tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5533556895733740752024-02-23T02:29:42.034+07:00Bliss on the Beach...An occasional commentary on life, family and
events relating to our small beach hotel in Koh Samui, but also a platform on which to rant or inform, share or divert...Hotel Family Holthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08847947887767630524noreply@blogger.comBlogger71125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-553355689573374075.post-27466023736838944932010-07-16T17:49:00.020+07:002010-07-18T18:21:05.938+07:00Back again...<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB48if3CYU5JAyTbrOKnFFoyVp3sLlDt8lkdFo47dm_CdshROxhor3rgBRIKSiZIucuRrqQi3aTUBpOdbKb0W8iVkwjFC0Z63c_S_-EIa9SG1wFb_pR8DK0Ww668rcfEL57YfT-Sa1PI4/s1600/DSC_0107.jpg"></a><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left">Without excuses or my usual self-flaggelation for neglecting this blog, let's get back into it: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(102,102,102);font-family:georgia;" >nothing too radical has changed at Baan Bophut since I last posted fortunately, but I'll attempt a catch-up.</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Bad news first. Receptionist and Baan Bophut stalwart Mia, finally lost her husband Pee Lek to cancer after his protracted illness. Lucy and the staff that could be spared attended the funeral rights at a temple in Suratthani. We shared Mia and her young daughter's grief. Here's a snap taken when I last saw her at Christmas. </span></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;color:#666666;"><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238); webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underlinefont-family:Georgia, serif;" ><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494798164918395042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 307px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl2Ew83ATPvCvLGHr-E-OdTxtDENWo3S-k1_cNeImxkdLpwXrQoLuu3tHa59ZsryAsI3wp_SfPkFp_an4AzCHNt6w6T-8lXA3fmcPZSq5fXHOpzIi8gDGb_3NKkf3zq6yrOqUQcrydfaU/s320/DSC_0009.jpg" border="0" /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238); webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underlinefont-family:Georgia, serif;" ><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Big Joe, (AKA John Bell) larger than life Samui character and purveyor of the finest homemade pies, sausages and much else was killed in a road accident on the mainland when he ran off the road, returning home from Pattaya, after overnighting in Hua Hin. Joe is very sadly missed, as both a generous and open-hearted friend and supplier of the tastiest breakfast sausages on the island.<br /></span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">We have also lost the pups, only introduced in the last post. Foxy's nocturnal raids on a neighbour's chickens meant they couldn't stay at the hotel if they were to remain safe and unpunished. After the aggrieved villager turned up with a machete, threatening to do the dogs in, unable to keep them at home and in the absence of any offers from friends to take them as a pair, a heartbroken Lucy donated the innocent and dopy Bonzo with wily culprit Foxy, to a local temple. They should by now have completed their metamorphosis from being wholly secular beach dogs, and hopefully, developed some respect for other peoples' chickens. Immersed in the monastic life, they might even have become vegetarian.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Do you want to guess which one is which?</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;color:#666666;"><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238); webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underlinefont-family:Georgia, serif;" ><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494795856191958386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM6KWDGpJ7UmiwzyOEmyH-Ycw_1KEBz3aKKkhAXlOrt_AnXquTsuO5eYsA9DhdOj3Gtt9RwdidORsMxvytYZAwzzC9r0vAjUGJHCUcbL3fIpiXjggmp_xptdaUb3ZAxyNfj1EchN0zdvw/s320/DSC_0016.jpg" border="0" /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238); webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underlinefont-family:Georgia, serif;" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494796211110806162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPzogvj-5sOjJED3hpIU09IH3YlINl_rqZikmI6CBkRpf2zvteHYyp3ysUHLEfWKteTZVOnmIF8f9i4Y5B1l44sE1Dl4BgDzT4umkQdD8wu7eWwhK8sMw7U62Rv20OjwtpUKNxKnywCOE/s320/DSC_0019.jpg" border="0" /></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238); webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underlinefont-family:Georgia, serif;" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Christmas and New Year were both enjoyable, but unremarkable. We cooked our traditional Christmas lunch for (I think) 25 guests and friends including the pictured, Sara and two companions from Tenby on a 'round the world holiday of a lifetime. We were pleased to get the stress of the catering out of the way to enjoy ourselves.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238); webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494752183685300306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 221px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu3CpgxAJK93HQMrVd6q0Fk8-IxJWtknueF107GT7y-DhDX5AwSghKhIgwnMYKvr1lErmtY6hz6bvzSS1aerX4wWod0AZQQduWySHj9JoI91Hg2lSBfJla7NIvlLPi_trPhJ05Tw7eOmc/s320/Sara+and+friends.jpg" border="0" /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238); webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Lucy took herself off to Australia for a friend's wedding in March and although the hotel didn't fall apart while she was away, her absence was noted. "The hotel dropped the ball..." one TripAdvisor reviewer was correct to note.<br /></span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Like many of the other businesses in Bophut we closed for most of May, traditionally a hot and steamy month on Samui with, not surprisingly, even less visitors about than usual and took the opportunity of redoing the decking, servicing ACs and conducted some maintenance in the rooms.<br /></span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Thailand's political ambivalence still polarises the nation and the protests have a direct bearing on the hotel's occupancy, but hey! What's new? The Asian tsunami of late 2004; the ongoing separatist insurrection along the southern border, the asian originated SARS, H5N1 (bird flu), H1N1 (pig flu) viruses and Icelandic ash, each have had a similarly adverse affect on Thailand's visitor numbers over the years and the hotel trade as a consequence. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Although there's not been a hint of civil unrest in Koh Samui throughout the most recent months of protests in Bangkok and elswhere in the north, the island has not been spared and our own August bookings look pretty gloomy. I suspect some of this though, can be attributed to the financial situation, the affects of which will linger for quite some time. But it's good to see the £ strengthening, which might entice more Brits to venture our way. </span></span></span></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I've not been completely idle these past months, having been engaged in writing over thirty pages of new website blurb that includes a Samui and regional guide to the beaches and resorts; the neighbouring islands, transport, and introductions to Thailand's food and exotic fruits. I'm hoping we can go-live with the website before too long, but we still have some work to do with the photo/layout and Dom's not totally happy with the </span></span></span><a href="http://wordpress.org/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Wordpress</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> theme we originally chose.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I'm motivated mainly out of boredom to restart this blog after such a shameful period of neglect, but also in no small part by a desire to discuss the latest </span></span></span><a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g1179396-d629280-r69431790-Baan_Bophut_Beach_Hotel-Bophut_Koh_Samui.html#REVIEWS"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">TripAdvisor</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> review we've received. We never respond to reviews on the TA website, either good or bad, and are frequently amused by the 'Management Response' our neighbours' use to excuse criticism while simultaneously questioning the integrity of any negative reviewer. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Thankfully, we've not had too many bad comments, and we try to rectify any points subject to genuine criticism. In the latest review, however, while still giving Baan Bophut a 'Very Good' rating of 4/5, the reviewer describes the hotel in their heading as "</span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">...a teeny bit soul-less</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">" and continues "</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 14px"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">i</span></span></span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 14px"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">t was a tiny bit 'international' for us - we might have wanted a bit less sleek modernity and a bit more of a Thai feel</span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">". </span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 14px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 14px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,238); LINE-HEIGHT: normal; webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underlinefont-family:Georgia, serif;" ><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494811444286160882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 268px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib-1Ex4iUYB5q95BOX5hGi_KYaKemEW3XPlT97gtDXIMRbwZKea5neyiPvwx62q6EN1sBxIyUsnUvH48RID_jHVICVFF6EAOsVUpXthn7-TfYa1gj_B18tyaNopSG6RZzl1xDg4sJKyoo/s400/DSC_0107.jpg" border="0" /></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 14px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 14px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Thai feel? I thought at first reading that they might have the wrong hotel. Upon considerable reflection, I felt I could forgive their apparent blindness to genuine Thai architecture and the various stone panels depicting temple dancers and mythological Thai deities that adorn the hotel's facade and restaurant (itself a traditional style 'sala'), and fail to notice the presence of thirteen Thai staff and a comprehensive, mainly Thai menu. But I am curious to learn that if Baan Bophut exhibits "sleek modernity", what kind of dives had they stayed at before? </span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 14px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 14px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Most wounding (to my </span></span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iba3yGaW43E"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">soul</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">) was the accusation that our little hotel was "soul-less", even a "teeny bit". I would much rather have been criticised for concealing elephant turds in their mini-bar or allowing the ritual drowning of protected wildlife in our pool. At least we could do something about that.</span></span></span></span></div></div></div></div></div></div>Hotel Family Holthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08847947887767630524noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-553355689573374075.post-11071164450493200352009-11-06T20:00:00.011+07:002009-11-15T22:41:11.011+07:00The monsoon finally arrives in Bophut...<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil9mySA-c9-ckjpzcI_9GW8Oo0evkRDNd29MwJd6p4UtNjbgk5-kCqrYtr-ljpnHdPGuxB_cauBzgSRw-mygzEcedipMmA9wVWvnUy9nUJghxj7lePBpVEYoXiv5voo6UIeeAhql-G3xI/s1600-h/PICT0188.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil9mySA-c9-ckjpzcI_9GW8Oo0evkRDNd29MwJd6p4UtNjbgk5-kCqrYtr-ljpnHdPGuxB_cauBzgSRw-mygzEcedipMmA9wVWvnUy9nUJghxj7lePBpVEYoXiv5voo6UIeeAhql-G3xI/s400/PICT0188.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401741664417804050" /></a>At least the strong winds and high tides bits have, according to Lucy. It rained hard last week overnight, and it's raining now, but the monsoon un-typically let up on the rain for three days, delivering only strong onshore winds and bright sunshine. The rough seas and high tides have dumped a load of beach sand onto the lawn area, which Jonny has been manfully trying to remove before the salt kills the grass - a strong possibility unless we get plenty of rain to dilute its affects. <div><br /></div><div>We have only one guest and no bookings for a couple of weeks, so Lucy has sent most of the staff home while we paint the other guest rooms and conduct other bits of internal maintenance. <div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0A0gd3TmbDQbEpsrUYerzuWy7vpYn_nEmKYF5y_ENIS5QcxfY1CPjEsjFDms4DBAr01J3_3CrrKLooQ-4kfO6BiLwogKJIh8EC-0FO-G-LRHW7oSjgfTv3wzgpsecrnx8fyTQzPNKGLo/s1600-h/PICT0183.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0A0gd3TmbDQbEpsrUYerzuWy7vpYn_nEmKYF5y_ENIS5QcxfY1CPjEsjFDms4DBAr01J3_3CrrKLooQ-4kfO6BiLwogKJIh8EC-0FO-G-LRHW7oSjgfTv3wzgpsecrnx8fyTQzPNKGLo/s400/PICT0183.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401742129318749986" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">I know all this because as Lucy and I talked on Skype this morning, she simply walked around the lawn and beach with her MacBook showing me the damage through the lens of its built-in camera. At the same time she could see my reaction in Dubai recorded by my iMac's camera. Magic - and free! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgooVn1NMgFMzKqIyNbM8yDiTAwDfpyrCpJicun5dj1V8KDvhxfAZpMR3q0Ao2bN0Czq9DKPG_DeeeIoRe4fThZHJr2WxchnFTWlqKVnyQM7SoVkaLNd2QBEUg4qQHT6PtEgeemnATcPXU/s1600-h/PICT0205.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgooVn1NMgFMzKqIyNbM8yDiTAwDfpyrCpJicun5dj1V8KDvhxfAZpMR3q0Ao2bN0Czq9DKPG_DeeeIoRe4fThZHJr2WxchnFTWlqKVnyQM7SoVkaLNd2QBEUg4qQHT6PtEgeemnATcPXU/s400/PICT0205.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401743303411078690" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The rough seas have also been responsible for breaking up Bophut's pier just down the street. The end third now separated from the shorter, strongest third, nearest the shore.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivCFWmQNZohT-P5WAjx2T7znTzIhLzlp8ttpL9VVdXesbXjLL0WbL5qwjj-Gc870zdZSFUpJJHlhozaVNiuID22VccxrVnkHkE3_IevWUPTZ9NhIE-oLUsljt6CijMfFsGVG29xznqm8o/s1600-h/PICT0197.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivCFWmQNZohT-P5WAjx2T7znTzIhLzlp8ttpL9VVdXesbXjLL0WbL5qwjj-Gc870zdZSFUpJJHlhozaVNiuID22VccxrVnkHkE3_IevWUPTZ9NhIE-oLUsljt6CijMfFsGVG29xznqm8o/s400/PICT0197.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404355700907895554" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>08/11/09: She's since sent me photos of the devastation</b>. The pier is worse than I thought and it looks as if the village is taking a heck of a pounding. We are so lucky that Baan Bophut has a beach for the waves to crash against.