CrazyExpat

I think it depends on if you are wanting to work for the public section or the private sector. There are many schools that are private and that teach English and other languages and the rules for hiring them are different than in the public systems. For private work, the jobs pay varies and some go as high as 60k baht per month or more. There are some amazing international schools in Thailand and there are also many great English schools. What exactly were you looking for?

I could not agree more. Laptops are so common in today's society that people traveling rely on them and many are in the airports for hours. The ability to check e-mail and surf the net makes a hard day much less stressful and more enjoyable and in the end, it costs the airport VERY little for a great deal of happiness!

I loved True Blood. I thought it was great and can't wait to see the new season. I have always loved Vampire Movies and TV shows. Not sure why. There were a few out last year and there seems to be more. Twilight seems to have captivated the young adult audience and I can see why. The books are fantastic and the movie last year was really enjoyable.

This is a new show on US TV. It just came out this week and looks interesting. I once loved Buffy.

BANGKOK — Baggage handlers at Thailand's main airport now wear uniforms with pockets sewn shut to prevent pilfering. Police are hauling away illegal taxi touts. And cushions are being added to metal seats at departure gates derided as a "pain in the rear." An overhaul is under way at Bangkok's $3.8 billion Suvarnabhumi Airport, which is virtually brand new but trying to put a scandal-plagued past behind and become one of the world's top 10 airports — a goal senior officials concede might be a long shot for this year. The campaign is partly aimed at addressing passenger complaints logged since Suvarnabhumi opened in 2006. Free Wi-Fi will be in place by the end of the month and 126 Internet terminals have been installed for travelers without laptops, according to Airports of Thailand, the airport's operator. Other upgrades include more restrooms, improved signs and the upholstery of all 19,000 cold metallic seats with turquoise, peach, green and purple cushions that brighten Suvarnabhumi's concrete-and-steel design, panned by some critics as too monotone. More than cosmetic, the cleanup has become a matter of national pride. It comes amid a rash of bad publicity that prompted the prime minister to tour the airport's trouble spots last month — from its luggage-sorting underbelly up through duty-free shops and out to the arrival hall. "We must have high and strict standards," Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said during his Aug. 15 visit, prompted by highly publicized claims by European tourists that they were falsely accused of shoplifting at duty-free stores and then taken to seedy motels and extorted by a police interpreter. On Abhisit's orders, tourists accused of stealing will now be handled "transparently so there are no complaints," said Ayuth Sucantharuna, a spokesman for Airports of Thailand, or AOT. They will be interrogated at the airport, rather than transferred to an outside police station, and interviews will be videotaped. Scams against tourists are the subject of a new British documentary series called "Big Trouble in Tourist Thailand." The program, which aired its first of eight episodes last week on British television, "explores the ugly side of tourism in Thailand" — like getting ripped off by a gun-wielding jet-ski operator and landing in jail after partying at a drugged-out, all-night beach rave. The show is sure to hit a sore spot in Thailand, where the tourism industry has barely recovered from last year's public relations disaster at Suvarnabhumi — the main gateway to the country — when anti-government protesters shut the airport for a week and stranded 300,000 travelers. Abhisit set a realistic target while discussing Suvarnabhumi on his weekly TV broadcast recently: "I think the problems can be significantly reduced — but to get rid of them all together will be difficult." Take the case of taxi touts with "broken meters," which Nirandra Theeranartsin, the airport's general manager, calls "a monumental problem" that started 40 years ago at Bangkok's previous international airport. Part of the problem appears to be that senior AOT officials were sanctioning the touts in exchange for kickbacks, Nirandra said, adding "it's hard to prove" but several high-ranking officials are nonetheless being transferred. So far, a six-week crackdown on illegal touts and unauthorized tour guides at Suvarnabhumi has resulted in more than 1,200 arrests — a misleading number since several are repeat offenders, AOT and police officials say. Touts are charged with creating a public nuisance, which carries a maximum 1,000 baht ($30) fine and is too weak a deterrent, authorities say. Fifty new security cameras are now being installed in the arrival zone to get proof of trespassing and other offenses that carry stiffer penalties. Another 327 new security cameras are going up in the luggage-sorting zone, where a "no pocket" rule took effect Sept. 1. After Abhisit's visit, baggage handlers were ordered to turn in their uniforms and all pockets were stripped off or sewn shut, Nirandra said. "They walk in with the clothes on their back — without pockets — and no mobile phones, no wallets, nothing. Not even a pen," said Nirandra. "And they come back out the same way." The crackdown has been a regular topic of letters to the editor and editorials that urge authorities not to relent, predicting touts will return once arrests stop. The Bangkok Post newspaper applauded the new cushioned seats with the headline, "AOT ends Suvarnabhumi's Pain in the Rear." The upgrades and new security measures are costing upward of 150 million baht ($4.4 million), which the airport hopes will pay off with a top-10 ranking in the Geneva-based Airports Council International's annual list, based on passenger surveys of 120 airports. Suvarnabhumi is ranked 28th, a point of contention since regional rivals Seoul, Singapore and Hong Kong hold the top three spots. "It's about pride of the Thai people," Nirandra said. "I don't know if we can reach the top 10 yet. But we're trying. If not this year, maybe next year." http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gnTsYGfgYn3FlTthxlpDdrBfSReQD9AMHAPG3

Well, I don't know much about Mininova. I use Itunes as it is all legal and no way to have legal issues. Customs in USA stops US citizens sometimes just because they visit Thailand frequently. I have had them check my computer. I make sure everything on it is legal and that includes software and music files. Those things are easy to get in LOS and I would never take something like that back into the USA.

