Thailand a Growing withdrawal Destination

Rapid growth (highways, hospitals, shopping malls) translates into increasing pressure on house prices; the last 2-3 years have seen the shop value of asset more than duplicate in some areas, with no signs of slowing growth. So it makes sense, if you see Krabi as a potential place to settle down in your golden years, to invest in a home now, rather than waiting until your 60s.

A pool villa in Krabi or Ao Nang beach can be used as a second residence for holidays, saving on hotel costs. In addition, until you are ready for a permanent move, it can be rented out to tourists and used to generate additional income to cover your investment. Fabricate and building firms will also offer administration and a rental schedule after any villa built by them is completed, thus ensuring your asset is well-maintained as well as maximising its money-making potential. A realistic minimum that can be thinkable, is around 6% yearly return on investment.

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When choosing a home in Krabi, a new custom build is preferable to an already constructed house; not only will this allow you to Fabricate your home exactly as you would like it, but you can also then be sure of the ability of building and materials used. This is critical, especially in a tropical climate, where house finishings - and even the buildings - can degrade very fast. If you plan on lively in 10 or 15 years, this is sufficient time for a poorly built home to be in need of serious repair.

Choose a business that has taste designing and building homes for time to come retirees. They will automatically add features such as extra security, guest bedrooms, outdoor living space and manageable gardens, as well as ample storehouse for owners so that the villa can verily be rented out in their absence. All materials are superior for their endurance and low maintenance requirements to generate an easy to care for, contemporary home that will withstand the elements and the test of time - leaving you free to enjoy your new unhurried lifestyle.

Thailand a Growing withdrawal Destination

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Thailand Airport Seizure - See Why Travelers in Bangkok Got as a matter of fact Darn Mad

Imagine you are on your honeymoon to a beautiful tropical country. You are finding forward to pristine beaches, peaceful jungles, luxury hotels in Bangkok and most of all, productive trip that does not unduly inconvenience you. If you were heading out of Bangkok at the end of November 2008, you found a travelers' nightmare.

In December 2008, Suvarnabhumi Airport in Thailand was taken over for eight days by anti-government protesters. This article will not survey what is behind this takeover but the supervene on travelers. And the airport seizure in Thailand had travelers darn mad.

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Americans fumed as they missed getting home for Thanksgiving, a holiday second only to Christmas in the U.S. One clearly miffed man railed at a Thai woman for their "cockamamie protest" as the reason he would not get his turkey dinner. Others on their honeymoon said they needed to take a break from their hectic life but needed to get back to the U.S. For job interviews they were missing and to work towards rescue for their next vacation.

Now that there are so many travelers stranded, there very well may be no cheap hotels in Bangkok as a lot of travelers need places to stay in the capital city. finding to the future, however, even businessmen in Thailand are livid at the supervene of the protests with some analysts saying the country's traveler arrivals could fall from an midpoint of around 15 million to just 6-7 million in 2009. If that's true, luxury hotels in Bangkok could soon turn in to cheap hotels in Bangkok just to get occupants away from other hotels.

While time will speedily date this article, the main idea will not. Remember, nothing is for positive and when you are in a foreign country your trip plans can go bad fast. Forget planning ahead, life is how you react. Those travelers who always look on the exciting side of their trip circumstances cherish the memories even a bad trip touch can bring.

Thailand Airport Seizure - See Why Travelers in Bangkok Got as a matter of fact Darn Mad

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Philatelic Museum Bangkok - The History Of Thai Postage Stamps

Philatelic Museum Bangkok records the Thai stamp and postal history from the mid 1800s - the gift day, with stamps honoring the reigning monarch of the day and marking considerable events in Thai history.

The museum was first established in 1947 when the postal services were under the Post and Telegraph Department. After reorganization of the civil assistance and any relocations, the Philatelic Museum, currently under Thailand Post business Ltd, finally found its permanent home in Sam Sen Nai Post Office next to the Saphan Kwai skytrain station on 15 December 2004.

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Stamps often tell the story of the history and culture of a society. The Thai stamps in the Philatelic Museum Bangkok have their stories to tell too.

The Thai postal history - the early days

Our story begins in the reign of King Rama Iv (1851 - 1868). In those days, before the existence of a postal assistance in Thailand, people sent letters straight through messengers or friends who were traveling within or out of the country.

With the signing of the Bowring Treaty in 1855, Thailand opened up for foreign trade. The presence of foreign businesses and consulates in Bangkok necessitated a postal service. This was setup in 1867 by the British Postal assistance and run by the British consulate in Bangkok purely for communications in the middle of consulates.

As Thailand had no stamps of her own then, she used stamps of British India which were also used in the Straits Settlements, Malacca, Penang and Singapore. Stamps for use in Bangkok were marked with a capital "B". The mail was routed straight through Singapore and had a Singapore postmark.

In 1875, while the reign of King Rama V (1868 - 1910), Prince Bhanurangsri Sawangwongse, younger brother of the king, published a newspaper "Court" for royalty and high officials. A local stamp was affixed for delivery services. This laid the groundwork for the Thai postal assistance in the future.

Philatelic Museum - the advent of the postal service

In 1880 some members of the government felt a pressing need for a postal assistance for the general social and petitioned King Rama V. The king agreed. Fittingly Prince Bhanurangsri was tasked to do this and was appointed the first Director general of the Post Department. The first post office was built in Charoen Krung Road by the Chao Phraya River near the mouth of the Ong-Ang canal.

Thai stamp history - the first stamp issue

With the making ready of the domestic postal service, Thailand issued her first postage stamp on 4 August 1883; 43 years after "Penny Black" the world's first prepaid adhesive postage stamps appeared in England.

The first set of stamps had the portrait of King Rama V, was designed by William Ridgeway and printed by the Waterlow Printing business of England. The stamps bore no country name and were only for domestic use. The Thais had their own nickname for these stamps, "Solot", after the price of the stamp in the old currency.

Originally stamp denominations were in solot, att, sio, salung, the old Thai currency units. When the currency was changed to baht and satang, new stamps were issued.

On 1 July 1885, Thailand joined the Universal Postal Union, which coordinates the international postal system. In line with international convention, the country name and price in Arabic and Thai numerals were printed on the Thai stamps.