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; ">____________________________</span></div><div><br /></div><div>The monsoon isn't the only thing to newly arrive at Baan Bophut. Despite promises to herself (& mum, Olwen) not to take-in another stray dog, after <a href="http://baanbophut.blogspot.com/2009/06/family-and-regular-readers-of-this-blog.html">Blackhead</a> disappeared, she's adopted two! Here they're pictured at 8 weeks old. They're now 10 weeks, all jabbed-up and seen to by the vet, and considerably bigger. Lucy tells me they're both gentle with an even temperament and not 'yappers'.</div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6neB_21v5aJD4SJtKsaV-Ro_SkdOCFSmsC-fq0707ycWnlHV3mu5lhIw2Lg9rubCqvT_BxBl9CcaFIQFE8ib5SIhpwsajWX2mpPodT9BL3PiFYNke6JP6hUDt9lUJLgf9ntt4RhjUEp0/s1600-h/bonzo+%26+foxy+8+weeks"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6neB_21v5aJD4SJtKsaV-Ro_SkdOCFSmsC-fq0707ycWnlHV3mu5lhIw2Lg9rubCqvT_BxBl9CcaFIQFE8ib5SIhpwsajWX2mpPodT9BL3PiFYNke6JP6hUDt9lUJLgf9ntt4RhjUEp0/s400/bonzo+%26+foxy+8+weeks" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400985113823747282" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div>Bonzo and Foxy, different sizes, but both from the same litter, were too much to resist when Lucy learned that without a home, they would be going to Samui Dog Rescue to be put down. </div><div><br /></div><div>Personally I'm delighted the hotel now has its own dog(s) again, instead of sharing (& feeding) the neighbours' - what's a beach hotel without a dog?</div><div><br /></div></div>Hotel Family Holthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08847947887767630524noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-553355689573374075.post-22990470751737899932009-11-06T19:45:00.004+07:002009-11-06T20:00:13.629+07:00HM the King and royal household celebrate Loi Kratong...<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 14px/normal Georgia; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">Quoting the <a href="http://www.nationmultimedia.com/">Nation</a> newspaper: </span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 14px/normal Georgia; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 14px/normal Georgia; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">"Their Majesties the King and Queen last night floated their krathong in the river near Siriraj Hospital. Many royal members joined Their Majesties in celebrating the </span><a href="http://baanbophut.blogspot.com/2008/11/loy-krathong-thailands-festival-of.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Loy Krathong festival.</span></a></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"> </span></span></span><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 12.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Georgia; color:#383838;"><span style="font: 12.0px 'Lucida Grande'"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">After Their Majesties floated their krathongs, HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn and his son, HRH Prince Dipangkorn Rasmijoti, HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, HRH Princess Chulabhorn Valayalaksana and HRH Princess Srirasmi, the Royal Consort of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, followed suit.</span></span></span><span style="font: 12.0px 'Lucida Grande'"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br /></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">This was a rare event.</span></span></span><span style="font: 12.0px 'Lucida Grande'"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br /></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Hundreds of loyal subjects lined Siriraj </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Hospital</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">'s walkways to greet the Royal Family.</span></span></span><span style="font: 12.0px 'Lucida Grande'"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br /></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Since being admitted to </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">hospital</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> on September 19, His Majesty has appeared in public only twice, the first time on October 23.</span></span></span><span style="font: 12.0px 'Lucida Grande'"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br /></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Although His Majesty remained in a wheelchair last night, he smiled and waved to his people. After floating his krathong, he viewed a floating procession of decoratively lit boats along the Chao Phya River.</span></span></span><span style="font: 12.0px 'Lucida Grande'"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br /></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">His Majesty also held a camera.</span></span></span><span style="font: 12.0px 'Lucida Grande'"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br /></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The Royal Household Bureau said His Majesty's health has been improving. More than 20 million people have signed get-well messages for him during his </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">hospital</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">isation."</span></span></span><span style="font: 12.0px 'Lucida Grande'"><br /></span></p>Hotel Family Holthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08847947887767630524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-553355689573374075.post-91149709027827400572009-10-24T01:43:00.009+07:002009-10-24T15:23:25.956+07:00This has to be Suratthani's top destination...after Samui<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUWR8nf17GvLaCMLRrkvZULj2PDQHqJdr3t-PD5355kd7zJGSTLyxLonshpngmOm75rWmsE6J-SzNMxM_uKkGnvecaJ-W4JRu5x_Do-03rAWfDNHmwJYwj_cayebmaKZSKASp8E2BI52Q/s1600-h/khao+sok.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUWR8nf17GvLaCMLRrkvZULj2PDQHqJdr3t-PD5355kd7zJGSTLyxLonshpngmOm75rWmsE6J-SzNMxM_uKkGnvecaJ-W4JRu5x_Do-03rAWfDNHmwJYwj_cayebmaKZSKASp8E2BI52Q/s400/khao+sok.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395893694897960818" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">While I knew </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">of</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"> Khao Sok</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"> National Park in mainland Suratthani I didn't know anything </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">about</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"> the park until I started to search for a website that I could link for </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">Suratthani attractions</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"> in the previous post. </span></span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 19px;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">I didn't know it has an area of 740 km.sq, nor did I imagine it to be the oldest virgin rainforest on the planet, older and more diverse even than the Amazon rainforest. </span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 19px;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">The richness of the tropical forest flora, the abundance of fresh water and the shelter of the mountains combine to provide an excellent habitat for many species of wildlife. M</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">ammals that call the place home include, the Malayan Tapir, Asian Elephant, Tiger, Sambar and Barking Deer, Sun Bear, Guar, Banteng, Serow, Wild Boar, Pig Tailed Macaque, Langur, Sumatra Rhino, White Handed Gibbon, Squirrel, Munjak and Mouse Deer. </span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 19px;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: normal; "><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmUijXto0TOvxk1UtTgcOihfX3VT-xgzx9wfFNy_Zh6yYHDVOHrXtNkYyBKu60D1qEwkOnB5WGM4Nnmig-2CvqQ8f3skLchGWt6IAp7l5spXxjP64eY5kvNdb6Wohrx_I_VWwUpjKjBQ4/s1600-h/jungle-safari-elephant-trek.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmUijXto0TOvxk1UtTgcOihfX3VT-xgzx9wfFNy_Zh6yYHDVOHrXtNkYyBKu60D1qEwkOnB5WGM4Nnmig-2CvqQ8f3skLchGWt6IAp7l5spXxjP64eY5kvNdb6Wohrx_I_VWwUpjKjBQ4/s400/jungle-safari-elephant-trek.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395901615140357186" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 290px; " /></a></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">The forest is dense and dominated by tall emergent trees; the middle layer is a tangle of figs and woody climbers, whilst the understorey contains evergreens such as bamboo, rattan, ferns and palms, all fighting for light. It is also home to many varieties of orchid and f</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">or flora-spotting botonistas, the park is one of only a handful of locations in Thailand and Malaysia where grows the world's largest flower, the parasitic and stinky </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">Rafflesia kerrii,</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"> with it's rotten-meat stench (to attract pollinating flies) and giant 50-90cm diameter red flowers.</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 19px;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: normal; "><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPLZDuBcE1_hacPU4Buc336CEJVu9rhKcy8AEb-_HfRAK31_tnbyccYUQPBVbWgdLqU7kOWbQ25r-Oppf9RmbtW5UjK2-k0wQBsZxWyYs5AUhnOmcMohYLUjYYpYG9QnjVK6k4YS0U2iE/s1600-h/rafflesia+kerrii.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPLZDuBcE1_hacPU4Buc336CEJVu9rhKcy8AEb-_HfRAK31_tnbyccYUQPBVbWgdLqU7kOWbQ25r-Oppf9RmbtW5UjK2-k0wQBsZxWyYs5AUhnOmcMohYLUjYYpYG9QnjVK6k4YS0U2iE/s400/rafflesia+kerrii.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395889016319629314" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px; " /></a></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 19px;font-size:medium;"><a href="http://www.thaibirding.com/locations/south/ksok.htm"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#00CCCC;"><b>Twitchers</b></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"> are well served with over 180 species of birds. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">Khao Sok </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">is just about the only place in Thailand to see both Lesser and Grey-headed Fish Eagle. The Banded Pitta is a fabulously beautiful species which appears far more common in the park than anywhere else. Hornbills can be found with Great, Helmeted and White-crowned the most frequently seen.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"> </span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpKan42W5Y4blMpo10vHxaBotY3JOom5XagzZ_w2EirITnXe7VSh4ZNLdOVW3j1jB-tz0s8I2Jq1Tu_WnE1wpqWWQJRvoC4RawHDRJTWcmV-DG6TkaqAjEcMnrN9e8uY6WANn6oES_ILs/s1600-h/khao+sok1.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6rP6cyaHMZBbdtKctHatpAgU7iY_HwrnHCmx4QqtG4PcqK3IJnbMcNTY2EMFyCLEjf3HbCNMOhGT4G0dmDRe64Sg8QrSGR1HJt7zK6ExsbPKF25ciqTQgIpnsh0mypB3nzpGxFe1UgP4/s1600-h/khao+sok2.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6rP6cyaHMZBbdtKctHatpAgU7iY_HwrnHCmx4QqtG4PcqK3IJnbMcNTY2EMFyCLEjf3HbCNMOhGT4G0dmDRe64Sg8QrSGR1HJt7zK6ExsbPKF25ciqTQgIpnsh0mypB3nzpGxFe1UgP4/s400/khao+sok2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395895116435098178" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 19px;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><a href="http://www.bigbluetech.net/technical-diving-in-thailand.php">Divers (tech)</a>, kayakers/canoeists, fishermen, climbers and cavers all seem to be well catered for.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 19px;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">It appears that Khao Sok National Park is one of the easiest national parks to get to in Thailand. It's frequently visited by tourists from the southern beach resorts and many places from Khao Lak, Krabi and Phuket run minibuses to the accommodation just outside the park. Samui based trippers must first take the ferry and bus to mainland Surattani. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">If you choose to drive, simply follow highway route number 401, which is also known as the Suratthani-Takuapa road. Turn right at the 109 kilometer stone and drive for another 2 km. or until you see the park’s headquarters.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">From Suratthani take a minibus to Khao Sok or any bus to Takua Pa can also be taken; the buses will stop at Km 109 where people from various bungalow resorts at Khao Sok wait to collect visitors. From the main road to the accommodation is a few kilometres so it is best to take a ride with one of the bungalow operators. A visit <a href="http://khao-sok-explorer.e-monsite.com/rubrique,stay-on-chew-larn-lake,115182.html">here</a>, from where I copied some photos, looks to be a worthy choice.</span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpKan42W5Y4blMpo10vHxaBotY3JOom5XagzZ_w2EirITnXe7VSh4ZNLdOVW3j1jB-tz0s8I2Jq1Tu_WnE1wpqWWQJRvoC4RawHDRJTWcmV-DG6TkaqAjEcMnrN9e8uY6WANn6oES_ILs/s1600-h/khao+sok1.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpKan42W5Y4blMpo10vHxaBotY3JOom5XagzZ_w2EirITnXe7VSh4ZNLdOVW3j1jB-tz0s8I2Jq1Tu_WnE1wpqWWQJRvoC4RawHDRJTWcmV-DG6TkaqAjEcMnrN9e8uY6WANn6oES_ILs/s400/khao+sok1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395894770717806210" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></span></span></div>Hotel Family Holthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08847947887767630524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-553355689573374075.post-8969303876292695762009-10-24T00:49:00.007+07:002009-10-24T15:12:22.167+07:00Nok Air cuts the costs of travel to mainland Suratthani...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyXDfQpfZEfI9s4A-mgamoSwrYnoIOPnMkc2Ht25TwAwmGZoxC_cmN4iyYb9qJ-9mrfjb_D7yAEEANYfdSIMDpHhjNmHYMMPLwoCqzCU-B__MzVBFijBS62Ulm-w-ggJ3FRWNP3gH7YXk/s1600-h/nok+air.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyXDfQpfZEfI9s4A-mgamoSwrYnoIOPnMkc2Ht25TwAwmGZoxC_cmN4iyYb9qJ-9mrfjb_D7yAEEANYfdSIMDpHhjNmHYMMPLwoCqzCU-B__MzVBFijBS62Ulm-w-ggJ3FRWNP3gH7YXk/s400/nok+air.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395857501124009874" /></a><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: italic; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Photo source: Nok Air </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: italic; "><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Nok, no surprise given their livery, means 'bird' in Thai</span></span></span></span></span></div><div><i><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"></span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family:Georgia, Arial, Tahoma, Verdana;font-size:12px;"><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: normal; font-family:Georgia, Arial, Tahoma, Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">From Sunday, Oct. 25, low-cost airline Nok air will start flying between Bangkok and Suratthani, Samui's mainland province . A promotional fare of Bt555 (US 16 GBP 10) one-way or Bt1,000 return, will operate for the first three months, after which it will double, but is still expected to be around $10-$12 cheaper each way than Air Asia, that also operate the route. </span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: normal; font-family:Georgia, Arial, Tahoma, Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Sihaphan Choomsai Na Ayutthaya, the airline’s senior vice-president for public relations, said the new air route, aimed at increasing (cash strapped) tourist traffic to Samui and Koh Phangan, will have two roundtrip flights daily. The flight from Bangkok will depart from Nok Air's hub at Don Muang airport.