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This is the first time I actually decided to write everything in my blog before I forget the order of things :DI am writing about the only two places we visited - Bangkok and Pattaya, and not the whole of Thailand. The purpose of writing this article is that visiting a foreign country (in the cheapest possible way) takes up a lot of research time (almost two months for me, including semester exams :P ), so this itinerary might help you, in case you choose to read it. Again, this is only an indicative and you can modify it according to your budget and schedule.Day 0:Take a late night flight to Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi Airport). Make sure you reach by early morning the next day.Day 1:We reached at 6:00 am in the morning. It is a convenient time since the buses leave for Pattaya 6:30 am onwards. It is better to visit Pattaya first, because (a) Bangkok takes up sometime to visit (b) You need to take the flight back from Bangkok.It takes about two and half hours from the Airport to Pattaya, so you'll reach the town by 9:00 am. It is upto you whether you wish to stay at the Pattaya beach or Jomtein beach (they are about 20 minutes apart). Pattaya city is again divided into North, Central and South Pattaya, so you have plenty of options. We chose to stay at the Jomtein beach since its less crowded and more pristine.Check into your hotel. Have a substantial breakfast. The bus journey is not tiring at all, so you can start your trip as soon as you reach.(a) Sanctuary of Truth - This is a must-see. Built in 1984, it is a temple made entirely of wood and you'll be amazed to see the scrupulous Buddhist and Hindu carvings everywhere.The entry fee is 7oo THB for adults and somewhat less for children (none for children below 5 years). If you choose to mix and match will elephant ride and few other attractions, it might cost you a bit more. The temple is a 10-minute walk from the entrance, just in case.It houses Buddha's relics. So wear something that covers your shoulders and knees.(b) Big Buddha and Navy memorial OR Pattaya Park and TowerIt is absolutely your preference to choose either. Big Buddha is the highest statue of Buddha in Pattaya and has an adjoining navy memorial and the king's palace (which you cannot enter). No entry fees.Pattaya park has a 360-degree view of the city and you can bungee-jump from the top :D . It has a theme park which you can choose to visit.Come back, have lunch. Get some rest.(c) Walking streetWell I have no idea why we went there, but it was something like, you stroll around Pattaya (Of course we had to take a 'Tuk-Tuk' from Jomtein beach to Pattaya) and you take a walk through Walking street. It actually connects Jomtein and Pattaya beach roads. Make sure you leave before 9 pm (unless you're staying nearby) else transportation can be really expensive.Day 2:(a) Coral Island/Koh LarnOkay. This was interesting. If you're staying at Jomtein beach and diving is your thing, then I'd advise you to stay back and do it. There are a few companies who do the stuff, and trust me, its amazing! Otherwise, pack a swimming costume and head to coral island. You can take a tuk-tuk for 10-50 THB per person, head to Pattaya main pier (You save if you stay in Pattaya) and take a ferry to "Koh Larn". The beach is beautiful and ideal for swimming. Also, you have a bunch of water sports and activities in the vicinity which you can try out (We did deep sea diving by the way :P ). As of 2015, the normal ferry takes 30 THB per person and leaves every hour starting 9:30 am. However, there are also a few operators with a different pricing and schedule.(b) Alcazar Cabaret ShowWhat I'm constructing here is a packed tourist show. If you're tired (Coral Island IS a bit tiring, I admit :D), I'd suggest leaving this out, but if you haven't been into much activities, then you might give this a go if it interests you. Tickets are for 700 THB per adult, contact your hotel travel desk/ tour operator/ taxi driver (if you find one) for cheaper rates and stuff. Thailand is an absolute tourist destination, so most people know and are willing to help out, at a profit of course.Day 3: (Shorter itinerary, skip this, but its amazing too :) )(a) Siam Mini World - This is a place where you can find miniatures of almost every famous monument you have come across. Pretty interesting(b) Bottle Art Museum - I don't know if it is one-of-a-kind, but this is my first time hearing of a museum which houses more than 300 bottle art designs. You can also buy pretty souvenirs from the place.