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Beware, the 48-hour booze-buying ban starts tonight

2014-07-10T21:38:00.000+07:00

Beware, the 48-hour booze-buying ban starts tonight
By Coconuts Bangkok

BANGKOK: -- The sale of alcohol will be banned on Friday and Saturday as they are two important Buddhist holidays.

The booze ban will be effective for 48 hours from 12:01am on Friday to midnight on Saturday, according to Peerapong Saichua, deputy permanent secretary for the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration.
Full story: http://bangkok.cocon...-starts-tonight

Coconuts test-drives the new Bangkok-to-Cambodia bus service

2013-05-07T00:36:00.001+07:00

By Sarah CuiksaMay 6, 2013 / 13:17

If you’ve ever crossed the border between Thailand and Cambodia, you know it’s not a matter of whether or not you’ll get ripped off, but of just how much you’ll lose in the process.

When Bangkok announced the first public bus service linking the neighboring countries, it helped to ease long-held concerns over the wild scamming endemic to the route. Until now, the trip to Siem Reap, popular among travelers and expats doing visa runs, was a bit like an Olympic triathlon: multiple legs, various terrains and several kinds of transportation. It takes awhile. You sweat a lot.

Bus tickets sold from Khao San Road are notorious for being fraudulent or delivering something other than what was promised. At the Thai border town of Aranyaprathet, swindlers and even immigration officials can quote visas on arrival at double or triple their actual cost. Wikitravel describes Aranyaprathet as “the scene of some of the world’s great border scams - a major local industry.”

So, it was a welcome initiative when the state-operated bus routes to both Siem Reap and Phnom Penh began running in late February. The service would undoubtedly streamline the trip and reduce scamming, right? Not quite.

Coconuts Bangkok traveled the BKK-to-Siem Reap bus route in late April. Here’s what you need to know about the new bus line, and getting over the border with your patience (and wallet) intact:

The buses are operated by the Transport Co. and run daily from Bangkok’s Northern (Mo Chit) Bus Terminal, a 4km taxi ride from the Mo Chit BTS. A passport and cash got me a ticket in less than three minutes from the nice ladies at Booth 22, located inside the terminal.

The bus to Siem Reap left at 9am and cost THB750. (The bus to Phnom Penh departs at 8:15am and costs THB900. Depending on the length of lines you encounter when stamping out of Thailand and arriving at Immigration in Cambodia, it could take anywhere from 7-9 hours for Siem Reap and 11+ hours to Phnom Penh.)

The bus ride from Bangkok to the border took a leisurely four hours. I was served a boxed “breakfast,” consisting of a cookie and a Nescafe packet, which came sans hot water or a mug.

We stopped once just before Aranyaprathet around 12:30pm, where a Royal Thai Army soldier hopped on the bus, checked a couple of foreigners’ passports, moseyed around and hopped off.

In Aranyaprathet, which is 6km from the Cambodian border town of Poipet, we detoured to the bus agency’s office. An English-speaking Transport Co. representative joined us, handing out identification cards which he explained he would use to track us down after we crossed into Poipet and passed immigration.

On our way to the border, we were given lunch. A hot meal! The travelers rejoiced.

But before we crossed the actual border into Poipet, the bus pulled behind a building where we were told to apply for Cambodian tourist visas if we hadn’t already gotten one. Sounds great. Except a Cambodian tourist visa on arrival should cost you USD20-25, not the THB1,100 (USD37) they try to charge you here. The “officer” said the visa costs THB1,000 plus a THB100 processing fee, which he later called a service fee. Later, when asked, he couldn’t explain what either “processing” or “service” entailed. Full Story: http://bangkok.cocon...dia-bus-servic

Bangkok-Cambodia buses launched

2013-02-23T21:09:00.001+07:00

The first buses directly connecting Thailand and Cambodia left Bangkok on Thursday, headed for Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, with the launch of a regular service to bolster tourism and economic ties between the two countries.

The first airconditioned bus from Bangkok to Phnom Penh left Mor Chit terminal, followed by the first bus to Siem Reap, the Transport Co announced.

Drivers are ready to roll the bus from Bangkok to Phnom Penh officially launched on Thursday. (Photo by Pornprom Satrabhaya)

The state company made a test-run on the two routes on Dec 29, 2012, but the service was not launched because "Cambodia was not ready for it", Transport Co managing director Wutthichart Kalayanamitr said in a statement.
The two countries are now running a daily service between the two destinations.
The bus to Phnom Penh leaves the Thai capital at 8.15am and the return trip is at 7am. The fare is 900 baht, or US$30. The 719 kilometre trip takes 11 hours.
The Siem Reap line departs Bangkok at 9am and the return service leaves the Cambodian town at 8am. Siem Reap is the home of two major tourist attractions, Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom. The fare is 750 baht, or US$25, for the 424km trip, which takes seven hours.
The two routes enter Cambodia through Aranyaprathet district in Sa Kaeo.
Transport Co also runs a service to Vientiane, the Lao capital, and Pak Se in southern Laos.