</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: normal; font-family:Georgia, Arial, Tahoma, Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The route will be serviced by a Boeing 737-400 aircraft which can seat 168 passengers.</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: normal; font-family:Georgia, Arial, Tahoma, Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Suratthani Gov. Pracha Taerat said the new air route would provide tourists bound for Samui or Koh Phangan a chance to make a side trip to some of the province’s many other </span></span><a href="http://www.allresortthailand.com/surat/surat_attractions.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">attractions</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">.</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Georgia, Arial, Tahoma, Verdana; font-size: 12px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: normal; "><br /></p></span></div>Hotel Family Holthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08847947887767630524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-553355689573374075.post-27302036151979646172009-10-23T23:30:00.007+07:002009-10-24T15:17:33.790+07:00Monthly roundup...<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></span></div>Less than two weeks after <a href="http://baanbophut.blogspot.com/2009/09/musical-mystery-tour.html">Gary's 40th birthday bash</a> that featured Dirty Vegas as previously posted, sadly his Bophut Hills Gecko venue burned to the ground. Gary was briefly hospitalised with smoke inhalation, but thankfully there were no other injuries. Gecko can and will be rebuilt. The overwhelming tragedy is the loss of Gary's tapes and digitised music representing twenty years of a life recording and DJ'ing. The fire is attributed to an electrical fault in an AC.<div style="text-align: center;"><b>__________________________</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;">I forgot to follow-up on my pledge to name & shame or acclaim the contractor we used to finally sort-ot the hotel's WiFi package. I'm delighted to recommend the services of Matthew at <a href="http://bluechipwireless.com/index.html">Bluechip Wireless</a> who have provided broadband WiFi throughout the hotel and beach. Bluechip also upgraded our reception computer and agreed to become our on-call IT department. Good job Matthew - thanks.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; ">__________________________</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6600;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF6600;"><b>And on the family front...</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">It's number one daughter Lucy's birthday today. When I called her this morning she was into a sausage roll and cup of tea at Big Joe's and later planned lunch at <a href="http://www.o11s.com/ocean-11-restaurant.html">Ocean's 11</a> in Bangrak with Jonny. I hope she had a great day.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJK_Tys0u6ED2A_2uS7nG9WxTWMngET4QTD8Qv93EeramZjCSHIe0OrkJGcdgb7VvWLhkyvhjqlp9xZz2mu4fV__Lxn79n8tW_jleW6JnaBNFaH7_OilIt_EoIuWUvH5-pWUMbgkq_Ka0/s1600-h/lucy+and+jonny.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJK_Tys0u6ED2A_2uS7nG9WxTWMngET4QTD8Qv93EeramZjCSHIe0OrkJGcdgb7VvWLhkyvhjqlp9xZz2mu4fV__Lxn79n8tW_jleW6JnaBNFaH7_OilIt_EoIuWUvH5-pWUMbgkq_Ka0/s400/lucy+and+jonny.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396076788581478466" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Self-snap: Lucy and Jonny today</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;">It gives me huge pleasure to let those that don't yet know - number one son Dominic finally asked his Fiona to be our future number one daughter-in-law last weekend. We could not be more delighted with his choice.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrKOmgLIZmfIyo8jqxGZ2HJkL7yJ7kk6bUPtnIdREwZDnFxDBoJFbfaMUhB2ytVHIYRYWnSgBNLNGujUF5KOKd9QXP7v7xJCCXV1Gg7nHyHOBh5suhGvlL1KjdIAe6TEhn96uL6EOlZuw/s1600-h/dom+fi.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrKOmgLIZmfIyo8jqxGZ2HJkL7yJ7kk6bUPtnIdREwZDnFxDBoJFbfaMUhB2ytVHIYRYWnSgBNLNGujUF5KOKd9QXP7v7xJCCXV1Gg7nHyHOBh5suhGvlL1KjdIAe6TEhn96uL6EOlZuw/s400/dom+fi.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395913234229448386" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 193px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div>Hotel Family Holthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08847947887767630524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-553355689573374075.post-12809851815470649162009-10-23T22:03:00.007+07:002009-10-24T00:38:07.128+07:00HM the King makes his first public appearance today...<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(55, 55, 55); font-family:Georgia, Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12px;"><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">HM the King has made his first public appearance since being admitted to Siriraj Hospital over a month ago, appearing in a wheelchair in the hospital's ground floor to pay homage to his late mother and King Rama V on the occassion of the </span></span><a href="http://www.thaicultureblogs.com/index.php/piya-maharaja-day"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Piya Maharaja Day</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">, a public holiday.</span></span></p><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Using their day-off to show their loyalty, many more well-wishers than usual visited the hospital, some wept with joy as His Majesty made his appearance to place garlands at the portraits of his late mother and King Rama V.</span></span></p><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7hePCKFGfB9PMLG6MJ8lmtbTvyYZ_49IrZk2q8txMpuoEzs4VarabQtPag_6QLT54aGQen1nQhZCZN2XiZpGxQyXnZoLHSZWC4APVmAb3RCbssW2obbQCHYOMoDvB1Wcx7Si3UuelIug/s1600-h/King+appearance+.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7hePCKFGfB9PMLG6MJ8lmtbTvyYZ_49IrZk2q8txMpuoEzs4VarabQtPag_6QLT54aGQen1nQhZCZN2XiZpGxQyXnZoLHSZWC4APVmAb3RCbssW2obbQCHYOMoDvB1Wcx7Si3UuelIug/s400/King+appearance+.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395823346840308546" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 295px; height: 199px; " /></a></span></p><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>Photo source: The Nation</i></span></p><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The monarch looked alert but frail as he was wheeled out to greet well-wishers in the public areas of the hospital. The appearance followed a tough week for the Thai people as rumours about his health caused panic selling and more than a little market manipulation at work in the stock market. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(54, 54, 54); line-height: 17px; ">The SET Index fell 7% over two days last week amid rumours originating from Hong Kong and Singapore which are now being investigated.</span><br /><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia, Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">"His physical strength has increased. His sleep and food intake is normal," the Royal Household Bureau announced yesterday. It added that doctors would continue to give antibiotics and food supplements to His Majesty until the prescription schedule was completed.</span></span></span></span></span></p></span>Hotel Family Holthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08847947887767630524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-553355689573374075.post-66077022930732272342009-10-02T13:21:00.008+07:002009-10-02T14:33:20.083+07:00The King showing early signs of recovery...<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" text-decoration: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_xkHBYWjdaf2VyQK8-q7FrP9Y_H2X5qPHt88YcIcAtoVsvLAS-YFukLRdRrpY9QGzo0HF8DE-6N8PQ3SOTyZxo0eCeoGxBK9KuNx7BD7Oe6YZV2v18XmqixspkFeMCG-ByLMj-cqOLxc/s1600-h/king+pic.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 303px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_xkHBYWjdaf2VyQK8-q7FrP9Y_H2X5qPHt88YcIcAtoVsvLAS-YFukLRdRrpY9QGzo0HF8DE-6N8PQ3SOTyZxo0eCeoGxBK9KuNx7BD7Oe6YZV2v18XmqixspkFeMCG-ByLMj-cqOLxc/s400/king+pic.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387891504459876578" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">(AP photo)</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 15px; font-family:arial, helvetica, sans;font-size:13px;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: normal; font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:16px;"><div class="body" style=" line-height: 19px; font-size:13px;"><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Thailand's 81-year-old King Bhumibol Adulyadej spent his 14th day in a Bangkok hospital today with what the palace obliquely called a second bout of low fever and inflammation in his lungs, that finally appears to be responding to treatment.</span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">King Bhumibol, the world's longest-serving monarch, was </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">admitted to Bangkok's Siriraj hospital on </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">19th Sept. for fever, fatigue and lack of appetite </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">three days after a routine check-up. It is his longest hospital stay since October 2007.</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> Since his admission, the palace has released almost daily updates on his condition without saying what is causing the symptoms. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">After being hospitalised for four days, the king's temperature returned to normal, but the fever returned several days later, according to the palace. "His overall condition has improved and his medication can be reduced" the Royal Household Bureau said in its latest statement. The brief statement said that a medical team would continue to give the king a reduced number of antibiotics and nutrients intravenously as it has since his arrival, and continue with physical therapy.</span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia, helvetica, sans-serif;color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2_4qqeO54SNRmK2C1Q0UYgPLT0-O5YO3vB3C6KjIYP8N42YZFgU_jGThy7bJWeChCtJ4BvpMv2fTxNbVekl3KzPCGcgWw3LHP1bA-PLzpZFX9miwEg22YFl4bKeNkNtOU9gvyJJHt1f0/s1600-h/king+hosp.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2_4qqeO54SNRmK2C1Q0UYgPLT0-O5YO3vB3C6KjIYP8N42YZFgU_jGThy7bJWeChCtJ4BvpMv2fTxNbVekl3KzPCGcgWw3LHP1bA-PLzpZFX9miwEg22YFl4bKeNkNtOU9gvyJJHt1f0/s400/king+hosp.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387891736210474034" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 279px; " /></a></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><div class="body" style="text-align: center;line-height: 19px; font-size:13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 17px; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Elephants and well-wishers take part in a Buddhist prayer for the health of Thai King </span><a href="http://www.daylife.com/topic/Bhumibol_Adulyadej" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Bhumibol Adulyadej</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> outside Siriraj Hospital in Bangkok yesterday </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 17px; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">(Reuters photo)</span></span></span></div><div class="body" style="text-align: center;line-height: 19px; font-size:13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The king is regarded by his people as a semi-divine source of unity and stability in a country beset by four years of political turmoil that has been marked by several changes in government and frequent mass street protests. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Bhumibol is a constitutional king with no formal political role, but he has repeatedly brought calm in times of turbulence and is considered the country's moral authority and a unifying figure.</span></span></span></span></span></div><div class="body" style=" line-height: 19px; font-size:13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia, helvetica, sans-serif;color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="body" style=" line-height: 19px; font-size:13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia, helvetica, sans-serif;color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: normal; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYtCztf7iXS3vcBE4IgjI3mxjtQavviL-77ARPxI98-vvl647dH-rh7r58PkBw7SGgD2vG-2bD7EK_4OKzDcvBI6fJ4ixsStTzOfFijXC8G97eyUPFXvICBngz_N7trSDYKlfV7Y0dXbw/s1600-h/king+statue.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYtCztf7iXS3vcBE4IgjI3mxjtQavviL-77ARPxI98-vvl647dH-rh7r58PkBw7SGgD2vG-2bD7EK_4OKzDcvBI6fJ4ixsStTzOfFijXC8G97eyUPFXvICBngz_N7trSDYKlfV7Y0dXbw/s400/king+statue.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387894927184489826" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 289px; height: 400px; " /></a></span></span></div><div class="body" style="text-align: center;line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">A mahout astride his elephant participates in prayers for the King outside the hospital </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 17px; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">(Reuters photo)</span></span></span></span></div><div class="body" style="text-align: center;line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia, helvetica, sans-serif;color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Thousands of well-wishers have crowded outside Bangkok's Siriraj Hospital and events have been organized around the country in honor of the king. The king's health is an extremely sensitive topic in Thailand because of concerns that the succession may not go smoothly. The heir apparent, his son, Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn, does not yet have the stature or moral authority of his father. He has reigned through a score of governments, democratic and dictatorial. In his six decades on the throne, he has taken an especially active role in rural development and is respected for his dedication to helping the country's poor.</span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia, helvetica, sans-serif;color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:Georgia, serif;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGgHr64PL4hBg4-MSKd-nhl5k5wX8AsyAbRQJUN6bXHOqc_C-uF_kmbagQT9EvVsEQV_cbG5Et-vfIY_gTkIR8qIwsaivClFbvZL_AfNw2MG2727HFQRfMwtxxslNFgHbaPaJk4GTN8lo/s1600-h/king+kids.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGgHr64PL4hBg4-MSKd-nhl5k5wX8AsyAbRQJUN6bXHOqc_C-uF_kmbagQT9EvVsEQV_cbG5Et-vfIY_gTkIR8qIwsaivClFbvZL_AfNw2MG2727HFQRfMwtxxslNFgHbaPaJk4GTN8lo/s400/king+kids.