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Thailand Visa is your one stop place for everything Thai Visa and Thai Immigration. We have all the information you need about Thailand, Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and all other cities in Thailand.

Once you get to Thailand you know you will have a fantastic time. But, you can't start joining in the fun until you get permission to enter the country. Submitting a visa application is not difficult - but you must make sure you do it right. It would be awful to have a trip planned and then have to cancel simply because you did not have the right paperwork.

Countries, including the United States, require most visitors to have visas in order to make sure that they will not become a burden on the local economy. In other words, the government does not want to have to pay money to take care of you should you not have enough money to live. They also want to make sure that you are not a criminal and that you don't pose any danger to the country you are visiting.

If you are flying from the United States or the UK and a Few Other places, and are only staying in Thailand for a short period of time - less than 30 days in most cases - you won't need to apply for a visa in advance.

Most people, however, stay in Thailand for at least that long if not longer. It takes so long to fly to the country that once you are there you will want to stay awhile!

Non-immigrant visa

A Non-immigrant visa is a visa issue to a person under the conditions of applying for a temporary stay in the Kingdom as follows:

Performance official duties;

Business;

Investing under the concurrence of the Ministries and Departments concerned;

Investing or other activities relating to investing subject to the Provisions of Law on Investment Promotion; Study or observation;

Mass media;

Missionary work under the concurrence of the Ministries and Departments concerned;

Scientific research, training or teaching in a Research institute or institute in the Kingdom;

The practice of skilled handicrafts or as a specialist;

Other activities such as to perform duties or missions in the family of alien who entered to stay temporary in the Kingdom as the parents, spouse or child under patronage and being a part of the household of the said person; or to provide or received support from the person whose nationality is Thai or the alien who has been granted and has taken up permanent residence in the Kingdom as the parents, spouse or child under patronage and being a part of household of the said person; or to perform duties for the state enterprises or social welfare organization.

Important Information regarding Non-Immigrant Visas

I. Conducting business (not including employment), the visa applicant must include with his or her visa application any such documentation the Consulate deems necessary for consideration of the visa application which includes the following:

An original letter of invitation on company letterhead from the business host in Thailand;

A copy of the host's Registration of Trade which states the amount of capital investment which is issued by the Department of Commercial Registration with certification by the Department not more than six months earlier;

Certified documentation of the payment of taxes by the business host of the past two years.

Certified approval Letter from the Labor Department by the Department of Consul, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Thailand.

Any documents that prove you are traveling for business purposes;

II. Employment

Approval from the Alien Occupational Control Division, Department of Employment, Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare.

III. Teaching [ For teaching in private schools at the levels below university level ]

Passport or travel document with validity of not less than 6 months

Completed visa application form

Recent passport-sized photograph (4 x 6 cm) of the applicant taken within the past 6 months.

Letter of acceptance from employing institute or school in Thailand.

Letter of approval from government agencies such as the Office of the Private Education Commission, the Office of the Basic Education Commission.

Evidence of educational qualification such as diplomas or teaching certificates.

School license or business registration, list of shareholders and school profile.

Applicant's resume.

Police certificate verifying that applicant has no criminal record or equivalents or letter issued by authorised agencies in applicant's country. (The requirement of the submission of such police certificate is optional. The applicant must submit it if consular officer requests he/she to do so. This requirement is effective as from May 2007)

IV. Research

The original invitation letter from the institution concerned.

The approval from the Ministry or the Government University concerned;

V. Religious purposes

Approval from the Religious Affairs Department of the Ministry of Education. (When the applicant is approved by the Religious Affairs Department of the Ministry of Education, the religious institution would then send the approval document to the applicant and to Consulate for consideration in issuing the visa.)

VI. Visiting family

To visit as a spouse of a Thai national

a valid and effective marriage certificate (original)

a certified copy of the Thai national's passport/ I.D. card of the spouse.

a certified letter from the Thai spouse stating that he or she is still married to the applicant.

Fianc้s or fianc้es are not included in this category

To visit as a relative of a Thai national

documents proving such relationship.

VII. Retirement in Thailand (see also Retirement Visas), the applicant must be at least 50 years old and must submit documents as follows :

documentation showing proof of retirement

bank statement or monthly/year income.

a copy of the applicant's criminal record from the local police department

a certificate of health.

These documents must be certified by a Notary Public and certify true signature of the notary public by the Secretary of State.

VIII. Studying

For studying in private schools or private colleges.

Approval from the Ministry of Education or the Ministry of University Affairs (When the applicant has been approved by the above-mentioned offices, the school or college would then send the approval document to the applicant and to the Consulate for consideration in issuing the visa.)

For studying at a government school or government university

Approval from the Ministry of Education/Ministry of University Affairs or the University's administration. (When the applicant is approved by the Ministry of Education / Ministry of University Affairs or the University's administration, the school or college will then send the approval document to the applicant and to the Consulate for consideration in issuing the visa.)

For other purposes not listed above, please contact the Visa Section at the Royal Thai Consulate General in Chicago

Non-Immigrant Visas will not be issued for such purposes as tourism, seeking employment opportunities in Thailand, looking for a school for teaching or studying purposes, etc.

For such purposes a 60-day Tourist Visa may be granted which can be extended up to 30 or more days in Thailand through Thai Immigration. For more information on extending visas in Thailand, please see Thai Immigration's web site (see "Extension of Visa" under "Available within the Kingdom"). The holder of any category of visa to the Kingdom of Thailand may apply in Thailand to change to another visa category when you are in Thailand, if you are qualified for that type of visa.

When applying for a visa to enter Thailand you have a choice of applying for a single entry visa or a multiple entry visa. If you do not plan to leave Thailand during the validity period of your visa, then you need only a single entry visa. A multiple entry visa is much more expensive than a single entry visa.

Do not confuse a multiple entry visa with a reentry permit. They are not the same. If you have one, then you don't need the other.

If you hold a single entry visa and leave Thailand during its validity period, then the visa becomes null and void unless you obtain a reentry permit. The reentry permit is available at your local Immigration office. You have a choice with these permits as well. You can obtain a single reentry permit for a 1900 baht fee. You can obtain a multiple reentry permit for 3800 baht.

If you wish your single entry visa to remain valid, then you must obtain a reentry permit under any circumstances if you leave Thailand. There are many horror stories about the consequences for failure to obtain the reentry permit. One example occurred when a gentleman living in Thailand on a Retirement Visa wanted to go for a brief visit to Laos. He was told by an Immigration official that there is no requirement for a reentry visa when going to Laos. The Immigration official was mistaken. The gentleman did go to Laos and returned to Thailand without incident.

He did not realize that upon entering Thailand again without a reentry permit he had lost his retirement visa ad it had become null and void. He was now in Thailand on the 30-dayprivilege, but he did not know it. 90 days later it was time for him, so he thought, to submit his 90-day address report, a report required from anyone staying in Thailand for more than 90 days. No matter what the expiration date is for the 90-day address report is, when you reenter Thailand with a reentry permit, you are not required to submit an address report until 90 days later.

But this gentleman did not have a reentry permit. 90 days after his return to Thailand, now he had overstayed his visa by 60 days. He had no idea until he went to the Immigration office to submit his 90-day address report. That was when he was told he had seriously overstayed his visa and it was explained to him that his retirement visa had become null and void. He was shocked and explained he had only done what an Immigration official had told him to do. That did not matter. He was still required to pay a heavy fine and he had to leave Thailand and start the visa application process all over again. By the time he had completed everything and had a new Retirement Visa, several thousand dollars had been spent and he had suffered through a great deal of aggravation and frustration.

If you hold a multiple entry visa, then a reentry permit is not required. When deciding whether to apply for a multiple entry visa or to obtain a multiple reentry permit, do the math. The multiple reentry permit costs 1900 baht. The cost of a multiple entry visa varies from country to country, so it is best to contact your nearest Thai consulate or embassy to inquire about the cost. If it is more cost effective for you to obtain a multiple reentry permit, then you will not need the multiple entry visa.

One consideration is the fact that if you hold a multiple entry visa is usually valid for one year. You are granted an additional 90 days upon reentry into Thailand. If you use the visa just before its expiration date, then you will still be granted an additional 90 days upon reentry into Thailand. However, you can do that only once.