A foreign tourist buys a ticket for the first bus to Phnom Penh, which leaves Bangkok on Thursday. (Photo by Pornprom Satrabhaya)
www.bangkokpost.com

2013 comes in with a bang as power cut hits South Pattaya entertainment zone

2013-01-02T02:27:00.002+07:00

The Pattaya Countdown Festival 2013 has now come to an end as another year begins in Fun City.
As the clock struck midnight at the Bali Hai Port, thousands welcomed in the new year with a spectacular fireworks display and some of Thailand’s top singers and bands including a special performance by one of the most popular bands in Thailand, Big Ass.
Although it was all fun at the Bali Hai Port, the same cannot be said for Walking Street which suffered a major power cut just at the wrong time as patrons in the bars and restaurants prepared to welcome in 2013.
Some bar owners blamed the Countdown Festival for using up the cities supply of electricity and others just kept quiet and tried to continue their celebrations, in the dark.
Whatever you did on New Years Eve Pattaya One hopes you enjoyed yourself and we wish you, your family and friends, a happy and prosperous 2013!

http://www.pattayaon...rtainment-zone/

Rain turns city roads to rivers

2012-09-15T21:15:00.003+07:00

Heavy rain in Bangkok on Friday evening paralysed traffic in many parts of the city, reports said.

The rainfall that drenched the capital from 4pm left commuters and motorists stranded in traffic jams for hours as several major roads were waterlogged, among them Vibhavadi, Phahon Yothin, Sutthisan Winitchai, Ratchadaphisek, Ramkhamhaeng, Ngam Wong Wan and Charan Sanitwong.

The water on most of the roads was between 20 and 30 centimetres deep, spilling over onto pedestrian footpaths.

Sanya Cheenimit, director of the drainage and sewerage department of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), inspected drainage in affected areas and concluded that a total of 16 locations and roads in the capital had been clogged with water due to several hours of heavy rains.

Thawi Watthana district recorded with highest volume of rain at 142 millimetres, followed by Din Daeng (95mm) and Bang Phlat (85mm), he said.

Mr Sanya said earlier that City Hall expected to drain all of the water from the streets by about 8pm if the rain stopped.

Vibhavadi Road (Photo by Post Today)

Phaya Thai Road (Photo by Post Today)

Shortcut to Lat Phrao Soi 64, near Sutthisan area (Photo by Post Today)

Ramkhamhaeng Soi 21 (Photo by Post Today)

In front of the Channel 7 Headquarters Building on Phahon Yothin Road.

http://www.bangkokpost.com

ประกาศศูนย์อุตุนิยมวิทยาภาคเหนือ ฉบับที่ 1 เรื่อง ฝนตกหนัก น้ำท่วมฉับพลัน และน้ำป่าไหลหลาก

2012-09-14T20:08:00.001+07:00

ในช่วงวันที่ 13 – 17 กันยายน 2555 ร่องมรสุมที่พาดผ่านประเทศไทยตอนบนจะมีกำลังแรงขึ้น ประกอบกับมรสุมตะวันตกเฉียงใต้ที่พัดปกคลุมทะเลอันดามัน ประเทศไทย และอ่าวไทย มีกำลังค่อนข้างแรง
ลักษณะเช่นนี้ทำให้ประเทศไทยจะมีฝนตกชุกหนาแน่น และมีฝนตกหนักถึงหนักมากบางแห่งในภาคเหนือ ขอให้ประชาชนระวังอันตรายจากสภาวะอากาศดังกล่าวและติดตามข่าวพยากรณ์อากาศอย่างใกล้ชิดในระยะนี้
ประกาศ ณ วันที่ 13 กันยายน พ.ศ. 2555 ออกประกาศ เวลา 05.30 น.
http://www.cmmet.tmd.go.th/index1.php

ประกาศศูนย์อุตุนิยมวิทยาภาคเหนือ ฉบับที่ 1 เรื่อง ฝนตกหนัก น้ำท่วมฉับพลัน และน้ำป่าไหลหลาก

2012-09-09T17:47:00.000+07:00

ร่องมรสุมพาดผ่านภาคเหนือ ประกอบมีฝนตกหนักถึงหนักมากสะสมในหลายพื้นที่ของภาคเหนือ และมีแนวโน้มจะมีฝนตกหนักต่อไปอีก ขอให้ประชาชนบริเวณพื้นที่เสี่ยงภัยตามที่ลาดเชิงเขาใกล้ทางน้ำไหล ผ่านบริเวณจังหวัดเชียงใหม่ ลำพูน ลำปาง แพร่ อุตรดิตถ์ สุโขทัย พิษณุโลก และเพชรบูรณ์ ระวังอันตรายจากฝนตกหนัก น้ำท่วมฉับพลัน และน้ำป่าไหลหลากในช่วงวันที่ 9-12 กันยายน 2555 นี้ไว้ด้วย

ประกาศ ณ วันที่ 9 กันยายน พ.ศ. 2555
ออกประกาศ เวลา 10.30 น.

ศูนย์อุตุนิยมวิทยาภาคเหนือ กรมอุตุนิยมวิทยา
กระทรวงเทคโนโลยีสารสนเทศและการสื่อสาร

ส่วนพยากรณ์อากาศ
โทร 0-5327-7919 และ 053-922365
โทรสาร 0-5327-7815 และ 0-5320-3802
http://www.cmmet.tmd.go.th
E-mail : forc@metnet.tmd.go.th

http://www.cmmet.tmd.go.th/index1.php

songkran chiang mai central kadsuankaew very sexy

2012-04-16T17:48:00.001+07:00

รำวงวิมานสงกรานต์ - เพลง สงกรานต์

2012-04-12T23:23:00.001+07:00

Travel Alert Details |Travel Alerts|Gulf Air

2012-02-16T02:55:00.002+07:00

Gulf Air to close four routes for commercial reasons

Gulf Air regrets to announce the closure of its services to four destinations; Damascus, Athens, Milan and Kuala Lumpur. Flights to Damascus will be ceased from 02 March while flights to Athens and Milan will be stopped from 12 March and Kuala Lumpur will be from 25 March 2012.

