian, Thai, and Indian influences, which blend naturally in the curries, steamed rice, noodle stir-fries, and fresh salads that now characterize Malaysian dishes. The greatest culinary influence may have come from Chinese settlers, who brought techniques such as stir-frying. The blend of Chinese cooking with Malay ingredients created nonya cuisine. An example of this is Stir-Fried Water Spinach, which combines the Chinese technique of stir-frying with the Malaysian green. As they are in many parts of China, rice noodles are common in the Malaysian kitchen, and the fried egg noodle dish bakmie goreng is popular. Other travelers, settlers, and traders influenced Malaysian fare, as well. Northern neighbor Thailand offered the use of fragrant kaffir lime leaves and sour tamarind. The Indonesians contributed coconut, fiery chiles, delicate coriander, zesty galangal, turmeric root, and ginger. Other dishes have a pronounced Indian flair, thanks to that country’s many immigrants. Curries and the dried spices used in Indian cookery are prominent. The salad known as rojak is perhaps the best example of this melding of the many influences; it utilizes a variety of fruits and vegetables, such as mangoes, pineapple, coconut, chiles, tofu, long beans, cucumbers, and a sweet-hot dressing, incorporating Southeast Asian, Chinese, and local ingredients. One cornerstone of Malaysian cooking is the spice paste, a blend of Indian-influenced dry spice mixtures with Thai and Indonesian roots, leaves, and fresh herbs that enriches a wide array of vegetable dishes. A southern-style spice paste may start with sautéing pungent ginger, heady garlic, Thai chiles, and perfumy galangal; dried spices like coriander, cinnamon, and turmeric add earthy undertones. A sauce is then made with the addition of sweet-nutty coconut milk. Vegetables, tempeh, or tofu complete the dish and soak up the flavorful sauce. Malaysian food has adapted over the centuries based on local ingredients, cooks’ preferences, and inspiration from other cultures. Take a cue from Malaysian cooks, and adapt these flavors to your liking. Use a few more unseeded chiles in spice paste if you prefer extra heat, or add other seasonal vegetables of your choosing to a stir-fry for a crunchy texture. There are no right or wrongs in this flexible cuisine. http://www.cookinglight.com/food/vegetarian/asian-fusion-00400000037131/?xid=outbrain-ck-1209

It has been a wild ride for Thai politics this year. It seems to be more than just a soap opera and the drama was made for TV but it is not good for the government or for tourism. Here is an interesting article in Bangkok Post. Partisan divisions and other threatening developments have upset the country over the past 12 months, but it now seems clear 2009 will pass without any drastic change in the political make-up. The year began less than a month after the Abhisit government took office on Dec 15, 2008. The following are some of the political highlights of 2009: On April 17, there was an attempt on the life of Sondhi Limthongkul, core leader of the People's Alliance for Democracy and now a leader of the New Politics Party. Just days before, during the Songkran holiday, street protests against the government by the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship turned violent. The red shirt UDD followers, loyal to fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, succeeded in forcing the cancellation of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit in Pattaya, and in Bangkok buses were set alight at major intersections and parts of the city were brought to a standstill before a military crackdown cleared the streets of protesters. Another Asean meeting at the end of October saw a new twist to an old feud between Cambodia and Thailand, when Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen issued a thinly veiled challenge to the Thai government by declaring his rock-solid support for his "eternal friend" Thaksin. With Hun Sen's later appointment of Thaksin as his personal adviser and as his government's economic adviser, backed by his refusal to extradite Thaksin to Bangkok when he visited Phnom Penh to advise government officials on economic matters, relations between the two countries plummeted. The latest wrinkle is the leaking by Puea Thai Party MP and UDD leader Jatuporn Prompan of classified documents allegedly dealing with Thai government measures against Cambodia. Attempts to dismantle the red shirt network have been unsuccessful. Although no subsequent events have come close to the Songkran drama, the red shirts have held many rallies this year in Bangkok, Chiang Mai and elsewhere to question the legitimacy of the Abhisit government. Community radio stations such as the pro-Thaksin Rak Chiang Mai 51 and those run by groups in Udon Thani, Phayao and elsewhere have continued to operate even after the police raided them and seized transmission equipment. The prime minister and members of his cabinet are unable to travel to certain provinces which have been declared strongholds of pro-Thaksin groups. Last month, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva cancelled a plan to participate in the Northern Chamber of Commerce forum in Chiang Mai when it became clear his presence would cause a large demonstration. There were death threats made against the PM over a local community radio station. The PM was met with protests when he visited Suphan Buri, the stronghold of Chart Thai Pattana Party de facto leader Banharn Silpa-archa, even though Chart Thai Pattana is part of the government coalition. Proposed revisions to the constitution also spurred deep divisions in parliament and on the streets. The discussion broke down over divisions between those who want to retain the charter written in 2007 as it is and those who want to make some amendments and those who want to reject it altogether in favour of a return to the charter written in 1997. There were moves before the 2006 coup to lay the groundwork for the reform of the 1997 constitution. Nothing came of them. A few days after the red shirt riots in April, the government initiated a plan to amend the 2007 constitution by setting up a special committee on national reconciliation and charter amendments to work with the political parties on the proposed amendments. But it quickly became clear the idea would not succeed. Reconciliation was impossible through amendments to the charter when the parties and much of the population were so divided in their aspirations. In the end, the opposition Puea Thai Party withdrew from the amendment process and, in so doing, ensured it could not succeed. http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politics/30115/the-govt-year-of-living-dangerously

