Anything & Everything About Thailand (Part 2)

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Sunday 24 December 2006 :-

Holiday security beefed up at Suvarnabhumi Airport

Security measures at the new Suvarnabhumi airport will be increased as it is expected that the passenger load will rise by about 10 per cent during the New Year holiday, according to airport director Somchai Sawasdiphol.

The current daily average passenger flow is about 100,000 persons while it is forecast that the overall number will rise 10 per cent from December 28 to January 3 as more people travel during the New Year holiday weekend, Mr Somchai announced.

Airport officials increased the number of security staff assigned to the terminal and other areas during the peak New Year's holiday, the airport chief said, while additional police officers and Highway Department staff would also patrol the facility and help direct traffic near the airport, he said.

To demonstrate the professionalism of security measures in place at the airport, Mr. Somchai said a security officer recently found a wallet containing over 8,000 British pounds (some Bt300,000) in the passenger terminal. Security staff immediately informed the tourist police who located the owner, a British tourist. The wallet was immediately returned to the appreciative owner.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from The Nation dated Sunday 24 December 2006 :-

Northern mountaintop temperatures drop to 0-3 degrees

The Meteorological Department announced that the temperatures at the mountaintops in northern provinces dropped to between 0 to 3 Celsius degrees Saturday morning.

It said in a press release that the mercury dropped to about 0 to 3 degrees over the mountains in Mae Hong Son, Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Lamphun, Lampang, Phayao, Nan and Prae.

The temperatures in the lowland areas of the northern provinces were measured about 7 to 8 degrees, the statement said.

The department said the low temperature was influenced by a high pressure ridge, which is passing over the northern and northeastern regions.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from The Nation dated Sunday 24 December 2006 :-

All roads lead North

Tourists heading for the (almost) frozen North this month may well face a crush

Are you thinking of spending the New Year's holidays and celebrating the countdown in the cold climate of the North? Better plan well in advance, as you will be joined by millions more visitors than in previous years.

The Flora Expo and chillier weather will induce people to head north more than the previous year, especially during the 10-day period from December 27to January 5, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

Over-crowded conditions are expected in the most popular destinations, especially the highland attractions of Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and Mae Hong Son. Tourism officials of the three provinces confirmed that tourist figures would be much higher this year.

In Chiang Mai alone, arrivals will reach a record 4.5 million, said Junnapong Saranak, director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand's Region 1.

In Chiang Rai, the figure is estimated at 1.3 million, around 10 per cent up from last year, TAT official Tanyapa Nikrothanont said.

Mae Hong Son expects to draw 6 per cent more visitors than last year, local tourist official Wisut Buachum said.

"There should be no problem if tourists are spread among sites. The problem is at popular destinations that many want to visit at the same time," Junnapong said.

Doi Inthanon is the best example.

"Everyone needs to reach the highest peak in Thailand, the summit of Doi Inthanon. Many of them plan to get a glimpse of the frost. Last year saw heavy traffic, but this year will be a lot worse," said Anan Sorn-ngai, superintendent of Doi Inthanon National Park.

"From November up to this week, visitor counts have already doubled since last year, so we plan to ban parking at the peak. All cars must stop at the staging centre," he said.

"That is already exceeding our capacity. Normally the park can accommodate 5,000 tourists per day, and 12,000 have shown up on New Year's Eve before now. This year we forecast 18,000 a day," he said.

The increasing influx of tourists has led the park to launch a special management system for visitors on New Year's Eve. Besides banning parking at its summit the measures include inducing tourists to spend their time viewing waterfalls, hiking natural trails, visiting tribal villages, observing royal projects and trying other nearby destinations while waiting for a place in the queue to experience the pinnacle of Thailand.

"Our officials will advise all motorists entering the park how to drive and where to stop or park," Anan said.

The best way to check the turnout at Doi Inthanon is to click on www.doiinthanon.com for online reports on the latest conditions, Anan said.

"We have officials stationed at popular sites in the park, and we will report real time both traffic and other necessary information like weather and alternative stops. Everything will be available 24 hours a day," said Issara Sirisaiyas of the Thailand Research Fund (TRF), who developed the website for the park.

"Visitors can also check the light version of this website on their mobile phones," he said.

"We hope it will help tourists to plan better before deciding to visit Doi Inthanon. In previous years, most visitors just drove up without advance planning. It should be different this year. We also asked over 200 tour-operators in Chiang Mai to check our website before submitting group bookings here," Anan added.

Tanyapa said such problems should not arise in Chiang Rai as tourists generally fanned out over various destinations in the northernmost province.

"We have also convinced tourists to not flock to particular sites at the same time by promoting different routes like the three mountain trails and the tulip road to Doi Pha Moen in Thoeng district," she said.

