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Kingdom celebrates Chulalongkorn Day
Remembering a great King
His Majesty King Chulalongkorn
the Great
Chulalongkorn Day, October 23, is a national holiday and
ceremonies will be performed throughout Thailand to mark the day that the
great King passed away in the year 1910.
To observe the holiday, banks, government offices and many businesses will
be closed on Monday, October 23.
King Chulalongkorn was instrumental in modernizing the Kingdom of Thailand
and is credited with many visionary accomplishments, including the
establishment of the Council of State, setting up 12 different ministries
which reorganized the government administrative system and the abolition of
slavery.
King Chulalongkorn’s other ambitious achievements included establishing
trade and diplomatic contact with foreign governments, and introducing
revolutionary changes throughout the kingdom regarding police security, a
postal system, hospitals, and railroads.
The great King also was instrumental in maintaining the nation’s sovereignty
during a critical period in history when powerful nations were expanding
their influence and colonizing neighboring countries.
Underground U-turns would cure traffic woes says research body
Noppadon Chaichana
Pattaya City should construct underground U-turns to resolve the traffic
jams on Sukhumvit Road, says the body appointed to suggest ways of smoothing
out the city’s increasingly chaotic traffic.
Deputy Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh on October 13 along with city councilors and
department heads gathered to hear the results of research undertaken by the
Traffic and Transport Development and Research Center (TDRC) of the King
Mongku University of Technology in Thonburi, which was hired by city hall to
draw up a master plan for resolving the traffic problem in Pattaya City for
the short and long term.
TDRC director Dr Thawatchai Laosirihongtong said the center has conducted
its research and prepared a number of suggestions that are now ready for
discussion. There are four main options, and the preferred one is that
underground U-turns be constructed on Sukhumvit Road to reduce the current
above ground U-turns.
A tunnel would be constructed underneath the Central Pattaya intersection
that would eliminate the jams there and the crossroads at Pattaya Second and
Third Roads would also be adjusted.
Ronakit said that the plans would be presented to the administration for
examination. After a decision is made the project would be presented to
Pattaya City Council.
Dead dugong washed
up on navy base beach
Patcharapol Panrak
A dead female dugong was found washed up on the beach at the Sattahip Naval
Base during the evening of October 2.
The dugong was 2 meters long and weighed an estimated 200 kilograms. It had
washed up opposite the house of the commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai
Fleet, and was already beginning to decompose.
Navy personnel contacted the Rotjanathammasathan Foundation to help remove
the carcass, and officials of the Department of Fisheries also came along to
examine it.
Fishery officer Pralong Chanapai, veterinarian Yuttamol Muangkram, and a
fishery technician from the Eastern Coastal and Marine Resource Research
Center, Jirapat Pomchuoy, said that it is most likely the dugong became
entangled in a fish net. They determined its age to be 35 to 45 years.
Rear Admiral Chaiwat Iamsamut, commander-in-chief of the Air and Coastal
Defense Command at Sattahip, said that two dugongs had been observed
circling the bay around the Sea Turtle Preservation Center, looking for
food. It has now been confirmed that this is one of them, and that it had
been seen before in an injured condition in Bangsarae Bay, one month
earlier.
The dugong, known as a “changsarn” in Thai, is listed as an endangered
species. A large gray-brown aquatic mammal, its closest relative is the
elephant. Dugongs are completely herbivorous, and have no known natural
enemies. They can live for about 60 years, but loss of their natural coastal
and inland waterway habitats has in recent times led to a serious decrease
in their numbers.
Mayor takes up pipe-laying problems with water supply authority
Mayor Niran
Wattanasartsathorn, Pattaya city councilors and people responsible for the
project survey the problem areas for laying the water pipe.
Narisa Nitikarn
The mayor is in discussions with the water supply authority about problems
suffered by the public in areas of the city where new water pipes are being
laid.
On October 4, at the temporary office of the Water Pipe Construction
Adjustment Project, located at the Provincial Waterworks Authority at
Mabprachan Reservoir, Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn, Pattaya City
Councilors, and members of the press met with Thanee Thongprachum, manager
of the Pattaya Water Supply Office.
Other officials attending the meeting included Banchong Srisuk, engineering
officer at the Provincial Waterworks Authority, and Chairot Thammaniramai,
project engineer of Bangsaen Mahanakhon Ltd.
