AfroToe Rides an Elephant in Thailand

One of the main tourist things to do while in Thailand is to ride an elephant. I'm always down for taking advantage of unique opportunities so I dragged my sister along on one of these elephant treks. I even dragged myself out of bed after a hard night of partying and minimal sleep, now that is dedication. For photos and more check out my blog www.afrotoe.com



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvB8OcOnYbc&hl=en

Retirement Thailand - How to Trigger a Lifetime of Good Health

If a good lifestyle is the secret to a healthy retirement, then for anyone considering retirement, Thailand will awaken your senses and astound you with its amazing, live-and-let-live lifestyle, wonderfully diverse nature of its people, and gracious hospitality. And then there's the Thai women too.

But, prepare to forget everything you once thought was 'normal.'

Because to be honest, although you might love the idea of retiring in Thailand, it's not always easy! Living here often transforms itself into an adventure of some sort or another. You'll be bombarded by a whole new way of thinking. And it may seem as if no one in Thailand is even remotely serious, even about anything they should be serious about!

In other words, choosing to retire in Thailand, will probably be the healthiest thing you ever do! Would you like to know why?

It's very simple. There's an abundance of lovely Thai women, and the relaxed, peace loving Thai people have an enjoyable laid back attitude. And that's only the beginning. The all-embracing and heart felt welcoming that you'll get from coming here will melt all your worries away.

Maybe, just maybe, you'll fall in love with this country too.

And speaking of Thai women, if they're an important part of your retirement Thailand 'vision', then prepare yourself to be impressed. Or mildly concerned! It's a big kick-in-the-pants for any Western man who's never ventured to an Asian country. Indeed the 'Thai woman factor' seems to rub off on all men, one way or another, who come to travel or live in Thailand.

Having said all that, you may find that the culture is just too alien for you at times, the weather incredibly hot, and that the language is way too hard to learn. But these are small challenges to deal with. It's a tropical country, and the language is very learnable with some persistence (and especially with a Thai girl friend helping you!)

Of course you don't need to live right in the heart of Bangkok (Thailand's busy capital) either. There's an abundance of smaller cities and lifestyle options available to you. You could easily live comfortably in the mountains far north, or go south west to the coast and beach lifestyle of places like Phuket.

Either way you'll find that the low cost of living, interesting expat community, internet access, and low crime all add up to a rather attractive 'retirement lifestyle.'

Oh and one more thing - we haven't even touched on the food yet! (The Thais live for their food!) Prepare to be impressed. And prepare yourself to never stop wondering just why Thai people like to eat so much spicy hot food in a tropical, always-hot climate... I'll urge you to try to work out that one for yourself.

On the other side of the coin, the Thai people can tend to be a bit on the loud side sometimes, can suffer from a lack of creativity and originality, and their driving manners can be rather unnerving. But, not to worry, the only person to get serious about something like that will be... (can you guess?) You!

And what about Thailand living costs? Well guess what? It costs so little to live here, (in comparison to other 'Western' countries) that you'll think twice about 'ever' buying something in your own country again!

All in all, if you are considering retirement, Thailand is quite possibly the perfect Eastern lifestyle that could become your beautiful rainbow after a summer rain! There's only one real way to find out... come and see for yourself.

Finally, discover how the http://www.thewhiteapeinthailand.com can help you see the real Thailand... and learn what happens behind the scenes (from a guy who lives there). Visit now to get amazing tips, ideas and secrets and sign up to the free Thai Girl - Thai Life ezine. Learn more about Thai Girls And Retirement Thailand here!

Discount Travel For Thailand on a Budget

Many people arriving in Thailand are doing so as part of a world tour, and this will be just one stop on their journey. They will often be trying to budget their money and the great news is that there is plenty of opportunity for discount travel. Thailand is a relatively cheap country if you are prepared to eat local food and don't party too hard. If you know where to look, you will also see opportunities to receive discounts on many activities and trips.

The first place you will need to look for discounts is in the free local tourist magazines. These are available in almost all of the popular locations. They not only provide a useful guide to whatever area you are staying with maps and places to see, but they almost always are full of vouchers and special offers. If you want to party on a budget you will find all the places that offer happy hours, or other discounted drinks. You can also find special deals on meals and all the prominent tourist attractions. In places like Pattaya you can get special deals which mean that you can visit a few of the local attractions for at a cheaper rate as part of a package.

If you know how to haggle then you can really get things cheaper in Thailand. Be warned though, it is only really appropriate to haggle in markets where the prices are not in display. If you go into your local Tesco Supermarket and try to haggle they might call security. The night market in Chiang Mai is a great place to haggle and get a discount. Here you will find plenty of local crafts and souvenirs. It is possible to bargain sellers down to up to fifty percent of the original asking price.

If you are looking for discount flights and tours then the place to go to is the Khao San Road in Bangkok. This is the most popular tourist are in the city and is full of travel agencies all competing for your business for tours within Thailand and elsewhere in the region. If you have the time to shop around you will find some great bargains so don't accept the first price that you are offered.

These days the best place for bargains for Thailand and elsewhere in the world is on the internet. Hotels and even guest houses will offer a special discounted rate if you book online. You will also find that the cheapest flight deals are available online. If you arrive in a tourist area it is often advisable to book your room from a local internet cafe rather than the hotel itself.

If you are travelling the world on a budget then you will find that your money can go a lot further in Thailand. It is actually possible to spend relatively little money, but still have a great time. On some of the islands it is possible to live on as little as a few US dollars a day.

Ryan Fyfe is the owner of http://www.my-discount.info/ - an information resource for all things related to Discount including articles, news, movies and more.

Real Thailand Travel

Dan Braha and Kim Fisher explore Bangkok Thailand, then head south to Trang for a more authentic experience with their friend Jenny Kane who is in the US Peace Corps. We ate beetlenut, rode an overnight train, cruised around the infamous khao san road, saw the reclining buddah, ate street food, drove in tuk-tuks, swam in waterfalls, got leeches and ate goat intestine curry!



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9eT5fpZHuE&hl=en