Working in Thailand

Do you work day in and day out, knowing you will have to punch out on the clock just to eat lunch??

At the end of your work week are you satisfied or do you feel like you have accomplished nothing?? Let's be quite honest with each other who in their right mind enjoys working for someone else making them happy and even worse rich. Are you the one buying new sports cars every year and upgrading that condo to a 7 bedroom house in the middle of the country club?? I bet only 10% of us are able to do that working for someone else, and do you know how they do that??

The people who make their lives better while working for someone else simply accomplish their dreams by saving every penny and never having a lickety split bit of fun. They then get what they want when they are close to retirement and have spent most of their lives making other peoples dreams come true knowing “eventually” they would get theirs as well.

What are your biggest fears of being your own boss? That is a very important question that only you can answer. Is it the fear of denial, or rejection, fear of failing, or let me guess you are just scared because you don't want to miss the BIG company picnic right?? Well stop being afraid and tell yourself that the only person who can make your life better for you is you. If you think to yourself you can start an online business and you really do deep down inside know that you can then you will not fail.

If you go into a situation, or any situation for that matter with the attitude that you can and will make this happen then the chances of you failing ot getting nowhere are almost non exsistant. Tell yourself that you want to be the boss with the nice fancy cars and the house inside the country club, or go all the way and own that country club. Take the first step into training your mind that you will succeed in everything you want to do and who you would rather be.

Having a business at home is a wonderful experience and I wish everyone could see how much fun and stress free it really is. First thing you need to do is sit and think, what do you want your business to consist of or be about, and then after you have that in mind we can move on to step 2. Your job tonight is to make the decision to be “THE BOSS” and figure out what interests you and then catch up on my other articles. I will give you my personal website address to help you in making very important decisions and it will also allow you to see some behind the scenes of working at home:

http://wahmomonline.com

My name is Kristen Swanson owner and operator of www.wahmomonline.com, I am a 27 year old stay at home mom of one. I have my own online business and am here to help and share as much experience and knowledge that I have learned in the internet and marketing world with you. I am always available to lend a helping hand in any way that I can.

Few countries are so well endowed as Thailand with its breathtaking natural beauty, inspiring temples, renowned hospitality, robust cuisine and ruins of kingdoms. Thai is the official language. It is a complicated language with its own alphabet, and being tonal, the way a word is pronounced can give it different meanings. The population is about 65 million, 95 percent Buddhist and 4 percent Muslim, and they are 75 percent Thai, 11 percent Chinese, 3.5 percent Malay and Mon, Khmer, Phuan and Karen minorities constitute the rest. It is a constitutional monarchy, with the King as the Head of State, and the Prime Minister as the Head of Government.

Thailand is a land of natural wonders and cultural marvels. Highland trekking, national parks, island to explore, ancient cities, temple architecture, and traditional crafts - it would take years to see it all! The local climate is tropical and characterised by monsoons. There is a rainy, warm, and cloudy southwest monsoon from mid-May to September, as well as a dry, cool northeast monsoon from November to mid-March. The best time to visit Thailand is November to March — a dry, cool period, and the beaches are at their best. From the stupas dotting the mountains of Mae Hong Son and the verdant limestone islands of the Andaman Sea, the dance clubs of Bangkok and the sleepy villages along the Mekong River, Thailand offers something for everyone.

The main gateway for tourists is through Bankok?s new international airport named Suvarnabhumi Airport (Golden Land), a modern airport with services and facilities to make air travel as comfortable as possible.

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There are different ways to network and we will look at specific approaches one can choose to implement. A mastermind group is a way to network between like-minded business individuals and focuses on a target that the group would like to achieve together. Mastermind groups communicate either in person, for example in a weekly breakfast meeting. Another way is via conferencing. They talk about a specific subject that has been approved by all parties prior to the networking meeting. The length of the meeting/call should also be established prior to starting it and a person should be appointed to make notes that can be distributed to all parties. A mastermind group shouldn't contain more than 5-6 people for ease of management. The networking of this group should be done with the target to empower each individual business owner.

