Thursday 31 March 2011

Nok Air targets further expansion

Hot on the heels of the new flights launching in the next week, Nok Air are looking to add Bangkok to Phrae, on May 1.
They are also negotiating to add 4 ATR aircraft to their fleet in the third quarter allowing them to open more secondary routes.

On This Day - 1959: Dalai Lama escapes to India


The spiritual leader of Tibet, the Dalai Lama, has crossed the border into India after an epic 15-day journey on foot from the Tibetan capital, Lhasa, over the Himalayan mountains. There had been no news of his safety or whereabouts since he left Lhasa on 17 March with an entourage of 20 men, including six Cabinet ministers.

Read More

Sticky Rice at the Orchid Cafe

It seemed a good idea at the time. The village chosen by Bob Andrews as a refuge from the chaos of Bangkok lay just off the north-south motorway. His partner Pan already ran the village store and noodle shop. Why not expand the business to include an English-style tea shop? But Bob hadn’t done his homework. Thai motorway travelers are in too much of a hurry to break their journey for a pot of tea and a plate of crumpets. And Thai villagers eat rice soup for breakfast, not bacon and eggs. Nevertheless, Bob did gain some profit from his failed enterprise, winning a rare insight into the life of a typical Thai village.

Author : Andrews, Bob 


Sticky Rice at the Orchid Cafe
ISBN : 978616-2220678
Category : Humor
Pages : 112
Price from : 4.99 US$ (ebook)

Wednesday 30 March 2011

Liverpool ex Stars to play in Thailand

Liverpool Football Club legends shoot for Phuket, Thailand

Author: Rebecca Smith
Liverpool Legends are set to play two friendly games against Legends of ThailandPhuket, Thailand: Fans of Liverpool Football Club in Thailand are gearing up for a very important charity game in Phuket this June.
Liverpool Legends, a team made up of ex Liverpool Football Club players, are set to play two friendly games against The Legends of Thailand. The first match is scheduled for June 15th at Bangkok's Yamaha stadium.
Players will then travel south to Phuket to play a second game at Surakul Stadium in Phuket Town on June 18th.
The Liverpool Legends team includes players Ian Rush, John Barnes, Jason McAteer, Steve McManaman, Robbie Fowler, Phil Neal, Bruce Grobbelaar, Jan Molby and Alan Kennedy.
The Thailand Legends team will be led by striker Piyapong Pue-on.
"Our aim is to establish an annual series of events featuring some of the great players of the past," commented Cris Rosenbergs, CEO of Powerair Management Group, who are organising the tour.
In a recent promotional visit to Phuket, footballer Alan Kennedy gave interviews at Phuket FM Radio Station and visited The Youth Football Home Foundation, where the money raised at the events will be donated.
Based in Phuket, The Youth Football Home Foundation was set up to provide education and training for orphaned and destitute boys throughout Thailand.
The charity, which can house up to thirty two boys, was founded by German businessman, Henrik Lorenz in May 2007. Henrik was a first division goalkeeper in Hong Kong during his younger days and, as the founding trustee of the charity, provided all the funds to build The Youth Football Home.
He also built the Katja House; a charity which cares for street children in Kathmandu, Nepal.
Fans of Liverpool Football Club will also have the opportunity to meet their idols when the squad visits schools and shopping centres across Phuket and Bangkok. Their goal is to raise over £100,000 (5 million Baht) for the Foundation.
The Youth Football Home Foundation will be holding coaching sessions where young players can receive training and tips from the ex-Liverpool footballers.
If you're a Liverpool Football fan and would like to go see the games in Phuket or Bangkok, tickets are available from online here - http://www.footballlegendstour.com
In case you can't get to one of the games, rumour has it that True Visions (Thailand's satellite Television) will be showing the Bangkok friendly live.
Article source
Rebecca Smith
Phuket Ocean Villas
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/causes-and-organizations-articles/liverpool-football-club-legends-shoot-for-phuket-thailand-4353168.html
About the Author
Rebecca Smith is a real estate journalist with more than 15 years experience. She is currently the sales director for Phuket Ocean Villas who specialise in luxury ocean view property in Phuket, Thailand.
For more Phuket news...

In The News

AirAsia, Expedia tie up to tap Asia travel demand - Read More

Diesel price review set for April 20 - Read More

Ministry pushes for higher taxes on spirits - Read More

the current effective rate used for white spirits is volume-based at only 120 baht per litre, meaning that an increase of up to 280 baht is possible.

