Thailand for Your Medical Tourism

Some are unable to fully comprehend the phrase medical tourism. Exactly why would an individual deliberately go on a yearly vacation, only to undergo a surgical procedure or some other type of medical procedure? Normally, going on vacation conjures up visions of hanging out at the ocean, soaked in suntan lotion and sipping your favorite cocktail. When we consider medical procedures, we visualize dreary cuisine, doctors that may be overstressed, and unfriendly hospital workers. An individual basically does not fit those two concepts with each other. However, medical tourism is a topic you can expect to hear more about over the years.

Perhaps, one thing which is making medical tourism very popular, is without a doubt "Obama Care". The present President's efforts at restructuring medical coverage for United States voters is contentious, to put it mildly. Whether you are for it or against it, it is unquestionably bringing focus on the fact that medical costs have now increased. Having said that, a growing number of insurance firms are now setting out to include medical procedures that can be carried out in another country. Perhaps they see that the individual is without a doubt being looked after and also the charge that the insurance firm must cover will be much lower. Thailand is one of the best places anywhere to have almost any surgical treatment you can imagine.

Thailand was indeed seriously affected by the monetary meltdown in the late nineteen nineties. The way it ended up Thailand grew to become an extraordinary bargain-hunter's haven for a lot of things, among them surgical procedures. And so Thailand's medical tourism business was created. Individuals from the United States and around the world have since made the trip to Thailand for its remarkable and modern medical services.

Thailand has a number of fully accredited medical centers, all with very cutting-edge, advanced medical establishments. Bumrungrad International Hospital is certainly remarkable, featuring its in excess of 1,000,000 square feet looking a lot more like a huge super mall than the usual health care facility. The degree of support services is outstanding. English is spoken fluently and the hospital actually provides translators for just about any language. Not only does an individual obtain personalized treatment as well as qualified treatment, the hospital even provides travel support.

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Thai Girls And Thailand Travel

If you've hit an age where meeting attractive younger (than you) girls or women seems to be a wicked challenge, maybe it's time to consider opening your mind to new horizons. Yes I'm talking about Thai girls and Thai women here. And doing it from a guy who has lived in Thailand for the best part of four years.

But before we meet the perfect Thai girl, why Thailand? Maybe it's the attention. It's hard not to be taken by people who seem to be always smiling, welcoming and friendly. And with a great 'not too serious about anything much' attitude and the Thai Buddhist qualities, well, it's all quite compelling.

Anyway, Thailand is a world in itself, so be prepared to be amazed and have all your normal 'logical' thinking replaced with ongoing illogical and strange behavior. In other words, Thailand is a completely weird place. Just remember that when you travel to a foreign country, after you get there, you become the foreigner...

Amongst all its differences, the pleasures are true and fascinating. There's no doubt Thailand is a crazy world. But strangely enough, it seems to hang together well. And the proof is in the pudding... having thrown myself into this lifestyle, I now feel somewhat 'apprehensive' about having to travel to a Western country and meet Western people. Why would I feel that way?

Maybe because I've been immersed in smiling, polite Thai people who always welcomed me and wanted to know about me. Maybe because I've been surrounded by Thai food that is always so important everywhere you go. Food that... "shows how we delicately care about feelings of people." And then there's the Thai girls...

Let's talk about Thai girls and the Thai world through these 5 simple steps:

Step one: Go to http://yourthaigirl.com and read the downloadable ebook, (and while you're there sign up to the Thai Girl, Thai Life newsletter). In this ebook you'll learn all about Thai culture, lifestyle, and of course, Thai girls.

You get savvy on what to do, what not to do, when to do it, and where to go and do it. You'll know what it all means, and the ebook will give you the 'inside picture' to the world of Thailand.

Step two: Book your ticket to Thailand as soon as you can. When you arrive, prepare for the slam... the heat... an invisible hammer that hits you with its mighty force... rushes to greet you with the power of a thousand simmering angels...

