Robby nz

" The improvement of National Parks will include better regulation of the parks , such as the visitors fees ...... ".

So basically, the entrance fees proposed by the government several months ago, of 10 times the fee of a Thai for entrance to the park by a Farang, ( Foreigner ) will be written in stone now.

LOS = Land of Scams

You ever been to a national park ? No probably not.

The emphasis seems to be on the marine national parks which I haven't visited for many years but from reports are getting increasing numbers of tourists (Chinese tour groups) and do need protecting and if I understand correctly most of these have never charged fees.

As far as the land based parks are concerned, which I do visit often, some have excellent facilities others have been somewhat neglected although this is possibly a funding and management thing as the staff on the ground are always friendly and helpful . We usually avoid the most popular parks preferring the less visited places, these get the most visitors on weekends and holidays and most are Thai.

These parks are excellent value and great places, as far as fees go I pay the same as Thai, an example; last week we spent 3 nights at Taksin Maharat National Park cost 30b each entry, 30b for the car and 30b per night to camp. Total cost for 3 nights 240b.

Where in the world could you get a better deal which included good toilets and showers, lights at night if wanted, plugs to charge batteries and freedom come and go as we pleased.

I think they would find almost the same level of corruption for any MOE employee, aside from the country's actual educators. It is the primary reason why Thailand spends so much money on education, but has experienced the law of diminishing returns when it comes to results.

Do you have some reference to how much Thailand spends on education? I don't think it's very high, but don't really have any data. I think the problems are more cultural and bureaucratic. They stem from the education system being an uncomfortable combination of the temple minimal teaching of literacy and the Royal system of formal education established by foreigners brought in by kings Rama V and Rama VI. The early bureaucratic system was necessarily staffed by the extended royal family and rich people who held high ranks, and has always been hierarchical and authoritarian. The fact that many of the women who have held power in the system have been extremely prudish and puritanical has led to "education" being regarded as "indoctrination," or as one Thai educator expressed to me, "socialization." It's too bad there is not more Thai history available in English. Apparently Dr. Pasuk Pongphaichit's books are all out of print, leaving only Wyatt's History of Thailand.

If you really want to know its quite easy to find out before putting your oar in.

http://asiancorrespondent.com/125880/thai-juntas-2015-draft-budget-infographics/

19.35% of the 2015 national budget, the biggest chunk by far. This has been consistent over the years.

If you look farther you will find it is the highest spend in the region for the worst results.

They are going to have to try to get as much back for it as possible and as quickly as possible for every month it is stored the costs of storage increase.

I read elsewhere that the annual principal and interest payments on the money borrowed to fund the scheme are 64billion baht. This is a large chunk of the countries annual debt repayment and as long as the rice is held it can only increase.

And the great thinker was reported to have said the scheme was working well and should be continued for another 3 or 4 years.

What would the condition of the stored rice have been in that time and how much the cost to the country ?

Me must not forget that this is all the fault of the present administration for :

BANGKOK, 24 April 2014 Minister Yanyong visited the NACC on Wednesday to submit a letter asserting that inspections of the rice stock in warehouses, carried out in March by Ministry of Commerce officials and members of the rice stock inspection committee, found that the entire 18.7 million tons of rice was intact and another 1.1 million tons was being fumigated.

That's right in March 2014 all 19.8 million tons of rice in storage was intact and in good condition.....Or could Minister Yanyong have lied ? No that's hardly believable no minister of the Yingluck Govt would ever lie.

We also have an added assurance of accuracy for one of the Ministry of Commerce officials was none other than that bastion of responsibility Khun Nattawut Saikua.

"He said that if an election was to be held now without any reforms the country would eventually slide back to violent political conflicts"

He would do his level best to ensure that it does!

Still he is right. Thaksin group will buy the election....Yellow will demonstrate. Red one will shoot.

In the unlikely case that the Democrats win the Reds will demonstrate.

So like him or hate him. If there will be elections just now, everything will start again in 1-3 years.

Even after Korn Chatikavanij admitted that vote buying had next to no effect in the North-East, TVF users are still trying to peddle this hackneyed yellow gem.

Well Korn....another failed politician who should be sacked together with Abhisit.....I really don't care what he says.

Next to no effect would mean that Thaksin is a complete idiot spending billions of Baht without any effect? I doubt that. As much as I dislike Thaksin, I don't think he is stupid and even less I think he is wasting his money for nothing.

That might be just envy from the looser Korn.....As he know the Democrats could never competite with Thaksins funds.

That's the crux of it isn't it "Thaksins funds"

One would think that if it were true that the Dems were backed by the so called rich elite that they would have unlimited funds provided by their backers. But that isn't the case is it ?

