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New ‘Dolphin Circle’ springs to life in Pattaya
Suchada Tupchai
Pattaya’s beloved dolphins are blessed by
the first showers from the fountains.
Dolphin Circle in North Pattaya has been given a new
lease on life. The site that for months mostly consisted of bricks and
rubble has become a lovely city landmark. Hopefully the work will be
completely finished by the end of November.
Sitthiparp Muangkhum, director of the engineering office
of Pattaya City led a team to inspect the construction of Dolphin Circle,
and declared it more than 90% completed. The improvement of this circle is
one of Pattaya City’s ‘new image’ projects.
Sitthiparp explained that the project started in the end
of 2001.
However, construction delays were caused by budget
deficits and Banglamung Provincial Electrical Authority’s dispute with
Pattaya City about electricity connections, even though the city is willing
to pay the fees.
At the moment workers are rushing to finish construction
on the project which will include a fountain and decorated lights so that
Pattaya officials can make the necessary checks to make sure everything is
working properly.
To ensure that the flow of traffic is smooth because this
busy intersection doesn’t have traffic lights, traffic police will conduct
24 hour traffic control.
Sitthiparp explained the name; Dolphin Circle, “The
circle derived its name from the fact that a school of dolphins lived for
many years in that stretch of water in Pattaya Bay.”
Of course the dolphins have since moved on, but the name remains as a
fond reminder of the city’s sea-faring friends.
Big brother outlines where you can and cannot light up a butt
New anti-smoking laws revealed at recent THA meeting
Suchada Tupchai
Here it is, the lowdown on where you can and cannot smoke
since the new anti-smoking legislation went into effect on November 1.
The THA came up with a list to clarify the areas where
smoking is not allowed:
Areas inside a hotel where No Smoking signs must be
clearly posted are:
1. Business areas allowing internet access that are air
conditioned
2. Retail shops
3. Fitness rooms or areas for undertaking exercise
4. Areas for drinking or dining
5. Toilets
6. Areas inside a hotel that also have air-conditioners,
which have not been mentioned in the previous 5 points.
7. Areas where drinks are served but not food are allowed
to be smoking zones.
8. Pubs, bars and discotheques are allowed to allow
smoking
Other places which could still be confused, such as
waiting areas in restaurants and lobbies where no food and drink is served,
are all allowed to be smoking areas.
Authorities know that it is not possible to control all
areas and hotels in Pattaya 24 hours a day to ensure that the non-smoking
laws are not being broken. They hope for the cooperation from the different
establishments to ensure the laws are being upheld.
Only authorized government officers of Level 5C and above
can inspect premises to check if the non-smoking laws are being obeyed and
the officers must produce valid identification. Those without authorization
will not be able to inspect premises. This is to prevent unscrupulous
officials looking for quick cash.
However, individuals found smoking in no-smoking areas
can be fined no more than 2,000 baht and business which break these laws are
subject to fines up to 20,000 baht.
The general consensus was that most THA members say that
they will try to follow the guidelines despite the regulated areas. Each
hotel will review the pros and cons of the regulations and present results
at the next meeting.
Chachawal Supachayanont, president of the Thai Hotels
Association (THA) of the Eastern Region, made the announcement at a THA
meeting at the Siam Bayview Hotel to discuss the new non-smoking laws for
hotels and restaurants. On November 8 a list was sent to all hotels catering
to international tourists to clarify some of the questions that had come up
about inside areas where people can and cannot smoke.
Governor says its in local businesses’ best interests to protect tourists
Calls for cooperation to keep on the lookout for any untoward incidents during the upcoming Scout Jamboree
Songklod Kaewvisit
Chonburi Governor Sawang Srisakun met with local
government departments and business operators in Pattaya to ask for their
cooperation. He wants them to be on the lookout for suspicious activities in
order to prevent malicious attacks on tourists and residents during the
upcoming World Scout Jamboree beginning December 28th.
Chonburi
Governor Sawang Srisakun called for cooperation from local businesses and
government offices to keep a lookout for any untoward incidents during the
upcoming Scout Jamboree.
Governor Sawang told those attending the meeting that
Scouts and Guides from around the world will visit the province during the
Jamboree and as many as another 20,000 family members who will accompany the
Scouts will be spending time in Pattaya and nearby areas. This will be a big
boost for business operators in the region; therefore it is in their best
interest to make the extra effort.
The governor called for business owners to put up signs
welcoming Scouts, Guides and their families and clearly post rates and
prices for goods and services to avoid disputes or misunderstandings about
overcharging and extorting tourists.