The decision has been taken to allow the airline to use its fleet and resources in the most efficient way by concentrating on high-demand, high-yield routes to ensure that its core customer base is served effectively.

The following arrangements have been made for passengers who have booked their tickets on Gulf Air:

· Passengers, who have booked tickets (with PNRs), but not purchased yet, will have their tickets automatically cancelled.

· Passengers, holding confirmed tickets for travel beginning on or after 2nd, 12th and 25th of March 2012 will get refunds via the channels they originally booked, i.e., travel agencies or third-party websites subject to booking conditions. Please contact them.

· Passengers, holding confirmed tickets for travel beginning on or after 2nd, 12th and 25th of March 2012, who purchased their tickets online via gulfair.com, will get their full refunds through Gulf Air’s worldwide contact centre on 17373737 or other Gulf Air offices nearer to them. Visit gulfair.com for details.

· Passengers who have already commenced their journeys will be offered the pro-rata value of flights for the remainder of their journey or will be re-protected by Gulf Air on another airline. Where a passenger selects to be re-protected, we will contact the passenger within the next 10 working days to confirm the details of their re-protected flights.

· Gulf Air will endeavour, where possible, to transfer the booking/ticket to an alternative available airline to the same destination in the same class of travel, subject to availability of seats.

Gulf Air realizes that this will be disappointing news to some of its customers and regrets the inconvenience this may cause.

Thank you for your understanding.

http://www.gulfair.com/English/travelalerts/Pages/TravelAlertDetails.aspx?AlertID=105

History Phuket

2012-02-10T00:00:00.000+07:00

n the 17th century, the Dutch, the English, and from the 1680s the French, competed with each other for trade with the island of Phuket (the island was named Junkseilon at that time), which was valued as a very rich source of tin. In September 1680, a ship from the French East India Company visited Phuket and left with a full cargo of tin. In 1681 or 1682, the Siamese king Narai, who was seeking to reduce Dutch and English influence, named Governor of Phuket the French medical missionary Brother René Charbonneau, a member of the Siam mission of the Société des Missions Etrangères. Charbonneau held the position of Governor until 1685.

TheFrenchambassadorChevalierdeChaumontwithkingNarai.

In 1685, king Narai confirmed the French tin monopoly in Phuket to a French ambassador, the Chevalier de Chaumont.Chaumont's former maître d'hôtel Sieur de Billy was named governor of the island. The French were expelled from Siam in 1688 however, following the 1688 Siamese revolution. On April 10, 1689, the French general Desfarges led an expedition to re-capture the island of Phuket in an attempt to restore some sort of French control in Siam. The occupation of the island led nowhere, and Desfarges returned to Pondicherry in January 1690

The Burmese attacked Phuket in 1785. Captain Francis Light, a British East India Company captain passing by the island, sent word to the local administration that he had observed Burmese forces preparing to attack. Than Phu Ying Chan, the wife of the recently deceased governor, and her sister Mook (คุณมุก) then assembled what forces they could. After a month-long siege, the Burmese were forced to retreat March 13, 1785. The two women became local heroines, receiving the honorary titles Thao Thep Kasattri and Thao Si Sunthon from King Rama I. During the reign of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V), Phuket became the administrative center of the tin-producing southern provinces. In 1933 Monthon Phuket (มณฑลภูเก็ต) was dissolved and Phuket became a province by itself. Old names of the island include
Name

The name Phuket is apparently derived from the word bukit (Jawi: بوكيت) in Malay which means "hill", as this is what the island appears like from a distance. The region was formerly referred to as "Thalang," derived from the old Malay "Telong" (Jawi: تلوڠ) which means "Cape". The northern district of the province, which was the location of the old capital, still uses this name.

Phuket is the biggest island in Thailand,

2012-02-08T01:05:00.007+07:00

Phuket is the biggest island in Thailand, located in the Andaman Sea of southern Thailand. The island is mostly mountainous with a mountain range in the west of the island from the north to the south. The mountains of Phuket form the southern end of the Phuket mountain range, which ranges for 440 kilometres (270 mi) from the Kra Isthmus. The highest elevation of the island is Mai Thao Sip Song (Twelve Canes), at 529 metres (1,736 ft) above sea level.

It is estimated that Phuket has a total area of approximately 570 square kilometres (220 sq mi) (including the province's other islands). Phuket is approximately 536 miles (863 km) south of Bangkok, and covers an area of approximately 543 square kilometres (210 sq mi) excluding small islets. It is estimated that if all its 39 other small islands are included, Phuket Province will cover an area of approximately 590 square kilometres (230 sq mi). The island total length, from north to south, is estimated at 30 miles (48 km) and 13 miles (21 km) wide.

Phuket's topology is exceptional with 70 percent of its area covered with mountains which stretch from north to south and the remaining 30 percent being plains located in the central and eastern parts of the island. It has a total of 9 brooks and creeks but does not have any major rivers.

