Issue 37 / August 2014

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INDIANTOURISTS IN

THAILAND

SKIN CARE TIPS FOR THIS RAINY SEASON

17 TRAVEL TIPS FOR THAILAND

CATHAY PACIFIC THE WORLD BEST AIRLINE

Editor’s Talk

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Photjanard Kantiwong

Hello everyone, it’s now August, the month that im-portant for Thai people because there has The National Mother’s Day. If you have a chance, don’t for get to travel with her.

Due to the number of Indian tourist which is increas-ing everyday, so we decided to use this topic as a Highlight column. We are talking about the amount of them, what are the popular destinations and others.

And when we talk about Indians, one place in Thai-land that quite relate to them is “Wat Khaek”. If you are in-teresting in this place, check it in the “Place Guide”. Another column that we recommend you is “special”. It is about Eid al-Fitr Day, the day that important for Muslims.

Now, it’s time to leave. See you again next time. Good bye.

Hello, August

Photjanard Kantiwong

Lomprayah Team

Editor in Chief

Wanitcha SukchetTinn Chacalanuwattanapong

Executive Editor

Vorapong VongvarothaiJuntiya LaoniyomthaiAreeya PichittanabordeekulJiraporn BoontaKitthawat Chaisingthong

Editorial Staff

Methakritsada Wanngoen

Art Director

Seattakit MeunnakAnnop Sawatdipol

Graphic Designer

Hilight

India and Thailand have enjoyed a close and mutually enriching rela-tionship for over a millenium and the friendship seems to be growing by leaps and bounds even to this present day.

This close and cordial relationship between India and Thailand is rooted in centuries of continuous interaction. The importance of the influence of Indian culture on the development of Thai culture cannot be over emphasized. Thailand’s relationship with India spans over a thousand years and understandably this resulted in an adaptation of Indian culture to suit the Thai environment. Evidence of strong reli-gious, cultural and linguistic links abound.

INDIANTOURISTS IN

THAILAND

TREND OF INDIAN TOURISTS VISITING IN THAILAND

A number of Indians who travel aboard are increasing everyday. This group of tourist is the tourist that very important for the world tourism industry, because of their large amount and their spending habit. Thailand is among the first tourist destination that they choose to travel, according to the statistic in 2013, Indian visitors to Thailand totalled 1,049,856, up 3.61% over 2012; it is one of seven countries generating more than one-million arrivals.

Nowadays, many Indians are choosing to get married abroad, in what is typically referred to as a destination wedding. Greece, Italy, France, the Maldives and Brazil are all popular destina-tions, but guess what? According to a survey conducted by Travel+Leisure magazine, it was Thailand that was voted “world’s best wedding destination” by Indians.

THAILAND THE BEST WEDDING CEREMONY DESTINATION FOR

INDIAN COUPLES.

The Kingdom has a lot to offer beginning with its celebrated geographic diversity – from the mountains to the beaches and eve-rything in between, Thailand offers locations few other countries can in one convenient package. Its sophisticated tourism product, its state-of-the-art infrastructure ensure no matter which corner of Thailand you choose for your celebration, you can expect and get the best. The tagline for the country – Amaz-ing Thailand – could not be truer, it constantly amazes from its Buddhist temples, heritage experiences, exotic wildlife and spectacular cuisine to its sun-soaked islands, its amaz-ing spas and top-of-the-line hotels and res-taurants.

Thailand is the quintessential dream des-tination for a holiday, a wedding, a honey-moon or an adventure. No matter what you ask of this destination it delivers. Its entre-preneurs and hoteliers constantly re-invent, adding value to their products to create a unique experience for every tourist, making sure that each encounter with Thailand is an experience. Add to that the very human quotient of its people and the legendary Thai

hospitality that is on offer. And of course the Thai smile which outlines and underlines each encounter. Not for nothing is this land called the Land of Smiles. Smiles that are genuine, welcoming and friendly.

The rates of hotels in Thailand are 30-60% less expensive in general when you compare similar categories in India. The standard of ho-tels is probably the finest in the entire world. Food and drinks are also 30-60% less costly, and plane tickets to Bangkok are just a bit more or in many cases exactly the same price compared to domestic flights in India. All these signify that in Thailand, you’ll get a bigger bang for your buck.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) reports that the average amount of money spent on just one Indian wedding in Thailand is 10 mil-lion baht, with an average of 200 to 500 guests in attendance. The average duration of each wedding is three to five nights, with approxi-mately 600 rooms booked. In other words, In-dian weddings have become a serious mon-ey-maker for the hotels and resorts deemed swanky enough to play host.

Ref: http://www.weddingsutra.com/Thailand/wedding_in_thailand.htmhttp://www.euroasiaweddings.com/indian-wedding/

LITTLE INDIA In Thailand, cultural influences from India run deep. Thai kings are referred to as “Rama” after the main character in the Indian epic, Ramayana, and Thai religion is a blend of Bud-dhism and Hinduism, both of which came from India. Early influences like these are now indistinguishable from greater Thai culture, but two distinct Indian communities continue to thrive in Bangkok.

