Pattaya sees rise in independent Chinese tourists amid decline in group tours

[snoop1130]

Rawai sea gypsies finally see the light

PHUKET: -- The 25-household Rawai sea gypsy community is overjoyed to finally have electricity, after having lived without it for most of their lives, as a land-rights conflict hampered their access to the power grid.

The free installation of a 3,000-watt solar cell-powered system to generate electricity in the area is the result of an initiative by Phra Khru Wimonpanyakhun, the ‘Solar monk’ based in Ubon Ratchathani, who is also the founder of the solar-cell-powered Sri Saengdham School.

Some residents shed tears upon seeing the lights.

Full Story: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket-news/Rawai-sea-gypsies-finally-the-light/63910?desktopversion#ad-image-0

-- Phuket Gazette 2016-05-19

[Happy Grumpy]

Will probably be stolen or purposefully smashed up.

[BigBadGeordie]

Will probably be stolen or purposefully smashed up.

What a happy, positive chap you are.

But, bye the bye, anything to support your post... ...... ........

[SoiBiker]

Will probably be stolen or purposefully smashed up.

Wow. Do you have some kind of compulsion to shit on anything positive you see?

[grumpyoldman]

Hooray for the Solar Monk, and boo to the politicians and jerks that have kept these people off the grid .

[Reigntax]

It will now be much easier to see the thugs coming at night to remove them from their land.

Are they sure that they are not highly agitated ghosts dancing in glass bubbles?

Edited May 19, 2016 by Reigntax

[NeilSA1]

Well done to the Solar Monk, who does not seem to be adverse to mix with the people in a room which is awash with Christian posters and pictures. I wish all beliefs could mix peaceably together.

[simon43]

This is the year 2016

This is the island of Phuket

This community has only just got electricity, and not from any government body, but from the Solar Monk

Something is really f**ked up when a community of 'real' Thais (the first people to settle on this land centuries ago before the Tai or other groups from China), are the last to be able to switch on a lightbulb.

[monkey4u]

Are these Thai's Catholic??

If not Why the print of Jesus on the back wall?

[Old Croc]

Are these Thai's Catholic??

If not Why the print of Jesus on the back wall?

Why are they still celebrating xmas in May?

[Graemej100]

Will probably be stolen or purposefully smashed up.

This is a positive story amongst a lot of negatives. Why

would you want to drop shit on it?

[nakhonandy]

Are these Thai's Catholic??

If not Why the print of Jesus on the back wall?

Hedging their bets?

Seriously though it is ridiculous that they have to get this from a Monk and the local government have done sod all for ages.

Nice to here a positive story about a monk for a change, well done that man.