Just back from Songkran in Phattalung. We left on Friday morning at 6 am, just before dawn and it took 4.5 hours to get there with surprisingly little traffic. Checked in to the same hotel we stayed at for the New Year, the place is OK but the mattress is too hard and curiously they don't supply sheets or a duvet, just a thin blanket. We got an extra one but even so the only really decent sleep I got was when I used both on the last morning, I find I like to have something substantial covering me otherwise it doesn't feel like I am in bed. They have wi-fi too but it is not consistent and speeds vary from zero to slow, usable but frustrating too. I can't use my Aircard in Phattalung either as the only internet available is GPRS and even that is patchy.

We went to the big lake in Phattalung (it has no coastline) and then a hot spring on Saturday. On Sunday we went to another area of the lake that is a bird sanctuary and then to yet another part which they call a beach (though there is no sand). The hot spring was interesting as I'd never been to one before and we had a nice meal at the 'beach' on Sunday, cheap too. I think the bird sanctuary would have been more interesting on a quieter day but the traffic to get there was awful and, coming from Phuket, it seemed to be a long way to go for something that wasn't that special, after all there are many, many beautiful places here that are easier to get too...

Still pleased I have been but won't rush back.

The drive back took a little longer as there was quite a lot more traffic, most likely because we left at 12.30 pm, it was OK though and it was certainly lovely to get back to my Hugs Mattress and comfortable bed. 

HUGS!

This is a bit delayed because we have had a very busy week since coming back to Phuket from Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday evening.

Had a fabulous time at the GP and in KL with Tom Dallyn so thanks to Phuket Live Radio 89.5 for being our sponsors! Surprised that 2 of the competition winners didn't bother to go, I think that if you can't (or don't want to) go you should return your tickets so that somebody else can use them - or pay for them. They cost over $200 each and I'm sure many of the entrants would have loved to have the opportunity to attend.

I have attached some pictures of the trip here: http://s1301.photobucket.com/user/HugsThailand/library/Malaysian%20GP%202013

Hugs!

Flights and hotel are booked, meeting my good friend Tom in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday.

The beauty of the internet means I will still be able to work (though perhaps a little less!) So Hugs Mattress won't miss me too much...

Really looking forward to it, last race I went to was almost 20 years ago, I have had some near misses in that time but never quite made it.

No doubt I'll have some pictures to post next week, just hope it doesn't rain too much!

Excited 

Very happy to say that I have won 2 grandstand tickets to the Malaysian GP courtesy of Phuket Live Radio.

They are worth 6,500 Bt each.

Gotta love it!  

You cannot sneeze while asleep because of something called REM atonia which refers to a state of the brain where outside stimuli and reflexes are not relayed to the brain. If these outside stimuli are sufficiently large you will wake up and then you can sneeze but then obviously you are no longer asleep!

It is also supposedly possible to sneeze without closing your eyes but I don't think I can do it...

Sleep tight, don't let the bugs bite 

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Here is an article that explains the current theories on why we need to sleep. I was also reading elsewhere of a Vietnamese man who didn't sleep for 33 years (with no ill effects) after recovering from an illness in the 1970's. Personally I like snuggling up in bed so I'm glad I still need it, dreams can be fun too.

One thing is for sure, a new Hugs Mattress wouldn't be the cause of insomnia! 

from: http://psychology.about.com/od/statesofconsciousness/p/TheoriesofSleep.htm

Sleep has been the subject of speculation and thought since the time of the early Greek philosophers, but only recently have researchers discovered ways to study sleep in a systematic and objective way. The advent of new technology such as the electroencephalograph has allowed scientists to look at and measure electrical patterns and activity produced by the sleeping brain.

While we can now investigate sleep and related phenomena, not all researchers agree on exactly why we sleep. A number of different theories have been proposed to explain the necessity of sleep as well as the functions and purposes of sleep. The following are three of the major theories of sleep.

Repair and Restoration Theory of Sleep:

According to the repair and restoration theory of sleep, sleeping is essential for revitalizing and restoring the physiological processes that keep the body and mind healthy and properly functioning. This theory suggests that NREM sleep is important for restoring physiological functions, while REM sleep is essential in restoring mental functions.

Support for this theory is provided by research that shows periods of REM sleep increase following periods of sleep deprivation and strenuous physical activity. During sleep, the body also increases its rate of cell division and protein synthesis, further suggesting that repair and restoration occurs during sleeping periods.

Evolutionary Theory of Sleep:

Evolutionary theory, also known as the adaptive theory of sleep, suggests that periods of activity and inactivity evolved as a means of conserving energy. According to this theory, all species have adapted to sleep during periods of time when wakefulness would be the most hazardous.

Support for this theory comes from comparative research of different animal species. Animals that have few natural predators, such as bears and lions, often sleep between 12 to 15 hours each day. On the other hand, animals that have many natural predators have only short periods of sleep, usually getting no more than 4 or 5 hours of sleep each day.

Information Consolidation Theory of Sleep:

The information consolidation theory of sleep is based on cognitive research and suggests that people sleep in order to process information that has been acquired during the day. In addition to processing information from the day prior, this theory also argues that sleep allows the brain to prepare for the day to come. Some research also suggests that sleep helps cement the things we have learned during the day into long-term memory. Support for this idea stems from a number of sleep deprivation studies demonstrating that a lack of sleep has a serious impact on the ability to recall and remember information.

Final Thoughts:

While there is research and evidence to support each of these theories of sleep, there is still no clear-cut support for any one theory. It is also possible that each of these theories can be used to explain why we sleep. Sleeping impacts many physiological processes, so it is very possible that sleep occurs for many reasons and purposes.

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โรงแรมที่ใช้ที่นอนของเรา เช่น ดุสิตธานี แลนด์มาร์คกรุงเทพฯ แมริออท รีสอร์ทแอนด์สปา ทั้งในกรุงเทพฯ และหัวหิน JW Marriott, Club Med & Millennium ภูเก็ต รวมถึง รีสอร์ทหรูหราอื่นๆ อีกหลายแห่งทั่วทุกภูมิภาค

Happy Valentines Day from Hugs Mattress Thailand!

For the best possible Valentines night (sleep) in 2014, please contact us.

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One way that bed manufacturers have reduced the production costs of their beds is to stop making bases with springs in them (known as 'box spring' bases) and to replace them with what is basically just a plywood box. Here in Thailand virtually all mattress manufacturers make them this way and have tried to sell this to customers as some sort of benefit, saying that they have stopped 'motion transfer'. This is complete nonsense as box spring bases act as a form of shock absorber for the mattress and this foundation substantially increases how long the mattress will last.

The only 'benefit' is to the mattress manufacturer, who reduces his costs.

Here at Hugs Mattress Thailand we have now found a manufacturer of proper box spring bed bases here in Thailand and can supply them to customers throughout the Kingdom. We will shortly add them to our website but of course you can contact us for details by email or phone anytime.

Sleep tight, don't let the bugs bite