Octopussy News 2008
 |
English Daily papers |
 |
|
JANUARY |
|
EVERYBODY LOVES A COUP THE COUP IS OVER OR IS IT |
 |
|
Things are still up in the air so what's coming next, your guess is as good as ours, after the EC has banned everybody from parliament for such things as wearing the wrong trousers to a polling station to trying to vote with a silly hair cut, only time will tell. |
|
|
Now if anyone see's one of these in Knightsbridge loading a couple of hundred suitcases in the back could you drop us a line, Cheers. Or better still send an email to the army@thailand.com |
|
|
|
Is He Or Isn't He |
|
The End Of The MIB |
|
 |
Normally you can bounce a grapefruit off a Thai policeman's shirt, but not for long. The very stylish MIB are going for a change the tight shirt and pants are on the way out, a new cooler baggier uniform is on the way. |
 Looks very nice but the MIK just hasn't got that ring to it. |
 |
|
February
Here we go again elections for the senate take place this month. Unless changes are announced, the ban on alcohol sales will apply from 6 pm on Friday, February 22nd thought till midnight on Sunday the 24th then again from 6 pm on Saturday March 1st though till midnight on Sunday the 2nd. Sorry folks looks like another two weekends will be sober ones, democracy can sometimes be a painful process. A couple of bars will be open, if you ask around you will find out which ones.
Smoking Ban
A smoking ban will come into affect all over Thailand on the ninth it has been reported, air conditioned bars, open air markets and soon to be beaches will have a total ban while open air venues will have to set up no smoking areas, yet again it's a wait and see thing how this will be enforced most likely after a couple of weeks it will be casual enforcement. Smoking in air con restaurants was banned in 2003, but people were still smoking in several Bangkok air con restaurants last week and not just naughty tourists! Mr Som Chai Sombatt of the Ministry of Bans said "a ban on smoking in bed had been proposed but has been set aside after it was mentioned that this would have a far reaching affect on the tourist industry and the economy of the North East". Only 2.4% of Thai women smoke, we did a quick survey last night and 96% of those polled said they did unfortunately only 89% said they did with the lights on. Other bans being considered by the Ban things ministry are a ban on motorcyclists from stopping at road junctions. A ban on schools using public address systems as most people walking near schools have already left school and don't need to be taught anything. Banning more than thirty people travelling in the back of a pick up at any one time, again this has been put on hold as countryside recyclers said, this would affectively cut there income in half and would have a knock on affect with rescue works, hospitals, morgue workers and Temples. A UN spokes person was quoted this week as saying the UN would open a new department along the lines of the security council called UNIONS. The United Nations Institute Of Nanny States. Chaired by Great Briton it's aims are to join forces with other governments that think their citizens are too stupid to make their own decisions. Communist countries were said to be sceptical saying it would be more sensible for the whole world to join them, as they had been telling their citizens what to do for years. America has said it can cut it's co2 emissions by ninety percent by 2012 a White House spokes person said today, "George has come up with an inspired idea by adding an amendment to the patriot act, that will require every US citizen to hold their breathe for twenty minutes a day". Senators said the idea was absurd as some people might try and save time by doing it in one go. |
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
|||||
Nobody should take Thailand's laws lightly, especially drug laws you could spend an awful lot of time in the monkey house. Our advice is stay well clear of any drugs in Thailand, except of course booze and cigarettes, which are freely available at the bar. |
|||||
The
cabinet takes office this week.
|
Senate elections are next weekend, so no beer unless you are in a restaurant where as if the same as this weekend anybody can get plastered even the local locals. We don't mind a couple of days off, at least the VAT man won't be getting any. |
|
28th All Roads lead to SUVARNABHUMI
For today at least all roads lead not to Rome they all lead to the airport. At Approx 9am Frankie will becoming home |
|
 |
Taxi's queuing last night waiting to pick up Mr T's luggage. |
 |
|
|
This is a file photo of repairs to the airport and not a crafty scheme to stop a certain plane from landing. |
|
|
|
|
|
Arriving by private plane expect a circus atmosphere in Bangkok today |
|
|
|
|
Anti smoking patrols take to the streets Patrols are out on the streets looking for dangerous criminals who are out and about smoking in public. Smoking is now banned at open air markets. But don't panic it's ok to wheel red hot woks of boiling fat through the streets, fry garlic and chillies next to traffic lights and let's not forget those charcoal burners that make you smell worse than the Marlboro man's smoking jacket. All ok so no worries there then. |
|
MARCH/APRIL |
|
|
Well not much happened in March very quiet all over. The 5th Preserve Hua Hin half Marathon will be held on the 6th of April. So if you feel like frying your brain in the high summer heat you can register at Preserve Hua Hin Group 032536536 Hua Hin Municipality 032511047 ext 101 email info@amazingfield.org Register in person from noon until 7pm at Hin Lek Fai on the 5th
The Songkran holiday this year will be from the 12th to the 16th main day will be the 13th expect banks to open again on the 15th (maybe) The 13th Hua Hin International Cricket Sixes will take place from April 14-18 in the grounds of the Dusit Resort and the tournament promises to be one of the most entertaining yet. A total of 17 teams are expected to participate.