He added that the community should join together in
making local environment as orderly and relaxing as possible so that
Pattaya’s reputation doesn’t suffer.
The governor stressed that everyone should be on the
lookout for any suspicious persons, or odd behavior, particularly foreigners
who may want to cause disturbances. He said that business operators and
their staff as well as local government officers should immediately inform
police if there is due cause for concern.
As precautionary measure, local and regional police will
also bring in reinforcements. Extra personnel from border patrol units, the
14th army battalion and Thai marines and naval personnel have been placed on
extra duty to provide an added measure of safety.
Preparations in the media have already been undertaken
and the MCOT radio station will also provide updates on traffic conditions
and events throughout the Jamboree.
One thousand Scouts, Guides and ambassadors will take part in the initial
preparations. Prime Minister Taksin Shinawatra will leave Bangkok via train
for the site location in Sattahip to inspect the level of safety and
communication facilities around the site.
New Walking Street Committee elected at annual general meeting
Committee bent on luring more tourists to the area
Suchada Tupchai
The Walking Street Committee has a new president and
committee members after their recent annual general meeting at Pattaya City
Hall.
The Walking Street committee elected 15 new board members
and a new president. The elections were carefully monitored by chairman of
the city council Tawit Chaisawang and Apichart Puechpan, city manager.
The Walking Street Committee is now headed up by Suntorn
Gungsirikul whose first comments to the board were to further improve the
area’s cleanliness, safety and lure more visitors into this section by
hosting more activities.
A suggestion was made that the South Pattaya Beach area -
Walking Street in particular - be closed to motor traffic from 5 p.m. to 2
a.m. Another proposal put forth the suggestion that the current barricades
be replaced by a brightly colored gate erected at the entrance.
As for activities to attract more visitors to the area
Suntorn said, “This year there have been fewer activities arranged than in
previous years. It is time to change this and promote the area for the
coming tourist season. However, first we must take care of Walking Street to
ensure that it is clean and safe for visitors to use.”
It was agreed that the street will engage in a monthly
cleanup with businesses, residents and the city working together. As for
planned activities, further discussions will be held on this subject at the
next meeting.
Local businesses want government to eradicate cheating tour guides
local associations say that they are losing millions of baht,
and Pattaya’s reputation is being severely damaged
Veerachai Somchart
Local tourism associations want the government to do away
with cheating tour guide businesses. They say that these rogue tour guides
are costing local businesses millions of baht and severely damaging
Pattaya’s reputation.
So, earlier this week at city hall, Suradech Yasawasdee,
commissioner to the senate for tourism and sports, deputy Chonburi governor,
Preecha Kamolbutr and Mayor Pairat Suttithamrongsawat chaired a meeting with
local business operators and associations to find ways to protect tourists
from businesses that cheat or unfairly exploit them.
Attending the meeting were representatives from the
Pattaya Business and Tourism Association (PBTA), Thai Hotels
Association-Eastern Chapter and the Pattaya Hotel Association.
The group presented Suradech with a petition to consider
reviewing the current standards to prevent tour operators from taking
advantage of tourists (especially Chinese tourists who are currently being
targeted). The group also wants the required amount of security funds paid
up before tour companies can get a business license - a rule which would
comply under 1992 legislation governing guides and tour companies.
At the meeting it was pointed out that such companies do
not necessarily have a line of credit and many still owe large sums to
restaurants, hotels and other tourist dependant businesses.
The group wants the TAT Board to increase the outbound
tour guarantee to 200,000 baht (from 100,000) with the inbound tour
operators remaining at the 100,000.
Surat Mekavarakul, president of the PBTA acknowledged
that he has observed unscrupulous operators extorting tourists. As an
example he cited the case where Natawat Leangphansakun the Thai guide from
the Kengfay Company who, together with a Chinese guide, extorted 21 Chinese
tourists out of an extra 8,000 baht each, relieved them of their passports,
and told them all not to leave the hotel unescorted.
Surat added that the crime, which happened earlier this
year, did a lot of damage to the image of tourism for Thailand for a mere
136,000 baht.
Surat called for guarantee funds to be raised to 1.5
million baht.
Suwat Paephiromrat, president of the Pattaya Hotel
Association and Pichit Dunthiprasut, vice president for the THA-Eastern
Chapter added that a number of hotels, restaurants and tourist oriented
businesses have also been extorted by guides and tour companies - not just
the tourists.
