Stories submitted by Andrew
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Ongoing Political Conflict Threat to Thailand Stability
Protests in the capital have gripped Thailand and led to a no-confidence debate in Parliament this week represent a war between the supporters of a populist billionaire and political conservatives.
This could be dubbed ‘round two’ in the fight between heavyweights Thaksin Shinawatra and Sondhi Limthongkul.
Mr Sondhi is a well-known broadcaster and publisher, who has become the self-appointed defender of the traditional way of life in Thailand. At one time an ally of the former prime minister, he has become a vehement opponent of Mr Thaksin, a telecommunications tycoon.
The feud could fuel ongoing political uncertainty in Thailand, one of the significant economies in south-east Asia. Having endured for nearly two years, the fight has taken its toll. As inflation impacts China, many international manufacturers are seeking alternative locations for their factories, and Thailand is losing out to the Philippines and Vietnam because of the current instability.
Mr. Sondhi began his campaign against Mr. Thaksin with organised protests in Bangkok in early 2006. He alleged that Mr. Thaksin's financial ambitions were undermining Thailand's traditions and stability. Mr. Sondhi garnered the support of tens of thousands of ascetic Buddhists, business leaders and royalists, that time, with the result being a bloodless military coup removing Mr. Thaksin from office in September 2006.
In December 2007, Mr. Thaksin’s supporters were voted in as the country’s new government. Mr. Sondhi has led another wave of protests since that time, which culminated this past week in 25,000 Thais breaking through police lines to reach Government House in Bangkok.
"We're here to defend democracy. We're here to protect the motherland," Mr. Sondhi told the tens of thousands o flag-waving protesters on 20 June 20. At that same time, he demanded that the current Prime Minister, Samak Sundaravej, resign.
Posted by: Andrew on 05 Jul 2008, 21:20 -
Luxury Boutique Spa Opens in Chiang Mai
A new luxury boutique spa and resort, The High Resort, has opened its doors to guests, in the hilly country of northern Thailand.
The High Resort belongs to the Small Luxury Hotels group, and is a sister property to Hua Hin’s chic Veranda Resort Hua Hin, which is a popular getaway for Bangkok’s elite.
The boutique resort and spa is located just outside Chiang Mai city, the popular northern Thai destination renowned for traditional handicrafts, cultural attractions and numerous tourist attractions, such as elephant jungle treks, the ‘Night Safari' and championship golf courses.
All of the resort’s 69 rooms feature large private balconies with views looking out over the forest, and rice and tea terraces. Many boast pools and Jacuzzis, as well as amenities that include air conditioning, LCD TVs, DVD players, iPod docks, free WIFI and Thann spa toiletries.
Dining options of offer include The Higher Room, a restaurant featuring an international menu and an extensive wine cellar; and Rabiang Cha, a Thai restaurant, located on the lower level and surrounded by rice and tea terraces. Both offer al fresco dining.
The Veranda Spa boasts private cottages functioning self-contained spas, each featuring large sunken baths, showers and steam rooms, and twin treatment beds that make it ideal for couples. On the resort’s roof, the ‘Ozone' infinity pool treats guests to spectacular mountain views.
Daily activities on offer at The High Resort include Thai cooking classes, yoga, Tai Chi and stress release massage classes, among others. There’s also a Kid's club that provides youngsters with educational toys and indoor and outdoor activities that change daily.
Posted by: Andrew on 04 Jul 2008, 21:02 -
French Visitor Becomes Demented over Missing Thai Girlfriend
A French man reported became demented as he searched for his Thai girlfriend in the streets of the Thai resort of Pattaya. When he found a woman who looked like his girlfriend, and she eventually derailed his fantasy, he slit his wrist and ended up in a local hospital in the early morning hours of 27 June.
An investigator with the Pattaya Police, Wittaya Yeunyong, was informed that a foreigner had slit his wrist in a room he had rented in central Pattaya. Police rushed to the hotel to find Mr Stephane Verraes, a 35-year-old French national, lying in bed with blood pouring out of numerous wounds on his right wrist.