Mayor Niran listed the neighborhoods suffering problems related to the
pipe-laying, and asked Thanee to provide an explanation of the state of
works. Thanee said he had appointed Banchong to draw up a plan for the water
pipe excavations, including all working systems.
The project had encountered many problems on Sukhumvit Road at South Naklua,
which is a bottleneck shape and needs a pipe setup under the second lane
from the sidewalk. This is because the first lane, connecting to the
footpath, already has a water supply and drainage system. It is impossible
to lay an additional water distribution pipe there. In the meantime, the
large excavation made to try and resolve the engineering problems disrupted
traffic.
Niran requested the work be speeded up to regain normal circulation as soon
as possible, and he appointed Bent Wannaseethong of the Engineering Office
of Pattaya City, Chairot of Bangsaen Mahanakhon, and a number of other
officials to work together on the problems.
Banchong said that he completely understood the problems and frustrations of
the public, but the laying of water pipes is being undertaken to a schedule
that runs from August 28 to December 31 this year. The benefits are that
this project has a lifespan of 30 to 40 years if implemented correctly, and
that consequently great care is being taken with the pipes, especially the
jointing.
The pipes are in 12-meter lengths to decrease the numbers of joints, and a
district metering system is being incorporated as protection against water
leakage. This will distribute water to people at a full quantity.
Previously, people have been able to receive only 6,000-7,000 cubic meters
of water from each 10,000 cubic meters distributed, because there were water
leaks at the connecting joints.
Before the pipe is completely covered for normal traffic use, it needs to be
tested, otherwise the exact location of leaks will not be found, and time
will be lost re-digging and finding out where they are.
“The Provincial Waterworks Authority wants to inform all people and tourists
in Pattaya City that we are urgently trying at the best of our ability to
solve the problem, and we kindly ask all people to use the road carefully,”
said Thanee.
Koh Larn road workers protest over non-payment of wages
Workers building a road on Koh
Larn gather at Pattaya City Hall to protest not receiving their wages.
Vimolrat Singnikorn
Workers building a road on Koh Larn gathered outside Pattaya City Hall
on the afternoon of October 10 to protest that the contractor who hired them
has not paid their wages.
The male and female workers, who numbered about 20, had spent their last
coins to pay the boat and bus fares to take them to city hall, where they
filed a complaint over one month of unpaid wages owed to them by their
employer.
One of the protesters, Mrs Anong Boram, 44, said that the construction
company hired her in April of this year to work at a rate of 200-300 baht
per day to construct the road at Wat Mai Samran. At first Mr Yut (unknown
surname, the employer) agreed to pay them every 15 days, but from September
to October 10 they hadn’t received any pay.
The workers followed up on their money with the employer by phone, but he
continuously refused to pay. Therefore they came to Pattaya City to ask for
help.
Deputy Mayor Wutisak Rermkitkarn listened to the complaints of the workers.
The employer was contacted and has agreed to pay them.
Navy places buoys at Rang Islands to protect endangered coral reefs
Patcharapol Panrak
The Royal Thai Navy has set up a series of buoys around the coral reefs
of the Rang Islands, a group that forms part of the Marine National Park of
Koh Chang, in response to a request from Her Royal Highness Princess
Soamsawalee, who is concerned that the natural environment in that area may
be deteriorating.
Vice Admiral Jamnong Kittipeerachon, commander-in-chief of Region 1, Royal
Thai Fleet, Sattahip, was asked to take measures to conserve the coral reef
line, which falls within the Koh Kood sub-district of Trat province.
The Development Administrative Organization for the area wishes to promote
ecological tourism and is anxious that the natural environment be conserved,
and therefore asked for support from the Royal Navy to survey the reefs and
islands and lay buoy lines.
The islands are named Thonglang, Yak, Nok, Kra, and Tien.
Vice Admiral Jamnong assigned Captain Taksin Rueksanget, deputy chief of
operations for the First Naval Command area, to be the head of operations.
Captain Surat Siriwannavee, deputy director of the Naval Civil Affairs
Department at the First Naval Command Area was appointed his deputy and a
team was assembled that included 24 special operations officers, and four
technician officers from the Hydrographic Department at the Royal Thai Navy.
