Stories tagged with chiangmai
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Chiang Mai hit with severe weather
The harsh weather that has swept through the northern provinces of Thailand continued this weekend, with many villages in Chiang Rai province being inundated with water runoff from the mountains. Flash floods swept away structures and even small domestic animals as water levels reached upwards of one metre, with over 500 residences affected by the flooding.
Chiang Mai province suffered damage to longan orchards, where the fruit crops, though acknowledged to have suffered losses, are also expected to recover quickly. Conversely, rice farmers welcomed the deluge as recent dry weather had put rice crops in jeopardy.
With the rainy season well established, meteorological reports from a control centre in Mae Hong Son province say the season actually started a week earlier than usual, and that this year’s rainfall is expected to be heavy. Officials at the meteorological centre say that visitors and residents to the area can expect more than one severe storm this year, including the possibility of cyclones, a prediction that neighbouring Myanmar has all-too-painfully fulfilled this past weekend.
Posted by: DaveB on 07 May 2008, 11:25 -
CM Police raid three drug houses
The local Police Departments in Chiang Mai and Lampang have seized three houses in the two areas of northern Thailand in connection with suspected drug baron Anant Salae, with a total property value of no less than 15 million baht. Salae himself was arrested in the Songkla province town of Hat Yai on April 30th, along with two men suspected of being his accomplices. Anant was found to be in possession of almost one and a half kilograms of heroin when police arrested the ringleader, which is now being held as evidence by Songkla Police until it is needed in future criminal proceedings.
Police have long suspected Anant was responsible for the trafficking of heroin and methamphetamines that would arrive in Thailand’s north from Burma for eventual distribution in the south of the country. There was much in the three houses that was seized in the raids following Anant’s arrest, including furniture, electronics and other household items. The investigation is ongoing and Thai police are attempting to locate other member’s of Anant’s gang.
Posted by: DaveB on 06 May 2008, 11:32 -
Parts of Thailand on flood alert
More than a dozen provinces in north and central Thailand have been put on a state of alert for potential flash floods and mudslides between Sunday and Tuesday due to nearing tropical cyclone, Nargis.
The seasonal cyclone is currently edging its way towards Thailand from Burma according to Thailand's Meteorological Department.
The report said that cyclone Nargis was around 400kms southwest of the Thai/Burma border at Mae Hong Son province early Saturday morning and was moving at a speed of 15kph in an east - north-easterly direction.
Provinces in the northern and central western regions of Thailand are expected to receive heavy rains anytime between now and Tuesday. Tourists in risk-prone areas of the following provinces should stay on alert and heed any local weather warnings:
Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Mae Hong Son, Tak, Kamphaengphet, Lamphun, Lampang, Phrae, Uttaradit, Sukhothai, Phichit, Phitsanulok, Nakhon Sawan, Uthai Thani, Kanchanaburi, Ranong, Chanthaburi, and Trat.
Cyclone Nargis hit Rangoon (the Burmese capital) hard on Saturday ripping roofs from homes and felling trees and power lines.
There have already been four reported deaths in Rangoon and the Burmese meteorological office has said that the cyclone may trigger a storm surge in the Andaman of up to four metres. Those staying on the Andaman coast are therefore advised to postpone any boat trips until the cyclone has blown over.
More on the Weather in Chiang Mai
Posted by: Andrew on 04 May 2008, 10:20 -
Killer crossings on Thai railways
It’s just as well the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) has just the one main line running up and down the length of the country as the amount of accidents at its level crossings of late is staggering.
The main reason being that many crossings have been built illegally by local people who are too lazy to cross at designated crossings. According to the railway traffic manager, Siripong Pruetiphan, the SRT ‘can do nothing to stop this kind of encroachment.’
Accident figures released by the SRT for 2006 numbered 185 involving trains and vehicles at railway crossings, with 53 deaths and 190 injuries. In 2007, the number of accidents almost doubled to 327.
Trains hitting animals and vehicles running into level crossings cause even further delays.
