A consular officer will do whatever he/she can to protect your legitimate interests and ensure that you are not discriminated against under local law. A consular officer cannot release prisoners, provide guarantees of their comportment, or provide funds for bail. If you are arrested, immediately ask that a consular officer at the U.S. Embassy be notified. If you are turned down, keep asking–politely, but persistently. If unsuccessful, try to have someone get in touch with us on your behalf.

Upon learning of your arrest, a U.S. Consular Officer will visit you, provide a list of local attorneys, inform the Department of State of your arrest and, if requested, contact family or friends in the U.S. or elsewhere. Consuls can help you transfer money, food, and clothing from your family and friends. They will also try to get relief if you are held under inhumane or unhealthful conditions or are treated less equitably than others in the same situation.

The Grand Palace and the Emerald Buddha
The temples and monasteries of Thailand date back to a few hundred years. The Emerald Buddha Temple is one of the most sacred sites in Thailand and requires visitors to be properly dressed before they can enter the holy place. The Jade statue of the Lord, which is elevated off the ground is a visual treat for visitiors. This temple occupies just one corner of the court of the grand Palace.

Magnificent Bangkok
You must be out of your mind, if you visit Thailand and leave without visiting Bangkok. The capital of Thailand has everything that a tourist can dream of. Shopping plazas, Temples, Museums, Hotels offering exquisite Thai food, Islands, Beaches, Tall high-rises and a sprawling nightlife, Bangkok has it all. Be it the largest building in the world to be made of Teak wood, in Vinmanmek Teak Mansion, or the 46 meter long statue of reclining Buddha in the Wat Pho temple, you will never ceased to be stunned by the beauty of Thailand.

Shopping enthusiasts can head off to Siam Square, which is one of the most popular shoppers destinations in Thailand. Ma Boon Krong and Siam Center are two of the biggest shopping centers here. You can spend an entire day here and yet comeback unsatisfied. There are so many restaurants, theatres and shops to keep you busy. Thailand also has cheap roadside shopping opportunities for tourists who do not wish to blow away much money on shopping.

For Nature Lovers
Nature lovers can head straight to the Ko Chang national park that has many activities. Apart from the wildlife, tourists can also pursue diving, snorkeling or elephant riding over here. The place usually overflows with tourists all the time. Beach lovers can head off to Pataya, which is a pretty serene beach. It is located just 150 kms away from Bangkok.

Go discover Thailand!!

The ocean view villa we stayed in was exceptionally spacious and private with incredible uninterrupted views over the ocean. Its the kind of place that makes you dream that this is your own private villa.

The actual accommodation has so many nice touches it would be impossible to include them all, sufficient to say, that everything you would expect from a five star deluxe resort is there in abundance, and much more besides. We could start with the indoor and outdoor showers, the furnishings are a beautiful blend of colours, with lots of dark wood. The bed was large, and very comfortable, with such fantastic fluffy pillows. I always think pillows are the real measure of the quality. It is the little touches like fresh flowers everywhere, even in the bathroom. The built in window seats and couches, the cleverly hidden large plasma TV, all part of the top quality workmanship that has gone into the construction and maintenance.

Outside the villa, it is completely private, with a gate at the entrance, and a large teak sundeck with table and chairs for eating, and four padded teak sunbeds. The infinity pool, is larger than your normal plunge pool, and totally private because of the greenery.

The food quite superb, both Thai and Western style. We were on a breakfast included package, and it was a terrific meal in itself, having got used to buffet breakfasts being the norm, it was a pleasant surprise to have it served up fresh from the kitchen. Be warned however that if you decide to take your included breakfast in your suite, then you would be charged at full rate, which seems a little mean.

At lunch and dinner, you can choose either the Thai or Western option, although it would be fair to say the Thai food was spicy hot and very authentic, not milder for those of us from the West. I personally like that.

You can get most of the food available with room service but it is more expensive, and wine as expected is expensive, because they kind of have a captive audience as there are no nearby restaurants

The overall service, and once again attention to detail are fantastic.

Small final thoughts are, you will never forget the sunset from the pool villa, and the beach is delightfully private with no hawkers, and very comfortable loungers, and naturally the high level of service continues there.