The mountain trails go to Cheefah, Kha and Langka in Chiang Rai, Nan and Phayao.

In Mae Hong Son, this year's top destinations will be Pai, Muang and Khun Yuam districts, Wisut said.

Pai is expected to face overcrowding in its small area, but local authorities will hopefully be able to handle it, he said.

"Booking hotels in advance is my recommendation, except if you plan to camp. Check the latest situation in each destination in Mae Hong Son at www.travelmaehongson.org before planning your long holiday," he said.

According to the Thai Hotel Association, only 11 of 36 major hotels in Chiang Mai still had vacancies yesterday while in Chiang Rai only one out of nine hotels was still taking bookings.

"If you have friends or relatives, I recommend that you stay with them. Over 90 per cent of hotels in Chiang Mai are booked. For those who plan to visit the Flora Expo and don't have tickets yet, only 5,000 tickets will be available at booths each morning in front of the expo. and most of them will be sold out in several hours," Junnapong said.

For the countdown, most northern provinces have prepared special events at popular locations. Mae Hong Son is ushering in the New Year at Norng Jongkham in Muang district, Chiang Rai's countdown is at the Thai-Burmese border in Mae Sai, and Chiang Mai is partying till dawn at Tha Phae Gate.

"Chiang Mai's countdown will be televised nationwide via a global network from 10pm to 10 minutes past midnight. There will be a giant screen at the gate showing the countdown atmosphere in major provinces for those who attend the event," Junnapong said.

The cold snap in the North which started this week will last until the middle of February, the Meteorological Department said.

"This will be a major magnet for tourists apart from the Flora Expo, which welcomed its two-millionth visitor last Friday," Junnapong said.--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from The Nation dated Sunday 24 December 2006 :-

Isaan's not ready for the worldwide wooing on the Web

All but a few local women met foreign hubbies the old way

Only about 4 per cent of women in the Northeast of Thailand with Western husbands met them over the Internet, despite the explosion of the world wide web, a brief study has found.

Most of the women first came into contact with their spouses at their work places or entertainment venues, the study by Asst Professor Supawatanakorn Wongthanawasu of Khon Kaen University found.

Supawatanakorn, of the university's Faculty of Nursing, said most of those who met their husbands over the Internet had university degrees and careers and were mainly interest in marrying foreign men.

The information was part of an ongoing study of the cultural impact of Thai-Western marriages in the region.

Supawatanakorn interviewed 231 Thai wives in Khon Kaen, Udon Thani and Roi Et. She found about 60 per cent had met their future husbands at workplaces or entertainment venues, about 20 per cent via mutual friends and 17 per cent through relatives, most of whom were married to foreigners.

Among the first group, Supawatanakorn cited the case of 28-year-old Khon Kaen native Boonsom, whose Thai husband had left her and their one-month-old child. Boonsom had worked in Pattaya as a bar girl for nearly a year when she met her German future husband, who asked her to quit the job and bought her a house there.

The couple later visited her family and bought another house in Khon Kaen, renting out the Pattaya house. Her husband goes back to Germany to work for three months each year to earn money for Boonsom.

Supawatanakorn said the 4 per cent of women who met their Western partners via the Internet and matchmaking services were an interesting group because they were single and most were well educated and had good careers.

One woman, Kay, has a bachelors degree and works for an educational institute. She met her husband on the website Italiandating.com. She had to post her photo and personal information such as age, educational background, job, personality, hobby and preferred qualifications of a partner.

Kay specified that she preferred his age to be around 25-39 and he must be rich. Since she was a single woman, Kay could post her information for free while women who were divorced had to pay the webmaster a Bt699 fee.

After the photo and information was posted, the female user received a membership code in Italian. Whenever a foreign man became interested in a Thai member, he could contact them via e-mail only. When ready to take the next step in the relationship the man would have to pay US$200 (Bt7,300) which allowed the exchange of telephone numbers or postal addresses.

Kay was in contact with one of her correspondents, who owned a restaurant in Bangkok, for two months before they became serious and later got married.

"Cross-cultural matchmaking services via electronic means receive a lot of attention and have become widespread, as seen from advertisements of such services in the media," Supawatanakorn said, adding the study found many matchmakers were also married to foreigners.

She cited the case of Khon Kaen resident Somporn who was married to a Briton and opened a company providing matchmaking services to about 100 women - each paid her a Bt20,000 membership fee - and many had already succeed in marrying foreigners.

The study found that about 80 per cent of the women chose their partners solely on their own intuition, while 11 per cent were influenced by parents, 7 per cent by friends and 1 per cent by their children from a previous marriage.

Meanwhile, 52 per cent said there was no formal marriage proposal from the would-be husband to their families, while 51 per cent had no wedding ceremony.