These startling figures - not unlike those of rural India - not only cause needless loss of life but add to the misery of passengers through hefty delays and cost the SRT in fuel.
According to Mr Siripong there are 2,443 crossings nationwide, of which just 1,908 were built with SRT permission. The other 535 were built illegally by local administrators mostly in remote areas.
The upshot of all these extra crossings is delays and extra costs for the SRT. Train drivers need to slow down when they approach a crossing and the effort to regain speed uses more fuel.
Tourists traveling by train, especially in rural areas, should allow plenty of extra time at the destination end to allow for any delays.
More on Rail travel in Thailand
Posted by: Andrew on 29 Apr 2008, 09:56 -
Holidays That Costa Lot
British tourists would be better off traveling to Thailand for a holiday as opposed to the Costa del Sol, owing to the weaker pound and rising euro.
Sterling has lost 19 per cent of its value over the euro in the past year meaning holidaymakers get much less bang for their buck.
The Post Office surveyed 16 popular holidaying countries around the world and purchased 10 common items, with Australia topping the lot and Thailand the cheapest.
The basic purchases included a coffee from a cafe, an English newspaper, a bottle of mineral water from a supermarket, insect repellent and an evening meal for two.
The cost of these items in Thailand worked out at £28.58 and was easily the cheapest of the 16 countries surveyed. These same items in Spain, traditionally a cheap continental holiday destination, worked out at £59.24, while in France they were £68.97.
Italy was the most expensive place in Europe at £73.40, while a three-course meal for two with wine would cost around £42 - just £17.64 in Thailand. The same 10 purchases in Australia, however, was a staggering £88.97.
The US is one destination where the pound stretches further due to the weak dollar of late, but to travel on the continent is costing so much more.
British holidaymakers have already been putting off traveling to the continent as a result of the strong euro and worldwide ‘credit crunch’, while many have been looking at destinations farther afield with Thailand fitting the bill for a growing number of people.
Even Thailand has become more expensive, though, owing to a combination of a stronger baht and the removal of the onshore rate reserve, more expensive rice, and higher oil prices.
Posted by: Andrew on 25 Apr 2008, 18:08 -
Baht onshore/offshore rates equalize
The Thai baht onshore and offshore rates have now equalized following the lifting of the reserve on March 3, said Bank of Thailand (BoT) governor Tarisa Watanagase.
The 30 per cent withholding measure was imposed in 2006 to stem the baht’s speculation due to the gloomy economic outlook back then, and was a bonus for foreigners bringing in currency and utilizing the higher onshore rates.
Khun Watanagase said that the baht had equalized automatically, ‘without intervention’, following the reserve lift and that the economy had improved.
Onshore traded baht is now a lot closer to offshore traded baht since the measure was scrapped, with onshore and offshore dollar transactions at about 31.41 and 31.42 respectively.
Previous figures at the offshore rate of 31.42 baht to the dollar would have seen an onshore rate at roughly 34!
Thailand’s international reserves have also risen sharply in the last couple of years - at US$108 billion today compared with $67 billion at the end of 2006.
Posted by: Andrew on 24 Apr 2008, 20:54 -
Suvarnabhumi to keep on growing
Bangkok’s new Suvarnabhumi airport has been given the go ahead with the second-phase of expansion to include a third runway and a new domestic terminal.
A total of 10 new projects worth in excess of 73 billion baht will be undertaken by the Transport Ministry.
Two of the 10 projects will be implemented this year, including the construction of the third runway. Future projects will include an automated people-mover, a new car park, as well as the ongoing reduction of noise pollution over five years.
The creation of the new domestic terminal will relieve congestion at the main terminal and will cost in the region of six billion baht.
Interim Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont originally put the airport expansion plans on hold and re-opened up Don Mueang airport to save money.
Don Mueang made way for the new Suvarnabhumi in late September 2006 but was reopened for domestic flights.
Since then Suvarnabhumi Airport has been beset by construction flaws, including cracks in the main runway, as well as corruption scandals.
