BgTx

Some bits of this article ( http://www.idrc.ca/uploads/user-S/11738541401Anan_FReport.pdf ) for those who want more info. on how large the tourism sector is (that 6% figure is misleading because it does not include all of the sectors and employment related to or dependent in some way on tourism ):

Thai economic conditionsconsiderably depend on the performance of tourism

sectors. More than half of theThai industries are directly and indirectly interdependent

with tourism sectors. Given theselarge economic dependences upon tourism, any internal

or external changes that affectThai tourism could have substantial economy-wide

impacts on resource allocation,sectoral outputs, income distribution, macroeconomic

variables and the environment.

The importance of tourism to theThai economy can be seen from national

accounts data and Thailand’sTourism Satellite Accounts (TSA). On average during

1998-2005, Thai tourism directlyand indirectly accounted for 13% of GDP (655 billion

baht), 10% of employment (3million jobs), 13% of exports (417 billion baht), 12% of

investment (117 billion baht) and3% of government budget (13 billion baht).

The importance of tourism to theThai economy from the point of view of the

Thai government can be seen inbudget allocations and the corresponding predictions of

tourism receipts. By spending2,500 million baht to stimulate tourism industries in 2005,

the Thai government expects togain 13.38 million inbound tourists and 450,000 million

baht tourism receipts.4

Indeed, tourism has been heavilypromoted not only by the Thai government but

also by the governments of manycountries in Southeast Asia as a key component of

development strategies forseveral decades.5Thisis because it is believed that tourism

promotion will serve as asubstantial source of employment, foreign exchange earnings

and export receipts, therebycontribute to economic growth and improved income

distribution.

By nature, however, tourismdirectly and indirectly interacts with numerous

sectors and institutions.According to social accounting matrix in 2001 (TDRI, 2004),

more than half of the sectors areinterdependent with tourism. Given these intersectoral

links, any internal or externalchanges that affect Thai tourism could have considerable

economy-wide impacts on resourceallocation, industry outputs, income distribution, key

macroeconomic variables and the environment.

Another vote for MAKRO! I buy their beef brisket for low & slow cooking and their beef tenderloin for marinating and grilling. Both are quite good and much cheaper than all of the other Pattaya food outlets (as far as I know...). Good luck!

The beef in Thailand is worse than terrible, especially Thai beef (sometimes sold as imported beef).

If you can find a decent sirloin that is not Thai beef:

1) cut it it in one inch cubes

2) marinate it overnight in red wine and garlic

3) skewer it and cook it on the grill

It should be tender.

Other cuts might demand that you pound them with a meat hammer or whatever it is called--metal with protruding ridges.........meat tenderizer device......but don't get it too thin.

Then marinate it overnight in red wine and garlic...........etc.

I heard that some French-Thai beef company in Thailand is selling decent beef (no idea where).

Come to Texas and you have no problem...............too bad, Texas is so far from Thailand.

Cheese

(Who needs anything else?!?)

Cornbread mix

Cornbread stuffing mix

Chocolate pudding mix

masa for tamales and tortillas

cornmeal

biscuit mix (or ready to bake)

pinto beans

really good chili mix (just add meat)

All of the dried Mexican peppers

frozen pie shells

Yes, you can search for some of these, but I would like to see them in most of the large stores.