The History of Phuket

Phuket History

The first records in Phuket history originate in the beginning of the 11th century. As far as historians have been able to trace, the first inhabitants of what is now known as Phuket were the sea gypsy's and the Negrito's.

Phuket Negritos

The Negritos are considered by historians to be the indigenous inhabitants of South East Asia. The Negritos include tribes from the Malay Peninsula, Andaman tribes, Pilipino tribes and the Semang tribes. The Negritos were small people and were pygmy sized. They are in fact considered to be among the smallest races when looking at population size. Genetic expert consider the DNA of the Negritos to be among the purest of any human race.

Junk Ceylon

Junk Ceylon was the first name of Phuket in its history. Historians have found the original name of Phuket on the maps of Portuguese sea merchant maps. There was an earlier mention of Junk Ceylon in a book written in the year of 157 AD. The book was written by a well known Greek philosopher. Cladius Ptolemy.

The Greek philosopher mentioned that if one was to travel to the Malaysian peninsula, one would have to pass a cape which he called the Junk Ceylon. The Junk Ceylon was given a location between the latitudes of 6 N and 8 N which would be the position of present day Phuket. It seems that the Junk Ceylon was visited by sea merchant from various countries as the bay of Junk Ceylon offered a superb protection against the forces of nature and gave the merchants an opportunity to rest and restock.

Recent Phuket History

Phuket become later known as Thalang after the city which still exists in the northern region of Phuket. An important part of Phuket history was during the 15th century when Phuket obtained the reputation as a leading tin mining producer. Due to the local mining industry, Phuket become somewhat of a trading hub.

Due to the large volume of European merchants and traders that were calling port in Thalang, the Thai King during that period decided that Phuket should be administered by a European. Between the period of 1681 and 1685, Thalang was administered by a French missionary named Renee Charbonneau.

Burmese Invasion

Another important event in Phuket history was in 1785 when enemy troops from neighboring Burma attempted to invade and rule Phuket. Two Phuket ladies decided to stand up and defend the Island in the name of the King of Thailand. The former governor's widow, Chan, and her loyal sister Muk organized a defense which lasted nearly a month.

The Burmese troops were left with no supplies after they had been unable to get past the defence for over a month. The aggresors had no other option but to withdraw as their suplies had run. The king of Thailand heard of the heroic actions of the two sisters and bestowed upon them the noble titles of Thao Thep Krasattri and Thao Si Sunthon. Even in present day Phuket, the two sisters have not been forgotten and are in fact still honored and respected. In 1966 the two sisters were honored by their very own statue which stands at the Tha Ruea Intersection.

Read another article on Phuket history in the Phuket guide: all-phuket.com/phuket_history.html

James is currently living on Phuket and is working on a number of projects. If you are looking for a great Phuket hotel then do consider staying at Club Bamboo Resort. Read more about Samui in his Samui Guide.

Phuket Villa Rentals - Simple Tips To Enjoy A Phuket Getaway More

The province of Phuket in Thailand has truly been one of the most visited and frequented tourist destinations in Asia. That is why the sector for tourist inns and properties has really enjoyed a rise. These days, there is a good and significant market for Phuket villa rentals. And as a vacationer, you would generate more savings if you would rent a place to stay in as you enjoy your Phuket getaway.

As a regular traveler, you surely have been well acquainted and familiarized with the services of hotels. You should be noticing that hotel accommodations all over the world are getting similar to each other that you could hardly distinguish the difference between staying in a US hotel and in an Asian hotel. In that way, Phuket villa rentals are more advisable if you want to know more about the culture of the area in your vacation.

Practical tips

It is important to note that there are simple and practical guidelines that would surely help you make villa rental in Phuket more noteworthy and advantageous. In the planning process, you should first weigh the pros and cons of taking Phuket villa rentals especially in consideration with your budget and other factors.

Take note that on the first glimpse, villa rentals are generally looking more costly than hotel accommodations. But what is good about Phuket villa rentals is that you would be able to generate greater savings especially if you re going in a group and if you intend to stay for a few weeks or even months.

Why villa rentals?

As mentioned, villa rentals in Phuket would help you get to know more and experience the culture not just of the province but also of the whole of Thailand. That is because villas are taking the traditional and genuine Thai home designs. Such structures and homes are also made of the usual and some native Thai home materials.

Villa rentals in Phuket are designed to cater more to vacationers who are in groups or who are intending to stay longer than usual. While hotels could be practical for staying in a just a few days, maybe a day or two, villas are more practical to lease if you are staying for weeks or months. It is just like renting a town home in the area.

When to go

You have the privilege to schedule your vacation as you please. If you are planning to go on a splendid getaway and you want to go to Phuket, you should plan to go there any month except for November to April. That is because in such months, there are practically more tourists going to the area as everyone seems to be going there on the Christmas, New Year and Easter holidays.

Phuket villa rentals would be costlier on such months. That is because as the demand rises up, surely, prices go along. And besides, it would be harder to book villa and even hotel accommodations. All other months are definitely good times to go and take a much needed break in Phuket's beaches.