Subsequent commemorative issues in the Philatelic Museum

On 11 November 1908, Thailand supreme the 40th anniversary of the reign of King Rama V, the longest reigning Thai monarch then, with a new set of postage stamps.

In the reign of King Rama Vii (1925 - 1935), extra stamps marked 150 years under the reign of the Chakri Kings. The stamp had portraits of King Rama I (1782) and King Rama Vii (1932). What was the importance of this 150 year anniversary?

An astrologer had startling earlier that the Chakri dynasty would come to an end after 150 years. On 1 April 1932, the 150th anniversary of the dynasty, there was a big celebration to prove soothsayer wrong. Though the prediction wasn't wholly right, two months later, the absolute monarchy was overthrown in a coup on 24 June 1932.

In the reign of King Rama Viii (1935 - 1946), a extra set of stamps were issued in 1943 featuring the Monument to the Expeditionary Force. These stamps weren't meant to commemorate the Thai military attempt while World War I. Furthermore, the stamps were priced in "cents".

Called "Four States", these stamps were meant for use in the four Malay states of Kelantan, Perlis, Sara Buri (the state of Kedah today) and Trengganu. These states, which were ceded to Britain in the reign of King Rama V, came temporarily under Thai rule while World War Ii when Thailand declared war on Britain and the Usa.

The story of the stamps in the Philatelic Museum continues into the reign of King Rama Ix, the gift king. There were any memorable occasions when commemorative stamps were issued.

When the Benjarong (Thai earthenware in five original colors) issue won second prize at the International Stamp Competition in Vienna, Austria in 1981, these stamps secured a place in the Philatelic Museum.

The commemorative issue celebrating the Bangkok Bicentenary (1782 - 1982) provides the centerpiece of the Philatelic Museum. These set of stamps had the nine Chakri kings, Rama I to Rama Ix in denominations from 1 baht - 9 baht.

In 1999, Thailand supreme the 72nd (the 6th cycle) birthday of Hm the King with another set of stamps. Firm believers in astrology and the 12 zodiac signs, Thais reconsider anniversaries in multiples of 12 particularly 60, 72 very auspicious.

Besides the displays of prominent issues, the Philatelic Museum preserves hundreds of the old stamps and envelopes in frames filed in chronological order. I was surprised to see old envelopes used by early Chinese immigrants in Bangkok to remit money to China.

There's also a comfortable library well stocked with books, collectors' journals and stamp bulletins and a souvenir shop.

Since 1883, the Thai postal assistance has made more than 720 stamp issues. The Philatelic Museum Bangkok preserves this postal and stamp history of Thailand and the considerable events associated to these issues.

Philatelic Museum Bangkok - The History Of Thai Postage Stamps

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The Thai Baht and fluctuating transfer Rates

For anything visiting Phuket in Thailand, an inescapable point of concern is how much things will cost. Thailand has all the time been a relatively cheap place to go for a holiday. As a destination, Phuket is favored by everybody from Brits to Israelis. But the global economic urgency coupled with the effects of negative media coverage on Thailand has meant that less people are visiting the country. Yet perhaps bigger problem is today's replacement rate.

When I first arrived in Thailand, about four years ago, the pound sterling was changing at one to 75 baht. That was a decent replacement rate and it meant that my money went far, be it in Bangkok or Phuket. Now, I find myself in Phuket looking at an replacement rate that defies believe. The pound sterling is now trading at one to 52 baht. That's a decline of almost one third in just a few years.

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Prices in Thailand have not changed dramatically in that time. Expats living in the country indubitably wouldn't have noticed too much of a difference, but for people visiting from the United Kingdom, having one third less to spend than usual is a big change.

It isn't, however, that the baht has come to be especially strong. What is happening is that the pound is incredibly weak. It's so weak that at the occasion it's trading about one for one with the euro, which makes trips to Europe unappealing for any British people. The Brits are staying home. Money is tight sufficient as it is without the replacement rates working against people.

The Americans are in a similar situation. The dollar has typically been trading at about one to 35 baht in the past few years. Right now, it's down to one to 22 baht. Again, that's a decline of about one third. Ultimately, people will travel to Thailand regardless of political turmoil and internal squabbling. But these people are not going to travel if they don't have the money to do so.

With it being so close to 50 baht to the pound, changing money from sterling to baht is almost financial suicide. Conversely, it's not a bad time for British people to be paid in baht. As an example, I recently wired a large sum of baht to the Uk at an replacement rate of 52 baht to the pound. That's about as low as it is going to get and it's difficult to trust the baht in the long run, whereas the pound is a traditionally strong currency.

For all of us in Phuket and the rest of Thailand, we can only hope that 2009 brings more favorable replacement rates against the baht. The pound and the dollar have taken some indubitably big knocks this year and it couldn't have come at a worse time. The tourism commerce in Phuket needs all the help it can get at the moment, but some things are out of the control of the island and its people.

The Thai Baht and fluctuating transfer Rates

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The Thai Baht and ranging exchange Rates

For whatever visiting Phuket in Thailand, an certain point of concern is how much things will cost. Thailand has all the time been a relatively cheap place to go for a holiday. As a destination, Phuket is favored by everyone from Brits to Israelis. But the global economic accident coupled with the effects of negative media coverage on Thailand has meant that less citizen are visiting the country. Yet possibly bigger qoute is today's exchange rate.

When I first arrived in Thailand, about four years ago, the pound sterling was changing at one to 75 baht. That was a decent exchange rate and it meant that my money went far, be it in Bangkok or Phuket. Now, I find myself in Phuket looking at an exchange rate that defies believe. The pound sterling is now trading at one to 52 baht. That's a decline of practically one third in just a few years.

News From Thailand

Prices in Thailand have not changed dramatically in that time. Expats living in the country surely wouldn't have noticed too much of a difference, but for citizen visiting from the United Kingdom, having one third less to spend than usual is a big change.

It isn't, however, that the baht has come to be especially strong. What is happening is that the pound is incredibly weak. It's so weak that at the occasion it's trading about one for one with the euro, which makes trips to Europe unappealing for any British people. The Brits are staying home. Money is tight adequate as it is without the exchange rates working against people.

