"It's Raining in Paradise..."

More bad news (sorry, ed), this time from Thailand with news of growing instability in the countries capital of Bangkok...

TravelMole have reported that "Bangkok is bracing for trouble, starting on Friday, as the red-shirt movement, in its bid effort to topple Abhisit Vejjajiva's government, mobilise a huge protest march to paralyse the capital...

The Nation newspaper reported that the red shirts - supporters of ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra - are prepared to face the declaration of a state of emergency by the government and persevere through sheer weight of numbers...

They hope to draw several hundred thousand rural people to Bangkok for their protest...

Asked by The Nation about the potential for violence, a spokesman for the protest said 5,000 red-shirt guards were trained to ensure things proceed smoothly...

However, the red shirts did not rule out the possibility of copying the yellow-shirt group's tactics, including seizing government offices as well as Suvarnabhumi Airport, the source said...

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has deferred his visit to Australia so he can monitor the weekend rally..."

Although there is formal promises of peace, there is always a fear that this has the potential to quickly become more, how easily we forget recent examples such as Sri Lanka...

Follow this story at http://www.travelmole.com/stories/1141275.php?mpnlog=1&m_id=s~bvs~bm

Barticus.

"Can I get fries with that?..."

Thai street food has always been an area of worry for the hungry traveller, but not anymore if this article from visit-Chiang-Mai is anything to go by....

Street sellers have, so they say, cleaned up their act thus leaving the days of "somewhat unhygienic, with rumours that consumption of it could lead to serious stomach complaints" far behind them...

With various menu's to choose from, including:
* Som Tam - a spicy salad with shredded papaya
* Khao Mun Gai Tom - steamed chicken served on rice cooked in chicken broth
* Rat Naa - fried flat noodles and pork in a thick gravy
* Ba Mee Nam - yellow egg noodle soup with wonton
* Pad Thai - fried noodles with dried shrimp and tofu
* Johk - a thick rice soup excellent for breakfast
* Pad See Iew - pan-fried noodles with pork & green vegetables
* Khao Pad - fried rice
* Pad Krapow Moo - pork fried with basil served on rice
* Khao Moo Daeng - red pork with rice
This is leaving even me quite hungry...

For more on Thai Street Food, please go to http://www.visit-chiang-mai-online.com/thai-street-food.html and enjoy having your taste buds tickled...

Barticus.

Bangkok voted as the most attractive city in Asia..

Good news for Thailand today as foreign tourists voted Bangkok the most attractive city to visit among 10 of 11 member cities Asian Network of Major Cities.....

A survey was conducted from 31 October to 1 November 2009 among some 500 foreign tourists visiting Bangkok. Among the five factors that draw tourists to Bangkok, Thai food counted as around 20 per cent as being of interest of foreigners the most, while the city’s historical sites and ancient remains came second at 19 per cent....

With the most impressive tourist attractions in Bangkok being the Grand Palace and the Emerald Buddha Temple, recognition on this scale has to be good news for their inbound tourism market....

To follow more of this story follow http://www.travelandtourismnews.com/bangkok-voted-as-the-most-attractive-city-in-asia/

Barticus.