The Latest From The Thai Papers

Government House seizure next

Three more countries voice fears

Protesters storm Army HQ

Suthep set to paralyse govt

Complaints by Tourists to Thomas Cook

1. “I think it should be explained in the brochure that the local convenience store does not sell proper biscuits like custard creams or ginger nuts.”

2. “It’s lazy of the local shopkeepers in Puerto Vallarta to close in the afternoons. I often needed to buy things during ‘siesta’ time — this should be banned.”

3. “On my holiday to Goa in India , I was disgusted to find that almost every restaurant served curry. I don’t like spicy food.” 

4. “We booked an excursion to a water park but no-one told us we had to bring our own swimsuits and towels. We assumed it would be included in the price.” 

5. “The beach was too sandy. We had to clean everything when we returned to our room.” 

6. “We found the sand was not like the sand in the brochure. Your brochure shows the sand as white but it was more yellow.” 

7. “They should not allow topless sunbathing on the beach. It was very distracting for my husband who just wanted to relax.” 

8. “No-one told us there would be fish in the water. The children were scared.” 

9. “Although the brochure said that there was a fully equipped kitchen, there was no egg-slicer in the drawers.” 

10. “We went on holiday to Spain and had a problem with the taxi drivers as they were all Spanish.” 

11. “The roads were uneven and bumpy, so we could not read the local guide book during the bus ride to the resort. Because of this, we were unaware of many things that would have made our holiday more fun.” 

12. “It took us nine hours to fly home from Jamaica to England. It took the Americans only three hours to get home. This seems unfair.” 

13. “I compared the size of our one-bedroom suite to our friends’ three-bedroom and ours was significantly smaller.” 

14. “The brochure stated: ‘No hairdressers at the resort’. We’re trainee hairdressers and we think they knew and made us wait longer for service.” 

15. “There were too many Spanish people there. The receptionist spoke Spanish, the food was Spanish. No one told us that there would be so many foreigners.” 

16. “We had to line up outside to catch the boat and there was no air-conditioning.” 

17. “It is your duty as a tour operator to advise us of noisy or unruly guests before we travel.” 

18. “I was bitten by a mosquito. The brochure did not mention mosquitoes.” 

19. “My fiance and I requested twin-beds when we booked, but instead we were placed in a room with a king bed. We now hold you responsible and want to be re-reimbursed for the fact that I became pregnant. This would not have happened if you had put us in the room that we booked.”







from http://www.natureknows.org/2013/11/its-enough-to-make-you-cancel-your.html

Cold Snap For Northern and North East Thailand

The Meteorological Department on Thursday issued an advisory notice warning people in the North, Northeast and Central regions to brace for temperatures to drop 5-7 degrees Celsius over the weekend.

The advisory said a high pressure weather system from China will move over Thailand until Dec 3, causing cooler temperatures and windy conditions over the North, Northeast and Central regions.
Temperatures below 16 degrees Celcius are expected in some areas of Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phayao, Nan, Lamphun, Lampang, Loei, Nong Bua Lamphu, Nong Khai, Bung Kan, Udon Thani, Sakon Nakhon and Nakhon Phanom.

People are advised to take extra care of their health due to the weather change.
READ MORE

Thai Air Domestic Offers For December

THAI Airways offers discounted domestic fares, 1 to 25 December, linked to Father’s Day that is celebrated 5 December in Thailand.

Weekday and weekend fares to the northeast are: Bt1,700 and Bt1,950 to Udon Thani; and Bt1,800 and Bt2,050 to Khon Kaen and Ubon Ratchathani.

State Enterprose employees free to join protests

​

The State Enterprises Labour Relations Confederation (SERC) has agreed that all of its members are free to take a two-day leave to join the anti-government protests on Nov 28-29, reports said.

SERC has 45 labour unions under its umbrella.

The confederation said its resolution is compliant with Sections 69, 70 and 71 of the constitution.

Union members throughout the country are free to exercise their right  to protect the nation, religion, the King and  democratic administration under the constitutional monarchy by taking a two-day leave to participate in the ongoing protest, wherever they feel convenient, throughout the country, the SERC said.

The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) labour union also issued a statement showing it intention  to join the protest by people seeking political reform.

