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ESPN. This popular all-sports 24-hour network is available through "we-are-not-a-monopoly" UBC cable service.

East Timor. Though far away from Thailand (and an unlikely tourist destination, at least for now), this once former colony of Portugal/briefly independent nation/forcibly annexed by Indonesia area is once again free, or at least on its way to becoming so. It is of interest to Thais because a small contingent of the Thai military was well-received there when the soldiers were sent under the auspices of the United Nations in 1999; it is a source of pride for Thais that their country could do anything to help in the international effort to help East Timor confront and overcome the numerous problems facing it in its first shaky – if heady – days of rediscovered and regained freedom.

Easter. This Christian holiday is of course not an official holiday in this almost entirely Buddhist nation. However, some of the international schools and businesses do observe it

Eastern Bus Terminal [Ekamai Bus Terminal] (Bangkok). One of the three long-distance bus stations in Bangkok, the Eastern Bus terminal is located on the south side of Sukhumvit Road opposite the that road’s intersection with Sukhumvit Soi 63, better known by its name, "Soi Ekamai." This is the station for buses departing to the popular seaside resort of Pattaya. Be aware that Thai bus drivers are particularly notorious, even among other Thai drivers, for their driving habits; riding a bus anywhere in Thailand (even a municipal bus) can be an "interesting" experience.

Eating Out. This is a popular past-time among both Thais and resident foreigners, at least in urban areas. Restaurants of every description are everywhere, in vast numbers, at all levels. At the low end are the sidewalk cafes which are literally that – that is, the owner has a portable cooker, a few folding tables and stackable plastic stools, and he/she stakes out a section of sidewalk. At the top end are restaurants such as those found in Bangkok’s grandest hotels. Every conceivable level in between is to be found. At the low end, the food is generally restricted to Thai cuisine, though Lao cuisine is frequently found (a cuisine most Westerners find malodorous). Be aware that while it is pure myth that all Thai dishes are hot, many indeed are very spicy, and quickly set many a foreign palate alight. You can tell whoever is taking your order "Mai ao pet," which literally means "No want [spicy] hot." Moving up, the types of cuisine available expand. Indian, Malaysian, and Chinese are widely offered. Japanese food is increasingly popular. In Bangkok, many places offer Western dishes. No matter what type of restaurant of what level you choose, you will find that eating out is something of an event, though it is fairly routine. It can be great fun, even just watching the Thai patrons – almost always in at least 2’s or 3’s, more commonly in larger groups – enjoying themselves, their food, and their companions, often loudly, sometimes boisterously. If Thailand is the first Asian destination you visit, you shouldn’t think the Thais are ill-mannered or uncultured; this sort of behavior when eating out is common throughout Asian nations, and is most decidely not rude, so don’t sniff haughtily – there’s a very good chance you will be toasted or otherwise invited to become involved in the festivities, and we urge you to do so. You may find yourself taken under the Thais’ wings and shown a splendid evening, getting the opportunity to visit places you didn’t even dream existed, such a Thai-style karaokes, which are somewhat different from those more familiar with the Japanese-style ones found around the world.

Ecology. The ecology here is under enormous pressure here, and real dangers loom, particularly in the area of water distribution.

This is most notably of concern in the nation’s breadbasket, the northeastern part of Thailand, commonly referred to as "Isaan." The best-known river to foreigners from beyond Southeast Asia is the Mekhong River, which starts in China and southwards marks much of the Thai-Laos border. Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam have even set up a joint committee to try to resolve conflicts over the waters of the Mekhong River. With China controlling the headwaters, the countries would dearly love to have that nation join the committee, but in general Chinese leaders prefer an emphasis on bilateral diplomacy

Development has had a significant negative effect on the ecology, all across the country. Building occurred during the boom years almost entirely helter-skelter. Most visibly absent are trees, cleared for new development. Look at pictures of Bangkok a few decades ago, then walk along a Bangkok street today, and you probably will be shocked at how few trees have survived. Some Thais are raising the alarm over Thailand’s rapidly vanishing forests, which today cover a far smaller percentage of the country than they once did, even up into quite recent years. Illegal logging continues virtually unchecked, corrupt officials being to blame for not enforcing what few laws exist to protect the forests.

