Stories submitted by DaveB
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The latest in luxury in Phuket
The Thai resort island of Phuket has always been attractive as a vacation getaway, and many now call the island home for at least part of the year. The number of residences built on the island in recent years is impressive, and the latest in a long line of luxury pool villas, Les Palmares offers the absolute latest in technological gadgetry along with the style and comfort potential buyers would expect form a property on Phuket.
The Les Palmares pool villas have an asking price that places them firmly in the top echelon of what’s on offer on the island, as the units boast everything form cutting edge design, western kitchens, electronic climate control in every room, and electronic entertainment systems of the highest order.
Ayudhya Real Estate is the exclusive real estate agent for the complex, and agent Simon Murray says, "The development is 5-star rated and extremely elegant. It's designed in a modern Bali style with dense vegetation surrounding a central oasis around which each secluded villa is built. This ensures that the properties are suitable for people who require a natural, open space with privacy.
Tall trees are interspersed around the property ensuring that you feel the benefit of the natural surroundings and the weather yet have the shade needed in this tropical environment. The walls are built so that you still have privacy, but they're not so high that you can't see the mountains."
Posted by: DaveB on 06 Jun 2008, 19:56 -
Bangkok to host annual Tourist Festival and Travel Mart
Impact Muang Thong Thani Exhibition Center in Bangkok will play host to the Thailand Tourism Festival and Travel Mart 2008 from June 5th to the 8th. This year marks a growth in the event with exhibitors not only from Thailand but from Malaysia and Indonesia as well.
As the Thailand Travel Mart and the Thailand Tourism Festivals have grown and merged, the event as well has moved from a simply Thai affair to promote other regions, perhaps something to do with the increasing pacts of the ASEAN nations. Now without a doubt the biggest event of it kind in the Kingdom, the Tourism of Thailand-sponsored exhibition will feature booths and presentations leveled at both industry professionals and the public alike.
The official tag of ‘Visit IMT-GT Year 2008’ will make its debut, which hopes to encourage visitors not only to the Kingdom but the whole Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle. This follows talks between Thailand and the Philippines about a single ASEAN visa being possible at some time in the future.
Posted by: DaveB on 05 Jun 2008, 19:58 -
Burmese man found dead in Pattaya
A young Burmese immigrant was found dead in his apartment in Pattaya yesterday, with no signs of foul play. 19-year old Mr. Joy had been employed by a deckchair and umbrella company on Jomtien Beach and when he didn’t show up for two days, one of the owners of the business went around to his flat to investigate. 41-year old Wilailuck Aramwong found his employee dead in his room, with no clear signs of assault, but noted that his mobile phone was missing,
Local Police investigator Captain Prapat Bpumalee received the call from Mr. Aramwong mid-afternoon yesterday, and arrived at the four-storey complex to find people crowding around the entrance to see what was going on.
The death comes as a surprise to many, as Joy’s chaaracter has never been in question and he had been until-then held in good stead by his employers. The mysterious death can only be attributed to theft at this point according to police, but an investigation into the incident is underway.
Posted by: DaveB on 05 Jun 2008, 19:41 -
New study shows fault lines under Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai has felt a handful of earthquakes over the last couple of years, and a new study by Chiang Mai’s Earth Science Institute confirm that there are in fact fault lines under the northern Thai city. Researchers discovered two fault lines running roughly 5 kilometres underground running through the districts of Chiang Khon, Mae Ai, Chiang Saen, Hang Dong, Sansai and Fang; even stretching as far west as mae Hong Son Province.
Director of the Earth Science Institute Professor Samphan Singharajwarapan confirmed that while mild tremors in the area are common enough, a sizeable quake could put buildings in the area over 15 storeys at risk of collapse. The last quake to be flet in the city was a result of shifting earth beneath Sansai’s Maejo University which registered 4.6 on the Richter scale.
As a result of the study, local authorities are urging buildings under construction and those in the planning stages that if they plan to build high, no corners should be cut on fortifications against earthquakes.
Posted by: DaveB on 04 Jun 2008, 19:48 -
2008 Regatta on in Samui
2008 marks the seventh year of the successful Ko Samui Regatta, and all of Asia’s racing class players have made the journey to Thailand for the competition. After his win last year, Bill Bremner makes his return to the competition with a bigger boat to heighten his chances of holding the Ko Samui Crystal Bowl for the second year in a row. He will face stiff competition from the current AsianYachting Champion Frank Pong, who are as eager to add one more accolade to their credits as the yachting season comes to a close.
Another competitor who isn’t fooling around this year is Ray Roberts, who has already won the AY Skipper and boat of the year awards fro 2007-08, but the prestige of winning the Ko Samui Regatta has still eluded him.
