Driving tips in thailand

Thailand has a good network of well-maintained roads and highways between all main centres. Road signage follows international convention and is in both Thai and English. Drunk drivers and an abudance of haphazardly driven motorcycles make night-time driving a real problem, however.

Road rules

Traffic drives on the left hand side and drivers must be at least 18 and hold a full, valid Thailand driving licence or an international driving permit. If you only have a national driving licence from your own country you will be permitted to use for up to two months. To hire a car, renters have to be at least 25 years old. Wearing of seat belts is compulsory and drunk-driving laws apply; all insurance is invalid if drivers exceed the legal alcohol limit.

Police regularly occassionally set up speed traps and offenders breaking the limits will be subject to on-the-spot fines, which are routinely less than the official rate, but no ‘ticket’ is given. The maximum blood/alcohol limit is 0.5mg/ml. Unfortunately the Thai police are very lax in controlling drunk drivers and this creates a hazard late at night.

Speed limits:

Urban areas: 45 - 60kph/28 - 37mph

Highways: 90 – 110kph/56 – 68mph.

Motorways and the road network

There are about 64,600kms/40,141mls of paved roads in Thailand as well as a large network of unpaved roads (especially in the North). Major highways radiate outwards from Bangkok to all the major cities, with most of the north-south route consisting of dual carriageway. Interconnecting roads to smaller towns and cities are usually wide, and single-laned with two-lane sections at interchanges.

Parking in cities is usually on the street for a small charge or, for the most part, covered parking in hotel/plazas or shopping centres. Farther out of town centres parking is usually free, if you can find a space. Don’t block government building entrances or you’re likely to be towed.

Costs, distances and times

Service stations are plentiful and most of the larger ones accept major international credit cards. In more remote locations, hand pumps are common and cash will be required. Unleaded 91, 95 and high-octane 98 fuels are available as well as diesel, and LPG at some locations. Unleaded 95 is about 18 baht per litre; diesel, 15 baht.

Typical driving distances and times:

Bangkok to Chiang Mai: 686kms/426mls 9 hours

Bangkok to Hat Yai: 993kms/617mls 12 hours

Hat Yai to Phuket: 474kms/294mls 7 hours.

Safety

Renters requiring assistance will find an emergency phone number printed on their rental agreement and on the windscreen sticker. Try to refrain from driving at night as unsuspecting potholes, local drivers without tail lights and wandering livestock can greatly increase the possibility of having an accident.

Since Thai motorists are notoriously ill-disciplined with giving way or observing traffic rules, motorists are advised to drive at an ‘easy pace’ (50kms or less) in urban areas. In the event of an accident, Thais perfer to settle the legal outcome on the spot and often expect the wealthier motorist to absorb the cost, this includes foreigners.

Stay away from downtown Bangkok; traffic is horrendous and roads are confusing, not to mention road users who have a general disregard for other vehicles. Don’t drive too close to the edge of the road on any highway as motorcycles quite often drive up the wrong way, and keep out of the path of buses and trucks. The ‘songteaw’ minibus trucks have a habit of suddenly pulling ove

Reverse mortgage information

The first question that needs to be answered is "what is a reverse mortgage?" A reverse mortgage is a specific type of loan used by older homeowners who have built up some equity in their home. It is a method of acquiring cash from their home, manufactured home, town home or condominium. By using this type of borrowing method senior citizens can come up with money that they can use any way they want without the need to pay it back during their lifetime. If these elderly Americans can qualify they can turn their home equity into money.

If older American homeowners are struggling with their finances they can apply for this type of loan which can be used to pay off debts, increase their monthly income or for other things. This monetary influx will allow these senior citizens an opportunity to get out from under their current debt or to increase their monthly income which can be used for their daily expenses. They can start enjoying their life to the fullest by coming up with the additional cash they need. The money can be used to get out of financial trouble, home improvements, traveling and for other expenditures. This extra cash may be used for luxuries they have always wanted, but could never afford.

The purpose of a reverse mortgage is to allow senior citizens the opportunity to receive the extra cash they require without the necessity of having to sell their house. The cash they get can provide them with the additional financial security they require and also give them a chance at enjoying their remaining years by reducing their money worries. There are several ways to receive this money including regular monthly payments, a lump sum or even as a credit line. A line of credit is the most common method people use to receive money from a reverse mortgage. Some retired persons get their money by using a combination of these methods. It's possible to receive monthly payments while also getting a big chunk of money up front too.

The term reverse mortgage is a simple way of "reversing" a mortgage. Rather than being forced to make monthly payments by taking out a home loan people can actually receive monthly payments themselves. It's a method for retired homeowners to increase their comfort of living by taking advantage of the equity they have built up in their home. The loan amount depends on many factors including the value of their residence, how old they are, how much equity is in the home along with other factors.

To qualify for a reverse mortgage the applicant must be 62 years of age or older. They must also own a home (single family residence), manufactured home built on or after June 1976, town home or condominium. And of course they must have a certain amount of home equity. It is not necessary to have the house paid off completely, but there must be equity in it. In other words you can still qualify for a reverse mortgage even if you have an outstanding mortgage loan.

