Wino

I understand next year the government may put into circulation a 20 baht and 50 baht coin. Will this be a welcome change?

Looks like Singha Corporation is trying to keep its hold on the Thai market. They are expanding their brand by adding three more labels. Here is the article. The Singha Corporation announced recently that it was in the process of preparing 3 new draft beers for production in 2010. The rapid expansion of their range directly relates to the announced downturn in the Thai beer market for 2009. Thailand, the 15th of December 2009 [PDN]: Due to some very positive feedback that was received from trial sales, Singha Marketing Manager Mr. Chatchai Viratyosin has stated that the corporation will launch three new ranges of the popular Thai beer in 2010. Black Beer, Copper Beer and Lager Beer will be the names of the new labels, which will be on shelves sometime mid-2010. The Singha Corporation is a subsidiary of the Boon Rawd Holding, the first and largest Brewery in Thailand. They produce the Singha and Leo beer brands as well as a host of other Singha labelled products, such as mineral and soda waters. Currently the Singha Corporation holds a 65% share of the Thai beer market, which is expected to rise as a result of the impending release of 3 new ranges. Despite Singha’s relative success the Thai beer market has contracted by approximately 14% this year with a market value of between US$2.4 and US$2.7 billion falling from US$3.3 billion in 2008. http://www.pattayadailynews.com/shownews.php?IDNEWS=0000011455

I knew dog meat was eaten in parts of Vietnam, but did not realize it was popular in Thailand, as well. This article is an interesting expose. Is there a law against eating dog? EXPOSING NORTH-EASTERN THAILAND’S ILLEGAL DOG MEAT TRADE A recent investigation by foreign journalists has uncovered the gruesome dog meat trade that flourishes in North Eastern Thailand, specifically in the village of Ta Rae, Nakhon Phanom. Thailand, the 4th of December 2009 [PDN]: A recent report uncovered the illegal trafficking of dog meat from Thailand to Vietnam, where the price of the meat has exceeded that of pork and is considered somewhat of a delicacy by locals. Due to alleged corrupt politicians and police officers the trade has been allowed to continue for generations with everyone benefiting from the profitable trafficking. The illegal business provides workers with a better income and way off life than if they were to be rice farmers like many other inhabitants of North Eastern Thailand. Due to such a prevalence of stray dogs in Thailand (similar to the Kangaroo situation in outback Australian), coupled with the demand for the meat in Vietnam, the illegal trade has become very lucrative for some enterprising villagers. The locals have taken to trapping, killing and butchering the stray dogs before selling them to the Vietnam. The profitable trade nets a big return for the poor farmers of the area and allegedly the corrupt government officials. In the small majority Catholic village of Ta Rae in the majority Buddhist Thailand have become dependant on the underground market for dog meat, with many quitting the farming life entirely in order to catch and butcher stray dogs. Local farmers are eager to be rid of the stray dogs as they a considered somewhat of a pest due to their propensity to eat the farmer’s chickens. The villagers - once the dogs are butchered - sell the prepared meat to Vietnamese distributors for US$10 a dog. A Nakhon Phanom parliament representative, Mr Phumpat Pachonsap, explained that corruption within the local government has allowed the illegal trade to continue, becoming more prevalent than ever. Mr Pachonsap stated that "The exporting of dogs, it’s a mafia. It’s a big network involving lower-level politicians up to high-level politicians. There’s a huge profit. The benefit is huge. The profit is huge. Even the police are getting money out of it." On the other side of the story, a local villager who is involved in the dog catching trade, Mr Wit (who wishes to remain anonymous) explained "I’ve never stopped to ask if this is wrong, it’s a way of life, passed down from the older generations. This is what my family has taught me." Note: There is always two sides to a coin, in the midst of poverty in the region locals have looked to find a better way to provide for their families, illegal or otherwise the trade is giving some locals the chance of a better life. Will something be done about the alleged corruption? Who knows, but lets just hope that when this illegal market is finally stopped, the government of the province does not leave it’s citizens high and dry with no way to survive. http://www.pattayada...NEWS=0000011317

You are welcome. Good luck in finding what you want. If that doesn't work out, maybe go to www.hanes.com I am not sure if they will ship to Thailand but it might be worth a try.

Interesting to see China coming into its own. Fanned by huge exports, it looks like they are spending their money on good projects. China today announced it had begun construction of the world's longest sea bridge – barely 18 months after opening the current record-holder. The Y-shaped link between Hong Kong, Macau and China will be around 50km (31 miles) long in total, 35km of which will span the sea, said the state news agency Xinhua. Due to be completed by 2015, the 73bn yuan (£6.75bn) cost of the bridge will be shared by the authorities in the three territories. It is only a year and a half since China opened a 36km span across Hangzhou Bay – in the eastern province of Zhejiang – which is currently the longest sea-bridge. Wang Yong, the head of that project, said the design had led to more than 250 technological innovations and engineering breakthroughs, many of which will no doubt prove useful in building the new construction. He added that the Hangzhou bridge survived 19 severe challenges, including typhoons, tides, and geological problems during the three and a half years of construction. The longest water-spanning bridge in the world is the Lake Pontchartrain causeway bridge in New Orleans, at 38.4km. But officials said that Hangzhou was a particularly difficult site to build because of its complex climate. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/dec/15/worlds-longest-sea-bridge

Maybe at one time in my life, I would have rushed to the confessional. Nowadays, if the world is ending tomorrow, I would do llike the Prince song and "party like it was 1999." Like the Thais, any excuse to party, is a good thing.

