Thai "ladyboy" flight attendants take to the skies

[ via Reuters ] 16 Dec

Thai transsexual ladyboys are taking to the air aboard PC Air as flight attendants for a new airline, a move that some said could be a key step towards still broader acceptance in a nation where they are already unusually visible.

Known as "katoeys" or "ladyboys," transgenders and transsexuals hold mainstream jobs in a variety of fields in Thailand. They are especially common in cosmetics shops or health stores, which almost always have a ladyboy shop assistant.

One of the ladyboys attendant says:

"This is the beginning of the acceptance of transsexuals in Thailand, giving the opportunity for us to work in various fields."

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River Kwai Week starts on Friday 25 November 2011

Full Story: Thai Travel News 25 Nov

The film "Bridge on the River Kwai"

This news item caught my eye instantly as I had watched the famous Alec Guinness' movie "Bridge on the River Kwai" by David Lean in my childhood and the "Colonel Bogey's whistling Theme" still resounds in my memory.

Now the River Kwai Bridge Festival is being opened 25 November today and will continue till 6th Dec 2011. Highlight of the festival is the Light & Sound Show, which tells the history of the Death Railway and the Bridge over the River Kwai. 

Read full story for travel details..

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Elephants are back in Thailand

Full Story: Huffington Post

Authorities have reopened a major elephant park in Ayutthaya, Thailand, hoping to show tourists the country is beginning to return to normal following historic floods that have left more than 550 people dead nationwide.

Ayutthaya Elephant Tour (Photo: Thailand Magic)

The park is famous for offering tourists elephant rides through the ancient temple ruins that dot the city, a UNESCO World Heritage site 50 miles (80 kilometers) north of Bangkok. The camp closed when the city began to flood and 98 elephants were stranded on a small space of dry land where they lived on donated fruit and vegetables.

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