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Children’s Day outing turns to tragedy
100 injured in bus accident
Boonlua Chatree
A day’s outing planned as a special treat for a large
group of kids to celebrate National Children’s Day turned to tragedy when
100 people were injured in a multiple bus crash near the Kratinglai - Rayong
intersection on Saturday afternoon, January 10. Amongst the injured were
pre-school and elementary students, some as young as 3, with parents and
teachers.
 Banglamung
Hospital staff had their hands full on Children’s Day when about 100,
mostly children, were brought in for treatment after the two buses they were
traveling in crashed at the Kratinglai - Rayong intersection.
Police, Sawang Boriboon foundation rescue units, doctors
and nurses from Banglamung Hospital attended the scene to aid the injured
and take them to hospital for treatment.
The victims suffered various injuries, but 25 people were
classified as seriously injured and were rushed to Banglamung Hospital for
emergency treatment. The remaining 75 were taken in for treatment of minor
injuries.
Police questioned the two bus drivers, Narong Buaurai and
Chaluay Painam, who told officers that their passengers were from the
Children’s Development School, Wonghin Temple in Rayong. Each vehicle was
carrying over 100 persons and that they were on their way to the Khao Kheow
Open Zoo after visiting the U-tapao airport for Children’s Day.
The drivers said that just as they approached the
intersection, a 10-wheel truck cut in front the first bus, causing it to
break suddenly. Narong Buaurai, driver of the front bus said he lost control
of the vehicle and it overturned. The second bus then rammed into the
leading vehicle.
Pong Vicheinlum, teacher in charge and director of the
school, said the aim of the day was to give the children an opportunity to
have some fun on National Children’s Day and that he never suspected that
such an accident could occur, adding that after the accident he and others
had tried to help the children to safety as quickly as possible.
The driver of the 10-wheeler was nowhere in sight when
police and rescue personnel arrived at the accident scene.
Suchada Tupchai promoted
to Pattaya Mail Assistant Editor
Pattaya
Mail officially recognized reporter Suchada Tupchai for her continuous
efforts and hard work. Suchada was promoted to the position of assistant
editor, under the current editor, Veerachai Somchart of both the Pattaya
Mail and Pattaya Blatt newspapers.
 Assistant
Editor Suchada Tupchai (left) receives her promotion from Pattaya Mail MD
Peter Malhotra (right).
Suchada graduated from Burapha University with a Bachelor’s Degree in
Information and Communications and began her work as a reporter with the
Thai language newspaper the Eastern Post. She later moved on to the Thai
Rath newspaper as the eastern region correspondent for the national daily.
She joined the Pattaya Mail editorial team in November 2001 and was promoted
to assistant editor as of January 1, 2004.
Pakistan’s ambassador visits Pattaya
A first for Pattaya’s Pakistan community
Saturday, January 10 was a special occasion for the Pakistani community in
Pattaya when the ambassador of Pakistan, H.E. Mir Hussain Baksh Bangalzai paid a
visit to the city.
 The
Pattaya Community of Pakistan hosted a reception in honor of H.E. Mir Hussain
Baksh Bangalzai, ambassador of Pakistan, at the Town in Town Hotel in Central
Pattaya.
H.E. the ambassador was specially invited by the Pakistani
community in Pattaya. This was the first time in Pattaya’s history that a
Pakistani ambassador came to town to meet his countrymen. On this occasion, the
Pakistani community hosted a reception in honor of his excellency at the Town in
Town Hotel in Central Pattaya and gave a warm and memorable welcome to the
ambassador. The memorable reception was organized by Pattaya Community of
Pakistan.
The ambassador explained his policies to improve the image of
Pakistan and assured the Pakistani community it would receive help in solving
their problems on priority basis. He informed the community about his recent
actions which he took after his appointment as an ambassador 3 months ago. He
also announced the reconstruction of the Pakistan Embassy building in Bangkok in
coming months.
The ambassador met all Pakistanis at the ceremony and advised them to stay
united and follow the rules of Thailand to show the world that they hail from a
disciplined nation. He expressed his deep appreciation of this invitation and
reception and assured the community that visits such as this one will continue -
inshallah.
Paddle for life, Rattapphumi nears the end of 16-month journey
Rattapphumi Daichaiyamai’s attempt to travel 1500 miles almost complete
Patcharapol Parnrak
One man’s mission to paddle his way around the nation
has almost come to an end, as he recently pulled into the Had Toey Beach in
Sattahip. His journey had been full of adventure, and included facing
pirates and other trials and tribulations from Thailand’s troubled
southern provinces of Pattani and Narathiwat.