Forest, rubber and palm oil plantations cover 60% of the island. The western coast has several sandy beaches, while on the east coast beaches are more often muddy. Near the southernmost point is Laem Promthep (Brahma's Cape), which is a popular sunset viewing point. In the mountainous north of the island is the Khao Phra Thaeo Non-hunting Area, protecting more than 20 km² of rainforest. The three highest peaks of this reserve are the Khao Prathiu (384 metres (1,260 ft)), Khao Bang Pae 388 metres (1,273 ft) and Khao Phara 422 metres (1,385 ft). The Sirinat National Park on the northwestern coast was established in 1981 and protects an area of 90 square kilometres (35 sq mi) (68 kilometres (42 mi) marine area), including the Nai Yang beach where sea turtles lay their eggs.

One of the most popular tourist areas on Phuket is Patong Beach on the central western coast, perhaps owing to the easy access to its wide and long beach. Most of Phuket's nightlife and its cheap shopping is located in Patong, and the area has become increasingly developed. Patong means "the forest filled with banana leaves" in Thai. Other popular beaches are located south of Patong. In a counterclockwise direction these include Karon Beach, Kata Beach, Kata Noi Beach, and around the southern tip of the island, Nai Harn Beach and Rawai. To the north of Patong are Kamala Beach, Surin Beach and Bang Tao Beach. These areas are generally much less developed than Patong, and sought out by individuals, families and other groups with a preference for more relaxed and less crowded environs than Patong. There are many islands to the southeast, including Bon Island, just a short boat trip away. There are several coral islands to the south of Phuket, the Similan Islands lie to the north west, and Phi Phi Islands to the south east. Islanders engage in a lively tourist trade, catering to snorkellers and scuba divers.

Mike Shopping Mall Observes Chinese New Year.

2012-01-26T02:52:00.000+07:00

Chinese New year in Pattaya

Lisu New Year Chiangrai

2012-01-22T02:22:00.000+07:00

New Year in the mountain villages of the Lisu people is certainly one of the most vibrant and colourful. The four days and nights during which the Lisu indulge in dancing, singing and drinking coincide with Chinese New Year as the somewhat sinicized Lisu still adhere to the Chinese lunar calendar — usually at the end of January or in the first half of February. For them, the celebrations are more than just about having fun; they are the ultimate expression of their cultural identity.
Visiting a Lisu village during New Year is a rewarding experience, as outsiders are warmly welcomed to the festivities, while the crowds of dancing villagers dressed up in their most elaborately decorated costumes are a photographer’s delight. Although many remote Lisu villages can only be reached by a dusty and bumpy ride on a dirt road, at least a dozen are situated along a major asphalt-surfaced road and so are relatively easy to get to.
The preparations for the festivities take place well in advance. Most households will ensure they have a stock of liquor at home, beginning to distil it as soon as they have harvested their corn and rice after the rainy season. Over many weeks, even months before the New Year, the women will be engaged in making new, eye-catching costumes that will be at centre stage during the New Year festivities. Women working on their sewing machines in front of their huts are a characteristic feature of any modern Lisu village in Thailand.
In the past, much of the colourful fabrics for these costumes was woven at home, but nowadays virtually all is bought in town. In December or early January, you may spot many Lisu women in the textile shops near Chiang Mai’s Worarot Market choosing a selection of the most colourful fabrics on offer there during the clearance sales. Some three decades or so ago, this was the time when most of them had just harvested and sold their opium, and consequently, much of the income from their cash crop was invested directly in the New Year’s celebrations.
The Lisu from China’s Yunnan province started to cross into Burma during the tumultuous second half of the nineteenth century. During the 1910s, the first groups began to settle in Thai territory — Doi Chang in Chiang Rai province is thought to have been the kingdom’s first Lisu village. From then on, more Lisu migrants followed, so their settlements are now scattered throughout the northern parts of Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai en Chiang Rai provinces.
CHIANGRAI TIMES

Countdown

2012-01-09T00:30:00.001+07:00

Countdown to New Year 2012 in Pattaya
The countdown to the New Year 2012 is now well underway. With the Christmas holiday
period over, and all the turkey and goodies having been digested, we all have one more
worldwide celebration to look forward to with the welcoming in of the New Year 2012.
Here in Pattaya, the occasion promises to be bigger and better than ever with an
extravaganza of entertainment planned by City Hall and the private business sector.
Especially with the economy seemingly having picked up amazingly, we are now seeing
fully booked hotels, restaurants and shopping malls filled with tourists, enjoying the free
seasonal illuminations adorning the shops. People are flocking into the stores taking
advantage of the many promotions being held in places such as Central Festival Pattaya
Beach Mall, the biggest seaside shopping mall in South East Asia, where hundreds of
products from the shops in the massive store are handed out in a lucky draw.Items such
as Ipods and digital cameras were amongst the prizes. To add to the build up, a New
Year’s countdown ceremony was held at Bali Hai Pier on Christmas Day attended by
Chonburi Governor Mr. Komsan Ekachai, Pattaya Mayor Ittipol Khunplume, Chonburi MP
Region 7 Mr. Poramate Ngampichet and Secretary to the Ministry of Transport,
Mr. Chanyut Hengrakool. Absolutely everyone is invited to the Pattaya Count Down
2012, to be entertained by Rock Bands like Big Ass, Potato, Titanium, Kala, Bodyslam,
Klear, Joey Boy and many more, plus Look Toong Thai Country Style Music performances
from Yingyong Yodbuangaam and Apaporn Nakhonsawan.
Pattaya People

Open Letter to PM Yingluck Re: Updating Laws Affecting Foreigners from Drew Noyes