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387892089971953378" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 306px; " /></a></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia, helvetica, sans-serif;color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Young well-wishers pray for the King's return to good health outside the hospital (Reuters photo)</span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Bhumibol is revered by most Thais, but in recent years the palace has come in for unprecedented, though usually discreet, criticism because of allegations that the king's advisers interfered in politics, including playing a part in inspiring a 2006 military coup that ousted a democratically elected government. Open discussion of the matter is barred by strict </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">lese majeste</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> laws that make criticism of the monarchy punishable by up to 15 years in prison. </span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia, helvetica, sans-serif;color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">We join our staff and all loyal Thais in praying for the speedy recovery of the King</span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia, helvetica, sans-serif;color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></p></div></span></div></span>Hotel Family Holthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08847947887767630524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-553355689573374075.post-32460566186335478722009-10-01T02:05:00.005+07:002009-10-01T02:24:57.510+07:00Six Chefs Six courses Charity Dinner<div>I've just noticed this event posted on the radio station site. While not a new concept it's another innovation for Samui; a chance to dress-up and for a very worthy cause...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.radioonesamui.com/events/six-chefs-six-courses-charity-dinner/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "></span></a><a href="http://www.radioonesamui.com/events/six-chefs-six-courses-charity-dinner/">Six Chefs, Six Courses Charity Dinner</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Hotel Family Holthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08847947887767630524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-553355689573374075.post-90906293070926050162009-09-30T21:38:00.007+07:002009-10-01T02:00:28.967+07:00A musical mystery tour...<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKwH_cA4QKABrhQGv4GOtxZwIzqDDg0gXtPSlCojFbXdhSAT8wncSny0ryi_l3x-jZCitKppMrEc-Eu8QMn7yyXTeeBP5afz-aJQdnzLdcLSx7aBRLX9zCwrg6tfaEuY5Fxqz3ZDGWmvo/s1600-h/gary+-+vegas+ad.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 282px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKwH_cA4QKABrhQGv4GOtxZwIzqDDg0gXtPSlCojFbXdhSAT8wncSny0ryi_l3x-jZCitKppMrEc-Eu8QMn7yyXTeeBP5afz-aJQdnzLdcLSx7aBRLX9zCwrg6tfaEuY5Fxqz3ZDGWmvo/s400/gary+-+vegas+ad.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387286726954834322" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Making it back home with the sun already warming her back this morning, Lucy has since been raving about Gary Gecko's fantastic 40th birthday party bash at his new venue in the Bophut Hills last night. And in absolute raptures over featured artists - </span></span><a href="http://www.twistedhouse.com/news/view.php?content=394"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Dirty Vegas</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">, who also opted to spend their two nights on the island at Baan Bophut. By one of those weirdly, ever contracting degrees of separation their </span></span><a href="http://www.myspace.com/dirtyvegas"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">next gig </span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">is here in Dubai tomorrow night, in support of former Stone Roses frontman - Ian Brown - followed by Manchester, our family's birth city, on 3rd Oct. </span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Predictably, Lucy has been Facebooking her enthusiasm, urging friends in both cities to go hear the</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> Grammy Award winning UK based band that exploded onto the scene with their self-titled debut album in 2002 landing at number 7 on the billboard 200, and selling close to a million records worldwide. Kudos to Gary for snagging Dirty Vegas for his birthday party.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJdp2Ij84CWGfOKAMJWpvHep4kBfY3PxJSErXUMkEL8VhaHd5jN3IrR75o7q2dET5OLJOZzwElNAj1cYlxuRQSfyz0EAmh9e5VA7cGDMSMX6kqbc4TIQoSLlRDC8u3zVpyd4Iu9uGzAwE/s1600-h/gary+gecko.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJdp2Ij84CWGfOKAMJWpvHep4kBfY3PxJSErXUMkEL8VhaHd5jN3IrR75o7q2dET5OLJOZzwElNAj1cYlxuRQSfyz0EAmh9e5VA7cGDMSMX6kqbc4TIQoSLlRDC8u3zVpyd4Iu9uGzAwE/s400/gary+gecko.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387330401096210642" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 170px; height: 257px; " /></a></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Twenty years a DJ with the last ten on Koh Samui, Gary is responsible, almost single-handedly, for pioneering the now thriving international dance scene bringing scores of the biggest names in the dance world to his famous </span></span><a href="http://www.myspace.com/mrgarygecko"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Gecko beach</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> venue. Recently squeezed off the beach by newly arrived big name hotel neighbours, Gary relocated his operation to the hills above Bophut where, it seems, the Gecko continues to party on. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">In between running the NEW Gecko Samui and touring the globe DJ’ing at the coolest venues from Ibiza to Japan, you’ll find Gary in the studio doing what he loves best.. making music!</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRCv7sottAVIVfxiELmmj0dGv0mpLlqxhcQshoaFiiY-IdYTsPQ4VfQDIn3OWACkfABMszylzC73PGnb3ygvCGGDDbJfzLR7FCmiGRKUKbX-8O_cs-CON_0QkwDtu1khVzWP5XE0dW1WA/s1600-h/samui+radio.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRCv7sottAVIVfxiELmmj0dGv0mpLlqxhcQshoaFiiY-IdYTsPQ4VfQDIn3OWACkfABMszylzC73PGnb3ygvCGGDDbJfzLR7FCmiGRKUKbX-8O_cs-CON_0QkwDtu1khVzWP5XE0dW1WA/s400/samui+radio.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387330946143099858" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 292px; height: 180px; " /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">And he now has another outlet for his creativity with the recent arrival of </span></span><a href="http://www.radioonesamui.com/presenters/gary-gecko/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Radio One Samui</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> where Gary has a regular spot on Tuesday evenings.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;color:#333333;"><br /></span></div></div>Hotel Family Holthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08847947887767630524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-553355689573374075.post-31936139848795306492009-09-04T19:18:00.017+07:002009-09-05T02:06:36.137+07:00We had two fantastic weeks in August...<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">After our Dubai friends Sam and Chucky put the date of their wedding at Baan Bophut back by a week, we were free to surprise the family by pitching up at my great niece Giada's combined christening and 1st birthday bash in Italy, which had clashed with the original date.</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dylXNutOL6RWOk7mAq2xXubAu4sdpJlSNwuUy9uo77wjFQ_STcVghcJEPVlHiI-i_4P_M1znG-xhxKOL_TwWw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">A rather more different call to prayer than we're used to</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The celebration with Dom and Fi, my siblings and most of their partners and offspring by Lake Garda, extended to four days of outstanding food, wine and general merriment, amid great company and lovely weather, after the suffocating heat of Dubai. It was also the chance to load up with some fantastic local cheeses and salami for onward transport to Dubai and Koh Samui. We had just 26 hours at home in Dubai before taking-off again for BKK, and once again I was fortunate to be upgraded to Business class (both ways, it turned out).</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizL85U8Tsa5kfzwFxYndCDT-29VGTfRbBSCFad6sgAbNubYp4E_kxWlFxUhuoleD3HLNhT5VKUDE5YNgPSxViNLRoKzTUN61uG_RYVLvt3Ip0Q05cftUBlIKQXoZF3niU7wK3jr7wIaOo/s1600-h/DSC_0228.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizL85U8Tsa5kfzwFxYndCDT-29VGTfRbBSCFad6sgAbNubYp4E_kxWlFxUhuoleD3HLNhT5VKUDE5YNgPSxViNLRoKzTUN61uG_RYVLvt3Ip0Q05cftUBlIKQXoZF3niU7wK3jr7wIaOo/s400/DSC_0228.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377614260005618402" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px; " /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The wedding at the hotel was our biggest yet, with 48 guests that had arrived from as far away as the UK, the US (actor/rapper Mos Def's dad no less) and New Zealand, together with a large Dubai contingent. The weather was relatively kind in that it didn't rain or, unusual for Samui weddings, have anyone worrying that it would. An onshore breeze picked-up in the afternoon to alleviate some of the affects of the heat and humidity on an otherwise clear, almost cloudless day.</span></span></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhGEozDc_qq9CFrDXaJtzmjxtj2QkxIb8Pr3042w5IdblWJpOnRuGCGRT8VjyV9ZaFVTM89Vz1_XbmGYB3oasa2xyV4byio3j1Gn8x7p56PBEWu9fp2ZAqXm0smE-OeaQGSmcxzSbfYRY/s1600-h/DSC_0188.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhGEozDc_qq9CFrDXaJtzmjxtj2QkxIb8Pr3042w5IdblWJpOnRuGCGRT8VjyV9ZaFVTM89Vz1_XbmGYB3oasa2xyV4byio3j1Gn8x7p56PBEWu9fp2ZAqXm0smE-OeaQGSmcxzSbfYRY/s400/DSC_0188.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377620275256661650" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px; " /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">This was the first time that I'd been at Baan Bophut to witness the preparations that go into the making of such a special occasion. There are a lot of moving parts to one of these event and I must say that I was so proud of Lucy and all our staff at the way they pitched-in and got things organized. The flowers were beautiful and the crisp linen on the chairs, each with a little posy of orchids on the back looked splendid. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkXYsR2AmqO5Napm4iQ7FLNeko2IfEqQ78D6mAkwjJcVL2DmnClqswnD_ARpPK_jGxxbRX5piSy2pOsi673XrKrKp2JY5DbKZK6IdHPkv7hyBFyytWf2OVd62VC07EaqzebRgXE0hKPc0/s1600-h/DSC_0185.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkXYsR2AmqO5Napm4iQ7FLNeko2IfEqQ78D6mAkwjJcVL2DmnClqswnD_ARpPK_jGxxbRX5piSy2pOsi673XrKrKp2JY5DbKZK6IdHPkv7hyBFyytWf2OVd62VC07EaqzebRgXE0hKPc0/s400/DSC_0185.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377620917285971010" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px; " /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">After the ceremony, while guests headed for the bar (itself beautifully decorated), our staff wheeled-in the eight, large circular tables which they unobtrusively set for dinner, on this occasion a combined buffet and barbecue. The bride's choice, a combo of Thai, western and vegetarian options seemed to go down well and I was pleased to receive several compliments for my fabled, twice-cooked, oven baked ribs. Unused to praising food he hasn't cooked himself, Tik said they needed more pepper.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIv5eDsUUcjZ1TFVH1t7AHdXapA26ONdr1uBfBDYh19Of5KCtAUgL6nqec2g0qVG3XevHuxOfKKemk7q42h2ZOxhxnq3i0xZ7jqCBj5v7-EHHz-0IZjPxI035ySNif6f-4rC1sbQ5Ywns/s1600-h/DSC_0281.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIv5eDsUUcjZ1TFVH1t7AHdXapA26ONdr1uBfBDYh19Of5KCtAUgL6nqec2g0qVG3XevHuxOfKKemk7q42h2ZOxhxnq3i0xZ7jqCBj5v7-EHHz-0IZjPxI035ySNif6f-4rC1sbQ5Ywns/s400/DSC_0281.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377621493859895170" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px; " /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">We met some wonderful people that we hope to stay in touch with, as well as many old friends and Sam's brothers and sisters that we've known and caught up with, on and off, for many years.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Unable to focus, I put the camera away before the fireworks, fire balloons and many guests sought a form of recovery in the pool. For interested family and guests an album of my photos of the day can be found </span></span><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/BaanBophut/SamChuckySSpecialDay#"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">here</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">__________________________________</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">What else happened during my nine day stay...? Oh yeah, the reception computer crashed and it's having a new motherboard fitted, along with 10 times more memory than it originally started life with. And while we were at it, arranged to upgrade our Internet connection and WiFi coverage to all rooms from an additional all-weather router on the beach bar roof. Hopefully it should all be up and running early next week. Watch this space for either praise or scorn heaped on the contractor, to follow.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">__________________________________</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3N5ptwGnc1nKHIE_JbsN0_LFTQ7wOgW-LlucP4wqYQ3tzDUIFS2ImYEkWpqxYu1dAhkeS9d4jT9uGicmeZogryABFZxZKczNANGFVTcpFiOQE5X5si-6ruo3iDuTjtj_OhgsiJQJByMI/s1600-h/TEFL.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3N5ptwGnc1nKHIE_JbsN0_LFTQ7wOgW-LlucP4wqYQ3tzDUIFS2ImYEkWpqxYu1dAhkeS9d4jT9uGicmeZogryABFZxZKczNANGFVTcpFiOQE5X5si-6ruo3iDuTjtj_OhgsiJQJByMI/s400/TEFL.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377636524972943378" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 245px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Finally, I watched some of our staff enjoy their twice monthly English lesson, on this occasion with a trainee from </span></span><a href="http://www.islandtefl.com/index.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Island TEFL</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">, here engaged in an observed teaching practice. Island TEFL is one of two such schools that use Baan Bophut as part of their TEFL teacher development. It's a win-win arrangement judging by the enthusiasm of both the student teacher and our staff who, Lucy tells me, really look forward to these lessons.</span></span></div>Hotel Family Holthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08847947887767630524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-553355689573374075.post-18942634917713875532009-08-13T21:06:00.007+07:002009-10-02T15:10:57.878+07:00New crackdown on Samui drug users...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFfR1a951hzhwhwlZ8UUGWeWjNKnLn4qQca0tgHqsEDlZy48VdTDK4FGbMsSTkoByQvidMc211ngVPYNed4oX5YWVNg7SRzmm9b3oyonQjVojAYkIAWCA60FeL8itPTuvHZ_dxZG6q90s/s1600-h/dope+1.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFfR1a951hzhwhwlZ8UUGWeWjNKnLn4qQca0tgHqsEDlZy48VdTDK4FGbMsSTkoByQvidMc211ngVPYNed4oX5YWVNg7SRzmm9b3oyonQjVojAYkIAWCA60FeL8itPTuvHZ_dxZG6q90s/s400/dope+1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387912022583684610" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family:Georgia, Arial, Tahoma, Verdana;font-size:12px;"><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">As part of a new and welcome initiative to stamp-out drug use on the island, Koh Samui District Chief Sakchai Jorphalit has urged hotels and resorts to play their part by making sure their guests understand that drug using tourists are not welcome on the island, and has suggested that notices are posted in hotels' public areas. </span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Creating awareness of the crack-down comes as a small part of a much wider campaign to eliminate drug distribution and use on the island. Recently Mr. Sakchai launched the Post Box 188 project, an address that encourages anyone to anonymously grass (sorry) with any information that could be useful to the campaign and is a component of the newly launched 'Operation Center to Fight against Drug', which Sakchai manages. The center will initiate other projects and activities to encourage island residents and tourists to help root out the drug problem. </span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“Our Operation Center to Fight against Drug has just established the Post Box 188 so that residents and tourists on Koh Samui can send us letters, news, reports, suggestions, proposals related to drug usage on Koh Samui. It is another channel for us to receive information directly from people about sources of narcotic drugs,” Sakchai said. He went on to say "People can give information about drug users, drug dealers, drug makers and areas where drug trading takes place or where people use drugs, without revealing their identities".