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April 2015
Click here to read our March 2015 News.
No Freedom of Speech for Peace
Thailand's National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) revoked the licence of Peace TV for repeatedly broadcasting forbidden content.
The Channel is related to Thailand's Red Shirt movement.
According to Col. Natee Sakonrat his NBTC issued several warnings but Peace TV continued to air offensive content.
A source at Peace TV said the station was certain it had done nothing wrong.
It seems to be the duty of General Prayuth Chan-ocha's Military Junta to dump all supporters of Thaksin Shinawatra and his sister Yingluck Shinawatra and to suppress all kinds of skeptical viewpoints.
For more information please read the report published by Khaosod english
#1 in Happiness
The World Happiness Report 2015 published by the United Nations claims that Switzerland is the happiest country in the world.
To Return Happiness to Thailand countries like Switzerland, Iceland and Denmark could help General Prayuth Chan-ocha to achieve this goal at least.
The Dictator is giving himself Amnesty
After the Coup d'état on May 22nd, 2014, the military established a Junta called the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) to govern the nation.
The NCPO then issued an interim constitution granting itself amnesty and sweeping power.
The new Constitution contains this controversial clause too: It covers an amnesty for the Generals of last May's coup.
A similar bill proposed in 2013 by the then-ruling Puea Thai Party to forgive most political-related offences committed the wake of the last putsch in 2006 triggered months of mass protests sponsored by Bangkok's Elite and eventually, a military takeover.
Remember:
Generals as well as Dictators are not ordinary people. They have the right to do things other people don't be allowed...
Thailand is deeply disappointed
Thailand has expressed deep disappointment after the European Union (EU) issued a final warning and gave Thailand six months to drastically improve measures against illegal fishing or face an import ban, Thailand's Foreign Ministry said in a statement and added that it has been a source of grave discouragement that the EU chose to ignore the very earnest efforts of the past six months by the Royal Thai Government in addressing all issues which once were deemed the causes of illegal, unreported and unregulated [IUU] fishing.
Fact is that The Guardian revealed after six months of investigation that Thailand's fishery industries forced slaves to work for no pay for years at a time under threat of extreme violence.
The investigation found that the world's largest prawn farmer, the Thailand-based Charoen Pokphand (CP) Foods, buys fishmeal, which it feeds to its farmed prawns, from some suppliers that own, operate or buy from fishing boats manned with slaves.
When the report was published, CP Food and TFFA (Thai Frozen Foods Association) told the press we do not condone the use of slave labor.
During the last few month Thailand's Government talked a lot but, as usual, nothing really happened. The Military Junta accused the former Government(s) for ignoring human trafficking.
It's time that Thailand's Officials understand that the international community needs deeds, not empty words.
Please read:
Rittirong Boonmechote, a senior executive of leading Thai seafood exporter Thai Union Group, claims that Thailand's Government had made a serious attempt to solve the problem but only half of its efforts so far were in the right direction.
It seems Thailand's Officials don't understand the EU's requirements. Another problem is that Thailand has still a lot of Officials thinking to be a lot more clever than the rest of the world.
We would like to work with the government to provide support and information about what the foreign communities want from us, Mr. Boonmechote said.
People that will not hear must feel.
Begging is a Criminal Offence in Thailand
Thailand's Military Junta announced the launch of a law that will criminalize all kinds of begging.
The new law, which will replace previous legislation on begging enacted 74 years ago, was approved in a Cabinet meeting on April 20th, 2015 and named The Control of Begging Act.
The law is intended to reduce begging and provide panhandlers with rehabilitation and job training programs. Those who cannot be trained to work - such as children, the elderly, and the disabled - will be sent to shelter homes and provided with welfare assistance, Maj.Gen. Sansern Kaewkamnerd, a government spokesperson, said. The law will also punish individuals who encourage begging. Foreign beggars will be deported to their home countries, Maj.Gen. Sansern Kaewkamnerd added.
Let's hope the Junta co-operated with the Beggars Mafia or we will face the same problems we face now with Thailand's Taxi Mafia.
Since seizing power from an elected Government in a Military Coup d'état in May 2014, Thailand's Military Government has tried to crack down on organized crime and sought to curb human trafficking. Thailand's people and the international communities are still waiting for tangible results.
Airport Taxi Drivers still Cheating
Bangkok Post reports that some Taxi drivers at Suvarnabhumi Airport still refuse to turn on their meters and ask for their queue tickets to hamper reclamations.
During February 2014 we already warned our readers about the return of Suvarnabhumi's Airport Taxi Mafia.
Thailand's Military Junta as well as the responsible people at Suvarnabhumi Airport insisted during the last few months always that they stopped the rip off of tourists.
The new report shows that airport cabbies are still ripping off tourists.
As usual: Nothing else than empty words from Thailand's Officials.
The Dictator predicts Thailand a Bright Future
In a lengthy speech from his office in Government House Thailand's self appointed Junta Leader told his audience that thanks to the groundwork and reform initiated by this government the future of Thailand looks bright.
The speech was broadcasted nationwide yesterday and, as usual during one of the leader's speeches, I was the only one in my area to follow the General's PR attempt. All my neighbours shut down their TV sets and celebrated another party.
Shortly after the General's speech Trade Groups and Tourism Bodies backed his speech and applauded.
Many of the people in this groups are members of Bangkok's Elite and supported Suthep Thaugsuban and the General's Coup d'état.