They said that these companies forced hotels to accept
lower room rates as low as 250 baht/person/day and then failed to pay the
hotels the amount owed; a total amounting to losses of more than a billion
baht.
The issue of the government’s proposed policy of
disallowing tourist visas for Russian nationals also came up. Pattaya
businesses feel this is not fair. The only recent serious incident involving
Russian nationals was the ill-fated robbery of the Bank of Ayuthaya in South
Pattaya. Many Russians holiday in Thailand, spend money and do no harm.
In response Viriya Gerdpon, director of the TAT
registration office said, “In reality we must accept the fact that there
is still a loophole in the law regarding standards of tour guides and
companies owing money and having no line of credit. As long as that loophole
exists some companies will open subsidiaries as a front. If they are in the
process of being prosecuted or are requesting another operating license it
takes at least 6 months to process. If we were to tighten everything it
would be very difficult to control and would take as long as 1-2 years as
there are currently a large number of court cases currently underway.”
Suradech Yasawasdee concluded by telling attendees that
he had met with Sonthaya Khunpluem, Minister for Tourism and Sports and
committee members from the senate to review laws that pertain to tourism.
Regarding the issue of revoking tourist visas for Russian
nationals and a number of other countries, Suradech said he personally did
not see the reasoning behind the practice because of one isolated event. He
agreed that most Russian people are upstanding citizens. The prime minister,
however, had already sent an official letter to the Russian government.
Suradech said the industry will surely improve as many
visit Thailand during the New Year period and figures show that an estimated
additional 100,000 tourists will be arriving in the kingdom before the end
of the year.
As for the issue of reviewing the amount of guarantee
funds required by tour operators, the decision rests with the Association of
Thai Travel Agents (ATTA). At the moment the association is not responding
to requests for a review. The request will be pursued and perhaps decisive
action will be taken after the next round of discussions with the minister
of tourism and sports and the prime minister.
TAT requests plain-clothes police to watch over tourists in the interests of safety
Minister for Tourism & Sports says Thailand should not be affected by terrorist actions after Bali
Veerachai Somchart
Following the tragedy in Bali on October 12, many
countries have issued travel warnings to its citizens about South East Asia.
Thailand, however, although affected in the short term with a minor slowdown
in tourist arrivals, does expect to receive an influx during this coming
high season, albeit with extra security measures in place.
Sonthaya Khunpluem, Minister for Tourism and Sports said,
“The Foreign Ministry has issued a statement to all embassies that Thai
officials have undertaken the necessary security measures to ensure safety
for tourists and visitors to the country.”
Sonthaya added, “The Ministry of Sports and Tourism has
also requested cooperation from the National Police Bureau to further step
up patrols in tourist destinations using plain-clothed officers as not to
alarm visitors and residents by the increased police numbers. Regarding the
travel warning issued by foreign governments about traveling in Thailand, we
understand their responsibility regarding the safety of their citizens who
are traveling abroad. The same travel advisories were issued after September
11, 2001. Thailand has also issued similar warnings to Thai nationals
residing in the U.S. and those traveling abroad.”
When asked how terrorist activities, particularly the
most recent in Bali, would affect tourist numbers in Thailand Sonthaya said,
“We have undertaken necessary precautionary measures and have engaged in a
public relations campaign. Tourism figures are up by 5.8% as of September
30. We have a goal this year of increasing tourist numbers. Reports have
shown that some groups have cancelled their travel plans to Thailand but
there are still many that intend to travel.”
“The Tourism Authority of Thailand has set a goal to
attract over 10 million foreign tourists to Thailand. We have already
achieved 7 million for this year with income for tourism alone currently
standing at 320 billion baht. I believe that even with incidents such as
Bali and 9/11 we will see an increase in the number of arrivals and may
exceed the goal set for this year. The TAT has already set next year’s
goal at 11,130,000 people, which will bring an estimated income of 360
billion baht for the country’s economy,” concluded Sonthaya.
The changing face of Pattaya becoming a reality
More than just a pipe dream as new projects are being undertaken to beautify the city
One of
the newest additions to the city’s landscape is the new project rising up
at the entrance to Pattaya Central Road.
Pattaya City’s beautification plans are starting to
take form and show real progress. In addition to the new walkways which
provide lovely promenades for pedestrians along Pattaya and Jomtien Beaches
and the rebuilding of Dolphin Circle, one of the newest additions to the
city’s landscape is the new project rising up at the entrance to Pattaya
Central Road.