Mr Verraes was not coherent but police and rescue personnel transported him to Banglamung Hospital.
Mrs Aom, the woman Verraes had mistaken to be his girlfriend, told the police that earlier in the evening she had met him on the beach. He told her that she looked like his missing girlfriend and asked her if he could go back to her room with her. She agreed.
He began a manic search of her room, allegedly looking for his missing girlfriend.
By this time, Mrs Aom had become impatient, she told the police. When she became angry and attempted to force him to leave her room, Mr Verraes reportedly went berserk. He grabbed her razor, slashed his wrist five times and fled the scene to his own room. Mrs Aom and her husband then called the authorities.
Posted by: Andrew on 03 Jul 2008, 21:16 -
Thirty Whales Beached off Phuket
Thirty false killer whales were found beached near the Thai resort island of Phuket, but most were saved by staff at nearby hotels and local residents, a marine official reported.
The whales were up to 4.2 metres long, swam onto the beach on the Racha Island in the Andaman Sea, according to Wannakiat Thubthimsang, the director of Phuket’s Marine Biological Center.
Island residents and hotel staff joined forces to carry the whales back into the rough sea waters, Wannakiat told the AFP.
Due to the rough seas, ten of the whales had to be moved by truck and then carried to another beach about a kilometre away, where calmer waters made the rescue effort feasible.
"One of them died from shock," said Wannakiat.
Scientists who were contacted said they couldn’t be sure why the whales swam ashore.
"They may have run aground because of the strong wave, or they could have been misled by their leader's sonar signal," he added. "It's not the first time this has happened, but this is a very large number."
False killer whales are considerably smaller and less aggressive than the Orca, which is a distant relative. They are not listed as a threatened species.
Like Orcas, false killer whales are classified by scientists as dolphins rather than whales. They are quite social by nature and are known to stand themselves in situations similar to this recent occurrence in Thailand.
Posted by: Andrew on 02 Jul 2008, 21:15 -
Cambodia Closes Thai Border at Preah Vihear Temple
Cambodia closed a border gate with Thailand leading to a centuries-old temple, which both nations claim as belonging to them. An unnamed official said the action was taken on Tuesday as Thai protesters gathered outside the gate and opposition members in the Thai Parliament accused the PM of yielding sovereignty over the site to Cambodia.
The border closure at Preah Vihear temple was the latest in a long series of flare-ups between Thailand and Cambodia over the ownership of this area.
Located atop a cliff around 245kms north of Phnom Penh, Preah Vihear is actually more accessible from Thailand than it is from Cambodia.
The two countries have disputed ownership of this temple, which is found on territory that is also under dispute. The International Court of Justice, however, awarded ownership to Cambodia in 1962.
This most recent conflict came to life a week ago when the Thai government supported Cambodia's attempt to register Preah Vihear with UNESCO as a World Heritage site.
Critics in Thailand condemned the actions of Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej when he bypassed Parliament and endorsed Cambodia's bid to UNESCO, accusing him of violating Thai sovereignty. According to the critics, the two countries should make joint application for the site’s World Heritage Status.
A large crowd of Thai protesters gathered early in the week near the entrance to the temple at the border, shouting that Preah Vihear belongs to Thailand and telling the Cambodians who live in the temple area to move away, reported the director-general of the Preah Vihear Authority, Hang Soth.
"We decided to shut down the border entrance because we are afraid that Thai demonstrators will reach the temple and cause problems with our people who live the near the temple," said Hang Soth.
Authorities will consider reopening the entrance "when the situation becomes normal and Thai demonstrators stop protesting in front of the temple," he added.
Posted by: Andrew on 01 Jul 2008, 21:00 -
Bangkok Airways to Offer Web Check In
In order to improve the quality of its services to passengers and ensure a smooth experience all-around, Bangkok Airways will be launching a Web-based service for flight check-in service this July.