The new expansion scheme would run from 2008 to 2013 and when finished would enable Suvarnabhumi to serve 60 million passengers a year; an extra 15 million passengers over its current 45 million.
It is also likely that the new work would signal a closure of Don Mueang airport by the government.
AoT have earned more than 10 billion baht from the management of Suvarnabhumi airport and would be footing the bill.
As part of the runway expansion, the third runway will feature an auto-landing system allowing aircraft to land even in low visibility conditions.
Suvarnabhumi may then receive a safety measure of three, with Category 3 being the safest. In comparison, regional airports have a category rating of 1, with Don Mueang being Category 2 rated.
Plots of land on the eastern side of the airport will also be surveyed for the project.
Posted by: Andrew on 23 Apr 2008, 10:31 -
Downhill mountain-biking popular in CM
Many tourists visiting Thailand’s northern city of Chiang Mai do so not only to enjoy the many attractions the city itself as to offer, but to get out into the beautiful countryside characteristic of Thailand’s north. Aside form the many trekking opportunities in the jungle-covered province; many come looking for something a bit more adrenaline-fueled.
Those who find the mandatory elephant rides are too tame usually set out for white water rafting or other more dangerous activities. The latest trend to sweep the region is downhill mountain-biking, and daredevils are flocking to Chiang Mai to experience what have been called some of the toughest descents in the sport.
The Doi Pui mountain, accessible past Chiang Mai’s landmark Doi Suthep temple that looks out over the city, is where most mountain-biking thrill seekers head, and local experts take customers up and show them the ropes on a variety of trails according to experience levels.
For those ready for the challenge, contact Mountain Biking Chiang Mai at www.mountainbikingchiangmai.com, where one to three day bike trips can be arranged.
Posted by: DaveB on 22 Apr 2008, 18:11 -
HIV positive Thais still waiting for treatment
Northern Thailand has had the unfortunate experience of being highly affected by HIV/AIDS. The problem is being tackled by many NGOs and the Thai government wowed the world last year when it stood up to the American pharmaceutical industry when it said it would be producing generic versions of second line AIDS treatment whether the patent holder liked it or not.
A year later, many AIDS patients say they are still waiting for their second line treatments that hospitals have promised to supply. Last year, when the government told the US that it considered the epidemic in Thailand’s north as a national crisis, this justified ignoring the patent laws that stipulate a certain number of years must pass before a generic version can be produced.
Even under the universal health care scheme, the drug, Kaletra, is still not being widely distributed. Coordinator of Violet House, a support group for HIV positive gay men Samran Takan says, ''Most hospitals say they will provide the second-line treatment for patients who develop resistance to the first-line medicine. But we don't know how long we have to wait.'
Posted by: DaveB on 21 Apr 2008, 18:13 -
Investigation into Briton’s death ongoing
Investigations into the death of British tourist Mark Elliott in Chiang Mai late last month are still ongoing, but the cause of death seems to have been established by local doctors. The 34-year old Elliott arrived in Chiang Mai with his partner, 24-year old Claire Durie in the last week of March, intending to tour Thailand for their few weeks’ holiday. The couple checked into a guesthouse near Wat Phra Singh, and on the evening of the 20th, hit the town and began to drink heavily. The couple reportedly met friends in the Night Bazaar area, and the group met other friends at a bar.
As the revelry continued into the wee hours of the morning, the couple realized that they could not find their guesthouse. A security guard watching over a newly constructed building saw the state of the couple and offered them a finished room to sleep for the night. When Durie woke up, Elliott was dead beside her. When police and doctors from Maharaj hospital arrived, Durie told them that Elliott had suffered from a life-long illness that required medication, and had already been to Chiang Mai Ram hospital once before. It is that the drinking caused a relapse and cost Elliott his life. Information on the disease has not been released.
Posted by: DaveB on 16 Apr 2008, 18:59 -
Songkran road toll soars
More than 200 people across Thailand have already lost their lives over the period from Friday through Monday during the Songkran festival.
