gomangosteen

More to follow from previous post - Rama IX International Mangrove Botanical Garden 

In the background, the hills of Namtok Phliu National Park

Eastern Thailand: Chachoengsao, Chanthaburi, Chon Buri, Prachin Buri, Rayong, Sa Kaeo, Trat

Probably a year off completion, on the weekend we were able to walk the grounds and allowed access to the incomplete buildings - apart from going up the observation tower. Will be a wonderful conseravtion / environmental asset to Chanthaburi.

Rama IX International Mangrove Botanical Garden is being established on 518 rai in Chanthaburi province at Samet Ngam. It is the world’s first mangrove-based botanical garden that collects mangrove forest plants worldwide and serves as a research and learning centre for mangrove forest conservation and rehabilitation.

Eastern Thailand: Chachoengsao, Chanthaburi, Chon Buri, Prachin Buri, Rayong, Sa Kaeo, Trat

1 hour ago, thonglorjimmy said:

 

Well this didn't last very long

"According to Royal Thai Police spokesman Pol General Roi Ingkhapairoj, Thai police are being ordered to no longer give nationality information of foreigners arrested for alleged crimes in Thailand to the media"

Is it the distinction between 'arrested' and 'convicted'?

As this man was fined, that would place him in the second category.

1 hour ago, Dirty Munger said:

No insurance will cover you for riding a motorbike in Thailand,the risk is simply too great for any insurer.

Not correct.

In my own case, I am insured with Southern Cross Medical Insurance - Optional: Moped and motorbike cover - up to 200cc (which fits nicely with Thailand)

My extra premium was NZ $20 (less than 500 baht) on top of the standard policy.

To get this optional cover, you must: • choose the moped or motorbike option when you apply for cover • pay the extra premium.

You will know you have cover as it will be written on your Certificate of Insurance

We only cover your claims for riding a moped or motorbike if you meet the conditions below.

Ride the moped or motorbike safely and legally

While riding a moped or motorbike, you must always do all the following. • Wear a helmet, even if the local laws do not require you to do so • Stay within the law – including following all driving laws, such as speed limits and blood alcohol limits • Make sure the driver has the right driver’s licence for the class of moped or motorbike you’re riding, as required by: – their country of permanent residence – the country you are in

Clarification, since posters here so obsessed with nationality...

Patrick Ward was an Irish national who had been born in New Zealand, traveling on a Tourist Visa.

Irish man dies after falling from train in Thailand

An Irish national has died after falling from a train in Thailand along what is known as the “death railway”.

A Department of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman said they were aware of the incident and are ready to provide counsellor assistance if needed.

3 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

NZ is IMO a nanny state. He may not have realised that Thailand is not.

Or you could read the linked news item:

The New Zealander had then opened the train door to snap some good shots of the  scenery but in doing so somehow slipped and fell to the ground.

32 minutes ago, proton said:

How can they tell it was a heart attack before and autopsy? Yes we all know what a heart attack is????

Well they did both die in hospital.

I'd hope a doctor might recognise the symptoms.

Xmas in Chanthaburi - the cathedral in the city, and St Joseph's church in Tha Mai

Eastern Thailand: Chachoengsao, Chanthaburi, Chon Buri, Prachin Buri, Rayong, Sa Kaeo, Trat

And a couple more Chanthaburi rabbits - the provincial symbol

Not interested in the shopping ... but they've done a nice job on the canal side of Central Chanthaburi with walking track, playground, outdoor eating, and a dog exercise area. 

I was out biking, used to ride here a lot before the Bhakti Rambai canal system was developed and the sealed pathways/roads built. Somewhere there may still be the area of concrete I rode through not realising it was fresh, leaving a line of wide mountainbike tyre imprints. Now it's sealed both sides, enjoyed peadalling alongside the waterways.

A few photos from Wednesday.

View across the canal from Central Chanthaburi to the hills of Namtok Phliu National Park

The small dog exercise area - for small dogs!

