News and Views - September 2005
(Photo: Bangkok to Bombay,
Frank Carpenter, Doubleday, Doran and Company, Inc, 1930) |
New Road in 1930 and Taking a bath
- September 21, 2005
The two plates here are reproduced from Bangkok
to Bombay, Frank Carpenter, Doubleday, Doran and Company,
Inc, 1930
Left: Caption of the photo reads: Not so many
years ago New Road, the main thoroughfare of Bangkok, was
only a winding elephant track along the Menam River. Nowadays
motors, rickshaws, and handcarts are mingled in the stream
of traffic flowing past temples and pagodas. |
|
Right: Caption of the photo reads:
Although they are a good-natured and happy-looking lot,
the Siamese girls and women, even when taking their daily
baths, are not exactly alluring. They all wear their hair
boy-style and most of them chew betelnut, which blackens
their teeth and stains their lips. |
(Photo: Bangkok to Bombay,
Frank Carpenter, Doubleday, Doran and Company, Inc, 1930) |
(Photo: A reader) |
Vendor fires M16
- September 27, 2005
A reader comments on Monday's report
about an M16 being fired at an international school: Interesting
how when you know the facts, the reporting seems lousy.
The building is Fortune Condotown 2 not Fortune Tower.
His stall was seized for continually impeding the public footpath
in front of the building, as he well knew...
It’s obvious it wasn’t a dispute about 500 THB a
month since he had just consumed more than 500 THB of booze…
(He was also living in an apartment block where unfurnished
units are 15 K+ a month.)
He was pissed off about the stall being seized, but the trigger
was a fight with a farang in Bangkok Garden (above the school).
The real reason was that he was out of his mind drunk, but
he had to make up something more sensible... Spot the damage
in the attached photo!
Yesterday: Vendor
fires M16 at international school - The Nation,
September 26, 2005
A food-stall owner opened fire on an international school
with an M16 assault rifle early yesterday in what he said
was just a way to vent his anger... |
(Photo: 2Bangkok.com) |
Unique
rural puppet art struggles to survive
- Reuters, September 26, 2005
The water puppet performers rub crushed ginger onto their
skin and drink fish sauce to keep warm when they stand waist
deep in cold rice paddies and ponds...
Left: Water puppets at Ho Chi Minh City |
On the forum: Combusto
& Thai Knowledge Co.
Yesterday: Website - 'Cumbusto'
- September 29, 2005
More on the Indonesian volcano
- September 28, 2005
Jerry writes: ...It is not one of the major Java volcanos.. Krakatau,
Merapi, Semeru or Kelut. This is one of two possibles:... Ijen is
150 kms North West of Denpasser or it could be Tengger Caldera and
Bromo which is approx. 250 kms west north west of Denpasser... This
page gives great detail of Indonesian volcanos.
Steven writes: Refer to your website about the Indonesian Volcano
that Terry has taken the picture from his Jakarta-Bali flight, I
think it should be Mount
Bromo in East Java.
(Photo: Terry King)
Earlier: Indonesian volcano - September
26, 2005
Terry Kings writes: Here is a photo I took on a flight from
Jakarta to Bali. It is in East Java but I haven't been able to
identify the volcano yet... I was able to lean over and take a
couple of shots before it was out of view.
Anyone know what volcano this is?
Russian break-dancing
- September 28, 2005
Once 2Bangkok.com gets linked on a foreign-language websites it
seems we are targeted for spam in that language. Russian spam is
particularly odd. Above is spam for a breaking-dancing school.
Mandala
Airlines and killer durians - friskodude,
September 26, 2005
Also: The
People's Paradise - Love it or loathe it, Pattaya is where Asia's
mass tourism started - Time, September, 2005
|
More on the Grand Palace
construction - September 21, 2005
Right: Google Earth has an image that shows the extent
of the recent expansion work at the Grand Palace. |
(Source: Google Earth) |
(Photo: 2Bangkok.com)
Earlier: Construction at the Grand Palace
- January 5, 2005
There seems to be major construction of new structures at the back
of the Audience Hall at the Grand Palace (above). Anyone know what
this is?