It is in your Settings area. If you go to where you name is highlighted, Click there and My Settings. Then there is a tab in that area called Forums. When you go to the Forum area of My Settings, you will have an option there to click and have Instant Notifications for every topic you reply to. Also, you can watch entire forums so that whenever anyone posts in that forum, you will have that ability as well.

In my opinion many voters in the USA don't think for themselves they think what they are told to think. Currently, they are told that if we allow a National Health Care System, that socialism will be next.

Surat Thani is a province in the south of Thailand, noted for its beautiful beaches and access to many popular tourist islands. Surat Thani translates to ‘City of Good People.’ The city of Surat Thani was named by the King of Thailand in 1915, ostensibly because of the devout Buddhism practiced by the majority of the population. Prior to the name change the city was called ‘Bandon,’ which means ‘Village on High Ground.’ The city is also has one of the highest populations of Catholics in Thailand. The area is known to have been populated since prehistoric times. Surat Thani is accessible by air, bus, railroad, and by ferry boat from several of the islands. The main ferry boat sock is at Don Sak and the boats go to Ko Samui and Ko Phangan. If you enjoy oysters, Surat Thani is famous for them. The finest quality oysters in all of Thailand come from Surat Thani and many restaurants feature them. A highly popular Thai fruit is the rambutan. This is a red, golf ball sized fruit surrounded by a husk loaded with soft spikes. The fruit inside is quite sweet and crunchy. The best rambutan varieties come from Surat Thani. Surat Thani is also famous for an exotic food, salted duck eggs. The local ducks feed primarily on shellfish, which renders their yolks a red color. The eggs are salted in brine and cured by covering them with soil. Accommodations come in all price ranges. You can find accommodations ranging from guesthouses to luxury resorts. Along with beautiful beaches you can also find boat rides to many nearby islands, all of which are with national park boundaries and many are pristine. Day trips and overnight trips are readily available. For those who enjoy fishing, fishing trips are also available. SCUBA diving and snorkeling is also readily available. Many foreigners wishing to escape the chaos of the Songkran holidays in Pattaya and Bangkok visit Surat Thani during that time period. While you can still expect to be the target of water splashers, the holiday there is much more subdued and traditional. Many beautiful waterfalls can be found in the area, along with some of the most important Buddhist temples in Thailand. Caves are also in abundance. Some of the more popular places to visit include: • The Rock Fish Museum – This museum was established in 1992 by an old fisherman whose work included lifelike sculptures of more than 1000 fish, all of which can be seen at the museum. • Monkey schools – Monkeys are trained to harvest coconuts for coconut farmers. These ‘schools’ are usually open to the public and can be great fun to visit. • Oyster farms – The finest quality oysters in Thailand come from Surat Thani and you can visit the oyster farms. Most of the oyster farms are located at the mouths of the Kradae and Than Thong canals. • Khao Sok National Park – This park is a large moist evergreen forest park and attracts bird watchers from all over the world. A great many exotic bird species can be found here. • Tang Nam – This is a twin gorge created by streams over the millennia. It is a spectacular sight and is also an important Buddhist locale. • Khlong Phanom National Park – This park contains several caverns, with beautiful stalagmite and stalactite formations. There are many more waterfalls, Buddhist temples, parks, etc. to visit. You will not find much in the way of night life in Surat Thani and you also will not find much in the way of western food except at resorts that cater to foreigners. Even those do not feature very much western food. But if you are a seafood lover, then Surat Thani is a wonderful experience. Along with the famous oysters you can enjoy and abundance of fresh fish, crab, and other shellfish delights. Surat Thani is a much more laid back province than other beach cities in Thailand. The number of days to plan depends on what you wish to do and whether you intend to make island or diving trips. cc ThailandVisa.com 2009

