Thailand Life: Tropical Ramblings

Travel to Phuket already declining

2008-07-01T12:56:00.001+07:00

The Nation:
"Several major airlines including Thai Airways International are cutting long-haul flights into Thailand next year in line with a forecast 12-per-cent drop in the number of inbound tourists, said the Association of Thai Travel Agents.
ATTA president Apichart Sankary said that although the Tourism Authority of Thailand targets 17 million visitors next year, only 15 million may arrive.
Starting from today, THAI will suspend its New York-Bangkok service. The company has also reduced flight frequencies, re-routed flights with particular impact on its US operations and introduced other cost-cutting measures.
"Other airlines such as Lufthansa are also considering reducing long-haul flights between Thailand and Europe," said Apichart.
Thailand is expected to miss this year's visitor target of 15.7 million. ATTA, which encompasses inbound travel agencies, expects the number to reach only 15 million.
While domestic tourism will be more sluggish than last year due to political conflict, Apichart attributed the lower number of foreign visitors to efforts in Europe and the United States to lure tourists from the Middle East.
Maitree Narukhatpichai, president of Phuket Tourism Association, admitted that foreign tourists' bookings for the island this month had dropped 15-20 per cent from last year's level due to political tensions, which were driving away visitors from major markets.
Seni Phuwasethavorn, president of the Koh Samui Tourism Business Association, said the high season would not be as active as last year due to the higher cost of traveling.
For instance, the ferry fare from Surat Thani to the island will soon be increased by 20 per cent. Currently, Samui's hotel occupancy rate is at 60 per cent, down from 70-80 per cent in the same period last year."

Bangkok Post:
"Tourism prospects in the approaching high season in Phuket and Phang Nga may not be as brisk as anticipated earlier, as continued rising oil prices are expected to deter some travellers.
Maitree Narukatpichai, president of Phuket Tourist Association, forecast that average hotel occupancy in Phuket in the coming high season from November to April would be 70% this compared with 75% in the 2006-07 high season.
Phuket has a total of 50,000 hotel rooms, up from 40,000 three years ago when many properties were still rebuilding after the 2004 tsunami.
The association projected tourism revenue in Phuket this year would amount to between 94 billion and 95 billion baht.
The hotel occupancy rate in May and June, the trough of the low season, was only 10-15% compared with 50% in the same period last year. The low rate was attributed mainly to high oil prices and the resulting surge in airfares.
Air tickets normally account for about 60-70% of the total expense of visitors.
Phuket has long been popular with Europeans, who are now facing fuel surcharges in the hundreds of dollars on top of the cost of their long-haul air tickets.
However, Mr Maitree said it would be too early to project the precise hotel occupancy rate in the high season, as most of the bookings would be concluded in August.
Should bookings decline, he said local hoteliers may need to design special tourism package to attract the visitors.
Chittiporn Suthipibul, deputy managing director of Khao Lak Resort in Phang Nga province, said hotel occupancy in Khao Lak from May to October was estimated at only 15%, up from 10% in the same period last year. However, the occupancy rate during the high season was expected to rise up to 85% compared with 70% a year earlier. Khao Lak currently has 5,000 hotel rooms, about 80% fewer than before the tsunami.
Last year, Khao Lak attracted 1.8 million visitors, up from 1.1 million in 2006. The figure was expected to top 2.3 million this year. The industry generated about six billion baht in revenue to the area in 2007, with revenue expected to grow to 7-8 billion baht this year."

Thai Beaches Named Most Favorite Asian Destination for Swedish Tourists

2008-06-26T16:37:00.001+07:00

Thailand has been named as the most favorite Asian vacation destination
among Scandinavian visitors, according to the Thai Tourism Authority
office in Sweden.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand’s Stockholm
Office Director Manit Boonchim said that Swedish tourists have voted
for this country as their most favorite place in Asia.

This is
according to an impressively high number of Swedish tourists to
Thailand during the first four months of this year, when around 190,000
people have flown into the kingdom to escape the cold winter to the
sun, sea, and sand here.

Manit said the TAT believes that the
number will rise further as the Swedes are keen to look for new exotic
destinations while vacationing.

He also stated that one of
Sweden’s leading tour companies, Apollo Travel, has reported that it
has been receiving an increasing demand for holidays on the beaches as
well as eco-tourism in Thailand from its Swedish clients these days.

It is now looking for new tourist destinations in the country for family holidays to cope with the rising demand.

Rip Tides at Nai Harn

2008-06-25T16:12:00.001+07:00

From a post in one of the Phuket Internet Forums:

Just a reminder to all we are into that time of year where the sea can get really dangerous.

Many
times the sand bottom can change pretty rapidly, cause a bit of a
dugout which can create super mean undertows and rip tides.

I
was at Nai Hairn beach on Sunday and watched a rip tide form really
quickly. Meanwhile the gal that was in the rip tide, well, her
boyfriend went up on the beach and walked away as she began to
struggle. I went down and motioned for her to move to one side or the
other of the rip tide and then to come into shore.

Remember,
when caught in a rip current sucking out to sea, swim parallel to the
shore and then come in. Don't exhaust yourself swimming against the
current.

Be safe and enjoy the beach.

Phuket Upcoming Events: 2008 Laguna Phuket International Marathon

2008-06-03T08:35:00.000+07:00

This year’s Laguna Phuket International Marathon, the third, is expected to attract some 4,000 competitors, of whom 1,500 will be coming from 40 countries overseas.

The 2008 Laguna Phuket International Marathon will be held from June 13th to 15th 2008 in Bang Tao Beach.

How many people live in Phuket?