Pattaya Mayor in the Footsteps of Thailand's Dictator
Pattaya Mayor Itthiphol Khunplome told the press that a poll conducted on April 8th showed that 88.66 percent of the participants are pleased with his work done during 2012-2013(!).
The lovely Mayor forget to tell the more than 500 community leaders, residents and officials attending his absolutely worthless Public Relation speech who administered the poll and how the data were collected.
Never trust a statistic - unless you manipulated it yourself.
Appealing Songkran
Spike from Pattaya Days reports from an appealing Songkran Festival in Bang Saen.
Disapointing Songkran
Thailand's Military Junta announced that the Songkran Festival will revitalise Thailand's
tourist industry.
As with many other announcements from this Junta this prognosis was wrong too.
Supawan Tanomkieatipume, vice president of the Thai Hotels Association, claims that the Thai New Year was disappointing due to limited airline capacity and the bombing in Koh Samui days before the Songkran festival.
The lady also said that this year's festivities couldn't attract Western tourists as they prefere to visit the country on their summer vacation starting in October.
We suppose he knows that she told only have of the story. At least in Europe summer holidays don't start in October, they usually start during July, and during all the years before, Thailand didn't had to miss Westeners during Songkran...
Many readers of this site as well as most of our friends told us that they don't will book holidays in Thailand as long as Thailand is under the control of a Military Junta.
When we asked them why that's a problem they told us: Booking holidays in Thailand is like supporting the General and his Junta.
Do not fly to Japan after May 31st, 2015.
Thailand's Department of Civil Aviation (DCA), ordered Thai Airways International (THAI), NokScoot, Asian Air, Jet Asia, Asia Atlantic Airlines and AirAsia X not to promote or sell any flights to Japan after May 31st, 2015.
The Departement has to send the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau a copy of the action plan it is preparing to resubmit to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) after the first one was rejected.
On March 20th, 2015, the ICAO, an UN Organisation, issued a global alert for having "significant safety concern".
It seems that Thailand's Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) isn't capable to solve its problems on time...
The Clowns from Pattaya City Hall
On March 31st, 2015, Ronagit Akasing, Deputy Mayor of Pattaya, announced that the city once again will try to control taxis and improve traffic flow along Pattaya Beach.
Large fines have been promised for drivers of any vehicle, including the Baht Buses, should they be found to be parked illegally.
Pattaya Traffic Police will spearhead enforcement of the new scheme and will be overseen by the Thai Army to ensure it is a long term scheme and not one which lasts only days or weeks, as has happened in the past, the Deputy of Pattaya Mayor Itthiphol Khunplome warned.
Until today nothing happened:
No Parking from 19:00 - 03:00 tells this sign near the entry to Walking Street.
Nevertheless the lane is occuppied every night by cars, motorcycles and street vendors.
If you know that Pattaya's Police is too lazy to do the job, you can ignore every single sign.
On March 17th Mr.Anupong Buddanawarat, head of Pattaya's National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) and members from City Hall inspected Walking Street's billboards and ordered the removing of all billboards installed less than 5 meters above ground or rectify the installation within 7 days.
A few days later Insomnia placed the pictured banners below its billboard. Large people can touch them by hand.
Police make their rounds a few times every night but don't take action.
Obviously Pattaya's Police is a bunch of lazy people, too rotten to do the job.
Taxi drivers blocking public parking area on 2nd Road and Police close the eyes.
As in the past: Pattaya City Hall is nothing than a script for a stupid Soap Opera: A laughing stock.
Nobody knows Anything
After the CentralFestival bomb explosion on Koh Samui island Thailand's Military Junta was fast claiming they know who's behind the incident: People with ties to the Red Shirt Movement.
Because the car used for the attentat was stolen in Thailand's deep South, some believe terrorists from the South are behind the bombing.
On the other hand, Police at Koh Samui say it is suspicious that at the same time fire broke out at Surat Thani Co-operative store and at Takua Thung's Super Cheap convenience store.
The Surat Thani Cooperative was founded by Suthep Thaugsuban.
The leader of the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) is now in the monkhood and known as Phra Suthep.
He is a Surat Thani native and the Southern Province has been his political stronghold.
He also owns a piece of the CentralFestival shopping center and he's in deep dept.
Therefore some investigators believe that a business conflict probably triggered the attack(s).
Nevertheless, Thailand's Military Junta insists that the bomb blast in Koh Samui was politically motivated.
But until today:
Nobody knows the truth. Freedom of Speech
On the direction of Thailand's Military Junta's National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) services of PEACE TV were suspended from Friday, April 10th to Thursday, April 16th and TV24's broadcasts are off air from Saturday, April 11th to Friday, April 17th.
Thailand's Broadcasting Committee of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) suspended the services of the two TV stations because some programmes from this braodcasters were considered to instigate confusion, conflict and division in the country.
Both satellite stations are said to support former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his sister Yingluck Shinawatra.
Big Discounts in Pattaya Hotels
Bangkok Post reports that Pattaya hotels offering big discounts for Thais only.
Struggling Thailand
Instead of working overtime every day as in the past, factory workers in Thailand are working during 3 days/week only.
For more information please read the report published by Bangkok Post.
Complain by APP
Thailand's Military Junta announced to launch a mobile device application this month to receive people's complaints.
The APP wil run on Apple and Android devices.
It's anticipated that the APP also will collect all available information about the complainer.
For more information please read the report published by Bangkok Post.
