Well my short holiday is over, my trip to the seaside. We left Pattaya yesterday morning at around 8.30am and headed to Bangkok to the airport to drop my mate’s son and his wife off as they were heading back to England.
The trip to the airport went smooth, we then spent around and hour or so at the airport before hitting the road again heading to Ubon Ratchathani. The trip was again interrupted by a few stops for toilet and food, but these were the adults and not the little kids who were all great.
The trip back went really well, until we hit some terrible weather. It was blowing a gale and pouring rain. The van was drifting about the place and the driver didn’t seem to want to slow down too much but keep pressing and still hitting speeds of 130klms per hour when the weather was half decent. Sometimes the visibility was terrible and we were crawling along at 50 or 60klms per hour.
It was a long trip home, we arrived around 7pm and I felt like shit. I had hardly slept as the tiny seat I was on that just fit my large arse. I had Nong Ja sleep in my arms for two sessions of a few hours each time and did manage to drift off for a power nap here and there. I was so happy to hit the outskirts of Ubon. I will never travel by van again; it was a good trip but too much. I am happier to fly and have a taxi take us to Pattaya. It costs a little more but much easier on the body and mind.
We arrived home and Miss Noot, Joom and Nong Ja headed straight out to the village to see their mum and younger sister Ben. Their mum had made fermented bamboo in fermented fish sauce and the girls who hadn’t eaten real Isaan food for 5 or so days were drooling at the thought.
I stayed home and jumped online and caught up on the news and emails and then hit the sack. I was awoken around 9.30pm by the girls. So I got up and Nong Ja and I retired to the bedroom to watch a few cartoons on Boomerang. Ja was doing her usually laughing and yelling out loud at the cartoons.
Then we went onto the National Geographic Channel and they were doing a story on koalas that had been injured and being nursed back to health for release. Well this brought squeals, laughter and other noises I have no idea how to describe. She loves koalas as she has a toy one that mum and dad sent over a few years ago.
Miss Noot popped her head in to complain of a stomach ache and I told her that it served her right for eating putrid Isaan food after not having it for a few days. Nong Ja and I continued to watch about the koalas and some music videos that Ja danced to and was just having some fun.
I finally got Ja to lay down and was heading off to sleep, Niss Noot had popped in a few more times to tell me that the pain in her stomach was worse and she also had a headache. So after no sympathy from me, I told her to have a shower and take a few Panadol or Tylenol.
So I was lying in bed and Nong Ja was finally off to sleep. I was watching the Australia Network when I thought I heard my name called out. Thinking I was hearing things I ignored it. Then I heard my name called again. I opened the bedroom door and Miss Noot was making faint calls for me.
As I had jumped out of bed, Nong Ja had awoken, she started to cry asking where I was going. So I had Nong Ja crying and Miss Noot calling faintly. I scooped up Nong Ja and headed to the bathroom. Miss Noot looked terrible; she was hunched over in a heap of pain and a large pile of food that had been consumed through the day all over the floor.
So there I was, with a crying baby and a sick girl, trying to think what to do next. Noot couldn’t support herself. I got her to sit on the toilet and then headed to get a glass of water for her to wash her mouth out. I had managed to stop Ja from crying, maybe this was the sight of Noot. I put Ja down and again tears and screams came but some quick thinking I sent Ja on a mission to get me a towel and off she went.
I have been with Noot over 5 years and never has she been sick like this. She was ill, in a heap of pain and a little delirious. I washed all the vomit away and Ja returned. I left Noot, with Ja there to watch her as I quickly gathered a few things to take to the hospital. Some clothes for Noot and Ja and a few toiletries as I was pretty sure we were staying overnight.
I was thinking food poisoning, as I have had this before here in Ubon Ratchathani. I wrote about that experience and it was terrible. I thought I had had food poisoning before in Australia and Indonesia but after experiencing the real thing, I knew that wasn’t the case.
So I eventually managed to get the things and the girls into the car and off we went to the hospital around 11.30pm, about 800metres from my house, in a straight line the hospital is 300 metres away. I dropped Noot off at the door and they placed her in a wheelchair, I dropped the bags and Nong Ja with her as well, but Nong Ja screamed when I left to get back into the car. And she screamed when we hopped into the car without Noot. So I juggled Ja screaming and parked the car.
They jabbed Noot with a needle to stop the nausea and then she drifted off a little, blood was taken and the waiting game was to start. Ja was in no mood for sleeping now, thankfully I had brought a few toys along and we played with her ball in the foyer that was deserted. We went on walking trips about the place returning to check Noot every now and then.
I made a few attempts to get Ja to sleep but to no avail, and just after 1am the blood tests came back confirming food poisoning. It couldn’t have been the Isaan food that was way too quick. It had to have been one of the many things consumed on the bus during the trip home. We ate nearly everything the same except one dish that Noot bought. I am not saying this was the cause but no one else was ill.
So Miss Noot was checked in for the night. She was put on a drip and we headed off to her room. The private room is big and a couch for us (Ja and I) to sleep on as well and coffee making and a dining area. They gave Noot some pain killer and she soon drifted off to sleep. I made Ja a bottle (I had packed so much in little time I was proud of myself) and she too was soon off to sleep.
Ja had the couch, most of it. I was on the end with my legs on one of the chairs watching cable TV. I hate hospitals, and sleep was going to be hard to come by. Noot hardly moved as did Ja. I remember lying down around 4am after glancing at the clock. Sleep came in short spurts. Ja tossing and turning and the nurse entering to take Noot’s obs.