Works Permits

Without a work permit you cannot work in Thailand. You cannot do any kind of work at all. You can own a business, but you cannot do any of the work. If you own a restaurant, for example, without a work permit you cannot take any orders, clean a table, or even refill a water glass. Without a work permit you cannot help a Thai friend with his business. You cannot even help him rearrange his shop, help him bring in any merchandise, or even provide transportation in your own vehicle to help him bring in items from his supplier. You also cannot do charity work or volunteer work without a work permit.

Thailand is highly restrictive about what foreigners can and cannot do regarding any form of work a Thai citizen could have done. If you have any questions or confusion about what you are allowed to do, inquire at your local Immigration office or consult a Thai attorney before engaging in an activity that could be construed as work. If you are caught working without a work permit, you are subject to arrest, heavy fines, and even prison terms and deportation.

You are eligible for a work permit only if the work you intend to do is work that otherwise would not or could not normally be conducted by a Thai citizen. If you are hired by a company or as a teacher, the company or school usually handles most of the details involved in obtaining your work permit and often pays the fees. However, do not let them convince you to begin working until you actually hold the work permit. Having an application in process does not allow you to begin working.

Many foreigners try to earn extra income by means of offering private language lessons. Again, you are not allowed to do so without a work permit.

You must hold a non-immigrant visa in order to be eligible for a work permit. The application process can be long and complicated. If the company your work for does not assist you in the application process, or if you are to be self-employed, then it is best to seek the assistance of a Thai attorney. Regulations involving work permits tend to change periodically, which also makes it a good idea to have a Thai attorney involved.

The fee for a work permit is variable, depending on the length of time the permit is to be valid. The fees normally range from 750 baht to 3000 baht.

Once you have your work permit, you must meet several additional requirements:

The permit must either be on your person or available in your place of work. Failure to have it with you when working is a 1000 baht fine.

You can only do the work set forth on the work permit. You cannot do any other kind of work and you cannot change the location of your work place. Violations can result in a 2000 baht fine and/or 1 month imprisonment.

The work permit will have an expiration date. You must obtain a renewal prior to the expiration date. If you work beyond the expiration date without new approval, the fine is 5000 baht and/or 3 month imprisonment.

If your work permit is lost, stolen, or damaged, you must report and apply for a replacement within 15 days. Failure to do so is a 500 baht fine.

If you resign or are fired, you must return the work permit to the Thai authorities within 7 days. Failure to do so is a 500 baht fine.

You must report any address or contact changes, such as a telephone number change.

The work permit automatically expires on the date your current visa expires, regardless of the expiration date of the work permit. If you renew your visa, then the permit will expire on its own expiration date, provided that date comes before you visa renewal expires.

It all seems very rigid and complicated. In reality it is not as complicated as it may seem. A great many foreigners hold work permits, but Thailand is strict about violations once you hold the work permit. If you make sure you understand and follow the requirements you will not have any problems and will be able to work in Thailand.

From among the various reasons farang become residents of Thailand, some of the more common reasons include marriage to a Thai person, retirement in Thailand, working in Thailand and ownership of holiday property.

The majority of foreign residents in Thailand are those who have retired in Thailand. Becoming a retired resident in Thailand is easiest if you are eligible for the Thai Retirement Visa. If you do not qualify for a retirement visa, you may still qualify for other types of non-immigrant long-term visas

If your address changes to a Thai address, and you no longer hold an address in your home country, then make sure you fulfill the legal requirements. For example, when a US citizen permanently changes his address, he is required to notify the Internal Revenue Service. Failure to comply with legal requirements from your home country could cause problems later.

Residence status in Thailand, rather than simply being present in Thailand for long periods of time, entitles you to a number of benefits. It makes it much easier to open bank accounts, establish online banking, obtain driving licenses, and can even entitle you to pay the Thai price or a discounted farang price at various dual priced venues.

There may be times when you must show legal proof that you are a resident. For example, you must have such proof when applying for driving licenses. The proof is obtained by getting a Residence Certificate. You get a residence certificate at your local Immigration office. You are required to present two passport photos, your passport that contains a long-term non-immigrant visa such as the Retirement Visa, and documentation that evidences your residence address. That can be bills in your name mailed to your address or a letter from your landlord. The fee for the residence certificate is 200 baht.

If you choose to do so, it is possible to obtain a permanent residence permit, which entitles you to an alien registration card, which is essentially the same as the Thai national ID card. You can even become a Thai citizen if you choose to do so.

The problem about the permanent residence permit is the fact that it is very expensive and difficult to obtain. You can expect to spend 200,000 baht, or more, if you wish to obtain the permit. Thailand restricts the number of these permits to 100 per country, per year and you cannot even apply for the permit other than in October, November, or December. The Ministry of the Interior announces the date's applications will be accepted.

You must be a holder of a long-term non-immigrant visa, such as the Retirement Visa, that has been renewed consecutively for a minimum of 3 years to be eligible to apply for the permanent residence permit. Once you hold the permit you are required to re-register once per year at a fee of 200 baht.

If you wish to apply for Thai citizenship, you can do so after holding the permanent residence permit for at least 5 years.

Few foreigners apply for the permanent residence permit unless they are doing so out of necessity. Once you have obtained the Retirement Visa, renewal is relatively painless and quite simple to do, and far less expensive than a permanent residence permit.

Remember, even if you hold the permanent residence permit, if you leave Thailand you are still required to obtain a reentry permit. Failure to do so will nullify any visas or permits you hold.

Many farang who wish to stay in Thailand are either ineligible for a long term visa or prefer not to obtain one. The alternative is a visa run, the slang term for temporarily leaving Thailand in order to obtain a new visa.

When entering Thailand from most countries no visa is required. You are given 30 days upon arrival. At the end of the 30 days those who whish to remain in Thailand for a longer period of time have a choice of applying for an extension or leaving Thailand and then returning. In the past many farang were bypassing Thailand's laws about long term stays by leaving Thailand and immediately returning, often only minutes after leaving. It became a revolving door and many were living in Thailand by this method.

Thailand has since cracked down on this and now restricts the number of days per year and the number of times per year the authorities will accept these types of entries from those who do not hold a long term visa.

In any case, when it becomes necessary to leave Thailand in order to reenter for an additional 30 days or in order to obtain a new tourist or non-immigrant visa, you are now making a visa run. You can simply leave Thailand on your own and return later, after obtaining your new visa, or you can also employ the services of professional visa run services.

When leaving Thailand on your own in order to obtain a new visa, be careful about where you are going. Different Thai consulates and embassies have their own policies about granting new visas. Some are quite easy to deal with and others are very difficult. At present the Thai consulate in Penang, Malaysia seems to be the most difficult.

You also have the option of using visa run services. You cannot, repeat cannot, give your passport to another party to get a new visa for you. Don't let any visa services talk you into it. That is totally illegal and can easily result in your arrest and deportation. You must personally go on a visa run.

Visa run services are usually very good and quite reliable. In most instances a passenger van is used. You and others also going on a visa run are either met at your accommodation or given instructions about where to go and what time to be there. The visa run vans leave early in the morning and return the same day.

Many who do these visa runs enjoy them. They make new friends in the van, get to see the countryside, make stops for lunch, and are in the hands of people who know what they're doing and can help you through any unforeseen problems that might occur. Often, upon entry into the country where you will obtain the new visa, the company representative will collect the passports and applications and handle the formalities himself. He does it all and you do not have to be personally involved unless a problem comes up. You do, however, have to physically be there.

One of the most popular visa runs are the runs that go from Thailand to Cambodia. You arrive at the Cambodian border within a few hours. While the company representative is handling the formalities you have time to look around, do some shopping, or whatever you choose to do. There will be groups of children and beggars trying to get you to give money to them. Be wary of that and be wary of pickpockets.

When deciding upon which visa run company to use it is a good idea to shop around. Different companies charge different prices. The more luxurious the transportation and the more competent and cooperative the company representative, the more expensive the visa run will be. Many people who do multiple visa runs stick with the same company once they find a company that truly satisfies them.

How do you find visa run companies? Travel agents. One of the easiest things to find in Thailand are travel agents. There are great numbers of them and they all can arrange visa runs for you. Some companies advertise. Word of mouth is a good way when you are hearing from people who are familiar with the various companies. Posting on this, and/or other Thailand message boards will yield plenty of recommendations.

Thailand Holidays!

