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Jonathan Fairfield
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Tattooed devotees transform in Thai temple trance
By Jorge Silva
WAT BANG PHRA, Thailand (Reuters) - Deep in trances, devotees of a Thai temple charged through gathered crowds on Saturday mimicking the beasts on their tattoos.
Some had their hands curled into tiger claws, some became crocodiles, some were transformed into Hanuman, the monkey god.
The annual tattoo festival at Wat Bang Phra, about 80 km (50 miles) from Bangkok, draws thousands of devotees every year who come to recharge the power of sacred Sak Yant tattoos.
The tattoos are inked by Buddhist monks using sharpened bamboo sticks or long metal needles. Originally etched for warriors needing protection in battle, they are also believed to bring luck and give strength.
But every year, their magic power needs to be restored at the festival, where thousands of devotees pay their respects to the temple’s master tattooist.
Not everyone goes into a trance. Those who do take on the characteristics of their tattoos. They try to charge toward the temple, but are held back by a wall of temple guards and soldiers.
(Writing by Matthew Tostevin; Editing by Sam Holmes)
-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-03-17 -
Thai contestant crowned Miss International Queen in transgender pageant
PATTAYA (Reuters) - Thai contestant Jiratchaya Sirimongkolnawin was crowned Miss International Queen 2016 on Friday at a contest billed as the world's largest and most popular transgender pageant.
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Thai contestant crowned Miss International Queen in transgender pageant
PATTAYA (Reuters) - Thai contestant Jiratchaya Sirimongkolnawin was crowned Miss International Queen 2016 on Friday at a contest billed as the world's largest and most popular transgender pageant.
The 25-year-old beat 24 other contestants for the crown, with the second and third place going to contestants from Brazil and Venezuela, respectively.
The pageant, which brings together transgender people from around the world, was launched over a decade ago to help transgender women feel more accepted by society.
"It's like a new category, but the gender already existed a long time ago," said Jiratchaya, donning a white glittering and black side rim evening gown.
The contest, in its 12th year, was held at the Tiffany's nightclub in the Thai seaside town of Pattaya, which is famous for its transvestite cabaret.
Like other beauty pageants, contestants paraded in national costumes, evening gowns and swimsuits.
For many, the contest represents a springboard for future opportunities.
Thailand remains a largely conservative society, with no laws recognizing same-sex unions though it has a prominent lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.
The 2016 show was postponed from November last year due to Thailand's mourning period of its late King Bhumibol Adulyadej who died at age 88 on Oct. 13.
(Reporting and writing by Maytaal Angel; Editing by Patrick Johnston and Leslie Adler)
-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-03-11 -
Thai police end search of temple without finding monk
By Aukkarapon Niyomyat and Patpicha Tanakasempipat
BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thai police ended their search of Thailand's biggest temple on Friday after laying siege to it for more than three weeks without finding the former abbot, who is wanted for suspected money-laundering.
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Thai police end search of temple without finding monk
By Aukkarapon Niyomyat and Patpicha Tanakasempipat
BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thai police ended their search of Thailand's biggest temple on Friday after laying siege to it for more than three weeks without finding the former abbot, who is wanted for suspected money-laundering.
The standoff at the Dhammakaya temple between thousands of police and saffron-robed monks has posed one of the greatest challenges to the military government since it took power in 2014 and largely neutralised opposition.
The influential Phra Dhammachayo, 72, is wanted for questioning over suspected money-laundering and numerous charges of building on land without authorisation.
But there are deeper roots to a confrontation between the military-led and royalist establishment and a scandal-hit temple whose practices jar with conservatives and which is widely seen as having had links to an ousted populist movement.
Paisit Wongmuang, director-general of the police Department of Special Investigation, told reporters after another day of searching on Friday that the authorities would still try to track down Phra Dhammachayo.
But restrictions on the temple area would be lifted "when everything returns to normal". The government used the emergency law Article 44 to allow police to enter the temple.
"We are glad there is a sign of peaceful resolution but cannot rest assured until Article 44 is revoked," senior monk Phra Pasura Dantamano told Reuters.
The temple - 10 times the area of the Vatican City and topped by a UFO-shaped gold dome - dwarfs Thailand's 40,000 or so other temples in wealth as well as size. It claims millions of followers, although still a small minority of Thai Buddhists.
Phra Dhammachayo helped found the temple and remains influential. Aides say they have not seen him for months and that he is too sick for questioning. They say the charges against him are politically motivated.