Networking can also be done via websites, forums or blogs. It often consists of a community of like-minded individuals. It helps to build our businesses by exchanging business information and helpful tips. This form of networking, however, does need some form of moderation to keep things in perspective and in control. In today's society, this form of networking is gaining in popularity every day. Probably the fact that it is easy makes it very popular amongst home business owners.

We also network within specific interest groups, whether we realize it or not. Attending a regular meeting regardless of topic allows us to join forces with others alike. By attending, we build a continuous network of people around us. In business, this is very important. The more people we get to know through networking, the higher our chances of gaining more customers. Often networking is word of mouth. When we attend these meetings and meet others, we often exchange contact details. This is done most often by handing out our business cards. Doing this makes it very easy for others to remember what we do and hopefully recommending our services to third parties. This is probably the most important aspect of networking in business. It allows us to advertise our business effortlessly by word of mouth.

Another example of networking in business is via related magazines, ezines and newspapers. In any popular business niche these days there is already an established industry magazine on the market. We can exchange information and knowledge through these magazines and network with others in the same industry.

Most of us are not aware that networking in its essence starts in play school and progresses as we move through school, university and trade apprenticeship. It is an essential part of everyday life and helps us to communicate with each other. It builds our knowledge base and empowers us as like-minded individuals.

Networking in business helps the economy by being an integral part of business growth. As networking helps to build business connections, our benefits grow. This in turn is positive for the economy's growth.

Michael RussellYour Independent guide to Networking

Magha Puja Day is celebrated on a full moon day of the third lunar month which invariably falls in the last week of February or beginning of March. In general, most Buddhists are not aware of the significance of Magha Puja Day. As a result, the number of people in the ceremony may be less than those at Visakha Puja or Asanha Puja Days. However, Magha Puja Day carries an equal meaning and importance to all Buddhists.

Magha Puja Day marks four events that took place during the lifetime of Lord Buddha. These events are:

1. 1250 Buddhist monks from different places came to pay homage to Lord Buddha at Valuwan Vihara in Rajgaha, the capital of Magaha State. Each monk came on his own initiative without prior notification.

2. All monks were enlightened monks

3. All 1250 monks had been individually ordained by Lord Buddha

4. They assembled on the full moon day of the third lunar month

In the evening of that day, Lord Buddha gave the assembled monks a discourse, laying down the principles of his teachings and summarized into three acts ? to do good, to abstain from bad action and to purify the mind.

There is no indication as to when the Magha Puja ceremony actually took place. However, King Rama IV ordered the royal Magha Puja ceremony to be performed in the Emerald Buddha Temple in 1851. Later the ceremony gained popularity and was performed through out the kingdom. In Thailand, the day is public holiday so that people from all walks of life can participate in the religious activities.

In the Emerald Buddha Temple, the king of Thailand presides over the religious ceremony and leads a candle lit procession within the temple?s compound. This procession take place at 8:00 p.m. in Bangkok and is led by Buddhist monks.

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I have a client who came to me complaining about a lack of business. He started his accounting business six months ago and has spent months and a good deal of money designing and building a decent website, brochure, post cards, etc. He is also a member of a BNI (Business Area Network) group. However, he wasn't doing the business he thought he would be doing by now. I asked him why he thought new business was slow in coming in. He told me, &ampquotBecause no one is referring good business to me&ampquot.

…hmmmm. Excuse me? You're business isn't growing because no one is referring to you? …Being the diplomatic person that I am I didn't actually say that. I did, however, start a line of questioning that guided the conversation to the topic of success, his success - or the lack thereof - being his responsibility, not his fellow members', nor his competitors', his spouse's, his mother's or anyone else's.

Don't get me wrong, BNI is a wonderful organization and I've built relationships that have been instrumental in my business success. Did you notice, however that I said &ampquotthe relationships I'm building have helped me.&ampquot I didn't say &ampquotthe BNI members gave me business&ampquot.