Just like every other country in the world, the Thai people love to celebrate - and there are many official and non-official holidays on the Thailand calendar. Most of them celebrate the Buddha, the family or the country's leadership. They take their holidays very seriously, and it can be an awe-inspiring to experience the honoring of their very personal observances. The following is a list and explanation of when, where and why they celebrate - so you can have a holiday during their holidays!

Official Holidays

January 1 - New Year's Day. New Year's is a religious and cultural celebration in Thailand. Most of the natives go to the Buddhist temples to make offerings to the monks. They often will buy caged birds and set them free as a symbol of the freedom of the New Year.

Third Thai Lunar Month - Also known as Magha Puja, the February full moon in Thailand is a widely observed Buddhist holiday. The locals use the day to celebrate Buddha's teaching of Ovada Patimokkha. They make sure to commit no sins during the day and attempt to purify their minds and spirits. They often bring gifts to the local temples in order to honor the Buddha.

April 6 - Chakri Memorial Day. Officially known as King Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke the Great Day and Chakri Dynasty Memorial Day, this holiday celebrates the creation of the Chakri dynasty. It was this dynasty that built the city of Bangkok, so the locals embrace the beauty and grace of their capital city.

April 13 To April 15 - Thailand's New Year. This is the biggest holiday of the Thailand calendar. Considered a time to celebrate the family, most Thais travel to see their mothers, fathers and grandparents. Local villages swell as people come home and say "thanks" to the people who raised them.

May 5 - Coronation Day. This day celebrates the coronation of Bhumibol Adulyadej, who is still the official king of Thailand. He is the longest-reigning head of state in the world, and has been king since 1946. He has held the crown longer than any other king in Thailand's history.

The Royal Ploughing Ceremony. This holiday is held on a different day every May. The date is determined by the Thailand astrological calendar. The point of the holiday is to celebrate the beginning of the rice-growing season. As part of the ceremony, two oxen are tied to a wooden plough and made to walk through the rice paddies. Then they are offered a variety of food and drinks. Depending on what they eat and drink, the monks then make predictions on how the season will be. This is similar to America's Groundhog Day.

Vesak. Held during the first full moon in May, Vesak celebrates both the birth and death of Buddha. It is said that on this day Buddha finally understood the concept of Nirvana. The Thais use the day to try to come closer to their own personal utopia.

Asalha Puja. This holiday is held on the 15th day of the waxing moon in July. The purpose of the holiday is to commemorate Buddha's first sermon. It is celebrated by going to temple and listening to the monks provide spiritual guidance to help you through the rest of the year.

August 12 - The Queen's Birthday. This is a dual celebration. On one level, it celebrates the birth of Queen Sirkit. But, it is also observed as the unofficial Mother's Day of Thailand. Most Thais go home and honor their mother while also giving thanks to the benevolence of their queen.

October 23 - Chulalongkorn Day. This day is dedicated to celebrating the passing of Phra Bat Somdet Phra Poramintharamaha Chulalongkorn Phra Chunla Chom Klao Chao Yu Hua - the last great King of Siam - in 1910. He was known as the "Royal Buddha" and is credited with bringing modernity to Thailand and the region. It is because of this king that Siam avoided colonization and remained a free, independent state.

December 5 - The King's Birthday. This is the twin of the Queen's Birthday. It celebrates both the birth of King Bhumibol Adulyadej and is also Father's Day. Typically, it is a private family celebration. An alternative name for December 5 is "National Day" and is similar to America's Independence Day.

December 10 - Constitution Day. Also known as Wan Rattha Thammanu, this day is used to honor the signing of the Thailand constitution in 1932. Local Thais see it as a celebration of their liberty and independence.

Unofficial Holidays And Observances

February 2 - National Agriculture Day. On this day, farmers are celebrated and honored for their work and production during the year.

Chinese New Year. Celebrated on different days near the start of February, Chinese New Year is a three-day celebration honoring the start of the Oriental calendar year. It begins on the last day of the Chinese calendar and continues until the second day of the "new year." Fireworks, paper dragons and parades are all part of the ongoing celebration.

February 14 - Valentine's Day. This is celebrated the same way it is in the West, as a day to declare your feelings of love to your special someone.

Atthami Puja. Held during the waning moon of the sixth Thai lunar month, Atthami Puja is a day of reflection honoring the cremation of the Buddha.

Dragon Boat Festival. Also known as Duanwu, this is a traditional Chinese holiday that is celebrated in some parts of Thailand. It is held on the 5th day of the 5th month of the Chinese lunar calendar. People celebrate it by drinking, eating rice wraps and watching traditional Chinese boats move through the water.

July 1. This is both National Scout Day and the Mid-Year Holiday. It is a day off from work for most of the country and all banks and other institutions are closed. Officially, it celebrates the founding of scouting in Thailand in 1911. In practice, it is a day to relax and enjoy yourself!

Ghost Festival. Held on the 15th day of the 7th Chinese Lunar Month (generally in August), the Thais believe this is the day when heaven, hell and the earthly realm are all tied together. Monks pray to absolve the sins of the departed while the Thai people honor their ancestors.

Moon Festival. Held exactly one month after the Ghost Festival, the Moon festival is one of the oldest and most important dates on the Chinese calendar. It is similar to our Thanksgiving in that it celebrates the end of the autumn harvest and is a day when family members return home to feast on the bounty the earth has provided them.

Vegetarian Festival. Held during the first nine days of the 9th Chinese Lunar Month (usually in September) in Phuket, the Vegetarian Festival is the most fun holiday of the entire year. In order to atone for eating meat during the year, participants pierce their bodies with swords and other sharp objects in public. Really.

Pavarana. Held on the full moon of the 11th lunar month, Pavarana is the local equivalent of Lent. Marking the end of the rainy season, the local monks apologize in public for their sins.

Loy Krathong. Held on the first full moon the 12th lunar month, Loy Krathong celebrates the boats and rafts of Thailand. In general the traditional boats enter the water and are then surrounded by fireworks. It is very similar to our 4th of July and is meant to honor the Thailand Water Goddess.

Thailand has one of the richest histories of any country in the world today. Known for most of its history as Siam, we can see evidence of advanced culture in Thailand generations before civilization spread through the rest of the Eastern world.

Archeologists have found evidence that the area that would one day be called Thailand was the first Bronze Age culture on record as well as one of the earliest agrarian societies in the globe. There is some evidence that the first rice farmers ever lived in Thailand before exporting their knowledge throughout Asia. At the time most people lived as hunters and gatherers and did not even consider the idea of actually farming and cultivating their own food.

Yet, there is a good deal of dispute as to who exactly the earliest Thais were. Some people believe that the early Thais immigrated to the region from China roughly 4.500 years ago. Other people believe that the Thais are indigenous people and instead migrated to and settled in various regions of what is now China. Either explanation would be consistent with the genetic similarities between the Thais and certain modern Chinese.

Part of the confusion lies on the fact that throughout its history Thailand has had a close trade and cultural relationship with its neighbors including India, China and Cambodia. As such, the Thais absorbed a fair amount of different cultures into their indigenous people. Like America, Thailand was a true cultural melting pot.

Khmer culture made its face known in Thailand in the 11th and 12th Centuries and still persists in various forms to this day. You can see evidence of this in the various restored temples and ancient Buddha's that you will see on nearly any tourist excursion around the territory. Like many elements of Khmer culture Buddhism is still widely practiced in the country.

The Sukhothai kingdom was the first monarchy established in Thailand in 1238 and gradually expanded to take over what was then a loose knit collection of city-states. It is during this period that the system of writing that would become modern Thai and Theravada Buddhism were first established.

It was also during this period where a highly integrated caste system was developed in Thai society. The King was at the top of the three-tiered system, slaves on the bottom and everyone else was left in between.

Thailand was "discovered" by Europeans in 1511 when Portuguese missionaries first appeared on the scene in an attempt to spread Christianity around the world. At this point the tradition of dealing diplomatically with their neighbors saved Siam from the colonization that befell many other Eastern nations.

Through diplomatic channels the Europeans became convinced that Thailand was the most important country in Asia and therefore it was left unconquered. In the mid 1500s Portugal set up the first European embassy in the territory.

This lasted until the late 1600s when France, helped by Greek "adventurers" tried to stage a coup and take over the country. The coup was thwarted and Siam chose to close its gates to all foreigners for nearly a century.

In 1767 Burma was the next country to attempt to take over the kingdom of Siam. The Burmese were initially successful, but in less than a decade the Thais rallied and expelled all of the Burmese from the country.