IN THAILAND

In Bangkok, the term “Little India” typ-ically refers to the small but vibrant Pahurat neighbourhood just west of Chinatown, which is tucked between Pahurat Road, Chakraphet Road and Triphet Road and is home to the de-scendents of northwestern Indian Punjabi Sikhs who settled here in the early 20th century. Built in 1932 and said to be the second largest Sikh temple outside of India, Pahurat’s centerpiece is the enormous Sri Guru Singh Sabah temple.

Along with this temple and a handful of Indian-run stores and restaurants, Pahurat is home to countless shops that sell fine, brightly coloured Indian textiles. Similar to the tightly packed markets in Chinatown, the narrow al-leys behind Pahurat Road are fasci-nating but exhausting places to soak up the atmosphere while trying on a sari or two. If you’re the claustropho-bic type, the new Indian Emporium Plaza next to Sri Guru Singh Sabah offers similar products at higher pric-es thanks to its modern and spacious air-con confines.

PAHURAT

The northwestern Punjabi-Indians certainly made their mark at Pahurat, but an earlier, unrelated wave of Hindu immigrants arrived in Bangkok from Tamil-Nadu in southern India in the 1800s. These Tamil speakers carved out their own community in an area that spans the western sides of Silom Road, Surawong Road and everything in between. It may not have the pronounced “Indian” feel of Pahurat — the area is also home to many Thai eateries and an Irish pub — but hundreds who trace their ancestry back to these southern Indians still have homes and businesses here.

Bangkok’s best known Hindu temple, Sri Maha Mariamman (Wat Khaek), is placed here also. Although Sri Maha Mariamman is the standout Indian feature of what we’ll call “Little India Silom”, it’s not the only one. Indian music pumps daily from the soundsystems of footpath vendors selling Bollywood movies and posters of Hindu gods near Silom Soi 20. Several Indian-run restaurants, hotels and tai-lor-shops are scattered along Silom between Soi 19 and Naradhiwas Rajanagarindra Road, which itself was named by the Indian commu-nity. Dozens of Indian-run gem shops along Surasak Road sell fine Indian stones, and a cluster of southern Indian restaurants are found further west on Surawong Road.

SILOMLITTLE INDIA

Ref: http://www.travelfish.org/blogs/thailand/2012/11/02/bangkoks-two-little-indias/

INDIAN RESTAURANT IN THAILAND

Thailand has a significant Indian popu-lation. Though Indians and Thai-Indians live all over the country, there’s even a Little India in Bangkok. There are also plenty of great Indian restaurants in Bangkok catering to the city’s Indian and Thai-Indian population

It might not be Mumbai or Delhi, but the proximity of Bangkok to the Subconti-nent ensures that there is a lot of Indian food in Krungthep. Many Indians have settled in Bangkok, in fact there is even a section of town that gets referred to as Little India, but that is just the tip of the iceberg.

Indian cuisine in Bangkok ranges from good old fashioned simple thalis in tiny shacks to opulent dinners fit for a maharajah in ultra fancy surroundings. Don’t let appearances fool you; the places that might look like an eyesore, such as Royal India, have been packing in the crowds for years due to the excellent cooking.

But if you want style as well as taste, some of the most innovative Indian food in the world is found in Bangkok, places like the Great Kabab Factory, with 450 kebabs to knock you out with.

Rang Mahal has long been ranked as one of the top restaurants of any kind, and well worth a splurge, as is newcomer Maya, with arguably the best view in town.

And of course then there is Gaggan, also known as molecular masala, where foams and liquid nitrogen turn dal and rice into something you never before dreamed was possible. Gaggan is considered one of the 50 best restaurants in Asia and a dinner here totally redefines Indian cooking, well worth making an evening free for.

Ref: http://gothailand.about.com/od/wheretoeatdrink/tp/Bangkokindianfood.htm http://www.10best.com/destinations/thailand/bangkok/restaurants/indian/

BASIC ELEMENTS The Indian culture has never been rigid and that’s why it’s surviving with pride in the modern era. It time-ly imbibes the qualities of various other cultures and comes out as a contemporary and acceptable tradi-tion. That is what unique about the Indian culture..it moves on with the time.

OF INDIAN CULTURE

“Namaste”, for an Indian it’s a way com-mon way of greeting outsiders and elders. Both palms placed together and raised below the face not only show the respect for others but it also makes you feel the affection in the greeting. It is for sure that no ‘hello’ or ‘hi’ can create that magic.

Indian people are also famous for welcoming with flower garlands. In the Indian marriages the exchange of garlands between bride and groom is a ritual in itself. People also offer flower garlands to gods and goddesses dur-ing their prayers.