This year’s water festival has already seen more people killed and injured on the roads than at the same point last year, with 229 dead and over 3,300 injured - around 5.5 per cent up on last year.
Petchabun province had the highest death toll with 11 dead so far, followed by Rayong, and Suphan Buri provinces.
The highest number of accidents was in Chiang Rai province, at 50, followed by Phetchabun province at 42.
Most accidents occurred on village roads and mainly at night with the great percentage of those being alcohol-fueled.
Although the powers-that-be were thinking of imposing a ban on the sale of alcohol over Songkran; in reality, people will just hoard beer and spirits before the event.
The Thai Red Cross has reported that it was running out of blood supplies and needs about 1,500 units of blood daily during this busy time, whereas it only received 973 units on April 12 and 950 units on April 13.
Blood goes to hospitals nationwide from the red cross’s blood banks.
Tourists taking part in the Songkran festivities are advised not to ride motorcycles and take public transport.
Posted by: Andrew on 15 Apr 2008, 17:11 -
Bottom falls out of amulet market
Visitors to Chiang Mai over the past year have undoubtedly noticed many of the locals walking around with amulets hanging from their necks. Gaudy, garish and just gaudy, yes- but those strange amulets reminiscent of countless previous fads past were for a time very serious business. The bubble is all but burst at this point, and the trinkets that were sometimes fetching up to three quarters of a million dollars are now essentially worthless.
So how could this get to be such big business? The amulets have been around to some degree for the past 20 years, but have been fairly low key, but when the Jatukam Ramathep namesake, who some say is a Hindu god and some say is a 17th century king, came under the eyes of a fundraiser, things changed.
It was a Policeman wanting to raise money for a Buddhist cause that began selling the amulets bearing the figure of Jakutam Ramathep that had been blessed by Buddhist monks. The amulets became reputed to ward off evil spirits and even bring prosperity. The perfect scam for a superstitious lot.
After the authenticity of many came under scrutiny, the bottom fell out of the business. Now tourists in Chaing Mai are less likely to see big banners selling the talismans, and will have to wait for the next bizarre trend to surface to amuse them.
Posted by: DaveB on 11 Apr 2008, 10:58 -
Mayor of Chaing Mai promises a safe Songkran
Songkran is a long loved and well established festival in Thailand. The water festival that takes its roots from the Thai New Year festival celebrated by drizzling some water over a Buddha image has become one of the country’s favourite holidays, where it’s not Buddha being sprinkled, but the entire populous being drenched.
One of the festival’s most attractive celebratory cities in Chiang Mai, with the old city’s moat providing easy access to water to splash at whoever may be passing by. The festival has in the past been associated with some lurid and debauched behaviour, but this year the Mayor of Chiang Mai, Duentemduang na Chiengmai says that she has made plans that will support a polite and family friendly Songkran festival. The mayor said that there will be 20 ‘polite zones’ where revelers who wish to celebrate the festival in the traditional way instead of donning super-soakers will be free to do so, protected by volunteers that will secure the perimeter.
Posted by: DaveB on 11 Apr 2008, 10:52 -
Buses ready for Songkran
Bus services all over Thailand have been increased to ensure that people can get home in time to celebrate Songkran; the Thai New Year.
The news was announced by Transport Co. Ltd which was aware of the concern of holidaymakers and those wishing to return home that standard scheduled services would be full.
The transport company’s chief, Wuttichart Kalayanimitr, announced that bus services had been increased by as much as 40 per cent on Wednesday, when a significant number of people had already begun to travel home and many tourists were also on the road.
There will be double the normal amount of bus services across the country on April 11 and 12 amounting to about 6,500 services each day.
Songkran is the main holiday of the Thai year and officially runs from April 12 to 16, although many people take to the streets to sling water way beyond these dates.
Chiang Mai is one such place where water throwing has been taken to the extreme. Expect to be drenched anywhere in the city from April 13 to 15 – the actual Songkran dates where most of the festivities are celebrated.
Security in prominent cities and tourist spots will be heightened during the New Year.