Noot rose early, just before 7.30am (early for her) as breakfast was delivered with medication. Ja slept a little longer before also stirring. We then struggled through the day (Me mostly being sleep deprived) and thankfully in the afternoon Ja’s mum and dad picked her up around 2pm for a few hours. I hit the sack quick smart and got some spasmodic sleep between nurses and visitors turning up.
I was sure we would be heading home today (Friday) but the doctor knocked that on the head after a review of Miss Noot’s problem bowels was assessed (won’t tell you who took the sample out of the toilet). So here I am on a Friday night sitting in a hospital room with Miss Noot, waiting for Ja to return and then an eventful evening will be had for sure.
Noot feels a lot better, but still not 100%. She cannot be too bad as she has demolished every meal delivered and even thought about having a go at my lunch which was grilled chicken, Somtam Thai and sticky rice. But I wouldn’t let her anywhere near it.
I have a few new dvd’s to watch through the night. Noot has Thai TV to keep her happy and when Ja returns it will be played by ear to see what she wants to do. I am looking forward to tomorrow and when Noot is sent home. Hopefully then I will have time to process all the other pictures from our holiday and blog about them as well.
The good thing of having full insurance is not worrying about the bill. She has had private coverage for 5 years and never used it, which is a good thing. This will be the first time and hopefully won’t be needed again for a long time. For 10,000 Baht a year it is a bargain if needed.
So that is about it from here in Isaan.
Brunty
Friday, 30 April 2010
Monday, 26 April 2010
Swimming and Fun, Pattaya Thailand.
At our hotel there is a great pool, actually 4 pools in all. Our rooms are in the Sabai Wing overlooking the large pool. It is funny as back home I had a pool at my place and hardly ever used it.
Here we are swimming every day, twice a day in fact as Nong Ja loves the water. We had to buy her this little seat as she is impossible to hang onto; she squirms and squeals so much when swimming. Miss Noot had her first venture into the water today.
We borrowed these arm floats as the Big C just up the road was out but I purchased some tonight for her and tomorrow we will be going great guns in the morning. It is a little scary as to how young kids have no fear of the water; they just don’t understand how dangerous it is. Ja wants to jump into the pool by herself as she cannot fathom that she will sink if I don’t catch her.
Miss Noot being super cool. I couldn’t believe when we went to the Olympic size pool in Ubon and Noot could only swim to get by, no way could she swim a lap unless a really slow dog paddle. It is the difference to Thailand and Australia, with many having kids learning to swim from virtually just after birth.
Tomorrow we will be up early for a swim in the pool and then off to breakfast. Then some shopping is to be done and from there who knows as nothing is really planned. I like holidays like that, I can’t stand them being planned to the minute.
I am a sure another trip to the beach will be on the cards, as today we took Nong Ja for her first ever visit and it was a classic. She was memorized at first with the sand and small waves rolling in. And we ventured to the water’s edge and the screams and laughter came in droves, really priceless. There are of course pictures but another day, maybe tomorrow if I have time between cold beers.
Brunty
A Trip to the Seaside, Thailand
I was at home the other day when my mate called me and asked if I would like to go on holiday with him and his family. He has his son and daughter over here with their partners and kids. After a few weeks in Ubon Ratchathani they needed some seaside rays it seemed.
So Pattaya was the destination. We were going by a VIP bus as they are known, an upmarket van. There were 8 adults and 5 kids, so 13 people in all. Okay 3 kids were under 3 years old including our little Ja so wouldn’t take up much room.
Miss Noot was a little worried about space but we were assured there would be plenty. The van was actually a 16 seater and it came with a driver. I thought he was dry hiring it and we were driving but not the case. This all for 2,000 baht a day, a bargain I say.
We left a little after our planned departure of 9am from Ubon, leaving about 9.30am. The first few hundred kilometers are the slowest as we encounter single lane roads before getting the dual carriageways. Often you get caught behind overloaded and slow moving trucks doing 30klms an hour if you are lucky.
Safety standards are not like they are in some of our countries; you will always see the labourers sitting on the loads in the back of the trucks. These people have virtually no chance if an accident happens as they are just thrown like a rag doll.
If you click on this picture and look at the largest size you can see people asleep on top of the truck and one man’s knee hanging out the top on the right hand side.
Anyway, the trip started out very slow, mainly because we stopped twice in the first 150klms for toilet stops for weak bladders and stomach problems. I was thinking and so was my mate that at that rate we would get to Pattaya by about midnight.
In the end we only made 4 stops and our driver was a F1 driver. I have been in many vans with drivers who are terrible, the scare the living crap out of you but this guy although he drove fast, between 120-150 klms per hour most of the time on the carriageways, I wasn’t worried as he could drive and was really aware, that must sound silly going at those speeds in Thailand where anything can happen.
You often come across brightly coloured buses with all sorts of murals painted on them and I actually like these better than the plain old buses back home. Usually the drivers scare me as they fly along at times in convoy and if you don’t get out of their way they will honk their horn and tailgate you.
There are many trucks on the roads and most are slow moving. This truck wasn’t so bad but still only doing 30klms an hour or so. It was good to hit the dual lanes and then we really made time.
For some the speeds were unknown as they were too busy sleeping.
Mr.k and Nong Ja, for a long trip Ja was a champion and hardly made a noise. She had a couple of sleeps that passed a good 4 hours.
After settling into our hotel and a swim we then headed to Pattaya's infamous walking street. Yes, yes I am a bad uncle I know. Pattaya is what it is but when you are here you have to view the darker side that most indulge in.
After settling into our hotel and a swim we then headed to Pattaya's infamous walking street. Yes, yes I am a bad uncle I know. Pattaya is what it is but when you are here you have to view the darker side that most indulge in.
Three beautiful girls, Miss Noot, Nong Ja and Joom.
