|
Thailand’s first alternative-energy
power plant to open in June on Koh Larn
Pattaya Mail Staff
Construction of Thailand’s first alternative-energy power
plant will be completed in June on Koh Larn, marking the country’s first
foray into wind- and solar-power production. The project will also serve as
a new tourist attraction on the island.
The pilot project already is producing electricity for
Pattaya city offices and street lights on Koh Larn from 45 wind turbines.
The final phase, called the “Ray Building” is 70 percent complete and will
begin operation as an alternative-energy resource center - complete with
solar panels - restaurant and souvenir stand in June.
Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome said the only work remaining on
the project is installation of the ceiling and a computer system, interior
design and outdoor landscaping.
The alternative-power station has already drawn interest
from around Thailand even before it begins full operation. Organizations
from around the country have come to Koh Larn to inspect the plant.
But it also has created confusion with some residents who
thought the turbines would supply power to the entire island when, by
design, the meager 200 Kw they produce was only intended to power the city
office and Koh Larn’s street lamps. The Provincial Electrical Authority
undersea cable supplies the rest of the power for the island.
Deputy Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh said the plant - located on
1,000 sq. meters in the southwest portion of Samae Beach - was designed as a
pilot wind/solar-power project for all of Thailand. But it has become
apparent that the facility will also become a big tourist draw. As such, the
Ray Building will be set up with educational exhibits, food and retail areas
with an idea toward diversifying Koh Larn’s tourism beyond its current water
sports focus.
45 wind turbines work on a hill behind tourists
blissfully bathing on Samae Beach.
Sunday February 28
is Makha Bucha Day
Banks, offices will be closed Monday, March 1
This year, Makha Bucha Day (Buddhist All Saints Day)
falls on Sunday, February 28. Since the holiday falls on a Sunday,
government offices, banks and many businesses will be closed on Monday,
March 1.
This holy day commemorates the miraculous event when
1,250 disciples of the Buddha, Gautama Sakayamuni, traveled to meet with the
Buddha with no prearranged agreement, at Weluwan Mahawiharn Temple in the
area of Rachakhryha, India.
Devout Buddhists are expected to turn out in the
thousands at local temples to conduct religious ceremonies.
Politics, scandal fuel purge of Pattaya police ranks
Col. Noppadon Wongnom (right), shown here with Col.
Pakorn Tabnet, deputy commander of the Chonburi Provincial Police, and other
officials during the official opening of the new police box in Nong Maidang
Sub-District at the beginning of February.
Boonlua Chatree
A power struggle fueled by politics and scandal has
erupted among high-ranking Eastern Seaboard police officials, shining an
embarrassing spotlight on promotions, demotions and appointments usually
handled quietly through back room deals.
The ugly scramble for lucrative positions boiled over
last week after Col. Noppadon Wongnom was unceremoniously ousted from his
position as Pattaya Police Superintendent only months after taking his
supposed two-year appointment.
The former Chonburi Province police chief, Noppadon was
busted back to head of the Panom Sarakam Station in Chachoengsao and many of
the ranking staff in the Pattaya Police Station have been demoted and
transferred. They were allegedly replaced by police officials close to
acting Region 2 police commander Lt. Gen. Atsawin Kwanmuang and his newly
appointed superiors at the National Police Bureau.
Noppadon, however, is not going down quietly and took the
unusual step of complaining to the media, as well as Royal Thai Police
Secretary Lt. Gen. Achin Chotiwong, whom he believes to be aligned with
neither side in the struggle.
He appears, though, to be a victim of the ongoing scandal
over position-buying in the Royal Thai Police. Noppadon’s critics claim he
paid 10 million baht to leave his Chonburi Provincial Police command early
to take over the Pattaya station. Noppadon denies the allegations, saying he
was asked to head the Pattaya station due to his strong crime-suppression
performance in Chonburi.
But even the country’s highest-ranking police officials
are now saying publicly that position-buying has long been practiced, with
officers making deals with politicians to secure the most-lucrative jobs.