2012-01-08T00:10:00.000+07:00

Drew Noyes, PAPPA Co., Ltd. Law Office Pattaya Times newspaper and website 06.01.2012 22:53

Dear Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, Happy New Year 2555 (2012). Since in 2012 there are many outdated regulations affecting foreigners in Thailand, and, by extension, the Thai citizens in their families, I would like to ask you to consider having your Ministry of the Interior to start the New Year looking into four major issues. We understand dealing with the flood crisis is the top priority of your administration. When there is time, please consider these reasons outlined herein for your administration to update Thai laws regarding condominium purchases, the inequality of the law not granting Thai citizenship to foreign men married to Thai women, but allowing foreign women married to Thai men to be citizens, and most urgently reducing financial requirements down from 800,000 baht per year for long stay retirees who own their homes in Thailand and also reducing the investment visa requirements so foreigners under 50-years-old can live here year-by-year instead of month-by-month.

Please accept this letter as a request on behalf of many foreigners living in Thailand like myself. We met at the American Independence Day Celebration you attended as US Ambassador H.E. Kristie A. Kenney’s most honored guest immediately following your election and we spoke for a few minutes.

Your kindness and the sincerity you expressed towards foreigners living in Thailand were refreshing. We feel that we now have the best opportunity to update laws that affect the lives of millions of people living in Thailand, with your help.
our areas of Thai law that need to be updated in 2012 for fairness relate to:

1) Foreign ownership of condominiums;

2) Foreign men married to Thai women;

3) Foreigners who own their home, but cannot meet the annual financial requirements set by Immigration to stay legally in Thailand;

4) Foreigners under 50 years of age who are still working outside of Thailand, but want to be based in Thailand and qualified for a stable visa by investing 3 million baht or more buying property, or investing in Thai stocks or depositing into Thai bank savings accounts formerly received a yearly, renewable non-immigrant visa, but now they no longer qualify for an investor's visa under current visa regulations.

Please look into the possibility of repealing certain provisions of the Condominium Act of 2542 (1999) relating to percentage of foreign ownership. From my understanding of the Act, the intention was two-fold:

Firstly, to make sure foreigners who had a financial advantage over Thais following the 1997/98 Asian Financial Crisis would not hold an unfair advantage over Thais causing the prices of condominiums to go up in a free, unrestricted market to the point Thais could not afford ownership.

Secondly, to assure foreigners could not violate the restriction of owning land by having a majority interest in the Condominium Association allowing for the possibility of controlling the use of the land.

At PAPPA Co., Ltd. Law Office which I manage we deal with this issue regularly. The first intent of the Act no longer is relevant now that Thais are financially solvent and western currencies are substantially discounted against the Thai Baht from the highs of the 1998 Thai Baht devaluation. Now the Condominium Act is unfair to Thai people.

Why? If I buy a penthouse in a new condo by the beach in Naklua and you buy the penthouse opposite mine on the same floor we both pay the same amount. I get the chanote in my name as an American and you get yours in your name as a Thai.

Two years later we both want to sell. Assuming the condos are identical, are they worth the same upon sale? The short answer is “no.” If the foreign allotment of 49% of the saleable area is taken, as it would be, then you can only sell your condo to a Thai or a Thai company limited.

I, on the other hand, can sell my condo to anyone: To another foreign buyer, to a Thai or to a Thai company. In Pattaya the difference in value is 10-20% higher for like units in a foreigner’s name versus in Thai ownership. This is unfair to you. You paid the same price I did but you are restricted as to who your buyer can be. This was NOT the intent of the Act. Now I have the financial advantage over you, but the Act was meant to benefit Thais.

As to the second intent of the Act, it is easily remedied. Foreign buyers of the first 49% of ownership could get voting rights, but all other foreign buyers after the 49% was reached would not have voting rights and their votes would by proxy be issued to the majority of the Thai vote on all issues before the Condominium Association at the Annual General Meeting (AGM). In this way, the foreigners could never control the use of the land. This solution still protects the intent of the Act.

The next issue is sensitive in that it really is sexual discrimination against Thai women. Foreign women married to Thai men can apply for Thai citizenship based on their marriage to a Thai man, however, foreign men married to Thai women cannot become Thai citizens and must re-qualify every year for a one-year visa to stay in Thailand, thus causing undue stress and uncertainty in the relationship because the man is not accepted into Thai society like a women from his country married to a Thai would be. This should be equalized. Either both or neither should have the same advantage or disadvantage. Preferably both men and women should be allowed to qualify for Thai citizenship if married to a Thai national.

The final issue would greatly reduce visa overstays and increase the number of foreign retirees in Thailand and increase sales of condominiums and houses in Thailand. Up until five years ago, a foreigner could transfer three million baht into Thailand and get an investor’s visa. If he or she bought a home and did not sell it and did not repatriate the inbound funds, then he or she could renew the visa indefinitely. But now at least 30 million baht inbound funds is required for an investor’s visa.

Many foreigners over 50-years-old hold non-immigrant “A” long stay or retirement one-year renewable visas, own their own Thai home, have health insurance and get enough of a pension or other income from their home country sent to Thailand each year to live comfortably here based on the exchange rate when they moved to Thailand.

However, with the appreciation of the Thai Baht over the years many foreigners no longer qualify to stay in Thailand because they don’t have the Thai Baht equivalent of 65,000 baht a month or 800,000 baht a year since their fixed income is paid in foreign exchange and converted to the continuously appreciating Thai baht versus their pension’s currency.