Officials from the National Parks Department and the Administrative
Organization in the Koh Mak sub-district were also brought in on the
project. One coastal patrol vessel, an inflatable rubber boat, several small
and large fishing boats, and a sand blower machine were deployed in the
laying of the buoys.
At Thonglang Island the buoys have been placed at six points around the boat
moorings and laid at 20 points along the coral reef line. At Yak seven buoy
points were laid out for the boat moorings and at 18 points along the coral
reef. At Nok five buoy points were laid out at the moorings and at 11 points
for the coral reef. At Kra 20 buoy points were laid out along the reef line
and at Tien Island there are 21.
The Rang Islands have potential for ecological tourism and scuba diving, and
the aim of the buoys is to protect the marine resources of the area.
Vice Admiral Jamnong said that the project has been carried out as a matter
of urgency, in response to Her Royal Highness Princess Soamsawalee’s
concern. He said that Her Royal Highness was very much aware that the
formerly pristine area had been deteriorating.
Surveys by the Royal Navy and the East Thai Coastal and Marine Research
Center found that the live coral reefs had indeed severely receded, with
large areas of the reefs dying off.
Navy packs emergency supplies
for flood-stricken North
Sailors and Navy airmen were
put to work packaging relief items to send to flood victims in the North.
Patcharapol Panrak
The Royal Thai Naval Base in Sattahip and the Royal Thai Naval Air Division
in Banchang, Rayong, have packed 15,200 emergency relief supply parcels and
household medical kits for distribution to people affected by the severe
flooding in five of the Northern provinces.
Her Royal Highness Princess Soamsawalee ordered the provision of the
supplies under the Princess Pa Foundation of the Thai Red Cross Society.
A total of 350 officers packed the emergency family relief parcels and
household medical kits that were delivered by the Princess Pa Foundation,
said Rear Admiral Roengrit Boonsongprasert, director general of the Naval
Civil Affairs Department.
The Naval Ordinance Department organized transportation for the two 20-foot
containers holding the supplies, and the Sattahip Naval Base supplied two
2.5-tonne loading trucks.
People who would like to donate money to help the flood victims, can do so
through the Princess Pa Foundation of the Thai Red Cross Society by
depositing funds in the Siam Commercial Bank, Dheves branch, savings account
no. 020-2-53333-8.
Electronic gaming machine operator is unlucky again
Four women gamblers and the
electronic gaming machines’ owner were arrested for illegal gambling.
Boonlua Chatree
Police have arrested for the second time the operator of electronic gaming
machines at the Blue Wave Hotel on Soi Chaiyapoon, where illegal gambling
was taking place.
Four gamblers were arrested, and six machines impounded, along with 200 baht
in cash and 2,000 machine tokens.
The recalcitrant operator, 22-year-old Wichai Panthong, was also arrested,
charged with being the banker for the game and with organizing illegal
gambling.
Ms Pornthip Suk-Utcha, 24, Ms Kanthapa Sitthichai, 29, Ms Jaranya Puakjiam,
21, and Ms Pan Kolsoongnern, 42, were charged with illegal gambling.
Foreign tourists caught smoking hashish
Boonlua Chatree
Two foreigners were amongst four people arrested just after midnight on
October 5 for having a quick spliff in the alley next to the Royal Garden
Plaza.
 Two
foreigners and two Thais were arrested for smoking drugs on the street.
The four were spotted smoking hashish cigarettes by police on routine patrol
along Beach Road. They were identified as Sutad Chitprakob, 33, from
Ayutthaya; Saipong Pongprasert, 31, from Trat; Kim Peter Borup, 47, from
Denmark; and Forsston Barshakan, 40, from Sweden.
Police found approximately 5 grams of dry cut hashish in two plastic bags,
four cigarettes with hashish, two ecstasy pills, and an unidentified white
powder in a drinking straw.
The two foreigners stated that local people on Walking Street had advised
them where to obtain hashish, and they had followed the directions to the
small soi where the Bangkok Bank ATM is located, where they purchased the
drugs and decided to consume them at the scene.
All four were charged with illegal possession of Class 1 and Class 5
narcotics.
Immigration police round up 176 Cambodians working
on building project
The police arrested 176
Cambodians for illegally working in the Kingdom.