Former Royal Thai Police Chief Sombat Amornwiwat told the media Feb. 18 it
was “more than certain” that police paid off politicians to secure their
jobs and that the process “can never be stopped” unless a reform plan
proposed by current Democrat Party leaders is enacted.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva last week said
position-buying investigations are now underway in Royal Thai Police regions
1, 2 and 4. In Region 2, which covers Chonburi, Chantaburi, Chachoengsao,
Trat, Nakhorn-Nayok, Prachinburi, Rayong and Srakeaw, Noppadon and Lt. Gen.
Kriangsak Suriyo - Asawin’s predecessor as Region 2 commander before being
transferred to a lesser post - face allegations of position buying. Asawin
was tasked personally by Pol. Gen. Archin Chotewong, Secretary General of
the National Police Commission, to root out alleged corruption in his area.
Satit Pitutaecha, a Democrat MP from Rayong, said he saw
no problem with Noppadon’s demotion or any of the other position changes
Atsawin enacted. The change in leadership was “normal,” he said. It was only
natural, he added, that those in power appoint those loyal to them.
Allegiance certainly has had its fallout, both inside and
outside the Pattaya police ranks. Noppadon had been backed by ousted Region
2 commander Kriangsak and many who worked for and with him are now feeling
the impact of being on the “wrong team.”
Among those cut loose by Atsawin’s “Big Win” team were
Col. Sutham Chaoseethong, deputy superintendent for crime suppression at the
Pattaya Police Station, who was transferred to an inactive post in the
Internal Operations Security Command. Also out is Lt. Col. Chanapat Nawalak,
deputy chief of detectives, who was moved to the small Nong Yai outpost; and
inquiry inspectors Lt. Col. Sumet Hanwisai and Lt. Col. Samroeng Ratananam,
who were shipped out to Laem Chabang and Sriracha, respectively.
In all, eight investigative inspectors were moved out of
the Pattaya stations and replaced with officers from Chonburi and Region 2.
Even the Tourist Police was not spared, with Inspector Lt. Col. Suwan
Un-Anan demoted to a railway police inspector in Thonburi while two other
officers were transferred out of the area.
There are also questions as to how Pattaya’s new police
superintendent - the fourth in less than a year - secured his job. Nantawut
Wasuwanla-Ong was a mere lieutenant colonel who most recently was just the
deputy chief of crime suppression in Chonburi and has been on the force for
only sixteen years.
Noppadon, for one, thinks the entire appointment process
has been perverted. He said he has served the Royal Thai Police for 30 years
with an unblemished record. Now, he said, he has been humiliated by his
demotion and his reputation ruined by what he says are false allegations
that he bought his Pattaya police chief position. He now wants to be
transferred out of Region 2 entirely.
Government allocates 4.4 million baht to solve Pattaya water challenges
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
The Thai government has allocated 4.4 billion baht to
make water shortages in the Pattaya region a thing of the past.
Speaking at the Feb. 10 Pattaya Business & Tourism
Association meeting, Chonburi Irrigation Department engineer Bunsom
Yutithampinyo said the Royal Irrigation Department later this year will
receive a supplementary budget to complete a pipeline to funnel water from
Chao Phraya River tributaries to the Bangpra Reservoir, the main
water-storage facility for the Eastern Seaboard. With volumes of up to 80
million cu. m., there will be enough of the wet stuff to last the area 20
years, he said.
Bunsom Yutithampinyo, senior engineer for the Chonburi
Irrigation Department.
Work is already underwater to purchase the land and hire
a contractor for the pipeline and work is expected to begin this summer and
be completed in 2013.
Until then, officials are still working to ensure that
Pattaya, which currently uses 140,000 of the 144,000 cu. m. of water each
day, has enough to go around, particularly if another El Nino condition
develops in the Pacific Ocean and raises temperatures, as expected, he said.
Working with Eastern Water Management and Development Co.