Thailand's Amazing Information Policy
On April 10th Thai Transport Minister Air Chief Marshall Prajin Junthong, representing Thailand's Military Junta, told the press that Japan and Korea eased their bans on Thai Airlines by allowing NokScoot and Thai Air AsiaX from April 11th to May 31st to fly charter flights to reduce the impact on passengers.
But only a day later, on April 11th, 645 passengers stranded on Bangkok's Don Mueng Airport.
Air AsiaX and NokScoot had to cancel their flights because the Airlines had not the neccessary approvals from the Japanese authorities.
The Airlines failed to submit their safety inspection reports in time.
On Sunday April 12th some of Thailand's official media blamed the Japanese authorities for the failure.
They closed their offices in Tokyo on Friday at 17:00 and do not work over the weekend, Thailand's Junta controlled TV stations told their audience.
Furthermore the Military Junta blamed the previous Government(s).
They failed to act, the media broadcasted.
The TV stations forget to tell the people that the Junta already had eleven months to correct the problem, but it failed too.
Remember: It's never a Thai that makes a mistake or provide incomplete information. It's always a stranger or a ghost or somebody else...
Update (April 12th): The Military Junta announced today to publish its 6-month work results April 17th, 2015.
Update (April 13th): Thailand's DCA claims Asian Air cancelled its flights because the DCA found its pilots lacked enough rest, and NokScoot failed to prepare pilots and crew for the Saturday flight.
Click here to read the report published by Bangkok Post
and Thai charter airlines cancelled overseas flights because of their own operational failings. Spike and the
Bali Hai Eyesore Spike from Pattaya Days published an impressive report about Bali Hai, its Waterfront eyesore and its shitty boat park.
It shows how Pattaya City Hall and its Mayor waste the taxpayers money.
Thailand's Toxic Food
On March 27th, 2015, we reported about the alarming findings of the Thai Pesticide Alert Network (Thai-PAN).
Now Thailand's Public Health Ministry goes one better and announces that a large number of fruit and vegetables, including cabbage, were found to be contaminated with harmful chemical residues.
The Ministry announced to launch fresh measures, including a new ministerial law, to keep farm produce under check and try to make food safe and clean from farm to table.
Click here to read the report published by Bangkok Post.
Phuket Ferry Exploded
As if Thailand did not have enough problems with its Airlines, Trains, Tourist Busses, Mini Vans, Taxis and Military Junta, a Phuket ferry exploded off Krabi.
Scores of Thai and foreign passengers had to leap into the water yesterday afternoon.
Click here to read the report published by Bangkok Post.
Good to have a Friend
It's good to have a friend when you need one, Thailand's Military Junta Leader General Prayuth Chan-ocha said during a meeting with Russia's Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, the right hand of Vladimir Putin, the Dictator of Russia.
General Prayuth Chan-ocha already tie the knot with Myanmar and China.
As Russia and Thailand, Myanmar and China are run by authoritarian regimes too.
Thailand's Military Junta has stepped up engagements with Russia, Myanmar and China in response to cooler relations with the United States and other Western countries since the Thai military seized power from a freely elected government last May.
Russia as well as China see opportunities to sell Thailand military planes, submarines and other defense equipment.
Western democracies have frozen contacts at ministerial level or higher with Thailand.
The Military Junta to remain in power until goals achieved...
Click here to read the report published by Bangkok Post.
Smog in Chiang Rai has worsened
Chiang Rai, Mae Hong Son, Nan, Loei, Lampang, Chiang Mai and Phayao are reporting rising air pollution above the safety level causing visibility and health problems.
Thailand's Pollution Control Department showed that particles of less than 10 micrometres (PM10) in Chiang Rai rose to 206 micrograms per cubic metre.
A reading of PM10 above 120 micrograms per cubic metre is considered a threat to public health.
As it is, not even the Military Junta can control the situation. Farmers ignore all warnings and set fires along the border of Myanmar to free farmland.
According to the Pollution Control Department relief is expected at the end of this month.
Article 44 strikes back
The Military Junta's move to replace martial law with Article 44 of the interim charter drew a strong reaction and rebuke from the international community.
Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam announced that he would join the Foreign Ministry to create a better understanding among foreign diplomats of Thailand's promotion of democracy and human rights.
Foreigners widely misunderstood Article 44, he said.
After the Military Junta decided to replace martial law with Article 44, Western states and international agencies expressed deep concern and asked for a swift return to democracy.
Obviously Generals worldwide have to learn first that the international community isn't as stupid as some people think.
Foreign Tourists are walking ATMs
Thailand's Government claims to respect tourists as special guests. But in recent times it seems to be treating them as nothing more than walking ATMs, Bangkok Post writes.
EU inspects Thai Airways International
At four European cities the European Union started physical inspection of Thai Airways International (THAI) aeroplanes that fly to its airports over concerns about Thailand's aviation safety standards.
The inspections not only cover the aeroplanes themselves but certificates and licences of flight personnel too.
On March 20th, 2015, the UN International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) issued a global alert for having "significant safety concern"...
Japan, South Korea, China and Singapore are also inspecting aeroplanes, certificates and licences of flight personnel operated by Thai airlines.
Furthermore, Japan, South Korea and China have blocked new charter and scheduled flights from Thailand to their countries.
During the evening hours of April 2nd, Cambodia's State Secretariat for Civil Aviation (SSCA) announced to monitor planes from Thailand due to concerns over safety standards.
It shows that the world lost faith in Thailand's bureaucracy.
Martial Law lifted, but...
Section 44 of the interim charter was invoked.