Time has changed but the lavishness has always been an integral and indispensa-ble part of Indian marriages. In India, mar-riage is still taken as an institution where not two people but two families get united. So, it always calls for boisterous celebra-tions full of music and dance. Within India, every caste and community has its own way of performing the rituals of marriage.

Way of Greeting

Flower Garlands

Indian Marriages

Ref: http://www.esamskriti.com/essay-chapters/Historical-Ties-India-and-Thailand-1.aspxhttp://www.mapsofindia.com/culture/india-culture.html

Beauty of Indian women lies in the clothes she wears. Very traditional and ethnic yet contemporary Indian Sa-ris are famous worldwide. It is worn with a blouse that covers the upper part of the body. In rural parts a version of sari, called ghagara -choli is very much popular. Choli is like a short blouse that covers the upper part of the body and ghagara is like a long skirt. In order to have a graceful and complete look, women folk carry a dup-patta, which is a soft and delicate material of reasonable length thrown over the shoulder.

Though with slight variations, Salwar kameez is a dress that is famous in every part of India. This attire contains two pieces-kameez, which is a like a long top covering upper part of the body and salwar is like trousers. Like ghagara choli, salwar kameez is also complemented by dupatta.

For the men, there is no dearth of variety. From dhoti kurta to shirt pants, an Indian man prefers everything that fits well and looks good. But, traditionally you can see north Indians wearing kurta pajama, dhoti kurta or sherwani on formal celebrations whereas south Indian men prefer lungi with shirt.

Mehndi or henna is a kind of paste that is designed on the palms on the women on special occasions like engagement, mar-riage or festive celebrations. The paste is applied for few hours or overnight and washed when it gets dried completely. This gives reddish-brown color to the palms. In Indian marriages, especially in the north, a special night is celebrated before the day of marriage in which mehndi is designed on the palms of bridegroom and it is followed by some colorful dance and music. In cer-tain parts of India, mehndi is a special kind of ancient folk art.

Indian Dresses

Mehndi

THE DESTINATIONS IN THAILAND where are popular among the Indian tourists.

Krabi Province, which lies along the coast of the Andaman sea in Southern Thailand, is a top tourist destination as a result of its plentiful natural attractions including, white sandy beaches, crystal clear water, extensive coral reefs, nu-merous caves and waterfalls, and over 130 islands.

KRABI

Ref: http://www.tourismthailand.org/Krabi

Chiang Mai contains hundreds of sacred temples, with chedi and gabled rooftop tiers soaring skyward, and then billow-ing out protectively as they swoop to the ground. In reality, the city is dynamic and modern without having lost its down-to-earth charm. There’s certainly traffic, pol-lution and ugly concrete buildings, but this is a very Thai place – Thai culture over-whelmingly pervades a city wrapped up in Western sensibilities and striving for ad-vancement.

Chiang Mai

Ref: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thailand/chiang-mai-province/chiang-mai

Thailand’s largest island is an inter-national magnet for beach lovers and serious divers, who enthusiastically submerge themselves in the Andaman Sea. Blue lagoons and salmon sunsets make for a dream-like atmosphere, and indeed, a vacation here can feel a bit surreal.

PHUKET

Ref: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g293920-Phuket-Vacations.html

THE DESTINATIONS IN THAILAND where are popular among the Indian tourists.

“The City of Angel” Bangkok offers visitors the opportunity to experience fascinating glimpses of Thailand’s unique culture, amidst the bustle of a great and dynam-ic metropolis. The city is dotted with 400 glittering Buddhist temples, magnificent palaces, classical dance extravaganzas, delicious food at various restaurant and numerous shopping centers, all which are subjects of great beauty and fascination. Still, traditional ways of life abound, espe-cially along the “Venice of the East” time-less canals and the Chao Phraya River, also known as the “River of Kings,” which winds through the city.

BANGKOK

Ref: http://www.tat-la.com/destinations/

MUANG

Destination Guide

HINDAENGKrabi

HINDAENG means ‘red rock’ in Thai, Hin Daeng is covered with red soft corals, which makes the rock appear red. Only three small pinnacles are visible from the surface, but once underwater, the vast form of Hin Daeng stretches 30-40 m down before reaching the sandy bottom. A long rocky wall consisting of soft corals, sea fans, and black corals stretchers from the west to the south side of Hih Daeng, reaching to the sand bottom 40-45 m underwater. The east and north-east side, on the other hand, is a reef slope with pinnacles and hard corals, The contour slopes down to the sand to depths of around 35-40 m. Divers can also swim across the big channel on the north side of Hin Daeng, which leads to the west side. The hard coral reefs that top there pinnacles are good for snorkeling and are only 5-10 m deep.