There is not a whole lot to do here except to relax, and unwind, so if that is your thing, there is nowhere better to be.

Bangkok Traveling Thailand wound not be complete without visiting Bangkok. As the nations capital with an estimated population of over 10 million (including the neighboring provinces), this city is by far the largest in the country. The city is divided into 50 districts or khet but for tourists and those who are new in the place, 6 divisions would be more useful. These are Ratchadaphisek in the northeast section of the city, Sukhamvit in the southeast, Silom in the south, Thonburi in the west, Rattanakosin in the central north, and Phahanyothin in the north. The whole Bangkok district would give you a diverse taste of culture, history, religion, modernity, and fast-phase life. You can actually witness how all these blend together to comprise the whole Bangkok package. Buddhist temples, historical museums, towering buildings, contemporary restaurants and hotels, shopping centers, canals and rivers, and food make Bangkok a one of a kind city in Southeast Asia.

Phuket Down south, Phuket features magnificent beaches, tropical sunsets, white sands, blue seas, and breathtaking sceneries. No wonder it is the most popular vacation destination in Asia beating every beaches of the neighboring countries. It has several beaches like Kata Beach, Karon Beach, Patong Beach, Kamala Beach, and Surin Beach. The island showcases several water sports and activities including parasailing, jet-skiing, and scuba diving. By day, Phuket is alive with beachgoers and shoppers and by night, lights, sounds, and party people dominate the whole island.

Chiang Mai The second largest city in Thailand with an estimated population of more than 200,000. This city located in the northern part of the country offers greener and quieter city. Chiang Mais tourism is becoming more and more popular and permanently settling at this city is very common. When you travel Thailand and visit Chiang Mai, you surely would want to see museums such as Hilltribe Research Institute Museum and the Chiang Mai City Arts & Cultural Center. With religion and history enriching the city, you can see several Buddhist temples such as Wat Chiang Mun, Wat Chiang Mun, Wat Phra Singh, Wat Oo-Mong, Wat Phra Jao Mengrai, Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep, and Wat Chedi Luang. The oldest temple dates back in the 11th century. Chiang Mai features attractions such as Chiang Mai Flower Festival in February, Bo Sang Umbrella & Sankampang Handicrafts Festival in January, The 2nd Orchid Fair also in January, and the Loi Krathong Festival usually falls in November.

Pattaya Located 150 km. north of Bangkok, Pattaya is one of the most popular tourist destinations, which offers great beaches, beer and go-go bars, and a wide array of sport activities. Visit Pattaya when you travel Thailand is a must. Although it is the most overdeveloped part of the country in terms of tourism, prices in Pattaya still remains with reach. In fact, prices of foods, accommodation, and transportations are very affordable.

Krabi In a small province of Krabi lies a small town with the same name. Paying a visit Krabi town when you travel Thailand is worth the time. Located south of Bangkok near Phuket and Phi Phi island, the town features great beaches along with high end hotels and not so expensive hotel that cater tourists of different classes.

Have you been in Thailand before? Thailand has many of the best beaches and islands in the world. The culture is unique and people are friendly. Many of foreigners are relocating to Thailand for several reasons.

In the town, Bangkok, has all the civilize and technology. Convenient transportation by Bus, Sky train and underground transportation. There is also boat transportation for the river, Chao Praya River, which is in the center of capital city.

Night life in Bangkok is very crowd of people. There is pub and bar for straights and gays on the same road in Silom and many areas.

Before October 1, 2006, get Thailand visa is very easy. Many countries can have visa on arrival for 30 days. Then just leave at any border and get in again you will get another 30 days waive visa stamp.

Now all change!

On October 1 the Kingdom of Thailand introduced a new visa policy to restrict the number of times a foreigner can enter the country during a certain period of time.

The policy states that one can only stay in Thailand for 90 days in a period of six months, after which one must leave the country and stay outside for another 90 days before they can re-enter.

This mean you will still get 30 days visa on arrival and if it going to expire, you just leave at the border and get in again you will get another 30 days. If you already stay in Thailand for 90 days, you need to leave the country or stay outside for another 90 days!