To the small business owner word-of-mouth-networking is one of the most important and cost-effective practices you can use to promote your business. The numbers of small businesses are growing dramatically. With that there are more and more organizations providing networking opportunities every week - every day, for that matter.

Most small business owners know the importance of word-of-mouth networking, but like my client, most don't understand that it is just one 'tool' you use to build your business it's not something you do and then you wait for the clients to arrive when others direct the business to your door.

As Ivan Misner, the founder of BNI, says &ampquotWord-of-mouth is more about farming than it is about hunting.&ampquot Your goal with networking should be to get to know people and their business and for them to get to know you. Networking is about developing close relationships because people do business with people they like and they trust.

It's not what you know that counts and many times it's not even who you know. It's how well you know them that counts.

Networking isn't something that necessarily come naturally it's a learned skill for most. There are a number of things to keep in mind if you want to increase your business through networking, the first being, you have to put yourself out there.

For example, my client attends his weekly BNI breakfast. …that's it. The rest of the week he gets up - drives to work - works - goes home …and does it all again the next day. Sure he sees friends and has a life, but regarding networking efforts - his weekly BNI meeting with 25 or so members is it. Word-of-mouth networking, to be productive, needs to involve more than 25 'mouths'. You need to be visible in the community and participate in a variety of networking groups and trade associations.

A friend and BNI member, Carl Loomis is master networker. In addition to BNI, Carl is a Greater Portland Chamber Ambassador, the past president of the Portland Kiwanis, the first to volunteer to support a colleague by sponsoring a team at an upcoming American Cancer Society fund raising event, get thrown in jail every year during the Muscular Dystrophy fund raiser… and on, and on, and on&amphellip Everyone knows Carl and Carl knows everyone. He's not only a great networker, he's a great guy. Or maybe he's a great networker because he&amprsquos a great guy?

The point is, networking isn't 'doing time'. Networking is getting out there, getting known and participating in the community and operating under the philosophy &ampquotGivers Gain&ampquot. At the end of the day, it's your business and your responsibility. Networking, while a good tool, is just that a tool. It's up to you to use it.

And remember, Be Bold! It all starts with a vision.

Lynnelle Bianco, President of Bold Vision Consulting ( http://www.boldvisionconsulting.com ) brings over 20 years of professional and corporate working experience to clients. Having held senior positions in marketing, new business development and client service for global institutions ? as well as owning and operating her own small businesses ? Lynnelle brings real-world experience and forward looking perspectives to helping today?s professionals and business owners achieve breakthrough success. ?and remember Be Bold! It all starts with a vision.

You?ve probably heard of Koh Samui, it?s the third largest of Thailand?s islands and many people seem to rave about it ? but what?s so great about Koh Samui and is it really worth a visit?

Well, not only is Koh Samui worth a visit ? it is one of those places on earth that?s once seen and never forgotten. In fact, many of those who visit Koh Samui once are hooked for life and some never leave. There are also an increasing number of Western expatriate retirees moving to live in Thailand and Koh Samui is a favourite destination because not only is it highly affordable but it offers up an excellent standard of living.

Basically what?s so great about Koh Samui is that it has the perfect blend of stunning climate, inimitable views, pristine sandy beaches, lush dense and incredible foliage, rare flora and fauna, excellent cuisine, plenty to see and do and experience and the people are among the friendliest on the planet ? oh and healthcare is world class yet affordable and there are even international schools available on the island for those who wish to move there before their retirement years.

If you want to experience the best of Thailand in a safe environment and only moments away from all the amenities and facilities you could possibly want then Koh Samui is the place to go.

You can learn to dive in the crystal clean waters, you can learn to sunbathe (!) on the pure white sandy beaches which are fringed with beautiful palm trees, you can visit coconut plantations, witness incredible waterfalls, take boat trips to outer lying islands such as Koh Tao, Koh Wua Talap or Koh Mae Koh, you can snorkel in the National Marine Park or if all that sounds too energetic why not spend a day or even a week at one of Koh Samui?s spas?