HIN MUANG (Thai for Purple Rock) is the deepest vertical wall dive site in Thai-land. The southern side descends to over 60 metres. The pinnacle is completely sub-merged and is home to a huge amount of marine life, both in terms of numbers as well as in variety. The pinnacle is approximately 200 metres by 25 metres and is covered in purple soft coral, from where the site gets its name.

Diversity of marine life here ranges from big pelagic fish like manta rays and whale sharks, to the rich variety of nudibranchs. Manta rays in small groups of 3-4 are of the spotted at Hin Daeng and whale sharks are also frequently sighted, particularly dur-ing the peak season (Feb-Apr) when they stay for a long time in these feeding grouds. Leopard shark are often seen resting in the and in the daytime, and a grey reef sharks have also been reported.

Ref: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thailand/bangkok/sights/religious/sri-mariamman-temple

http://www.thaiwebsites.com/watkhaek.asp

Place Guide

Sri Mariamman Temple, the official Thai name of the temple is “Wat Phra Si Maha Umathewi”, usually re-ferred to as “Wat Khaek” by Bangkokians, the temple is located in the middle part of Silom Road, on the corner formed by Silom Road and Pan Road. As the name of the temple suggests, it is dedicated to Sri Maha Mariamman, the goddess of disease, rain and protection.

The temple was built in the 1860s by Tamil immi-grants and features a 6m facade of intertwined, full-color Hindu deities. While most of the people working in the temple hail from the Indian subcontinent, you will likely see plenty of Thai and Chinese devotees praying here as well. This is because the Hindu gods figure just as prominently in their individualistic ap-proach to religion.

SRI MARIAMMAN

TEMPLE

Ref: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thailand/bangkok/sights/religious/sri-mariamman-templehttp://www.thaiwebsites.com/watkhaek.asp

Restaurant Guide

TANTRA RESTAURANTTantra magical world of exotic Indian Cuisine.A tribute to the Lover of good VEG to NON-VEG food. Fine Indian Cuisine demands Love and ‘that’ magic touch of perfection at every stage.

Tantra Indian Restaurant is the cultimination of our humble effort in bringing forth a unique cuisine for you. We are being modest it is a tremendous task but expectionally satisfying ! We promise you the pleasure of fine dining, richness of ambience, hospitable service and most importantly healthy eating and yet very reasonable price.

OPEN: 11.00am - Midnight

ADDRESS:186/5-6 Taweewong Road., Patong Beach,

Phuket, Thailand

TEL: 076 296 016, 085 834 4655

WEBSITE: www.tantraphuket.com

E-MAIL: tantra-food@hotmail.com

Best Indian Food at Patong Beach, Phuket.

Event

The Thai Travel Agents Associa-tion presents Thai International Travel Fair. The fair promises to bring together bargain tour packages from leading local and international tourism indus-try operators, along with rep-resentatives from international tourism boards, hotel packages, resorts, spas, tourism-related equipment, and car rental firms. Also featuring are OTOP prod-ucts from all Thai regions, of-fered at over 1,000 booths. All this plus international cultural performances on stage. And for every 1,000 baht spent at the fair, comes a chance to win spe-cial prizes.

THAI INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL FAIR

15

DATE: 14 AUG - 17 AUG 2014

TIME:10.00 - 20.00

LOCATION: Queen Sirikit National Convention Center

Ref: http://www.qsncc.co.th/en/visitor/event-calendar/item/1438-thai-international-travel-fair-2014.html

Real Story Credit : http://theplanetd.com/koh-samui-thailand/

It’s Time to Visit

Living in Thailand (or Southeast Asia for that matter) makes it really easy to travel around to all the neighbouring countries, everything is relatively close to each other and the plane tickets are ridiculously cheap. This gave me the opportunity to hop around from country to country during my holidays to stray into the unknown and get lost.

One rainy monsoon night, whilst I was plan-ning my next adventure to Bali, I suddenly came to the shocking realisation that I have not seen nearly enough of Thailand yet. The country is huge with a lot of noticeable differ-ences (in terms of food, culture, religion) as you travel around.

I decided to put the Bali trip on hold and go to Koh Samui instead. On a map Koh Samui looks quite close to Phuket (where I lived), but let me tell you, it is not! If you have enough time to make road a trip out of this excursion I would highly recommend that you stop over in Ao Nang, Krabi for a couple of nights in Tonsai or Railay. If, however, you are pressed for time, maybe taking a flight would be a better option. There are flights available from Phuket to Koh Samui as well as Bangkok to Koh Samui.

Situated on the Eastern side of the Thai main-land in the Gulf of Thailand, Koh Samui is the second largest island in the Thai Kingdom (Phuket being the biggest).

Koh Samui

Koh Samui and Phuket have been com-pared countless times in an attempt to de-bate which island is the best, but to me it is really impossible to choose a clear winner.

