With hotels in every price range, for every taste, and situated throughout the city, picking the right establishment comes down to one of several factors.

• Price range
• Location
• Accessibility

MBK Mall in Siam, Bangkok, Thailand.

Accommodation In Bangkok, Thailand.

Location

Location should be the most important factor when choosing your Bangkok hotel. As a city notoriously difficult to navigate, with traffic that can stand still for hours on end, being located near the places you’re likely to visit in Bangkok will not only cut down on time spent traveling, it will also decrease your chances of getting lost, or being caught off guard by overcharging taxis and touts.

If you’re visiting Thailand on a Medial Tourism vacation, then staying within easy reach of your hospital or clinic is highly advisable.

Patients booking with ThaiMed will not have to worry about this as we will act as your travel agent; making sure you get the best deals. We are your travel insurance against booking disasters!

For those more interested in the active city life of Bangkok, anywhere within walking distance of the the the BTS Sky Train and MRT Underground networks, the city’s public mass transit system, should suffice. Popular areas along the BTS and MRT that cater to tourist include Silom, Siam, Pleonchit, Chitlom, Nana, Asoke, Phrom Phong, Thong Lor, and Saphan Taksin; other stations such Ekamai, Prakanong, On Nut, Ari, Chatuchak, and Param 9, are also in areas that cater to western needs, but visitors unfamiliar with the city may not find the services often required by backpackers or sightseeing travelers.

BTS SKy Train Near Sala Daeng Intersection

While the BTS and MRT cover a large portion of the central business district and inner suburbs, neither have been extended to Khao San road – the city’s backpacker area – or its surrounding areas. Which means those on a backpackers budget staying at near Khao San will have to work that little bit harder to visit other places around the the city.

Bangkok is so large, dense and difficult to navigate that those staying in an area without a BTS or MRT station, who are also on limited budgets and time, usually find themselves staying in that area.

Getting Around Bangkok

When it comes to getting round Bangkok, if you don’t talk Thai, then be prepared for lots of walking, or bartering with taxi drivers. Even though the BTS and MRT cover most of the city, many of Bangkok best restaurants, spas and other attractions are hidden away down the smaller roads known as Soi’s in Thai. That said, it is possible to spend your days visiting areas within a short walk from these stations.

Bangkok Taxis

Buses are great way to travel on the cheap, but again, without any knowledge of Thai language and Bangkok, it can be difficult to find out which bus to catch and where to get off. Nevertheless, if you’re prepared to deal with the crazy traffic and persevere enough to find out which bus you need, traveling doesn’t get any cheap than this.

Many of the city’s taxis and motorbike taxis see tourists as an advantage to overcharge for their services, and while their asking price might not seem like much, being overcharged certainly adds up. Taxi’s should run on meters, but many times when a foreigners’ ask to go somewhere, the excuses start coming; “the meter is broken,” or “ there’s too much traffic, I give you better price than meter,” or simply, “there’s too much traffic, I want this price.” Unfortunately when this happens, it’s usually easier to ask another taxi who has no problem going on the meter.

For this reason, having access to a bilingual speaking driver, who knows where they are going, can be priceless. Large hotels will always be able to get you a meter taxi to your destination, but bear in mind that once you’ve left the hotel, you’re on own.

Fortunately there are hardly any dangerous areas in the city – with the exception of several slums, the major one being in the areas surrounding the KlongToey market. But as you’re not likely to accidentally walk into a slum, Bangkok is perfect city to wander the streets.

So whilst you needn’t be afraid to go exploring, always remember that the city’s confusing network of roads and soi’s are an easy place to get lost. A handy tip for the adventurous is to keep a business card from your hotel, so you’ve always got a written reference to show the locals when asking for directions home.

Hotel Accessibility

While price and location speak for themselves, accessibility is another factor you’ll want to consider when choosing your hotel. Thailand’s capital city is jammed packed with malls, stores, buildings, shacks, and all types of traffic, both human and mechanical, therefore accessibility to and from your hotel room and location in the city can make or break your holiday.