It gives Thailand's Military Junta and its Dicatator General Prayuth Chan-ocha even more power:
Suan Dusit Poll, an organisation usually supporting Bangkok's Elite, Suthep Thaugsuban, and Thailand's Military with its polls, claims that a majority of people agree to the invocation of Section 44 of the interim constitution to replace the martial law...
Never trust a statistic - unless you manipulated it yourself.
Godfather of Chon Buri gets Royal Pardon
The convicted father of Pattaya Mayor Itthiphol Khunplome, known as The Godfather of Chon Buri, is among 178'000 prisoners whose sentences have been reduced or ended under a royal pardon issued by His Majesty the King.
For more information please read the report published by Bangkok Post.
Songkran in Pattaya without Alcohol?
Pattaya Police set up checkpoints around the the city to prevent drunk-driving.
We spotted them on Soi Buakhaow, Second Road, Third Road, Naklua Road and Sukhumvit Road.
Our Police claim they have not encountered any drunken drivers so far.
We ask City Hall to spend some glasses to our Police: We could spot many motorcycle drivers drinking beer(s) while driving their vehicles on Pattaya's streets.
It is already known that our Police can't spot
Slow Loris owner arrested
On March 22nd, 2015, we reported that Slow Loris are back on Walking Street and in front of Pattaya's CentralFestival.
Today Pattaya's Tourist Police report that this morning they arrested an owner of a Slow Loris on Pattaya's Walking Street.
As mentioned in our report there were at least 2 people on Walking Street and another 2 people at CentralFestival providing Slow Loris to Tourists.
Perhaps our lovely Police have the time to arrest the remaining criminals too - and take precautions that the animals remains at the Zoo(s) and do not come back a few days later.
Slow Loris are an endangered species that cannot be used for commercial gain.
The animal is protected from such activities by the Wildlife Protection Act of 1992.
Update (April 16th, 2015): Yesterday night 3 (three!) Ladies presented their Slow Loris to the public on Pattaya's Walking Street - just a few meters in front of babbling Police men... Police Officer ordered assault and abduction
A Banglamung Police Officer ordered an assault and abduction in Pattaya but targeted the wrong man.
For more information please read the report published by Pattaya One.
Sometimes we get the impression that Police in this country has more problems with its own people than with criminals...
Koh Samui Vendors Protest Police Extortion
More than 50 vendors on the southern island of Koh Samui gathered in front of a police station last night to protest alleged rampant bribery among police officers.
For more information please read the report published by Khaosod english.
Same stupid Procedure as every Month
20 Police and Police Volunteers arrested about 60 suspected Coconut Ghosts on Pattaya's Beach Promenade, fined and released them.
For more information please read the report published by Bangkok Post.
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Pattaya News Flash April 2015 - The Source
from the City where your Passion is still a Possibility©
The laugh is always on the loser
Before Pattaya City Hall could finish the repair of March 22th's disaster rain dropped again on April 8th in Pattaya and destroyed the Beach for another time.
As claimed by Wiwat Jirapaitoonsee (also known as Weerat Jirasriphathun), the Director of the Sanitation Engineering Department, the three pumps installed at the entry to Soi 6 failed to resolve Beach Road flooding in that aera.
Two trees had to pay their life for the unprofessional work of Pattaya's Beach Promenade Designers.
During Thailand's Rainy Time (June until November) we and Pattaya City Hall will enjoy a funny time on Pattaya Beach, an Expat told us.
A second Expat recommended to install a platform to allow Citizens and Tourists to observe City Halls hopeless battle against the forces of nature.
A Thai Lady claimed the disaster is the revenge of the Beach's Ghost for the removal of the Holy Trees. Recreate the old Promenade and the problem is solved, she said.
Enjoy NightWalker's Picture Show from City Hall's Creation of the Beach Disaster.
Click here for Spike's report from Pattaya's Beach Promenade and Bali Hai, its shitty boat park and marina, the Waterfront eyesore and the lighthouse ruin.
With impressive pictures made with the help of a drone. Pattaya one and Pattaya Daily News report from the lousy made Beach Promenade. Pattaya Mail reports that Pattaya City Hall goes ahead with its (stupid) refill of Pattaya and Jomtien Beach - supported by Pattaya's Marine Department and Thailand's Chulalongkorn and Kasetart Universities.
Pattaya Daily News reports that Pattaya Mayor Itthiphol Khunplome, the initiator of Pattaya's Beach Disaster, and Nong Nooch Garden, the people that created the disastrous Beach Promenade, celebrated Songkran together...
New Song with Pattaya Mayor Itthiphol Khunplome and The Beatles
On Valentine's Day NightWalker discovered by chance Sir Paul McCartney. He was sitting alone at Paloma, Pattaya's most popular meeting point, and observed the people and the City's Pattaya in Love decoration.
In a rare interview Paul revealed that some friends in England urged him to visit Pattaya Mayor Itthiphol Khunplome's World Class Beach Resort. You are just in the age when typical Englishmen retire in Pattaya, they told me.
And I'm realy surprised.
It's the first City in this world that tells its visitors that it is in love.
When I woke up this morning, my Internet Radio just played Pattaya Wonderland.
I was surprised to hear the voice of Barry Upton. I know him as a songwriter, arranger, musician and producer, and as the perfect babbler, but his singing...
Nevertheless, I was surprised to hear a really lovely background voice in this song.
Barry told me later on the phone that the voice belongs to of one of his close friends, Pattaya Mayor Itthiphol Khunplome.
