LOYAL GREETINGS

We join the nation in wishing His Majesty the King health and happiness on his birthday, December the 5th.

This national holiday is followed by another on the 10th, Constitution Day.

FARMERS' FLOOD RELIEF

Prime Minister Taksin Shinawatra handed out 327,069 baht to 578 Sanpatong and Hang Dong farmers last month, the first national flood compensation payments which could total over 2.5 million baht.

The cash is also meant to compensate for the fake compost distributed earlier in a scheme now considered a scam, plagued with corruption. But many farmers have had flood damage claims turned down and others point to huge discrepancies, hand-outs varying from over 12,000b to 205b.

Local checks

There have been reports that some village headmen filled in fraudulent claims despite an overseeing operation. Names of recipients were meant to be displayed in every village.

BRITISH COUNCIL BASH

Four dots on a new logo for the 4 UK countries, also education in "the 4 corners of the globe" were launched at an invitation-only party on November 12th by director and honorary consul David Hopkinson.

BANGKOK LOOKS NORTH!

Even if environmentalists stop Mekong reef blasting, bigger cargo boats than this will still be able to move between China and Thai river ports

Expect a much stronger focus on Chiangrai Province, especially Mae Sai, Chiang Khong and Chiang Saen if Deputy PM Prommin Lertsurideja's ideas appeal to his boss. He wants work to start fast on a special economic zone to promote investment, trade and tourism there, aimed at the other 5 member nations of the Greater Mekong Subregion.

Thai infrastructure bordering the Mekong River should be improved to boost Thai exports, he says, just as Chiangmai International Airport must expand from it's current capacity of 20 million passengers per year. China and Vietnam in particular should open up new air routes to Chiangmai, said Khun Prommin, who added that visas-on-arrival for tourists entering any GMS country were being discussed right now.

ELEFACTS5: Elephants of all ages love to play and tease each other. You can see them:

More 'Elefacts'? See www.thaifocus.com/elephant

ORIENTAL BALLOON FLIGHT WARNING

A warning: "balloons do catch fire" went out last month from the organisers of one of the biggest oriental balloon races in Japan. The British pilot of a balloon and his Japanese observer were both slightly burned as the burner flame providing the hot air ignited the envelope and the basket hit the ground at low speed. Both men were recovering in hospital.

AN OUTSTANDING DOCTOR

Japan's Nakata Memorial Foundation has named Chiangmai doctor Prakong Vithayasai as 'Outstanding International Volunteer' for her work in caring for 26 HIV/AIDS infected children.

Dr Prakong, who runs the Support the Children Foundation, flies to Osaka to receive the award on December 12th. It carries a cash prize of 105,000 baht which will help sustain supplies of the expensive drugs the children need to survive and prosper.

In 2000, Dr. Prakong was named Outstanding Physician by the Thai Female Physicians' Association, and is now preparing a fostering scheme to help the children move steadily into more conventional family lifestyles.

FRENCH TRAMS IN TOWN?

Chiangmai could have it's own version of San Francisco cable cars if a 30 million baht feasibility study looks positive.

The latest twist in the city centre transport saga is that France will pay for the 6 month study and a 4 day visit here by experts. Lord Mayor Boonlert Buranupakorn says that 5 routes are proposed, radiating from the new linear park at the south west corner of the moat and heading for the airport, University, City Hall and the train and bus stations. The 20km system would cost several hundred million baht.

ALL'S FAIR IN LAMPANG

This year's Lampang Ceramic Fair will be held outside Big C Superstore from December 4-10th with over 100 factories taking part. The Ceramic Development Centre of the Ministry of Industry will sponsor a section dedicated to the 45 year history of the Lampang ceramic industry and it's technology.

Many overseas buyers take advantage of this opportunity. One exhibitor alone, Khun Nattha Kavinan of TCIE is hosting clients from the Netherlands, India, Singapore and the USA. Over 9,000 workers in 200 Lampang factories produce 3,000 million baht's worth of goods every year.

ONE FOR THE KLONG!

Brake fade or brain fade? We may never know.

WALKING STREET OUT OF STEP?