 At
7 a.m. on January 7, navy rowers in Sattahip paddled out to welcome
Rattapphumi Daichaiyamai (front and center, with beard), a man who has
conquered the seas and struggled to overcome both physical and mental
challenges on a mission to travel 1,500 miles around Thailand in an ocean
kayak.
At 7 a.m. on January 7, navy rowers in Sattahip paddled
out to welcome Rattapphumi Daichaiyamai, a man who has conquered the seas
and struggled to overcome both physical and mental challenges on a mission
to travel 1,500 miles around Thailand in an ocean kayak.
The final leg of his journey will take Rattapphumi to the
southeastern province of Trat, where he will finally disembark from his
kayak after more than 16 months on the water.
Rattapphumi said that he had to be constantly on guard
while traveling in the south, as he encountered many pirates and criminals
looking for a quick baht. However, his iron will defeated the weak-minded
criminals as he also encountered many kind residents and tourists who had
heard of his journey and went out their way to help. “I have seen the
truth of nature and the nature of men and nature is far kinder, and more
powerful than human kind,” said Rattapphumi.
He went on to say that during his travels he has used
almost 200 videotapes as he made his way along the coastline and across the
Gulf of Thailand, often recording his thoughts and feelings as he paddled
on, “I have washed my soul and cleared my mind and have found sanctuary in
the truth of life. This trip has been the opportunity of a lifetime; it has
allowed me to see many things that I would otherwise be blind to. I have
learned to overcome all obstacles and in the last year there have been many.
Some people have called me crazy and some who have read about me in the
newspapers and watched the TV have offered encouragement and assistance
along the way,” Rattapphumi added.
The navy rowers paddled with Rattapphumi from Sattahip along the coast to
Bang Chang and Rayong before saying goodbye and allowing Rattapphumi to
complete his journey.
Immigration officers raid tourist hotels defying immigration rules
No valid documents and visa expirations biggest problem
Boonlua Chatree
Over 60 immigration police raided hotels, guesthouses and
other tourist venues on Monday, arresting a number of foreigners in a major
crackdown on violators of immigration regulations.
 Police
last Monday raided over a dozen hotels, guesthouses and condominiums,
searching for valid immigration documentation.
Police Major General Pongsapat Pongcharoen, deputy
commissioner of the Immigration Bureau, said a total of 13 hotels,
guesthouses and condominiums were raided. Many foreigners were arrested for
failing to produce valid visa documents.
Police also fined a number of hotels failing to report
the foreign tourists staying on the premises. The hotels were fined 1,000
baht per person after being found violating clause 38 of the 1979
Immigration Act.
“We’re trying to improve the information we receive
after tourists enter one of 54 entry points into Thailand. After (tourists)
enter the country, we don’t know where they go. If these hotels and
guesthouses fail to follow the guidelines after today, we’ll shut them
down altogether,” said Pongsapat.
Similar raids took place in Bangkok’s Khao San Road area on Sunday with
a number of foreigners also being detained for overstaying their visas.
Buddhist Image Preservation Society-Eastern region donates money to the community
Damri Muangkaew
Following an exhibition of traditional Thai Buddhist
art in the form of Buddhist statues held at Pattaya School No. 7 in
Nongpankhae in November last year, the Buddha Image Preservation Society
handed over 50,000 baht in funds raised at the event for scholarships
for students in Pattaya and other educational activities to Mayor Pairat
Sutithamrongsawat.
 Mayor
Pairat Sutithamrongsawat (2nd right) receives 50,000 baht for
scholarships for children in Pattaya from Numchai Deevee, president of
the Eastern Buddhist Image Preservation Society in a formal presentation
at Pattaya City Hall.
Mayor Pairat received the money on behalf of the
region’s underprivileged children and the funds will be used for
educational scholarships for the children in Pattaya School No. 7.
Numchai Deevee, president of the Eastern Buddhist Image Preservation
Society said, “This has been a successful activity for us and we
intend to present more funds to the children in border provinces for the
same purpose. We have attained our goals and plan to continue this
annual event by raising funds through similar activities in the
future.”
Thai-Vietnamese begin news exchange cooperation
Vietnamese visits Pattaya Mail during their official visit
Thailand and Vietnam have agreed to cooperate in the
publicity of their respective national events. The cooperation was reached
during the first Technical Meeting between delegates of Thailand’s
National News Bureau (NNB) and the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) held in Bangkok
on January 9, 2004.