Thanks to a surge in tourism arrivals in the last quarter of 2009, the Thai tourism industry is projected to close this year with a total of 14 million arrivals, down just 4% over 2008. In 2010, the forecast is for a 7-10% increase to between 15 million and 15.5 million visitors, "if no serious incidents of political or other threats arise" - a caveat that has now become a fixed part of the tourism forecasters' lexicon. According to a Tourism Authority of Thailand report released last week, the first half of 2008 saw a 16% decline in arrivals, thanks to the impact of the global financial crisis, fears of the H1N1 flu pandemic and the lingering fallout from the eight-day closure of Suvarnabhumi airport in late 2008. Arrivals from Northeast Asia were worst hit (-30%), followed by the American and Oceania markets. The Asean and European markets were not too badly hit and the South Asia and Middle East markets maintained growth rates. Since August 2009, the report says, the situation has been improving steadily. The number of visitor arrivals declined by only 5% in August and then shot up 10% in September, maintaining steady increases in the October-December final quarter. Visitor arrivals at Suvarnabhumi Airport during November and up to mid-December were up 40%. Charter flights to popular destinations such as Phuket and Samui are also up from European and Asian markets.The TAT report attributed the rapid turnaround to five factors: 1. Economic conditions around the world are improving faster than expected, and consumer confidence is returning. 2. The political situation in Thailand is more stable. Although the domestic political situation remains fluid, there have been no "adverse events" dominating TV screens worldwide. 3. Quick action taken by Thai and global authorities to curb spread of the H1N1 virus. 4. Government measures to encourage travel such as visa fee exemptions, reducing landing fees and aircraft parking charges, have given operators reasons to continue promoting Thailand. 5. TAT marketing efforts from July onward to help restore and rebuild confidence in Thailand. These included roadshows, stronger promotional partnerships with the private sector and marketing of special offers and value-for-money deals. To this list could be added the stepped-up efforts by Thai Airways International, the numerous scheduled and low-cost airlines serving Thailand, as well as the aggressive pricing promotions of the private sector. The TAT says that the three main determinants of visitor arrivals in 2010 would be the same as those that influenced arrivals in 2009 - global events such as financial or geopolitical crises, the economic situation in each source-market country, and the political situation in Thailand itself. Assuming no further instability, the TAT has charted the following strategies: - Expanding market penetration to increase market share: Largely due to the stability of the flight situation, the markets targeted for this strategy are Asean, South Asia, France, the UK, the Netherlands, Iran, Kuwait and Jordan. The customer segments will be primarily leisure tourists, especially from Asia where the emphasis will be placed on short-break holidays, value for money and shopping. Niche markets to be pursued will be the health and wellness segment from the Middle East and golfers from Asia. - Maintain existing market share: The main markets in this group are Oceania, Scandinavia, Germany, Russia and Vietnam. The strategy will focus on expanding the quality-visitor segment, especially via stepped-up joint marketing with partners outside the industry such as financial institutions. Travel will also be stimulated during the low-season. - Recover lost market share: The targets in this group include Northeast Asia, America, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates where loss of market share has been "very high" due to the loss of confidence in the safety of Thailand and severe economic contraction in those source-markets. However, with the economic situation looking better, and flights returning to normal, marketing campaigns will be stepped up. For the American market specifically, efforts will be made to take advantage of the networking opportunities among the large number of ethnic Thais living there, greater use of online marketing and expansion of roadshows into new parts of the United States. One lesson learned from the downturn this year has been to maintain a strong emphasis on domestic tourism, which was affected more by the economic situation than political developments, which are old news to Thai people. H1N1 fears only affected domestic travel to Phuket. However, the same signs of recovery are also apparent in domestic tourism, starting from the third quarter of 2009 and gaining steam in the last quarter. The TAT says that clearly apparent signs of returning consumer confidence were further underscored by private-sector promotions, pricing strategies of low-cost airlines, opening of new routes such as Udon Thani-Phuket, marketing of domestic Thai festivals and even the marketing efforts of the State Railway of Thailand. Measures to encourage domestic travel by the government sector such as encouraging meetings to be held within Thailand rather than abroad, more domestic educational trips and expanding the duration of official holidays have also helped. In 2009, domestic travel is estimated at 87 million trips, generating 407.6 billion baht. In 2010, this is projected to rise to 90 million trips, and 430 billion baht. http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/economics/30127/tat-pleasantly-surprised-by-turnaround-but-more-work-lies-ahead

I'll never forget that day and while so much time has passed, it seems like just a few weeks ago. We started our morning very early here on the west coast, the day after Christmas five years ago. My producer Jeff Nguyen and I got the call as the sun was just beginning to rise over California and within two hours we were packed and on a plane headed for destruction we could have never imagined, or have been prepared to see. For the next three and a half weeks we watched as people from around the globe came to do anything and everything to help the people of Southeast Asia. Despite criticism from other nations, American Marines stationed in Thailand were me of the first "boots on the ground" helping those in need. Americans ended up being the most generous with time, money and hands-on work that continues to this day....yet you don't hear other governments saying any of that. At the time some leaders and governments were quick to criticize the U.S. response and monetary promises, but they ended up being the slow to act. Some of their monies never arrived, while all of ours did....and much more. The pictures in this slide show are just a few of hundreds I have saved and many more still stick in my mind. I could have never imagined the destruction in Patong Beach for example. Homes and businesses four blocks in from the ocean were leveled, yet areas on bluffs overlooking the million dollar view were left untouched by the incredible force of mother nature. We saw and smelled dead bodies. A human head lay on a street on Phi Phi island. People there lined the dock, both alive and dead, waiting for a trip back to Phuket. Boats were tough to find because many who owned them believed the spirits of those swallowed by the ocean would bring them bad luck and danger. Thousands swept into the sea have, and will never, be found. Across the countryside, makeshift morgues, with trailers full of dry ice brought to try and preserve the bodies of those lost as best as possible. Meantime everywhere we looked there were stacks of coffins being built and plywood walls erected with either pictures of dead bodies waiting for identification, or pictures of families with arrows pointed to those unaccounted for. It was if horror was intertwined amongst paradise. Because the tsunami only hit from a certain direction and at a certain height of water, much of Thailand lay untouched. All around Patong for example was still stunning, yet the beach area below was pure destruction. It was tough meeting the people…the aunts, uncles, cousins, brothers, sister, mothers and fathers…who rushed to Thailand spending every day looking through hospitals and body bags hoping somehow they'd find their missing loved one. Yet though it all we saw perseverance and strength as people from different cultures and parts of the world held hands and did the work that many could never dream of, while others might recoil in horror at the thought. Here are parts of a few of my blogs from that time....raw and unedited. I literally sent them during the three or four hours of downtime we would get a day. At one point we worked 44 straight hours and there wasn't a hint of complaint from the crew. We knew this disaster was like no other modern man had seen and we knew we were lucky not to be here looking for a dead member of our family. 12/27/2004 It took only 30 minutes to grab anything and everything we could, so long as it fit into one suitcase. Within two hours of the call we were on a plane headed for Tokyo and from there on to Thailand. A producer and myself, two suitcases and one video phone packed neatly insides a hard gray case. Seventeen hours later we arrived at the stoke of midnight, the city sleeping and recovering from the massive toll to its south and across the Indian Ocean. This is the height of tourist season in this region of the world. To equate the number of people that come here, imagine tsunami's like these hitting the Caribbean Sea. Thailand, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, The Maldives, India and other areas filled with tourists from all over the world, hit hard by waters as high as 35 feet. Most had no warning because there is no warning system for the Indian Ocean region, only Pacific Ocean nations. Because of this, the death toll now approaches 25,000 and expected to rise considerably as more bodies wash ashore and rescue workers get into more remote regions. Along the coastlines of these countries and islands, bodies of people and animals are strewn about, some piled amongst rubble swept into stacks from seas that pounded these areas just 24 hours ago. Relief efforts are underway and hospitals in Bangkok and other major cities have dedicated areas to treat the wounded and dying. 1/01/05 Clothes lie in piles, separated by size and gender. Mounds of water bottles reach the size of a VW bug as supplies to help those ravaged by tsunami's continues to pour into Thailand. We are now doing our reports from the village of Phuket on the island of the same name; about a half hour drive from the western coast. Here in the town square, home to a pair of white municipal buildings, a launching pad of sorts for relief has been set. You can get food, both cooked and non perishable, you can get consular information from about one hundred countries, you can get psychological counseling and even free plane trips back to Bangkok where most major airlines have a counter. But while we see so many good signs that recovery is on the way, there are sickening reminders of what has taken place in this region of the world. As I sit at this computer inside one of the buildings, I see fliers in seemingly every possible language. On them pictures of loved ones who've vanished due to the powerful Indian Ocean waters. Many of the pictures are of young children, a heartbreaking sight. Some are of entire families, loved ones leaving local numbers, home numbers and web addresses, hoping by some miracle their missing son, daughter, husband or wife will be found alive. There are still thousands unaccounted for here and all will never be located. Hospitals, temples and roadside shacks have been transformed into makeshift morgues….the smell can't be shaken and permeates every inch of air in the area. 1/05/05 In this region, this horrific time in South Asia, there are amazing stories of survival that have some people asking why their life remains and those of younger have perished. Such is the case of the Meusch family, from Toms River New Jersey, sailing around the world with about 25 other sailboats. Christmas brought them to the bay off of the island of Phi Phi. Most of the crew had stayed on their respective boats that fateful morning, but Helen and Ed ventured shoreward. Their dingy on the beach and their eyes on the water as it seemed to disappear and pull back from the shoreline. They decided to walk out into once covered land, as did many others. They turn and ran as fishermen in the distance began yelling and waving as the tsunami came shoreward. Ed says he knew they were in serious trouble when a motorboat came crashing down near them, it scattered into pieces as the couple decided to bear hug and ride it out. The water hit them, "flattened us against the sand," said Helen. "It seemed like it kept us down there for a minute." Ed remembers being washed over the beach where the once stood. He says "I kept waiting to hit something...a tree, a building and boat. I figured the water would eventually stop, we couldn't possibly cross over this island." But they did. The main land portion of Phi Phi sits between two large rock mountain/formations. The strip about a half mile long and about 300 yards wide. Within a minute or so, the Meusch's had been washed from the east bay across the island to the west bay, hit by several hard waves and kept under water most of the time. There Ed kept hold of Helen, saw that she was turning pale and grasped for anything to pull his head above the water. "While under a boat for a second I thought it was over and there was a peacefulness about it," says Ed. At that time his hand latched onto an overturned motor that was attached to a small boat. He pulled himself up and got Helen's head resting on the boat. He could see she was dying. Just then a fisherman in another small boat who had lost his niece caught their eye. Distraught he picked them up and got them out of the waters. There they both could see people screaming for help, some seriously injured and many other bodies just floating like dolls in a bathtub. A charter boat approached and took the couple aboard. Oxygen was given to Helen, here intake of water severe. Ed and the captain grabbed another person, tried to help even another, but then the decision of a lifetime. Leave the island and head for Phuket three hours away and get Helen, fading fast, to a hospital. Or risk letting a wife die to look for others. Ed made the call for the hospital. Helen has since recovered after days in intensive care and a bout with pneumonia. They will rest here on the island of Phuket for the next six weeks, then fly to Africa to rejoin their sailing friends. Helen says tearfully "I feel like I belong to the people of Thailand. They saved my life, this hospital saved my life, my husband saved my life." Ed remains very grateful and thankful his wife has survived, but he is battling with a life or death decision. He tells me, "I remember their faces, each and every one. I will never forget them. I have to live with the fact that we left for Helen and I didn't try to save more lives." http://liveshots.blogs.foxnews.com/2009/12/26/a-tsunami-story/?test=latestnews

