jay-uk

http://www.thaisnews.com/news_detail.php?newsid=193689

Changes to the way you dance at Loy Kratong festivals?

Coyote Dance bans from temples

Option >>

The authority of Ubon Ratchathani Province prohibits Coyote Dance in the temples, and bars all activities that contravene the local traditions during the Loy Krathong Festival.

Mr. Sudnit Butrwang, the acting chief of the provincial Culture Office, said he had a talk with the Bureau of National Buddhism and the monk deans. They have all agreed to completely ban Coyote Dance in all temples. However, the northeastern-style musical shows can be played, but they have to be appropriate. Performers cannot wear sexy clothes and perform sexually arousing dances.

Local police officers have been assigned to look after the festivities in the entertainment venues, and the wrongdoers who breach the regulations will be prosecuted accordingly. A document on the measures and regulations during the Loy Krathong Festival has been delivered to the local administrative organizations, and they have been asked to cooperate and keep a close eye on all types of entertaining presentations in order to prevent them from staining the wonderful traditions.

Mr. Sudnit stated that prohibiting people under a certain age to conduct Coyote Dance may infringe their personal rights. However, this problem can be solved by keeping their performances in check.

http://www.thaisnews.com/news_detail.php?newsid=193689

http://www.thaisnews.com/news_detail.php?newsid=192186

Shredded rice grains are selling well in Ubon Ratchathani

Many local residents in Ubon Ratchathani Province are selling shredded rice grains to earn their living.

Mr. Kamphantu Wongsuna, a farmer in Phosri Village in Tambon Lamangsaharn District of Ubon Ratchathani, said almost every household in his community is selling shredded rice grains every month to receive additional income before the harvest season arrives. The grains are usually being grown before the end of Buddhist lent. They can be sold at a much more rewarding level than normal rice. At the moment, the price of soft shredded rice grains is at 100 baht per kilogram, while the price of hard shredded rice grains is at 60 baht per kilogram. Normal rice meanwhile is being sold at 16 to 20 baht per kilogram

Mr. Kamphantu said many people prefer to buy shredded rice grains from Phosri Village because the local villagers are using the old traditional way in production. Instead of using machines, they are still using mortars and natural method of production.

Shredded rice grains from Phosri Village are being sold in every district of Ubon Ratchathani, and the community in Phosri receives around 4,000 to 5,000 baht of income per day.

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2006/10/17/...ore_Protest.php

Thai shop owners protest foreign megastore invasion

The Associated Press

Published: October 17, 2006

BANGKOK, Thailand More than 150 shop owners protested in the Thai capital Tuesday against the expansion of international megastores in the country, saying they are driving small stores out of business.

The appearance of a Tesco Lotus superstore — a local unit of Britain's Tesco PLC — in the rural district of Phibul Mangsaharn in central Ubon Ratchathani province, sparked the latest demonstration.

"The people of Phibul don't want Lotus," read one sign carried by protesters. Police said more than 150 people demonstrated near the prime minister's office in Bangkok, while organizers estimated the crowd at 300.

"The foreign-owned discount stores have destroyed small businesses in the rural communities," said Panthep Sulisathit, president of Association of Thais Opposing Foreign-owned Discount Stores who led the peaceful protest.

"If the government doesn't stop them, foreign companies will take over the business of Thais," he said.

Mega retail stores have sprung up in cities across Thailand, prompting a growing number of protests from small business owners and calls for the government to enact laws that place greater controls on foreign companies.

The Commerce Ministry last month called for cooperation from 10 major megastores to temporarily halt the opening of new branches following protests by Thai retailers.

Tesco refused to cooperate and has pushed ahead with plans to open megastores, protest organizers said. An official at Tesco Lotus' Bangkok office said she was unable to comment.

According to its Web site, Tesco Lotus has 56 superstores and some 200 convenience stores across Thailand.

The protest defied a military ban on staging rallies that was put in place after a coup that ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Police monitored the protest, which broke up peacefully after over an hour.

BANGKOK, Thailand More than 150 shop owners protested in the Thai capital Tuesday against the expansion of international megastores in the country, saying they are driving small stores out of business.

