Showing posts with label People. Show all posts
Showing posts with label People. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Sunday, May 17, 2009

Bangkok Skytrain launches Wong Wian Yai extension

Bangkok Skytrain Thonburi extension

The BTS skytrain extension (2.2 kilometers) from Saphan Taksin station to Wong Wian Yai has just been launched on May 15 2009. It is the first Skytrain route to venture across the Chao Phraya river to the Thon Buri side. It is also the only Skytrain route to run across a river.

The new stations after Saphan Taksin are:
1. Krung Thonburi (S7)
2. Wongwian Yai (S8)

Free rides are being offered on the new route for 3 months. The free ticket applies to travel between 3 stations Saphan Taksin (S6), Krung Thonburi (S7) and Wongwian Yai (S8). Bangkokians living on the Thonburi side can now beat the rush hour traffic blues that they have been facing for years at the King Taksin Bridge near Sathorn Road, which is Bangkok's CBD (central business district).

I have lived on the Thonburi side for nearly a year and have been through the traffic gridlocks countless times, and I know exactly what this new route means to the people of Thonburi - Freedom!

Thon Buri has now become Bangkok's new hot property! Many new condominium and housing projects are being developed, and some property developers offer brand new apartments that are ready to move in.

I just can't wait to take that free ride to enjoy the magnificent view over the Chao Phraya river!

Oh ye Skytrain, here I come!

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Thaksin: Thai, Nicaraguan, European, what next?

Thaksin holds a Montenegro passport now, and he's bidding for an island there! The island he plans to buy is called Sveti Nikola Island near Budva. It's also known as "Hawaii" or "Å kolj" by the locals. He sees a potential to develop the island into a tourist destination.

Montenegro Passport

Sveti Nikola Island (St Nicholas) is the biggest Montenegrian island, 2 km long, with the highest point of 121 m above sea level. It is connected with Budva with the stripe of land which surfaces during low water.

Thaksin to buy Sveti Nikola island

Off the beaten path? Thailand and Montenegro have just established diplomatic relations since late 2007. Neither country has had an embassy or consulate within the country. Thaksin is a smart man but how long before his exile ends and he gets thrown into a Thai jail? His English is horrible and there's no hope he'll ever pick up any of the European languages.

A famous fortune teller once predicted that Thaksin will live in exile one day and lose everything.

Thaksin Shinawatra

Thaksin Shinawatra never fails to amaze me.

Sunday, April 12, 2009

Its Songkran and Thailand is in Turmoil

The Songkran festive holidays have just begun in Thailand. Songkran is the New Year of the Thais, a time of celebration and joy. The happiest time of the year where you can see more smiles on the faces of people than in any other part of the world.

Thai Songkran Festival

Thai Songkran Festival

But the political unrest in Thailand has heavily tarnished the image of Thailand in the eyes of the international community. Thailand is the ultimate loser. Thais are staring at one of the most heated political showdowns in modern history. Nobody knows what is going to happen next.

A State of Emergency has been declared in Bangkok and 5 other provinces including some districts in Nonthaburi, Samut Prakan, Pathum Thani, Nakhon Pathom and Ayutthaya.

Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva went on TV live today to explain the reasons behind the declaration of the state of emergency, to rush and solve the problems before the situation escalates.

Abhisit Vejjajiva

The Red Shirts earlier stormed into the Interior Ministry and attacked a car believed to be transporting the PM out of the building.

Red Shirt Protesters attack PM's car in Interior Ministry

Yesterday afternoon the Red-shirt protesters, supporters of fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra forced the closure of ASEAN Summit in Pattaya after several hundreds of them managed to storm past police and military barricades into the Pattaya Exhibition and Convention Hall at the Royal Cliff Beach Resort Hotel, the media centre of the Asean summit. Abhisit had to cancel the event and postpone it indefinitely, and declared Pattaya to be under State of Emergency.

Thailand Asean Summit cancelled

The PM along with other foreign VIP delegates were quite shaken up as they were about to have lunch when the protesters arrived.

Abhisit last night called the red shirts public enemies for declaring a victory over the cancellation of the ASEAN Summit in Pattaya.

Friday, April 10, 2009

Red Shirt protesters cause chaos in Bangkok

The Red Shirt protesters, who support former Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra held a protest at Victory Monument yesterday to pressure the government to resign. Several taxis drivers used their cars to block the nearby roads, which lead to Bangkok's busiest intersection.

Bangkok traffic was paralyzed as people left their offices for the day, and rain started pouring. Cars couldn't move for hours, buses were redirected, patients couldn't get to nearby hospitals, almost the entire city was affected. Most people had to turn to Bangkok sky-train and subway trains which got overcrowded, being the only way to get around.

Later last night, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's announced that today would be a national holiday.

Red shirt protesters

The picturesque photo above shows Victory Monument as the storm was approaching.