bangkok

*To be Held in Nong Chok on November 14, 2009* *3-8 hours of trekking, mountain biking, canoeing and swimming* Yara, The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, The Tourism Authority of Thailand, and Active Management Asia are proud to announce the 4th edition of the popular Yara Bangkok Challenge. Part of the Amazing Thailand Adventure Race Series, the Yara Bangkok Challenge 2009 Adventure Race is a three to eight hours racing, which will take teams of 2 participants through a 50+ km course of trekking, mountain biking, swimming, and paddling as well as some mystery tests. It is difficult to believe that we can set up such an interesting Adventure race course at only one hour driving from the city center” says Serge Henkens, the Race director. “But after 4 years of existence, this race has become extremely popular for its uniqueness. This course is very different of what we usually propose in Kanchanaburi , Chiang Mai or Samui. It is much flatter here. No more mountains, no jungle”, says Henkens. "This year, we expect to have more than 100 teams from around the world to participate” “What Adventure racers like the most and what makes this sport so exciting and unique, is that the racers don’t know what is coming next. They don’t know the course, the exact distances. They must be ready for all scenarios. These unknown factors, combined with the great outdoors, are the main reasons for the tremendous success of this new sport.” The reason Nong Chok has been chosen as the race venue is because the area has so much to offer to outdoor enthusiasts. The course travels through paddy fields, lakes, canals, temples, wooden bridges, bathing buffaloes, birds and villages trapped in time. The area offers the recipe for great adventure racing, a memorable experience and a wonderful voyage through the greenery and beauty of the Thai Countryside. “Racers like to compete here also because of the warm welcome and kindness of the local people. Smiling and cheerful, they often offer water or fruits to the grateful participants. It is nice to see how the sports can bring so much enthusiasm and friendship.” “It is the third year in a row that we support this exciting event says Olivier Saulnier, the president of Yara Thailand. Environmental issues and human health is a major concern at Yara since our business is focused on food, nutrition and overall human wellbeing. It is therefore important for us to support healthy lifestyle and sport activities. Yara is sponsoring triathlons and Adventure Races in many countries around the world” As AMA strives to promote the sports for youngsters in Thailand and in order to make it a festive event and involve the local people, we have decided to offer a fun run for all in parallel to the Adventure Race. A 5km open run will start before the Adventure race at 6:45am. A 3.5 km run/walk for children will start at 7:15 All Nong Chok schools have been invited and all children and families are warmly welcome to participate to this unique event that promises to be one of the highlights of an active day. This run will raise participant’s numbers and create a festive, sporty and friendly atmosphere throughout the day. “We wanted to involve local residents and people who are not keen to compete in a strenuous adventure race”, say Henkens. “This running initiative will give the opportunity for all to participate in this unique sport’s day event! Schools will also animate the activities throughout the day with dances, shows and songs”. The venue will be the Korean International School of Bangkok which means that it is organized in a protected environment. A bouncy castle and other games for children will keep supporters and families happy while waiting for their heroes to return. Some parts of the race will take place in the nearby lake which is at walking distance from the start finish. A good restaurant is located on the lakeshore and offers hundreds of delicious dishes. The trophy ceremony that will take place on the school’s football field from 3pm promises to be fun with spectacles, entertainment shows and food. So we strongly recommend families and friends to come and enjoy a wonderful outdoor day with us, you won’t regret it! “Anyone can participate as we propose 2 different divisions. Adventure level is accessible to anyone with a minimum of fitness. But beware, Adventure Racing is the most addictive sport you will ever try, and once you get sucked in, there's no going back.” concludes Henkens. For more details [visit this website][1] [1]: http://www.ama-events.com/ 2009-10-23T21:06:00+07:00 1417 2009-10-23T21:16:12+07:00 1 true 1417-the-yara-bangkok-challenge-2009-adventure-race TheEditor