Small Soi's Around Pratunam Market

Many budget hotels and guesthouse are compact and hidden away, making it nightmare for the elderly or disabled. Buildings with no lifts, thin staircases and no ramps can make certain hotels completely inaccessible for the less able.

But accessibility isn’t just a problem for the elderly or disabled, it can affect anyone from the business traveler to the medical tourist or backpacker.

Shoppers and people traveling with lots of luggage may want to avoid these cramped budget guest house (some of which are very pleasant and much better value than larger hotels) as floor space, hall ways and general access to your room and facilities can make it difficult to carry more than the average amount of luggage. And business people may find the lack of desk space or an Internet connection in many places.

These small establishments are also less likely to offer services such as free left luggage, a god send to many travelers who plan to base their travels in Bangkok.

If you have special requirements when it comes to accessing your hotel and room, you may need to contact the smaller hotels directly to discuss your needs. (Note: Not all establishments employ staff with sufficient English skills to warrant an informative phone call, so don’t be disheartened if you find yourself being ignored, if the person on the other end of the phone is unable to communicate with you, it’s generally a good indicator of what you can expect during your stay.)

Price Range

Finding a hotel to suit your budget is only made difficult because of the plethora or options. A with most cities the central business district is typically reserved for large hotels. However Bangkok is a little different, and there are cheaper hotels guest houses hidden away in amongst the city center.

That said, for most options less than 25 dollars a night, there is only much one place for the traveler – Khao San Road. Featured in blockbuster movies such as The Beach, Khao Sarn road is Bangkok’s backpacker district. Situated in the Bang Lampoo area of Bangkok, Khao Sarn and the roads adjacent are home to everything backpacker from cheap to mid range guest houses and hotels, to market stalls, travel agents, all types of food stalls and restaurants, as well as pubs and clubs.

Khao San Road, Bangkok

But don’t be mistaken, it’s not all budget establishments around here, there are several mid range accommodations as well as up-market restaurants. Rooms around Bang Lampoo can cost anywhere between 10-20 dollars without air conditioning, or 30-60 dollars with.

Within walking distance of many tourist attractions including the Grand Palace and Wat Pho, staying around Khao San road certainly has it benefits. But the lack of BTS or MRT – the city’s public mass transit system – and the busy Bangkok traffic can make it difficult to leave the area, especially for those on a budget. (River taxis 10-15 mins walk from the area can take you along the Chao Phraya to several stops, or city bound to Ratchetewi, Pratunam, Asoke, And Klong Tom, however most of the boats close after dark and the piers are sometimes far away from other tourist attractions.)

For those on slightly higher budget, there are a number of Boutique hotels throughout the city center, along Sukhumvit, in Siam and around Silom. Prices start at around 30-100 dollars a night, which is often well worth the money. Most boutique hotels sport modern looks, well furnished rooms and most hotel amenities; however the cheaper establishments often sacrifice location, accessibility and service, for the appearance of quality décor.

People looking for the most lavish hotel experience, will find paradise here in Bangkok. Boasting some of the world’s best hotels with excellent service, luxury hotels can be found all over the city, with prices starting at as little as 100 dollars.
Most big chains such as the JW Marriot, the Sheraton, Westin, and Hilton have establishments either in the city or along the Chao Praya river. The famous Mandarin Oriental and the Shangri La hotels are also situated along the river.

Chao Phraya River, Bangkok

Luxury hotels in Bangkok are much more just a place to stay, they offer some of the capital’s best restaurants and spas which are often visited by city residents. Expect top class service that almost meets western standards, but comes with décor, hospitality and an atmosphere that goes unrivaled anywhere in the world.

So, once you’ve considered what’s important during your stay in Bangkok, you’ll have a better idea of which area you’d like to stay. When it comes to booking your hotel or guest house, take reviews with a pinch of salt and remember that Thailand’s standard of quality, service and safety are sometimes not what we expect in the west, and it’s often here where corners are cut to offer such cheap prices.