The statement accused the government of unconstitutionally trying to amend the constitution and lambasts the 312 legislators who backed the move, as well the Pheu Thai Party, for not accepting the Constitution Court's authority.

The government's gross violation of the constitution had caused more than two million people to protest throughout the country, the statement said.​

From The Bangkok Post

Keep up to date with the local press on the developing situation in Thailand

Anti-government protests spread to provinces

The Nation

Protesters welcomed as they move on ministries

The Nation

PM calls meeting on ministry sieges

Bangkok Post

Fourth friendship bridge opens 11 December

The fourth friendship bridge spanning the Mekong River that will link Laos and Thailand’s far north will open 11 December.

READ MORE

UK Government updates Thailand Travel Advice

UPDATE 26-11-2013

A number of political demonstrations have taken place in various locations in Bangkok and elsewhere in Thailand since the start of November 2013. Further large scale protests are taking place, with little warning, at various locations in Bangkok. The main ongoing protest area situated along Rachadamnoen Avenue including Democracy Monument in Bangkok has now expanded to include protests at a number of government buildings in central Bangkok.

On 25 November the authorities in Thailand implemented the Internal Security Act in all districts of Bangkok and Nonthaburi as well as the Bang Phli district of Samut Prakan and the Lat Lum Kaep district of Pathum Thani, which will lead to an increased security presence and possible disruption to traffic. You should avoid large gatherings and demonstrations.

Internal security Act imposed across Bangkok as Protesters storm Government Ministeries

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has imposed the Internal Security Act (ISA) across the capital and in nearby areas after protesters stormed key ministries in a bid to topple the government.

READ MORE AT BANGKOK POST

North east Residents Enjoy A Party

 Khon Kaen a major commercial town in Northeast Thailand is promoting family entertainment during the festive season 25 to 31 December.
Tagged Happy Family Party the event will capitalise on Christmas celebrations leading up to a countdown party on 31 December.

READ MORE AT TTR

Bangkok faces paralysis

Huge marches in city today

READ MORE IN THE NATION

Protestors to march on state offices

READ MORE IN THE BANGKOK POST

EATING IN THE UK IN THE FIFTIES

* Pasta had not been invented.

* Curry was an unknown entity.

* Olive oil was kept in the medicine cabinet. Bought from the Chemist.

* Spices came from the Middle East where we believed that they were used for embalming

* Herbs were used to make rather dodgy medicine.

* A takeaway was a mathematical problem.

* A pizza was something to do with a leaning tower.

* Bananas and oranges only appeared at Christmas time.

* The only vegetables known to us were spuds, peas, carrots and cabbage, anything else was regarded as being a bit suspicious.

* All crisps were plain; the only choice we had was whether to put the salt on or not.

* Condiments consisted of salt, pepper, vinegar and brown sauce if we were lucky.

* Soft drinks were called pop.

* Coke was something that we mixed with coal to make it last longer.

* A Chinese chippy was a foreign carpenter.

* Rice was a milk pudding, and never, ever part of our dinner.
* A Big Mac was what we wore when it was raining.

* A microwave was something out of a science fiction movie.

* Brown bread was something only poor people ate. Way more fun than prunes !

* Oil was for lubricating your bike not for cooking, fat was for cooking

* Bread and jam was a treat.

* Tea was made in a teapot using tea leaves, not bags.

* The tea cosy was the forerunner of all the energy saving devices that we hear so much about today.

* Tea had only one colour, black. Green tea was not British.

* Coffee was only drunk when we had no tea….. and then it was Camp, and came in a bottle.

* Cubed sugar was regarded as posh. Still is !

* Figs and dates appeared every Christmas, but no one ever ate them.

* Coconuts only appeared when the fair came to town.

* Salad cream was a dressing for salads, mayonnaise did not exist
* Hors d'oeuvre was a spelling mistake.

* Soup was a main meal.

* The menu consisted of what we were given, and was set in stone.

* Only Heinz made beans, there were no others.

* Leftovers went in the dog, never in the bin.

* Special food for dogs and cats was unheard of.

* Sauce was either brown or red.

* Fish was only eaten on Fridays.

* Fish and chips was always wrapped in old newspapers, and definitely tasted better that way.

* Frozen food was called ice cream.