The appearance of a Tesco Lotus superstore — a local unit of Britain's Tesco PLC — in the rural district of Phibul Mangsaharn in central Ubon Ratchathani province, sparked the latest demonstration.

"The people of Phibul don't want Lotus," read one sign carried by protesters. Police said more than 150 people demonstrated near the prime minister's office in Bangkok, while organizers estimated the crowd at 300.

"The foreign-owned discount stores have destroyed small businesses in the rural communities," said Panthep Sulisathit, president of Association of Thais Opposing Foreign-owned Discount Stores who led the peaceful protest.

"If the government doesn't stop them, foreign companies will take over the business of Thais," he said.

Mega retail stores have sprung up in cities across Thailand, prompting a growing number of protests from small business owners and calls for the government to enact laws that place greater controls on foreign companies.

The Commerce Ministry last month called for cooperation from 10 major megastores to temporarily halt the opening of new branches following protests by Thai retailers.

Tesco refused to cooperate and has pushed ahead with plans to open megastores, protest organizers said. An official at Tesco Lotus' Bangkok office said she was unable to comment.

According to its Web site, Tesco Lotus has 56 superstores and some 200 convenience stores across Thailand.

The protest defied a military ban on staging rallies that was put in place after a coup that ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Police monitored the protest, which broke up peacefully after over an hour.

The price I refer to of 1500-2000 baht was some years ago. The day started about 8:30am. Driver came to Lai Thong hotel around 8:30am, drive us to Sisaket, hang around, take us sight seeing around siaket etc.. or shopping then late afternoon early evening 7-8pm back to Lai Thong hotel. Not sure if that was good or bad some 6 years ago but as a tourist I thought it was not too expensive at the time given the hours. If someone just drove us around the city for a day then maybe less 1000-1500, tuk tuks 300-500 baht. Its all relative to what you need. These days I have my own car to drive around the city when there so don't know the latest hire care prices but someone on the group will i'm sure.

Mike

Not sure about upto date car hire prices around ubon but depending on how far you are planning to travel around the city it may be best initially to arrange car and driver from ubon airport. my wife and i used to pay approx 1500-2000 baht/day to have them drive us to & from hotels, go to sisaket, hang around, go shopping if need be etc... Shop around some of the guys on this forum as they will know better than me where to go in the city centre for car hire. It maybe even cheaper than the prices we used to pay some years ago.

Bangkok Post

PM vows to keep 'good populism'

Pressured by farmers on visit to Northeast

YUWADEE TUNYASIRI & WASSANA NANUAM

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont yesterday vowed to continue and improve those socially-beneficial policies introduced by the ousted Thai Rak Thai government amid pressure from farmers in the Northeast. Gen Surayud visited Sakon Nakhon and Buri Ram provinces, political strongholds of the Thai Rak Thai party, where he met a total of 40 community leaders from 11 provinces in the Northeast.

The visits were intended to reassure northeasterners that his interim government will not make any major policy changes and will continue to provide them fundamental welfare assistance, particularly the universal healthcare programme.

A government source said Gen Surayud's visit to the Northeast was a strategic move to calm an undercurrent of dissatisfaction among fervent supporters of the deposed Thaksin Shinawatra administration.

Several pro-Thai Rak Thai community leaders were suspected of involvement in a series of school arson attacks in Kamphaeng Phet, Nakhon Ratchasima, Ubon Ratchathani and Nong Khai provinces over the past month. And military intelligence has been closely monitoring their moves, said the source.

Gen Surayud said he will also visit northern provinces, including Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, which are other political strongholds of Thai Rak Thai.

In Buri Ram, Khamrop Phinitnam said his group sought the government's help over the shortage of farmland and to improve their living conditions.

''We're glad that the prime minister came to listen to our problems in person. Everyone is satisfied and appreciates the prime minister's attentiveness,'' said Mr Khamrop.

Gen Surayud emphasised that socially-beneficial policies would not be scrapped but made more transparent. For example, he added, the 30-baht charge for subscribing to the healthcare scheme would be slashed, and the scheme replaced with free medical services. He also spoke of welfare schemes for the poor.

