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A Singaporean's guide to living in Thailand

yinyang

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A slice of big mango

An elderly woman cools a stray dog with a wet towel on Charoen Krung Road, as Bangkok's temperatures soar.
PHOTO BY APICHART JINAKU
679CD38124E3470A9CAA53FC7D3AA316.jpg


The yellow flowered Golden Shower trees are in radiant bloom along the road to Khon Kaen Airport.
The northeastern province of Khon Kaen is promoting itself as a "tunnel of flowers" destination, similar to Japan's cherry blossom season.
PHOTO BY JAKKRAPAN NATHANRI

BFD6DC867A564B209761EEC4D35B1A14.jpg

Buddhist monks walk among tourists on Thailand's Death Railway at the River Kwai Bridge in Kanchanaburi province, about 110 kilometres west of Bangkok.
The River Kwai Bridge, now a major tourist attraction, was built by allied prisoners of war during World War II.
The construction started in Oct 1942 and it was completed by late Oct 1943 at the cost of lives of 16,000 prisoners of war and
100,000 imprisoned Asian slave laborers of Chinese, South Indian, Malay, Burmese, Japanese and Dutch Indonesian origin.
The Allies bombed the Death Railway in 1945.PHOTO BY EPA

0D57505EEF9D419CA3C60784A7485085.jpg
 

yinyang

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With mercury 40-44C. And Dusit zoo feeds ice pops to animals:eek:
[FONT=charis_silbold]
Thailand is used to hot Aprils, but not this hot![/FONT]


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An elephant opens its mouth while being sprayed water to cool off at Dusit Zoo on Tuesday. Authorities are telling people to stay out of the blazing sun to avoid heat stroke. (AP photo)

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/special-reports/950289/thailand-is-used-to-hot-aprils-but-not-this-hot-

This image released by NASA's Earth Observatory Team from data collected by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), an instrument on NASA's Terra and Aqua satellites, shows the land surface temperature as observed by MODIS in Asia between April 15 to April 23, 2016. Yellow shows the warmest temperatures. April in Thailand is typically hot and sweaty but this year's scorching weather has set a record for the longest heat wave in at least 65 years.PHOTO BY AP
ACCB5BD3CE5E4930B02EA93A8FE62308.jpg
 
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yinyang

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Anti-junta groups crash government websites

THE NATION April 29, 2016 1:00 am
30284938-01_big.jpg



AN ANTI-SHINAWATRA group - V for Vendetta - last active in 2013, crashed government websites yesterday in protest over the draft constitution and in collaboration with a group that opposes the proposed single Internet gateway for the country.

The two groups and fellow netizens attacked the websites by constantly pressing the F5 key on computer keyboards to refresh the Web pages, causing long delays and crashes.

V for Vendetta has been reactivated to oppose the military-installed government.

The government is not being truthful about the purpose of the national referendum, the group said.

V for Vendetta said its members would vote against the charter in the referendum. In 2013, the group had called on the military to oust the Shinawatra government.

Its symbol, a white mask, is inspired by the movie "V for Vendetta" (2005), which depicted a people's movement against a corrupt government. The anti-single gateway group came into existence late last year when the government proposed the move, which was widely seen as an attempt to crack down on anti-military groups.

In a related development, yesterday's planned silent protest at the BTS Chong Nonsi skywalk failed to materialise after only one person showed up.

That person, Sirawith Serithiwat, barely spent a minute at the site unsuccessfully calling for people to stand beside him. Clearly upset, Sirawith called the activity off, saying: "If no one joins me then I'm leaving now."

Sirawith condemned the government for detaining eight civilians.

He urged the public to protest non-violently and call for the military to release the eight.

Police took him to Yannawa Police Station amid calls for him to be left alone as he could not have violated the junta's ban on political gatherings of more than four people because he was the sole protester.

Police said they would make a note of Sirawith's activity but would not charge him.

