A Singaporean's guide to living in Thailand

[yinyang]

Now for the real beauty contest :p

'Serious' Miss Thailand 3rd in Tokyo
Bangkok Post Published: 12/11/2014 at 03:51 PM

Miss Thailand Punika Kulsoontornrut placed third and Puerto Rican bombshell Valerie Hernandez Matias took the crown as contestants in Tuesday night’s Miss International contest gave the usual beauty pageant formula with a serious political twist.

Miss Puerto Rico Valerie Hernandez Matias (left) reacts as she is congratulated by second runner-up Miss Thailand Pinka Kulsoontornrut after being awarded the title of Miss International 2014 in Tokyo on Nov 11. (AFP photo)




The newly crowned Miss International told AFP she hopes to pay back her country's education system for the opportunities it afforded her, after crediting teachers with helping her overcome learning difficulties as a child.

"My plan for the future is not only to work for my country on social problems which affect us, but also to set an example for people to follow in order to achieve a better future," the 21-year-old winner said in an interview, eyes dried and make-up restored after her emotional win at the gala Tokyo event.

Miss Thailand Punika Kulsoontornrut appears in the swimsuit competition at the Miss International 2014 beauty pageant in Tokyo Tuesday. The 22-year-old studentwas chosen 2nd runner-up. (AFP photo)

Ms Punika, a 22-year-old student, valiantly forced a smile as her abundant charms and calls for world peace only landed her as second runner-up.
But Frenchwoman Aurianne Sinacola struck a blow for couch potatoes by winning the 'Miss Perfect Body' category. "I'm surprised," she laughed. "I'm not very sporty. I really don't work out much at all, I just have a very healthy diet."

Colombia's Suarez took away the 'Miss Best Dresser' award for her plunging, sequin-lined evening wear, which drew gasps from the audience, and earned her a pearl necklace from sponsors.

"I want to become a leader against racial discrimination, which is a really hard thing in my country," said the 20-year-old, who also won the 'Miss Friendship' gong. "I want to take my message to every corner of Colombia and the world."

Amid the tears, hugs and squeals of joy and despair, politics was never far away in the competition: world peace was a common mantra, but runner-up Zuleika Suarez of Colombia vowed to tackle racial intolerance and Britain's Victoria Tooby took aim at poverty and unemployment.

"I would love to be the face that gives people hope," said platinum blonde Tooby. "With hard work, patience and determination you can achieve anything you want and change for the better."

A video montage of the beauty queens visiting temples and posing presidentially with babies was shown on a big screen as judges deliberated over the winner.
Scenes of the contestants clapping with delight as a giant tuna was hacked apart by a sushi chef grated a little, tottering like a debutante in stilettos on the wrong side of political correctness.

Miss Thailand Punika Kulsoontornrut appears in the evening gown competition at the Miss International 2014 beauty pageant in Tokyo Tuesday. (AFP photo)
"I eat sushi three or four times a week in Puerto Rico," Ms Hernandez Matias smiled, her crown glittering in a blaze of camera flashes. "I can't express my happiness right now. I'm so proud for Puerto Rico."

Another clip showing them attempting to pick up peanuts with chopsticks could also have misfired, but the new queen, whose passion is ballet dancing, had even mastered that. "One of the biggest social problems affecting Puerto Rico is in education. In high school I was in a special education programme. I suffered from attention deficit disorder but I managed to beat my condition thanks to the help I received from my teachers and people around me.

Before delivering her manifesto, Hernandez Matias strolled through the swimsuit category in a blue number reminiscent of Halle Berry's famous bikini scene in the 007 movie "Die Another Day".

"Sadly, that type of help is declining nowadays," she added after a knockout victory over Mexican Vianey Vazquez, considered by many as the favourite.
"I would like my Puerto Rico to use me as an example -- now that I've won such an important title -- as a spokeswoman for campaigns, to visit schools and help children," she added.

 

[Froggy]

Sin Hoi San is stillone of my favorite places to eat





Seafood tofu


Sweet potato leaves with sambal


Pork ribs


Claypot pork liver, my fav dish

 

[Froggy]

At Hong Lim Complex an hour ago for breakfast, one could still find very good traditional hawker food cook by the original guy or least the original family.

Outram Kuay Teow




One of those best in Singapore what makes this kuay teow good is the heavy wok smell, not oily and the occasional bursts of lard between your teeth.