* Nothing ever went off in the fridge because we never had one.

* Ice cream only came in one flavour, vanilla.

* None of us had ever heard of yoghurt.

* Jelly and blancmange was strictly party food.

* Healthy food had to have the ability to stick to your ribs. Porridge the only effective breakfast for northerners

* Indian restaurants were only found in India .

* Cheese only came in a hard lump.

* A bun was a small cake that your Mum made in the oven.

* Eating out was called a picnic.

* Cooking outside was called camping.

* Eggs only came fried or boiled.

* Hot cross buns were only eaten at Easter time.

* Pancakes were only eaten on Shrove Tuesday – and on that day it was compulsory.

* Cornflakes had just arrived from America but it was obvious that they would never catch on.

* We bought milk and cream at the same time in the same bottle.

* Sugar enjoyed a good press in those days, and was regarded as being white gold. Mixed with lemon for use inside crepes ie proper pancakes.

* Prunes were purely medicinal.

* Surprisingly muesli was readily available in those days, it was called cattle feed.

* Turkeys were definitely seasonal. Still are in a lot of households

* Pineapples came in chunks in a tin; we had only ever seen a picture of a real one.

* We didn't eat Croissants in those days because we couldn't pronounce them, we couldn't spell them and we didn't know what they were.

* Garlic was used to ward off vampires, but never used to flavour bread.

* Water came out of the tap, if someone had suggested bottling it and charging treble for it they would have become a laughing stock.

* Food hygiene was only about washing your hands before meals.

* Campylobacter, Salmonella, E.coli, Listeria, and Botulism were all called "food poisoning."

Is that all?

Eight per cent of Thai motorists (8 per cent) drive without a license and most of them are in the 18-24 years age bracket, according to a Nielsen survey.

Only 8% - it just seems like more

The Festive Season officially arrives tomorrow in Udon -

Central Plaza Decorations - Getting Ready For the Show

Just For Fun

After flights Qantas Airline pilots have to fill out a form called a 'Gripe Sheet' which tells the mechanics of any problems with the aircraft. The mechanics then correct the problem before adding their solutions to the sheet, and then the pilots review the gripe sheet before their next flight.

The ground crews obviously have a great sense of humour as reflected in their gripe sheet comments and solutions.

P) Left inside main tire almost needs replacement.
S) Almost replaced left inside main tire.

P) Test flight ok, except auto-land very rough.
S) Auto-land not installed on this aircraft.

P) Something loose in cockpit.
S) Something tightened in cockpit.

P) Dead bugs on windshield.
S) Live bugs on back-order.

P) Autopilot in altitude-hold mode produces a 200 feet per minute descent.
S) Cannot reproduce problem on ground.

P) Evidence of leak on right main landing gear.
S) Evidence removed.

P) DME volume unbelievably loud.
S) DME volume set to more believable level.

P) Friction locks cause throttle levers to stick.
S) That's what they're for.

P) IFF inoperative.
S) IFF always inoperative in OFF mode.

P) Suspected crack in windscreen.
S) Suspect you're right.

P) Number 3 engine missing.
S) Engine found on right wing after brief search.

P) Aircraft handles funny.
S) Aircraft warned to straighten up, fly right, and be serious.

P) Target radar hums.
S) Reprogrammed target radar with lyrics.

P) Mouse in cockpit.
S) Cat installed.

P) Noise coming from under instrument panel. Sounds like a midget pounding on something with a hammer.
S) Took hammer away from midget.

MG Cars to be made in Thailand

SAIC will start production of MG cars in Thailand next year targeting domestic and export sales to RHD markets including Britain.

READ MORE AT BANGKOK POST

Where is Thailand Heading

The constitutional court have started reading their verdict.


So Far...

The court says it has the authority

It says the amendment process violates section 291 of the constitution

The second reading had violated the meeting rules.

The Constitutional Court ruled Wednesday that the voting for the senatorial charter amendment bill was illegal because coalition MPs were seen on a video clip to vote for their peers.

 More at The Nation

To stress the advice from various governments, stay well away from the protest areas.  The Government have said they won't accept the ruling.  Theb Red Shirts will announce their plans at 8pm

Air Asia Price reduction

Thai AirAsia discounts fares on its domestic and international destinations through to next March, but booking must be made by November 24 for travel between Dec 1 and March 1.