Udon Thani, also known as simply Udon, is a province in the northeast of Thailand, close to the Laotian border and is the gateway to Laos via the Friendship Bridge at Nong Khai. Its capital city is also named Udon Thani. Most Thais refer to it as Udon. Udon Thani was relative unknown to foreigners until the Vietnam war, at which time the USA set up a military base. That base has since been turned over to Thailand, which was part of the deal when the USA was granted permission to set up the base. Udon Thani itself is better known as a gateway city rather than a major tourist destination. Many tourists pass through Udon Thani on their way to somewhere else, such as Laos and Nong Khai during the time of the Naga Fireballs. The Naga Fireballs is a phenomenon that has to be seen to be believed. No one seems to know how this phenomenon occurs, but it is predictable. Along the banks of the Mekong River, when the moon rises, the phenomenon begins, with these fireballs rising out of the river. Sometimes there are only a few. Sometimes there are thousands. This year, 2009, the phenomenon is expected to occur the evening of Sunday, October 4. If you wish to experience the phenomenon you won’t be alone. As many as 500,000 spectators are expected. If you wish to go, if you don’t already have hotel reservations, try to make them immediately. Don’t be too surprised if you cannot find any vacancies. Reservations are usually made months in advance. Getting to Udon Thani is easy. Udon Thani has a good passenger airport. There is also an abundance of bus services to Udon and is a 14 hour railroad train ride from Bangkok. Within Udon there is plenty of public transportation. There are motorcycle taxis, tuk-tuks, baht buses, and even bicycle rickshaws for short-distance rides. You can also rent bicycles and pedal around the city yourself. There are many mid-range priced hotels in Udon Thani and surrounding areas. In Udon Thani you will find an abundance of Korean barbeque restaurants. These are quite popular in Udon. If that is not to your taste, then along with all the Thai food, you can find the typical fast food restaurants in the shopping centers and a few western restaurants. The best western restaurants, along with some the best shopping, can be found in the Charoen Shopping Complex. There is also a good night bazaar near the railroad station. The shopping action at the night bazaar usually begins around 5:00pm and finishes up around 10:30pm. The Charoen Shopping Complex also houses most of Udon Thani’s nighttime entertainment venues, with bars, karaokes, and English style pubs Udon Thani is in the real Issan part of Issan. Wherever you go, you can count on seeing one thing. Rice farms. Everywhere you look you’ll see rice farms. This is the major industry in this area of Thailand and this is also the area at whioch most of Thailand’s famous sticky rice is grown. Sightseeing in and around the Udon Thani area includes: • Ban Chiang – This is widely considered to be the most important recent archeological discovery in nearly all of Southeast Asia. The discoveries, beginning in 1967, here date back to the Bronze Age and artifacts have been made here that date back as far as 4400 BC. This is one of the finest museums in Thailand and is considered a must when visiting Udon Thani. • Udon Thani Museum – This museum houses collections dating back to the founding of Udon Thani and includes an abundance of historical information. • Udon Sunshine Orchid Farm – This is one of Thailand’s finest collections of common and rare orchids. A stop here is a must if you are an orchid enthusiast and well worth a stop even if you are not. Some of the most beautiful flowers you will ever see can be found here. • Phu Foi Lom – This is a major eco-tourism site, located in the Pa Phan Don-Pakho National Forest. There are also several caves, waterfalls, rapids, and other historical sites to visit. Local food products include the Chinese sausage called kun chiang, moo yong, which is a pork floss, moo yo, which is steamed pork, and moo naem, which is a sour pork product. If you wish to enter Laos via the Friendship Bridge at Nong Khai, the visa-on-arrival fee for foreigners is US $35 and entitles you to 30 days in Laos You must have two passport photos available. Thais pay a different fee of their own. Air conditioned buses to Vientiane depart six times daily from Udon Thani. The fare is 80 baht one way. cc ThailandVisa.com 2009

Hat Yai is one of Thailand’s southernmost cities, located in the province of Songkhla. It is only 30 km from the Malaysian border. The city began as primarily a railroad hub between Thailand and Malaysia. Hat Yai is one of the lesser known tourist spots in Thailand and is attractive to those who wish to ‘get away from it all,’ but still have the features of a city available. The city is becoming increasingly popular among gays. There are at least 3 gay bars now and a gay sauna called GL Sauna as well. Admission is 250 baht and includes a drink. The gay bars are within easy walking distance of each other, the most popular being the G-Men bar. Hat Yai was a small village until the coming of the railroad in 1922 and has slowly, but surely increased in size ever since. The population is now about 160,000. The official name of the city is Ma Hat Yai. Ma Hat is the Thai word for a fruit tree relative of the popular Jackfruit. Yai means large or big. Getting to Hat Yai is no problem. There are buses, airline service, and obviously railroad service. Within Hat Yai there are plenty of mini buses, tuk-tuks, and motorcycle taxis. Accommodations are relatively in expensive in Hat Yai as it is not a beach town or resort city. Food in Hat Yai is mostly Thai, but some of the shopping malls have restaurants that feature ‘farang food’ and there are a few ‘farang food’ restaurants. It is best to book a room via a travel agent. You will almost always get a better rate from a travel agent than booking directly through a hotel in Hat Yai. Night life in Hat Yai includes a surprising number of bars for a small city, several of which include live music. A popular place to go is Oceana, and entertainment complex just outside of Hat Yai. There you will find a very nice open air restaurant and bar that covers two floors and is in a beautifully romantic landscaped setting, open until about 2:00am. There is a disco nearby and it seems to remain open until about 4:00am. The Lee Garden Plaza features fast food restaurants including McDonald’s, KFC, and Sizzler. There is also a modern multiplex cinema at Lee Garden There is not very much in the way of sightseeing in the Hat Yai vicinity, but the three most popular attractions are: • Wat Hat Yai Nai – Features a 35 meter long reclining Buddha, the third largest in the world. • Hat Yai Municipal Park – This park is quite popular among the Thais and includes an abundance of flowering plants and a very good aviary. • Ton Nga Chang Waterfall – Considered by many to be one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Thailand. It is a 7-tiered waterfall, the most popular being the third level, known as the “Elephant Tusk” waterfall. Here the falls separate into two streams, resembling elephant tusks. You can easily hire transportation to and from the park for about 400 baht. Many farang doing visa runs go to Hat Yai due to its close proximity to the Malaysian border. The run takes you to Dannok. From there you simply cross over the border on foot, take care of your visa renewal, and return, although there are plenty of motorcycle taxis to take you, if you wish, 20 baht each way. Mini vans are available to take you back to Hat Yai for about 60 baht, but they do not depart until they are full. The trip takes approximately 90 minutes. cc ThailandVisa.com 2009

