http://www.personalthailand.com/ This is a discussion forum about living and travels in Thailand, share your personal experience en Thu, 17 May 2012 16:27:12 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.personalthailand.com/images/misc/rss.png http://www.personalthailand.com/ http://www.personalthailand.com/threads/10909-Pensioner-survives-being-dragged-under-truck?goto=newpost Thu, 17 May 2012 15:57:14 GMT An elderly man in China was left with just bruising after he was run over by a lorry and dragged under the vehicle for 20 metres along the... An elderly man in China was left with just bruising after he was run over by a lorry and dragged under the vehicle for 20 metres along the road.

Read More from Telegraph UK .. ]]> Asia News Thai News Robot http://www.personalthailand.com/threads/10909-Pensioner-survives-being-dragged-under-truck http://www.personalthailand.com/threads/10908-Chen-Guangcheng-to-get-passport-within-15-days?goto=newpost Thu, 17 May 2012 15:57:14 GMT The blind Chinese self-taught lawyer, Chen Guangcheng, who triggered a diplomatic crisis between the United States and China last month, will be... The blind Chinese self-taught lawyer, Chen Guangcheng, who triggered a diplomatic crisis between the United States and China last month, will be allowed to travel to the US "within 15 days".

Read More from Telegraph UK .. ]]> Asia News Thai News Robot http://www.personalthailand.com/threads/10908-Chen-Guangcheng-to-get-passport-within-15-days http://www.personalthailand.com/threads/10907-Bo-Xilai-mystery-French-architect-Patrick-Devillers-discovered-in-Cambodia?goto=newpost Thu, 17 May 2012 15:57:14 GMT A French architect who was a close associate of the family of the disgraced Chinese politician Bo Xilai, and of Neil Heywood, the British businessman... A French architect who was a close associate of the family of the disgraced Chinese politician Bo Xilai, and of Neil Heywood, the British businessman allegedly murdered by Mr Bo's wife, has been traced to Cambodia.

Read More from Telegraph UK .. ]]> Asia News Thai News Robot http://www.personalthailand.com/threads/10907-Bo-Xilai-mystery-French-architect-Patrick-Devillers-discovered-in-Cambodia http://www.personalthailand.com/threads/10906-2600th-Buddha-Jayanti-Celebration-around-Thailand?goto=newpost Thu, 17 May 2012 08:42:07 GMT The government is prepared to organize regional celebrations to mark the 2,600th year anniversary of Buddha’s Enlightenment. Speaking at a... The government is prepared to organize regional celebrations to mark the 2,600th year anniversary of Buddha’s Enlightenment.

Speaking at a conference, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Yongyuth Wichaidit has announced that the Interior Ministry and the Office of the Prime Minister have collaborated to organize nationwide activities to mark the day of Vesak in 2012. Held under the name of the 2,600th Buddha Jayanti celebration, activities, such as the ordain of monks and novices, candle light processions, merit-making and meditation, will be held to commemorate the 2,600th anniversary of Lord Buddha's Enlightenment. Moreover, academic exhibitions and cultural activities will also be held as part of the celebrations, which will take place in all 76 provinces across the country, as an act of worship to the Lord Buddha.

Meanwhile, the public will be allowed to pay respect to the relic of the Buddha, which will be put on display at Sanam Luang on May 29. On Vesak Day 2012, which falls on June 4, candle light processions will also be held in Bangkok at Sanam Luang, as well as in Chiang Mai, Ubon Ratchathani, Pathum Thani and Nakhon Si Thammarat, which have been selected to represent their respective regions in hosting the regional activity.

Additionally, all provinces will also be gathering donations to support the future works of the Office of National Buddhism.

News from NNT ]]> Religions in Thailand Kanok Karn http://www.personalthailand.com/threads/10906-2600th-Buddha-Jayanti-Celebration-around-Thailand http://www.personalthailand.com/threads/10905-Thailand-s-Taxis-to-Delay-Fare-Hike?goto=newpost Thu, 17 May 2012 08:38:31 GMT Under a government-initiated scheme, tens of thousands of cab drivers have agreed not to raise the fare for 3 more months or until energy price has... Under a government-initiated scheme, tens of thousands of cab drivers have agreed not to raise the fare for 3 more months or until energy price has been adjusted.

Taxi cooperatives in Bangkok and the vicinities, comprising over 50,000 members, have gathered at the Royal Plaza to show support for the government-initiated project for taxis nationwide to collectively delay fare adjustment for a period of 3 months or until the government has decided to adjust energy price.

