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Northern Exhibition Center highlights products around the region
Chiang Mai Governor ML Panadda Diskul and
President of the Chiang Mai Chamber of Commerce Narong Kongprasert open the
event at Central Airport Plaza.
By Shana Kongmun
The newest push to highlight the
creative aspects of both Chiang Mai and the North opened at Central Airport
Plaza on January 25, 2012. Chiang Mai Governor ML Panadda Diskul was joined
by President of the Chiang Mai Chamber of Commerce Narong Kongprasert for
the new exhibition which features products from Chiang Mai, Lamphun,
Lampang, and Mae Hong Son. The craft exhibition closes Sunday, January 29,
and features artisans with pottery, woodcraft, hand woven textiles and other
featured products from the Upper North.
Dancers
featured the various handicrafts on display, here a lovely piece of pottery.
Governor ML
Panadda Diskul strolled around the exhibit, chatting with the exhibitors and
admiring the handicrafts.
This
beautiful ceramic Thai ship is one of the many beautiful pieces on display.
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CMU student crowned the Miss Bor Sang Umbrella Festival
Miss Bor Sang Thanaporn Phothatip is surrounded
by runners up and media and popular vote winners at the Miss Bor Sang
Umbrella Festival Beauty contest.
Nopniwat Krailerg
Chiang Mai University student Thanaporn
Phothatip won the Miss Bor Sang Umbrella Festival beauty contest at the 29th
Annual Bor Sang Umbrells Festival held in San Kamphaeng from January 20-22.
The media vote went to Nantthachat
Anuwongcharoen, while Chompoonuch Chaimonkol took the popular vote. The
contest is comprised of beautiful girls from various educational institutes
around Chiang Mai.
36th Annual Flower Festival starts February 3
One of the many elaborate floats that take part
in the Chiang Mai Flower Festival Parade. It falls on Saturday, February 3,
2012.
Nopniwat Krailerg
The 36th Annual Chiang Mai
Flower Festival is scheduled to run from February 3 to 5 with exhibitions,
flower and plant sales, OTOP products, and food at Suan Buak Haat Park,
Adisorn Kamnerdsiri, Secretary of Chiang Mai said.
The opening ceremony for the parade is
scheduled for Saturday, February 4 at 8 a.m. at Nawarat Bridge in front of
the Governor’s Residence. Chiang Mai Governor ML Panadda Diskul will preside
over the opening of the grand floral parade. The parade will go from Nawarat
Bridge to Tha Pae Road, Kotchasarn Road, Rajchiang Sean Road, Boongruangrit
Road and then turn inot Suan Buak Haat Park where the floats will remain on
display throughout the festival. There are 22 floats taking part in the
parade this year and all will be decorated with the flowers that make Chiang
Mai so famous, he noted.
The theme of the opening ceremony will
be “Chiang Mai; The Most Splendid City of Culture” and the concept of the
festival this year revolves around HM the King and the influence he casts
over the nation. “Nopburi Srinakornping: The City of Splendid Culture and
Beautiful Blossoms, The Shadow of the Greatest King” is the main theme.
Performances will reflect the sacred mountains of Doi Suthep, the abundance
provided by the Ping River, peopl’'s beliefs and way of life, and the
guardian spirits that protect and look over Chiang Mai and her people.
Miss Chiang Mai Flower Festival beauty
contest will be held on Friday, February 3 at 7 p.m. at Suan Buak Haat Park
and will have two categories; beauty pageant blossoms which will focus on
evening dresses decorated with flowers, and an International Beauty Pageant
also with evening dress decorated with flowers. There will be a magic show,
dance performances and live music.
Khun Adisorn concluded that Chiang Mai
is ready for the 36th Annual Flower Festival and invites the
people of Chiang Mai to host their visitors with the warm hospitality and
graciousness for which Chiang Mai people are known.
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Road repairs across the city
As part of his pledge for the coming year,
Chiang Mai Mayor Tussanai Buranupakorn is instituting major road repairs and
construction. Here he is seen with officials checking into road construction
on Mengrairatmi Road, Soi 3 in the Chang Phuak area on January 18, 2012.
Chiang Rai policeman killed in ambush at police checkpoint
The body of fallen Pol. Sub. Lt. Sirawit
Poonkamlang is carried in the coffin to Wat Huay for the funeral ceremonies.
Nopniwat Krailerg
One policeman was killed and another
man wounded after a pickup truck with ten men pulled up alongside the
checkpoint and men in the truck opened fire on the police with AK47s. The
incident began on January 22 at 4:20 p.m. when two young Akha men driving a
motorcycle to Mae Fah Luang were stopped by the police at the checkpoint.
