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HM the King’s appearance brings joy to our hearts
Royal doctors report the King’s condition as stable and physically stronger
His Majesty the King rides on
a wheelchair as he appears in public on Friday, Oct. 23, 2009 for the first
time since He was hospitalized over a month ago.
(AP Photo)
His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world’s
longest-serving monarch, appeared in public last Friday for the first time
after being hospitalised for more than a month.
Wearing a short-sleeved blue shirt and black trousers, the 81-year-old
monarch was seen on national television in a wheelchair at Siriraj Hospital
paying homage to the statue of his grandfather HM King Chulalongkorn the
Great, revered as one of the greatest kings of Siam who contributed
significantly to modernising the kingdom in various aspects including the
bureaucracy and infrastructure more than a century ago.
His Majesty also paid respects to statues of his late parents Prince Mahidol
of Songkhla and Her Royal Highness Princess Sri Nagarindra, the Princess
Mother, at the nearby Centennial Pavilion within the hospital compound.
He looked alert and cheerful, much the same as in previous public
appearances. He raised his arm to greet the public as he was wheeled through
the hospital corridor.
The king’s appearance brought great joy to His subjects waiting to get a
glimpse of their beloved monarch. Hundreds of well-wishers shouted, “Long
Live the King,” and put their hands together in prayer.
“I am so happy our royal father is better. I hope he leaves the hospital
soon because Thailand needs him,” said a teary-eyed 62-year-old retired
teacher Wasana Sriboomtham at the hospital.
The Royal Household Bureau issued its 33rd statement Thursday, saying the
monarch was recuperating and regaining strength. His overall condition is
stable and he is reportedly enjoying his appetite and having normal sleep. A
team of physicians continue to provide him with antibiotics and dietary
supplements.
The bureau said it would no longer release daily updates regarding His
Majesty’s condition unless the condition markedly improves.
Doctors have asked the King to remain in hospital so he can fully recover
from a lung inflammation.
The disappearance from the public eye of the revered king has caused great
concern and was linked to the largest decline in nearly two months in the
bourse last Wednesday after rumours circulated among investors of
deterioration in the king’s health.
The management and staff of the Pattaya Mail join the people of
Thailand in wishing His Majesty the King a speedy recovery. AP/TNA/PM
Free concert, beauty pageant to
highlight Loy Krathong Festival
Loy Krathong, the most
romantic night on the Thai calendar, this year falls on Monday November 2.
The celebrations will be held throughout the city at hotels and anywhere
there is water.
Saksiri Uraiworn
Modern Dog will top the marquee of popular Thai music bands
performing at Pattaya’s Loy Krathong Festival Monday, Nov. 2.
The celebration, sponsored by the city and the Tourism Authority of
Thailand, will feature a free concert at Bali Hai Pier also headlined by
rockers Pod and Namcha Cheranat and pop stars including Nadia Nimitvanish.
Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome said the festival will also feature a children’s
contest and Miss Noppamas pageant with winners receiving 100,000 baht in
scholarships.
Once again there will also be a krathong contest, with judges emphasizing
that all krathongs being made for the competition must be manufactured from
natural, biodegradable material, such as cassava, banana leaves and other
natural materials.
Mayor Itthiphol also emphasized that all krathongs being floated this year
should be made out of natural materials, which will easily biodegrade and
become food for marine life.
Proceeds from the event will go to help the Pattaya Redemptorist Foundation.
For more information contact 038-253-128 ext. 29.
Navy rescues Koh Ped’s hungry monkeys
The poor little critters were
nearly starved when officials learned of their plight.
Patcharapol Panrak
The rainy season this year has been tough on the monkeys living on
Koh Ped. With storms and high waves keeping tourists away, food is in short
supply and only a Navy rescue team has been able to save them from
starvation.
The simians’ saga unfolded after Capt. Chatchaval Meesawat, director of the
Thai Navy School in Sattahip, pulled his boat into the island to take
shelter from a storm. He brought food to offer at Obchei Shrine and was
surprised to find monkeys searching for food with some even swimming into
the sea to catch fish and clams.
Once he got back to base, he and three fellow officers - Capt. Wuttikorn
Kamolpetch, Capt. Visanu Thupa-ang and Vice Adm. Prapan Khamburi - organized
a rescue voyage to the island to bring the primates bananas. They set out on
October 18, and were greeted by hundreds of monkeys on their arrival. Some
even swam to the boat to be first in line for the plantains. All were said
to be very friendly and happy to get the yellow fruit.