Agriculture and Cooperatives Deputy Minister Nattawut Saikua, in his capacity to oversee the operation of taxi cooperatives, said that after a 3-month peg on the taxi fare, the ministry and taxi cooperatives will re-evaluate the energy price and cost of living. If both are still high, the government will come up with assistance measures to lessen the expense of taxi cooperative members.

Meanwhile, Vice President of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (TCC) Pornsilp Patcharintanakul said that the scheme is only a short-term assistance measure, which does not provide a direct solution to the problem, since the global energy price is already starting to fall.

It is estimated that the global fuel price will further drop to under 100-110 baht per barrel. Consequently, the country's energy price should also be seeing a declining trend.

News from NNT ]]> Thailand Transport Kanok Karn http://www.personalthailand.com/threads/10905-Thailand-s-Taxis-to-Delay-Fare-Hike http://www.personalthailand.com/threads/10904-English-Course-for-Parliamentary-Staff-prepares-for-AEC-2015?goto=newpost Thu, 17 May 2012 08:36:56 GMT Over 2,000 members of the parliamentary staff will be enrolled in an English language course as a preparation for the ASEAN Community in 2015. ... Over 2,000 members of the parliamentary staff will be enrolled in an English language course as a preparation for the ASEAN Community in 2015.

Deputy House Speaker Charoen Chankomol said that the Parliament is set to enhance its staff's foreign language skill by providing 2,000 civil servants and employees who are working at the House of Parliament with an English course with the objective of preparing them for the country's upcoming integration into the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC). The course aims to increase the staff's ability to speak English by 70% within 3 years time. Meanwhile, parliamentary workers should be able to communicate in English given the new Parliament building will be open for public visits by foreign tourists as well.

Additionally, C8-C10 parliamentary officials will also be obliged to take an additional Chinese language course.

News from NNT ]]> Education Kanok Karn http://www.personalthailand.com/threads/10904-English-Course-for-Parliamentary-Staff-prepares-for-AEC-2015 http://www.personalthailand.com/threads/10903-TAT-to-hold-Three-Southernmost-Provinces-Travel-Fair-Campaign?goto=newpost Thu, 17 May 2012 08:32:39 GMT The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)’s Southern Branch will organize a campaign in Bangkok to promote tourism in the three southernmost provinces.... The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)’s Southern Branch will organize a campaign in Bangkok to promote tourism in the three southernmost provinces.

The tourism promotion fair to draw visitors to Yala, Pattani, and Narathiwat provinces will be held at Rajamangala stadium in Hua Mak, Bangkok, from June 1-3. The TAT is cooperating with the Foundation of Islamic Center of Thailand and its alliances to promote historical tourism in which Islamic ancient buildings in the far South will be developed as tourist attractions.

They hope that more people from Bangkok and nearby provinces will visit the southernmost provinces. The fair will offer two-in-one tour packages which will take tourists to both Thai provinces and Malaysian states. The package will have Betong in Yala as the selling point, to convince visitors that Betong is safe and complete with sufficient facilities for them.

During the travel fair, southern food and products will be on sale, while southern performances such as the famous dikir hulu will be on show, among others.

In 2003, before the southern unrest, the tourist number in the three Thai southern border provinces was 1.4 million, bringing in over 4 billion baht in tourism revenue. But since the violence plagues the region, the tourist number has dropped significantly; it only has been boosted in 2010, when the three provinces saw 1.3 million tourists.

The tourism revenue was expected to increase by 5-10% in 2011. Currently less than 20% of tourists to the far South are Thai, while 80% are Malaysians.

News from NNT ]]> Thailand Travel News Kanok Karn http://www.personalthailand.com/threads/10903-TAT-to-hold-Three-Southernmost-Provinces-Travel-Fair-Campaign http://www.personalthailand.com/threads/10902-Gold-Prices-to-Continue-to-Drop-in-Thailand?goto=newpost Thu, 17 May 2012 08:27:38 GMT A gold expert believes that gold prices will continue to drop, saying long-term gold investment is not recommended. According to Gold Traders... A gold expert believes that gold prices will continue to drop, saying long-term gold investment is not recommended.

According to Gold Traders Association President Jitti Tangsithpakdi, the precious metal price has declined by 2,000 baht per-baht weight of gold ornaments since the beginning of the year. He further explained that the drop is not that drastic, saying it once, in the third quarter last year, dropped by 2,000 baht in one day.

Mr Jitti suggested long-term speculators to avoid buying gold at this time, as the price is expected to fall further.