I am sure this is neon heaven for many of the punters wandering along Walking Street; I was surprised how busy it was. I was thinking it would be a little more quite with all goings on around the world and in Thailand itself. But I suppose most come for the one thing Pattaya offers the most and it is still cheap for them. They come and be superstars for their holiday and go home happy, heartbroken, broke, and some even leave in pine boxes.
Brunty
So Pattaya was the destination. We were going by a VIP bus as they are known, an upmarket van. There were 8 adults and 5 kids, so 13 people in all. Okay 3 kids were under 3 years old including our little Ja so wouldn’t take up much room.
Miss Noot was a little worried about space but we were assured there would be plenty. The van was actually a 16 seater and it came with a driver. I thought he was dry hiring it and we were driving but not the case. This all for 2,000 baht a day, a bargain I say.
We left a little after our planned departure of 9am from Ubon, leaving about 9.30am. The first few hundred kilometers are the slowest as we encounter single lane roads before getting the dual carriageways. Often you get caught behind overloaded and slow moving trucks doing 30klms an hour if you are lucky.
Safety standards are not like they are in some of our countries; you will always see the labourers sitting on the loads in the back of the trucks. These people have virtually no chance if an accident happens as they are just thrown like a rag doll.
If you click on this picture and look at the largest size you can see people asleep on top of the truck and one man’s knee hanging out the top on the right hand side.
Anyway, the trip started out very slow, mainly because we stopped twice in the first 150klms for toilet stops for weak bladders and stomach problems. I was thinking and so was my mate that at that rate we would get to Pattaya by about midnight.
In the end we only made 4 stops and our driver was a F1 driver. I have been in many vans with drivers who are terrible, the scare the living crap out of you but this guy although he drove fast, between 120-150 klms per hour most of the time on the carriageways, I wasn’t worried as he could drive and was really aware, that must sound silly going at those speeds in Thailand where anything can happen.
You often come across brightly coloured buses with all sorts of murals painted on them and I actually like these better than the plain old buses back home. Usually the drivers scare me as they fly along at times in convoy and if you don’t get out of their way they will honk their horn and tailgate you.
There are many trucks on the roads and most are slow moving. This truck wasn’t so bad but still only doing 30klms an hour or so. It was good to hit the dual lanes and then we really made time.
For some the speeds were unknown as they were too busy sleeping.
Mr.k and Nong Ja, for a long trip Ja was a champion and hardly made a noise. She had a couple of sleeps that passed a good 4 hours.
After settling into our hotel and a swim we then headed to Pattaya's infamous walking street. Yes, yes I am a bad uncle I know. Pattaya is what it is but when you are here you have to view the darker side that most indulge in.
After settling into our hotel and a swim we then headed to Pattaya's infamous walking street. Yes, yes I am a bad uncle I know. Pattaya is what it is but when you are here you have to view the darker side that most indulge in.
Three beautiful girls, Miss Noot, Nong Ja and Joom.
I am sure this is neon heaven for many of the punters wandering along Walking Street; I was surprised how busy it was. I was thinking it would be a little more quite with all goings on around the world and in Thailand itself. But I suppose most come for the one thing Pattaya offers the most and it is still cheap for them. They come and be superstars for their holiday and go home happy, heartbroken, broke, and some even leave in pine boxes.
Brunty
Friday, 23 April 2010
Suspended for Trying to Lengthen Love Muscle.
In these times of dread, when so much of the news is about death, terrible natural disasters and other horrible stories, it is good to read something amusing, like this.
June 24, 2006 - Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images
Olympic 400 mtrs champion, LeShawn Merritt (Didn’t even know who he was) is in a spot of bother. He has been suspended after failing a drug test three times. He tested positive for an anabolic steroid DHEA. This isn’t so much of a shock as many sprinters have been banned for this sort of thing.
What is amusing is the way he claims the drug came to be in his system. No real conspiracy theories of spiked drinks or such, it was simply in a product he was taking to improve himself as a man.
He was taking a “penis enlargement product” that contained the banned substance. I thought all those products were proven to be nonsense and a load of crap. Do people really believe they can make their penis bigger by taking drugs or using those other tools, seriously people are gullable.
Maybe he felt a little inadequate in his skin tight lycra running outfit. Not enough bouncing and swinging, I am not sure as I have never seen him run. He has said this, “"To know that I've tested positive as a result of a product that I used for personal reasons is extremely difficult to wrap my hands around.” (If he kept taking the product getting his hands around it could have been difficult, okay sorry)
And he also said this, "I am deeply sorry and hope that other athletes who take these types of over-the-counter products will be even more cautious and read the fine print, because if it can happen to me, it could happen to you."
Is this a common thing, athletes taking penis enlargement products. It could happen to me… Nah I am not that gullible. You get what you are given and just get on with it.
Anyway, this was finally something to make me laugh a little amongst all the sorrowful news in the papers now.
Brunty
June 24, 2006 - Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images
Olympic 400 mtrs champion, LeShawn Merritt (Didn’t even know who he was) is in a spot of bother. He has been suspended after failing a drug test three times. He tested positive for an anabolic steroid DHEA. This isn’t so much of a shock as many sprinters have been banned for this sort of thing.
What is amusing is the way he claims the drug came to be in his system. No real conspiracy theories of spiked drinks or such, it was simply in a product he was taking to improve himself as a man.
He was taking a “penis enlargement product” that contained the banned substance. I thought all those products were proven to be nonsense and a load of crap. Do people really believe they can make their penis bigger by taking drugs or using those other tools, seriously people are gullable.