And yet, before you know it, you'll be slipping down the long passageways inside the cool air conditioned airport. Get your bags, your bearings, your Thai girl book and prepare for your biggest journey. (Hey, Thailand is not as hot as you think :-)

Step three: Get out and meet and greet people. Prepare your name card, your few words of Thai, a nice hotel or resort with a funny name, and your best clothes. In this country, it pays to look good. Thai's like to be clean, fresh, and attractive. No kidding.

Step four: Just be you. Expect lots of questions. The Thai's want to learn English... speak English with you. You'll have a great, precious, remarkable time. Be adventurous. Be a tourist. Learn new things. Travel on the sky train.

Step five: That's it, all done. Remember though to keep light-hearted. The Thai's like to have fun, not be 'too serious' and will appreciate it if you show respect to the things that are important to them. The key word is enjoyment. Have fun.

Actually, there's really nothing to it. It's so easy (once you're here!) The main thing is to keep your calm, appreciate the beauty of Thai girls, seek out quality relationships, and let me know how it all goes, okay.

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Explore the Mystic Beauty of Chiang Rai

Where would you want to go if you wanted to soak in the timeless and conventional beauty of Thailand? Chiang Rai is the answer. Evolving north east of Chiang Mai City, south west of Amphoe Chiang Saen on the Mae Khong and south of the Myanmar border and Amphoe Mae Sai, Chiang Rai city has the Mae Kok River flowing along its north side border.

Visitors can enjoy some of the most exciting festivals and events whilst enjoying a stay in this beautiful city of Thailand.The Wai Sa Phaya Mengrai or Phokhun Mengrai Maharat Festival showcases the Buang Suang worshipping ceremony. The Tribal Culture & Mexican Sunflower Blossom exhibits a splendid sight with the golden burst of Mexican Sunflower fields on the mountain. This festival holds unique entertainment with tribal food, tribal culture demonstrations, tea tasting, traditional Northern dinner and tribal sport competition.

The most popular festival of this city is the King Meng Rai Festival. This colorful festival is held from the January 26th of every year till the 1st week of February. This festival is marked with colorful and spectacular parades of all times, also accompanied by cultural performances and various other competitions. The main essence of the festival is to celebrate the establishment of the Lanna Kingdom of Chiang Rai. The King Mengrai Stupa and the King Meng Rai Great Memorial are two of the famous places frequented by people often during the festival as they are famous landmarks of historical importance. The city bustles with energy as the locals and the tourists throng the streets to view the vibrant parade. The streets are dotted with food stalls and other little shops selling souvenirs and other decorative household items.

Enjoy Fabulous, Flamboyant Festivals

The biggest and the most flamboyant festival of Thailand is the Songkran Festival which is celebrated with as much enthusiasm and joy in Chiang Rai as in all the other parts of the nation. Apart from the parades held in the city and the various beauty contests, there are also boat races held between Thailand, Laos, China and Myanmar on the Mekong River. With myriad activities, this day is truly marked with some extremely spectacular visions of the traditions and customs of this panoramic country. The Loi Krathong Festival is celebrated to worship and thank the Goddess of Water with the lighting of candles by floating them in vessels made of banana leaves.

Chiang Rai holds this festival pompously on a large scale and provides all kinds of entertainment like folk plays, food stalls and various stores selling local handicrafts. Chiang Rai is well known for its delicious lychees and holds the Lychee Festival where one can even splurge their money on these sinfully tasty little treats at reasonable prices. The Dok Siao Ban or Blooming Siao Flower Festival is held at at Phu Chi Fa along with tribal cultural performances and sports competitions. Visitors can travel on a aromatic path at the Chiang Rai Flower Festival that offers the Miss Thinn Thai Ngarm Contest, an agricultural fair, varieties of flowers, flower gardens and flower processions. Tourists can enjoy a stay filled with comfort and pleasure at hotels in Chiang Rai that celebrate the spirit of freedomand hold the aura of an unforgettable vacation surrounded withvibrant festivals.