(c) Ocean World - A large aquarium which has a tunnel you can walk through and see marine life at its best. A similar one is also located at the Siam Paragon Mall in Bangkok, so you might skip this if you have ample time at Bangkok.Day 4:Take a morning bus to Bangkok, i.e., have your breakfast at Pattaya, but reach Bangkok before noon. Have your lunch there, take a break and head out to the streets. I would recommend going out on your own and finding places to eat (there are amazing places to eat in Bangkok, I'll leave that research to you :D ) rather than pulling out the menu card and ordering from the hotel you're staying at :P (unless it has a very good restaurant, of course). GET YOURSELF A CITY MAP AT ALL COSTS. They are amazingly detailed and amazingly useful.Leave this entire day for shopping. You won't be able to do anything else, trust me (Since bargaining drains all your energy. Carry a energy drink. ). Also, there are day markets and night markets, so most of the places are open 24 hours.Shopping centres in Bangkok are .... OVERWHELMING. Stay close to the BTS. It is fast, convenient and the most accessible form of transport (and of course cheap, if your travel group is small). I would recommend staying near the Asok BTS or nearby. (Hahaha, book hotels there at least 6 months ahead, else it will be a fortune ! :D It's a posh area). The reason is that it has both the BTS and the MRT, so you're pretty much connected :PPlaces where you can shop are Chatuchak Weekend Market (A wonder, especially if your stay is a weekend) [BTS Mo Chit], Siam - Nana area has a mix of flea markets as well as high-end malls. Choose whatever you want. In case you want to visit Ocean World (at 700 THB/adult), go to Siam Paragon mall.Note: If you are a mega-shopper, the malls (not roadside stores or food centres) do give you VAT bills, which, if you spend more than 2000 THB and fill out customs forms, you might get the taxes returned to you (about 7%) at the airport. This information might be useful for large scale buyers. Tourists are not allowed into the Pratunam wholesale market. If you have sources, give it a try. For the electronics market, it is 10 minutes by tuk-tuk to Pantip Plaza from Siam.Day 5:(a) AyutthaThis is the ancient city, prior to Bangkok. It is a half-day tour and a couple of miles away from the city. A must visit, if you are a History enthusiast. The entire trip can be done in two ways: Go and come back by road, or, go by road and come back by river cruise via River Chaophraya. If you opt for the second one, skip (b). Should not exceed 1500-2000 THB/adult.(b) Dinner cruise on ChaophrayaIt ranges from 2 to 2 and half hours, where they pick you up from your hotel, take you down the Chaophraya, provide dinner and entertainment. The river looks beautiful, with Wat Arun, The Grand Palace and Rama VIII bridge clearly visible. However, ask the travel desk what all you'll be able to -see+cruise time+dinner menu+condition of the cruise boat. Pocket pinch: 700-1800 THB, depending on luxury allowance.Day 6: (Shorter itinerary, skip this, but its amazing too :) If you don't want to miss the floating market(Damun Saduak), then you have to leave early morning, skip out flower market and directly follow Day 7 itinerary. A reminder, there are plenty of other floating markets too, albeit this is the most famous and widely visited )(a) Safari World OR Combo TourThis is kind of Jurassic Park, but with existing animals. It has a couple of shows, which a fabulously done, like the Dolphin show. I don't know if and how you can book directly, but it took us about 1200 THB, lunch and transfers inclusive. Go for it, if you're an ardent animal and nature-lover. A reminder, it is crowded, even on weekdays.Otherwise, you can opt for combo tour of Damun Saduak(Yes, yes, the floating market, takes more than an hour to go around through the canal and 2000 THB/adult) + Tiger Temple + Crocodile park and also River Kwai cruise ["Bridge on River Kwai", that Kwai]Note: Damun Saduak is a 2-hour drive from Bangkok city and most shops close by 11 am, so plan accordingly. A thing that many tourists don't know is that it is of course the largest, but certainly NOT the only floating market in Bangkok. If you're short on time and do not want to spend so much, you can look out for the other floating markets, some of which cater to the local people and are more authentic, even though they are not as vast. If you're asking for advice there, the taxis and agents will try to drag you to Damun Saduak, don't get carried away if you're not interested.Day 7:(a) Flower Market (There is a floating market nearby too, but I couldn't manage to find it. If you do, let me know, okay?! :) )(b) Wat Traimit(c) Grand Palace (Wat Phra Keo, or the Emerald Buddha, is inside Grand Palace)(d) Wat PhoPlease, please, please. Visit them in that order. Make sure you reach the Grand Palace by 2 pm, because it closes at 3:30 pm sharp. Also, the flower market looks best at 3-4 am in the morning. You might visit Wat Saket and all if you have time, but the above four are must-visits. The Democratic Monument is en-route so you'll be able to see it. Also, Grand Palace and Wat Pho are opposites on the same road, and Wat Arun is on the other side on the river. Totally walk-able. There are a few yummy street food stalls outside Wat Pho. :) . Transport, Food, entry fees, should'nt take you more than 1000 THB. I suggest visiting this on your own.Note: A visit to Wat Phra Keo requires you to be appropriately dressed, i.e., wear full shirts and trousers. Cover-alls are provided at the Grand Palace if you want, but we heard from somewhere that they take a safety deposit and your passport, so we didn't take risks. :PDay 8:Take an early morning flight back home.Any additional questions, feel free to ask! :)