It was at this point that the Thais decided to attempt to normalize relations with the West. By the early 19th century, with Bangkok crowned as the new capital, commercial treaties were signed with Great Britain and westerns were once again able to explore Thailand's beauty.

The seeds of trouble were being planted in the region. France was just starting to set up its colonies in Indo China, while Britain was colonizing Burma and Malaya so while the country was independent it was constantly surrounded by potential western conquerors.

Thailand's rulers were able to craftily keep much of their independence by opening themselves up to lucrative European trade and agreeing to let western leaders send envoys to act as governmental advisors.

Still, even with this detente, the Bangkok government did have to give up some land to the invaders including parts of Cambodia, Laos and territory in Malay. This turned out to be a small price to pay to avoid the rampant colonialism that afflicted much of Siam's neighbors.

The country did become westernized and adopted some elements of European culture under the reigns of Rama IV, and his son Chulalongkorn in the late 1800s. At the turn of the 20th Century a bloodless coup forced Rama VII to establish the first Constitutional monarchy and, as such, the modern state of Thailand was born.

Pibul Songgram and Pridi Phanomyang led the coup and were responsible for much of the modernization of Thailand. They had both been educated in Europe and used their education to impose democratic ideals throughout the country. By 1934 the first democratic elections were held allowing the people of Siam to take control of their fate for the first time in their history. In was shortly thereafter, in 1938 when the country officially changed its name from Siam to Thailand, thus completing the transformation of monarchial Siam to democratic Thailand.

Pibul Songgram became the Premiere of Thailand in the late 1930s and had his mind on expanding the territorial influence of the country as soon as he took power.

He had his chance when France fell to Germany at the beginning of World War II and used this opportunity to attempt to reclaim portions of Cambodia and Laos from their Gaulic colonial masters.

Japan then began to exert its influence on the region and convinced the west to grant territorial concessions to Bangkok. Letting the Japanese get involved in Thailand politics turned out to have its own problems as World War II expanded and Japan attempted to expand its influence on the region.

By 1942 Japan had enough influence over Bangkok that it was able to pressure Thailand to declare war on both the United States and Britain.

America quickly came to the aid of the people of Thailand and helped build one of the strongest anti-Japanese underground movements in the region. This alliance was also not without repercussions.

In return for their help during the Japanese occupation, Bangkok was pressured to return the territories Japan had helped them acquire back to British and French control.

Pridi Phanomyang became the first premier after the end of the war and one of his first moves was to briefly jail his old friend Pibul Songgram as a war criminal. In order to demonstrate to the world his rejection of the policies that lead to the Japanese control of Thailand, Pridi also changed the name of the country back to "Siam."

The new premiere was not without problems of his own. His post-war government soon became plagued by rumors of entrenched corruption and inflation was rampant. The people became dissatisfied with his rule and Pibul was able to organize an overthrow of his government in 1947.

Pridi was forced to flee the country and moved to China where by the mid 1950s he became the leader of the Communist "Free Thai" movement.

Pibul quickly renamed the country Thailand and set himself up as an absolute military dictator. By this point the country needed hard currency and was concerned that it was vulnerable to its neighbor, China.

In order to solve both of these problems, Pibul normalized relations with the United States. In return for massive amounts of military aid, Pibul sent advisors and troops to help America during the Korean War. In return Thailand was named the seat of the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization from 1954 to 1977. This entrenched a strong pro-western stance in Thailand, which helped protect the country against the specter of Chinese communism.

Pibul managed to stay in charge of the nation until 1957 when Field Marshal Sarit Thanarat staged a military coup and took the reins of power. Sarit was terrified that the Chinese would extend their influence into the region and in 1958 imposed martial law over the region and suspended the constitution. The country would not see constitutional law again until 1968.

Sarit remained premier until his death in 1963 when Gen. Thanom Kittikachorn took power. Despite the suspension of civil liberties the Thai economy boomed under the control of Sarit and Kittikachorn because of strong exports and even stronger financial aid from the United States - which was delighted to have a strong anti-communist government in the region.

In the 1960s Thailand saw its opportunity to strengthen its ties with the United States as America started sending its first series of advisors to Vietnam to fight the communist aspirations of the Vietcong.

The government committed thousands of troops to fight alongside American soldiers in Southeast Asia. Bases for United States troops and airfields where the states could launch air strikes against North Vietnam were quickly built and supported.

More American money soon flooded the economy and Bangkok became increasingly dependant on US financial aid to keep its booming economy afloat.

In 1967 Thailand became one of the founders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Soon the crash had to come. By the 1970s the price of rice - a key export product - began to drop in response to modern farming techniques. Tin and rubber prices also crashed, leaving a huge hole in the Thailand economy. Even more ominous for the Thais, the Vietnam War was spreading to its neighbors, Cambodia and Laos. During the early 1970s there were actual communist insurgencies inside Thailand itself.

Malaysian Communists and Thai Malay separatists staged an ongoing insurgency that last into the 1980s.

This growing economic and security pressure was to be the death of the constitutional government. In 1971, Thanom Kittikachorn and three military aides staged a coup, suspended the constitution and restored absolute military rule. Parliament was abolished and the economy began to improve as American soldiers began to be transferred from bases in Vietnam to Thailand barracks bringing with them American dollars.

Students were responsible for demonstrations that abolished the Kittkachorn government in 1973 and established the first civilian government in Bangkok in more than 20 years.

Democracy continued to rule in Thailand until 1976 when the military once again seized power and ruled without a constitution until the early 1990s.

Civil authority was resumed in 1992 and in 1995 a new constitutional law was adopted that lowered the voting age to 18, guaranteed equal rights for women, and lowered the influence of the military in the government.

Thailand remained a democratic society but the economy went into a tailspin during the 1997 Asian Economic Crisis. Bangkok needed to be bailed out the International Monetary Fund. Still for the first time in recent history economic and political crisis did not result in military rule.

Despite the effects of the deadly Tsunami in 2005 Thailand remains a peaceful pleasant tourist destination to this day.

Bangkok, known as the City of Angels is the center of life in Asia. This is the place to go if you want to find some hot exotic romance, shop at some of the best shopping Asia has to offer, partake in some of the most delicious food in the east or just hang out in a local park with the locals.

Still Bangkok has much more to offer than just hot nights. This is a city with a rich culture and history; so you can dive into the local culture during the day, eat wonderful meals at night and make the most of your vacation.

One of the most popular destinations is the Damnoen Saduak floating market. You can sample local food while an experienced guide will take you on a boat ride through the canals where you can purchase tons of souvenirs for friends and family back home.

No trip to Bangkok is complete without a bike tour through the city and its outskirts. Whether you take a guided tour, or decide to tool around on your own bike, this is the best way to be mobile and discover the life of the normal residents of Thailand. There are many bicycle groups that organize trips in Bangkok and throughout the country. Take a look at: http://www.tourdethailand.com for a fantastic charity ride that goes from Chiang Mai to Bangkok and then down to Phuket each year.

The Grand Palace is the most popular tourist destination in the city. For centuries it was the residence of Thailand's powerful kings. Make sure you take time to see the Reception Palace, the Funeral Palace, The Throne Hall and the beautiful revered Temple of the Emerald Buddha.

Just be prepared; the Thais take their temples seriously and will not let you inside if you are wearing shorts or flip-flops.

If you want to be a little bit less active you can always take an overnight in a converted rice barge. The most popular cruises leave from Bangkok and travel to the ancient capital of Ayuthaya.

When you are done sightseeing Thailand offers nearly every type of cuisine from traditional Thai food to classic Western cuisine. No matter what your tastes, you should be able to satisfy your hunger before your night on the town!

Still many go to Thailand for one main reason, to meet and mingle with eligible single guys or gals. There is nothing wrong with that - everyone likes a little exotic nighttime fun on their vacations; after all when you are far away from home you can easily let yourself be free and assume that what goes down in Bangkok stays in Bangkok no matter who it is that you go down on.

Of course, like any city, the hot spots in Bangkok come and go constantly. What's cool today might not be hot tomorrow and new places are popping up all the time.

The best thing about Bangkok is that it is ever changing. You need to keep a close look at this site and the bars and clubs and accommodations area. New arenas come and go and we try our best to keep this part of the site as updated as possible.