Turkish Airlines have just announced their plans to increase its service from Istanbul to [Bangkok] [1]. This is great news for anyone who plans to use the airline to explore South East Asia as they will be offering connecting flights from Bangkok to a number of destinations including Ho Chi Minh City and Manila. Starting in December of this year, Turkish Airlines will double the number of non-stop flights on the Bangkok-Istanbul route to 14 per week. According to Dr Temel Kotil, president and CEO of Turkish Airlines, the change is being made in response to overwhelming high-season demand from air passengers. As Dr Kotil said in a recent interview with the [Bangkok Post] [2]: "We really want to strike the deal with THAI because it benefits both of us, enabling us capture the larger pie [of business].” At present, Turkish Airlines flies to 118 international destinations, including 17 in Asia as well as 36 cities in Turkey. They will shortly receive 19 new aircraft, including seven Airbus A330s and seven Boeing B777s, which will be used to facilitate the extra flights. Turkish Airlines have been working hard to offer passengers a selection of outstanding deals and offers, set to make travelling to Bangkok and beyond smooth and cost effective. [1]: http://1stopbangkok.com [2]: http://bangkokpost.com 2009-08-14T08:54:00+07:00 1415 2009-08-12T11:55:45+07:00 5 true 1415-thailand-set-to-welcome-turkish-airlines Andrew

Travellers flying to [Bangkok] [1] with leading airline Thailand International (THAI) will be pleased to discover that standards have significantly improved. The airline has introduced a new fleet of Airbus A330-300 jets, which offer economy passengers 32 inches of leg space and individual touch-screens. THAI has pulled out all the stops to update their in-flight passenger equipment, which was previously below the high standards of competing airlines. As a senior THAI executive said in a recent interview with the [Bangkok Post] [2] "With these new offerings, we no longer feel embarrassed about our in-flight products. And we can put to rest the oft-mentioned criticism about the lack of personal screens on many economy-class flights." The changes have put THAI on a par with other leading Asian carriers such as Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific, making them a great option for those travelling between major destinations in Thailand and the rest of Asia. THAI received its third A330-300 from the Airbus assembly plant in southern France last Thursday and anticipate the arrival of further planes in August, October, December and January of next year. There are now a total of 25 in-service Airbus A330/340 serial jets, taking passengers smoothly and comfortably to a wide range of destinations. [1]: http://1stopbangkok.com [2]: http://bangkokpost.com 2009-08-11T09:15:00+07:00 1410 2009-08-11T12:23:22+07:00 5 true 1410-thai-airways-improving-passenger-experience Andrew

One of the toughest things about travelling to Thailand is the language barrier. Even the most confident linguist can get their tongue caught up in knots as they try to work out the tones and nuances of the Thai language. However, all that may soon be a thing of the past as the [Bangkok] [1] based National Electronics and Computer Technology Centre (Nectec) has developed an innovative speech-to-speech translation system. The system is simple; words are spoken into a microphone and are accurately translated into languages such as Thai, Japanese or Korean by a network-based dialogue-to-dialogue translation system. Chai Wutiwiwatchai is Nectec’s director of Human Language Technology Laboratory. In a recent interview with the [Bangkok Post] [2] he revealed the wonders of the new machine: "We can create a database for each specific domain, although at the moment it is tourist industry which is the playground of Thailand. We are developing the Thai-Malay language database and so far there are some 500 pairs of sentences.” Although still at the development stage, it shouldn’t be long before the dialogue-to-dialogue translation system is widely used throughout Thailand’s tourism industry, allowing hotel staff and tour operators to communicate with travelers easily. [1]: http://1stopbangkok.com [2]: http://bangkokpost.com 2009-08-10T08:52:00+07:00 1407 2009-08-09T14:53:01+07:00 5 true 1407-breaking-through-the-language-barrier- Andrew

