A Custom-made Chaturanga Game Board: A Great Gift Idea for a visit from India to Japan

If one could commission a custom piece of Chaturanga carved in ivory as a gift when taking to Japan, I'm sure it would be recognized as a very rare and much appreciated gift.

Commercially, I have not yet been able to locate a version of the game available for purchase within India but here is a link of the game available in the US.

Shogi is an ancient Japanese board game said to be derived from the game of chaturanga played in ancient India, which spread throughout the continent of Eurasia, developing into a variety of related games. In the West, it became Chess in China xiangqi (象棋), on the Korean Peninsula janggi(장기), and in Thailand makruk.

Drill For Skill & Mastery - The Kumon Method

I argued for the need for Drills in "Why you need to Play Your Scales". It is also useful to look at the Kumon method , especially for mastering Math and Reading Skills, discovered in Japan 50 years ago, by Toru Kumon.

10 Must See and Do attractions in Phuket

1. Muay Thai (Thai Kick Boxing) - Friday Nights at the Saphan Hin (Boxing) Stadium in Phuket Town
2. Funky Shops on Thalang and Dibuk Roads
3. Night Markets : Patong Beach Road Night Markets, Night Market near Robinsons Department Store in Phuket City, Weekend Market along Phang Nga Road
4. Thalang National Museum Open daily except holidays 8:30am-4pm. Located just east of the Heroines' Monument on Pa Khlok Rd, north of Phuket City (Tel: 076-311025, 076-311426). Admission 30 Baht.
5. Buy good copies of Picasso or Van Gogh - There are a row of shops along Prachanukhao Rd in Patong (the road leading out to Karon), as well as a few along the beach road, selling handpainted copies of all the great works at good prices.
6. Phuket Simon Cabaret 500 Bhat or Rs 560. Thai transvestites "ladyboys" do this cabaret!
7. Wat Chalong Temple and Wat Phra Thong Temple - Don't dress in shorts or skimpy clothing if you want to be admitted inside!
8. Dine at Promthep Cape Restaurant at Laem Phromthep hilltop right after sunset offers the perfect place to end the day with a cool breeze and excellent Thai Food.
9. ancient massage therapy in its original form at Wat Po in Bangkok, where treatments are offered daily for a small fee
10. Night Life on Patong Beach - apart from great places to eat, drink, have fun here are some things you probably should also know.
11. (so who's counting) Must-Dine at (Excerpt from Edward Carter's Travels on Phuket) Owned and managed by The Cabana Hotel on Patong Beach, each of the 3 following is a few steps from the front door- (1) 3 Spices—street-side on the main Beach Road with food from Europe, Thailand, and Australia. two-time recipient of the Thailand Tattler's Outstanding Restaurant Award. A live combo counterpoints the frantic street sounds. (2) Sala Bua Restaurant, just off the beach and the location of the buffet breakfast, has just been voted “Best Restaurant” on Phuket Island by Thailand Tattler restaurant guide. (3) La Salsa—oversized cocktails, Cuban cigars, and the fiery rhythms of Salsa, Mambo, and Meringue. One of the few bars with air-conditioning right in the middle and directly on the hustling, bustling main drag of Patong Beach. Here's a few rules on Thai Dining Etiquette.