More on Bus travel in Thailand
Posted by: Andrew on 09 Apr 2008, 20:36 -
Samak holds rice stockpiles
Thailand’s Prime Minister, Samak Sundaravej, has said that he opposes the release of the country’s two-million-plus tonnes of rice reserves into the domestic market to curb the apparent rice shortage.
Mr Samak insisted there would not actually be a rice shortage, during his weekly TV and radio address, and blamed the media for causing panic about a rice shortage.
Many people have subsequently hoarded rice as a result of press reports and the near doubling of rice prices. It has thus been suggested that the government should release the rice stockpile to aid low-income families and the unemployed.
Thailand currently produces about 30 million tonnes of rice per year, which is equivalent to 20 million tonnes of milled rice. Nine million tonnes go to the domestic market, with a similar amount exported and the remaining two million tonnes held back by the government as a safety line.
Mr Samak explained that his opposition to releasing the stockpiled rice at cost to the domestic market was because rice farmers would gain nothing and that rice price mechanisms would be drastically affected.
Although food in Thailand to the foreign tourist is significantly cheaper than their home countries, there has been a marked increase in the kilogramme rate of rice and together with spiraling oil prices, food off the street has increased by a fair amount and will no doubt affect those travelers on a budget.
Eating in Thailand
Posted by: Andrew on 07 Apr 2008, 13:14 -
Hot weather and early storms
Thailand is experiencing a hotter than normal summer (warm season) but also receiving unseasonal storms in the Northern provinces as UN-sponsored climate changes were held in Bangkok during the last weekend of March.
The Meteorological Department warned that this April parts of the country, particularly the central and northern regions would experience one of the hotter months in recent years, as part of global weather patterns. They also indicated that this might be part of a trend associated with global warming and that more of the same could be experienced in the future.
They also announced that rains are likely to come early this year due to weather patterns from Southern China bringing moist fronts, which is consistent with showers that have been experienced in the North and parts of the Northeast at the end of March. It's very unusual for rain to fall in this month of the year.
Tourists worried that their travels would be spoiled by wet weather need not worry, since the rain usually comes in the form of late afternoon showers resulting from convection that builds throughout the day. They are short, but the hazy cloud cover has been a welcome respite from the harsh sun in Chiang Mai, among other popular areas. It has also brought the humidity neccessary to reduce the level of harmful dust and burnt matter particles in the atmosphere, which contribute to hazardous respiratory conditions. As a result the chronic problem hasn't been as critical as last year.
Meanwhile, more than 1,000 people from 190 countries converged on Bangkok on March 29 for a five day planning season continuing on the 'Bali roadmap' to make progress on the initial climate change forum set up on the Indonesian Island last year. During the same weekend a world 'blackout' hour was undertaken at 8pm local time in cities around the world as a symbolic but significant effort to reduce carbon emissions by saving on electricity.
Posted by: Andrew on 05 Apr 2008, 10:45 -
Thaksin coming to Chiang Mai?
Deposed Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is back in Thailand. After being overthrown by the military in September 2006’s bloodless coup while he was in New York, Thaksin was on the move in other countries to avoid being brought to justice in his homeland. In his absence, the country has moved on, drafted a new constitution and elected a new Prime Minister.
Thaksin is due in Thai courts to answer to a variety of charges against him, but has arrived in the country ten days ahead of schedule to carry on with his other business endeavours, such as promoting his football team, Manchester City, in which he has a significant stake. "The former PM coming back earlier than scheduled was not involved with his defence in court to fight land deal charges," reported the former PM’s spokesman.
Aside from appearing in court to answer to possible fraud in a land buying deal while he was in office, Thaksin aims to promote investment in Thailand to two of his high-rolling acquaintances, Thaksin is then scheduled to visit his former stomping ground in northern Thailand, stopping in Chiang Mai to take in the Songkran festival there.