Air and water pollution are also of increasing concern. Regulations are lax and often go unenforced. Two-cycle motorcycle engines are extremely widespread here, and these pour out enormous quantities of pollution that dirty the air and even exposed waters. Buses and large trucks often belch thick – and we do mean thick – clouds of black, poisonous exhaust. Many cars also have poor or missing exhaust controls. A few years ago, a UN organization claimed that for the average person engaged in average activities, living and working in central Bangkok and thus breathing that area’s air, was getting a health impact equivalent to that from smoking about one package of cigarettes each day. The local media occasionally run stories of traffic policemen who don't ’moke yet are struck down at an early age by lung diseases caused by the heavy pollution. In Bangkok, the air is visibly cleaner (though a long way from really clean, to be sure) than at the height of the economic boom, in part due to the reduction of traffic resulting from the economic crash that began in Thailand in mid-1997. However, as the economy slowly recovers, vehicle sales are creeping up, so pollution may worsen.

Ekamai [Soi], Soi Ekamai.  Also known by the street numbering system as “Sukhumvit Soi 63,” this soi connects Sukhumvit Road and Petchaburi Road in the east-southeast part of the city.  It is close enough to the city center that one can reach the center reasonably quickly, particularly by taking advantage of the Skytrain, for which there is a stop near the south end of the soi on Sukhumvit Road.  It is far enough out, on the other hand, to be a little less hectic than the city center proper.

Soi Ekamai, like many other streets in Bangkok, is a mixture of business, restaurants, bars, and residential buildings.  For those coming to Bangkok for an extended period, it offers a reasonable compromise between distance into town and rental costs, which even just slightly closer in start climbing rapidly.  For example, we know one foreign resident who moved from Sukhumvit Soi 53 to Soi Ekamai in late 2000, and who moved up, in terms of quality of his residence -- way up.  Yet his rent is less than it was just down Sukhumvit towards town.

As mentioned above, there are a number of Western-oriented bars and restaurants along the soi, though it it isn’t considered an entertainment venue per se.  Residents bored of the regular venues might find an evening exploring Soi Ekamai worthwhile.

Ekamai Bus Station [Eastern Bus Station] (Bangkok). One of the three long-distance bus stations in Bangkok, the Eastern Bus terminal is located on the south side of Sukhumvit Road opposite the that road’s intersection with Sukhumvit Soi 63, better known by its name, "Soi Ekamai." This is the station for buses departing to the popular seaside resort of Pattaya. Be aware that Thai bus drivers are particularly notorious, even among other Thai drivers, for their driving habits; riding a bus anywhere in Thailand (even a municipal bus) can be an "interesting" experience.

Electrical Current. The electric current in Thailand is 220 volts/50 cycle DC. Adapters are widely and inexpensively available. If you are planning to live here, you should check the wiring of your residence to the greatest extent possible, as wiring is almost always inferior, with many shortcuts taken. For example, it is common to open a fuse or breaker box only to discover that there are no fuses or breakers – everything is directly wired, with no safety device in sight. You can get around this by using extension cords which have fuses; such cords are readily available, and even the best aren’t expensive – and one of the best investments you can make. In fact, if possible, we suggest you connect all your electrical devices to wall sockets indirectlly, through extension cords that have fuses – being careful not to overload any one outlet, of course.

Electronic Funds Transfers. These provide untold numbers of complaints from Thais and foreigners alike. Thai banks are notorious for sitting on funds long after they have been received. For example, one of this site’s founders had the unhappy experience of waiting six weeks for a transfer from the US to come through – and the only way he got it then was that his US bank faxed him a print-out of the relevant computer screen, a print-out on which the US clerk had circled and "translated" the arcane numbers and symbols – which showed that the Thai bank’s computer had sent a signal confirming the funds’ arrival less than three minutes after the US bank had keyed in the transaction; when the receiver confronted the bank with the fax, they quickly came up with the funds, explaining they "were accidentally put into a different account," which was almost certainly untrue, as some of the aforementioned arcane symbols showed the money had arrived for his account number. In general, we strongly recommend you avoid having funds transferred in from outside the country. Even domestic transfers from one branch of a bank to a sister branch can be problematic. Further, the fees for sending money out are in some cases little short of extortionist.

Elephants. Elephants are deeply revered in Thailand. Sadly, this mighty animal’s numbers are rapidly dwindling. Click here for some interesting information and useful pointers concerning these wonderful creatures.

Embassies. Many countries have full diplomatic relations with Thailand, so have embassies in Bangkok. A number of the widely available tourist maps show you the location of your country’s embassy, and some have a list of telephone numbers and addresses. Some nations’ embassies serve as sort of "super" embassies, providing support to embassies in neighboring or nearby countries; for example, the US embassy supports its sister embassy in Vientiane, Laos. Click here for some suggestions regarding using your embassy.

