Travel destinations: Paradise Park Farm, Koh Samui,Thailand

Myself and my boyfriend went to Thailand in October 2007, where we spent three nights in Bangkok and then a further 9 nights in Ko Samui. While we were in Ko Samui, we decided to hire out a Jeep so we were free to visit all the attractions we wanted to. One of these attractions was Paradise Park Farm.

About Paradise Park Farm

Paradise Farm Farm is located at the top of Khao Pom mountain and is set within tropical rainforest which makes for a lovely setting for this unique park. The park covers 20 acres and inside there are walking trails, picnic / resting areas, an infinity swimming pool, a restaurant, a souvenir shop and many different animals to see.

Visitors to this attraction can take advantage of a guided tour round the park which is offered for free. However, we decided we would prefer to explore the park by ourselves.

The animals which can be seen here have very natural surroundings due to the fact that much of the park is unspoilt and many of the animals have large enclosures and are allowed out during the day to say hello to the visitors.

Opening Times

Paradise Park Farm is open daily from 9am until 6pm. Shuttle buses are available and these can be booked from Paradise Park Farm, to your hotel. However, as we hired the Jeep, we decided to drive ourselves there using a road map, which was very easy.

Price

Entrance fees for Paradise Farm are 300 Baht for adults and 100 baht for children over the age of four. Children under the age of for get in for free. In English pounds, an adult would pay roughly 4.70 to get in, and a child over four would be charged 1.55. We found the prices to be very reasonable considering you can spend nearly all day exploring the park.

Inside The Park

Inside Paradise Park Farm, there are many things to see and do which I will outline here.

The Animals

The animals which can be seen here are housed in various zones throughout the park with each of the zones being signposted. Upon entering the park and after paying, guests are provided with a map of the park which is very easy to understand and certainly helps you decide what you are doing to see and do next.

The animals here range from exotic birds, to kangaroos and ostriches so there is something to suit everyones tastes.

Visitors to this attraction can openly interact with some of the animals such as the monkeys, the birds and the ostriches and deer’s. One of my personal favourite animals was the monkey who is just inside the entrance. He sits on top

Find Zest And Pick-up A Poker Tournament Strategy While You’re At It

You just got divorced, had surgery, or had any life-altering experience and you desperately need something to revive your zest for life. That’s understandable. There are many things you could do to feel alive again. You can travel, get a dog, go back to school, or even learn a new hobby, something interesting like belly dancing or poker.

Learn the Basics

Contrary to popular belief, poker is more of a sport, rather than a game. It is indeed more than just gambling. Anybody can play poker, but to be really good at it, you need a lot of patience, skill, and determination. As they say, it takes a few minutes to learn to play poker, but it takes a lifetime to be really good at it.

So before you even think about learning poker tournament strategy, you have to learn the basics. Get acquainted with the hands – which beats what and which ones you would really want to be holding. Learn about the blinds, or bets, and how you can use them to your advantage. Familiarize yourself with the difference between cash games and tournaments and the techniques that are best used in each of them. Most of all, practice your poker face. When you’re ready, it’s time to move forward and start planning your poker tournament strategy.

Are You Ready to Play?

Most poker players start playing in cash games. It’s a good way to master the hands and the rudiments of betting, as well as learning a chip trick or two. When you feel like you’re ready to try your luck at a tournament, you probably are.

There are subtle but still significant differences between cash games and tournaments, so before you head down to the local poker room and sign up for a tournament, you have to learn all about poker tournament strategy. The best way to do this is to learn from the masters, or at least those who have been playing the game for awhile. They’re not likely to share their techniques and secrets, but you can watch and learn from their moves. A quick search on the Internet can also take you to websites that can provide you with the best poker tournament strategy.

What You Need to Know

There is much to be gained by learning before playing. Poker tournament strategy will give you an idea when, why, and how to call, check, or raise a bet. There will be tips on body language and how to anticipate your opponents’ moves. Indeed, with a good poker tournament strategy, you’re well on your way to raking in the chips.