BRAVE little Got Saowana stares out to sea - remembering his mother who died in the tsunami that struck Thailand five years ago on Boxing day. For a long time the nine-year-old was terrified of going near water and is still struggling to come to terms with being an orphan. The body of mum Sopha has never been found. Got now lives with sister Fang, ten, in the Baan Tharn Namchai Orphanage, near the holiday resort of Khao Lak which was hit by 60ft waves. Millions of pounds were donated to help victims - but now charities are struggling to find money just to pay for food for the kids left without families. Speaking exclusively to The Sun to mark the anniversary of the 2004 Boxing Day disaster, Got said: "My mum was washed out to sea - I still miss her." He is one of many thousands of children who lost family in the disaster and is dependent on the kindness of strangers to survive. Tent The tsunami killed 230,000 people, including 149 Britons, and left millions injured or homeless. Got said: "I was only small when the wave came but I do remember my mum. She loved me and took good care of me and Fang." Kids like Got have been dubbed "The Forgotten Children". Hundreds are going without food and some as young as EIGHT are forced to work to raise money for poverty-stricken relatives. The Baan Tharn Namchai Orphanage is run by Rotjana Phraesrithong, 40, and is supported by the UK-based Thai Children's Trust. At mealtimes the kids are not allowed to leave even a GRAIN of rice as food is in such short supply. Across Thailand more than 1,000 children are living in orphanages after losing one or both parents in the tsunami. In Indonesia, the number could be as high as 15,000 and in Sri Lanka it is 10,000. Children in many other countries were also affected and thousands of them are still fighting for survival. UNICEF estimates that as many as 1.5million kids were affected by the catastrophe. Rotjana, who cares for more than 70 orphans, has made a plea to big-hearted Sun readers to sponsor a child. The money you give will make sure kids like Got and his sister get three meals a day as well as school uniforms and books. Rotjana, who is battling breast cancer, is called "Mum" by every one of the children she has taken in. She said: "The orphanage started out in a tent - we were told we would be looking after the children for two months. "But after two months the children still had nowhere to go, so it became two years and now five. We were given donations to build the orphanage and now we have this beautiful building." Rotjana added: "People are happy to make donations for this as they can see the building and what has been achieved. With bricks, people feel they are getting something for their money. But we are not getting money for food or to pay for the children to go to school. "My biggest concern is to get rice on the children's plates every day. "Five years after the tsunami these children still need our help and we would love for Sun readers to help us." Got and Fang took a poignant trip to their old home. Today, only a couple of walls and a door frame are standing. There are still boats lying where they were washed hundreds of yards inland. As well as their mum, the brother and sister lost several other relatives. Their father survived but he abandoned them for a new partner. Rotjana added: "A lot of children have lost their mothers. Some do have fathers but many have started new families. They cannot take care of all the children. Rescued "Got is a clever boy and is top of his class in school. He says he wants to be a policeman when he grows up." Lek Srimek, nine, lost her mother and lives at the orphanage. Her father, a fisherman who earns around £1.50 a day, had to give up her and sister Nam, 15, as he is away at sea for three or four days at a time. Rotjana said: "Lek's mother and brother both passed away in the tsunami and she was devastated. On the day it happened she was at home helping her mum to wash clothes. "They got into a car but when the water caught up with them it broke down and they had to run away on foot. Water came up over Lek's waist and she was rescued by a neighbour. Sadly her mum and brother did not make it." Rotjana added: "For a long time Lek was very scared of the water. Advertisement Click here to find out more! "Of all of the children, she was one of the most frightened. She has only recently gone back to the beach and whenever she goes there she thinks of her mum." Gaan Panthergan was one when his father and grandparents died. His pregnant mum survived but after giving birth to Gaan's sister Benlen she suffered a breakdown and abandoned both. Rotjana said: "These two go everywhere together and play together - it's nice to watch after all they have been through." In a poignant tribute to their lost families, the orphanage children, many in tears, went to the beach and released floating lanterns in the sea that claimed so many lives - and left thousands of little ones in need of help for years. Got said: "I did not want to come near the sea but we had to be brave. We were brought here and we sat on the sand and meditated. "After a while I held hands with my friend and we walked down to the water and paddled." The Thai Children's Trust has stood by kids like those at Baan Tharn Namchai and has been doing its best to help feed them. You can sponsor a child for just £15 a month. The money will pay for food and school costs. To help, visit thaichildrenstrust.org.uk. Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/2785361/Tsunami-took-away-my-mum.html#ixzz0awxi24Po

