The massive destruction that occurred because of the tsunami has a hug...]]> http://thailand.zersal.com/2008/07/20/tsunami-aftermath/ The most popular salad of Thailand and Laos is the Green Papaya salad. On the first bite, your tongue should taste extreme heat, salt, and sour all at once. The taste is invigorating!

Ingredients:
1-4 chilies
1 garlic clove
3 cups shredded green papaya
1/2 cup sliced tom...]]> http://thailand.zersal.com/2008/07/19/green-papaya-salad-recipe/ Budget travellers and backpackers are known for their love of a fun evening no matter where in the world they end up. For those who reach the northern city of Chiang Mai, Thailand, there are plenty of opportunities for nightlife excitement, with the added bonus of it being really, really inexpens...]]> http://thailand.zersal.com/2008/07/18/chiang-mai-nightlife-cheap-fun-after-dark/ On the surface Bangkok is no different than any other major city in the world when it comes to property, and prices. The nearer you are to the action by way of business and tourisms districts, the higher the prices asked. There are also the so called 'leafy' outer suburbs that offer quite impre...]]> http://thailand.zersal.com/2008/07/17/bangkok-apartments-condo-and-houses-tips-for-home-hunters/ Our trip to Thailand had been long awaited, originally planned for the winter of 94/95. My wife Karin had bought the maps and books and even packed; we were off. The balloon was ready at Thunder and Colt with a heavy duty basket tailor made for hard use overseas. And then they went bust. The dela...]]> http://thailand.zersal.com/2008/07/16/hanging-around-in-thailand/ During my visit to Thailand in November 2004, I traveled through the scenic Yunnanese village of Mae Salong, located in the mountains of the Golden Triangle. Mae Salong is a very unique and important place, not only because of its historical origins but also as the one of the most i...]]> http://thailand.zersal.com/2008/07/15/teatime-in-thailand-a-visit-to-the-tea-plantations-of-mae-salong/ The Death: March 25-29 2006 Sunday I get a couple of messages from Neung. Her mom is still unconscious and opinions vary as to her chances of survival. To me it seems we may be in for a long wait. That evening Neung tells me she has to pay the nurses 500 baht a day to take care o...]]> http://thailand.zersal.com/2008/07/14/teerak-my-mom-is-sick-and-i-need-money-2/ Exercising at home is often the last place you think about when it comes to losing weight, staying fit and just generally maintaining an active lifestyle. In reality, the home has to be one of the most effective and convenient locations to exercise. We spend many 'dead' hours in our home, doing...]]> http://thailand.zersal.com/2008/07/13/reducing-body-fat-through-fitness-at-home/ My holiday to Thailand was truly an amazing experience. Among the many countless other joys and wonders, Thailand was a great place to shop and Bangkok in particular, where the variety of retail outlets and goods is surprising. I could find genuine name-brand products on sale in department stores...]]> http://thailand.zersal.com/2008/07/12/shopping-in-thailand/ The first of the Chakri kings, King Rama I or King Phra Phuttayotfa, who reigned from 1782 - 1809, founded the dynasty when he established Bangkok as the capital of Thailand. King Rama I is remembered as the great warrior who put an end to the constant Burmese threat and c...]]> http://thailand.zersal.com/2008/07/11/the-chakri-kings-of-thailand-in-the-golden-age-of-rattanakosin/ Approximate flying times: From New York: 17 hrs. From Chicago: 22 hrs 30 mins. From LA: 19 hrs 25 mins.

If New York is the city that never sleeps, forget the alarm clock. Bangkok, Thailand's capital city, comes a very close second. The city was founded in 1782 by the first monarch of the p...]]> http://thailand.zersal.com/2008/07/10/bangkok-a-brilliant-place-to-visit-in-2006/ Northern Thailand has many attractions that would be of interest to horticultural and botanical enthusiasts. Just outside of Chiang Mai, Thailand's 2nd largest city and the gateway to the northern provinces, are two outstanding botanical gardens - Queen Sirikit Botanical Garden and Bhubing Palac...]]> http://thailand.zersal.com/2008/07/09/botanical-gardens-of-northern-thailand-part-2/ The world politic condemns any country that is not "democratic." Yet, when faced with acts that embody the true essence of democracy: a political system in which the supreme power lies with the citizens, the world simply cannot recognize it.

On Sept. 19th a military coup overthrew the ...]]> http://thailand.zersal.com/2008/07/08/coup-or-silk-revolution/ By early 1971 the situation in Vietnam became so unstable that I was more afraid of being robbed and killed by one of our Vietnamese Allies than I was the communists. I returned to Vietnam after being discharged from the U.S. Army. I took a job with the Federal Electric Corporation (FEC). This co...]]> http://thailand.zersal.com/2008/07/07/returning-to-qui-nhon-1971-federal-electric-corporation-fec/