Get more out of your Tuscan vacation by staying in a Tuscany villa rental by visiting http://www.vacationhomerentalsguide.com, a popular vacation rental website that specializes in finding inexpensive Orlando, Florida condo rentals so you can enjoy your trip to Disney world.

Review of Sivara Spa - Bangkok, Thailand

Sivara Spa is a luxury chain spa exclusive to Amari Hotels and Resorts in various parts of Thailand (Bangkok, Koh Chang, Krabi, Patttaya, Phuket, Samui, Trang)

On my last trip to Bangkok, I stayed at the Amari Watergate and Sivara Spa is tucked away on the 8th floor of the hotel and facing the swimming pool and health and fitness centre.

The Sivara Spa at the Amari Watergate Hotel in Bangkok is newly renovated to a modern and contemporary Thai style. As you walk into the reception, you can find a delightful interplay of bronze "lotus flowers", water walkways, stones, curtains, candlelight and flowers.

There are three spacious zen-themed double rooms and 5 single treatment rooms. Each of the themed double rooms is assigned to a signature treatment.

In the spa brochure own words, the various themes for the treatment rooms are:

The Mystical Forest room harnesses the spirit of the forest and allows guests to meditate on the power of nature. This botanically-inspired room features a tropical rain shower to wash away the stress of the day. The refreshing blends of essential oils used for the massages will leave the body feeling rejuvenated.

In Floral Bloom room, you can guarantee that tension will drain away and the spirit will be revived with a rose petal bath in this floral paradise. The fragrances of flowers will cleanse and purify your soul, whilst the ylang ylang, lavender and marjoram essential oils, used in the treatments, provide the ultimate feminine indulgence.

In the Herbal Inspiration room, the healing qualities of herbs - known for centuries, as nature's gift to mankind - are combined with luxurious pampering.

I opted for the "Sarada Package" (2hrs) treatment which comprises a oil massage & facial. I was not keen to do a facial and the receptionist was flexible enough to change the facial to a body scrub instead.

From the lighting and temperature in the room, to the volume of music and pressure applied during massages or scrubs, the therapist was so caring and considerate for my entire treatment. The gentle therapist at the spa truly live up to the gracious spirit of the Thai's spa culture.

For total relaxation, the Sivara Spa also offer a complete range of massage, spa, facial and body treatments. The selection of treatments include Thai and oil massages, body polishes and wraps, facials, and even a customized half day, full day, multi-days spa program. There is also the awesome 4-hands massage, which has become the signature treatment of high-end Thailand's spa, but due to time constraints, I could not find time for this famous treatment.

The prices in the Sivara Spa are typical of hotel spas and are hence slightly on the high side. If you are a guest of the hotel, make sure you pick up a discount voucher at the hotel concierge which will entitle you to a 10% discount and a free floral foot bath.

Location of Spa: Amari Watergate Hotel, 847 Petchburi Road Bangkok 10400

Size of Spa: Three couple treatment rooms, five single rooms

Facilities: Private Shower and jacuzzi in couple's room

Friendliness: Extremely polite receptionist and massage therapists

Pricing: Ranges from US$60 to US$120 for massage only. Between US$115 to US$220 for spa packages.

Katherine KC Xie visits Asia's best spa resorts, check out the various massage therapies and write reviews in her personal blog. Do feel free to check out http://www.best-spa-massage.com for more articles, write-up and reviews.

Car Parking in Dublin City

Parking in Dublin can be a bit of a nightmare, but with this guide you'll know where exactly to park your car so that it's safe and secure and above all, legally parked.

Dublin city is small and compact so at rush hour it tends to get congested. It's easy to walk around from attraction to attraction so be sure to park-up the car as soon as you arrive, as there really is no need to drive around this city centre to sight see.

Tow-away and clamping are in operation for those who park in a loading bay, pedestrian area, on double yellow lines, on a disabled parking space, on a bus lane or cycle track, so car parks are really the best option.

Dublin city has over 20 car parks, which are very well placed whether here for shopping or sightseeing.

Here are some of the main car parks in the city centre.

· Abbey Street car park

The Abbey Street car park is located on Lower Abbey Street, just off O'Connell Street (Dublin's main street) in the city centre. This is a very central location for visiting attractions like Trinity College, Temple Bar, the GPO and also for shopping on O'Connell Street and Henry Street.

· Parnell Centre car park

This car park is located just off Parnell Street. Parnell Street can be found just off the top of O'Connell Street (opposite end to O'Connell Bridge).

This car park is handy if you want to be close to the Gate Theatre, the Ambassador Theatre, the Dublin Writers Museum or the James Joyce Museum. This car park is also within walking distance of Croke Park stadium.

To get to this car park just take a right after the Virgin Cinema on Parnell Street and take another right on a small street called 'Loftus Lane' and you'll see the car park.

