Pack your bags and join Antipodeans for a trip of your lifetime. It's a guarantee you will cherish every moment of your visit abroad with Antipodeans Abroad.
Exploring the unique way of community development and individual growth, Antipodeans beautifully merge education, community development and travel.
Antipodeans'volunteer travel programs are designed to develop qualities like leadership skills, team work, selflessness, decision making, personal responsibility, cultural immersion and responsible travelling.
Grab the chance to visit countries such as India, Vietnam, China, Thailand, Laos, Peru, Bolivia or Kenya. Their volunteering programs incorporate sustainable, grassroots projects which will enrich your travels and benefit a small community. Depending on the program volunteers participate on projects with local people in the areas of education, health care, social work, building and renovation.
Through volunteer travel overseas, you get the chance to explore the common bonds between communities and cultures. These projects are designed for the benefit of both the communities in which they operate and also the travellers who are welcomed into those communities. It is a unique relationship which requires respect and understanding on all sides.
At the same time, you will get to sharpen your skills. Use your skills for the benefit of the country you visit. It could be teaching English, working in community development work, building or construction, working in health projects, sports coaching or care work.
Volunteer programs obviously vary and you should be prepared to ‘muck in' and do what's required. It's important to be aware that the placements are generalist in nature and while you will make an important contribution, you won't be saving the world in the brief time you're there.
The one who will gain most will be yourself through your immersion into the local community, living with the people, working with them and getting to know their children.
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cambodia to laos_4="cambodia to laos" what to do what to do??!!tours around Cambodia/Laos???
ok-so I'm going to S.E Asia next feb for 6 weeks with my mate. I was wondering if anyone knew of any good tour companies for going around Cambodia or Laos-want to spend maximum of a week in Cambodia, and would rather not have to tour Laos but know it is pretty tricky to get around so might be the best way to see it.Really would like to be in a small group of people in their 20's but if anyone has been on a tour or knows of a good company please do let me know!!! thanks
Best bet is to go to Bangkok. There are many tour companies - some only sos-so - so be careful. I've attached one such (reputable) company. Gie them your requirements and they'll come up with a price. http://www.travelconnecxion.com/
"Muay Thai, An ancient martial art style & a popular combat sport"
"Muay Thai, An ancient martial art style & a popular combat sport"
Muay thai (Muay- boxing, thai- thai people; meaning: Thai boxing), also called Pahuyuth , is a form of intermediate & close range hard Martial art, & the national sport of Thailand. It is one of the most popular martial art styles in the world. To an ordinary eye, it is somewhat like ‘concentrated' kickboxing, ‘concentrated' in the sense that elbow, knee strike & below waist kicks along with clinch are allowed here.
Muay thai, although a Thai martial art, is similar or often identical to many other art forms practiced in several south-east Asian countries : Burmese bare knuckle boxing/ Lethwei in Myanmar; Pradal Serey in Combodia; Lao boxing in Laos & Tomoi in Malaysia. This may be partly explained by the below historical event. At around, 200 B.C., Han Dynasty of China invaded and seized the kingdoms of Ai-lao (the name given by Chinese to them). This led to gradual migration of many Ai-lao from west-central Asia to south-east Asia, dividing into three branches in the process: the Shans settled in Burma, the Ahom went east into Vietnam, the Loa-Tai in the present day Laos.
At the end of 19thcentury, the first Thai states were forming into Laos & Siam, & with the capturing of two of Khmers cities (Khmers, the strongest & richest empire in Asia at around 6thcentury, originally from India.) in 1238, Muang thai – land of the free, an embryo nation, was created which ultimately becomes Thailand. From its very birth, it was at constant threat, & at warfare against the Burmese to the west, & the Khmers to the south-east. To deal with it, during the period of Prince Uthong of Ayudhhya (aprox.1350-1750, considered Golden Age of Thailand), a training manual called ‘the Chupasart' was prepared by distilling the vast combat knowledge of the great warriors of the nation, giving rise to a combat battle field art.
Around 1854, called the Ayuddhaya period, under the King Naresuan (also called as the Black Prince), the 1st great upsurge interest in Muay thai occurred. He modified Siamese boxing to supplement & conform to weapon use. He created duets fighting drills, organized boxing competitions & large scale combat exercises, while teaching the war science to his people. One of the duets was for Krabi (the sabre, a long sword with curved tip & oversized hilt made up of teakwood/water buffalo horn) & Krabong (the spear/staff), almost similar to Manipuri Thang-Ta, from which, the name Krabi-Krabong came for the mother art. Because too many soldiers were either injured grievously or killed while training & fighting with weapons, an unarmed art (Muay Boran/Muay Chao Chur), almost equally effective, was created. As it was to be used in battle fields, where there were always multiple attackers, originally they did little use of grappling or submission holds, but instead focused more on crushing kicks, punches or bone shattering elbows & knees, aiming to take down opponents with just one or two shots/blows.