Good news for those who plane to visit Thailand at the end of the year. Governor Yutthana Thapcharoen of the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) has just announced that the Airport Link is nearly finished and will be ready to carry passengers into the city in December. This will make a big difference to the way in which travelers arrive in the capital city of [Bangkok] [1]. Rather than traveling through traffic jams, the Airport Link will glide passengers above the traffic, covering the distance between Suvarnabhumi airport and the city in a matter of minutes. According to a recent report by the [Bangkok Post] [2], the Airport Link has cost a total of 26 million baht and is now 98 per cent complete. Although completion had been delayed for some time, Transport Minister Sophon Zaram ordered the State Railway of Thailand to pull out all the stops to ensure that the project would be completed before the end of the year, as was originally planned. December will be an excellent time to visit Thailand as the weather is much cooler and drier than much of the year, while remaining hot enough to allow tourists to soak up the sun on the beach. [1]: http://1stopbangkok.com [2]: http://bangkokpost.com 2009-08-07T09:00:00+07:00 1405 2009-08-06T17:39:22+07:00 5 true 1405-spectacular-bangkok-rail-link-nearly-complete Andrew

Travellers trying to leave or get to Samui were resorting to ferries following the closure of the island's airport while investigators attend to Wednesday's accident. Havoc was created to travel plans on this island which receives most its visitors by air. An ATR-72 aircraft belonging to Bangkok Air crashed while landing in bad weather, resulting in one death and several serious injuries. All flights have been cancelled to and from this airport and passengers are being re-directed to the Surat Thani airport on the mainland, which is connected to the island by several daily two-hour ferry rides. The airport remains closed until further notice, but is expected to re-open before the weekend, to accomodate the 16 daily flights that arrive from Bangkok, Phuket, Krabi, Pattaya, Chiang Mai, Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur. Scheduled flights are now landing and departing from Surat Thani airport and ferry connections are being arranged for passengers to reach the island conveniently. The airport, which was built and is owned by Bangkok Airways, has previously won an award for its eco-friendly 'island'-styled terminal. It has had no previous incidents of air safety. More on [Samui airport](http://www.1stopsamui.com/getting_here/airport/) 2009-08-05T08:40:00+07:00 1402 2009-08-05T08:42:16+07:00 5 true 1402-samui-airport-remains-closed-following-accident Andrew

Passengers aboard an ATR inter-island flight that crashed on landing at Samui airport have escaped with their lives, however the captain perished and several have been critically injured when the Bangkok Airways flight crashed into a disused control tower when landing in bad weather. The plane, which had 68 passengers aboard and was arriving from Krabi, crashed on landing at 2.30pm Tuesday, forcing the closure of the airport and creating travel delays to travellers arriving on or leaving the island. Chartchai Pansuwan, 58, was the only person to die in the accident. He was described as an experienced pilot with 14 years experience flying this particular model of aircraft. "During the landing there was a strong wind. What happened is similar to the crash of the One-Two-Go plane in Phuket," commented an official who asked to remain anonymous. The injured include an Italian and Swiss national and two Britons. The airline has revealed that the plane is covered by a US$250 million insurance with Bangkok Insurance Co. The crash follows a more serious accident in September 2007 when a One-2-Go aircraft, operated by Orient Thai, crashed in Phuket while attempting to land in bad weather, killing 88 passengers. The airline was subsequently grounded for more than a year pending safety examinations. Bangkok Airways has a virtual monopoly on flights into the island, and a similar fate for this airline will seriously affect the air traffic to Samui. Bangkok Airways has created an emergency information number - 02 265 8777. Updates and more information at the [Bangkok Post](http://bangkokpost.com) 2009-08-05T08:13:00+07:00 1401 2009-08-05T08:29:49+07:00 5 true 1401-lucky-escape-from-samui-airport-crash Andrew