· Drury Street car park

This car park is located on Drury Street and is best approached from Stephens Street Lower. It has about 480 spaces and is very convenient to Grafton Street, St. Stephen's Green Shopping Centre, the Powerscourt Shopping Centre and the Gaiety Theatre.

· IFSC car park

This car park is located in the Irish Financial Services Centre, which is the city's core business and financial district. It can be found in the docklands area about a 10-minute walk east of O'Connell Bridge. The car park has about 360 spaces and is ideal for attending events in the IFSC or for visiting attractions along the Dublin docklands like the Viking Splash Tour, the Famine Memorial, the Custom House or the Point Depot.

· Christchurch car park

The Christchurch car park has about 212 spaces and can be accessed from Lord Edward Street in the Christchurch area.

This car park is ideal if you want to park-up and stroll around one of the oldest parts of Dublin and explore attractions like Dublin Castle, Christchurch Cathedral, the City Hall, St. Audoen's Gate and it's also not that far from Temple Bar.

· Temple Bar car park

Also known as the Fleet Street car park this car park can be found right in the heart of the city centre, just off Westmoreland Street. It's convenient to Temple Bar, Grafton Street, Trinity College and O'Connell Street so it's a popular place to park.

This car park is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

· Jervis Street car park

This car park has up to 750 spaces and is adjoining the Jervis Shopping Centre - one of the biggest and best shopping centres in Dublin. It is accessed from Jervis Street. This car park is ideally located for shopping as it's also very convenient to Henry Street, which is one of Dublin's pedestrianised shopping streets.

· Stephens Green Shopping Centre car park

Stephen's Green has one of the largest car parks in the city centre with up to 700 spaces. It can be accessed from Mercer Street and is open 24 hours a day.

This car park is ideally located for shopping as it's located next to the Stephen's Green Shopping Centre just off Grafton Street, so you won't have too far to go with those shopping bags!

Mairead Foley writes for the Ireland travel and accommodation website http://www.GoIreland.com

Visit GoIreland for all you need to know before visiting Dublin, like what to see and where to go. View B&Bs, guesthouses and self catering in Dublin as well as Dublin hotels.

Tips For Backpacking in Kuala Lumpur

INTRODUCTION
Kuala Lumpur (or "KL" in short) is one of the cheapest cities in Asia for a vacation. Foreign currency exchange rates of the Pound Sterling and US Dollar, for instance, as against the Malaysian Ringgit are highly favourable. Backpacking is popular as the city has a very low crime rate and English is widely spoken. If you need directions, or wish to order food from a hawker stall rest assured that someone will be able to communicate with you in English. However, some planning is in order to stretch your vacation money to the maximum if you are a backpacker.

CHEAP AIR FARES
Malaysia's AirAsia and Singapore's SilkAir are two low-cost carriers that can fly you cheaply from many destinations around the world to Kuala Lumpur and Singapore respectively. (From Singapore, you can take a bus or train to Kuala Lumpur). For details of the flight schedules and fares of AirAsia and SilkAir, please check their websites. Another Malaysian budget airline is Fireflyz which caters mostly to domestic destinations in the country; however, it links Kuala Lumpur with Medan and Bandar Acheh (both in Indonesia) and Phuket in Thailand.

To get the best prices for budget airlines, bookings have to be made at least a few months ahead. It is also best to avoid the Malaysian school holidays which fall during December, mid-March and mid-August.

The airplanes of AirAsia land at the Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT) about two kilometres from Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) at Sepang, which is 60 km from Kuala Lumpur. The cheapest way to get to KLIA from the LCCT is by shuttle bus operated by two companies; namely Nadi KL and Airport Liner. Fare is only RM 1.50 per person per way. The pick-up point is from Platform 8, bus station at Ground Floor, Car Park C. Frequencies of the buses are 15 - 20 minutes. From KLIA, the economical way to get to the capital is by airport coach. Fireflyz's aeroplanes land at Sultan Abdul Aziz Airport in Subang, about 15 kilometres from Kuala Lumpur.

WHERE TO STAY
The most popular area for backpackers to stay in KL is Chinatown. Its heart is Jalan Petaling (Petaling Street). Accommodation ranges from simple bed-and-breakfast inns with communal bathrooms to one-star and two-star hotels that are air-conditioned. (Hotels in Malaysia are rated by a star system, ranging from one to a maximum of five stars; those without any star rating are classified as "budget"). Another advantage of staying in Chinatown is its closeness to Puduraya bus station. This is the main station for buses going to other cities in the country. Chinatown is also within walking distance to the KL Monorail station on Jalan Maharajalela and also the STAR Light Rail Transit station near the Central Market. Chin Woo Stadium which has a swimming pool that is open to the public for a nominal fee is just 20 minutes away by foot from Jalan Petaling. Perched atop a hillock, it is a great place to cool down after a day of hectic sightseeing.

