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Hot air balloons take flight over Chiang Mai
Hot air balloons from around the world and
across Thailand were on display at the grounds at Prince Royal’s College,
offering tethered rides in the early evening.
By Shana Kongmun
The 5th Annual Thailand Hot
Air Balloon Festival had its inaugural flights in Chiang Mai on Friday,
November 25, 2011 as balloons from Thailand and around the world took flight
over the city early in the morning from the grounds at Prince Royal’s
College.
The evening saw the grand opening
ceremony which was opened by the Chairwoman of the TAT Board of Directors,
Pensuda Praiaram. Chiang Mai Governor ML Panadda Diskul also took the stage
to greet the large crowd in both Thai and English, welcoming everyone to
enjoy the hot air balloons, dancing, shows, and the many food stalls on
offer from sponsors Le Meridien, Mandarin Oriental Dhara Devi, dusit D2,
Holiday Inn, Centara Duangtawan, Imperial Mae Ping, the Royal Princess and
Khum Phaya Resort. There was a fashion show, games and rides in the tethered
hot air balloons.
Chiang Mai
Governor ML Panadda Diskul is joined on stage by Chairman of the TAT Board
of Director Pensuda Praiaram, Chiang Mai Mayor Tussanai Buranupakorn, TAT
Director for Chiang Mai Chalermsak Suranant and Earth, Wind and Fire Co.
organizers of the event.
Earth, Wind and Fire Co. Ltd organized
the event at the Prince Royal’s College and one of their consultants, Yut
Wanichanond, is also a hot air balloon pilot, bringing his love of hot air
balloons to Chiang Mai.
The event takes place at Prince Royal’s
College and admission is 50 Baht. There is a light and sound show every
evening as well as fireworks. The balloons will take off every morning at 6
a.m. to fly over the city in the cool hours of the early morning.
As night
settled in the balloons glowed in the evening sky, a light show was on offer
later in the evening.
Yut
Wanichanond, consultant for Earth, Wind and Fire and one of the hot air
balloon pilots is joined by Chiang Mai Governor ML Panadda Diskul and Mayor
Tussanai Buranupakorn.
One of the
pilots fills his balloon with hot air as the crowds of children and adults
gathered round to watch.
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City and Province vow to combat drunk driving
The Chiang Mai Provincial Police, City and
District Courts, Provincial Administration Organization and the Chiang Mai
Municipality forged an agreement to help combat drunk driving in Chiang Mai
at the City Court Building on November 23, 2011. Chiang Mai PAO President
Boonlert Buranupakorn signed the agreement along with the Chiang Mai Mayor,
the head of the Provincial Police and the Courts. The agreement will allow
the groups to work together to help forge public awareness of the
destructive nature of drunk driving and the fatalities that ensue. A drunk
driving awareness campaign will be held at 3 Kings Monument on Sunday,
November 27, 2011 to help promote an understanding of the dangers involved.
HM the King’s Birthday Celebrations on December 5
A ceremony to honor HM the King on this, his 84th
birthday, will be held on Monday, December 5, 2011 at Tha Pae Gate at 6 a.m.
Then the Governor and government officials will be joined by
Consul-Generals, Consuls and Honorary Consuls to pay their respects to HM
King Bhumibol Adulyadej at Chiang Mai University Convention Center at 8:15
a.m.
Chiang Mai Governor ML Panadda Diskul
and other top officials will make merit by offering food and other items to
monks as well as to honor HM the King in ritual ceremonies.
Civil servants, military and police
officials will pay homage to HM the King in front of City Hall by preparing
a gold and silver donation tree.
An International We Love the King Day
is scheduled for Saturday, December 3 with a parade of foreigners and Thais
who love HM the King starting from Tha Pae Gate at 4:09 p.m. and proceeding
to JJ Market where a festival will be held featuring performances of both
Thai and foreign artists.
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Commemorative bank notes issued to honor HM the King on his birthday
Prasarn Trairatvorakul,
Governor of the Bank of Thailand (BOT) unveiled the new commemorative bank
notes recently that have been redesigned and will go on sale in honor of HM
the King’s 84th birthday. The new notes will feature a different and clearer
portrait of HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej along with a different background.
The new 100 Baht notes will feature new technology including a gold
horizontal bar that will flash as the note is moved and the 100 printed in
gold. The notes will be available with commemorative cases and bags at all
commercial banks from December 2, 2011.
Money Expo brings Deputy PM to Chiang Mai
HE Kittiratt Na Ranong,
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce presided over the grand
opening of the Chiang Mai Money Expo 2011 on November 18, 2011. He was
joined by Governor ML Panadda Diskul, Deputy Head of the Stock Exchange of
Thailand, Bank of Thailand Northern region officials and Chaing Mai Chamber
of Commerce members. The Money expo is being held from November 18-20.
Chiang Mai is the biggest province in the North in investment and savings,
Chiang Mai accounts for 52% of stock transactions conducted in the North or
about 11.4 billion baht in the first 9 months of this year.
