gomangosteen

I don't know re Chan city - told some of the hotels have pools available for casual users/non-guests but have not needed, as near us we have the Tha Mai pool/fitness park area. Tha Mai is 12km from central Chan city; it's a great facility to have, well-maintained and good staff.

Passionfruit alert!

check your local fresh fruit markets . . . we were in Sa Kaeo province over NY, large yellow-skinned passionfruit selling at markets 30b/kilo, back home now Chanthaburi and must be their high season, local markets have them 35-40 baht/kilo, was told these ones are grown a little inland at Phlio about 15km south-east of Chan city, 5-6km in from the coast.

Love 'em!

The Suzuki Carry - three of these yesterday providing sounds at Children's Day event

Still in service, Tha Mai naval airfield, Chanthaburi

Water Buffalo - estimate there are approaching 150 resorts of varying standards/pricing along the long stretch of Chao Lao.

'On the beach' is limiting - it's a fairly narrow strip between the road/sea, also prices a lot higher as a consequence

I can't recommend hotels/resorts, however a good guideline re location will help you cut many out of consideration.

The 'north/Rayong' end of the beach is known as Laem Sadet, resorts here but the beach is generally better for surfcasting/kayaking than swimming, drops off to deep water very quickly, it is signposted as a 'no-swim area'

At the other, south/Trat end of Chao Lao, some nice looking resorts/hotels but the beach here is more akin to mudflats at times.

Go for the middle! Between the CL Pier and the beach in front of the intersection with the dugong roundabout has the best, cleanest, safest sections of beach.

As examples, the recently opened Blues River Resort in range 4-10,000b a night, pool, restaurant etc; across the road, Ton Wa resort we've had numerous friends stay there, 600-1200 a night for small chalet, 5min walk to beach.

Chao Lao - Laem Sadet in distance.

Lots of options, enjoy your stay.

VW Beetle visitor to our town today, a few in the region.

Twice recently I've seen a restored Morris 1000 (50s, 60s?), both times at night, going the other way . . . my quest for that one continues.

VWs far easier to find

^ you/we/I don't know what information they were presented with

In the past i spent 2 yrs (voluntary) mentoring 2 people from Sri Lanka and Bangladesh who had come to Wellington, NZ through the refugee quota programme. Through this I got me meet many other refugees. Never encountered any behaviour like this man is reported (and there has been little but hearsay) apart from the foolishness of waving someone else's passport (on his own Facebook page)

Don't let one 'apparent' poor decision by UNHCR cloud judgment on the other 7-800 refugees every year who go on to become New Zealanders.

From the New Zealand Herald today; clarifies some things - as per my post #116 - he is a United Nations UNHCR refugee

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed officials had met with Thai counterparts to "explain New Zealand's refugee resettlement policy".

People who have been granted refugee status by the United Nations refugee agency could resettle in New Zealand under its quota refugee system.

The Bangkok embassy and immigration officials refused to comment on the matter.

Immigration NZ said it could not discuss the case "on privacy and legal grounds".

Why is he in New Zealand?
He was granted refugee status by the UNHCR last year and fled here via Cambodia to escape persecution in his home country.

Referencing two earlier posts:

post #46

UNHCR site 21 Sept 2014

He is under the protection of the Cambodian office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

and

post #83

Each year New Zealand accepts 750 refugees for resettlement through the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

there is mention in another English language newspaper today that does not mention 'political asylum' - and suggests the Thai query is whether this man has been granted refugee status.

If you've read Khaosod English previously, their efforts at translation can vary from poor to . . . whatever.

And after all, there's a lot of guesswork going on based upon a single photo on a Facebook page.

Wearing a Cory's Electrical (nationwide, and part of the global Sonepar Group) shirt makes him no more an employee than my wearing my BMW shirt makes me a racing car driver.

If that [uN-supported refugee status] were the case, perhaps the venom here should be directed towards the United Nations agency UNHCR, being as they are the 'vetting' authority in such cases?

*********

As a side note, if the FBI cannot get Kim Dotcom out of NZ to face charges in USA despite several years' efforts and millions in legal cases, I wouldn't be backing the Thai Gov't chances IF he is there under refugee status

Still no word from Wellington

^ I guess you are expecting a direct call??

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I expect that any facts presented around NZ's refugee quota will not be digested well by the experts here, but such as they are.

Put simply, yes NZ takes approx 750 refugees per year who are given permanent residence on arrival.

7065 over the past 10 years (source)

Above this number, asylum seekers may also apply.