 Over 2,000 cattle killed by unseasonable cold spell in Chiang Mai - Read More

 



Dragon Cafe - An East-West Collection

Dragon Café brings together sparkling essays on Buddhism and world religion, health & diet, sacred sex, creativity, myth and the hero, oracles and shamans, yoga, meditation, Kung Fu and Star Trek, vegetarianism, mysticism, and the East-West connection. It represents a lifetime of practice and travel, alongside study with yogis, monks, shamans, scholars and teachers of all stripe. It is about the search for adventure and peace.

Author : Marranca, Richard



Dragon Cafe - An East-West Collection
ISBN : 978616-2220654
Category : Buddhism & Meditation
Pages : 190
Price from : 4.99 US$ (ebook)

Tuesday 29 March 2011

Guess we can't complain....

about the cold.... or the fact that rain has stopped selling


It coul;d be worse.....  At least I am not holidaying on Samui


Southern storms stall Thai airlines

 

BANGKOK, 29 March 2011 – Domestic airlines suspended operations, Tuesday, to Nakhon Si Thammarat and Samui due to floods and heavy storms.

Read More at TTR

In The News

Wild weather grips the nation

Temperatures plunge, storms wreak havoc

 
Thailand is expected to experience more unseasonal weather patterns this week causing more floods, rough seas, storms and cold temperatures, meteorology officials warn.

Residents living in several provinces in the lower Northeast have experienced a sharp drop in temperatures during this summer season.
In Nakhon Ratchasima, a cold spell gripped the province yesterday with Pak Chong district experiencing the lowest temperature at 16.1C.
The temperature dropped to 12C at Phu Rua district in Loei and 5.5C at the top of Phu Rua national park.
In the North, cold spells have also gripped the region, with the temperature on Doi Inthanon, the country's highest peak, measured at 7.8C yesterday.In lowland areas, average temperatures were between 18C to 23C.



READ MORE AT THE BANGKOK POST

Well it's cetainly cold up in Udon.


Meanwhile


Diesel subsidy may stay until July, Korn says

Read More at The Nation

Humm... anything to do with the June election I wonder? 

Earthquakes that were felt in the North and Bangkok last Thursday actually occurred with epicentres in Thailand, but were mistaken, by both the public and initially by local seismologists, as taking place in Burma, or as aftershocks, a senior meteorological official said yesterday.

 

Read more at The Nation

On This Day 1971 - Calley guilty of My Lai massacre

Lieutenant William Calley has been found guilty of murder at a court martial for his part in the My Lai massacre which claimed the lives of 500 South Vietnamese civilians.
The 27-year-old commander could receive the death penalty or life imprisonment after the massacre which saw US soldiers open fire on civilians in My Lai and neighbouring villages in central Vietnam in March 1968. 

Read More At The BBC

The Monk's Hour

'The Monk’s Hour' is the second book of a trilogy involving Tim Adams, ex intelligence operative and Vietnam Vet. Following his experiences in 'Never Recovered', Adams is approached in California to investigate the death of an art collector in Thailand. Within days, he discovers that not all the collector’s efforts concerned Buddhist icon recovery, but also transfers of reincarnated monks, prisoners and contraband through a mysterious system called “The Conduit.” Once again, Adam learns while dodging violent reactions in northern Thailand that not everyone wants the matter resolved. Based on current events in the vastly secret and lucrative Asian artifact trade, 'The Monk’s Hour' represents a fictional account of a system few understand.

Author : Winkler, Ken 


Monk's Hour, The
ISBN : 978616-2450020
Category : Books on Thailand
Pages : 243
Price from : 4.99 US$ (ebook)

Monday 28 March 2011

Football News

Thought it was about time to check how Udon Thani were doing this season.  They play in Thai Division 2 North East Region.  Before this weekend they had played 3, lost 2 drawn 1.  The good news is they managed a home win, 2-0 against Amnatjalern Town.  Whilst at the other end of the table Roi Et maintained their 100% record.



Blood Red River

In a remote village in Northern Thailand a boy is run over by a truck just outside school. A local teacher, Sumaree, and her husband, Swedish Rex Roxenhed, engage in the case and start to investigate the company behind the heavy traffic. Meanwhile, the Police are preparing to strike against a local drug lord. Sumaree's attempt to look after her students safety suddenly coincide with the authorities fight on drugs. The resolution reaches its climax when an old love story unravels.
Blood Red River is set in a Thailand far beyond the tourist resorts and is a story about family ties, poverty and the daily struggle for survival, but also about lifelong love.