Homemade bomb goes off in Chang Moi area
Chiang Mai Mail online reporters
A homemade bomb went off near the
entrance of a Chang Moi area guesthouse at 12:30 a.m. on Saturday, November
19, 2011 damaging the building slightly. The guesthouse is located on Soi 1,
Thanon Chai Sripoom in Chang Moi. The guesthouse is rented by a 50 year old
British man.
A neighbor came out after hearing a
loud explosion but didn’t see any one at the scene and a CCTV camera nearby
did not record the incident. Police are not sure if the guesthouse was
targeted or not as the bomb went off in the road. Nobody was injured in the
attack and police are unsure as to the motive.
Police said neighbors were puzzled by
the incident since there are no reported problems. Forensic police are
investigating the scene for more information. The police have been enforcing
a crackdown in the area on noisy late night venues near the temple.
Fire drill at the municipality
A recent fire drill held at
the Chiang Mai Municipality’s new offices saw a realistic re-enactment of a
fire complete with smoke. The drill was orderly however, the tight spaces in
the nearby road left residents wondering how effective the fire engines
would be in the case of a real fire. (Photo courtesy of Howard Graves)
2011 World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims
Sunday 20 November 2011 marks the
World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims where all those killed or
injured in road traffic accidents are remembered, together with their
families, the emergency services and all others affected or involved.
According to the
Royal Thai Police, in 2010, there were 83,261 reported road traffic
accidents in Thailand resulting in 7,468 fatalities plus 14,646 injuries and
3,544 serious injuries. Also in 2010 about 10% of all deaths of British
nationals in Thailand were due to road traffic accidents. So far this year
17 British nationals have died in road traffic accidents in Thailand and a
further 36 have been seriously injured. About 70% of all road traffic
fatalities in Thailand involved motorbikes. On Koh Samui alone there were 7
deaths of British Nationals last year caused by motorbike accidents.
British Ambassador
Asif Ahmad said, ‘Road traffic accidents have far reaching effects on both
the individual and their families. Not all tragedies are avoidable but many
lives could be saved and critical injuries avoided, if people took the same
precautions abroad that they take at home. Our consular team helps the
families of those that die in road traffic accidents and also regularly
assist patients suffering from severe head and brain injuries caused by
motorbike accidents. Sadly some of these people are left with life changing,
debilitating injuries. Their families often have the additional worry of
mounting hospital bills as either the motorbike’s engine size or the failure
to wear a crash helmet invalidates most travel insurance policies.
British nationals
involved in an accident and needing consular assistance from the British
Embassy should call us on 02 305 8333 and my consular team will do all they
can to help. For more information on how to prepare yourself for driving
abroad, visit our website:
http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/staying-safe/driving-abroad
’
Sunday 20 November 2011 is The World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic
Victims and is held on the third Sunday of
November each year. It is the day on which all
those killed and injured in road traffic accidents are remembered, together
with their families, the emergency services and all others affected or
involved in the aftermath. In 1993 the UK road victim charity
RoadPeace campaigned nationally and internationally for appropriate
acknowledgement for victims of road traffic accidents and their families.
This was adopted by the United Nations on 26 October 2005 and the day
recognises that road traffic accident victims and their families deserve
much greater recognition.
To mark the World
Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims the British Embassy Bangkok is
hoping to raise awareness of the day and warn people of the dangers of
driving abroad. There are over 25 million vehicles in Thailand, a high
proportion of which are motorcycles and mopeds. Sadly road traffic accidents
in Thailand account for the second most frequent cause of death among
British nationals as well as a high number of hospitalisations. The majority
of these involve motorcycles and mopeds. Although
it is compulsory for the rider to wear a helmet in Thailand, many chose not
to do so.
Some of the key
factors behind accidents involving visitors abroad are:
Research has shown
that holiday makers abroad are most at risk of having an accident just 60
minutes into their first journey. Further
information and tips for driving abroad can be found at www.fco.gov.uk/drivingabroad.
Visitors to a
foreign country are one-and-a-half times as likely to have a serious
accident when travelling in a 100-110 km/h speed limit zone as domestic
drivers, because of unfamiliarity at driving at these speeds. Familiarise
yourself with the local driving laws – including local speed limits.
Visitors to a
foreign country are twice as likely to have a serious accident as domestic
drivers because of driver fatigue. Don’t drive when you’re tired, jet lagged
and take regular breaks on long journeys.
An international or
Thai driving licence is required to drive in Thailand.
Travelling by
motorcycle, scooter or moped is significantly more dangerous than by car -
if you’re not accustomed to riding a motorcycle you should not attempt to
ride one for the first time when abroad on unfamiliar roads. Always wear a
safety helmet and suitable clothing.
The probability of
being involved in an accident increases for car drivers when renting a
vehicle, but is six times higher for people who hire mopeds or motorbikes.
If hiring, rent from a reputable company and check your insurance cover.