Hand made fish and pork balls noodles





Noodle is cooked just well enough to maintain its crispness. Fishball is heavenly very soft yet with body and meat ball too is very soft with a tinge of deepfried teepor fish, shiok

 

[yinyang]

This making the media rounds in LOS. :p Big ripples for thb30 sticky rice meal


'Sticky rice and chicken' girl becomes overnight sensation
Bangkok Post Published: 12/11/2014 at 06:31 PM

A video clip of a 15-year-old girl recording herself on a smartphone to complain about the theft of her sticky rice and chicken has gone viral and made her an overnight sensation.

Kanittha "Laila" Jansawang of the southern province of Satun, posted the video on social mediaon Sunday, the day her sticky rice and chicken was stolen. This is what she said in the video:

"Hi, socialcammers. I want to leave a message to the person who stole my sticky rice and chicken. The story is, I bought sticky rice and chicken for 30 baht. I walked into a 7-Eleven and left the food in my motorcycle basket. I was in 7-Eleven momentarily to buy a prepaid phone service. When I walked out, my sticky rice and chicken were gone. Do you think a person stole it, a dog took it or a cat ate it? Think about it. Can't you afford to buy 30 baht of sticky rice and chicken? You can't afford it and steal from others. I'm very, very angry. I don't know how to vent my anger.

"I want to tell the thief, don't let me know who you are or I'll shove sticky rice and chicken down your throat. Remember that. I'm under a lot of stress because my sticky rice and chicken are gone. I really wanted to eat it at home but it's been stolen. Think about it, it's just sticky rice and chicken and it's been stolen. I'm really stressed. I bought TWO pieces of chicken and the thief is now eating them happily. I curse anyone who eats them to choke and die from eating them.

"There are many sticky rice and chicken sellers, but the thief didn't buy from them but stole from me. You're evil.

"I'm going to sleep. Best dreams everyone. It's OK, I have lots of money and I can buy sticky rice and chicken again. Actually, I've already bought another one. Don't worry. If you can't afford it and really want to eat it, tell me and I'll buy it for you. Don't steal from me. My heart is in deep pain. I have a wad of cash in my pocket. I don't want to boast about it. Going now. Bye. Sweet dreams."

It has to be noted that she was cursing numerous times as she complained.

After Laila's video was widely shared, reporters went to her home in Satun's Muang district to interview her on Wednesday. She was staying with her grandmother who described her as "smart, confident, loquacious, friendly and respectful".

Laila told reporters that she asked her mother for some money to buy sticky rice and chicken, where she is a regular customer.
She said she was in the store for only five minutes before her sticky rice and chicken disappeared. The 15-year-old said she was very angry and decided to record a video clip of herself in front of a mirror to vent her anger.

"I never thought I'd be famous because of the video clip because I was speaking rudely. However, people came to me and told me that I'm cute and they like my southern accent.

"However, some people told me that I posted the clip because I wanted to be famous. I'm sorry for saying foul words and not being polite in the video," Laila said.
Videos have been uploaded by many people who claimed that they stole the girl's chicken and rice

 

[tonychat]

If the girl is a vegetarian and didn't buy chicken, her food will not be stolen.

 

[yinyang]

If the girl is a vegetarian and didn't buy chicken, her food will not be stolen.

What IF the bloke was a vegan? :p

 

[yinyang]

Thai police have banned the book A Kingdom in Crisis, saying it defames the country's monarchy.



BANGKOK: Thai police have banned a British journalist's book about politics in Thailand for "defaming" the monarchy, an official said Thursday (Nov 13), in a country with one of the world's strictest lese majeste laws.

The sale and distribution of A Kingdom in Crisis by freelance journalist and author Andrew MacGregor Marshall, formerly based in Bangkok, has been banned in Thailand a month after it was published by London-based Zed Books.

"The content insults, defames and threatens Thailand's monarchy," said national police chief Somyot Poompanmoung in a statement. "The book is a danger to national security and peaceful and orderly society," he said, adding that anyone found breaching the ban imposed on Tuesday could face up to three years in jail and a fine of 60,000 baht (US$1,800).

Thailand's revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej, 86, is protected by tough royal defamation rules under which anyone convicted of insulting the king, queen, heir or regent faces up to 15 years in prison on each count.