Each island offers its own unique quirks and customs but I must say, the thing that stood out the most to me about Koh Samui was the incredible snorkelling and scuba envi-ronments it had to offer. Yes Phuket and Phi Phi also have an abundance of beautiful fish and coral reefs surrounding its coastlines but it felt like I was entering a whole new world the first time that I descended into the depths off the coast of Koh Samui and Koh Tao. For the first time I actually saw what live coral looked like. I could not comprehend the indescribable amount of colours that I saw beneath me. There were literally millions of brightly coloured fish, coral, anemones and starfish as far as the eye could see. I felt like I was in the Avatar movie.

The island of Koh Samui offers a lot of touristy sights to explore. The best (and cheapest) way to see everything is by renting your own scooter. I understand that this is a daunting idea to most newcomers to Southeast Asia, but it only takes a couple of minutes for you to get the hang of it and feel like a hardcore biker. Make sure that you wear a helmet at all times and drive safely. Sadly, many tourists die on the roads of Thai-land every year, so be extremely careful.

Invest in an island map and ask a local to in-dicate all the must-see locations. Naturally the next thing to do is to completely ignore the map and just get lost! This is the best way to find hid-den gems.

A random Thai guy told me a secret when I asked for directions. He said that I should go see the Namuang Waterfall. I must admit, I was very sceptical about his advice at first because I knew that is a very touristy place and I was looking for my own adventure, not one that you can buy from a travel agent.

But this Thai guy went on to tell me that when I get there I should climb up next to the water-fall as far as I could, “to see secret velly beau-tiful waters”. Secret….? Challenge accepted.

climbed the steep little path I reached quite a few smaller but undisturbed waterfalls, each with it’s own little pools. I climbed even higher and eventually reached the top. This was what I wanted to see, a totally unspoilt waterfall with lush jungle growing on either sides, I discov-ered the “…secret velly beautiful waters”.

The view I had of the island was unbelievable and I couldn’t see or hear any tourists. It was heaven! I spent almost the whole day taking pictures, swimming, and eating the odd coco-nut that came floating down the stream. I fell in love with my newfound paradise. Two other Canadian guys also stumbled upon my secret place but I was glad to have someone around who appreciated it as much as I did.

Koh Samui has a lot more to offer other than waterfalls and coral reefs but these were the things that stood out the most to me. It is a beautiful island with breathtaking lush jungles and amazing beaches, maybe I should leave Phuket and move here. Koh Samui will defi-nitely see me again in the near future.

Top of the World

Cathay Pacific Airways has once again been named “World’s Best Airline” in the annual Skytrax World Airline Awards. This is the fourth time Cathay Pacific has received the World’s Best Airline honour - the only airline to achieve such a feat. The carrier also took the title in 2003, 2005 and 2009.

The awards are based on a survey of 18.85 mil-lion airline passengers from around the world who voted for their favourite travel experiences between August 2013 and May 2014. Skytrax is acknowl-edged as running one of the most comprehensive customer satisfaction surveys in the airline industry. Airline passengers from more than 160 countries participated in the latest survey, which covered 245 airlines worldwide. The survey measures standards across 41 key performance indicators of airline products and services.

Over the last four years, the carrier has invested $632 million ($4.9 billion HK) in cabin makeovers.

Passengers traveling first class enjoy seats that can transform into lie-flat beds with thicker mattresses, and luxury Ermenegildo Zegna amenity kits for men and Trussardi amenity bags for women.

Seats in economy class have also been refurbished with a cradle mechanism in the seatback that al-lows for a six-inch recline. That translates to more legroom and overall space.

Seats come with personal touchscreen TVs, power supplies for charging portable devices and extra storage space.

CATHAY PACIFIC The World Best Airline

Ref: http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/cathay-pacific-airways-voted-world-best-airline-article-1.1869068

Special

Eid al-Fitr falls on the first day of Shawwal, the month which follows Ramadan in the Islamic calendar. In Arabic ‘’Eid’’ means something which returns and is repeated every certain period of time. The word ‘’Eid’’, however, has evolved to mean a festivity. The word ‘’fitr’’ is the root of the word ‘’iftar’’ (breaking the fast) and denotes the end of the fasting month.

It is a time to give in charity to those in need, and celebrate with family and friends the completion of a month of blessings and joy.

Before the day of Eid, during the last few days of Ramadan, each Muslim family gives a de-termined amount as a donation to the poor. This donation is of actual food -- rice, barley, dates, rice, etc. -- to ensure that the needy can have a holiday meal and participate in the

celebration. This donation is known as sadaqah al-fitr (charity of fast-breaking).

On the day of Eid, Muslims gather early in the morning in outdoor locations or mosques to perform the Eid prayer. This consists of a sermon followed by a short congrega-tional prayer.

After the Eid prayer, there are gatherings of family and friends for breakfast, brunch or lunch. It is an occasion for visits, greetings, love and good wishes. It is a time to heal lost bonds, make amends, and revitalize relationships.