Some motorcycles or scooters for hire in beach resorts are often
unregistered and cannot be used legally on a public road. You could be held
personally responsible for any claim for injury or damage if you are not
fully covered. Check with your
insurance company that you’re fully covered to drive
abroad including breakdown recovery and any medical expenses resulting from
an accident. Make sure your travel insurance covers you before you decide to
drive or be a passenger on a motorbike - check the exclusions carefully.
In the UK all
drivers and passengers are required to wear a seatbelt and all motorcyclists
wear a crash helmet and safety clothing. These simple but life saving
measures are all too often forgotten or ignored when abroad.
Don’t drink and
drive. The legal blood-alcohol limit in Thailand
is 50mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood. In the UK, the alcohol limit
for drivers is 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood.
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Global Entrepreneurship week in Chiang Mai
Global Entrepeneurship Week
was held at the U.S. Consulate General on Tuesday, November 15, 2011 where a
panel of business experts and entrepreneurs discussed keys to success and
failure in business startups.
By Shana Kongmun
The U.S. Consulate General and Chiang
Mai Creative City Committee hosted a networking and discussion evening at
the start of Global Entrepreneurship Week on Tuesday, November 15, 2011 at
the U.S. Consulate. As Consul General Susan Stevenson pointed out, it’s not
only the largest event for Global Entrepreneur Week being held in Thailand
since the events scheduled for Bangkok were cancelled due to flooding, but
the only event!
Robert Fox of the Joint Foreign
Chambers of Commerce in Thailand came up from Bangkok to meet and talk with
local business people and entrepreneurs as did the founder of Imagimax
Sirisuk Koshpasharin who talked about his experiences founding the first 3D
and animation graphics studio in Thailand in 1998. Araya Laiprawut of
Kasikorn Bank talked about SME financing and Sven Ernst, a German
entrepreneur who established a branch of his business Buzzwoo! in Chiang Mai
recently talked about his experiences with the Board of Investment (BOI).
Pinyo Duangcham, a local Chiang Mai lawyer, spoke of the many pitfalls
entrepreneurs face and the mistakes they often make, when opening or
starting a business in Thailand.
Emcee Mr.
Smith Taweelerdniti is joined by members of the panel and the Chiang Mai
Creative City Committee.
Khun Sirisuk was a very entertaining
speaker and his story was very interesting for the many young Thai
entrepreneurs that attended the event, including a former business student
of CMU lecturer Traci Morachnik, who told his former professor that he had
started his own business and, at the age of 26, was already doing very well.
Mr. Fox noted that opportunities for
participating in entrepreneurial endeavors abound, especially in IT. He said
that the Joint Foreign Chambers want to foster a “Made in Thailand” brand
and in particular a “Made in Chiang Mai” brand where the best and the
brightest can come to Chiang Mai.
Sven Ernst talked about his experiences
as an entrepreneur in Chiang Mai and encouraged those interested in starting
up an IT business to talk to the Board of Investment (BOI). Sven added that
he believes Chiang Mai is highly underestimated, “There are many startups
setting up here and the incentives for investors through the BOI are
attractive. You can own your business 100%, 8 years tax free, you are able
to bring foreign experts to the country and get work permits for them.”
Martin
Venzky-Stallling of the Chiang Mai Creative City Committee welcomes Robert
Fox of the Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce in Thailand to Chiang Mai with
one of his ubiquitous CMCC stickers.
Sven Ernst added that it is important
to know the country and the culture before starting a business here, while
K. Sirisuk added “If you don’t know what you are doing and you jump you will
get wet.”
Global Entrepreneurship Week was
launched in 2008 by former U.K. Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Carl
Schramm, the President and CEO of the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation to
celebrate and encourage the entrepreneurial spirit. This year saw more than
115 countries participate with millions of people around the world joining
in activities and events that help them to learn about opportunities,
unleash ideas and build connections.
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Om Koi first district to be declared a disaster area due to cold temps
Chiang Mai Mail online reporters
Om Koi was the first Chiang Mai district declared a
disaster area this year due to the cool winter temperatures that have
recently hit the mountainous regions. Saemoeng was the second district to be
declared a disaster area. Temperatures in the mountainous regions have
dropped to below 15 degrees Celsius for the past 3 days. Minimum
temperatures have reached between 6 and 12 degrees on the mountaintops. At
risk include the elderly and children. The Province intends to distribute
blankets and warm clothing to the affected areas.
Local resident expat arrested for in death of Thai man
Also a Loi Kroh brawl and stolen goods found
Chiang Mai Mail online reporters
A local foreign resident was arrested
by police, local media reports, in the stabbing death of Kamol Boonprasert.
Police allege that American Gary Alan Cutler age 59 and a former US Army
soldier, was at the Caesar Snooker Club on Chang Klan Road on November 11,
when he got into a fight with the Thai man. Witnesses say he stabbed the man
3 times during the fight. The man later died from his wounds. The police
report that Mr. Cutler confessed to the stabbing but that the Thai man
started the fight.