Chiang Rai is Thailand's northernmost province, home of the Golden Triangle, at which Thailand borders both Burma and Laos. The capital city of the province, also named Chiang Rai was established in 1262 by one of Thailand's most revered ancient kings, King Mangrai. King Mangrai is mot famous for having made peace between warring factions and rival kings, thus establishing much of what became present day Thailand. Also known as Mangrai the Great, he died in 1311 as a result, of all things, of a lightening strike. Many of the people living in Chiang Rai can trace their ancestry directly to the time of King Mangrai.

Getting to Chiang Rai is not difficult as it is serviced by a full featured airport, railroad station, bus station, and the roads leading to Chiang Rai are in good condition if you travel by car. Within Chiang Rai there are plenty of tuk-tuks and baht buses available.

Accommodations in Chiang Rai are available in all price ranges, giving you a choices ranging from small guesthouses to luxury resorts.

Dining in Chiang Rai can be a unique experience because northern Thai cuisine includes specialties uncommon in many other parts of Thailand. Much of the cuisine is influenced by Chinese cooking. The amount you spend to eat is entirely your own choice. Food is available from the smallest street vendors to expensive restaurants. One of the more popular eating spots is Chiang Rai's Night Bazaar, at which you will find more than 50 food stalls. This is very popular with tourists because of the deliciousness of the foods, the atmosphere, the colorful people watching, and free entertainment including music, Thai dancing, etc. No trip to Chiang Rai is complete without visiting the Night Bazaar.

Another highly popular activity is shopping across the Burmese border. The small city of Mae Sai is the place to go. From there crossing over to the Burmese side is the major activity. Burma will issue you a ‘day pass' for US $5 and there is no problem about reentering Thailand, but you do need to have your passport on your person. This is one of the few exceptions to the reentry permit requirement when leaving Thailand.

However there is really no particular reason to cross the border. Everything available on the Burmese side is also available at Mae Sai. Among the treasures to be found include jade and precious stones such as rubies and emeralds, all of which were mined in Burma, but no more expensive on the Thailand side than you would find on the Burmese side.

In the small town of Sop Ruak there is a popular Opium museum. Admission is 20 baht. Chiang Rai is not noted for its night life. Most of the night life is centered around the Night Bazaar, but there are a few bars, mostly on the west side of the Night Bazaar.

The major tourist attractions in the Chiang Rai area include elephant trekking and visits to Hill Tribe villages. Other popular tourist attractions include:

White Temple - also known as Wat Rong Khun. This is a unique structure, built in 1998. It features primarily pure white structures and glittering mirrored hallways. It also features unique paintings,. Hill Tribe Museum and Education Center - Designed to help promote a better understanding of the Hill Tribes, their customs, lifestyle, and culture. While you can easily find tours to the Hill Tribe villages in Chiang Rai, the museum also runs tours and is considered one of the best choices for visiting Hill Tribe villages.

Oub Kham Museum - Contains a wealth of ancient objects used in royal courts of Thailand, Burma, China, Vietnam and Laos, some of which date back to over 1000 years. The museum is open from 9:00am to 5:00pm. Admission is 200 baht for adults, 100 baht for children.

Huay Hin Fon Hot Springs - This is a popular, large, but shallow hot springs, highly popular from among the Thais. Vendors sell raw quail eggs and people cook the eggs in the hot springs. Be prepared, though, because there is a sulphur ‘rotten egg' odor emanating from the springs.

Chiang Rai is a major tourist stop when visiting Thailand. 2 or 3 days is enough to be able to see and do the major tourist attractions.

Whether you want to chill out, immerse yourself in history or simply check out the smoking hot nightlife, Chiang Mai, in Northern Thailand, has a little bit of something to please everyone.

Like most of the cities of the north, Chiang Mai is far more laid back than the southern metropolises like Bangkok, and the prices are far more reasonable.

Chiang Mai is not only one of the oldest cities in Thailand; it has also hosted western tourists for hundreds of years. The city traces its own origins back at least 700 years and there are records of European explorers writing home about this "fair and great town" in the 1500s.

The long history of this town is a boon to tourists who can marvel at the archeological and historical artifacts that seem to burst out of the countryside.

For much of its storied history Chiang Mai was an important cultural and religious center for both Siam and Burma, which helps explain the huge number of ruins and temples that still remain to this day.

Although Chiang Mai has always boasted beautiful mountains and a pleasant climate, it did not start attracting large numbers of western tourists until the early 1990s, when people started looking for new places to relax and ways to save money.

Once people started visiting Chaing Mai, word spread fast and by the mid 1990s, Bangkok tourism speculators started buying up large chunks of the city and converting them into vacation havens.

Chaing Mai celebrated its 700th anniversary in 1992 and in 1998 played host to the Asia Games sporting events.

During the day you will want to take a walking tour through some of the more than 300 Buddhist temples including Wat Phra Singh Wat Chiang Man Wat Phan Tao Wat Jet Yod and Wat Suan Dawk all of which are at least 500 years old.

You can walk through the temples on your own or rent a guide for the day. Please remember to dress respectfully when you visit any temple in Thailand; flip-flops and shorts are not appreciated.

If you are into shopping, Chiang Mai has one of the most exciting nighttime bazaars in all of Thailand. This is where you want to go in order to get great deals on silk and traditional hand made crafts.

On days when you don't feel like hiking or walking, you can enjoy any number of boat trips up and down the Ping River. Just sit back, relax, watch the scenery and let your captain take charge!

Chaing Mai is known as the city to go to in Thailand if you want gourmet meals at affordable prices. There are literally dozens of restaurants in the city, and almost all of them are world class. You can find nearly any type of food you desire, and you won't have to worry about busting your wallet.

The most interesting ruins in the region are called Wiang Kum Kham. They are from a lively city that was washed out in a flood 700 years ago.

By far the most popular tourist activity in Chaing Mai is to ride an elephant into the jungle. These tame beasts are so tall that you will be able to see for miles and the beasts are so tame that you will always feel secure. When we last went to the elephant farm in Chiang Mai, the elephant trainers greeted us and they put on a show for us. They showed us how they taught the elephants to paint, play soccer and basketball. All of this was quiet entertaining and just a warm up for the elephant trek through the wilderness. Riding one of these wild beasts is an incredible experience. It is simply one of the most amazing things that can be done in Thailand. The elephants helped build ancient Thailand and they are respected and revered.

White water rafting is another popular activity, as is rock climbing. You can rent all the gear you will need for both activities fairly cheaply if you just ask around. There is a rock climbing wall downtown that you can practice at. It is also in the middle of many gay beer bars. If you are into people watching, watching the climbers ascend the wall while sipping on a beer is very relaxing.

Thailand is becoming known for its amazing gold courses. There are many tours planned that bring US and European citizens to Thailand for a week or two of playing golf at some of the most amazing courses in the world.

For those of you who like to explore on your own, local guides will be happy to prepare trekking maps that will explain how to walk into and through many of the tiny villages that dot the mountains around the city.

As with most cities in Thailand, the scene in Chaing Mai is constantly changing but the forums on this site should give a good idea where to start looking for your carnal adventures.

We just can't wait for you to come visit; we know you will have as good a time as we do!

Accommodations in Chiang Rai are available in all price ranges, giving you a choices ranging from small guesthouses to luxury resorts.

In the small town of Sop Ruak there is a popular Opium museum. Admission is 20 baht.

Chiang Rai is not noted for its night life. Most of the night life is centered around the Night Bazaar, but there are a few bars, mostly on the west side of the Night Bazaar.

The major tourist attractions in the Chiang Rai area include elephant trekking and visits to Hill Tribe villages. Other popular tourist attractions include:

White Temple - also known as Wat Rong Khun. This is a unique structure, built in 1998. It features primarily pure white structures and glittering mirrored hallways. It also features unique paintings,.

Hill Tribe Museum and Education Center - Designed to help promote a better understanding of the Hill Tribes, their customs, lifestyle, and culture. While you can easily find tours to the Hill Tribe villages in Chiang Rai, the museum also runs tours and is considered one of the best choices for visiting Hill Tribe villages.

Oub Kham Museum - Contains a wealth of ancient objects used in royal courts of Thailand, Burma, China, Vietnam and Laos, some of which date back to over 1000 years. The museum is open from 9:00am to 5:00pm. Admission is 200 baht for adults, 100 baht for children.