2008-06-02T11:29:00.000+07:00

On the occasion of an argument between the state and the province, Phuket governor Niran Kalayanamitr, released an information which much suspected already, but had never been officially formulated regarding the number of inhabitants in Phuket.

Indeed, he complained that Phuket had received unusually low allocations in the past because the government had based the budget on the island's registered population, which stood at only 300,000 people.
Actually, according to Mr. Kalayanamitr, up to a million people live in Phuket and around six million people visit the island annually.

Phuket hotels and hotel location maps on Google Earth

2008-05-21T13:22:00.002+07:00

Google Earth and Google Maps are great tools to explore locations of interest and plan your holidays; is this bungalow REALLY on the beachfront? How far is the ferry port REALLY away.
Listed below is a complete list of hotels, bungalows, guest houses and resorts on Phuket Island, famous holiday beach destination in the South of Thailand. The hotels can be viewed individually or on a full overview map of Phuket sorted by beach.

Phuket Hotel List A-Z [187 hotels

A

Absolute Patong Ville (prev Patong Grand Ville)

Absolute Sea Pearl Beach

Access Resort and Spa

Alila Phuket

All Seasons Naiharn Phuket Hotel (Prev: Sabana Resort)

Allamanda Laguna Phuket

Aloha Villa Phuket

Alpina Phuket Nalina Resort

Amanpuri

Amora Beach Resort Phuket

Anchan Resort and Spa

Andaman Beach Suite

Andaman Cannacia Resort and Spa

Andaman Seaview Hotel

Andaman Seaview Resort

Andaman White Beach Resort

Aochalong Villa Resort and Spa

Aquamarine Resort and Villa

Arahmas Resort and Spa

Aspasia Phuket

At Panta Phuket

Ayara Hilltops (Former: Treetops Arasia)

B

Baan Boa Resort

Baan Karon Resort

Baan Karonburi Resort

Baan Krating Phuket Resort

Baan Laimai

Baan Sukhothai Hotel and Spa

Baan Yin Dee

Ban Raya Resort And Spa Koh Racha

Bel Aire Resort Phuket

Benyada Lodge

Best Western Phuket Ocean Resort

Best Western Premier Bangtao Beach

Best Western Premier Supalai Resort and Spa

Blue Marine Resort and Spa

Boat Lagoon Resort

Boomerang Village

Bundarika Villa Wellness Retreat

By The Sea Residence

C

Cape Panwa Resort

CC Blooms Phuket

Centara Karon (prev Central Karon Beach)

Centara Kata

Centara Villas Phuket (prev Central Karon Village)

Chandara Resort and Spa

Club Andaman Beach Resort

Club Bamboo Resort

Coconut Village Resort

Coral Island Resort

D

Deevana Resort and Spa

Diamond Cliff Resort and Spa

Diamond Cottage Resort and Spa

Duangjitt Resort

Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket

E

Elixir Resort

Evason Six Senses Phuket

F

Front Village Resort

H

Hilton Arcadia Phuket

Himmaphan

Homduang Bel Air Panwa

Horizon Beach Resort Hotel

Horizon Karon Beach Resort and Spa

Hyton Leelavadee

I

Impiana Cabana Phuket Resort and Spa

Indigo Pearl

J

Jintana Patong

JW Marriott Phuket

K

K Hotel and Biergarten

Kalim Resort

Kamala Beach Hotel And Resort

Kamala Beach Inn

Kantary Bay Hotel (Former : The Bay Hotel)

Karon Beach Resort

Karon Place

Karon Princess Hotel

Karon Sea Sands Resort

Karon View Resort

Karon Whale Resort

Karona Resort and Spa

Katathani Phuket Beach Resort

Katina Hotel (prev ST Plaza)

Koyao Bay Pavilions

Koyao Island Resort

L

Laguna Beach Resort

Laguna Holiday Club Phuket Resort

Layan Beach Resort and Spa Village

Le Meridien Phuket Beach Resort

Leelawadee Boutique Hotel

M

Maiton Resort

Malisa Villas Suites

Manathai Phuket

Mangosteen Resort And Spa

Marina Phuket (prev Marina Cottage)

Mercure Patong Beach

Merlin Beach Resort

Metropole Phuket

Millennium Resort Patong Phuket

Mission Hills Golf Resort and Spa

Mom Tris Boathouse

Mom Tris Villa Royale

Montana Grand Phuket

Movenpick Resort and Spa Karon Beach (Prev: Crown Plaza Karon Beach Hotel)

N

Nai Yang Beach Resort

Naithonburi Beach Resort

Nipa Resort

Novotel Beach Resort Panwa Phuket

Novotel Phuket Resort

O

Old Phuket Boutique Hotel

Orchidacea Resort (prev: Pop Cottage)

P

Paradise Resort Koh Yao

Patong Bay Garden Resort

Patong Bayshore Hotel

Patong Beach Hotel

Patong Beach Lodge

Patong City Hotel

Patong Cottage Resort

Patong Green Mountain Resort

Patong Lodge Hotel

Patong Merlin Hotel

Patong Paragon

Patong Pearl Resortel

Phuket Graceland Resort and Spa

Phuket Island Pavilion

Phuket Merlin Hotel

Phuket Orchid Resort

Phuket Pavilions Hotel and Villas

Phuket Town Inn

Phulin Resort

Poppa Palace

Premier Resort Patong

Print Kamala Resort

R

Ramada Resort Karon Beach (prev Felix Karon)