Supawatanakorn said 56 per cent registered their marriages and the rest did not. Seventy-four per cent had not had children with their foreign husbands, 17 per cent had one kid, 5 per cent had two children and 1 per cent had more than two kids.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from The STAR dated Sunday 17 December 2006 :-

What's cooking, Mrs Balbir?

Thai Takes
By PHILIP GOLINGAI

AT about 9,000m above ground, on the Thai Airways flight from Bangkok to Kathmandu, it was a pleasant surprise to find something Malaysian-made when lunch was served.

Was it the spicy prawn rice which had connection to a Malaysian? The mixed fruit? Salad? Bun? Or naan?

It was the scrumptious naan. And a 50-year-old Malaysian, Mrs Balbir, who is the official caterer of Indian cuisine to the airline, prepared it.

Mrs Balbir has come a long way since her salad days when she arrived in Bangkok from Kuala Lumpur as a matchmade bride for Mr Balbir, a Thai Indian, 31 years ago.

In the 1970s, Harvinder Kaur, which is Mrs Balbir’s maiden name, learnt to cook north Indian food from her husband Vinder, and Thai dishes from the streets.

At the Bangkok market, clutching a Thai cookbook, the KL-born woman interacted mostly by sign language with the fishmongers and vegetable sellers to learn Thai cooking and the Thai language.

Picking up north Indian and Thai cooking came naturally to Harvinder as both were similar to Malaysian cooking – Indian and Malay food.

But in Bangkok, she couldn’t cook Malaysian food as tastily as in Kuala Lumpur. For example, when she cooked nasi lemak, one of her favourite Malaysian dishes, the ikan bilis and cili padi bought in Bangkok were different from those in Kuala Lumpur.

“Mother nature grows them differently,” explained the big-hearted Malaysian.

In the mid-1970s, Harvinder opened a north Indian restaurant called Mrs Balbir in Bangkok’s Sukhumvit Soi 11 because she wanted an outlet to release her creative energy. Then, it was one of Bangkok’s handful of Indian restaurants.

She entertained the idea of opening a Malaysian restaurant. She, however, abandoned it as she could not find the necessary ingredients in Bangkok. And there weren't enough Malaysians living in Bangkok for her to establish a core clientele.

In her 31 years in Bangkok, Harvinder remembered only four Malaysian restaurants opening in the city. The first to spring up 25 years ago was a shop that was like a “hole in the wall”.

“The food wasn’t good but we all (Malaysian expatriates) were so desperate for nasi lemak and laksa that we gave the guy (a man who wore sarong) business,” said the operator of www.mrsbalbir.com

However, the proprietor closed shop as he sold his food “too cheaply”. The next Malaysian restaurant also suffered the same fate as it could not attract enough business.

Aunty Malaysia, another outlet which opened three years ago, was forced to cease operation when the building it was housed in was torn down due to some political mess.

Last month, during the Malaysian Club’s Hari Raya celebration in Bangkok, the members were ecstatic when a Malaysian woman, Georgette, announced the opening of her Kopitiam restaurant.

“We went ‘oh ... at last,” as she guaranteed that it would be a real Malaysian restaurant,” recalled Harvinder.

A word of caution for budding Malaysian restaurant owners. Unlike the thriving Japanese and Korean restaurants in cosmopolitan Bangkok, there is negligible demand for Malaysian food from Thais.

Thais, noted Harvinder, like food which has fresh herbs. They, she explained, do not appreciate Malaysian and Indian food because they do not like anything with ingredients that are not fresh, like curry powder.

But what about green curry, a famous Thai dish?

“Green curry is made of pounded fresh herbs like green lime leaves and coriander,” she explained.

Harvinder should know. She has been teaching Thai cooking for 25 years. It all started because there weren’t many English-speaking Thai cooking teachers. And her added advantage was that she was able to substitute ingredients which were not available in their home country.

Among her students are musician Sting’s chef Joseph Sponzo, and Ainsley Harriott, a British celebrity chef.

Her other claims to fame are: A television show in UBC, Thailand's largest pay television operator, called Bangkok Spice with Mrs Balbir; and she is a former food presenter for Star Plus’ Travel Asia.

And how many Malaysians can claim that the food they cooked was served 9,000m above ground? --- KatoeyNewsNetwork

The writer can be contacted at e-mail: [email protected]

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Monday 25 December 2006 :-

New Suvarnabhumi Airport faces partial shutdown - Mistakes, graft found in almost all contracts

Poor construction at Suvarnabhumi may force parts of the new airport to be shut down for repairs. This would open the way for the recently abandoned Don Muang airport to be re-opened to serve Bangkok's air traffic needs.

Deputy Transport Minister Sansern Wongcha-um said yesterday that following a recent report on the problems facing Suvarnabhumi airport, it was likely that part of the new facility would have to be closed and Don Muang airport would pick up the slack.

