SOUTHERN TROUBLES

The three southern border provinces are bountiful. There are many important and beautiful places there.

Many people visit or live in these provinces because they are livable. But unexpected events have happened in our provinces.

Now, we are facing dangerous events. There is a group that wants to harm people in these provinces. Many people are afraid.

However, last New Year�s Eve, bombs went off in many places in Bangkok. This situation led to a downturn in the Thai economy. I hope everything will be better soon.

I live in Sungai Kolok, Narathiwat. I don�t fear the unrest.

In my opinion, the terrorists are the minority of people in the three southern provinces. The majority of people here aren�t involved in this bad situation. Soon this group will vanish.

Nopadon Runakit
Narathiwat

It would be nice if all the terrorists in the world simply vanished, Nopadon. Unfortunately, I think the issues surrounding terrorism and violence are far too complicated for that to happen. The situation in the Deep South is certainly heartbreaking. As you�ve said, the vast majority of people there would like to live in peace. That�s why it�s the duty of everyone in power to work tirelessly so that a solution can be reached quickly and peace can return to the country. � Editor

GOOFY GOLF

PangYa is an online game. It is about golf. I have known about this game since I was in Matayom 2. That was about a year ago.

I thought that it was as fantastic as other games. As soon as I played it, I liked it very much.

If you play this game, you must first hit the ball into a hole. After that, you will have enough points to buy good things.

If you accumulate a lot of good things, you will play better than before. The more good things you get, the more you want to play.

Wow! Isn�t it fun?

If you want to play this game, you must first have email. Then, you must register to become a member. I hope that you will like this game.

Puntarika Honngam
Udon Thani

You know what, Puntarika? They don�t let just anyone edit Thailand�s top magazine for the young and young at heart. So it probably won�t surprise you when you find out that I�ve played PangYa before. Now, I�m no expert at the game � as proved by the fact that 11 year olds regularly made me look foolish when playing it � but I have seen enough of it to know that it�s a pretty fun way to spend an afternoon. Even better, it�s not violent like so many online games � although, there were a few times when I wished I had the option to whack some mean 11 year olds with a 9-iron. � Editor

TEMPLE TREASURE

This is my first letter to you. I�m 12 years old and study in Matayom 1. If my grammar is wrong, I�m sorry. I�m writing this letter because I would like to introduce you to an interesting place in Thailand.

Have you ever been to Wat Phra Kaew? I went to Wat Phra Kaew (also known as Wat Phra Si Rattana Satsadaram and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha) last month.

I saw lots of beautiful architecture � like the ubosoth where the Emerald Buddha is enshrined, the library where a chest containing the sacred Buddhist scripture is stored, and the royal pantheon with its high spire.

I liked all of the architecture, but the walls with the murals showing scenes from the Ramakien were the best.

OK! I hope you to go to Wat Phra Kaew or one of the many other interesting places in Thailand.

Wasinee Sriapha
Bangkok

I�ve been to a lot of interesting places in Thailand, Wasinee, and Wat Phra Kaew is one of them. It has probably been close to five years since I lasted visited the Grand Palace complex, so it�s just about time for me to head back for another look. � Editor


	bountiful (adj): large; generous livable (adj): fit to live in downturn (n): a fall in the amount of business that is done; a time when the economy becomes weaker unrest (n): a political situation in which people are angry and likely to protest or fight vanish (v): to disappear suddenly and/or in a way that you cannot explain accumulate (v): to gradually get more and more of something over a period of time pantheon (n): a building in which famous people of a nation are buried or honoured mural (n): a painting, usually a large one, done on a wall

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