The Americans are in a similar situation. The dollar has typically been trading at about one to 35 baht in the past few years. Right now, it's down to one to 22 baht. Again, that's a decline of about one third. Ultimately, citizen will tour to Thailand regardless of political turmoil and internal squabbling. But these citizen are not going to tour if they don't have the money to do so.

With it being so close to 50 baht to the pound, changing money from sterling to baht is practically financial suicide. Conversely, it's not a bad time for British citizen to be paid in baht. As an example, I recently wired a large sum of baht to the Uk at an exchange rate of 52 baht to the pound. That's about as low as it is going to get and it's difficult to trust the baht in the long run, whereas the pound is a traditionally strong currency.

For all of us in Phuket and the rest of Thailand, we can only hope that 2009 brings more favorable exchange rates against the baht. The pound and the dollar have taken some surely big knocks this year and it couldn't have come at a worse time. The tourism business in Phuket needs all the help it can get at the moment, but some things are out of the operate of the island and its people.

The Thai Baht and ranging exchange Rates

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Bangkok New Airport ,Thailand's Suvarnabhumi

Suvarnabhumi Bangkok New Airport

For most citizen coming through the new Bangkok airport for the first time, will see nothing that would be sublime from any other new international airport that has been built in the last few years. Most new airports tend to be big box or tent like affairs, with wee or no aesthetic appeal, and this one falls neatly into the pile of boring designs. Most of those who have been through the old Bangkok airport would prefer it to the new as it had a character all of its own. Wanting to keep the old airport is understandable as you know where all things is, like where you need to go to catch your beloved airline, as well as where and what the policy is for getting your luggage, and the fastest way to get through customs and catch a taxi home, or to your beloved Bangkok Hotel, if you are a returning businessman or Thailand tourist.

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If citizen have a problem with the new Bangkok airport it would be with the way that they have the taxi stand set up. In the past, you went out through the doors on the end of the customs area, past the money changers, then the limos, and out the doors and into the cue for a taxi. You would tell the expediters where you want to go to, and away you went, it was a very plane and effective process. The taxi stand at the new airport is downstairs and it is not marked, so the first time that you come through, you have to shape out that the price to get to town has not risen overnight to 800 baht, but that you are at the lease taxi stands, which are in general there to fleece unsuspecting tourist I suspect. So, if you are reading this and you are going to be coming into Bangkok for the first time to the new airport, make note that you need to go down one level to catch the meter taxis from the baggage claims. When in Thailand always insist on the meter.

The good news is like a few of the best international cities in the world like Singapore, Chicago and San Francisco You will be able to get a mass transit train directly to the airport, this is suppose to happen soon and you can see the advance on your way into Bangkok as they increase the Bts line out. When this project is fulfilled, you will have access to the whole city, and you can get there quick regardless of the hour. On the last two trips from the airport to town, the fare all together was around 350 baht with the tolls and the airport taxi tax, a increase of 100 baht approximately, the time to a hotel on Suhkumvitt was just about the same, even though the distance increased.. If you are coming from or to Pattaya your tour time should decrease especially while the busy tour periods.

Bangkok New Airport ,Thailand's Suvarnabhumi

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10 Tips About Living Abroad

Living in a foreign culture isn't always an easy ride and takes time to get used to. I have lived overseas for more than 13 years and lived in 3 different continents, cultures and climates. Let's have a look at how to make the best of your experience:

Tip #1: Immerse yourself

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If you are new to a country, immerse yourself: check out the collective vehicle system, visit museums and galleries, drink coffee and tea at local cafes, join the gym, and talk to local people.

Tip #2: Learn the language

Enroll in a language class teaching the language most habitancy speak. This will allow you to slowly converse with the habitancy at the shops, hair dresser, taxi driver etc. And will give you a good comprehension into the culture.

Tip #3: Stop comparing

If you continuously compare your home country with your country of home you won't do yourself a favor. The fact is they are different, some things are good and some things are more challenging.

Tip #4: Write a journal

Write a personal journal about your caress living abroad. You might also want to stick in newspaper clippings or enthralling things you've found on your field trips

Tip #5: Share your experiences

Entertain those habitancy you left behind with news from the new world. You could write some of the news you've written about in your journal into a blog, upload some pictures and or send regular updates via email or mail.

Tip #6: Make new friends

Depending on the reason you live abroad you might be working or be an expat wife. Both of those scenarios will bring you in caress with new people. Production new friends takes time but the advantage of living abroad is that there are likely to be other habitancy in the same boat as you.

Tip #7: Keep caress with loved ones back home

Another good source of emotional support is a good connection with loved ones back home. In today's society it is very easy to stay connected via all the different collective networks like Facebook, Twitter etc. And the means of cheap of free call facilities like Skype, Viber etc. Use them!

Tip #8: Explore

Living abroad means that there is a whole new surrounding to explore. Treat yourself to holidays in places you've never been, visit the traveler attractions in the region, savour the local cuisine and come to be an explorer close from a new home.

Tip #9: request friends

As mentioned in tip #6 Production new friends takes time. Keeping old friends also requires nurturing those friendships. Offer your home, if you can, to visiting friends from your home country. You will be surprise how many intimate moments can be experienced while you're hosting your friends.

Tip #10: Enjoy!

Make it your daily practice to enjoy the differences. Hunt out things to do you enjoy, like trying new cuisine, visiting new sites and local attractions, meet with habitancy that you get along well with and that you would have never met if you stayed 'at home'.

These are suggestions that I would have found useful when I first moved abroad. Test them out for yourself and add your own.

10 Tips About Living Abroad

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Thailand straight through the Smoke!

(The Emerald Buddha Temple houses the coronation bier which on the day the monarch is to be crowned he is conveyable in to his coronation ceremony. It is the only time he ever sits in this chair. After his coronation it is conveyable once again to the Emerald Buddha Temple to wait for his successor amidst the countless emerald Buddha figures within it. )

Once easily described as the Land of Smiles, the kingdom of Thailand inhabitants are much more than frowning at the gift state of affairs ongoing. None of the major Asian & World press corps has described accurately what is taking place in the 'Jewel of Se Asia' now!

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You need not to have attended the gift Pm's alumni, Oxford University, to understand what is going on now in his charge (???), Thailand. A week & a half ago he publicly stated that only the Thai military could say Martial Law. Then a week ago he declared Martial Law in 15 provinces north of Bangkok which are overwhelmingly politically 'Red Shirt' in affiliation. Then several days ago he added 5 more provinces to the list!