 

Emmanuel

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Loyal
'We're NEVER going back to Thailand': Son who was brutally beaten unconscious with his elderly parents tells of their shocking ordeal as new footage shows fight broke out when they brushed past street thug

WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT
Family of British tourists left knocked out cold in vicious attack in Thailand
Rose and Lewis Owen were spending a month with son, also Lewis, when they were brutally attacked on Wednesday in popular Thai resort
Police reveal that the family's son had bumped into a drunken local thug
More yobs arrived and attacked the tourists despite pleas from the father
Do you know the family or witness the incident? Call 020 3615 1924 or email [email protected]

By Richard Shears and Nick Fagge and Flora Drury For Mailonline

Published: 09:26 GMT, 28 April 2016 | Updated: 06:18 GMT, 29 April 2016

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A British graphic designer beaten unconscious in a savage attack by vicious thugs in Thailand along with his elderly parents has vowed never to return to the country.

Lewis Owen, his businessman father, also called Lewis, and mother Rosemary, both 68, were beaten up during the attack by at least six people.

The family were on holiday on the beach resort of Hua Hin when they were attacked. Mr Owen, who lives in Singapore said neither he nor his elderly parents would go back.

Hopsitalised: Rose Owen and her businessman husband Lewis were were set upon after their son, also called Lewis, spilled one of the gang's drinks. This photo, released by the Thai tourist board, shows Mrs Owen in hospital following the April 13 assault
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Hopsitalised: Rose Owen and her businessman husband Lewis were were set upon after their son, also called Lewis, spilled one of the gang's drinks. This photo, released by the Thai tourist board, shows Mrs Owen in hospital following the April 13 assault
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Holiday: The grandparents were on a month-long holiday in Thailand when their dream trip turned into a nightmare, after the couple were viciously attacked by a gang of drunken thugs

Injured: Mrs Owen - pictured on holiday in the country last year - is understood to still be recovering in hospital, having suffered head injuries. The couple have been visiting the country since the 80s
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Injured: Mrs Owen - pictured on holiday in the country last year - is understood to still be recovering in hospital, having suffered head injuries. The couple have been visiting the country since the 80s
Horror: The early morning attack happened in the popular tourist resort of Hua Hin, where the family from Wales were celebrating Thai New Year. Pictured: Mr Lewis, who runs an engineering company in Cardiff
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Horror: The early morning attack happened in the popular tourist resort of Hua Hin, where the family from Wales were celebrating Thai New Year. Pictured: Mr Lewis, who runs an engineering company in Cardiff

Mr Owen, 43, said: 'I’m not going back to Thailand again. Mum and dad won’t be either. Never, ever again.

'My mum and dad are on the mend so it is all okay. Dad had six stitches in his forehead and there is some heavy bruising and he had two black eyes. They were a bit worried about my mum but she is okay. The swelling was not going down on her brain but they have done some operations.

'Mum and dad have been going to Thailand for a long time. I don’t get to see them very often, I see them at Christmas and at my dad’s birthday,' he told The Mirror.

Mr Owen and his parents were walking along the street when they were attacked. He said the CCTV footage of the assault was so violent that police would not let them look at it.

He said he suffered 16 stitches, but luckily all of the damage was above his hairline.

He said he believed the attacks were entirely random. Mrs Owen has since been released from hospital.
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One of the men launched a flying punch at Mr Lewis when he brushed past him and seemed to spill his drink while he was involved in an altercation with another man.

His mother, who lives in a village near Cardiff, Wales, tries to reason with them, before slapping one man - seconds before her husband is punched by a man who runs up to him, seemingly in order to land a hit with the most force possible.

Mrs Owen then tries to escape the violence.

In the next moment, one of them walks up to her and punched her so hard in the face the grandmother is sent flying to the floor, knocked unconscious.

As she lies unmoving on the ground, her husband and son are subjected to a barrage of punches and kicks.

Mrs Owen then comes around and props herself up, at which point her callous assailant walks over and kicks her so hard in the face her head snaps back, out cold once more.

By the time the men had finished their vicious attack, which happened at around 2am on Wednesday in the popular tourist resort of Hua Hin, all three Owens were lying on the floor.

The crowd which had stood by and watched the brutal beatings only daring to step forward once they were sure the gang had left.

The couple's daughter Ceri was visibly upset at her home in Barry, three miles from her parents country cottage, just outside of Cardiff.

Mother-of-two Ceri visited her parent's bungalow briefly yesterday and is helping to arrange early flights to get them home.

She said: 'My mum and dad are in hospital abroad, I'm too upset to say anything.'

A picture showing Mrs Owen with members of the Thai tourist board while recovering has been released to the local media, showing her badly damaged face.