Maybe he felt a little inadequate in his skin tight lycra running outfit. Not enough bouncing and swinging, I am not sure as I have never seen him run. He has said this, “"To know that I've tested positive as a result of a product that I used for personal reasons is extremely difficult to wrap my hands around.” (If he kept taking the product getting his hands around it could have been difficult, okay sorry)
And he also said this, "I am deeply sorry and hope that other athletes who take these types of over-the-counter products will be even more cautious and read the fine print, because if it can happen to me, it could happen to you."
Is this a common thing, athletes taking penis enlargement products. It could happen to me… Nah I am not that gullible. You get what you are given and just get on with it.
Anyway, this was finally something to make me laugh a little amongst all the sorrowful news in the papers now.
Brunty
Saturday, 17 April 2010
How to Win a Game of DONKEY, Isaan Thailand.
The human brain is a funny thing. It is an amazing thing. I don’t use mine enough at times but the other night for some reason I came up with a great idea. It was way off centre but I am not the most normal of people, according to some.
Anyway, I wrote the other day how I have been going to the park with a fellow expat and friend to play some basketball and just shoot around. We play a shooting game called “DONKEY” and it is a simple game, you shoot the ball and if it goes in, the other person has to shoot from that same spot. If they miss they get a letter. The loser is the first to spell donkey.
Up to today the score was 8 – 0, not in my favour. My expat friend shoots a mean ball as when he was a kid he spent all his time at the basketball court. It was a very misspent youth indeed. So every morning I was having my butt kicked.
A few times I got him to DONK, and then would lose just in sight of a win. So last night I came up with a plan. I thought I would put him off a little, nothing terrible such as screaming obscenities when he was shooting, spitting or throwing brown eyes. Just something small to mess with his brain.
So I set my plan into action last night. This morning I rose and headed to the park at 6am. I was greeted by my mate and we set off on a lap of the park, chatting about the usual stuff.
So today I had my plan in place to distract my expat friend. We walked our lap and nothing from him. We started shooting about and still nothing. We started the first game and I was on fire, I had him DONKE and I was only a D, maybe it was working. No, I still lost.
We played another two games and the same results, the score was 11 – 0. My mate was hitting shots from everywhere, all over the court. He then suggested we play one more game to even the scores, say 12 – 0.
So I agreed but this time I showed him what I thought he couldn’t miss. His mouth opened and I think he said, ‘What is that?’ I then went into a spiel about how this was going to bring me luck and put him off his game.
He then said, “No, really why have you done that?” and again I explained it was to put him off his game. A shake of the head and a look of bewilderment was all I got from him. So we started and I was showing, flashing him my lucky charms. He shot a brick! And he continued to shoot bricks. I didn’t do anything too distracting but always made him aware of my lucky charms.
And to make a long story short, I won. I wiped him from the court. I was a D and he of course was a DONKEY, finally reaching his potential. He still couldn’t believe it. He went from hitting everything to missing everything shot he took.
At the end of the game I was called a few names I wish not to repeat here. You could say I cheated by diverting his attention, but it was nothing that wouldn’t happen during a game of basketball. I offered a distraction and it worked. I just wish I had made him aware of it three games earlier. Maybe the score would have been 8 – 4 instead of 11 – 1.
So what did I do to distract my dead eye dick of a mate, who usually hits shots from all over the court? Lets see if any readers can guess? Offer what you think I did to distract him. I will tell you it was nothing vulgar.
I look forward to you guesses.
Brunty
Anyway, I wrote the other day how I have been going to the park with a fellow expat and friend to play some basketball and just shoot around. We play a shooting game called “DONKEY” and it is a simple game, you shoot the ball and if it goes in, the other person has to shoot from that same spot. If they miss they get a letter. The loser is the first to spell donkey.
Up to today the score was 8 – 0, not in my favour. My expat friend shoots a mean ball as when he was a kid he spent all his time at the basketball court. It was a very misspent youth indeed. So every morning I was having my butt kicked.
A few times I got him to DONK, and then would lose just in sight of a win. So last night I came up with a plan. I thought I would put him off a little, nothing terrible such as screaming obscenities when he was shooting, spitting or throwing brown eyes. Just something small to mess with his brain.
So I set my plan into action last night. This morning I rose and headed to the park at 6am. I was greeted by my mate and we set off on a lap of the park, chatting about the usual stuff.
So today I had my plan in place to distract my expat friend. We walked our lap and nothing from him. We started shooting about and still nothing. We started the first game and I was on fire, I had him DONKE and I was only a D, maybe it was working. No, I still lost.
We played another two games and the same results, the score was 11 – 0. My mate was hitting shots from everywhere, all over the court. He then suggested we play one more game to even the scores, say 12 – 0.
So I agreed but this time I showed him what I thought he couldn’t miss. His mouth opened and I think he said, ‘What is that?’ I then went into a spiel about how this was going to bring me luck and put him off his game.
He then said, “No, really why have you done that?” and again I explained it was to put him off his game. A shake of the head and a look of bewilderment was all I got from him. So we started and I was showing, flashing him my lucky charms. He shot a brick! And he continued to shoot bricks. I didn’t do anything too distracting but always made him aware of my lucky charms.
And to make a long story short, I won. I wiped him from the court. I was a D and he of course was a DONKEY, finally reaching his potential. He still couldn’t believe it. He went from hitting everything to missing everything shot he took.
At the end of the game I was called a few names I wish not to repeat here. You could say I cheated by diverting his attention, but it was nothing that wouldn’t happen during a game of basketball. I offered a distraction and it worked. I just wish I had made him aware of it three games earlier. Maybe the score would have been 8 – 4 instead of 11 – 1.
So what did I do to distract my dead eye dick of a mate, who usually hits shots from all over the court? Lets see if any readers can guess? Offer what you think I did to distract him. I will tell you it was nothing vulgar.
