Suphan Buri fireworks disaster affects 500

SUPHAN BURI: -- The powerful fireworks explosion during the Chinese New Year celebration at Suphan Buri's Dragon Park on Tuesday night blasted all structures within four kilometres and turned the lives of more than 500 people upside down.

"All the houses in my neighbourhood are just rubble now," a resident said yesterday.

The fireworks were fired from a community close to Dragon Park, where more than 200 houses were damaged.

The grand public festival - broadcast live on nationwide TV - went terribly wrong when some fireworks went off, leaving four people dead and at least 74 injured.

The disaster area near Dragon Park and the city pillar shrine has been sealed off. A temporary shelter has been set up at Phra Si Rattana Maha That Temple, which was also hit, to accommodate the homeless victims.

"Police are investigating the cause of the explosion," Suphan Buri Governor Somsak Phureesisak said.

The men working on the fireworks show or the equipment could be responsible for the accident, he said.

Three fireworks workers were killed at the scene while a woman, Lamyong Pansakul, 52, succumbed to her injuries at a hospital.

Somsak said the Foundation of Suphan Buri's City Pillar Shrine has promised to provide full assistance to all victims.

Chao Phraya Yommaraj Hospital tended to 60 injured, of whom 44 have been discharged. Only one, a fireman named Thanit Klinkate, remained in intensive care.

At Suppamit Hospital, 14 victims were treated and nine of them were allowed to go home.

Banharn Silapa-archa, chief adviser of the Chart Thai Pattana Party, who founded Dragon Park, yesterday visited the patients at Suppamit Hospital and offered them Bt10,000 each.

Banharn, Tourism Minister Chumpol Silapa-archa and Chinese Ambassador Guan Mu were guests of honour at Dragon Park.

A local woman said she was watching TV at home when part of the wall suddenly collapsed on her and thick fumes began spreading all over.

"I couldn't see anything at all. So I made a real struggle to get out from under the wall and started running for my life," she said.

The scope of the devastation was massive. Some vehicles were just burnt shells, and their windshields were completely shattered into small pieces.

Somsak said that although the Chinese New Year celebrations at Dragon Park would continue till Sunday, there would be no more pyrotechnics.

"In fact, the organising committee planned more firework displays but we have already confiscated all the prepared fireworks," he said.

A source said 500-600 fireworks were seized and the explosive ordnance disposal team was now removing their fuses.

Interior Minister Yongyuth Wichaidit said he received a report that the fireworks might have been etonated because the pipes used to shoot them were not set at the right angle.

He said he would instruct all provincial governments to be more careful in organising activities.

"But I'm not going to ban the use of fireworks because they add colour to celebrations," he said.

Major Songphon Iambonrit, formerly with the Army's Ordnance Department, also suspected that either defective launch cylinders or an inappropriate angle triggered the accident.

Phuket Town Nightlife

Phuket has a well-earned and justified reputation for its wild and exuberant nightlife, especially the overt adult entertainment that is available just about everywhere. This is most prevalent in the countless beer and go-go bars, massage parlours, as well as offered by the thousands of freelance working girls in the bars and clubs. Especially when compared with European countries, the nightlife in Phuket could be considered quite wild.


The main hub of the debauchery in Phuket is undoubtedly Patong Beach, but Phuket Town (which has had city status for some time even though many people continue to use the old name) is a welcome departure from the clichéd excesses of crowded Patong. The surprisingly small provincial capital can be a rewarding place to spend an alternative and enjoyable night out, besides the numerous events and festivals that justify its claim to be the cultural capital of Phuket. The unique and historic architecture in the heart of old town coupled with the more relaxed atmosphere, are a welcome breath of fresh air and make you realise that there is much more to the island than you might think.