Huay Hin Fon Hot Springs - This is a popular, large, but shallow hot springs, highly popular from among the Thais. Vendors sell raw quail eggs and people cook the eggs in the hot springs. Be prepared, though, because there is a sulphur ‘rotten egg' odor emanating from the springs.

Chiang Rai is a major tourist stop when visiting Thailand. 2 or 3 days is enough to be able to see and do the major tourist attractions.

Phuket is an often-mispronounced jewel in South East Asia. By far the most popular island destination in the region, it offers sandy beaches, beautiful Portuguese architecture and a rich history that will delight any seasoned traveler.

The island does have a rainy season and tourists are advised to avoid its charms in September and October when it is soaking wet. For the rest of the year, particularly from November through February, Phuket's limestone cliffs, tropical forests and powdery beaches make it a place that you don't want to miss.

The earliest history of the island comes from the Greeks. Claudius Ptolemy wrote of its charms as early as 157 A.D. For most of the past 2,000 years Phuket was used as a stopover for traders who needed to avoid monsoons. When tin was discovered, migrant workers from as far away as Portugal began to arrive and Phuket soon became one of the most influential meeting points for European traders in South East Asia.

When the price of tin collapsed in 1985, the island government began hawking Phuket as a possible tourist destination. Travelers took the bait and its popularity and economy have soared.

There is a diverse group of people living on the island; 35 percent of the people are Muslim ‘ representing a variety of religious and cultural histories. Hence, tolerance of all types of lifestyles has become the trademark of Phuket.

While the nightlife of Phuket is always hopping, there are also a variety of activities to do during the day and as with most of Thailand, there are many wonderful western and traditional restaurants.

Dino Park on Karon beach is one of the sillier tourist attractions. It is a small 18 hole golf course set in the age of the dinosaurs. It even features a dinosaur themed restaurant!

All of the many beaches that encircle the island are wonderful places to snorkel and dive. At nearly any point along the coast you can find places to rent equipment and guides to help you explore the beautiful undersea vistas and the exotic fish that call the waters around Phuket their homes.

Ko Kaeo visitors will not only find a beautiful sandy beach, but also a famous replica of the footprint of BuddhaKo Si-Re also features a wonderful reclining Buddha image.

Cape Phanwa is home to the Phuket Aquarium, the place to go if you want to see the beautiful fish that the region has to offer, without having to go to the effort of diving or snorkeling to find them. The nearby Phuket Butterfly Farm has also been growing in popularity with the tourist trade.

The Phuket Submarine offers people the chance to dive 30 meters under the sea in the comfort of full air conditioning and the Phuket Zoo is the safest way for you to see some of the regions more exotic animals.

Patong Beach is tourist central and you will find a wide array of family friendly activities including go-karts, a haunted house, water skiing and Tarzan's Water Bunny Jump.

The Khao Phra Thaeo Wildlife Sanctuary covers nearly 5,600 acres and has hundreds of different types of local protected animals.

Wat Phra Thong is the most beautiful temple on the island. According to local legend whenever invaders have tried to steal the beautiful Buddha inside, hornets have attacked and driven them away.

The adjoining island of Ko Nakha Noi has the regions only year round pearl farm that is open to the public. If museums are your thing the Thalang Museum has great artifacts documenting local culture.

Of course, once you've had your tourist fun and have accumulated enough stories that you can safely tell your friends and neighbors, it will be time to head out at night and take advantage of the hot gay island nightlife.

No matter where you decide to go, Phuket is guaranteed to offer you a fun experience on your vacation. We can't wait to see you there!

If sultry beaches and beautiful water is your bag, then Pattaya is a must see for any visitor of Thailand or the region. The name of the town comes from the Thai for the South West winds that blow in every year to signal the start of the rainy season.

What may amaze the more than one million visitors that descend on Pattaya every year in their carnal quests for sandy beaches and exotic recreation is that the town as we know it did not even exist 40 years ago.

For centuries Pattaya was a tiny fishing village virtually unknown to outsiders where a traditional way of life in the safety of the calm bay. Before the 1960s barely 100 families fished out their meager livings along these pristine waters.

It was the Vietnam War that fueled the forces that would change Pattaya forever. As more and more American soldiers were sent to Southeast Asia, air force and army bases began to spring up nearby.

More often than not these soldiers could not get enough time off during their recreation periods to make the long trip to Bangkok. So they started exploring the Pattaya beaches.

Savvy entrepreneurs soon realized there was a growing market of thirsty and horny soldiers that would pay hard currency to have their appetites satisfied.

The result was an ever-growing stream of bars, hotels, clubs and restaurants that would change this sleepy village into one of the hottest tourist destinations in the world!

Who would have believed 50 years ago that those sleepy fishermen were sitting on what would one day become some of the most valuable tourist real estate is all of Asia?

Because Pattaya is a new city it does not have any of the temples or ancient statues that are the cornerstone of most Thailand tourist experiences. This is truly a place to go when you want to spend your days relaxing on the beach and your nights looking for love.

Most will probably spend our days diving in the crystal clear waters or else lounging on the three main beaches: Pattaya, Jomtien and Wong Prachsan.

All of that is fine and dandy, but at the end of the day what's the point in bronzing your beautiful body if you are not going to try to get some action with your attraction.

We know that some of the best girls are really boys. If you like your men with boobs on top, north and central Pattaya have what you are looking for. Just be careful many of the transvestite and transsexual shows also attract a straight audience so be sure to ask the cute guys if they are friends of Dorothy before you make your move! These "girls" prove size matters and many of them have huge tittles to satisfy nearly any oral fixation. The Tiffany Show has the most famous transvestite show in Thailand and even hosts an annual transsexual beauty pageant. It opens early at 6:30 p.m. and stays open late

Many tee shirts in Pattaya have the right slogan: Good boys go to Heaven, bad boys go to Pattaya. True to life, Pattaya is a bit of heaven for good boys and bad boys. We can't wait to see you there with all the other beach goers!

Hua Hin

No visit to Thailand is complete without a trip to the beautiful resort beaches of Hua Hin. Located 200 miles south of Bangkok, Hua Hin is one of the oldest and most popular sandy destinations in the country.

While many of the other beach resorts in Thailand - including Phuket and Samui - have been over developed and overrun with tourist hotels and restaurants, Hua Hin has retained its traditional charm as both a resort and a working fishing village.

The beach is over five miles long and surrounded by some of the best, yet least expensive, golf courses in the entire world. The city itself was discovered more than 80 years ago by King Rama VII. He chose the place as his home away from home when he wanted to escape the heat and humidity of the capital city.

Once King Rama built his palace in what had up until that point been a fishing village, other Siam nobility were soon to follow - which fueled the growth and popularity of Hua Hin.

The king's palace - called Klai Kangwon, which means "Far From Worries" - remains an official royal residence and popular attraction to this day. Public tours are easy to arrange - even when members of the royal family are staying there!

Be careful outside the palace, however, because security is very tight and any type of public intoxication or other bad behavior near the palace is dealt with very strictly by the local police officers.

While the main tourist activity is to lie out on the sandy beach and have locals bring your drinks or provide massages, there are sites to see when you've decided you've had your fill of fun in the sun.

Most of the wealthiest families in Thailand have built their summer homes near the palace or on the beach, which means there is beautiful architecture to see as you stroll around and explore Hua Hin.

Khao Takiap is a large hill that is filled with beautiful Buddhist temples and offers the best overhead view of the city, the port and the ocean. It is a four-kilometer hike, so you may want to rent a bike or motorcycle to take you to the top.

The Hua Hin railway station is one of the oldest stations in Thailand and is so beautiful that it is considered one of the country's landmarks.

The Spirit Houses of Brassiere Beach has a really odd history. Legend has it that the daughter of a local fisherman was eaten by fish because she was too beautiful to live in the world. Today, men and women leave brasseries on the beach in order to ask the gods for good luck.

Namtok Pa Lau is an 11-tier waterfall located about 30 miles outside of town. It is easy to get to by bus, and is particularly popular on hot and humid days.

Wat Huay Mongkol was where famed monk Luang Phor Thuat lived his life. He was known for performing miracles and his former residence is now a large public park featuring a giant statue of him as its centerpiece.

At night Hua Hin comes alive with a large open-air market where you can buy nearly anything under the moon, and see what types of interesting fish and fruits the locals like to eat. You can also sample any of the many excellent seafood restaurants that surround the market.