The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C., recognised as the global leader in luxury hotels, service and lifestyle, is proud to announce the opening of its debut Reserve property, Phulay Bay, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, in Krabi, Southern Thailand. As the world's first Ritz-Carlton Reserve, Phulay Bay embodies the attributes, philosophy and unique style and design of the Reserve brand extension. It has been designed for those who seek to escape the stresses of everyday life and immerse themselves into a completely bespoke and personally-tailored-to-suit vacation experience. Set on the shores of the Andaman Sea, Phulay Bay is a striking 54-villa and pavilion boutique hotel offering unspoilt views of the naturally rugged shoreline and dramatic limestone karsts which make up this beautiful part of southern Thailand. The resort is the vision and work of in-demand Thai architect Lek Bunnag, and is an awe-inspiring combination of modern styling and architecture; grand and oversized in scale with distinctive accents from not only Thai, but Middle Eastern and Moroccan cultures. Bunnag takes inspiration from beautiful things from around the world to create an environment where the senses are continuously triggered and enlivened from the moment guests enter the resort driveway to the moment they leave. An exhilarating sense of arrival will immediately let guests know they are somewhere special: 20ft high aubergine walls and ‘hedges' made from indigenous trees create a sense of wonder from the outside and a great sense of peace and stillness once on the inside. Guests enter the resort through the high walls and walk over a stepping-stone pathway that leads them to a magnificent pitched-roof Thai pavilion situated on an island surrounded by thousands of gently flickering candles. From here on in, guests subtly and gently have their senses enriched and stimulated with the resort's own scent, signature drink, the stunning scenery from both inside the accommodation and throughout the resort, to tactile 100% Thai silk soft furnishings used in the villas and restaurants. "When styling and designing Phulay Bay, A Ritz-Carlton Reserve, we were very conscious of the abundant natural beauty surrounding us which is what makes people fall in love with Thailand," explained Estelita Sebeto, the resort's General Manager. "We want guests to enjoy and discover the extraordinary diversity so have worked with nature to maintain a setting that evokes the very best of the natural environment and sourced local and sustainable materials in its construction and styling." Working closely with Thai interior designer IA49, Bunang has carefully designed buildings and public spaces to combine contemporary with culture, perfectly complementing the natural flora of existing trees and plants which cleverly act as privacy screens throughout the grounds offering greater intimacy in the resort. The use of traditional story-telling Lanna art forms both in architectural structure and as paintings and artworks on the walls and doors of villas further stimulates the senses and creates an element of interest for guests. No two of the resort's 16 signature Reserve Villas are the same; all slightly different in physical design and styling, guests can opt for a villa with lap pool and lawn area for sun worshiping, a private rooftop for alfresco dining and sunset viewing, or a completely secluded pool bathing area for total privacy. Across all nonetheless, luxury prevails with oversized 3metre by 2metre beds, deep sunken baths, walk in closets, expansive decked gardens and vast ‘keyhole' doorways that create a sense of magic setting the guest at ease and welcoming them to luxury. With an emphasis on personalised, bespoke experiences, guests can ‘design' or tailor make their visit to perfectly suit their needs and desires. Their very own villa butler, can organise a light BBQ lunch at a favourite beach spot; a meditation class with local monks; elephant trekking to a remote picnic spot; a sea plane tour of region's dramatic scenery; an in-villa personal yoga session; a boat journey to surrounding islands - the possibilities are endless. World-class culinary experiences will be available throughout the resort's six intimate and carefully thought-out restaurants. Each designed to accommodate a small number of guests for highly personalised and non intrusive service. Chef will personally meet diners to better understand their tastes and preferences and all ingredients will be sourced from local markets and cooked fresh. Included is the resort's signature Thai restaurant, Sri Trang, a modern, and stylish restaurant with private dining room for 10 set on its own jetty overlooking the shoreline called ‘Sri Trang by the Sea'. Lae Lay, the resort's sea front pavilion sits parallel to a 23metre infinity pool stretching out to the sea beyond. Beautifully appointed with oversized chairs and hanging lanterns among rustling trees, guests can also choose to dine under the stars on their own in a private sala seating up to 8 guests, aptly named ‘Lae Lay Under the Stars'. An infinity pool bar will offer soft loungers and silk pillows by day with lighter more relaxed culinary offerings, while the resort's sunset lounge, will offer day beds, oversized pillows, chill-out lounge bar music and candle lanterns for a truly intimate and relaxing feel. The perfect place for a glass of champagne or a stylish martini as the sun sets over the seemingly endless horizon. RAW spa café prepares fresh, uncooked and unaltered vegan products and has a green hydroponic bar growing the resort's own wheatgrass and lettuce. The ESPA villa at Phulay Bay is a sanctuary for relaxation and rejuvenation with stepping stones meandering through the spa leading to decked walkways and relaxation terraces surrounded by vegetation and reflection ponds that perfectly capture the unique character of Phulay Bay. The Spa itself comprises three traditional Thai pavilions set over two levels offering 11 treatment rooms including single and couples massage rooms and two VIP treatment suites with their own expansive decks for massage and showering. The opening rates for Phulay Bay, A Ritz-Carlton Reserve are as follows: Resort Pavilion THB19,550; Ocean Pavilion THB21,250; Beach Villa THB 27,200; Reserve Villa THB44,200 and Royal Beach Villa THB68,000. All rates are subject to 18.7% service charges and taxes. http://www.ftnnews.com/content/view/8158/26/

BANGKOK — Armed with riot shields and batons, the Thai military began early Monday to forcibly return 4,000 Hmong asylum seekers to Laos in a lingering echo of the Vietnam War. A government spokesman, Panitan Wattanayagorn, said in a telephone interview that the repatriation had started and would be completed within days. Members of a mountain tribe that aided the United States in its secret war in Laos, the asylum seekers have said they fear retribution by the Laotian government, which continues to battle a ragged insurgency of several hundred Hmong fighters. Thailand moved ahead with the repatriation despite complaints from the United States, the United Nations, and human rights and aid groups. It was doing so although it has determined that some asylum seekers were eligible for refugee status, human rights groups said. “This forced repatriation would place the refugees in serious danger of persecution at the hands of the Lao authorities, who to this day have not forgiven the Hmong for being dedicated allies of the United States during the Vietnam War,” Joel R. Charny, acting president of Refugees International, an advocacy group in Washington, said in a statement. The remote Hmong encampment in Phetchabun Province, about 200 miles north of Bangkok, is a remnant of an Indochinese refugee population that once numbered 1.5 million. That included boat people from Vietnam, survivors of the brutal Khmer Rouge government in Cambodia and hundreds of thousands of Hmong who crossed the Mekong River from Laos. Since the war ended in 1975, the United States has processed and accepted about 150,000 Hmong refugees in Thailand for resettlement in the United States. But in the past three years Thailand has not allowed foreign governments or international agencies to interview the Hmong. Refugee experts say the camp residents are a mix of refugees who fear persecution and economic migrants who have left Laos over the past few years. They have included dozens who display what appear to be battle scars, as well as some older refugees who fought on the American side during the war. A separate group of 158 asylum seekers has been interviewed by the United Nations, which has labeled them “people of concern” who could face persecution if returned. But the Thai government says these asylum seekers will be forcibly repatriated eventually. The government has said the exact timing of the deportations was in the hands of the military but would be completed by Thursday, in accordance with an agreement with Laos. Mr. Panitan said Laos had said that the returnees would be treated well and that the United Nations could interview them within 30 days of arrival to determine if any were eligible for resettlement elsewhere. “There is no reason to believe that they will be harmed,” he said. Reporters have not been permitted into the camps since 2007, and last May the main aid group assisting the Hmong in Phetchabun, Médecins Sans Frontières, withdrew from the camp in protest of the conditions there. “We can no longer work in a camp where the military uses arbitrary imprisonment of influential leaders to pressure refugees into a ‘voluntary’ return to Laos, and forces our patients to pass through military checkpoints to access our clinic,” the group said. On Sunday, Sunai Phasuk, the Thailand representative of Human Rights Watch, said a joint task force under military command had been assembled at the camp to repatriate the residents. He said the security forces had been instructed to wear body armor in case of violent resistance, which has accompanied forced returns in the past. He said that Maj. Gen. Thanongsak Apirakyothin, the third army regional commander, arrived at the camp on Sunday and that the army was preparing to send everyone back to Laos. Speaking by telephone from Washington on Sunday, Eric P. Schwartz, assistant secretary of state for population, refugees and migration, said that he had met with officials in Thailand last week and that the United States was prepared to assist both with questions of third-country asylum and with the return to Laos of economic migrants. He said Thailand had rejected this offer. “We recognize the challenge of irregular migration that the government of Thailand faces, but there is absolutely no need to resort to these kinds of measures,” he said. Lionel Rosenblatt, president emeritus of Refugees International and a key figure in the planning for the postwar evacuations from Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, said Thailand had been an active transit point for as many as 1.5 million refugees from the wars in Indochina. He said that if the deportations proceeded, they would mar Thailand’s otherwise positive record in assisting with the resettlement of refugees. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/28/world/asia/28hmong.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss

Wow. I have got much to do.