The second man received a phone call
and then handed the phone to police where an unknown man said his son should
leave if he didn’t want to get into trouble. Moments later, a Toyota pickup
truck with Myanmar license plates pulled up alongside and opened fire at the
officials.
Pol. Sub. Lt. Sirawit Poonkamlang was
shot in the neck and as he lay in a pool of blood, Senior Sergent Yothin
Keawkameai ran out to pull him to safety; he was shot twice in the leg and
hip. The pickup truck fled back across the border to Myanmar and the two
policemen were taken to Chiang Rai Prachanukroh Hospital. The body of a
Burmese man was found bout 20 meters from the checkpoint after the attackers
drove off.
Police believe that a criminal gang
from the Lahu village in Burma across the border from Baan Pha Khao village
were involved.
Chiang Rai Governor Tanin Supasaen went
to the hospital to make merit for the fallen policeman whose funeral is
being held at Wat Huay in Krai Mae Sai District in Chiang Rai.
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Mobile services units restart health services and more for public
The Chiang Mai Municipality’s program to provide
mobile health and other services to citizens restarted this year with the
first scheduled event held on January 18 at Suan Dok. Deputy Mayor Nutchudej
Wiriyadiloktham attended the mobile unit which provided health checkups,
rabies vaccinations, massage, appliance and motorbike repair, ID card
registration and low cost vegetables for sale.
QUIRKY PICS
Reader Zoe notes that there is nothing quite
like a good synopsis to work out if the movie is worth watching. And the
extras really are something!
Life in Chiang Mai and Thailand is often peppered with
amusing signs written in funny “Engrish”. Most enjoy seeing signs and trying
to figure out what was meant, and it is always taken with good humor by both
the reader and the writer. If you find yourself out and about and see one of
these signs, feel free to send it in, even a camera phone snap will work,
editor@chiangmai-mail.com
While Ron says that if he had
a few of these, he’d be wishy washy too!
Opium fields slashed in Mae Taeng
Nopniwat Krailerg
Fields of opium were slashed in Mae
Taeng this week, grown by villagers in the mountainous areas. Maj.Gen.
Niwatchai Thanomtham, Asst Commander of the Drug and Office of Military
Region 3 Coordinator Office of Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) and
other officers worked with narcotics control
officials from other countries to slash and burn opium fields found in
the Lisu village of Baan Loom Tambon Pa Pae in MaeTang District.
Soldiers from the Infantry Division
7 cut the opium fields and gave villagers food
and agriculture supplies to stop them from growing opium.
House fire damages home
Supoj Thaimyoj
Authorities believe that a
microwave oven in the kitchen sparked off a house fire on Sripoom Stadium
Road opposite Chiang Yern School on 12:40 p.m. on Friday, January 20, 2012.
The fire department of the Chiang Mai Municipality took about 20 minutes to
control the fire which started in the kitchen, and living area, causing
damage to the ceiling, the kitchenette and dining and living area.
Preliminary damages are estimated at about 35,000 Baht.
New U.S. Consul General arrives in Chiang Mai
Mr. Kenneth L. Foster is the
new U.S. Consul General in Chiang Mai and took up his role here on January
18, 2012
Kenneth L. Foster arrived in Chiang Mai to take up his
duties as Consul General for the United States on January 18, 2012.
Ken Foster grew up in Fairfax, Virginia
and is a graduate of Columbia University/SIPA (MIA 1986) and Lehigh
University (BA 1984). He speaks Thai, Khmer, French and Haitian Creole.
Mr. Foster joined the Foreign Service
in 1987 and first served as a consular officer in Port-au-Prince, Haiti,
from 1988-89. He then returned to Washington and was the Bureau of Consular
Affairs (CA) staff assistant from 1989-90, and a consular officer in the
Office of Overseas Citizen Services (CA/OCS) covering Southeast Asia from
1990-91.
After studying Khmer (1991-1992), Ken
joined the Office of Admissions, Bureau of Population, Refugees and
Migration (PRM/A) as a refugee officer from 1992-94. He went back overseas
as the consular chief in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, from 1994-1996, returned to
the U.S. in 1996-97 to learn Thai, and then served in Bangkok from 1997-2000
as the visa section chief.
He started a new professional direction
in 2001 and served as the Public Affairs Officer in Phnom Penh. He then
joined the Office of Public Diplomacy, Bureau of East Asian Affairs (EAP/PD)
in 2002 as the country coordinator for Mainland Southeast Asia. He left that
tour early to take an assignment in 2003 as the special assistant in Office
of the Undersecretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs (R),
and then served as the senior projects officer in the Office of the
Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) for
six months in 2004.