Therefore I decided to write a song for him and decided that we will release it with the full support of the Original Beatles right here on April 1st, 2015.
I'm confident Itthiphol will be the world's next Superstar.
Sir Paul McCartney unveiled Pattaya's New Song featuring Pattaya Mayor Itthiphol Khunplome and The Beatles at the Zimply Bla Bla Bistro & Bar on Soi 3, off Beach Road, on April 1st, 2015, at 21:00. Entry and parking was free.
Please click into the picture to download Paul McCartney's new song with Pattaya's new Singing Star Itthiphol Khunplome: All You Need Is Pattaya.
Pattaya Mayor Itthiphol Khunplome's World Class Beach resort:
Thousands of Tourists are walking from Beach Road and/or Pattaya's Second Road every single day to the world's famous Walking Street:
That's not World Class, but it's a Class of Itself!, a Tourist from Germany told us.
Since more than a decade no improvement... A few years ago Pattaya's expats knew Cambodia only because of visa run services. They visited the country for a few minutes or hours only to get the needed stamps.
It changed two or three years ago, when Westerner living in Pattaya discovered the beauty of Cambodia and the friendliness of its citizens.
Today more and more Expats turn their back to Thailand and relocate their residence to Cambodia.
Expats from Pattaya, Hua Hin, Koh Samui, Cha Am and Phuket usually choose Sihanoukville for its nice and still clean beaches.
Accomondations and foods cost about the same as in Pattaya, transportation is cheap and people are a lot more friendly than in Thailand. A smile is still a smile in this country.
Sihanoukville is surrounded by a small group of nice and small islands. They can be reached easely by boat. Fishing and diving are possible and are a popular way of passing the time.
As in Thailand, travelling is usually carried out by bus, but keep in mind that Cambodia is still a developing country. Many of its main roads are nothing else than wide field paths. Without any tarmac they are dusty and bumpy.
Regulations
Visa parameters are much more tourist friendly than in Thailand, long stay is no problem, it's especially attractive to retired people.
Cambodia doesn't has all that crazy restrictions on foreigners as in Thailand.
It's easy to open a business.
And there are already many western owned businesses in the country.
They draw plenty of tourists in because cheating level in the private sector is much lower compared to Thailand.
But Government related deals are just another story.
Corruption is even more prominent than in Thailand.
To be continued
Sushi in all variants
Thailand's Commerce Ministry is urging restaurant enterprises to set up business overseas amid a high demand for authentic, quality Thai foods, probably to make space in this country for Japanese Food outlets.
Thailand's customers discoverd Japanese foods: In Bangkok, Japanese restaurants account already for 8.3 per cent of all restaurants. At Pattaya's CentralFestival Japanese inspired food outlets even dominate the supply.
Thais believe that Japanese food is healthier and cleaner, but they forget that most Japanese foods in this country are pepared with Thai ingredients, poisoned by Thai Pesticide.
Sushi as well as Ramen (Japanese Noodels) are the most popular types of Japanese restaurants.
Furthermore, many restaurants serve adapted Japanese foods: The foods are often a lot more spicy than in Japan.
The same happens with 'Japanese' Green Tea in Thailand. The tea is tasy for Thai customers only. It contains too much sugar. It's sweet like nothing else in this world and it's dangerous to your body, especially to its blood sugar levels and your weight.
Thai made Japanese Tea sold by Ichitan, Oishi, Suntory Mirai, and others, are a real threat for every Japanese palate...
If you are out for tasty Sushi we recommend the Nai Por Buffet Restaurant on Pattaya's North Road, located across Pattaya's main Bus Terminal. The venue usually offers a wide range of Sushi together with a lot of other tasy and clean Thai and Western foods.
Nai Por is simply Pattaya's best all you can eat outlet. And, at the time of writing, you pay less than 200 Baht/person, drinks excluded.
Nai Por, Pattaya's best Buffet Restaurant now offers a large Sushi Buffet too,
including real and hot Wasabi, also known as Japanese horseradish! Time changes the recommendations
When I moved to Thailand in 1988 Thailand's TV stations urged people not to eat (too) spicy. Spicy food isn't healthy, Thailand's Ministry of Public Health told its citizens.
Today scientists tell another story:
Spicy Food is Healthy
Unfortunately poised to continue
Bigc, Tesco/Lotus as well as Tops sell the very same products at their respective shops at different prices.
The following examples we collected at Tops Supermarkets on April 4th, 2015:
PS.: The food outlet at CentralFestival is known as Central Food, but it is run by Tops.
U-Tapao Airport (UTP) is known as U-Tapao International Airport, U-Tapao Rayong-Pattaya International Airport or U-Tapao Pattaya International Airport.
Despite its confusing declaration(s) - or perhaps because of it - it is still a Military airport but served by Bangkok Airlines, Kan Airlines (NEW) and a (very) small number of Charter Airlines from China and Russia. Nevertheless we hope to get direct flights from U-Tapao Airport (UTP) to Sihanoukville International Airport (KOS) and/or Phnom Penh International Airport (PNH) in the near future.
Singapore's SilkAir starts direct flights from Singapore to Sihanoukville International Airport on June 1st, 2015. Can Itthiphol Khunplome's World Class Beach Resort afford to stand aside?
U-Tapao Airport's Website usually is outdated and because U-Tapao is a Military Airport, taking photos is restricted or not permitted...
