Visa Run August 2005

Last week I had to go for another Visa run to Cambodia. It's strange how impressions changes within such a short time... The first time I've been here, I was shocked! I couldn't believe the big gap between these poor people and the casinos just near by. This time I tried not to attach to many feelings and it was much better...

It was very good to see, that these people were laughing most of the time and they might didn't feel as bad about there situation as someone seeing this big difference...

Muay Thai

The last weekend I went to a Muay Thai fight in a small, nearby stadium. The place was completely crowded and packed.

When the two fighters entered the stadium it was very quiet. I had the impression, that only very few people paid attention to the fighters and it seemed, that they all come for some other reason.

The coaches made the fighters ready for the fight and talked to them all the time. I guess this was a kind of "your are the best fighter in the world, my son" speeches ;-) After they entered the ring, there was a traditional fighter dance (I don't know how to call it) and it was very quiet in the stadium.


After the action started. The two fighters first had a look at each other and started very slow. Their punches and kicks were very slow and it looked like slow-motion. After a while the fight got really intense and the crowed started to yell, every time one of the fighters made a good punch or kick. While they were fighting the people in the stadium placed there bets and it was amazing to see, how fast the bookkeepers kept up with all the screamed numbers.


After one hour I had enough and I wanted to get out, but this took me more than 20 minutes, since people were everywhere! It was really unbelievable and if you ever have a chance to go to a fight, do it! :-)

Provinces of Thailand

Thailand is divided into 76 provinces (Thai: จังหวัด, changwat, singular and plural), which are grouped into 5 groups of provinces. The name of the province is the same as that of the capital city, which is sometimes preceded with a Mueang (or Muang) to avoid confusion with the province.

North

• Chiang Mai (เชียงใหม่)
• Chiang Rai (เชียงราย)
• Kamphaeng Phet (กำแพงเพชร)
• Lampang (ลำปาง)
• Lamphun (ลำพูน)
• Mae Hong Son (แม่ฮ่องสอน)
• Nakhon Sawan (นครสวรรค์)
• Nan (น่าน)
• Phayao (พะเยา)
• Phetchabun (เพชรบูรณ์)
• Phichit (พิจิตร)
• Phitsanulok (พิษณุโลก)
• Phrae (แพร่)
• Sukhothai (สุโขทัย)
• Tak (ตาก)
• Uthai Thani (อุทัยธานี)
• Uttaradit (อุตรดิตถ์)

Central

• Ang Thong (อ่างทอง)
• Ayutthaya (พระนครศรีอยุธยา)
• Bangkok (กรุงเทพฯ)
• Chainat (ชัยนาท)
• Kanchanaburi (กาญจนบุรี)
• Lopburi (ลพบุรี)
• Nakhon Nayok (นครนายก)
• Nakhon Pathom (นครปฐม)
• Nonthaburi (นนทบุรี)
• Pathum Thani (ปทุมธานี)
• Phetchaburi (เพชรบุรี)
• Prachuap Khiri Khan (ประจวบคีรีขันธ์)
• Ratchaburi (ราชบุรี)
• Samut Prakan (สมุทรปราการ)
• Samut Sakhon (สมุทรสาคร)
• Samut Songkhram (สมุทรสงคราม)
• Saraburi (สระบุรี)
• Sing Buri (สิงห์บุรี)
• Suphanburi (สุพรรณบุรี)

North-East

• Amnat Charoen (อำนาจเจริญ)
• Buri Ram (บุรีรัมย์)
• Chaiyaphum (ชัยภูมิ)
• Kalasin (กาฬสินธุ์)
• Khon Kaen (ขอนแก่น)
• Loei (เลย)
• Maha Sarakham (มหาสารคาม)
• Mukdahan (มุกดาหาร)
• Nakhon Phanom (นครพนม)
• Nakhon Ratchasima (นครราชสีมา)
• Nongbua Lamphu (หนองบัวลำภู)
• Nong Khai (หนองคาย)
• Roi Et (ร้อยเอ็ด)
• Sakon Nakhon (สกลนคร)
• Si Sa Ket (ศรีสะเกษ)
• Surin (สุรินทร์)
• Ubon Ratchathani (อุบลราชธานี)
• Udon Thani (อุดรธานี)
• Yasothon (ยโสธร)

East

• Chachoengsao (ฉะเชิงเทรา)
• Chanthaburi (จันทบุรี)
• Chonburi (ชลบุรี)
• Prachinburi (ปราจีนบุรี)
• Rayong (ระนอง)
• Sa Kaeo (สระแก้ว)
• Trat (ตราด)

South

• Chumphon (ชุมพร)
• Krabi (กระบี่)
• Nakhon Si Thammarat (นครศรีธรรมราช)
• Narathiwat (นราธิวาส)
• Pattani (ปัตตานี)
• Phang Nga (พังงา)
• Phattalung (พัทลุง)
• Phuket (ภูเก็ต)
• Ranong (ระนอง)
• Satun (สตูล)
• Songkhla (สงขลา)
• Surat Thani (สุราษฎร์ธานี)
• Trang (ตรัง)
• Yala (ยะลา)

To get a complete overview, please have a look at Provinces of Thailand; From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.