Ken was the Cultural Affairs Officer in
Bangkok (2004-2008), and then served as a Program Officer in the Bureau of
Population, Refugees and Migration at the Department of State from
2008-2009. From June 2009 to January 2012 Ken was the Counselor for Public
Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok before moving to Chiang Mai to take
up his new post as Consul General.
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Chinatown readies for the Year of the Dragon
Chinese New Year Festival on January 23-24
President of the PAO Boonlert
Buranupakorn (middle) and Mayor Tussanai Buranupakorn (right) join the
Consul General for the People’s Republic of China Dr. Zhu Wei Min (left) in
making merit at the Chinese temple in Waroros Market on January 18.
Nopniwat Krailerg
The Year of the Dragon will start on
January 23rd with festivities taking place at Khuang Maen Road,
Chang Moi and Witchayanon Roads in Waroros Market and run through January 24
it was recently announced by President of the Provincial Administration
Organization Boonlert Buranupakorn, Chinese Consul General Dr. Zhu Wei Min
and Chiang Mai Mayor Tussanai Buranupakorn at a press conference held at the
Chinese temple on January 18, 2012.
Chinese
Consul General Dr. Zhu Wei Min, President of the PAO Boonlert Buranupakorn,
Mayor Tussanai Buranupakorn and TAT officials and police join in announcing
the upcoming Chinese New Year festivities.
The Chiang Mai Municipality has joined
with Chinese associations and clubs in Chiang Mai and the TAT Chiang Mai
office to hold the 10th Annual
Chiang Mai Chinatown Festival which will start with a parade celebrating
Chinese New year from Tha Pae Gate at 9 a.m. From there, the parade will go
to a stage set up in front of Waroros Market where Governor ML Panadda
Diskul will officially open the festivities.
There will be a Miss Chiang Mai
Chinatown 2012 contest, music from the Symphony Orchestra from the People’s
Republic of China, food and a 60 meter long dragon that will be the
highlight of the event. Nightly activities are scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.
Mayor Tussanai said that the Chinese
New Year celebrations carry on the traditions of Chinese Thais living in
Chiang Mai. He added that the many colorful decorations, lion dancers, food
and music are a big tourist draw for Chiang Mai’s Chinatown area.
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Chiang Mai Mayor checks out "Chinese New Year food safety campaign"
Mayor Tussanai Buranupakorn
is joined by Public Health officials in checking out the Siri Wattana market
ahead of Chinese New Year.
Nopniwat Krailerg
On January 19, Chiang Mai Mayor
Tussanai Buranupakorn and public health officials went to Siri Wattana
Market in Muang Chiang Mai to promote the Chinese New Year food safety
campaign. The campaign encourages market vendors to follow food safety
standards, especially for raw meat and food.
The campaign also works to encourage
food safety awareness among consumers and to provide consumers with an
opportunity to choose foods that are safe. The campaign also promotes
insecticide free vegetables as well and educated vendors in safe methods of
cleaning vegetables and keeping raw meat safe for consumers.
Authorities intensify drug trafficking suppression as production in Myanmar increases
Police inspect a major drug
bust in this file photo.
Nopniwat Krailerg and Supoj Thaimyoj
Increased production of
methamphetamines, or Yaba and crystal methamphetamine, Ya Ice, along with
opium production in border areas in Myanmar has northern drug suppression
police concerned.
Col. Supoj Buranajaree Chief of Staff
CDI-North said that the situation is quite serious, with the border areas
such as Tachilek Province in Myanmar, near Mae Fah Luang in Chiang Rai and
Pang Sang, headquarters of the United Wa State Army, near Mae Ai in Chiang
Mai as two major areas linked with drug trafficking into Thailand.
Additionally, Wa, Tai Yai and Lahu people have been enlisted to carry drugs
over the borders into these areas.
He noted that in the past year the area
under opium cultivation in the Shan State has increased to an estimated 3.6
billion acres capable of producing 14 tons of heroin. He noted that there
are several new “brands” of heroin being marketed here and abroad,
indicating a new supplier bringing drugs over the border into Thailand.
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New bus route opens from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang
Deputy Permanent Under
Secretary of the Ministry of Transport Silpachai Jarukasemwattana presided
over the opening ceremony of bus route number 8, Chiang Mai – Luang Prabang.
Supoj Thaimyoj
Air conditioned buses started running
from the Arcade Bus Station in Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang after
Deputy Permanent Under Secretary of the
Ministry of Transport Silpachai Jarukasemwattana presided over the opening
ceremony of bus route number 8 on January 19 at the Arcade Chiang Mai Bus
Terminal.