He offered the protesters ( "not terrorists" ) the same choosing date of November 2010 in his valid government mediating proposal. The same offer he made before the protests began, which in fact is nothing more than an extension of 11 months of the customary scheduled elections one year after his political allies & the Thai military settled him in power along with the members of the senate in Thailand. Does whatever reading this begin to think that this sounds more & more like Thailand's neighbor to the west Myanmar (formerly Burma ), where the military openly runs & controls the citizen & government? Read some more, the facts beg you to! The Thai government controls the broadcast media, and influences the two English daily newspapers there. They had given the Udd ( Red Shirts ) their own channel, but that has been taken of the air. The former Thai Pm, Thaksin called for a military pull back and reopening of dialogue. Followed by a similar request by the head of the United Nations several days later. But all this is falling on deaf ears in Thailand, Pm, Mr. Abhisit Vejjajiva has outruled any more dialogue. I think that his handlers have nothing else but convinced him that he has power in all this. When he refused the originally scheduled elections because several key members of the military were scheduled to retire this spring and take their pensions with their successors assuming their duties (???). Does any person think this is the rhetoric is in any way, shape or form how a democracy governs? One has the same 'sick' feeling watching the Thailand supreme Court issue its findings on the assets of the former Pm Thaksin when they conveniently took over almost half of his in country assets, To say they appeared damned if they do, damned if they don't, it isn't much of a reach to dream what a controlling military does to persons who do not supervene their desires.

This is the same military that was to be revamped when their suitable scapegoat, the former Pm Thaksin was attending the U N general Assembly and had returned to his favorite Thailand. That must have shaken them out of their boots, they seized power, leveled these ongoing charges against him and every choosing his party or similar political parties won, they created ways to discredit the results!

I have not seen any of it, but have heard from very reliable Thai eye witnesses that the death toll in this ongoing battle for democracy was as recently as last Saturday, the daily account of dead was 20-30 persons, when in reality the dead were being settled in Thai army trucks and taken to only where the good lord knows where but the total was 200 dead! Last Saturday Alone.

Thais telling me their favorite country is just like Burma!

Even before this horrible escalation the Udd ( Red Shirts ) had won the war. It might not have been this week, this month or even this year but all the points had been won and it is just a matter of time before the open honest elections will be held. The Prime priest & the Senate will reflect the peoples majority votes! This violence is just the powerful's greediness being expressed, hopefully for the final time. How much Mr. Abhisit is responsible for all this, by his actions or inactions will be carefully when it all winds down.

This is the supervene up report to my former report on the field several months ago. I am writing & posting this from Singapore not Thailand.

Thailand straight through the Smoke!

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An Immigration Tragedy

For all those who protest any attempt to crack down on illegal immigration... For those who claim that we should pursue an open borders procedure at all costs... I can only hope that you will study the story of Zina Linnik and consider a procedure which is putting our children at serious risk.

Police believe that 12-year-old Zina was kidnapped on the Fourth of July while watching a fireworks display. She was a child who was enjoying freedom, and the best of what America has to offer.

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Now, investigators are questioning a 42-year-old convicted sex offender from Thailand in association with her death. Terapon Adhahn had been living in the U.S. Illegally. And now police are wondering either he caused the death of an innocent girl.

Adhahn, who was found guilty of incest about 17 years ago, is being held for questioning in relation to the Linnik murder.

During a news conference, Tacoma Police Chief Don Ramsdell stated, "Our hearts and prayers are with the Linnik house and we will continue to put forth our best efforts to bring the perpetrator of this senseless and horrific crime to justice."

Any presume is innocent until proven guilty, and Adhahn is entitled to a fair hearing, if he is ultimately charged with Zina's death. He has, in fact, denied having anyone to do with the girl's abduction.

Yet, Fox News is reporting that his conviction for incest should have prompted deportation. Let's be clear--court records indicate he is a diagnosed pedophile. In addition, a quest certify indicates that girl's undergarments----a particularly damning piece of evidence--were taken from Adhahn's apartment.

The police chief says that the discovery of Zina's body caused "great anguish" for her family, Tacoma police, and Fbi agents. This is a tragedy which will cause unspeakable grief for all those who knew and loved her. The fact that an illegal immigrant may have been responsible makes the tragic death all the more difficult to bear.

This nation was built through the courage, strength, and commitment of untold numbers of immigrants. Most of us, in fact, trace our ancestry to foreign lands. An immigrant who enters this country legally, who's willing to reduce for the sake of his or her newly-adopted country, represents the epitome of what makes this country great.

Unfortunately, there are some foreigners who are violent criminals who have no company being on our shores. We may not even comprehend they're here--until tragedy strikes. Why is it that some collective officials are willing to ignore our immigration qoute until some horrific event occurs--an event which makes us comprehend just how vulnerable we are to foreign thugs who have no regard for our laws--and no regard for our kids?

An Immigration Tragedy

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Why Thailand?

With some of the finest luxury hotels the world has to offer, Thailand is the perfect destination for families and couples alike. Luxury villas are not hard to come by, and meet the top standards. A welcome break for the weary traveller who requires flexibility of movement away from the holidaying crowds. Whether you are seeking leisure or an adventure, there are many activities on offer for every person to enjoy the splendour of Asia.

Thailand is the Asian destination of selection due to the various activities and resorts on offer. Travelling the length and breadth of the island is made easy with its low cost rail network and "tuk tuk's".

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With its world class hospitals and low crime rate, holiday maker's minds are put at ease to enjoy all Thailand has to offer.

With many beautiful locations just hours away from the capital Bangkok, weekend breaks are increasingly popular. Within a join of hours, a beach thirsty private from Japan could be relaxing beside a inexpressive pool and enjoying that world celebrated Thai pace of life.

Luxury villas of Thailand offer capability and value are gaining a global reputation for being some of the best in the world and are often featured as the peak of living in newspaper and magazine publications. As a traveller you must conclude Whether you want the hustle and bustle of city life, say in Bangkok or a more tranquil solitude such as a beach resort. The two are never too far away from each other so if you were to turn your mind half way through, this would not be a problem with the low cost trip services!