He cited that the global gold prices are on a downward trend and could drop to as low as 1,500 dollars, down from the present 1,530 dollars per ounce.

News from NNT ]]> Kanok Karn http://www.personalthailand.com/threads/10902-Gold-Prices-to-Continue-to-Drop-in-Thailand http://www.personalthailand.com/threads/10901-Foreign-Investors-on-the-First-4-Months-of-2012-in-Thailand?goto=newpost Thu, 17 May 2012 08:26:02 GMT The Board of Investment of Thailand (BOI) has revealed that 407 investment projects, worth 155 billion baht altogether, have been carried out in... The Board of Investment of Thailand (BOI) has revealed that 407 investment projects, worth 155 billion baht altogether, have been carried out in Thailand by foreign investors during the first four months of 2012.

Speaking about the overall situation of the foreign direct investment (FDI) during January-May 2012, BOI Investment Adviser Hiranya Sujinai has revealed that more foreigners have expressed their interest to invest in Thailand both in the number of projects and investment value. A total of 407 projects, with an investment value worth 155.49 billion baht, have requested investment promotions from the BOI. The number of investment projects has increased by 21% year-on-year, while there is also a 44% rise in the investment value.

Japan still holds its position as the largest foreign investor in Thailand, with a total of 228 projects, worth 93 billion baht. Other important foreign investors include Malaysia (10.74 billion baht), USA (9.11 billion baht), the Netherlands (9.8 billion baht) and Hong Kong (5.46 billion baht).

News from NNT ]]> Business in Thailand Kanok Karn http://www.personalthailand.com/threads/10901-Foreign-Investors-on-the-First-4-Months-of-2012-in-Thailand http://www.personalthailand.com/threads/10900-20-Business-Giants-to-offer-BTS-Special-Promotion-for-Rabbit-Pass-Holders?goto=newpost Thu, 17 May 2012 08:23:15 GMT The Bangkok Mass Transit System, commonly called ‘BTS’ by its short name, has drawn in 20 business giants to offer special promotion for Rabbit pass... The Bangkok Mass Transit System, commonly called ‘BTS’ by its short name, has drawn in 20 business giants to offer special promotion for Rabbit pass holders.

The new ‘Rabbit’ ticket, which has been on sale since late April, allows holder to benefit from the use of just one ticket to commute on the BTS, the underground train (MRT) and the Bangkok Rapid Transit (BRT).

With the hope of selling up to 1.5 million Rabbit passes in one year in the initial stage, the BTS is cooperating with 20 other companies, who agree to offer special discounts to Rabbit pass holders.

Joining the campaign are all the big names including McDonald’s, Star Bucks, Black Canyon, Au Bon Pain, Burger King, Mister Donut, Oishi Group and other shops in Siam Paragon and the Emporium.

According to BTS, 600,000 people use the BTS each day on working days with the highest passenger number in March at 710,000 per day. Around 3-400,000 passengers are recorded on weekends.

The Rabbit pass will entirely replace the old smart cards. Passengers can now use the Rabbit pass to travel in the entire BTS system.

News from NNT ]]> Thailand Transport Kanok Karn http://www.personalthailand.com/threads/10900-20-Business-Giants-to-offer-BTS-Special-Promotion-for-Rabbit-Pass-Holders http://www.personalthailand.com/threads/10899-Toshiba-halts-Japan-TV-production?goto=newpost Thu, 17 May 2012 06:50:39 GMT Toshiba halts production of LCD televisions in Japan More from BBC News..... Toshiba halts production of LCD televisions in Japan

More from BBC News.. ]]> Asia News Thai News Robot http://www.personalthailand.com/threads/10899-Toshiba-halts-Japan-TV-production http://www.personalthailand.com/threads/10898-Thailand-Ranks-No-41-of-University-Ranking?goto=newpost Thu, 17 May 2012 05:48:40 GMT The rankings are by the Universitas 21 network or research universities and were compiled by researchers at the Melbourne Institute of Applied... The rankings are by the Universitas 21 network or research universities and were compiled by researchers at the Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research at the University of Melbourne.

They looked at the most recent data from 48 countries and territories, taking into account 20 measurements, including investment by government and the private sector.

Of Asian countries, Singapore is the highest ranked at No .11. Hong Kong is 18th, Japan is 20th, Taiwan is 21st and South Korea is 22nd.

Thailand is in a recent ranking No. 41 of universities in 48 countries.