Songkran
Songkran is now over except for the thousands of injured and dead it went very well, giant water pistols were everywhere even if they have been banned for years and except for the twat who used a power washer most of it was in good fun, again except for the thousands of injured and dead that is. So if you have never done Songkran this could be the last one with beer and Sang Som plans are a foot to either ban sales for the whole week or just for a couple of days watch this space. Songkran marks the end of high season shame all the tourist thought it was last month, it is now officially deader than tank tops in town. So if you like plenty of elbow room while knocking back a cold one this is the time to come. Room rates are dropping as well, some with a forty to fifty percent discount.
MAY
Local Elections Local elections this past holiday weekend ensured all the bars in town were closed as an alcohol ban was in force. Bars that sell food and restaurants were not affected. The mayor has some new ideas for the Paradise city. Free WiFi coverage all over town. Fixing of water problems, drainage, the building of an amusement park and a new airport, maybe his first action should be to ban local elections on holiday weekends. JAZZ FESTIVAL The jazz fest is now set for June 13/14 2008 Time to dust off your cords iron that dodgy waist coat and slip on a pair of Jerusalem sneakers and head for the beach http://tourismthailand.org/festival-event/grand-content-2703.html These sites have absolutely no info
|
|
|
Prime Minister Samak's cooking show is back on the air, locally known to make Gordon Ramsey sound like a girl guide and not as camp as the galloping gourmet Mr S has a style all of his own. The show is well worth a look. MAY Sorry folks we've been shut down again something or someone is being elected this weekend 10th and 11th. It may be a covert way to reduce road deaths and drink driving by voting for something every weekend. Again restaurants are ok and the Ma and Pa shops will be open and some bars with you know what will be open. Rumours of an other day around the 14th as well sorry to be a bit vague we don't get told until about ten pm the night before. UPDATE now confirmed as Monday the 19th.
BAD NEWS Sorry folks as you know fuel is going through the roof and over here prices are rising every week. Sugar has risen 33% this month and the government is changing the way duty is collected on imported wines beers and spirits so it's price rise time. Our wholesalers wholesaler has raised prices for the third time this year. We had hoped to carry this increase up until November sadly we no longer can, so beer is going up by 5 Baht a bottle we wanted to put it up by 2 Baht but we can't get any change out of the banks. Imported spirits and other drinks will have to rise as well we will try to keep this to a minimum. Beer promotions will carry on the same as before.
And more bad news the ASC has removed my favourite cooking show a panel is going to be selected to see if the Pm can cook on TV it's got something to do with a rule that the Pm is not allowed to work. If we all didn't know that already.
JUNE The jazz fest was a great success again this year even if a few of the bands were not up to some peoples expectations and standing in a foot of sea water didn't dampen the spirits. The Gov is on the back foot again, but the most interesting story is the new court drama whose lunch box is it |
|
|
|
Some how a lawyer got his lunch boxes mixed up while in court and left
one of his, with two million Baht in it for the judge who was hearing
the case of a special person. After a few days it was all cleared up he
had left the wrong lunch at the court when he opened his and found court
papers inside he rushed back to correct the mistake. On the left is Linford Christie's famous lunch box which from a distance could look to contain two million Baht but then he would have not won the hundred metres gold medal. Below is Bo Dukes lunch box which he used to carry his salami on rye sandwiches to the set of The Dukes of Hazard. Where one is safe to carry food neither should be used as a briefcase substitute. Can you really picture Marvin Mitchelson skipping up the court steps with a Power Rangers lunch box. |
|
|
|
|
July
We will be closed on the 17th & 18th this month for religious holidays. Lots of problems for the Gov this month a new cabinet is on the way and court cases are continuing. News of a ceasefire in the restive south still have not been confirmed. Full story here is that Ali G on the left? |
|
|
|
This cabinet would be good you can change it around with out too much trouble. |
| August
Hua Hin regatta will be run from the 1st until the 8th or the 30th of July until the 3rd.