Silpachai said "In this first phase
air-conditioned buses from Chiang Mai will pick up passengers at Chiang Rai
and Chiang Khong then cross the border to Bor Keaw District in Laos PDR.
From there the travelers will switch to a bus from the Naluang Company to
travel on to Luang Namtha and Luang Prabang. The total travel time will be
18 hours and tickets will cost 1,200 baht.”
The completion of the 4th
Thai Laos Friendship Bridge across the Mekong River is due to be completed
in another year or so and the route will change to cross there, with a fare
of 1,500 Baht. It is believed that opening up bus routes across the borders
will result in an increase of trade and tourism between the two neighbors.
He added, “There are routes between
Udon Thani - Vientiane, Nong Khai-Vientiane, Ubon Ratchathani - Pakse,
Champasak, Mukdahan - Savannakhet, Khon Kaen - Vientiane, Nakhon Ratchasima
- Vientiane, and Nakhon Phanom -Thakak in Kammuan district. There are also
plans to open a bus route between Udon Thani - Vang Vieng soon."
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Jazz Festival comes to the City!
Nopniwat Krailerg
The free "Chiang Mai Jazz in the City
Festival 2012"
will hold concerts at NIM City Daily on Mahidol Road Saturday
21 and Sunday, January
22, 2012 as a celebration of jazz music. Leading musicians such as
Koh Mr. Saxman, Pom Autobahn, Mom Laconic, Kai Pannipha, Calories Blah Blah,
Jum Nareekrajang, Kaori Kobayshi from Japan and many artists from Chiang Mai
will be performing at the Festival. The opening ceremony begins at 6.30 pm.
The first ever Jazz in the City
Festival was held in January of last year and the success of it prompted
organizers to repeat this popular music event. Fundraising for flood victims
as well as rural schools in Chiang Mai will be held at the event.
HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn officially opens Royal Flora Ratchaphruek 2011
HRH Princess Maha Chakri
Sirindhorn presided over the Grand Opening celebrations for the Royal Flora
Ratchapruek 2011.
HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn presided over the
opening ceremony of the International Horticultural Exposition Royal Flora
Ratchapruek 2011 in Tambon Mae Hia on January 15, 2012 at 5:30 p.m.
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra also
spoke at the event and she was joined by Deputy Prime Minister Chumpol
Silpa-Archa, also the Minister of Tourism and Sports, Teera Wongsamut, the
Minister of Agriculture, Chiang Mai Governor ML. Panadda Diskul, Ambassadors
and ranking Government officials. Many local residents and tourists also
attended the grand opening ceremony.
HRH the Princess visited the Royal
Pavilion (Hor Come Luang) and enjoyed 7 Lanna performances. Following the
ceremony she visited the gardens via electric vehicle.
The International Exposition at the
Royal Flora Ratchapruek 2011 opening was delayed by the flooding in Thailand
but unofficially opened to great acclaim in November and will run through
March 14, 2012.
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Mobile Cabinet approves over 128 projects
400 billion Baht budget earmarked for Chiang Mai
Prime Minister Yingluck
Shinawatra chaired the first mobile cabinet meeting of her tenure in Chiang
Mai on January 15, 2012.
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra held the first mobile
cabinet meeting in her hometown of Chiang Mai on Sunday, January 15 at the
Bank of Thailand’s Northern Region Office. Four major projects were proposed
and approved in principle, including projects to improve public
transportation, develop underground utilities, infrastructure development
and integrated water management account for the initial projects. 200
million Baht has been earmarked for public transportation, 180 million for
utilities, 742 million Baht for infrastructure and over a billion Baht for
integrated water management for the North.
A high speed rail project
linking Chiang Mai and Bangkok was approved in principle by the Cabinet.
Health care will also receive funding,
a technology and innovation Park was also proposed as well as improvements
to the city’s ring roads, the monkey cheeks project to help flooding in Mae
Taeng and Phrao Districts, waste management and the proposed constructon of
a new tobacco factory that should bring jobs back to Chiang Mai.
The Chamber of Commerce for the Upper
North also proposed a new international exhibition building for Nong Hoi, to
open border trade in the Chiang Dao District, bring direct international
flights to Chiang Mai and allow long stay visas of up to 3 years.
Anutama Amornwiwat, the Deputy Prime
Minister's office spokesman disclosed that the meeting between the Prime
Minister, the Chiang Mai Government and private sector agreed on projects to
develop 8 Upper North provinces with projects such as a High-Speed train
between Chiang Mai and Bangkok, a new highway between Chiang Mai and Chiang
Rai, build a new railway route in Denchai, Phrae to Chiang Khong in Chiang
Rai.
