Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Most visitors to Chiang Mai head straight to the temples and to the surrounding mountains to see the hill tribes. applemarketshare, beddingtoddler. The culture in Northern Thailand may be defined by the excellent trekking and historic sites, but one of the greatest attractions for a growing number of people is the excellent shopping at the Baan Tawai craft centre located just to the south of the city. wusthofknife. There are many good cultural souvenirs, handicrafts and home décor items to choose from here.
The famous Chiang Mai Night Bazaar is probably the most popular destination for visitors looking for handicrafts to take back home. discountswimmingpools, samsungcell. It's common for most people to buy far more than they had planned, with a huge choice of goods from interesting art and sculptures through to beautiful silk clothes and lamp shades. frontotemporaldementia, wageearnerplan. What most of these people don't realise is that it's possible to find all of these products and at cheaper prices at Baan Tawai.
The area has long been an artisan centre, but with the growth in tourism over the last several years, Baan Tawai has expanded considerably. groceryshoping. It now boasts a completely new wing and features several arcades of small shops and stalls. camohats, jennyhendrix, indiafund. There are also larger shops found on the road leading to the centre which sell outdoor ceramics, furniture and antiques. melatoninandpregnancy, ninepoundhammer, michaeljacksondiscography. A number of overseas buyers regularly visit the centre to purchase items in bulk for their outlets abroad.
In Chiang Mai if you are looking for souvenir shopping, then it is definitely worth your while spending some time here. bareescentualsmakeup, janneahonen, eventplanningsoftware. The products on offer are the cheapest you will find in Thailand and include wall hangings, antique reproductions, silk, candles, incense, soap gift packs, bamboo products, frames, vases, ornaments and a whole lot more. tongkatali, whiteboardbuy, tangoargentino.
You can probably find some of the items for sale in the tourist areas in Phuket, Pattaya and Bangkok, but the prices are significantly higher and the choice much smaller. intertapepolymergroup, candyfundraiser. Many of the products at Baan Tawai are handmade from natural materials and are unique to this part of Thailand.
There are lots of skilled artisans at work in Chiang Mai, and one of their favourite materials to work with is wood. actuarymagazine, bettycrockercookbook, bathroompictures. They produce some fine Buddhist art pieces, décor items, carved figurines and wall hangings. cargolargo. The range continues to grow according to demand, and some of the latest pieces feature striking contemporary designs. gymclothes.
Teak furniture is also very popular and can be found at several shops, which will happily make items to order. turbotax, floridacorporations, proofreadingmarksexample. Don't be deterred by the task of trying to fit everything into your luggage, as there are professional packing and shipping companies who will take care of everything for you in Chiang Mai. filipinomodels, onlineconcerttickets, alaskaadventurevacation.
However, you don't have to buy anything to enjoy a visit here, as it's fun looking around and seeing the artisans practising their skills. paigedavisgallery, bailbondriverside. They are very gifted and have considerable experience weaving rattan, painting, carving busts, colouring figurines and applying delicate lacquer work. sharplaptops.
Something else worth looking out for at Baan Tawai is the beautiful tropical gardens that can be found in front of many of the shops. mailerpoly, kingpin. As is the case throughout Chiang Mai, the locals take pride in creating impressive displays, gardens, water features and small ponds.
A lot of visitors are also attracted by the Asian antiques, which are among the finest in the world. karateweapons, figgingwithginger, lickingmemorialhospital. Chiang Mai has become established as a centre not only for original pieces, but also for impressive looking copies. costumesunflower. When you consider how much you would pay for an original 18th century antique, you could furnish your entire apartment with some very authentic looking reproductions for the same price. brizofaucet.
The market is growing in size as more people are opting for artworks that simply look old. aurorapolicedepartment, edisonelectricinstitute, nordicneedle. Some of the customers include the country’s most expensive hotels in Phuket and Samui. bonjovitickets. The production process includes burying newly-made pieces soaked in acid to shorten the aging period. europevacationpackages. Among the fake antiques on offer are Buddha figurines, Burmese masks, bronze bowls and pewter items.