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Traveling to Thailand for dental implants at Bangkok’s best dental clinics remains top of the list when it comes to reconstructive dental surgery, and is a safe and affordable option sure to give you the realistic results you’ve been looking for.

Dental implants have become the best solution of choice for replacing missing teeth for those who have unwanted visits from the tooth fairy late in life.

What are Dental Implants?

Dental implants are long-term replacement teeth prosthesis that your dentist, or maxillofacial surgeon, implants in the jawbone.

The whole implant is made up of three components; a titanium implant that is fused to the jaw bone using a technique known as osseointegration; the abutment, a screw-type fixture that connects to the implant and protrudes about the gum line; and a crown, the carefully sculpted prosthesis that fits to the abutment.

The tooth prosthesis is sculpted by prosthodontist or restorative dentist, and is designed to look as natural as possible.

titanium dental implants

Dental Implants Vs Dentures

Because dentures are not permanently fixed, they are prone to slipping. Dental implants however, are fused to the jaw line and will never come loose unexpectedly.

Another problem that arises because dentures are not permanently secured is that when they slip, they make a noise, and this chattering can often be embarrassing, if not at least a little distracting. Dentals implants will never slip, and therefore will never make unexpected noises.

Dentures may also cause bone loss where there is no teeth to protect the gums. Of course, the nature of dental implants means the dentist will drill into your jaw bone, but no further bone lose will result from the procedure.

Dental Implants Vs Fixed Bridges

Fixed bridges must use adjacent teeth as anchor. This can often affect the health of the anchor teeth. Dental implants however are securely fixed to the jaw bone and do not affect the health of neighboring teeth.

Fixed bridges typically have a life-span of around 12-15 years, whereas dental implants can last over 20.

Benefits of Dental Implants

With realistic dental implants, you can enjoy the benefits including:

• Improved appearance; they look and feel like your own teeth.
• Improved speech; they don’t slip, so your tongue won’t either.
• Improved comfort; the secure permanent fixtures make it easier to eat.
• Improved oral health; dental implants don’t affect the health of your other teeth.

Are You a Candidate for Dental Implants?

X-Ray of Dental Implants

Ideal candidates should have good general and oral health. Adequate bone in the jaw is also needed to fuse the implants.

While the best candidates should have good oral health, you may still be an ideal candidate for dental implants even if you:

Image Credit: Robert Gougaloff, 2008.

Have Existing Medical Conditions: While some existing medical conditions may affect a dentist’s decision to perform dental implants, many patients with chronic diseases such as high blood pressure and diabetes – factors that often increase the risk of complication in many surgeries – may still be ideal candidates for dental implants.

Have Gum Disease or Problem Teeth: Dental implants have been shown to be a successful procedure for those who have lost teeth due to decay or periodontal disease.

Are Wearing Partials or Dentures: Dental implants can be used to replace removable bridges of dentures; they can also be used to secure dentures to make them more comfortable.

Are a smoker: Smoking can lower the success rate of dental implants, however the procedure may be performed, and depending on your oral health and hygiene, often goes without complications.

There are approximately 150 different dental implant manufacturers. In the end, the best dental implants are always the ones placed well. At ThaiMed, our Dental Labs only use the best dental implants approved by the FDA and international dental organizations. Some of the top dental implant manufactures we use are listed below.

• Biohorizon Dental Implant
• Biomet Dental Implant
• Nobel Biocare Dental Implant
• Straumann Dental Implant

If you would like to find out more about Dental Implants at Bangkok, Thailand’s best dental clinics, please click here>>>

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All Aboard America is a family owned business and been providing motor coach service since 1936. Since the beginning they have maintained an exceptional safety record thanks to their dedicated team of professionals that not only includes tour operators but also their full-service safety department and in-house maintenance facility.

Motor Coach Charters

All Aboard America Coach Charters

As soon as you come aboard you will notice that their coaches are clean and well maintained. Motorcoach charters will allow you to budget for vacations more frequently and will not be determined by conditions such as the rising gas prices. Traveling for recreation purposes will but necessary miles and wear-and-tear on your personal vehicle unnecessarily. Additionally, traveling by bus charters allows for a way to off-set your carbon footprint and help decrease harmful emissions into the environment.