The all inclusive one way fare between Bangkok and Udon is 520Baht


READ MORE

My Road to Mandalay

Description

A personal diary of luxury independent travel in south-east Asia, over three months during 2013, exploring Thailand, Burma, Malaysia, Vietnam and Cambodia in style and comfort, yet still finding time to enjoy the fairways and greens for a few rounds of golf along the way. Illustrated with over 30 colour photographs by the author. 

US$3.15 at Smashwords

By Elaine Jones
Rating: Not yet rated. 
Published: Nov. 15, 2013 
Words: 14,440 (approximate)
Language: British English
ISBN: 9781630414597

Thai Discounts - But Not The Cheapest

THAI Airways International cuts economy class fares for the remainder of November on selected domestic routes.
It will suit THAI’ loyal customers who need to make a last-minute trip before the end of the month, but the fares are still considerably higher than Nok Air and Thai AirAsia. Nok Air has frequent discounts campaigns with one-way fares of around Bt1,200 to Bt1,400.

Read More

Loi Krathong

Happy Loi Krathong 

Loi Krathong festival is a Thai tradition which has been conducted for a long time ago. Loi Krathong has been held since the middle of the eleventh to the middle of the twelfth lunar month, which is a great flood season- especially on the full moon night of the twelfth lunar month. When the moon shines at night, it makes rivers clear. It is very beautiful scenery which is suitable for floating krathong.

In the past, we called Loi Krathong as Chong Pa Rieng- floating lantern of royal ceremony. It is a Brahman festival to worship Gods- Siva, Vishnu, and Brahma. When Thai people adopted Buddhism, they adapted this ceremony to honor the Buddhas cremated bone- the original Buddha at the second heaven ruler. They floated lantern to worship the foot-print of the Buddha on Nammathanati River beach in India.

Floating krathong along the river was created by Nang Noppamas; the most favorite concubines Sukhothai king. She made krathong as lotus-shaped. The king of Sukhothai floated it along the river. According to Sri Chula Lucks treatise, Phra Ruang (Sukhothai king) said From now on, on the full moon night of the twelfth lunar month, kings of Siam have to make floating lantern- like lotus-shaped- to worship the foot-print of the Buddha on Nammathanati River for ever after.

READ MORE

Police raid

Well it had to happen...

Police raid, well sort of.  Undercover operation entered the resort and are currently interrogating the customers at two units for drug offences.  The drug paraphernalia was clearly visible when the police showed me what our customers have been up to.  One obviously tried to flee and was later led back by the police.

At least the customers had paid in advance.

It was obviously a result of some tip off, or undercover operation as the police are here in unmarked cars.

A marked car with uniformed officers has just arrived...

Wonder if we'll make the news

It's all fun in Thailand

Save Money When Drawing Cash

Most banks in Thailand charge you 180Baht [approx GBP 3.50] as an ATM fee for the privilege of drawing cash using your non-Thai debit or credit card.  This is in addition to charges levied by your bank or credit card company.

An easy way to avoid this, if you know where there is a machine, is to use an AEON cash dispenser.

In Udon there is on at the AEON branch in Tesco UD Town.  I am sure there are others.

The Completed Road To No Where

It stops before the neighbours or the next road junction....

Some minor repair work needed to the house entrance, at least resort access isn't affected

Mu-tan, aka Big Ears, surveys the new road

Thai Travel News

Bangkok Airways sells a promotional start-up fare on its new service to Udon Thani due to start 29 November.
The airline will operate two flights daily to Udon Thani, an important commercial town, just 80 km short of the Thai Lao border at Nong Khai. Travellers fly to Udon and then board mini-bus for transfers to the Thai-Laos Friendship bridge to pass through immigration. Vientiane the Lao capital is just 20 km up river from the checkpoint.

READ MORE AT TTR

Cathay Pacific Airways and regional wing Dragonair are strengthening their operations in Thailand, seemingly undeterred by political tensions and China's new tourism law that clamps down on substandard outbound tour packages.