The community leaders Gen Surayud met included many former members of the defunct Communist Party of Thailand who surrendered to authorities in the early-1980s.

Several other former insurgents became local politicians, leaders of farmer groups and the pro-Thaksin Caravan of the Poor, which were active during the anti-Thaksin protests.

Many worked closely with Prommin Lertsuridej, former secretary-general to the prime minister, when Thai Rak Thai was in power.

Caravan of the Poor deputy leader Attharit Singlor pressed for the continuity of the Thaksin government's populist policies, saying they were about to succeed.

''It's good that the government replaces the 30-baht healthcare policy with a free healthcare programme. But other populist policies also benefit the people. Don't call them off,'' said Mr Attharit.

''Nobody will protest against the CNS [Council for National Security] if its policies benefit the people,'' he added.

The Caravan of the Poor is preparing to recommend the policies be continued in a formal proposal to the interim government, Mr Attharit said.

Bamrung Khayotha, chairman of Khao Wong Tambon Administration Council in Kalasin, confirmed the existence of an ''undercurrent'' against the interim government.

Local politicians and their canvassers could mobilise a mass rally of supporters at any time if they obtained sufficient funding, he said.

Gen Surayud said provincial governors would solve fundamental problems while the military would carry out development projects.

As head of the government, he would supervise education and put Thai moral values above Western values.

I found the following hospital very good earlier this year for both my son who stayed there for one week with a chest infection (bronchitis) and myself when i had fluid on the knee infection. In both instances they were professional and got straight to the problem quickly with both GP's/Doctors & Consultants. Give them a try they are right next door to Big C easy to get to:

Rajavej Ubonratchathani Hospital

999 Chayangrul Road Muang Ubon Ratchathani UbonRatchaThani 34000 Muang UbonRatchaThani 34000 Thailand

Tel : 6645-280040

Fax : 6645-283894

The Nation

http://nationmultimedia.com/2006/10/12/nat...al_30016006.php

Police launch probe into school blaze in Ubon

Police are investigating whether a fire at a school in Ubon Ratchathani was started deliberately.

They would still need to determine whether any arson attack stemmed from conflicts of interest or was politically motivated by those with intent to cause a public disturbance in protest at the September 19 coup.

An initial investigation found that the blaze broke out on Tuesday evening from a switchboard panel inside an auditorium on the second floor of Ban Kham Pom School in Samrong district. No casualties were reported.

Two buildings in the school compound were burned down, causing damage estimated at Bt900,000.

A report initially concluded that many computers, air conditioners and a television set being turned on at the same time could have led to an electrical short-circuit. The school's wiring dates back to when it was built 20 years ago.

The school has 200 pupils and provides classes from kindergarten to sixth grade.

Senior education official Theerasak Kaewyong said a temporary shelter would be built to accommodate classes for the coming school semester on November 1. A Bt3-million budget is being sought to build a permanent building to replace the gutted ones.

Theerasak said he had ordered all schools in Ubon Ratchathani and neighbouring provinces under his jurisdiction to heighten security measures to prevent possible fires.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/08Oct2006_news04.php

General news >> Sunday October 08, 2006 Floods bring chaos, four people drown

Large dams in danger of structural damage

A monk shares a boat with villagers to get to the downtown area of tambon Channimit in Muang district of Chanthaburi yesterday while others are forced to walk through the floods because of a shortage of boats. Handcuffed to each other, inmates at Chanthaburi's central prison wade through floodwater while being evacuated from the facility.

Floods have paralysed many parts of the country as relief teams are racing against rising water levels to reach people stranded or displaced. Four people _ one each in Loei and Prachin Buri and two in Chanthaburi _ have drowned.

Residents take refuge on top of a mailbox where they waited for hours for flood assistance to arrive. A resident in Chanthaburi's Talad Ploy gem market carries a dog to safety. — SAROT MEKSOPHAWANNAKUL

Peerapong Suwannamontri, the deputy chief of the Royal Irrigation Department, said the country's largest dam, Bhumibol dam in Tak, and the Pasak Cholasit dam in Lop Buri are running almost at full capacity. More water must be released to prevent damage to the dams' structures, threatening to increase floods in the Central provinces downstream.

