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Fundament(al) Attention to Detail 2008-03-16 23:10:00 Location: Chiang Mai - Thailand Date: 8 Feb 2008The attention to detail found in the statues at the Wats in Thailand is incredible. How they know what a dragons behind looks like though is beyond me.DragonDragons Behind Read more:Detail
Long Neck Women - Chiang Mai 2008-03-16 21:47:00 Location: Chiang
Mai Province - Thailand Date: 7 Feb 2008The long neck women are from Burma/Myanmar but many live as refugees in Thailand. The long neck women are known as Padaung, a sub-group of the Karen tribe. Long Neck WomanThe Karen tribe villages are near the Thai-Myanmar border, but there are also "villages" near Chiang Mai
. I say "villages" as they are really just market stalls set up for the benefit of tours from Chiang Mai.Long Neck Market VillageOpinion is divided on these tours. Some say it is a like a human zoo, while others say that the money raised in the markets is money that these tribes wouldn't have otherwise got.My conscience wasn't helped by a story about the plight of the long neck women that was continually aired on BBC World the week I was there.It seemed to me thou Read more:Women
Elephant Riding in Chiang Mai 2008-03-16 05:48:00 Location: Chiang
Mai Province - Thailand Date: 7 Feb 2008When visiting Chiang Mai
in the north of Thailand you can't seem to walk more than 100 metres without passing a shop selling elephant riding tours.There are many elephant riding trips available packaged with other activities, usually hill tribe treks and some other activity like white water rafting. These sort of day tours make for good value when you consider how much time you would save if you went to each activity individually.Most elephant rides go for half an hour to one hour. There is no need to go for over an hour, unless you really love elephants.Elephant MountElephant TrekkingAt the elephant park people were selling bundles of bananas and sugar cane to feed the elephants. It's a great way to make friends with your ride. Just Read more:Riding
Buddhist quotes in the garden of Wat Phrasingh 2008-03-15 01:21:00 Location: Chiang Mai - Thailand Date: 6 Feb 2008Clean, clear, calm; these are characteristics of a noble person.Good to forgive, the best to forget.It is flooded water that makes mud; it is clean water that wipes away mud.Merit is to accumulated, evil is to be abandoned.No other foes are greater than birth and death. No other friends are greater than merits.Selfishness is the real enemy of peaceToday is better than two tomorrows.To do good and evil unseen by others are always seen by oneself.A man who will be the public leader, must know how to be the public follower. Read more:Buddhist
Bangkok Tailors dump the Dollar for the Euro 2008-03-18 20:19:00 The slow decline of the US Dollar
as a global currency continues with the tailors of Bangkok
now advertising their rates in euros.Advertisements for tailors can be found on the free tourist maps of Bangkok. I was in Bangkok in 2005 and all of the prices were in USD. Now the advertisements are in euros.Below are copies of some advertisements from 2005 and 2008.2005 - Ambassador Tailors US Prices2008 - Ambassador Tailors Euro Prices2005 - Patricks Tailors US Prices2008 - Patricks Tailors Euro Prices
The World's top destinations as viewed on Wikipedia 2008-03-19 21:53:00 Wikipedia article traffic statisticsDo a search on Google these days and Wikipedia will probably be in the first page results. This website can tell you how many times an article has been viewed on Wiki, and it also compiles a top list. I have sorted out from the top 10,000 list the most viewed destinations, as well as a list of the most viewed attractions.The list is compiled from the most viewed articles from February 1 to February 23, 2008.Top DestinationsRank - Article - Page views14 Kosovo 1018946 15 United_States 988039 45 London 515664 46 Canada 510033 47 India 507567 55 United_Kingdom 466895 57 Japan 46238764 New_York_City 450708 72 Germany 430256 74 Australia 425615 86 France 400524 99 Dubai 369698 102 China 364141 108 Russia 354725 123 Serbia 329859 126 England 326744 128 Europe Read more:Wikipedia