S

Sala Phuket Resort and Spa

Salathai Resort

Sawasdee Guest House

Sawasdee Village

Sea Sun Sand Resort Phuket

Seaview Patong Hotel

Seeka Boutique Resort

Serene Resort Phuket (prev Sea Wind)

Sheraton Grande Laguna Phuket

Sino House

Six Senses Erawan Koh Naka Yai

South Sea Karon Resort

Sri Panwa

Sugar Palm Resort

Sunset Beach Resort

Sunset Mansion Phuket

Sunwing Phuket

T

Thara Patong Beach Resort and Spa (prev Swiss-Belhotel Thara Patong)

Thavorn Beach Village and Spa

Thavorn Grand Plaza Hotel

The Royal Phuket Yacht Club (prev Le Royal Meridien Phuket Yacht Club)

The Taste Phuket Town

Thiwa Ratri Resort and Spa

Tony Resort Phuket

Trisara

Tropica Bungalow

Tropical Garden Resort Phuket

Twinpalms Phuket

V

Village Resort and Spa Phuket

W

Woraburi Phuket

Up to 9 FREE Nights on Phi Phi Island with the latest hotel specials!

2008-05-15T13:33:00.005+07:00

For a long time Phi Phi Island has been one of the most popular destinations in Thailand. With beautiful beaches and crystal clear waters it still retains its small tropical island without roads identity.
Few get to see and experience the more exclusive places on the island such as the Phi Phi Island Village Villas (pictured right) and the Zeavola Phi Phi Resort.
Perfect for honeymoons and anniversaries the private villas offer breathtaking views and unrivaled luxury.
View photo galleries, descriptions and reviews for these luxury resorts and more at Phi-Phi.com.

At a time when everything around us seems to be getting more expensive, Amazing Thailand asserts itself as the ultimate holiday destination for 2008 with unbeatable holiday deals.

Offering great weather, dozens of exotic locations and a multitude of activities suitable for all tastes and ages. World famous Thai cuisine and hospitality. Now, hotelATM are adding to the list of reasons to visit. Massive Savings!

With over 90 Featured Hotel Free Night Offers to choose from and your sure to find what your looking for. And don't forget our own 10 Year Anniversary Offer available on EVERY hotel listed in our websites. There have never been more reasons to book your holiday today!

Links of Interest:

Trekking at Khao Ra (Phangan Viewpoint)

2008-05-10T10:12:00.001+07:00

Your best bet for seeing the authentic Koh Phangan away from the resorts is to go trekking! A trekking trip up Khao Ra – the island’s highest point above sea level – takes you through unspoiled rainforest of Phangan Island.
Head to Ban Madua Wan village north of Thongsala and pick up a trekking guide at the Phaeng Waterfall National Park. This will run you about 11 Euros, but is worth it to successfully trek your way up Khao Ra!
Take a swim suit to enjoy the rocky pools along the way, and cool off during the more than 600 meter above sea level climb to the breathtaking vista from Khao Ra.

Links of Interest:

Phangan Island hotels

Phangan hotels and hotel location maps on Google Earth

2008-05-09T12:52:00.005+07:00

Google Earth and Google Maps are great tools to explore locations of interest and plan your holidays; is this bungalow REALLY on the beachfront? How far is the ferry port REALLY away.
Listed below is a complete list of hotels, bungalows, guest houses and resorts on Koh Phangan, famous party island for the Full Moon Party. The hotels can be viewed individually or on a full overview map of Koh Phangan sorted by beach.

Koh Phangan Hotel List A-Z [65 hotels]

A

Ananda Resort

B

Baan Bang Rak Resort and Spa

Baan Panburi Village

Baan Talay Guesthouse

C

Chaloklum Bay Resort

Charm Beach Resort

Coco Garden Bungalows

Cocohut Village

Cookies Salad Resort

D

Delight Resort Phangan

Dew Shore Bungalow

Drop In Club Resort and Spa

F

First Villa Phangan

G

Garden Lodge Ban Tai

Golden Hill Wok Tum

Grand Sea Resort Koh Phangan

Green Papaya Resort

H

Haad Son Resort

Haad Tian Beach Resort

Hansa Resort

Havana Beach Resort

High Life Bungalow

I

Ibiza Bungalow Haad Yao

J

Jungle House Resort

L

Lighthouse Bungalow

Long Bay Resort

Loyfa Bungalow

M

Mai Pen Rai Bungalows

O

Ocean View Resort Phangan

Oceanus Resort

P

Panviman Koh Phangan

Pariya Haad Yuan

Phangan Bayshore Resort

Phangan Beach Resort

Phangan Cabana Resort

Phangan Centerpoint

Phangan Great Bay Resort

Phangan Orchid Resort (Bankai Orchid Resort)

Phangan Paragon Resort and Spa

Phangan Utopia

Phanganburi Resort and Spa

Phrueksa Beach Resort

R

Royal Orchid Resort Koh Phangan

Rung Arun Resort

S

Salad Beach Resort

Santhiya Resort and Spa

Sarikantang Resort and Spa

Sea Garden Resort and Spa

Smile Beach Resort

Sunset Cove

T

Thongnaipan Beach Resort and Spa (prev Raiwin Beach Resort)

V

Venus Resort

Vimarn Samut Resort

W

Wattana Resort

Links of Interest:

Burma relief efforts underway

2008-05-08T15:21:00.002+07:00

With the death toll in Myanmar now feared to be more than 100,000, a number of aid organizations have started relief efforts in the hardest-hit areas.
World Vision is reporting that it is already providing clothing as well as tarpaulins, blankets, rice and drinking water in the capital, Yangon. As of yesterday, World Vision had delivered 34.8 metric tons of rice, 18,000 liters of drinking water and 150 gallons of diesel for water pump generators to people in need. Clothing, blankets and tarpaulins have also been handed out to people living in six World Vision program areas in Yangon.