Soon it became the national passion around 17thCentury under the King Pra Chao Sua/the Tiger King. He loved the art so much that he often wandered Siam in disguise, fought in village contests, challenging all the comers & remaining undefeated for 7 years. Many of his personal fighting techniques became the basis of modern Muay thai.
Another famous Muay Boran warrior was a commoner named Nai Khanom Tom. In 1767, he along with some 29,999 Thais were rounded up by the invading Burmese & took to Ungwa, Burma. After remaining imprison for 7 years (some sources say 1 year), he was selected to represent Thais prisoners of war in a boxing contest as a part of a grand festival organized by the Burmese King Mangra, at a Buddhist temple in Rangoon, where a holy relic of Buddha was enshrined. He did Wai Kru to respect the King & the Burmese people, & incredibly defeated 10 Burmese Lethwei champions in succession without any rest. The King was so impressed that he granted him & his fellow Thai prisoners freedom along with two beautiful Burmese wives. Even today, his feat is celebrated as ‘National Muay thai Day' on March 17 every year, where young Thai boxers perform Wai khru ram muay & Wai khru prajam pee.
After the Burmese aggressors were expelled out in late 1767, the series of kings of the free Thailand spared no effort in promoting the art. The Thai boxing became the favorite sport & past time of the people, the army, & the Kings. Around 1920s, during the reign of the King Rama the 7 , the name ‘Muay Thai' was given to this popular sport, referring the older form of the style as Muay Boran.
Muay thai has lost none of its appeal in Thailand. It is loved & enjoyed by people of all sections. The T.V. fight broadcasts rate among the Kingdom's most popular programmes. Even in the most remote village, people cluster around local fights or available T.V. to watch – all the four Thai T.V. stations broadcasts free Muay thai fights four night a week. The glory could also be found at Stadiums like Rajdamnern & Lumpinee (Stadium establishment began during the reign of the King Rama, the 7, before 2nd world war).The two main centers for the Muay thai study are the capital city Bangkok & the northern capital Chiang Mai. Thai military cadet schools also teach a modified Muay thai called Lerd Rit (meaning extreme power), an unarmed combat art used in conjunction with Krabi-Krabong, & incorporates breaking boards, glass bottles with elbows etc.
Contribution of Buddhist monks in the history of Muay thai is huge. Since 14th century, the Buddhist monks in the world famous ‘Buddhai Swan temple' (much like the Chinese ‘Shaolin temple' with similar ancient tradition) have been teaching martial art as a philosophy & as a way of life. The Buddhist monks have been keeping the practice of Muay thai for hundreds of years. Its popularity was spread to the common people by young men who have learnt the art from these monks, since each Thai man is urged to live as a monk at least once in his life.
Muay thai is considered as one of the world most deadliest & brutal combat sports by some. As in other martial art styles, it was originally meant for the battle field – with survival as the only rule. Upto 1920s, it was a part of school curriculum in Thailand, but was withdrawn as the injury rate was too high. In olden days, combatants wore horse hide thongs wrapped around the fists & forearms to slash the opponent's skin. Such thongs were soon replaced by hump rope, wound around the fists & wrists, then layered over the glue soaked cloth strips that hardened into stone gauntlets. Some fighters even used ground glass or pebbles mixed with the glue. There were no weight categories – larger fighters fought smaller ones & the bout went on until a fighter could not stand, with the loser horribly maimed or even killed, or the fight continued as long as a holed coconut shell placed in a water tube immersed completely into it. There were apparently no rules in the ring. After one such death in a ring, the King Rama the 7 codified rules for the Muay thai & were put into place around 1920s. But the matches were still brutal & violent, with head butting, kicks/knee to groin etc, perfectly legal moves. This carnage continued until the late 1930s, when the Thai government intervened & forced to adopt international boxing rules, weight divisions, padded gloves etc, & prohibiting many illegal moves like groin attacks etc.