The de-mystification
of PM Thaksin - Bangkok Post, September
20, 2005
Since his Thai Rak Thai party garnered more than 75% of lower
house seats in the February general election, the present political
standing of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra _ who finds himself
challenged on several fronts _ suggests that much of Mr Thaksin's
political capital has been depleted and squandered over recent months.
Much of the mystique that accompanied his populist policies and
characterised his first-term in power has been eroded...
These episodes have further corroded Mr Thaksin's aura of invincibility.
Indeed, he seems to have lost his Midas touch. He now looks like
just another politician out for political survival, rather than
a crusader bent on transforming the Thai economy and society...
BEC-Tero
told me to lie: ex-beauty queen - The
Nation, September 27 , 2005
...Angela said one of the reasons she walked out from the title
is because BEC-Tero wouldn't provide her financial support.
Apart from the Bt1 million cash, she wasn't not getting paid with
a salary. There was no housing provided. She requested to be paid
Bt150,000 per month and a lodging with gym facilities but BEC-Tero
didn't respond.
Notes on canceling Muang
Thai Rai Sapdah - September
17, 2005
Wisarut comments: MCOT has terminated the program "Muang
Thai Rai Sapdah" (Ch
9 drops Sondhi for royal references - The Nation, September
16, 2005) after being too critical toward Premier Thaksin--especially
the Royal power case on the nomination of the new Supreme Patriarch
who is the alliance with Dhammakaya--even though the old Supreme
Patriarch is alive and well... while keeping the ultra right wing
television program of Governor Samak alive and well.
This kind of heavy hand on the media after the hostile takeover
of Matichon and Bangkok Post has generated storms from the media
and the Senate toward Grammy Entertainment PCL. Even the failure
to take over Matichon, Grammy could reap the profit from the stock
price anyway.
[Note these are links from Thaksin's arch-critic Ekkayuth.]
Reference on the termination of a TV program by the Manager Group
here
and here.
Reference on Grammy Entertainment Affairs here.
Reference on the massive closing down of pondoks here.
Political talk show axed
by Channel 9 - Latest victim of govt meddling, says Sondhi
- Bangkok Post, September 16, 2005
A political talk show known for its forthright criticism of the
government was axed by Channel 9 television yesterday, effective
immediately. The programme, Muang Thai Rai Sapda (Thailand Weekly),
was produced by Thai Day.Com Co and hosted by Manager newspaper
founder Sondhi Limthongkul and news commentator Sarocha Porn-udomsak...
Activist
warns of plot to control the media
- Bangkok Post,
September 16, 2005
Suriyasai Katasila, secretary-general
of the Campaign for Popular Democracy, has asked why MCOT Plc has
not taken off the air a programme hosted by ultra-conservative commentators
Samak Sundaravej and Dusit Siriwan, which he said had criticised
people in breach of their rights and freedom. The Samak-Dusit Kid
Tam Wan (Samak-Dusit's Daily Thoughts) programme is broadcast on
Modernine (Channel 9) TV from 11 to 11.30am, Monday to Friday.
Mr Suriyasai said Muang Thai Rai Sapda is the only programme on
free TV that ``speaks the truth'' about political and social woes,
and so is popular among viewers.
Abolishing the programme, he said, was part of an organised campaign
to control and take over the media under the ``Shinawatra model''
or the ``one minister-one medium'' programme...
Press
freedom violated, says watchdog -
Bangkok Post,
September 17, 2005
...Opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva
said the decision was not unexpected, given the programme's biting
criticism of the government.
Mr Abhisit said he did not agree Mr Sondhi's comments damaged the
monarchy. ``On the contrary, the show helped people value the monarchy
and royal prerogatives,'' Mr Abhisit said.
Rosana Tositrakul, of the Confederation of Consumer Organisations,
Thailand, said protests would intensify because the government was
trying to control the media.
FRIDAY
BUG: But will a Bt2 coin cause confusion?
- The Nation, September 23, 2005
...So why don't they just introduce a Bt3 coin to reduce the
production cost to a third of the normal rate? The Treasury Department
didn't say this in its press release, but everyone knows that the
word "three-baht" is a jinx. It often conjures up images
of the creepy three-baht ghost, the leading character in the popular
Thai cartoon series and blockbuster movie of the same name...