Cliff Castle Casino

Cliff Castle Casino

Many families are crunched on time and feel as if they cannot take a vacation. However, All Aboard America helps remedy that with one of their most popular day trip tours to Cliff Castle Casino.
Casino!? Now you might think that by the sounds of it, it might not be a family vacation. However, Cliff Castle Casino is all about fun – and not just for adults – but for the whole family. They offer karaoke, gaming, bowling, and much more.

For adults indulging in gambling and some adult beverages, you fun can be severely limited if you plan on trying to drive to the casino for a day trip. With a professional driver behind the wheel, you can rest assured you and your family will return home safely.

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Part of the new healthcare bill, passed in March, includes a 5% percent tax on elective cosmetic surgery – a charge many are now calling the ‘botax’. Democrats argue that the tax will generate $5.8 billion over the next 10 years to be put towards the bill’s estimated $849 billion price tag.

Americas Healthcare Reform

But the question is, “who exactly is the target of the new ‘botax’?” According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) and the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) the tax is directly aimed at lower to middle class female citizens.

Michael McGuire, MD, ASPS President explained: Surgery (ASAPS) oppose this tax as discriminatory, arbitrary and ineffective.

“Elective surgery taxes discriminate against women, given that 86 percent of cosmetic surgery patients are female, of which 91 percent are between the working ages of 19-64…

“Moreover, contrary to popular belief, cosmetic surgery is no longer an exclusive luxury afforded by the very wealthy, but rather a mainstream and reasonable option most common amongst the working middle-class.”

Saltz, MD, President of ASAPS, agreed:

“This tax is effectively a “Soccer Mom” tax that will adversely impact mainstream American wives and mothers, who are the majority of plastic surgery patients…

“As doctors, we understand and appreciate the need for health care reform, but taxing physicians and cosmetic surgery procedures to pay for the reform is not realistic or beneficial,”

In a 2005 ASPS survey of people planning to have cosmetic surgery within the next two years, 60% of respondents reported an annual household income of $30,000-$90,000 a year. Most importantly, 40% of those reported a household income of only $30,000-$60,000. Only 10% of respondents reported a household income of over $90,000, which clearly refutes the suggestion that elective surgery taxes are “luxury” or “sin” taxes affecting a privileged few.

There is supporting evidence experienced by the state of New Jersey, the only state which has already imposed a cosmetic tax. Since it passed a 6% tax on elective medical procedures in 2004, the state has seen a 59% shortfall based on projected revenue estimates.

The tax was supposed to raise $24 million a year, however it only raised around 7.5 million in the first year. Eight other states have considered similar tax legislation- and they all wisely rejected them.
Finally, though the bill claims that the only procedures that would be taxed are those that are “not necessary to ameliorate a deformity arising from, or directly related to, a congenital abnormality, a personal injury resulting from an accident or trauma, or a disfiguring disease,”

The Societies contend that such distinctions aren’t always obvious. Because the line between ‘cosmetic’ and ‘reconstructive’ surgery is not always clear, such a tax would leave the determination of medical necessity up to state tax auditors – a completely inappropriate proposition.

Dr. Saltz, said:

“As doctors our first concern always needs to be patient safety, for those patients here in this country, as well as those patients who may now be encouraged by this tax to obtain their procedures abroad.”

Dr. McGuire agreed:

“The ASPS has, and continues to oppose all taxes on physicians, in any and all forms, due to their deleterious effects on health care costs and access to patient care…

“Medical care should not be used as a tool to fix broken finances.”

The be-all-and-end-of-it is simple, Americans opting for elective surgeries (or reconstructive surgeries that could be seen as cosmetic) will face higher charges. On top of the already costly fees of undergoing procedures in the U.S., and considering the wide range of affordable, first class medical care offered by some of the world’s top destinations such as Thailand and India, it’s likely that more Americans will be choosing to travel abroad for their cosmetic procedures.