Some people had suggested the airport, open less than three months, be completely closed for a revamp, with flights being redirected to Don Muang until the improvements are completed, Mr Sansern said. He was opposed to that. Trying to move everything back to Don Muang would cause chaos.

The Council for Democratic Reform _ now the Council for National Security _ asked about the readiness of Suvarnabhumi airport just after the Sept 19 coup, but executives of the Airports of Thailand (AoT) had insisted the airport was ready for the scheduled Sept 28 opening.

Opening the airport before it was completed had inevitably led to problems. If the opening had been delayed to allow work to be finished properly, the airport would have started on a more solid footing.

The new AoT board appointed after the coup has discovered physical and managerial problems at Suvarnabhumi airport.

Board member Yodyiam Theptranont, who heads a sub-panel investigating the problems, said the repairs would take a long time. He could not give a timeframe.

Mr Yodyiam's report to the AoT board outlined a lengthy list of complaints and deficiencies, along with a list of recommendations on fixing the problems.

The report attributed the faults to substandard construction, poor management and manipulation of designs and materials.

The report said the airport's information technology facilities were incomplete and the upper floors of the car park building have no drains, causing rain water to flow into elevator shafts.

Over 1,000 lamps had already burned out and not been replaced.

Mr Yodyiam said AoT lacked an official with direct responsibility for the airport's construction, which had posed an obstacle in getting swift repairs.

Another AoT board member, Tortrakul Yomnak, said many areas need repairs and a partial closure was likely.

Chaisak Angsuwan, director-general of the Civil Aviation Department, said that due to the persistent problems, the department could not issue a permanent licence for Suvarnabhumi airport.

It would, however, extend an interim aerodrome certificate for the airport for another six months in January, he said.

Mr Chaisak said the airport needed to meet all physical and operational requirements before it could be given a permanent certificate.

There were many cracks in the airport's taxiways, some serious and some not, and repairs would be time-consuming, he said. Many operations staff also have no expertise in using their equipment.

Adm Bannawit Kengrian, chairman of the National Legislative Assembly's committee on Suvarnabhumi airport, said his panel had discovered mistakes and irregularities in almost all the airport's contracts. Names of those believed responsible would be announced in two weeks.

Specifications in some contracts had been distorted, he said.

Salaries paid executives of the Novotel Suvarnabhumi Airport Hotel were unusually high. Despite its claimed five-star status, the hotel had plywood doors.

An inexperienced contractor operated transformers that supply power to visiting aircraft and six transformers had burnt out. The cost of digging ditches around the airport was inflated to three billion baht and hiring security guards to five billion baht.

Any contracts where corruption was found would be scrapped, he said
---KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Tuesday 26 December 2006 :-

Soldiers to help patrol dangerous Bangkok sois

Soldiers will march onto Bangkok's streets again during the New Year holiday, not to stage another coup but this time to help police patrol the city's "10 most dangerous sois".

It will the first time troops will be seen in the sois side by side with police on a joint mission to ensure safety for New Year revellers.

"It's a good opportunity for soldiers to help the police," said the 11th Army Circle commander Maj-Gen Jiradet Mokasmit.

Usually, police patrol crime-prone areas during the New Year holidays.

But since the Sept 19 coup, which overthrew the Thaksin administration, the military has played a more active role in ensuring order in cities.

So this year, the soldiers will be welcome to sit beside police officers in their patrol vehicles.

The 10 sois have gained special attention from the police because they have been listed as the most dangerous areas in Bangkok.

They are Soi Charan Sanitwong 37 and Charoen Nakhon 23, notorious for sexual attacks on women and car theft; Soi Lat Phrao 21, Vibhavadi Rangsit 64 and Soi Suan Pak in Taling Chan district for snatch robberies; Soi Pirom in Samphanthawong district, Soi Charan Sanitwong 89, Soi Ruam Raksa in Huai Kwang district and Soi Wat Makok on Ratchawithi road for drugs; and Soi Wimutayaram in Bang Phlad district for street brawls.

In addition to these sois, more police will be standing guard at crowded tourist venues, including bus terminals, a shopping centre near Ratchaprasong and Pathumwan intersections, and Royal City Avenue, a paradise for disco-goers, said Crime Suppression Division chief Pol Maj-Gen Worasak Noppasitthiporn.

Since the coup, soldiers have become more involved in city affairs _ both in terms of security and for political purposes, analysts say.

The Council for National Security earlier sent thousands of soldiers to keep watch on the so-called political undercurrents against the interim government.

They were deployed in cities across the country that were previously strongholds of the deposed Thai Rak Thai government. ---KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from The Nation dated Tuesday 26 December 2006 :-

Boom in dog meat sales to neighbouring countries

The trade in dog meat across the Mekong River is booming as the meat is believed to help keep the body warm, a rumour that apparently started in Vietnam.