(Photo: A New Guide to Bangkok,
Second Edition, 1950 from the 2Bangkok.com collection) |
"The Siamese Premier's daughter"
- September 24, 2005
The caption of this photo reads "Nang Sao Rajanibul Phibul
Songgram, the Siamese Premier's daughter"
From A New Guide to Bangkok, Second Edition, compiled
by Kim Korwong and Javid Rangthong, Hatha Dhip Company, 1950 |
New Pantip Plaza
outlets planned - Two local department stores sold to Charoen
- Bangkok Post, September 26, 2005
Banglampoo Department Store Co, one of the oldest Thai-owned
department store operators, has sold two of its three outlets to
liquor tycoon Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi, according to an executive
from the department store operator. The two outlets are located
in the Bang Pho area and on Ngam Wong Wan Road. The company is currently
involved in a legal dispute over its third store, in Banglampoo,
with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, the source said...
Hi
Phi Phi - September 24, 2005
Hi Phi Phi is a
community-based initiative of local Koh Phi Phi residents and non-Thais,
working to help the people of Phi Phi rebuild their lives after
the Indian Ocean tsunami of December 26, 2004.
Islanders and volunteers have worked side by side to clean streets
and reefs, repair homes and bring back smiles on Thailand's most
beautiful tropical paradise. Although much long-term work remains
ahead, Phi Phi is back on its feet and ready for business.
Tension
Marks Thai Leader's U.S. Visit - AP,
September 20, 2005
...But a group of U.S. lawmakers is also pushing Bush to publicly
take Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to task for his cozy relationship
with the military dictatorship in neighboring Myanmar (also known
as Burma) and for pummeling the democratic freedoms of Thai citizens...
Corruption
Fighters' Tool Kit: Teaching Integrity to Youth
- transparency.org, September 21, 2005
Algeria
tempts Thai contractors to infrastructure projects -
TNA, September 19, 2005
Algeria called for Thai contractors to launch varied construction
projects in the North African nation...
Thai-China
trade expected to triple in next five years
- The Star Online, September 19, 2005
Trade between Thailand and China is expected to triple from the
current US$15 billion (euro12.2 billion) annually in the next four
to five years as more incentives are granted to Chinese investors,
the national news agency said Sunday...
Thailand's
"Iron Lady" pressured to leave key post after exposing
government corruption - Pravda Ru,
September 18, 2005
...In her new job, Jaruvan dug into unscrupulous deals and exposed
corrupt tactics that boggle the mind by their subtle deviousness
and scale. She estimates that corruption in state-related projects
costs the country more than 400 billion baht (US$9.7 billion; EUR7.9
billion) every year...
|
'Bouble Impact'
- September 19, 2005
A funny typo: On September 9, a prominent graphic appeared
at the top right of The Nation website. Over the
next week it changed as one of the typos was removed. It
still says "Leran" though.
Update
The final typo was fixed today... |
September 9 > |
 |
|
September 12 > |
 |
|
September 19 > |
 |
Overland-Underwater.com
- September 17, 2005
Two years in the planning, four friends have teamed up to organise
the ultimate lifetime experience... during the next year and a half
we will be raising money for CARE International by undertaking a
challenging journey of 65,000 km to drive from the United Kingdom
to New Zealand...
'HarrisBlackWatch.com'
- September 15, 2005
Strange story... If you scroll to the bottom of the page: In
September 2005, Harris Black returned to Thailand.
Losing MCOT.org
- September 12, 2005
|
MCOT.org is the home of Channel 9 and the Thai
News Agency and is one of the most widely linked-to Thai
news sites. For some reason the MCOT.org domain has been
allowed to expire and now it points to a generic travel
site (below). MCOT is using MCOT.net, but their website
header (right) still prominently displays 'MCOT.org.' |
 |
Foreign
airlines hiring Indian crew to cut costs -
Bernama, September 12 , 2005
In what could well become a normal scenario of the future for
many foreign airlines anxious to cut costs and yet have good service
on their planes, some US-based airlines are thinking of hiring
in-flight crew members from India...
Hotel
design a worry for Asians - The Nation,
September 14, 2005
...But the hotel might find it difficult to attract Asian visitors,
who are mostly Buddhist and who may feel the hotel looks too much
like a temple. For Asians, staying in a place like the Dhara Dhevi
could feel like staying overnight at a temple - something only ghosts
do.