Looking for a telephone booth.Being bullied and nobody caring about itFor an unescorted child: a) walking to school, b) bicycling wherever they pleased, or bicycling at all, c) staying out after dark, d) walking around town by themselves, e) playing in the front lawn instead of the back, f) walking the dog alone, g) skateboarding aloneBicycleDrinking before you’re 21Owning or shooting a gun, especially when youngReading a printed newspaper or magazineSee your parents reading a newspaperWatch a ton of televisionSpend a lot of time outdoors, whether walking to friends’ houses and other places or playing sports or games. No video games or internet back then!Write lettersAs kids, explore the real world around them regularly, going to places they don’t knowMake ethnic jokes - Polish jokes were huge back then, for some reasonEat TV dinnersCook at least one hot meal per day for your children virtually WITHOUT EXCEPTIONNot prefer Japanese carsBuy mechanical camerasBuy disposable camerasNot take math very seriously as fundamental to getting a good careerHave a P.E. class in schoolHave a civics class in schoolBelieve almost any college degree would likely lead to a prosperous life and an even better life for our childrenPut leaded gas in your car, or be able to choose whether or not you wouldFear the draft and becoming cannon fodder in inane warsThink a 21 inch TV was large and a 26 inch TV was giganticWait till 3:00 pm for the TV to finally start broadcastingWatch cop shows and westerns on TVHave huge classroom sizesThink having a huge number of people in a class meant you had any less chance of learning the materialIf you’re a boy, get paddled by the Vice PrincipalSmoke in restaurantsSmoke in other people’s houses without bothering to ask if it was okay; you just ASSUMED it was until told differentlySmoke clove cigarettesAlways open the door for anyone who it might helpCall adults Sir or Ma’amApologize for your child’s bad behaviorWear an apronKill whalesBuild things without consideration of environmental impactPollute without fear or consequenceDrive without worrying what gas costSearch for commies in your houseplantsBuy pornography in a storeUse paper mapsEat chop sueyNot know anywhere you could get good coffeeKnow what Chicken a la King is, and eat lots of dishes with cream in them, like cream soups, Campbell’s cream of mushroom soup seemed to be in everything …NOT use corn syrup, so gross and only in Karo syrup that nobody usedHave pensionsAssume that what with a pension, every chance to have good earnings, and social security, you would be secure in your old ageBe so terrified of the cost of long-distance calls that your relatives were effectively on the moon, good luck I’ll always cherish our memoriesShout into the phone when talking long-distanceHear other people talking when you’re on the phoneHave a swimming poolHave a swimming pool without thinking it would raise your insurance exponentiallyTake it for granted that Arnold’s career would never go anywhere after bodybuilding and Hercules in New YorkThink Al Pacino was an amazing actor, but too subtle and quiet for most rolesBe afraid to swim after watching JawsBe afraid to shower after watching PsychoNever have seen a chest-burster beforeBe afraid to go on a mining expedition into outer space after watching AlienUse cotton diapers and wash them yourselvesNow how about what they did NOT do that is common today?Fill in their swimming pools due to liability concernsDrink bottled waterDrink energy drinksVapeOvereatUse corn syrup EV-ER-Y-WH-AAAAAAARE! including where you would never suspectTalk across political divides as if the other person were a devil or a complete cretin. Communist or John Bircher were usually the worst it got.Talk without shouting on a long distance callHave soda and candy machines in schoolHave their parents schedule their activities tightlyTake martial artsOwn a pit bullOwn a computerWonder why anyone would care about privacyAsk you how you feel if you’re maleEat sushi … or any Japanese food that wasn’t teriyaki chickenBe unable to even find chop suey on a menuIf you were male, cookConsider tofuIf you were male, carry your wife’s purse or push a baby carriageLease cars instead of buying themGet hip surgery, knee replacement, or cataract surgeryGet dental implantsHave a heart attack and just “get over it”If you were female, become a doctor rather than a nurseIf you were female, become a police officer or a fire fighter or a pilot, commercial or otherwiseCollect breast milk at work(I mean your own, not from random volunteers)File nuisance lawsuitsLet kids run wild in public placesTake no responsibility for your dogWhat is a cotton diaper? What is a wash them yourselves? What is a safety pin?Pay half the minimum hourly wage for a cup of coffee

Human Trafficking by Sunitha KrishnanThere are days when you feel you are blessed because your parents might have done some good deeds in life.Today was one such day where I had the opportunity,privilege and honor to meet one of the greatest fighter and an epitome of courage and bravery.I had the privilege of attending the her session, speaking to her in person, here she was answering my question in a great depth and detail and finally the blessing for me was her own handwritten message for me which is going to reverb till my last breath. She is Sunitha Krishnan the Social activist and chief functionary and co-founder of Prajwala and also the recipient of Padma Shri Award 2016Firstly please accept my apologies because this article is the long version of the subject which we all generally avoid or don’t want to talk about which is the worst form of human rights violation, the third world’s largest organized crime and the modern form of slavery i.e. Human Trafficking.So if you are a person who doesn’t believes in humanity and in the cause I would request you to not to go further and waste your valuable time, but if you are a person who really believes in the cause please do read it. It might change your perception towards the victims and who knows, it might change a world of someone else also. Note: Please note that the facts & figures are based on the information shared during the Talk So here we go: “Human Trafficking does so much Irreversible Damage to the victim that victim starts accepting the exploitation as their normal life.” Sunitha KrishnanSome shocking & disturbing Figures about Human Trafficking1. It’s the world third-largest organized crime.2. Currently globally it’s a 858 $ Billion Industry. 