Spa resorts are in abundance on the island and they offer peace, tranquillity and a whole host of luxurious treatments that will leave you feeling purified and whole again after the hustle and bustle of everyday life. And as soon as you?re feeling refreshed and energised it?ll be time to hit the abundance of excellent shops and boutiques or to go for a night out on the town where you can watch cabaret, go bar hopping, dine exquisitely or just while away an evening on the beach star gazing.

If all this sounds like your idea of heaven on earth you?re not alone ? Koh Samui is great, it is well worth a visit but don?t blame me if you?re hooked and want to stay for life! There are new residential developments springing up in areas zoned and protected specifically for low rise residential construction and these developments all offer a taste of Thailand combined with contemporary architecture. One of the latest is Infinity Samui which consists of condos, penthouses and villas with infinity pools and infinity sea views. On site there is a spa and all residents will be treated to five star hotel like service ? so you can actually live a life of affordable luxury in one of the most desirable places on earth - which is why we truly believe Koh Samui is just so great!

Rhiannon Williamson writes about buying property abroad and showcases new property developments in Thailand and around the world on her site http://www.PropertyDevelopmentWorld.com

Just how much faster can it grow?

In this modern age where people are working longer hours and spending less “down-time” at home, it's perhaps no surprise that figures show that more and more people are staying single, and not getting out much to socialise with others. However, this can also be put down to the huge growth in social networking sites, where you can make new friends from the comfort of your own home.

What Are Social Networking Sites?

Simply put, social networking sites are any websites that allow you to interact with other web users. Everybody's heard of MySpace (you probably even have your own MySpace profile), yet there are far more social networking sites around. And the great thing about them is that you don't even have to be online and speaking to a person for it to be classed as a social networking site.

For instance, Wikipedia is an online reference point, where users can upload meanings and biographies for everything from famous people, historical events, entertainment and music - the sky's the limit. And since Wikipedia allows users to update and discuss changes in their dedicated discussion forum, this communication enables Wikipedia to be included as a social networking site.

Blogging is also an incredibly popular way of social networking. Allowing users to write down anything they want, on any subject, and have other web users converse and add their own opinions, has made sites like Blogger.com hugely popular, with hundreds of thousands of daily bloggers.

Even instant messenger (or IM) is classed as social networking, so if you've ever used any kind of messenger service like AOL IM, Yahoo Messenger or MSN Messenger to speak to people live online, you're networking!

Other social networking sites that have seen huge growth over the last year include Facebook (an excellent site for catching up with old schoolmates and work colleagues) and Citysearch (a series of local city guides).

How Social Networking Growth Has Shot Through The Roof

When sites like MySpace and Facebook first launched, no one could have envisaged how much they would have taken off, especially since nothing had really been done like it before. At the last count, MySpace had over 190 MILLION users, which is an incredible figure in anybody's book.

To get an accurate idea of how social networking growth has really shot through the roof, then Comscore Media Metrix (a specialist media market research firm) released these figures for the period February 2005 - 2006:
Blogger.com users rose by 528%
MySpace users rose by 318%
Wikipedia users rose by 275%

By comparison, the allegedly more popular sites such as Yahoo and Google saw nowhere near as big a rise, with Yahoo only seeing a 5% increase and Google seeing a slightly better increase of 21%. Even worse than this were eBay and AOL, with eBay actually seeing a decrease in use by 3%, and AOL staying the same as the previous year.

So the next time someone says that social networking sites are just a fad for people with no friends, you can smile in the knowledge that if that's the case, there's an awful lot of people in the world with no friends….

The internet has made business a much more level playing field, now its possible for individuals to compete with large companies and in many cases do much better, simply because individuals and small business can change with trends at a much faster rate. Combine this with the drop in software prices and we are more than equal. One such company we believe is ahead of the times is http://www.you-vee-me.com and its free to join at the moment, why not grab your own slice of this big pie?

A funny thing happened on the way to my closet. This unforgettable journey from my shower confirmed an age old theory: a lot can happen in fifteen feet.