Loi Kroh was also the scene of an
altercation between local police and a member of the Cobra Gold exercises it
is being reported by local media. When enforcing closing times at Loi Kroh
area bars and taking photos of the surrounding area it is alleged that one
police officer got into an altercation with a U.S. soldier who objected to
having his photo taken. It is alleged that in the ensuing fight a gun was
pulled and a shot fired into the air. The police officer was taken to the
hospital to have his injuries checked and released. He later stated that he
was simply trying to protect himself from the 3 Americans.
A 22 year old auto mechanic from Pathum
Thani was arrested on charges of stealing valuables from customers’ vehicles
last week. Police searched his room after a customer filed a complaint over
a stolen laptop computer and report that they found mobile phones, digital
cameras, the notebook and an Ipod. Police then later arrested a vendor in
Waroros Market for receiving stolen goods after the man confessed and gave
them information on the buyer.
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World Diabetes Day
World Diabetes Day was held
on Tuesday, November 15 and the Chiang Mai Municipality held free diabetes
screening and health checks at the Municipal Building for local residents.
Deputy Mayor Nutchudej Wiriyadiloktham attended the event and spoke on the
importance of prevention. Health checks included blood sugar tests, eye
exams, blood pressure test and BMI measurements.
Quirky Pics
Ian saw this photo on the way
to Pai and thought it most apt considering the windy road.
Every once in a while we see a sign or a sight that makes
us smile, if you see something that makes you smile don’t hesitate to pull
out your camera or even camera phone and snap a pic. Send it to
[email protected] and be sure to let us know where you saw it.
Ron sent in this picture
noting, “It’s all about location, location, location.”
Loy Krathong or Yee Peng Festival draws both Thai and foreign tourists
Chiang Mai remains a destination of choice for tourists despite the floods in Bangkok
Visitors flock to Chiang Mai
to attend the Loy Krathong or Yee Peng Festival, float their Krathong on the
river and send their Khom Fai high into the heavens.
The Yee Peng Festival, or Loy Krathong as it is called in
other parts of Thailand, was not, as reported in the international media,
cancelled, instead, Chiang Mai has seen a huge influx of tourists to the
town to float their krathongs on the river and moat and to loft their Khom
Fai high in the sky, sending this year’s bad luck and problems soaring away.
Chiang Mai has remained a destination
of choice for Thai people fleeing the floods further South and foreign
tourists who wish to enjoy all the culture and beauty that Chiang Mai has to
offer. The Yee Peng festival that culminated on Friday the 11th
with the Grand Parade and the awarding the King’s Cup for best float is just
the start of an action filled calendar for Chiang Mai.
Chiang Mai is considered a top
destination for tourists visiting Thailand and those who plan to visit
should not cancel their plans as Chiang Mai remains dry and has many
festivities scheduled. Later this month the International Hot Air Balloon
Festival will take place at the Prince Royal’s College; the Royal Flora
Ratchaphruek starts December 14 and runs through to March 14. Chiang Mai
will have a fireworks display for the New Year, and next year will see the
Flower Festival and many more events.
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Chiang Mai sends donations and aid to Bangkok
The Chiang Mai Municipality
headed by Mayor Tussanai Buranupakorn is joined by the Chamber of Commerce
at the THAI Air Cargo offices to send food to Bangkok.
Chiang Mai Municipality was joined by the Chiang Mai
Chamber of Commerce in donating 20,000 sets of prepared food for flood
victims in Bangkok and Central Thailand to the THAI cargo area of the Chiang
Mai International Airport on November 11, 2011. THAI Airways will carry the
food Bangkok. Chiang Mai residents, who suffered two days of flooding over a
month ago, have dug deep to donate money and goods around the city. Khun Art
of Gap House is joined by the Army on the Sunday Walking Street market every
Sunday to raise funds to purchase goods to deliver to Bangkok. Last Sunday,
they raised 220,000 Baht to add to the total that has now reached over
400,000 Baht. They can be found on the Sunday Walking Street Market this
Sunday the 13th and the 20th. The Chiang Mai Chamber
of Commerce recently donated boats and other hard goods to be trucked down
to Bangkok.
The Chiang Mai Chamber sent
boats and other goods to Bangkok to aid residents who have been affected by
the flooding.
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Donations for the cold season
Villagers in the mountainous
regions suffer from the dropping temperatures, donations of blankets,
sweaters and warm clothing are being taken at the Chiang Mai Airport and the
Chiang Mai Zoo.
The Chiang Mai Zoo Aquarium has partnered
with the Journalists Association of Chiang Mai and the Northern Thailand
Hotel Association to solicit donations of warm clothing and blankets to help
poor villagers in high mountain areas as the temperatures start to drop.
The Thai Meteorological
Department has forecast increasingly cool temperatures on mountain tops with
lows reaching 13 degrees. While this doesn’t seem cold to many, these
temperatures can be deadly for the elderly and the very young as inadequate
clothing and uninsulated houses combined with the increase of the costs of
firewood due to the recent floods in the North can lead to many poor
villagers finding themselves incapable of keeping warm. In addition, cash
donations will be used to purchase rice for villagers.