The average American gains 15 pounds between Thanksgiving and New Years. It is is common for many to want to get off that extra weight. I am one of those that is constantly struggling with weight loss. I have found that for me, diets don't work. Exercise does. So I get goals each year. This year I plan to run 2 marathons. I may kill myself to try but it is what I am going to do.

I always love holidays in Pattaya. Is there any holiday that is not celebrated there big time? It seems to live for each and every party. EVERY day.

Wino. Do you remember where you saw that address in CA? i have looked and can't seem to find it.

This article is designed to inform readers about the issues surrounding issuance of a K1 visa for a Thai fiancee. Throughout the internet, there are many articles and websites which purport to have expertise in matters related to United States Immigration from Thailand. The intention of this piece is to simply provide information and insight. The process of acquiring a K1 visa is somewhat time consuming and can cause frustration for the the American Petitioner and Thai Beneficiary. In many cases, a couple will wait five or six months before being granted preliminary approval from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service. Upon approval, the application must be sent to the National Visa Center and then finally, in the case of Thai fiancee visa applications, to the file will be sent to the United States Embassy in Bangkok. For many, this process can be aggravating. In many cases, the wait ultimately results in the issuance of a valid K1 fiancee visa. Once the visa is issued, some American Citizen fiances become concerned about the information and dates noted on the visa itself. Of great concern is the notation on the visa which states: "K-1 Petition Expires on MM DD, YYYY." Many American Citizens mistakenly believe that this is the end of the visa's validity. As a practical matter, the visa is valid for travel to the USA until the expiration date expressly recorded on the visa. As a general rule, K1 fiance visas are distributed with a validity of six months. Although, they could be issued with more or less validity as it is technically at the discretion of the Consular Officer adjudicating the case at the United States Embassy in Bangkok. The visa's actual date of expiration can be the catalyst for perplexity also. The K1 visa is valid for six months after issuance. That being said, upon arriving in the United States and being admitted at the port of entry the K1 visa holder is only entitled to 90 days presence in the United States (it should be noted that if the visa holder does, in fact, marry the American and apply for adjustment of status, then she would be entitled to remain indefinitely provided the adjustment of status is approved and any conditions are lifted). Many people, after receiving the K1 visa, are confused by these differing dates. The important thing to bear in mind about the K1 visa is that it can be utilized within 6 months of its issuance and it provides 90 days of lawful status to the bearer upon entry. If the couple does not marry within 90 days, then the Thai fiancee will need to depart the USA before the visa's expiration. Ben Hart is an attorney from the United States. He is a Member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. He currently works in the area of US Immigration from Thailand, Cambodia, Loas, and Myanmar. To learn more contact 1-877-231-7533 or email info@integrity-legal.com. Relevant information can also be found at us visa or k3 visa. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ben_Hart

A perfect retirement destination doesn't only rejuvenate the retiree's worn out physical senses but his/her body and soul as a whole. Thailand, known for its beautiful people and relaxing environment, definitely, makes it to the list of the top retirement destinations in the world. The Land of Smiles beckons to those who wish to retire in a paradise where the sun shines all year round, locals are perpetually smiling and friendly, food are delicious, beaches are pristine and living is dirt cheap yet of good standard. Like other eager foreigners who wish to retire in Thailand, British citizens need to apply for a Thai retirement visa to be able to stay in the Kingdom long term. This Thai visa can be applied at the Thai embassies and consulates in the UK or at the Thai immigration offices in Thailand. REQUIREMENTS The most important requirements for the Thai retirement visa are meeting the age and financial requirements. You need to be 50 years old or older to be able to qualify for the retirement visa. As for the financial requirements, it can be met in three ways. The most straightforward is to open a Thai bank account, deposit 800,000 Baht in it and then wait for two months before the retirement visa application. The next option is to show a proof of 65,000 Baht monthly income. You can prove this by securing a pension letter from your pension provider and then have it verified by your embassy in Thailand. Your embassy in turn provides you an affidavit of monthly income. This you present to the Thai immigration to support your visa application. The third option is a fusion of the first two options - combination of bank deposits and monthly pension. That is BANK ACCOUNT + INCOME x 12 = THB 800,000. THE FIRST STEP Ideally, the Thai retirement visa applicant needs to obtain a Non Immigrant 90 day visa from the Thai embassy in the UK before coming to Thailand. This initial Thai visa will give him enough time in Thailand to arrange for the Thai retirement visa requirements i.e. opening Thai bank account or securing the necessary documents from the British embassy. The actual retirement visa application takes place a week before the expiration of the 90 day visa. You just have to bring a completed retirement visa application form, Bank certificate, passbooks and other documents and submit it to the Visa officer for evaluation. The One Year Retirement Visa will be stamped on your passport when everything is fine with your visa application documents. The conversion process takes an hour or two to get done. In case you are in Thailand under tourist visa or the 30-day visa exemption rule, you may proceed with applying the initial 90 day visa at the Thai immigration as long as you have 21 days left in your current visa and that you have 800,000 Baht in your Thai bank account or documents proving your capacity to meet the retirement visa's financial requirements. Otherwise, you can just go outside Thailand, obtain the necessary Thai entry visas and proceed with the retirement visa application as appropriate. Like other foreign retirees, UK citizens retiring in Thailand need not worry about obtaining a police record and medical certificate if the retirement visa application is consummated in Thailand. On another note, the retirement visa forbids the holder to work in Thailand. In summary, you need to meet the age and financial requirements in order obtain a successful application for the Thai retirement visa in the UK. It is best if you plan ahead for your retirement in Thailand and secure your non-immigrant visa before your departure. Siam Legal provides assistance to British citizens for Thai visas and other immigration issues for Thailand. Dennis Ramm is the Managing Partner for Siam Legal International, Thailand's largest legal service network with offices in Bangkok, Phuket, Pattaya, Hua Hin, Chiang Mai and Samui. The firm has international locations in London and Los Angeles. Siam Legal is a full-service law firm and provides a wide range of legal and visa services. Visit Siam Legal on the web at http://www.siam-legal.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dennis_Ramm