Ltd., the Royal Irrigation Department currently transfers water from the
Bangpakong River to the Bangpra Reservoir, which then funnels water to seven
reservoirs serving Pattaya, Chonburi and Sattahip. This 107 million cu. m.
of water supplies 57 percent of the region’s supply and is up 10 percent
from 2009. East Water has also purchased more than 8 million cu. m. of water
from private wells, which ensures there will be no shortages in 2010, Bunsom
said.
With just three months left until the rainy season, the
five reservoirs serving Pattaya are still at 57 percent capacity, he said.
But in case of an extended drought, more water can be transferred from the
Bangpra or Nong Khor reservoirs or from Rayong, where water supplies are up
80 percent from last year.
Provincial Waterworks Authority manager, Thani Thongsom,
said construction of a pipeline linking the Nong Klangdong and Mabprachan
reservoirs is now 55 percent complete and should be done next year. Also
planned is a 600 million baht project to increase the capacity of the Nong
Klangdong Reservoir to 3 million cu. m. per hour.
When the two projects are completed they will be able to
supply water to Pattaya at 300,000 cu. m., more than double the current
rate.
Red-shirt supporter threatens
suicide if parliament not dissolved
Theerarak Suthatiwong
A Nong Khai man took his anger at Thailand’s current
government to deadly heights last week, threatening to electrocute
himself on high-voltage power lines if Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva
didn’t dissolve parliament and call new elections.
Sawang Boriboon Thamasathan rescuers were called to
South Pattaya’s Big C superstore Feb. 16 after 48-year-old Chaiprapas
Kaewprathomkul, a supporter of deposed Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra,
climbed atop a 20-meter power pole, threatening to commit suicide.
We’re all for people expressing their political views, but this lunatic took things a bit too far, threatening to electrocute himself if the PM doesn’t dissolve parliament.
Medics arrived to find the man talking on the
telephone, but eventually convinced him to explain the reason for his
distress. In a bag left at the foot of the pole, they found a
handwritten letter to Abhisit decrying the color-coded chaos the country
has fallen into since the 2006 coup that ousted Thaksin, as well as the
ruling Democrat Party’s job performance.
The letter also railed against those opposed to the
convicted fugitive premier and his red-shirted supporters and this
month’s expected seizure of Thaksin’s 76 billion baht personal fortune.
If Abhisit dissolved parliament and paved the way for
elections that could return Thaksin’s supporters to power, Chaiprapas
said he would not kill himself and climb down.
Talks between the man and paramedics went on for
about an hour and after authorities promised to deliver his letter to
the Pattaya mayor’s office, Chaiprapas agreed to climb down to fight on
for the red shirts another day.
Chaiprapas admitted afterward he wasn’t really intent
on killing himself and, in fact, he chose Pattaya to stage his
high-profile stunt because he thought if he did so in Bangkok he might
have been shot.
Drunk drivers do 6 hours community service in Sattahip
Patcharapol Panrak
Seventy people arrested for drunk driving over the New
Year holidays spent six hours cleaning up Soi Karunniwet in Sattahip to
fulfill the community service requirement of their probation.
Probation officer Suthep Sengsae led the delegation Feb
11, during which the group not only cleaned up the area, but helped patients
disabled through car accidents involving drunk drivers.
Sattahip Deputy Mayor Supachai Nim-A-nong said the
community service serves two purposes: to punish the violators and to help
the city. It’s also hoped seeing the impact on lives drunk driving can cause
will steer those arrested in the right direction.
A modern day chain gain working the roads? No, it’s
people convicted of drunk driving fulfilling their community service
requirement.
Wildfire near Nong Nooch worries homeowners
This brushfire near homes and a popular resort caused a
bit of a scare last week.
Patcharapol Panrak
Arson is the suspected cause of a wildfire near Nong Nooch
Tropical Garden that locals worried could have endangered nearby homes.
Sompong Sainapa, mayor of the Najomtien Municipality, led firefighters to a
grassy area opposite the tourist attraction on Sukhumvit Road Feb. 18 to
survey the blaze, which was being whipped by strong winds. Together they
extinguished the fire, but not before letting it consume all the dry grass
in the area.