Ping Na Thalang, vice president of Bangkok Airways' Information Systems Department commented that the company would provide the Web service to passengers who are not travelling with checked baggage.
These passengers will be able to print their boarding passes from their computer, without having to stop at the airport check-in counters.
Na Thalang said further that passengers can take advantage of the new service by logging on to the carrier’s website at bangkokairways.com. Once they have accessed the site, they can purchase e-tickets, select their seats and then check-in and print out their boarding pass from their home computer. The boarding pass that is printed contains a readable barcode. The Web check-in option is available beginning 48 hours before the time of a flight’s departure.
The airline is planning to initially launch the service for customers that are travelling from Koh Samui to Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport, before expanding to cover 23 additional destinations. In the future, the airline is also planning to provide the check-in service through smartphones.
Posted by: Andrew on 30 Jun 2008, 21:00 -
International Interest in Property Rises in Phuket
Two recently-released studies indicate a significant increase in the purchase of property by international buyers in Phuket, one of Thailand’s top tourist destinations.
There was a 32 percent increase in the number of property transactions, in the second half of 2007, and a 59 percent jump in the total value of the property sold on Phuket island, according to a CB Richard Ellis report. The activity is attributed to a 22 percent boost in Phuket’s tourism, along with a rise in interest among Middle Eastern and Russian buyers.
A study by Jones Lang LaSalle on the high-end condominium market also noted a shift in the demographics of Phuket buyers. UK, US and Scandinavian investors have traditionally represented the market’s base, but now “affluent individuals from China, Russia, India, Korea and the Middle Eastern countries are representing a growing source of demand,” according to this study.
Whatever else the studies demonstrate, it seems evident that Thailand’s political issues, including a coup in 2006, continuing unrest in the South and recent, large-scale anti-government demonstrations in Bangkok, are not discouraging foreign interest in the resort property market.
“The new government has expressed its strong will to attract more overseas capital flows into Thailand,” noted Dan Tantisunthorn, the head of research for Thailand at Jones Lang LaSalle. Currently, the Thai government is considering legislation to extend foreigner land leasehold periods, he added. “Should the initiative materialize, we can expect the market to be more robust.”
Posted by: Andrew on 28 Jun 2008, 21:44 -
Koh Samui Regatta to Feature all Major Players
All major players in Asia’s racing class circuit are headed to the Gulf of Thailand for Koh Samui’s seventh annual regatta, in a last-ditch effort to win a major event before the end of the 2007-2008 season.
After his convincing win last year, Bill Bremner decided to get a bigger boat and is returning this year with the TP52 Foxy Lady IV. He’s expecting to be raising the Waterford Crystal KSR perpetual bowl after this year’s race, as he did after he won last year. Since his impressing showing in the final race of the 2006-07 season, Frank Pong with his 75ft R/P Jelik reign as the AsianYachting Champions. He’s also determined to add another trophy to his ever-expanding display cabinet. Another major competitor, Ray Roberts and Quantum Racing, has already won the AY Skipper and Boat of the Year for 2007-2008, but says that there’s still the ‘KSR bragging rights’ to compete for.
There are others out there with their eyes on the trophy. Chris Mead’s Corby 43 Full Metal Jacket, the Kinmonth / Burns Mills 51 Mandrake, Neil Pryde's Welbourne 52 Hi-Fi and Sam Chan's Ffreefire 52 will all be pushing their way to trophies as well. Competition from newcomers will include Ben Copley's Club Swan 42 Katsu, which debuted Langkawi Regatta’s earlier this year, and Matt Allen’s Beneteau 44.7 Ichi Ban, coming to Koh Samui from a recent victory in the Maktoum Cup in Dubai.