It is believed Mrs Owen is still in hospital, recovering from the savage assault which left her with serious eye and head injuries, according to the police.
Beaten: The couple and their son Lewis, 43, were left knocked out cold and lying in the street during Thai New Year festivities in the popular resort of Hua Hin, after being attacked by a gang of local youths
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Beaten: The couple and their son Lewis, 43, were left knocked out cold and lying in the street during Thai New Year festivities in the popular resort of Hua Hin, after being attacked by a gang of local youths
Catalyst: The row appeared to start when Lewis, known as Blue to his friends, put his hand out and brushed a local man who had collided with him as they walked down the road
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Catalyst: The row appeared to start when Lewis, known as Blue to his friends, put his hand out and brushed a local man who had collided with him as they walked down the road
Hurt: The couple's grown up son can be seen clutching his head in agony in the left of this image, after he was pushed to the ground seconds after touching the man
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Hurt: The couple's grown up son can be seen clutching his head in agony in the left of this image, after he was pushed to the ground seconds after touching the man

In the leafy village of Wenvoe, five miles outside of Cardiff, neighbours are still in shock after seeing the footage of their friends being so horrifically attacked.

Dave Cannon, chairman of the village hall committee, a long-time friend who has been to Thailand with the couple, told MailOnline: 'I've been in touch with Lew by text after seeing the pictures of the attack.

'It was a hell of a shock to hear what happened to them.'

Friends revealed the couple had visited Thailand almost every year since falling in love with the country in the 80s.

And they are always in Thailand for the Songkran festival - which falls the same day as Mr Owen's birthday.

'They always go to the festival, it is a part of their holiday,' Mr Cannon, 71, told MailOnline.
We are still upset - they are just fabulous people, the best neighbours you could wish for.
Neighbour John Miles

'It is a family joke - Lew reckons the whole of Thailand is celebrating his birthday that day.

Mr Cannon has visited Thailand with the couple and was last in the country with them in 2007, from which he has a souvenir plate in his hallway with a picture of himself and Mr Owen taken as they were sitting in a boat on the way to the Floating Market near Bangkok.

He said: 'They love it out there. They used to travel around Vietnam Laos and Cambodia but they always return to Thailand, it's their favourite place.

'They go sightseeing and have made lots of friends over there.

'Their Thai friends bake a cake every year for Lew's birthday.'

Retired long distance lorry driver Mr Cannon lives half a mile from the Owens, added: 'They are lovely people, we've been friends for years.

'Their two children grew up here - everyone in the village knows them.'

Neighbours said they were due to return home next Tuesday but are now trying to get an earlier flight.
Birthday: The family always enjoyed spending Mr Owen's birthday in Thailand, as it coincided with the New Year celebrations. The family joked it was like the entire country came out to celebrate
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Birthday: The family always enjoyed spending Mr Owen's birthday in Thailand, as it coincided with the New Year celebrations. The family joked it was like the entire country came out to celebrate
Brutal: Mrs Owen was initially punched in the face, after trying to escape. When she came back around, one of the attackers walked over and kicked her hard in the face, knocking her out again
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Brutal: Mrs Owen was initially punched in the face, after trying to escape. When she came back around, one of the attackers walked over and kicked her hard in the face, knocking her out again
Attacked: Lewis, pictured, lives in Thailand, and his parents visit once a year - sometimes with friends
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Attacked: Lewis, pictured, lives in Thailand, and his parents visit once a year - sometimes with friends
Break: Mr Owen runs a successful electrical engineering company in Cardiff
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Break: Mr Owen runs a successful electrical engineering company in Cardiff

John Miles, who lives opposite, said: 'We heard about the attack and then bumped into their daughter in the village and she said it was Lewis and Rose.

'We are still upset - they are just fabulous people, the best neighbours you could wish for.

'Apparently the attack is on Youtube but I couldn't watch it.

'Their daughter said she had not slept after being told what happened to her family.'

Another neighbour said: 'They are lovely, law-abiding people, it's dreadful they got caught up in this.'

Local police chief in Hua Hin and the head of the local tourist authority held a press conference on April 17 where they confirmed they had arrested two men - Suppata Baitong and Yingyai Sangkham, both aged 32 - in connection with the incident.