Ubon Ratchathani - A Retirement Haven

When planning for your retirement you should consider the possibility of retiring to Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand.

Why should Ubon Ratchathani be included on a list of places to enjoy your leisure days? It is a foreign country. The native language is Thai. It is far from your homeland.

Many people, when the are nearing the age of retirement face the realization that they must adjust their lifestyle. Retirement income is often much less than during their working life. Where do you make the cuts?

Ubon Ratchathani is the largest province in Thailand in terms of land mass. It is located in the northeastern region and is bordered by the Mekong River and Laos to the East and Cambodia to the south.

One of the main points for making a new home here is the cost of living. It is easy to maintain an excellent quality of life for a fraction of what it will cost in western countries in Europe, Scandinavia and North America. You can secure quality accommodations, including all utilities, for less than you have been paying the bank for your car payment. You can enjoy three meals a day of tasty Thai food for less than a single meal back home. Medical care is surprisingly affordable at one of the four major hospitals in Ubon.

You can easily travel to Ubon Ratchathani by plane, rail, bus or private auto. The city benefits from being serviced with multiple schedules daily with three major modes of transportation. The buses and trains originate and terminate between Bangkok and Ubon but there are ways to make connections for domestic travel. The buses can take you around Ubon as well as around Thailand.

There is a small but growing community of western expats who call Ubon home. You can meet others to socialize with. If you want to get a taste of your homeland there are stores and shops to acquire the ingredients your need.

If you enjoy traveling you will discover it is quite cheap and convenient to get around Thailand from Ubon. You can walk the beaches of Phuket or Samui Island for a fraction of what you would pay in Hawaii or Florida. Take a trip north to the Lanna culture and mountains of Chiang Mai.

From Ubon you can be in Laos enjoying a step back in time or head south to Cambodia and visit the awesome magnificence of Angkor Wat. The journey to these places is only a few short hours. If you are wanting to visit friends and family back home it is a one hour flight to Bangkok to make your connection.

Living in a foreign country has requirements that never come to mind when at home. The local immigration office is just a 45 minute drive from Ubon city. All the foreign embassies are a train, bus or plane ride to Bangkok away.

Retirement is a time to enjoy the fruits of your labor. You should seriously consider Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand as an option to maintain or even raise your quality of life.

Holiday in Pattaya Thailand

Buddha Mountain. Sight seeing in Pattaya. What to do on holiday in Pattaya.

Many people who come to holiday in Pattaya think that the only entertainment is to be found in the bars and on the beach.

But just outside of Pattaya is a whole host of interesting places to visit which will make your holiday to Pattaya so much more memorable. In the 30 plus years since Pattaya has become a holiday destination many sightseeing attractions have been developed to cater today's modern tourist.

Outside of Pattaya are many interesting places to visit, which will let you experience the many wonders of Thailand and Thai culture without having to stray too far from Pattaya. Pattaya is fast becoming the number one holiday destination in Thailand. The sand on the beach may not be as white as Phuket's beaches but with Pattaya being so close to Suvarnabhumi airport, Bangkoks international airport, less than 145Km away and the cost's of hotels and holiday rentals in general being so much cheaper than in Phuket many are choosing to come to Pattaya.

Pattaya has many attractions, such as:

Sailing 

Buddha Mountain 

Archery 

Horse riding 

Elephant riding 

Pattaya floating market 

Under water world to name but a few.

This article is focusing on the Buddha mountain and Silver lake vineyard.

Buddha mountain located outside Pattaya going South towards Ban Sare. Approximately 16 Km from Tesco Lotus South Pattaya.

Entrance is free to this beautiful park and cultural icon.

Buddha mountain is so named after an image of the Lord Buddha has been carved into the side of the mountain face. Unlike most Buddha images the largest is not a statue, but a cliff face inlaid with gold leaf in the outline of a sitting, Sukhothai-era Buddha. It is 130 meters tall, 70 meters wide, and can be seen from many miles away. The image and mountain are alternately referred to as "Buddha Mountain", Khao Chee Chan, or "Phra Phuttha Maha Vachira Utta Mopas Sasada".