If you would like to find out more about Affordable First Class Medical Tourism and Cosmetic Plastic Surgery in Thailand, please click here>>>

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“For more than 20 years now, vaccine trials have essentially been failures,. Now it’s like we were groping down an unlit path, and a door has been opened. We can start asking some very important questions”

The Thailand study involved combining two HIV vaccines already proven ineffective on their own. At the end of the three year study, people who receive both vaccines were 31 percent less likely to get HIV, compared to people who received a placebo.

But while this partial protection shows promise for the future of HIV and AIDS prevention, it has also raised the question as to why the vaccine only offers protection for some.

In the trial, around 8,000 volunteers received the vaccines, and an equal number received placebos. During the three years, 74 people in the placebo group were infected, compared to just 51 people from the vaccinated group.

Although the numbers are small, researchers say they’re statistically significant.

The two-vaccine drug consisted of a primer and a booster – Alvac, containing a canarypox virus with three AIDS virus genes grafted onto it, and Aidsvax, originally made by Genentech, an engineered version of a protein found on the surface of the AIDS virus.

Researchers hoped this combination would teach the body to both recognize and destroy the HIV virus. Combining Alvac and Aidsvax came as a hunch to scientists who thought: If one was designed to create antibodies and the other to alert white blood cells, might they work together even if neither worked alone?

Experts admit there is still a long way to go before this promising research can benefit the public. HIV expert Adriano Boasso notes that few doctors would be comfortable administering vaccines that confer such marginal protection:

“Nobody would be considering licensing a vaccine that is 30% effective,” he says. “You’d want to be aiming for 70-80% at least”

The researchers also note that the vaccines were designed to combat the most common strain of the virus circulating in Southeast Asia, and say they might not work against the strains common in Africa, the United States, and elsewhere.

The results were announced this month by the Thai and American agencies that conducted the trial. Full details will be presented at next month’s AIDS Vaccine Conference.

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Most kathoeys integrate into society and easily fund work outside of the country’s red light district. Many kathoeys can be found working in salons, restaurants, clothing shops, and travel agencies.

But a dream oft-held by the most beautiful ladyboys, is to win the crown in the countries most prestigious ladyboy beauty pageant, Miss Tiffany Universe held ever year in May, just outside of tourist beach-town, Pattaya.

In a nation obsessed with beauty pageants and famous for its sexual tolerance, this elaborate contest is taken every bit as seriously as the more traditional competitions.

This year Sorrawee Natte took the Miss Tiffany crown. For her looks and intelligent answers, Sorrawee received a small Honda car, and 100,000 baht ($AU3800).

“I’m very excited,” the willowy 20-year-old from Thailand’s southern Songkhla province said, touching the glimmering winner’s crown with disbelieving fingers.

But for those who don’t make it to the Miss Tiffany contest there are many other chances to flaunt their beauty. Below is a gallery of photos from other ladyboy beauty pageants held this year:

Miss Ladyboy of Songkran 2009

Miss G – Star Beauty Contest 2009

Miss 108

Miss Mandalay Chiangmai International 2009

Miss Lady Lady 2009

Miss Angel Queen 2009

Miss Queen Of Tawan 2009

Miss Mandalay 2009

Lip Zing Singing Contest

Miss Samila International Princess 2009

If you would like to find out more about Sexual-Reassignment-Surgery in Thailand, please click here>>>

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The boy was born by Caesarean section on Monday 21st at a public hospital in North Sumatra province.

Dr. Binsar Sitanggang, a gynaecologist who took part in the operation said:

“This heavy baby made the surgery really tough, especially the process of taking him out of his mum’s womb. His legs were so big,”

The boy is said to be in a healthy condition despite initially being given oxygen to overcome breathing problems.

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“He’s got strong appetite, every minute, it’s almost non-stop feeding,” Sitanggang added.

“This baby boy is extraordinary, the way he’s crying is not like a usual baby. It’s really loud.”