, World
Hua Hin 2008-03-22 18:47:00 Location: Hua Hin - Thailand Date: 13 Feb 2008Hua Hin is a beach resort town 3 hours drive south of Bangkok. It is popular with Bangkok weekenders and and retired westerners. It is a bit more upmarket than some of the beach resorts further south, so it is off the backpackers banana pancake trail.Hua Hin BeachBeach Cafe Menu
Sugar Fix Shrine 2008-03-22 00:49:00 Location: Bangkok - Thailand Date: 11 Feb 2008These little shrines can be seen all over Bangkok. Usually there will be fruits or a bowl of rice made as an offering. For some reason the offering of choice at this shrine is red soft drink.Offerings at a Roadside Shrine
- Bangkok Read more:Sugar
Greening a concrete jungle 2008-03-21 23:31:00 Location: Bangkok - Thailand Date: 11 Feb 2008Bangkok is a sprawling city of concrete
, so it's great when you arrive at sidewalks like this full of greenery.Potted Sidewalks - Bangkok
No Speedo Please 2008-03-24 23:09:00 Location: Koh Samui - Thailand Date: 23 Feb 2008Bo Phut beach on the north shore of Koh Samui is the most upmarket of all the beaches on the island. Its class is confirmed with this sign.No SpeedoPlease
- Bo Phut Beach, Koh Samui
Don't Drink and Vote 2008-03-24 22:59:00 Location: Koh Samui - Thailand Date: 23 Feb 2008There was an election on in Thailand, and on the election weekend the sale of alcohol was banned. Interesting idea. I guess their reasoning is that it's hard enough picking candidates sober.Election Laws No Alcohol - Thailand Read more:Drink
Beach Hawker 2008-03-24 22:52:00 Location: Koh Samui - Thailand Date: 23 Feb 2008A hawker advertising his product on Mae Nam Beach
, Koh Samui.Beach Hawker - Mae Nam Beach, Koh Samui
Purple Dog 2008-03-24 22:41:00 Location: Koh Samui - Thailand Date: 22 Feb 2008Purple
Dog - Koh Samui
Mummified Monk 2008-03-24 22:23:00 Location: Koh Samui - Thailand Date: 22 Feb 2008The Mummified Monk at Wat Khunaram has to be the most unusual attraction on Koh Samui. The monk, Loung Pordaeng, died in 1973 in the meditation position and that is how he is presented today, still relatively well preserved. Sunglasses have been added so as not to scare the kiddies. The Wat is on the 4169 ringroad between Ban Thurian and Ban Hua Thanon.Mummified Monk - Koh Samui
Gas by the bottle 2008-03-24 22:11:00 Location: Koh Samui - Thailand Date: 22 Feb 2008There are proper petrol/gas stations all over Koh Samui but once you are on the road you can get fuel for your bike by the bottle
from these little roadside shops.Gasoline Bottles
Tailor on the Beach 2008-03-24 21:44:00 Location: Koh Samui - Thailand Date: 21 Feb 2008Interesting location for a tailor shop. I don't how many people dream about getting a suit made whilst lying on the beach, but I'm sure it's not many.Tailor on the Beach
No Durian 2008-03-24 21:17:00 Location: Koh Samui Ferry - Thailand Date: 20 Feb 2008The Durian
is known in Southeast Asia as the "King of Fruits". Its aroma is so pungent though that this King is not welcome inside some places.No Durian
Beach Monkeys 2008-03-24 00:10:00 Location: Railay - Thailand Date: 15 Feb 2008The great thing about Thailand is you have a better chance of seeing exotic animals like monkeys and elephants in a urban setting than seeing them in the wild.Monkey - RailayLike most urban animals these monkeys have become accustomed to people and have picked up the bad habit of picking through human garbage.Monkey drinking from a can - Railay Read more:Beach
, Monkeys
Lime Fresh 2008-03-23 23:47:00 Location: Railay - Thailand Date: 15 Feb 2008An environmentally friendly way to freshen a urinal without the use of chemicals.Lime Urinal - Railay
Lunchtime on the Beach 2008-03-23 23:19:00 Location: Railay - Thailand Date: 15 Feb 2008Lunch boat - RailayLunch Boat Menu - Railay Read more:Beach
, Lunchtime
Railay Beach - Thailand 2008-03-23 22:41:00 Location: Railay - Thailand
Date: 15 Feb 2008Railay Beach