The loan cannot exceed the home's value, but there are no monthly income requirements and no medical prerequisites for qualification. There are few requirements, one of which is that the applicant must first meet with an approved counselor to discuss the loan or other possible options for their situation. Other than that there are very few requirements.

Hypnosis downloads internet comes to the rescue

Hypnotherapy now comes to you in the form of friendly, non-hassle hypnosis downloads! The Internet has become our savior in yet another aspect of life, and has superceded its role of being a communication channel, to become the most vital source of information for any subject under the sun. From cooking to embroidery patterns, everything is available is online, so why should downloads for hypnosis be left behind?

These hypnosis downloads are on the MP3 format, and are easily downloadable at various sites. Any individual can burn these MP3’s onto CD’s, MP3 players and even DVD’s. Now, you can listen to your personal self-hypnosis routine along in the privacy of your home. There are a host of websites which are catering to the needs of people who want to experience self-hypnosis and benefit from it. Some of these websites even offer free hypnosis scripts which you can use to create your very own hypnosis tapes. All you need to do is visit these particular sites and click on a particular hypnotic routine, for example, if you want to quit smoking you will have to download the MP3 related to hypnosis for smoking.

Any hypnotherapist would agree to it when I say that sound is one of most important components of a hypnotism session. You find yourself listening to a calm voice telling you to relax and soak in the experience. In self-hypnotism this sense of sound becomes doubly important because of the auto-suggestion mode that we need to practice. And to discover that these hypnosis downloads are just a click away is a great relief.

There are yet other sites which have visual hypnotic experiments listed on their websites. Visitors to these sites can most often take a product test before they shell out money to buy the product. Some of these downloads come with detailed descriptions of what results to expect from a hypnosis session using the download; this is a desirable quality in a self-hypnosis scenario, since the user needs to keep track of the progress which has been made in a particular problem area after using the downloads for hypnosis.

I would like to take this opportunity to say that most of these tapes and scripts are designed by professional hypnotism practitioners and therapists; so you need not worry about the authenticity of these hypnosis downloads. In fact, even I have a series of downloadable hypnosis routines which are available to my clients worldwide. It is needless to say that being present on the internet automatically makes sure that my hypnosis downloads are available to a greater number of people all around the world. These downloads have made millions world over realize the dream of bettering their lives, without having to fret too much.

From smoking to sexual problems, from will power to weight loss, all types of hypnosis downloads are available on the internet. All you need to do is download one on to your MP3 player, tune in, listen to the soothing female voice which guides you through the session and relax! Remember that these downloads are revolutionizing hypnosis the world over, and a record number of people have benefited from it. So go out and get your own download…don’t be left behind!

A historical spanish holiday

One of the locations very few would want to miss while visiting Madrid, Spain is the Puerta del Sol, or ‘Gate of the Sun’. This is a roadwork system that looks much like the sun. It starts with a slab outside the Casa de Correos, and going out from that slab are the set of six roads that make up the highways of Spain. As you begin your holiday of exploring Madrid, this is the place to begin.

At one time, the gates were the entryway into Madrid. Back in the 15th century it was important to be fortified and the city was encompassed by a protective wall.

Now your holiday to this area will find less in the arena of military fortifications and more in the arena of interesting attractions. Among them, a massive bear sculpture. He is eating fruit from a madrone tree. The tree is where the city gets it’s name, and the Bear is a symbol of strength for the people of the city.

As you continue your travel into the city down Alcala Street, stop at the Regina Hotel. From this location you can see the unique statues on top of the banks before your continue your trip.

One of Madrid’s most important sites is not far away. It is the House of the Post Office. You will spot this building as the one with the large clock face on the side of the tower. It was built in 1768, and if you happen to be in the area around the New Year Holiday, this will be the location of the major celebrations. The holiday celebration is the traditional festival eating of Twelve Grapes. When the clock chimes, all will cheer in celebration of the New Year.

In addition to being a location for celebration and merriment during holiday times, the Puerta del Sol is also a location that has more serious moments as well. It is commonly a location where political demonstrations and protests are held. It is very possible you will see one during your travels.

Also in this area are all the other things you will be looking for on your vacation. There are a large number of shops that offer anything from department store shopping to specialty shops, antique shops and other venues. There are also a number of attractions to view, as well as a great supply of restaurants so you can try out a lot of the local fare.

You will not be at a loss for night life when you visit Madrid. Often some areas just start kicking into high gear after midnight. There are street musicians, and a festive attitude as well as a number of bars and dance establishments to keep you busy until the wee hours of the morning. And when morning comes and you are ready to take up touring again, you are just a short distance from the Royal Palace or Palacio Real, parliament, Plaza Mayor, and many more shops and restaurants waiting for you along the way

Dental plans for great dental care

People often do not pay as much attention to their dental health as they do to other illnesses, often with serious consequences. To keep dental diseases at bay and to meet the rising costs of dental treatment it is important that you choose a good dental plan. Having a dental plan should encourage you to take more preventive care of your teeth to avoid the more serious dental problems.