Author : Tuomela, Petri


Blood Red River
ISBN : 978616-2220760
Category : Books on Thailand
Pages : 92
Price from : 4.99 US$ (ebook)

Sunday 27 March 2011

First Bid

Got the first bid on an item in our eBay store today..... yippee





Pursuit To Paradise

In the worldwide recession of 2009, Ben Lofthouse plans to rebuild his life on Koh Pimaan, a paradise island in Thailand. Desperate to escape the increasing hostility of the locals who blame him for his failing businesses, and determined to find the beautiful but mysterious Nataya who has disappeared, Ben is plunged into an adventure which may prove fatal.
Surrounded by beautiful women, but relentlessly pursued by a former girlfriend, and stalked by a notorious London gangster, an unexpected romance develops. A new friendship catapults Ben into both increasingly sensual and dangerous situations. With a bevy of beauties at his side, he finds himself drawn into erotic moviemaking at Casa Blanca, a spectacular hillside villa.
Ben's dreams seem destined to become reality. But an amazing piece of news he has received could change his life forever, or bring it to an untimely end...

Author : Damaroyd, Mark

Pursuit to Paradise
ISBN : 978616-2450105
Category : Love & Romance
Pages : 260
Price from : 4.99 US$ (ebook)

In The News

Burmese quake toll 'over 150'

JOURNALIST TELLS OF CHAOTIC RELIEF SCENE- More

Five southern provinces flooded

HEAVY RAINS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE UNTIL TOMORROW; DISASTER ZONES DECLARED  - More

 So that's flooding in the South and drought in the North and North East 

 

The Tourism and Sports Ministry will propose that the government waive visa fees and extend the permitted length of stay for Japanese tourists to lure them back after Japan recovers from its current crisis. - More

The most popular destinations for Japanese people are Chiang Mai, Ayutthaya, Chon Buri, Phuket, Nonthaburi, Khon Kaen, Nakhon Ratchasima and Bangkok. 

Violence erupts at London demo - more

So we have the red shirts and yellow shirts - the UK gets the black shirts

 

Spicy Carrot Soup with Ginger and Lemongrass


This is a nice spicy thick soup.  It’s very spicy, so if you don’t like your food too hot cut back on, or leave out the chilli!

1 onion, chopped
4 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
2 thumb size pieces of ginger, grated
2 pints of chicken or vegetarian broth
2 fresh red chilli, finely chopped
1 handful of Thai jasmine rice
2 tsp ground cumin
3 cloves
1 stalk of lemongrass, finely sliced
6 or 7 carrots, chopped.  (Chop them roughly as the soup is pureed later)
2 tbsp fish sauce
1 tbsp black soy sauce
Handful fresh coriander, finely chopped
Handful of fresh Thai basil, finely chopped
1 tbsp lime juice
2 tbsp sugar


Pour some oil into the bottom of a large pan and heat.  When hot add the onion, garlic, ginger, lemongrass and chili and fry for about a minute then add the broth and bring to the boil.

Once the broth is boiling add the rice, carrots, cumin and cloves, cover and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes until the carrots are soft.  If necessary add a little more water to the soup so that the carrots are just covered.

Now carefully puree the soup in a blender in batches.  Be careful as the soup is hot!

Hopefully you now have a nice thick soup mixture.  Return it to the pan and over a medium heat bring back to the simmer.  Add the fish sauce, soy sauce, lime juice and sugar.  Taste, if not salty enough add more fish sauce, if too salty add more lime juice.  Simmer slowly for 3 or 4 minutes.

Serve and enjoy.

It’s a great soup on a chilly day.  You can also refrigerate it and reheat as required which is what I do.

Saturday 26 March 2011

Search For Flights Where You Are Flying To and From

The flight search engine is now located here.  Update your bookmarks.

http://inspiringisaan.com/#/flight-search/4549908555

Were you one of the first 15.85 million?


A Thought For Today

To the world you may only be one person. But to one person, you may be the world

In The News

Tourism Authority of Thailand’s Chiang Mai office will host Chiang Mai Fest 2011, 8 to 10 April, to support the province’s Songkran festival.

Read More


Historic Chiang Rai pagoda damaged by tremors

 

Read More

Friday 25 March 2011

Words Of Wisdom

Never give your secret to anyone, because if you can’t keep it to yourself don’t expect others to.


....can't say I don't know about nothin' 'bout no double negatives neither.