Thailand is a beautiful country. Her tropical weather and rich culture act as natural magnets for those who dwell in the far-side of the world. A big chunk of Thailand's revenues are obtained from the tourism industry, making her the tourism hub of the far-east. What if you live on a different country and would want to have a vacation in Thailand? For sure, it won't be as easy as going for a walk in a park, roam around and get off the place after. Guidelines are followed, and documents are needed before you board the plane bound for the land of smiles. Visiting Thailand as a Tourist When you visit Thailand for the purpose of leisure, sight-seeing and personal enlightenment, you are a tourist. A tourist is not allowed to work or conduct business in Thailand. A tourist needs a Thai tourist visa so he/she can stay in Thailand for a period of 15 - 30 days while doing her own explorations and excursions in the Kingdom. What is a Thai Tourist Visa? A tourist visa is a stamp or document needed so you can stay in Thailand for a specific period of time, for the purpose of tourism. It is stamped on your passport upon arrival at the airport in Thailand, or it can be obtained in your home country through the Thai embassy or consulate located there. The tourist visa can also be extended if necessary. There are certain countries that made agreements with the government of Thailand so their citizens can benefit from the Thai visa exemption when entering Thailand as tourists. Requirements for a Tourist Visa When applying for a tourist visa for Thailand, certain documents and fees are needed to obtain one. The documents and the fee are subject to change anytime and without prior notice, so it would be a good idea for an aspiring tourist to inquire for the right information before flying off to Thailand. Documents Required: 1. Passport or travel document with validity not less than 6 months 2. Visa application form (filled out) 3. One (1) recent 4x6cm. photograph of the applicant 4. Roundtrip air ticket or e-ticket (paid in full) 5. Proof of financial means (20,000 baht per person/40,000 baht per family) Don't forget that Thai consular officers reserve the rights to request for additional documents when they deemed it necessary, so it is advisable that you present yourself when you're in a good shape and state, together with your papers and documents. Visa Fee: US $ 30.00 per entry or equivalent. The tourist visa fee is subject to change without the prior notice, so it is a good idea to be updated by visiting the nearest Thai Embassy or consulate in your area, or by visiting the Thai Embassy website for online updates. Validity of the Thai Visa The validity of a Thai tourist visa ranges from 15 days to 60 days, depending your nationality. Applicants from USA, UK, and Australia will receive a 60 day Thai Tourist Visa from their Thai Embassies. Visa Exemption Rule (No Thai Visa) If you arrived on Thailand through an international airport, you will have permission to stay 30 days (depending on whether your country made a bilateral agreement on visa exemption with Thailand.) If you enter Thailand via land border, you will be stamped a 15 day permission of stay in Thailand as a tourist at the immigration post, after which you will have to exit the country again on or before the expiration of your permission of stay. However, the tourist visa can also be extended if you wish or need to stay longer in Thailand. You will have to file an application for an extension of stay at the Office of Thai Immigration Bureau located at Soi Suan Plu, off South Sathorn Road, Bangkok 10120. Bear in mind that the success for an extension of stay is solely at the discretion of the immigration officer attending to your application. In summary, Thailand Tourist Visas can be obtained for up to 60 days of travel in the Kingdom. This can be extended an additional 30 days at the Thai Immigration office. It is important to remember to apply for the Thai Visa prior to your departure to Thailand. Dennis Ramm is the Managing Partner for Siam Legal International, Thailand's largest legal service network with offices in Bangkok, Phuket, Pattaya, Hua Hin, Chiang Mai and Samui. The firm has international locations in London and Los Angeles. Siam Legal is a full-service law firm and provides a wide range of legal and visa services. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dennis_Ramm

Thai Embassy offers Non-immigrant Visa "O-A" (Long Stay) for retirees intending to reside in Thailand. The holder of a visa under this category may take advantage of some unique benefits offered specially for retiring in Thailand. The "O-A" visa serves as an entry visa (single or multiple entry). The allowable period of stay is for up to a year and may even be extended after a year of stay. The spouse may also be authorized to accompany the retiree in Thailand. The embassy may grant in favor of the retiree's spouse a Non-Immigrant "O" dependent visa. Visa Eligibility Requirements The conditions to be complied with to have the "O-A" visa is as follows: · at least 50 years of age · not been in conflict with the law of Thailand, country of your nationality and country of permanent residence · not suffering nor had been previously inflicted with a contagious disease · no intention and permit to work · Annual pension income equivalent to at least THB 65,000.00 monthly income or THB 800,000.00 in Thai baht in a Thai bank. Thai Retirement Visa Application Procedure The process for the application is commenced through the submission of application to the Royal Thai Embassy in London or the Royal Thai Consulates in Hull, Liverpool, and Birmingham. The application can be done personally or through a Thailand visa agency. However, if the applicant will apply within Thailand the rules are less strict as opposed to apply within a Thai Embassy outside of the Kingdom. Along with the application form, the applicant must have a passport with at least 12 months validity on the applying date. Recent passport size photographs are also necessary. As supporting documents, a copy of bank statement and criminal record must also be produced (if applying outside of Thailand). It is recommended to first apply for a 90 day non-immigrant visa outside of Thailand and then extend it to a one year "O-A" type visa within Thailand at the Thai Immigration office. This eliminates the need for a comprehensive medical exam and criminal records check from your local police. The financial requirements and documents from your pension or bank accounts are most important in the application process. These are essential to the approval of the visa by the Thai consular office and will serve as a basis for the issuance of the Thai Retirement Visa. Upon receipt of the retirement visa for Thailand, the holder is already allowed to travel to Thailand and request for entry at the Thai Immigration checkpoint. The visa does not promise entry. The immigration inspector at the port of entry has the final say on the matter. He shall first determine the holder's eligibility to be admitted. If allowed entry, the initial period granted to the holder is normally up to 90 days. It may subsequently extended by the Office of Thai Immigration Bureau. Siam Legal International provides visa services for a Thailand Retirement Visa for UK Citizens. You should review the requirements for the retirement visa in Thailand before you lodge an application. You may request a free copy of our Legal Guide to Thai Visas at our website (http://www.siam-legal.com). Dennis Ramm is the Managing Partner for Siam Legal International, Thailand's largest legal service network with offices in Bangkok, Phuket, Pattaya, Hua Hin, Chiang Mai and Samui. The firm has international locations in London and Los Angeles. Siam Legal is a full-service law firm and provides a wide range of legal and visa services. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dennis_Ramm

Dubbed as the third largest American embassy in the world, the US embassy in Bangkok, Thailand provides a wide-range of services geared towards the promotion of US interests in the South East Asian region in general. Along with the US consulate in Chiang Mai, the embassy is also tasked to provide services to American citizens who are working, living or visiting in the Kingdom. The current US ambassador, His Excellency Eric John heads both US embassy and consulate in Thailand. The Consular Section One of the two main functions of the consular section of the US embassy is to service foreigners who would like to go to the US for their Visa concerns. With its Visa section, the US embassy in Bangkok processes all types of US Visa applications available i.e. non-immigrant and immigrant Visas. Non-immigrant Visas include tourist Visas and business Visas while immigrant Visas can be in the form of K1 Fiancé Visa, K3 Marriage Visa, CR-1, IR-1, and Work Visa among others. Those living in the northern part of Thailand can tender their tourist Visa application at the U.S. Consulate in Chiang Mai as the consulate can process nonimmigrant Visas. Immigrant Visas normally take longer time to process owing to the rigorous procedure and requirements involved. Non-immigrant Visas meanwhile are processed within a few days upon submission of the Visa application. The Visa officers normally conduct interview with the applicant as part of the Visa application process. This is usually done by appointment. Location in Bangkok The US embassy in Bangkok is conveniently located at 120/22 Wireless Road, Bangkok, Thailand 10330. It is open from Monday to Friday from 7 AM to 4 PM. The embassy observes both Thai and US holidays. You can call the embassy through Tel: +66-2-205-4000. Location in Chiang Mai The US Consulate in Chiang Mai is on Wichayanond Road. The consulate can be contacted by phone Tel: +66-53-107-700. You can also log in to the consulate's official website below for more information. US Visa Assistance The US embassy Bangkok does not endorse any Visa agents to assist applicants in their US Visa applications. Applicants have the choice to enlist the services of reputable Visa agents to assist them with the daunting task involved in the US Visa application process. Be wary, though, about unscrupulous agents who tempt you with their low fees and fabricated success stories. It's always best to consult with US Visa professionals with a solid experience of assisting applicant in their US Visa applications. Summary The US Embassy in Thailand can be accessed online via their website at http://bangkok.usembassy.gov/. You can read from here detailed information about their various services. Siam Legal International, US Visa Attorneys in Bangkok can assist you with US Visas in Thailand. You can request our free legal guide on How to Apply for US Visa in Thailand on our website. George M. Londob works as a Business Correspondent for Siam Legal International, Thailand's largest legal service network with offices in Bangkok, Phuket, Pattaya, Hua Hin, Chiang Mai and Samui. The firm has international locations in London and Los Angeles. Siam Legal is a full-service law firm and provides a wide range of legal and Visa services. Visit Siam Legal on the web at http://www.siam-legal.com. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=George_Londob