This year marks the first time that a junior competition will be held, with the first Samui Junior Sailing Squadron Challenge. Aside form the racing, there are a host of special events on shore as well, amking the Ko Samui Regatta an experience that everyone, not just salty old sea dogs, can enjoy.
Posted by: DaveB on 04 Jun 2008, 19:42 -
Exploitation workshop held at Chedi Hotel
The unfortunate reality of sex tourism in Southeast Asia is only overshadowed by the strand that affects children. The longstanding issue of child sex tourism has been difficult to penetrate, but last week at the Chedi Hotel in Chiang Mai, a workshop was held entitled, ‘Sexual exploitation in Travel and Tourism’, to attempt to solve some of the most urgent issues.
The workshop was instigated by ECPAT, a Chiang Rai non-governmental organization that deals mostly with issues concerning child pornography, child prostitution and trafficking, along with Kuoni Travel Ltd. This workshop was the 5th of its kind in Thailand, with preceding events being held in Ko Samui, Phuket, Bangkok and Pattaya.
The head of Kuoni’s corporate responsibility Fausta Borsani and ECPAT’s Pravit Ekcharoensook played host at the event, with briefings on Thai law concerning the subject at hand clarified by Bangkok Royal Thai Police member Lt. Col. Panya Cheamted.
All parties admitted their disdain for the fact that Thailand was a premier global player in all three areas concerned, and that child pornography and child sex tourism are all too often directly linked. Various solutions were presented and all present hoped that headway could be made into the problem.
Posted by: DaveB on 03 Jun 2008, 19:57 -
Illegal labourers arrested on Phuket
28 illegal Burmese workers were arrested on the site of the homeWorks construction project on the Thai island of Phuket after an anonymous tip-off led police to the building site. The fact that illegal Burmese workers play a significant role in the island’s workforce is no secret, and the news of these arrests follows last month’s incident where 54 would-be illegal immigrants suffocated on their way to the island last month.
The informant told police that RTH Construction Co, the contractors responsible for building the homeWorks complex were employing illegal workers, and while some workers were without work permits, others were in possession of permits that allowed them to work solely for another employer.
The workers without entry papers will be deported, while the others will face a fine, said local Police. RTH Construction faces charges of its own.
The governor of Phuket, Niran Kalayanamit, warned that in the wake of the devastation caused by Cyclone Nargis, more illegal workers could be expected to try to enter Thailand to find work.
Posted by: DaveB on 03 Jun 2008, 19:55 -
Bangkok public transport set to improve
Bangkok’s reputation for gridlock has never been an unfounded stereotype, perhaps until now. The notoriously congested city has seen some improvements to public infrastructure over these past few years with the construction of the Skytrain system, and this August another step in the right direction could have Bangkok’s traffic down to a level describable as only moderately hellish.
From August, Bangkok will introduce a new bus system that run in dedicated lanes on streets, avoiding the gridlock that has plagued taxi passengers for far too long. The new bus system will link with the existing Skytrain network, with Chong Nonsi Station being the first link.
The Skytrain itself is set to expand, with the much-anticipated connection to Suvarnabhumi International Airport expected to be complete and operational by the end of this year. Aside from the elevated Skytrain, the city also plans to expand its current underground metro network from one line to four in the coming years.
Travellers who haven’t been to Bangkok in several years will no doubt find the changes substantial and beneficial to a fascinating city that has so much to offer. With these public works, getting around Bangkok has never been easier, and form here on in, it will only get better.
Posted by: DaveB on 03 Jun 2008, 19:50 -
Canadian appears in Thai court
Thai2 http://www.ctv.ca
A native of British Columbia, Canada appeared in a Thai court yesterday to face charges of pedophilia, Canadian news agency CTV reports. If convicted, the alleged pedophile could face up to 35 years in prison. 33-year old Christopher Neil appeared in shackles in front of a Bangkok judge on Monday, but the court case was adjourned until October.
Neil had taught English for many years in Asia and was arrested last October as the international law enforcement agency Interpol descrambled an online photo of what is alleged to show Neil in lewd acts with a nine year old Thai boy. Neil heard the charges leveled against him for the first time in the courtroom, which included taking a child without parental consent and subsequently holding the child against his will. There are also videos of what investigators purport are illegal cast involving Neil and other children.
The boy’s father, who will seek $10,000 in damages says, "I want him jailed. The money is not a big deal."
Neil will have to wait until the fall for his day in court, and his family says they are having trouble raising funds for a private lawyer to defend him.
Posted by: DaveB on 03 Jun 2008, 19:46 -
FCO issues Thai travel advisory
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has issued a travel warning for Thailand, in anticipation of the political demonstrations that are expected to take place in Bangkok in the coming weeks that it says are potential flashpoints for violence.