For example, a man from England who decided to retire in Thailand at anytime from 2002 to mid-2008 would have calculated the value he would receive monthly from his British pension of his pounds sterling amount into Thai baht at an exchange rate of 60 – 70 baht to each pound. At 60 baht to the pound if his monthly pension is 13,500 pounds per month (1,112 pounds per month) he qualified easily for a one year visa for 6 straight years.

He would see that he could live well in this beautiful country that welcomes foreigners, so he would change his future and move to Thailand to enjoy his Golden Years in peace.

However, today, unfortunately, his pounds are worth less than 50 baht. At 60 baht to the pound he qualified for a one year visa for 6 years, but now at current exchange rates he can no longer live in Thailand (which he now calls home) even though he may own his own home here he bought with his life savings or from the sale of his home in his country.

Assuming he sold his home and only owns a home in Thailand, where will he live? His friends are now Thais and expats in Thailand. His life is in Thailand. But he is forced out of Thailand just because of the foreign currency exchange rates over which he has no control. His life has been adversely affected in an extreme way and so have the lives of all of the Thais who have come to care about him and may even depend on him for advice, comfort and support.

So if the fine Prime Minister could see your way to ask your capable Minister of the Interior to adjust the Immigration Bureau’s financial requirement to qualify for a one-year non-immigrant “A” visa by taking home ownership into consideration. If the qualification was adjusted so foreigners who invested in Thailand property market and bought their Thai residence could have the amount needed to stay in Thailand reduced because they do not pay rent so they need less than a foreigner who pays rent, then this would help tens of thousands of foreigners and their Thai families and friends.

Since rent is usually 30% of expenses then the requirement of cash in the bank and monthly income for retired foreign home owners could be adjusted downwardly accordingly from 800,000 baht to 560,000 baht yearly or from 65,000 baht to 47,000 baht per month for retirees.

Even more Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) would pour into Thailand if the requirement for a one-year, renewable, investment visa was reduced from 30 million baht back to 3 million baht. This way foreigners under 50-years-old could qualify to live in Thailand year-to-year, also, as long as they kept the money invested in Thailand by buying condominiums, houses, or investing in Thai stocks or depositing money into Thai bank savings accounts or interest-paying funds like Property Management and Development Co., Ltd.

Thank you for all you do for Thailand, for our Thai families and for us foreigners in Thailand. You know how it is to be a foreigner in a country you love and want to stay in because you were educated and lived in America.

Please let us know your thoughts on these issues and what can be done to update these laws and regulations affecting foreigners living peacefully in Thailand and, by association, the Thai citizens who are their friends and families.

สวัสดีปีใหม่ไทย Pattaya 2012 fireworks new years eve

2012-01-07T04:46:00.000+07:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR THAILAND

he fireworks in pattaya for the 2012 new years eve were great with a beer in hand and my new wife. What a wonderful start to my future. Hope you all the best for 2012 from John Bozi and Gun Bozi in Thailand.

Father's Day

2011-12-05T00:29:00.000+07:00

His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX)

The accomplishments of His Majesty King Bhumibol of Thailand over the last 65 years are astounding. His Majesty celebrates His Majesty’s 84th year and his 7th Cycle Birthday on December 5, 2011.

Father’s Day in Thailand is on December 5 because His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX) was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA on December 5, 1927. He was the youngest son of H.R.H. Prince Mahidol and Mom Sangwalya. Now he is the undisputed “Father of All Thai People.”Thailand’s King is known and admired far beyond the borders of his own country for his success in raising Thailand from a undeveloped Third World country to a thriving, First World economy and the hub of South East Asia.Thailand’s thriving agriculture, tremendous exports, heavy manufacturing, ITenhancements, tourism of 17 million annual visitors and prominent place in the Association of South East Asian Community are all attribute to His Majesty the King.In 1946 the King of Thailand, His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, ascended to the throne. He is now the longest reigning monarch in the world. He is loved and respected by his people. In a world where few monarchies survive, Thailand is both unusual and fortunate. Fortunate because of having a King who has both far-reaching knowledge and generous compassion: and unusual because throughout each year of his reign, he has become more deeply loved and respected by his subjects.

He married Queen Sirikit on April 28, 1950. Queen Sirikit is a Regent Queen, one of only two in the entire history of Siam and Thailand. She has the ability to speak for His Majesty. For the last two years age has caught up with this very active and compassionate King. Now as His Majesty spends his days in the hospital there are times when Her Majesty must do exactly that and speak for His Majesty as the people of Thailand join together in celebrating His Majesty’s 84^th year and his 7^th Cycle Birthday on December 5, 2011.

He moved back to Thailand for good in 1951 after being well educated in the USA and Switzerland and now His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej is undoubtedly the people of Thailand’s King; the Father of the Land. He is the first Thai King, and Thai individual, to see every single corners of his kingdom.
He has visited far-reaching places. His Majesty traveled each and every highway and road to know his people.

Where there were no roads, he used small planes or helicopters; where there were no places for helicopters or planes to land, he went by jeeps, horses, elephants and on many occasions when there was just no other way His Majesty hiked by foot to see and serve his people.