STALEMATE
The situation was a stalemate, said Kan Yuenyong of the Siam Intelligence Unit think-tank.
"Nobody wins or loses," he said.
As the search was ending, Thailand's top religious body gave a green light for the first step in a process that could lead to the disrobing of the monk.
Phra Dhammachayo has been stripped of his monastic rank by King Maha Vajiralongkorn, but secular authorities have no power to remove the protection afforded by his monk's robes.
The head of the National Office of Buddhism, Pongporn Pramsaneh, told reporters that the top religious body, the Sangha Supreme Council, acknowledged the case against Phra Dhammachayo at a meeting on Friday.
The government would now forward the case to a senior governing monk who might proceed with steps that could lead to his disrobing even if he can't be found.
"This is the first step, and the last step will be the disrobing of Phra Dhammachayo," Pongporn said.
Traditionalist Buddhists accuse the temple of commercialism and say it has put Nirvana up for sale. It says it is just as dedicated to Theravada Buddhism as them and its money is only to do good works.
Although it rejects any suggestion of political links, it is widely seen as having had ties to the populist movement of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, overthrown in 2006, and his sister Yingluck Shinawatra, who led the government that was ousted in the most recent coup in 2014.
(Additional reporting by Panarat Thepgumpanat; Writing by Matthew Tostevin; Editing by Nick Macfie)
-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-03-10 -
Nie story, great photo too
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HOTEL DEALS: Book by March 13th to receive an extra 10% discount on our already great prices!
Three classy hotels feature in this weeks' Hotel Deals of the Week - A great hotel in Bangkok's Nana district, simply one of Phuket's finest, and a chic adults-only resort in Khao Lak.Book by March 13th to receive an extra 10% discount on our already great prices!
Follow these links:
Click HERE for 10% extra discount on Majestic Grande, in Bangkok
Click HERE for 10% extra discount on Mai Holiday by Mai Khao Lak, in Khao Lak
Click HERE for 10% extra discount on The Slate, in Phuket
Don't forget! - In order to access these deals, you will first need to input the Promo Code 'thaivisa'How to unlock the special discounts and promotions
1. Enter “thaivisa” in the green promo code box
2. The discounted hotel rates will then be displayed
3. Select Book Now to make your booking with the discounted rate -
Great info, thanks for posting!
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Farewell to one of Bangkok's legendary dive bars.
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Simply input the Promo Code 'thaivisa' to unlock more hotels - and all at fantastic discounts!
How to claim your 10 percent discount
1. Enter “thaivisa” in the green promo code box to unlock the special discounts
2. The discounted hotel rates will then be displayed
3. Select Book Now to make your booking with the discounted rate -
Thanks for the feedback. We'll bare this in mind
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Dutch man stabbed by Thai men after road rage fight on Samui
Image: Daily News
SAMUI:-- A 27 year old Dutch tourist was left in hospital after he was attacked by two Thai men in an apparent road rage incident on Koh Samui yesterday.
Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/971628-dutch-man-stabbed-by-thai-men-after-road-rage-fight-on-samui/
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Dutch man stabbed by Thai men after road rage fight on Samui
Image: Daily News
SAMUI:-- A 27 year old Dutch tourist was left in hospital after he was attacked by two Thai men in an apparent road rage incident on Koh Samui yesterday.
Police are hunting two youths who were with two girls on a pair of motorbikes.
They had been driving along the Samui ring road in the Bo Phut area cutting in and out as tourist Dasemil Solakovich rode his own Honda Click.
But near the First Bungalow intersection the Thai men got off and a fight broke out.
The man from the Netherlands told the cops from his hospital bed that he got the better of the two Thai men and when they realized they were losing the fight they pulled out knives and he was stabbed in the chest and ribs.
Members of the public ensured he got to hospital - police found only his bike and blood at the scene.
Police chiefs on the island have ordered an extensive manhunt to catch those responsible.
Source: Daily News
-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2017-03-02 -
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Death penalty upheld for two migrant workers on Koh Tao murder case
The Appeals Court has upheld the death penalty handed down by the lower court on two Burmese migrant workers for the murder of British backpackers David Miller and Hannah Witheridge on Koh Tao in 2014.
The verdict of the Region 8 Appeals Court was read at Koh Samui provincial court in Surat Than province today (March 1) in the presence of the two convicts, Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo, public prosecutor Teerawuthi Prammahan and others.