If you want to sample local products, look for things made from Khommaphat, which is a type of cotton unique to the Hua Hin region. They use it to make everything from shirts to large decorative pieces of art.

The one downside of Hua Hin is that it does not have as active a nightlife culture as the other beach resort towns in Thailand. Your best bet is to hit the Soi Bintabaht and Soi Selakam areas where you can find local beer bars. By royal decree, there are no go-go bars in town.

Hua Hin has three important regional festivals, including:

The Thailand's International Kite Festival is held from March through May in Hua Hin during even numbered years. It features stunt kites, big kites, little kites, high tech kites, traditional Thai kites, and displays of international kites.

Hua Hin Jazz Festival is held through the month of June on the beach. It attracts world-class Jazz musicians and is considered one of the most popular events in Hua Hin.

Hua Hin Vintage Car Rally. Sponsored by Vintage Car Club of Thailand and the Tourism Authority of Thailand, the car rally is held every December. All of the cars in the rally are vintage from the 1920s, in celebration of when the King discovered the city.

Getting to Hua Hin is easy from nearly any part of Thailand. It is hooked up to most of the major rail lines and you can get a direct train from Bangkok. There are also several bus routes from both Bangkok and Malaysia.

Overall, the weather is temperate. There is a brief rainy season in the spring, but the showers tend to be very short and are often over in five minutes or less - so you can get right back to the sun and fun!

You will notice that there are many, many more Thai tourists in Hua Hin than in the other national beach resorts. While westerners do come to Hua Hin, there are far fewer of them here than in Phuket or any of the other beach towns.

This leads to a certain charm, because Hua Hin has yet to be completely corrupted by tourists - and you can feel like you are having a very authentic Thailand vacation experience!

So, next time you are in Thailand, hop on the train and check out the beautiful beaches, waterfalls and temples of Hua Hin. Consider it a royal experience!

You'll be glad you did!

Hat Yai is one of Thailand's southernmost cities, located in the province of Songkhla. It is only 30 km from the Malaysian border. The city began as primarily a railroad hub between Thailand and Malaysia. Hat Yai is one of the lesser known tourist spots in Thailand and is attractive to those who wish to ‘get away from it all,' but still have the features of a city available.

The city is becoming increasingly popular among gays. There are at least 3 gay bars now and a gay sauna called GL Sauna as well. Admission is 250 baht and includes a drink.

The gay bars are within easy walking distance of each other, the most popular being the G-Men bar.

Hat Yai was a small village until the coming of the railroad in 1922 and has slowly, but surely increased in size ever since. The population is now about 160,000. The official name of the city is Ma Hat Yai. Ma Hat is the Thai word for a fruit tree relative of the popular Jackfruit. Yai means large or big.

Getting to Hat Yai is no problem. There are buses, airline service, and obviously railroad service. Within Hat Yai there are plenty of mini buses, tuk-tuks, and motorcycle taxis.M

Accommodations are relatively in expensive in Hat Yai as it is not a beach town or resort city. Food in Hat Yai is mostly Thai, but some of the shopping malls have restaurants that feature ‘farang food' and there are a few ‘farang food' restaurants. It is best to book a room via a travel agent. You will almost always get a better rate from a travel agent than booking directly through a hotel in Hat Yai.

Night life in Hat Yai includes a surprising number of bars for a small city, several of which include live music. A popular place to go is Oceana, and entertainment complex just outside of Hat Yai. There you will find a very nice open air restaurant and bar that covers two floors and is in a beautifully romantic landscaped setting, open until about 2:00am. There is a disco nearby and it seems to remain open until about 4:00am.

The Lee Garden Plaza features fast food restaurants including McDonald's, KFC, and Sizzler. There is also a modern multiplex cinema at Lee Garden.

There is not very much in the way of sightseeing in the Hat Yai vicinity, but the three most popular attractions are:

Wat Hat Yai Nai - Features a 35 meter long reclining Buddha, the third largest in the world.

Hat Yai Municipal Park - This park is quite popular among the Thais and includes an abundance of flowering plants and a very good aviary.

Ton Nga Chang Waterfall - Considered by many to be one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Thailand. It is a 7-tiered waterfall, the most popular being the third level, known as the "Elephant Tusk" waterfall. Here the falls separate into two streams, resembling elephant tusks. You can easily hire transportation to and from the park for about 400 baht.

Many farang doing visa runs go to Hat Yai due to its close proximity to the Malaysian border. The run takes you to Dannok. From there you simply cross over the border on foot, take care of your visa renewal, and return, although there are plenty of motorcycle taxis to take you, if you wish, 20 baht each way. Mini vans are available to take you back to Hat Yai for about 60 baht, but they do not depart until they are full. The trip takes approximately 90 minutes.

Nakhon Ratchasima is also known as Khorat, and you are likely to hear it referred to as Khorat much more often than you will hear Nakhon Ratchasima. Why is the city also called Khorat? It is a shortened version of the city's ancient name, Angkor Raj.

Getting to Khorat is easy. The most common transportation is by bus. Buses run to Khorat from virtually anywhere in Thailand, quite often without the necessity of connecting to another bus. There are also railroad lines that feed into Khorat. From Bangkok the railroad trip is about 4 hours. If you have a car, Khorat is about 260 kilometers (160 miles) from Bangkok on Thailand's Route 2. The road is in excellent condition.

Khorat has an airport, but passenger service was discontinued in 2006 due to financial losses. There was not enough passenger demand due to the fact of its close proximity to Bangkok. Reestablishment of air transportation is under discussion, but no changes are expected in the foreseeable future. The closest airport with passenger service is the Buriram.

Along with its ancient history, Khorat is rapidly modernizing. You'll find state of the art hotels, shopping malls, and several excellent restaurants that feature both western and Thai foods. There are restaurants that feature everything from typical Thai cuisine to fine steaks, and even ostrich steaks.

There are plenty of hotels and resorts from which to choose, at all price ranges. You can find hotels at prices as low as 600 baht per night up to over 3000 baht per night at the more luxurious resorts.

Khorat celebrates several festivals and holidays throughout the year. Often, Khorat is a destination for farang who wish to avoid the chaos of Songkran, the annual water festival that occurs in major cities such as Bangkok, Chonburi, and Pattaya. Songkran in Khorat is much more subdued and traditional, but watch out! You'll still be the recipient of plenty of water dousings during Songkran.

Another major festival is the annual Phimai boat races. That event takes place on the Moon River, at the city of Phimai, during the second weekend of November. If you are interested in going, make your hotel booking well in advance. This event is quite popular and the hotels are usually filled.

Some of the interesting sightseeing spots include:

Wat Sala Loi- This is one of the most interesting wats in Thailand. It was built in shape of a Chinese junk.

Khao Yai National Park- This was Thailand's first national park. To this very day tourists are attracted by the fact that there are still as many as 200 wild elephants, monkeys, bears, deer, and even bat caves. There are also over 3000 species of plants. Good accommodations are available for approximately 1200 baht per night. Camping is also available. If you have your own camping supplies you can find camp sites for as little as 5 baht per night. General admission to the park is 200 baht for adults and 100 baht for children. This park does not charge extra farang prices.

Phimai Historical Park -Ancient structure and archeological enthusiasts will love Phimai Historical Park. Much of it is actually older than Cambodia's Angkor Wat. Some of the finest ruins of ancient Khmer structures are there. Admission for farang is 100 baht per person.

Dan Kwain - The province is famous for it's hand crafted reddish, rough pottery. Dan Kwain is the center of it all, although you will readily find the pottery sold throughout the province, including Khorat. You will also find many small family-owned pottery shops, most of which still use the ancient techniques. The small shops quite often allow tourists to get their own hands dirty and "help" make some of the pottery.

Sai Ngam -If you know what Banyan trees are, then you know that these are the world's largest spreading trees. A single Banyan tree is capable of covering several acres. Some of the largest Banyan trees in the world are located at Sai Ngam. Sai Ngam is quite picturesque, located on the banks of the Moon River.

Of course there is much more to see and do in Khorat. An average stay of 3 to 4 days is suggested if you wish to see and do the major attractions.

Udon Thani, also known as simply Udon, is a province in the northeast of Thailand, close to the Laotian border and is the gateway to Laos via the Friendship Bridge at Nong Khai. Its capital city is also named Udon Thani. Most Thais refer to it as Udon.