As an engineer he developed a system to provide electricity to places left dark before. He helped with irrigation problems as the majority of the Thai people were farmers, depending solely on their crops for their income.He installed irrigation systems for farmers and had his teams in Bangkok develop ways to increase rice productivity. With his visits, he brought medical teams as well as surveyors to plan the connection of all towns and villages, establishment of village leaders called “pua bans”, and set up a system for a “town crier” of sorts to report the time and daily announcements in each village by using megaphones and radio broadcasts.He has also eradicated the opium growing culture of many hill tribes of the north, and proposed substitutions with valuable crops. His idea to allow the US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) to lend assistance and training was vital to reduce crime and drug trafficking in Thailand’s area of the Golden Triangle.

During the financial crisis, the King had the answers to save Thailand. When the Asian Financial Crisis was about destroy Thailand’s economy, His Majesty made a Royal Proclamation asking for investment bankers from the USA to come and help the Bank of Thailand straighten out accounts so he could request IMF funding.Thailand was the first of the 11 “Tiger Economies” to ask for IMF funding. The first economy to qualify once the banks were weeded down and the stronger banks’ cash reserves were propped by new savings account customer deposits. Thailand was the first to Asian country to repay IMF funding by paying the loan back early.

During the time of natural crisis, the King has always been the first person to be on the scene.

Only until recently that the King has not been able to travel to the affected places due to health problems, nevertheless, his team has continued to visit and help out according to the King’s instructions. In addition, he has continued to contribute personal funds quick and fast to the needy, as seen most recently with the flooding disaster around the Kingdom in late 2011, when the King’s team was the first to act.

Five years ago His Majesty moved His Royal Residence from the Bangkok Royal Palace to His palace in Hua Hin. Two years ago, His Majesty decided to move to the care of hospitalization in Bangkok. From every venue His Majesty still cares for his people.

Wat Okat Si Bua Ban

2011-11-21T01:00:00.000+07:00

Located by the Mekong River in the Mueang Nakhon Phanom Municipality, the sacred temple has been honoured since ancient times. The temple houses two ancient Buddha statues ‘Phra Tio’ and ‘Phra Thiam’, which are situated together. Phra Tio, 60 cm. high, was carved from ‘Tio’ wood and later covered with gold plate. The Buddha image was built by the King of Si Khotrabun in the year 785. Phra Thiam was an imitation - ‘Thiam’ - of Phra Tio. The image was built during the reign of King Khattiyawong. Both Buddha images are sacred icons of the city

Bangkokians Escaping to Pattaya

2011-11-08T23:05:00.000+07:00

Estimates are that each day 20,000 more people from Bangkok are arriving in Pattaya to escape the flood waters, food shortages and misery of Bangkok. Pattaya is welcoming these new arrivals and accommodating them in every way. The 1337 Call Center at Pattaya City Hall, the Tourism Authority of Thailand Office on Pratamnak Hill, the Tourist Police, Banglamung Police, Highway Police and Pattaya Police at Soi 9 are all pitching in to assist new arrivals in need of food and shelter.

"Pattaya welcomes everybody and we will all do our best to make our guests feel at home," said Pattaya Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome.

"We are also making sure our residients are getting the services they need and are tending to the poor and elderly," he added.

The floods are occurring because Thai meteorologists predicted that there would be a drought this year in Thailand so all five dams were ordered to retain water levels at full capacity without draining off small amounts each day after a rain storm as usual. However, the rainfall has been the most severe amounts since the last 65 years and the dams were so full that if they were not opened they would all be destroyed by the water pressure.

The amount of rain was calculated at two million cubic meters per minute and the speed of the water from the released dams was flowing as fast as 15 million cubic meters per minute into Bangkok. Damage to property is approaching the US $10 billion mark.

His Majesty the King said for the people to let the water flow through Bangkok and do not try to save his Grand Palace. However the, the Army is doing all in its power to protect the Grand Palace and have surrounded the palace with sand bags as high as five meters.

More than 2,000 crocodiles have been released from farms by the massive flooding and to this date only 20 have been captured. This adds to the fears of wading in the streets of Bangkok.

Why Pattaya?

Many people in Bangkok made the decision to come to Pattaya because of the availability of food with the extensive number of supermarkets here, the large number of rooms available and the advancement of the infrastructure here to guard against extensive flood damage.

Infrastructure

The Pattaya infrastructure under the Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome is so well-developed that the roads are less likely to flood than in Bangkok with the extensive drainage systems that have been installed recently. The highways into Pattaya numbered 7, 3, 331 and others are in very good condition and were not closed like the Asia highway which impeded travel in other directions out of Bangkok. The water fresh supply is very good in Pattaya and public transportation has not been affected much. In Bangkok and the airport most taxi drivers fled to protect their homes upcountry. However, most baht bus and motorcycle drivers in Pattaya live in Pattaya permanently.

Food Shortages Unlikely in Pattaya

The extensive number of supermarkets in Pattaya and more 7-Elevens than any other city in Asia per capita makes Pattaya a logical place to shop for food and fresh water. However, like all other cities in Thailand, Pattaya retail food supermarkets depend on distribution centers to keep stock coming to replenish empty shelves.

The city of Wung Noi in Ayutthaya warehouses all the food for the two large Tesco Lotus stores and the five Tesco Lotus Express stores in Pattaya. It is under five meters of flood water which is stagnant. Tesco has had their supply deliveries affected the most. Yet, there is still food available locally because the stores are so massively large with storage facilities with stockpiles in the back of each store.

The three Big C stores, two Tops supermarkets, and four Tops Daily stores in Pattaya are owned by Central Retail in the Central Group of Companies. They have many suppliers all over Thailand with firm contracts for meats, vegetables, fruits, canned goods and all food supplies , so the shelves are being restocked at all locations as of this writing.