Thai people have a great respect for the art & its teachers (Kun kru). Thai boxers do this through the ancient tradition of Wai khru/Bucha kru/Ram muay/Wai khru ram muay (Wai: action to show respect/pray/apologize with folded hands in front of the chest, like 'Namaste' in India; Khru: teacher; Ram: traditional Thai style dance; Muay: boxing), a pre-fight ceremonial dance to show respect & gratitude to the Kun kru in submission to his teaching & training, to summon up good, powerful spirits & scare away bad spirits from their corners. The fighter seeks God blessing for himself & for his opponent, & for an honorable fight or victory. Among enchanting traditional Thai music, the fighter, wearing Mongkon on head (said to possess the spiritual power of the Kun kru & all the fighters in their camp) & Krung Rangs on biceps (for extra protection & good luck), does Ram muay, demonstrating control, style & his prowess to the audience, some times taunting or scaring each other by stomping around his opponents etc (but no blow is allowed in anger). This ritual has been developed in different ways, in different regions, under different teachers, so usually no two fighters perform identical Wai khru (preventing fighters trained by the same Kun kru from fighting each other). A Muay thai expert, just by watching the Ram muay, can easily tell about the trainer & the region the fighter belongs, or whether he may lose or dominate in the ring!
The Wai khru is a graceful & aesthetic ritual both spiritual & practical. Dancing & rehearsing ‘Kon Muay' (movements/styles of Muay thai) before a fight, warms up one's body, helping the body & the mind to be ready to get into the battle. It is the most effective aid to limbering up, & marshalling the fighter's concentration, serving to bring to remembrance everything that the fighter has been taught. In order to become a fully-fledged Muay thai fighter, a person must pass through a series of ceremonies of Wai khru:
(a) Kuen khru, teacher's acceptance of students & passing the combat knowledge.
(b) Wai khru prajam pee/Yohk kru, annual homage-praying ceremony to teachers or souls of the teachers long passed away, usually on 17 March or mostly on Thursday, which is believed to be the teachers' day.
(c) Wai khru ram muay, ritual dance of homage to teachers by the fighters.
(d) Khrob khru, initiation as a teacher ceremony, bestowing the rank of Khru muay to the fighter.
Muay thai fighters (nak muay: Muay thai practitoner) make use of any part of their body as a formidable weapon. Muay thai is ‘the art of eight limbs'(originally nine weapons, including head, collectively called ‘na-wa arwud', but now head butting is not allowed in modern Muay thai). The practitioner executes strikes using eight ‘points of contact' (hands, elbows, knees, shins) as opposed to four points, common in other martial art forms. There are about 108 traditional Muay thai techniques, & less then 30 comprise the ring repertoire of the champion Thai boxer. Generally the emphasis of kicks (teh) & knees (tee kao) over elbows (tee sok), punches (chok) is a ratio of 3:1. Muay thai is known specially for its powerful knee & elbow strikes, which account for majority of the knockouts (KO).
Muay thai uses many types of elbow strikes. When thrown from the guard position, elbows are relatively difficult to block. Generally, the hand of the relaxed arm delivering the elbow is kept open to maximize range to increase power, with simultaneous swivel of the feet, waist & hip. Down elbow causes maximum KO in the ring. Mostly elbows are used when the distance between fighters becomes too small & too little space to throw punch to the opponent. The hard bony elbow is also used to block punches, kicks, or elbows etc. Elbow is one of the strongest parts of human body, containing three bones – epicondyles of humerus, olecranon process of ulna & the head-neck of radius, & we all know that human bone is stronger than concrete of same quantity.
Muay thai is well known for its deadly knee techniques. When delivering the knee, the fighter generally pull the lower leg back, toes pointed down – warding off any low, round cut kicks to the rear supporting leg by the instep. The head is protected from the punches by leaning the upper body away at an angle of 45 degree. The clinch version of Kao tone or straight knee strike has been proven scientifically as the strongest leg blow in martial arts. A shuffling stance change is done after each knee strike so that every knee is delivered from the rear power position.
Kicks are important parts of Muay thai fighting. Out of many kicks used, teep (foot-thrust) & teh (angle kick) are the commonest. One of the dangerous Thai techniques is an angle (round house) kick to break the neck. The kicker pivot on the front foot to add power to his kicks & commit the entire body weight to one kick; i.e; Muay thai fighter uses the entire body movement, rotating the hip, & sometimes with counter rotation of the arms, to intensify the power. Same thing is seen in case of punch, block, knee or elbow etc.