No news worth mentioning so far
Poised to continue
No news worth mentioning so far
Poised to continue
New Buffet Restaurant
At the very Southern Part of Pattaya's 3rd Road a new Buffet Restaurant will open soon.
As the large parking area in front of the venue suggests, the restaurant is designed to please Chinese tourists arriving in (stinky) Tour Busses and prefering beef.
The name of the venue is Gkeng, or in plain English clever or skilled.
Sorry, but I don't remember my address...
Tropical Hotel's failed Seafood Restaurant was replaced by a small shopping arcade called Second Road Plaza.
Nevertheless, in advertisements the Hotel announces the place as Walking Plaza. A case of Altzheimer - or simply working when drunken?
Reduced Action
On Soi Buakhaow's Action Street at least four bars closed and are waiting for new investors.
Soi Yume Market relocated
The popular Night Market on Soi Yume, also known as Soi Phaniatchang, had to make space for a large 7eleven outlet.
The market itself relocated behind the mini-market. It still opens during the afternoon.
Scooter's Bar
Since a few days Soi Buakhaow has a Scooter's Bar.
The venue even features old Vespas and original Vespa and Lambretta signs.
Let's hope it attracts at least the booming number of Vespa drivers in this City.
Beach Road Bar Complex closed
The Beach Road Bar Complex, that was for many years the home of a Swiss as well as a Scandinavian Bar, closed.
The Swiss Bar, known as SP Swiss Bar relocated to Pattaya's Soi 7.
Poised to continue
Poised to continue
Walking Street full of Tourists
Pattaya's Walking Street is still the City's most popular attraction.
Almost every evening the street is packed with tourists. Mainly with tourists from China - in other words - no business for the bars, clubs, dancings, restaurants and shops located on Walking Street.
Nevertheless they block the road, take photos from the Russian dancers and push away people from other nationalities strolling in the very same area.
There is only a very limited number of businesses making money from the Chinese Tourists Boom in Pattaya. The circle acts like a Mafia Organisation.
Pattaya's Walking Street Committee announced that from April 1st, 2015, it will charge an admission fee of 20 Baht from Chinese tourists entering Walking Street and distribute the collected money evenly among the affected businesses. Please click here for the Press Release!
Private Dancer A Go-Go closed
On April 24th, Private Dancer A Go-Go, located on Soi 15 (off Walking Street), closed.
The club opened during August, 2012. It replaced the failed ToyZ A Go-Go.
It is announced that the club will reopen on May 1st with a new management and a new name: Erotic Blue.
During the last Weekend of April Tony's Group reopened the Blues Factory. Touts try to attract customers on Walking Street: The try is mostly unsuccessful.
You will read it here should Tony's close down the venue again. Dream Club A Go-Go closed
On April 10th too, Dream Club A Go-Go, located on Soi Diamond (off Walking Street), closed.
The club opened on July 24th, 2013, as the successor of Carousel A Go-Go.
Dream Club A Go-Go is on the block since October 2014 but obviously failed to attract a buyer.
Doorman from Skyfall A Go-Go smashed a metal rod over the head of a drunken Polish tourist.
On April 5th, at about 23:30, a drunken tourist returned to Walking Street's new Skyfall A Go-Go club and became abusive when he was refused entry.
According to the security guard, the 55-year old tourist from Poland punched him first. The doorman then smashed a metal rod, normally used to pull down screen doors, over the attacker's head.
It's not clear why the security guard chose to take the law into his own hands rather than calling in the nearby Tourist Police.
But according to Tourist Police, the Pole lashed out at them too when they answered a call for assistance.
A day later, on April 6th at about the same time, Police came back to the Skyfall A Go-Go and emptied the venue.
At the time of writing it is not clear if the club has to close or not.
But after similar incidents in the past a court usually closed a venue for 60 days.
Update (April 7th, 2015): For more information please read the reports based on Police findings published by Pattaya one or Bangkok Post.
Update #2 (April 7th, 2015): On April 7th, 2015, Skyfall A Go-Go remained closed and it will do so for the next 30 days at least. The owner of the club announced he has decided to shut down and offer extra staff training to avoid a similar incident from occurring there again. The move has been applauded by local authorities who are impressed at the move, we learned...
To avoid similar problems in the future we recommend to replace all Walking Street's security men by security tomboys.
Super Girl A Go-Go
Super Girl A Go-Go, located on Soi Diamond, off Walking Street, reopened as announced somewhere in the internet on April 1st under a new management.
First impression is that nothing did change, not outside and not inside the well aged venue, and from the announced Kawaii and/or Cosplay Girls, we couldn't spot any.
But perhaps Kawaii Ladies here in Pattaya appear very different from what we, wikipedia and the Japanese culture think they should look...
The former management closed the club on January 24th, 2015.
The End of E-san?
Rumours have it that Walking Street's one and only E-san Pub, known as ZAP Cafe, located at South Road's entry to Walking Street will close down.
Together with the buildings to its left and right the popular venue has to make space for somethng very new, I was told.
For that reason the bar doesn't repair or replace its failure-prone and Thailand made neon signs.
Poised to continue
The numbers from TAT and the Junta are window dressing.
According to the latest numbers published by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and the Military Junta the Tourists are coming back to Thailand.
Tourist arrivals in Thailand rose almost 30 percent in February from a year earlier, they say.
But Thanavath Phonvichai, an economist at the University of Thai Chamber of Commerce claims we are see rising tourist arrivals, but most of them are Chinese, who don't spend much. Even though tourism has started to recover, it's not enough to help drive the economy, he says.