 The
5-member Vietnamese Delegation, led by VNA Deputy Director-General Nguyen
Quoc Uy, visited the Pattaya Mail during their official visit to Thailand
last week. Pattaya Mail MD Peter Malhotra (left) welcomed the delegation and
gave them a tour of the offices.
The meeting was conducted within the framework of the
Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Information and News Exchange
signed between the two countries in August 2003.
As a result of the discussion, the NNB will send a
special media team to cover the 50th anniversary of the Vietnamese Victory
in the Anti-French war in Dien Bien Phu, in May.
Meanwhile, the VNA will cover the 6th cycle birthday
anniversary of Her Majesty the Queen of Thailand in August. Exchanges of
information on both events will also be made constantly for publicity in the
other country throughout the year.
Both sides will also provide each other with information
on joint Cabinet meetings scheduled for February 20 and 21 in the
northeastern province of Nakhon Phanom and the Vietnamese city of Danang
respectively.
The 5-member Vietnamese Delegation, led by VNA Deputy
Director-General Nguyen Quoc Uy, paid an official visit to Thailand January
8-12, to discuss concrete cooperation in news exchange between the VNA and
the NNB.
During the visit, the delegation paid a courtesy call on Deputy Prime
Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam, at Government House and visited several sites of
their interests including the Laem Chabang Deep Sea Port on the Eastern
Seaboard, the Pattaya Mail in Pattaya City and a One Tambon Product center
in Bangkok.
Banglamung residents register for government’s program to aid debt-ridden communities
Over 400 residents turn up on first day
Suchada
Tupchai
A central government scheme to help reduce poverty was
recently introduced. Poor and debt-ridden citizens were asked to register
with the appropriate government agencies in their area in order to receive
help in sorting out some of their problems. The time frame for registration
began January 6 and will continue though to March 31 this year. In
Banglamung, over 400 people turned up on the first day at the Banglamung
office to register for the government program.
 Over
400 people showed up for government assistance on the first day of
registration for the new government policy to help relieve poverty.
The scheme, announced in December last year, is designed
to help the severely underprivileged, a category which includes citizens
unable to earn a living for various reasons, the permanently homeless,
families unable to send their children to educational institutions and those
who are so debt ridden that they are unable to ‘keep their head above
water’ and are living a subsistence existence.
The Banglamung residents who showed up on the first day
were primarily from Nongprue and Banglamung districts. Most have no fixed
abode and suffer the burden of insurmountable debts. A large number of
residents were also unable to provide the relevant documents, such house
registration and national ID cards, and were afraid to tell officials or
lacked the information needed to apply for the legal papers.
Officials taking names said that the entire process was
difficult because many of the people were on the border of different
districts and often were missing relevant documents, citing the majority
would have to be taken on a case-by-case basis and that they would have to
inform the village headman and community leaders to verify the residents’
stories.
Elderly residents told reporters that they were afraid that something bad
may come out of the registration process because they lived in tin sheds and
makeshift homes with their children and grand children, but added that they
now had hope in their lives that the government would stay true to its word
and help them in the long run.
Eastwater Company meets with city administrators to review Larn Island water production project
Increase cost to residents discussed
Suchada Tupchai
Representatives from the Eastwater Company recently met with
city administration officials at Pattaya City Hall to review the plans for
construction of water treatment and production plant on Larn Island.
 Namsak
Wannaviboon, from Eastwater informed city officials that the company had
reviewed the project and had decided to reduce the initial contract period from
20 to 15 years and increase the water consumption rates every 5 years.
Namsak Wannaviboon, from Eastwater informed city officials
that the company had reviewed the project and had decided to reduce the initial
contract period from 20 to 15 years and increase the water consumption rates
every 5 years as the facility increased output for that period.
The water production plant destined for Pattaya’s most
famous offshore island is set to be located in the Saem Beach area, taking water
from the ocean and converting it into potable water via the reverse osmosis
method. The technology used in reverse osmosis produces just 30 percent potable
water while the remaining 70 percent taken in for production is to be returned
to the sea (i.e. 30 liters out of every 100 is considered fit for consumption).
The initial proposal had the company invest 29 million baht
to build the plant and begin producing 250 cubic meters of water per day. This
would be gradually increased over every 5 years to eventually produce 750 cubic
meters per day, with a total investment of 51 million baht over the 15-year
period. Pattaya municipality is to be responsible for land allocation and the
laying of water pipes.