The Dems in fact paid a portion of their parliamentary salary into the party (we know this because Chalerm tried to have them for paying to the party by electronic means rather than check or cash) while PT MP's were paid an allowance over and above their salary by the party.

Oh and Korn isnt a failed anything, he succeeded in business by his own efforts and was lauded as the best finance minister the country ever had. He has since been working behind the scenes on policy and meeting with people in the provinces, particularly the north and northeast.

It doesn't seem to ever end......on and on and on......corruption, theft, murder, kidnapping, extortion, corruption etc etc. There must be an honest man with a Thai passport somewhere??

The vast majority are honest even in the civil service it is only that the dishonest and corrupt seem to be able to buy their way to the top and from there are able to keep the honest ones down.

Thankfully the present lot are actually doing something about it, unlike Yingluck who thought stopping corruption was a great joke, flanked by the corrupt.

Wow more hate against someone you know nothing about other than he emerged as a leader of the people who were protesting against the amnesty bill and helped to rid the country of your beloved Yingluck and her corrupt Govt.

He is one of the good monks who does good works like looking after poor terminal cancer patients who have nowhere to go. He and his temple were attacked many times by the reds, bombs planted, shots fired and monks quarters burnt to the ground.

He has come out strongly against corrupt monks and suggested audits of all temples.

Most don't realize it has been the traditional role of respected monks to come out as leaders both in battle and in support of the people.

If you want to complain about bad and corrupt monks there are plenty to chose from, including one who at present refuses to answer questions regarding donations of billions to him and his temple.

Good monk my rear end! Anyone thinking of taking up the religion take a good look at this abomination and think again. I know which direction this evil goit's going when he snuffs it and it ain't upwards.

Your rear end apparently hasn't the faintest idea which way its pointing. If you were to put hate aside and look at facts you would see I am correct.

Do you think he is wrong that temples should be audited or that corrupt monks should be punished ?

Do you think it is bad that his temple takes in terminal cancer patients ?

But these things don't matter for he was one of those who helped get rid of the amnesty bill and the corrupt Yingluck Govt which you apparently condemn him for.

Bookmark this comment. He will get no more than 10 years of which 5 years will be suspended because he "confessed". In the meantime the masterminds are getting away, this guy was the regional army kingpin but not the mastermind.

Once again you post that you have important inside information as to who is involved. Please report immediately to the relevant authorities and let them know.

If you think you may implicate yourself or fear for your safety than take your information to overseas media and the UNHRW so they can make it public.

Them flycatchers are a problem all right what with females and juveniles of different species often quite similar.

Have compared the big bird with my other pix of drongo cuckoo and it looks a distinct possibility.

Have amended one of the new birds for me, what I was calling a White-gorgeted Flycatcher is in fact a Rufous-browed Flycatcher.

Wow more hate against someone you know nothing about other than he emerged as a leader of the people who were protesting against the amnesty bill and helped to rid the country of your beloved Yingluck and her corrupt Govt.

He is one of the good monks who does good works like looking after poor terminal cancer patients who have nowhere to go. He and his temple were attacked many times by the reds, bombs planted, shots fired and monks quarters burnt to the ground.

He has come out strongly against corrupt monks and suggested audits of all temples.

Most don't realize it has been the traditional role of respected monks to come out as leaders both in battle and in support of the people.

If you want to complain about bad and corrupt monks there are plenty to chose from, including one who at present refuses to answer questions regarding donations of billions to him and his temple.

OH the hate against someone who came out and led the people who were protesting against the abortion of the amnesty bill, he helped oust your lovely Yingluck so is evil.

If you really did some research into his background you would start to see the lies against him that emerge, even with all of these he has never backed down and ran always standing up for himself. How anyone can say he is hiding in a temple in Thailand in full view and has attended court hearings is beyond reason.

For a start check out the land deal he is vilified for and see who really got the land, you may be surprised that all but 11 of the 450 odd land titles went to poor farming families and only one of the 11 who were classed as having money was not involved in agriculture.

No I don't love him but I do love the truth and I see clearly most of the hate against him is based on lies.

Really confusing for the anti-everything-Thai lot on here who cant seem to understand that business and money are a completely different thing from political expediency.

Could it be that the US is regretting their hasty decision to condemn the coup in Thailand ? After all they did support the 2013 military coup in Egypt and still support the military dictatorship there.

Nice report Robby I too passed through Thaksin Maharat and Sooty-headed with the red vent were very common. Haven't a clue what your dunnoes are but the last seem to be drongo like.

You are right Jack, got me thinking Drongo Cuckoo.

Did the trip to the remote villages around Tha Song Yang, a good trip of around 180km on 4wd tracks, no birds though.