While Thailand is ahead of 7 other countries, including India and Indonesia, it lags behind China and Malaysia when it comes to the quality of higher education. China is at No. 39 while Malaysia is in 36th place. ]]> Education Kanok Karn http://www.personalthailand.com/threads/10898-Thailand-Ranks-No-41-of-University-Ranking http://www.personalthailand.com/threads/10897-Thai-Army-Sex-Video-with-Autistic-Woman?goto=newpost Thu, 17 May 2012 05:42:57 GMT Thai army soldiers having sex with a woman a video. The anger grew this week after the government reported the woman was autistic. A number of... Thai army soldiers having sex with a woman a video.

The anger grew this week after the government reported the woman was autistic.

A number of women’s rights activists and groups are demanding that the government prosecute the soldiers for possible rape, arguing that the woman may not have known what was happening until it is too late.

The use of sex within the armed forces here is horrible and by filming it and showing it to people, it shows the horrid state for women in this country.

The incident took place 3 years ago and while the 6 soldiers have been dismissed, Their superior will face a penalty, along with the person who shot the video. The 6 soldiers acted thoughtlessly, and the woman should not have given into them.

But online calls for the soldiers to be charged with a crime continues to grow on Wednesday, with activists demanding the army take further action.

The screen captures of the video have been making rounds on the Internet. The army is investigating whether or not they can prosecute whoever dispersed the pictures under the Computer Crimes Act, on grounds they tarnished the army’s image in doing so.

]]> Thai News Kanok Karn http://www.personalthailand.com/threads/10897-Thai-Army-Sex-Video-with-Autistic-Woman http://www.personalthailand.com/threads/10896-Energy-Transition-Thailand?goto=newpost Thu, 17 May 2012 05:34:43 GMT Thailand has experienced significant economic growth, moving into the World Bank's upper middle income bracket.

Over the last 25 years energy consumption has grown at 6.2 % per annul. Looking forward, meeting this demand will become increasingly challenging, making energy security a focus for the coming years.

In partnership with the Ministry of Energy, the World Economic Forum is exploring how Thailand can create a new energy architecture that is secure, sustainable and affordable. Our work thus far has revealed three important steps:

Thailand has set a target of reducing energy intensity by 25 % in 2030, compared with that in 2005, or equivalent to reduction of final energy consumption by 20 % in 2030.

Promoting behavioral change through improved energy literacy will be central to achieving this.

The public needs to better understand the true costs and challenges involved in securing supplies, and the implications of government targets for their everyday lives.

Thailand's transportation sector is dominated by the use of petroleum products sourced from overseas, while the country's power generation is highly dependent on natural gas, domestic sources of which are beginning to plateau.

This dual threat has seen its energy import bill balloon to 847 billion baht in 2011, a 26.2 % increase on 2010.

The formation of the Asean Economic Community is a potential game-changer for Thailand's energy sector that can bring significant energy security benefits, as well as opportunities to take competitive advantage of the ASEAN market, as cross-border trade is opened up.

Given its central location in the region, Thailand has the opportunity to become a hub for energy trade in a number of different sectors, including gas, electricity and bio fuels.

Central to achieving this ambition will be the expansion of Thailand's internal energy infrastructure, such as its gas pipeline network, as well as its connections with its neighbors, as through the Trans-Asean gas pipeline. The process will not be straightforward.

A number of potential obstacles may slow the pace of integration, including permitting processes, finance requirements, and the need for harmonized technical standards across countries.

To overcome such challenges requires a robust strategy, and strong leadership. Striking the balance between economic growth, environmental sustainability and energy security will entail trade-offs and difficult choices to be made. ]]> Thai News Kanok Karn http://www.personalthailand.com/threads/10896-Energy-Transition-Thailand http://www.personalthailand.com/threads/10895-Thai-Police-Seize-Tiger-and-big-Cats-Parts-to-be-for-China?goto=newpost Thu, 17 May 2012 05:29:31 GMT A Thai man and a Vietnamese man were arrested Wednesday in a raid at a house in Bangkok's suburbs. The police had trailed them from southern Thailand after receiving a tip-off.

The carcasses of one complete Bengal tiger, 2 halves of another, 1 panther and a fishing cat were found in freezers. The suspects told police the carcasses were smuggled from Malaysia and were destined for China.

Thai police say they have seized the carcasses of tigers and other big cats believed to have been destined for consumption in China. ]]> Gardening, farming and Pets in Thailand Kanok Karn http://www.personalthailand.com/threads/10895-Thai-Police-Seize-Tiger-and-big-Cats-Parts-to-be-for-China