A man's level of maturity changes depending on the type of girl he's with.


Guy breaks up with girl - Everyone: How could you?!
Girl breaks up with guy - Everyone: Well, they weren't gonna last that long anyway.

Anything good in life is either illegal, immoral or fattening.

If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change



New Site

The new resort site is almost ready.  Just need to check through all the links and put up a few more photos.

It's here at http://chgr.moonfruit.com/

This is just a temporary address.  crystalhillgardenresort.com will be pointed at it once I make it live in the next couple of days

In The News

Quakes batter Thailand's north

Chiang Rai woman dies; tremors felt in Bangkok 

 

Read More

Thursday 24 March 2011

In The News

As if a 200Baht fine is going to stop them!

 

 

Police Crack Down Illegal Acts

 

Read full story


...... The police arrested several ladyboys and women, who sold sexual services to more than 20 people. They were taken to the police station to record their statements. Then they were released after being fined 200 Baht each.

Udon Thani one of the drought affected provinces

The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation has declared 333 districts of 45 provinces across the country the drought disaster zones, the director-general Wibul Sanguanpong said on Thursday.
A total of 6,017,027 people in 21,888 villages have been affected and 1,726,737 rai of farmlands were damaged, Mr Wibul said.
Of the total provinces, 17 are in the North. They are Kampangpetch, Chiang Rai, Lamphun, Payao, Uttaradit, Lampang, Nan, Nakhon Sawan, Prae, Sukhothai, Tak, Petchabun, Uthai Thani, Pitsanulok, Chiang Mai, Mae Hong Son and Phichit.

Read More

Boom Boom

An Englishman, a Scotsman, an Irishman, a Latvian, a Turk, an Aussie, a Yank, an Egyptian, a Japanese, a Mexican, a Spaniard, a Greek, a Russian, an Estonian, a German, an Italian, a Pole, a Lithuanian, a Swede, a Finn, an Israeli, a Romanian, a Bulgarian, a Serb, a Czech, and a Swiss man go to a pub.

The bouncer says, "Sorry. I can't let you in without a Thai."

The Best Friends....

Friendship among Women
A woman didn't come home one night. The next morning she told her husband that she had slept over at a friend's house. The man called his wife's 10 best friends. None of them knew anything about it.


Friendship among Men

A man didn't come home one night. The next morning he told his wife that he had slept over at a friend's house. The woman called her husband's 10 best friends. Eight confirmed that he had slept over, and two said he was still there.

Wednesday 23 March 2011

Welcome To Bung Kan - The 77th Province

Bung Kan was carved out of Nong Khai province and was inaugerated today

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/228198/new-province-inaugurated

In The News

Motorists will be able to use the Bangkok-Pattaya Motorway and Bang Pa-In/Bang Phli ring road for free between April 8 and April 18, .... continued here The Nation


Warplanes to combat hailstorm threat

To minimise the chance of hailstorms blitzing the northern region in the coming hot season, two Royal Thai Air Force warplanes have been enlisted in an operation to "attack" the seasonal phenomena, which can be devastating to crops and property  continued here  The Nation

 

Thai, Laos, Vietnam border area a loop of peace and prosperity.  read here

Flight Prices Reduced for Songkran -

THAI will offer a 45% discount on domestic air tickets to passengers travelling to Bangkok from April 12 to 14, executive vice-president Pandit Chanapai said.
The promotional flights include Khon Kaen-Bangkok for which the price is cut from 3,440 to 1,810 baht for a one-way trip, Chiang Mai-Bangkok (reduced from 3,890 to 2,060 baht), Udon Thani-Bangkok (from 3,580 to 1,890 baht) and Phuket-Bangkok (from 4,675 to 2,490 baht).  Read More



Tuesday 22 March 2011

I'm running Firefox4... Are You?

Today is launch day... Download Now!

http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/new/

Today is launch day....     384614 downloads as I type....

Forget the rest, use the best



Order Phrase Books in eBook format now!

Just added to our eBook site... Thai Phrase Books - English, Deutsch and much more.  Even Tagalog

Check it out now, they are priced from just $1!


http://thai-e-books.moonfruit.com/

Need to fly......

Make your first stop the Inspiring Isaan Flight Search

Use the search engine to find flights where you want to go, when you want to go.  The search engine will provide you with a list of options and you can then click to proceed to the airline or website offering your selected deal to make a booking.

It's as simple as that, and it's free!

In The News

Govt to speed up highspeed train deal


Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban yesterday approved the final framework of a memorandum of understanding for the ThaiChina bullettrain project.