My second recommendation for accommodation is Brickfields, near Stesen Sentral (Central Station), which is the city's rail transportation hub. All Light Rail Transit (LRT) trains stop here, including the KLIA Ekpres that plies to and from Kuala Lumpur International Airport. The five-star Hilton Kuala Lumpur and Le Meredian are located within the complex. However, just across Jalan Tun Sambanthan are affordable accommodations. They include Hotel Summer View, De Sentral Hotel, Mexico Hotel and Hotel Florida to mention but a few -- they all come with air-conditioning and attached bathrooms. A few inns that one rung down the price ladder are also available, including the YMCA. The negative point about this area is the lack of evening activities. Also, food is mainly confined to vegetarian eateries and Indian fan-ventilated restaurants serving banana leaf curry rice.

A useful contact is the Malaysia Budget Hotel Association at No. 52 Tengkat Tong Shin, 50200 Kuala Lumpur. Tel: +603-21412313. Fax: +603-21439313. Email: mbha1 @tm.net.my. Website: budgethotel.org.my

WHERE TO EAT
Finding cheap and hygienic food is probably the least of all problems for backpackers. Countless alfresco stalls are found in hawker centres. Two popular havens for cheap hawker food are Jalan Alor and Jalan Petaling. A meal with a fruit juice or soft drink can cost as little as RM6! For more comfort, go to the food courts of shopping complexes, which are often tucked away in the basement. Fast food outlets such as McDonald, Pizza Hut, Domino's Pizza, Kentucky Fried Chicken to mention but a few are scattered in many parts of the city. For Indian fare, go to Lebuh Ampang; Malay food is aplenty in the districts of Chow Kit and Kampung Baru. Avoid 24-hour Mamak (Indian Muslim) eateries unless you want to take the slight risk of a stomach upset. The food (fish, chicken, squid, etc) on display in glass containers in such eateries may have been heated and re-heated umpteen times. Order something that is cooked on the spot instead such as fried rice, fried noodles or chicken chop to guarantee that what you eat is fresh. To cut costs on food, my recommendation is to try roti canai (a type of pancake) in the morning which can cost as little as RM1.50 per piece. Variations such as roti canai with egg, sardine or banana are also available. Two or three pieces washed down with the "teh tarik" (literally means "pulled tea" ) will give you sufficient fuel for your tramping around. All major shopping complexes also have food courts that offer local food at decent prices.

TRAVELLING AROUND
Travelling around KL by taxi can be an expensive affair. The fare meter keeps ticking even though the vehicle is stuck in a massive jam, and this can burn a hole in your pocket. A ploy by a few black-sheep drivers is to take the longest possible route to your destination. Worst, a few drivers may refuse to use the meter and insist on an exorbitant flat fee. On rainy days, especially, it is a take-it-or-leave-it situation. Remember, there is also a surcharge for travelling after midnight and for putting luggage in the boot.

Though buses cover most parts of the city, it can be difficult for foreigners to find out the routes of each bus. Most buses don't have conductors, and passengers drop the correct fare in coins into the ticket vending machine. If you drop in excess fare, you will not be given any change.

Despair not! The city has a network of train systems (referred to as Light Rail Transit or "LRT" in short) that run on elevated rails, (and sometimes underground) that can whizz you from one part of the city to another, whereupon you can take a short stroll to your desired destination. Rail maps showing the different stops can be found in all the train stations. Services usually start from 6am till midnight. Three LRT trains are in operation: STAR LRT, Putra LRT and KL Monorail. They each have a different route but you can change trains at Stesen Sentral (Central Station).

AFFORDABLE SHOPPING COMPLEXES
Avoid all shopping malls in the city's Golden Triangle unless you just aim to browse around. This area is bounded by Jalan Bukit Bintang, Jalan Sultan Ismail and Jalan Raja Chulan. Tucked within the area are Lot 10, KL Plaza, Sungei Wang Plaza, BB Plaza, Low Yat Plaza and Starhill Shopping Complex that are targeted at middle- to upper-class shoppers. The same advice applies to the highly popular Suria KLCC in the podium block of the PETRONAS Twin Towers and Mid Valley on the Federal Highway. However, affordable shopping complexes can be found around Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, nicknamed "Kuala Lumpur's "Golden Mile". They include Pertama Complex, Campbell Complex, and independent stores such as Mydin and Globe Silk Store. In the fringe of Chinatown, Kotaraya Complex, UDA Ocean and S&M Shopping Arcade also offer excellent for value-for-money buys. Not to be missed is Jalan Petaling, which is chocked with stalls selling almost everything, especially cheap imitations of prestigious watches and leather goods as well as pirated VCDs of the latest Hollywood movies. Haggling is the order of the day. Highly popular with tourists, Central Market on Jalan Hang Kasturi specializes in collectibles, souvenirs and also has an excellent food court. Cultural performances are also held at scheduled times, and best of all, they are free. Haji Taib Hawker Centre in Chow Kit is good for jeans and second-clothes but the area suffers from a bad reputation. "Pasar malam" or "night markets" are held in Kampung Baru and Lorong Tuanku Abdul Rahman every Saturday evening. These spots offer excellent opportunities to try local fare at dirt-cheap prices.