And remember this, by the canal-side entrance, public toilets

20 minutes ago, bangon04 said:

Do all Thai Navy officers qualify for paratrooper wings on their uniforms??

Maybe they do. 

Do you know anything on the topic? Enlighten us, please.

We previously lived within view of the Royal Thai Navy airstrip in Tha Mai, Chanthaburi.

For three weeks April/May there were approx 600 jumps per day - I don't know how many jumps for each person, or how many required to get 'wings'.

Police and army were also involved, and the last day was a skydiving competition to land on a 10m x 10m target area.

He was travelling with his wife and three children.

Does seem peculiar that he'd want 'self-defence' on a family holiday.

Who knows; we get drip-fed snippets from various news sources, maybe there's a fraction of truth, somewhere.

December 2022 and an update on HTMS Phosamton - formerly HMS Minstrel, Algerine class minesweeper from WWII.

In 2018 there were various people here from the Thai navy inspecting the ship. I heard of two options, again, either refloating and towing out to sea as an artificial reef, or dragging into a channel to be dug in the river beach and then enclosing it, as per the HTMS Prasae in Rayong province.

Nothing eventuated.

The ship has settled into the riverbed at its mooring at the Samet Ngam pier on the Chantahburi river. Water flows through holes in the sides, the decks are corroded, collapsing. I doubt now that refloating to tow away / move would be an option. It can just gently corrode away and I suppose become a genuine 'shipwreck'.

7 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

While all that is true, they sure would have had a better chance with life jackets. Someone really dropped the ball, and what do you want to bet the top brass pays nothing in the way of demotion, or a court martial for this gross malfeasance? 

Nothing would surprise.

I'd say it will be the weather to blame, and leave it at that.

No hope of a genuine inquiry being released to the public - using the old 'in the interests of national security' clause.

I see a lifejacket washed up on an island of Chumpon today, with a plastic bag attached holding the ID card, wallet, phone. of one of the crew members. Strange, however maybe he didn't have time to put it on and lost it once in the water. Still, unusual to find it intact like that.

2 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

191 officers ? You having a laugh

An error.

If you read the linked article you'll find it was the 191st Special Operations Patrol Division, and that three offciers were involved.

Three.

47 minutes ago, Bill Dauterive said:

all others still pay 300 to 350 construction pay more for specialist 500 , less for woman. 250.. Sorry it is what it is.

All?

My partner is an accountant for a civil engineering company, costing contracts for highways and bridges; currently 155 staff but this often increases for specific contracts.

Current daily rates for non-salary staff are 400 basic and up to 1100 per day for the skilled machine operators - these machines are not cheap to buy, touchscreen computer operations, training with the manufacturer upon purchase eg Wirtgen, Sakai.

With individual contracts often 600-800 million baht any enforced wage increase will simply be added in to the costing for each contract tendered for; won't make them any less competitive as same will apply to competing contractors. 

And just to add here, one of the more pricey machines, lays double-lane asphalt, its prime operator is a woman, as are several of the other earthworks machine operators. I'm told they're better at the job!

Bringing your work home . . . Takat Ngao about 2km inland from Paknam Khaem Nu on the Chanthaburi coast

Eastern Thailand: Chachoengsao, Chanthaburi, Chon Buri, Prachin Buri, Rayong, Sa Kaeo, Trat

36 minutes ago, ourmanflint said:

This is such a BS story. How on earth was someone from UK who was very probably taught how to swim age 10, drown 15ft from a jetty after previously saying he was ok? 

Agree there's something missing or lost in translation. What happened to the kayak - they don't tend to sink if overturned, just left floating out there?

The quoted BBC article states he said he was going to "swim to shore" rather than get back to the jetty; which may suggest he was swimming away from the jetty to the shore/beach, but as above still doesn't seem right. 

More questions than answers, sad for his friends and family.