Look around Pattaya and you will see that
Work is underway to build a tunnel on Pattaya's Sukhumvit Road.
Pattaya spends 837.4 billion Baht to go Underground
An engineer from the building department assured Pattaya's Business Leaders and the City's Journalists that the 420-meter-long tunnel would not flood.
The engineer explained, that the tunnel itself lies five meters under Sukhumvit Road, but the entrances to it are at the top of a three-meter incline. That means flood waters on Central Road have to reach 3 meters deep to begin to enter the tunnel, he claims.
Nevertheless, we don't believe his story.
First, according to drawings, the entry to the tunnel isn't fully covered. That means that heavy rain will enter the tunnel from the sky and fill up the tunnel's jammed subterranean drainage systems.
Second, not one single project launched during the last few years by Pattaya's City Hall and its Mayor Itthiphol Khunplome is working the way it should.
The project will block Pattaya's streets for 3 years - at least.
Wheelchair Path still blocked!
On Soi Phaniatchang, also known as Soi Yume or Soi Carrefour, City Hall spent 3 million Baht for a wheelchair path. Pattaya's large-hearted road users are happy to block the path with their vehicles and say thank you for the new parking lane.
It seems that nobody takes care of the about 850 students from the Soi's Redemptorist Vocational School - not even our lazy police. They close the eyes.
PS: On July 28th Officials from City Hall inspected the area. They discovered that people drive their vehicles to fast in this small Soi and (as documented on this website since June 2014) are parking cars and motorcycles on the wheelchair way. Pattaya's Officials urge the people not to be selfish...
Update: On October 21st Pattaya Deputy Mayor Ronnakit Aegasing paid a visit to the area and saw himself that irresponsible people are obstructing the stretch.
Therefore the lovely Deputy Mayor arranged a meeting for October 24th to discuss the matter...
Update: On October 25th Mr.Rattanachai Sutthidechanai, President of Pattaya Tourism and the City's Tourism Association, as well as Police Officers inspected the wheelchair way on Soi Phaniatchang.
Nothing than empty words from Pattaya's Officials!
Obviously the 3 million Baht weren't spend to help the Handicapped,
but to fill up someone's pocket... No comment
No comment
CentralFestival announces a Naked Summer.
Should NightWalker be there every single day, we have to call him NakedWalker..
No comment necessary.
Year after year the six days of Pattaya's Songkran show you drastically how beautiful the remaining 258 days of a year can be...
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Thailand's Military Junta has authorised internet providers in Thailand to shut down any websites with content that threatens the national security or violates Section 112 (also known as lese majeste) "in 30 seconds" without seeking approval from any authority.
The move is seen in response to a lack of cooperation by foreign media companies in removing content the Thai government finds offensive. For example, 2014 Google did not remove any content requested by Thailand's Military Junta.
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Beach Promenade:
Paloma's Destruction Artist's Sketches Beach Destruction I Beach Destruction II
Previous Publications of Pattaya News Flash
Wikipedia about Pattaya The Godfather's Story
Military Junta Leader and Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha pushed back general election promised for late 2015, saying that election must come with a new constitution and eleven reform areas. Therefore he can stretch election into 2016 or 2017...
The Dictator and his wife have declared a joint worth of 128 million Baht in assets and 654'745 Baht in debt. He said he could not remember the details, but all of the items could be examined and verified. I can justify my personal wealth, he claims.
On May 9th, 2013, the General sold nine plots of land totalling 50 rai located in Bangkok's Bang Bon district to 69 Property Co Ltd. The company has a British Virgin Islands address, was registered just 7 days before the deal and belongs to Thailand's liquor and property billionaire Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi.
When Thaksin Shinawatra sold his AIS to Temasek Holdings, a company owned by the Government of Singapore, the very same Bangkok Elite called the deal a foulplay...
Selling assets to a foreign company is a legal way for Thai citizens to avoid paying taxes, but it seems it is a big difference if a member of Bangkok's Elite does the deal or a newcomer from Chiang Mai.
The Junta Leader ordered the media not publishing news about Thailand's former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Dictator Prayuth Chan-ocha claims that Thaksin Shinawatra violated Thailand's law.
Be aware of the NSA
The National Security Agency has built a network that can access as much as 75% of all U.S. Web traffic. With the help of Great Britain's Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ), they control whole of Europe too.
New Zealand supports the Criminals from NSA
Documents released by NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden show that New Zealand's Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) spies on Vietnam, China, India, Pakistan, South American nations and a range of other countries to help fill gaps in worldwide surveillance operations by the United States National Security Agency (NSA).
Please click here to read the report published by New Zealand Herald News and The Intercept.
The Criminals from The National Security Agency (NSA) and Great Britain's Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) hacked into the internal computer network of the largest manufacturer of SIM cards to get the encryption keys used to protect the privacy of cellphone communications across the globe.
Click here to read the report published by The Intercept
NSA chief Admiral Michael Rogers declined to comment on the latest reports that the NSA implanted spyware on commercially made hard drives, and that it worked with British intelligence to hack into the world's biggest maker of SIM cards to be able to access mobile communications.
Disolve the European Union! It's nothing else than a gigantic Mafia Organisation wasting the Taxpayers money.
The bureaucrats in the European Union are supporting Monsanto, Dupont, Syngenta, Bayer Crop Science and KWS and endanger with their regulations the biodiversity of our foods, plants and animals.
Stop these idiots, before it's too late!