  Read More

 

 

Thailand´s happiest people live in Suphan Buri 

But not in Phuket which props up the list

 Read More

High Waves batter the coast of Pattaya. 10 Fishing Boats destroyed

 

Read More

 

Monday 21 March 2011

Just some of the latest books available from my eBookstore

Buddhism in Thailand - a guide for expats and visitors
ISBN : 978616-2450075
Category : Buddhism & Meditation
Pages : 200
Price from : 4.99 US$ (ebook)



Monk's Hour, The
ISBN : 978616-2450020
Category : Books on Thailand
Pages : 243
Price from : 4.99 US$ (ebook)



More of Life in Fun City
ISBN : 978616-2450051
Category : Adult Cartoons
Pages : 42
Price from : 4.99 US$ (ebook)




She Kept the Bar Between Them
ISBN : 978616-2450037
Category : Books on Thailand
Pages : 122
Price from : 4.99 US$ (ebook)

Sunday 20 March 2011

Engage Brain Before Opening Mouth

'This is really a lovely horse, I once rode her mother. (Ted Walsh - Horse Racing Commentator)


"Moses Kiptanui - the 19 year old Kenyan, who turned 20 a few weeks ago" (David Coleman)

"Sure there have been injuries and deaths in boxing - but none of them serious" (Alan Minter)

'I never comment on referees and I'm not going to break the habit of a lifetime for that prat' (Ron Atkinson)

'Well, either side could win it, or it could be a draw.' (Ron Atkinson)

“That try is going to make no difference to the score.” Lawrence Dallaglio

"Eighty per cent of teams who score first in matches go on to win them. But they may draw some – or occasionally lose.”  David Pleat


"Apart from their goals, Norway haven't scored."  Terry Venables


"If that had gone in, it would have been a goal."  David Coleman






Last Nights Super Moon






Saturday 19 March 2011

Super Moon

So it's a Super Moon Tonight!

It's a super "perigee moon"--the biggest in almost 20 years.
"The last full Moon so big and close to Earth occurred in March of 1993," says Geoff Chester of the US Naval Observatory in Washington DC. "I'd say it's worth a look."

moon Rise in Udon is at 5.55pm tonight..

The best time to look is when the Moon is near the horizon. That is when illusion mixes with reality to produce a truly stunning view. For reasons not fully understood by astronomers or psychologists, low-hanging Moons look unnaturally large when they beam through trees, buildings and other foreground objects. On March 19th, why not let the "Moon illusion" amplify a full Moon that's extra-big to begin with? The swollen orb rising in the east at sunset may seem so nearby, you can almost reach out and touch it.
Don't bother. Even a super perigee Moon is still 356,577 km away. That is, it turns out, a distance of rare beauty.




In The News

Condom machines at parks cause a bit of a stir

Some parents oppose BMA project, but nightclubs could be next

 

Read More in the Bangkok Post

Young men use condoms most often when having sex with sex workers, according to a survey on sexual behaviour,
A total of 95% of teenagers interviewed last year said they used condoms with sex workers.

Read More in the Bangkok Post


THAI cuts local fares to fight budget rivals  Read More

And finally... after all the talk of Cooking Oil prices about to increase.....

New supplies force down palm oil price

 

Tomato Salsa

If we have guests then I'll often prepare this as a side dish, especially if we've toned down the heat on the main dishes.  Along with the previously mentioned cucumber salad it's easy to prepare, best a couple of hours before eating.

We use the whole chilies, for a milder flavour remove the seeds.  Suggest you start with one chili and test the flavour.


5 or 6 tomatoes, chopped finely
1 small onion, finely chopped
2 or 3 bird chili finely chopped
Juice of 1 lime or about 3 tbsp of lime juice
Chopped cilantro, the leaves from about 6 stalks


Mix the ingredients together well and refrigerate for at least an hour, stirring occasionally to ensure that the flavours combine.


Friday 18 March 2011

Nok Air Add Destinations

From April 1 Nok Air have added new desintations from Don Muang Airport, Bangkok


Loei - 3 weekly flights
Mae Sot - 4 weekly flights
Nan - Daily
Roi Et - Daily

Hat Yai and Sakon Nakhon get additional daily flights from May



http://www.nokair.com


Funeral At The Concert - First Published February 24, 2008

This post was originally on my old deleted blog


After a lazy morning we lunched and then together with half a dozen of Nit’s mates jumped in the pick up and went to Ban Chiang, a 30km ride away.  Ban Chiang is a world heritage site where a bronze age settlement was found.  Whilst interesting to those with an archeological bent the museum was quickly viewed.  We went on to the nearby Wat Pho Si Nai where part of a dig has been left open to the public.  We headed back to the house and had some food and a couple of bottles of beer.