From the Phuket Gazette:

World Vision estimates that up to 2 million people may be affected by Cyclone Nargis, which devastated the area.
Meanwhile, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) yesterday sent four aircraft loaded with food aid and other relief items that were expected to reach thousands of people today.
A total of 45 metric tons of high-energy biscuits (HEBs) is expected to arrive on three flights of WFP-chartered aircraft at Yangon airport early this morning – the first UN flights to arrive in the city.By yesterday, a total of 90 tons of rice had been distributed by WFP and NGO partners in Irrawaddy Division townships and Yangon.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies estimates that 95% of homes were destroyed in the low-lying delta region of the Irrawaddy River. The Myanmar Red Cross has been handing out relief supplies, such as clean drinking water, plastic sheeting, clothing, kitchen items and insecticide-treated bed nets to help prevent malaria.
Additionally, the International Federation has sent a first deployment of shelter kits from Kuala Lumpur and has released an initial 200,000 Swiss francs (US$189,000) to support the Red Cross relief effort.
Relief efforts have been hampered by the Myanmar government’s reluctance to lift restrictions on movement of commodities and international staff, the WFP reported. Several agencies and countries, including Thailand, have pledged aid but are still awaiting visa and goods-import approvals to be granted.
The Gazette has yet to learn of any government-led local relief efforts underway in Phuket, as the central government is handling aid coordination from Bangkok.
Readers who know of any private aid efforts being organized in Phuket are encouraged to contact the Gazette with details on how people can donate and volunteer.

Links of Interest:

Various Google Earth data about Cyclone Nargis

2008-05-07T13:44:00.001+07:00

Google has just released a layer for Google Earth which shows some data about the path of the cyclone in Myanmar, along with some maps to display the extent of the flooding. They
were built by UNOSAT, an organization working to help the people of Myanmar.

Also, NASA has created a simple KML that shows a powerful satellite image of the storm as it was charging toward the coast; it has also added an image showing the current aerial view of the country. Extensive flooding is quite visible. Get the file here.

Here are a few screenshots from the files:

Links of Interest:

Original post from Digital Earth Blog

Burma generals blocking aid while 30,000 are dead

2008-05-07T09:23:00.002+07:00

Quite difficult to understand, after Burma and its regime of military has received pledges of outside help in the human catastrophe following cyclone Nargis, that it still bars aid workers form entering the country.
As there was a holiday yesterday, Burma's embassy was closed and not offering visas for aid workers -- quite an unimaginable bureaucratic failure in light of the possibility, that much more than 30,000 people might have been killed and most of the current rice crop devastated.
My personal feeling would be NOT to give money to aid organizations; initially harsh for the population affected, but it is very doubtful that any help will reach them and secondly, it further solidifies the hold of the junta on Burma -- which must be broken or suffering on a much larger scale will follow. The choosing of the lesser evil...

From the Bangkok Post:

"The military junta has appealed for international aid to cyclone victims, but five days after the storm experts cannot even reach victims. In Bangkok, the [Burmese] embassy simply took Monday off for a holiday rather than issue visas, further frustrating would-be aid teams.
Thailand plans to ship 40 tons of food and medical supplies on Wednesday, but there is no sign the aid can be delivered from the airport to the needy. Nine tons of food and medicine were loaded on a Royal Thai Air Force C-130 cargo plane which flew to Rangoon yesterday. It was the first international aid to reach Burma - four days after the storm."

DPA:

"The government of Burma has not responded to a request to waive visa requirements for international relief workers waiting for permission to bring much needed aid to victims of Cyclone Nargis, the UN said Tuesday.
The UN had asked the military junta to waive visas for relief workers assembled in nearby Bangkok so they can begin their journey to Burma, said Rachid Khalikov, an official of the UN emergency relief department at UN headquarters in New York. But the Burmese embassy in Bangkok simply closed up on Monday, because it was a Thai holiday."

Links of Interest:

Burma cyclone might have killed 30,000

Burma cyclone might have killed 30,000

2008-05-06T23:21:00.003+07:00

Maybe even worse than the tsunami of 2004, a tropical cyclone called Nargis hit Burma with very heavy rainfalls and winds up to 200km/h. As the cyclone was compounded by a storm surge of up to 3 meters in height up the Irawaddy river delta, a very large and flat rice growing region, most of the death toll comes form this flooding, because people were unable to flee the rising water.

Burma has had ample warnings of this storm coming, up to a week in advance, but seemingly failed to warn its population of this natural occurrence. It is now feared that the death toll might be even higher than 30,000, some even quoting numbers of possible hundreds of thousands.

NASA satellite pictures showing the flooded Iravaddy delta in Burma

TNA:

"The Thai government has approved a US$100,000 grant to assist victims of Cyclone Nargis which devastated Myanmar over the weekend, and Thailand will consider further assistance as the Cabinet meets today, according to the minister of foreign affairs.
Interviewed on the morning news program on Modernine TV (TV Channel 9), Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama said the ministry doubled its aid to $100,000 from an initial $50,000 to help cyclone-battered Myanmar.
The cabinet meeting today will discuss providing more assistance on rehabilitation work, he said.
"We are among the countries that offered help to Myanmar early. The army on Monday sent dry food and medical supplies to cyclone-hit areas by a C-130 military transport aircraft. The Myanmar foreign ministry thanked Thailand for the humanitarian aid," Mr. Noppadon said.
Myanmar's state media said last weekend's cyclone killed some 10,000 persons in the town of Bogalay in the country's Irrawaddy Delta, raising fears that the country's overall death toll will rise significantly.
The Associated Press reported Myanmar's foreign minister told diplomats in Yangon on Monday that, overall, more than 10,000 people may have died when Cyclone Nargis struck Saturday.
Myanmar has appealed for urgent assistance from the international community in wake of the disaster."