Best part for me was stopping off for 3 nights on the way back at Taksin Maharat National Park another park rarely visited by birders.

Around our camp there were several Blue-throated Barbets, Oriental White-eyes and some Emerald Doves coming out to feed in the evening, Sooty headed Bulbul were prominent.

I went down the valley where there is a big tree and waterfalls where the tourists go for selfies, the place is full of birds of many species, but difficult to see and more difficult to get photos of. Was frustrated by a flock of laughing thrush with a call I have never heard before and many others that wouldn't stay for a photo.

New species for me are; Scarlet Minivet, Vernal Hanging Parrot, White-gorgeted Flycatcher and Little Spider Hunter.

Putting this one down to an immature Dark-sided Flycatcher, any thoughts ?

And a couple of dunnos, open to ideas;

Some sort of flycatcher ?

Large bird at a distance with a bright background and me trying to balance on a 45% slope and get a photo through thick branches. The tail angle should give a clue but not to me.

...and that's the only reason? Perhaps he should do what he said he was goiing to do - set up a democracy and then leave it to those who are expert in that field...not a retired general?

Do You mean experts like Yingluck and Co who balls up the rice scam so badly that some farmers committed suicide others lost their land and lots are now deeper in debt than ever before. I think now they realise they were conned they are happy with a retired general who is doing the best he can for the country.

I am sure before too long he will come up with a way that improves the lives of the poorest farmers without leaving it open to corruption.

Who's paying you to write crap like this ? The people that commited suicide did so because the people that brought your dear great leader to power, cut off funding to pay these farmers. Your dear great leader have cut farm prices by half and then gave the farmers B 15 000 to keep them quiet and now is claiming he is sorry not have improved their lives. How pathetic !!! If the farmers are so happy about your dear great leader lets have a referendum on which constitution the people prefer, let them choose between 1997, 2007 or 2015 constitution. Let your dear great leader allow free speech on which constitution the people would prefer. Then after the people have chosen a constitution lets have an election under the constitution the people have chosen.

This will however never happen as you and his supporters only give lip service to the concept of democracy. Your dear great leader has done nothing to improve the living standard of poor people in this country. If he wants improve their living standards why doenst he share his B 680 mil fortune ?

Another who subscribes to the red history books. How pathetic.

The farmers were not paid because someone forgot to allow for funds to pay them before the house was dissolved even though they knew the debt had to be paid and they had said repeatedly that money was available.

The debt to rice farmers went back to several months before the house was dissolved.

A caretaker govt was not allowed by law to establish a debt to a future govt although they tried to worm their way round the law and coerce govt owned banks into lending them money without any collateral.

Those who had their savings in those banks were not happy and let the banks know by withdrawing their money and protesting at the banks.

Yes, one of the first things the present Govt did was pay the farmers what they were owed as the previous PT govt should have done

Please explain how the present PM has cut farm prices in half.

As for the rest of your rant, go do some research and find out just how silly it is.

What with his passports taken off him and the possibility of his (dearly loved) rank being removed, then I see he has slipped from No6 on the Thai rich list to No10 this year.

His PT MP's were complaining that they were no longer getting their 'allowance' after the house was dissolved and the corruption within his last proxy govt which would have been forgiven by the amnesty bill now coming to light. He is not having a good time of late.

But he still has his paid red leaders and the few faithful followers on here who leap to his defense so all is not lost.

A pickup pickup pickup for picking up broken down pickups.

Reminded me of the old fire engine we had in the small place I lived in NZ, Fargo from memory, with a crash gear box.

Isn't the PM ultimately responsible for any/all actions taken by any Ministry whilst being PM?

By that logic Prayuth is responsible for human trafficking in the south -- with an even more intimate connection being a fellow Army General.

Once more we have a red twist.

No, the OP is about responsibility of a PM while in power and being ultimately responsible for the actions on the ministers under her (him).

If revoking his passports will have no effect why was there a need for his BIL to give them back to him in the first place ?

Crawling up the toilet wall one afternoon at Mae Wong National Park

c piller mw.JPG

Next morning it had morphed into this.

c piller mw. next.JPG

We left that day so didn't see where, or what, to from there.

This may be a rare sighting indeed. A are butterfly: Acrea issoria sordice. The Yellow Coster. They have, as far as I know only been recorded in Northern Thailand but are known in Laos and Northern India. They have the longest larval stage of any known butterfly in Thailand - 5-6 months.

I recognise it from the Butterfly farm in Chiang Mai where they breed them. They are, I am told, only now regularly found on Doi Suthep.

So you may have made an important find!

There were several of the same caterpillar around in the same place so not that uncommon there.

Another from the 'through the dirty bus window' file