Luxury villas are not the only thing population are drawn to in Thailand. With the Andaman coast and the celebrated attractiveness of Phuket on offer Thailand is truly a paradise. If you fancy something more tropical, head to the south of the island where the top rainfall gives the landscape a lush green framing.

Being the host of the Johnnie Walker super tour, professional golfer Tiger Woods is among the many fans of the world class golf courses Thailand has to offer, which attract many pro golfers every year.

If scuba diving is on your cards, you have made the right selection in Thailand! With its tropical seas that say a year round warmth, you can enjoy the attractiveness of the surrounding coral reefs in the crystal clear water. With mountain climbing on offer in Krabi and diving destinations rated some of the best in the world, the only challenge Thailand offers is to try and reach boredom!

Why Thailand?

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Smiles and Colors

Colorful and Smiling life is what everybody craves for. That is why we want separate colors in our life. Sticking to the same old program again and again is so monotonous and robotic leading our lives to a mere humdrum existence. For students, it may be a separate day for they learn about various subjects. But their life also consists of a very leading factor called 'bunk' which makes their life repetitive. For working professionals, can you differentiate Tuesdays from Wednesdays without giving reference to your meetings or daily targets? It is the same day for everybody in the end.

This is not in the case of people of Thailand. They have colors assigned for every day. Everyday has its own colorful significance. The color of Monday is Yellow. If you are born on Monday, then Yellow is your lucky color. The present Thai King Rama Ix was born on Monday and that is why his flag is yellow. The queen was born on Friday and so her auspicious color is Blue, and so is the color of her flag. Red is the color of Sunday, pink for Tuesday, green for Wednesday, orange for Thursday and violet for Saturday. In olden days, they used to wear clothes agreeing to the colors.

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Now we all know the statues of Buddha have separate postures. Sleeping, sitting etc, and every posture characterize a day and the color. For example if you are born on Tuesday, your Buddha idol will be a reclining Buddha and there are spellbinding chances that you will become policeman, soldier, chemist, cook or hairdresser. Your basic nature would be brave, active, broad and serious.

Some of you may call it superstition, but I call it faith. It is not meaningless as in Indian culture too every day is assigned to a separate God. For example, Saturday for Hanuman. It is all about faith and if such faith is bringing colors to our life, then why not believe it? It is better to assign colors to days than to religions. Fantasize a country like India, where people find religions in colors wears the same color on separate day. Won't it be a colorful unity?

After visiting Thailand you will find that it is a place which gifts you joy, makes you comfortable, appeals you, bewitches you and intoxicates you. This is not the characteristic of Thailand, but are the qualities of Thai people who make it so spellbinding and spellbinding with a straightforward tool called 'Smile'. Strangers take no time in breaking the ice and help you out of any situation.

English speaking Thai are considerably low in Thailand. Conjecture being, Thailand was the only country in South-East Asia that was never colonized. Why? Because they had maintained good relationship with each and every country. The King of Thailand took pains to visit countries to articulate friendly relationship with them. Smile worked for them again. These are straightforward ideas of life which are rarely followed. There natural politeness clearly reflects in their language where politeness has nothing to do with age, position and power. It is about mutual respect and connectivity.

If the whole world learns this Thai language of smile, we won't need bald eagles or dove to spread peace. Hope you don't smile because you are photographed, but you are photographed because you smile. Most of the youth today only smile if they want to change their Dp on collective networking sites. Smiling is a difficult thing, smiling Thai people does not mean they are happy, it is just that they face urgency in life with a smile.

Just like Indian culture, Thai culture is also very rich, and has various ethnic and religious traditions, but I felt the need of highlighting these two points which I felt was very indispensable to follow. Keep Smiling!

Smiles and Colors

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New energy Opportunities in China - Is It All in the Grid?

In the wake of the problems in Japan, there's been an great estimate of media attentiveness given to the Chinese solar industry. With China's government announcing a short-term switch of 5 Mega Watts of production from nuclear to solar. This news has brought investors running to the world's largest producer of clean and green vigor technology. But are there other great less risky opportunities?

Why not Solar?

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In the short-term solar is obviously going to get a boost from this unhappy set of circumstances, but in the medium-term solar's real future is still undecided. The question is that solar is more expensive than nuclear; takes up more space than nuclear, and has the awkward further factor of only being available while daylight hours.

Without proper storage options which may be other 10 - 20 years away, solar may never be a practical alternative to nuclear power.

Why not Nuclear?

Well apart from the dirty looks nearby the dinner table when you announce you've put your money into nuclear power, there's the certain fact that the whole business is on hold and there's no defined path for advent back on line. So if you don't mind investing for the long-term you'll be Ok as ultimately things will go back to normal, but in the interim you'd be great off seeing elsewhere for profits.

So what's this about the Grid?

There's a merge of factors that are not in dispute when it comes to China's vigor policy; the country needs more and when that capacity comes on line they'll need the potential of delivering that vigor to the consumer.

This means investment in a national grid, and while interconnection with that grid varies by type of power generation once the power's online the grid functionality is the same.

China is going to invest billions of dollars in construction up a extremely functional "green" (well as green as it's inherent to be anyway) grid to ensure sensible power transmission nearby the country.

This means that investors seeing to take reasonable short-term positions in China's clean technology business ought to be taking a very serious look at putting their money into grid infrastructure companies.

As the Chinese urbanisation schedule continues unabated (it's worth noting that urbanisation rates in the country are far, far lower than those in the West) power consumption in the country is going to rise and rise.

Instead of trying to predict which form of clean vigor will be the eventual long-term winner, you may well be great off focusing on the fact that all vigor is delivered to consumers in the same way.

New energy Opportunities in China - Is It All in the Grid?

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A Look at Xanthones and Mangosteen

We've all heard the news for years about how important it is to get the right number of antioxidants in order to keep our bodies salutary and ward of disease. Now there's a new classification of antioxidants called xanthones, first discovered in the mangosteen fruit, which are poised to be one of the biggest discoveries of modern science in terms of health benefits.

While the idea of antioxidants may seem even more confusing when adding in an additional one aspect, xanthones are fairly easy to understand, given their clear-cut, scientifically-proven benefits.

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What are Xanthones?