Nightlife in Phuket Town is relatively tame by Patong Beach standards and you won’t find hordes of tourists or many adult thrill seekers, mainly due to its more remote location away from the main tourist hotspots. This contributes in no small part to its charm and its essentially Thai character, and anybody that hasn’t yet experienced an authentic Thai pub or disco is strongly recommended to give it a go at least once. The main attraction are the big music pubs and clubs, which tend to have a live band and hundreds of young people. Dance floors are virtually non-existent as Thais prefer to cluster with friends around small tables, but there is usually adequate room to strut your stuff if you like dancing. Unlike most Western countries, clubs in Thailand don’t normally charge an entrance fee and the dress code is normally very casual.
You might be surprised at just how much fun it can be to listen to cheesy Asian pop music and mingle with real Thai people. Many Thai pubs and clubs are quite kitsch and the décor can be tacky. It’s also perfectly acceptable and common in Thailand to take your own bottles of spirits and buy only the mixers in the bar, which might seem like a strange practice to westerners. Dozens of venues in Phuket Town provide table service and the waiters (or quite often very attractive female hosts) are very attentive. There are also a few karaoke and coyote joints that have dance shows, catering mainly to Asian men but foreigners are also welcome. In many late night venues, it’s possible to find company for the night, but remember that most women in Phuket Town’s bars are not bar girls, and are more likely there just to enjoy themselves without getting hassled by overzealous tourists.

Fish Spa in Bangkok, Thailand (For feet & legs)

Foot spa by fish is a health-related activity that has become popular in Bangkok and throughout Thailand within the past several months. It is being offered at more and more locations such as in spas and massage parlors.

In many cases, entrepreneurs are offering it as a "stand along" service in shopping malls and street markets. Users of foot spa by fish usually report their experience as satisfactory or pleasant, so more and more people are becoming interested in it.

The activity appears to have developed in Turkey and involves permitting a certain species of fish to eat away dead or sick skin on the feet. The feet are placed in a tub of water that also contains many of these fish.

This species of fish, nicknamed "doctor fish", "nibble fish", or "kangal fish", only eat the bad skin and leave good or healthy skin undisturbed.

The treatment is particularly helpful for treating patients suffering from the foot diseases psoriasis and eczema although it is not curative. It does, however, help alleviate the symptoms of the diseases, making the afflicted feel comfortable and relieved.

I enjoyed this YouTube video on this English bloke living and farming in Thailand. He has some interesting views and puts forward a good case for his life.

Pattaya Ladyboys, Katoeys & She-Males In Pattaya

Pattaya Ladyboys, Katoeys & She-Males In Pattaya

As with all sexual preferences, Thai ladyboys aren't everyone's cup of tea. Whereas some guys swear they've had the hottest sex ever in Pattaya with a ladyboy, others might have been robbed by a gang of katoeys on Beach Road, or simply despise them as a matter of principle.
Ladyboys (or katoeys as the local she-males and transvestites are called in Thai) are a common feature of everyday life all over Thailand. Due to the tolerant nature of Buddhist culture, ladyboys, as well as people with a bisexual orientation, are more visible and more accepted in Thai culture than transvestites or transsexuals in most Western countries.

While the katoey phenomenon isn't restricted to urban areas and you can come across ladyboys in every small village of Thailand, tourist places like Pattaya or Bangkok - worldwide famous for their "naughty" nightlife - attract a large number of Thailand's ladyboys.