Panchote Sonkhom, an architect for the city said, “This
project will transform this area of Central Road. It punctuates and
accentuates the visitor’s entrance to the city’s center and is an
affirmation of Pattaya’s determination to become a more attractive town.
Before this project was started the area was an eyesore and very
unappealing. The city’s engineering department saw the necessity of
designing something pretty with an ocean theme and which would improve the
appearance of this section.”
Begun in September, the project is now 60 percent
complete and is expected to be finished by December 1st - just in time for
the World Scout Jamboree and the busy tourist season - and will feature
stylish decorative columns with a mixture of shrubs, trees and stone.
Pattaya City realizes it has a long list of things on their “to-do”
list, such as maintaining and upgrading the current infrastructure, road
resurfacing, waste management, traffic control and social order issues.
Pattaya residents may have to wait a little while longer for some of these
issues to be resolved.
Pattaya City adjusts fees for wastewater management
New rates announced
Suchada Tupchai
Head of
water quality control Montri Chaowalittaporn explained the wastewater
managements system in Pattaya. For residential, governmental offices/small
businesses, and industry/large businesses the new water consumption rates
are 2.27 baht, 3.25 baht and 3.75 baht per square meter respectively.
Mayor Pairat Suttithamrongsawat presided over a recent
meeting to spell out for residents the city’s new policy regarding
collection fees for monthly water consumption. The increase in fees will
help Pattaya City to better protect its resources and upgrade the
performance of waste-water management.
The gathering was an attempt to bring people together to
explain the necessity of cooperation from all parties including authorities,
residents, state enterprises and private organizations and to clarify the
procedures that will be used in fee collection. Representatives from various
communities, department stores, hospitals, banks and government officials
attended the meeting.
Head of water quality control Montri Chaowalittaporn said
a meeting was already held in August to inform operators of hotels and
restaurants why Pattaya City needs to increase monthly water consumption
fees.
Montri explained that in 1985, Pattaya City had 2
water-water treatment plants capable of cleaning 13,000 square meters per
day. However, the city’s population explosion and growing business sector
created a demand greater than the system could effectively handle.
In 1997 Pattaya City received a budget to build a larger
plant capable of cleaning 65,000 square meters. But the city must repay this
sum at 10% of 1.8 billion baht within 15 years.
In order to pay this debt, the city’s administration
must collect adequate fees from residents divided into 3 categories. The
first category is residential, the second is governmental offices and small
businesses and the third includes industry and large businesses.
These three segments are now charged 2.27 baht, 3.25 baht
and 3.75 baht per square meter respectively. The rates must be changed from
year to year to adjust to fluctuating consumption. Authorities have
requested understanding and cooperation from consumers.
At the end of meeting there was a question and answer
session between the authorities and citizens. A question was raised
regarding the standards used to categorize consumers such as commercial
buildings and hotels. At the meeting authorities said they couldn’t yet
explain the process of categorization until it is announced by the National
Environment Committee.
After the meeting, officers of the drainage system unit arranged a guided
tour of the facility situated on 80 rai at Soi Wat Nong Yai.
Bizarre tale of domestic violence
Security guard robbed and brutally attacked by his wife
and a hired Water Office worker
In a
bizarre tale of domestic violence, Somjit Rengrut (left) hired her son and a
co-worker to brutally beat her 60-year-old husband.
An elderly security guard was recently attacked and
robbed while on duty in a housing estate in Jomtien. Sixty-year-old Suawan
Wongsuwan was badly bruised and shaken when officers arrived on the scene
after the victim called the Pattaya police.
Officers listened as Suawan explained that while he was
walking around the residential neighborhood, performing his routine duties,
2 men and a woman calmly walked up to him. Then suddenly, they furiously
attacked him, handcuffed him and viciously beat him in the face until he
fell to the ground.
As he lay helplessly handcuffed, unable to defend
himself, both men and the woman grabbed all of his belongings including a
transistor radio, his wallet containing 25 baht and documents, and then they
ripped his gold chain and Buddha amulet from his neck. When they’d
stripped him of all his valuables, the 3 criminals fled the scene on a
motorbike.
Pol. Lt. Col. Krit Siriprasertchoke, the investigation
officer and immediately contacted other officers on duty to comb the area
for the culprits. This rapid response brought results and the trio was
rounded up and taken into custody.
During interrogation the woman identified as Somjit
Rengrut had a strange story to tell. She told officers that she was angry
with the guard because he failed to take care of her as a wife as he had
promised and she’d decided to leave him. Somjit had arranged for a 6-wheel
truck to come to her house so she could pack up and go back to her home
province of Narkorn Rachasima.