The Navy personnel said Koh Ped is home to about 1,000 monkeys split into
two missions; one residing near the shrine and the other at the south end of
the island.
During holiday seasons and good weather, the macaques get plenty of food
from tourists, but stormy days have meant less monkey business.
Chatchaval said he wants to see the island developed as a tourist attraction
built around simian preservation and the culture of local fishermen. This
way, he said, the monkeys would always have enough food.
Since this initial report, the Navy has moved forward with plans to turn the
island into a tourist attraction. A committee has been set up to study the
situation, as well as to develop a scientific program to study the monkeys.
On October 19, Naval officers brought a group of students to the island to
bring more food, and October 20 a group of tourists rented a speedboat to
take them out to bring still more food.
City officials join ghoulish fun with first ever Pattaya Halloween Festival
It’s Halloween once again in
Fun City, and this year city officials have decided
to join the fun by organizing the first ever Pattaya Halloween Festival.
Saksiri Uraiworn
Grab your masks, don your costumes and head out into the night this
weekend for the city’s first ever Pattaya Halloween Festival, October 30 &
31.
Organizers expect up to 100,000 people to attend the event, which includes
concerts along the beach, costume contests and general ghoulish Halloween
fun.
To accommodate such a massive crowd, Pattaya Beach Road will be closed to
traffic from 6 p.m. to midnight October 30 and 31.
Traditionally, hotels, bars and entertainment venues throughout Fun City
have hosted their own events, and this year will be no different. However,
this year city government officials decided to join the fun in an attempt to
help boost tourism.
The concerts will be held at the central stage on Pattaya Beach Road at the
intersection with Central Road from 6 p.m. to midnight. Booths will be set
up all along Beach Road from Central Road to the entrance to Walking Street
in South Pattaya.
Stars from Grammy Music scheduled to perform include Joey Boy, Buddha Bless,
Sweet Mullet, Hang Man, and Tik Shiro.
Teen stars Phai Pathit, Balloon Pinsuda, and Sun Pitchayadon will also be
meeting and greeting their fans as part of their public relations campaigns.
Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome has invited one and all to enter the costume
contest, but said this must be done in teams of five. Only 20 teams will be
accepted, he said, adding that anyone interested could apply at the
Development and Tourism Division, the Office of Pattaya City Clerk, at
Pattaya City Hall.
Drunk fishermen rescued after boat capsizes off Wong Amat
Theerarak Suthatiwong
Two Thai men who borrowed a small boat for a day of fishing and
drinking had to be rescued after their vessel capsized off Wong Amat
Beach.
 Has
anyone seen my rudder? Officials from the Pattaya Sea Rescue Center had
to rescue these two fishing buddies after they got drunk and lost
control of their boat in the enormous waves you see behind them.
Marble layers Niran Preewasana, 44, and Saman Kaewpat, 44, floated for
nearly an hour before being recovered by the Pattaya Sea Rescue Center
about 300 meters off Naklua Soi 18.
The men explained they had borrowed the boat from a friend to go
fishing, but were swamped by heavy waves and Saman, who was drunk, lost
control of the craft and it capsized.
Pattaya officials looking to support homeless, solve slum issue
Sawittree Namwiwatsuk
Government officials met last week to brainstorm ways to help
solve the growing number of homeless people and at the same time tackle
the slum situation in Pattaya and the surrounding environs.
 Ruengyud
Teravanich from the National Housing Authority.
Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome, who presided over the October 19 meeting at City
Hall with Deputy Mayor Wutisak Rermkitkarn, Ruengyud Teravanich from the
National Housing Authority, and housing officials, said it is important to
find an urgent solution to the slum situation along the Eastern Seaboard.
Affordable housing for low income people is high on the city’s agenda, he
said.
Therefore, the city is working with the National Housing Authority on a new
project they have labeled as the Housing and Protection Plan/Slums Solution.
The mayor said, “To begin, the National Housing Authority needs to hire a
private firm with experience in low income housing to collaborate with the
city and the National Housing Authority.”
He predicted that at least 15 months is needed for research and analysis to
find out exactly what is needed. “Results from this study will determine the
direction of the project, whether to improve housing in the slums or move
slum dwellers to new locations ... A solution must include funding for
low-income housing.”
The project requires cooperation from the private sector, government
officials and local people, said the mayor. “Ideally, after the project is
completed, (low income) people will have a good place to stay, providing
them with shelter from the elements, beautiful landscaping with clean and
clear views. This will enable their children to grow up in a good community
with a healthy environment.”