Officials said the fire was likely set intentionally and if the brush was
allowed to remain the arsonist could return and start a blaze that could
spread to weekend homes and a tourist resort nearby.
By setting a fire break of clear ground, they said, future problems should
be avoided.
Chonburi health officials urge H1N1 vaccinations for at-risk people
Patcharapol Panrak
Alarmed by the suspected influenza A(H1N1) infection of four
Pattaya school children, the Chonburi Public Health Department is urging
those most at risk of catching the potentially deadly flu to get vaccinated.
Dr. Marut Jirasetsiri said the H1N1 pandemic could
resurface this year in Thailand.
At a Feb. 11 meeting at Sattahip Hospital, Health
Department official Dr. Marut Jirasetsiri said the H1N1 pandemic that swept
the world last spring and summer could resurface this year in Thailand even
though a vaccine is now available.
While there is still not enough of the vaccine for everyone, the country can
obtain as many as two million doses and wants those most at risk to receive
them first. This includes medical personnel, pregnant women, the obese and
chronically ill.
The H1N1 flu, unlike other strains, has also been shown to claim a higher
percentage of young victims. On Feb. 10 Pattaya School No. 2 students
Nattawut Sakulnee, Natchapol Hormkachorn, Piyawan Chatchai, and Chainan
Changyim, all of primary school age, were admitted to Banglamung Hospital
with symptoms similar to the H1N1 flu and were awaiting final lab results.
Officials closed and disinfected the school for three days before allowing
students to return Feb. 15.
New Zealander arrested on weapons charges
Bob James and
Boonlua Chatree
The New Zealand kung fu grandmaster who allegedly worked
closely with Pattaya’s ousted police chief to set up the city’s S.W.A.T.
team found himself under arrest and facing illegal-weapons charges only days
after a new chief took office.
Robert “Sifu” McInnes, managing director of the ISS Group
of real estate, construction and sports-related companies, surrendered to
new Pattaya Police Superintendent Col. Nantawut Suwanla-Ong shortly after
midnight Feb. 20 and was charged with illegal possession of smoke grenades,
a net-shooting gun, nearly 300 bullets, a 12-guage handgun, an unlicensed
bullet-proof vest and two-way radio.
New Zealander Robert McInnes tries to explain himself as officers inspect the munitions seized from his Hummer.
The items were found by Chonburi Immigration Police in
McInnes’ yellow Hummer emblazoned with Royal Thai Police logos two days
earlier at his View Talay 3 condominium. The 47-year-old was not arrested
during the Feb. 18 questioning, but an arrest warrant for possession of the
seized items was issued the next day and, after consulting with friend and
former Pattaya Police Superintendent Col. Noppadon Wongnom, he turned
himself in and was later released on 100,000 baht bail.
McInnes’ globally publicized fall from grace marks a
stunning turnabout for a man who gained worldwide notoriety for his career
as a Sir Ge Dorr Kung Fu grandmaster and trainer of top Thai Muay Thai and
K1 fighters. The pivotal moment in his downfall, however, may have come in
2007 with the establishment of the much-touted Special Weapons And Tactics
team which he said he set up with the backing of Noppadon, who was
unceremoniously demoted last week amid charges he paid 10 million baht to
obtain the Pattaya Police Superintendent position.
“First and foremost I’m sure the Chonburi Immigration had
legitimate reasons for Interviewing me on the 18th of February,” McInnes
said in an interview. “I was not arrested (at that time). I produced
documentation to my position with S.W.A.T.”
However, the S.W.A.T. identification card McInnes
produced during questioning was signed by Noppadon and was dismissed by
Pattaya Police as having expired more than two years ago. It also had a
different date of birth than his passport.
Nantawut - placed in his post last week after a massive
purge of the Pattaya Police Station - also has disavowed ownership of the
tactical squad and said McInnes has no role whatsoever with police.