Donations of warm
clothes and blankets or cash for those in the mountainous Galyani Vadhana
District can be made at the Chiang Mai Zoo and at Chiang Mai International
Airport, at the office of the Northern Thailand Hotel Association. The
campaign will run until December 9 when a caravan of donations will set
forth to deliver food and goods to the villagers. Call 08-1671-2592 for
further information.
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U.K. Embassy concerned about long term solutions for retirees in Thailand
Daniel Pruce (right), the
Deputy Head of the U.K. mission paid a visit to chat with local residents
about the needs facing British citizens in Chiang Mai. Here he chats with
local resident Clarence Shettlesworth of Nugent Waterside Resort.
By Shana Kongmun
Deputy Head of Mission for the U.K.
Daniel Pruce was in Chiang Mai for Remembrance Day and at a meeting
afterwards discussed the Embassy’s concerns with working with local
organizations to help the elderly and often financially pressed British
citizens in Chiang Mai and Thailand. He noted that while Thailand remains
the number one long haul destination for British tourists, “their needs are
very different from those retirees who live here. They have been hit by the
pension freeze and the strength of the pound. We at the Embassy need to
assess what is the best way to find solutions for these peoples problems.”
Concerned residents have been working
with British Honorary Consul Ben Svasti Thomson to form a support network
for the elderly and infirm in Chiang Mai. Colin Jarvis pointed out to Mr.
Pruce that it consists of all nationalities and will help everyone, not just
British citizens. Titled Lanna Care Net, the group is slowly growing in size
to help aid ageing foreigners. The government offers classes to Thais, and
many residents wives have signed up, to learn how to move an elderly and
infirm person, and ways to care for them in their homes.
Colin
Jarvis (left) and British Honorary Consul Ben Svasti Thomson discussed the
emerging Lanna Care Net with Mr. Daniel Pruce of the British Embassy in
Bangkok.
Mr. Pruce commented on his visit to Dok
Kaew facilities at McKean Hospital, noting that they have grown to over 20
patients, many of whom are in hospice care. He said he was quite impressed
with the level of care on offer there and that there were not only services
for paying patients but for the indigent as well.
Daniel Pruce has been stationed in
Thailand for 3 years and will be moving on to Madrid for his next post, he
said he has greatly enjoyed his stay in Thailand and his visits to Chiang
Mai and believes that the Embassy can provide some means of support for
people and organizations in Thailand.
Those interested in contacting Lanna
Care Net can do so by phone at 085-709-8801 or email [email protected]
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Yee Peng lights up the city
Lantern sculptures were lit
on the opening day of the Yee Peng festival on November 6, 2011. The
sculptures can be found at every gate and every corner of the moat as well
as at the 3 Kings Monument.
Shana Kongmun
The lantern sculptures around the city
were lit up in the first round of Yee Peng, or Loy Krathong as it is called
elsewhere in Thailand, as the city readies for grand celebrations. The first
event that took place was the Lantern Parade on Tuesday, November 08, 2011.
With the next big event on the 10th; the small Krathong Parade
and the release of Khom Fai lanterns at 9:59 p.m. from the city bridges and
in front of the Municipal Building.
Mayor Tussanai Buranupakorn encouraged
everyone to join releasing their Khom Fai lanterns at this time, noting that
it wouldn’t interfere with aviation around the city.
Chiang Mai Police Chief Pol Col
Phitsanu Oonhaseri encouraged people to refrain from using the huge
fireworks, or bombs as many refer to them, and to respect the no alcohol
zones around the moat in a bid to reduce drunk driving accidents and deaths
over the Yee Peng holiday.
The Grand
Opening for the Yee Peng Festival took place at Tha Pae Gate on Tuesday,
November 8, 2011. Chiang Mai Governor ML Panadda Diskul was joined by
President of the Provincial Administration Organization Boonlert
Buranupakorn, Mayor Tussanai Buranupakorn, Chinese Consul General Zhu Wei
Min, U.S. Consul General Susan N. Stevenson and many other notables. (Photo
courtesy of Chiang Mai Municipality)
There will be fireworks in honor of HM
the King on both Thursday, the 10th and Friday the 11th
from the river and the Grand Parade with the Kings Cup award for best
float starting from Tha Pae Gate and winding its way to the Municipal
Building on the river beginning from 6 p.m. on Thursday, November 11.
Other highlights to watch out for
include the Kids Contest on Wednesday the 9th, the Dhamma sermon
and ceremony for Yee Peng on the 10th at Wat Chiang Man at 6:00
a.m., the ceremony for the White Pagoda and to honor the River Spirits also
on the 10th beginning at 8:09 a.m. And of course, the Miss Yee
Peng contest with finals taking place on November 10 beginning at 6 p.m. at
Tha Pae Gate.