Some foreign nationals who would like to visit Thailand for a period not exceeding 30 days can enter the country without a visa provided that they hold a return ticket with them. This is referred to as the Visa Exemption Rule or Visa Exemption Scheme being implemented by the Thai Immigration. Thailand and some countries have certain diplomatic and bilateral agreements providing this visa exemption privilege to the citizens of the countries involved. Brazilians, Peruvians and South Koreans in particular can stay in Thailand for 90 days without a visa owing to their countries' special agreement with Thailand. Currently, there are 41 countries and two Administrative Regions whose citizens can enter Thailand via this immigration privilege for the sole purpose of tourism. 1. Australia: Commonwealth of Australia 2. Austria: Republic of Austria 3. Belgium: Kingdom of Belgium 4. Brazil: Federative Republic of Brazil 5. Bahrain: State of Bahrain 6. Brunei Darussalam: Negara Brunei Darussalam 7. Canada 8. Denmark: Kingdom of Denmark 9. Finland: Republic of Finland 10. France: French Republic 11. Germany: Federal Republic of Germany 12. Greece: Hellenic Republic 13. Hong Kong: Hong Kong Special Administrative Region 14. Iceland: Republic of Iceland 15. Indonesia: Republic of Indonesia 16. Ireland: Republic of Ireland 17. Israel: State of Israel 18. Italy: Republic of Italy 19. Japan 20. Korea: Republic of Korea 21. Kuwait: State of Kuwait 22. Luxembourg: Grand Duchy of Luxembourg 23. Malaysia 24. Monaco: Principality of Monaco 25. Netherlands: Kingdom of the Netherlands 26. New Zealand 27. Norway: Kingdom of Norway 28. Oman: Sultanate of Oman 29. Peru: Republic of Peru 30. Philippines: Republic of the Philippines 31. Portugal: Republic of Portugal 32. Qatar: State of Qatar 33. Singapore: Republic of Singapore 34. Spain: Kingdom of Spain 35. South Africa: Republic of South Africa 36. Sweden: Kingdom of Sweden 37. Switzerland: Swiss Confederation 38. Turkey: Republic of Turkey 39. United Arab Emirates 40. United Kingdom: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 41. United States of America 42. Vietnam: Socialist Republic of Vietnam Apart from the return ticket, the Thai immigration officer may ask for proof of financial support in the forms of cash which is THB 10,000 Baht per person or THB 20,000 per family. The 30-day visa is stamped at the passport control booth at any international airports in Thailand. Those who arrive by land via the border are only given 15-day visa. If you would like to apply for a Thailand Visa you may contact either a Thailand visa service or a Thai Embassy near you. George M. Londob works as a Business Correspondent for Siam Legal International, Thailand's largest legal service network with offices in Bangkok, Phuket, Pattaya, Hua Hin, Chiang Mai and Samui. The firm has international locations in London and Los Angeles. Siam Legal is a full-service law firm and provides a wide range of legal and visa services. Visit Siam Legal on the web at http://www.siam-legal.com. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=George_Londob

There are three Royal Thai Consulates and one Thai Embassy designated in the United States of America. The Royal Thai Consulates are situated in Los Angeles, Illinois and New York. The Royal Thai Embassy is located in Washington DC. The embassy and consulates are the government agencies responsible for processing and issuance of Thailand visas. The working days are from Monday through Friday; however, the time for receiving of applications will depend on the specific Thai embassy or consulate. One year Thai visa Visas are the document evidencing that the holder has been given permission to travel to Thailand. The one year Thai visa, commonly known as non-immigrant visa, is a multiple entries visa with one year validity. Nevertheless, the immigration officer stationed at the port of entry will decide if the holder may stay. The usual allowable initial stay is 90 days. If extension of stay is desired, he may apply in the Thai Immigration Bureau. For this type of visa, the purpose of visit may involve: * Business (Type "B") * Mass media (Type "M") * Study ("Type ED") * Missionary work (Type "R") * Scientific research (Type "RS") * Visiting family (Type "O") * Official duties (Type "F") * Employment (Type "B") * Retirement (Type"O-A") Thailand Visa Application and Requirements The request for one year non-immigration Thailand visa is handled in Royal Thai Embassies and Consulates. The Thai visa application may be submitted in person or via mail. The documents annexed with the application form are valid passport, recent photographs and visa fees. Special qualifications and supplementary documents will be necessary based on the purpose of the visit. For example, if the person wants to apply for a nonimmigrant visa for the purpose of retirement, aside from the aforementioned papers, he needs to be at least 50 years of age and a passport which has at least one year validity is compulsory. Upon Entry in Thailand Normally, the immigration officer at the port of entry grants an initial 90 days allowable period of stay. This period may be longer depending on the case. Notwithstanding, in every event that an American stays longer than 90 days, he is required by Thai Immigration Law to report before the Immigration Bureau within the locality or in the absence thereof, the local police station. Siam Legal International is a full service international Thailand law firm with offices in Bangkok and Los Angeles. We provide Thai visa assistance to those individuals who wish to stay long term for extended relaxation, doing business in Thailand or Thailand Retirement visa. You can visit this link for a fee copy of our Legal Guide to Thailand Visa. Dennis Ramm is the Managing Partner for Siam Legal International, Thailand's largest legal service network with offices in Bangkok, Phuket, Pattaya, Hua Hin, Chiang Mai and Samui. The firm has international locations in London and Los Angeles. Siam Legal is a full-service law firm and provides a wide range of legal and visa services. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dennis_Ramm