Boonlua Chatree
Immigration police surrounded the Ban Aua-a-thon Village Project in Banbung
at 4:30 p.m. on October 5, after investigations revealed that a large number
of illegal workers were living and working there.
The police arrested 176 Cambodians - 61 men and 115 women - but an estimated
100 more escaped into the bushland. Three children were also taken into
care.
The workers had been employed by a Thai national, who ran away when the
police moved in. They had crossed the Thai-Cambodia border to work on the
project, and were being housed on the site. The male workers were receiving
170 baht per day and the female workers 150 baht. They said they had been
working for only 15 days, and, as often happens in this type of case, had
not yet received any pay.
Police charged them with illegal entry and working without a work permit,
and arranged to deport them to their homeland.
Filipinos stealing from Japanese tourist at Carrefour are caught on CCTV
Boonlua Chatree
Security personnel detained four Filipinos who attempted to rob a Japanese
tourist in the Carrefour department store.
The theft happened at around 8 p.m. on October 7. Pattaya police station
received a report from Sarayut Kiewthong, assistant chief of security at
Carrefour, that a Japanese man named Manabu Misaka, 40, had been robbed and
that four suspects were being held.
At the scene the police found Maximo Sanoy Ariel, 37, Roberto Mijares, 35,
Alan Dampil, 37, and Joselito Guinto, 44, being detained by security
personnel. All four were nationals of the Philippines.
Misaka stated that he had stopped for refreshments when he was shopping, and
that he had left his bag in the cart beside him. When he checked, he found
it was gone. He reported the theft to a security guard. Security personnel
checked CCTV footage and were able to quickly track down the thieves who
still had the evidence on them.
Inside the bag were 10,000 baht, 43,000 yen, seven credit cards, and some
documents. Police charged the four men with theft.
Infant trapped inside BMW as father visits minimart
Boonlua Chatree
A one-year-old infant was trapped inside a locked BMW that had rolled
forward and hit another car when the child’s father went to buy goods from a
minimart.
 The
young boy crawls around inside as police and a locksmith attempt to open the
locked door.
The man, a 28-year-old Frenchman named Alexandre Sylvain P Vandenbulcke, had
parked his BMW outside Chanya Medical Clinic at Soi Yume, in Central
Pattaya, leaving one-year-old son in the passenger seat.
The boy’s father had left the keys in the ignition, the motor running and
the air conditioner turned on, so the child was able to breathe, but the car
rolled across the soi and collided with a red Mazda that was parked there.
The impact activated the BMW’s door locking system, effectively trapping the
boy inside.
Police had to call for a locksmith, and it took them 30 minutes to free the
child trapped inside.
The incident happened at 1:20 a.m. and attracted a large crowd, concerned
for the infant, who was upset but unhurt. Vandenbulcke said he would
reimburse in full the owner of the other car for the damage caused.
Pattaya residents gather at temples
to celebrate the end of Buddhist Lent
With candles and joss sticks
lit, many recite prayers during Buddhist Lent in Pattaya.
Vimolrat Singnikorn
Devote Buddhists throughout Thailand marked the end of Buddhist Lent on
October 8. The holiday, called “Auk Pansa” or “Tak Bat Tay-Wo”, has long
been a Thai tradition.
In Pattaya, families brought alms for the monks in the city’s many temples
early in the morning. This is also a time for prayer, sermons and merit
making, as well as an affirmation of ancient Thai tradition.
 Devote
Buddhists put “Kaotom Harng” offerings into a priest’s bowl during
ceremonies to mark the end of Buddhist Lent.
Thai Buddhists have two special days to mark the end of Buddhist Lent. On
both days they go to the temple to make merit; alms are presented to the
monks in the morning, offerings are made to the monks in general, making
merit is done at the temple, and people listen to the “Tay-Wo” sermon (an
event where food is given to the monks).
All temples in Banglamung and Pattaya were crowded, especially the
Photisamphan Temple, Sawangfa Phutaram Temple, Chaiyamongkhol Temple, Nong
Yai Temple, Nong Or Temple. Devotees brought the “Kaotom Harng” or “Kao tom
Lookyon”, which is symbolic of “Tay-Wo”, to give to the monks early in the
morning. People believe that this will bring luck and prosperity to
themselves and their family.