The Samui Regatta is about more than the Grand Prix yachts – there are loads of Racer-Cruisers, Multi-hulls and Sportsboats already anchored off the beach at Chaweng. Regatta organisers are grateful for those who travel thousands of miles to watch or compete, and contribute to this being such a friendly and relaxed event. Falling in late June, the Koh Samui Regatta marks the end of the annual sailing calendar, but south-east Asia is fortunate in having a sailing season that continues throughout the year. July bring Phuket’s Race Week and the start of the next season.
Posted by: Andrew on 27 Jun 2008, 21:42 -
UK Tourist Dies in Pattaya Flood
Life in the popular coastal resort of Pattaya, located in Chonburi province on Thailand's eastern seaboard, is returning to normal, but officials from the British consulate are still investigating the circumstances around the death of a tourist from the UK who was killed last week from receiving an electric shock.
Incessant rain that has plagued the region recently triggered flooding in areas of low-lying south Pattaya, making street impassable and causing extensive damage to houses and shops.
The British tourist died as the result of an electric shock, in a seemingly freak accident, when he was wading through the flooded streets to return to his hotel room.
Sukhumvit Road, in the south end of Pattaya, was flooded by over one metre of water last Thursday morning, making it impossible for smaller vehicles to navigate, and obviously dangerous for pedestrians. Some houses and shops in this part of town were hit by flood waters up to two metres deep.
Officials mobilized resources to pump the flood waters out of the area, diverting them into the Gulf of Thailand. Local sources reported garb garbage-clogged drainage ditches and pipes contributed to the severity of the flooding.
Posted by: Andrew on 26 Jun 2008, 21:41 -
Bangkok Planning Bicycle Lanes to Save Energy
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), in actuality the ‘city hall’ of the Thai capital, is planning to establish dedicated bicycle lanes in the city’s congested business areas and to implement operating licenses for cyclists, in order to promote safe cycling and to help the environment.
Bangkok’s governor, Apirak Kosayodhin, has indicated that the 1.2 metre-wide cycling lanes will be introduced as part of the new landscaping plans for the areas around Sathorn and Rama IV roads.
The BMA has said that it wants to encourage Bangkok residents to use bicycles to get around the more crowded areas of the city centre and will work with the national Land Transport Department in issuing cycling licenses to encourage safe riding practices.
Mr Apirak launched the bicycle campaign at an event in Bangkok’s Lumpini Park this past Wednesday.
He added that the city will also coordinate its efforts with the national Fine Arts Department for encouraging cycling in the historic Rattanakosin Island area of Bangkok, where conservation efforts are underway. Joint work with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) is also underway to acquire expertise on historic site conservation.
The BMA intends to also designate routes that will enable Buddhists to safely offer food to monks in the early morning hours, and to beautify both business and tourist areas in the central business district, encompassing the Silom and Sathorn road areas.
Posted by: Andrew on 25 Jun 2008, 07:19 -
Northern Thailand Resort Awarded for Responsible Travel
It seems like we’re constantly being reminded of the ways we are ruining the environment, but it’s less often that we hear about the positive actions that are being taken – particularly when it comes to travel. Travel Indochina is making a point of demonstrating how we can enjoy our holiday experience and make a difference when it comes to protecting the environment.
Travel Indochina features offices in each of the countries where it offers small group travel packages. This leading specialist in Asian travel is positioned so that is able to hand-pick vendors who operate in an environmentally-responsible manner. Not only does Travel Indochina require responsible behaviour from the suppliers it works with, but it also works closely local vendors to develop their capabilities and set higher standards for the tourism industry.
One of Travel Indochina’s most popular resort hotels, the Anantara Golden Triangle located in Chiang Rai, Thailand, was recognized this past week by Forbes Traveler as one of the “World’s Most Responsible Hotels.”
Set amid stunning surroundings, and overlooking the hills of Laos and Myanmar and Laos, this picturesque property was recognised for protecting the environment, promoting conservation and also its humanitarian efforts. A highlight of a guest’s stay at the Anantara is a visit to an elephant camp, set in an adjacent, lush bamboo forest, where visitors learn about the training and handling of these gentle giants.