Even representatives of the 39 Chinese companies visiting Chiang
Mai this month didn't want to stay at the hotel...
More
on Thai workers in Kaohsiung - September
12, 2005
From the Taipei Times.com:
Workers
seeking better life find torture
Kaohsiung
riot exposes flaws of brokerage system
Thugs,
lies and anarchy mark domestic workers' lives
Administration's
sincerity questioned over workers' rights
Editorial:
Riots rooted in injustices
...Although the workers are not prisoners, their freedom is restricted
to almost the same degree and the conditions they live in are not
dissimilar to a jail...
Thai
workers riot against `unfair' firm
[This article contains a photo of the prison-like conditions the
workers live in.]
Villagers
claim ET sighting - The Nation, September
9, 2005
Villagers claimed they today (Friday) morning witnessed an "alien"
or extra-terrestrial being which appeared like a small-body man
with large head and about 70 centimetres tall.
Over 10 residents of Huay Nam Rak Village in Mae Jan district's
Tambon Janjawa said they saw the ET today morning in a rice field
outside the village.
Sawaeng Boonyalak, 35, said he heard from friends that they saw
the alien so he rushed to see it.
"The alien is about 70 cm high and has yellow skin and flat
chest. Its mouth is very tiny. It has bald big head with big eyes
and big ears," Sawaeng said.
He claimed that several villagers also witnessed the ET at the same
time with him.
Sawaeng said the alien wandered around in the field for about an
hour without caring the villagers who were looking at it.
"Suddenly, the alien floated to a tree top. After more villagers
came to see it, it floated into the sky into the bright light,"
Sawaeng said.
He said villagers did not find any foot print of the being in the
area.
Buakaew Intaweng, 59, said she initially thought the alien was a
doll but it could move around.
Mae Jan district chief Wisit Sitthisombat said he interviewed over
ten villagers and they consistently testified about sighting the
alien.
"I asked them to draw what they have seen and the picture came
out similarly," Wisit said.
Hot times
- September 10, 2005
“Lice will infest your head,” Thaksin said, referring
to an old saying about bad consequences to people who lack deference
to the monarchy...
The mere fact that a Thai government has had to defend itself
you saying "My government serves His Majesty" is a victory
for the anti-Thaksin opposition and a sign of deep uncertainty.
The government is also losing the initiative on defining what
is happening in the South. A Thai big man's biggest enemy is himself
and it remains to be seen if Thaksin can wait out these events
without acting out or reacting to the provocations of his enemies...
'My
govt serves His Majesty' - The Nation, September 9,
2005
Thaksin out to fight claims that his administration overlooked
royal powers on the Jaruvan and military reshuffle issues.
Speaking out for the first time yesterday against critics accusing
his government of challenging royal powers, Prime Minister Thaksin
Shinawatra insisted he and his ministers were staunchly loyal
to His Majesty the King.
Thaksin's comments came two days after a high-profile debate on
royal prerogative was organised at Thammasat University with the
participation of such staunch critics of the government as maverick
Thai Rak Thai party-list MP Pramuan Ruchanaseree, author of "Royal
Powers", and Senator Kaewsan Atibhodi...
More on the Royal Power
controversy
Nuclear stirrings in Burma
- Asia Security Monitor, September 6, 2005
A Burmese opposition group has charged that Rangoon's military
junta is gearing up to erect a clandestine nuclear program. The
Geostrategy-Direct intelligence newsletter reports that the opposition
Shanland website has revealed regime plans for a covert nuclear
facility near the town of Maymyo in the central part of the South
Asian state. Over the past two years, the military government
is said to have occupied territory surrounding the suspect site
and begun construction of roads and tunnels. Intelligence assessments
have concluded that Burma is receiving assistance for its nuclear
power program - which could evolve to have military applications
- from both North Korea and Russia.
Arianespace
to launch Thaicom 5 - spaceflightnow,
September 5, 2005
The THAICOM 5 satellite launch contract was signed at World
Satellite Business Week 2005 by Dr. Dumrong Kasemset, Executive
Chairman of Shin Satellite Plc, and Jean-Yves Le Gall, Chief
Executive Officer of Arianespace. THAICOM 5 is slated for
an Ariane 5 launch in 2006 from Europe's Spaceport in Kourou,
French Guiana...