Marshall's book, which explores Thai politics including the taboo issue of royal succession, has been banned under the printing act rather than lese majeste legislation - seemingly widening the legal net to prevent debate about the monarchy. Critics say the royal defamation law, as well as the later Computer Crimes Act, stifle free speech and are used to silence political opponents.

Since grabbing power in May, junta leader and now premier Prayuth Chan-ocha has repeatedly vowed to crack down on anyone who insults the monarchy, which attracts deep loyalty among the military and royalist Bangkok-based establishment.

Some experts believe that a struggle is unfolding to decide who will run the country when the more than six-decade reign of the revered but ailing king, currently in hospital after a gallbladder operation, eventually ends. Discussion on succession is restricted in Thailand under the lese majeste law.

In September, rights group Amnesty International said there had been an "unprecedented" number of people charged with insulting the monarchy since the coup, echoing concerns raised by the United Nations.

Last week a 24-year-old student was jailed for two-and-a-half years for defaming Thailand's monarchy, after pleading guilty to posting an insulting Facebook message under a pseudonym. In another recent case, a 67-year-old man was charged with insulting the monarchy by scribbling anti-royal comments on the wall of a public toilet.

Thai authorities have previously banned other books deemed critical of the royals including an unauthorised biography of the king, The King Never Smiles, by Paul Handley.

Marshall was not immediately available for comment.
- AFP/xq

 

[yinyang]

Abbot sacked over funds misuse
Bangkok Post Published: 11/11/2014 at 09:45 PM

PHICHIT — The abbot of a Buddhist temple in Pho Thale district was dismissed from his position after a Sangha Supreme Council probe found he had invested 40 million baht of donated money in the stock market.

The dismissal order was endorsed Tuesday by Phra Theekatas-seemuneewong, the ecclesiastical provincial governor of Phichit and took effect immediately.
Phra Kru Wisit Seelaporn, the abbot of Wat Hiranyararm in tambon Bang Khlarn, previously faced 28 complaints lodged by members of the public alleging he had administered donations in an opaque manner and failed to explain the temple’s financial-account statements.

The complainants – which included former temple assistants and local politicians – also demanded Phra Kru Wisit be removed from his position, claiming he had served as the abbot for many years but did not help develop the monastery and nearby communities.

Phra Kru Wisit denied the allegations and took the case to court. This later led to a severe rift between the temple and residents.

Pending the court case, a fact-finding committee set up by the Sangha Supreme Council found the monk was guilty following a month-long investigation involving both legal and financial experts.

 

[Luvurbaht]

Did the abbot make or did he lose and if he made money who benefitted?

 

[yinyang]

Did the abbot make or did he lose and if he made money who benefitted?

No matter, the (dis)honourable abbot dipped his fingers in cookie jar :p

 

[Froggy]

Simple lunch at Fashion Island's Promenade MallGrouper horfanCarrot cake with their signature XO chili sauce

 

[Stompiss]

Simple lunch at Fashion Island's Promenade MallGrouper horfan

Mana you now?

 

[Froggy]

Mana you now?

Bangkok . . . . .

 

[Froggy]

Typical Bar & Restaurant in Bangkok

[video=youtube;8YdcEC4yxg4]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YdcEC4yxg4[/video]

 

[Froggy]

[video=youtube;eS2sdJpSrb0]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eS2sdJpSrb0[/video]

 

[Belgarath]

Wah Piangz eh!!!!

I can feel my cock getting hard.

 

[Froggy]

Taking a one day break at Sattahip. Sattahip is a city directly after Pattaya, if one goes by the beaches then it will be Pattaya, Jomtien, Sattahip. Will drive directly to work tomorrow, give you a idea of the distance its about 160km to Siam Paragon or 200km to my work.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MDYEaGPsNg















The restaurant

 

[Froggy]

Welcome drink



[video=youtube;Mqrm-ZD3jHc]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mqrm-ZD3jHc[/video]

Room


Bath surrounded by nature

 

[sleaguepunter]

Huh? Beach boh langs?

Now not holiday season?

 

[Froggy]

Huh? Beach boh langs?

Now not holiday season?

You are right currently its not local holiday season however I do find an increase of PRC tourists into Thailand these days. Also this is a pretty exclusive spa resort so not many guests. Also today is a Sunday most Thais would have been headed for Bangkok instead of out of Bangkok.