The company also requested an increase in the water rates at
the initial period of 63.5 baht per cubic meter consumed (not including VAT) and
an increase of 5 percent every 3 years. However, after reviewing the maintenance
and operating costs the company has now changed the pricing structure.
The new proposed starting rate was requested to start at
65.40 baht per cubic meter and an increase of 8.53 percent every 5 years plus
and extra 50 baht per cubic meter of water produced to cover operation costs.
After a 15-year period, the company would hand the plant over to the control of
Pattaya administration.
After hearing the revised project plans, Larn Island
community leaders expressed their doubts as to whether the island’s
2,200-strong community would be prepared to pay such expensive water rates while
they wait for the impending government project to solve the water supply
problems. They requested further time to ask local residents before making any
decisions.
The company also stressed that the city must ensure that the
area is secure for plant construction in order to prevent similar problems that
they had experienced on Si Chang Island.
Larn Island’s Saem Beach is under the jurisdiction of the Pattaya
administration and is part of the TAT’s 200 million baht renovation project to
boost the island’s tourism industry, which currently stands at around 2,000
visitors per day.
Walking Street gets
a good cleaning after recent holiday activities
Suchada Tupchai
Members of the Walking Street committee led by its president
Suntorn Kangsirikul and joined by Pattaya’s department of health and hygiene
braved the early morning heat and sun to partake in a street cleanup project on
Tuesday.
 Walking
Street committee members and business operators join in the street cleaning
operations.
Beginning at the entrance near South Pattaya Road, cleaners
slowly weaved their way down to Bali Hai collecting rubbish and scrubbing the
streets clean. They were not alone, as many business operators joined in the
activity to make the popular tourist street spotless in the wake of the recent
hive of activity over the New Year’s break.
Aimed at improving the image and cleanliness of Walking Street itself, the
project last four hours as everyone methodically made their way south closely
followed by the city’s water truck to wash away to dirt and grease accumulated
over time.
Government hints
of midnight closing for entertainment venues
When the new 2 a.m. closing hours of
entertainment establishments around the nation were introduced, there was a
rash of complaints from locals, tourists and business operators about the
drawbacks of the decision. Now the Interior Ministry risks incurring more
wrath from nightspot owners by suggesting that new ministerial regulations
be passed forcing entertainment venues to close at midnight.
But an unrepentant Deputy Interior Minister Pracha
Maleenon said that the Interior Ministry agreed with a survey of interested
parties in nine provinces across the country which indicated that the most
appropriate opening times for entertainment venues would be 08.00 hrs-24.00
hrs. The proposal would be put before the January 13 Cabinet meeting, before
being enshrined in new ministerial regulations, he said.
Shrugging off the possibility of mass action among
nightspot owners, he expressed confidence that he would eventually win their
understanding, as the measures were being enforced for the good of young
people and society at large.
Under the new 2003 Entertainment Venue Act, which was
declared in the Royal Gazette on January 12, visitors to entertainment
venues which break the law could find themselves facing tough sentences, a
far cry from the past, when only the owners of the entertainment venues
risked prosecution.
The Act also determines sentencing for visitors to
entertainment venues who carry weapons with them or who fail to produce
valid ID.
International tourist towns around the nation say they
will suffer a huge loss of income if their nightspots are forced to close at
midnight and fear many will have to lay off their employees. Earlier closing
times have also been linked to a rising crime rate, as many of the workers
laid off have needed to turn to alternative means to acquire money. (TNA)
Police briefs
Boonlua Chatree
Two young ‘ride-by’
thieves nabbed in South Pattaya
Two ride-by thieves were arrested in South Pattaya just
two hours after their last heist involving a Thai tourist near the Shell
fuel station on South Pattaya Road.
Police scoured the city, eventually finding and detaining
the miscreant pair. The thieves were found in possession of their ill-gotten
booty - a 2 baht-weight gold necklace. Police also confiscated the
unregistered motorcycle they used for their criminal activities.
Kittichai Kaewroje, 18, and Supa Jooyam, 21 were charged
with theft and sent to the ‘monkey house’ until their case is heard in
court.
Russian tourists arrested for illegally selling package tours to
foreigners
Last Thursday, Pattaya Tourist police rounded up three
Russian tourists, Bezalukova Elina, age 31, Christokletova Valentina, age
53, and Tarasova Ann, age 34, for illegally providing tour services and
package tours to others in the kingdom without legal authority.