I look forward to you guesses.
Brunty
Tuesday, 13 April 2010
Democrat Party Dissolution, for 258 Million Baht Donation, Thailand
I just wrote a small political piece the other day and referred to this below that was published into Today’s paper The Bangkok Post. The entire article is here but here is the first part.
The Election Commission on Monday decided by a vote of 4-1 to recommend the dissolution of the ruling Democrat Party for receiving an illegal 258 million baht donation and the alleged misuse of a 29 million baht political development fund provided by the EC.
The decision was made at a special meeting of the EC chaired by Apichart Sukhagganond.
Now maybe someone read my blog and acted (I am joking it is purely coincidence), I didn’t go into the alleged misuse of 258 million Baht. Back then any donation over 2 million Baht had to be reported by the banks to the Anti-Money Laundering Office, so what apparently happened was this.
A businessman, turned politician, Prachai Leophairatana,owned the then failing TPI Polene, a cement firm, and was alleged to have made donations totalling 258 million baht to the Democrats through Messiah Business and Creation Co, an advertising company.
Now Prachai is no saint, in TPI 2008 TPI Polene was fined 6.9 billion Baht for apparently stock manipulation in 2004. Prachai was sentenced to 3 years jail but appealed and of course was released on bail.
When the crisis struck in 1997, it emerged that TPI owed US$3.2 billion in external debt to some four hundred creditors. Since 2000 till now TPI is still fighting bankruptcy. It was released in 2006 from a rehabilitation plan and since has been making a nice profit (As the 258 million donation suggests)
Prachai was always against Thaksin Shinawatra and funded the P.A.D or People’s Alliance for Democracy it is said.
So how did TPI Polene donate 258 million Baht without having to report it? Apparently like this. They did this by crediting accounts in the names of senior democrat leaders, their relatives in amounts under 2 million Baht so it didn’t have to be reported.
The Democrat Party said this never happened, it was all a myth. Even their pro English newspaper wrote that all the evidence didn’t look good for them.
And now this looks the case. Will the Democrats, I think Thailand’s longest running party be dissolved, it remains to see.
The Democrat Party faces possible dissolution and its executives could be banned from politics for five years if the Constitution Court upholds the Election Commission's finding.
Interesting times ahead for Thailand and the continuing political saga.
I knew that something was going on and why I wrote the blog a day before (Believe me haha)
Brunty
The Election Commission on Monday decided by a vote of 4-1 to recommend the dissolution of the ruling Democrat Party for receiving an illegal 258 million baht donation and the alleged misuse of a 29 million baht political development fund provided by the EC.
The decision was made at a special meeting of the EC chaired by Apichart Sukhagganond.
Now maybe someone read my blog and acted (I am joking it is purely coincidence), I didn’t go into the alleged misuse of 258 million Baht. Back then any donation over 2 million Baht had to be reported by the banks to the Anti-Money Laundering Office, so what apparently happened was this.
A businessman, turned politician, Prachai Leophairatana,owned the then failing TPI Polene, a cement firm, and was alleged to have made donations totalling 258 million baht to the Democrats through Messiah Business and Creation Co, an advertising company.
Now Prachai is no saint, in TPI 2008 TPI Polene was fined 6.9 billion Baht for apparently stock manipulation in 2004. Prachai was sentenced to 3 years jail but appealed and of course was released on bail.
When the crisis struck in 1997, it emerged that TPI owed US$3.2 billion in external debt to some four hundred creditors. Since 2000 till now TPI is still fighting bankruptcy. It was released in 2006 from a rehabilitation plan and since has been making a nice profit (As the 258 million donation suggests)
Prachai was always against Thaksin Shinawatra and funded the P.A.D or People’s Alliance for Democracy it is said.
So how did TPI Polene donate 258 million Baht without having to report it? Apparently like this. They did this by crediting accounts in the names of senior democrat leaders, their relatives in amounts under 2 million Baht so it didn’t have to be reported.
The Democrat Party said this never happened, it was all a myth. Even their pro English newspaper wrote that all the evidence didn’t look good for them.
And now this looks the case. Will the Democrats, I think Thailand’s longest running party be dissolved, it remains to see.
The Democrat Party faces possible dissolution and its executives could be banned from politics for five years if the Constitution Court upholds the Election Commission's finding.
Interesting times ahead for Thailand and the continuing political saga.
I knew that something was going on and why I wrote the blog a day before (Believe me haha)
Brunty
Monday, 12 April 2010
My Take on Politics, Red and Yellow Shirts. Thailand
I have been reading so much on the ‘Red Shirts’ and the current shenanigans happening here in Thailand, well Bangkok. I am all for people having a voice and being able to express it. I mean I have been in plenty of marches in my day with the union when we wanted to express the point needed making.
But here in Thailand we have the ‘Yellow Shirts or P.A.D - People’s Alliance for Democracy” and now the ‘Red Shirts or UDD - United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship’ who continually fight over the government.
Way back in 2006 the then Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was overthrown in a military coup after a long campaign by the ‘yellow shirt’ brigade run and funded by media mogul Sondhi Limthongkul. I have read in many places that this all started over the removal of a bank president of a state owned bank who forgave personal debts of Sondhi to the tune of 1.5 Billion Baht. Is this the truth that started the hate campaign between Sondhi and Thaksin I am not 100% sure. Before the removal of this president Sondhi was a Thaksin supporter.
Anyway, the coup eventually happened in September 2006 and the military government came to power. They stayed in power until 2008 and when Samak Sundaravej became Prime Minister of Thailand for the P.P.P or People Power Party. The PPP were linked to Thaksin and the ‘yellow shirts’ again took to the streets protesting.