Emporium Shopping Center. This is a large, high-rise shopping and office complex, though the economic crisis struck before the offices were completed, which apparently remain unfinished. Located on the south side of Sukhumvit Road at its intersection with Sukhumvit Soi 24, it is an upscale shopping center with 5 floors of shops of many descriptions, with a "food court" offering both Thai and Western fast-food – some American chains are represented – and a supermarket on the fifth floor, and a multi-screen cinema complex on the sixth floor. Also on the fifth floor is a large shop offering a wide variety of electrical goods (as well as other merchandise); while items offered are not cheap, neither are they outrageously expensive – and many come with genuine warranties, something of a rarity in Thailand. With careful shopping, one can find good value for money for many items in the numerous shops. There also is a parking garage/car silo built into the structure.

The one complaint about this complex is its rather confusing layout; the escalators are a bit confusing, and there are multiple curving passageways with layouts differing from floor to floor. Some people don’t like the small elevators, which are glass-sided so one can look down all the way to the ground floor as one goes up or down in the structure’s center.

On the positive side, besides the matters mentioned above, Emporium Shopping Center is extremely conveniently located. It is near several major hotels, is in the heart of the largest single concentration of resident foreigners in Bangkok, adjoins a nice, if small, park, is near numerous outlets of several banks (and has a couple of ATM’s inside, on the ground floor), is near Villa Supermarket and a Robinson’s Department Store outlet, and, finally, is a 2-3 minute walk from the entertainment venues of Sukhumvit Soi 33, Washington Square, and Sukhumvit Soi 22.

Entertainment. This is a land of entertainment; Thais thrive on it, and their enthusiasm is infectious. In the Thai language, the word for "work" and the word for "play" are one and the same, revealing much about Thais’ attitudes towards life; work and play meld together. If you enjoy entertainment, you couldn’t have picked a better country. Every conceivable form of entertainment is available here.

Perhaps unfairly, Thailand often is thought primarily as a major home of the sex industry. Certainly it is, but it offers far more. There are native entertainment offerings in music (both style and instruments), dance, art, even sports – Thai boxing, an extremely rugged, demanding sport, is increasingly popular around the region. Dancing, various foreign sports (especially tennis, golf, and all water sports), amusement parks – all abound.

If you find yourself bored in Thailand, you must indeed be one of those rare unfortunates who need to find out how to get a life! And Bangkok is one of the most throbbing, frenetic – some say "frantic" – cities on the planet.

Erawan Falls. Located about 3-4 hours (by car) west of Bangkok and beyond Kanchanaburi in a national park, these falls are not spectacular as are, for example, Niagra Falls and Angel Falls, but a series of seven low falls. They are quite lovely, and very relaxing. Foliage make it impossible to view all seven from any one spot, but the area is an extremely popular recreational one. For people not used to wildlife, the small monkeys abounding in the trees above are entertaining. Despite entreaties from park officials not to feed the animals, many visitors do, so they – especially the monkeys – are quite accustomed to human presence. The monkeys even will play with you by throwing a twig at you and the like. Located in low mountains, these falls are well worth a visit.

Escorts. Escort services are readily available, and we guess that surely at least a few must be legitimate. Common wisdom holds that most, however, are fronts for prostitution (as, for that matter, are many fly-by-night "tourist guide" services). As we have never used such services, we cannot recommend any particular ones, but do caution you to be careful in your selection of both the service company and the particular escort.

Exchange Rates. These have held relatively stable since about the beginning of 1999; between mid-1997, when the devaluation of the Thai baht heralded in the Asian economic crisis, and early 1999, the baht sank from about THB25/US$1 to about THB58/1US$. Then it slowly moved upward, and from about mid-1999 until early 2000 held fairly stable in a band of roughly THB37-39/US$1. (Fluctuations against other major currencies have been similar.) Since early 2000, however, it weakened again; in late 2000, it was hovering in the THB43-44/US$1 range.  If you come here to live and have a substantial amount of hard foreign currency, it’s probably a good idea to keep some of it both in the original currency – and in a bank in your home country; we ourselves wouldn’t dream of bringing all of a substantial amount – not that we’re likely ever to have one!

Export Prohibitions. As is true in any country, certain prohibitions on exports exist here. Perhaps the most important for most foreigners are any Buddhist image (widely available), teak in any form, and ivory, again, in any form. On the other hand, we personally know foreigners who travel into and out of the country frequently who openly wearing Buddhist pendants, for example, including of the Lord Buddha, without any difficulty. Further, we suppose small quantities of teak products or those of ivory might be taken out – though in the destination country, which very well might not be lax, you might find yourself in serious trouble. Our best advice to resist the temptation to buy that lovely teak bookshelf and those stunning ivory earrings. You’ll have to make your own decision concerning Buddhist images – but you’ve been told: it’s against the law to take them out, and we remain rather puzzled that in a country which takes Buddhism very seriously, enforcement appears to be lax.