If you apply for visa at any Thailand Embassy, you will get 60 days single entry visa and then you can extend only another 30 days for 1,900 Baht. ($US 50)

Vsa expiration date as shown on the visa, is called visa validity.

The Expiration Date for the visa should not be confused with the authorized length of your stay in Thailand, given to you by the immigration officer at port-of-entry. The visa expiration date has nothing to do with the authorized length of your stay in Thailand for any given visit.

More information, please call
Thai Immigration, Bangkok. Head office: +66 2287-3101 to 10
website: www.immigration.go.th

sailboats and motor yachts arrived from all over the world for the sixth annual Phuket Invitational Superyacht Rendezvous. The event gathered even more cachet this year at its new venue, the exclusive Resort on Phuket’s Andaman coast.

The champagne flowed at the opening cocktail party on board the classic motor yacht Maid Marian II, which was celebrating her 75th birthday. Following cocktails, owners and crew were whizzed ashore for another party. Hein Velema of the principle sponsor Feadship then announced “The Feadship Challenge” over finely flavored canaps. The objective was simple: Teams had to design and build a model Superyacht in 15 minutes!

Feadship knows a thing or two about boats but wasn’t giving away any secrets, leaving teams scrambling. Hein looked on with amused curiosity as the teams tackled the challenge, paying homage to ancient shipbuilding traditions with balsa wood, plastic, superglue, sailcloth and a few basic tools. Suitably inspired by generous quantities of Moet and fellow guests, the teams came up with some super – and not so super – yachts while pondering the age-old question, “Does size matter?”

The boats took to the water in the specially built racing trough. Wind power proved tricky as team members attempted to blow maximum gale force to propel their boats. To separate the men from the boys, a beer had to be downed at the halfway point. The team from Sylvia encountered steering problems, while superior wind power assisted Maid Marian through several heats until Yanneke Too – built for speed, emerged the fastest. “The Best Design” award went to the Silvertip team for sleek clean lines. “The Ugliest Design” (fast but ugly) went to Cordelia for an extreme flat bottom.

Truthfully, the only difference between you and Phuket experts is time. If you’ll invest a little more time in reading, you’ll be that much nearer to expert status when it comes to Phuket.

The following day dawned with glorious weather conditions. The sun shone; a fantastic fresh wind blew to fill the sails; the sky was a brilliant deep blue – all set against the lovely coastline of Phuket. Veteran King’s Cup race master Andy Dowden, reminding everyone “it’s a rally not a regatta,” set the triangular course leading the yachts close to land. Long legs and downwinds provided spectators with a magical sight, as sails were unfurled in majestic splendor.

The classic ketch Sylvia, always memorable, was an inspiring sight as southwest winds filled her 600-square meters of sail setting her on course for Sri Lanka. “Everyone got their passport?” joked Capt. Bryce after Sylvia missed the starting line. The 5O-year-old lady was challenged with rigging and renegade sails that took a lot of combined muscle to rein in. As every year, she followed a slightly different course. Capt. Bryce acknowledged that perhaps a few regatta rules had been broken, but everything was fine.

Yanneke Too – operating with push-button efficiency led the field. After an exciting start, which had Yanneke Too and Intrigue neck and neck, Yanneke the only boat that hoisted her fabulous spinnaker, made headway. Unfortunately the spinnaker just dipped in the water and Intrigue sailed sovereign in the winner’s position.

This year’s Invitational captured a moment in history. Following last year’s tsunami, Phuket and the Andaman coast have made an incredible recovery and many visitors felt a new era was beginning for the region. The sponsors, including organizing sponsor SEAL Superyachts, see Asia and especially Phuket emerging as the ultimate yachting destination in the not-too-distant future.

At the final gala dinner their predictions seemed to be on track. The private beach was beautifully decked out. The lavish buffet included fresh Andaman seafood and an array of sensuous chocolate delights. Lashings of champagne added to the general bonhomie as dozens of traditional hot air lanterns were launched in the night sky, forming a canopy of tiny lights above the yachts. ”

That’s how things stand right now. Keep in mind that any subject can change over time, so be sure you keep up with the latest news.