The accusations of vote buying surfaced; this is true as I have seen it with my own eyes. It isn’t one political party but virtually all of them. Then Samak was deemed to be Thaksin’s puppet.
The yellow shirts then took the Government House hostage when Samak refused to stand down. They then went on to take 3 regional airports, stopped trains and so forth. Eventually on the 9th of September the Constitutional Court disqualified him from the Premier’s position for being an emcee on his cooking show.
He wanted to run again to be prime minister but support lacked and then more controversy as Thaksin’s brother in law Somchai Wongsawat beat the current Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva with 298 votes to 163. Of course the ‘yellow shirts’ were having nothing to do with a brother in law of Thaksin being the prime minister and besieged Parliament for 6 weeks.
Somchai was found that he had “neglected duty” 8 years before working in the justice department. He suspended a corruption investigation into two senior officials. Then the PPP was finally dissolved by the Constitutional Court and he was banned from politics along with hundreds more for 5 years.
Now to the current Prime Minister, Abhisit Vejjajiva, who entered politics in 1991 and has served in many positions. There has also been controversy for him as well. Allegations of his Democrat Party bribing smaller parties were dismissed by the courts.
In 2009 an investigation into the lead-up to the 2005 general election, while Abhisit was Deputy Party Leader, it was alleged that they received 258 million Baht in illegal donations from TPI Polene.
Anyway I could go on and on. Abhisit came to power by a “special parliamentary vote” Now the UDD claim that he took power illegally backed by the military. They accuse the country's elite — the military, judiciary, certain members of the Privy Council, and other unelected officials — of undermining democracy by interfering in politics.
They love Thaksin and now the fight is currently on in Bangkok to remove the current Prime Minister, Abhisit Vejjajiva. As most would know, this turned ugly last night and 19 or so people died and many injured.
The only death that saddens me is the Japanese journalist, working for Reuters who was shot. All the deaths that have happened during this turmoil could have been prevented with normal protests and let parliament take its course. But sadly this hasn’t and will never happen.
How people are so easily led, like lambs to the slaughter, bemuse me. The yellow shirts are meant to be the educated and elite and the red shirts villagers and uneducated. But both follow their so called leaders and believe all they say.
How these leaders to this day have not been jailed! The yellow leaders who all have arrest warrants against them for the Government House and airport seizures, that still haven’t been ruled on and enforced. It has been before the courts 8 times and for sure higher powers are at work here.
And on and on it goes. The corruption involved is disgusting. The rich that keep stealing to make themselves richer, is sickening. I cannot see Thai politics ever changing, sadly. I can see whoever is chosen as prime minister, there will be one side that will disapprove and take to the streets.
Many ask me if I think Thaksin was a good prime minister. I have no idea. The north loved him but Bangkokians hated him. I do believe he did wrong and was corrupt when he sold his Shin Corp shares for $1.88 billion US Dollars tax free the day new legislation came in. I won’t even go into this as it would take hours and hours.
I feel bad for so many real Thais, people who sit back and shake their heads at all this. Thankfully there are many of them where I live. Whatever happens in politics doesn’t really affect me, unless they decide to remove all foreigners. It does affect the Thais and all I can hope for and that by some miracle all this shit that is going on, stops.
Whoever comes to power I hope they represent the people for once, the people who vote for them, but I believe I am dreaming and in fairyland. Corruption is so indebted in Thai society and so many don’t bat an eyelid at having to pay ‘tea money’ for so many things.
That is my take on all this; each party is as bad as the other. One evil replaces the other and the cycle continues.
Brunty
But here in Thailand we have the ‘Yellow Shirts or P.A.D - People’s Alliance for Democracy” and now the ‘Red Shirts or UDD - United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship’ who continually fight over the government.
Way back in 2006 the then Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was overthrown in a military coup after a long campaign by the ‘yellow shirt’ brigade run and funded by media mogul Sondhi Limthongkul. I have read in many places that this all started over the removal of a bank president of a state owned bank who forgave personal debts of Sondhi to the tune of 1.5 Billion Baht. Is this the truth that started the hate campaign between Sondhi and Thaksin I am not 100% sure. Before the removal of this president Sondhi was a Thaksin supporter.
Anyway, the coup eventually happened in September 2006 and the military government came to power. They stayed in power until 2008 and when Samak Sundaravej became Prime Minister of Thailand for the P.P.P or People Power Party. The PPP were linked to Thaksin and the ‘yellow shirts’ again took to the streets protesting.
The accusations of vote buying surfaced; this is true as I have seen it with my own eyes. It isn’t one political party but virtually all of them. Then Samak was deemed to be Thaksin’s puppet.
The yellow shirts then took the Government House hostage when Samak refused to stand down. They then went on to take 3 regional airports, stopped trains and so forth. Eventually on the 9th of September the Constitutional Court disqualified him from the Premier’s position for being an emcee on his cooking show.
He wanted to run again to be prime minister but support lacked and then more controversy as Thaksin’s brother in law Somchai Wongsawat beat the current Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva with 298 votes to 163. Of course the ‘yellow shirts’ were having nothing to do with a brother in law of Thaksin being the prime minister and besieged Parliament for 6 weeks.
Somchai was found that he had “neglected duty” 8 years before working in the justice department. He suspended a corruption investigation into two senior officials. Then the PPP was finally dissolved by the Constitutional Court and he was banned from politics along with hundreds more for 5 years.
Now to the current Prime Minister, Abhisit Vejjajiva, who entered politics in 1991 and has served in many positions. There has also been controversy for him as well. Allegations of his Democrat Party bribing smaller parties were dismissed by the courts.
