living in the ‘Land of Smiles’ – THANKS!

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Thailand – Pretty shitty job, but I guess someone has to ‘do it’

Via: Raw Story

Stuck for hours each day in snarling traffic, bus conductors in Thailand’s sprawling capital have found a radical solution to a lack of toilet breaks — adult nappies.

Despite years of brisk economic growth, many of Bangkok’s blue-collar workers find themselves on the sharp end of relentless urbanisation and stubborn wealth inequalities.

From rubbish collectors to factory workers and taxi drivers, for many of the people who keep the sprawling metropolis of 12 million people running, rising wages do not necessarily translate into a better life.

With congestion worsening, conductors on the capital’s ageing buses spend long days on the polluted roads in the tropical heat — often with no toilet stops along the route.

When she developed a urinary tract infection, Watcharee Viriya had little choice but to start wearing adult nappies to cope with the many hours away from the restroom.

“It was uncomfortable when I moved, especially when I urinated inside,” she recalled.

“When I arrived at the bus terminal, I had to run to get changed. I used at least two nappies a day.”

She was later diagnosed with cancer of the uterus and needed to undergo surgery.

“The doctor told me that it was because of wearing dirty nappies and the substances from them going into the uterus.”

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/05/30/diaper-wearing-thai-bus-drivers-fight-for-toilet-breaks/

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Pattaya – Woman claims sexual assault by Middle-Eastern Man she met on Beach

On Thursday Afternoon a 27 year old Thai Woman made a complaint at Pattaya Police station of sexual assault by a Middle-Eastern Man she thinks was Iranian. (SEE PHOTO)

The woman was taken to the Station after she was seen crying at the front of Soi 8 on Pattaya Beach. She claims she had come to Pattaya to meet her Swedish Boyfriend who was yet to arrive from his native country. The woman decided on Wednesday Night to walk down to Pattaya Beach where she encountered the middle-eastern man, she identified as being an Iranian. (SEE PHOTO)

She claims the man grabbed her wrist and forced her onto the back of a motorbike taxi. She was taken to the man’s room where she was offered a drink. It is claimed she then fell unconscious and woke up in a naked state on the bed.

Evidence of sexual intercourse was evident according to the victim who made her way back to Pattaya Beach where she was seen by passers-by who offered assistance. Despite the Police being unsure of her story, she was sent to Hospital for a medical examination and Police will investigate further and attempt to apprehend the Middle-Eastern man to determine if the assault took place. –

http://www.pattayaone.net/pattaya-news/129867/woman-claims-sexual-assault-by-middle-eastern-man-she-met-on-pattaya-beach/#sthash.1MFgNHCV.dpuf

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HAPPY HOLIDAY!

 

Pattaya – Aussie Drugged and Robbed by Lady boys

At 23.00 pm. 57 Mr Deniet Francis David 46 years old from Australia notified Pol.Lt.Col.Chaliao Boonkhum the investigation inspector of Pattaya police station- that he had been drugged and all his belongings which valued about 100,000 baht ($3,058 USD)had been stolen by a gang of lady boys.

Mr Deniet Francis David told the police that on May 28, at 06.30 am he was walking along Pattaya beach near the beginning of Soi 4 where he met a gang of lady boys.

The lady boys tried to befriend him and one of them gave him a drink which caused him to fall unconsciousness.

He then told police that he woke up in the Pattaya Memorial Hospital and his 4 baht gold necklace, 500 dollars, a mac book, headphone with music player and 1 data recorder which all valued about 100,000 baht were missing.

Upon questioning him the police recorded the incident and ordered a patrol and investigating team to the scene to hunt for the thieving lady boy gang (yeah right, that’ll happen!).

http://www.pattayadailynews.com/pattaya-news/2014/05/29/aussie-drugged-and-robbed-by-pattaya-lady-boys/

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You’d think after all these years, the chuckleheads would begin to learn.

Guess not, huh?

 

 

 

 

Thailand – Five Monks Defrocked and Arrested for Paedophilia and Trading Children for Sex

Via: City News – Chiang Mai

Police made arrests of five senior monks yesterday when a young boy who was abused came forward to the police after allegedly escaping from the gang. The young boy aged 14 reported that he and many of his friends had been traded between several monks for the purpose of sexual abuse.

It transpired that many boys were sent to visit senior monk Tiradech Sintaro by a monk from another temple, the “black monk” or Mr Tawachai Munbanun, to be raped during a homestay in Mae Rim. The children, sent to the homestay from many different temples in Chiang Mai and Lampun, were allegedly given 300-500 baht each time, which was collected by Monk Tawachai upon their return.

During the arrest of Mr Tawachai, the police conduced arrests of another four monks who were also apparently involved in the sex gang. Senior Monk Tiradech was found to be in possession of a large number of sex toys, porn DVDs, vibrators, lubrication, disco lights, and other items allegedly used to create a party scene.