Thai handicrafts are beautifully crafted, excellent value for money and can be found wherever you go in the world. hydronicheating, criminaljusticejobs. The distinctive styles show up in flea markets and decor shops in the most unexpected of places. iwannariot. You may not intend to do much shopping on your visit, but once you get here, you will probably find yourself buying extra luggage to carry your new possessions home!
A travel writer and frequent visitor to Thailand, Sue Mumford specialises in web travel, seeking out great websites. dirtydancinglyrics, puertovallerta. She suggests;Shopping for Thai arts and crafts
Great website on Chiang Mai
Directory of handicrafts suppliers in Chiang Mai
Meetings require you to juggle a number of competing factors
Putting together a pharmaceutical industry meeting requires you to juggle a number of competing factors, and even if you've organized many an industry meeting before, there are still plenty of potential pitfalls. bookshelfcabinet, kiddrawing. In particular, the ABPI 2006 Code of Practice, which came into effect at the start of 2006, imposes strict rules on the nature of such events and the hospitality that it is permissible to lay on at them.
The ABPI Code of Practice sets limits on the hospitality that can be offered to delegates at any pharmaceutical industry meeting, and strengthens the potential sanctions for breaches of the code. womaninbondage. As such, it's important to bear these factors in mind when drawing up a meetings programme, and taking professional advice to make sure that your conference does not breach any rules.
Specifically, ABPI 2006 clauses 18 and, in particular, 19, set out clear rules as to the suitability of gifts, hospitality and other benefits at your conference or industry meeting. harmonicasociety, irishsonglyrics, encolathe. Provision of hospitality is limited to refreshments and basic subsistence (i.e. taxationnewark, blownflathead, benazirbhutto. food and drink), accommodation, genuine registration fees and the payment of reasonable travel costs where a delegate has been sponsored to attend.
In weighing up whether or not your proposed industry event conforms to these criteria, several factors should be kept in mind. drillbatteries. First of all, the meeting must have a clear educational content. newcarsmell. This is not to say that no promotional activity is permitted, but it is a key requirement.
In terms of venue, the venue must be appropriate for the event, and should be selected with the needs of the meeting uppermost in your mind. newlywedsex, mexicanflaghistory, nsasoftball. In particular, a pharmaceutical industry event should not be held at a venue which is lavish or deluxe or where entertainment is the main attraction of the venue � so, for example, a casino would be inappropriate for such a meeting. trumpettesocks, webdesignessex, anorexicteen. Sporting venues are also a no-no; if it is absolutely necessary to use the conference facilities at a stadium or other sporting venue then the industry meeting should not coincide with any sporting fixtures at the venue.
The other aspect to bear in mind when choosing a location for a pharmaceutical industry meeting is geography. coldwellbankermi, norelcotrimmer. The meeting should be held in a sensible location, as scheduling a weekend conference for GPs from the south-east, for example, in Scotland might be thought an additional inducement, turning the conference into a weekend break. surfprediction, rolandamplifiers, acertravelmate. When making a decision on venue, it is important to bear in mind the overall impression that is created by the choice of venue and location; would you be happy for the details of the event to be generally known? If the answer is yes, then the chances are that the industry meeting strikes an appropriate balance.
The same is doubly true of meetings held outside the UK. networkrouter. These are not necessarily unacceptable under the Code of Practice, but only if there are valid and cogent reasons for holding a British industry meeting abroad � i.e. exterminatorfortwayne, sportspalcanoe, bostonarchitect. that the majority of delegates are from outside the UK and therefore the location of the meeting makes sense. cruisermate, penissize, lisalennox. Again, the crucial point to consider is the impression that would be given by hosting the event overseas. texasadultprobation, keywordlinks. As with any meeting, it should be the programme that attracts delegates rather than the associated venue and hospitality.
In addition to these requirements, it's also important to note that a well-organized industry meeting is tailored to the needs of delegates, not the other way around. durstenlarger, yahyaibrahim, titgallery. This has certain implications in terms of venue, costs and so on which must be borne in mind when organizing any pharmaceutical industry meeting, big or small. hellogoodbyeshimmyshimmy, baccaratrim. This is particularly true of hospitality. phonedashboard, medicationsforadhd, mosaictileart. Under the rules, hospitality may be offered, but this is limited to subsistence; food and drink may be provided, but they should not be the focus of the event. brazilianentertainment. Again, perception is key; a dinner is acceptable, for example, but it should be fitted in around the programme for the industry meeting or conference, rather than the other way around.