As the Tiger Woods saga drags on, there is talk that AT&T may be the next to drop Tiger.

I would seriously doubt you would easily find something like a male chastity belt in Thailand. Maybe you could order one from an internet site. I hope they have your size.

Ellie Mae doesn't look so bad for being a 70 year old lady.

Same as stealing. I vote for jail time.

Might work for nausea, but the side effects are terrible. Who would want to become addicted to this nasty habit?

The latest addition to the list is Roy E. Disney, the nephew of Walt Disney. He was 79 and died in Newport Beach, California after a yearlong bout with stomach cancer.

I know my Aunt Mildred would have no interest in a ladyboy bar. Who needs to go to a ladyboy bar to see katoeys, because in Thailand, they seem to be everywhere.

I have no idea, but you might try the new Central shopping center on Beach Road. Looks like they have 5 or 6 floors of shops. I should think if anyone would have your underwear brand, that would be the place to look.

I hate the showoffs too. Why order expensive call drinks and drown the taste with a mixer? I knew a guy that said he can only drink a certain beer. We did a taste test with his brand and three others. He picked out his brand on the second try.

Not much interested in American football until they reach the playoffs and super bowel.

My Thai is lousy. I have bought books and tapes to help but I find it difficult. I think the brain is pickled with too much Chang Beer.

I am with you Rucus. I have been getting up early all my life and the habit continues. I find it hard to sleep past 7 or 8 am but usually up at 6.

Just when the US-Cuban relationship seemed to be getting better, this happens. WASHINGTON -The State Department says the Cuban government has arrested an American citizen and U.S. diplomats in Havana are trying learn more about the case. Spokeswoman Megan Mattson says the Cuban government told the State Department that the American was detained on Dec. 5. She says the American is not a U.S. government employee. She says the department can't release any more details, including the American's identity, because of federal privacy law. The New York Times reported Saturday that the American is a U.S. government contractor who was working on behalf of the Obama administration distributing cell phones, laptops and other communications equipment in Cuba. http://news.aol.com/article/state-department-says-cuba-has-detained/814245?cid=12

Bob, I bet you are a nice guy in person, but seems to me, you pooh-pooh many things. To me, you are coming across as a little bit negative. I know some people think things like superstition, UFO‘s, ghosts are on the edge, but organized religion and anything in the National Enquirer, now come on! For me I like to keep an open mind and not deem anyone thinking outside the box as idiots.

These guys probably thought they died and went to heaven. This is better than winning the lottery. Two brothers living in a cave outside Budapest who survive by selling junk they find in the street found out they are heirs to a $7 billion fortune left by a long-lost grandmother. Hungarian charity workers were asked by lawyers handling the estate of their maternal grandmother, who died recently in Germany, to locate and inform Zsolt and Geza Peladi, the Telegraph reported. Two brothers living in a cave outside Budapest who survive by selling junk they find in the street found out they are heirs to a $7 billion fortune left by a long-lost grandmother. Hungarian charity workers were asked by lawyers handling the estate of their maternal grandmother, who died recently in Germany, to locate and inform Zsolt and Geza Peladi, the Telegraph reported. After a life of poverty, Geza, left, and Zsolt Peladi are about to inherit billions. “We knew our mother came from a wealthy family but she was a difficult person and severed ties with them, and then later abandoned us and we lost touch with her and our father until she eventually died,†Geza Peladi, 43, told ATV News. The grandmother's name is being withheld to prevent impostors from claiming a part of the estate. “If this all works out it will certainly make up for the life we have had until now — all we really had was each other — no women would look at us living in a cave,†Geza said. http://www.sphere.com/nation/article/six-surprising-things-you-can-learn-from-2009s-most-popular-goo/19262354

I hate to rain on your parade, but what is so great about a ladyboy bar? How would an average traveler to Thailand be remiss if they did not visit one of these bars?

With my crazy sleeping patterns, I can't seem to time it right for a viewing.

I think the recent attack on Italy's Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is definitely something that should not be tolerated. The poor guy was said to be hit by a souvenir model of Milan cathedral while signing autographs. In some reported accounts, he suffered stitches, broken teeth and a broken nose. This is way over the top.

I welcome different opinions and views. Some of the fringe elements that say 9/11 was US backed or the moon landing was staged, are extreme. That said, I welcome their opinion and do not look down on their attempt to back up their views. Although I may disagree with their views, I would not stoop to name calling. I sat next to a very well spoken, ex-military man that claimed TWA flight 800 was shot down by a missile. I don’t believe it, but I wouldn’t call him ignorant or mentally ill.