There will be Krathong making contests
throughout the week, around the moat and at the Municipal building in
addition to the many beautiful lighted sculptures that are placed around the
city gates, at each corner of the moat and at 3 Kings Monument.
At the Lantern Parade on Tuesday,
November 8, 2011, Chiang Mai Governor welcomed tourists and residents alike
to the Yee Peng festival and thanked the foreign visitors for their moral
support for Thailand by maintaining their plans and visiting the country in
its time of need. He added that the Thai people were very grateful for all
the support and help that so many people from around the world had offered
during this time of crisis.
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Governor wants to enforce zoning laws
Early closures along Loi Kroh
Chiang Mai Mail reporters
Recent reports of midnight closures of
bars along Loi Kroh Road are in line with the recent announcement by Chiang
Mai Governor ML Panadda Diskul that the city intends to enforce zoning
regulations as residents have complained about noise from entertainment
venues on Loi Kroh and Chang Moi roads. Residents of Loi Kroh community
filed a complaint with local police reporting intimidation by a Loi Kroh bar
owner when making complaints about noise. Police have said that those making
threats could be fined up to 1,000 Baht and receive one year in jail.
Zoning laws will affect those
businesses located next to temples and those found in violation of noise and
other laws will be prosecuted. The Governor noted that while the city needs
to entertain its visitors, it is also a city of Lanna culture and that
culture needs to be respected.
Hoarding hotline
The Chiang Mai government has announced a hotline for
consumers who feel that unfair pricing practices or hoarding is taking place
due to the flooding. Restrictions have been put on prices of many goods and
the central government is working to ensure that products such as pork,
eggs, poultry and other goods reach the markets and remain at a reasonable
price for consumers.
Any consumer who feels that there is
opportunistic pricing or hoarding should call the hotline: 1569.
Japanese government helping in fight against breast and cervical cancer
Japanese Consul General Kazuo
Shibata signed an agreement with Ms. Jeeranun Mongkondee, Regional Director
for Thailand and Vietnam, PH-Japan to provide funds to aid in the fight
against breast and cervical cancer by offering increased screenings and
exams to women in Chiang Mai.
The Government of Japan, under its Grant Assistance for
Japanese NGO Projects, is providing funds for “The Project to Promote Early
Detection and Appropriate Treatment of Cervical and Breast Cancer in Chiang
Mai, Phase 2” conducted by a Japanese NGO, PH-Japan. On November 1, 2011,
Mr. Kazuo Shibata, Consul-General of Japan in Chiang Mai, and Ms. Jeeranun
Mongkondee, Regional Director for Thailand and Vietnam, PH-Japan, jointly
signed the funding contract for the Project at the Consulate-General of
Japan in Chiang Mai.
In Thailand, the leading causes of
cancer deaths in women are cervical cancer and breast cancer. Cervical
cancer can be detected early and treated with regular screening and
appropriate follow-up. A Pap test, which is a screening method for cervical
cancer, can help detect suspicious cell changes on the cervix before cancer
actually develops. Although regular Pap tests have been recommended for
women in a certain age group, the percentage receiving pap tests, especially
in rural areas, remains low. For early detection of breast cancer, breast
self examination (or BSE), is also recommended to find suspicious changes
promptly. However, many women do not know how to perform BSE properly.
PH-Japan has been conducting a project
for early detection of cervical cancer in Maerim and Maetaeng Districts,
Chiang Mai Province since 2008. Based on this experience, PH-Japan will
start another project targeting women aged 30-60 in Sansai and Doi Saket
Districts in cooperation with the Chiang Mai Provincial Public Health
Office.
In response to a request from PH-Japan,
the Government of Japan has decided to provide funds amounting to 3,645,000
baht for the second phase of the Project. The fund will be used to procure
medical equipment, to arrange training for nurses and health staff involved
in Pap tests and the introduction of BSE, and to arrange seminars for health
volunteers playing a key role in raising awareness in communities. It is
expected the same effect as Saraphi and Sankampaen Districts of the Phase 1
term that local public health screening for cervical and breast cancer will
be improved and more women will receive Pap tests regularly and practise BSE
properly to reduce their health risks.
For more information, please contact
Mr. Sato, Consul, Mr. Komiya and Mr. Inoue, Staff for Japanese NGO Projects.
Consulate-General of Japan in Chiang Mai, 053-203-367.
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Mother of the Land Fund Village Project in Chiang Mai
The Mother of the Land Fund
Village Project gave funds to the Chiang Mai Municipal schools to help aid
in drug prevention in schools. (Photo courtesy of Chiang Mai Municipality)
The Mother of the Land Fund awarded Chiang Mai local
communities funds to aid in drug prevention on Monday, November 4, 2011. The
funds were received by Deputy Mayor Soonthorn Yamsiri at the gates of the
Municipal School offices.
The Mother of the Land Fund was
established after Her Majesty the Queen donated personal funds to support
anti-drug volunteers working for the Office of the Narcotics Control Board.