The end of the Buddhist Lent is always on the increasing full moon on the
15th day of the 11th month, in or around October each year. It is the last
day the priests have to remain in the temple after residing there together
for the 3 months of the rainy season.
The monks must make “Sangkakam” (religious services) on what is called “Maha
Pawarana Day” (Day of service). This is when the monks gather to assess each
other’s behavior and to receive council. The abbot conducts discussions and
a questioning session with lower ranking monks. This “Pawarana”, one of the
priest’s behaviors, is done to replace praying “Patimok” (priest rules),
which is done every 15 days during Buddhist Lent.
For “Tay-Wo”, giving food is done on the decreasing full moon on the 1st day
of the 11th month, one day after the end of the Buddhist Lent. As the story
goes, Buddha went up to heaven to give a sermon to his mother and stayed 3
months during the Buddhist Lent, then came back to earth at “Sangkassa
Nakorn City”.
This second coming down from heaven is called “Dawadung”. In the old days
the Buddhists waited to give food, and the tradition has continued and is
still practiced today.
The “Kaotom Harng” story came from a day when the temple was crowded and
some couldn’t give food to the priests. Therefore the “Kaotom Harng” was
made to put the offerings into a priest bowl. Offerings are made from sticky
rice and covered with a coconut leaf, and the offering has a long tail,
which is good for throwing. They believe that this will bring the greatest
fortune, and this tradition has continued, too.
The tradition of Buddhist Lent, or the annual three-month Rains Retreat
known in Thai as “Phansa”, dates back to the time of early Buddhism, when
all holy men spent the season in permanent dwellings, avoiding unnecessary
travel at a time when crops were still new for fear they might accidentally
step on young plants.
To this day, monks stay in a temple of their choice and will not outside
until Lent is over.
October 8 was an important day
for Buddhists, as it was the full moon night of the eleventh month of the
year, marking the end of Buddhist Lent, or ‘Auk Pansa’. It also marked the
“official” end of the rainy season, even although the weather might not
agree.
(Right) Merit making and tak
baht ceremonies during the end of Buddhist Lent on October 8.
145 Sattahip Navy Base personnel sent for tour of duty in the restive South
Patcharapol Panrak
Rear Admiral Chaiwatt Iamsamuth, commander of the Naval Air Command and
Coastal Defense at Sattahip, on September 29 presided over the sending out
of personnel to replace those on duty guarding Narathiwat Airport in
Songkhla, in the South of Thailand.
 Rear
Admiral Chaiwatt Iamsamuth gives encouragement to troops as they embark on
their mission to the south.
Due to the unrest in the three southernmost provinces since 2004, national
security and public order has become of great importance, and therefore the
Naval Base at Sattahip sends out 145 navy personnel to protect the
strategically important Narathiwat Airport on a rotating basis.
Those coming off their turn of duty have gained faith and trust and provided
encouragement to the public because they did a great job in protecting the
airport, said Rear Admiral Chaiwatt. “All personnel carried out their duties
strictly and understood the local traditions and religious sensitivities,
and all were outstanding representatives of the Naval Air Command and
Coastal Defense.”
In addition to winning the hearts and minds of the local residents in the
South, the armed personnel must also be vigilant for their own safety and
for that of the group, added the commander.
Two companies vying for Loy Krathong project
Vimolrat Singnikorn
Deputy Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh chaired a meeting on October 2 to hear
proposals for organizing the Loy Krathong celebrations that will be held at
Bali Hai Pier on November 5.
 Pisai
Panomwan Na Ayuthaya, member of Pattaya City Council is worried that the
celebrations will end up being like a temple fair.
Two companies, VC Spot Productions and GOTO Event have submitted their
proposals. Amongst those attending the meeting were Pisai Panomwan na
Ayuthaya, member of Pattaya City Council, and Somsak Charoenphol, head of
the Office of Pattaya District Chief.
This year’s Loy Krathong celebrations have been allotted a budget of
1,900,000 baht. City hall will decide on the organizing company at a later
date.
“The city wants this year’s celebrations to be particularly outstanding as
this is an auspicious year,” said Pisai. “I hope that the company chosen
will stick to its plans and format and make no changes, otherwise the event
might just end up looking like a temple fair.”