The striking part is usually the lower part of tibia (one of the body strongest bones), not the foot or instep which are weaker & contain many fine bones. The shin (strongest yet most sensitive in an ordinary person) is also used to block kicks/knees etc – raising the knee to meet the elbow, creating a formidable defensive shield. Thai boxers usually don't block kicks head-on, instead time the kick & bypass the knee into the softer, inner portion of the thigh. Same is for the knee, elbow or punch, they just stay at long range & wear the opponent down with hard round kicks. In ring, Thai boxer tries to lessen the impact of opponent's strikes by sidestepping, parrying or turning away from them, unless the hardened shin or instep may break his arm!
Before late 1930s, Muay thai hand techniques were mainly swinging, chopping blows or ridged fingers, poking & gouging. Today, the art has become even more ring effective by the use of the boxing jab, straight right/cross, hook, uppercut, shovel & corkscrew punches plus overhand or bolo punches etc. Thai boxer seldom uses international boxing style at long range as it exposes too much of the body to kicks & knees. In extending the arm to punch, it is easier for the elbows to go under & over the arm to hit the head. Favoring too much punch may end up on the wrong end of an offensive clinch. So, when a Thai boxer punch, it is in tandem with elbows & knee strikes at close range.
The primary targets in Muay thai are the midsection, upper body & head; although low leg kicks are frequently used (to distract/distance/off balance the opponent, also are easier to execute, difficult to block, aiming at femoral nerve, leg, knee or thigh or popliteal fossa).
Another important technique is ‘the clinch', a stand up partial grappling, used to strike or bind the opponent for offensive or defensive purposes. Nak muay often uses knee & elbow techniques in clinch. In offensive clinch, the clincher twist & apply pressure on the opponent's neck as he knees, bringing the head down to where it can be hit with a knee. Such pincer's grip works as a chokehold – pressing into the carotid artery in the neck, hampering blood flow to the brain – further weakening & confusing the opponent. Along with the front clinch, they also use arm clinch, side clinch, low clinch & swan neck. Out of many techniques used to escape offensive clinch, one may stand as straight as possible, grabbing the opponent around the waist & pressing the body into him, thereby stopping his knee attack. His natural reaction will be pushing you off, giving enough room to throw your own elbow or knee. The clinch is duplicated in Thai pad drills. The holder crosses the pads at his abdomen to accept the ‘medicine ball training' of multiple knees, while resisting the hitter's downward pull, strengthening his neck against kicks & punches.
Head butts, hip & shoulder throws are prohibited. So are the wrestling, back or arm locks or any similar judo or wrestling holds. The Thai boxers arealso prohibited from bitting, eye gouging, spitting, finger breaking or deliberately striking the groin area.
Like in full contact Karate (kyukushin), Muay thai heavily focus on body conditioning. From early age, nak muays started conditioning their sensitive shin by repeatedly striking banana trees, Thai pads & heavy bags etc. They also use many techniques of ‘iron body training'. They train until they drop. They don't earn belts as a symbol of their progress or skills (as in many Japanese or Korean styles), instead have skills tested in the ring, they are concerned only with the championship belts.
They work hundreds of hard rounds to prepare for a five rounds bout. A professional boxer completes 5 to 7 miles of roadwork & a short shadowboxing session every morning. In the evening, he will hit training camp for heavy bag work & lighter freestyle sparring, moving constantly for 4 to 6 hrs, & resting only at 1 min intervals. Some work out for 4 or more straight hours as a marathon holder or hitter of Thai pads. Boxers rarely do hard contact sparring in training, as a Thai tradition forbids pitting fighters trained by the same kun khru in serious bout.
Due to the effectiveness & efficiency of Muay thai, it is becoming very popular among martial art community, gaining respect from other stylists. As it is the best & most effectively economical way to fight, It has been one of the basic components in MMA (Mixed Martial Art) training & competitions. It is also increasingly being used now in many action films, video games etc with very high success – which were earlier always dominated by Chinese kung fu/acrobatic Taekwondo Kicking styles etc. Recently, films like ‘Ong-Bak, the protector; Tom-Yum-Goong; Born to fight & Beautiful boxer etc' have vigorously popularized Muay thai, specially among youngsters.
As most professional Thai boxers come from the lower socio-economic backgrounds & fight for money (No fight No money), they mostly belong to lighter weight classes (70% - fly & bantam weight divisions), & train very hard. It not uncommon to see such fighters engaging in local Muay kaad chuak fights. In such match, in addition to the elbows, knees, punches, kicks & clinch currently used in Muay thai, head-butts & throws are also allowed. Instead of modern gloves, they wrap their hands with hemp rope, which provide little padding & cause frequent cuts & abrasions. The contests are often wild & bloody, with no point system, so the victory comes by surrender or KO. If both the participants are still standing at the end of the bout, the fight is declared a draw (These brutally simple rules have already been abandoned in 1923). Generally, such contests are held during the Thai Songkran festivals (beginning of the new solar year, on April 13, 14, 15 each year), honoring Nai Khnom Tom, the Thai soldier legend. They are usually paid $25/$26 for every match, which is considered worth the pain. Due to the rigorous fighting & training regimen, most nak muays have relatively short careers in the ring, & they shifted to teaching this deadly art.