Of course, though the Internet is a good way to learn poker tournament strategy, nothing beats listening to your instinct and moving as you see fit. There are many techniques out there, but you must remember that what could work for one might not necessarily work for you. Be bold and learn from your mistakes. In time, you will develop your own poker tournament strategy.

Political Unrest In Thailand

The situation in Thailand reminds me the old saying “be careful what you ask for you may just get it”. In September of 2006, Thailand went through a military coup. The military “asked” for the Prime Minister to step down. After the coup, the provisional government investigated the ousted Prime Minister and charged him with many things, mostly related to a misuse of his position as PM, which lead to a huge increase in his and his family’s personal wealth.

I had the fortune to be seated next to another expat on my travels from Thailand recently, he from the UK and me from the US. He lived in Thailand outside Bangkok and me living in Bangkok. We had a discussion about ousted PM Taskin. He indicated that he believed Taskin did great things for Thailand, giving more money to people living outside Bangkok. I believe ex-PM Taskin did give things and money to people living outside Bangkok. However, the amount of wealth distributed in these outlining areas is quite small compared to ENORMOUS increase in personal wealth of ex-PM Taskin and his Family.

In a capitalistic economy, wealth is distributed by competition. Basically if something is desired by the people, the person/company that can manufacturer the item better and cheaper will sell more, gaining wealth. The company produces more of these items and hires more people. These people spend their money on food and things they desire and the economy hums along. When normal competition is interfered with by governments, the distribution of wealth becomes skewed and the wealth tends to stay in the hands of the few with power. We have all heard of countries where the upper class grows unusually large and the middle class grows small and the lower class becomes huge.

Ex-PM Taskin used his political power and turned it into wealth for him and his friends. His political power came from his campaign promises to the people outside of Bangkok which led to his election. So, while he was PM he had to make it seem that the people living in these areas benefited. But did they benefit??? Well, yes and no. Yes, they benefited directly by decreased taxes or a new blanket or other some such item. However, the amount of wealth distributed to the people was very small compared the amount of ENORMOUS wealth which went to his friends and family instead of making its way by unimpeded economic forces.

Now, a little over a year later after the coup, there is still political unrest in Thailand. The new democratically elected Prime Minister has invited the Ex-PM back to the country. There are many questions arising about the ability of the current Prime Ministers ability govern, such as:

1.There is a question concerning the validity of the elections that put the current PM into office;

2.There is a question concerning his ability to remember past important events; and

3.There is a question concerning his ability to deal with Thailand’s neighboring countries and their human rights abuses.

Now, the old PM has returned to Thailand and pleaded not guilty to the charges of abuse of power. I can almost feel the Thai people taking a big breadth, waiting to see what happens. I originally came to Thailand because it feels like a safe place to live and the people are polite and friendly. I can only hope it can stay that way…

Travel destinations: Siem Reap, Cambodia

Tips if you’re travelling to Siem Reap.

1. Wear comfortable shoes if you are climbing Angkor Wat. The steps are steep.

2. Wear sunscreen. The sun is merciless and they have a 13 hour day.

3. If you have a weak stomache, avoid eating from the roadside stalls, and drinking water with ice. Leave that to the last day when it doesn’t really matter.

4. Bring smaller USD notes, such USD$1 and USD$5. Don’t bother changing riels (cambodian currency). The locals use USD too, and only use riels mainly for change smaller than USD$1.

5. It is worthwhile to hire an English guide if you are travelling to see the temples. You’re contributing to tourism dollars, and also the guide would explain many things that would help you understand what you are seeing.

6. Cambodians sleep early, and rise early. They usually go to bed from 9pm onwards, and rise before 5am. They consider it bad luck and also a trait of laziness to rise late. So if you are up to it, you could also wake up early to catch some sights at the local markets.

7. If you are approached by little children to buy some counterfeit books, and would like to, remember to check the pages inside.

8. “Thank you” is “or kun”.

9. There is really nothing to shop in Cambodia, you’re better off doing the bulk of you shopping in Vietnam or Bangkok. So, don’t make Cambodia your last leg in Asia.

10. Ask your guide to bring you to some Khmer restaurants that the locals go to (and which are clean).