Technically put, xanthones are a set of chemical compounds that can be synthetically produced, but are more often found and more potent in their natural settings. Xanthones are marvelous antioxidants in a family of phytonutrients.

To date, researchers have discovered and classified practically 200 xanthones, 40 of which are found in the mangosteen fruit. As a matter of fact, xanthones were first discovered when scientists began studying the health benefits of mangosteen based on its primary indigenous curative uses.

Research into the medicinal properties of xanthones found in the mangosteen began in the 1970s, and moderately picked up pace as scientists began seeing more inviting nutritional properties. In the middle of 1996 and 2005, an exponential number of investigate has been done in regards to mangosteen and its xanthones, and even more studies are in the works.

Xanthones in Mangosteen

To recap, xanthones are marvelous antioxidants, and out of the 200 xanthones known to science, 40 of them are found in mangosteen.

But what do the antioxidant properties of the xanthones in mangosteen do for you? Antioxidants function as a equilibrium for free radicals in the body. Free radicals are potentially harmful, yet oftentimes natural substances in your body that, when left free reign, build up and cause diseases like cancer, heart disease, and more.

The xanthones function to tour through your body, honestly mopping up the free radicals on their way, leaving your body cleaner and healthier than before.

Some of the most important xanthones found in mangosteen include:

Alpha-mangostin

Beta-mangostin

Gamma-mangostin

Garcinone

Garcinone A

Garcinone C

Garcinone D

Mangostanol

Gartanin

These, among other xanthones, have been touted by independent researchers to have properties to consist of antiinflammatory, anticonvulsant, antiallergic, antitumor, and antiplatelet, to name just a few.

Known Benefits of Xanthones

Scientific investigate has made it abundantly clear that no other fruit compares in its health benefits to mangosteen, due to its xanthones and other nutritional properties.

Helping to fight cancer is just one of the many properties that different xanthones perform. For instance, one study performed in Japan showed that the xanthone alpha-mangostin had apparent properties that suppressed the improvement of tumors. Another, performed in China, found the xanthone garcinone E to show considerable anticancer effects in terms of liver, lung, and gastric cancer cells.

In addition, some xanthones have shown considerable antimicrobial effects in terms of fighting Mrsa (methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus), which is a bacterial strain known for its tenacious resistance to pharmacologic antibiotics. One scientific study also showed that alpha-mangostin, beta-mangostin, and garcinone B to have pronounced inhibition effects on a strain of tuberculosis.

As if that isn't enough, xanthones have also been scientifically proven to help lower Ldl, the bad cholesterol, by protecting the Ldl from advent into feel with free radicals, thus leaving it unable to oxidize and attach to arterial walls and cause atherosclerosis.

Taking into catalogue the anticancer, antiinflammatory, antimicrobial, and cholesterol-lowering effects of the xanthones found in mangosteen, here is just a sampling of the other many benefits that science has whether researched or is in the process of discovering:

Antiviral

Helps lower blood pressure

Helps fight fatigue

Antidepressant

Prevents stomach ulcers

Aids with weight loss

Antiaging

Combats diarrhea

Pain reducer

Heart protective

Analgesic

Anti-parkinsonian and anti-Alzheimer

Lowers fevers

Builds immunity to disease

Antiallergen

Antifungal

Antiparasitic

Indeed, even now some health practitioners are suggesting drinking mangosteen juice for relief to people who suffer from the following diseases:

Infections

Skin ailments like psoriasis, seborrhea, or eczema

Joint problems and arthritis

Dementia

Anxiety and depression

Cancer

Chronic pain

Chronic fatigue syndrome

Ulcers

Diabetes

The Fruit with Xanthone Power

As time goes by, it's becoming less and less uncanny how primary and folk rehabilitation seems to have a grasp on the nutritional properties of food better than modern science has in the past. Indeed, it seems in some cases, especially in that of the mangosteen, science is working to catch up.

The mangosteen fruit is believed to have originated in the Moluccas and the Sunda Islands. It's been used for decades upon decades by people from Thailand, the Philippines, and China in folk rehabilitation to treat dysentery, skin disorders like eczema, diarrhea and cystitis, among other ailments.

One of the reasons why mangosteen is only now gaining notoriety and popularity is because, for many years, direct importation of the fruit from other countries has been illegal, based on governmental regulations to help quarantine the Asian fruit fly. Unfortunately, the mangosteen tree doesn't grow well in most or all climates in the United States, so attempts to grow the fruit here have been relatively unsuccessful.

However, as science has begun proving the unsurpassed curative value of the rare mangosteen fruit and its xanthones, juices and preserves are becoming more and more facilely available.

In terms of taste, the mangosteen itself is thought about one of the most exquisitely tasty fruits nature has to offer. Often called the "Queen of Fruits," the taste of mangosteen is unique, but is often described as sweet and tangy with hints of pear, ripe strawberry, and grape.

After sampling mangosteen, it's easy to see why this fruit is so beloved in Thailand due to its taste. And after studying about the benefits of the xanthones found in mangosteen, it's even more clear how nutritionally beneficial this overwhelming fruit is.

A Look at Xanthones and Mangosteen

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Thailand Real Estate: Is There a property Tax?

Thailand does not have a real property tax principles and, for the time being, there are two local taxes applicable to population who own immovable property.

The first tax is the Local improvement Tax imposed upon population who whether own or possess land. This tax rate varies agreeing to the estimated land value as appraised by the local authorities. Allowances may be granted if the owner utilizes the land for personal dwellings, animal husbandry and/or the cultivation of crops. The extent of these allowances depends upon the location of the land. It is said that the rates are so low that officials don't usually bother to derive on a yearly basis. This tax is also levied on houses, structure or any other improvements built on the land.

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Then there is the House and Land Tax, which applies to the owner of a house, building, structure or land that is whether rented or put to market use. Taxable property under the House and Land Tax includes houses not busy by the owner, market and market structure and land used in association therewith. The tax rate is 12.5% of the estimated yearly rental value of the property or the actual rental value, whichever is the highest. Owner busy residences are exempt from this tax. Note, however, that this exemption applies only to individuals, not to juristic persons, because juristic persons are deemed to use their property commercially. In other words, a enterprise that purchases an office has to pay the tax, even if the enterprise uses the premises to serve its own offices. There is a project to replace the House and Land Tax with a real property tax within 2 years, wherein the rate would be from 0.01% up to 1% of the estimated value of the property, depending upon the property type. The rate would be 0.01% on agricultural land, 0.1% on personal residences; 0.5% on market structure and 1% on undeveloped land.