3. The Minimum Age of the Victim to be sold – 1 Day. 4. 18 Million Slaves in India, out of which 80% are into sexual slavery i.e Into Prostitution. 5. The Minimum Age of the Victim in Prostitution –3.5Years 6. The victims are raped for 40-50 times every day that means 40-50 different types of men and taste of sex.7. To cope up the victims start using Alcohol, Drugs, Substance abuse, Hashish, Ganja etc.8. There is huge portion of customers who are willing to pay huge amounts to have sex with a child.Now I believe by now you must understand the seriousness of the subject. Let’s see what the discussion was about:Question 1: Moderator to Sunitha Krishnan How did your journey started and what motivated you to take this path?Answer: I believe it was in my DNA to do something for somebody. Here is what her childhood was:3 Years Old - Collect Children from neighborhood and teaching them.8 Years Old – Almost a social worker.12 Years Old – Opened NGO15 Years Old- Gang-raped (Turning Point of the Life)Examples of after this Incident: People started hating; Parents couldn’t go to social functions.After the Incident “I” never felt like a victim but always thought myself as a survivor but what made her angry was the victim was victimized for the crime which was not committed by her.In other words, it was the outrage regarding of how a human being was treated.Question 2: Moderator to Sunitha Krishnan How did your journey started towards Prajwala started and can you tell us something about that?Answer: So after there was one incident which completely broke me when I was arrested and was in Jail for protesting against the Miss India Pageant. My Family completely disowned me at that period of crisis. One of my Uncles said that before 1947 people who went to jail were actual fighters who fought for their nation but people who went jail after 1947 they were only so called “Criminals”.One particular incident which I would like to tell when I was arrested I was in my Jeans, Kurta and for the next 1 month was given no clothes to change because Under trials didn’t had that privilege only the convicts had their uniform.It was a women's jail with 400 women in it with a big gate. A gong used to be summoned between 10am-3pm i.e the time for visitors. The moment the gong was summoned there used to be pin drop silence because there used to be announcement of the name of the under trial for whom visitor had come. I waited for a month everyday that somebody would come and bring me a pair of clothes but “nobody came to see me.”I believe the physical isolation from the family, the society became the grass root for the foundation of ‘Prajwala’.Some Facts about Prajwala1. Started with 5 children.2. Currently 21 Learning Centers across the country3. 8000 Victims has been reintegrated back into life.A stat about Hyderabad where 25000 Victims are trafficked in a year starting from 4 Years old.The James Bond StuffDuring my initial years I had a wrong image about Police and hence took things upon my hands only.Secretly going to a brothel for rescue, get beaten up which was actually a way of being proud but after my colleague was murdered my perspective changed because when the people who are joining me are dead with whom shall I go on in this fight. Finally I started working with various stakeholders. Proud to be say that I personally have trained 22000 Policemen. Believe me not all are bad, there are good officers also. I can proudly say that I have met an amazing court constable to IPS officers who really believed in the cause.Earlier in the initial days it was 1 child rescued in 1 day and stay in hospital but I have also saved more than 400 children in one shot.Question 3: Moderator to Sunitha KrishnanWhat can you say about the life of a victim and what are some extreme situations you have come across?Answer: A victim had to 40-50 sex times/day (An adult). The morning starts with drop of Gudumba, Ganja, and Hashish. Also often alcohol. Every hour one new customer.There was an incident which I would like to share: A 8 year old girl child was rescued from the Secunderabad Railway Station. She was very sharp; she used to remember small details. I thought this a special child who needs our help and attention. We had to literally kidnap and save her.Once the child was rescued, she gave entrance test for reputed boarding school and she came in the merit list. After couple of days there was event where some visitor had arrived to meet the kids and it was told whoever could recite a poem would get a chocolate. The child couldn’t recite a poem but she said something so shocking