Angkor Wat - one of the 10 Sights to expand your children’s horizon

chicagotribune.com has this article in their July 09 2006 issue:

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How do you impress kids glued to iPods and DVDs? Rock their world by showing it to them.

Here’s a list–OK, a wish list–of 10 places to take the kids before they graduate from high school. As parents of grown  has listed a wish list–of 10 places to take the kids before they graduate from high school. As parents of grown children have learned, college, careers and love lives make family trips a lot more difficult to coordinate. So go now, while you have the chance. With its sense of exploration and discovery, travel truly is a classroom without walls.

1). Washington DC
2). Disneyland/World
3). The Grand Canyon
4). The Great Wall
5). Hong Kong
6). Taj Mahal
7). Paris
8). Machu Picchu

9). Angkor Wat. Chances are, your children will never formally study this massive 1,000-year-old capital of the Khmer empire. And yet, they may know that actress Angelina Jolie came here to campaign against the land mines, adopting an infant son in the process. Located near Siem Reap, Cambodia, the temple complex, spread over 40 miles, was built at the beginning of the 12th Century. Scaling the steep temples to view the sunset is a memorable (and dizzyingly athletic) experience. What’s most poignant, though, is meeting the local residents who openly discuss what it was like to survive the deadly years of the Khmer Rouge

10). Jerusalem
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I could not agree more with them especially when they say “travel truly is a classroom without walls“!

Source: http://www.chicagotribune.com

 

Add comment July 11th, 2006

Visa extension services at Bangkok’s leading hospitals

Two of Bangkok’s leading hospitals popular with foreign patients have set up in-house visa extension facilities to help those who have to overstay their visas while undergoing medical treatment. The facility gives a substantial boost to Thailand’s competitive position as it seeks to attract more global visitors to its world-class medical facilities.

In both cases, the Bumrungrad and Samitivej hospitals are bearing the expenses of providing the space and having Immigration officials come in once a week to process the paperwork. Have the facility in-house is far more convenient for them than having staff shuttle with the paperwork back and forth from the Immigration Division head office in Bangkok on a daily basis.

Thailand’s health, wellness and medical facilities are becoming increasingly popular all over the world. Thus far, people seeking to avail of these facilities have had to first see which type of visa they are holding, and the duration of stay permitted.

Visitors come to Thailand on many different types of visas. Citizens of 41 countries and territories get 30-day visa free stay, 20 nationalities get 15-day visas on arrival while the rest have to apply for visas beforehand. Full details of the visa requirements are available on www.immigration.go.th or www.mfa.go.th.

The different types of visas have various terms and conditions related to extension of stay. Some are extendable and others not. While many people come to Thailand under a 90-day “tourist visa� specifically for treatment, others are taking advantage of their presence in Thailand under a 15-day visa-on-arrival to get a check-up and any accompanying treatment, if necessary.

Either way, many find that an extension of stay is required. The Immigration Department acknowledges that patients who seek bonafide treatment should be given an extension so as not to incur an over-stay fine upon departure.

Extensions are now being granted for periods of one month to 90 days, depending on which type of visa the patient is holding. A doctor’s certificate is required (organised by the hospital) along with original passport, a photocopy of the passport and one photograph.

An Immigration Department form also has to be filled out, which is normally handled by the hospital. A charge of 1,900 baht is levied by the Immigration Department and the hospital may add a service charge. The extension is normally granted immediately.

Bumrungrad International
This centre was set up on 17 August 2005 to serve Bumrungrad’s in-patients, their relatives, tourists and general public. It is open every Wednesday from 13.00-16.00 hrs, 3rd Floor, of Bumrungrad Hospital Building,

Bumrungrad Hospital
33 Sukhumvit 3 (Soi Nana Nua), Wattana, Bangkok 10110 Thailand
Tel: +66 (0) 2667 1000
Fax:+66 (0) 2667 2525
E-mail: info@bumrungrad.com

Samitivej hospital (Sukhumvit):
This was opened on 27 April 2006 to serve in-patients as well as tourists, students and retirees on long-stay visas. It is open every Thursday from 0900-1500 hrs at Building No. 1, 1st Floor, Samitivej Hospital.

Samitivej Hospital
133 Sukhumvit 49, Klongtan Nua, Vadhana, Bangkok 10110
Tel: +66 (0) 2711-8000
Fax: 662(0)2391-1290
Email: info@samitivej.co.th

For further information about visas to Thailand: http://www.mfa.go.th/web/2381.php#Type

Source: http://www.tatnews.org

 

 

 

Add comment July 11th, 2006

Nara Restaurant, Bangkok

I just had a chance to dine at this restaurant and think it is one of the BEST Thai restaurants in Bangkok! The restaurant is located at the lower ground floor of the Erawan Sogo Bangkok and the easiest way to get there is to take the BTS Skytrain and get off at Chidlom Station. From here there is a connecting bridge directly go into the shopping plaza). The decoration of the restaurant is simple and contemporary Thai style in the cozy atmosphere but the food is really great! My recommendations for its specialities are:

Recommended choices for a simple and quick lunch menu:
* Phad Thai Kai Krob (Stir-fried rice noodles with prawns in sweet tamarind sauce with 
   crispy fried plain omlette)
* Kuay Tiew Rua (Famous Ayuthaya boat noodle served dried or with soup with pork 
   or beef)

If you have more time - we would recommend the following dishes:
* Mee Krob (Crispy fried thin rice noodles with sweet tamarind sauce)
* Yam Som O (Thai-style Pomelo Salad)
* Koong Tord Makam (Fried river prawns with sweet tamarind sauce)
* Poo Nim Phad Pong Curry (Stir-fried soft shell crab with yellow curry)

Prices are ranging from around THB 80.00-THB 350.00 each depending what you order but all in all we think they are very reasonable. The restaurant is opened for lunch and dinner daily from 11.00 a.m. 10.00 p.m.

Well - if you are looking for an authentic Thai restaurant at reasonable prices in the city center of Bangkok - here is your choice!

By the way - its very casual restaurant so no proper attire needed even for dinner.

 

 

Add comment July 11th, 2006