Chris Orme, general manager of Travel Indochina, explains why the Anantara features in their itineraries. “The Anantara Golden Triangle ticks all the right boxes for us in terms of responsible travel. The way in which they have made a sanctuary, not only for the elephants but for the elephant mahouts and their families, demonstrates their accordance with our principles.”
Posted by: Andrew on 24 Jun 2008, 21:36 -
TAT Promotes Thailand at Goa Programme
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) held a two-day training programme for Indian travel agents last month in Goa, India.
Many are predicting a shift in the travel climate as high-end, luxury travel becomes a more important segment of the market. An indicator of this is the mass market-directed Tourism Authority of Thailand aiming for an audience of high-end travelers. Strategically located between the two burgeoning superpowers, India and China, Thailand has its eyes on a huge market.
As part of the TAT initiative to promote Thailand as an up-market destination and to create a solid base of partners in the travel trade, the tourism agency conducted a two-day workshop for Indian travel agents in Goa, making India and the US the only two countries where this has occurred. The initiative is called the Amazing Thailand Champion Agents Program.
Speaking about the programme, Prakit Piriyakiet, executive director for the South Asia & South Pacific Region of the TAT, remarked: "The programme is designed to educate travel trade members on our up-market products. The workshop gave them an opportunity to interact with senior TAT representatives from Bangkok and co-participating hotels and tourism attractions from Thailand." This recent workshop involved 40 trade member participants from across India.
The US was the first country chosen for the programme, followed by India. Expansion to additional countries is still under consideration. Chattan Kunjara Na Ayudhya, the director of the TAT, commented: "I am not aware of plans by other TAT offices to organise a similar activity. However, directors of our offices in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur were also present in Goa as observers and they will probably do similar things in their respective regions. So you can say that Goa was a successful pilot project that TAT can implement in other parts of the world."
Posted by: Andrew on 23 Jun 2008, 21:16 -
Laguna Phuket to Host ESPN STAR Personalities
Members of the ESPN STAR Sports (ESS) football broadcasting team are scheduled to visit Laguna Phuket from 25-27 July in support of Laguna’s CSR initiative that’s aimed at improving conditions in schools in neighbouring Phang-nga province.
This event follows on the highly successful inaugural ESPN STAR Sports Charity Golf Tournament at Laguna Phuket held in March of 2007, when THB 500,000 was raised for Phuket’s Life Home Project in support of HIV-positive women and children.
The ESS team are enthusiastic to repeat the earlier success.
The proceeds from this year’s event will be used to improve the heath and safety standards of a school in economically disadvantaged Phang-nga province. This project comes under the auspices of the Laguna Phuket Social Committee, which manages the resort’s CSR activities.
The star-studded line-up of ESS team members visiting Laguna Phuket includes STAR Sports Nokia Football Crazy presenter Andy Penders and the football analyst PJ Roberts. ESPN Football Focus presenter John Dykes and Here We Go’s Andrew Leci of Here We Go will join a number of in-house football experts, such Paul Masefield, Jamie Reeves, Shebby Singh and Derek Currie. Also participating are STAR Sports presenters Paula Malai Ali, Drinie Aguilar, Ally Begg, Jamie Yeo, Christy Simson, Uday Joshi and Joy Navkin.
Posted by: Andrew on 21 Jun 2008, 10:48 -
Compensation Paid After Samui Holiday Rained Out
A couple is reimbursed 20,000 kronor because of bad weather while on holiday in Thailand.
“It is good to ARN (The Swedish Consumer Watchdog) exist and can make an impartial judgement”, the disappointed tourists said to The Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter.
The couple had complained to ARN about the poor service they had received from ‘Select Travel,’ as their trip to Bhutan and Thailand had failed to meet their expectations.
The couple’s holiday took place in October of 2007, when they travelled first to Bangkok and then on to Bhutan. Afterwards, they wanted to spend time in a sunny location by the sea.