Udon Thani was relative unknown to foreigners until the Vietnam war, at which time the USA set up a military base. That base has since been turned over to Thailand, which was part of the deal when the USA was granted permission to set up the base.

Udon Thani itself is better known as a gateway city rather than a major tourist destination. Many tourists pass through Udon Thani on their way to somewhere else, such as Laos and Nong Khai during the time of the Naga Fireballs.

The Naga Fireballs is a phenomenon that has to be seen to be believed. No one seems to know how this phenomenon occurs, but it is predictable. Along the banks of the Mekong River, when the moon rises, the phenomenon begins, with these fireballs rising out of the river. Sometimes there are only a few. Sometimes there are thousands. This year, 2009, the phenomenon is expected to occur the evening of Sunday, October 4. If you wish to experience the phenomenon you won't be alone. As many as 500,000 spectators are expected. If you wish to go, if you don't already have hotel reservations, try to make them immediately. Don't be too surprised if you cannot find any vacancies. Reservations are usually made months in advance.

Getting to Udon Thani is easy. Udon Thani has a good passenger airport. There is also an abundance of bus services to Udon and is a 14 hour railroad train ride from Bangkok. Within Udon there is plenty of public transportation. There are motorcycle taxis, tuk-tuks, baht buses, and even bicycle rickshaws for short-distance rides. You can also rent bicycles and pedal around the city yourself.

There are many mid-range priced hotels in Udon Thani and surrounding areas.

In Udon Thani you will find an abundance of Korean barbeque restaurants. These are quite popular in Udon. If that is not to your taste, then along with all the Thai food, you can find the typical fast food restaurants in the shopping centers and a few western restaurants. The best western restaurants, along with some the best shopping, can be found in the Charoen Shopping Complex. There is also a good night bazaar near the railroad station. The shopping action at the night bazaar usually begins around 5:00pm and finishes up around 10:30pm.

The Charoen Shopping Complex also houses most of Udon Thani's nighttime entertainment venues, with bars, karaokes, and English style pubs

Udon Thani is in the real Issan part of Issan. Wherever you go, you can count on seeing one thing. Rice farms. Everywhere you look you'll see rice farms. This is the major industry in this area of Thailand and this is also the area at whioch most of Thailand's famous sticky rice is grown.

Sightseeing in and around the Udon Thani area includes:

Ban Chiang - This is widely considered to be the most important recent archeological discovery in nearly all of Southeast Asia. The discoveries, beginning in 1967, here date back to the Bronze Age and artifacts have been made here that date back as far as 4400 BC. This is one of the finest museums in Thailand and is considered a must when visiting Udon Thani.

Udon Thani Museum - This museum houses collections dating back to the founding of Udon Thani and includes an abundance of historical information.

Udon Sunshine Orchid Farm - This is one of Thailand's finest collections of common and rare orchids. A stop here is a must if you are an orchid enthusiast and well worth a stop even if you are not. Some of the most beautiful flowers you will ever see can be found here.

Phu Foi Lom - This is a major eco-tourism site, located in the Pa Phan Don-Pakho National Forest.

There are also several caves, waterfalls, rapids, and other historical sites to visit.

Local food products include the Chinese sausage called kun chiang, moo yong, which is a pork floss, moo yo, which is steamed pork, and moo naem, which is a sour pork product.

If you wish to enter Laos via the Friendship Bridge at Nong Khai, the visa-on-arrival fee for foreigners is US $35 and entitles you to 30 days in Laos You must have two passport photos available. Thais pay a different fee of their own. Air conditioned buses to Vientiane depart six times daily from Udon Thani. The fare is 80 baht one way.

Because Thai boxers are allowed kick with their feet and use their elbows, Muay Thai requires a lot more skill than western boxing and can seem to be a much more brutal show.

Yet, there is often a level of respect between the fighters that makes it a more honorable sport than the pugilism you may be used to back home. And, rather than the rap or heavy metal music that plays at many American matches, you will often hear traditional wood winds and chimes at a boxing match in Thailand!

What you may not know is that Muay Thai is part of Thailand's ancient heritage.

Thai Boxing In History

Traditional Thai boxing goes back hundreds of years and has been an important part of the country's history.

Many people are surprised that Thais, a notoriously peaceful people, excel at this beautifully brutal sport. The reason they do so is that for hundreds of years the survival of their nation depended on it.

Because the terrain on the Thailand borders is often rough and uneven, it was not in the Thai's advantage to develop long range weapons to ward off invaders.

Instead they decided to create a close hand to hand style of fighting that would lead to battles that favored the defenders over the invading armies - who would never understand the local terrain as well as the patriots they were fighting.

As long ago as the mid 1500s, the celebrated warrior king Naresuan The Great - a boxing legend - made Muay Thai a mandatory part of his army's military training.

Perhaps the most famous instance of Thai boxing in the countries history came 200 years later when the warrior Nai Khanom Tom was kidnapped by Burma during a raid on Siam's capitol.

After he was captured he made a challenge to his Burmese captors. If he could take on 10 of their best fighters at once and win, Burma would free him and his people.

Thinking that they would easily prevail, the Burmese agreed. Nai Khanom then used his Muay Thai skills to defeat all 10 adversaries and return to Thailand as one of the nation's greatest heroes!

Modern Muay Thai

For much of its history Muay Thai was a brutal dangerous sport. It was raw hand to hand combat - with ropes and cords wrapped around the hands instead of gloves.

As Thailand has entered the modern age, the rules have changed slightly to protect the fighters, who now wear padded gloves and protection for their groins.

While boxers can still use their elbows and feet during the match most of the other rules have been modified to comply with international boxing regulations.

This has allowed the popularity of Muay Thai to spread throughout the world and today you can find Thai Boxing training centers in most of the western world including the United States and Russia.

In Thailand itself Muay Thai is even more popular than soccer and is broadcast on television five to seven nights a week. Many of the fighters begin training when they are only seven or eight years old and some have made the move to western style boxing - and become international stars in their own right!

The best modern Muay Thai combatants fight in the Lumpini or Ratchadamnoen stadiums to a universally packed audience. If you want to see a fight and not have to face very long lines, your best bet is to go to one of the stadiums around 6:30 p.m. on a Sunday - when attendance is at its lowest point for the week.

There are usually several lower ranked fights before the main event - which you can expect to kick off around 9 p.m.

The Rules

Of course, Muay Thai has its own unique set of rules which may be confusing at first to a western spectator.

Before the fight can begin, each fighter must perform a wai khru dance as a way to show respect for his teachers and trainers.

There are only five rounds.

Boxers must wear gloves.

The gloves must weigh at least six ounces.

Gloves can not be squeezed in any way that would alter their original shape.<>

Each round is three minutes long and there is a two minute break in between rounds.

The winner is decided by knockout or by points. Whoever wins the most rounds wins the fight.

Contestants can only wear red or blue trunks.

Shirts and shoes are not allowed.

Both fighters must wear groin protection.

Before the fight a sacred cloth called the Mongkol may be worn as a headband. It must be removed before the fighting begins. The cloth is worn to pay homage to the fighter's trainers and heritage. It is also thought to give the fighter good luck.

All equipment must be provided by the stadium. This includes a stopwatch, a signal gong, a warning bell, boxing gloves, water, jock straps and surgical tape.

Learning Muay Thai

Some men, after watching these beautiful guys pummel each other in the ring are tempted to learn the sport themselves.

While that used to be impossible - as local trainers for centuries would only train local Thai men starting from a young age, all that changed in 1997.

That's when the World Muay Thai Council established the first recognized training academy for the sport.

The Muay Thai Institute in Rangsit, just north of Bangkok was created as a way to make this cherished sport accessible to everyone and preserve its fabled heritage.

All of the teachers at the institute are former champions and they are required to speak English. They will teach anyone and everyone - including women and foreigners.

The course covers most of the historical and cultural background of Muay Thai as well as the physical skills and fitness training. You can take classes to learn how to be a referee or on how to start your own stadium or training program.

Dormitories are available but you might be considerably more comfortable taking a nearby hotel for your 15 day stay.

The first three levels of training cost roughly $160 per course, while the fourth, expert level course is much more rigorous and costs about $1,200.

School management can help you with any student visa issues that may pop up.

Come And Enjoy The Show

Whether you want to just sit back and watch the guys fight, or if you want to lace up your gloves and join in yourself, Thai boxing is something no one should miss on any trip to Thailand.

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