“Funds for the project have been allocated from the 2009 government budget,”
Itthiphol added.
U-Tapao prepares for high season with first charter flight
A full house of officials meet
to discuss the high season preparedness at U-Tapao Pattaya International
Airport.
Patcharapol Panrak
High season for U-Tapao Pattaya International Airport kicks off
today with the arrival of the season’s first charter flight full of tourists
bound for Pattaya and the facility’s Royal Thai Navy administrators want to
be sure they’re ready.
Airport officials met Oct. 16 with about 40 government officials and private
executives to ensure that past problems related to safety, security and
convenience do not reoccur. U-Tapao’s executive committee also gave final
approval to the Ban Chang District airport’s name change and the appointment
of Pattaya Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome to the board.
Airport Director Rear Adm. Soracha Sornpratum led the forum to allow those
connected with charter flights and their passengers to air grievances from
past seasons so they can be avoided and trust and confidence built among
tourists using U-Tapao.
He said the airport’s name change from “International Airport of U-Tapao
Rayong” would now be submitted to the Air Transport Department and
Transportation Ministry for final approval. International organizations and
airlines will then be notified of the change.
Music, dance and charity highlight Sattahip’s Loy Krathong celebration
Patcharapol Panrak
Sattahip this year plans to celebrate Loy Krathong with both
tradition and charity.
The 2009 Sattahip Loy Krathong Festival and Red Cross Fair runs Nov. 1-2 at
Prince Chumporn Public Park. City officials put the final touches on
preparations at a meeting Oct. 11.
 Sattahip
District Chief Chaichan Iamcharoen leads planning for the 2009 Sattahip Loy
Krathong Festival and Red Cross Fair.
First-day festivities include a krathong parade and Miss Noppamas pageant at
the Sattahip Market. There will also be four outdoor stages featuring a
senior citizens show, dancing, folk singers, comedians, Issan music, talk
show, teenage band concert, a flower contest and traditional worship
ceremonies. This year will also see the introduction of free Muay Thai
boxing.
The celebration continues Nov. 2 with the Red Cross fair, the highlight of
which will be a raffle of 15,000 donated prizes. About 12,000 of the gifts
will be small items while 3,000 others will be more valuable larger prizes.
About 200 power tools have already been donated and the Sattahip District
Red Cross is asking everyone to donate goods to raffle off for charity.
Goods can be donated at the Sattahip Market, at the 10 km marker on Samae
San highway, Taothan village and Bang Saray.
Loy Krathong full of meaning and tradition
According to the history written by King Mongkut in 1863,
the Loy Krathong festival has its roots in ancient Brahmin culture, going
back over 700 years. The spirits of the river were given offerings which
were sailed in the river in small boats (krathongs) and in this way the
owner of the krathong would gain absolution. This was a Brahmin belief.
 This
year Loy Krathong falls on Monday, November 2. (Photo courtesy Nong Nooch
Tropical Garden)
The small boats fashioned by the beautiful and talented Nang Noppamas, the
daughter of a Brahmin priest and wife of King Phra Ruang, were notable for
their construction and beauty. It was this King who then dedicated the
krathong to the memory of the Buddha, and decreed that the event would be
called Loy Krathong and that it should become an annual celebration to
commemorate the skill and beauty of his consort. In this way he lifted it
out of Brahmin culture and installed it into the accepted Buddhist way of
life. This is the reason that the krathongs now carry three incense sticks
representing the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha.
During the Loy Krathong Festival, people decorate their krathong with
flowers, joss sticks and candles which will then sail away, taking with them
bad health, bad luck and unhappiness.
Lanterns are well-known symbols in the Loy Krathong Festival, too, being
used to decorate houses and temples in worship of the guardian spirits.
There are four kinds of lantern used in the festival: the hand-held rabbit
lantern, the hot air balloon lantern (kom loy), the hanging lantern for
religious worship, and the spin lantern installed at the temples. The belief
in lanterns is that the lights inside compare with the wisdom the people
will gain in the next life.
Residents of Jomtien press
for road completion
Construction is moving slowly along Thappraya
Road and Jomtien Second Road, prompting complaints from local residents.
Sawittree Namwiwatsuk
It seems to be taking an inordinate amount of time to finish road
construction on Thappraya Road from Pattaya to Jomtien, and Jomtien Second
Road running parallel to and behind Jomtien Beach Road.
The stretch of road along Thappraya is only 2-3 kilometers long at most, but
it’s already taken months to dig up that section of road.
Add in the consistent rain and flooding during this rainy season, and
conditions are sloppy at best, and occasionally downright dangerous.