One night earlier I?d switched on the news to see civil unrest in Budapest, Hungary. My sister August was just there, I thought. Grand old buildings towered behind burning cars. As many do, I wondered: what is wrong with the world? Some of these countries?

At the time, there was no physical sensation caused by my foot being put in my mouth. I was oblivious to its presence. Fast forward 24 hours and enter my studio apartment in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

I pulled the towel from my wet hair as the newscaster spoke: ?Another country is in turmoil tonight.? Ho hum, here we go again. Now, where are my pajamas? As I stepped past the television, her words rang out: ?Tanks have entered Bangkok in a reported coup attempt.?

You know those moments in life when the space-time continuum warps around you? Everything freezes, yet your mind processes over three million random thoughts. That?s where I stood. Only then did I begin to notice my foot lodged deep in my mouth. In the .25 seconds it took to take one step backwards and wrench my head to the right, I had all the following thoughts.

That newscaster mis-spoke. Learn your job!

She means Hungry.

Buy a map.

What!

Mom?s gonna freak.

Wait, I?m 40

Mom?s gonna freak.

My mind is getting even for the Budapest comments. I deserved that.

What did she really say?

Eek! What do I do?

Pack.

No. Don?t pack.

Stay calm.

Pack.

I own way too much stuff!

I?m not breathing.

Perched on the end of the bed, I watch three channels simultaneously for well over an hour. I resolved to take the coup in stride. But! Maybe I?d pack one bag. It would be a ?just in case? bag. The essentials a person would need if a quick exit should be close at hand. Of course, I?d sleep fully dressed in running shoes. Okay, I made that last part up. (My running shoes are in my gym locker.)

Then came slow motion. My eyes panned the room. Books, dishes, bedding, electronics, enough inventory for a small camera shop and clothes, lots of clothes?despite my vow, I had nested. How had this happened?

It was not the first time I had contemplated moving my small household. I had always planned on relocating to Southern Thailand in the spring. It wasn?t even the first time this week I realized extra stuff had to go. Just days before Thailand had suddenly tightened its tourism visa laws. Tens of thousands of other long-term travelers, such as myself, must be out of the country in ninety days. We can not reenter for three months. Now this.

The coup gave me a whole new perspective. I had been worried I needed to buy another suitcase to move my precious inane possessions. In my panic, I grabbed just important things. Money, my laptop, camera body &amp one lens, debit cards, IDs, a couple changes of clothes and three packs of dry noodles. My backpack was only ? full. I panned the room again.

Sleep prevailed. Perspective had returned. In the morning I had school and simply dumped my bag on the floor in a quest for missing underwear. After all, I?m in Chiang Mai, not Bangkok. But, my unpacked state was not to be.

At school, my teacher was visibly shaken. She?d seen soldiers on her way through town. They stood at the closed public schools, hospitals and local businesses. Tanks lined the Super Highway. They are in Chiang Mai.

Half the students had not shown up, others had no sleep. In my mind, I packed again. In my class, I absorbed nothing. None of us are any wiser for having been there. Strategies changed. I had time to organize. My ?just in case? bag was augmented.

On the way, home I stopped at the mall and purchased the most brilliantly blue suitcase ever seen from space. No doubt, right now, that female space tourist is looking toward Asia and reaching for sunglasses. Alas, it was half price.

Normally bustling, the mall ambiance was semi-dormant. Department store sales reps stood idle. And, I, their only customer, was buying a suitcase to leave. This was a likely sign of things to come for Thailand?s economy.

I walked away feeling as though I was carrying a scarlet letter? a big blue scarlet letter. It said, ?T? for traitor. It screamed ?C? for chicken. I?d have traded all my limited Thai vocabulary to know the phrase for ?just in case?. The glow from my suitcase could not be hidden. Shame set in. Stepping out into the rain, I resolved not to pack a single thing.