</span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">He cited a police report claiming that as high as 80 per cent of drug users on the island are foreign tourists. This explains, he said, why the drug business on Samui remains lucrative.</span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">In an unrelated report by the </span><a href="http://news.samuiexpress.net/local-list/510-couple-arrested-for-ferrying-drugs-in-fake-police-van-.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Samui Express</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> newspaper, a </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">couple were arrested recently at a vehicle checkpoint for transporting illegal drugs. Somkiat Noentaisong, 32, of Chumphon, threw a white box out the window of the van he was driving as he approached the police checkpoint near the Bangkok-Samui Hospital. The police, who became suspicious, stopped the van and retrieved the white box, which yielded 370 tablets of amphetamine (</span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ya_ba"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Yaba</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">) and an undetermined amount of marijuana.</span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; font-family:Georgia, fantasy;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgY08WNv4mNYz58g_OZhm0v8y0hObGf2PzsDodrw9LVhx8xUlIZEM-VUZq0YTDPZi6Rrl59lhhqH5e3LJ7m9Yh2pE6r3-d_GH709RH1Q9889TJ-GCnFkh1jLKvlqJI1iwx8qVK0wNJ5p8/s1600-h/yaba-tablet.gif"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgY08WNv4mNYz58g_OZhm0v8y0hObGf2PzsDodrw9LVhx8xUlIZEM-VUZq0YTDPZi6Rrl59lhhqH5e3LJ7m9Yh2pE6r3-d_GH709RH1Q9889TJ-GCnFkh1jLKvlqJI1iwx8qVK0wNJ5p8/s400/yaba-tablet.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369488892282658978" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 154px; " /></a></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The police's suspicions may have been alerted by the fact that Somkiat’s van had flashing lights and a siren on the roof and was sporting a police logo. Police took Somkiat and his wife, 22-year-old Rattanakorn Kaewinthi into custody.</span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">At the police station the pair confessed they had been hired to take the illegal drugs from Bangkok to Samui.</span></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Police said that for making their van look like a police vehicle, the couple face five months in jail and/or a fine of Bt10,000, but it was not reported if they faced a penalty for ferrying the drugs.</span></div></span>Hotel Family Holthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08847947887767630524noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-553355689573374075.post-48175242791132195942009-08-04T17:59:00.013+07:002009-08-13T23:45:27.428+07:00Pilot killed as flight crashes on landing at Samui airport...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQD2TUiBBdROpKS1iaZhE7pVz2wgS2qwO25rrbwYXLLDdGqxpb7ro34PL0nC8I6TLXL5X4ufWm7l20L2N7ImQMoSkHIV3tIyH-gkQs0OuH6TsTjAesOPOvHebGgw4Qr4Ve84j18JViQ9A/s1600-h/Samui+crash.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366115798364864722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 282px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQD2TUiBBdROpKS1iaZhE7pVz2wgS2qwO25rrbwYXLLDdGqxpb7ro34PL0nC8I6TLXL5X4ufWm7l20L2N7ImQMoSkHIV3tIyH-gkQs0OuH6TsTjAesOPOvHebGgw4Qr4Ve84j18JViQ9A/s400/Samui+crash.jpg" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:11;"> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center">BBC News website user, Japhy G, took this photo from the north end of the runway at Koh Samui airport</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><br /></div></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 18px"><p class="first" style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 10px; MARGIN: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-: initial"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">The pilot of a Bangkok Airways flight has been killed and seven passengers injured as it skidded off the runway while landing at Koh Samui.</span></span></span></p><p style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 10px; MARGIN: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-: initial"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">The Bangkok Airways flight, carrying 72 people,<a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8182962.stm"> hit an old and unmanned control tower</a> amid reports of heavy rain.</span></span></span></p></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">The President of Bangkok Airways, held a press conference at 17h00 today concerning the accident of the airline’s flight PG 266 from Krabi which skidding off the runway and collided with an out of service, unmanned control tower during the flight’s attempted landing at Samui Airport.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0);font-size:16;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXsz_MY8VYuT8IT47ROykz1rGDbx55UWWWJKiScG2oKW-uhxx-ofZ_pFSMa-T37D72jmFpH9Fuw27I48xI-frJSY2SV6jFOPpfR9kt_5uaklgatt4A8ke0EDsrKrk-fw9lj9md-NJmuCI/s1600-h/800px-Bangkok_Airways_ATR72[1].jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366065662218410978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXsz_MY8VYuT8IT47ROykz1rGDbx55UWWWJKiScG2oKW-uhxx-ofZ_pFSMa-T37D72jmFpH9Fuw27I48xI-frJSY2SV6jFOPpfR9kt_5uaklgatt4A8ke0EDsrKrk-fw9lj9md-NJmuCI/s400/800px-Bangkok_Airways_ATR72%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" /></a></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">The aircraft, an ATR-72 500 series, with 70 seats, carried 68 passengers, two pilots and two flight attendants. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 18px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">Officials said the injured included the co-pilot, two Britons, an Italian and a Swiss national. The four tourists all suffered broken legs, while the co-pilot also had leg injuries, said the managing director of Bangkok Airways, Puttipong Prasartthong-Osoth. He said the other foreign passengers included nationals of Spain, France and Germany.</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 18px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">All passengers have been evacuated from the site with four seriously injured passengers sent to the Bangkok Samui Hospital, and two others with minor injuries delivered to the Thai Inter Hospital. The 62 other passengers have been transferred to hotels. Two flight attendants and a pilot were reportedly safe, while the other pilot died in the collision with the control tower.<br />An investigation team from the Department of Aviation has been despatched to the accident site at Samui Airport.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 18px;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 18px"><p style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 10px; MARGIN: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-: initial"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">Several were treated for minor bruises or shock - including two other Britons - and were resting at local hotels before being transferred to Bangkok, officials said.</span></span></span></p></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">Samui Airport was temporarily shut down following the accident. The aircraft is to be removed on Wednesday morning, the runway inspected and cleared before the airport reopens to air traffic at 13hoo on Wednesday, 5th August.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"></span></span></span> </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">We offer our condolences to the family of the dead pilot and our sympathy to the injured, also to the visitors whose holiday has been affected so traumatically. </span></span></span></div></div>Hotel Family Holthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08847947887767630524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-553355689573374075.post-45585264534826668442009-07-25T02:20:00.014+07:002009-07-26T03:46:21.885+07:00Full Moon Party... Glastonbury meets Ibiza, every month...<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVr3yRA0qSkN1nrGXg9xAaa0MMm01kmTFolV9iuZ4CX-qs_2PVEW9S2hOYHD5sRe1hDnVokIJiwbDaHQn40kQu0-O6FtPV3S0W4gP-lC-1bup5ghi1rtQvLRyMOs-FcujIrjZ9ct80H_M/s1600-h/fmp1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 282px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVr3yRA0qSkN1nrGXg9xAaa0MMm01kmTFolV9iuZ4CX-qs_2PVEW9S2hOYHD5sRe1hDnVokIJiwbDaHQn40kQu0-O6FtPV3S0W4gP-lC-1bup5ghi1rtQvLRyMOs-FcujIrjZ9ct80H_M/s400/fmp1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362119582380448290" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br />I've avoided all mention of Koh Pha Ngan's notorious </span></span></span><a href="http://fullmoonparty-thailand.com/index.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">FMP</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> in the year since I've been writing this blog, simply because I've had no direct experience of it, nor a desire to acquire any. But I've seen my children, various younger relatives and innumerable hotel guests return from the event, wasted and daubed in florescent body paint, having lost their shoes or shirts or phone. I've heard their stories and seen their blurry photos to have a much better idea of what goes on than most of you reading this. I'm qualified.</span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">What was popularized by backpacker visitors to the islands has since become a right of passage for many hedonist travelers to SE Asia and depending on the season, between 10,000 and 40,000 can attend the monthly FMP. </span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj7vXJI2XmjRQvPaQGnz3SRnRtc2p45L2eaLMUpaIdSAe7H4-uHFVbDeaWXIJdXHitrVQh1xIVaw7BbSncrHghG5YJZ_SFsxZqRXi2BL0BsFtBoBSjiFkrAhCmutdIJEvIPK-IL83J0Bk/s1600-h/fmp3.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj7vXJI2XmjRQvPaQGnz3SRnRtc2p45L2eaLMUpaIdSAe7H4-uHFVbDeaWXIJdXHitrVQh1xIVaw7BbSncrHghG5YJZ_SFsxZqRXi2BL0BsFtBoBSjiFkrAhCmutdIJEvIPK-IL83J0Bk/s400/fmp3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362128065340786930" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Koh Pha Ngan, the island silhouette visible across the bay from any of our rooms, has been hosting the FMP for over twenty years. In the late eighties it was a very different affair with small groups of dread-locked free spirits (that a decade earlier would have been called hippies), a guitar or two, cassette-player and a bonfire on Haad Rin beach. The ninety's saw the FMP grow and commercialize and in the past decade the introduction of professional, often international, DJs. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">The event is a major, perhaps the principal source of income for Haad Rin's commercial community who, in recent years have attempted to exploit the concept with Black Moon and Half Moon parties for those sybarites that missed the boat (sorry).</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc8frHhnoAhscy5lGlHlNf8Y34hP7TecZdkIr2fD34pF089TmZL8oSAynFcOe-qXe7pEM8Bo-uDxPWrYsIXyiRW4KAy_6xErEP9otqW-dHkf3Z8ItnstVCuMECkg9-fWApb8KpNqet3Ao/s400/fmp7.bmp" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362156243857339490" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">The event kicks-off shortly after dusk, as the moon rises. Small tables are set out on the beach before the dance action starts and it gets too crowded for safety for a chance to watch the fire-twirlers and jugglers.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju8mfzO0gHQrNstQfL-caDgSJwBgINttJHbfMu2zPZXtT23huPvHcgtDFdNgoCx0A8Qw1S7keA7UX1rY9nLJGHAi_9O4lrBfU6snS5umWzpkHtrO8m11tbk0EOKxN3MJbEWSRE39b4ypw/s400/fmp5.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362157939273814578" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 285px; " /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZg5mopL1JIeQH48uOHHQ8Uj8Yjmu6F3qaJEn6ogaDCa2dJxewsaK3bQBqaIvQY1_RRSppZpIUZ7Fq6gJjso1fCkP-SXkwv4yn5rD6sXNzhH031k54YE-8Lp8ksa8XQR9rowVJzDK30ws/s400/fmp6.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362158164124133330" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Drinks of choice are beer or buckets - vodka or Sangsom, a Thai rum, with Coke or Red Bull. After a couple of these, and in the swing of it, it's probably time for a bit of luminous body paint. </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0DEhb1tKkhid0HjNbHgxYwgAI5JIH8gZtDVwCalKqPYW3OLdFctPYsoZdYhfaHdjw-00vGZaQ4TSRPvEnt8ZlLgatOEgdPylTA3CR0xZZcGist02xNnJPMb0oNWGXynQupnl0tZbrR4Q/s1600-h/fmp+bodypaint.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0DEhb1tKkhid0HjNbHgxYwgAI5JIH8gZtDVwCalKqPYW3OLdFctPYsoZdYhfaHdjw-00vGZaQ4TSRPvEnt8ZlLgatOEgdPylTA3CR0xZZcGist02xNnJPMb0oNWGXynQupnl0tZbrR4Q/s400/fmp+bodypaint.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362158875023437490" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">So adorned and sufficiently anesthetized, next, a wander up the beach to get one's brain fried by the wall of competing sound. Don't get me wrong. I like drinking, partying, beaches and being around young people. For me the awfulness of the FMP is the thought of the 15 or so competing sound stages belting out psy-trance, techno, hip-hop, drum/bass and house (whatever they all are) simultaneously. Each bar determined to be the loudest. B</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">eaches in general offer very little in the way of acoustic properties, so the sound systems consist of large powerful walls of speakers which throw sound out towards the beach dancers, and fill me with horror as I imagine the cacophony.</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">The party ends, theoretically, with sunrise. But so many partygoers are still left on the beach awaiting a speedboat back to Samui the following morning, without a pair of sunglasses between them, a torpid, squinty-eyed version can still continue.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8opetjfU0tEDLz0zkdl-68UKk6AcxT0aGdTcX1srWChSy7UoUx1adbaSrUQS1pvQEeyxrv69JKp5vD7S5CMYhYNeoOxzdc68DQCXDylKCi-a5OHFYLE85AS0QRPT33K2UqgHcyFBbBGw/s400/fmp2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362134671809635170" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Party schedules for 2009 - 2010, tips, important do's and don'ts, ferry or speedboat details and much more information can be found </span></span><a href="http://fullmoonparty-thailand.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">here</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> and </span></span><a href="http://www.kohsamui.org/party.