“As far as I’m concerned, it’s a paperwork mess-up,”
McInnes said. “I’m saddened at what has happened, but I understand it goes
with the territory.”
McInnes told police that the weapons and ammunition found
in his truck were for a S.W.A.T. training session canceled the day before
and that the box of munitions had been left inadvertently in his vehicle
which, like three other Hummers, were not seized and remain parked at the
S.W.A.T. training center.
“I didn’t see it,” McIness claimed of the box of
ammunition. “I didn’t even know it was there until Immigration questioned
me.”
McIness claimed that, despite other media reports, no
automatic weapons were found in his truck and that he does not own any guns
of his own. S.W.A.T. officers are issued stun guns, which he said Thai
police officers either take home or lock in a safe at the S.W.A.T. compound
when off-duty. However, he declined to state whether he had a permit to
carry the stun gun kept in his Hummer while on duty. Thai law states that
licenses for the weapons and ammunition in McIness’ possession cannot be
obtained.
Royal Thai Navy munitions experts brought in over the
weekend seemed most concerned with the smoke grenades seized from McInnes’
Hummer. McIness claimed that, like most S.W.A.T. equipment, these were
donated by McIness and other outside donors because “there wasn’t a budget
for S.W.A.T. to do a proficient job. They simply couldn’t do what they
wanted.”
The grenades, however, contain phosphorus, which Navy
examiners said possess a deadly risk when exploded.
McIness went on to profess that they are not a privately
managed team: “Yes, we fund everything ourselves, but our instructions come
from whomever is on duty that night,” he said. “If there was something
wrong, it would have been stopped a long time ago.”
McInnes expressed confidence that the entire controversy
would disappear within the next two weeks after authorities sort out the
S.W.A.T. documentation.
“As far as I’m aware, the documentation I have is
correct,” he said. “If they don’t want the S.W.A.T. then fine, I’ll retire.
I don’t care,” McIness concluded.
Norwegian robbed, bloodied by jet ski vendors
Boonlua Chatree
A 50-year-old Norwegian man was beaten by a group of Pattaya
jet ski vendors while trying to determine which one robbed him of nearly
10,000 baht.
Face swollen and bleeding, Tom Sverre Norheim came to
Pattaya Police Station Feb. 13 to report he’d been swindled by a Thai woman
and her jet ski partners near Soi 10.
Battered and bloody, Tom Sverre Norheim files a report with police.
Norheim said he was approached by 29-year-old Srisawai
Multrisa while walking along the beach and took her up on an offer to rent a
jet ski for 30 minutes for 800 baht. Srisawai then persuaded him to leave
his bag, containing his passport and about 9,600 baht in Norwegian kroners,
with her as it might get wet.
The Norwegian said he then set out on the jet ski but
questioned his decision to leave his bag onshore after about 10 minutes.
When he returned and asked for it back, but got into an argument with the
Thai woman, which resulted in him pushing her out of a boat. Once he hit dry
land, he told police he was set upon by about eight Thai men.
While filing his report, Srisawai appeared at the police
station and returned Norheim’s passport and some pocket money. But the 1,700
kroner were nowhere to be found. She told police she didn’t know how much
money had been in the bag as it had been held by the jet ski operator.
Norheim was taken to Pattaya Memorial Hospital for
treatment and police are pursuing the complaint.
Another tourist beaten by rouge jet ski vendors city promised to clean up
Boonlua Chatree
Government officials in Phuket may have clamped down on
renegade jet ski operators after being embarrassed worldwide by a British
television series, but in Pattaya scammers are still trying to extort money
from tourists for alleged damage and beating them up when the victims refuse
to pay.
Another case of a tourist beaten by jet ski operators. Will the city and/or police follow their promises and do anything about this situation?
Such appeared to be the case Feb. 19 when David Marshall,
62, was severely beaten by a group of Pattaya Beach jet ski operators after
he and three friends returned the vehicles near Soi 13 and were told they
had damaged them during their one-hour ride.