Amateur Muay thai, on the other hand, are practiced mostly by higher economic strata Thais, under different international & national organizations. It is also most common (almost all) in India. Amateur Muay thai has grown into a very popular sport, specially over the last 20 years. Thai boxing is becoming more & more increasing popular outside of Thailand. It has its enthusiasts & practitioners all over the world. Most of the credit goes to International federation of Muay thai Amateur (IFMA). Since 1990, IFMA has organized many Prince's/King's Cup World championships. The competitions are growing bigger & tougher every year, inspiring everyone to train even harder for the next event. Another important contribution of IFMA was the introduction of female fights (Muay thai was traditionally a male sport) in 2000 (as a demonstration sport) & in 2002 where 20 countries were represented by females fighters.
Muay thai was a already a demonstration sport at the 1998 Asian Games. It is also on the panel of sports for the SEA Games, & was a full medal sport at the 2005 SEA Games in Manila. It has been included in 2005 Asian Indoor Games. Moves are afoot to include it into the World University Games as well as the Indoor Asian Games. With such fast developments, it may be not far away that we see Muay thai as an Olympic event.
Manipuri players, no doubt, have always been good at martial arts & combat sports, Muay thai is no exception. Many players have fetched good positions, representing Manipur on various national & global stages, bringing glory, fame & respect. This is possible due the selfless dedication, & persistent hard work of many martial artists, Muay thai enthusiasts & trainers. My blessing & support to all the young nak muays of Manipur.
Hence, Muay thai is an amazing & excellent martial art style with equally long & amazing history, effective both in self defense or in ring, growing at a very fast pace, & having tremendous opportunity to earn name & fame for both oneself & more importantly, for the mother country.
Compiled & written by:
Dr.HanjabamCha Barun
MBBS,DSM(sports medicine) std.,
NS NIS,Patiala,Punjab,India,
Martial artist & Thang Ta practitioner.
Chief Instructor & founder,C.G.Thang Ta Association,Raipur,C.G.,India.
Email: dr.barun.hanjabam@gmail.com
About the Author
Dr.HanjabamCha Barun,
MBBS,DSM(sports medicine)std.,
NS NIS, Patiala, Punjab, India,
Martial artist & Thang Ta practitioner,
Email: dr.barun.hanjabam@gmail.com
Free the Bears story on The 7pm Project - Mary Hutton, Matt Hunt, Rove McManus & Tasma Walton
lao news today="lao news today" Do you remember Killing Fields?
Dith Pran, 65 died today(Yahoo News). This Cambodian journalist told the truth about the post Vietnam war affects that killed 2 million Cambodians (and hundreds of thousand Laotians and Vietnameses). Most Westerners ignored and denied these facts. Let's remember this guy and honor him with all of our effort by not to let it happen to post Middle East War.
You are right; those who forget history will have to repeat it. This time, I don't think we will stop until the situation is stabilized. But that will mean a lot of fighting.
We floated for all of two minutes before reaching the first bar. Loud electronic music was blaring from speakers, people were jumping off the big rope swing which looked more like a trapeze. And everyone seemed to be drinking Beerlao or buckets (usually whiskey and Red Bull). Before I knew it, I was too. Nicholas, Thomas, and Sandrine (who we ran into there) all went off the big swing, but I skipped it. I know I could do it if I wanted. I wasn't particularly afraid.
An hour later, we hopped in the tubes again, Sandrine and a Scot now part of our group. We passed the second bar nearby and floated on. I used my flip flops as paddles which worked out far better than just hands I'm sure. The current moved quick in some places, and occasionally we hit little rapids.
The third bar had a zipline and a crowd (and loud contemporary music). We got off and I did the zipline which was fun. It was easier to hang on then I expected, and I released right before the end would've catapulted me into an unintentional backflip. Those who didn't release in time (and not by design) were flipped like ragdolls. It was amusing, though dangerous given you could hit the water any number of wrong ways.
A few sips from a whiskey bucket, a splash in the mud pits (aka volleyball court), and we were off. We were on the river longer at this point, passing the beautiful limestone karst.