Chiang Rai is Thailand’s northernmost province, home of the Golden Triangle, at which Thailand borders both Burma and Laos. The capital city of the province, also named Chiang Rai was established in 1262 by one of Thailand’s most revered ancient kings, King Mangrai. King Mangrai is mot famous for having made peace between warring factions and rival kings, thus establishing much of what became present day Thailand. Also known as Mangrai the Great, he died in 1311 as a result, of all things, of a lightening strike. Many of the people living in Chiang Rai can trace their ancestry directly to the time of King Mangrai. Getting to Chiang Rai is not difficult as it is serviced by a full featured airport, railroad station, bus station, and the roads leading to Chiang Rai are in good condition if you travel by car. Within Chiang Rai there are plenty of tuk-tuks and baht buses available. Accommodations in Chiang Rai are available in all price ranges, giving you a choices ranging from small guesthouses to luxury resorts. Dining in Chiang Rai can be a unique experience because northern Thai cuisine includes specialties uncommon in many other parts of Thailand. Much of the cuisine is influenced by Chinese cooking. The amount you spend to eat is entirely your own choice. Food is available from the smallest street vendors to expensive restaurants. One of the more popular eating spots is Chiang Rai’s Night Bazaar, at which you will find more than 50 food stalls. This is very popular with tourists because of the deliciousness of the foods, the atmosphere, the colorful people watching, and free entertainment including music, Thai dancing, etc. No trip to Chiang Rai is complete without visiting the Night Bazaar. Another highly popular activity is shopping across the Burmese border. The small city of Mae Sai is the place to go. From there crossing over to the Burmese side is the major activity. Burma will issue you a ‘day pass’ for US $5 and there is no problem about reentering Thailand, but you do need to have your passport on your person. This is one of the few exceptions to the reentry permit requirement when leaving Thailand. However there is really no particular reason to cross the border. Everything available on the Burmese side is also available at Mae Sai. Among the treasures to be found include jade and precious stones such as rubies and emeralds, all of which were mined in Burma, but no more expensive on the Thailand side than you would find on the Burmese side. In the small town of Sop Ruak there is a popular Opium museum. Admission is 20 baht. Chiang Rai is not noted for its night life. Most of the night life is centered around the Night Bazaar, but there are a few bars, mostly on the west side of the Night Bazaar. The major tourist attractions in the Chiang Rai area include elephant trekking and visits to Hill Tribe villages. Other popular tourist attractions include: • White Temple – also known as Wat Rong Khun. This is a unique structure, built in 1998. It features primarily pure white structures and glittering mirrored hallways. It also features unique paintings,. • Hill Tribe Museum and Education Center – Designed to help promote a better understanding of the Hill Tribes, their customs, lifestyle, and culture. While you can easily find tours to the Hill Tribe villages in Chiang Rai, the museum also runs tours and is considered one of the best choices for visiting Hill Tribe villages. • Oub Kham Museum – Contains a wealth of ancient objects used in royal courts of Thailand, Burma, China, Vietnam and Laos, some of which date back to over 1000 years. The museum is open from 9:00am to 5:00pm. Admission is 200 baht for adults, 100 baht for children. • Huay Hin Fon Hot Springs – This is a popular, large, but shallow hot springs, highly popular from among the Thais. Vendors sell raw quail eggs and people cook the eggs in the hot springs. Be prepared, though, because there is a sulphur ‘rotten egg’ odor emanating from the springs. Chiang Rai is a major tourist stop when visiting Thailand. 2 or 3 days is enough to be able to see and do the major tourist attractions. cc ThailandVisa.com 2009

Apple just came out with the newest version of Itunes today. I thought it was a nice remake. It is Itunes 9.0. I like the way the graphics look and the way the entire system flows. It had other features like sharing the library with your networked computers but I have not had time to test those things yet.

LOL. You are talking to a Mac Addict. I think Windows 7 will blow too.

I think it may be this issue which is his downfall. That is sad as it is a very important thing to accomplish but he has a large uphill battle here!

I honestly am not sure either but have seen more medical masks being worn in public in the last several months than I have my entire life. Some people are certainly scared.