In my capacity as the UK Director of Operations for One World Tours Limited, one of my jobs is to ensure every client has the best tour possible, so here are my top 5 suggestions for cities to visit in Thailand during your holiday.

1.Bangkok is a fascinating city which has managed to keep its ancient eastern traditions whilst embracing the modern progression of the western world. Bangkok is the capital city of Thailand and offers a host of experiences which include floating markets, modern bars, top of the range shopping, gastronomical delights and ancient temples steeped in the citys history.

The Chao Phraya River separates the city and has a series of canals. The new Sky train railway is something which should be experienced whilst in the city should you fancy avoiding the bustling traffic.

One of the largest floating markets is on the outskirts of Bangkok and youll greeted by the aromatic smells and the age old tradition of the locals and their way of making a living along the busy canals.

There is an array of beautiful and ancient buildings not to be missed whilst in Thailand. Although I did not personally experience all of the nightlife, it was made obvious to me that all of my entertainment needs would be taken care of by all well informed taxi drivers wishing to proudly show off their culture.

2. Phuket is the biggest island attraction that Thailand has to offer. It is the perfect place to retreat to and enjoy a tropical paradise. Although the west coast of the island was almost destroyed by the tsunami of 2004, there is very little evidence remaining to show that it occurred.

Not to be missed are:

Old Phuket Town. Chinese immigrants from the 19th century, who were lured in the past by the tin mines, left behind them a host of amazing Sino-Portuguese mansions along Dibu and Thalang roads.

Thai Boxing. A personal favourite of mine, this national sport is violent and very fast paced. For regular matches the Saphan Him Stadium in Phuket City is the place to be.

3.Krabi. Krabi Province is in the middle southern part of Thailand. It is situated in the aquamarine water of the Andaman Sea. It is one of the most stunning places in all of Thailand.

Krabi Town is situated near the mouth of the Krabi River. The Mangrove forest is something to experience and is a must for avid bird watchers. Krabi Resort is set among a curtain of palm trees on the Ao-PhraNang beach. This is a delightful place to be if you are looking to soak up the natural beauty that surrounds you.

4. Chiang Mai. Chiang Mai is a city full of traditional heritage that shares its secrets with all who wish to discover them. It is a city with stunning natural beauty. It is amazing to see plants that we have to protect from the frost, growing in their scores, naturally along the roadside.

The people of Chiang Mai are a wonder in themselves with exceptional handicraft skills producing magical souvenirs for the endless throng of visitors. Chiang Mai houses the Inthanon Mountain, standing 8,448 feet above sea level making it the highest mountain Thailand.

5.Sukhothai. When visiting Sukhothai the main attractions for the area are Phra Mae Ya Shirne which is located in the Muang District. You will see a long haired figure made of stone that resembles an ancient queen. There is also a museum and National park as well as monuments of great interest inside the city walls.

The Thais love their King. Remember this and act accordingly.

Dont raise your voice or show anger. This has to do with face and if you cannot control yourself you will look like the ignorant tourist you really are.

Dont hurt anyone especially a Thai. You will be held responsible and you really do not want to have to deal with the Thai police. It will cost YOU.

DO Smile A LOT and enjoy your trip.

Anyone else have suggestions in this vein, please feel free to add comments. They are most welcome.

The Thais love their King. Remember this and act accordingly.

Dont raise your voice or show anger. This has to do with face and if you cannot control yourself you will look like the ignorant tourist you really are.

Dont hurt anyone especially a Thai. You will be held responsible and you really do not want to have to deal with the Thai police. It will cost YOU.

DO Smile A LOT and enjoy your trip.

Heres the truth that most MLM leaders in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and everywhere else in the world are NOT revealing to their downlines

SHOW-UP AND THROW-UP NO LONGER WORKS!

Sitting down patiently with your prospect and sharing with him ad nauseam about all of the wonderful reasons why he should join your MLM opportunity and why he should pay money for your products doesn’t work! Believe it or not prospects hate it, and they badmouth you for it!

Network Marketing is a very different ball game today compared to a decade ago. Screw up a few times and there goes your morale or maybe even your dream of ever creating a residual income!

