16 dead in Thailand bombings
At least eight people were killed and 68 injured in three bomb attacks by Muslim rebels in southern Thailand on Saturday. It is one of the deadliest attacks in months in the troubled south of the country.
News from Thailand – March 31, 2012
Angry pineapple fruit growers dumped thousands of pineapples on Phetkasem Highway in Prachuap Khiri Khan yesterday. In the morning, a group of 4.000 peasants blocked the road, and after finishing their action, 500 peasants occupied the highway elsewhere. d
Households are burdened by debt
Despite the rising debt of households with a monthly income of less than 10.000 baht, household debt in general is not yet alarming, says economist Thanavath Phonvichai of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce.
Beggar gang in Sattahip
When I was on holiday in Italy a long time ago, we came to a square in the center of Florence with three large churches. Lots of tourists of course, a bustle of interest. At the entrance of each of these cathedrals sat some old women, dressed all in black, holding out their hands for a few lira. They indeed looked needy and received a lot of support from the passers-by. Of course you do that in such a devout environment.
Floods: Low confidence Japanese companies
Japanese investors have serious doubts about the government's ability to prevent floods like last year. Some labour-intensive companies could move abroad because of the increase in the minimum wage as of April 1.
A time bomb is ticking in Thailand
A time bomb is ticking in Thailand. That time bomb is called Thaksin Shinawatra. In 2006 he was chased out by the army, in 2008 he fled from a 2-year prison sentence, but the ruling party Pheu Thai and its red shirt supporters want to bring him back at all costs.
News from Thailand – March 30, 2012
Let the riots come. The Royal Thai Police has purchased a Korean anti-riot vehicle for 24 million baht. The vehicle has bulletproof safety glass, iron grilles for the windows and is equipped with a water cannon. It can accommodate 10 agents. The water tank can be filled with colored water to identify rioters and tear gas.
News from Thailand – March 29, 2012
Thaksin will be joined by about 50.000 red shirts from the Northeast during Songkran in Vientiane next month, says red shirt leader Nisit Sinthuphrai. They will gather at the Nong Khai stadium on April 11 to travel to Laos the next day. Asia Update tv will broadcast the visit live. Supposedly 10.000 red shirts travel to Siem Raep in Cambodia, where Thaksin is on April 14 and 15.
A day in Bangkok: to the embassy for a visa
Tomorrow is the day. The alarm is set at 05.00:06.00. We take the Tuk-Tuk to the picturesque station in Hua Hin and then take the train to Bangkok at XNUMX.
Price war in hotel sector on Koh Samui
On Koh Samui, a price war is raging between small and medium-sized hotels. Some hotels even offer free nights to attract guests, says the Tourism Association of Koh Samui.
News from Thailand – March 28, 2012
Allegations are swirling about the death of an elephant and the poor condition of 15 other jumbos seized by the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation in February at Saiyok Elephant Park in Kanchanaburi. According to the park operator, they were healthy when Wildlife took them, but veterinarian Sittidet Mahasawangkul said they were already sick in the park.
Insurance in Thailand: information in Bangkok
Following three successful lectures in Pattaya, there will now also be an information hour about insurance in Bangkok.
Dutch TV: I left, I saw and I left again…
When you live in Thailand, like me, it doesn't make sense that you watch the Dutch television programs that come from the kitchen of the Largest Family of the Netherlands. I would actually rather say that that doesn't even make sense when you do live in the Netherlands, but that aside.
News from Thailand – March 27, 2012
Italian photographer Fabio Polenghi was almost certainly shot dead by government forces on May 19, 2010.
This is the conclusion of the Metropolitan Police Bureau after hearing more than ten witnesses, but they are still waiting for the ballistics report to complete the investigation. Police have re-investigated the case at the request of Polenghi's sister. Polenghi was killed in clashes between red shirts and security forces on Ratchadamri Road.
It was significantly quieter when I visited Chang Erawan Museum in Samut Prakan yesterday. Once you could walk around for free, but now a farang pays the main price: 300 baht. This museum is also pricing itself out of the market.
Thaksin is coming back this year – or not?
Panlop Pinmanee, security adviser to Prime Minister Yingluck, is working on a plan to bring Thaksin back this year. If that happens, the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) will take to the streets, spokesman Parnthep Pourpongpan said. A former classmate of Thaksin at the military academy considers it unlikely that the former prime minister will return this year. "Thaksin knows very well that conflicts still exist and reconciliation is a long way off."
Is Thailand still that cheap?
Is it me or are there others who can confirm that daily shopping and life in Thailand has become considerably more expensive?