In 2009 an investigation into the lead-up to the 2005 general election, while Abhisit was Deputy Party Leader, it was alleged that they received 258 million Baht in illegal donations from TPI Polene.
Anyway I could go on and on. Abhisit came to power by a “special parliamentary vote” Now the UDD claim that he took power illegally backed by the military. They accuse the country's elite — the military, judiciary, certain members of the Privy Council, and other unelected officials — of undermining democracy by interfering in politics.
They love Thaksin and now the fight is currently on in Bangkok to remove the current Prime Minister, Abhisit Vejjajiva. As most would know, this turned ugly last night and 19 or so people died and many injured.
The only death that saddens me is the Japanese journalist, working for Reuters who was shot. All the deaths that have happened during this turmoil could have been prevented with normal protests and let parliament take its course. But sadly this hasn’t and will never happen.
How people are so easily led, like lambs to the slaughter, bemuse me. The yellow shirts are meant to be the educated and elite and the red shirts villagers and uneducated. But both follow their so called leaders and believe all they say.
How these leaders to this day have not been jailed! The yellow leaders who all have arrest warrants against them for the Government House and airport seizures, that still haven’t been ruled on and enforced. It has been before the courts 8 times and for sure higher powers are at work here.
And on and on it goes. The corruption involved is disgusting. The rich that keep stealing to make themselves richer, is sickening. I cannot see Thai politics ever changing, sadly. I can see whoever is chosen as prime minister, there will be one side that will disapprove and take to the streets.
Many ask me if I think Thaksin was a good prime minister. I have no idea. The north loved him but Bangkokians hated him. I do believe he did wrong and was corrupt when he sold his Shin Corp shares for $1.88 billion US Dollars tax free the day new legislation came in. I won’t even go into this as it would take hours and hours.
I feel bad for so many real Thais, people who sit back and shake their heads at all this. Thankfully there are many of them where I live. Whatever happens in politics doesn’t really affect me, unless they decide to remove all foreigners. It does affect the Thais and all I can hope for and that by some miracle all this shit that is going on, stops.
Whoever comes to power I hope they represent the people for once, the people who vote for them, but I believe I am dreaming and in fairyland. Corruption is so indebted in Thai society and so many don’t bat an eyelid at having to pay ‘tea money’ for so many things.
That is my take on all this; each party is as bad as the other. One evil replaces the other and the cycle continues.
Brunty
Sunday, 11 April 2010
It's So Quite, I Miss My Girls. Isaan Thailand.
I am really missing the two girls of my life, it is so quite in the house and I thought sitting around for 5 or so days by myself, being able to watch the football (Rugby League, Australian Rules, Premier League, F.A Cup and The Masters Golf) would be great, but it isn’t.
It’s only been a day and a half. I do miss Noot, but my niece Nong Ja who usually has me going here, there and everywhere also away with Noot makes the silence eerie. I must say last night wasn’t so bad but today there have been a few phone calls to them to check they are okay.
They are out in the village, yesterday was a ceremony at the temple and tonight a Mor Lum or Isaan Style concert. I could have gone and I do enjoy these shows but I wanted to watch the sport on TV and especially the golf.
Here is Noot, Noot's mum, Khun Da with Nong Ja, and Benjawan.
Tomorrow they will head to their grandfather’s village Ban Tha Kwlan to pay respect to him for Songkran and return on the 14th or 15th. I would have loved spending 3 days lying around doing absolutely nothing in the far reaches of Isaan looking over the Mekong River to Laos, no worries at all. But I have a few things to be done so cannot go. This is life.
Sunrise across from Khun Da's house, a 20 second walk. I really love this.
One thing that Noot and I have noticed with Nong Ja is how much she misses out playing with other kids living with us in the city. We live in an area that you don’t see that many kids out playing in the street. We play with her and take her many places but she doesn’t get contact with other kids often.
In the village she has a ball, she plays and plays and you see how much she loves it. We could (No, I could) never live in the village. Not being the remoteness but the style of living. People who have been in such villages understand. I would go crazy after a little while for sure.
In a year when Ja is 3 years old we will start sending her to kindergarten or a play school of sorts for half days, getting her ready for school. This time will fly as the last two years already have. We already teach her a lot in English and Thai and her pronunciation is so funny at times. She remembers so much which surprises me.
She can remember some colours already. An alphabet chart we have for Thai and English is really good. You ask her to point to a certain thing like, ‘bird’ and she can and other words too. The Thai chart she also does well with some of the basic symbols that relate to animals like 'Gor Gai' or chicken.
I thought the peace and quite was going to be so great, maybe I need to get out more but again I am happy being at home and occasionally going for a coffee at Peppers Bakery and a chat, to the park and to N-Joy for a cold beer with some local expats.
Tonight I have managed to drink one large bottle of Archa beer, okay mixed half and half with lemonade over the past 2 hours. I have watched the Manchester United V’s Blackburn game and now am watching Tottenham Hotspurs V’s Portsmouth.
I have another bottle in the fridge for the second half and then the golf will start at 12.30am, for five and a half hours of coverage. That is it for me of late. As you can see not a lot happening of interest at all. Life in Isaan Thailand at its best.
Brunty
It’s only been a day and a half. I do miss Noot, but my niece Nong Ja who usually has me going here, there and everywhere also away with Noot makes the silence eerie. I must say last night wasn’t so bad but today there have been a few phone calls to them to check they are okay.
They are out in the village, yesterday was a ceremony at the temple and tonight a Mor Lum or Isaan Style concert. I could have gone and I do enjoy these shows but I wanted to watch the sport on TV and especially the golf.