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">here</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">. </span></span></div></div></div>Hotel Family Holthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08847947887767630524noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-553355689573374075.post-7958313622176300142009-07-21T15:01:00.010+07:002009-07-23T05:19:47.973+07:00CNN poll rates Thailand best value for money, but is it safe?<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000ee;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="TEXT-DECORATION: underline"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) </span></span><a href="http://www.tatnews.org/AWARDS/SURVEYS/4362.asp"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">reports </span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">on CNN International's recently announced results of its Online Consumer Survey (OCS) on Travel and Tourism which reveals that Thailand was chosen as representing the best value for money for travellers in the Asia Pacific region. The survey conducted across CNN English websites had more than 5,000 respondents globally. Thailand came out as the best value in Asia-Pacific for respondents over China in second place and India in third.<br /><br />The comprehensive survey also revealed that although times are tough, the recession hasn’t reduced people’s desire to travel. On the contrary, people are trading down, but not trading out, and not compromising their experience.<br /><br />In 2008, Thailand welcomed a total of 14.5 million international visitors, of which 60 per cent were repeat visitors. According to the US Department of State, the crime threat in Bangkok remains lower than that in many American cities and violent crimes against foreigners are relatively rare, but when such crimes do happen they seem to generate an inordinate amount of negative press and we are frequently asked by friends, relatives and prospective hotel guests </span></span><a href="http://gothailand.about.com/b/2008/10/24/is-thailand-safe-to-visit-now.htm"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">"Is Thailand safe?"</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="TEXT-DECORATION: none" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGxomFV7RbzQ1pYbbhzIv9FGVbREWel5BAwNiQQzgDRPtE89hZF_z_QuJjjSVQTfJ4DAlGvOKeuy43NkXNogmqsP0RQWjo2r8oOqEsYRUBcuTGF53_5yO2uqm0qqXTrGjU_TOBynzXXBo/s1600-h/red+shirt.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360962123781963826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 274px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGxomFV7RbzQ1pYbbhzIv9FGVbREWel5BAwNiQQzgDRPtE89hZF_z_QuJjjSVQTfJ4DAlGvOKeuy43NkXNogmqsP0RQWjo2r8oOqEsYRUBcuTGF53_5yO2uqm0qqXTrGjU_TOBynzXXBo/s400/red+shirt.jpg" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br />The overwhelming majority of these trips were safe and without any negative incident. However, foreign governments do urge their citizens to take responsibility for their own personal security while travelling overseas and use the same common sense and sound judgement when abroad as they would at home.<br /><br /><br />TATs recently published comprehensive - </span></span><a href="http://www.tatnews.org/latest_update/detail.asp?id=4418"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Personal Safety & Well-being FAQs</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> is as complete a guide and source of safety, security and scam avoidance information for visitors as I've seen anywhere and hope that prospective vacationers to this beautiful country recognize its value and adopt TAT's suggestions.</span></span>Hotel Family Holthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08847947887767630524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-553355689573374075.post-33114684995488959702009-07-07T22:02:00.006+07:002009-07-23T05:23:16.595+07:00Samui's infrastructure - finally some investment...<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzmTSF03WT03_dXKXuTrDIEjYCJS9bgFvgczwmPyLxtk6ctCvdxkBh2FeaOp-L6i5MJFNFIeUSDaeu1yMYybAiWKFWh62Y-RmXQUuN2qyT28g9Jr8Kz7AWnT2YATImAncJPIYeUjxwHYU/s1600-h/flooding.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzmTSF03WT03_dXKXuTrDIEjYCJS9bgFvgczwmPyLxtk6ctCvdxkBh2FeaOp-L6i5MJFNFIeUSDaeu1yMYybAiWKFWh62Y-RmXQUuN2qyT28g9Jr8Kz7AWnT2YATImAncJPIYeUjxwHYU/s400/flooding.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355763595324283378" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Welcome news this week that Thailand’s Ministry of Finance has allocated a budget of Bt 900 million (US$25.7 million) over three years to redevelop and upgrade Samui's infrastructure.<br /><br />Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij and his deputy both visited Koh Samui recently to observe for themselves the perpetual round of repairs and reconstruction of the 70 kilometre ring road that circles the island. Most damage to Samui's roads is caused by the unimagined growth in vehicle traffic in recent years aggravated by frequent flooding and the accompanying soil run-off that fills the drains faster than they can be emptied.</span></span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: normal; "><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzdcfIbP-BnjCgyO25CODRIRdlGKjWLHW3U1maxKrU-QEsc47K5ow07kP2aHX8ENJHIltG6MsXaOnauGtVlMPN8HY9mg-ItjFZ97JpQ4lAPxEeqEg-sgbO5mkGV5IBMMjfjEU3xLvvfCo/s1600-h/flooding4.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzdcfIbP-BnjCgyO25CODRIRdlGKjWLHW3U1maxKrU-QEsc47K5ow07kP2aHX8ENJHIltG6MsXaOnauGtVlMPN8HY9mg-ItjFZ97JpQ4lAPxEeqEg-sgbO5mkGV5IBMMjfjEU3xLvvfCo/s400/flooding4.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355765136220034786" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px; " /></a></span></span></span><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-style: italic; line-height: 16px; font-size:small;"><a href="http://www.kohsamui.org/">photo credit</a></span></div><div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Deforestation associated with tourism related developments that themselves often obstruct or divert natural watercourses cause flooding after just a few hours of monsoonal downpour.</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">We've seen jet-skis used in waist deep water just up the road in Bangrak and many parts of the ring road can quickly become impassable by anything other than trucks. A day's heavy rain turns Chaweng into an open sewer.</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: normal; "><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh88ilqmd0pTwcCtXnD9Zbm11iCW4QxgZjeQkE1NHwe14zdYi7N6pcJDGrUk3ALS9clqMMSvsAes_NDgaxqfCwYIk8wDSS4OPCFP9j0j-i3VKHPIOKHpWgp9GtrO9ewx_cfFrlNo_B9n8A/s1600-h/flooding3.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh88ilqmd0pTwcCtXnD9Zbm11iCW4QxgZjeQkE1NHwe14zdYi7N6pcJDGrUk3ALS9clqMMSvsAes_NDgaxqfCwYIk8wDSS4OPCFP9j0j-i3VKHPIOKHpWgp9GtrO9ewx_cfFrlNo_B9n8A/s400/flooding3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355763859355177474" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 249px; " /></a></span></span></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 16px; font-family:georgia, fantasy;">Investment in Samui's infrastructure cannot arrive too soon.</span></div></div></div></div></div></div>Hotel Family Holthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08847947887767630524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-553355689573374075.post-15831256453853315262009-06-16T21:38:00.004+07:002009-06-17T02:21:01.304+07:00Can't see the pics? Umm, me neither...I deleted an overcrowded Picasa album without realising that Picasa hosts the blog pics - doh! Working to restore from the top down. Bear with me...Hotel Family Holthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08847947887767630524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-553355689573374075.post-31509693097585241792009-06-12T17:01:00.011+07:002009-06-16T20:15:58.098+07:00A boost to Thai tourism? And an advert for Airbus...<div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQuqQL59zkfLfsgkD_uT7TESjMdPwXYHiHlOgKLrnwOovhpACh0EVTHUuzE4H9W7JPWl9AxMvObKuJcwc_RwmwHSUYMQ6EYYL-i6KBFtHf4sf3UZCPTeKprHK4jJjpg3L4Bg2uryWKgKI/s1600-h/380-2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 295px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQuqQL59zkfLfsgkD_uT7TESjMdPwXYHiHlOgKLrnwOovhpACh0EVTHUuzE4H9W7JPWl9AxMvObKuJcwc_RwmwHSUYMQ6EYYL-i6KBFtHf4sf3UZCPTeKprHK4jJjpg3L4Bg2uryWKgKI/s400/380-2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347913085879689090" /></a><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Along with many others dependent on the Thai tourism sector we have an expectation that tourist arrivals from the Middle East to Thailand will substantially increase following the launch of a daily A380 Emirates service from Dubai to Suvarnabhumi Airport on 1st June.</span></span><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Emirates' A380 can carry 489 passengers and features luxurious facilities such as onboard shower spas, lounges, flat beds, massage-equipped private suites in first class and a new generation of intelligent seating and flat beds in business class. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Other revolutionary features offered across all classes include mood-lighting to reduce jet lag and an award-winning, bespoke entertainment system featuring 1000-plus channels of on-demand entertainment.</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px; ">The A380 is the world’s only twin-deck airliner that has 35 per cent more seats than its closest rival. It is the most environmentally-advanced commercial aircraft in the sky today, offering better fuel economy than most hybrid passenger cars. The A380 burns up to 20 per cent less fuel per seat than today's next largest aircraft, and is quieter, generating less than half the noise of other aircraft on takeoff.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; "><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLGNcrXfvOjK0ruE5ifKMXFvsPzQ2Lc1Z6RbuQUvvzckwjPa7BjL4P5uZ8VsPhvdp87SxvdN821tMLUQhXrcUm_kR3P_tTWZIuUj0Amz82VS9JEcY9QbbmL36vf0mlTHmA4ttix4kYUYw/s1600-h/380.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLGNcrXfvOjK0ruE5ifKMXFvsPzQ2Lc1Z6RbuQUvvzckwjPa7BjL4P5uZ8VsPhvdp87SxvdN821tMLUQhXrcUm_kR3P_tTWZIuUj0Amz82VS9JEcY9QbbmL36vf0mlTHmA4ttix4kYUYw/s400/380.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347913332048493826" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 265px; " /></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Emirates currently operates 21 flights per week to Bangkok from Dubai, but such is the interest in experiencing a ride in the new A380, usually reserved for longhaul flights, from Dubai based expats and locals alike, there is genuine optimism that visitor numbers can increase in the coming months.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The giant aircraft were originally destined to serve the airline’s Dubai-New York route, but due to a huge fall in the number of passengers flying to and from US destinations, Emirates made the decision to redeploy the A380s to Bangkok and Toronto. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">We need all the help we can get. Hotel occupancy rates on Koh Samui are expected to average 40-50% this year, a drop from 70-80% in previous years, mainly because of visitor concern about Thailand's political tensions and the world economic recession.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Seni Puwasetthawon, president of the Tourism Association of Koh Samui, said visitors from the Middle East had great potential because of their high levels of spending, they travel in large groups, and they like Thailand's medical services.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br />The Tourism Authority of Thailand expects Middle East visitors to grow by 6.5 per cent to 500,000 this year from 470,000 in 2008. Mr Seni expected visitors from the Middle East to Koh Samui will double to 10,000 this year.<br /><br />The association expects one million foreign visitors to Samui this year, down from 1.1 million in 2008, with revenue down by 30-40 per cent from 20 billion baht. Tell me about it.</span></span><br /></span></div>Hotel Family Holthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08847947887767630524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-553355689573374075.post-47521686602366620582009-06-12T15:16:00.016+07:002009-06-16T22:44:25.259+07:00Samui prepares for the pandemic - H1N1 detection at SIA<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkAfddUZOReEF3ln38loajsLOyVcIavKGXw5LLkGCqdCWTvgMRhlJWZZULRuelhu_DT14D2qqMLEZoes89aXq4apudVBh0DcP6-phBDsh1H6PQ2tMhmksNIo_NEWNCYmFUCFkZ-5B9mO8/s1600-h/scanner.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 274px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkAfddUZOReEF3ln38loajsLOyVcIavKGXw5LLkGCqdCWTvgMRhlJWZZULRuelhu_DT14D2qqMLEZoes89aXq4apudVBh0DcP6-phBDsh1H6PQ2tMhmksNIo_NEWNCYmFUCFkZ-5B9mO8/s400/scanner.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347951598758201122" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Photo: Bangkok Post</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Doing it's bit to thwart the spread of the H1N1 virus declared yesterday by WHO as a global pandemic, and as the foreign toll rises </span><a href="http://www.samuiairportonline.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Samui International Airport</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> has installed a thermal scanner to detect arriving passengers with a temperature of over 37 degrees Celsius.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Depending on other symptoms and their recent travel history, passengers will be sent to hospital for observation and treatment. </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The scanner is identical to those installed at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport (pictured above) and will be a permanent feature of the facilities at Samui airport to make sure that, as far as practicable, all passengers coming in are free of infectious diseases that record elevated body temperature among their symptoms. It seems likely that visitors suffering with common colds or ordinary flu symptoms could get pulled-in and subjected to hospital confinement for a few days, but the inconvenience to the few is far outweighed by the benefit of reducing the potential for Swine Flu on the island.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;"><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: normal; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Sirichai Charoenrat, senior director of Samui airport, has said, “We have no intention of causing panic among the passengers over the situation. We just want to make sure that this flu outbreak never spreads to Koh Samui.”</span></span></p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: normal; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; "></span></span></p><p style="text-decoration: none; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline- vertical-align: baseline; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 15px; color:initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><a href="http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/15767/thailand-put-on-full-alert-to-block-killer-swine-flu"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The Bangkok Post</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> reports that the anti-viral medicine Oseltamivir, used to treat bird flu patients, was effective for people infected with the swine flu. The Government Pharmaceutical Organisation said it had a stockpile of 170,000 tablets of Oseltamivir which is enough to treat 17,000 patients.