Most successful uplines have forgotten what it is like to be new in this business. The excellent ones will coach you on how to become a great networker. Unfortunately, the excellent ones are few. Too often we hear the same old motivational clichs:

“Why arent you making more prospecting calls?!!!”

“Youve got to have MORE face-time! That’s what you need to sponsor more people and make more sales!”

“Get out on the street, distribute more flyers, talk to more strangers do whatever it takes to succeed!”

Unfortunately, their answer is almost always identical: If you want to sponsor more people, you have to meet more people. Well this is both a truth and a lie.

Yes you can do more presentations, and you may sponsor more people by doing so

Or you may not

If making more and more presentations was the solution, then wouldn’t you be recognized as the top distributor in your company by now?

You can no longer afford to bombard your prospects with FREE education that they don’t want anymore!

As a MLM Trainer, I always advice novice networkers to change some of their approach towards sponsoring, and to learn the following

- You MUST be able to stir up your prospects emotions using the Power Of Questions.
- You need to learn to bond with people fast no matter how difficult they are.
- You need to be comfortable securing commitments early and often.
- And you need to be able to get prospects to pursue you and your opportunity instead!

SO HOW DOES ONE GET A COMMITMENT?
The answer is lies in the fact that people are actually very averse to PAIN! It doesnt matter whether you are using the traditional F.O.R.M. approach or the more sophisticated Robert Kiyosakis Cashflow Quadrants in your Business Opportunity Presentations, you must ask questions that will get your prospects associated with their pain.
Without a commitment, you are left hanging as to whether or not the sponsoring process is really moving forward.

Although its natural for all of us to be drawn toward the pleasure emotion, our strongest emotion is actually to avoid pain. When a patient is in extreme pain, she’s not going to ask where her doctor went to college and when he graduated. Shes not even going to ask what the doctors fees are. She’s just going to scream, “Please help me get rid of the pain!” And this is the precise moment you should introduce the pleasure to alleviate her from her pain Your MLM opportunity (This is in adherence to the Principle Of Contrast in my FREE newsletter)

Because pain is the strongest of all human emotions, Master Network Marketers have discovered that when they draw out enough pain from their prospects, the investments needed to join their Network Marketing Opportunities will usually not be an issue. And when there’s no pain, the sponsoring process is usually long drawn with your prospects treating you like some low class salesman and youll be bombarded with a barrage of questions like:

If your opportunity is so fantastic, why dont you pay for my membership and products first? Ill pay you back once I make the money.

Why are your companys products so expensive? Did you all mark up the prices to pay commissions?

If your opportunity is so great, why are you still holding on to your full-time job?

How long have you been in the business? And how much money are you making per month?

To be really effective in sponsoring, you must bring out the pain of not changing and make it vivid. A prospect who associates no drawbacks or very little pain in the status quo will not join your MLM opportunity.

All Master Network Marketers understand that when it comes to retailing MLM products, prospects buy because of emotional reasons. Remember this: Emotions motivate; logic enervates. Prospects make decisions based on emotion and then justify their actions with logic.

Let us now look at why questions are so valuable. Here are just a few reasons:

QUESTIONS UNCOVER PAIN
Uncovering your prospects pain and dissatisfaction is the fastest way to sponsoring your prospect. When you do not know what prospects pain is, no amount of “closing techniques” will get him to enroll as a distributor or buy your products. The prospects pains, once brought into the forefront of his mind, will induce a state of agonizing frustration. This emotion will in turn cause him to be more readily open to your MLM opportunity.

QUESTIONS MAKE YOUR PROSPECT REALIZE
(A) The Seriousness of His Situation
Most people are living in their comfort zones and are relying on the government and their bosses to take care of them. Questions make your prospects realize that they are trapped in a rat race with no job security and that they cannot possibly save enough for a secure retirement without adding a second stream of income to their lives.

(B) Questions Commit Your Prospect
When your prospect arrives at the decision to join your MLM opportunity because of how he answers your questions, hell feel ownership of his decisions and is less likely to change his mind

The Master Network Marketer seldom gives the right answers, he simply ask the right questions.

James Leong
www.JamesLeong.com