The congressman who heckled President Obama during a televised address found that while the president accepted his apology Thursday, the furor over his outburst did not let up. "I'm a big believer that we all make mistakes," Obama said in acknowledging the apology from Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.). The lawmaker's shout of "You lie!" during the president's speech on healthcare was a significant break in decorum. "I do think that, as I said last night, we have to get to the point where we can have a conversation about big important issues that matter to the American people without vitriol, without name-calling, without the assumption of the worst of other people's motives," Obama said. Still, House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn, a Democrat from Wilson's home state, said that he planned to push for a resolution expressing disapproval of the incident unless Wilson issued a public apology on the House floor. And Rob Miller -- the Democratic challenger for Wilson's House seat -- raked in 14,000-plus contributions totaling more than $500,000 since the Wednesday night outburst, according to the House Democratic Campaign Committee. The committee also has cited the shout-out in a fundraising appeal: "Calling the president of the United States a liar in front of the nation is a new low even for House Republicans." Wilson spokesman Ryan Murphy said that the lawmaker had "apologized to the president sincerely, and the president accepted and said let's move on and have a civil discourse. And the congressman agrees." Wilson's outburst came in response to Obama's statement that a healthcare overhaul would not directly benefit illegal immigrants. "There are also those who claim that our reform effort will insure illegal immigrants," the president said. "This too is false -- the reforms I'm proposing would not apply to those who are here illegally." On Thursday, some people said Wilson was right in challenging Obama's statement. "It is a real shame that the rest of Congress was not on their feet pointing out the president's lie about illegal aliens in his healthcare plans," said William Gheen, president of the Americans for Legal Immigration, a political action committee. The healthcare bills developed by House Democrats and by the Senate's health committee explicitly prohibit illegal immigrants from receiving federal subsidies for insurance. However, the House Republican leadership has complained that there is no provision to enforce the prohibition. GOP House leaders also complain that Democrats rejected their amendment to require applicants for federally subsidized healthcare to verify their legal status. Republican leaders said the furor over Wilson had distracted them from their efforts to talk about healthcare and Obama's speech. They described their colleague's prompt apology as adequate. "I think all of us who know Joe Wilson know that he did the right thing in apologizing to this White House," said House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va.). "I don't think anyone accepts the type of outburst and the lack of decorum in the House chamber." (In a separate display of Republican unhappiness, Rep. John Shimkus of Illinois had walked out of the House chamber during the president's address. His spokesman said the congressman was frustrated that Obama was not offering any new ground and left with just minutes remaining in the speech.) Robert Oldendick, a political science professor at the University of South Carolina, on Thursday described reaction within the state to Wilson's outburst as "surprise and strong disapproval." But whether it will hurt the lawmaker at home is uncertain. "There are 14 months for people's memories of this to fade before the election -- although I'm sure they'll be reminded by opposition campaign ads," Oldendick said. "While the reaction here has been pretty strongly negative, I don't get the sense that Wilson will be severely damaged. "And he may, over time, be able to turn this mistake into his 'passionate opposition' to a plan that he felt was so wrong." There have been many examples of the breakdown in civility on Capitol Hill over the years, including Vice President Dick Cheney directing an obscenity at a senator on the Senate floor in 2004. In 1856, a South Carolina House member, Preston Brooks, entered the Senate chamber and severely beat abolitionist Sen. Charles Sumner of Massachusetts over the head with a cane. Even so, according to the Office of the House Historian, "the rules and precedents of the House do not allow insulting language or personal attacks, or even the public questioning of the sincerity of a member." http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-joe-wilson11-2009sep11,0,5584524.story

Early results from the first trial of a pandemic flu vaccine suggest that just one dose is likely to provide "robust" protection from the new H1N1 strain, also dubbed swine flu, researchers said Thursday. The study, sponsored by Australia-based CSL Limited, showed that nearly 97% of volunteers given a standard dose of the vaccine produced antibody levels that typically protect against flu infection, giving planners the welcome news that they may need less vaccine to save more lives. H1N1 TRIALS: Pregnant women taking part ON CAMPUS: Most colleges already reporting flu-like illness "If those data hold up, it would be a very good result," said William Schaffner of Vanderbilt University in Nashville, president-elect of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases. "Frankly, I had anticipated it would take two doses" weeks apart. The pandemic vaccine appears to be as safe as the vaccines made for seasonal flu. No one in the study died, but the study was not big enough and did not last long enough to identify possibly rare side effects, researchers reported online in The New England Journal of Medicine. "Hopefully, now the regulators can make some decisions on what they want to do with their vaccination program down the road," CSL Biotherapies President Paul Perreault added. CSL has agreed to produce 36 million doses for the USA. The first deliveries are scheduled for mid-October. Doctors are awaiting the results from additional studies sponsored by four other vaccine manufacturers and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. The CSL study involved 240 healthy adults ages 18 to 64, divided into two groups. One group was given the standard 15-microgram dose used in seasonal vaccines, and the other received 30 micrograms. Both single- and double-dose vaccinations appear to be equally protective. The immune response appeared to be consistently potent regardless of the patient's age. Unlike seasonal flu, which disproportionately affects the very young and the very old, pandemic flu is striking people ages 5 to 24 more frequently. Meanwhile, Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Thomas Frieden and a number of infectious disease specialists urged people Thursday not to overlook seasonal flu, which kills at least 36,000 people a year and puts 200,000 more in the hospital. http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2009-09-10-flu-vaccine_N.htm

Ukraine and Thailand are holding negotiations on a visa free regime for Ukrainian tourists, Ukraine's Ambassador to Thailand Markiyan Chuchuk said in an interview with the Interfax-Ukraine news agency. "The Embassy of Ukraine is negotiating with the Thai side regarding a possibility of implementing a visa free regime for the Ukrainian citizens who arrive to Thailand as tourists," the ambassador said. He said that the number of the Ukrainian tourists to Thailand has increased. In particular, 7,000 tourists visited Thailand in 2002, while in 2008 their number increased to 25,000. http://www.kyivpost.com/nation/48440