We made our third stop at a quieter bar with a small fire by which people were huddled. After sitting and talking by it long enough to feel warm and dry, it was hard to get back in the water.
Our fourth and final bar also had the last rope swing, from which I jumped. Again, it was easier to hold on than I expected (by design, the swing gives you a comfortable amount of slack). The others jumped multiple times (and would later tube a few more days after I left).
We finished the trip with a 25-minute float back to the little river island. Facing upriver, you had stunning views of the cloud-topped mountains. Stunning! They felt like something out of a movie – Jurassic Park maybe. Aside from a few passing kayakers, we had the river to ourselves (not a likely scene in the high season). There were even a few Laos people fishing and tending to their daily life along the river. There was a consensus that they must think us tube-crazy tourists are retarded!
ECONOMY. Thailand has a pro-business market economy driven by strong foreign investments and export oriented manufacturing especially in electronics, foods and automobiles. Thailand's exports account for 60% of the country's GDP. Thailand experienced strong economic growth prior to the Asian economic crisis of 1997 with GDP growth averaging 9.4% annually. However, the crisis adversely affected businesses in Thailand and saw the value of the Thai Baht decline by more than 50% against the US dollar. Since the crisis, the economy has grown on a growth path. Thailand's GDP was US$163.5 billion with a GDP per capita of US$2,537 in 2004. Thailand's GDP grew by an average of 4.6% annually from 2000 to 2004 driven mainly by exports of high technology products mainly electronics. Inflation remained below 2.0% from 2000 to 2003 but increased to 2.8% by 2004. However, unemployment showed a declining trend from 3.6% in 2000 to 1.8% by 2004. Nearly 60% of Thailand's workforce is involved in the agriculture industry but contributed to only 9.8% of the country's GDP in 2004. The services industry contributed towards 46.1% of Thailand's GDP and manufacturing 44.1% during the period. Major industries include tourism, electronics, textiles and garments, processed foods, beverages, agriculture produce, jewellery, furniture, plastics, vehicles and vehicle parts and mining of tungsten and tin. Major agriculture products include rice, tapioca, rubber, corn, sugarcane, coconuts, soybean and milk.
DEMOGRAPHY. Ethnic Thais account for 75% of Thailand's 65 million population and another 11% are Chinese or Sino-Thais who have assimilated into the Thai culture or are from mixed marriages. Minorities include Malays who lived mainly in southern Thailand and account for 4% of the population. Others include the Mon, Lao, Khmers, Puan and Karen minorities and immigrants from India. Nearly 95% of the country's population are Buddhists while Malays in Thailand are predominantly Muslims. Thai is the national language while languages used by the minorities include Malay, Isan and Khmer. Schools teach English but proficiency is low and generally, the educated elite are more proficient with the language. The majority of the Thai population still live in the rural communities though the proportion of the urban population is increasing. Thailand's urban population increased from 22% of the total population in 2000 to 31% by 2004. Thailand's capital and major city Bangkok accounts for nearly 8% of the country's total population. Other major cities include Nonthaburi, Pak Kret, Hat Yai, Nakhon Ratchasima, Chiang Mai and Udon Thani. Thailand successfully reduced the poverty level from 27% in 1990 to 10% by 2004. The proportion of the population categorised belonging in the low-income household is estimated at 60% while middle and high-income households account for 30%. The average household income in Bangkok is twice than the national average.
INFRASTRUCTURE. Telecommunication services to the general public are overall adequate. Internet broadband services are mostly concentrated in Bangkok. Cities and towns are well connected by roads but lacks super highways connecting Thailand's cities and major towns. Cities the major towns are served by airports and well connected by buses and rail system.
INTERNATIONAL TRADE. Thailand's major trading partners include Japan, US, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and Taiwan. Main exports from Thailand include electronics, vehicle and vehicle parts, textiles, garments, footwear, seafood, processed foods, rice, rubber, jewellery, electrical appliances including computers. Main imports include machineries and equipments, raw materials and finished products, consumer goods and fuels.
CONSUMER USAGE OF TECHNOLOGY. There were nearly 17.3 million installed fixed-line telephones in 2004 giving a penetration of 40% of all Thai homes installed with telephones. The penetration of mobile phones increased from just 7% of the population in 2001 to 42% or 27 million mobile phones by 2004. The penetration of computers is still low but increased from 5.1% of the households in 2001 to nearly 12% by 2004. The number of internet users reached an estimated 8 million in 2004 but most of the internet users are concentrated in Bangkok and the major cities and towns. The penetration of television in homes in 93% indicating many low-income homes have televisions.