It is thought that the boy’s massive size was likely the result of his mother, Ani, 41, having diabetes, Mr Sitanggang said.

When the pregnancy reach around nine months, Ani was rushed to hospital due to complications. The baby, her fourth, was the only child not delivered by a traditional midwife.

When a diabetic mother’s glucose level is high during pregnancy, the baby can receive too much glucose causing it to grow too large, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.

Indonesia’s previous heaviest baby, weighing in at 6.9 kilos, was born in 2007 on the outskirts of the capital Jakarta, according to the Indonesian Museum of Records website.

The heaviest baby ever was born to Anna Bates of Canada in 1879, according to The Guinness Book of World Records.

It weighed 23.12lb (10.8kg) and died 11 hours after birth.

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During the festival, locals lay out a lavish spread that the town’s 2,000 macaque residents are freely allowed to feast for the weekend.

The monkeys have become one of the towns major tourist attractions and the locals repay the monkeys by hold the annual banquet in their honor. Some also believe that providing food for the monkeys brings good fortune and prosperity to the people.

Generally localized to temple of Pra Prang Sam Yot, the monkeys are free to roam wherever they please. The temple does however have bars around certain areas to allow for a monkey-free experience.

During the festival, around twenty of the best Thai cooks in the country gather and prepare a banquet, consisting of two tons of sausages, fresh fruit, fruit, vegetables, ice cream, jam and milk. The banquet is then left out over the weekend for the monkeys to feast upon.

The annual festival takes place on the last weekend in November. The festival is centered around the Pra Prang Sam Yot temple. Entrance is 30 baht and you will be given a stick to fend of inquisitive monkeys.

Festivities include a monkey ‘tea party’ where macaques tuck into a spread of fruit, eggs, cucumbers and bananas all prepared in their honor.

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The Lagoon Of Miracles

The medicinal mud pond at the Lagoon Of Miracles in Chilca, Peru is said to cure everything from acne to rheumatism.

Horn Cupping Treatment

Horn cupping treatment in Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of China, is an alternative form of pain therapy that has been practiced for over 2,500 years.

Hot Sands Of The El Dakrror Mountain

Being buried in the sands on the El Dakrror mountain area at Siwa Oasis, Egypt, at the hottest time of the day, is said to cure cure rheumatism, joint pain and sexual impotency.

Swallowing Live Fish

Swallowing a live fish is a form of medicine administered in southern India. Every year in June, the Bathini Goud brothers from Hyderabad draw thousands to their camp to receive the treatment, which is said to cure asthma and respiratory problems.

Garra Rufa Fish Facial Treatment

Dunking your head in an aquarium full of Garra rufa fish, is facial treatment which was displayed at the Beautyworld Japan trade fair in Tokyo.

Cupping Treatment

Cupping treatment at the Huangzhiguo Traditional Chinese Massage and Acupuncture Clinic in Shanghai, is a treatment that claims to take the heat out of the body.

Eating Live Frogs

Chowing down on a live tree frog in Shangrao, Jiangxi Province, China, is a treatment said to cure abdonminal pains. Jiang Musheng, 66, suffered from frequent abdominal pains and coughing 20 years ago, when Yang Dingcai suggested tree frogs as a remedy.

Bee Venom Treatments

In the Duqu Town of Xi’an, West China’s Shaanxi province, bee stings are used to cure rheumatism and arthritis and rhinitis – an inflammation of the nasal membranes.

Walnut and Moxa leaf treatment

Placing a walnut on the eye and setting fire to dry moxa leaves is a traditional Chinese medical treatment practiced in the eastern Shandong province.

Dolphin Therapy For Pregnant Women

In Lima, Peru, women who are pregnant can receive a form of dolphin therapy said to stimulate the brains of the unborn baby inside the womb.

Cow Urine

In Phnom Phen, Cambodia, locals believe that cow urine holds supernatural healing powers. Other animals thought to poses the same magical powers include snakes and turtles.

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5 Religions That Worship Penises.