Apart from a mention on Facebook, there is no official mention of 'political asylum' apart from the posters whose diapers appear to be in a knot today. Why the rage/hate, about a topic it is patently obvious you are neither informed about, nor can make the effort to eg Google accurate information?

Each year New Zealand accepts 750 refugees for resettlement through the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), as part of its commitment to being a good international citizen.

New Zealand has been accepting refugees for resettlement since World War II, and now accepts 750 (plus or minus 10 percent) annually. In recent years, a focus on refugees in special need of protection – as identified by the UNHCR – has resulted in the resettlement of a diverse range of nationalities from regions as far afield as East Africa and the Middle East. More recently, increasing numbers of refugees have come from the Asia-Pacific region. A three-year quota has been put in place to assist with long-term planning and to provide more certainty for agencies resettling refugees.

Quota refugees are given permanent residence on arrival in New Zealand and spend their first six weeks at the Department’s Mangere Refugee Resettlement Centre.

In addition to quota refugees, New Zealand considers claims from asylum seekers who claim refugee status when they arrive in New Zealand. Where appropriate, they too are initially accommodated at the Mangere Refugee Resettlement Centre. In 2011/12, 364 (claims and subsequent claims) were decided, with 115 of them approved.

Source: Immigration NZ Refugee Resettlement Factsheet

Perhaps he made it to NZ with UN support?

He had been made 'stateless' when the Thai gov't revoked his passport 30 June 2014

UNHCR site 21 Sept 2014

Ekapop is among a number of Thai fugitives seeking refuge in Thailand's neighboring countries. By now, it is clear that Ekapop is hiding somewhere in Cambodia. He is under the protection of the Cambodian office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). But that does not necessarily guarantee his safety, particularly after the recent rapprochement between Thailand and Cambodia.

dry and dusty . . . a boy and his shadow head off to go fishing

SW Sa Kaeo province, New Year's weekend

Khao Rai Ya market

^ cheers for days

Khao Rai Ya market, near intersection/traffic lights of Sukhumvit 3 and Highways 316/3249 - if you're heading back towards Rayong, next main intersection past the Rajabhat University on S 3

From central Chan city, north on 316 from near the lake through traffic lights at intersection with 3153 (main Tesco-Lotus about 150m away on 3153)

. . . I have some pics, but just where are they?

where's the complaints dept?

For years I have seen globes, atlases, maps, magazine/tv graphics etc that have omitted New Zealand

Occurs so often . . . there's a website World Maps Without NZ

Talking about the least corrupt countries in the world and not including New Zealand on the map: that’s totally cool, Business Insider, the country is only #2 on your own list, no big deal.

Happy New Year 2558, Laem Sing beach carnival, Chanthaburi

^ Yes, but the check-in airline people don't know that at first, do they?

as I stated 'may have to search'

Once they've confirmed passenger is gone/not going to board the next flight, they may (would?) check there was no baggage with that person.

I flew back here/home Xmas day; at the transit airport there were endless calls for 'passenger who arrived on flight -- from -- due to board flight -- to --, please report to gate -- immediately'

how long do they wait, before then checking for check-in or carry-on bags?

I'm all for of getting the best value flights available, I use Skyscanner mostly, but can see why airline staff may not be thrilled with the Skiplagged concept, nor would the passengers who may be kept waiting.

Skiplagged searches out cheap airfares, particularly a type of cheap airfare called "Hidden City" that is frowned up by the airlines.

"Hidden City" travel is when you book a longer flight that includes a layover to your real destination because it's cheaper than flying direct.

You travel with carry-on and you get off the plane during the layover.

************

Can see security concerns - passengers booked through, exiting from a transit airport; once final boarding time has passed, airline may have to search for any checked-through baggage and locate/remove it, holding up plane departure and inconveniencing other passengers

Story here from From Australia's Business Insider:

more racing, today on Chanthaburi coast at Laem Sing

First time I've seen them on the sea, perfect conditions, though it'd be interesting to see how they handle even a mild chop/swell, given they are airborne much of the time

Today's races a lot longer than the ones I've seen on rivers/dams, estimate course was approx 1500m, and some events held over 4 laps

Greg Lake performs his 1975 classic "I Believe in Father Christmas" filmed live at St. Bride's Church, Fleet Street, in the City of London with Jethro Tull' s Ian Anderson on flute, David Arch on keyboards, Florian Opahle on acoustic guitar and the church choir.

another from Jethro Tull, who've recorded many through the years - incl a full album, cleverly titled 'Christmas Album'

and the weather's always bad - Dec 2013-Jan 2014

Beach 12 December 2013