is in the province of Krabi on the Andaman Coast of Southern Thailand.Hat Phra Nang - RailayThe beach is on a peninsular of land blocked off by rugged cliffs, so the only way there is by small boats. Long Tail Boat - RailayThe 2007 edition of Lonely Planet say that it is their "favourite beach in Thailand". Given Lonely Planet's immense popularity such a statement might be a kiss of death for some beaches. There is a lot of new construction going on here but there is no road access to Railay, so traffic is limited to boats. It takes 45 minutes from Krabi Town in a long tail boat.Resort Under Construction - RailayThe cliffs and limestone formations has made Railay popular with rockclimbers.Rock Climber - Railay
Bangkok Airways Flight Review - Samui to Singapore 2008-03-26 21:07:00 Flight: BangkokAirways
PG 961 Date: 24 Feb 2008Bangkok Airways is a Thai airline based at Suvarnabhumi Airport, Bangkok. Bangkok Airways operates flights in Thailand as well as to destinations in Cambodia, China, Japan, Laos, Maldives, Myanmar, Singapore
and Vietnam. Bangkok Airways at Koh SamuiMy flight was from Samui, Thailand to Singapore for a flight of just under two hours.Bangkok Airways is not a low cost airline as they serve food, and they are not a full service airline as there is no inflight entertainment. They call themselves a boutique airline, which is probably a good way to split the difference.Seating is assigned and Bangkok Airways serve meals on all flights.Bangkok Airways Inflight Meal Read more:Flight
Koh Samui Airport 2008-03-26 20:10:00 Location: Koh Samui - Thailand Date: 24 Feb 2008Samui Airport (USM) is the airport of Koh Samui, serving domestic and international destinations. Samui Airport is a privately owned airport, built and owned by Bangkok Airways.Samui AirportTicket OfficeBangkok Airways bills itself as a boutique airline and the airport feels more like a tropical hotel resort than an airport. Samui Airport was listed 4th Best Airport in the Smart Travel Asia 2006 online poll.Departure LoungeThe airport has 2 terminals (Domestic and International) and is opened planned. There are no wall as such, so the tropical air circulates freely in the terminal and you can see the gardens and runway nearby.The departure lounge features comforts that you would usually associate with alliance lounges at big airports. There i
English Footballs Cultural Hegemony 2008-03-26 19:46:00 Location: Thailand Date: 23 Feb 2008Travel throughout Southeast Asia and you will soon notice that English
Football shirts dominate over all other European leagues. I don't know enough about the game to tell the difference between the quality of the national leagues of Europe, but whenever I meet a football purist they will you about how the Italian or Spanish league is better quality than the English league. This may or may not be so, but in terms of popularity English football is miles ahead.Here is a good article about English Football at Time Magazine.English Football LiveKnock-off Football Shirts - English Clubs Dominate. Read more:Cultural
Pink Dolphins of Sentosa Island 2008-04-01 20:28:00 Location: Sentosa Island
- Singapore Date: 26 Feb 2008A popular attraction of Sentosa Island is the Dolphin Lagoon, home of Sentosa's Pink Dolphins
. These dolphins start off life grey then become pink as they mature.A Pink Dolphin becoming pinkAt the lagoon the dolphin trainers show off the dolphins by getting them to do some amazing tricks. For an extra fee you can have your photo taken with them. Entry to Dolphin Lagoon is 19.90 SGD, which also includes admission to Underwaterworld Singapore.Pink Dolphin Showing Off
Sentosa Island - Singapore 2008-04-01 20:08:00 Location: Sentosa Island
- Singapore
Date: 26 Feb 2008Sentosa Island is a leisure resort island off the city-state island of Singapore. It is regarded as the southern most point of continental Asia.Southern Most Point Of Continental AsiaSentosa has a Disneyland fake village feel to it, but it is worth going to if you want a bit of a nature break while you are in Singapore. There is a great jungle walk and surprisingly nice beaches. It costs 3 Singapore Dollars to enter, which includes return skytrain ticket to get to the island.Siloso Beach - Sentosa IslandSiloso Beach Trees - Sentosa Island
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