READ MORE AT BANGKOK POST

The no-frills carrier Thai AirAsia (TAA) is joining the fray on the Chiang Mai-Hong Kong sector with the launch next January of its second international route out of the northern Thai capital. TAA will become the third airline to ply the route, already serviced by the Hong Kong carriers Dragonair and Hong Kong Express

READ MORE AT BANGKOK POST

The New Road Is Almost Here - Work started as it got dark

Express train derails in Udon Thani

A Bangkok-Nong Khai diesel express train derailed at a railway crossing in Udon Thani province early Tuesday, causing injuries and about 70 million baht damage, police said.

Pol Lt Bodin Panyaso, the duty officer at Muang district police station,  said the accident occurred about 5.15am at the Nong Dae railway crossing in tambon Mu Mon of Udon Thani's Muang district. It involved diesel express train No 77 which departed from Bangkok on Monday at 6.20pm heading for Nong Khai.

Read More at Bangkok Post

Verdict In from the ICJ

The International Court of Justice (ICJ)'s verdict on the Preah Vihear territory requires Thailand and Cambodia to sort out their differences though "peaceful means."

The ICJ unanimously found that Cambodia’s interpretation of the sovereignty over the whole monastery "admissible" and Thailand is under the obligation to withdraw military troops from that territory.

However, it did not mention the sovereignty of Phnom Trap, urging both parties to solve the dispute by peaceful means. The area, part of the 4.6 square kilometre, is the centre of this dispute.

Read More At The Nation

Progress at last on the road

So we've made progress on the new roadway

The New Road

just when we wondered if they forgot to finish it, they returned this afternoon.  It started with a water spray and now the scraper is back, seemingly deepening the gulleys at each side.  One guy looks as if he means business - just walked down the road carrying a tape measure.  We'll see if they finish the job today/this week......

A Busy Day of Decisions Affecting Thailand

From The Nation

9am: Protesters of The People's Army Against the Thaksin Regime rallying at Phan Fa Lilat Bridge will march to three undisclosed locations

9am: Four Regions Slum Network will gather at Bang Na intersection to protest against the controversial amnesty bill



10am: The Senate will convene a meeting to vote to reject the amnesty bill



10.30am: The former leaders of the People's Alliance for Democracy, Sondhi Limthongkul and Chamlong Srimuang, will hold a press conference at Baan Phra Arthit on the political situation.



Noon: Four groups of newly formed communities, rallying their calls through the social media, will gather at Silom, Asoke, Ratchadaphisek, and Saphan Khwai and Aree areas before marching to Rajdamnoen Avenue.



4pm: The International Court of Justice in The Hague, Netherlands, will begin reading the verdict on the Preah Vihear dispute between Thailand and Cambodia.



5.30pm: The Businessmen for Democracy Club will call on people nationwide to blow whistles in front of their offices and at major shopping malls



6pm: The Democrat-led rally at the Democracy Monument will announce their next move after the deadline they set for the Pheu Thai-led government to annul the bill expires.



7.30pm: Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra will address the nation on the verdict in the Preah Vihear case.

Where the Boat Sinks--Every Day

Where the Boat Sinks--Every Day is a traveler's memoir from a journey Phuket, Thailand--and the surprising outcome of an event involving a sinking boat. It was thought that the language barrier could be in full play, but it turns out that all was understood--and with a humorous ending. 

US$1.99 at Smashwords

By Shannon Hoffmann
Rating: Not yet rated. 
Published: Nov. 07, 2013 
Words: 1,300 (approximate)
Language: English
ISBN: 9781310197123

Traders of the Golden Triangle

During the latter half of the twentieth century the little-known and often lawless region where Laos, Burma, Thailand and China meet has become known and widely romanticised as ‘The Golden Triangle’. Originally a Western designation applied to the region because of its wealth in jade, silver, rubies, lumber, rare animal products and, above all, opium, the name has stuck and is today accepted both in Chinese and in Thai. By reputation, by very definition, the area is off the beaten track. The home of drug warlords, arms dealers, insurgent armies, latter-day slave traders and plain, old-fashioned bandits, it is also the home of an extraordinarily wide range of colourful ethnic minorities, many still only partly known and understood, and a veritable Tower of Babel linguistically. 36,500 words, 70 historical images, 46 contemporary images, 5 maps, Bibliography 