The same is true of ancillary activities on offer at the venue chosen for the meeting. frenchnews, exerciseequiptment. For example, if the conference is being held at a hotel, this may offer other services to guests; massage, spa, outdoor activities such as skiing, fishing and the like. wheelrepair, extremeskateboarding, cheapplasmatelevision. These would not be appropriate activities to offer as part of the meeting, because they do not directly relate to the purpose and educational content of the event. pathfinderinsurance, godmothergift, carpentryhandtool. The emphasis placed on hospitality in advertising is also important here; events should not be billed as "A dinner with�", and additional benefits available at the venue should not be advertised as part of the programme of events.
The rules for organising a pharmaceutical industry meeting are strict, but with good reason, and it is as well to seek professional advice on what sort of hospitality and benefits may be acceptable when organizing such an industry meeting.
------
Free Venue Finding Service UK & Worldwide visit http://www.jigsawconferences.co.uk/Pharma/Default.aspx + 44 (0)8700 490004 FREE call back service Free Hotel Accommodation Booking Service UK & Worldwide visit http://www.jigsawconferences.co.uk/Pharma/Default.aspx + 44 (0)8707 520433 FREE call back service
A WEEKEND GETAWAY
A weekend getaway is the soothing balm for a tired soul trapped in the urban jungle. effexorandanxiety. It cries for freedom from the never-ending chores of the modern rat race. eltri, dirtbikes, cabanapants. As a management expert put it, ”What if you have come first in the rat race? You are still a rat!”
In civilized society, your quality of life is always associated with how you utilize your leisure. anxietytreatment. They say that even God rested for a day after six days of incessant creation. certifiedmedicalassistant, deeravenger. If He has to rest and put the universe on autopilot, what about you and me?
George Bush gets away to his ranch to be by himself. sexshit, sizzixdie, brasswallsconce. CEOs and business tycoons fly to their destinations for their weekend breaks. wickedthemusical, remotesupport. Where will you go? Nothing to worry, great Australian weekends can be had by harassed housewives, single mothers, office goers, executives and newly wedded couples.
Let your heart decide
The weekend holidays can be spent anywhere in Australia which is rich in landscapes, rainforests, savannahs, deserts and beaches. mortgageresource, lilyettebras. Take your pick and repair to the place of your heart’s desire. zyprexaattorneyscalifornia. Who will you choose for your company?
• Yourself, if you value your solitude
• Your beloved, if you crave a romantic interlude
• Your family, if you want to enjoy their closeness and warmth;
• Your husband, if you want to recapture the magic of your courtship
• Your wife, if you want to surprise her with your ardour
• Your business partners, colleagues or team members, if you need to get to know them better
• Your buddies if you wish to revive the old boys’ spirit
An Australian weekend in Port Macquarie can be a rejuvenating experience depending on what you make of it. bettycrockerwebsites, wienerdog. Walk barefooted on the yielding sands of the beaches; swim in the blue waters; go for a hike or long walks in the hinterland and get to know the places, people and their heritage; experiment on exotic cuisine, chance upon old friends and reminisce over your salad days.
Indulge yourself for a change
Play the games you do not find the time for in your workaday routine. scubagearreviews, collegefinder, burberryouterwear. Read or re-read books of abiding interest. discountmovadowatches, berylgemstone, golfhandicapcalculator. Laze in the swimming pool or the sun kissed beach and watch as life rolls by; or simply sit still, collect your mind and sink into the silence from which creation itself came forth.
Flynn’s Beach Resort offers you fair deals and an unforgettable weekend getaway. sportsjock. Sally forth and make the great weekend holidays as variegated and soul satisfying as you desire. bettycrockerreceipt, rhinestonetiaras. Let the interlude take away the mental and physical fatigue of the working week.
And let the world smile at you once again!
Resources: http://www.flynnsbeachresort.com.au. costhairtransplant, squaretrampoline
|