Chief Police Colonel Chaiyakorn Sriladecho explained that the younger Mr Owen accidentally bumped into Suppata, who had been drinking and responded by pushing him into a table.

Mr Owen then asked Suppata not to hurt his son, at which point it is alleged four other men turned up at the scene and assaulted the father, son and the mother.

Police added that the family had identified the arrested men, who had apologised to the victims for being drunk and that officers are still looking for the accomplices.
Arrested: Thai police parade the suspects Suppata Baitong and Yingyai Sangkham, both aged 32, who have been arrested in connection with the horrific assault
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Arrested: Thai police parade the suspects Suppata Baitong and Yingyai Sangkham, both aged 32, who have been arrested in connection with the horrific assault
The small street lined with cafes and shops was full of people, out to celebrate the New Year Songkran festivities. In the left of this image, the father is seen helping son back to his feet
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The small street lined with cafes and shops was full of people, out to celebrate the New Year Songkran festivities. In the left of this image, the father is seen helping son back to his feet

Colonel Sriladecho also added that the son suffered head injuries that required minor stitches with the father suffering a gash to his forehead and had eight stitches.

The mother is said to have suffered bruises to her chin and face and is still experiencing headaches which have kept her in hospital.

Police said the son has already left Thailand, while Mr and Mrs Owen are still in the country helping with the police investigation but will leave on Wednesday next week.

The news comes after a witness to the attack described how he tried to break up the fight but was also beaten so violently he now needs surgery.

A witness, calling himself 'Usual Suspect' on the Hua Hin internet forum, said a group of Thai youths had been looking for trouble in the area during the Songkran New Year water splashing holiday.

He claims he was walking with his wife and tried to intervene, pushing a youth away who was beating the woman, but was himself attacked and he now needs dental surgery due to his injuries.

Support: Villagers have spoken of their shock, and said their friends are 'lovely, law-abiding people'
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Support: Villagers have spoken of their shock, and said their friends are 'lovely, law-abiding people'
The couple's daughter posted this picture to a friend during a recent trip to the country, apparently a message to a friend
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The couple's daughter posted this picture to a friend during a recent trip to the country, apparently a message to a friend

He said: 'The girls in the bar I was in all night waved goodbye to two elderly customers and their son and my wife and I followed only seconds after them.

'Within 20-30 metres of leaving the bar the Thais were punching the 65-year-old lady in the face!!

'The elderly gentleman was down on the floor and their son was beaten very badly!

'At this point I caught up to the scene and pushed one of the youths away from the woman. I got severely punched and kicked for my troubles, but felt the need to protect this frail lady.'

He continued: 'Not one person (other than myself) came to aid these old folk and they ended up laid in the road bleeding..so if you're still out in the wee hours tonight please be alert.

'These pockets of youths were intent on causing harm, and did blend in with all others beforehand.

'The three of them are still hospitalised, and I will need cosmetic dental work done.'

The attack is believed to have happened outside Tina Bar and Mama Mia Bar along a bustling street called Soi Bintabaht, close to the Tourist Police Station.

This horrific image shows the moment the elderly woman was punched in the face (circled) during the fight, after she approached one of the gang members and appeared to try to reason with him
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This horrific image shows the moment the elderly woman was punched in the face (circled) during the fight, after she approached one of the gang members and appeared to try to reason with him
As the stunned woman tried to sit back up after being punched in the face, one of the attackers kicks her hard on the jaw knocking her unconscious (circled)
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As the stunned woman tried to sit back up after being punched in the face, one of the attackers kicks her hard on the jaw knocking her unconscious (circled)

Police are using the CCTV footage from a camera at the entrance to a small street of bars called Soi Bintabaht in front of Wat Hua Hin to trace the attackers.

Anyone who has information about the attackers or who witnessed the incident, which took place in the early hours of April 13, is urged to contact officers at Hua Hin police station.

Read more:

Police hunt thugs who brutally attacked British family in Hua Hin
Thailand attack: British family 'vow never to return' after savage street attack that them all knocked out - Mirror Online
 

Emmanuel

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Loyal
Thai teenager in lucky escape after harpooning his eyelid



dn.png

Image: Daily News

NAN:-- A Thai youth had a very lucky escape when he harpooned himself going fishing.