’Select Travel’ booked them into a hotel on Koh Samui. By the time they arrived, the rainy season had been underway for over a week. Streets were flooded and the door at the front of the hotel had a row of sandbags in front of it. They were told by hotel staff that the weather forecast was for another five days of rain and wind.
“It is good that the matter is solved. Now we know that we have a responsibility for how the weather is. This means that we will be very careful when we talk about the weather with the customer,” said the CEO of Select Travel, Leija Graf.
The travel company, which organises exclusive holidays, will now be referring their customers to an online weather site, where they can research the weather conditions at their holiday destination.
Posted by: Andrew on 20 Jun 2008, 10:51 -
New Condo Rules Offer Better Buyer Protection
Condominium buyers in Pattaya and throughout Thailand are set to have better legal protection from an amendment to the condominium act under which penalties are imposed on developers who do not deliver as advertised.
The amendment becomes effective on 4 July and will punish those developers who engage in misleading advertising in order to boost their sales. “If they don’t deliver what they advertise, the land department is empowered to charge them with giving false information,” explained a department spokesman.
Complaints from buyers who found that the units they purchased did not include what was promised led to the new amendment. Most had purchased condominium units before they had been completed.
From 4 July developers will be required to submit their advertising plans at the same time they submit their construction proposals. On completion of the construction, the land department will inspect the units to determine if everything has been completed as advertised.
Most complaints about condos purchased in Pattaya generally deal with smaller items, such as the construction not finished on schedule, disputes about the common areas and charges for general condominium services. Under the new provisions, condo owners will be required to show all of the promotional material they received when making a complaint.
Posted by: Andrew on 19 Jun 2008, 10:46 -
New Cosmetic Surgery for Ears Offered in Bangkok
A cosmetic surgery clinic in Bangkok, Thailand, has announced that it is offering a new procedure for medical tourists - surgery that is designed to correct the shape of ears that are protruding or irregularly proportioned.
The Bangkok Plastic Surgery Clinic has announced that new technology available has enabled it to offer this otoplasty procedure for the first time.
The cosmetic procedure typically takes from 2 to 5 hours, and involves the reshaping of the ears or correcting the positioning of the patient's ears. The surgery leaves only a small, faint scar behind the ear.
The otoplasty procedure is most often performed on children from age 4 to 14, but can also be beneficial to adults. There are no additional risks to adults undergoing the surgery.
Full consultation services and advice are offered by the clinic’s specialists prior to the patient or family making any decision on the procedure, the Clinic advised.
Cosmetic procedures in Thailand and in neighbouring Asian countries, including Singapore, often cost half or less of what they would in Britain. Medical tourism has grown in recent years into a worldwide industry of £60 million.
Posted by: Andrew on 18 Jun 2008, 10:44 -
Thailand Tourism Festival 2008 Opens
The Thailand Tourism Festival 2008 opened this past week at the IMPACT Exhibition Centre in Muang Thong Thani, Nonthaburi province, just outside Bangkok. This is Thailand’s premier travel and tourism event.
The festival was held from 5-8 June, alongside Thailand Travel Mart + 2008.
The travel and tourism event was organised by the Tourism Authority of Thailand, which is responsible for promoting domestic travel in the country to develop the base for promotion of Thai destinations in the international travel market.
The objective of the festival is to create awareness of the fragile nature of the environment and ecotourism opportunities and the country’s national cultural heritage sites, as well as to encourage the preservation Thai traditions and encourage economic growth in all of the country’s provinces.
Visitors were treated to a variety of spectacular cultural performances, representing the four regions of Thailand. Among these was the Khon, a traditional masked dance, which was the first to be performed.
The Thailand Tourism Festival also featured cultural showcases sponsored by other member countries of the Greater Mekong Subregion, including Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Vietnam.
A number of games and fashion shows were presented by private operators in the tourism sector.