“We are going to an Isaan concert tonight”, Nit announces.  About 9 Nit’s friends start gathering and eventually 10 of us head off in the pick up to a temple about 30 minutes away.  The first thing Ie notice when entering is the stage, where the concert had already started, and the crowds of people.  The next thing is the ‘lying in state’ of a senior monk who had died recently.  Up on a podium, in a glass sided coffin.  Some people paying their respects.  The concert was fun, at least when it was the singers and dancers, but when the comedy bits came on I soon got bored.  After a couple of hours and a few beers/swigs of whisky lao we decided to return home.

“We are going to the Isaan Concert again as tonight is the big night!”, Nit announced shortly before dinner.

This time there are sixteen of us in total as it seems half the village wants to go.  We arrive about 10.30.  The show is definitely better than the previous night with about 60 dancers, and only short comedy routines whilst the cast change.

Just before 12 work starts on the coffin which is replaced with a wooden one.  An iron box is then assembled around the coffin.

Suddenly the concert stops and all the lights are turned out.  Everyone stands up and turns towards the coffin.  One of the lads goes over and collects a pile of paper flowers.  We go over and pay our respects.

About 1210 a monk lights a long fuse, which in turn sets off fireworks lighting a sign and thunder flashes as the flame edges towards the coffin.  The monks start chanting.  We all stand, our hands in a wai.  Finally the flame reaches the coffin and the cremation begins. 

Smoke comes from the chimney.  Fireworks are set off, lighting the sky for miles around.

The monks stop chanting.  Everyone returns to sit down and after a few minutes the lights are turned on and the concert restarts.

We stand watching, drinking the occasional swig of Lao Whisky until about 4 when someone has the good idea that it may be time to go home.

Thursday 17 March 2011

Slow News day


The pole was erected from the money donated by the parents, teachers and kind donations from the general public , as the old one was situated in the East side of the school, at which the students had to face that direction when the national anthem was played. This new pole will help the students as they will not now, look into the sun when showing reverence.


From Pattaya People - Full Story Here

More raids on Pattaya Venues

 District Officials and Pattaya Police along with over 100 Police and Civil Defense Volunteers took part in a city-wide check of entertainment areas on Wednesday Night. Four specific areas were checked, namely North, Central and South Pattaya and Walking Street. Some of the more popular bars and nightclubs checked in the South Pattaya area include Insomnia and Mixx Nightclub and Star Dice Club in North Pattaya was also targeted. Patrons, both Thai and Foreign were asked to leave while officials concentrated on staff members only. They were all urine tested and surprisingly only one man, working for a venue on Walking Street failed the test and was arrested and later charged with consuming a class 1 drug. The Provincial Governor has ordered these regular checks for the foreseeable future and we would like to recommend that you always carry some form of identification with you at this time to ensure you are not delayed by one of these late night raids.





From Pattayaone - click here for more


The 'suggestion' to carry id with you suggests that maybe customers will be checked in the future.

More Russians visit Thailand than Brits or Germans

The top supplier was neighbouring Malaysia with 388,788 arrivals, or an increase of 10.27%. The second was China with 282,657 arrivals, up 8.87% followed by Japan with 223,767 arrivals, up 7.08%.

Russia has now by-passed UK and Germany as the top European supplier to Thailand. It stood in fourth place for the first two months of the year with 192,523 arrivals (+26.89%). Korea was fifth (189,720, +14.1%) followed by UK (176,746, +8.34%); Germany (152,833, +8.18%); Sweden (143,008, +20.79%); USA (139,567, +8.92%) and Australia (138,635, +15.97%).

full story at TTR here

Pineapple Sorbet


I usually make this when I am cooking Sweet And Sour, hence the use of half a fresh pineapple.  If you want to use tinned pineapple it won’t be the same!  And if you use tinned remember to use unsweetened, or reduce the sugar content.

½ large pineapple
2 tbsps of lime juice
1 cup of sugar

Put the pineapple and lime juice in a food blender and process until smooth.  And the sugar slowly blending until it dissolves.

Pour the mixture into a metal bowl and place in the freezer.  Stir with a fork every 20-30 minutes until it is frozen.