And, the beat goes on. Arriving home, I turned on the tele and listened. The Northern Borders with Laos and Myanmar have been sealed. Borders! Sealed? Laos! That was my imagined escape route. The rollercoaster continues. As I write this, it?s been less than twenty-four hours since the first reports of tanks in Bangkok. I write and I ponder. Will the coup affect the airline?s baggage limits? How much can I pack?

Nola L. Kelsey is the author of Bitch Unleashed: The Harsh Realities of Goin? Country and coauthor of the scathing political satire Keeping the Masses Down. To read more of Kelsey?s work, visit her rarely up-to-date website at: http://www.nolakelsey.com There you may read, ?Coping with Thailand?s Tightened Visa Regulations: When Thailand Doesn?t Want You Anymore.?

Even before you arrive in Bangkok you would be wise to check upon the visa requirements for your particular nationality. Most persons of western nationality however will be provided automatically with a 30 day tourist visa.

On expiration of this Visa you will usually be able to extend it at the Immigration centre on 'Suan Plu' Road in downtown Bangkok for a maximum of 14 days. After this period expires visitors would than have to leave the country or risk being fined. If you know you are going to stay for longer than this period consider applying for a visa in advance from your home country where double entry and triple entry visas maybe available for you. A double entry visa if extended in Suan Plu twice can get you up to 6 months on a tourist visa whilst only leaving the country once.

In the past tourists could simply leave the country every thirty days and return on the same day to receive another new thirty day visa. however the Thai government are seemingly tightening up on this practise and enforcing several other laws and procedures to make this practise less feasible on a continuous basis.

If you arriving via the International airport be aware that you will immediately be accosted by the usual army of touts offering you taxi services and so on. A metred taxi should cost around 300 baht to downtown area but you will most likely have to negotiate a fixed price for the journey as the Taxi drivers realise they have a captive market and will be unlikely to settle for the metred price.

One alternative is to use the bus shuttle service which runs to all the main tourist centres including Khao Sahn Road (Banglampoo area)for 150 baht. These buses tend to leave every half an hour with the trip downtown taking about the same time span again.

Many travellers arrive weary and are in no fit state to do the currency conversions in their head so it pays to have a bit of fore knowledge. $10 at the moment gets you roughly 300 baht and 10UK pound will get you in the region of 600 baht (double check at Money Transfer Review.com). One final tip when handing over 1000 baht notes say the amount out loud so they are aware that you know it is a thousand baht note and they don't give you change for the wrong amount. It can be surprisingly easily to be short changed when using unfamiliar notes, especially with jet lag!

Author Stephen Ryan has been traveling and writing about Asian travel for some years now providing up to date and relevant information for todays independent travelers. More information available at Money Transfer Review.com.

Thailand is great value an outstandingly beautiful country the people are warm and welcoming it offers a multitude of outdoor activities it?s home to wonderful ruins of ancient kingdoms as well as present day temples the food is out of this world and Thailand has some of the finest beaches on the planet.

Chiang Mai and its surroundings is any adventure enthusiast?s playground with a huge array of activities on offer- from outstanding mountain biking and trekking to rafting and elephant riding. You can even cycle all the way to Bangkok!If Chiang Mai and the north are associated with adventure and activity then the south is with beaches and sunshine. The islands are split on either side of Thailand?s peninsular, with, amongst others, Phuket, Koh Lanta off the Andaman coast to the west and Koh Samui and Koh Pha Ngan to the east in the Gulf of Thailand.

There is of course plenty in between as well, not least the ?City of Angels? ? Bangkok, surely one of the most vibrant city?s on the planet! So many visitors pass straight through, convinced that it offers nothing but pollution and noise. Take our advice give it a couple of days and you?ll fall in love with the place.

In the heartland of Thailand you?ll have the opportunity to trek, explore lost kingdoms, ride elephants, walk with tigers, raft and visit, and even stay with, hill tribe people!

Nick Pulley is CEO of Selective Asia, a UK based specialist tour operator running privately guided itineraries in Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand.

Visit www.selectiveasia.com for further information