Agencies:

"At least 15,000 people were killed in the Burma cyclone and the toll is likely to rise as officials make contact with the worst-hit Irrawaddy delta areas, the military government's foreign minister said today.
Nyan Win said on state television that 10,000 people had died in just one town, Bogalay, as he gave the first detailed account of what is emerging as the worst cyclone to hit Asia since 1991, when 143,000 people died in Bangladesh.
The total left homeless by the 190kph winds and 3.5-metre storm surge is in the several hundred thousands, United Nations aid officials say, and could run into the millions.
The scale of the disaster drew a rare acceptance of outside help from the diplomatically isolated generals, who spurned such approaches in the aftermath of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami."

The Nation:

"Despite weather advisory from Thailand-based Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre, Burmese citizens were not given enough notice to prepare for Cyclone Nargis.
Burma's Department of Meteorology and Hydrology was told of the formation of Cyclone Nargis a week in advance, but the country was not prepared to handle a disaster of this magnitude.
Bhichit Rattakul, executive director of Thailand-based Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre (ADPC), said yesterday that one of the first warnings came from the US Navy's Joint Typhoon Warning Centre, which issued an alert on April 27.
The ADPC, which established an Asia-Pacific-wide early-warning centre for natural disasters at Thailand's Asian Institute of Technology in the wake of 2004 tsunami disaster, forecast the tropical cyclone in the Bay of Bengal, he said." ...
"According to news reports, large areas of southwest Burma are under water after the devastating cyclone that struck at the weekend, killing at least 22,000 people, satellite images show.
Tropical Cyclone Nargis slammed into Burma late on Friday, wiping away entire villages in the Irrawaddy delta and wreaking destruction on a country that is already one of the poorest on the planet.
Nasa pictures taken on Monday show the entire coastal plain under water, with fallow agricultural areas of the delta - the country's main rice-growing region - particularly hard hit by flooding."

Times Online:

"Most of the victims of the Burma cyclone were overwhelmed by a 12ft moving wall of water that bore down on their low-lying villages at the mouth of the Irrawaddy river delta.
In a rare press conference, members of the Burmese junta today gave the most detailed description to date of the disaster that killed at least 22,000 people at the weekend, and left a further 41,000 missing, according to Burmese state radio.
“More deaths were caused by the tidal wave than the storm itself,” said Maung Maung Swe, Burma's Minister for Relief and Resettlement, at a news conference in the rubble-strewn city of Rangoon, where food and water supplies are running low.
“The wave was up to 12ft (3.5 meters) high and it swept away and inundated half the houses in low-lying villages. They did not have anywhere to flee.”" ...
"“The impact of the disaster could be worse than the (2004 Asian) tsunami because it is compounded by the limited availability of resources on top of the transport constraints.”"

Links of Interest:

Earthquake in Krabi

2008-05-05T15:23:00.001+07:00

An earthquake with a magnitude of 2.7 on the Richter scale hit Krabi Sunday evening.

From The Nation:

The Meteorological Department reported that the quake took place at 5:55 pm. Its epicenter was in Play Phaya district at latitude 8.38 north and longtitude 98.44 east.
People living in Surat Thani's Phanom district could feel the quake.

Links of Interest:

Krabi Destination and Hotels guide

Patong clubs: Club Lime on Patong Beach Road

2008-05-01T11:26:00.005+07:00

Club Lime is a great addition to the Patong clubbing scene, found on Patong Beach Road right besides Rock City opposite the beach.
It can be easily found by the sign -- a huge slice of lime (what else?) -- and its neon interior that lights the street below. And in the early morning hours, the booming, hypnotic sound would be a magnet even for the blind.

This place is a sophisticated sort of 3-in-1 venue: nightclub, bar and restaurant – with very good food. But lets forget about the food: that is for old people! What about the music?

Music is mostly House, Techno or Tribal, played by the club's resident or visiting DJs. Club Lime is also developing a tasty line in drum-and-bass, the only place in Phuket featuring this music.
One can say that the owners of Club Lime try very hard to increase the quality of the music played in Patong, so far with mixed success; guest DJs from Bangkok are regularly on the program and for a while it was even rumored that DJ Tiesto would play there (but he went to play in Bangkok instead, his price tag was well out of line for such a small venue).

Open from 6 pm till late. Thursday’s ladies' night – free entry and a free drink for girls only. On other nights expect to pay 200 baht, or more if there's a special act.

Other have visited too, for example Matt Crook, who had the following to say:

I went to Club Lime for the first time on Friday night. What's good about this place is that it pushes real dance music and the DJs are fairly decent. The music was primarily electro, with a bit of house and tech house to boot. It was real dance floor stuff, although Club Lime doesn’t have much of a dance floor. But still, there is space in front of the bar to dance.

The guys at Club Lime are looking to push clubbing in Phuket to new boundaries. Starting next month, there will be drum ‘n’ bass nights (which I might get involved in) and more DJs will be asked to play.

The only thing with Club Lime is the people who go there. This is something that needs a bit of work. Hopefully a couple of articles I'm writing will drive some actual clubbers to the venue.

At the moment, it feels a bit like Bed Supperclub. Lime is full of old dudes and property sales girls. The sales girls in particular get on my nerves because they do nothing except take pictures of one another and rub their bodies on each other when everybody is looking.