BANGKOK (Reuters) - A Thai court sentenced the founder of Thailand's "yellow shirts" political movement to two years in prison for defamation on Thursday, before freeing him on bail pending an appeal. The Criminal Court found media maverick Sondhi Limthongkul guilty of defaming former finance minister Pridiyathorn Devakula by publishing a newspaper commentary critical of his actions while in office. Pridiyathorn, also a former Bank of Thailand governor, was awarded the cabinet position by the military after the 2006 coup that ousted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. A senior member of Sondhi's yellow-shirted People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), whose prolonged street protests against Thaksin led to the coup, said Sondhi would fight the charges. "The court has released him on bail and he has returned home," Suriyasai Katasila told Reuters. "He's preparing to appeal the decision." Sondhi, 61, has been at the forefront of the anti-Thaksin movement, using his television, radio, print and online media outlets to attack his opponents and drum up support for the royalist PAD. He is also under investigation for his part in the PAD's week-long occupation of Bangkok's airports last year, which stranded more than 230,000 travelers, disrupted trade flows and caused massive damage to Thailand's vital tourism industry. Sondhi, a former business associate of Thaksin, narrowly escaped an assassination attempt in April, suffering only a head wound when his car was riddled with bullets. (Reporting by Panarat Thepgumpanat; Writing by Martin Petty; Editing by Alan Raybould and Jerry Norton) http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE58939D20090910

Bangkok, known as the City of Angels is the center of life in Asia. This is the place to go if you want to find some hot exotic romance, shop at some of the best shopping Asia has to offer, partake in some of the most delicious food in the east or just hang out in a local park with the locals. Still Bangkok has much more to offer than just hot nights. This is a city with a rich culture and history; so you can dive into the local culture during the day, eat wonderful meals at night and make the most of your vacation. One of the most popular destinations is the Damnoen Saduak floating market. You can sample local food while an experienced guide will take you on a boat ride through the canals where you can purchase tons of souvenirs for friends and family back home. No trip to Bangkok is complete without a bike tour through the city and its outskirts. Whether you take a guided tour, or decide to tool around on your own bike, this is the best way to be mobile and discover the life of the normal residents of Thailand. There are many bicycle groups that organize trips in Bangkok and throughout the country. Take a look at: http://www.tourdethailand.com for a fantastic charity ride that goes from Chiang Mai to Bangkok and then down to Phuket each year. Temples abound in Thailand and will thrill nearly any western visitor with their splendor. Wat Trimitr,Wat Po and Wat Banjamaborpitr are three of the most beautiful. Plan to bring your camera and try to bring a local guide so you can learn the rich history and nuance of each and every place of worship. The Grand Palace is the most popular tourist destination in the city. For centuries it was the residence of Thailand’s powerful kings. Make sure you take time to see the Reception Palace, the Funeral Palace, The Throne Hall and the beautiful revered Temple of the Emerald Buddha. Just be prepared; the Thais take their temples seriously and will not let you inside if you are wearing shorts or flip-flops. If you want to be a little bit less active you can always take an overnight in a converted rice barge. The most popular cruises leave from Bangkok and travel to the ancient capital of Ayuthaya. When you are done sightseeing Thailand offers nearly every type of cuisine from traditional Thai food to classic Western cuisine. No matter what your tastes, you should be able to satisfy your hunger before your night on the town! Still many go to Thailand for one main reason, to meet and mingle with eligible single guys or gals. There is nothing wrong with that - everyone likes a little exotic nighttime fun on their vacations; after all when you are far away from home you can easily let yourself be free and assume that what goes down in Bangkok stays in Bangkok no matter who it is that you go down on. Of course, like any city, the hot spots in Bangkok come and go constantly. What’s cool today might not be hot tomorrow and new places are popping up all the time. The best thing about Bangkok is that it is ever changing. You need to keep a close look at this site and the bars and clubs and accommodations area. New arenas come and go and we try our best to keep this part of the site as updated as possible. cc ThailandVisa 2009

Phuket is an often-mispronounced jewel in South East Asia. By far the most popular island destination in the region, it offers sandy beaches, beautiful Portuguese architecture and a rich history that will delight any seasoned traveler. The island does have a rainy season and tourists are advised to avoid its charms in September and October when it is soaking wet. For the rest of the year, particularly from November through February, Phuket’s limestone cliffs, tropical forests and powdery beaches make it a place that you don’t want to miss. The earliest history of the island comes from the Greeks. Claudius Ptolemy wrote of its charms as early as 157 A.D. For most of the past 2,000 years Phuket was used as a stopover for traders who needed to avoid monsoons. When tin was discovered, migrant workers from as far away as Portugal began to arrive and Phuket soon became one of the most influential meeting points for European traders in South East Asia. When the price of tin collapsed in 1985, the island government began hawking Phuket as a possible tourist destination. Travelers took the bait and its popularity and economy have soared. There is a diverse group of people living on the island; 35 percent of the people are Muslim ‘ representing a variety of religious and cultural histories. Hence, tolerance of all types of lifestyles has become the trademark of Phuket. While the nightlife of Phuket is always hopping, there are also a variety of activities to do during the day and as with most of Thailand, there are many wonderful western and traditional restaurants. Dino Park on Karon beach is one of the sillier tourist attractions. It is a small 18 hole golf course set in the age of the dinosaurs. It even features a dinosaur themed restaurant! All of the many beaches that encircle the island are wonderful places to snorkel and dive. At nearly any point along the coast you can find places to rent equipment and guides to help you explore the beautiful undersea vistas and the exotic fish that call the waters around Phuket their homes. Ko Kaeo visitors will not only find a beautiful sandy beach, but also a famous replica of the footprint of BuddhaKo Si-Re also features a wonderful reclining Buddha image. Cape Phanwa is home to the Phuket Aquarium, the place to go if you want to see the beautiful fish that the region has to offer, without having to go to the effort of diving or snorkeling to find them. The nearby Phuket Butterfly Farm has also been growing in popularity with the tourist trade. The Phuket Submarine offers people the chance to dive 30 meters under the sea in the comfort of full air conditioning and the Phuket Zoo is the safest way for you to see some of the regions more exotic animals. Patong Beach is tourist central and you will find a wide array of family friendly activities including go-karts, a haunted house, water skiing and Tarzan’s Water Bunny Jump. The Khao Phra Thaeo Wildlife Sanctuary covers nearly 5,600 acres and has hundreds of different types of local protected animals. Wat Phra Thong is the most beautiful temple on the island. According to local legend whenever invaders have tried to steal the beautiful Buddha inside, hornets have attacked and driven them away. The adjoining island of Ko Nakha Noi has the regions only year round pearl farm that is open to the public. If museums are your thing the Thalang Museum has great artifacts documenting local culture. Of course, once you’ve had your tourist fun and have accumulated enough stories that you can safely tell your friends and neighbors, it will be time to head out at night and take advantage of the hot gay island nightlife. No matter where you decide to go, Phuket is guaranteed to offer you a fun experience on your vacation. We can’t wait to see you there! cc ThailandVisa 2009

