Wat Khao Kai Lot, Hua Hin, Thailand 02/21/2012
This beautiful temple is just south of Hua Hin. Add Comment Baan Pa To Wat 02/12/2012
This temple is in the Tha Yang area, just north of Cha-am. Muay Thai Kick Boxing 02/02/2012
Muay Thai is Thailand's national sport. The word muay comes from the Sanskrit Mavya, meaning "to bind together". In muay Thai, opponents use punches, kicks along with elbow and knee strikes instead of just fists as in Western style boxing. A practitioner of muay Thai is known as a nak muay. Muay Thai evolved from muay boran (ancient boxing), which had been used by Siamese soldiers if they happened to lose their swords during battle. It is thought that the ancient Siamese army created muay boran from the weapon-based art Krabi krabong. Originally, opponents fought bare-fisted but in time they began to wear lengths of hemp rope around their hands and forearms. Eventually, muay Thai became a popular spectator sport and part of Thai culture. It became common for muay Thai contests to be held at festivals in the temples. When King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) ascended to the throne in 1868, muay Thai entered it's Golden Age. The King took great personal interest in the sport and promoted its practice during peacetime as a means of physical exercise, self-defense and personal advancement. Muay Thai training camps sprang up all over the kingdom. Novice nak muay would be provided with food and shelter and they would even be treated as one family with the students adopting the camp name as their surname. The king would send scouts to organize matches between different camps. King Somdet Chaofa Prajadhipok Sakdidej (Rama VII r. 1893 - 1941) instituted codified rules for muay. Thailand's first boxing ring was constructed in 1921 at Suan Kularp. Referees were introduced and rounds were timed by kick. Thai fighters still used rope bindings on their fists in matches with each other but began to use Western style gloves in matches with foreigners. After several deaths in the ring, it was decided that fighters should wear gloves and cotton coverlets over the feet and ankles. Muay Thai has grown rapidly in popularity around the world in recent years and there is an effort to add it as an Olympic sport. Mountainside Buddha Image Near Pran Buri 01/22/2012
Bringing Your Pet Into Thailand 01/14/2012
 So you've decided to move to paradise (Thailand, of course!) but don't forget Fido. Thailand is a great place for pets, especially dogs. Thais love dogs; they all seem to have one ... or two or six. There are several things to be aware of before you make the move. For one thing, there is NO leash law in Thailand. This doesn't mean that you should be irresponsible and not use a leash yourself. Keep in mind that if your dog bites someone, you are responsible to pay all medical bills. It is of course grossly unfair that YOU have to keep your dog on leash while (it seems) NOBODY else does. But to prevent dog fights, it is just a good idea, at least in populated areas. When you can find an area without homes or "stray" dogs (most actually belong to someone; their owners just let them wander free) and no people in sight, you can let Fido off leash to run free for awhile. As you can see in the video, it is perfectly legal to play fetch with your dog on Cha-am Beach, or any other beach in Thailand. It's just best to do so when the beach is not crowded, such as a weekday. Also, keep your eye open for those "strays" who may want to pick a fight. There are plenty of isolated beaches south of Hua Hin and north of Cha-am where you and your canine can run free without seeing too many people or other dogs. Click the links below on specific details on how to import your pet into Thailand from your country. How to Make Thai Salad 01/10/2012
Here's how to make basic Som Tum (Thai Papaya Salad) in under five minutes. Hua Hin Temple & Street Scenes 01/02/2012
 Advertise Your Business in Thailand 12/29/2011
We have started a new advertising program for businesses in Thailand or those wanting to do business here. If you own a business our visitors may find useful, we can help you promote it at an affordable cost. Some businesses that would probably find more customers here include:
(1) A simple text ad that links to your website. You can pick the page you wish it to be posted, with our approval. (2) A one page mini-website linked to from our home page under the appropriate category, complete with unlimited photos and video. If you are in the Cha-am or Hua Hin area, we can even go to your location and shoot photos and video for no extra charge. With this option, we will work to get the Google keywords specific to your business. In this way, you not only get visitors that come to our website for real estate and our Living in Thailand Blog but also those interested in your business as well. Your mini-website will include all your contact details so customers can reach you directly. If you have a guest house, for example, we can even embed your Pay Pal payment buttons so customers can send you deposits to reserve rooms. The one page mini website rate starts at 3,000 THB. The simple text link is only 2,000 THB for 6 months. You can pay securely with Pay Pal. Click here for more information. Termites in Thailand 12/17/2011
 Termites Termites, or "white ants" are very common in Thailand. You can see their mounds everywhere and when they swarm, they can't be overlooked. These social insects eat anything made of cellulose, but mostly they eat wood. If you came from a Northern country, you may have had a home made of wood and termites may have been only a minor hazard. Here in Thailand, most homes are made of concrete and steel; termites are a big reason. You may occasionally see homes made of teak (a termite resistant wood), but they are usually the "historic" type or more expensive than concrete. Stands of construction quality teak wood are more and more scarce nowadays and there is a movement in the kingdom to preserve the forests. This is why utility poles and fence posts -- in fact practically everything made of wood in many other countries -- are here made of alternatives like concrete, metal and plastic. There are many pest control companies throughout Thailand that specialize in termite control. Click here for a directory.  Termites Are Eating Bark from Live Tree  Closer View: Termites Plaster Mud Onto the Surface of the Tree to Protect Them from Predators & the Sun; Here the Mud Has Partly Fallen Away  Termite Damage to House Siding Video of Termites SwarmingMore Information: [Termite Invasion] [Forum Posts on Termites & Remedies] [Article from University of Hawaii Termite Project] Shopping in Cha-am 12/12/2011
This market sets up every so often near the Cha-am train station, and is visited by both Thai and ethnic Chinese, hence the Chinese opera, Chinese writing and incense offerings.  Just down the street from the train station is the fresh food market, which is near the Tesco store. It's open nearly every afternoon and evening. There you can find a wide variety of fresh fruit and vegetables, many locally grown.  There are all kinds of Mom & Pop shops that line the streets of Cha-am, selling sundries, clothes and household goods as well as at least two IT (computer sales and repair) shops. There is a Big C complex being built just south of town and a Makro going in just north of Hua Hin, so shopping opportunities will be expanded even further in the near future. | AuthorThis blog is about buying property and living in Thailand. ArchivesFebruary 2012 CategoriesAll  
  
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