If you are planning to go to Thailand to attend to business interests or pursue employment, you are advised to apply for a Non-Immigrant "B" Visa. Business visitors to Thailand are given a choice to have a Non-Immigrant "B" visa which can be valid for a single or multiple entry. The single entry visa is valid for a period of 3 months. Meanwhile, the multiple entry visa can be valid for as long as a year. Applicants for this visa type may initially request a 90 day visa from the Thai Embassy or Consulate in Australia and then extend it to one year at the Thai Immigration office once they enter Thailand. The Application Process In order to file your application for a Thai business visa, you must process it at the Royal Thai Embassy in Canberra. The Embassy is located at 111 Empire Circuit, Yarralumla ACT 2600 and is receiving applications from Monday through Friday at 9.00-13.00 and 14.00-17.00. Other Thai Royal Consulates are located in Sydney and Melbourne. The application for a Non-Immigrant "B" visa will not be approved without the submission of the appropriate supporting documents. In order to apply for a Thai business visa, you must be able to submit the following requirements: - Photocopy of airline ticket, e-ticket or itinerary - Passport sized photographs - Original and photocopy of passport with a minimum of 12 months validity on the proposed date of departure - In case of single entry visa, a letter from an employer in Australia or Thailand - Should you need a multiple entry visa, you should be able to submit the following additional documents: a. Letter from employer in Australia or Thailand b. Work contract c. Business Registration of his employer You must also pay the corresponding fees for this visa type. The nonrefundable visa fee for a Non-Immigrant "B" single entry visa is $90AUD, while it is $225.00 AUD for a multiple entry visa. Moreover, should you intend to work in Thailand, your employer is required to file an application with the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare for a work permit. Being employed in Thailand without a work permit is subject to imprisonment or a fine. Siam Legal International provides services to Australian Nationals for Thailand Visa and Immigration. If you want to apply for a Thai Business Visa for Australians, you should apply at least 30 days prior to your departure date. If you do not meet the requirements for the business visa for Thailand, you have the option to apply for a One Year Thailand Visa for Australians. This type of Thai Visa does not need to meet a certain financial requirement or require the submission of an employment letter. Dennis Ramm is the Managing Partner for Siam Legal International, Thailand's largest legal service network with offices in Bangkok, Phuket, Pattaya, Hua Hin, Chiang Mai and Samui. The firm has international locations in London and Los Angeles. Siam Legal is a full-service law firm and provides a wide range of legal and visa services. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dennis_Ramm

I don't understand why there was a need to out her. It is her business and hers only. It is sad but true that most celebrities don't make the income they would make if they stay in the closet.

The armies of Cambodia and Thailand declared last week that they have no intention of fighting a war with each other. That's the good news. The bad news is that the escalating dispute between the Southeast Asian neighbours has become so dangerous that such a statement was required. The past 12 months have seen ambassadors expelled, trade disrupted, accusations of espionage and a series of deadly border clashes around an ancient temple in a contested frontier area. Tensions have risen dramatically in the past two weeks after Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen waded into Thailand's internal political battle by inviting Thaksin Shinawatra, Thailand's fugitive former prime minister, to visit Cambodia and gave him a job as a government adviser. Mr. Hun Sen could scarcely have made a more provocative gesture. Mr. Thaksin, who was ousted from office in a 2006 military coup and is wanted on corruption charges, called his supporters into the streets earlier this year in an effort to topple the government of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva. The uprising was quelled by the military after street fighting between pro-Thaksin and pro-government groups left two people dead and more than 100 injured. Though Mr. Thaksin has since left Cambodia to resume his exile in Dubai, Thailand responded to his appointment by recalling its ambassador to Phnom Penh, a move Cambodia quickly matched. Shortly afterwards, Cambodian police seized the offices of the Thai company that handles air-traffic control at Phnom Penh airport. The company's Thai employees were locked out and replaced with Cambodian staff, and one Thai national was charged with espionage for allegedly passing on the details of Mr. Thaksin's flights to the Thai embassy. In an interview with The Globe and Mail, Cambodian government spokesman Phay Siphan poured more kerosene on the fire, calling Thailand a failed state and comparing Mr. Abhisit to Benito Mussolini. "Thailand has initiated everything. We have just responded to their decisions," Mr. Phay said, speaking shortly after the Thai and Cambodian defence ministers emerged from a meeting to pledge that they wouldn't allow the political battle between the two governments to degenerate into a shooting war. In a sign the dispute may nonetheless continue to worsen, an aide handed Mr. Phay a memo during the interview informing him Thailand had withdrawn from an aid project to upgrade a highway used by tourists travelling between the two countries. "We don't care. We can find other money to finance this project. We don't need money from Thailand," Mr. Phay steamed after reading it. The root of much of the trouble is a long-standing argument over ownership of the 11th-century Preah Vihear temple, a popular tourist destination near the border that the International Court of Justice ruled in 1962 to be on Cambodian soil but which Thailand still claims. The dispute was resurrected last year when Cambodia succeeded, at a meeting held in Quebec City, in getting Preah Vihear named to the UNESCO list of World Heritage sites. Since then, the Thai army has regularly moved its soldiers into the area to assert its claim, drawing occasional Cambodian fire. In April, at least two Thai soldiers were killed in a prolonged exchange of fire in the area that saw the two sides use machine guns and rocket launchers. The economic impacts of the dispute have been far-reaching. Trade between the two neighbours has declined sharply and construction has been delayed on a rail line that was to link the two countries as part of a planned regional rail network running from Singapore to southern China via Malaysia, Laos and Vietnam. But analysts say the dispute may be helping both Mr. Abhisit and Mr. Hun Sen politically. Mr. Abhisit's popularity ratings have received a boost since taking a hard line toward Cambodia, while Mr. Hun Sen is seen as benefiting from having the Preah Vihear dispute on the front pages of newspapers instead of the global recession and the layoffs and factory closings that have hit this already poor country's garment industry. The future of Thai-Cambodian relations may now depend on how the political struggle in Bangkok plays out. In effect, Mr. Hun Sen is betting that Mr. Thaksin, who is still widely popular among the country's rural poor, or one of his allies will return to office after elections that are expected some time next year. "As long as [Mr. Abhisit's] Democrat Party remains in power, bilateral relations will be tense and bumpy. If Thaksin's supporters regain power, relations are likely to be more workable," said Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a Thai political analyst. "Hun Sen has placed his bet and played his Thaksin card. Whether it pays off will depend on how Thai politics pans out." http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/cambodia-thailand-veer-closer-to-collision-course/article1388189/

I don't mind taking a taxi from the airport but do find dealing with the taxi's sometimes a real pain. Hopefully the new link will help out those that don't want to deal with the taxi's or that want to save money for a bit more fun down the road. This from the Bangkok Post: Transport Minister Sohpon Zarum had confirmed the 28-kilometre Airport Rail Link connecting Suvarnabhumi airport with Phaya Thai and Makkasan in downtown Bangkok will be in service before April, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said on Friday. The State of Railway of Thailand, which runs the project, is in the process of checking technical systems to ensure its readiness, he said. "The transport minister has confirmed that the Airport Link will be opened before April," said Mr Abhisit. On Friday afternoon the prime minister presided over the opening of a series of test runs of the new airport train service at Makkasan station and took a ride to Suvarnabhumi airport. The opening ceremony was attended by about 1,000 people including cabinet members and foreign diplomats. Deputy Commerce Minister Alongkorn Ponlaboot (left) and Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva (right) attend the opening of a test run of the airport rail link system on Friday. A large number of people turned up to get tickets on the test runs, which will continue out until Dec 7. Mr Abhisit also said the government will try to hurry up the implementation of the high-speed train project. There are four high-speed train routes planned: Bangkok - Chiang Mai (745 km), Bangkok - Nong Khai (615 km), Bangkok - Chanthaburi (330 km), and Bangkok - Padang Besar (985 km). The prime minister said priority would be given to the Bangkok - Chanthaburi route. He had given instructions that a feasibility study of the first part of the route, between Bangkok and Rayong. should be completed in 45 days. The Council of Economic Ministers on Nov 11 also approved in principle the SRT's plan to spend 100 bilion baht for improvement of rail tracks throughout the country, to purchase more locomotives and employ and train more staff. http://bangkokpost.com/news/local/161932/pm-airport-link-opening-before-april

I enjoyed the movie. It was not brilliant but the graphics were great and I was interested in the story the whole time. It is fun to watch. IMHO