Other proposals for areas of the Upper
North include a special economic border zone and the opening of permanent
checkpoints at Kiew Pha Wok in Chiang Dao, Chiang Mai, Khun Yuam in Mae Hong
Son, and Baan Huak in Phayao.
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One millionth visitor to Royal Flora Ratchapruek 2011
Police Sub Lt. Amnuay Singhto
of Phitsanulok received the award for one millionth visitor to the Royal
Flora Ratchapruek 2011 from the mascot Nong Koom. He received a hotel and
restaurant voucher for the Atanaya Hotel and an award from Prime Minister
Yingluck Shinawatra.
Wat Suan Dok slated for renovation
Foundations at risk from earthquakes and airport
Cracks are appearing in the
foundation of the historic pagoda at Wat Suan Dok.
The Ministry of Culture
approved 20 million Baht in renovations for the 500 year old Wat Suan
Dok that has seen damage to the foundations from earthquakes and vibrations
of airplanes landing at Chiang Mai International Airport.
The Minister of Culture Sukumol
Kunplome visited Wat Suan Dok including the famed "temple tree" created by
Kruba Siwichai and the 500 year-old Wat Suan Dok
pagoda ready to worship Phra Sri Sittimethi the Abbot of Wat Suan
Dok. He visited with the Abbot of the temple to find out what the issues
are.
The Abbot noted the cracks that have
begun to be visible in the temple and felt that the constant vibrations of
planes from the airport may contribute to the problem. Chiang Mai University
sent experts to measure the noise level of the vibrations from the airplanes
and will release the report shortly. If it is revealed that the planes are
affecting the pagoda a request will be sent to Chiang Mai International
Airport to see if they can find a way to alleviate the problems to protect
the historic temple.
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Administrative Court judge orders Chang Puak Mayor to sign law over high buildings
Dr. Prakong Vithayasai of the
Political Development Committee, spearheaded the charge to restrict building
heights in Chang Puak.
Supoj Thaimyoj
The Chiang Mai Administrative Court has
issued an order to the Mayor of Chang Puak to sign the Draft Act on Building
heights as enacted by the City Council on December 30, 2011. The City Plan
to limit building heights was set into place in 1999 and expired on December
31, 2006. However, local complaints over the environmental impact, including
increased traffic problems, were spearheaded by Dr. Prakong Vithayasai of
the Political Development Committee who submitted them to the City Council
for review.
The final act was approved on December
2010 and submitted to the Mayor of Chang Puak to be signed into law.
However, the Mayor postponed the signing of the law and was finally ordered
by the Administrative Court on December 27, 2011 to sign the act into law
within 30 days. The Mayor has yet to sign the act into law.
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Video journalists released in amnesty in Myanmar
The Free Burma VJ campaign confirmed the release of all
the Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB) video journalists (VJs) in an amnesty of
political prisoners on 14 January 2012.
Seventeen VJs were in prison on highly
arbitrary charges when the campaign began on 3 May 2011. For security
reasons, only five of the VJs were named in the campaign. Four unamed VJs
had been freed during a separate amnesty on 16 May 2011. On Friday 14
January, the remaining 13 reporters for DVB, some of whom had been
serving sentences of more than 60 years, were released.
The Friday amnesty saw around 300
political prisoners freed from lengthy spells in jail, including
high-profile dissidents such as Min Ko Naing and Ashin Gambira. In addition,
many ex-intelligence, customs and government employees, including former
Prime Minister Khin Nyunt, was released.
Aye Chan Naing, DVB chief editor, said:
'' They had done great journalistic work in exchange for their freedom. We
are very happy for them and their families. They are real heroes of DVB and
we salute them."
Géraldine May, the campaign
coordinator, said: "The Free Burma VJ campaign won't stop with the release
of the VJs. We need to make sure they are safe and that their release is
unconditional. For example, freed DVB reporter Sithu Zeya said conditions
were attached to his release: if he commits any crime in the future, he will
be forced to serve his full 18-year sentence. We also should keep in mind
that more political prisoners remain behind bars."
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QUIRKY PICS
Reader Ron notes, “A few of
these and I would be wishy washy too!”
Life in Chiang Mai and Thailand is often peppered with
amusing signs written in funny “Engrish”. Most enjoy seeing signs and trying
to figure out what was meant, and it is always taken with good humor by both
the reader and the writer. If you find yourself out and about and see one of
these signs, feel free to send it in, even a camera phone snap will work,
editor@chiangmai-mail.com
And adds, that this menu was
doing really well until the very end.