Anyone who’s looking for something a bit different to do in [Bangkok] [1] this week should head to Khlong Toei Port 1 to check out the world’s largest floating book exhibition. The exhibition is being hosted by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, who have stocked the MV Doulos, which is the world’s oldest ocean-going passenger ship, with more than 8,000 books in a variety of languages, including a large English selection. According to a report by [The Nation] [2], Bangkok Metropolitan Administration Public Relations Department chief Saensuk Satongkhun stated that this is the fifth time the vessel, which is by the non-profit charity organisation Good Books for All, is visiting Thailand. Visitors will also have the opportunity to explore the 130 meter long vessel and watch stage performances as well, as taking part in a range of interesting activities. The floating exhibition will be held until August 23 Tuesdays to Saturdays from 10:00 to 21:00 and on Sundays and Mondays from 14:00 to 21:00. There is an admission fee of just 10 baht to get on board. [1]: http://1stopbangkok.com [2]: http://nationmultimedia.com 2009-08-05T08:00:00+07:00 1399 2009-08-05T08:28:04+07:00 5 true 1399-bangkok-bookworms-take-to-the-seas Andrew

Anyone who has spent time exploring Thailand’s capital city will know that there are many faces of [Bangkok] [1]. While there are numerous modern bars, clubs and restaurants scattered throughout the city, there is also an older, yet infinitely interesting side to the city. Just around the corner from backpacker and Thai student hangout Khaosan Road is Phra Athit Road, which is located near the Chao Phraya River and faces Phra Sumen Fort and Santi Chaiprakan Park. Wander along this road and you will discover a row of nine enchanting two-story buildings, which date back more than 60 years. Known as Kao Hong, these buildings have been turned into stylish restaurants, cute coffee shops and trendy bars. Now, thanks to funding by the Crown Property Bureau, these buildings are being restored to their former glory. Oranuch Im-Arrom is the senior chief of the Crown Property Bureau's Conservation Project Division. In an interview with the [Bangkok Post] [2] he revealed that: "Prior to the restoration, these buildings served as homes, restaurants, a bakery shop, a spa and a convenience store. Some changes had been made. For example, some of the wooden doors, called lookfak, had been removed. We managed to conserve and develop the buildings while highlighting their outstanding features. For example, the roof is now laid with kite tiles, as it was originally.” [1]: http://1stopbangkok.com [2]: http://bangkokpost.com 2009-08-03T10:22:00+07:00 1395 2009-08-03T10:23:24+07:00 5 true 1395-a-taste-of-old-bangkok Andrew

Often overlooked by visitors to the Land of Smiles, Rayong is located just two hours from the capital city of [Bangkok] [1]. Features around a hundred kilometers of sun kissed coastline and some beautiful beaches, this is a good place to soak up the sun away from the crowds that gather at the nearby beaches of Pattaya and Jomtien. The Tourist Authority of Thailand are working hard to promote Rayong at the moment, encouraging the area’s hotels and restaurants to offer special deals to visitors. As one tourist commented to [The Nation] [2] recently: "With the main road running parallel to the sea, you can't find a single hotel by the beach at Mae Ramphung.” Some of Rayong’s attractions include Laem Mae Phim beach, Ban Kon Ao and the Ban Pae market. So what are you waiting for? Forget the hustle and bustle of the big city and the bright lights of Pattaya, let’s go to Rayong this weekend and enjoy a little peace and quiet. [1]: http://1stopbangkok.com [2]: http://nationmultimedia.com 2009-07-31T09:20:00+07:00 1394 2009-07-30T18:11:50+07:00 5 true 1394-let-s-go-to-rayong Andrew