RETAIL MARKET. The retail industry in Thailand totalled an estimated US$24.5 billion in 2004. There are nearly 300,000 traditional "mom and pop" stores in Thailand accounting for 65% of the total retail sales. However, there are 4,500 modern retail establishments (hypermarkets, supermarkets, department stores and convenience stores) accounting for 35% of the total retail sales. Most of the modern retail establishments are located in Bangkok. Shopping in modern retail establishments is increasingly popular and more establishments expected in the near future.
FOOD CULTURE. Rice is the staple food but while those in central and southern Thailand prefer white fragrant rice those in northern Thailand prefer the glutinous variety. Thai dishes are generally hot and spicy but foods from the northern region are generally milder. Thais are less adapting to western foods even if they could afford it compared to consumers in Singapore and Malaysia. However, bakery and coffer shop chains are gaining popularity among young professionals who have adapted to western culture.
About the Author
Khal Mastan is a Senior Consultant with Pegasus Business and Market Advisory (http://bma.pegasus-asia.com) based in Malaysia. He involves himself in business and marketing research and provides consulting services on markets in Southeast Asia namely Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines and Brunei. He has more than 20 years experience in the region and work experience in various industries. He holds a bachelors degree in Biochemistry and an MBA. He can be contacted at khalzuri@pegasus-asia.com or +6 (03) 7726 5373 in Malaysia.
laos education="laos education" how can i help thise less fortunate than myself?
i want to help, to give something back. im fifteen, female and living in Perth. i don't want to just give money, i want to see where my moneys going and actually help myself. i want to go on a mission thing to a country like Laos or somewhere, to help with poverty, disease and child workers. To give young children better education and better health. are there any groups like this departing form Perth were i can volunteer? thank-you.
ps, can you send me links of websites?
I doubt at your age you will actually be allowed to travel to Laos or other countries in a similar situation and obviously you do not have the expertise or knowledge to make an impact.
But what you can do is to continue studying to learn things that will be useful in the future and join a local or national charity that provides the kind of help you have mentioned through fundraising, raising the level of knowledge, or even basic office help you could provide in your spare time to such charities. Once you learn more you could become a good speaker and go from school to school to inspire other children or teenagers.
Regarding websites, just use key words like: 'Perth based charities' or any other suitable key words to find what suits you.
Good luck.
MaximsNewsNetwork: LAOS LANGUAGE BARRIERS AND EDUCATION (UNICEF)
Fundraising for Southeast Asia Documentary Underway
Stories Without Borders: The Documentary is an educational documentary project that believes through exploring the stories that we share we can better understand our common humanity across time and cultures. Its first project is to record the influence of the Sanskrit epics the Ramayana and Mahabharata across the cultures and religions of South and Southeast Asia while celebrating the diversity of the people and places that it chronicles. It will also produce an accompany text.
"We want to show that there are stories that are loved and shared across cultures, and these stories can be unifying and humanizing across times and places," said director Andrea Frazier. "We want to be part of telling those stories ourselves through the medium of film."
Covering the origins of these epics and their contemporary roles in India, it will trace their influence first to Java, Indonesia where reenactments and retellings continue today in this mostly Muslim island. From there, it will travel to the Hindu island of Bali where these epics form a central part of religious identity and worship.
From there it heads to the Southeast Asian peninsula to Malaysia where today shadow puppet reenactments continue in the deeply conservative Muslim states of Kelantan and Terengganu. Next, it is to Thailand where it demonstrates how these stories play a role in the lives of Thai Theravada Buddhists from incorporation in architecture to traditional dancing. From there it moves on to the mysterious Kingdom of Cambodia and the communist state of Laos to see how these Hindu epics continue to form a central part of the many of the diverse cultures one encounters there.
It is the brainchild of Andrea Fraizer, a videographer, filmmaker and director who is currently with FCA-TV in the United States, and Jarrod Brown, a philosopher, scholar and educator who has spent much of the last decade living, researching, and working among these cultures. The group also maintains a Web site with information about the upcoming film as well as educational resources for those doing comparative studies of the epics.
About the Author
Jarrod Brown resides in Honolulu, Hawai'i where he is pursuing his Ph.D. in comparative philosophy supported by a prestigious Jack Kent Cooke Foundation scholarship. Able to get around in Malay and Indonesian, Jarrod is currently studying Sanskrit and Khmer and can be polite in Tamil. Jarrod holds a Certificate of Southeast Asian Studies from Universiti Sains Malaysia, a BA in Philosophy from Berea College, and is currently Executive Director of Woodford and Wheeler International Cultural Consultants, Inc. where Jarrod helps organizations and individuals better communicate and work across cultures.
ngos in laos="ngos in laos" Whats the cost of living in southeast Asia?