Photoshopping James Bond Rock
- September 9, 2005
Nice Photoshopped image (left, probably from Worth1000)
of James Bond Rock in Phuket (below). |
 |
(Photo: 2Bangkok.com) |
|
Junta
closes popular Rangoon church - The Irrawaddy,
September 9, 2005
The Full Gospel Assembly, a rapidly growing church in downtown
Rangoon, has been ordered by Burma’s military government
to cease all activities, according to Christian sources in the
capital...
Politics
dominates reshuffle - Hopes for merit promotions dashed -
Bangkok Post, September 10, 2005
The much-awaited military reshuffle list, announced yesterday
after receiving royal approval, is a disappointment for armed
forces officers hoping for changes showing promotions are based
on merit and not favouritism, one general said. The list remains
almost intact, except for the air force chief's post which went
to ACM Chalit Pukpasuk instead of ACM Raden Peungpak...
Thailand
emerges as fake passport capital - AP, September
8, 2005
...One 24-year-old French tourist said he was offered $240 by
a clean-cut Iranian man in his 30s staying at the same guesthouse
he was at on Bangkok's Khao San Road _ the popular backpacker district
that police say is a major source of black market passports.
"Some Westerners will sell their passports for $500 to get
quick cash, and then they'll say it was stolen, so it's hard to
crack down," immigration policeman Chote said...
Thailand's
'Mr Condom' makes comeback - The World
Today, September 7, 2005
...MECHAI VIRAVAIDYA: The report that has been submitted to the
Ministry of Public Health a month ago and again today, showed a
huge increase in infections of sexually transmitted diseases amongst
youth.
And at the same time, it had continuing increase in those who use
intravenous drugs, and about men who have sex with men. So it's
not just one - it's the whole across the board, and therefore, Thailand
has now been knocked to floor.
We now have an increasing rate of HIV infections amongst the general
public and so the good work that has been done has now been somewhat
negated.
PETER LLOYD: What was your reaction when you first saw those figures?
MECHAI VIRAVAIDYA: I felt like losing my testicles. It was a great
shock and I think it's like people losing their independence or
being raped.
I never expected that this would happen, but it's a result of inaction
by the Government, absolutely no interest by the Prime Minister
except the promise at the World AIDS Conference and all the promises
made have not been kept...
(Photo: Victor)
Sukhumvit-area fire is out
- 20:20, September 3, 2005
(Photo: Victor)
Sukhumvit-area fire
- 19:51, September 3, 2005
Victor from the Sukhumvit 43 area reports: Looking the
window, I see this fire, between the Waterford Condominium
across the street and the new Channel 3 building on Param
4 (Rama 4). It apparently seems like this fire is taking place
at a structure no higher than seven stories. |
(Photo: Victor) |
Post's
pack plenty of pachyderm power - The
Nation, September 6, 2005
[The Nation takes a humorous swipe at the Post's
recent erroneous story about cracks in the airport runway.]
One of the most inglorious upsets in sporting history happened
yesterday when the Bangkok Post team pulled off a shock 3-0
over the champion Nation team at the third King's Cup Elephant
Polo Tournament in Hua Hin...
Post captain Wanchai Rujawongsanti won the toss and elected
to go with the wind behind him, which gave his team a big advantage
- at the same time a groundless rumour swept the crowd that
there were large cracks in The Nation's half of the field.
But the cracks turned out to be in The Nation's defence and
the younger and fitter Post team took ungentlemanly advantage...
LAT
PHRAO WORK: Nightmare traffic conditions -
The Nation, September 2, 2005
...Radio station FM91 Traffic Pro said that between 6.30am and
1pm, it received 2,971 calls from incensed motorists. It quoted
one as saying the traffic stretched for more than 10 kilometres.
(Image: unescap.org)
On the forum: Trans-Asia
Railway Project Map
Trans-Asian
Railway in the Southern Corridor of Asia-Europe Routes - TAR
North-South Corridor map - Trans-Asian
Railway in Thailand
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