</span></span></p><p style="text-decoration: none; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline- vertical-align: baseline; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 15px; color:initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">In the case of an outbreak, the GPO could produce a million pills of Oseltamivir within four days.</span></span></p></span></span><p></p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: normal; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Samui airport receives international direct flights from Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore. It's not known if similar precautions to limit the spread of H1N1 will be taken at the island's ferry ports.</span></span></p></div>Hotel Family Holthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08847947887767630524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-553355689573374075.post-36208848639664971942009-06-12T12:20:00.012+07:002009-06-16T22:49:27.055+07:00I used to be a bit of a cheerleader for TripAdvisor...<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfHNJ6ZqlUUIBiXobEG7hGE7PkCO06Fqe5JKJj0iYQlB6nP4XEO7REH-ClF4NZFVYTYdN_5EpUHIKuN5jF818BsveNuyG887HL4C2sZRkIO5bgakykzt8PK9e0S8pkXko8bGxaHWj6ddM/s1600-h/tripadvisor+logo.png" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 133px; height: 22px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfHNJ6ZqlUUIBiXobEG7hGE7PkCO06Fqe5JKJj0iYQlB6nP4XEO7REH-ClF4NZFVYTYdN_5EpUHIKuN5jF818BsveNuyG887HL4C2sZRkIO5bgakykzt8PK9e0S8pkXko8bGxaHWj6ddM/s400/tripadvisor+logo.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347952122960678578" /></a><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I still believe their repository of </span><a href="http://baanbophut.blogspot.com/search/label/TripAdvisor"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">guest reviews</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> the best thing that could have happened to independent travelers who can choose their accommodation and build an expectation based on the experience of previous guests. But I was disappointed when TripAdvisor </span><a href="http://baanbophut.blogspot.com/2009/05/warning-bophut-address-is-not-bophut.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">localised Baan Bophut's</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> ranking and irritated when they didn't answer my mails asking for an explanation. What possible benefit could an organization dedicated (I thought) to serving independent travelers gain from pushing us into a mashed-up backwater ranking? A little research revealed the answer to this artless fool.<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">TripAdvisor is now owned by and is little more than a marketing tool for the World's biggest </span><a href="http://businesses.expediainc.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=190013&p=TripAdvisor"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">online travel agency</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> and our previous placing among the top end of Koh Samui's hotel ranking is now, with few exceptions, mainly populated by Expedia Inc's affiliate hotels.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#551A8B;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#551A8B;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA5MjS8SzrHqcjc8gbw6U_EFTup1WyZVlqNWf8RTFHPZZWUHU_YAWUO9N7hEjhvz15-SEoIr3b1khZWudy1nSACr_YRtaFSAl7lFWhiVm5A5PjSeg4huuycfOaF7HnuMTIP2vuMZhzNVo/s1600-h/logos.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA5MjS8SzrHqcjc8gbw6U_EFTup1WyZVlqNWf8RTFHPZZWUHU_YAWUO9N7hEjhvz15-SEoIr3b1khZWudy1nSACr_YRtaFSAl7lFWhiVm5A5PjSeg4huuycfOaF7HnuMTIP2vuMZhzNVo/s400/logos.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347952458815796946" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 46px; " /></a></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">TripAdvisor no longer make the claim to be independent - with good reason</span> </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">It seems inevitable that our target guests, independent travelers that book their own flights and accommodation, will progressively surrender to the ease of simply clicking on TA's 'Check Rates!' button, rather than hunt-out a hotel's site and book for themselves.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#551A8B;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxStpx0t5Go5ymT1TfzQKSF7kuXa7N7Gyy2XqSUgvunXq91ODjuTWzr2_0RwPCdOs15dmlKCFw8gKeFABMyltQjr6Iyyg89JJiTYQiY_MwppTyJZcM-Y2rq_nKc2RASuPP9LvlqYXGGTs/s1600-h/virtualtourist.png"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxStpx0t5Go5ymT1TfzQKSF7kuXa7N7Gyy2XqSUgvunXq91ODjuTWzr2_0RwPCdOs15dmlKCFw8gKeFABMyltQjr6Iyyg89JJiTYQiY_MwppTyJZcM-Y2rq_nKc2RASuPP9LvlqYXGGTs/s400/virtualtourist.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347952818788761282" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 149px; height: 73px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Expedia Inc's stranglehold on user generated feedback increased last year with TA's acquisition of </span><a href="http://www.thealarmclock.com/mt/archives/2008/07/expedias_trip_b.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Virtual Tourist</span></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">So, what to do? Do we maintain our independence and accept that Baan Bophut's former prominence (and occupancy) will continue to diminish over time? Or do we join them; consent to pay Expedia's commission rate to restore our standing in their rankings and keep our little hotel in business? </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Unlike TripAdvisor and many others in the travel industry, we're not ready to sacrifice our independence just yet.</span></div>Hotel Family Holthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08847947887767630524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-553355689573374075.post-88522818747304358142009-06-03T22:29:00.015+07:002009-06-16T22:55:09.777+07:00A tardy announcement of sad news...<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Family and regular readers of this blog know how I loath to neglect its upkeep and they've become familiar with the way I look for vindication after a period of slackness, such as this, to sooth my remorse. No surprises then, when I tell you I've been busy. A couple of business trips (including my first to Moscow); overlapping visits from my brothers to our home in Dubai and a week later, from nephew Nick with a friend. All have robbed me of blog-posting time, and although they stand-up pretty well as legitimate excuses there's actually more to my negligence than simply failing to make the time to write.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_1QPAijz_1YA/SivM_jVoB9I/AAAAAAAAA0w/D5EAVqy63nA/s1600-h/black4.jpg"><br /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6wDkt10rYpa5nw6ieXDwwtUohTbroNCwl0y8zY90FuQ5C4sWwz7OvS9KRxSZXwAxkTzDzUD7J56PMMpS4ioNVkgHE_l340ZEdbMBza4n4eapCusSteKcJwX014Eph03VooLXxO8TtxQY/s1600-h/black4.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6wDkt10rYpa5nw6ieXDwwtUohTbroNCwl0y8zY90FuQ5C4sWwz7OvS9KRxSZXwAxkTzDzUD7J56PMMpS4ioNVkgHE_l340ZEdbMBza4n4eapCusSteKcJwX014Eph03VooLXxO8TtxQY/s400/black4.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347953517182566066" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 254px; height: 400px; " /></a></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">It's over a month now since the hotel's much loved dog, Blackhead disappeared. After surviving a </span><a href="http://baanbophut.blogspot.com/search/label/Tik"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">poisoning attempt</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> in early March, Lucy's pretty certain the sicko succeeded this time. Blackhead wasn't really the hotel's dog; she adopted us. We were her hotel, and only one of several feeding stations she would visit throughout a typical day. Never the most active of animals, she would spend most of her days dozing on the decking or under a guest's sunlounger and at least some of her nights keeping Pee Mek, our watchman, company. Lucy had traveled to Chiang Mai on the day she disappeared and the staff, all of whom had been out searching for her, wouldn't tell Lucy until her return, rather than spoil her short break. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuZpUtajmuRgC5iiSlJ9DYigjiLeQfXQlndrIsFFM_0FThjzK3k39HsAoUUl2iwXZsmk93FF8ofkJkpdKLZgCtjx8M8LwW2REYoNGIJLLE4JT-d2SvGIfdyPoOWl7MBr-_9rpkj8FLAM4/s1600-h/black3.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuZpUtajmuRgC5iiSlJ9DYigjiLeQfXQlndrIsFFM_0FThjzK3k39HsAoUUl2iwXZsmk93FF8ofkJkpdKLZgCtjx8M8LwW2REYoNGIJLLE4JT-d2SvGIfdyPoOWl7MBr-_9rpkj8FLAM4/s400/black3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347954009000329282" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz9IqQjNN_0vg0G7lcgTbBedqwRBIdsjiZ-xlyeWlEVfAI2bjqhhVuYtRsJyfSdA50dY_qP6wF6e7o5EPuB8mihs5cB32cillwVXWRr-0xcNHIlgxMIiR1R8NDTZaJteuKUWGGaoOyWE8/s1600-h/black5.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz9IqQjNN_0vg0G7lcgTbBedqwRBIdsjiZ-xlyeWlEVfAI2bjqhhVuYtRsJyfSdA50dY_qP6wF6e7o5EPuB8mihs5cB32cillwVXWRr-0xcNHIlgxMIiR1R8NDTZaJteuKUWGGaoOyWE8/s400/black5.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347954246737002610" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a><div style="text-align: left;">A favourite of family, staff and guests who appreciated her gentle ways, Blackhead is sorely missed. As Lucy has said - she was the only guest of the hotel that was guaranteed to greet her every morning when she arrived.</div><div> </div>Hotel Family Holthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08847947887767630524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-553355689573374075.post-86716788939007903602009-05-10T18:42:00.019+07:002009-06-17T02:15:35.543+07:00WARNING: A Bophut address is no guarantee of a Bophut Beach location...<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><br /></span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg9JQ5EA54DguLHaYrAaPXvXC54UX18-a2jASklT7pkIPqHh4ZLWiSKRtLQO6FTE0fM98N8FL_mjTZrsKHU6TSfnWr0P7jQCT8KGBiEcY9PpOKNOzPQ_2jlPGyAamfWHeapvm23334D4o/s1600-h/All+Bophut.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg9JQ5EA54DguLHaYrAaPXvXC54UX18-a2jASklT7pkIPqHh4ZLWiSKRtLQO6FTE0fM98N8FL_mjTZrsKHU6TSfnWr0P7jQCT8KGBiEcY9PpOKNOzPQ_2jlPGyAamfWHeapvm23334D4o/s400/All+Bophut.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348002607299892914" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Baan Bophut (2nd Left) and the Fisherman's Village looking west</span><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Tripadvisor's ranking based on guest reviews has just downgraded Baan Bophut's position from 10th of 271 hotels in Koh Samui to 3rd of 18 hotels in Bophut. We wouldn't have much cause for complaint if the other hotels listed were in Bophut Beach or the Fisherman's Village, but of the 18 listed, only four are, and one is 10km away.</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Unfortunately, as well as being a lovely beach village devoid of girly bars, Bophut is a t</span><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">ambon</span></em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">, or postal district, and it covers much of the north and east of the island including Maenam, Bangrak, Big Buddah, a large slice of Chaweng and almost everything in between.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7nSbO52a0ZgCQ6IAAjekCwMt81QfiIGQinCXJ2-VEv_Ed99hyne_BtSMsrW9Gpn3k_cKMqFLnTPk-Icocdk_A3JyW-4xgYNh_MdLqysLGyDi0wzgXPdyFUVm44LqwoldUm0UD2StWqTQ/s1600-h/bophut+street.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7nSbO52a0ZgCQ6IAAjekCwMt81QfiIGQinCXJ2-VEv_Ed99hyne_BtSMsrW9Gpn3k_cKMqFLnTPk-Icocdk_A3JyW-4xgYNh_MdLqysLGyDi0wzgXPdyFUVm44LqwoldUm0UD2StWqTQ/s400/bophut+street.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348003541547481330" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The endearing scruffiness of Bophut Beach road (Moo 1) belies its reputation for some of the finest eateries on the island</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Tripadvisor's new listing policy has enabled some poorly reviewed hotels, that were previously buried way-down the former Koh Samui ranking, to morph overnight into Bophut locations with respectably low double-digit scores. Look closer and you'll note that ten of the eighteen listed have less than 20 reviews between them. Two are not even reviewed. Baan Bophut is not in good company here.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I don't know what's going on, and Tripadvisor has not replied to either of my e-mail attempts to find out. But prospective visitors should note that, not listed, are some great, mainly small, family-run hotels in Bophut Beach - the Fisherman's Village and their location can be verified by making sure they have a Moo 1 street address.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw_lazDltS4StspcX2o738a9_iYY_1GASS7_A1AWPZEHpsWbqs2qvXJfYhLDl9LWQLSxQE5Nk5MELMPv4oTGk13nAluFeKzbpBugZea1tygDBcewbfBMnwncyIBLLqlQWcq8KXRmKA_Vc/s1600-h/Pier+and+Bophut.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw_lazDltS4StspcX2o738a9_iYY_1GASS7_A1AWPZEHpsWbqs2qvXJfYhLDl9LWQLSxQE5Nk5MELMPv4oTGk13nAluFeKzbpBugZea1tygDBcewbfBMnwncyIBLLqlQWcq8KXRmKA_Vc/s400/Pier+and+Bophut.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348005590432791842" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The extent of Bophut Beach - The Fisherman's Village from the pier, looking west</span></div><div><br /></div><div></div></div>Hotel Family Holthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08847947887767630524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-553355689573374075.post-37486248373430418132009-05-02T13:06:00.023+07:002009-07-26T03:41:01.488+07:00April family holiday update...<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></span></div></span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwMUl7PIuSlc1gX09v8ZqTzQZNYKKWrrt8V30hAB5qMaEOJFPECi7DB-FwR4NwffwMBsZnh3BLVNRF5SEZB-BewEGezOH0U9JYXwiP8QsLasHnnYW4hkCjxpBmjXc2orO3x3g-sfg8tEc/s1600-h/hat.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 303px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwMUl7PIuSlc1gX09v8ZqTzQZNYKKWrrt8V30hAB5qMaEOJFPECi7DB-FwR4NwffwMBsZnh3BLVNRF5SEZB-BewEGezOH0U9JYXwiP8QsLasHnnYW4hkCjxpBmjXc2orO3x3g-sfg8tEc/s400/hat.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348010407876587250" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:small;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The last to be seen of my Panama</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">We returned last week from a fantastic holiday in Koh Samui. The memsahib and me to our home in Dubai; son Dominic and his Fi to Edinburgh, via Dubai for a few days. My brother Nick was joined in Samui by his kids - Sam and Ruby, who now live in Australia. Nick arrives in Dubai shortly en route to his home (and partner) in France. Another nephew - (young) Nick, his girlfriend Helen and their friend Tweet, also contributed greatly to a wonderful family holiday.</span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqrMKK1oToG2xvI6njYp_Od9WEBSS2GGSuaYsPgOV0toYnDgmrRrbAZ1ZHJFrEIqFUQzujJl8-pPW9kqeNevSRVWD3aJ-Y25fN_gwtw7P2V4QEb27pGWKLmVeICekQQo2hJ1S_ZYrY_bQ/s1600-h/holt+family.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqrMKK1oToG2xvI6njYp_Od9WEBSS2GGSuaYsPgOV0toYnDgmrRrbAZ1ZHJFrEIqFUQzujJl8-pPW9kqeNevSRVWD3aJ-Y25fN_gwtw7P2V4QEb27pGWKLmVeICekQQo2hJ1S_ZYrY_bQ/s400/holt+family.