Chiangmai perseveres with "walking street" - Thapae Road which is closed to traffic on Sunday afternoons and nights - as Bangkok and Pattaya are ready to abandon theirs.

Tourist interest has been falling in Silom Road and Pattaya's equivalent, while complaints from road-side businesses and residents are on the increase, the local media reports.

Here, the idea also seems to have passed it's peak with few permanent businesses benefiting, neighbouring roads such as Kochasarn and Loi Kroh deserted and other roads clogged with traffic due to the lack of diversions.

Central idea

Two years ago, then Governor Khun Prawit Sihsobhon mooted the idea of a traffic free central Chiangmai with only bicycles and samlors allowed. Now that the Art and Cultural Centre at Three King's Monument will be supplemented by parkland and museums, this could be an ideal "walking street" area with negligible disruption to business and traffic.

Road works?

Well, sometimes. Huay Kaew Road joins the jams until at least December 14th while 6.8 million baht is spent on 89 new street lights and improvements to 5,270 metres of the central division. Flooding slowed down the work of burying overhead cables in Ratchadamnoen Road and the northern end of Suthep Road was closed for weeks for re-surfacing.

DEATH RACE 2001

Almost 13,000 people were killed and 2 million were injured on the roads of Thailand last year - and the carnage is getting worse.

The Public Health Minister said that 80% of the casualties were young motorcyclists, 40% had been drinking and only 22% wore helmets. The tragedies cost the nation about 100 billion baht.

Police in Bangkok have started to clamp down on illegal night-time motorcycle and car racing but the Minister appealed for more agencies to work together to reduce the toll.

'INCREDIBLE INDIA'

First it was 'Amazing Thailand', then 'Surprising Singapore', now it's 'Incredible India' thanks to that nation's tourism ministry.

The choice of the brand name to "jump start" the marketing of Indian tourism intends to bring them an increase on their current low 1% share of the global market.

Cynics at first greeted the 'Amazing Thailand' phrase with derision, pointing out that it could mean "amazingly bad" as well as good. The same applies to "surprising" and "incredible", but both Singapore and India must have noticed that Thailand's initiative was in fact a great success!

CHRISTMAS IS COMING

Christians are planning special church services on December 24th and 25th, Community Church on the river near Nawarat Bridge having a Communion service at 11.00pm on the Eve and a family celebration at 10.00am on Christmas Day itself led by UK pastor Jon Bates.

OUR NEWEST OLD ATTRACTION

'Wieng Kum Kam, Atlantis of Lan Na' is the essential guide to our newest old attraction. Garry Harbottle-Johnson's timely English language volume is a comprehensive history and visitor guide to the abandoned city which lies only a few kilometres south of Chiangmai.

Built by King Mengrai but occupied by him for only 5 years, the city was flooded and archaelogical interest has suddenly placed it under the spotlight after many years of neglect. The book is well illustrated in colour and available at 225b from 'Good Morning Chiangmai News' and most top bookshops.

Our oldest new attraction

'Miss Siam', a 1928 Travelair biplane, takes off for a tour of Thailand this month.

Squadron Leader Virayuth Didyasarin will lead a team of pilots taking turns to fly the old American plane as a preview to a marathon flight to Taiwan.

Postponed from this month due to difficulties with consent to over-fly certain areas, the international journey recreates that undertaken by the plane's first Thai owner in 1932.

NEWS OF THE PAST

In December 1996, we reported:

NEWS OF THE FUTURE

Hovercraft marathon on the mighty Mekong

Pioneers and VIPs hovered through 6 nations.

David Hardy

Khmer! Khome along and see our ruins!

Garlic: gift from the gods?

All about garlic. Hold your breath!

PIP

New meets old on family rally

Rallysport - fun for all the family.

Chiangmai and the North

How foreigners can own Thai land & condos

My Chiangmai

David Hardy

Reasons to Relax

FOUR IDEAS, FOUR TILL MIDNIGHT

Ric Klein

Financial Affairs

MANAGED CURRENCY ACCOUNTS

The Drinks Page

Night Fowl

Letters

FRENCH TRAMS IN TOWN?

Chiangmai could have it's own version of San Francisco cable cars if a 30 million baht feasibility study looks positive. (...).

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