TRAVEL LITERATURE
There is no need to throw away your hard-earned money on expensive travel guides. You can get free travel literature such as maps and brochures from tourist information centres operated by Tourism Malaysia. They are located as follows:

Stesen Sentral (Central Station)
Lot 21, 2nd Floor, Arrival Hall, Kuala Lumpur City Air Terminal, Stesen KL Sentral, 50050 Kuala Lumpur, Phone: +603-2272 5823

Kuala Lumpur International Airport
Visitor Service Centre, International Arrival Hall, KLIA, Sepang 64000, Selangor
Phone: +603-877 656 47 / 51

Malaysia Tourist Centre (MTC)
109 Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur 50450
Phone: +603-9235 4848 / 9235 4900 Fax: +603-2162 1149
(Tourists are allowed a maximum of 20 minutes free internet surfing here!)

Putra World Trade Centre
Level 2, Putra World Trade Centre, 45 Jalan Tun Ismail, PWTC,
50480 Kuala Lumpur
Phone: +603-2615 8540 Fax: + 603-2692 4554
(Note: Putra World Trade Centre is located next to the Best Western Premier Seri Pacific Hotel).

Another helpful spot is Kuala Lumpur Tourism Association (Tel. no. +603-22871830), which is head-quartered in a charming wooden shack in the grounds of the National Museum on Jalan Damansara.

IF IN DOUBT, ASK, ASK, ASK!
Kuala Lumpur has a sizeable population of Bangladeshi, Indonesian, Vietnamese and Myanmar contract workers. Most of them work as waiters, petrol pump attendants or retail sales persons. Avoid asking for information or directions from such foreigners. Also, avoid touts who offer to take you on a walkabout. The most reliable sources of information are front liners in the tourist information centres, and personnel manning information counters in shopping complexes. The owner of the budget hotel you are staying can also provide useful advice. A word of assurance is in order: Kuala Lumpur has a Tourist Police unit that has a high profile in the Golden Triangle, so your safety is highly assured. Enjoy your stay in Kuala Lumpur and happy backpacking!

For more information about the author, please visit his website at http://ewepaikleong.blogspot.com

Global Timeshare Market Expansion, Regulations, and Events

RCI, the largest vacation ownership exchange company in the world has been adding more and more member resorts in exotic locations which make more international exchanges possible for its members. To date, there are now 82 member resorts in India. The consumers are benefiting from the new and expanded choices. RCI has more than 4000 member resorts.

If you want to look at some of the developments in Asia, Africa, or the Mideast you can go to websites such as YouTube where savvy developers such as Absolute are showing footage of projects being developed. Gone are the days when all you could do was get on an airplane and check out the exotic places. Today, your vacation resort options are  available for inspection right on your computer. 

Vacationing has always been much more widely practiced in Europe then in the United States. US workers tend to do more working and less vacationing that our European counterparts.  Statistically, Europeans have an average of 30 vacation days while here in the USA we average about 10 or 11 days of vacation. The Europeans living in big metropolitan cities will vacation to seaside locations in Europe, Asia, the Mideast, Africa, the Australian Continent, and across the pond to the United States.

People ask me if there are specific companies who are pushing forward on the international  markets and making an impact on the market. Absolute is embracing Asia with offerings in Phukhet and Hong Kong.

In 2009,  laws passed in the United Arab Emirates regulating vacation  ownership and agreements were signed between developers and RCI pertaining to their  exchange.

We are excited to say that there is a new Vacation Ownership Association of Southern Africa which is hosting a conference in Johannesburg, South Africa to discuss the changes in the industry laws. New to South Africa is the Zorgvliet Private Residence Club and their offerings  of ownership in a luxurious river lodge on approximately 40,000 acres of privately owned Big Five Game Reserve, or  of a vineyard and boutique hotel.

In London, the Fractional Summit was to help participants understand the emerging  market in Europe.

For economic reasons, many who could afford to buy the entire vacation home are opting  to purchase a portion of the property as a way to share the economic  risk, cost, and maintenance expenses with others.  

Many vacation ownership  purchases in Asia, Africa, and Mideast locations may also include the use of other luxury assets and amenities during their stay. Consumers are opting for more access to luxury vehicles or other luxury transportation options such as yacht usage, boat docking, butler service, and even flight hours on a private jet. RCI has added two Malaysia luxury resorts as affiliates and they are the Country Villas waterfront homes and the Palace of the Golden Horses. The Palace of the Golden Horses and the Country Villas are located 20 to 30 minutes from Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

Millennium Resort, Patong Beach, Phuket, Thailand will host Asia's first shared ownership conference Oct 12-13, 2009 called the Alternative Ownership Conference Hotels and Resorts-Asia Pacific to help provide knowledge and understanding of this growing industry .

Paul Mattimoe, Editor of The Perspective Magazine,  specializes in sharing with world the latest developments in the timeshare  and fractional industries. His high-quality magazine publications cover trends in development, financing, and industry employment.  The Perspective Magazines also  provide industry updates online and global  job listings.