EID AL-FITR DAY

Special foods are prepared and often dishes are sent to neighbors and friends. Each coun-try or community has its signature dish, and a special benefit to being part of a Muslim com-munity in the West means being able to sam-ple delicious cuisine from around the world.

Gifts, money and sweets are usually given to children and some adults exchange gifts too. Celebrations differ from community to com-munity. There are picnics and barbeques, fairs and neighborhood feasts, community events lasting into the night, and fireworks or laser light displays. New friends are made, old ac-quaintances renewed and families spend quality time together.

The celebration of Eid demands contact with relatives, kindness to parents, empathy for the poor and distraught and compassion for neighbors. It is a day of visiting and well wish-ing, and some Muslims take the opportunity to visit the graveyards. It is important not to make visiting the graveyards an annual Eid ritual. However, the remembrance of death and the Hereafter is important at all times. In most Muslim countries, this festival is an of-ficial government/school holiday.

Ref: http://islam.about.com/od/ramadan/f/eid_fitr.htmhttp://www.onislam.net/english/reading-islam/understanding-islam/worship/fasting/446778-what-muslims-do-on-the-day-of-eid-al-fitr.html

Horoscope

By Mr. Rup Krishen Baqaya

August Predictions for the month of

Aries:You will make good money this month. A lot of your time will be spent on property matters. The focus is also on relationships. You will strengthen existing bonds and forge new ones.

Taurus:You get support for all your ventures and this will make you very happy. Creative pursuits and hobbies will keep you busy. Speculation and Gam-bling could also interest you.

Gemini:You feel the need to work at breakneck speed. Delays and impediments could thus be a nuisance. It would however be a good idea to move with caution. You could look at new avenues to try your luck.

Cancer:This is an intense phase and you push yourself very hard. However, you will manage to find some time for social interactions also. In short it could be said that the month will be a fusion of work and pleasure.

Leo:There is no point getting unnecessarily emotional over things from the past. Remember, they cannot change. So, just move on. The good thing is that you reach out to people and your relationships grow.

Virgo:Money matters will be resolved around the third week of this month. Your relationships are smooth and harmonious and you focus more on work. You are advised to have a positive attitude and consider new areas of work.

Libra:Work gets you appreciation. However, be careful about expenditure. Try and redefine your priorities and think and plan for the future. The pace of life is hectic and you will be kept on your toes.

Scorpio:This could be a slow month and there could be some feelings of inse-curity and even a lack of self belief. Avoid rash moves and speculation. At work, try not to get into a spat with colleagues.

Sagittarius:You move towards a great phase and make rapid progress in all your endeavours. Mercury makes you travel. The focus is on communica-tion, contracts, meetings and interviews.

Capricorn:This is a sensitive month centred mainly around the family. You will also reach out to friends. With your restored self confidence, there will be greater opportunities to balance home and office better.

Aquarius:The tempo of life increases and you meet many people. You will reach out to both people and places in this month. You display a more car-ing and open attitude and it comes back to you in equal measure from others. Your confidence grows.

Pisces:This is a month of confidence and charisma. You get appreciation and awards and your prestige increases. You are appreciated by one and all. There will be promotions, career advancement and gains.

Trend

SKIN CARE TIPS FOR THIS RAINY SEASONAfter bearing that extreme heat of the sun, those sunburns, tans, sweaty (and stinky) summer days. Monsoon comes as a sign of relief. But what about the tons of infections, it gets along with it, given to its damp and humid weather? Well its unavoidable. Every season comes with some good news and some bad news and upto us to embrace it and make the best use of it. Today in this post we shall discuss about some of the best skin care tips for this rainy season.

Its been proven over the years that little chang-es in the way you take care of your skin could have a positive effect on you during this mon-soon season. Read further to know better of various skin types:

DRY SKIN TYPEUndoubtedly dryness is a result of lack of vitamins that helps in repairing dry and damaged skin. It also means that the skin isn’t properly hydrated as a result of which it looks and feel dry. And to top it all the condition becomes worse during the monsoon. Now how do you combat this condition of your skin? Well its very easy, just follow these simple tips:

Drink as much water as you can. Do not stop drinking water even if it leads to frequent urination. Water consumption hydrates your body and flushes out all the unwanted toxins.Use cleansers that are clean based.Moisturize your skin frequently. This will help in increasing the keep the outer layer of your skin properly hydrated, thereby leaving it with a soft, supple and moist look.

You may also use rose water and glycerin to keep your skin healthy

Keep away from alcohol based toners.

As it is a combination of oily and dry skin, such skin types should be taken extra care. The dry part of it should be cleansed and moisturized regularly and the oily part of it should be cleaned, scrubbed and toned to match the dry skin type.