With medical insurance services, the cost of a particular medical treatment or health check is reimbursed directly by the insurance company to the medical service provider. With dental insurance plans, the company is responsible for reimbursing the dentist. Dental plans can however vary in type and feature. Dentists participating in discount dental plans take lower fees than those covered by regular dental plans, with discounts varying between 20% and 60%.

All dental plans charge a membership fee, with the amount varying from one plan to the other. Dental plans are offered to either individuals or to the whole family, with family dental plans usually offering bigger discounts than individual dental plans. You should compare the rates charged under the different plans before selecting the most appropriate one for you.

It is important also to know the type of dental services covered by your dental plan. Routine dental check ups and dental treatments such as oral examination, teeth cleaning, fluoride treatment, teeth filling and teeth extraction are generally covered by most dental plans. However, dental plans do not always cover major dental care treatments such as oral surgery, dental implants, restorative care, braces, root canal treatments etc. In case of such costly dental procedures you unfortunately have to foot the bill yourself. Often there are a number of alternative treatments available for certain dental problems. Under such circumstances dental plans allow reimbursement for the cost of the basic dental treatment, and further costs in excess of the basic treatment cost has to be covered by the patient.

Dental health plans may or may not allow you to choose your own dentist, but it is common practice for patients to generally receive dental care from dentists mentioned in the plan. Before choosing a plan make sure that the participating dentists practice in your area. Choose a plan that is accepted nationwide and not restricted to your state. Check whether you are allowed to visit the dentist unscheduled, or at scheduled hours only.

You also need to decide whether you want an annual plan or a monthly plan. Annual dental plans are more cost beneficial than monthly plans. So get regular check ups with your dentist to reap the maximum benefits out of your dental plan.

Job dream

Have you changed? Your job started out being what you wanted, but today it is different. Maybe you thought of it as a jumping place to a better job in the future, but you have been here 5 plus years.

it is a fact that your dream job is waiting on you, so don't continue in a miserable job, boring or basically unsatisfying, even questionable for basic survival. Your time is NOW to get out!

Satisfaction & fulfillment is your aim, not being in a "make do" position for an extended period!

When people think of dream jobs, all often, they think of the jobs that they thought about when they were children.

As a child, you probably thought about being a doctor or a lawyer, a nurse, even an astronaut when you finished college. Truth is few of us kept the objective in mind for those jobs & gave up; in other words, you felt you were settling.

The problem is, lots of of those people carried the disappointment they felt from learning that they couldn't do the jobs that they wanted as babies into their adult lives.

few people follow through with their childhood dreams, but the fact is, those childhood dreams probably would not have made you happy anyway.

Your needs & beliefs about a nice job when you were a child will be far different from your needs as an adult, & you'll find that if you consider your needs as an adult, you'll have a much better chance of finding your real dream job.

Think about what makes you happy, & what you need in terms of job security, monetary pay & challenges.

The first step in searching for your dream job is actually realizing that the one you are in right now isn't going to make you happy.

Have you been waiting on a promotion or raise that never comes, or do you feel that your efforts are wasted on a routine basis?

Perhaps you feel that they don't appreciate you, or you silently think that you are so much better than this. All of these feelings are valid; the important thing to realize is that they are feelings that should be acted upon.

When you take a look at the feelings of discontent that you have amassed about your job, realize that you spend a quarter of your life at work. Your life is basically short to feel like that for a fourth of it!

More people find their dream jobs than you might think; For a fact, it is imperative to make your time count as you search.

Help is obtainable for you to discover the career job of your dreams. Your mindset is key when you begin to look

Tips for a successful christmas party

If you wish to have that dream Christmas party, you need to plan a few weeks prior to the big day, since any successful party needs quite a bit of effort and organization. It is best not to leave it to the last minute, like the Christmas shopping, as you would not like to leave anything to chances. Here are a few tips to make your Christmas party successful :

1. To begin with, you have to take a decision on the type and the venue of the party. If there is a particular place where you wish to throw the party, you have to book the place in advance.

2. In case you decide to have the party at home, do up your house in a festive mood. And that begins with the Christmas tree. Nothing is more suitable for the occasion than a Christmas tree which truly sets the holiday mood and adds to the fun and frolic.

3. Next comes the task of deciding who you wish to call. Make a guest list, as this will help you call people in advance and avoid unwanted gatecrashers barging to your party. Also knowing the number of guests will enable you to decide how much food you need. Especially if you are thinking of taking the help of a caterer.

4. Once you have finalized the people who you wish to invite, send out the invitations fast. So that your guests have enough time to plan their schedule.

5. The entertainment section also needs to be carefully planned. For an informal get-together a simple karaoke can suffice. But if the party is a little formal, then you could think of a professional DJ to keep the mood of the party on till the end.

6. Make sure you have plenty of food laid out. This is the holiday season, when people like to splurge on food and keep all plans of dieting in abeyance till the New Year. If you feel a little apprehensive about cooking for so many people, you could take the help of a caterer. You can then save on some hard labor too ! you have some free time to look after all the nitty gritty details which crop up during the last minute.

7. Lastly, when you throw a party, make people thoroughly enjoy themselves.

The tips given above, can surely help you organize your Christmas part as if it was a cake walk. And of course, the mistletoes are not to be forgotten.