Police searched an office that was established in a
hotel’s lobby and confiscated many papers and documents as evidence
indicating that these three foreigners were selling package tours, such as
trips to Nong Nooch Garden, to others under the name ILWEST Tour Company.
After investigation, police matched the handwriting of
the three phony Russian businesswomen written on the documents involving the
package tour service with that of the documents that they filled at the
immigration office.
The three were detained at Pattaya tourist police station
for further interrogation and fining. The confiscated documents included
pictures of various tourist places in Pattaya and the nearby area, local
maps, pricelists, name lists, hotel room vouchers, and tourist destination
brochures.
Tourist police arrest Russian tour operators for working illegally in the
Kingdom
The constant monitoring of tour guides and companies
continues as Pattaya tourist police arrested 3 people in connection with
running an illegal tour company in the region.
Pol. Lt. Col. Naradech Klomtuksing, tourist police
superintendent and a team of officers detained the three foreigners in the
Ocean Wing of the Ambassador City Hotel.
Thai national Thomonchanok Saentawee and Natalia Hoskaya
from Belaruse were taken in for questioning and charged with operating an
unlicensed tour company.
The Belarusian woman was also charged for working in the kingdom with a
permit. The investigation continued, leading to the arrest of another 3
persons. Russian nationals Alexandra Manokova, Tatiana Naumova and Loza
Serge were detained and charged with working in the Kingdom without the
appropriate permits.
More than a million baht stolen in hotel theft
Boonlua Chatree
Over a million baht worth of local and foreign currency,
as well as passports and credits cards were stolen when
guests-turned-thieves got the front desk clerk drunk, then crow-barred open
and ransacked 66 safety deposit boxes while the desk clerk allegedly slept.
 Hotel
guests cumulatively lost over 1 million baht when all 60 of the hotel’s
safe deposit boxes were emptied.
Police received the report from Nam-oi Saengthong, the
desk clerk at Best Inn on Soi Bua Khao after she awoke from a night out with
who she described as Middle Eastern-looking people, also who she believes
might have been involved in the heist, and found the hotel’s 66 safety
boxes behind the front counter had been broken into.
When police arrived on the scene, all boxes were open and
empty, and guests were asked to lodge a formal statement at Pattaya police
station.
During questioning, Nam-oi Saengthong described the
events of the previous night as thus: apparently a man of Middle Eastern
appearance, with a fair complexion, had become friendly with her and offered
her a drink, asking if she would like to go drinking with him until the
early hours of the morning.
When she returned to the counter in the morning, she
discovered that all the safety deposit boxes were open and their contents
emptied. She surmised that the perpetrator was somehow connected with the
Middle Easterner.
Criminal investigation officers dusted the crime scene for prints while
50 of the hotel’s guests filed official police reports, some reporting
lost credit cards and cash in baht, euros and English pounds, many losing
all of their holiday cash.
Drunken foreigner falls out of 5th floor hotel window
Boozed and bruised, young Brit survives the fall
Boonlua Chatree
They say don’t drink and drive. Maybe a night on the
town in Pattaya should include wearing a parachute. Just sitting down near
an open window can be hazardous to your health.
Pattaya police rushed to Queen’s Hotel situated on
Pattaya Central Road after a hotel employee reported an accident involving a
foreigner. Police found the injured man, later identified as 25 year-old
British national Paul Laycook, lying on the hotel’s ground yelling in
great pain. He had a severe knock on the forehead and was seriously bleeding
through the nose and mouth.
On the night of the accident, the ill-fated foreigner was
reportedly in a drunken condition. Witnesses said Paul was sitting near the
window in his 5th floor room when all of a sudden he fell out of the window.
He plummeted onto the hotel entrance’s sunroof before hitting the hard
cement ground.
Paul endured major injuries on the face and skull and was
rapidly transferred to Pattaya Memorial Hospital.
Chinese New Year celebrates 2004 as the “Year of the Monkey”
By Khai Khem
From the year of the Rat to the year of the Pig, there are
twelve animal signs in the Oriental astrological system. The Chinese New Year is
lunar and can fall on a different date each year. It can occur as early as
mid-January or as late as mid-February and the cycle renews itself every 12
months.
Chinese legend says that the order of the twelve animal signs
was determined thousands of years ago by Buddha himself. According to the
age-old story, there came a day when Buddha felt that the Chinese nation was in
a sad state of affairs and in need of some serious reorganization. On the
occasion of the New Year, he called all the animals in the kingdom to his side.
But only twelve beasts showed up for this convention.