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348011131571786882" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Hotel Family Holt. L to R - Olwen, me (John), Fiona (Fi), Dom, Lucy & Jonny</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Most memorable was the birthday cruise organized to celebrate the moveable feast that was my 60th birthday - two months after the event, which I had spent alone in Dubai. A boat trip around neighbouring Koh Pha Ngan had been arranged through Kenny at Sunseekers and we duly departed from Petcharat jetty in calm seas accompanied by fruit, beer and singer guitarist Mark James who, with Fi on violin, were to provide musical diversion.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-42rQJf1OCVXEO7IUZNb2CbFbEQNvsd-FIlbrihyzUAwJFuQaOy77iiHlcK1zJz8kA7g3KBbi1ywcRoz5-aaq4Z1d1zAciNLcJuabKOCJFx4d5MB_iZPQWHR0mkOC-e5TD2o8My83g5A/s1600-h/Bay.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-42rQJf1OCVXEO7IUZNb2CbFbEQNvsd-FIlbrihyzUAwJFuQaOy77iiHlcK1zJz8kA7g3KBbi1ywcRoz5-aaq4Z1d1zAciNLcJuabKOCJFx4d5MB_iZPQWHR0mkOC-e5TD2o8My83g5A/s400/Bay.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348011812199561778" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px; " /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">First stop was the beautiful beach at Thong Nai Pan, where most had lunch. Approaching the bay at speed into a headwind caused the loss of my beloved Panama hat and the swim ashore for lunch and back, consumed all my diminishing stamina. It didn't help that, as I hadn't brought shorts, I undertook the swim fully clothed.</span></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">We stopped again at stunning and isolated Bottle Beach, before heading for a final stop on the southern side of the island, closer to Samui, to enjoy Mark And Fi's music while watching the sun go down. The weather, unfortunately, had it's own plans and we were hit by a squall that seemed to appear from nowhere, forcing the decision to head for home.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK3Q5iaGAYaNj7uhZ_MvRz0TgP2cNyoKsoYLH50q3a0uzW6YD2jQHjAwl9SPgVd4QLg0au8-KIKHaXSqaYVFs5917HurzZSq3gpFGJ_Oq1JmOU0Q5d8ifp0acXgmpjpUGit9ZbaPLK7hA/s1600-h/squall2.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK3Q5iaGAYaNj7uhZ_MvRz0TgP2cNyoKsoYLH50q3a0uzW6YD2jQHjAwl9SPgVd4QLg0au8-KIKHaXSqaYVFs5917HurzZSq3gpFGJ_Oq1JmOU0Q5d8ifp0acXgmpjpUGit9ZbaPLK7hA/s400/squall2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348306441070713346" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg91JzAbChO2ZHZ5nAcLkWdlX098PCOtiJfHUnKbdxbH4Wv4OjeZjfSTSjJ6F7-kvysTTfvHDozUL1beXO8R_6M1MwjeVn5MQq52R6HuZfZLjaZRWG-cSPfQZjI6bmVvC14nX131IKH_rk/s1600-h/squall.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg91JzAbChO2ZHZ5nAcLkWdlX098PCOtiJfHUnKbdxbH4Wv4OjeZjfSTSjJ6F7-kvysTTfvHDozUL1beXO8R_6M1MwjeVn5MQq52R6HuZfZLjaZRWG-cSPfQZjI6bmVvC14nX131IKH_rk/s400/squall.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348304466031898690" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 250px; " /></a></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The strength of the gusting wind quickly intensified, before blowing over as swiftly as it had arrived</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Finally back at Baan Bophut with glasses filled and the squall replaced by an orange sunset, we enjoyed a fantastic unplugged performance by our musicians. Olwen produced a surprise birthday treat, my Mum's recipe Christmas cake, unadorned, smuggled unbeknownst to me from Dubai.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFfS_Spo8ivxPRheDT4MjUfgkSrPp78AWQVtSczgZex1AWRuSwfQuuc2uA3Jafbku3LMI7rM4Rif5jtunM0x1vrrXxNt_00AgYAAFk64kAFuUM9H2HSTRShX9V51pDdSNkQyjQINHL4rI/s1600-h/mark+fi.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFfS_Spo8ivxPRheDT4MjUfgkSrPp78AWQVtSczgZex1AWRuSwfQuuc2uA3Jafbku3LMI7rM4Rif5jtunM0x1vrrXxNt_00AgYAAFk64kAFuUM9H2HSTRShX9V51pDdSNkQyjQINHL4rI/s400/mark+fi.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348305166333088274" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 237px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Mark & Fi gave a fantastic, unamplified performance</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Fireworks and fire-balloons from Tweet, and lots more beverages, completed an unforgettable belated birthday.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_1QPAijz_1YA/SgP3iSXyw2I/AAAAAAAAAy0/SN0ZV6Jg7l0/s1600-h/DSC_0074_2.JPG"><br /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXL_ArocjbttO8Xb5RCCj_8QCXzEu3ROsL9yskdSj77vEILIKsM4kPZa-3BrAQmUoBewOwrnJJjUbIKE6Q6wGywN-g25-lZDP7SLS0x7ReUlWgO5ntUXV3uyRi-vnv1IPZLwFuOhoPVHA/s1600-h/dom+fi.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXL_ArocjbttO8Xb5RCCj_8QCXzEu3ROsL9yskdSj77vEILIKsM4kPZa-3BrAQmUoBewOwrnJJjUbIKE6Q6wGywN-g25-lZDP7SLS0x7ReUlWgO5ntUXV3uyRi-vnv1IPZLwFuOhoPVHA/s400/dom+fi.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348305429946547442" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 193px; " /></a></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Dom & Fi toward the end of a beautiful day</span></div></div>Hotel Family Holthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08847947887767630524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-553355689573374075.post-89840249789620579202009-05-02T12:10:00.029+07:002009-11-01T23:53:06.713+07:00Escape - Relax... and get out on the water<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY2Ku-wiH3YCRKJ9Db51lCE3nAc10f1_LAb24roJMqc4z9XQVTOZNjENegtFQ_1S88fWchliE05Eti2__tt0lFAeCY3KIn0vkOHcUSoWAtoCdmXSDJTF7f7mArpRp40cNMNV0RgfGtpYs/s1600-h/kayak.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348313414137685138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 227px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY2Ku-wiH3YCRKJ9Db51lCE3nAc10f1_LAb24roJMqc4z9XQVTOZNjENegtFQ_1S88fWchliE05Eti2__tt0lFAeCY3KIn0vkOHcUSoWAtoCdmXSDJTF7f7mArpRp40cNMNV0RgfGtpYs/s400/kayak.JPG" border="0" /></a> Baan Bophut's abiding mantra encourages prospective guests to escape and relax. And while we continue to discourage those looking for action and adventure (including ping-pong and beach volleyball), I feel bound to inform you of the hotel's only surrender to the potential for physical activity and the opportunity to exercise.<br /><br /><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348536505437383474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUCtLr-IqpwmGDs3qJV4YbOvk9iwnX9jL_AEhadqlT1zrHHLnFwWWiZq21NAtxJoFOOSTJ-E_0YA1Z4ZqVSGmlchGngLV9ULCywwQo3_5onTEIEK3kiJ0GXhilneBJ7L7xFEbc2-gCd6w/s400/Lucy+kayak.jpg" border="0" /> <span style="font-size:85%;">Lucy snatches a paddle-break aboard one of Tik's 'Bismarcks' </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><div align="left">Inspired by the popularity of Tik's kayak rental business and her own burgeoning enthusiasm for developing arm and upper-body strength, Lucy acquired a couple of solo <a href="http://www.feelfreekayak.com/products/nomad/">kayaks</a> to add to his fleet. </div><div align="left"><br /></div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348312921746191058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj68zCSkeAyMD7WkHxl31BsZQo5vy4-awH3807b2wO3ymzmSEDGb8VlGiyjAofmVFkAmgWkB5F_w_O3WcClc4oRlWykGDsGDibSYIv7Wxfoqx3pDvWeH4iGScbYsGPNAkqv5an5NXX771c/s400/kayak2.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div align="center"></div><div align="left">The same Thai kayak builder also makes, what they call <a href="http://www.feelfreekayak.com/products/tri-yak/">Tri-Yaks</a>, to accommodate three people and other larger kayaks designed for <a href="http://www.feelfreekayak.com/products/moken13-angler/">fishing</a>. Both are future options for fleet enlargement if there is sufficient interest from guests.</div><br /><p align="left">Not yet available for rental are Lucy and Jonny's new 3.6m (11'6") <a href="http://www.naishsurfing.com/naishsurfing/index.php">Naish </a>Stand-up Paddle Boards (<a href="http://supglobal.com/stand-up-paddle-surfing-features/stand-up-paddle-surfing-articles/6-the-history-of-stand-up-paddle-surfing.html">SUP</a>). </p><p align="left">SUP is an increasingly popular surface watersport, with Hawaiian surfing origins, that benefits paddlers with a strong core workout. Importantly for almost waveless Samui, SUP is a form a surfing that allows one to go places without any need for waves to be present.</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348542154363993250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjID7ijQaAhkeaV23KsVIoZFPrZBP6xg-48dyWRPj6GQnYx4mx-Q3uiLeNo6ZJiuOxcq6BQEJ3gJp2MEXBpf07Bbcs-zaQYySio7CmoYbPxQsUOC_CRxr1WUIVsCUJO4IfJfkMk3HLad3o/s400/SUP1.jpg" border="0" /> <span style="font-size:85%;">Jonny paddles back from breakfast in Big Buddah</span><br /><br /><p align="left">Adopted by an increasing number of surfer dudes who appreciate the enhanced wave-spotting potential of being able to stand-up on a stationary board. SUPing offers surfers the ability to catch more waves, as well as providing a better view of incoming waves. </p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348542489805110594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTEd2mFxnxuozbA5lnmfufyYyukYtVRQ0uwsSFkgtd7jnj9BUTUZt6ilBIVAnkbOGIGkUMwuZDlSXPwYcyY3KstMBM02S-OWlt-GQi7fRUU34IKMujU44KU8Vg3O6vcfJo1Q9NjziU5uA/s400/SUP.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Lucy's 3.6m Naish SUP with Polynesian design and padded deck area<br /></span></p></div>Hotel Family Holthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08847947887767630524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-553355689573374075.post-41483660688582883192009-04-07T08:39:00.018+07:002009-04-08T02:37:55.286+07:00Chiang Mai Friends Part 1 - P Law<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUPFcwYt6Aev_Yl9TSC0nFLJLMjTmlXiH3G363ajqoW8ptVyooGtb3QpvfzpZ09gUcEUgYsWsjlcBdikuQHtWlkfk5MxquX6-oGccEm6q4UwCvzQAOpm6pNC2d3Lum-e_5YVBuHR1u1KgF/s1600-h/baanpheedu.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321759504272818274" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUPFcwYt6Aev_Yl9TSC0nFLJLMjTmlXiH3G363ajqoW8ptVyooGtb3QpvfzpZ09gUcEUgYsWsjlcBdikuQHtWlkfk5MxquX6-oGccEm6q4UwCvzQAOpm6pNC2d3Lum-e_5YVBuHR1u1KgF/s320/baanpheedu.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><p>In a quite corner of Chiang Mai, by the university, you can find Baan Phee Du, the home and workshop of artist Khun Lek, also known by his nickname – P Law.<br /><br />P Law offers pottery lessons to the novice and the experienced alike, charging 300 THB (8.5 USD) an hour which includes clay and instruction (should you need it).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCVXGach1IUeLFizhpR1pHCZ8_6fuAmx3bRKSsmCUSC2JRvOlo2MQg8QTI1K5M7EIub_80wrkV8fO4XWFY64VEJE5PVrxTo0eZL7-O4JF8JD8_ezNBvcpW_YVAGBrPdk0LRmY8x6ey6pm_/s1600-h/anotherkiln.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321759859187921442" style="WIDTH: 268px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCVXGach1IUeLFizhpR1pHCZ8_6fuAmx3bRKSsmCUSC2JRvOlo2MQg8QTI1K5M7EIub_80wrkV8fO4XWFY64VEJE5PVrxTo0eZL7-O4JF8JD8_ezNBvcpW_YVAGBrPdk0LRmY8x6ey6pm_/s400/anotherkiln.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Spend a couple of hours there throwing shapes, then go back later in the week and work on your glaze. P Law will then fire it for you in one of his beautifully homemade kilns.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFTIUgz02p7mzS9iMr_5yUdCxGXHKaGZKM4i-sKPD31gKpZQTUW8f7zq_R8j1xfBxOLgUmtKB2YtNeuYzOX0hVHvMfLMI86rmnIv4IImKsLRDJaTWU53-mysunSqINQqeeVn-5m_Vaiwqu/s1600-h/elephantkiln.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321760272157588210" style="WIDTH: 268px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFTIUgz02p7mzS9iMr_5yUdCxGXHKaGZKM4i-sKPD31gKpZQTUW8f7zq_R8j1xfBxOLgUmtKB2YtNeuYzOX0hVHvMfLMI86rmnIv4IImKsLRDJaTWU53-mysunSqINQqeeVn-5m_Vaiwqu/s400/elephantkiln.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP56cCcUb-SLDFuZRY4Sg3n2hXm_KBFqZUlz9dYjTck0w9Rg2VEpqYzUw-MpecSu67iL2cNk01hkPqvUdvH11OwQc2dcBK0ZgrIgQ2iFps-C735NwqezvHOR-5_W5wlBilbfNrZR3IYfyd/s1600-h/fiandlaw.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321760634506214962" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP56cCcUb-SLDFuZRY4Sg3n2hXm_KBFqZUlz9dYjTck0w9Rg2VEpqYzUw-MpecSu67iL2cNk01hkPqvUdvH11OwQc2dcBK0ZgrIgQ2iFps-C735NwqezvHOR-5_W5wlBilbfNrZR3IYfyd/s400/fiandlaw.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The house and garden (Baan Phee Du means 'Fierce Ghost House', much to his neighbours dismay) was also the home for a year to the girls from <a href="http://www.myspace.com/sabaiband">Sabai </a>, Fiona & Miranda.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7LPy5DExuh3G-4iiS101ynN_3mFZpHjbC8dmXrxUhG8pYLQFOY1AyAL4qKZop4TB-bv7ixL00sWlRS4669WX1l_9oKW6zVSd2-G9Z_ClEbYDuctZ_2gUeuhTls9qk-2FxT_Bx-cBtmLme/s1600-h/goldenfruit.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321760957544607218" style="WIDTH: 268px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7LPy5DExuh3G-4iiS101ynN_3mFZpHjbC8dmXrxUhG8pYLQFOY1AyAL4qKZop4TB-bv7ixL00sWlRS4669WX1l_9oKW6zVSd2-G9Z_ClEbYDuctZ_2gUeuhTls9qk-2FxT_Bx-cBtmLme/s400/goldenfruit.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Baan Phee Du is an inspirational place, full of life and light. Vases, bowls and cups one could easily pay 100 dollars for in a gallery, lie about the place. Rejected by the master, flawed in unknown ways (they looked great to my untrained eye), beautiful and unique. Discarded but respected, each one a reminder to P Law of past experimentations.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHHkmaPoCPdSOUBkYWqr3fy5oof3jqUgqhDORJecBrXJb4Dliuxj-Fr21Rb579SUp59AwkT3vQRBNIgyHxmhv995qtuM3rTqhLOIBkSesh8K3xC550D4RcSJdJoZ-JCo-3iwfTZ8ivYxgY/s1600-h/studyofafacewithoutasmile.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321761693519735890" style="WIDTH: 268px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHHkmaPoCPdSOUBkYWqr3fy5oof3jqUgqhDORJecBrXJb4Dliuxj-Fr21Rb579SUp59AwkT3vQRBNIgyHxmhv995qtuM3rTqhLOIBkSesh8K3xC550D4RcSJdJoZ-JCo-3iwfTZ8ivYxgY/s400/studyofafacewithoutasmile.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwveY9wk2L78pkuMuUAO7v30JAYONo1qkQcVKWtG8mMYOrj9hdroBGrWBHR0DkLgeODApKmn-tNnF2lMh5fDGVb9eezHUxmvUloNMPiVAD0dAPcK8zJrL2QqwCoDA2yQ66r5nPPOjgTZeE/s1600-h/bedsidetable.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321762619384690466" style="WIDTH: 268px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwveY9wk2L78pkuMuUAO7v30JAYONo1qkQcVKWtG8mMYOrj9hdroBGrWBHR0DkLgeODApKmn-tNnF2lMh5fDGVb9eezHUxmvUloNMPiVAD0dAPcK8zJrL2QqwCoDA2yQ66r5nPPOjgTZeE/s400/bedsidetable.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Baan Phee Du is open daily from April to June, mornings only.<br />Check out P Law <a href="http://www.myspace.com/pheedupotter">here. </a>Tel: +66 (0) 53 401111 or +66 (0) 85 6143463<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYvb0vsNPCf7CeAoJqbW9eQM1Vg2zNNsrubeLB5QZhJx11WC_iYofMg-J-CUpUXvnQdl8FgBKQc0qJQtcAwvAVW9BKHpkIjlTMLm047zbwdUYWfzqNET28ocs3SK3XzvVRFOVsTe8jY-7-/s1600-h/fiandPlaw.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321763095461858098" style="WIDTH: 268px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYvb0vsNPCf7CeAoJqbW9eQM1Vg2zNNsrubeLB5QZhJx11WC_iYofMg-J-CUpUXvnQdl8FgBKQc0qJQtcAwvAVW9BKHpkIjlTMLm047zbwdUYWfzqNET28ocs3SK3XzvVRFOVsTe8jY-7-/s400/fiandPlaw.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></p>Dom Holthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15848347973044408698noreply@blogger.com1