Be it any skin type there are few tips that needs to be followed religiously to keep it in a healthy condi-tion, these include:

As mentioned earlier, drinks loads of water. This is one of the best and the cheapest way to attain good, healthy and flawless skin, irrespective of the season. Try to drink at least 8-10 glasses of water everyday and you would definitely notice a drastic change within 2-3 months.

COMBINATION SKIN TYPE

OILY SKIN TYPEThe main reason behind having oily skin is hormonal changes that are genetically de-termined. There is nothing much one can do to change skin condition permanently, how-ever little changes in the way you take care of your skin will bring about a slow and gradual change in the way it feels and looks. Follow these easy tips to keep your skin in good con-dition:

Wash your face a 2-3 times daily with a anti-bacterial face wash.

Just dab dry the face and don’t rub it with a tow-el. this will make the skin look rough and dry.

Moisturize the skin regularly.

Scrub your face twice a week.Use face packs depending on your skin condition.As far as possible use natural home remedies than chemical based products.

Wash your face almost 3-4 times a day to get rid of the excess oil from your face. Do not over do it as too much of washing leads to

Use facial scrubs regularly as it will help in unclogging your pores and also exfoliate your skin by removing the dead cell layers from it. Try and use natural scrubs instead of chemical based ones.

Stay away from using heavy cleansing products.

Use home remedies such as pack made of chick -pea flour (also known as besan) and milk, lemon and honey etc. that re-juvenates your skin and leaves it looking fresh and glowing.

Try using hot water to wash your face in-stead of cold or lukewarm water. This will help in dissolving the oil on the skin in a better way thereby leaving it supple and soft.

Ref: http://beautyhealthtips.in/best-skin-care-tips-for-this-monsoon-rainy-season/

L-sign Fingers, the Lomprayah Greeting Style.Lomprayah have just created our greeting style, by show-ing your fingers with L sign. This is not for greeting only, but it will be our new campaign also. So, please look for-ward to this special campaign.

Lompraya News

Prize Announcement for Mother’s Day Game First Prize: Gift Voucher of one day snorkeling package at Koh Tao - Koh Nangyuan by Lomprayah Catamaran.The people who win this prize are1. BooBu Ch2. Kung Wijittra

Second Prize: Gift Voucher of Round-Trip Ferry Tick-et from Chumphon to Koh Nangyuan/Koh Tao/Koh Phangan/Koh Samui.The people who win this prize are1. Alizz Alizz2. Janyaphat Jarumporn

Congratulations to those four people, and thank you for joining our activity. For the people who didn’t get the priz-es, please follow up our Lomprayah Catamaran fanpage, we still has many interesting games and prizes.

Lomprayah Catamaran set a booth at the 32st Thai Teaw ThaiLomprayah Catamaran Co., Ltd will join the 32st Thai Teaw Thai event at Queen Sirikit National Convention Center – booth C091 from September 4-7, 2014. In this event, the tourist will get many special promotions which Lomprayah pepare for them.

Global News

Suvarnabhumi taxis – New kiosks means less queuingThe shake up of the taxi services at Suvarnabhumi Airport, recently started by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), is nearly complete with eight state-of-the-art queue management queue-card kiosks to be installed over the next couple of weeks. Under the new computerised system, taxi drivers will have to take passengers on a first-come-first-served basis.

Thai Smile moves 3 routes to Don Meung Aug 8

Thanks : http://www.traveldailynews.asia/news/article/56256/suvarnabhumi-taxis-ndash-new-kioskshttp://www.bangkokpost.com/travel/travel-update/423440/thai-smile-to-fly-three-routes-from-don-mueang

http://www.traveldailynews.asia/news/article/56254

Thai Smile, the budget subsidiary of Thai Airways International, plan to provide service to Chiang Mai, Khon Kaen and Phuket from Don Muang Airport. The eight flights will depart Don Muang on Aug 8 with the rest following by Oct 26.Lomprayah Catamaran set a booth at the 32st

Thai Teaw Thai

Plaza Premium Lounge celebrates upcoming opening at Macau International AirportThe new Plaza Premium Lounge is also equipped with two spacious VIP rooms with elegant interior settings, quality sound-proof system and independent restroom, allowing travellers to enjoy the utmost privacy at all times.

Tip to Trip

LEAVE YOUR ROLLY LUGGAGE AT HOME.

BUY AN UMBRELLA UPON ARRIVAL.

17 TRAVEL TIPS

FORTHAILAND

Wear a backpack and only fill it ? full. You will shop – if not for yourself, for your friends. Most of all, make sure that your bag is carry-on compliant. When you’re hopping flights, trains, river boats, etc., you’ll thank me later that you weren’t trying to roll your massive clunky suit-case down an almost-rotted Thai wood pier. You’re welcome.

It’s either rain or shine there, with occasional in-betweens. And usually hot (in the best pos-sible tropical way, of course). You will hap-pily appreciate your small umbrella at some point.

EAT STREET FOOD.