Thai ladyboys are famous for their sexy looks and their potential to offer you a sexual experience of a "different" and slightly sleazier kind.Born as true men, some say, katoeys know best how to satisfy a man using all parts (and holes!) of their bodies. Because of their sexual condition, many ladyboys are said to be ready for sexual experiments that a standard bar girl may find disgusting - juicy b--- jobs, a--- sex, dildo play, and other less ordinary sex practices. Many ladyboys also have massive (silicon) boobs - a sexual stimulus most ordinarily-equipped Thai girls can't offer.
Just like many Thai women enter prostitution in Pattaya, many Thai ladyboys work as freelance prostitutes on Pattaya Beach Road or Walking Street. Others have "regular" jobs in beer bars or AGoGo bars where they often mix with "real" girls, sometimes making it difficult to decide if that half-naked, big-busted hottie is Pattaya's latest candidate for the "Miss Thailand" beauty contest or just a convincingly made-up "bloke with boobs"?
Those ladyboys who don't work as prostitutes (often to re-pay costly sex reassignments) usually work in traditionally feminine occupations such as hairstylists in beauty salons, shop vendors or waitresses - whereas more talented katoeys may seek a job as show dancer in one of Pattaya's world-famous transvestite cabaret theatres - Alcazar and Tiffany. (Of course, many still freelance as 'part-time hookers' in Pattaya's notorious discotheques or ladyboy meeting points on Walking Street to earn a few extra Baht on the nightshift.)
This means, you could bump into a ladyboy in the next best 7-eleven store, as well as as come across a stunning Pattaya bar "girl" with a suspiciously dark voice and an Adam's Apple, in any bar or nightclub in town.
On top of that, there are special entertainment and nightlife areas (Soi 6/Yodsak, Walking Street and Pattaya Beach Road after sunset), where - although not specifically designated to katoeys - ladyboys can be found in abundance.
However, depending on your sexual flavour, it is important to know that not all Thai ladyboys are equally equipped physically. So before you take the next best katoey back to your room, there are a few details you should know.

So what exactly is a katoey or ladyboy and, most importantly, how can you tell a ladyboy from a "real" girl? Sometimes not so easy for Pattaya newbies ...
First of all, there are three types of ladyboys representing different stages of "gender change": (1) transvestites, (2) "she-males" , and (3) "post-OP ladyboys" who have undergone full sex reassignment.

(1) The first type are transvestites, i.e. physically normally developed men, who simply dress and make up as women. While even those ladyboys - most of whom undergo a hormone replacement therapy, but cannot afford to pay for a costly breast implantation or complete sex reassignment - may look extremely attractive in their fancy dresses and evening gowns, they are still 100% men physically (with very small or no boobs at all).
The other two categories of Thai ladyboys have (partly) undergone plastic surgery and represent different stages of sex reassignment.

(2) Probably the most common type of a Thai ladyboy is best described as "she-male". That's a katoey, who has had his secondary sex characteristics modified and, thanks to plastic surgery, often has unusually big and perfectly-shaped breasts (while most Asian girls have small boobs). Whereas big boobs probably turn most normal men on, please remember that these seemingly perfect "women" still have a little manhood. These cross-gender creatures, combining the physical attractions of both sexes, provide the typical katoey experience most ladyboy lovers seem to be looking for.

(3) A third categoty of ladyboys are such katoeys, who have undergone a full sex reassignment and had their primary sex characteristics altered as well. Having had their sexual organs transformed, ladyboys on this stage of sex change are physically complete women - except for the fact that they were born as men. Also referred to as "Post OP ladyboys".

Thailand has gained a reputation for medical tourism and cheap yet quality plastic surgery or sex reassignment. For Thai standards, however, a complete sex change is still extremely expensive, so most ladyboys in Pattaya are either just transvestites (men dressed and made-up as girls), or transsexuals, who have had breasts created by plastic surgery. For most Pattaya ladyboys, the final step is simply too expensive. Those who could afford it, might not feel the financial urge any longer to prostitute themseves.
Tip: If you want to check whether a ladyboy's boobs are "real" or if the bra has just been stuffed with textiles, don't be shy and grab for them! , they're usually happy to let you touch their boobies and even show them to you before making your choice.
Most ladyboys will be honest and let you know whether they still have a manhood or not - which, by the way, can be hidden away quite easily, so that they can wear sexy tight skirts and jeans without revealing their sexual identity. If so, they should readily offer you a b--- job or other pleasures.

  

 Whereas most Pattaya residents and 'old hands' have developed an ability to recognize ladyboys even from the distance, Pattaya 'newbies' are often at risk of making surprising and undesired (?) sexual encounters.Thai ladyboys are probably the most attractive "women" you will come across in Thailand. Tall as supermodels and with perfectly-shaped boobs, they're often more beautiful than the "real thing". What most ladyboys have in common, though, is an unusually girlish behaviour and exaggarated sexy walk. Whereas some Pattaya bar girls walk like real yokels, most katoeys overdo the sexy walk on their high heels and walk like divas on a cat walk or a red carpet. Their often slutty dress style!