which nobody expected there. She said “Uncle Uncle If I lift my frock would you give me the chocolate?” Here an eight year old child had seen from her mother in the brothel where mother used to lift the saree and used to get money and this child somehow related that to it. After this incident the school decided that this child would be bad influence for other children and I finally realized people who are actually not trained to these things can’t deal with these types of circumstances which again becomes the reason of foundation of Prajwala.Question 4: Moderator to Sunitha KrishnanI would be devil’s advocate here but I wanted to ask that when there was a already a system present in the society why did you thought of opening something parallel to it and not strengthening the existing system?Answer: I would if you would have asked that question 20 years I might not have the answer but 20 years later I have some answers. Till date I have been successful in saving 17000 women and children. One of the reasons was behind filling PILs in honorable Supreme Court; the best part was we are on a brink of having a comprehensive legislation work going around this. To add to that my institution is I call a laboratory of experiments for counter trafficking solutions.Currently, we have Emergency, Children and Adult Shelters where children stay from 5-18 years. Because here the psychology plays a major role, a child victim has a different mindset than adult victim. There also HIV Positive victims who are dying slowly but they have the resilience to survive. So in manner of speaking it’s not a parallel system, it’s a way to show to that see I have done in this way you also could.Question 4: Moderator to Sunitha KrishnanThe last question which is a controversial in nature, you have always been against Legalizing Prostitution. Can you tell us why? Answer: I was against legalization of prostitution because I never believed in it. Its equivalent to legalizing Rape or legalizing slavery. 40 Times sex/ day in hygienic conditions is not all acceptable for me. The most importantly the legalization never includes what the customers can’t do or shouldn’t do in that cubicle of the brothel.I would give you an example where in brothels of India customers secretly hide a blade, cigarette in their underwear before visiting the brothels. Whereas if you see in abroad for example in Amsterdam where you have a whole menu to select type of blade, cigarette or type of whip, so glorifying the whole sex concept is just not all acceptable for me and I would fight till last until my last breath to make sure people understand the real truth behind prostitution.At the end of the session: Moderator to Sunitha Krishnan Any message you want to share with our audience?Answer: The only thing which I want to say to fathers and mothers here is “Please bring up your son’s properly, and made them understand women’s body is not for objectifying or sex commodity, they should respect women in the society. See the point at the end of the day who are these girls being serviced to they might be our fathers, brothers and sons and eventually when the demand would decrease things would automatically start to change.I also believe that about the safety of women is somehow a man’s attitude towards the situation. Also some times the silence against not speaking up against injustice is disheartening. I had 17 Life threatening attacks till now and I believe the danger is not from the mafia its always has been the Society which has completely blocked them from their mindset which leads to a conclusion that they don’t exist anymore.Also my sense of hope have been myself only because under those layers of pain I found a companion which leaded me to where I am, believe in life every choice you make has a consequence around it. When I took this path I knew I had to carry a baggage and prepared for the consequence mentally. We are a group of small numbers who aren’t the only ones in the world but after 20 years I wouldn’t say we are only voice but we have became a significant voices of victims.My Question to Sunitha Krishnan at the Author’s meet.Hello Mam, You have stated a lot of times that there are instances when a victim loses all hope in humanity and has no hope of survival, how do you manage to bring back that trust on humanity of a 8 years old who has been traumatized and victimized so badly. Is there any incident you want to share with us?Answer: Well to be honest there are not a single incident that I can share there are hundreds actually. (With a big smile) See the victims once they are rescued and they enter into our space they are treated very differently. Whenever there is a new victim comes up a thali with aarti is done and all that stuff. Most importantly the major ratio of my staff are survivors themselves almost 50% of them which means they a survivor receives a victim and not a normal person.Apart from that the whole team of mine including the driver, a cook, a gardener everyone is tuned into that environment otherwise one wrong action, gesture can make huge damage to the whole cycle. So it’s not only one point that corresponds to this but rather there are lot of things involved in creating a sustainable and therapeutic environment for these victims.Thank you Sunitha Krishnan mam (Sunitha Krishnan) PrajwalaHyderabad Literary Festival #HumanTrafficking