Lori Wilk, MBA is a high-energy,motivational speaker, author, and producer of television, radio, internet, and live events. She hosts "Successipes" at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/successipes about success in business and living. If you enjoyed this article, syndicate me, add me to your web site , or click on http://www.loriwilk.com. 2009 Lori Wilk. All rights reserved. You may reprint this article if you do not alter it, you give the author name recognition, keep all links active, and follow the Ezine Articles guidelines for publishers.

Lady-boys in Phuket, Thailand

If you come to Phuket, your itinerary will surely include the famous side shows by those Katoey's or lady-boys. Be ready for a rich sensory experience and a time of enjoyment as they go all out to please the weary customers and patrons or tourists. It is not just about making a living, it is about a way of life. It is not a sleazy existence but a means of maintaining a lifestyle as a lady-boy they would not be able to in their own native village. They wear very revealing dresses showing their ample silicone emphasized breasts while they sing and dance in their performances. Their perfect measurements and their beauty makes them the envy of many real women.

The men and the women watch transfixed as they go about their routines. In Malaysia, they are known as Maknyah's or the derogatory term 'pondan' or 'she-males' in the West.

It is sometimes difficult to discern who is real or who isn't. Some of them are indeed beautiful. I believe God in his immense mercy is giving them a chance to live a life they should have been given since birth. They are obviously more ladies than men. Transsexuals or trans-gender are those who think they are a woman born in a man's body, while a transvestite is a man who likes to dress up like a woman.

In Thailand, being a lady-boy is less derogatory for example than in the west. They are accepted by society as the third sex and are not openly discriminated against. Many Thais have a slight stature, sport smaller bodies like a woman and quite hairless. Boobs are easier to fix but a sex change operation is more complicated, and expensive. My heart really goes out for them as they undergo it to reach their quest of being a real woman. Injection of female Hormones are also part of the routine they have to undergo.

One of the country's most famous lady-boys is Nong Toom, who went from champion Thai kick boxer to being a transsexual. A movie, Saitree Lex, was made about the true story of a lady-boy volleyball team known as the 'Iron Ladies' won the national championships in 1996 against the odds.

Maria is the founder & owner of Patongbeach-hotel.com. http://www.patongbeach-hotel.com

K1 Visa Philippines - Interview Questions Tips

Honesty and consistency are the keys to answering interview questions for a K1 fiancé / fiancée visa. Consular officers conducting interviews are merely basing majority of their questions on the details indicated in the application form as well as the supporting documents attached to it.

Interview questions are usually formulated to discover the true objective of the applicant or the real purpose of travel to the US. In the K1 visa case, the applicant is to marry his/her American fiancé / fiancée once in the US. Apparently, the questions will revolve around the topic.

Officers conducting interviews will determine if there is an intention to get married upon applicant's arrival in the US. They may ask some intimate questions about the future spouses to establish whether or not the couple know each other well enough to substantiate an actual marriage. The succeeding common questions must be answered without concealment or deception.

"Where did you and your fiancé meet?"

"When and where did he propose?"

"When is your fiancé's date of birth?"

"Does he have any brothers or sisters?"

"What do his parents think about the engagement?"

"Do they approve of it?"

"What do you love about your fiancé?"

"Will you and your fiancé have children?"

"What are your plans for the future?"

Consular Officers also ascertain if the applicant possesses all the qualifications required by the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) by asking probing questions if indeed the applicant is qualified.

Applicants for K1 Visa Philippines should not hold back any information when asked. Full disclosure is the best strategy. Once the officer discovers that the applicant is not telling the truth, or misrepresents facts during the interview, the application will most likely be denied. Worst, the applicant may permanently be disqualified or considered as ineligible from ever entering the United States.

Jose Darrel Bella works as a Consultant for Siam Legal International, Thailand's largest legal service network with offices in Bangkok, Manila, London, Los Angeles, Phuket, Samui, Pattaya, Chiang Mai and Hua Hin. Contact Siam Legal at +66 (0) 253 8100 or info@siam-legal.com to learn more about Philippines K1 Visa.

Dating Asian Ladies - Thai Girls Part 1

For those of you who, like me, are attracted to Asian ladies, there are a few things that can help pave the rocky road to a happy and successful relationship. As with any relationship, there are ups and downs, good times and challenging times, but these fluctuations can appear to be much more dramatic and intense with Asian girls. It can sometimes feel as if we are on a roller coaster. The ride is exhilarating, passionate and rewarding and sometimes painfully sobering. One thing that can be said is it is not boring! In this first installment, I want to examine and point out some of my observations and experiences with the lovely ladies of Thailand and hopefully help others to navigate this exotic and treacherous path.