Last month there were several incidents in the Kingdom of protests turning nasty, despite the fact that the government has become relatively stable following the bloodless coup two years ago. The FCO says that the situation is still unstable despite the fact that democratic elections were held at the end of last year.
With the planned large-scale protests, the FCo is warning travellers that violence could escalate in the wake of the demonstrations, and caution should be exercises both if in the country and in making the choice to visit. Warnings come after two bomb attacks in Bangkok killed two people and injured 15 others at the CS Pattani Hotel in March.
Posted by: DaveB on 03 Jun 2008, 19:44 -
Chaweng resort offers online reservations
One of Ko Samui’s most popular beach resorts, BB Chaweng Beach Resort has announced that it will launch a new and improved system where guests can book their rooms online. The new system implemented on bbchawengbeachresort.com offers an easier interface for guests to choose and reserve their rooms at the resort, while claiming better rates are available through this process.
14 days of real-time availability are shown on the site, which gives customers the utmost in information when making a choice. A 10 percent deposit payable with a major credit card secures the booking, and will be deducted from the total room charge at the end of the guest’s stay.
The booking is confirmed instantly by email, and the transactions are said to be entirely secure thanks to the WorldPay technology, whose 128-bit encryption ensures no third parties will have access to the customer’s credit card information.
Posted by: DaveB on 03 Jun 2008, 19:40 -
Traffic jams reported on new road
A new road in Pattaya meant to alleviate traffic congestion in nearly finished, but so far it is experiencing traffic jams of its own. The road that now runs sixteen kilometres parallel with the train tracks from Krathinglai Junction to Huay Yai Sub-district is now almost entirely complete, but rush hour traffic is now plaguing the new road built to ease the crunch on Sukhumvit.
Local traffic police have been deployed to handle the congestion at intersections, but Amnuay Na-ek, spokesman for the construction company says that until it is 100 percent complete, there is little that can be done.
A regular user of the road says things are at their worst between 16:30 and 18:30, and said that once the road is completed, traffic lights at the junctions would do much to keep things under control.
The problems are made even worse by a nearby project where a water pipe is being replaced, diverting traffic onto the unfinished road.
Posted by: DaveB on 02 Jun 2008, 19:47 -
Canadian appears in Thai court
A native of British Columbia, Canada appeared in a Thai court yesterday to face charges of pedophilia, Canadian news agency CTV reports. If convicted, the alleged pedophile could face up to 35 years in prison. 33-year old Christopher Neil appeared in shackles in front of a Bangkok judge on Monday, but the court case was adjourned until October.
Neil had taught English for many years in Asia and was arrested last October as the international law enforcement agency Interpol descrambled an online photo of what is alleged to show Neil in lewd acts with a nine year old Thai boy. Neil heard the charges leveled against him for the first time in the courtroom, which included taking a child without parental consent and subsequently holding the child against his will. There are also videos of what investigators purport are illegal cast involving Neil and other children.
The boy’s father, who will seek $10,000 in damages says, "I want him jailed. The money is not a big deal."
Neil will have to wait until the fall for his day in court, and his family says they are having trouble raising funds for a private lawyer to defend him.
Posted by: DaveB on 01 Jun 2008, 19:46 -
Thailand now considered more dangerous
In the annual Global Peace Index survey, Thailand slipped from the 105th position to the 118th as far as the safest countries in the region go. The handful of foreigners that have been raped in the last years, the latest case ending in the murder of a Scandinavian tourist, have made many would-be visitors think twice about a trip to the islands of Thailand.
Of the 24 criteria in the survey, Thailand was rock bottom in four categories, such as political instability, potential for terrorist attacks, levels of violent crime and respect for human rights. Only Burma scored lower than Thailand in these areas, with the survey covering the countries featured in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
''The world appears to be marginally more peaceful this year. This is encouraging, but it takes small steps by individual countries for the world to make greater strides on the road to peace,� says the founder of the travel index Steve Killelea.
Posted by: DaveB on 27 May 2008, 20:22 -
Thailand in favour of single ASEAN visa
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN may eventually issue a single visa for travel in any of the member states, with Thailand and the Philippines the first countries to vocalize their support for the idea publicly. After a meeting between the leaders of the Philippines and Thailand, representatives said that the single visa was one of the main topics discussed between the two leaders.
Philippine president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo welcomed the Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej to Manila, and said the Thai PM " was very upbeat about tourism. He said that maybe we can agree among ASEAN countries, starting with the Philippine-Thailand agreement, [to do away with the] necessity of having a visa for tourists coming in and out of Thailand and vice versa.�
Come July, Thailand will chair the rotating head of the bloc, and it is expected that one major issue will be “to have a common visa for all the ten countries so that countries who visit Thailand can also visit one or the other of these countries in ASEAN,� according to Philippine executive secretary Eduardo Ermita.