... the last thing would not be all that bad for me personally to witness :-)

Links of Interest:

Go directly to a Thai Prison -- NOT!

2008-04-30T15:54:00.004+07:00

In case you have wondered, no, it is definitely not a good idea to break the law in Thailand and go to jail for it!
Not only have there been a whole range of books of former Bangkok prison inmates published, there is also a blog detailing daily life in a Thai prison; and unsurprisingly, it does not sound like fun at all...

Bangkwang is Bangkok’s maximum-security jail; designed for lifers and death row prisoners. All Bangkwang prisoners are serving sentences of at least 25 years and of its 7,000 inmates - mostly drug offenders - 883 have been sentenced to death.

The Thai people call Bangkwang the "Big Tiger" because it is a man-eater. Scores of prisoners have been put to death in its notorious execution chamber.

As the Times Online mentions, Bang Kwang Prison in Bangkok is #3 of the 10 most notorious prisons in the world:

Tempted to take a little marijuana on your fortnight package tour of Thailand? It may be unwise unless you want to end up in the infamous “Bangkok Hilton”.
In recent years the prison's population has trebled to 7,000 and the guards are out-numbered 50-1. Every inmate there is serving more than 25 years and for the first three months of their sentence each is forced to wear leg irons.
Inside Building 10, prisoners are held in solitary confinement in pitch-black cells two meters square wearing “elephant chains” for months on end.
"Thai prisons are tough," says Director of Prisons Khun Nattee in a superfluous warning to tourists. "You don't want to be in Bang Kwang."

Links of Interest:

Times Online
Information about visiting Bang Kwang prison
Angel of Bang Kwang Prison
Thai Prison Blog: life snippets of a Thai youth imprisoned for drug offences (in English)
Thai Visa Discussion
Escape from Klong Prem Prison
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Aey Pornthip sexy photo shoot at the Zeavola Phi Phi Resort

2008-04-29T16:57:00.012+07:00

Aey Pornthip, a well-known actress in Thailand, hat recently a sexy photo shoot at the Zeavola Resort on Phi Phi Island where she was photographed by Tada Varich for 'in magazine'.

Zeavola Phi Phi is by far the most accomplished resort on Phi Phi island and offers a spa already famous around the region. Its secluded location -- it is only reachable by boat -- make it the perfect spot for a romantic tryst -- with Aey maybe...?

About the Zeavola Resort from Chubby Hubby:

"On Phi Phi island, we stayed at the gorgeous Zeavola Resort. This resort is built to look like an ancient Thai village, but with modern (and luxurious) touches.
There are two F&B outlets, a casual beachside cafe and a sexy, open-air restaurant with lovely design elements.
The food is good too. For dinner, we had a yummy crab pasta with asparagus. For breakfast the next day, we had a fantastic dish the hotel calls “Thai Royal Eggs”, which was fried eggs with minced chicken, sausages and other yummy stuff served on a cast-iron pan.
A really cute touch that I liked was that the breakfast menu here is printed on a wax-lined bag. Inside the bag are freshly fried dough fritters, which are served with your choice of sweetened condensed milk or a pandan jam."

Links of Interest:

Zeavola Phi Phi Resort and Spa on phi-phi.com
Zeavola hotel image gallery and travel reviews
Zeavola Resort and Spa Phi Phi on this blog (also here)
Tourism news: Japanese investors take over Zeavola Resort
Thai sexy girls: Nun Woranuch
More Aey Pornthip pics

Bangkok's Lebua Hotel has another controversy cooking

2008-04-28T10:38:00.000+07:00

Bangkok's Lebua Hotel -- already before in the media with bad press -- has another think cooking: literally.
Somewhere in the firmament of Michelin-starred chefs there must be one willing to accept $8,000 for a single night's work. The only catch is that this particular dinner at a Bangkok luxury hotel has stirred up a mighty controversy, and two dozen chefs around the world have declined to cook it.

I personally find this quite disgusting in its hypocrisy:

Bangkok’s Lebua hotel, which is organizing the dinner, is no stranger to publicity - or to Michelin-starred chefs. Last year, it put on a decadent feast billed as the meal of a lifetime for $25,000 a head. Six three-star Michelin chefs were flown in from Europe to cook the 10-course meal, each plate paired with a rare vintage wine.

On April 5, the Lebua is offering another 10-course spread, this time for free. The hotel has invited 50 of its biggest-spending customers to the dinner prepared - it hopes - by three top-ranked Michelin-starred chefs.

There is one twist. Before dinner, guests will be jetted to a poor village in northern Thailand to spend the afternoon soaking up the sights of poverty. The dinner and full-day excursion will cost the hotel $300,000.

Links of Interest:

Patong nude girls on the beach

2008-04-27T11:13:00.002+07:00

Nude beaches in Thailand? Do they really exist? If one believes Lonely Planet, then nude sunbathing on the beaches pf Thailand is illegal; but so would be driving around without a helmet, gambling, or prostitution.
And with the bars full of Thai girls just a few meters away, it does not wonder when tourists coming to Phuket and Patong Beach argue rightly that there is much fuss about little. It is the 21st century after all, so showing some skin is not such a big deal (all the better if the girl looks the part).