The Office used the royal funds as seed money for communities and villages
to help them in the fight against drugs. Since Her Majesty is seen as the
Mother of the Land, the project was named “The Mother of the Land Fund
Village Project”.
Firecrackers over Loy Krathong
The Chiang Mai Municipality
has put signs up around the city asking the public to refrain from letting
off fireworks in populated areas. Chiang Mai Mayor Tussanai Buranupakorn
visited various fireworks dealers around the city on November 4, 2011 to
inspect the giant fireworks on sale and to discuss the need for safety for
visitors that come to Chiang Mai for the upcoming Yee Peng festival. (Photo
courtesy of Chiang Mai Municipality)
Om Koi receives grant assistance from Japanese government
The Government of Japan is extending Grant Assistance
for a Japanese NGO Project, “Establishment of Ecosystem Integrated Farming
Villages, Phase 2”, in Yangpian Sub-District, Omkoi District, Chiang Mai
Province. Mr.Kazuo Shibata, Consul-General of Japan in Chiang Mai, and
Mr.Hiroaki Takahashi, the Chief Director of Eco Future Fund, a nonprofit
organization registered in Japan, signed a contract to this effect on
November 1, 2011 at the
Consulate-General of Japan in Chiang Mai.
Yangpian Sub-District is located in highlands about
1,400m～1,900m above sea level,
where hilltribes, such as the Karen, do their farming. However, the reduced
traditional cycle of shifting cultivation, deforestation by expanding arable
land, and the use of chemical fertilizer for cash crop production have
caused landslides, frequent flooding, loss of arable land, decreased water
supply, and water pollution. Recently, these environmental changes have
been having serious effects on the villagers, with poor crops due to soil
exhaustion, health damage to children and pregnant woman from malnutrition
and water pollution, and lack of cash income, leading to this area being
called “the land that was left behind”.
In order to improve the situation, and to secure the
villagers’ food, health, and income, the Eco Future Fund project will ensure
sustainable development by promoting ecosystem integrated farming for 220
villagers in 5 villages in the Mae Hat river basin, Yangpian Sub-District.
In concrete terms, the Fund will give training in farming, agro-forestry,
and so on. Moreover, the
villagers who have been trained during the first phase will then be able to
practise their new skills in their villages, and pass on their experience to
the other villages.
At the request of Eco Future Fund, the Japanese
Government is funding the workshop, administrative and personnel costs for
the second phase of the project. The total amount of the assistance will be
approximately 5,688,900 baht.
It is expected that the villagers’ living standards and
farming environment will be improved and the project will lead to
sustainable development in Yangpian Sub-District, Omkoi District through the
practice of ecosystem integrated farming.
For more information: Mr. Sato, Consul or Mr. Komiya
and Mr. Inoue, Staff for Japanese NGO Projects, Consulate-General of Japan
in Chiang Mai, Airport Business Park, 90 Mahidol Road, T. Haiya, A. Muang,
Chiang Mai 50100. 053-203-367
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CMU students prepare EM Balls for flooded areas
CMU’s President, Prof. Dr.
Pongsak Angkasith visited with students who spent the day learning how to
make EM Balls. (Photo courtesy of CMU)
Chiang Mai University (CMU) students were joined by CMU
President Prof. Dr. Pongsak Angkasith to fashion EM balls to help treat
flood waters in Central Thailand and Bangkok.
EM Balls are also called Effective Micro-organism
balls, the technology was developed by the Japanese and has been used for
various applications, one of which is to disinfect polluted waters.. The
flood waters are filled with faecal matter, dead animals, raw sewage, leaked
oil and gasoline. It is reported that one EM ball can disinfect 4-square
metres of polluted water.
Wiwat Sallayakamthorn, chairman of the Institute of
Sufficiency Economy, launched the project and requested educational
institutes and organizations to help make the balls that consist of clay or
mud, molasses and various bacteria developed as part of the Japanese “Kyusei
nature farming” system.
A team of instructors were on hand to teach students
how to form and dry the balls and students were encouraged to drop by and
help make EM Balls in their spare time. 053-943595/6,
0817848264, 0896357700, 0819504726, 0819722661 for more information. (CMU)
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Train services resume to the North
Flood related news from around the region
Chiang Mai Mail online reporters
Northern train services resumed on Saturday October 30,
2011 with the first express train departing Bangkok’ Hua Lumphong Station at
8:30 a.m. and the Chiang Mai –Bangkok Express Train left Chiang Mai at 8:45
a.m. Services were disrupted for a full month to the North due to flooding.
The trains are being routed east to avoid flooded areas which will add an
hour or two on to the trip.
Nok Air moved its operations to Suvarnabhumi Airport and
intends to remain there at least until the 10th of November as Don Muang
remains heavily flooded, this may be extended. They operate to 9
destinations; Chiang Mai, Phitsanulok, Udon Thani, Ubon Ratchathani, Surat
Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Trang, Phuket and Hat Yai.
