Miss Thailand Universe

Really not much to say here as a picture speaks a thousand words. Although I never need an excuse to post a picture of a beautiful Thai woman there really is a story of sorts here. 20 year old Fonthip Watcharatrakul, who won the title Miss Thailand Universe earlier this year, is heading to America to compete in the The 59th Miss Universe pageant on August 23rd in Las Vegas.

She’ll be competing against contestants from 83 countries and I do believe she has a good chance of winning as she is truly is stunning.

While I’m not one for beauty contests, especially one as schlocky as this,  I would be remiss if I didn’t cheer on team Thailand in this regard. Good luck to Miss Fonthip Watcharatrakul bring home that crown to Thailand.

Not Only Men Love Black Stockings

Many women in South East Asia love to wear leggings and stockings and dark colors are very popular,  unfortunately they aren’t just attracting the attention of yours truly and every other warm blooded male. It’s been scientifically proven that mosquitoes are drawn to dark colors and in Thailand there is always the chance that the mosquito is carrying dengue fever.

In just the first 7 months of this year Thailand has reported over 45,000 confirmed cases of dengue fever which is a 40% increase over the same time period last year. Fatalities have also increased with 46 deaths related to the disease this year compared to 30 last year. 26 of those deaths were women between the ages of 10 and 24 making the link to fashion not so silly.

Being at the height of the rainy season which runs from June until September doesn’t help matters much as mosquitoes are abundant and can be found throughout the country whereas the risk is greater in the more rural areas during other times of the year.

Endemic to the region, dengue is a chronic problem during rainy spells, particularly during the monsoons, when standing water and poor sanitary conditions provide welcome breeding grounds for the disease-bearing Aedes mosquito. No vaccine exists for the disease, which disproportionately affects children and the elderly.

Resulting in high fevers, rashes, headaches, joint pain, and sometimes internal bleeding, dengue is a pernicious threat because mosquitoes can lay up to 400 larvae at a time in vases, flower pots, and poorly drained streets.

Dark colors are a bad idea and not just for the ladies. It’s best to wear lighter colors and use some sort of bug protection especially during the rainy season.

In Transition

News and posts have been considerably light over the past month or so;  as you all know I have been wrapping up all the details of my life in the states in anticipation of my big move to Thailand.  Well, with everything just about done,  I will be boarding a plane later this week for Thailand. Emotions are running just a little bit high right now but I know in my heart I have made the right choice and I believe that will be reflected not only on Thailand, Land of Smiles but in my personal life as well.

I want to thank all of you for your support and for taking the journey with me this far. As my journey continues I hope you continue to follow as well because it’s only going to get better from here!