Chiang Mai hosts colorful Balloon Fiesta
Miss Chiang Mai joined Deputy
Governor Worakarn Yokying (4th left), President of the PAO Boonlert
Buranupakorn (3rd left) and TAT Director Chalermsak Suranant (2nd left) and
Balloon Fiesta organizers at the announcement of the event ath will be held
from January 20-22 in San Sai Luang.
Nopniwat Krailerg
Participants from 10 countries will be taking part in the Chiang Mai
International Balloon Fiesta 2012 which will feature unique and colorful
balloons in all shapes.
The Provincial Administration Organization (PAO) and the Tourism Authority
of Thailand (TAT) are joining together to host the event which celebrates
the 80th birthday of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit on August 8 of
this year and the 60th birthday of
His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha
Vajiralongkorn that will fall on July 28.
The event
will bring together balloons from 10 countries;
United States, Belgium, New Zealand,
India, Netherlands, Germany, Vietnam, Malaysia, Switzerland and Thailand.
Deputy
Governor of Chiang Mai Worakarn Yokying said that the International Balloon
Fiesta will attract many visitors to Chiang Mai as activities and festivals
continue weekly. He welcomed visitors to Chiang Mai to enjoy the many
activities the province has to offer.
President
of the PAO Boonlert Buranupakorn noted that the PAO and the Province are
working to offer activities on a regular basis, providing continuity in the
calendar of events. He added that this international event shows the
international draw of the city while Chalermsak Suranant, Director of the
TAT Chiang Mai office said that the number of tourists to Chiang Mai had
increased this year and that the average length of stay had gone up to an
average of four nights from two with the many attractions including the
Royal Flora Ratchaphruek, events like the balloon festival and the cool
winter weather.
PAO
President Boonlert Buranupakorn added that the colorful balloons would be in
unusual forms including a cat, a pig, a pirate ship, an ice cream cone and
many other unique shapes. He concluded noting that the event will be held
from January 20-22 in front of the San Sai Luang Municipal Building and will
offer a family theme park, music and dance performances, food and rides in
tethered balloons.
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Chiang Mai flood victims receive aid
Residents of river side
communities were hit by rising water from the Ping River after nine weeks of
heavy rains caused flooding in the city. The damage from 3 days of flooding
has been estimated up to 3 billion Baht.
Nopniwat Krailerg
More than 4,282
households in Chiang Mai will receive government designated grants of 5,000
Baht per household next week after flooding hit Chiang Mai in September of
2011 after nine weeks of heavy rains caused flash floods and landslides in
the mountains. The Ping River overflowed causing more than 1 billion Baht in
damage to the city and up to 3 billion Baht in lost revenues.
Mayor Tussanai
Buranupakorn said that aid will be distributed to residents of the Kawila,
Tha Sala, Nong Hoi, Nakornping, Mengrai and Padaed Sub Districts can go to
the Chiang Mai Municipality to receive distribution of government funds on
January 17, 2012 from 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon and then in the afternoon from 1
p.m.to 4 p.m.
Governor announces arrest of drug dealers in the city
Nopniwat Krailerg
Governor ML Panadda
Diskul announced the arrest of a 28 year old Muser hill tribe man from Phrao
District in Chiang Mai who had been found with 582 grams of crystal
methamphetamine or “Ya Ice” and 17,700 methamphetamine pills, or “Ya Ba” on
Thursday, January 12, 2012.
The man was arrested on
January 11 after police searched him and found 1 gram of Ya Ice and 10,000
Baht in cash after a tipoff had led them to a gas station on Rajchiangsaen
Road where they stopped the suspect on his motorcycle. The suspect, 28 year
old Manop Laser, led the police to his parked car where 17,300 Ya Ba pills
and 580 grams of Ya Ice were uncovered. A further search of his residence in
Mae Rim yielded 400 more pills and one more gram of crystal methamphetamine.
The suspect confessed to police that he had been purchasing drugs from a man
in Chiang Rai and selling them in Chiang Mai.
Children’s day this Saturday
Panyaden School is just one
of many organizations that will be holding activities on Children’s Day,
they have scheduled Play and Learn activities to be held at Central Airport
Plaza’s G floor, D Zone.
Saturday, January 14 is Children’s Day across Thailand,
originally held was held time on the first Monday of October 1955 it was
later changed to the second Saturday of January. Teacher’s Day Falls on
Monday, the 16th.