Thailand’s World Cup qualifier against Australia’s
Socceroos may be moved to Chiang Mai if the flood waters do not clear by the
scheduled date of November 15. Two of the stadiums in Bangkok are currently
being used as evacuation centers. Chiang Mai’s 700 Year Stadium meets FIFA
standards as it was originally built for the 1995 SEA Games.
Chiang Mai Governor ML Panadda Diskul has asked hotel
operators to waive change fees for visitors to the Royal Flora Ratchaphruek
2011, which has been postponed to December 14, 2011 due to the floods that
have devastated many parts of Thailand. He noted that many Thais are still
coping with the disaster and roads, mainly the Asia road, going to the North
have been cut off by floods.
The Department of Internal Trade noted that provincial
supplies of fresh vegetables, eggs and meat were in good shape but added
that bottled water and instant noodles were in scarce supply in the
superstores. The Ministry issued a warning to all suppliers to refrain from
price gouging during this crisis.
Suppliers found hoarding goods can receive imprisonment
for a term not exceeding 7 years or a fine not exceeding one hundred and
four thousand baht or both. If the label does not match the sales price or a
price tag that is listed then the seller may be liable to a fine. The
Department of Internal Trade has a hotline for consumers; 1569, while the
local Chiang Mai numbers are 053-112660 and 053-112661.
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Yee Peng starts with Mae Jo lantern release
Thousands of Khom Fail filled
the air at Mae Jo (Photo by Ronnakit Norkham)
The world famous Khom Fai or Yee Peng lantern release was
held at Mae Jo on October 29, 2011 and while traffic jams and large crowds
were part of this Buddhist ceremony, the thrilling site of so many lanterns
filling the skies above Chiang Mai made the trek and hustle and bustle worth
it to the many who came to the area to release Khom Fai in the first
ceremony marking the beginning of Yee Peng.
Yee Peng, or Loy Krathong as it is
called further south, begins in earnest on November 8, with the Lantern
Parade followed by many activities around the city. The Grand Parade is on
the 11th of November and starts at Tha Pae Gate and winds its way
to the judging stand at the Municipality. Details can be found on
www.chiangmai-mail.com or follow us on Facebook:
www.facebook.com/chiangmaimail.
Families and
friends gathered to send their Khom Fai off into the air on October 29, 2011
(Photo by Ronnakit Norkham)
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Provincial Waterworks making repairs
The Provincial Waterworks Authority is warning residents
of possible low water flows from the Meechoke Intersection to the entrance
of Mae Jo University on November 2, 2011 from 9 a.m. t 5 p.m. They are
flushing out sediment from the system that has accumulated during the
monsoon season.
Additional work will be done on
November 3rd from Kuang Singh intersection to Chang Phuak Gate
and low water pressure can be expected for homes and businesses in that area
as the Waterworks will be doing pipe repair from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Japanese government aids ecosystem integrated farming
Mr.Kazuo Shibata,
Consul-General of Japan in Chiang Mai, and Mr.Hiroaki Takahashi, the Chief
Director of Eco Future Fund, a nonprofit organization registered in Japan,
signed a contract with Japan pledging funds to the project on November 1,
2011.
The Government of Japan is extending Grant Assistance for
a Japanese NGO Project, “Establishment of Ecosystem Integrated Farming
Villages, Phase 2”, in Yangpian Sub-District, Omkoi District, Chiang Mai
Province.
Yangpian Sub-District is located in
highlands about 1,400m～1,900m
above sea level, where hilltribes, such as the Karen, do their farming.
However, the reduced traditional cycle of shifting cultivation,
deforestation by expanding arable land, and the use of chemical fertilizer
for cash crop production have caused landslides, frequent flooding, loss of
arable land, decreased water supply, and water pollution. Recently, these
environmental changes have been having serious effects on the villagers,
with poor crops due to soil exhaustion, health damage to children and
pregnant woman from malnutrition and water pollution, and lack of cash
income, leading to this area being called “the land that was left behind”.
In order to improve the situation, and
to secure the villagers’ food, health, and income, the Eco Future Fund
project will ensure sustainable development by promoting ecosystem
integrated farming for 220 villagers in 5 villages in the Mae Hat river
basin, Yangpian Sub-District. In concrete terms, the Fund will give training
in farming, agro-forestry, and so on. Moreover, the
villagers who have been trained during the first phase will then be able to
practise their new skills in their villages, and pass on their experience to
the other villages.
At the request of Eco Future Fund, the
Japanese Government is funding the workshop, administrative and personnel
costs for the second phase of the project. The total amount of the
assistance will be approximately 5,688,900 baht.
It is expected that the villagers’
living standards and farming environment will be improved and the project
will lead to sustainable development in Yangpian Sub-District, Omkoi
District through the practice of ecosystem integrated farming.
For more information, please contact:
Mr. Sato, Consul or Mr. Komiya and Mr. Inoue, Staff for Japanese NGO
Projects. Consulate-General of Japan in Chiang Mai, Airport Business Park,
90 Mahidol Road, T. Haiya, A. Muang, Chiang Mai 50100. 053-203-367.
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