Ahh, the thrill and excitement of being in Thailand, the weather is hot, the food is hot, and oh my, the ladies. It has been said that Thai women are the most beautiful ladies in the world. This of course is subjective and that brings me to my first and maybe most important point about dating Thai ladies or any lady for that matter. It is all subjective, personal, and unique. There can be no absolute 'understanding' of Thai ladies. They are all individual, unique and constantly changing. We can discuss some general knowledge about the environment, culture, and common results of how these manifest in the ladies, but we must never forget for one instant that every lady is different. This cannot be emphasized enough. The moment we start generalizing and placing any person into a box of our own conceptions is the beginning of the end. We will never be dealing directly with the other person but rather dealing only with our own limited preconceptions. While many Thai ladies have some things in common, I have found them to be quite unique individuals and I need to almost throw away everything I thought I had learned before when meeting a new girl. So please keep this in mind and it will help with all of your relationships.

The family. The first thing to understand about Thai girls is the fierce loyalty and service they give to their family. Thai girls, especially the eldest sister are bound to take care of their parents and family in any way they can. As a potential partner we must understand this deep bond and commitment. We will ALWAYS be second, and the family will be first. If we can understand and accept this, it will go a long way towards a successful relationship. To underline this loyalty and desire to repay their parents and take care of the family I like to quote a statement made by a friend of mine who works in the nightlife industry. To put it into context, I was having a conversation and trying to convince her that she should take a job for less money working at a factory and stop working in the bars. Her reply, without a moment of hesitation was 'My body is not for me, my body is not for a man, my body is for my mother. I must do what I can to take care of my mother. This body is not mine, this body is my mothers.' When I heard this I was floored. I was new to Thailand and Asia and it left me speechless. For all the crazy media hype about girls forced into prostitution and human smuggling, my direct experience from knowing many Thai people is that the mothers are often the biggest pimps, sending their girls to Bangkok, Phuket, Pattaya or other destinations to make money. These girls often live quite cheaply, saving every Baht so they can send it home to their mothers. Don't take my word for it, come here and interview a few ladies yourself. Anyway, getting back to the topic at hand, this is obviously an extreme example but it illuminates the depth of respect and loyalty that Thai girls have for their family, especially their parents. We can only hope to be second best. We will never be a girls number one concern. If it comes down to a decision either for you or for her family, you will lose every time! Understanding this from the beginning, we can then accept it and make the best of it. This being said, the best way of dealing with this, once you are sure you want to make a commitment to a girl, is to embrace her family 100%. This is a whole other ballgame and beyond the scope of this article, but it can be an adventure to say the least.

The second point that I feel is necessary to understand is money. Asia is not the west. We often forget this and try to apply western ideals and customs in dealing with Asian people. Now I am not talking about prostitutes, massage girls or bar girls here when I say that money is very important to Asian ladies. The so called 'good girls' are also after money. Now now, don't get excited. Remember we cannot apply our limited western preconceptions to life in Asia. The parents will want their girl to marry a man that has enough money, A man that can take care of her and the family. This is displayed in the old Thai tradition of 'Sin sot' or what we would call a dowry. It is often used as a display of the man's ability to provide and show his wealth, or readiness to marry. I know of many cases where the sin sot was promptly returned to the man, or put into a joint account owned by the couple or where the Thai family provided either land or a house or both. Now before we get all pious, and look down upon Asians for being so materialistic and only wanting us for our money, we need to take a second and think about the average British or American girl. They also want to marry a rich man, but the way of dealing with this is not as blatant, and in my opinion not as 'honest'. Thai girls can be very practical. If we do not put our cultural blinders aside, we can be easily put off and angered by the 'honesty' displayed in this regard. In Asia, there is no wall dividing sex, dating, marriage and $$-money. Girls are raised in this culture to look at these things together, as one, without the need to separate them out like we do in the west. An attractive girl will likely find a rich husband. Sexual market value and attractiveness are seen in terms of money. In Asia, this is not seen as a bad thing, or with any judgment. We cannot judge Asian people for mixing love and money so loosely if we are to find happiness here. I prefer to think of it as a more honest and open approach. So don't be surprised if your beloved 'teerak' decides to leave you because you don't have enough money. It is not necessarily that she doesn't love you, just that love and money are not distinguished so clearly here like they are in the west. The second part of this is to understand that Thai people view westerners as being rich. We will get charged more money for the same services and goods, because the common perception is that we have more money than the Thai people. So even if you are like me, and don't have much money, you will be perceived as rich, and expected to pay and help out, and it is likely, as said before, that a girl might leave you if you don't soon show some ability to generate affluence. I know of situations where the girl was even in love with a guy, but here parents would not allow her to marry him because he did not have enough money or a good job. Back to rule number one; she will of course listen to and follow her parents first, and 'dump the chump' so to speak in a 'Bangkok second'! It can be a harsh reality here. In this culture you cannot be expecting much success in finding a good wife if you have limited sexual market value (money). That is the cold hard reality. Now we all know of many worthless Thai guys that are 100% supported by the hard working and loyal wife. They spend the days drinking and gambling and whoring, not working, while the wife or girlfriend works to give him money, Strange but quite true. This will not happen with western men. We are farang-foreigners, and as farang are perceived to be rich, a Thai girl would lose face by having a farang boyfriend or husband that was down on his luck so to speak. Farang are often a status symbol for Thai girls and they are proud to take you back to the village and show you off. Show off the ATM fish they have landed and how they now live the good life. If you cannot play this role and need to pinch every Baht, then your prospects will be limited and short term. In Thailand, it is expected that the man is ready (has $$) to have a girlfriend or wife or he shouldn't be trying to date. As I said before, every girl is unique and different. I have had some success with Thai girls while living here while I was dirt poor. They will sometimes be happy to go eat 'street noodles' (15-25 Baht) with you every day, but this is the exception, not the rule and I am sure the parents would not approve and would want their daughter to be dating a man with more money. It is the same situation as in the west or the world for that matter, just a more honest and 'in your face' way of dealing with it.