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has
set the theme for this year’s Children’s Day as “Unity, Knowledge, Wisdom,
Preserving Thai Identity, and Learning Technology.” Activities will be held
across the city for children to participate. The Chiang Mai Municipality
will be holding free events with games and other activities at the Municipal
Stadium from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. while the Chiang Mai Zoo offers free entrance
to children under 135 cm. Kad Suan Kaew shopping mall and Central Airport
Plaza will host various activities including Panyaden School and NARIT, the
National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand. Wing41 lets children
in to meet Air Force officers and climb aboard jets. Government offices are
usually open to children. Royal Flora Ratchaphruek will hold educational
activities, games and music shows at their Kids Eco-Park from 10:30 a.m. to
6 p.m.
Known as Wan Dek, in Thai, Children’s’
Day is celebrated across the country and is celebrated to give children the
chance to have fun and to create awareness about their roles in the
development of the country.
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10 car accident on Superhighway
Nepalese man found dead in Ping River
Ten cars were involved in a bumper to bumper collision on
the Superhighway on January 10 at about 9 a.m. Despite a warning sign to not
drive too closely near the site of the accident, the ten cars lined up were
bumper to bumper in the accident. Nobody was injured but traffic was clogged
as clean up took over an hour.
A Nepalese man who is visiting Payap
Northwestern University was found dead in the Ping River near Waroros Market
at 11 p.m. on January 9, 2012. A friend called police and rescue after the
27 year old man fell into the river, he told police that they had been
drinking on the banks of the river when the man fell in.
A former policeman recently released
from prison after serving time for drug possession and distribution was
found dead on the side of the road in Lampang on January 8, 2012. The man
was shot in the head while he drove his motorcycle, police found 11mm
casings in the area. Police believe the victim may have been involved in a
gunfight with the attackers, wounding one of them. They have contacted area
hospitals for reports of gunshot victims.
Three men were arrested by Chiang Mai
police on January 5, 2012 after investigation of a fake bomb led them to the
two men from Mae Rim and one man from San Patong. Although the bomb was not
real, the police have charged the pranksters with causing fear and panic by
planting a fake bomb that was found around 2:15 p.m. on December 30, 2011.
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TOT introduces free wifi hotspots around Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai Mail online reporters
The Telephone Organization of Thailand
in conjunction with the Ministry of Information and Communication will
introduce 20,000 wifi hotspots around the country with some opening in
Chiang Mai recently. The hotspots can be found in the airport, bus stations,
district and government offices, educational institute’s shopping centers
and public areas. WiFi users will need to register on MICT’s website:
http://www.mict.go.th/. Full name and ID card number are required; it
appears the site may not take passport numbers. Users are allowed to access
the internet for free for 2 hours each connection for a total of 30 hours
each 30 days. New registration is required at the end of the 30 days. The
speed should be about 2 Mbps. SMART-WiFi@TH is the wifi connection to look
for in public areas.
Municipality re-institutes mobile health services
The Chiang Mai Municipality
has restarted their mobile health services unit offering eye checks, health
checks for blood pressure, weight and BMI. In additional rabies vaccinations
for pets will be provided and the Lanna Institute of Technology will offer
repairs for motorcycles and electrical appliances.
The first event takes place today at Wat Chiang Man from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.
while the next clinic is scheduled for Wednesday, January 18 at Wat Suan Dok
from 4:30 – 7:30 p.m. and Wednesday, January 25 from 4:30 – 7:30 p.m. at
Kawila.
QUIRKY
Only one? Reader Ron asks.
Life in Chiang Mai and Thailand is often peppered with
amusing signs written in funny “Engrish”. Most enjoy seeing signs and trying
to figure out what was meant, and it is always taken with good humor by both
the reader and the writer. If you find yourself out and about and see one of
these signs, feel free to send it in, even a camera phone snap will work,
editor@chiangmai-mail.com
Thailand isn’t alone in the
world when it comes to quirky signs, this Seoul bathroom sign got one reader
to pull out the camera.
Chiang Mai New Year’s accident toll
Chiang Mai Mail online reporters
Chiang Mai Province had 10 deaths and
102 injuries in 91 accidents during the New Year’s “7 Dangerous Days”.
Nationwide, 335 people were killed and 3,375 people were injured in 3,093
accidents. The death toll was 23 percent lower than last year. Chiang Rai
had the most accidents and injuries with 121 people injured in 115
accidents.
The majority of accidents were the
result of drunk driving and speeding, while 81 percent involved motorcycles
and took place during the afternoon. The Thai government makes efforts to
reduce the high death toll and accident numbers every year but so far has
only seen incremental drops in numbers.