Around 1,500 supporters visited the Kaew Fah temple in Nonthaburi, just outside [Bangkok] [1] earlier this week to witness a phone-in by the former PM. Thaksin, who turned 60 on Sunday, sang a song to the crowd about his life in exile, accompanied by a slideshow featuring his formal presentation of robes to monks. According to a report by [The Nation] [2], Thaksin then addressed the crowd, saying: "I thank you for attending my 60th birthday. May the boon from the merit-making ceremony bring you prosperity and happiness and I wish the merit made today will allow me to return home to serve you once again.” A hologramic image of Thaksin was beamed onto a large screen at the Kaew Fah temple from Dubai, where he is currently living in exile. The ceremony was chaired by Thaksin's sister Yaowapha and her husband Somchai Wongsawat along with a number of political figures in such as Deputy House Speaker Apiwan Wiriyachai,Pheu Thai and spokesman Prompong Nopparit. The ceremony focused largely on religious ritual such as merit-making and Somchai Wongsawat set cattle as well as placing eight coins in each of the attending monk's alms bowl as eight is believed to be a lucky number for Thaksin. [1]: http://1stopbangkok.com [2]: http://nationmultimedia.com 2009-07-28T09:22:00+07:00 1388 2009-07-27T23:22:58+07:00 5 true 1388-thaksin-sings-to-celebrate-60th-birthday Andrew

Good news for budget travellers. According to a recent survey by Mercer, [Bangkok] [1] is less expensive that a number of neighbouring cities including Hanoi, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. The survey, which covered 143 cities around the world ranked Bangkok the 98th most expensive city, proving that it is still an ideal destination for those wishing to travel on a limited budget. The survey covered a number of essentials such as transport, food, accommodation and entertainment. Nathalie Constantin-Met'ral is the senior researcher for Mercer. In a recent interview she told the [Bangkok Post] [2]: "As a direct impact of the economic downturn over the last year we have observed significant fluctuations in most of the world's currencies, which have had a profound impact on this year's ranking. Many currencies, including the euro and British pound, have weakened considerably against a strong US dollar causing a number of European cities to plummet in the rankings." The survey is taken each year and shows a slight change in Bangkok’s ranking as it moves from 105th place in the 2008 survey to 98th this year. However, this is still a cheap, colourful and cultural place to spend some time. [1]: http://1stopbangkok.com [2]: http://bangkokpost.com 2009-07-23T09:00:00+07:00 1381 2009-07-22T16:15:19+07:00 5 true 1381-travel-to-bangkok-on-a-budget Andrew

There are a number of ways of getting rid of your rubbish. Some people choose to recycle, while others like to donate unwanted items to charity. However, Japanese-Thai artist Yuree Kensaku has another method. Visitors to the 100 Tonson Gallery in [Bangkok] [1] will be greeted by a colourful collection of pictures, all created from discarded items such as blankets, wood and video tapes. 30-year-old Yuree Kensaku has titled her exhibition "Sweet with Mr Fan" and is presenting her work as a creative way of dealing with seemingly worthless objects. In an interview with the [Bangkok Post] [2] Yuree Kensaku said that: "It's my habit to not throw things away. For me, there is value and meaning in old objects. I'm influenced by my father, who loves nature and fixing old things instead of throwing them away when they fail. As a person, I'm inclined to use all objects to their fullest. Perhaps this trait expresses the environmental concerns I possess." The exhibition will be held until August 23rd at the 100 Tonson Gallery, which is located on Soi Tonson, Ploenchit Road, Lumpini. [1]: http://1stopbangkok.com [2]: http://bangkokpost.com 2009-07-22T09:00:00+07:00 1379 2009-07-21T19:38:07+07:00 5 true 1379-from-rubbish-to-riches Andrew

One thing that many visitors to the Land of Smiles notice is the number of dogs roaming the streets. While these dogs often look happy and well cared for, this is not always the case. So it’s good to know that there are some good Samaritans that have made it their mission to care for Thailand’s canines. One such savior is Warin Taphaothong, who lives in the Bang Na area of [Bangkok] [1]. After making her fortune in the US, Warin Taphaothong returned to Thailand and bought a plot of land in Bang Na with the plan of starting her own business. However, she soon became sensitive to the plight of the street dogs in her area and decided to devote her time and money to taking care of them. "Right now, I have some 200 dogs in my house. I also take care of hundreds of other dogs and puppies taking refuge in temples. In addition, I pay for the food to feed homeless dogs living on streets and beaches. I have been doing this for a decade now," Warin Taphaothong told the [Bangkok Post] [2] recently. Anyone who wants to help support Ms Warin and her dogs can contact her directly on 08-6048-3349 or 08-4877-2737. [1]: http://1stopbangkok.com [2]: http://bangkokpost.com 2009-07-20T09:00:00+07:00 1374 2009-07-19T12:31:13+07:00 5 true 1374-paws-for-thought Andrew