I'm American and I'm thinking of spending a gap year there. I would like to volunteer with NGOs in Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Thailand, or Burma. I'm wondering how much it will cost for me to live in any of these countries while I try to find some sort of job. All advice is helpful and welcome. Thanks.
Cost of life in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam is very low compared to the US. You can live easily with 600-700 bucks/month , there (with no frills, though). Thailand is a quite more expensive place to live in , and there the Government has drastically reduced the operating licenses to many NGOs in the past few years. They feel as they do not need help. Burma? forget it. The military junta does not like NGOs, and the few of them operating in the country are UN-related Funds. You won't last a single day there as a loner. Laos and Vietnam also are difficult place to volunteer. Cambodia is where International donors and NGOs are covering 85 percent of the national budget, and no hassle exists for the volunteers. I have been volunteering in Cambodia for one year and a half already. The biggest NGOs may ( and often they do)offer full boarding (only, no salaries nor pocket money, health insurance) to foreign volunteers. A very limited number of NGOs might even grant the use of a vehicle ( usually a 125 cc. motorbike) to their volunteers (while the management travels in brand-new, tax-free Lexus and Land Cruiser cars). Contact them before you head for Cambodia to volunteer, don't go there and ask around because they don't like "walk-in"volunteers with no previous screening, they prefer people ( mainly tourists) who go there to visit their projects, shot some pics to the poor orphans/disadvantaged kids, make a donation and leave. Expect to be asked an Interpol clearance if the NGO you 're working in is dealing with minors. You can contact me at webdeveloping@rocketmail.com if you need names of the big NGOs in the country , or you can find many of them on the following website: http://www.ngoforum.org.kh/eng/core/
Visa on arrival to Vietnam cost for normal case ( US$25/pax ) - 5 working days
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Citizens from four European countries given visa exemption
Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, and Finnish citizens will be exempted from requiring visas as of May 1 when they enter, exit or stay in Viet Nam for less than 15 days. Decision No. 808/2005/QD-BNG issued by the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry on April 13 stipulates that these countries'' citizens must have valid passports for at least three months since they enter Viet Nam, return tickets or tickets for a third country. This does not apply to those who have been banned from entering or have not been allowed to enter Viet Nam under Vietnamese laws. After entering Viet Nam, if they want to stay more than 15 days, and have a valid reason as laid out by Vietnamese agencies, organizations and individuals for the Ministry of Public Security and the Foreign Ministry, they will be required to have a visa.
(Source: Vietnam News Agency)
Visa exemption:
- Not more than 30 days: for citizens of Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Laos.
- Not more than 15 days: for citizens of Japan and South Korea, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland. (Vietnamese diplomatic and official passport holders are exempted from visa requirements to enter Japan).
- French citizens holding valid diplomatic passports are exempt from visa requirements when visiting Vietnam and are allowed to stay for up 3 months at one time or on several visits within six months since their first immigration dates. Vietnamese citizens holding valid diplomatic passports also enjoy similar privileges.
- Citizens of Chile and Vietnam holding valid diplomatic or official passports from one of the two countries are exempt from needing entry, exit and transit visas in the other''s territory and are allowed to stay for up 60 days on each visit.
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I would like to know what stage the following countries are in the DTM(demographic transition model.)
Kenya Sierra Leone San Marino Macedonia Barbados Haiti Israel Yemen Sri Lanka Nepal Singapore Laos
I just want to check my answers and make sure that they are right. If you want you can include why it is in that stage, to help my better my education. (: thank you Aha, Thank you so much Rob. (:
2 1 3 3/4 3 1/2 3/4 1 1/2 2 4/5 1/2
Roughly, it's worth noting that some countries might be in stage 4 in one part and 3 in another for example, last time i do your homework for you ;)
Nam Theun 2 Hydropower Project in Laos - Access to Education
laos girls="laos girls" What to buy a girl for a trip across the world.?
A good friend of mine that is a girl is going to Laos for a month in one week. I want to get her something that she would need but not necessarily have as a surprise gift. Anything answer that is female related is even better.
I would suggest an international calling card, so she can call home if she wants, digital camera memory card for all her pix, or a picture book about Laos so hse can look at the lovely pix and get excited for her trip.