The 18 year old Girl from Korat

 

 

Nang's parents are poor workers in Korat. As most other citizen of Thailand's North Eastern region Issan or Essarn they heared from friends and relatives the stories about all that generous Farangs living in Pattaya. They told her daughter of their deep debts and asked her to go to the city of money and to get a rich farang. Nang is a good daughter. She left her job at one of Bangkok's largest electronic producers and went to Pattaya. At Pattaya's Bus Station Ekamai Nok was already waiting for Nang. Nok is from Chang Mai, but is working at a bar in Pattaya for many years. An is a member of Nang's large family clan. In stories told at Nang's family, Nok is known as a rich woman. She already visited England with a English Farang and Sweden with a Swidish guy, but Nang is a clever young woman. When arriving at Nok's room she did miss the anticipated expensive furniture and the warm water in the bathroom. Nok's room did not even had a kitchen. She didn't say anything, but her eyes and ears registered every single picture and every single word. During the first evening Nok took Nang to her bar, but Nang was disapointed. The Farangs visiting the bar didn't speak her language. She couldn't understand anything. Unnecessarily that crazy Farangs tried to touch her hands, legs and breasts. Some even tried to kiss her. Nang asked Nok to bring her back to her room. The next day the two decided that it would be better for Nang to get a job at a hotel. After visiting a few hotels, Nang got a job at a restaurant at a nice hotel in Jomtien. After living in Jomtien for about 3 months Nang told her family that she will go back to Bangkok. Farangs are crazy people, Nang told her mother. They prefer to eat tasteless farang food, wear dirty clothes, are speaking a gibberish farang language and are "mao" (drunk) almost every day. She is now happy at her former working place and tells all her friends and colleagues that many stories about the happy, funny and rich Pattaya bar girls are stories only. More often than not, not one single word of a story tells the true.

Phuket schools relax rules for hiring English teachers

Schools in Phuket Town are struggling to attract native English
speakers as teachers, a factor that may leave Thailand behind in
the AEC 2015 race.

PHUKET: -- The Phuket Primary Education Area Office has relaxed the requirements for foreigners to be hired as English-language teachers at government schools in Phuket.

The move is aimed at combating a critical staff shortage, explained Office Director Jian Thongnoon.

“We need about 100 English teachers, but right now we have only about 50 teachers and some of these are not very good in English. This is a big emergency that we need to solve,” he said.

Among the reasons for the staff shortage were that many English teachers had moved from primary to middle schools, and teachers were applying for early retirement, the director said.

“Ideally, we have to hire teachers specifically trained to teach in English. Just hiring native English speakers is not really worth it because these people do not have teaching skills. However, in the meantime we will have to hire teachers who just have English skills until we can find qualified teachers who have both English and English-teaching skills” Mr Jian explained.

Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) President Paiboon Upatising expressed his concern that an ongoing shortage would have a serious impact on Phuket’s ability to remain competitive after the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) charter comes into full effect.

“This is a top priority. The AEC comes into effect in 2015, so the sooner we resolve this issue the better. Neighboring countries such as Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia already have good English skills, so we will be at even more of a disadvantage if we do not have enough English teachers to educate our children.

“Many English teachers have retired from OrBorJor schools this year. We have been announcing that we need English teachers, but there have been very few applications,” said Mr Paiboon.

Mr Paiboon explained that the problem is not restricted to OrBorJor schools and that other relevant officials are facing the same problem. Officials from the OrBorJor, Phuket City Municipality and the Primary Educational Service Area office will continue to meet to discuss strategies to overcome the problem.

“The OrBorJor will start by teaching English to existing teachers so they can teach the children and we will hire native English speakers to help,” Mr Paiboon said.

The long-term strategy involves coordinating with educational institutions in Phuket in order to fill the skills gap, said Mr Paiboon.

“Previously, educational institutions in Phuket have been catering to the needs of the tourism and hotel industries, but having English teachers is very important.

“A shortage of English teachers will affect our children’s English skills, which will result in Thailand not being able to compete [economically] against other countries,” he said.