Exports from Thailand to Vietnam have risen to 30,000 dogs per month.

As the Chinese New Year Festival (normally celebrated in February) approaches, yellow dogs were the most sought after and most expensive. The Vietnamese believe that eating yellow dog meat will bring them good luck. This belief has sent the price up to Bt4,500 per dog.

A former dog-meat seller in Nakhon Phanom, who asked not to be named, said the dog-meat trade in Thailand, Laos and Vietnam was supplied mainly by a group of wholesalers at Ban Tha Rae village in Sakon Nakhon and four groups of retailers in Mukdahan province.

The Mukdahan retailers were linked to the Ban Tha Rae wholesalers through a woman named Daeng who ran a dog-meat business as a cooperative.

Most dogs sold at Ban Tha Rae are mainly brought from Lop Buri, Ratchaburi, and Prachin Buri. However, not many dogs come from Bangkok due to the large number of dog lovers there.

The Ban Tha Rae wholesalers set the wholesale price at Bt250 per dog while the retail price was Bt350.

The price rises dramatically once they cross the Mekong River, the former dog-seller said, Laotian traders buy dogs for Bt600 each in Thailand and then sell them on the Laos side for Bt1,300.

The price goes even higher when the dogs reach Vietnam, at about Bt2,000 for a normal-coloured dog while it is about Bt3,500 for a black dog.

Meanwhile, Border Patrol Police commander Lt-Colonel Suwit Sangkamanee admitted that it was difficult to arrest dog smugglers because many had valid dog rearing permits and transportation licences and the required vaccination certificates. He said the dog-meat trade route begins in Nakhon Phanom's Ban Phaeng and Tha Uthen districts, which leads to restaurants in North Vietnam.

Chusak Pongpanich, Nakhon Phanom's animal quarantine station chief, said about 400 dogs seized from smugglers were being held at animal quarantine stations in Nakhon Phanom, Nong Khai and Mukdahan.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from The Nation dated Tuesday 26 December 2006 :-

Thailand's tourist capacity set for a boost next year ( 2007 )

New hotels and resorts will increase rooms to nearly 200,000

More than 50 hotels and resorts are scheduled to open in 2007-08, mostly in Bangkok, Phuket and Chiang Mai, raising the Kingdom's capacity to almost 200,000 rooms nationwide. This is expected to force some small and medium-sized operators to close their doors, due to inefficiency.


The projects are being developed by local and foreign investors. In the pipeline are 10 hotels scheduled to open in Bangkok, seven in Chiang Mai and the rest in southern Thailand, particularly in Phuket and on Koh Phi Phi, Koh Samui and other resort islands.

The 50 new properties will be the biggest investment portion in Thailand since the Kingdom began promoting the tourism industry 40 years ago.

This year, 44 hotels and resorts opened in Thailand, many of which were rebuilt after a change in ownership, due to financial problems.

A survey compiled recently by Diethelm Travel (Thailand) showed much potential for newcomers in the market, including the Marriott Hotel Group's Courtyard Hotels affiliate and Dubai's the Jumeriah Group, which is famous at home for its futuristic Jumeriah Beach Hotel.

The Chao Phya River is enjoying a renaissance, and Amanpuri has plans for the old maritime fire station, one of the most coveted riverfront properties.

Diethelm reports that Carlson Hotels Asia Pacific also plans to open five properties in the capital in 2009.

Thai Hotels Association (THA) president Chanin Donavanik said the hotel industry would grow in line with the international travel industry.

"For years, hotels in Thailand have been transferred to foreigners, which will happen more and more frequently," said Chanin.

THA figures show the country has 1,300 hotels and resorts nationwide. Of these, more than 600 are THA members.

Total capacity is estimated to be a maximum of 150,000 rooms, expected to reach 200,000 in the near future.

New projects scheduled to open in Bangkok in 2007-08 are the CentralWorld Hotel, Crown Plaza Sukhumvit, Le Meridien Bangkok, Novotel King Power and The Siam on the River.

The Banyan Tree, Sofitel, Le Meridien, Pan Pacific, Shangri La, Veranda and Manathai Village will open in Chiang Mai next year, along with Central Khao Tao Village and Guti Kiri Resort in Hua Hin.

On Koh Samui, new hotels to be developed are the Banyan Tree, Dusit Resort Samui, Four Seasons, Intercontinental, Melati Resort, Sofitel Nang Yuan and Library.

In the meantime, Pattaya is expected to see new projects from the Central Group, All Season Pattaya, Intercontinental, Le Meridien and Mantra Resort and Spa.

Phuket is attracting new investors along with the new hotels of the Kata Thani Group, Angsana Resort, Mercure Karon, Mercure Patong, Phuri Phiman, Raffles Phuket, Sofitel and Sala Phuket Resort.