If sultry beaches and beautiful water is your bag, then Pattaya is a must see for any visitor of Thailand or the region. The name of the town comes from the Thai for the South West winds that blow in every year to signal the start of the rainy season. What may amaze the more than one million visitors that descend on Pattaya every year in their carnal quests for sandy beaches and exotic recreation is that the town as we know it did not even exist 40 years ago. For centuries Pattaya was a tiny fishing village virtually unknown to outsiders where a traditional way of life in the safety of the calm bay. Before the 1960s barely 100 families fished out their meager livings along these pristine waters. It was the Vietnam War that fueled the forces that would change Pattaya forever. As more and more American soldiers were sent to Southeast Asia, air force and army bases began to spring up nearby. More often than not these soldiers could not get enough time off during their recreation periods to make the long trip to Bangkok. So they started exploring the Pattaya beaches. Savvy entrepreneurs soon realized there was a growing market of thirsty and horny soldiers that would pay hard currency to have their appetites satisfied. The result was an ever-growing stream of bars, hotels, clubs and restaurants that would change this sleepy village into one of the hottest tourist destinations in the world! Who would have believed 50 years ago that those sleepy fishermen were sitting on what would one day become some of the most valuable tourist real estate is all of Asia? Because Pattaya is a new city it does not have any of the temples or ancient statues that are the cornerstone of most Thailand tourist experiences. This is truly a place to go when you want to spend your days relaxing on the beach and your nights looking for love. Most will probably spend our days diving in the crystal clear waters or else lounging on the three main beaches: Pattaya, Jomtien and Wong Prachsan. All of that is fine and dandy, but at the end of the day what’s the point in bronzing your beautiful body if you are not going to try to get some action with your attraction. We know that some of the best girls are really boys. If you like your men with boobs on top, north and central Pattaya have what you are looking for. Just be careful many of the transvestite and transsexual shows also attract a straight audience so be sure to ask the cute guys if they are friends of Dorothy before you make your move! These “girls” prove size matters and many of them have huge tittles to satisfy nearly any oral fixation. The Tiffany Show has the most famous transvestite show in Thailand and even hosts an annual transsexual beauty pageant. It opens early at 6:30 p.m. and stays open late Many tee shirts in Pattaya have the right slogan: Good boys go to Heaven, bad boys go to Pattaya. True to life, Pattaya is a bit of heaven for good boys and bad boys. We can’t wait to see you there with all the other beach goers! cc ThailandVisa 2009