Cabinet meeting in Chiang Mai to focus on mass transit, flooding
Prime Minister Yingluck
Shinawatra and her cabinet will be attending a mobile cabinet meeting in
Chiang Mai on January 15 where they will meet with local and provincial
government officials Governor ML Panadda Diskul recently announced.
The meeting will focus on the transportation issues Chiang Mai faces and
focus on mass transit, traffic alleviation and control. Additional attention
will be paid to water management and flood issues that occur in Chiang Mai.
Water management at the Mae Taeng and Mae Kuang Dams will be discussed as
will managing the Ping river overflow. Additionally, plans have been drawn
up to request burial of public utilities cables and health and health
services.
Second TEDx event in Chiang Mai spotlights city as center of creativity
Chiang Mai is a creative city that develops and attracts diverse talent
across different sectors and industries. In the spirit of TED’s mission of
“ideas worth spreading” and to further develop Chiang Mai’s creative
economy, the city of Chiang Mai will present its 2nd TEDx event in under a
year. It is the 5th such event in Thailand to date.
The TEDx Programme (x =independently-organized TED
event) under TED aims to bring communities, organizations and individuals
together to stimulate dialogue and catalyse ideas through a TED-like
experience at the local level.
TEDxThapaeGate will take place on Saturday, 21st
January 2012 at Chiang Mai University, with a focus on the theme of
‘Creativity & Innovation’. More information can be found at
www.tedxthapaegate.com. The organizing team of volunteers is led by Martin
Venzky-Stalling.
TEDxThapaeGate will present a combination of TEDTalks
videos and live speakers to spark deep discussion and connection within the
group. The exciting lineup of speakers from Chiang Mai, Bangkok, London, Tel
Aviv and Berlin will share innovative and inspiring ideas from their
respective fields, including science & technology, entrepreneurship, design,
creative business management, innovation in agricultural and environmental
management.
www.tedxthapaegate.com for more information. (PR)
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Family friendly New Year celebrations at Tha Pae Gate
Push for alcohol free events
The huge tree made out of
thousands of used CD’s lit up Tha Pae Gate for the festivities.
A family friendly atmosphere reined over Tha Pae Gate
with dance performances, music concerts from popular Thai acts and an
alcohol free zone that kept the area relatively trouble free. The
Municipality instituted a strong drive to keep the area alcohol free in a
bid to reduce accidents and keep the area safe for families and visitors.
Partygoers at Tha Pae Gate were
entertained by two Emcees, offering free t-shirts, santa hats and more to
the crowd who then enjoyed performances of some top Thai pop singers.
The Countdown to 2012 began with the
Deputy Mayors of Chiang Mai lighting the giant Christmas tree made of
thousands of recycled CDs and ended with Governor ML Panadda Diskul,
President of the Provincial Administration Organization Boonlert
Buranupakorn and Mayor Tussanai Buranupakorn joining the crowd in the
countdown to end 2011 and bring in 2012 with a display of fireworks over the
city.
Chiang Mai
mascots wandered through the large crowd that saw the entire Tha Pae Gate
area closed off and turned into a walking street market with food, games,
and handicrafts for sale.
Chiang Mai
Deputy Mayors launched the evening’s countdown to 2012 by lighting the giant
tree.
Visitors
and locals enjoyed taking their photos with this group of fabulously dressed
performers.
This
gentleman won a Santa hat from the Emcees while several children also won
hats, t-shirts and Santa hats.
Fireworks
lit up the skies of Chiang Mai to ring in 2012.
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A fatal New Year
Road accidents claimed 314 lives in first six days of the
“Seven Dangerous Days of New Year”. 3,166 people were injured, Buriram
topped the list with 18 dead, 12 of those from one accident. Death toll
numbers are up slightly from last year although the number of accidents is
slightly lower. Drunk driving accounted for over 30 percent of the
accidents.
The flood of returning visitors has
left Chiang Mai Arcade Station packed while flights to Bangkok are
reportedly full and the roads south out of the city busy. Police have set up
checkpoints along the highways to check for dangerous driving and search for
drugs being transported to Bangkok.
QUIRKY PICS
Ron saw this in front of an
electrical store in Chiang Mai. It explains a lot!
Life in Chiang Mai and Thailand is often peppered with
amusing signs written in funny “Engrish”. Most enjoy seeing signs and trying
to figure out what was meant, and it is always taken with good humor by both
the reader and the writer. If you find yourself out and about and see one of
these signs, feel free to send it in, even a camera phone snap will work,
editor@chiangmai-mail.com
Even Bangkok Air gets into the
swing of things with this bester sign!
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