In the end, let's not forget, Thailand is about 'sanook', 'sabai sabai' -- and making money. Breaking their own laws to get to the tourist Euros is fine, so bending them to habe a nice topless beach holiday is surely within limits. At least that is what those two nude girls on Patong Beach would have argued when asked.Links of Interest:

'Buddhist magic' bubble is bursting

2008-04-26T15:22:00.000+07:00

To the list of speculative market bubbles popping around the world, add this: Thai religious talismans. The talk is about so-called Jatukkam-Ramathep-Amulets with magic Buddhist powers, originally only from one temple in Nakhorn Sri Thammarat.
As Phuket, my home, is not very far from this Southern Thai city, a lot of the elder male generation here bought such amulets and many are wearing them. I personally think the Jatukham Amulets with their inscriptions from (Hindu) mythology and oversized format look rather gaudy, and Buddhist magic has little place in my personal understanding of Buddhism -- but who am I to tell the Thai people about Buddhism?

The popularity of the amulets, known as Jatukam Ramathep, goes back about two decades. Depending on who tells the story, they are named after either a 17th-century king or a Hindu god who reputedly defended the Buddhist monastery here from pirate attacks. Phantarak Rajadej, a previous police chief in Nakhon Si Thammarat, began making and selling a limited number of talismans in the 1980s to raise money for a Buddhist shrine. He is widely believed in the town to have mastered the art of black magic to ward off his enemies. After he died in 2006 at the age of 104, production in amulets surged.
Word about the talismans' supernatural powers quickly spread to Bangkok, the capital. Amulet traders say prices ballooned because many Thais were worrying about the impact of a military coup in September 2006. Some wanted to buy spiritual help to see them through the turmoil and maybe make them rich. Models carried names such as "Super Rich to the Heavens" and "Eternally Wealthy" and dealers paid millions of dollars in newspaper and television advertisements to fuel the frenzy. The research department of Thai bank Kasikornbank PCL estimated that the market for Jatukam Ramathep amulets swelled to $1.5 billion last year.

Nakhon Si Thammarat and its Buddhist clergy were among the biggest beneficiaries. Visitors arrived from Bangkok and as far away as Malaysia and Singapore. A room at the swankiest hotel in town, the Twin Lotus, required a reservation three months in advance. Airlines laid on extra flights to town, while prominent businesspeople chartered planes to fly monks and other VIPs to the Buddhist temple where the talismans were blessed, the 13th-century Wat Phra Mahatat. Amulet dealers in Bangkok say the temple has earned over a million dollars, which it is now using to repair walls, crumbling spires and ancient bell towers.

In Nakhon Sri Thammarat a lot of the local people supplemented their small incomes by buying up batches and selling them at a profit. In a pattern now painfully familiar to investors the world over, the boom was so great -- some amulets sold for as much as $75,000 -- that the bust could only be close behind. A glut, combined with growing suspicions that many amulets hadn't been properly blessed by Buddhist monks, has blown the bottom out of the market in the past few weeks. Most of the little clay objects, part of a billion-dollar-plus industry just a few months ago, are now practically worthless.
As a result, thousands of others across the country are now deep in debt. Some of the traders even have filed a suit for damages against their dealer, as well as the abbot of Wat Phra Mahatat for allowing his name to be used on posters advertising the amulets. Elsewhere in this small fishing town, the wife of the police chief is suing a district mayor, claiming he delivered a load of faulty amulets; he claims she's just trying to duck out of a deal since the market's collapse.

The abbot of Wat Phra Mahatat, Phra Thepvinyaporn, is unperturbed. "I'm not surprised that somebody would try to sue me," he says. "Many people are broken-hearted and will do anything to recoup their losses." But he says it is only natural that markets go up and then down. "There is a cycle, just like fireworks," he says, polishing his thick glasses and adjusting his orange robe in the baking heat. "When you light the firework it rushes skywards, then booms and disappears. When it's gone, you wait for another firework to be lit."

Comment from Forest Wisdom:

"Reading the news this week about the demise of the Jatukham Ramathep amulets’ popularity leads to further reflection. For a start, it shows how unwise I was to get so upset by the use of such talisman, for it was always going to be an impermanent craze. All crazes are. Getting caught up in the issue at the time and attaching to an orthodox view of what constitutes Buddhism, I created suffering around them – much to the bemusement of some of my Thai friends and work colleagues! If I had remained alert to the impermanent nature of such crazes, this suffering wouldn’t have arisen."

Links of Interest:

Lucky Charms In Thailand Are Out of Luck by the Wall Street Journal
Impermanence: Jatukham Ramathep Amulets by Forest Wisdom
Forest Buddhism & 'Magic' Amulets by Forest Wisdom

Free rice

2008-04-25T11:11:00.003+07:00

I just stumbled about a great website, Freerice.com; The site's goals are twofold: Provide English vocabulary lessons for free and help end world hunger by providing free rice to hungry people.
The system, the latest brainchild of e-charity innovator John Breen, works like follows: you select multiple choice word definitions: if you get it right, you get a harder word. If you get it wrong, the next word is easier. For each correct answer, Free Rice donates 20 grains of rice to the United Nations World Food Program.

By further reading up on this website on the internet, it becomes obvious that they have gotten a lot of meduia attention since their start in October 2007. It really is a very fun way to help the poor, all the more necessary with rice prices (and those of other basic staple foods) currently exploding on the world market.

"Freerice.com is an international, viral sensation. Folks from Thailand to Germany and India are just as enthusiastic . . . improving thousands of lives, all with a simple, collective, click of a mouse." - CBS Evening News

In case you were wondering, FreeRice.com is neither a hoax nor a scam, despite its seemingly too-good-to-be-true premise. The rice is paid for by the advertisers whose names you see on the bottom of your vocabulary screen. This is regular advertising for these companies, but it is also something more. Through their advertising at FreeRice, these companies support both learning (free vocabulary for everyone) and reducing hunger (free rice for the hungry).