These two points are the biggies, the short 'must know' list for dating a Thai girl. There are countless other cultural and perceptual differences that can be challenging in day to day life with your teerak (darling), but in my opinion they are less important and generally not 'show stoppers'. In fact, many of these differences you will find to be quite nice. Thai ladies can often be the most attentive and caring mates you will ever meet. In this country, Thai men live like Kings in their house. Thai girls are taught to take care of a man, and groomed from an early age on how to cook, and clean, and fold shirts, and really take care and keep the husband happy. A few examples I can think of from my previous girlfriends are things like nail clipping or zit popping on your back, or massages. I can't imagine how impossible it would be to get the common American girl to cut your finger and toenails for you, much less pop the zits on your back! I did not know what to say when a former Thai girlfriend started doing these things for me. How many western ladies in this generation actually cook and clean and take of their man? No, they want a maid, or you should cook for them, or take them out to dinner. Not in Thailand, many ladies I have dated were very anxious to show me that they can cook, and when they visit your apartment they will naturally start to clean it up for you and fold your clothes. I remember a few years ago, walking into the bathroom one morning feeling all groggy from sleep. I walked up to the bathroom sink and started to reach for my toothbrush and noticed it already had toothpaste on it! My teerak had prepared my toothbrush for me so when I woke up it was waiting for me to use. Try to get the common bitchy feminist western girl to do that one. I dare ya! I will stand back a safe distance and watch! No, Thai girls are very smart, they know they will get what they want by being nice, feminine, and taking care of their mans needs.

So I wholeheartedly encourage you to take the plunge and experience what it is like dating a good Thai girl. I would strongly suggest not trying to make a common bargirl into a loyal wife when there are so many nice girls that are dying to meet a good farang man. It is simply not worth the hassle and heartaches, why add more problems to what can already be a challenging situation. So, keep your preconceptions, western ideals, and judgments in check, take a dose of patience, and keep an open mind and I am sure you will not regret it. The ride may be a little bumpy here and there, but it is worth the price of admission.

To start the adventure, go online and start meeting educated and computer literate girls on a good Asian Dating site It is easy, 100% free, and fun!

5 Things to Do You Must Do in Phuket, Thailand

1. Go to the beach! If anything that should be the first thing you do when you get to Phuket. Phuket is renowned for having one of the most beautiful beaches in all of Thailand and some of the top beaches in the world are found just off the coast of Phuket and even on the island. If you like the face paced kind of life, then you would love Patong Beach. Said to be infamous for its nightlife and abundance of activities, Patong is great for those who want to play by day and party by night.

If you are the kind who prefers solitude more, then Nai Thon beach is just for you. This picturesque beach has yet to be discovered by the masses so head there while its still unspoiled and at its natural best.

2. Visit Wat Chalong - Wat Chalong (Chalong Temple) is filled with history and culture of Phuket. Legend even states that miracles were performed here on Wat Chaitararam (known by royal decree), and that the Wat had healing capabilities. See famous Buddhist statues such as the Poh Than Jao Nonsi and even some of the ex-abbots of the temple like Luang Poh Chuang and Luang Poh Gleum. The Grand Pagoda that dominates the temple contains a splinter of Lord Buddha's bone ( Pharmahathatchedi-Jomthaibarameepragat) Take a stroll through the place and relive the life of Buddha as depicted on the paintings hanging all over the walls.

3. Go to a Muay Thai match - This one may not be for all but (especially if you don't like violence) but it's certainly something to give a try especially since you're in the land where Muay Thai originated. One of the most popular spectator sports around, head for the boxing stadium in Phuket town on a Friday night to catch the spectacular sport of boxing with its pre-fight rituals and even music accompaniment.

4. Go for a walk through Khao Phra Thaeo National Park - One of Phuket's last untouched rainforest has been turned into a national park with simply breath-taking beauty all around. If you like trekking, go for an 8km trek throughout the park and end off at the majestic Tonsai waterfall

5. Visit Old Phuket - Streets are filled with 100 year old shop houses that have been remade into small hotels, restaurants and shops. Spend a little time here and feel the character of this island come to life as you explore the older yet attractive side of town.

Orson Johnson writes for Holiday Velvet, a website providing Phuket Villas & Vacation Rentals.