The THA said the boom in the hotel industry was happening only in major tourist destinations. As a result, there will be wider gap between them and more remote locations.

"Eighty per cent of the five-star hotels are under management by foreign investors, and more local owners are falling under foreign control," said Chanin.

He said foreigners were interested in four- and five-star hotels in top Thai destinations.

The THA said local operators, particularly small and medium-sized ones, are struggling hard to compete with the giant players. As a result, more than 20 properties have been put up for sale, including the Baiyoke Pattaya, Montien Pattaya, Jomtien Holiday, Day Night Pattaya and Kho Kood Resort.

Suvarnabhumi Airport is expected to bring 2,000 rooms. Local operators - Central, the Amari Group, Four Wings and Miracle - are searching for new investment in the area.

The THA said the average occupancy rate for four- and five-star hotels is 80-90 per cent during the high season and 60 per cent in the low.

Wayne Buckingham, the Starwood Hotel Group's vice president and area manager director for Thailand, said the hotel industry would enjoy double-digit growth in terms of revenues at major destinations.

The stabile political situation is a key driver for the business.

Richard Greaves, general manager of the Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel, said although the political situation had stabilised, the effects of the September 19coup would still be felt into next year's first quarter.

He said regional business travellers would return very quickly, followed by leisure travellers. US, Australian and European travellers will take longer to come back, with an expected peak in next year's third quarter.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from The Nation dated Sunday 31 December 2006 :-

Bomb blasts in Bangkok : Thai PM asks people to avoid crowded parties

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont has asked people to refrain from joining crowded new year party following at least seven bomb attacks in Bangkok.

Thai New Agency quoted Surayud as asking people wishing to join new year party on Sunday night to avoid crowded areas.

The premier has ordered all security officers; police and soldiers, to reinforce in many areas in Bangkok. He ordered crime scene inspectors to collect all evidences from the attack scenes in order to know which groups mastermind the attacks.

Seven explosives went off almost simultaneously in Bangkok, killing two and injuring at least 20 people, as the revellers were about to start celebrating the New Year's eve.

One people were killed and 20 injured at the Victory Monument when a powerful bomb went off near a bus station at about 6.30 pm. The bomb ripped through the bus stops, shattered windows at the nearby restaurant and sending debris in all directions.

Another person was killed near the Klong Toei area near the Na Ranong intersection, around the same time, a bomb hidden in a trash can near a Chinese spirit shrine exploded and injured three pedestrians. The explosion caused a secondary explosion to a number of cookinggas cylinders that were situated nearby.

One person was seriously injured near the Big C supermarket at the Sapan Kwai branch where witnesses saw a man dropped a grenade from a pedestrian bridge onto the police box. Residue of C4 and TNT were found at the scene, an iTV reporter said, quoting an unnamed military source.

At the Seacon Square Shopping Mall, a loud explosion went off at the parking space, creating a panic but no injury. Authorities ordered all shoppers, about 10,000 at the time, to evacuate the mall, one of Bangkok largest, and all shops to close down for business.

A police box at the entrance of Sukhumvit Road, Soi 62 was also hit with a bomb. No injury was reported.

Another police box was hit near the Khae Rai intersection in Nonthaburi province just north of Bangkok with a bomb but not injury reported said Police spokesman Pol General Ajiravid Subarnbhesaj said.

A bomb went off in the compound of the Tesco Lotus Supermarket at the Prachachuen branch.

Soldiers were dispatched to some of the sites where the bombs went off, while other major shopping complex, including the Central Chidlom and Siam Paragon department stores, closed its door earlier.

Deputy Governor of Bangkok, Wallop Suwandee, announced that all the events designated for the New Year's even countdown celebration have been cancelled.

Government's spokesman Yongyuth Malyalarp urged the public to remain calm, adding that police officers have been instructed to stay on high alert, including areas where high concentration of people are expected to take part in the New Year's count down.

"Police reinforcement have been sent to various areas in the city. We urged the public to remain calm, continue with the celebration but at the same time keep a look out for any irregularities," Yongyuth said.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork


Report from Bangkok Post dated Sunday 31 December 2006 :-

Bomb Attacks Reported in Bangkok

A number of bombs or grenades have exploded in Bangkok early on New Year's Eve, wounding dozens of people in at least two places. At least three people were reported killed.

Early reports said there were six explosions in various parts of the capital. Two were reported near the Klong Toey market, and near the Victory Monument.

TV reports said there was a large explosive device in the Saphan Kwai area of Bangkok, where one person was reportedly killed. Unconfirmed reports telephoned to BangkokPost.com said there was a bombing at Seacon Square, the largest mall in Asia, in the east end of Bangkok. A fifth explosion was reported from Sukhumvit Soi 62, a major intersection with the capital's main expressway system.

"There was no warning. It is quite shocking. We've got at least one child very seriously injured in my area and others are injured," said Police Maj-Gen Anand Srisiran, chief of Metropolitan Police District Five.

Witnesses told police in some places that they saw people throwing what looked to be grenades shortly before they explosions.

New Year's Eve parties were just kicking off when the bombs began going off shortly after sundown at 6 p.m.

The coordinated attacks are unprecedented in Bangkok.

However, political feelings have run high for more than a year, and there have been reports of political violence aimed against the military junta which ousted ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra on Sept 19 - primarily the suspected burning of schools.

In addition, some intelligence sources had suggested in the past two weeks that Islamist extremists leading the southern insurgency might try to spread their attacks to the capital. They have never operated out of the deep South.

The number and extent of casualties were unknown immediately after the explosions. Graphic footage shown on television showed damaged vehicles and blood-stained streets and pavements.

Except for the insurgency in the four southernmost provinces, there has been no deadly political violence in Thailand for more than 14 years, when a popular protest overthrew the last military government. In that case, the violence and deaths were caused by the military government and armed forces.

Martial law was lifted in Bangkok and surrounding provinces just a month ago, but the military is authorised to act when necessary. The coup passed its 100-day anniversary on Dec 28.

The junta leader and army commander, Gen Sonthi Boonyaratkalin, is currently out of Thailand, on the Haj in Saudi Arabia, and will not return until Thursday.

Officials said Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont might speak tonight to the press and the nation.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from The Nation dated Sunday 31 December 2006 :-

New Year Countdown cancelled after bomb blasts in Bangkok

Deputy Governor of Bangkok, Wallop Suwandee, announced that all the events designated for the New Year's even countdown celebration have been cancelled.

The major countdown events at Central World Shopping Center and Sanam Luang have been cancelled.

Government's spokesman Yongyuth Malyalarp urged the public to remain calm, adding that police officers have been instructed to stay on high alert, including areas where high concentration of people are expected to take part in the New Year's count down.

"Police reinforcement have been sent to various areas in the city. We urged the public to remain calm, continue with the celebration but at the same time keep a look out for any irregularities," Yongyuth said.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Monday 1 January 2007 :-

Second bombing wave in Bangkok aims at tourists - Midnight bombs wound many foreign visitors

A new wave of bombings hit Bangkok right at the New Year, wounding several foreigners and Thais celebrating in top tourist areas of Bangkok.

Two bombs went off near the Central World Plaza in central Bangkok, severely wounding at least four foreigners and two Thais as they ate at the popular Best Seafood restaurant on the bank of Klong (Canal) Saen Saeb.

Witnesses said the explosion ripped off the leg of one of the western visitors, and others were also badly wounded.

Almost at the same time, another explosion went off at the sidewalk level of stairs leading to the pedestrian overpass leading to the Central World Plaza, where a huge New Year's Eve public party had been scheduled and then cancelled.

Authorities said the second explosion wounded both foreigners and Thais passing by.

A third bomb was reported half an hour into the new year at a bar at Khao San Road, the main area for budget travellers. Police evacuated that area after the explosion, and cleared shoppers and vendors from the Lumpini Night Bazaar after they found and defused a bomb just before it went off.

At least two British citizens were among those seriously wounded, and were being treated at a Bangkok hospital, said the Foreign Office in London. Authorities already had warned British travellers not to travel around Bangkok "unless absolutely necessary" after the first round of bomb attacks.

After the midnight bombings, the Bangkok city administration cancelled the annual New Year's ceremony to present alms to monks at Sanam Luang.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from The Nation dated Monday 1 January 2007 :-

Foreign embassies issue travel warning on Bangkok

Several foreign governments have issued travel warnings on Bangkok for their citizens on Monday after multiple bomb attacks in Bangkok on the New Year's eve, which killed three and injured about 38 persons.

They included Australia, Britain, Canada, New Zealand and the United States. They issued travel advisories to their citizens in Bangkok to stay at home and avoid moving about the city.

They also warned that more attacks were possible in coming days.

New Zealand's foreign ministry issued a travel warning about Bangkok on Monday, saying there was some risk to security and recommending tourists to exercise "a high degree of caution" in Bangkok following the New Year's Eve bombings.

The ministry advised New Zealanders in Bangkok to avoid unnecessary travel within the city and said terrorist attacks may also occur elsewhere in Thailand, including in tourist areas.

"New Zealanders should therefore exercise a high degree of personal security awareness about possible terrorist action in Thailand generally, particularly in public and commercial areas, including landmark places known to be frequented by foreigners, public transport facilities, hotels, bars and shopping areas," the ministry said on its travel safety website.