Posted by: Andrew on 17 Jun 2008, 10:54 -
Chiang Mai Views Bicycling with Disdain
In Chiang Mai, Thailand’s second-largest city, bicycling is at your own risk, even though this form of transport provides clear advantages for a rider’s physical health and for the environment.
Next to getting around by foot, the bicycle is seen by Thais in Chiang Mai as the least desirable mode of transportation.
The city’s streets are teeming with cars and trucks, as motorcycles screech and zig-zag through the stalled traffic.
Other than the attitude of the locals about bicycles, it is the unpredictable movement of motorcycles that poses the greatest danger to bicyclists. Cyclists are forced to the edge of the road where they can be forced into the curb or parked vehicles. The lack of bicycle paths on most roads makes the situation even worse.
In addition to the more practical life and death considerations for cyclists, this particular mode of transport is viewed in Chiang Mai, as it in the cities of many developing countries, with disdain as it is seen as reflecting a low economic status.
Many local people avoid using bicycles as a means of transport because of these social attitudes that consider any form of human powered transportation as demeaning. This includes walking as well as bicycling.
Bicycling remains an activity reserved for tourists in Chiang Mai, or occasionally as a weekend pastime for locals.
The attitude is unfortunate, as bicycling can improve a rider’s physical health, reduce energy consumption and can play a positive role in improving the air quality in these highly polluted urban areas.
Posted by: Andrew on 17 Jun 2008, 00:00 -
Thais Want to Be Reincarnated as Thais
A recent survey revealed that nearly 90% of Thais taking part in the survey wanted to be reborn Thai, even given their concerns that their fellow Thais may not remain kind, loving and peaceful over time. Reincarnation is a fundamental part of the Buddhist belief system. The director of the ABAC Academic Network for Community Happiness Observation & Research, Dr Noppadol Kannika, reported that the group conducted its survey in May 2008 on 3,487 respondents throughout Thailand.
When asked about violence due to the country’s political situation, over the next six months, 66.3% feared that violence would increase.
More respondents, 72%, said that they feared young people will follow the lead of some adults in showing nasty behaviour.
Nearly 80% said they believed violence seen at anti-government protests was provoked by other groups in the country. They placed the blame on these ill-intended people, the protesters themselves, incompetent officials and media reporters sensationalizing the situation.
When asked about effective solutions for the current political turmoil, 80% indicated that reason and not emotion should be used to resolve political differences.
A full 75% of those responding to the survey said that both sides needed to show restraint in order to avoid possibly tragedy. Almost the same percentage said that it was crucial that people on both sides show forgiveness and compassion.
Posted by: Andrew on 14 Jun 2008, 20:00 -
X2 Resort Opens on Koh Samui
X2 Resorts, the first designer resort chain in Thailand is preparing to unveil its latest X2-brand resort on 15 June 2008, on Koh Samui. The third-largest of Thailand’s islands, Koh Samui is one of the most popular beach destinations in the country, is becoming more popular each year with tourists seeking luxurious resorts. Located on the south-east coast of the island, on the peaceful 100 metre stretch of private beachfront along Hua Thanon Beach, the X2 Resort overlooks the Gulf of Thailand amid a stand of 50 year-old trees. The new resort occupies over 20,000 square metres of land, and comprises 27 villas, each uniquely designed and ranging in size from 110 to 225 square metres. Each villa also features a pool of approximately 30 square metres.
X2 Samui will feature a popular X2 Spa, a branded bar and restaurant and an outdoor massage pavilion, where visitors can enjoy both traditional Thai massage and spa treatments. Astudo CEO Anthony McDonald stated that X2 Samui is a unique resort for Samui. “It is the kind of resort that guests do not want to leave. The service is of course 5-star and the private villas are a sublime relaxing oasis. The peaceful and spacious atmosphere of the resort provides a feeling akin to a 21st century temple experience alike.” X2 Resorts successfully opened X2 Kui Buri in 2007.Posted by: Andrew on 13 Jun 2008, 20:00