Note that it is inherent to mitigate the cost of the House and Land Tax. If, for example, you rent condominium in Pattaya fully furnished, you may choose to execute two agreements with your lessee. The first bargain will be for the rental of the condominium unit and the second bargain will be for the rental of the furniture and/or additional services (if any are provided). This will reduce the cost of the House and Land tax because the tax only applies to the yearly rent received from renting out the property, but not on the rental wage received from renting out the furniture, etc.

If the rental agreements are executed between two individuals, there is no Vat applicable on the furniture or aid agreements. If, however, the owner of the condominium is a enterprise and if the enterprise is registered for the Vat, then the Vat will apply at 7% on the furniture or aid agreements executed between the lessor and the lessee.

For example, if you rent out condominium in Pattaya fully furnished for a rental fee of The 60,000 per month and only make one bargain with your Lessee, then you'll have to pay a yearly House and Land Tax as follows: 60,000 x 12 x 12.5% = The 90,000. You can save on taxes legally by plainly breaking the rental fee down into two agreements. For example, the rental fees may be The 35,000 per month for renting out the condominium and The 25,000 for renting out the furniture. If you break the rent down in this way, the Land and House Tax will be only The 35,000 x 12 x 12.5%= The 52,500. If, however, the owner of the condominium is a enterprise registered for Vat, then it will have to apply the Vat to the furniture lease agreement. Even so, the enterprise owning the property will save money on taxes, because the Lessee supports the cost of the Vat.

The matter of the withholding tax also applies when renting out. If an personel leases a property to another personel in Thailand, the cost of the rent is not field to withholding taxes. However, when a enterprise is renting a property, then the enterprise will have to deduct a withholding tax from the amount of the rent paid to the owner (whether an personel or a company). The amount withheld must be paid to the tax supervision on behalf of the owner who will use the withholding tax as a tax prestige against the yearly wage tax. The rate of the withholding tax is 5% in Thailand. Note that when a rental fee is paid outside Thailand, the amount of the tax to be withheld from the cost is 15%. Furthermore, if you are a non-resident offered a rental warrant by a developer, never forget to take the withholding tax into catalogue when calculating your inherent income.

Thailand Real Estate: Is There a property Tax?

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Myth About Female Muay Thai in Thailand

"Women are not allowed to train Muay Thai, Muay Thai is too difficult for Woman"

An incident in the 1970s, that complex a beloved female Tv announcer climbing into the ring at the Lumpini stadium, became a temporary set-back to female Muay Thai.

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From the superstitious point of view, women were not allowed to come into touch with monks in Buddhist countries. Thailand was a country rich in its Buddhist beliefs; monks blessed the rings and Monkols prior to any fight.

It was then rumored that the incident consuming the female Tv announcer angered the spirits guarding the ring. Coincidental or not, the next half dozen or so fighters who fought after she she stepped into the ring were injured by cuts and bruises. The Thais' superstitiouns led to a ban on female Muay Thai fighting.

The ban was, fortunately, only temporary. It was not long before female bouts resumed. However, female bouts were scheduled to the end of every event, as a precaution against any Man or spirit. Despite reinstating female Muay Thai, most Thai camps still did not allow the participation of female fighters. Even in the rare event that they do, there are cut off rings for men and women.

Interestingly enough, due to the absence of Thai female fighters the Western fighters started to dominate the Muay Thai scene. Since it was a matter of pride that the Thai sport should gain priority recognition in the world, regardless of sexes, the Thai government began to focus on female fighters again and made sure that they emerged victorious among others.

Throughout the world, Muay Thai is recognized and appreciated for its exquisite aerobic conditioning. Women who did aerobic kickboxing commonly became acquainted with the term "Muay Thai" and its characteristics. Its popularity soared, bringing the Thai work on over seas and nurturing exquisite champions from namely, Australia and Britain. The term "Thaibo" was then adapted to be a fusion of Thai boxing and Aerobics exercise.

It is undeniable that female Muay Thai fighting has reached its capability levels, to a point where many fights are being televised in cable channels throughout the world.

Amateur Muay Thai have also benefited from an influx of women, as was evident while the large Ifma event in Kazakhstan where there were dozens of exquisite female bouts. While training can be difficult, most women who gave Muay Thai a first shot ended up addicted to the sport.

Myth About Female Muay Thai in Thailand

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What's New With Ufos

Once again the field of Ufos is in the top of the news.

From strange contrails in the skies to mysterious blue lights over shopping centers to the more dramatic sightings over Chinese airports that has resulted in emergency landings and their government's alerts.

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I've been in the Ufo field for decades now. I'm not a professional Ufologist meaning I don't make money from this research. I've seen my share of Ufos up close and done untold thousands of hours chatting with witnesses around the world via the web and radio and news services.

Let me first create something important and that is the acronym Ufo stands only for Unidentified Flying Object. Just an object that is flying, not falling, and is unidentified. What we mean by unidentified is just that. Oneself can't identify it, experts in aerial objects and phenomena can't identify it. Now lets be fair and comprehend that sometimes our soldiery won't identify an experiment or classified air or spacecraft of theirs for good reason, so we must take with a grain of salt any explanation from our military.

Some population often make the mistake of believing that any strange object seen in the skies is some sort of alien spacecraft. We as a culture need to go back and study the history of Ufos to see how the field of explore evolved and the mistakes and victories therein.

The ideas that some Ufos are of extraterrestrial origin is referred to as the Extraterrestrial Hypothesis. Believe it or not, it was our own government in the late 1940s that came up with that one. Soon after it was squashed and turmoil ensues thereafter. For over half a century if one mentioned one had seen a Ufo one might find oneself hauled off to the nearest reasoning institution. It's funny how things have changed because nowadays if you don't believe in extraterrestrials one might find oneself left alone in a bizarre form of ostracizing that is oxymoronic (I know that's not a real word) to say the least.