The Lingam

The Lingam is the symbol of the Hindu god, Shiva’s, penis. Shiva is the Hindu god of destruction and change, the Lingham is the symbol of Shiva’s penis.

In Hindu mythology, when Shiva is killed, the goddess Kali squats over his body, rips out and eats his organs, and then mounts his still erect penis to complete the cycle of creation.

To worship the linga one must first wet the statue with milk or water, then pray or meditate. There are smaller pocket sized version which can be held in the hand and rubbed while meditating.

Mara Kannon Shrine, Tawarayama Japan

According to the 450 year old legend, two politicians, Mr Oji and Mr Sue, developed such a hatred for each other that the feud eventually came to death threats. In order to protect his son, Mr Oji disgused him as a girl and hid him in the local shrine. When Mr Sue found Oji’s son, he cut off his head and severed his penis.

When locals heard about the killing they started to make wood and ceramic phallus’s out of respect to the boy. From then on, they never stopped making them.

Every year thousands of visitors come to the Mara Kannon Shrine in Tawarayama, Japan. The forest is littered with penis statues, some of which are over five feet tall. In addition to worshiping these tall statues, smaller statues can also be placed in the shrine and after years of worshiping, the shrine is literally over flowing with them.

Hounen Fertility Festival, Tagata Jinja, Komaki, Japan

Although historians are not completely sure when this tradition started. Tagata Jinja is believed to be about 1500 years old.

Every year on March 15 a huge 9-feet-long, 620 lbs wooden phallus is carried a short distance between two shrines.

The ceremony has become so famous it attracts visitors from all over the world.

Min, Egyptian God

Min was an ancient Egyptian god of fertility. In Egyptian art and statues, Min is always pictured holding his erect penis with his left hand.

Min rose to prominence during the Middle Kingdom era, about 2050 BC, and by the New Kingdom era (1550 BC) he was the central figure in the Coronation Ceremony of every new Pharaoh. This involved a ritual in which the new Pharaoh would prove that he could ejaculate.

Today the modern city of Akhmim is built over the ruins of Min’s temple. At the temple, worshipers would rub the leaves of the Egyptian lettuce plant (Lactuca serriola) which would emit a milky white sap. Every year at the harvest festival, Egyptians would gather to play various games.

The Flaming Thunderbolt

The flaming thunderbolt is the symbol of Drukpa Kunley’s path to nirvana. Kunley a 16th century Buddhist monk also known as the Divine Madman, spent his life enlightening young women with the Flaming Thunderbolt – his penis.

As well as the sexual experience, Kunley would give advice on spiritual peace. He preached that sexual ecstasy and drunkenness were the best ways to transcend the illusion of the material world and become one with oneself. And in exchange for his spiritual blessings, all of the women were required to pay him in beer.

“The best wine lies at the bottom of the pail/And Happiness lies below the navel.”

In Bhutan, the symbol of the Flaming Thunderbolt is highly respected. Over 80 percent of Bhutan’s 700,000 people are Buddhist, and nearly all of them use images of the Flaming Thunderbolt as a good luck symbol.

One of the best places to worship the Flaming Thunderbolt is at Kunley’s Chimi Lhakhang monastery, a three-hour drive from the capital of Thimphu. There, Monks use a large wooden phallus, carved by Kunley himself, to hit devotees over the head and bless them with it’s healing powers.

Kanamara Matsuri

The Kanamara Matsuri (Festival of the Steel Phallus, かなまら祭り?) is an annual Shinto fertility festival held in Kawasaki, Japan in spring. The Kanamara Matsuri is centered around a local penis-venerating shrine once popular among prostitutes who wished to pray for protection against sexually transmitted diseases.

It is said that there are divine protections also in business prosperity and the clan’s prosperity, easy delivery, marriage, and married couple harmony.

There is also a legend of a sharp-toothed demon that hid inside the vagina of a young girl and castrated two young men on their wedding nights with the young girl before a blacksmith fashioned an iron phallus to break the demon’s teeth, leading to the enshrinement of the item.

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