Marshall told police he and his friends had rented the
water craft for 1,400 baht for an hour. When they returned, the vendor said
the flat, bottom part of the jet ski had been scratched and demanded payment
for damages. Marshall insisted he didn’t cause the damage and the argument
turned violent. Two other Thais joined in the fight, pummeling the elderly
man in the face and breaking one tooth.
Marshall was taken to Pattaya Memorial Hospital. His
friends received only minor injuries.
The assault was the second in a week allegedly
perpetrated by Pattaya jet ski vendors. On Feb. 13 a 50-year-old Norwegian
man was bloodied by jet ski vendors near Soi 10 after the tourist confronted
them for allegedly stealing nearly 10,000 baht while he was riding one of
their water craft.
The case is also nearly identical to the much-publicized
face-off between a Phuket jet ski vendor known as “J.J.” and British marines
in an episode of last year’s “Big Trouble in Thailand.” That incident, in
which J.J. extorted 35,000 baht out of the young visitors under the supposed
threat of a rifle, prompted an immediate cleanup and regulation on jet ski
vendors in the area.
Ironically, Pattaya’s mayor and city leaders also pledged
at the time new regulations would be put in place in Pattaya to clean up the
jet ski industry here. However, apparently nothing has been done since the
initial press conference.
Belgian member of Thailand
Mad Dog Motorcycle Club
chapter arrested on fugitive charges
Boonlua Chatree
A member of the Thailand chapter of the worldwide Mad Dog
Motorcycle Club has been arrested by Chonburi Immigration Police on charges
he is a wanted fugitive in his native Belgium.
Robert G.A. Verdickt has been remanded in custody to face Belgian fugitive charges.
Robert G.A. Verdickt, 54, was taken into custody at his
Classic Village home Feb. 17. Investigators said Verdict’s visa had been
revoked in November and that he was wanted to 14 criminal charges in
Belgium, including some he was still on trial for.
Chonburi Immigration Police Chief Col. Atiswit Kamolrat
said Verdickt was charged in 1985 with possession of a firearm and
ammunition, in 1985 for drug distribution, in 1988 and 1989 for robbery, in
1998 for drug dealing and firearm possession and robbery. In 1998 he was
also charged with drug manufacturing and in 2002 for armed robbery and, in
2003, for forcible rape. Finally, in 2007, he was charged with drug dealing
and creating a false identity.
It was then Verdickt is alleged to have fled to Thailand
where, instead of keeping a low profile, helped set up the Harley-Davidson
motorcycle club, one of many such Mad Dog chapters around the world.
Endangered sea turtle
found dead in Sattahip
Patcharapol Panrak
One of Thailand’s endangered Hawksbill sea turtles was found
dead, an apparent victim of an unlucky strike by a ship’s propeller.
Rescue workers load the deceased turtle into a tub to take to the Navy’s Sea Turtle Conservation Center for an autopsy.
The 30-year-old, 100 kg. male turtle was found floating
at Laemtian Pier at the Sattahip Naval Base Feb. 16, its shell broken and
infected. Authorities said the turtle was not local, as it was missing
microchips implanted by the Navy’s Sea Turtle Conservation Center. It had
likely come to mate with female Hawksbills on Koh Khram, they said.
Authorities were saddened to see the death of another
reproductive-age sea turtle, as their numbers are few in the Gulf of
Thailand.
Volunteer police officer
nabs motorbike thief, 3,000 baht reward
Boonlua Chatree
A volunteer police officer won a 3,000 baht reward for
catching a teenager who stole an Ayutthaya man’s motorbike on Third Road.
Police help Apichet Panruek (right) present a 3,000 baht reward to Jiratanin Chokwiwatnamchai (left).
Jiratanin Chokwiwatnamchai caught Thirapat Lam-Dee Feb. 8
at the Bonkai intersection changing the license plate of a black Honda Wave
matching the description of one stolen earlier that day from in front of the
Eurasia Boutique Hotel on Third Road. The teen confessed to stealing the
bike and was charged with theft.