In the meantime, she hired Pongdej Uchi, an official at
the Pattaya Tap Water office to accompany her and her own son, Sombat
Chamchang, to beat up the security guard and rob him.
The cornered culprits were charged with assault and robbery.
Road accident leaves 4 university students dead and another in serious condition
Four survive after students’ vehicle collided with a power pole
A car carrying 8 Rachamongkol Technology College students
plowed into a power pole when the vehicle swerved off Sukhumvit Road,
tragically killing 4 of the students.
Police and a rescue team from Sawang Boriboon arrived at
the scene of the disaster to find the vehicle had hit the power pole with
such impact that it broke the car in half and flung passengers from the car
forcing police and rescue personnel to search for survivors.
The Sawang Boriboon rescue unit rushed the 4 surviving
passengers, including the driver, to Banglamung Hospital. One 17-year-old
girl had her leg amputated from the force of the crash.
On the ground near the mangled vehicle, police found 4
other bodies of youngsters, all under 19 years old. Their bodies were
transferred to the hospital and relatives were contacted.
Pol. Lt. Col. Somchai Yotsombat, accident investigation
officer from Banglamung police station registered real shock when he
observed the extent of damage to the car; pieces of metal were scattered
long distances from the point of impact.
Pol. Lt. Col. Somchai said the vehicle had to have been
traveling at a very high speed to cause such damage. It is believed that the
driver lost control of vehicle after skidding off the road and could not
return to the highway before colliding with the power pole. Somchai said
police will continue with the investigation when the driver regains
consciousness.
Burglars make off with Brit’s home safe
Safe crackers couldn’t open it there so carried it away
Boonlua Chatree
British national Darrell Peter Bevers arrived home on the
night of November 4th to find his home had been burgled. Shocked to find his
door lock cut open, he went inside and found that the thieves had carried
away his steel safe containing 200,000 baht.
British
national Darrell Peter Bevers points to the spot where his safe once
resided.
Bevers called in the robbery and when police arrived at
his residence on Soi Bongkot, he told officers that he and his friend Fredea
Dinon had just come back to the house and when they found the door lock
broken he immediately checked on his safe. It was gone.
Police searched the premises and found a large metal cutter discarded in
the back garden which had most likely been used to cut through the door’s
security lock. The thieves took nothing but the safe so officers assume that
was their target. The cutter was taken by officers to be dusted for
fingerprints.
House set ablaze to cover up the brutal murder of a middle-aged woman
Boonlua Chatree
Police and firefighting units rushed to the scene of a
small house ablaze in Soi Ruamchoke on Tuesday morning. Firemen finally
managed to contain the fire, but weren’t prepared for their gruesome
discovery. When finally able to enter the building, they discovered the
charred remains of a woman in the burned out shell of the house. But the
state of the body revealed she did not die in the fire.
Officers immediately called in the report to Pattaya
police chief and requested that criminal investigation units and a coroner
come to the scene to examine the body.
A preliminary examination of the woman’s body revealed
that she had been stabbed a number of times and her left wrist had been
broken before the murderer had set fire to the house. The woman was
identified as 50-year-old Willawan Aranganont. Her remains were sent to the
police forensic institute for further examination.
Investigating officers questioned residents in a nearby
condo who said the woman had lived alone in the shack for quite some time
but had no idea who would have wanted to murder her.
Police believe that the murderer set fire to the house in
an attempt burn any incriminating evidence. Police are still investigating
the crime.
Immigration builds volunteer report team
To help monitor possible terrorist acts and alien misconduct
Boonlua Chatree
The Immigration Department has organized a volunteer team
and trained the team in surveillance and how to evaluate possible illegal or
dangerous situations.
The project comes in response to orders handed down by
Pol. Lt. Gen. Chanwuth Watcharapuk, commander of immigration, after a
seminar was held at city hall to address issues of illegal aliens and
measures to monitor suspicious behavior which might lead to terrorist acts.
The team of volunteers has been set up to tighten
security in tourist destinations and provide protection for the communities.
Certificates of recognition were distributed to almost 200 interested
attendees after the lecture.
The volunteer report team was trained in police
techniques of gathering and reporting information to authorities, and shown
how to observe misconduct or doubtful behavior foreigners might have and
pass these observations along to police.
Police explained that they need help in monitoring and
observing criminal activities and the public should get involved.
“At the end of the day absolute peace should occur, and
everyone should be safer and Pattaya should be the safest tourist
destination,” said Pol. Maj. Gen. Dechchaiwat Puangpatna, deputy commander
of immigration, who chaired the seminar.
