It is commonly knowledge that many people travel to Thailand to been seen for plastic surgery and for hair transplant procedures. They are known for providing the very best in medical care so they are leading the industry in these areas. However, there are some good and bad issues to be aware of before you head off to Thailand.

Since Thailand offers such amazing health care services, they offer surgeons who have trained in Europe or North America. They are certified in specialty areas including hair transplants. Many of them belong to the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgeons. They offer the same types of hair transplant procedures as the United States. You can choose from FUE, micro or mini transplants, FUT, or a combination to get the best results. Thailand surgeons do take on other procedures that many United States surgeons don’t including beard transplants and body hair construction.

The process of scheduling a hair transplant in Thailand is very simple. You can fill out the paperwork and then soon be scheduled for the surgery. You won’t have to wait for weeks or months as you do in North America. Probably the most common reason individuals choose to have their hair transplant done in Thailand is the difference in the cost. Almost all insurance companies refuse to cover such procedures so the individual has to pay it on their own.

The cost in the United States ranges from $2,500 up to $10,000 depending on the procedure and the number of grafts to complete. If you chose to do it in Thailand, you can cover the surgery, your travel including hotel and still be saving a considerable amount of money. Many people choose to schedule a vacation in Thailand prior to the hair transplant as an added bonus.

Thailand’s geography is so diverse that you feel like you are traveling to another dimension with every part you visit. The land is so connected to the culture of the people that any tourist will never get bored exploring the many facets of this beautiful country.

The main line of the Mae Khong river originates from Tibet, flows down to China and forms a natural border between Laos and Thailand. Thailand’s rivers flow into the South China Sea from the Mae Khong River delta. Chao Phraya intersects the central region of Thailand, and it flows from the central plains to Bangkok, and then ultimately exits through the gulf.

There are two major attractions in Thailand that one can say are largely due to the natural beauty and geographic relevance of the rivers: the floating markets and the Loy Kratong festival that occurs near these beautiful bodies of water. I’m talking about the floating markets in areas surrounding Bangkok and the Loy Kratong festival at the end of the year.

The best way to really appreciate the excitement that surrounds a floating market is to hire a long-tailed boat for the day. You start off by floating by the Thai homes and gardens that line the rivers then proceed to buy vegetables and fish from the many vendors on small boats along the river. You can cap your morning with a riverside lunch. You can behold the enchantment of watching the sun’s dancing reflection on the river surface and enjoy authentic Thai dishes at the same time.

Loy Kratong is a river festival on the full moon in October. The holiday is related to rituals of old that honor the goddess of the river, or the spirits that protect the river. Thais and the thousands of tourists that come to the event gather along the river or canal and float their “kratongs.”

A kratong is simply a cut banana stem decorated with flowers, folded pieces of small banana leaves and candles. Traditionally, Thais add in a strand of hair, lighted incense and a coin to serve as offerings to the spirits. People light the candles and incenses at the shore and float the kratongs individually.

Every person that floats a kratong does so with the wish for more blessings and a prayer of gratitude for the bounty that the river has given his or her family. New couples usually float one kratong together, invariably announcing to the community that they’re in a relationship.

A favorite spot to photograph is that point where the river leaves the city and goes into the jungle. Watching the solemn parade of kratongs wind through the dark, moon-lit jungle is a sight that burns into a person’s memory.

By the end of the night, the whole river has turned into a winding street of flickering candles and fragrant incense, but the fun is just starting. Part of the whole festival is dedicated to setting off the fireworks and going to the beauty pageants. Massive floats are created to parade the ladies along the length of the river.

A trip along the rivers of Thailand is one of the most enriching and culturally spectacular journeys anyone could make in Southeast Asia. The areas around the Thai rivers are rich in history, culture, and beauty.