BUY NOW AT SMASHWORDS

By Andrew Forbes
Rating: Not yet rated. 
Published: Nov. 03, 2013 
Words: 39,910 (approximate)
Language: English
ISBN: 9781311394996

Along The Elephant's Trunk

US$0.99 at Smashwords

From an old man apparently trying to burn down a shopping mall in Singapore to the most northerly grammatical error in Thailand, Along the Elephant’s Trunk takes us on a journey through the Malaysian peninsular and Thailand to the northern border with Myanmar. Amongst the many incidents along the way we queue for tickets to join a later queue to see the worlds former tallest building, take a guided tour which begins with a look at vandalised parking meters, drift helplessly in a small boat in the Andaman Sea whilst the skipper tries to fix the engine with a hammer, watch a very drunk German preserve a bottle of rum whilst diving headlong into freshly laid concrete, get turned in to the police by a tuk-tuk driver, and wait by candlelight for hours for our food to be cooked over an open fire as we watch the electric lights twinkling among the satellite dishes just below. 

By Martin Drake
Rating: Not yet rated. 
Published: Nov. 05, 2013 
Words: 45,120 (approximate)
Language: Commonwealth English
ISBN: 9781311650580

Angkor: Eighth Wonder of the World

For much of the second half of the 20th century Cambodia was racked by war and famine. Considered a sideshow in the Vietnam War, the country was nevertheless invaded by both North and South Vietnam, bombed to smithereens by the United States, and—worst of all—ruled, between 1975 and 1979, by Pol Pot’s genocidal Khmer Rouge regime. Things were so bad that the very name Cambodia became synonymous with pain and suffering. Yet it was not always so. Before its rice fields were stained with blood, Cambodia was celebrated as a land of fertile tranquility where a Buddhist people continued the myriad artistic and cultural traditions of the old Khmer Empire, exemplified by the extraordinary temple of Angkor Wat, surely the Eighth Wonder of the World. Angkor has to be seen to be believed. It is the largest religious site in the world and the major cultural and historical attraction in all of Southeast Asia. 20,000 words, 81 contemporary images, 18 historic images, 7 maps 

US$8.99 at Smashwords

By Andrew Forbes
Rating: Not yet rated. 
Published: Nov. 02, 2013 
Words: 22,680 (approximate)
Language: English
ISBN: 9781310454219

Thai Travel News

Thai Air Asia to add a Transit option at Don Mueang

AirAsia and Airports of Thailand will launch “Fly-Thru,” a convenient flight transit option through Bangkok’s Don Mueang International Airport, effective 1 December.
According to the airline’s statement, Tuesday, AirAsia will offer connectivity to 34 routes through the Fly-Thru facility, which will allow AirAsia passengers to check their bags through and collect them at their final destination when transiting through Bangkok’s Don Mueang International Airport.

READ MORE

Bangkok Airways to introduce Chiang Mai - Samui flights

The new flight between Samui and Chiang Mai, PG241, will leave Samui at 1020 and arrive Chiang Mai at 1210. The return flight, PG242, will depart Chiang Mai at 1250 and land at Samui at 1435. 

READ MORE

Thai Immigration Rules

Rumour has it, strong rumour, that passport holders from the G7 nations will now get 30 days Visa exemption when arriving by a land border without a Visa instead of the 15 days that existed since the last change.

This has been confirmed to Thai Visa Forum [ http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/679721-good-news-for-holders-of-uk-usa-japan-germany-france-canada-and-italy/?utm_source=newsletter-20131106-0804&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=featured ]

The proof will be in seeing if it does actually apply.  Waiting to here of someone arriving and seeing how many days they get.