The Rat arrived first, then the Ox, followed closely by the
Tiger and his crony the Cat. The daring Dragon soon appeared and then the Snake,
the galloping Horse, and the gentle Goat. In their wake came the merry Monkey,
the strutting Rooster, and last, but not least, the faithful Dog and scrupulous
Pig finally made up a party of twelve.
Buddha honored them each in the order of their arrival at his
conference and endowed each of the twelve animals with their own year. From that
day forward, each successive year of the Chinese calendar bore the character of
the animal that gave it a name.
Monkey years, much like their namesake, are full of
surprises. Beware of monkeyshines. In the Year of the Monkey, there is no use
planning one’s life, storing up goods or waiting for things to blow over to
take the plunge. In monkey years, anything can happen.
The monkey’s influence puts everyone into orbit at the same
time. Yes, things do get accomplished but they are more often the result of
individual or personal efforts. Major political upheavals or revolutions don’t
normally find their way to the top of the heap during these years, but even so,
Monkey Years are anything but boring.
Go ahead with your life. Make strides, move ahead, jump
hurdles. It is a time of opportunity for risky business or unplanned leaps of
faith. If you have a new idea, now is the time to act on it. Don’t look back.
Monkeys are nimble and usually land on their feet.
People who were born in the Year of the Monkey are acutely
intelligent, witty, inventive, affable, great problem-solvers, and independent.
They are skillful in business, youthful, passionate and terribly clever. They
also have some negative aspects that detract from the long list of flattering
adjectives I have just mentioned, but since it’s now a Monkey Year, I’m
feeling mischievous and have decided to let readers evaluate their own Monkey
pals and not give any hints.
For those who were born in other animal years, here are some
tips on what to expect during the Year of the Monkey.
Rat: This is the time you have been waiting for. Do things.
Go out and find some fun. All of your efforts may now pay off. The Monkey is
your friend.
Ox: You are not at home with improvisation. The Monkey’s
shenanigans trouble you. Take a deep breath, muddle through and smile.
Tiger: Take that dive. Go ahead and move those barriers out
of the way. You must keep busy this year. And do watch the Monkey’s
activities. There could be some unpleasant surprises in store.
Cat: Coy Cat, if you think you can escape this year’s ups
and downs by swatting them away with your paw - think again. Nothing is sacred
during a Monkey Year.
Dragon: You must not commit too many rash acts. Although the
Monkey is particularly fond of the Dragon, sometimes even the ‘Big Wig’ of
the zodiac can get caught off balance.
Snake: All this monkey business intrigues you, but the wise
Snake can sometimes be too cautious. Take a chance. All that serious thinking
won’t do you any good so you may as well enjoy yourself.
Horse: Keep your eyes peeled for ruse but go ahead with your
plans. Take some chances, make strides. The Monkey wishes you no harm.
Goat: It’s not going to be easy for Goat people to escape
bewilderment this year. Everything is going to happen so fast. Goats have no
time to ponder but this year it may be wise to look before taking that leap.
Rooster: Hey! Chicken Little - the sky is not falling! In
Monkey Years things do tend to get out of hand, but if your reorganize just a
tad, you may just squeak through unscathed.
Dog: If your start growling now, it’s going to be a long,
long year. A shake-up now and then is good for your shy spirit. This period
won’t be easy but you will emerge victorious if you dare.
Pig: This is a fine time for you to evolve your new theories.
Monkeys bring you the guile you often lack. Luck is with you and this year your
heart is in harmony with your head.
Monkey: This is your year. Have fun but don’t stick your neck out too far.
Even the nimblest of apes can fall out of their tree if it’s shaken hard
enough. .
Film watching marathon goes for world record
Wide-eyed movie goers to help the blind
Anyone attempting to watch 80 hours of continuous movies
is likely to find it hard to keep their eyes open. But for some people with
no sight, their marathon feat of endurance could prove a lifeline.
As part of this year’s Bangkok International Film
Festival, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is organizing an ’80
Hours World Movie Marathon’ in the hope of breaking Thailand’s previous
world record of 64 hours, 58 minutes of continuous movie watching.
Not only could the event, scheduled for January18-21, put
Thailand in the Guinness Book of Records, but the proceeds from the event
will go to the Association of the Blind of Thailand.
Participants - who must be at least 12 year of age - will
watch 10 of the 160-plus movies to be screened later in the month as part of
the International Film Festival. Prizes will be handed out to anyone who can
stay awake for more than 40 hours. (TNA)
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