The Chao Phraya dam may hold water for a while longer, but not too long. It is forced to discharge as little water as possible, especially around Tuesday when the high tide is expected to peak in the Chao Phraya river, which has overflowed its banks in many provinces including Bangkok.

Supreme Commander Gen Boonsang Niampradit, assigned by the Council for National Security to oversee flood relief, said the military will work with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration to collect flood relief donations.

The two agencies are preparing measures to counter the effects of flood in the lower Central provinces, expected to be critical in the coming days when water run-off from the North is compounded by the high tide.

An aerial view of the central area of tambon Channimit in Chanthaburi's Muang district shows people trying to get by in the flooded streets.

The deluge in Sing Buri and Ayutthaya shows no sign of improving. In the East, residents in many parts of Rayong and Chanthaburi fled their homes, some of which are totally submerged, while in the Northeast, a vast amount of crops have been lost to water.

All districts in Chanthaburi recorded rainfall in excess of 200mm yesterday. The water level in downtown Muang district continued to climb, reaching two metres in a number of areas. Inmates at the provincial prison were evacuated.

Three emergency centres were set up, with volunteers out in force to hand out relief supplies. Provincial governor Panas Kaewlai denied the main Khiritharn dam was close to collapsing. Rambhai Barni Rajabhat University delayed final exams.

In Prachin Buri, riverside residents camped out on higher ground.

A landslide in Tak blocked the Mae Sot-Tak road for three hours while torrential forest run-offs in Ban Tak district devastated 100 houses in a village.

In Phitsanulok, dried food and rice offered as alms to Wat Ratchaburana to mark the end of Buddhist Lent were re-distributed to families in critically-flooded areas.

In Sing Buri, many flood victims have gone without food as they were inaccessible even to boats.

In Phrae, forest run-off ravaged the Mae Yae dyke in tambon Pongpawai in Den Chai district and deluged Huay Rai, Mae Yun and Suan Luang villages. The road linking Mae Yae and Suan Luang villages were destroyed.

In Loei, Manee Pinyorak, 69, of Ban Huay Hin Cha village in tambon That in Chiang Khan district was found drowned after being swept away by floods while fishing in the Loei river.

In Ayutthaya, Nittaya Aumpittaya, director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand's Region 6 office, said floods in the central provinces have ruined local tourism. A lot of famous temples, ancient sites, markets and communities in these provinces are under water.

In Ubon Ratchathani, the Moon river yesterday flooded 14 communities along its river banks. More than 100 families were made homeless. In the province's municipality, eight communities were inundated. Anti-flood centres are providing food and necessary items to residents.

The weather bureau's northeastern office predicts the lower northeastern provinces, including Chaiyaphum, Nakhon Ratchasima, Buri Ram, Surin, Si Sa Ket and Ubon Ratchathani, will experience heavy rainfall covering 60% of the area. Flash flood warnings have been issued.

ประจำวันศุกร์ที่ 29 กันยายน 2549

Premier quality OTOP products from the Northeastern region are available at Tesco-Lotus in Phuket.

Option >>

Andaman News TV11 (VHF dial) + Radio Thailand FM90.5 Phuket City, both broadcast to Phang Nga, Krabi & Phuket provinces, 8.30am & later on Phuket Cable channel 1 , Friday 29 September 2006 & www.Thaisnews.com { Our news text and mini-videos can be freely copied, but please give credit to Andaman News TV11 Phuket}

22 types of premier quality community products or widely known as One Tambon One Products or OTOP are available for sale at Tesco-Lotus in Phuket during September 27th – 30th. This mini OTOP fair is part of the exchange program between the Ubon Ratchathani province in the northeastern province and Phuket province for market networking. 22 types of good quality products are on offer. These include clothing and accessories, drinks and herbal products.

http://www.thaisnews.com/news_detail.php?newsid=189110

sounds like fun bet you will have a great time wish i was there...

Sounds like you lads are gonna have a lot of fun and bad heads the next day. Love to be there also but work and lovely UK weather (its absolutely pissin' it down here) keep me away. Hope you have a great time.