Vietnam Past and Present: The North

By Andrew Forbes
Rating: Not yet rated. 
Published: Nov. 02, 2013 
Words: 65,180 (approximate)
Language: English
ISBN: 9781310269820

Extended description

There can be few people in the world that do not know the name, location and recent history of Vietnam. Yet beyond the period of US involvement in what Americans call the 'Vietnam War' how much is really known? Almost no Vietnamese bear a grudge against the USA, but this is less true for China, Vietnam's close neighbor, mentor and rival for more than two thousand years. For example, Vietnamese like to name their streets after what they consider to have been ‘acts of foreign aggression’, and in Hanoi no fewer than 119 streets are named after ‘acts of Chinese and French aggression’. By contrast, just two are named for ‘acts of American aggression'. Based on an intimate personal knowledge of Vietnam extending over two decades, this book explores Hanoi and the North. It leads the reader not just across contemporary Tonkin, but also through its long history, linking the present-day with the distant past. 62,000 words, 81 contemporary images, 38 historical images, 4 maps, Glossary, Bibliography

Buy eBook Now At Smashwords - US$8.99

Isan Son-in-Law - A family’s roots in Northeast Thailand

Isan Son-in-Law is a memoir of the author’s developing relationship with his father-in-law and with his family which has its roots in a small town in Isan, where the cultures of Thailand and Laos mix. We get to know some of the people and places he came to know and love in Thailand and how he and his wife and their two children began to establish a life there and later in Laos, before eventually moving to England.
Isan Son-in-Law combines self-deprecating humour, cultural insight and colourful characters such as Mr Joonchit, the benevolent con-man, and Mac, the U.S. master-sergeant. This is no cultural tourism: this book is an invitation into an Isan family and its home.
The book gives a very detailed account of not only the lives of an Isan family, but also Isan ceremonies and rituals. 

available at Smashwords

Good Deals

Tesco UD Town, Udon Thani - Carbonell Balsamic Viniger, 250ml reduced from 164Baht to 49 Baht

Tesco Nong Han - Sabrosa Olive Oil 500ml reduced from 206Baht to 103Baht

Tesco Nong Han - Prego pasta Sauce.  Reduced from 49Baht to 15Baht

Pattaya Ferry Flips

 A ferry packed with tourists returning from a day-trip to the popular island of Larn, 10 km off shore from Pattaya, sank in open sea, Sunday,  killing six people.
Police Colonel, Suwan Cheawnavinthavat, said at least six people including three foreign passengers drowned, and 16 were seriously injured after the overcrowded tourist ferry capsized just minutes after it had left the sheltered waters of Larn Island.

The double-decker ferry capsized after suffering engine problems. Within minutes other ferries in the area rushed to the scene to rescue 209 passengers.

READ MORE AT TTR

Onto the streets... Again - It seems everyone is against the Amnesty Bill

Tens of thousands of protesters against the amnesty bill converged on Bangkok streets on Monday to demand the draft legislation pushed through the House by the Pheu Thai Party be immediately dropped.
Read More at Bangkok Post

Amnesty opponents to rally nationwide - Yingluck Shinawatra's government is walking a tightrope as opposition against the Amnesty Bill has now gained momentum with various groups, including the Democrat Party and many red shirts groups who formerly supported her, openly launching their campaigns to tear down the explosive draft law.

Read More At The Nation

The Riverbanks Remain: A Novel

Set against a backdrop of real places and world events, this is the story of a man and a woman on the borders of language and culture. A chance meeting on a Thai train between Greg, a foreign correspondent, and Mira, an English language teacher living in Thailand, leads them on an Asian journey where they are forced to confront their deepest fears.The novel takes us to Thailand, Laos and India, to Greg’s homeland, Australia, and Mira’s New Zealand.

Thai Story and Guide

The e-book has a comprehensive guide to travel and living in Thailand based upon the experiences of the author who has been living in Thailand for nearly 12 years. The central message running through the whole journey you share with the author is survival and the search for happiness in a foreign land. The topics cover everything a person needs to know about before holidaying or contemplating a longer stay in Thailand. All the important web site links are provided as well as many links to other interesting web sites. There is an autobiographical section in which the author talks about his first and second holidays and also his everyday life in Thailand to the present day. The book is aimed at men but there is no content which would offend an adult inquisitive lady. The writer likes to look on the bright side of life. There are many humorous cartoons to brighten up your day. Included are the bus and train timetables, maps of the BTS (sky train), metro (subway train), airport train link and river boats, and a basic Thai speaking guide. There are nearly 32 thousand words overall.

AVAILABLE NOW FROM SMASHWORDS - US$6.99

By Nigel Cobbett
Rating: Not yet rated. 
Published: Oct. 26, 2013 
Words: 31,640 (approximate)
Language: British English
ISBN: 9781311789488