In the park surrounding the cliff are a number of Salas provided for meditation and rest. Signs point you to the most scenic viewpoint of the image and to the "homage paying area". Directly in front of the cliff face are shrines, elaborate gardens, and a number of terraced pools stocked with lotus flowers. Buddha Mountain a quiet, contemplative place and is a welcome break from Pattaya.

The Silver Lake Vineyard is conveniently situated next to the famous laser-sculptured Buddha image at Khao Chi Chan Cliff, so it is easy to see two attractions in one trip.

You can visit the vineyard by the free shuttle bus, or simply relax in the gardens looking down on the vineyard and across the lake. There are a number of basic food shops and of course you can have an ice cold drink of grape juice from the vineyard. The garden areas at Silver Lake Vineyard are relaxing, and superbly landscaped, with plenty of seating areas to either enjoy your snack or simply take in the views. Strangely there is no wine tasting allowed as the Thai government thinks it promotes alcoholism. But none the less still well worth the trip.

Just across the road from Buddha Mountain and Silver Lake you go Elephant riding or enjoy a meal at the Thai restaurant.

A visit to this beautiful park and vineyard is not only highly recommended, inexpensive but completely relaxing. Pattaya is a place full of surprises and attractions all you have to do is ask and you'll experience a whole different side to Pattaya.

This article has been written by James Lamborn who has lived over 7 years in Pattaya and has broad based knowledge of the property rental market in Jomtien and Pattaya. He has found out, often the hard way where to rent and where to avoid. His articles are intended to give the reader the knowledge he has gained over the years and help them from making some of the same mistakes he and others have made.

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Top 10 National Parks of Thailand

Thailand encompasses an array of national parks and wonderful landscapes that go from the mountainous north right down to the myriad islands in the Thai Gulf and Andaman region. There are 79 national parks in all, covering all areas of the country and although fees for foreigners are steep, most people are blown away by the beauty.
1. Khao Yai National Park
One of Thailand's very best, Khao Yai National Park is massive and resides to the northeast of Bangkok. It is the country's oldest national park and comes with 500kms of hiking trails, huge waterfalls, pristine forest and around 300 species of birds alone. Elephants and tigers are among the big animals here.
2. Khao Sok National Park
Khao Sok National Park is one of Thailand's most visited. Despite its remote nature it is wholly accessible by bus on the slow road between Surat Thani and Phuket. Khao Sok has a whacking great lake in the middle, stretching for over 50kms across, which supports vast numbers of fish and ecosystems. There are deep caves connected to the lake that are viewable outside of the wet season.
Elsewhere in the park is some good trekking from the headquarters and a pretty gorge to swim in. Keep an eye out for wildlife if you go for an extended trek. You are unlikely going to see tigers, yet there are all sorts of wonderful creatures to spot. A number of well done guesthouse operations are at the park entrance.
3. Phang Nga Bay National Park
Phang Nga Bay National Park is one of the most beautiful places in the world for lovers of water and islands. It has a stark karst land and seascape, which features hue pillars poking up out of the ground and water. There are caves, traditional villages and lush foliage galore here and it is only 100kms from Phuket Town. The kayaking in Phang Nga Bay National Park is particularly good.
4. Ang Thong National Marine Park
Ang Thong is a dreamy archipelago between Koh Samui and Surat Thani. It is rarely visited on the order of Thailand's main parks due to the general inaccessibility. Tours from Samui are popular and often incorporate kayaking around the many bays. You can trek to the top of some of the islands and also camp out near the park headquarters.
5. Erawan National Park
Kanchanaburi's most famous park features the stunning Erawan Falls, a huge cascade of water over seven tiers down 1,500m. Visitors can swim in the pools as well as walk up the trail which skirts the falls. The rest of the park has good walking and a collection of caves, including Phrathat Cave. This park gets really busy during holidays.
6. Erawan National Park
Kanchanaburi's most famous park features the stunning Erawan Falls, a huge cascade of water over seven tiers down 1,500m. Visitors can swim in the pools as well as walk up the trail which skirts the falls. The rest of the park has good walking and a collection of caves, including Phrathat Cave. This park gets really busy during holidays.
7. Doi Inthanon National Park
Thailand's highest national park reaches a point of over 2,560m above sea level. The mountain itself is fairly unremarkable on its peak, however, as you can only go so far due to the research station there. On the drive up the mountain are the King and Queen's stupas, while on the flanks are huge waterfalls and a degree of accommodation.
Lesser Visited Thai National Parks
8. Mu Koh Surin
Often referred to as simply Surin National Park, this northern park straddles the Thai/Burma border down on the Andaman Sea. Most of the park's territory covers the sea where there are five main islands, including North Island, South Island and three smaller ones. The snorkeling here is superb.
9. Tarutao
This largely unseen area of Thailand resides right down in the south and up against Malay territory. It encompasses dozens of islands in Satun province and includes the busiest island, Koh Lipe. You can also stay on Koh Tarutao and Koh Adang. The snorkeling, amazing sunsets and quietness are the big deal here.
10. Ko Samet
Although Koh Samet is a high profile place that sees a huge number of tourists, most come here for the beaches and not for its marine park status. It sits down in Rayong province, not far south of rowdy Pattaya, and is accessible by ferry only. Koh Samet is only a few kilometers long but is pretty rugged. It sports amazing coral and beaches that are incredibly white and the driest climate in the country.
Park Fees
Most parks charge fees to enter and sometimes as much as 400 baht for the higher profile ones. It may not sound much, but considering most Thais only earn 200 baht a day and also only have to pay 20 baht to get in, it is.