|
|
Free WiFi Hotspot |
|
|
Taxi anyone !! Not just yet. |
|
2008 Olympics
Congratulations to our winning Athletes |
|
We all enjoyed this years games, and again great efforts from our athletes winners and non winners. All the athletes have now safely made it home. But like the Jocks at past World Cups, some supporters do not make it home. Media here has focused on the fact that a couple of people got on the wrong plane. "We were concerned that our flight or visa's might have been delayed and we may have missed the opening ceremony, so we have decided to arrive early for the 2012 London games in plenty of time to get tickets and decent seats". The Gov has come up with a way to finally defeat the mass of flag wavers on the streets at the moment, keep all four public toilets in Bangkok locked brilliant!!!. The flag wavers countered with " We can not except responsibility for any clear up if this situation continues. Anyone with a spare pooper scooper is asked to drop it off at their local sanitation depot. Thankfully things have remained calm so far. |
|
Contrary to what some web sites might tell you the price of some
high end beers and spirits are again going up next month. We have
decided not to raise prices again this year but we would like
to ask you to have one more for the road (as long as you are not
driving ). New Uniform A new uniform will be on show this month with a nautical theme. September A state of emergency is in affect in Bangkok as of seven am Tuesday. Unfortunately one person died and over 30 people were injured in clashes between pro government and PAD supporters. Outside of the area around Government house Bangkok and the provinces are operating as normal. We are hoping for a speedy return to normal as soon as possible. State Of Emergency lifted in Bangkok
13th September emergency powers lifted vote for new PM Monday. Mr S has had to leave the office of PM after it was found that he was working. The New PM Mr T's brother in-law will form his new cabinet this week.
Some academics have voiced some concerns over it's maker. |
|
October |
|||
|
Protests continue in and around Government House in Bangkok. All is quiet in Hua Hin too quiet, many business's report a down turn in sales from last year |
|||
|
November |
|||
|
The annual Hua Hin Food Festival is being held this year at The Queens Park (soi 19) From the 5th to the 9th or from the 3rd to the 8th. Even Google does not know. This secretive event is well worth a look all the major hotels are involved. 5 pm to midnight daily their will be food and drink stalls, attractions plus local bands and a cocktail shaking competition. Loi Krathong is believed to be on the 12th this year. Watch out for bar closures around the 14th, 19th for the funeral ceremony of Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana.
Bangkok Marathon
Monday the 17th we will be closed for the next few days for some painting hope to be open by Wednesday the 26th.
The main international airport will not reopen before 6pm on Saturday police are expected to remove or try and remove everyone today the 28th. For the most part Thailand remains calm everybody is waiting to see what happens next. As always we are hoping for a peaceful conclusion. |
|||
|
December |
|||
|
His Majesty The King has his birthday on the 5th all bars will be closed in respect of the King.
AIRPORTS REOPEN
All airports reopen today 3rd December at 10 am expect a week to ten days before full service is resumed.
Preserve Hua Hin Group and the Municipality of Hua Hin announce the 5th staging of the I LOVE HUA HIN Concert. The date is the 6th from 6pm onwards at the Hin Lek Fai lookout Hua Hin. Tickets our one thousand and five hundred Baht which includes a T shirt and food. HUA HIN BIKE WEEK 2008 The bike week this year is on the 5th 6th and 7th at The Queens park soi 19. Bikes, tattoo contest, live music plus food and drink. UPDATE The location may be wrong, it is possible that the event will be at the 48 Rai site which is on the canal rd over the railway line. First night is usually at Easy riders and the Harley bike shop both on the canal rd. Directions are Chomsin rd over the railway line turn right and then right again about 300 metres through the traffic lights and then 150 metres on the right. Coming from BKK under the runway U turn at the first PTT garage on the right through the arch over the railway turn left and the about 3kms on the left. Contact Mr Aod 0811989621 (Thai) Thomas 0852966621 (Eng) Hope to have updated news soon. Ps There is no address on the posters lads, TIT PPs The 5th could be off as there is no beer on this day, unless you own a restaurant. UPDATE HUA HIN BIKE WEEK Now confirmed venue is the 48 Rai site which is just off the canal rd over the railway there will be signs directing you from the highway and the centre of town. VINTAGE CAR RALLY At the Sofitel Centara Hua Hin December 12-13 Over fifty cars will be on display. Tel 032512021 ext 740 |
|||