Wall collapses in a Jomtien housing project killing one worker and seriously injuring two others
Police say the workers dug too close to the wall
A 35-year-old man died last week when a 5 meter high wall
collapsed at new housing project in Jomtien. Two workers were also seriously
injured in the accident.
Police and rescue personnel were called to the scene late
Wednesday afternoon to find Vichit Yimpan, age 17, and Somkid Phanlue, age
30, lying on the ground next to the collapsed wall. The pair sustained
serious abdominal injuries and fractures. They were then rushed to Pattaya
Memorial Hospital for treatment.
Officers examining the scene discovered the body of a
man, later identified only as Mian who was crushed when the structure
collapsed.
Police questioned the owner of the contracting company,
BVT Co. Ltd., Witwas Toncharoen who told police that his company was
contracted to install underground electrical cable and had been working on
the site for weeks. As part of the contract they dug a meter-deep trench
alongside the wall to lay the cables.
Investigating officers said that the accident had
occurred out of pure ignorance of the laborers and could have been averted
if the trench had not been dug so close to the wall.
The body of the dead man was transferred to the morgue
waiting for relatives of the dead man to claim the body and proceed with the
necessary religious rites. The injured workers are still in a serious but
stable condition. Local police are investigating the incident.
Schedule of contests during Loy Krathong Festival,
17-19 November 2002
November 17 - Painting contest on the topic of “Thai
tradition and environment conservation”. The winner of the ‘Open’
category will receive 10,000 baht and a trophy from the Minister of Tourism
and Sports, Sonthaya Khunpluem. The runners-up will get 3,000 baht and 2,000
baht respectively. The second category is for secondary and primary school
students, in which each team must consist of 5 members and one instructor.
The winner of each level will receive 5,000 baht and 2,000 baht or the
runners-up.
November 18 - “Traditional Thai musical contest”. The
winning group of the Eastern region category will receive 20,000 baht and a
trophy from Her Excellency Phansawali Kitiyakorn, and 10,000 baht, 5,000
baht and 2,000 baht respectively for the runners-up. Contestants must be
students from schools located in the eastern region of Thailand. The music
contest is divided at two levels: secondary and primary school students.
November 19 - “Natural material or biodegradable
Krathong creation contest”. Every Krathong must be constructed with only
natural substances. The winner will receive 5,000 baht and a trophy from the
Chonburi provincial governor, and 3,000 baht and 2,000 baht for the
runners-up. There are three categories for the contest; secondary, primary
and open levels. Krathongs must be within the size limit of not more than 12
inches, and made from biodegradable materials. Each team has 3 hours and 30
minutes to complete their pieces. Teams must wear traditional Thai costumes
to the event.
The Miss Noppamas Beauty Pageant will also be another
highlight of the day. Contestants must be Thai females, between 16 and 25
years old, and must appear in Thai national costume.
For further information telephone 038-429407 ext 404, 405
or fax 038-410708.
As city readies for Loy Krathong festival, authorities ban firecrackers in the interest of safety
Songklod Kaewvisit
Pattaya is gearing up for one of Thailand’s most unique
and beautiful holidays; the lovely candle-light festival of Loy Krathong.
Delicate, simple, lavish - constructed lovingly by hand or purchased, the
‘krathong’ is a float decorated with flowers and candles, and each year
during the traditional festival, all over the kingdom Thais set their
krathongs upon the water with prayers and good wishes.
Mayor Pairat Suttithamrongsawat announced that the city
is prepared for the Loy Krathong Festival from November 17 though 19 along
Beach Road from North Pattaya to Central Pattaya.
In the interests of safety the mayor said there will be a
strict ban on the sale and the use of firecrackers throughout the
festivities. Police officers have been issued orders to strictly enforce the
ban on fireworks. Anyone caught using them and shops selling them without
permits will be fined.
The Loy Krathong Festival will begin at 2 p.m. on Sunday
November 17 with the drawing and painting contest, with the judges making
their decision at 7 p.m. After the judging a number of shows will be
performed on stage from various sectors of the community.
On Tuesday November 19 the festivities will finish with
the Nang Noppamas Beauty Pageant and the best decorated Krathong before
floating them in the water. Throughout the festivities stalls will be set up
along Beach Road featuring local handicrafts and various products.
Beach Road will be closed from the Dolphin Roundabout
down to Central Pattaya Road throughout the festival. Extra traffic police
will be on hand to direct traffic.
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