Pattaya and Jomtien Beach

The Kingdom of Thailand draws more visitors than any other country in south East Asia, with its irresistible combination of breathtaking natural beauty, inspiring temples, renowned hospitality, robust cuisine and ruins of ancient kingdoms. Pattaya and Jomtien Beach are considered by some as Thailand's twin fun paradises based on their beaches, diving, windsurfing, island trips, numerous golf courses, and world renowned nightlife. Pattaya, and especially Jomtien, have been growing at a fast rate. Proof of Pattaya and Jomtien's popularity is their forever-growing cosmopolitan flavor, with a large contingent of Expats from all over the world who have either settled and retired here, or invested in a holiday home. Many Expats could only have dreamt of buying a condo or house, looking over the ocean and waking up to the sea breezes, at a fraction of the cost that they would have paid in their home countries.

The growth in the residential market has been further boosted by a demand for property from Pattaya locals and other Thai buyers due to the closeness to Bangkok. As a result of the new airport and continued improvements in infrastructure, more property developers are also entering the market to launch a variety of developments, including residential, international chain hotels and retail projects. Based on the number of property developments currently underway, its a clear indicator that this trend is set to continue.

One of the main advantages of living in Pattaya Jomtien Beach, apart from the climate and low cost of living, is their world class infrastructure. Many world travelers we have talked to are impressed with the infrastructure when compared to the Philippines, Costa Rica, and other exotic travel destinations. Over the past 10 years, millions of Thai baht has been ploughed into improving Pattaya's infrastructure by resurfacing roads and improving the city's visual image. Roads and transportation are first class. The most common means of traveling around Pattaya and Jomtien Beach is the "baht bus". Seldom do you have to wait more than five minutes for the bus. The regular baht bus fare within Pattaya is 10 baht which amounts to about 35 cents American. There are two bus terminals where you can take an air conditioned bus to Bangkok or to one of the popular provinces. A large number of sports facilities have been built in and around Pattaya to cater to a wide range of sporting activities. All facilities are easy to reach. The telephone system is a modern PABX and internet cafes providing ADSL service (2 mbps) are common place. Health care is of a very high standard. There are three large international hospitals and one hospital that caters to the local Thais. Doctors are highly trained and speak English well. The hospitals also offer some interpreting services if your native language is not English

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