Police Major General Dumrongsuk Gittibrapun said that he was shocked, and he asks the public to come forward if they know of anyone who might be involved in such abhorrent behavior.

http://www.chiangmaicitynews.com/news.php?id=3928
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Thailand – doin’ the RIGHT THING!

Via: City News – Chiang Mai
Farmers all over Thailand will Receive Rice Money from Military Junta says Farmers Association.

Kittisak Rattanawaraha, head of the Farmers Association of the lower northern provinces –  Phitsanulok, Sukhothai, Pichit, Nakorn Sawan and Khampaeng Phet – told reporters that the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) has approved a first payment for all farmers across the country. The association says that all the farmers in Thailand will be paid within one month.

The Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) will announce the details and payment processes to farmers on May 27^th, the first day of the payments. The BAAC has asked the farmers to get their documents ready for officials to verify.

“After a year and a half of a legal battle with the government, the Farmers Association is happy that our fellow farmers will receive their payments soon. Waiting another 10 or 20 days is not a problem after waiting six-months,” said Kittisak.

It’s believed that most of the farmers now have loans because they went seven to eight months without any income. Some farmers have said that the payment from the Rice Pledging scheme is not enough to cover those loans. The main lender was in fact the BAAC, and so when some of the farmers receive their payment much, or all, of the money has to returned to the BAAC.

http://www.chiangmaicitynews.com/news.php?id=3911

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Chiang Mai – ‘At Grandma’s House’

Via: City News – Chiang Mai

At Grandma’s house, the frogs chirp in harmony.

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The bright red cherry tomatoes hang from the happy plants like apples in the Garden of Eden.
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When Pam and I arrive we find Grandma Peng, who has the flexibility of a twenty-year-old yoga instructor, bending straight down in order to gather petals of saffron.  She cracks a toothless grin, cackles and reaches out a wrinkly, muscular little hand to me as I approach her.

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She wais to me and immediately asks if we want some tomatoes. She ferociously reserves them for her family, which now includes me.
This is the same woman who a couple months before I saw ruthlessly rip the spiny fin from a young catfish while it still flapped wildly in the bottom of the black plastic bucket. She explained she did it so I wouldn’t get hurt when picking it up. It’s this bountiful love which shocks me and at the same time totally disarms me with its innocence and genuineness. It is a mother’s love, which would do anything to protect its young. Even though she is EIGHTY-SIX, I’m sure it would never even cross her mind to use that as an excuse to not do something for her family.
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And thus, when last week she crouched behind me as we sat in her shady rice hut, and reached those same bony arms around my chest to squeeze my flabby pecs while exclaiming with glee, “Pen gon ook pook! Bouncy like little girls’breasts!” I was not insulted but only humbled.

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I have since started jogging and doing push-ups every morning.

AFTER THE RAIN.

http://www.chiangmaicitynews.com/news.php?id=3904

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personal thought:

Military coup, what military coup?

Life just carry’s on, as it should; and life is good.

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Chiang Mai – protests near Chiang Puak Gate

Via: Consulate General of the United States

There are protests occurring in the center of Chiang Mai near Chang Puak gate on the north side of the moat, with the potential to expand to other areas near the moat, including Tha Pae Gate (east side). Protesters are confronting Thai police and military forces in those locations. You should avoid walking or driving in areas near the moat. Please see the updated Travel Alert from May 24, on the U.S. Consulate Chiang Mai website

http://chiangmai.usconsulate.gov/service.html.

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NAW!

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Thailand – Coup Leaders Dissolve Senate, Assume Lawmaking Powers

Via: Huffington Post

Thailand’s coup leaders say they are dissolving the country’s Senate and will assume all lawmaking power.

Saturday’s announcement, which was read out on television, strips away the last democratic institution in the country two days after the military seized power.

The junta suspended the constitution and dissolved the lower house of Parliament on Thursday. It had left the Senate in place, presumably in hopes the upper house might later approve some of its measures and provide a vestige of democracy. The reason for Saturday’s about-face was not known.

The military says it took power to prevent more turmoil in Thailand’s protracted political deadlock, which pits supporters of the elected populist government against establishment-backed protesters who accuse the deposed government of corruption.

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It’s the country’s 12th coup in eight decades. (To the best of my knowledge, no one shouted, “We’re Number 1! We’re Number 1!”)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/24/thailand-coup_n_5385077.html

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personal thought:

I wish the Thai people well in this difficult time.

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Thailand – CNN Coup Coverage

In short, there is NO CNN coverage, because they have been taken OFF the air.

WHY?

I just took a look at CNN International and their lead article is titled:

‘THAI POWER GRAB’ – ‘Coup leader orders blackout’ – ‘News broadcasters ordered off’

http://edition.cnn.com/

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It’s true, Thai channels are OFF, CNN is OFF, but BBC is ON.

WHY?

I suspect it’s because they aren’t going with, ‘THAI POWER GRAB’ –  I mean hey, just a thought.

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Photo:

I tell ya what, I’m going to miss Blitzer doing his Triple-Seven impression, 24-7.

– NOT!