Police contacted owner Apichet Panruek, 28, who was so
happy that his bike was returned and the thief arrested, he gave the police
volunteer 3,000 baht for his efforts.
Military, police wives take up
cause of endangered sea turtles
Military and police wives set loose young turtles from
the beach outside the Sattahip Naval Base facility.
Patcharapol Panrak
Wives of Thai military and police officials became the latest
to take up the cause of Thailand’s endangered sea turtles, releasing even
more juvenile reptiles into the sea.
Duangporn Pumhiran, president of the Royal Thai Navy
Wives Association, led the delegation of spouses of Navy, Army, Air Force
and Royal Thai Police officials to the Sea Turtle Conservation Center in
Sattahip Feb. 12. They were greeted by Rear Adm. Chakchai Phucharoenyot,
commander of the Air and Coastal Defense Command, and his wife, Capt.
Wichitra Phucharoenyot.
The group released about 60 baby turtles into the sea on
the beach outside the Sattahip Naval Base facility.
Duangporn said the educational visit was a great way for
military and police spouses to learn about the important role turtles play
in the environment and in Thailand’s economy.
RADM said there is currently much public interest in
helping the navy rebuild the population of Thailand’s four species of
endangered turtles, both for the good of the environment and because people
believe it will bring themselves good luck to do good deeds. But no matter
the motivation, he said, it is good for the turtles.
Liquor-loving lyricist
takes a Sukhumvit siesta
Patcharapol Panrak
With song in his heart and drink on his breath a Sattahip
musician laid down for a nap on Sukhumvit Road and would not be disturbed by
those fearing for his safety.
Seeing that Tuan Norakan is sleeping perilously close to passing traffic, reporters and rescue workers (not shown) step in to help.
The Sawang Rojana Thamasathan Rescue Foundation was
notified Feb. 15 that once-famous composer Tuan Norakan was lying on the
roadside at the Km 177 marker, where he had parked his motorbike after
drinking too much. Medics arrived to find the man using his shoes as a
pillow only a meter away from passing cars.
Police and rescuers tried to wake Tuan for 30 minutes
before he finally came to. He drank some water, washed his face and then
sang a song for officers. Then he went back to sleep at a bus stop on the
other side of the road.
Before dropping back off to sleep, the liquor-loving
lyricist told police he lived in Ban Taothan and had gotten into a bitter
argument with his wife and opted to calm down with the help of two bottles
of whiskey. He then decided to go home and make up, but proved to drunk to
make the drive safely.
Apparently, it was not the first time Tuan needed a
sidewalk siesta. His wife, when contacted, answered “he did it again?” and
advised reporters to let him sleep it off, which he did in two hours before
heading home.
Marriage in the air for
Valentine’s Day in Pattaya
Some couples took to the air to announce their vows.
Vimolrat Singnikorn
Love was in the air, on the ground and all around on
Valentine’s Day as 125 Pattaya couples tied the knot on the most romantic
day of the year.
Couples arrived early at Banglamung District Office with
Deputy District Chief Amnat Charoensri registering new marriages Feb. 14.
First in line was Kriangkrai Bunmachai and fianc้ Panapa, who had been
dating for four years.
“We chose the auspicious Year of the Tiger to register
our marriage as Valentine’s Day and the Chinese New Year fell on the same
date,” Panapa said.
Pattaya City was also taking marriage registrations at
Central Festival Pattaya Beach where the mall, Bangkok Hospital Pattaya, and
the Niranrat Beauty Salon School teamed up to offer newlyweds a full menu of
services.
Meanwhile, out in Pattaya Bay, five couples took to the
skies, high in the air for the first-ever “Sky Lover” parasailing marriage
ceremony.
All around Pattaya Cupid’s helpers were much in evidence
with flower and gift shops putting on the red to entice lovers. Roses, of
course, proved most popular. But rose bushes also proved to be hot sellers
with buyers saying it was an environmentally friendly choice to choose live
plants over cut flowers.
|