Motorists using that route have had enough, and are now urging Pattaya
officials to hurry up and finish the work.
Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome responded to the complaints by forwarding the
matter to the construction company in charge, asking them to quicken their
pace and to fix the holes in the road.
The mayor said that the Jomtien Second Road project has been delayed due to
complications in acquiring land from residents, but that this has been
solved.
The government has now also provided financial support and therefore the
mayor suggested that the road will be finished sometime in the middle of
next year, something that is not too comforting to residents that need to
travel that direction, or especially for tourists wanting to travel from
Pattaya to visit Jomtien Beach.
Unlucky gambler gunned down in South Pattaya
Police and rescue attend to
the deceased. Kraiks “Aoun” Camrim was gunned down in an apparent dispute
over money.
Boonlua Chatree
In an apparent dispute over money owed, Kraiks “Aoun” Camrim was
gunned down gangland style outside a South Pattaya food stall at 4 a.m.
October 22.
Pattaya police believe hit men had been hired by a loan shark to carry out
the murder.
Pol. Lt. Col. Sanaeh Yotrungruang, inspector on duty at the Pattaya Police
Station, learned from witnesses that Kraiks was sitting on his grey Honda
Wave, buying food from a deep-fried dough food stall at the entrance to
Hollywood Plaza on Soi 17, South Pattaya, when two men on a silver Honda
Wave rode up beside him and began to fire.
The gunman shot at him 4 times with a 9mm handgun, two of the rounds
striking home. One pierced his right temple, the other entered the back of
his head, killing him instantly.
As those nearby ducked for cover, the alleged hit men calmly drove away.
The next day, on October 23, Pol. Lt. Col. Sanaeh Yotrungruang questioned
the deceased’s brother, Kriangsak Camrim, who told him that Kraiks was a
gambler, and that most of his friends were gamblers.
He said he didn’t know why Kraiks had been shot, only that he assumed it was
probably about gambling money, and perhaps a loan that he used to spend for
gambling. He did say, however, that Kraiks had powerful disputes with a
local lender.
Police also questioned the owner of the food stand, who they said was very
useful for the case.
Pol. Lt. Col. Sanaeh Yotrungruang said police believe they know who is
behind the shooting and plan to take him into custody soon.
A team of investigators has been assembled to find the hit men. They will
begin by studying the CCTV recording, and will work with the Forensic
Science Division to find the identity of the shooter and getaway driver.
Diseased homeless woman
frightening neighbors in Sattahip
This woman living on Namkang
Lane and Beach Road
in Sattahip is making residents nervous.
Patcharapol Panrak
Residents near the 100 year Market in Sattahip don’t quite know what
to make of “Pet Saked Dao”, a woman with a skin disease who is living on the
streets near the market. Pet Saked Dao is an alias given her by local
children, as her real name is unknown.
On October 20, one villager went so far as to register a complaint with the
Department of Human Resources, asking them to keep an eye on this mysterious
woman who now sleeps near the market on Namkang Lane and Beach Road.
Part of the mystery seems to stem from where she gets her money for food.
Apparently some witnesses say they have seen men approach her at all hours
of the day and night, give her money and take some kind of contraband that
she keeps hidden in her undergarments. Speculation runs rife that she is a
front person for the local “mafia”, exchanging money for knockoff items
stuffed in her underpants.
Adding to the mystery is the fact that she has a skin disease and her entire
body is covered in scabs and open wounds. Residents fear the disease is
contagious and want officials to do something about the situation. Which
begs the question, why would anyone buy anything from her that she keeps
stashed away under her clothes if they fear she is contagious?
After learning of this situation, Pattaya Mail approached the woman and
found she has a “strong personality” (i.e., she’s quite disagreeable). We
asked her where she’s from so that her relatives could be contacted to take
her in and give her treatment.
She told us that some agents had previously wanted to take her in for
treatment, but she refused. She said everyone is afraid to bring her into
their homes, fearing they might become infected with her illness. Therefore,
she must sleep on the street and ask people for shelter when it rains.
We asked her about food, and she said that she has money, even though she
has no job. There was one old motorbike nearby, and she said that a local
official had offered her 600 baht for it 2 months ago, but hasn’t come back
for it yet.
Residents are nervous about her behavior, because she’s sick and refuses to
see a doctor for treatment. They are therefore asking officials to keep an
eye on her, and to send her in for treatment before the disease spreads.