The Appeals Court said it believed in the prosecutor’s evidence by considering all the evidence presented which are substantiated and convinced it to believe that the two defendants committed the offence without any doubt.
The court also dismissed the contention of the defendants that the evidence was incomplete, citing the absence of some documents and photos of some events.
On December 24, 2015, the Koh Samui provincial court sentenced Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo to death after finding them guilty of killing the two British backpackers and concealing their bodies to cover up the crime.
Full story: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/death-penalty-upheld-two-migrant-workers-koh-tao-murder-case/
-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2017-03-01 -
Appeals Court upholds death penalty for Koh Tao murders
By Sasiwan Mokkhasen
Wai Phyo, at left, and Zaw Lin are paraded in front of the media on Oct. 3, 2014, shortly after their arrest on Koh Tao.
KOH SAMUI — The Appeals Court on Wednesday announced its decision to uphold the death sentences for two migrant workers convicted of a brutal 2014 double homicide on Koh Tao.
Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/971395-appeals-court-upholds-death-penalty-for-koh-tao-murders/
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Appeals Court upholds death penalty for Koh Tao murders
By Sasiwan Mokkhasen
Wai Phyo, at left, and Zaw Lin are paraded in front of the media on Oct. 3, 2014, shortly after their arrest on Koh Tao.
KOH SAMUI — The Appeals Court on Wednesday announced its decision to uphold the death sentences for two migrant workers convicted of a brutal 2014 double homicide on Koh Tao.
In its ruling, made secretly on Feb. 23, the Koh Samui court said evidence presented by the state in the original trial was adequate and reliable, and therefore declined to overturn the December 2015 verdict condemning two Myanmar men to die for the deaths of two British tourists.
The ruling was came as a surprise to defense lawyers, who said they had no knowledge the court made a ruling last week, which it apparently relayed to their clients without notification.
-- © Copyright Khaosod English 2017-03-01 -
HOTEL DEALS: Book by March 6th to receive an extra 10% discount on our already great prices!
Continuing with 3 more Hotel Deals of the Week! Book by March 6th to receive an extra 10% discount on our already great prices!
For up to 10% extra discount on Classic Kameo Hotel, in Ayutthaya: Click here
For 10% extra discount on Oriental Residence, in Bangkok: Click hereFor 10% extra discount on Deevana Krabi Resort, in Krabi: Click here
How to claim your 10 percent discount
1. Click on one of the hotel links above
2. Enter “thaivisa” in the green promo code box to unlock the special discounts
3. The discounted hotel rates will then be displayed
4. Select Book Now to make your booking with the discounted rate
Thaivisa Exclusive Hotel Bookings work with a select group of hotels in Thailand on the premise of negotiating the lowest prices and also only hotels which consistently score well among its guests.
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UPDATE:
Fire breaks out at Sukhumvit Soi 11 construction site
A fire broke out at the construction site of a high-rise building project off Bangkok's Soi Sukhumvit 11 a few minutes ago.No injuries were reported and the fire atop the building site was said to be caused by paint and other inflammable materials.
Fire crews reported the blaze is now under control.
-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-02-28
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Crazy queue at Suvarnabhumi Airport’s immigration causes travelers to miss flights
Foreign tourists were stranded in a long line at the immigration checkpoint at Suvarnabhumi International Airport yesterday morning.
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Crazy queue at Suvarnabhumi Airport’s immigration causes travelers to miss flights
Foreign tourists were stranded in a long line at the immigration checkpoint at Suvarnabhumi International Airport yesterday morning.
Morning News showed a video of a paranoia-inducing long line of travelers queuing at the immigration checkpoint to leave Thailand as only six out of eighteen counters were open for service around 8am on Sunday.
The influx of travelers caused the line to stretch from the immigration checkpoint all the way to the check-in area, according to government radio channel JS100.
-- © Copyright Coconuts Bangkok 2017-02-27 -
Get down and give me 20: Chonburi cops dish out punishment to speeding bikers
Thailand Live Sunday 12 Mar 2017
in Thailand News
Posted
Tattooed devotees transform in Thai temple trance
By Jorge Silva
WAT BANG PHRA, Thailand (Reuters) - Deep in trances, devotees of a Thai temple charged through gathered crowds on Saturday mimicking the beasts on their tattoos.
Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/973200-tattooed-devotees-transform-in-thai-temple-trance/