It's no replacement for good, old-fashioned, get-out-your-checkbook charitable giving, but at 26 billion grains of rice (and counting) donated to date, neither should it be dismissed as just another online time waster.

Links of Interest:

Freerice.com
Web Game Provides Free Rice for Hungry -- BBC News
Lexicographical Beneficence: Freerice.com -- NY Times Magazine
Saving the World One Click at a Time -- Sydney Morning Herald

Zeavola Phi Phi Spa Resort

2008-04-24T13:16:00.002+07:00

I have been at the Zeavola Resort Phi Phi several times and at every visit newly impressed by the beauty of the hotel and the level of care the staff puts into their service. No wonder it is listed amongst the top Small Luxury Hotels of the World and voted by CondoNeste Traveller as "one of the hippest new hotels in the world". Zeavola Phi Phi is by far the most accomplished accommodations on Phi Phi island and is only a 4-5 star hotel because it lacks a full suite of facilities such as tennis courts; however it has a spa already famous around the region and its secluded location -- it is only reachable by boat -- make it the perfect spot for a honeymoon or just a romantic tryst.
I rather elect for the latter, and your girlfriend will be duly impressed by selecting the Zeavola Resort on Phi Phi.

click here for more Phi Phi Island hotel location maps

The beach area continues the theme of the Zeavola as a place to enjoy the best of nature in style. From the Bose speakers in the sand playing ambient music, the low futon like sun beds to the bright blues and yellows of the Tacada Restaurant awnings, the feeling is fresh respectful and smart. The views are wide taking in Moskito Island, Bamboo Island, Koh Lanta, Koh Jum, and the limestone karst scenery on the horizon at Krabi's Phrang Nga.

The 3 Beachfront and Garden Suites are 60m2 and the Village Suite is 40m2. The Village suite doesn't have the changing area or outdoor shower but does have a pretty Zen like sand garden.

The rectangular pool stretches an elegant 18m long, enough to relax and or lap for fitness. Surrounded by colour full deckchairs this is a peaceful facility as most guests seem to hang out by the sea.

Diner at the Baxil Restaurant right on the beach was full of the unexpected like black squid bread and a crab pasta that makes my mouth water even now. The chocolate soufflé is the signature dish of the Zeavola and all my taste buds and senses were replete by the end of the evening.

Breakfast was taken at the Tacada Restaurant on the beach in front of a golden sun rise just 50 meters from the Baxil Restaurnat. The a la carte menu included such delights as eggs Benedictine, the Maharaja meal (Indian curries and breads), the American breakfast with steak as well as usual the fruits, pastries and cereals.

The Spa is a celebration of comfort and style set out by the famed Horwath Spa Consultancy firm run by Khun Napali who created Chiva-som in Hua Hin. As a director of the Thailand Tatler Magazine her style and tastes resonate with those in the know. The extensive spa facilities feature 6 treatment rooms and 4 massage rooms each with relaxation rooms, some with private sauna or steam rooms or 15 degrees C cooling showers. The Hair Salon includes Pedicure, Manicure, all in all everything needed to make you feel special.

Khun Supinda who showed me around informed me that the Zeavola is staffed by 130 people from May to October and about 160 in the high season when the resort is full. When I was there 10 out of the 30 suites were occupied by guests (with another 22 suites available by high season). I think that in the near future the Zeavola will be booked out quickly as it is too good to be unnoticed.

Links of Interest:

Bangkok Dangerous Movie remake with Nicholas Cage

2008-04-23T20:54:00.000+07:00

Bangkok Dangerous, starring Nicolas Cage to be released this fall, is a remake of the original Pang Brothers film from 2000. Generally, American remakes of great Asian films don't turn out very well, but with the original directors onboard, and Nicholas doing his nutcase act, this might be a winner.

Here's a short YouTube clip with all the necessary ingredients: strippers on Soi Cowboy, a transvestite review, fast motorcycles, Thai boxing, big guns,and a targeted politician who looks like a slightly older and plumper Abhisit.

YouTube Clip of the upcoming Bangkok Dangerous

Tiger Bar Phi Phi Beach Party

2008-04-23T12:35:00.002+07:00

Tiger Bar Phi Phi, located in the center of Phi Phi Island in the village, next to Papaya Restaurant, is one of the most happening bars currently open on Phi Phi. The bar has a dance floor and a DJ playing his sound until the early morning hours. They are also quite active in advertisign their venue on the internet, as for example sending out party messages through their Facebook group; have a look if you are interested!

There is also an upstairs chill out lounge with leather couches to relax on and the bar downstairs will quite happily waiter serve your favorite cocktails directly to your sofa.

Tiger Bar offers a complimentary free drink between 9-11pm and a free bucket between 12-10am every night.

Links of Interest:

Eye Candy: Thailand entry for the 2008 Miss Tourism Queen Intl

2008-04-22T23:08:00.004+07:00

For some visual stimulation, I am posting here some pictures of the Thailand entrant of the 2008 Miss Tourism Queen International, held in Zhengzhou, the capital of central China's Henan Province on April 10, 2008. Pichamon Keawthong was under the top 20 finalists and won the Best in Asia Queen competition for 2008. A total of 115 contestants from around the world competed for the crown.

Since 1949, there have been more than 80 countries occasionally holding this competition for their Miss Tourism National Queen. With each country's tourism ambassadors gathering together, Miss Tourism Queen International aims at enhancing the tourism development, the friendship among different countries, and international culture exchange.

Okay, so lets have a closer look at Khun Pichamon!
Links of Interest: