Anything & Everything About Thailand

[DRYDUST]

To all Thai + those 'Thai related' bros & sis... Happy Songkran!!!

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Wednesday 12 april 2006 :-

BAY expert predicts rising baht

The baht is likely to appreciate to touch 37 to the US dollar, the strongest in seven years if it breaks a resistance level of 37.5 to the dollar, according to a money dealer.

Chatchaval Chamrasvitthayawong, Deputy Manager of Bank of Ayudhya's Financial Management Division, said the strengthening of the baht to 38 to dollar is not unusual because it moved in the same direction with other regional currencies.

He said the US dollar had weakened against all currencies as there is a capital inflow into Asia.

As well, the Chinese yuan had appreciated upon expectation that Chinese President Hu Jintao would raise the US trade deficit for discussion in his official trip to the US on April 20.

Technically, he said, the baht had a resistance level of 38 to the dollar. Although it broke the level to touch 37.80 to dollar during the trading, it closed at more than 38 to toe the dollar.

Should the baht manage to break the resistance level of 38 to the dollar, it would appreciate to 37.50 and 37 to the dollar respectively. If it did break to 37, it would be the strongest in seven years or since 1999.

On Caretaker Finance Minister Thanong Bidaya’s remarks that the appropriate level the baht should stay is 39 to the dollar, Mr Chatchaval said it is an average level in the medium term rather than the short term.

He said currency exchange rates could not be determined because they are sensitive to economic conditions. It depended on the economic fundamental as well.

He added it is uncertain whether the capital that flew into the country was for short-term speculation or not.

The capital had flown into the money and stock markets before the political crisis would ease. Once the political situation returns to normal, he believed, most of the capital would flow into the stock market.

[sosman]

Latest news about HDY

[ 国际新闻 ]

合艾警方佳节前扫荡　起6短枪捕20嫌犯
2006-4-12 17:30:50
（合艾12日讯）合艾警方佳节展开扫荡牛鬼蛇神大奏效，取获6支短枪，各类毒品，逮捕20名嫌 犯。

泰国泼水节（宋干）吸引马星等国旅客莅临同欢共庆，合艾警方各单位确保佳节一片和祥气氛庆祝，周1开始展开 连串扫荡牛鬼蛇神大行动，逮捕20名犯罪份子嫌犯，起获6支非法短枪、子弹、长刀、冰毒马丸等 毒品大丰收。

宋卡府总警长派吞帕达那颂蓬警少将，周1在合艾警局副局长巴细跑初高级警中校、191警分局主任汤马叻碧隆 春警中校、重案组主任沙拉吃能军警中校、交警主任瓦拉威加碧兰警中校等警官陪同下主持宋干佳节扫荡犯罪份子 做出以上发表，同时展示警方在3天行动起获以上危险枪械等各类毒品，总警长同时表示扫荡行动继续展开确保， 各犯罪活动降至最低，各界旅客平安愉快欢庆泼水节。

Happy "Water Festival" to all Thais and cheongers in HDY.

[KatoeyLover69]

Originally Posted by sosman

Latest news about HDY

[ 国际新闻 ]

合艾警方佳节前扫荡　起6短枪捕20嫌犯
2006-4-12 17:30:50
（合艾12日讯）合艾警方佳节展开扫荡牛鬼蛇神大奏效，取获6支短枪，各类毒品，逮捕20名嫌犯。.... .................................................. .............

Bro sosman,

Please translate into English as not all Samsters can read Chinese characters.

Thank you

[sosman]

Originally Posted by KatoeyLover69

Bro sosman,

Please translate into English as not all Samsters can read Chinese characters.

Thank you

Bro KTL,

Sorry, I am not a good translator.

Maybe some experienced BM can help in this matter.

[pomrakthai]

Originally Posted by sosman

Bro KTL,

Sorry, I am not a good translator.

Maybe some experienced BM can help in this matter.

Allow me to translate:

HDY police, during a swoop on "bulls, devils, snakes & dieties", had seized 6 pistols, all kinds of drugs and arrested 20 suspects.

To ensure an incident free Songkran festival that used to attract many visitors from Malaysia and Singapore; the police had stepped up operations to sweep away those "bulls, devils, snakes & dieties" and had arrested 20 suspects, seized 6 pistols, bullets, long swords, large amount of "ICE", MDMA or Ecstasy (3-4-methylenedioxymethampheta-mine) pills and illicit drugs, making the operations a big success!

Songkhra Police Chief, Major General Paithonpak Nasongsak and some top brass police officers [no need to name them] showed reporters the "loot" that police had successfully seized during those operations. He added that the operations would continue to ensure that the crime rate is down and all tourists and visitors would have a pleasant and enjoyable stay duirng the Songkran "splash water" festival.

[sosman]

Originally Posted by pomrakthai

Allow me to translate:

HDY police, during a swoop on "bulls, devils, snakes & dieties", had seized 6 pistols, all kinds of drugs and arrested 20 suspects.

To ensure an incident free Songkran festival that used to attract many visitors from Malaysia and Singapore; the police had stepped up operations to sweep away those "bulls, devils, snakes & dieties" and had arrested 20 suspects, seized 6 pistols, bullets, long swords, large amount of "ICE", MDMA or Ecstasy (3-4-methylenedioxymethampheta-mine) pills and illicit drugs, making the operations a big success!

Songkhra Police Chief, Major General Paithonpak Nasongsak and some top brass police officers [no need to name them] showed reporters the "loot" that police had successfully seized during those operations. He added that the operations would continue to ensure that the crime rate is down and all tourists and visitors would have a pleasant and enjoyable stay duirng the Songkran "splash water" festival.

Bro pomrakthai,

Well done. Thanks for your help so that this piece of news can reach other BM who can't read chinese characters.

Sosman

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Thursday 13 April 2006 :-

Songkran boosts tourist arrivals

Tourist arrivals for Songkran, the traditional Thai new year festival which starts today, is expected to increase by 15 per cent over the same period last year, with the majority of visitors from Asia.

Kasikorn Research Centre (KRC) forecasts that the Songkran water festival this year will draw over 450,000 tourists who are likely to help generate 16 billion baht (US$400 million) in income for the tourism sector.

The KRC highlights the popularity of Thailand as a tourist destination among key Asian markets--especially Malaysia and Singapore--who are likely to turn out in droves in Hat Yai.

The Phuket Tourist Association, however, said hotel occupancy was only 50% and the number of visitors was down. The two reports are entirely compatible, since more tourists have switched to Bangkok, Pattaya and upper Thailand since the tsunami of December, 2004.

Phuket hotels tailored for Thais currently have an occupancy rate of 80%, said Patanapong Aekvanitch, president of the Phuket Tourist Association, while those not specifically tailored to Thais had a 50-60% occupancy rate.

Sumittra Kanthajai, the sales manager at Thaworn Grand Plaza hotel, also indicated that fewer tourists have entered Phuket this year. She said every hotel in the city, including hers, had an occupancy rate of 50%. She expects this to decline to 30% after the Songkran festival. Mrs Summittra said most tourists came with their families, and big tour groups are not coming in.

Accordinig to the KRC, with last month's political demonstrations over and festivities planned in major cities across the country including Bangkok, Hat Yai and Chiang Mai, the tourist arrivals for the 10-day Songkran season beginning today is expected to be around 450,000 -- a 15 per cent increase compared with the same period last year.

The KRC also forecasts that for the entire month of April, as many as 920,000 foreign leisure travelers will visit Thailand. Malaysia is expected to be the single biggest market, followed by Japan, China, Singapore, South Korea and Hong Kong.

Tourists from these Asian countries are likely to account for 60 per cent of arrivals in April.

European visitors--accounting for about 20 per cent of touristarrivals in Thailand--are mostly from the UK, Germany and France.

These tourists are expected to generate an income of Bt16 billion for the tourism and hospitality sector, of which Bt4.5 billion is expected to be spent on souvenir shopping and about Bt4 billion on accommodations in popular tourist destinations across the country.

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Thursday 13 April 2006 :-

Water festival

There are many ways to mark Songkran when people across the nation splash water and make merit praying for an auspicious start to the Thai New Year. Here are a few interesting tips for revellers in and around Bangkok

As people leave Bangkok to cool off elsewhere during Songkran - Thailand's New Year - a lot many of them no doubt will prefer to stay back and relax in the city. Here is a brief account of places and activities that can be conveniently accomplished, and at the end of the day you can return home to the warmth and comfort of your family.

When most Bangkokians flee the city, it is ideal time to explore corners that are not easily accessible on a normal working day when the roads are paralysed, clogged with traffic.

Besides visiting temples and other places, museums, parks and markets are interesting options. And there are several of them in and around Bangkok.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mr Kukrit's House

Hidden among the greenery on Sathon Tai Road it is a cluster of wooden houses built on stilts and their architecture is reminiscent of houses in the central plains of Thailand. The architecture is so exquisite that this residence of former Thai prime minister Kukrit Pramoj is, by common consent, regarded as a typical example of a classic Thai house.

It is well kept, as if its owner was still living. Furniture and antique items on view are a reflection of the taste and personality of MR Kukrit, remembered for his political acumen who was equally adept playing the diplomat, negotiator, writer and actor.

Visitors should not miss a desk by the lotus pond in the compound, where he spent a lot of time penning articles, argumentative features and novels that have a bearing on Thai society until this day.

- The museum (tel: 02-286-8185) opens daily from 10am-5pm. Admission is 50 baht per person. It is located in Soi Prapinit, off Sathorn Soi 3.


Suan Pakkad Palace

A tranquil and graceful estate on Si Ayutthaya Road, it is a cluster of eight traditional Thai houses featuring remarkable Thai antiques and art pieces, and also from other countries.

The museum exhibits, among others, Ban Chiang pottery, a replica of the royal barge Suphannahong, drums, a temple door carved from teak and an antique cabinet used to keep Buddhist scriptures and images.

In addition, there are Thai musical instruments and furniture dating back to Rattanakosin and Ayutthaya periods.

A prayer room stocks a spectacular collection of Buddha images from various periods.

The former palace is open daily from 9am-4pm. Admission fee is 50 baht for Thais and 100 baht for foreigners.

The museum is located on Si Ayutthaya Road opposite a school that takes its name from the road. Take the BTS Skytrain and get off at Phaya Thai station. The palace is five minutes walk from there. Bus No. 72 also plies the route.

- Visit www.suanpakkad.com or call 02-246-1775/6 ext 229 for more information.


Jim Thompson's House

It is a complex of six traditional Thai-style teak houses brought in from various regions of Thailand. Visitors can witness fascinating sculptures, primarily from Thailand and Cambodia, with a few pieces from Burma.

Other collections include Buddha images and relics from the 14th century. Do not miss some of the finest pieces of art reflecting the principal styles typical of some Southeast Asian countries.

Some paintings in the Jim Thompson collection are done on cloth, paper and wood, but most are painted on cotton and range from small to tapestry size.

Moreover, there are Chinese porcelain, mainly in blue and white, bought into Thailand in the 16th- and 17th-centuries, old maps and a 19th-century cage that served as a house for pet mouse.

The museum is open daily from 9am-5pm. Admission fee is 100 baht for adults and 50 baht for students. It's located in Soi Kasemsan 2, Rama I Road, opposite the National Stadium and near the BTS Skytrain terminus.

- For more information, visit www.jimthompson house.com or call 02-216-7368.


Children's Discovery Museum

The museum can be a good choice for your kids during the holiday. It features creative plays, toys and exhibitions for children who can learn about a diverse range of subjects such as projects and activities of Their majesties the King and Queen, and about plant and animal life.

It has a Universe Room that teaches kids about outer space, stars and the solar system, while song and music buffs can indulge in the Music Room. Likewise, there is an igloo house, a Japanese house, an Indian tent, a puppet theatre and a real playground.

The museum opens daily, except Monday, between 9am-5pm on weekdays and 10am-6pm on weekends. Admission is 50 baht for kids and 70 baht for adults. It is located in the compound of Queen Sirikit Park, opposite to Chatuchak Park, at the expressway exit on Kamphaeng Phet I and II roads. It can be reached via buses No. 136, 145 and 138, and the BTS Skytrain by getting off at the Mo Chit station, from where it is a short walk.

- For more information, call 02-615-7333.


Phutthamonthon Park

A short drive from Bangkok is the Phutthamonthon Park on Phutthamonthon Sai 4 Road.

The park, which was built to celebrate the 2,500 years of Buddhism in 1957, covers 2,500 rai of woodland and ponds. It will hold a children's fair during Songkran when visitors can also feed fish.

Bring a big sack of fish food with you so that you can feed the likes of cat fish, giant gouramy and common silver barb that thrive in the ponds. It seems as if these fish are never content no matter how much you feed them because they keep coming back for more, their mouths wide open for so long that you can literally pick the ones you want to feed, take aim and throw food at them.

Outside the park is the graceful Uthayan Avenue (formerly known as Aksa Road) on Phutthamonthon Sai 4 Road. The avenue is graced by lamp posts capped with figures of golden swans.

The park is open daily and admission is free. Dogs are not allowed.

Getting there: Take the Pinklao Nakhon Chaisi Road and drive to Phutthamonthon Sai 4 Road or take the Phetkasem Road and drive to the Kilometre 11 marker and turn right into Phutthamonthon Sai 4 Road and keep going for another eight kilometres to reach the park. Buses No. 170, 84 Ko 539 and 547 connect the park.

- For more information, call 02-441-9012, 02-441-9009, 02-441-9801-2 and 02-441-9440.

-------- continued ------------

[KatoeyLover69]

--------- continued -------------

Report from Bangkok Post dated Thursday 13 April 2006 :-

Wat Rai Khing & Don Wai Market, Nakhon Pathom

Built in 1791, Wat Rai Khing houses a highly revered Buddha image cast during the Chiang Saen period.

Every Sunday sees a market come alive in and around the temple compound next to which flows the Tha Chin River - another popular spot for feeding fish.

Thais see releasing fish - sand eel, marbled sleepy goby, river snail - and birds as a way of making merit. Once you are through with that head to the temple fair.

Combine Don Wai market into the trip, noted for a seemingly endless line of food stalls, souvenir stands and household items.

A sightseeing boat tour on the Tha Chin River is also available all day. A trip lasts 90-120 minutes.

The temple is open daily, while the Don Wai market opens 7am-6pm.

Getting there: Wat Rai Khing is in Samphran District of Nakhon Pathom. Drive on Phetkasem Road to the Rose Garden and look for the road sign to the temple on your right. Turn right and drive for two kilometres to the temple.

Alternately, take the Pinklao-Nakhon Chaisi Road. At the Kilometre 26 marker you will see a Jet petrol station on your left; 600 metres down the road turn left into the 3316 and drive for five and a half kilometres. Don Wai market is on your right. Another five kilometres from there is the temple, again on your right.

- For boat service, call Mirt Saichon at 01-446-8556, and Rung Pha at 01-241-8027, both based in Don Wai.


Amphawa Evening Market

The recently-opened evening market in Amphawa, Samut Songkhram, conveys the local flavour whose highlights are food stalls on either banks of the canal that runs through the district. The market is open only on weekends.

In addition, there are souvenir shops, guest houses and fresh coffee and massage outlets. You can hire a boat and visit Wat Bang Koong and other temples, and a museum dedicated to cats, or watch fireflies at night.

The market opens 4-9pm every Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Getting there: Drive on Rama II (Thon Buri-Pak Tho) Highway to Samut Songkhram, a distance of 63 kilometres, and continue for another six kilometres to Amphawa District.


Rim Nam Roi Pee Market

Rin Nam Roi Pee market in Muang District of Chachoengsao is not far from Bangkok, less than an hour's drive from Lat Krabang Road. It is another market where you can see the way of life in the old days as some shops and houses are as old as 100 years. One of the highlights is a coffee shop that has been around for more than 60 years. Recommended dishes are roasted duck and Hoi Jo (ground pork and fresh crab meat wrapped in crisp bean curd sheets).

The market is open 9am-5pm.

Getting there : The market is on Highway 340. Take Bangkok-Min Buri-Chachoengsao route - a distance of 75 kilometres - or take Bangna-Trat Road and get onto 314 (Bang Pakong-Chachoengsao), a distance of 90 kilometres.

- For further information, call 038-817-336, 06-148-4513 and 09-881-7161.


Bang Nam Phung Floating Market

The floating market in Phra Pradaeng, Samut Prakan, features local delicacies, fruits, fresh vegetables and handicrafts. Its highlights are dishes such as Hoy Tod Khanom Krok (crispy mussel pancakes with bean sprouts baked in a clay pan with small round indentations), fried small crabs and various choices of Nam Prik (spicy dips). A canal tour is available along the Bang Nam Phung canal.

The market opens on weekend from 8am-2pm.

Getting there: From Bangkok, drive to King Rama IX Bridge and turn left into Suksavat Road and drive on to Phra Pradaeng. Follow the road sign to the market.

- For more information, call 02-819-6762.


Lam Phraya Floating Market

This market in Bang Len, Nakhon Pathom, has more than 50 food shops on a 270-metre-long wooden platform with a roof. It is another good place to feed fish. Food lovers should not miss grilled salty snakehead fish, Hormok (minced fish steamed with vegetables) and pork satay.

It is open on weekends only from 8am-4pm.

Getting there: Take Borom Ratchonnanee (elevated road) Road to Nakhon Pathom. Follow the road sign to Mahidol University's Salaya campus. After passing the university (on your left) make a left turn at the first intersection, then turn right to Bang Len and follow the road sign. Lam Phraya floating market is about 24 kilometres from the main road.

For those travelling by public transport, take the van plying the Pin Klao-Bang Len route from Kung Luang Restaurant in Pin Klao area. The van service starts 6:30am and is available until 7pm daily, with vans departing every 30 minutes. The fare is 40 baht per person.

- Contact: 01-659-7371, 01-763-4179 and 034-391-1626.


Sam Chuk Market

The market in Sam Chuk, Suphan Buri, is a living museum reminiscent of a lifestyle that existed a century ago. The most important landmark is a house of an eminent businessman Jamnong Jeenarak, which now serves as a museum. There are many old shops, while the recommended dishes here are Khao Hor Bai Bua (rice covered with lotus leaves), red pork noodle, Pla Salid (gourami fish), Mae Kim Lung chilli pastes, grilled duck and shrimp.

The market is open daily from 8am-5pm.

Getting there: From Bangkok drive to Suphan Buri via Bang Buathong for 107 kilometres and move on to Highway 340 to get to Sam Chuk.

- For further information, call 035-572-449 and 035-504-498.

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from The Nation dated Thursday 13 April 2006 :-

Erawan statue almost repaired

Caretaker Culture Minister Surakiart Sathirathai inspects the progress of renovation work on the Brahma statue that was damaged by a mentally ill man last month. A new metal figure is currently being built.

The restoration of the statue of Thao Maha Phrom is nearly complete, while a new statue of the deity will be cast early next month with accompanying religious rites presided over by Her Majesty the Queen, Deputy Prime Minister Surakiart Sathirathai said yesterday.

He was speaking after visiting the Fine Arts Department to check on the progress in the restoration of the statue, which was smashed last month by a man with a history of mental illness.

Surakiart, who heads a committee overseeing the statue's restoration, said the original had been completely repaired and only the gilding and decoration remained to be done.

Craftsmen at the Fine Arts Department had made a beeswax sculpture of the new statue, he said. The next step will be to create a mould, cast the statue and then cover it in gold leaf.

"The work on both statues will completed by the end of next month," Surakiart said.

The old statue will be returned to the Erawan shrine in Bangkok while the new one will be placed in the National Museum with celebrations that His Majesty the King will be invited to preside over, he said.

Nopparat Boonmee, a craftsman at the Fine Art Department who worked on the old statue, said he followed religious precepts carefully while restoring it to ensure good luck.

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Thursday 13 April 2006 :-

Foreign drinkers push up booze sales

Sales of alcoholic beverages are likely to rise 8% during the extended Songkran holiday, Kasikorn Research Centre figures.

The growth projected this year will be lower than last year’s 12.6% surge, however, as political worries and economic volatility dampen consumer moods.

The KRC attributes the growth pretty much entirely to consumption by foreign tourists who are expected to spend 1.1 billion baht on alcoholic drinks during the Songkran week.

According to statistics by the Bank of Thailand, sale of liquor in the month of April of 2003-2004 was 7.5% higher than the average during other months - around 70 million litres compared with 63.8 million litres in other months of the year. Beer sales in April peaked at 141.2 million litres, against 132.7 litres in the rest of the year.

KRC projects that 920,000 foreign tourists will visit Thailand during Songkran this year, a robust turnout now that the tourism market has recovered from post-tsunami gloom.

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Thursday 13 April 2006 :-

Songkran a tonic for tourism firms : 35% growth likely from previous year


Tourism businesses are enjoying bustling trade during the Songkran holidays, with revenue growth of more than 35% year-on-year for the period.

For local tourism and hospitality operators, whose customers are mostly Thai, Songkran is probably the most lucrative festive season.

The traditional Thai new year season has been a significant tradition, strengthening bonds between family members in Thailand and neighbouring countries, for centuries. This is why Thai authorities have made Songkran holidays longer than any other festive season.

The amount of money Songkran revellers are expected to spend on leisure activities is also higher than in other seasons.