Disolve the
European Union! We tell it since many year but now Neil Woodford, one of the UK's most successful fund managers, claims that the eurozone is not viable in its current form.
The Eurozone is fundamentally flawed, he says.
Global Warming:
It's a Myth!
Nature isn't predictable
1968 scientists predicted the comeback of the Ice-Time. What they will tell you tomorrow?
We do not ignore 'Climat Change', but we know that this planet faces 'Climate Changes' since millions of years - some even a lot more dramatic than today and without the help of humans.
Todays 'Climat Change' is nothing else than a very lucrative business idea.
The United Nations Environment Programme (Unep) claims: Global Warming could cost almost three times as much as thought... The CO2 emissions tax doesn't reduce any CO2 emission, its just another way to extort money from the taxpayers. The United Nations as well as the European Union are some of the world's most useless organisations.
Milk the Cow before somebody else does it, that's their motto!
Avoid Electric Vehicles
Electric Vehicles use batteries and batteries are not only a threat to our planet during manufacturing, the 'Recycling' of batteries is still an unsolved problem in most countries.
Don't use Solar Cells
Solar Cells are a threat to our planet:
The higher the efficiency of a Solar Cell the more Cadmium it contains.
Cadmium is banned from most products in almost all countries, but it can be used without restrictions in Solar Cells. Who controls the 'Recycling' of Solar Cells?
Never forget Chernobyl, Hiroshima, Nagasaki & Fukushima!
Never use a technology you do not master 100%!
April 6th, 2015:
April 10th, 2015:
Fukushima radiation levels now fatal for Humans
Second meltdown possible, robots used to determine the state of the 3 reactors. April 15th, 2015:
April 16th, 2015:
Robot reveals: Radiation level inside the Fukushima nuclear reactor will kill humans within 40 minutes... Radiation 9.7 sieverts
April 18th, 2015:
April 20th, 2015:
Never forget:
It's not your Face and not your Body that makes you sexy.
It's your MONEY!
Big Brother records your Emotions
Do you know that Call Centers around the world are analysing the voices of the callers to help their workers make decisions?
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology goes one step further:
With the help of radio waves they can extract the physiological signals your body sends back.
Installed in a shop, the seller(s) will know if you are in a mood to buy and used at a massage parlour the masseuses will know exactly what their clients feel, think and expect...
In 1970, during a lecture, I presented a similar scenario to my students - and earned a fit of laughter.
Most of them thought to listen to an idiot.
But now the future catches up with us. A lot later than I thought, but you can't stop it anymore.
The Next Gadget You Have to Have
Wearable cameras will the next big thing people have to have.
They will come as a simple button, as an expensive piece of jewelry or as an oversized finger ring.
Market research firm Tractica claims that by 2020 annual shipments of wearable cameras will surpass 30 million units.
In-People have to catch a waterproof one for Songkran 2016, equipped with a lens from Carl Zeiss, Leica or Schneider Kreuznach and decorated by Crystals from Swarovski...
A Tribute to the World's First Full Frame Camera
Please read Spike's tribute to the world's first full frame camera produced by Ernst Leitz Optische Werke, Wetzlar, Germany.
The End of CCD Sensors
Market leader Sony announced to exit the manufacturing of CCD sensors.
The expectation is that Sony will discontinue production of CCD sensors at its 200mm wafer line at the Kagoshima Technology Centre in March 2017 with a phase out lasting until 2020.
CCD image sensors are known to be slow and noisy.
CCD image sensors are dead now.
Long live the CMOS image sensors!
Microsoft to kill Google's Chromebooks?
On March 30th Microsoft announced it is planning to kill Google Chromebooks with sub-$150 and sub-$180 laptops powered by Windows 10.
A $179 notebook will come with Intel's Bay Trail-T CR processors, and a $149 will be launched with a processors from Rockchip.
Two days later, on April 1st, Google told the press that it will release two new Chromebooks with starting prices at US$149 and US$179 as well as a computer on a Stick, similar to the one we presented on January 21st, who turns monitors and TVs into computers when plugged into their HDMI ports.
The new gadgets will be released during the second part of 2015.
Milking Foreigners!
Thailand's National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department ordered that admission fees for foreigners at national parks throughout the country have to be 400 Baht.
Entry charge for Thai nationals remains 40 Baht for adults and 20 Baht for children.
To cover the inequity the local's prices are printed in Thai script only.
No progress on Jet Ski saga:
Pattaya City Hall still doesn't do anything to stop the scam!
All the announcements made during last year were City Hall Blah-Blah only...
As long as Jet Ski vendors - respectively their victims - fill up our officials' pockets nothing will happen! But Pattaya Mayor Itthiphol Khunplome told Bangkok Post on March 26th, 2015:
The boats are overloaded, don't provide lifevests for all passengers, are badly maintained and aren't covered by adequate insurance policies.
Pattaya's lazy and allegedly corrupt Officials promised to check owners, personnel and boats regularly, but they don't. According to Pattaya Police, it is common in this resort that foreign tourists get drugged and robbed in their hotel rooms, apartments or houses by prostitutes or ladyboys. Ladyboy Pick-Pocket Gangs are working almost daily on Pattaya's Beach Promenade! Never wear Gold in Pattaya! Between 30 to 50 snatching valuables cases are reported to Pattaya's Police every single month. NightWalker asked:
What your new Thai Boyfriend has what I don't have?
His former Girlfriend answered:
Thai Language Skills!
NightWalker claims:
What a fortune that the Ice Age ended without recommendations from our scientists...
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