Chips with everything as tree branches are turned into fertilizer
Narisa Nitikarn
Pattaya City’s technical services department has introduced a new wood
chipper machine that will be used to make fertilizer for use in the public
parks.
 Instead
of just throwing away tree branches after trimming, the city can now recycle
the refuse and use it as fertilizer.
Tree branches that have been obscuring the ocean view at Pattaya and Jomtien
beaches were cut down over the period September 28 to 30 by public park
officers, who then used the wood chipper under the supervision of Sompob
Wandee, chief of the public park technical office, acting on behalf of the
Public Works Department director.
Sompob said that electrical vehicles were used to cut the high branches,
which were then fed into the wood chipper. The chipper can take branches of
up to 10 inches in diameter, and the wood comes out in a form fine enough to
be used as fertilizer. The cut branches were collected and transferred to
the chipper by six-wheeled truck at least 10 times per day.
City hall has allocated a budget of 3.5 million baht from the 2006 budget to
buy one of the wood chipping machines, along with associated equipment to
speed up the cutting of the branches.
A second wood chipper has also been received from the Public Health and
Environment Department.
The intention is to trim the branches every three months. The wood chips
will be stored at a site next to the wastewater treatment plant near Soi
Nong Yai Temple, where they will be processed into fertilizer for use in the
public parks.
Celestial rice prepared in nation’s largest frying pan will be given free to visitors at Vegetarian Festival
Event will be biggest ever promise organizers
The Pikanaet troupe’s lion
dance performance was a highlight of the presentation.
Vimolrat Singnikorn
Liberal helpings of celestial fried rice will be handed out to visitors free
of charge at the opening of the Pattaya Vegetarian Food Festival on Saturday
October 21, starting at 5 p.m.
Every effort is being made to ensure that this year’s Vegetarian Food
Festival is bigger and brighter and better than ever before, this being the
auspicious year of His Majesty the King’s 60th anniversary.
The celestial fried rice, which has been adopted as the symbol of the
festival, is being prepared under the guidance of chef Suchart
Daenchoeychai, who said that more than 60 chefs will be cooking the rice and
that Pattaya City Council and the Foundation are providing ingredients to
cook 6,000 litres of the heavenly concoction so there will be enough to feed
the hungry tourists.
The festival will be held through October 31 at the Sawang Boriboon
Thammasathan Foundation in Naklua.
The details were announced at a briefing was held at Pattaya District Office
on October 13, conducted by Mayor Niran Watthanasartsathorn, deputy chairman
of the foundation Banchong Khanawattanakul, director of the Tourism
Authority of Thailand Region 3 Office Chaiwat Charoensuk, and Suchart
Daenchoeychai, president of the Pattaya Chefs Club.
Chaiwat said that the organization for the event has included the
manufacture of Thailand’s largest frying pan, which has a diameter of 3
meters and is 50 centimeters deep.
A lion dance performance by the Pikanaet troupe from Chonburi was a
highlight of the presentation.
US Consular outreach trip to Pattaya
The Consular Section of the American Embassy in Bangkok is
pleased to announce an upcoming embassy consular visit in Pattaya. Consular
staff will be available to provide consular services on Friday, October 27,
from 8 a.m. to noon at the Dusit Resort on Pattaya Beach Road near the
dolphin circle. The outreach will be held in Dusit Rooms 5 and 6 in the
upstairs lobby.
The following consular services will be available during the visit:
* Passport renewal applications (US $67.00 or baht 2,680 for adult passports
- please bring exact change and a copy of your passport photo page)
* Additional passport pages (no charge, but please bring a copy of your
passport photo page)
* Notarial services (US $30 or baht 1,200 for the first notarial; US $20 or
baht 800 for each additional notarial - please bring exact change). Notarial
services include affidavits for retirement and other visas in Thailand, Thai
driver’s licenses, and marriage affidavits.
* Embassy registration and/or address change
* Absentee ballot application and voting abroad information
* Social security, VA or other federal benefits question
Note: Due to the large amount of time and paperwork involved, no
applications for Consular Reports of Birth will be accepted during consular
outreach trips.
Important Notice for Persons Seeking Extra Passport Pages: We often
experience crowds of over 150 persons during our outreach trips to Pattaya.