Let's just say that in today's world of Ufos, to this date, not one item of corporal proof has emerged to the collective sector. I didn't say no evidence supporting the Eth hasn't been presented, I said no corporal proof.

Now others will chime in that such and such saw this or that government agent said that and some document emerged straight through the leisure of data Act, but that's only evidence that has yet to contribute corporal proof.

So again, we've got tons of evidence from trace cases, gathered material from the sighting of a Ufo that shows something interacted with the environment, people, flora, and fauna, documents alluding to some sort of coverup of a large scale concerning the Ufo issue and it's witnesses, sworn testimony from some very credible witnesses and whistle blowers.

So we're still not out of the park in many areas of Ufology and we should look at other theories to the origins of some Ufos and to not jump the gun expecting that space aliens are behind every flash of light or speeding object in the heavens.

It makes for a better scientific foundation to this field of research.

I like to keep on top of such Ufo news and chat with many honorable and respected Ufologists on my blog, ufomafia.com/blog. Today's network of dedicated Ufologists have such a wide array of enriching educational data that it's not only adventurous but fun as well. You'll learn a lot about history, the corporal sciences, art, literature and more. It's quite an extraordinary field for sure.

What's New With Ufos

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Is Thailand Safe to Visit?

As a longtime resident of Thailand I have a inescapable understanding into either or not Thailand is safe for visitors or those wishing to stay longer term.

There are normally multiple instances of unsafe activities going on in the country at any chosen time. I will tell the major areas where foreigners need to take extra precautions to stay safe during their stay.

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Bangkok, the Capital of Thailand, is ground zero for political movements. The country has not seen stability politically in a very long time. Some would say it was never garage in modern times. Currently there are red shirt groups and yellow shirt groups that are in opposition. The forces sometimes gets complex and stages forces coups - and there is always fighting - sometimes lethal as groups confront each other, and effort to convert the power buildings that exists. This is a constant struggle and matters dinky who happens to be in power at the moment, there is always unrest in Bangkok.

The problems are compounded when police and forces are called on to withhold order in the streets... Sometimes the hand is heavy and they end up killing protestors. This does not help the situation and it can escalate from there.

As a visitor to Thailand you would not want to be spending your vacation or any time at all in Bangkok when there are bombs going off and forces and/or police in the streets to control the demonstrations. It is just a very bad idea. It is not safe and you will not have a good time. If all you are coming to Thailand for is to spend time in Bangkok, choose a time when there is peace in the country or at least a small risk of violence letting loose.

Another area that is often times not safe - and currently it is not, is the deep south. Muslim separatists in the southern Thailand provinces have waged a violent campaign against both Thai Buddhist and Thai Muslim believers that have not joined their radical organization. There have been practically 3,000 deaths in the south over the past few years, though no foreigners are known to have been killed yet. Thailand tourism officials do not recommend that foreigners visit these southernmost provinces and you would be wise to limit your travels to the other provinces.

Natural disasters like the devastating tsunami of 2004 have the inherent to re-occur any time, though the chances are apparently not high that a similar even will recur in Thailand anytime soon.

Pattaya, Patong Beach, Patpong, and other tourist filled areas can be bad news at night. There are robberies and assaults that occur nightly, but if you are not one of the ones bar-fining girls or ladyboys for a night of fun in your room you will probably be Ok. There are a estimate of things you should know about Thai culture - which goes well beyond this article. In my last paragraph of this report I will give you someone else reserved supply that will help you immensely.

Is Pattaya safe? Sometimes. Is Patong Beach safe? More often than Pattaya, yes. Is Patpong safe? Not so safe in general, no I would not reconsider it safe.

Your mileage may vary during your trip if you plan on availing yourself of the adult carnival of fun in Thailand. You may well find yourself beat up and in the hospital or you might have a perfectly safe time, despite indulging in outrageous nighttime activities. It is hard for me to give a blanket statement about either Thailand is safe for all people because all people are different.

The last time anything ventured a guess there were practically 100,000 foreigners living in Thailand as long-term expats here for more than vacation. during a typical year when there is not much political fighting in Bangkok there are over 12 million foreign tourists per year enjoying the country. Very few of them have a problem with their corporeal safety while they are here. Most of them take some precautions. Many of them are frequent visitors.

Visiting or staying in Thailand can be risky or it can be relatively safe and enjoyable. Probably the biggest factor in the equation is you. If you are the type that looks for issue or does not try hard to avoid issue you might find it in Thailand. If you do not have any palpate in the country you will probably be doing yourself a gargantuan favor by researching more about Thai culture and the experiences of foreigners in the country.

Is Thailand Safe to Visit?

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The Good News and the Bad News About Eye Floaters

The Good News

I've always been a good news first type of guy. Well, here it is: If the vitreous humor has already pulled off of the back of the eye safely, it won't be under tension and will not pull the retina off the back of the eye. So, no retinal detachment. This is called a Pvd (posterior vitreous detachment).

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You can think of the interface in the middle of the vitreous and retina like plastic wrap: it's clingy. If it's already pulled away from its general position where it pushes the retina flat, it won't rip or tear holes at it starts to shrink. This type of pulling causes a base health in the Erm, or epi-retinal membrane, which can tear in the town of the retina's vision, creating a 'Macular hole.' I'm sure you perceive you don't want a hole in the middle of your vision. It is inherent to self-monitor for this by using an Amsler Grid. The wrinkling that occurs where the retina and vitreous interface causes scar tissue to form. To get an idea of how this occurs mechanically in the eye, just lift up your sleeve and consideration how it wrinkles.

The Bad News

Now we're on to the bad news. That is, if you have a posterior vitreous detachment (Pvd), the floaters in your eyes are more noticeable. In general, eye floaters are more descriptive in a keen background which has a lot of contrast.

The most base posterior vitreous detachments form a ring over the head of the optic nerve. This is called a Weiss's ring. The shape of the ring is caused by the issue of attachments at the rim of the optic nerve head. This ring is often critical visually, and is far larger and more condensed than your first-rate floaters. The more first-rate type of eye floaters are stringy with undefined shapes. Also, a typical eye floater is more often mobile than the ring-shaped one. In general, a someone who has a posterior vitreous detachment has greater risk for retinal detachment (Rd) - this is because they are experiencing changes in vitreous humor already.

The Good News and the Bad News About Eye Floaters

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