Here is Noot, Noot's mum, Khun Da with Nong Ja, and Benjawan.
Tomorrow they will head to their grandfather’s village Ban Tha Kwlan to pay respect to him for Songkran and return on the 14th or 15th. I would have loved spending 3 days lying around doing absolutely nothing in the far reaches of Isaan looking over the Mekong River to Laos, no worries at all. But I have a few things to be done so cannot go. This is life.
Sunrise across from Khun Da's house, a 20 second walk. I really love this.
One thing that Noot and I have noticed with Nong Ja is how much she misses out playing with other kids living with us in the city. We live in an area that you don’t see that many kids out playing in the street. We play with her and take her many places but she doesn’t get contact with other kids often.
In the village she has a ball, she plays and plays and you see how much she loves it. We could (No, I could) never live in the village. Not being the remoteness but the style of living. People who have been in such villages understand. I would go crazy after a little while for sure.
In a year when Ja is 3 years old we will start sending her to kindergarten or a play school of sorts for half days, getting her ready for school. This time will fly as the last two years already have. We already teach her a lot in English and Thai and her pronunciation is so funny at times. She remembers so much which surprises me.
She can remember some colours already. An alphabet chart we have for Thai and English is really good. You ask her to point to a certain thing like, ‘bird’ and she can and other words too. The Thai chart she also does well with some of the basic symbols that relate to animals like 'Gor Gai' or chicken.
I thought the peace and quite was going to be so great, maybe I need to get out more but again I am happy being at home and occasionally going for a coffee at Peppers Bakery and a chat, to the park and to N-Joy for a cold beer with some local expats.
Tonight I have managed to drink one large bottle of Archa beer, okay mixed half and half with lemonade over the past 2 hours. I have watched the Manchester United V’s Blackburn game and now am watching Tottenham Hotspurs V’s Portsmouth.
I have another bottle in the fridge for the second half and then the golf will start at 12.30am, for five and a half hours of coverage. That is it for me of late. As you can see not a lot happening of interest at all. Life in Isaan Thailand at its best.
Brunty
Tuesday, 6 April 2010
Basketball and Relaxing, Isaan Thailand.
I haven’t posted for a while. A lack of inspiration and also I haven’t been doing a lot. I am enjoying holidays by spending lots of time with my niece Nong Ja, catching up on dvds and also reading books that I hadn’t got around to reading yet.
I have been going to the park with another expat in the mornings; we arrive at 6am and then proceed to do a few laps of the park. I walk and he runs like a madman. I haven’t been as consistent as I like but hope to start getting there at least 5 days a week.
My mate then had a brainwave, there is a basketball court at the park and when he enquired if I liked and played basketball I daydreamed back to when I was a kid. I used to play a lot of basketball so I thought this was a great idea. Do a few laps of the park and then play some basketball.
So he bought a basketball and we just shot around the first day, well call it shooting if you like but most of mine didn’t go into the hoop, but short, wide or too far. My mate did say he played a lot of basketball when he was a kid, but watching him hitting shots from all over the place I started to think he did nothing else as a kid. What a misspent youth!
I come up with a stupid idea, a game I used to play as a kid called ‘donkey’, it is a simple game. You take a shot anywhere on the court and if it goes in then the other person has to shoot from the same spot. If they miss they get a letter and you keep playing until someone has spelled out donkey.
Well we have had 6 games now and it is 6-0, and this isn’t in my favour. I have had him to d-o-n-k-e but then tensed up and chocked and lost my accurate shooting (purely luck).
One thing from all this that was very funny and embarrassing was how sore my arms were. I had very sore triceps and biceps. I couldn’t believe this from just shooting a basketball.
Apart from this there hasn’t been a lot more happening. Visiting friends and trying to get out of the heat with trips to shopping centres. It has been hot, really hot of late. You actually look forward to Songkran Water Festival even if it seems a little long at 3 days. Here you can play for an entire week if you like at the main park.
So that is about it to date, not much more to report. I hope to get a little more exciting over Songkran and post some interesting pictures for all to see.
Brunty
I have been going to the park with another expat in the mornings; we arrive at 6am and then proceed to do a few laps of the park. I walk and he runs like a madman. I haven’t been as consistent as I like but hope to start getting there at least 5 days a week.
My mate then had a brainwave, there is a basketball court at the park and when he enquired if I liked and played basketball I daydreamed back to when I was a kid. I used to play a lot of basketball so I thought this was a great idea. Do a few laps of the park and then play some basketball.
So he bought a basketball and we just shot around the first day, well call it shooting if you like but most of mine didn’t go into the hoop, but short, wide or too far. My mate did say he played a lot of basketball when he was a kid, but watching him hitting shots from all over the place I started to think he did nothing else as a kid. What a misspent youth!
I come up with a stupid idea, a game I used to play as a kid called ‘donkey’, it is a simple game. You take a shot anywhere on the court and if it goes in then the other person has to shoot from the same spot. If they miss they get a letter and you keep playing until someone has spelled out donkey.
Well we have had 6 games now and it is 6-0, and this isn’t in my favour. I have had him to d-o-n-k-e but then tensed up and chocked and lost my accurate shooting (purely luck).
One thing from all this that was very funny and embarrassing was how sore my arms were. I had very sore triceps and biceps. I couldn’t believe this from just shooting a basketball.
Apart from this there hasn’t been a lot more happening. Visiting friends and trying to get out of the heat with trips to shopping centres. It has been hot, really hot of late. You actually look forward to Songkran Water Festival even if it seems a little long at 3 days. Here you can play for an entire week if you like at the main park.
So that is about it to date, not much more to report. I hope to get a little more exciting over Songkran and post some interesting pictures for all to see.
Brunty
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