Inserting passport pages requires us to conduct a computer check on your
passport beforehand. If you plan to request extra visa pages during our
visit, we ask you to either fax a copy of the bio/photo page of your
passport along with your Social Security Number to 02-205-4103. Send the fax
attention: Pattaya Outreach, Extra Visa Pages. Or e-mail your passport
information and social security number to [email protected] and write Pattaya
Outreach, Extra Visa Pages in the subject line. If e-mailing, please provide
your name as written in your passport, your date and place of birth, our
current passport number, and your social security number. Please send this
information at least two days before our visit. Doing so will allow us to
provide you with faster and more efficient service.
If you have any questions, please e-mail: acsbkk@state. gov or call the
American Citizen Services Unit at: 02-205-4049.
Aircon bus service opened between Suvarnabhumi Airport and Pattaya
Narisa Nitikarn
A direct bus service between Suvarnabhumi Airport and Pattaya has been
opened by Transportation Co Ltd, bearing the number 999 and with a one-way
ticket priced at 106 baht.
 There
is now a shuttle bus to take passengers from Pattaya to the new airport, and
vice versa.
Transportation Co’s Pramualsak Chandang said the company had obtained the
concession from the Ministry of Transportation to operate three routes from
the new airport to destinations in Thailand: apart from the Pattaya service
there are buses traveling to Rong Kluea Market and to Nong Khai province.
The Pattaya bus terminus is located at the beginning of Soi Chaiyapruk 1,
100 meters away from Jomtien Beach. The officer in charge of the terminus is
Chatchawan Charoenwattha.
First-class air-conditioned buses leave here three times per day for
Suvarnabhumi Airport, departing at 9 a.m., 1 p.m. and 5 p.m., and departing
from the airport for Pattaya at the same time.
Ticket price for a one-way trip is 106 baht per person, with the bus having
a capacity of 40 passengers per trip. There are three service officers on
board, namely the driver, conductor and hostess. Cold towels and soft drinks
are provided, and there is an on-board restroom.
The bus travels a non-stop direct route on the motorway, and takes
approximately two hours for the 127-kilometer trip.
Mrs Pinnat Charoenphol, assistant director of the Tourism Authority of
Thailand Office Region 3, said the service is a good one and appropriately
priced. She has, however, asked if service locations can be opened closer to
town, as the terminus is quite a distance from the center. She has also
queried if three buses per day with a capacity of 40 persons each will be
enough for the high season, suggesting that extra buses may be necessary.
For more information please contact tel 03823 1142.
International transvestite beauties ready for contest at Tiffany’s
Ratrawee Jeeraprapakul, or
Nong Tong (center), and organizers announce the 3rd Miss International Queen
2006 will take place at Tiffany’s on Saturday October 28.
Vimolrat Singnikorn
Transvestite beauties from around the world will gather at Tiffany’s on
Saturday October 28 for the Miss International Queen 2006 competition.
Organized by Tiffany Show Pattaya Co Ltd in cooperation with Pattaya City,
the Chonburi Administration Organization, and the Tourism Authority of
Thailand Central Office Region 3, this is the third year for the event,
which generates huge media attention overseas.
The announcement was made at a briefing on October 4 by organizer Dr Saeree
Wongmontha, assistant managing director of Tiffany’s Alisa Phantusak, Pinyo
Tanwiset, head of the Chonburi Administration, Deputy Mayor Ronakit
Ekasingh, and director of the TAT Region 3 Office Chaiwat Charoensuk.
The briefing itself was something of an event, with a stage show by cast
members from Tiffany’s and an appearance by Miss Tiffany Universe 2006,
Ratrawee Jeeraprapakul (better known as Nong Tong) wearing a traditional
Thai red dress.
Miss International Queen 2006, which has many overseas contestants lined up
to take part, is receiving support from both official and private
organizations including Pattaya Mail Publishing Co Ltd, Bangkok Pattaya
Hospital, and the Royal Garden Plaza.
First prize is US$8,000, with the first and second runners-up receiving
$3,000 and $2000. There will also be prizes for Best National Costume and
Best Evening Gown, Miss Photogenic, Miss Congeniality, Miss Talented and
Miss Ripley’s Popular Vote.
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