The University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce forecasts that Thai spending during Songkran will amount to around 90 billion baht, an increase of 11-12% from last year.

The average expense per head is projected to be around 3,700 baht, increasing from 3,000 baht last year.

Thanavath Phonvichai, director of the university's Center for Economic and Business Forecasting, said a key reason behind the rise in the spending could be the increase in product prices since oil prices have been rising steadily.

Nevertheless, before Thaksin Shinawatra announced after the April 2 election that he would not seek another term as prime minister, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) reported that about 65,000 tourists had cancelled trips to Thailand due to the political upheaval. TAT governor Juthamas Siriwan said the trips had been booked mainly by Chinese and Singaporeans for March and April.

Now that Mr Thaksin's decision has eased tensions between protesters and Thaksin supporters, Neil Cumming, managing director of Asia Web Direct Co, said his company's hotel reservation websites had experienced a 35% increase in bookings compared to the previous year, and a 50% increase in comparison to the period before the December 2004 tsunami.

The bustling business was driven in part by aggressive pricing promotion by hoteliers, said Mr Cumming.

Bookings for Songkran are up 50% from 2004 in terms of room nights, but only 40% in terms of revenue. This implied that hotel room rates in Thailand were cheaper now than in 2004, he said.

Most of Mr Cumming's customers are independent travellers, as opposed to large group. For this reason, he said, they were not so sensitive to security issues.

The fact that the average period for advance reservations for accommodation in Thailand had declined from four to two also reflected concerns about political uncertainty in the country, he added.

"But once they have made a reservation, they won't cancel," he said.

Rainy Chan, the general manager of the 370-room Peninsula Bangkok hotel on the bank of the Chao Phraya River, said her hotel had been fully booked during the Songkran holidays. "This might be because it is also Easter holidays for tourists from European countries."

Ms Chan said some tourists were reluctant to come to Bangkok during Songkran because they were afraid that most shops and attractions could be closed. For this reason, she has encouraged all retail shops in her hotel to remain open.

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Thursday 13 April 2006 :-

Second Central Food Hall planned

Central Food Retail Co (CFR) will open its second Central Food Hall at CentralWorld shopping complex in August, according to Nick Reitmeier, vice-president for international food and wine.

The second supermarket is billed as the largest of its kind in Asia, with a size double the 4,000 square metres of the first Central Food Hall at Central Chidlom.

CFR, the Central Group's supermarket division, runs the Tops and Marketplace supermarkets and Central Food Halls.

Mr Reitmeier said the new Central Food Hall would be trendier and more contemporary than the original at Chidlom, which is more classic in design.

Competition among high-end supermarkets in the Ratchaprasong area will intensify when the new market opens.

Mr Reitmeier said the new branch would distribute locally made consumer products and imports. However, it will pay attention to premium products for tourists and foreigners living in Thailand.

Due to its large size, it would create 400 jobs for Thais, he said.

The performance of Central Food Hall, which opened late last year, has been quite good. Sales showed double-digit growth thanks to the selection, in particular imported items that helped to differentiate the supermarket from its rivals. Sales figures were not available.

A present, there are approximately 36,000 product items at Chidlom's Central Food Hall, according to Mr Reitmeier.

"Particularly, [the range of] food items grew dramatically by 300% since the launch [of Central Food Hall late last year]."

Among all products, the most popular are fruit, vegetables, snacks, candy, chocolates, wine and meat.

Mr Reitmeier was optimistic of double-digit that growth in the second quarter, adding that signs of an economic slowdown had not affected business so far.

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Thursday 13 April 2006 :-

Dream Hotel opening

The owner of the five-star Dream Hotel New York is preparing to open a Bangkok branch on Aug 1.

The 100-room Dream Hotel Bangkok on Sukhumvit Soi 15 will be the first five-star Dream outlet in Asia. New York hotelier Vikram Chatwal opened the Dream Hotel New York in 2004.

General manager Olivier Delangre said the Dream Hotel would cater to travellers seeking a unique accommodation experience.

"Though relatively small, Dream will be unique, exclusive and luxurious," he said.

The boutique hotel expects to attract mainly leisure travellers. Mr Delangre said its key markets would include Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Mr Delangre described the rooms at Dream as "whimsically modern".

Besides restaurants and bars, Dream will also feature a spa and other services and amenities, with room rates starting at US$129 (4,900 baht) a night.