There are hundreds of 7-Eleven stores in Pattaya and are owned by CP Group which also has suppliers all over Thailand. So the food warehoused in the Eastern Seaboard is plentiful and Pattaya will most likely be able to provide food and fresh water for its residents, usual visits and the Bangkokians and families from flood affected areas that are coming here.

Of the 656 FamilyMarts in Thailand more than 80 franchises are in Pattaya. The owner is Siam FamilyMart Co., Ltd. has operations with Siam DCM Co., Ltd. a distribution and wholesaling company. By making great use of the demand-chain management (DCM) expertise developed by FamilyMart in Japan. Family Marts will be able to keep the shelves restocked in Pattaya.

Room Shortages Due to Extensive Demand are Problematic

Estimates are that since October 25, 20,000 people a day are rushing out of Bangkok taking refuge from the flood in Pattaya. These welcomed “refugees” from the floods of Bangkok are finding it difficult to find a room for rent in Pattaya, as nearly all of the rooms available are occupied. Pattaya Times surveyed the top 50 hotels in Pattaya and there were no vacancies at all. In fact, room rates were quite high due to extensive demand. Even guest houses and weekly condo rentals were all full.

According to Patcharin Sawetrat, assistant director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand's Pattaya office about 80 per cent of hotel rooms in Pattaya are already occupied by tourists from Russia and Europe, leaving only 20 percent availability for those fleeing the flood in Bangkok.

Wat Phrathat Maha Chai

2011-11-05T02:07:00.000+07:00

The 37 metre high stupa of Ban Maha Chai is regarded as a sacred monument as it houses relics of the Lord Buddha and Arhats. The temple also houses sacred Buddha images; namely, Phra Phutthachaiyasit, the principal Buddha image, as well as a Buddha image carved from a neem tree, which is the largest of its kind in Thailand. The murals in the Phra Ubosot, featuring the history of the Lord Buddha, are quite beautiful.
Their Majesties the King and Queen presided over the ceremony to place the relics into the stupa in 1975. The temple is also the monastery of Phra Sunthon Thammakon (Luangpu Khamphan Khosapanyo), a famous monk of Nakhon Phanom and the Northeast region. To get there. The temple is 39 km. from Nakhon Phanom. Motorists can use Highway 22. Turn left at Km. 201-202. The temple is 2 km. off the main road.

Memorial Day

2011-11-01T01:40:00.000+07:00

Thailand Pays Respect to King Chulalongkorn
Despite the devastating flooding in Bangkok and all over the North and Central regions of
Thailand, on Sunday 23rd October, the whole country celebrated the Memorial Day for
King Chulalongkorn, also known as Rama V, who passed away on October 23rd, 1910.
To honour King Chulalongkorn, the day is an official national holiday and government
authorities from the largest cities to the smallest villages, teachers and students from
many schools and members of the public respectfully place garlands in front of the
statues of King Chulalongkorn.
Here in Pattaya and surrounding areas, where so far we have escaped devastating
flooding, local authorities officiated at ceremonies in memory of the King. On Sunday
morning at the Banglamung District Office, the King was honoured with beautiful large
flower garlands placed in front of his statue by government representatives, starting
with both Pattaya Police Station and Banglamung Police Station officials, including Superintendents
Police Colonel Nantawut Suwanlaong and Police Colonel Somnuek Changate.
Pattaya City Hall was represented by Mayor Ittipol Khunplume, Deputy Mayors and
Pattaya Councilors all dressed in official white uniforms.
The ceremonies were conducted after making food offerings to the monks, followed by
the placing of the Garlands in front of the King’s statue, keeping in harmony with the whole of Thailand.
Pattaya People

น้ำทวมทีามหลวง เป็นสถานการณ์ปกติของที่นี่

2011-10-30T21:46:00.001+07:00

ที่มีปรากฎการณ์น้ำขึ้นน้ำลงเป็นปกติ เพียงแต่ช่วงนี้น้ำมากกว่าทุกปีเท่านั้นเอง ขึ้นไม่กี่ชั่วโมงก็ลดจนแห้งแล้ว ที่สังเกตเห็นคือชาวบ้านแถบนี้ไม่เห็นเขาตื่นตะหนกตกใจอะไรเลย สนุกสนานด้วยซ้ำ ยังทำมาหากินเหมือนเดิม บางทีไปคิดแทนชาวบ้านว่าเขากลัวน้ำเลยกั้นน้ำกันสุดฤทธิ์ ก็อาจคิดผิดก็นะ ปล่อยมาเลย เฉลี่ยเท่าๆกัน ภาพเมื่อ 30/10/2554 CBN PRESS

Phrathat Prasit

2011-10-21T00:01:00.003+07:00

The sacred stupa houses the chest bone relic of the Lord Buddha. It is located 98 km. from Nakhon Phanom. Visitors can use Highway 212, via Amphoe Tha Uthen, turn left into Highway 2032 to Amphoe Si Songkhram for another 72 km.

Canals dredging done

2011-10-15T02:52:00.000+07:00

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's order for five canals dredged to help speed up waterflowinto the sea in samut prakan is now completed, said samut Prakan governor cherdsak chusri.

rovince's personnel, local authorities and the army cooperated in dredging all five canals 24 hours a day. Hyacinths floating in canals are also scooped up to help speed up the waterflow.