Jay

Marco

Six new houses in the last 7 months that's not too bad. Yes, hardly repid you're right but something continues to go on there and my wife and i try to remain optimistic that the area is expanding. Average one a month, 12/year....120 in ten years we should get to a lively village sometime in the next decade or not if it becomes too industrialised. Either way there is some activity rather than none so i'm relatively happy. He He.

Trond

The three places you mentioned are very good venues for food. Jum Pa Hom down by the lai thong hotel. Steak was pretty good i enjoyed it there. Alot of money spent making the place look nice inside/outside. The other place on soi 9, Marco introduced me to this also and my wife and I were pleased to learn about other places to eat when on holiday in Ubon as we did not know of many other than the obvious hotels. Marco's a good guide and gave his time up to show me around the city on a number of ocassions in his car to get me familiar. For that I'm very grateful as too many farangs you meet walk the other way when you see them. Nice to see not everyone is the same in Ubon. He's a lousy singer though but he doesn't know it. Don't go to karaoke with him! The smile pub/restaurant have really good ribs also and we took friends there one night. Alot of farangs the night we went.

Jay

Thanks Marco

Nice to know that Ubon is expanding rapidly throughout the city inside and out. Cheers mate.

Jay

Cheers Mike nice to hear from you....

Jay

Marco

Sounds like the kind of place i will end up for the night for a peacful night's sleep if i've had an argument with my wife. He He....

ps.. Got your msn message earlier. No problem your comments were duly noted for future reference.

Jay

My wife just got off the phone with her dad this morning and apparently next to the Tambon Kamyai government offices (Chayangkul Rd) Ubon, there is a small resort with bungalows been built for rent we assume. Has anyone got any news on this or heard about it. Its not far from our house just a few kms away.

Cheers,

Jay

Are any of you guys planning another UFM (Ubon Farang Meeting) now that Marco has returned. It would be nice to hear that another group meeting was to take place at some agreed venue. Not that I can be there this time as my wife is pregnant expecting our second child so for us it could be some time before we return to Ubon. However, it is still nice to think that there may be a growing trend for farangs to socialise around the city meeting at least once every few months.

The Nevada Grand is not good at all for food or rooms these days very poor in general I found. Dusty rooms and a Steak that was like eating the bottom of my shoe it was that tough. Stay clear if you know what's good. The only thing it has going for it is nightlife around that area is karaoke/cafe, a few bars (live band), cinema etc...

The lai thong is probably about the best and Marco is right they have a great buffee style breakfast and lunch. Many working thais visit to eat and stay as well as farangs, police & ministers. They have singers on in the evenings also. One has a good voice but another lady there sings like a strangled cat on a roof.

In addition I put my parents up at the Tosang Ubon hotel on our last trip to give it a try and the rooms and food were not bad at all really but the Lai Thong is just that little bit better.

Has anybody got any news on new hotels, restaurants, malls etc..... opening in and around Ubon to keep the topic alive. Thanks.

Thanks both. Not sure what % tint I got myself never asked the dealer but they do not appear to be more than 30-40%. Maybe less from the pictures attached. It will probably be another 12-24 months before i get back to use my vigo with the missus been pregnant at the moment. I miss using my toyota it will be old already by the time i get back to Thailand.

Dear All

For anyone who did not already know. Kasikorn Bank have a section on their website that lists properties which are held by the bank for re-sale. This includes farm land, houses, bungalows, commercial property etc.. Very useful for comparing prices around your local area and includes pictures. Take a look, it is in both Engish & Thai language and does not just include Ubon but other towns & cities also.

http://www.kasikornbank.com/PropertyForSal...,0-EN-1,00.html

Cheers.

ps.. By the way Marco is back !! Chang sales in Ubon are on the rise...............

Regards,

Jay

THAI is ready for domestic flights in Suvarnabhumi tomorrow

ThaisNews - Bangkok,Thailand

... Tomorrow, three roundtrip flights will be underway in Suvarnabhumi, and they include Bangkok-Phitsanulok, Bangkok-Ubon Ratchathani, and Bangkok-Chiang Mai. ...

http://www.thaisnews.com/news_detail.php?newsid=187382