PREP YOUR THIGH MUSCLES...For squat toilets. This is what you will experi-ence in the majority of the country. Also, wash your bum! That’s what that mysterious spray hose in the corner is for. Only use TP to dry if there is any; otherwise do what I charmingly termed the “shakedown” to remove any exces-sive droplets.

(P.S., please do not put TP in the squat, that’s just bad manners and won’t fly in their waste system.)

Do not live in the paranoia that you “will get sick.” I ate copious amounts of appetizing street food from local vendors for two solid weeks before obtaining the bubble guts...which I got from eating at an over-priced Italian restaurant.

Bring hand sanitizer or wipes, and use un-sparing-ly. There is not often an opportunity to wash your hands.

http://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/2013/dec/12/travel-seventeen-tips-thailand/

GET A TWO-HOUR TRADITIONAL MASSAGE.Life-changing body work, truly. They bathe your feet before the massage and you are stretched, pushed, pounded on and ultimately relaxed. This ancient technique gets a solid 10. You can get a one-hour traditional in the city areas for about $6. Islands and resort areas will cost near 3x that.

GO TO THE CHATUCHAK WEEKEND MAR-KET IN BANGKOK.Buy those ultra-comfy Thai fisherman pants that are so cozy, they’ve seriously impacted my abil-ity to return to the dating scene. See a variety of exotic and domestic (caged) animals. It’s a great spot to learn bargaining skills, but most items are priced at a steal.

Hungry? If all the food carts are not enough, eat world-class paella and sit in cold misters at Viva 8 while a DJ spins sick beats. Eat a roasted bug for dessert – I sure did. It was a cricket and it tasted like peanuts.

RIDE A TUK-TUK.But first, bargain your price and define your loca-tion. Otherwise, you’ll end up in a suit shop with six Burmese men measuring you while being pressured to make a purchase, while your driv-er begs you to buy something because he gets a kickback. This is a true story. It happened to a young country boy I met at the hostel where I was staying. I had to hold back from bursting into in-stantaneous laughter.

DRINK FRUIT SHAKES.You will feel so good! Plus, it’s so warm all the time that a fruit shake makes an ideal breakfast or afternoon refresher. Dragon fruit (pitaya) is the most obnoxious-looking, delicious fruit around (in my opinion), and raging with fiber. If you get addicted to nighttime stops at the roti cart (a pancake of sorts filled with tasty items), this helps, ahem, balance things out.

DRINK THE LOCAL BEER.It’s not much compared to the variety us San Diegans are spoiled with, but it’s still refresh-ing when the heat has been blaring down on you and you’re not feeling like another bottle of flavored electrolytes.

Leo has the best taste, Chang has the highest ABV. Tiger is my favorite, although it is truly Singaporean. All imports are much pricier.

VISIT TEMPLES.I enjoyed the more visited 5.5-ton Golden Bud-dha (Wat Traimit) and Green Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew). It was a calming and spiritual experience, and the architecture is so ornate it’s mindblowing. Be sure to cover your shoul-ders and wear long shorts or pants; it is consid-ered respectful.

TAKE A COOKING CLASS.Get your grind on with a mortar and pestle mak-ing red and green chili paste. Nearly burn your mouth off with eight uncooked chilis making pa-paya salad - my personal achievement! Just when you think the coconut milk has run dry, rest on the swinging hammocks to catch a rest from the warm sun.

I had a wonderful experience with Asia Scenic Cooking School, but find one that suits your loca-tion and budget. It was about $30 US for a full day with transport to a farm outside the city, and you don’t have to buy meals all day!

RENT A MOTORBIKE IF YOU KNOW YOU CAN RIDE IT.It’s not the smartest place to learn to ride, and when you are in rush hour traffic in Chiang Mai, I can almost guarantee a slight panic attack to the most calm of folk. The majority of accidents and injuries in the country are caused by motorbikes. I’ll save you my spastic story of saving myself but ruining a paint job.

Note: There are times when they ride motorbikes on the sidewalk when traffic is very congested. Move out of the way and carry on.

TAKE THE OVERNIGHT TRAIN.It’s about $17 US for a second class A/C, bed/seat. Eat beforehand, bring a large bottle of water (there’s a 7-11 just about everywhere), and BYOB. The onboard prices are ridiculous, per usual. Make new friends and play poker before the attendant makes up your bed in 10.2 seconds flat. I loved the experience and slept like a champ. Oh, bring earplugs!

FIND A LOCAL SPOT YOU LIKE AND RETURN.There was a coffee cart outside my place in Bang-kok near Siam Square that (ended up) making the finest Thai iced coffee in the entire country. I simply could not find a match. Wherever I was, going to the same place made me feel like I was establish-ing myself in the country.

Try new places – it’s why you’re there – but be sure to say hi to Lik at Paradise Bar who makes the best mojito with local Sangsom rum, or Nat who makes your favorite sticky rice. They will happily remember you too!