Police bust largest
motorbike-theft ring
Patcharapol Panrak
Police have broken what up they’re calling the area’s largest
motorbike-theft when Najomtien officers raided a Sattahip house where a gang
was stripping six stolen bikes.
Lt. Col. Krit Siriprasertchok, chief inspector at the Najomtien Police
Station, led the team of officers in arresting 22-year-old Natporn Nokngam
who, along with a suspect identified only as “Non” who escaped, was breaking
down Yamaha and Honda motorbikes into parts to be resold later, along with
an engine and 20 helmets.
Under questioning, Natporn said the duo worked with Yudthares Plailaharn of
Larnsak Uthaithani who helped them resell the parts, often along Thepprasit
Road in the evening. Police later arrested Yudthares in Rayong.
Lt. Col. Visarut Thaithani said the men comprised the largest
motorbike-theft gang in the Pattaya-Sattahip region and urged those who’ve
had a bike stolen to contact Najomtien Police Station.
Police arrest two members of a
local motorcycle theft gang.
Police again find 20 underage boys in Sunee Plaza bar
The underage boys and their
manager are processed at the police station.
Boonlua Chatree
Police who raided a Sunee Plaza go-go bar for the fourth time again
found nearly two dozen drug-addicted underage Thai boys working illegally as
dancers and in upstairs bedrooms.
Crime Suppression Officers from Pattaya Police Station raided The Boy Bar in
the early hours of Oct. 17, finding 20 underage teens, all of whom tested
positive for ya ba. Manager Suthin Kruadee, 41, was arrested and charged
with illegally operating the entertainment establishment by employing
underage boys.
Police also cited the bar for offering rooms for private meetings of
customers and male dancers.
It was the fourth time the bar, which continually changes names, has been
raided and found to be employing underage males. It was previously busted
while operating as the Y2K and Look bars. Authorities have already requested
that Banglamung District close the venue, but the operating license for the
Y2K club is still on the wall.
Pol. Lt. Col. Sutham Chaosithong said the multi-named bar is owned by Burin
Thepthong, 48, of Mae Hong Son. He was not in the establishment at the time,
but officers are now trying to track him down.
Chonburi governor calls
for drug war escalation
as arrests jump 20 percent
Phasakorn Channgam
Chonburi Gov. Senee Jittakasem has ordered law enforcement to
escalate their war on drugs after narcotics arrests jumped 20 percent and
the amount of methamphetamine seized soared 80 percent during the just ended
fiscal year.
 Chonburi
Gov. Senee Jittakasem says it is time to step up the war on drugs.
At an Oct. 15 press conference, Senee said provincial law enforcement
handled 16,837 drug cases involving 17,131 arrests, up 2,865 cases and 2,860
arrests from the previous fiscal year, which ends on Sept. 30. A total of
599,343 ya ba methamphetamine tablets were seized in 12,656 cases of drug
consumptions, but only 334 cases of drug dealing. That was an increase of
267,615 tablets.
With arrests of users still far outstripping dealers, Senee has ordered all
police stations in the province to step up enforcement, insisting that at
least one case per month be closed. The governor said he has also authorized
the Chonburi Administrative Organization and Pattaya City to purchase three
Alfa Sigma narcotics detectors to use in raids and arrests.
Miss Thailand contestants visit Pattaya
This year’s contestants
perform their civic duty
for the cameras by picking up garbage off Pattaya beach.
Vimolrat Singnikorn
The pulchritude in Pattaya was raised a notch last week when 18 Miss
Thailand 2009 contestants paid a visit. The Thai beauties were here to shoot
promotional material for the upcoming pageant.
On their first day in town, the contestants paid their respects to the King
Taksin monument at City Hall, performed beach cleaning duties, and caught a
show at the Alangkarn Theater.
Deputy Mayor Verawat Khakhay was the lucky city official in charge of
welcoming the attractive guests to Pattaya City Hall on October 19. The
contestants and crew spent three days in Pattaya, from October 19-21.
On day two, the contestants first made merit at a local temple before moving
on to pay their respects at the Krom Luang Chumporn monument at the Navy
base in Sattahip, then visited the Sea Turtle Preservation Center to release
baby turtles back into the sea.
The Miss Thailand hopefuls also took a day trip tour of the HTMS Chakri
Naruebet aircraft carrier and the HTMS Kraburi flagship.
On their final day here, they visited the Pattaya Floating Market to
experience traditional Thai living, shopping and dining.
Miss Thailand 2009 was selected Wednesday, October 28.
Miss Thailand 2009 contestants
pay their respects
to the King Taksin the Great monument at City Hall.
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