Posted by: DaveB on 04 Apr 2008, 18:15 -
Music group sends modesty message for Songkran
One of Thailand’s most outrageous festivals is coming up, and everyone is getting exited and ready for the few days of fun that is the Songkran Festival, the Thai New Year. Tourists that have the good fortune to experience this festival during their trip to Thailand have probably never seen anything like it, where for three solid days, everyone is being soaked by buckets of water, water balloons and the many super-soaker water guns waiting in doorways to soak any unsuspecting passers-by.
With all this water being sprayed, clothing can get, ahem, a little clingy, and according to an article in the Bangkok Post, the Thai Culture Ministry is using a popular musical group to help them promote a campaign aimed at modesty during the festival. The Girly Berry band will encourage their fellow teenagers to dress modestly in dark clothing during the festival.
In Chiang Mai, the festival makes its rounds around the city’s ancient moat, where lines of people soak each other, and the culture ministry hopes that encouraging girls not to wear revealing clothing will cut down on the aggression that has become a problem during Songkran.
Posted by: DaveB on 03 Apr 2008, 18:13 -
Songkran set for 12-16 April
This year's Songkran water festival will commence on Saturday April 12th and continue until Tuesday 15th, as gazetted by the Government. Since it falls over a weekend, a further holiday has been added on the 16th, although banks will open on this day.
Songkran is the busiest of Thailand's festivals and is a time when many Thais travel home to visit their families, making travel in the Kingdom crowded. Tourists are advised to make their plans in advance or avoid travelling during this period, especially on highways when accident rates increase.
Traditionally the splashing associated with Songkran starts several days in advance of the official dates (which according to the lunar calendar should commence on Sunday the 13th this year), therefore the whole country descends into an anarchic-like water fight for almost a week. Traffic jams ensue in the cities, and those travelling by motorbike find themselves drenched by roadside revellers.
Visitors who wish to avoid the water fights are advised to stay within the grounds of their hotel, take day trips away from the busy areas or travel by taxi. But the vast majority enter into the spirit of fun and join locals in the world's biggest water fight. The centre of urban areas, or locations near water are most populoar and lively and each city has a focal point for fun. In Chiang Mai - considered the best place to experience Songkran - the action is all around the moat, in Bangkok it can be found on the Khao San Road, while Pattaya's walking street is the 'wet' venue. In Phuket, Patong beachfront is perhaps the most popular, while other busy beach areas will also be active.
The first official day, Sunday, is likely to be the best day to participate, as the festival wears on people become tired and the turnout and atmosphere of the third day, Tuesday, is likely to be less lively. These are usually pre-occupied with the procession, while many Thai perform their traditional duties on these days. However, there is always a busy itinerary of events throughout the festival, taking place at local civic centres and temples, including sand castle building, parades, beauty pageants and more. Read your local press for more details.
Posted by: Andrew on 02 Apr 2008, 10:15 -
Rain soaks up bad air
Fears that Chiang Mai might again suffer hazardous air quality conditions this season have been unfounded, and recent early season rains have brought the PM10 levels down way below the critical level.
Thunder showers through the week in the late afternoon, and humid conditions have served to mitigate the effects of chronic burning that occurs at this point in the dry season, creating hazy conditions and filling the air with harmful particles. Climate conditions have also been more favourable than 2007 when the province was blighted with hazardous air conditions for more than a month. So far, only a eight days in March this year have produced conditions where the PM10 index is above the 120 level considered dangerous to respiration.
Over the last weekend of March the index had fallen below 80, and the mountains were again visible (a quick indicator), but in Mae Hong Son province, where the burning is out of control, the index remained well above 100.
Local tourist business have complained the bookings are down 20%, as the negative publicity of the previous year has taken its toll on tourism confidence in the Northern region. However a widely initiated campaign to educate locals and discourage burning has helped spread the word among villagers and city dweller alike.
Rain in early April is unusual, and has been a welcome respite from the high temperatures being experienced. The King has also taken a personal interest in the problem this year and has instructed rain-making exercises to be conducted, helping ease the problem.
Pollution control department readings
Posted by: Andrew on 31 Mar 2008, 10:29