If you’re visiting [Bangkok] [1] and want to catch a glimpse of traditional Thailand, look no further than the community of Kudee Cheen. Located near the banks of the Chao Phraya River amongst a network of canals, this multicultural community dates back to the Thon Buri period. Teeranand Chuangpinit is the director of the Thon Buri Historical Information Centre. In a recent interview with the [Bangkok Post] [2] he stated that: "The Kudee Cheen area has several layers of historical complexity. Its value will be fulfilled with this cultural map. The Kudee Cheen community consists of six sub-communities of three religions and probably seven to eight ethnic groups. Its charm lies in its clusters of old wooden houses, particularly two beautiful houses alongside khlong Bang Luang.” It is possible to explore this interesting community by simply hiring a motorized longtail boat with a driver and taking a trip along the canal network that branches off the mighty Chao Phraya River. Along the way you will see sights such as the Bang Luang Mosque and Wat Prayurawong as well as plenty of scenes of traditional life. [1]: http://1stopbangkok.com [2]: http://bangkokpost.com 2009-07-17T09:00:00+07:00 1372 2009-07-18T16:26:12+07:00 5 true 1372-unseen-bangkok Andrew

"Why do women develop such an urge and desire to own one, then two, then a dozen and, for some, even hundreds of pairs in all sizes, shapes and colours?" This question was posed by Yves Sabourin, who is the curator of the International Museum of Shoes in Romans, France. The museum has kindly loaned its collection to Thailand Creative and Design Centre at the Emporium in [Bangkok] [1]. The collection is being shown in an exhibition entitled "Portraits of Shoes - Stories of Feet". According to an article in [The Nation] [2] the collection will be on display until August 20 and contains more than a hundred pairs of international fine footwear spanning the last four centuries. This creative collection features a wide range of shoes in every style, from Chanel shoes with heels shaped like light bulbs to transparent trainers, presenting the shoes as works of art. Most women will tell you that there is something alluring about shoes, although few can tell you exactly what it is that makes shoes so appealing. For the chance to figure it out, head over to Thailand Creative and Design Centre. [1]: http://1stopbangkok.com [2]: http://nationmultimedia.com 2009-07-13T09:00:00+07:00 1364 2009-07-12T13:17:01+07:00 5 true 1364-sexy-shoes-in-the-city Andrew

Late on Sunday night, police officers stopped Payom Chueyphoo, 40, as he was driving his car along the Saeng Chuto Road. They searched the car and discovered ten live pangolins, which Mr Payom was transporting to his home in Kanchanaburi, which is located just to the west of [Bangkok] [1]. The ten pangolins, which are brown in colour and are also known as scaly anteaters, weighed a combined 34.5kg. The animals had been packed in plastic bags and were being held in the boot of the car. After being questioned, Mr Payom told the police that he bought the wild animals from Ban Kao village in Muang district for 500 baht each. However, the police had already been informed that he had links with a major wildlife trafficking gang. Mr Payon denied the charges, claiming that he planned to cook the pangolins for his family and friends to eat. Police Lieutenant Colonel Narongdet Kamolbutr, of the Natural Resources and Environment Crime Division led the operation on Sunday. The police have been watching Mr Payom for some time, but this is the first time they have been able to catch him in the act. "It is big business with big money and it is very difficult to crack down on them," Narongdet Kamolbutr,” commented to the [Bangkok Post] [2]. [1]: http://1stopbangkok.com [2]: http://bangkokpost.com 2009-07-08T09:00:00+07:00 1358 2009-07-08T07:11:39+07:00 5 true 1358-pangolin-smuggler-apprehended-in-kanchanaburi Andrew