It is not a lot of rich Thais. It is a very nice city with a very laid back atmosphere. Here is the article for Chiang Mai for the site. Whether you want to chill out, immerse yourself in history or simply check out the smoking hot nightlife, Chiang Mai, in Northern Thailand, has a little bit of something to please everyone. Like most of the cities of the north, Chiang Mai is far more laid back than the southern metropolises like Bangkok, and the prices are far more reasonable. Chiang Mai is not only one of the oldest cities in Thailand; it has also hosted western tourists for hundreds of years. The city traces its own origins back at least 700 years and there are records of European explorers writing home about this “fair and great town” in the 1500s. The long history of this town is a boon to tourists who can marvel at the archeological and historical artifacts that seem to burst out of the countryside. For much of its storied history Chiang Mai was an important cultural and religious center for both Siam and Burma, which helps explain the huge number of ruins and temples that still remain to this day. Although Chiang Mai has always boasted beautiful mountains and a pleasant climate, it did not start attracting large numbers of western tourists until the early 1990s, when people started looking for new places to relax and ways to save money. Once people started visiting Chaing Mai, word spread fast and by the mid 1990s, Bangkok tourism speculators started buying up large chunks of the city and converting them into vacation havens. Chaing Mai celebrated its 700th anniversary in 1992 and in 1998 played host to the Asia Games sporting events. During the day you will want to take a walking tour through some of the more than 300 Buddhist temples including Wat Phra Singh Wat Chiang Man Wat Phan Tao Wat Jet Yod and Wat Suan Dawk all of which are at least 500 years old. You can walk through the temples on your own or rent a guide for the day. Please remember to dress respectfully when you visit any temple in Thailand; flip-flops and shorts are not appreciated. If you are into shopping, Chiang Mai has one of the most exciting nighttime bazaars in all of Thailand. This is where you want to go in order to get great deals on silk and traditional hand made crafts. On days when you don’t feel like hiking or walking, you can enjoy any number of boat trips up and down the Ping River. Just sit back, relax, watch the scenery and let your captain take charge! Chaing Mai is known as the city to go to in Thailand if you want gourmet meals at affordable prices. There are literally dozens of restaurants in the city, and almost all of them are world class. You can find nearly any type of food you desire, and you won’t have to worry about busting your wallet. The most interesting ruins in the region are called Wiang Kum Kham. They are from a lively city that was washed out in a flood 700 years ago. By far the most popular tourist activity in Chaing Mai is to ride an elephant into the jungle. These tame beasts are so tall that you will be able to see for miles and the beasts are so tame that you will always feel secure. When we last went to the elephant farm in Chiang Mai, the elephant trainers greeted us and they put on a show for us. They showed us how they taught the elephants to paint, play soccer and basketball. All of this was quiet entertaining and just a warm up for the elephant trek through the wilderness. Riding one of these wild beasts is an incredible experience. It is simply one of the most amazing things that can be done in Thailand. The elephants helped build ancient Thailand and they are respected and revered. White water rafting is another popular activity, as is rock climbing. You can rent all the gear you will need for both activities fairly cheaply if you just ask around. There is a rock climbing wall downtown that you can practice at. It is also in the middle of many gay beer bars. If you are into people watching, watching the climbers ascend the wall while sipping on a beer is very relaxing. Thailand is becoming known for its amazing gold courses. There are many tours planned that bring US and European citizens to Thailand for a week or two of playing golf at some of the most amazing courses in the world. For those of you who like to explore on your own, local guides will be happy to prepare trekking maps that will explain how to walk into and through many of the tiny villages that dot the mountains around the city. As with most cities in Thailand, the scene in Chaing Mai is constantly changing but the forums on this site should give a good idea where to start looking for your carnal adventures. We just can’t wait for you to come visit; we know you will have as good a time as we do!

(HONG KONG) -- Wyndham Hotel Group, part of the Wyndham Worldwide family of companies (NYSE: WYN) based in Parsippany, NJ, has signed its first management contracts in Bangkok, Thailand. Currently under development, the properties include the 188-room Ramada Encore Soi 10 - Bangkok, owned by Nai Chan Estate Co. Ltd., the 98-room Ramada Hotel & Suites Soi 12 - Bangkok, owned by Sookjai Condominium Co. Ltd. and the 150-room Ramada Bangkok Sukhumvit, owned by Asset Lifestyle Co. Ltd. "Bangkok is the center of economic development and the most prosperous part of Thailand, making it an ideal destination for the growth of the global Ramada brand," says Tom Monahan, Wyndham Hotel Group executive vice president of international development. "These new hotels will further the brand's reach and clearly position Ramada as a strong, vibrant and leading brand in the country." While the three properties are the company's first managed hotels in Thailand, Wyndham Hotel Group has a managed portfolio of 27 Wyndham Hotels and Resorts properties around the globe, including the 162-room Wyndham Grand London Chelsea Harbour in London; the 600-room Wyndham Rio Mar Beach Resort and Spa in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico and the recently opened 588-room Wyndham Xiamen in Xiamen, China. Located in the Sukhumvit area, a thriving commercial and entertainment hub in Bangkok, the eight-story Ramada Encore Soi 10 - Bangkok property will feature a fitness center and swimming pool as well as a meeting room with accommodations for 40 people. The property is expected to open in the fourth quarter of 2010. The 11-story Ramada Hotel & Suites Soi 12 - Bangkok hotel is located at Soi 12 Sukhumvit Road. Amenities will include a full-service restaurant, rooftop bar, lobby lounge, fitness center and swimming pool. The hotel is expected to open in the first quarter of 2010. The 37-story Ramada Bangkok Sukhumvit is located at the junction between Sukhumvit Road and Soi 23, 30 meters from the Asok BTS sky train station. Amenities will include a full-service restaurant, two signature bars, an executive lounge, fitness center, business center and swimming pool. The property is expected to open in the first quarter of 2012. Wyndham Worldwide encompasses more than 7,000 hotels and 590,000 rooms in 66 countries under the hotel brands: Wyndham Hotels and Resorts®, Ramada®, Days Inn®, Super 8®, Wingate by Wyndham®, Baymont Inn & Suites®, Microtel Inns & Suites®, Hawthorn Suites®, Howard Johnson®, Travelodge® and Knights Inn®. All hotels are independently owned and operated excluding certain Wyndham and international Ramada hotels which are managed by our affiliate or through a joint venture partner. http://www.realestatechannel.com/international-markets/vacation-leisure-real-estate/wyndham-hotel-group-ramada-encore-soi-10-bangkok-ramada-hotel-suites-soi-12-bangkok-ramada-bangkok-sukhumvit-tom-monahan-1369.php