The gruesome picture of Jitrapanu Khantasima,16, was posted on social media, reports Daily News.

He was going to a local river Thursday with the two metre long implement when he tripped and fell. It pierced his eyelid going through to the forehead but just missed blinding him.

Neighbours who saw the accident in the Chiang Klang area of Nan in the north of the country rushed him to the local hospital. He was later transferred for surgery to the main hospital in Nan.

Dr Phongthep Wongwatcharapaibun of Nan Hospital said the young man was lucky the harpoon had not entered his eyeball. He warned everyone going fishing with such things to be very careful especially when walking.

Source: Daily News
 

yinyang

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Asset
LOS catching up :biggrin:

Out: stripes. In: chips.


c1_959897_160505041123_620x413.jpg


Most of the tens of thousands of ATMs are ready for the big switch from magnetic stripes
to chips (circled) on cards, which everyone will use by 2019.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/959897/chip-bank-cards-the-rule-in-2019
 

yinyang

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Yaowarat, big change coming up :p

Developers zero-in on historic Chinatown
Train blues, but price of development

c1_959317_160504113811_620x413.jpg

People sit and eat on a sidewalk along a street in Bangkok's Chinatown,
one of few city districts yet to be devoured by malls and high-rise condos.
But change is coming and fast. A new underground train is now ploughing straight into the heart of the historic quarter. (AFP photo

[FONT=charis_silregular]For nearly a century Thanuan Amnueilap has watched history sweep through the bustling maze of alleyways that make up Bangkok's Chinatown,
one of the city's few districts yet to be devoured by malls and high-rise condos.

But change is coming -- and fast.The Blue Line extension of the MRT subway soon will plough straight into the heart of the historic quarter,
and in the process transform a chaotic, but charming, area into a property goldmine.


http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/959317/developers-zero-in-on-historic-chinatown[/FONT]
 

johnny333

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Anyone tried going to a cinema in LOS?

I recently did & they have a quaint custom where you are suppose to stand up when the part where the king appears? Or something like that. Since it's in Thai I didn't fully understand what it was about :o

So do you as a visitor to LOS stand up in the cinema?
 

yinyang

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Anyone tried going to a cinema in LOS?
I recently did & they have a quaint custom where you are suppose to stand up when the part where the king appears? Or something like that.
Since it's in Thai I didn't fully understand what it was about :o
So do you as a visitor to LOS stand up in the cinema?
It's SOP for all cinemas in LOS. Standing up when the trailer comes on, as respect to their King.
Shdn't surprise you, as even when the anthem comes on in the malls or public places -everybody stands still.
Else, la majeste?
 

dietcoke

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Loyal
Anyone tried going to a cinema in LOS?

I recently did & they have a quaint custom where you are suppose to stand up when the part where the king appears? Or something like that. Since it's in Thai I didn't fully understand what it was about :o

So do you as a visitor to LOS stand up in the cinema?

yup, i do stand... as there is a saying, when in rome, do as romans do..

cos if u dont stand, thai people and even ur thai friends might think u are a stuck-up person...
 

tonychat

Alfrescian (InfP)
Generous Asset
Anyone tried going to a cinema in LOS?

I recently did & they have a quaint custom where you are suppose to stand up when the part where the king appears? Or something like that. Since it's in Thai I didn't fully understand what it was about :o

So do you as a visitor to LOS stand up in the cinema?

I stay outside until the king ad finish, then i go in for my seat. I stand up to no one..
 

KuanTi01

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yup, i do stand... as there is a saying, when in rome, do as romans do..

cos if u dont stand, thai people and even ur thai friends might think u are a stuck-up person...

I watched The Martian at the Scala Theatre and I automatically stood up when everyone around me stood up. If not you will stick out like a sore thumb. Anyway he is a Thai King much revered and noted for his philanthropic deeds. So no problem in me standing up as a mark of respect just like all the Khon Thais.:biggrin:
 

johnny333

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yup, i do stand... as there is a saying, when in rome, do as romans do..

cos if u dont stand, thai people and even ur thai friends might think u are a stuck-up person...


I was in Pattaya & watching the English version of the Captain America movie Civil War ... The majority of patrons didn't stand up. There is also a Thai version of the same movie which would be more popular with the Thai speakers..

That's why I got curious about what other Sporeans would do:confused:
 
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