People's Alliance for Democracy coordinator Suriyasai Katasila spoke out earlier this week against the charges posed against thirty six PAD leaders. The leaders have been charged with terrorism for blockading [Bangkok] [1]’s Don Mueng and Suvarnabhumi airports late last year. However, in a public address, Suriyasai Katasila announced that the charges were inflated and groundless, likening the situation to a previous case where when nine PAD leaders were charged with treason. The charge was later removed by the Appeals Court as it was felt that it could not be supported. "The blockades of the two airports were not intended to create unrest but an exercise of the right to peaceful assembly under the constitution to oppose the then government which was illegitimate. We did no damage to property of the airports. Moreover, we were attacked with M79 grenades several times but police have not been able to arrest any suspect," Mr Suriyasai was quoted as saying by the [Bangkok Post] [2]. The PAD coordinator also added that crimes committed by protestors from opposing group the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship when they forced the termination of the Asean Summit in Pattaya and attempted to take the prime minister's life at the Interior Ministry were much more severe. [1]: http://1stopbangkok.com [2]: http://bangkokpost.com 2009-07-07T09:24:00+07:00 1357 2009-07-06T10:24:59+07:00 5 true 1357-pad-leaders-charged-with-terrorism Andrew

Anyone who’s spent time in [Bangkok] [1] recently will have noticed the sorry state of many of the buses. Although there are a number of large, comfortable air-conditioned buses fighting their way through the city’s traffic, there are also plenty of small, old and outdated buses as well. Known locally as ‘green boxes of death’ the smallest of Bangkok’s buses have a reputation for being unsafe. However, the good news is that the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) plan to launch a new bus fleet. Although the bus fleet had been proposed in the past it had been rejected as being too costly to the government. However, new studies show that the new bus fleet will cost much less than expected and actually help the BMTA back into the black. As far as the balance sheet and financial status were concerned, "The BMTA is practically bankrupt", Pallapa Ruangrong, a member of the Energy Regulatory Commission was quoted as saying by the [Bangkok Post] [2] this week. "Doing just a little thing now will at least help the BMTA stop the bleeding." The BMTA recently announced a total debt of 67 billion baht. The new buses are expected to generate much needed extra revenue for the BMTA and hopefully reduce the amount of traffic on Bangkok’s clogged roads. [1]: http://1stopbangkok.com [2]: http://bangkokpost.com 2009-06-30T08:56:00+07:00 1346 2009-06-30T10:58:11+07:00 5 true 1346-new-buses-a-lifeline-for-bangkok-transport Andrew

A British couple who were falsely accused of stealing at Suvarnabhumi Airport in [Bangkok] [1] have announced plans to sue the airport for wrongful arrest. The [Phuket Gazette] [2] reported that Stephen Ingram, 49, and Xi Lin, 45, were accused of stealing a Givenchy wallet worth around 7,000 from a King Power duty-free shop on April 25 as they went to board Qantas flight QF1 to London. The pair were handed over to the police and forced to pay bribes of around 450,000 baht for their release, even though there was no evidence against them. Apparently, the couple were detained for five days, during which time they were threatened and held hostage in a cheap hotel until they agreed to pay the bribe. Stephen Ingram and Xi Lin were so outraged by their experience that as soon as they managed to get out of their situation they decided to sue for unlawful treatment. "Our main motivation [in suing] is to protect other innocent British tourists from being caught up in this nightmare," Stephen Ingram said in an interview last week. "We intend to take every legal means to recover our money and obtain justice." Investigations are underway to ascertain whether or not this is an ongoing scam. However, there seem to be no other reports of tourists being treated in this way and it appears to be an isolated incident. [1]: http://1stopbangkok.com [2]: http://phuketgazette.net/news/ 2009-06-29T09:15:00+07:00 1345 2009-06-29T11:05:39+07:00 5 true 1345-british-tourists-fight-for-their-rights Andrew