It said there was no evidence to suggest New Zealand citizens would become targets, but said there was a danger of bystanders inadvertently getting caught up in unpredictable acts of violence.

The ministry continued to warn of a "high risk" to security in Narathiwat, Yala, Pattani and Songkhla because of ongoing violence due to insurgency and recommended against all non-essential travel there.

Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade also issued a travel advisory in its website, saying "There is a possibility of further attacks in coming days. "Australians are urged to avoid unnecessary travel in Bangkok."

Earlier United Kingdom's the Foreign Office warned British travellers not to travel around Bangkok "unless absolutely necessary."
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from The Nation dated Monday 1 January 2007 :-

Attacks wreck New Year's parties across Thailand

There was panic in many areas of Bangkok and in several other parts of the country last night in the wake of the coordinated six-bomb attack across the capital city.

New Year countdowns and other celebratory parties were cancelled, including two much-awaited events at CentralWorld and Sanam Luang, where people gathered briefly and dispersed after learning of the attacks.

All major stores located near CentralWorld at Rajdamri Inter-section were closed following security concerns.

Security was also beefed up at a number of New Year countdown parties held in Phuket and Hat Yai district in Songkhla province. An event in Chiang Mai was called off.

Military and police officers based in Pattaya called an urgent meeting to heighten security measures at key countdown sites where a large number of Thai and foreign tourists were expected. Naval military police were dispatched around Pattaya streets to ensure extra protection - a rare and unusual sight in this seaside tourist city.

In the capital, armed soldiers in full combat gear were dispatched to provide security. Uniformed police officers at all Bangkok police precincts were mobilised and stationed at key locations.

In the inner city, all Bangkok branches of Central Department Store were closed down while all stores in Siam Centre, Siam Square and Siam Paragon did the same.

A large crowd at Big C Rajdamri went into a panic upon learning that a suitcase was found abandoned. A bomb disposal team later found that there was nothing inside.

At Seacon Square, thousands of shoppers left the compound after a bomb was found in a trash bin before it could explode.

Conflicting reports said earlier that a loud bang heard in the area was a electrical transformer ex-ploding.

In Nonthaburi, where a bomb was set off near a police box at Khae Rai Intersection, major department stores located not far way closed early.

Military officers of Army units based in the Northeast were been instructed to stay on alert in all 19 provinces in the region, which is a key political stronghold of the Thai Rak Thai Party, formed by ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Nakhon Ratchasima, Buri Ram, Surin, Ubon Ratchathani and Udon Thani were to be monitored especially closely.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from The Nation dated Monday 1 January 2007 :-

Fast food turns over a new leaf in Thailand

As consumer behaviour changes in the cities, new opportunities have sprung up in the quick-service restaurant business. K Research has estimated the sector will grow by 8 per cent this year with a market value of Bt21 billion.

A quick-service restaurant does not necessarily serve greasy chips and fried chicken. There are Thai-Chinese restaurants, high-end cafes that offer exotic pastries, delicatessens that serve salads with Parma ham and, of course, your regular finger-licking hamburger chains.

With average-salary people spending more time away from their homes or clocking in late hours at the office, eating out twice a day has become the norm. The sector is now hot with many operators from various backgrounds entering the battleground. Witness the recent takeover of McDonald's Thailand by the nation's leading cinema chain Major Cineplex Group.

This year, the fast-food business is expected to occupy 67 per cent of the quick-service restaurant category and be worth Bt14 billion. Hamburger joints account for 21.4 per cent of the overall fast-food sub-category and have a total market value of Bt3 billion. The pie is expected to grow by 8 per cent annually.

It is not difficult to guess who the market leader is. Yet despite being the least competitive business, compared to the fried and grilled chicken and pizza businesses, McDonald's does not rest on its laurels. In an interview earlier with The Nation, Vichai Poolvaraluck, owner of Major Cineplex Group,
said he wanted to make McDonald's the number-one quick-service restaurant chain in the Thai market "as it once was".

The most popular fast-food restaurants are the chicken chains. Perhaps because chicken features in many Thai dishes, this subsection has half the total fast-food market, or about Bt7 billion. It is set to grow by 6 per cent in 2007.

Sandwiched in the middle are the pizza chains, which hold 28.6 per cent of the fast-food market share. Although they will be growing at 8 per cent, these pizza chains all face a common problem - the lack of frequency among patrons. To increase the volume of pizzas sold, many operators have opened small outlets in supermarkets and sell take-home pizzas in convenience stores and petrol stations.

Within quick-service restaurants, speciality outlets have been growing at 15 per cent for the last five years. They are the premium coffee chains, bakeries and sandwich shops. All are seen as a healthy alternative to the regular fatty cuisine. Thai taste buds have been adapting to the bread and butter once deemed alien to the majority of the population a few years back.
--- KatoeyNewsNetwork