Posted by: DaveB on 26 May 2008, 20:27 -
Pattaya man has car destroyed
It seems driving a souped-up car in Pattaya can be hazardous to its health. Or so a local man found out recently, after his car was shot multiple ties and scratched severely when he refused the offer of a teenage gang to have a race.
The man refused to meet their challenge of a car race and entered a pub to meet his friends, only to find after his exit the car had been seriously damaged by the offended gang. Local police received a call early in the morning of May 24th that a car had been shot up and scratched in a car park outside the Noir Pub. Colonel Prateep Thongdee arrived at the scene where the car’s owner, 37-year old Tas Insee was waiting beside the vehicle. Police report 11 gunshot holes in the car, and slugs from a nine-millimeter pistol were found nearby.
There were no witnesses at the scene, and the police plan to conduct a thorough investigation in order to find those responsible for the vandalism.
Posted by: DaveB on 26 May 2008, 19:58 -
Bangkok traffic law under advisory
Bangkok is one of the busiest capital cities in the world, and the metropolis is notorious for its traffic. For years, Bangkok has struggled with what to do about the intense gridlock the city deals with every day. The construction of the sky train has done much to alleviate the worst of it, but with a middle class growing like a spore, there are more and more cars being driven on Thai streets every day.
The city’s governor, Apirak Kosayodhin has taken a new plan that resembles the congestion charge levied against London drivers, but has not made any final decisions. He said, “I want to try and make the public understand first that the main idea behind this proposed policy is to develop certain areas of Bangkok such as Silom, Sathorn and Sukhumvit, so that they are less congested.
This policy has already been implemented in Singapore but it took a lot of time to get people to understand the aim behind the plan.� He went on to say that as much as he is willing to listen to the plan, he is equally willing to scrap it if he finds it is not suitable for Bangkok.
Posted by: DaveB on 26 May 2008, 15:41 -
Phuket eco tours and the environment
Ecotourism is one of the biggest fads in travel these days, and many people who take them assume that they are dong their locale good by participating, but with more and more ecotours in operation, how much of the environment is actually being protected. Phuket still retains a large degree of its natural beauty, but with its ever-reaching development, it can only be a matter of time before the environment comes under direct threat.
There are no official statistics about the effects or impact of ecotourism on Phuket, as neither the Phuket Ecotourism Association or the Tourism Authority of Thailand have the budgets to put in the research needed.
Kanchana Kwanrod, manager of PETA says, "PETA can't tell the amount of money that tourists spend on ecotourism because we don't have the budget to do it. It was established by the companies that offer ecotours. They joined together to help national parks to promote places to travel.
As for income from ecotourism, we can't say exactly what income we get from it. Money from ecotourism goes through each national park. At first, PETA staff used to check the income of each national park and other places ecotours take the tourists every six months. But recently we don't have the budget to do that."
Posted by: DaveB on 25 May 2008, 20:02 -
Counterfeit DVD bust in Bangkok
Any visitor to Southeast Asia will notice fairly quickly that the bootleg CD and DVD market is big business. Outside department stores, one would be hard-pressed to find a legitimate disc. The Thai capital of Bangkok is one of the more notorious havens for the production of the illegal discs, though there is rarely any danger of displaying the wares on the streets.
Nonetheless, once in a while examples must be made, and Thai police went big when they seized 100,000 counterfeit DVDs from a shopping mall in the Bangkok neighbourhood of Ma Bon Khrong this past Wednesday.
The owner of the shop, Manee Maitree was arrested and so were the seven people that worked for her. Police seized, besides the 100,000 discs, a printer for making movie covers, bank accounts and customer lists.
Maitree confessed to police that she had been engaged in the business for over a year, and sold the pirated movies to both retail customers and as wholesale to other shops in the city.
Posted by: DaveB on 25 May 2008, 19:44 -
Brit shot in Chalong
A British man who owns a local business on the island of Phuket was robbed at gunpoint and shot as he was driving home along Patak Road in Chalong this weekend. 50-year old Richard Hendren, who owns the September beer bar located on Karon’s Soi One man closed his bar as usual, and stayed on to finish watching the UEFA Champion’s League final live from Moscow.
He drove home with the 13-year old daughter of one of the bar staff so the girl could return the bike to the bar, but as they rounded a corner, two men on another Honda motorbike kicked the wheels out form under Hendren. After the British man and the young girl had crashed, one of the helmeted assailants approached them and demanded their valuables. Hendren replied he didn’t have anything on him, and was shot in the leg causing a compound bone fracture.
Hendren’s waist belt was taken and the girl was relieved of 200 baht and her mobile phone. The police have no suspects in the case, but a full investigation is underway.
Posted by: DaveB on 24 May 2008, 20:26