Jan 3, 2015, 10:09 pm
Last edit by: aBroadAbroad
This thread is for Thailand news/events and general discussion. It is meant to reduce clutter in the main forum. If you notice a topic here that deserves its own thread, please alert a moderator.
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Special thanks to FlyerTalker Kalboz for launching the original Thai News & Open Discussion lounge back in 2009!
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Special thanks to FlyerTalker Kalboz for launching the original Thai News & Open Discussion lounge back in 2009!
Thailand Forum Lounge-Thread: Thai News & Open Discussion
Apr 21, 2015, 11:28 pm
#152
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 1999
Posts: 12,375
Yes. "Good people" get designer-labelled yellow vests which actually float. While the masses get red vests which, owing to some design/manufacturing fault, are actually fitted with lead weights.
Apr 21, 2015, 11:30 pm
#153
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 1999
Posts: 12,375
Clearly not willing to gamble everything.
Air Macau aborts flight after passengers revolt
April 22, 2015 10:50 am
Air Macau Airbus plane with 175 Thai and Chinese passengers forced the pilot to abort its flight to Macau yesterday after they felt unsafe for the second take-off from Suvarnabhumi airport.
The NX885 flight took off from Suvarnabhumi yesterday but returned to the airport an hour later after encountering trouble.
No explanation was given to the passengers after the plane touched down the airport an hour after take-off.
The 175 passengers, 36 of them are Thais from two tour groups, were left inside the plane waiting for two hours and were not explained by either the pilot and the hostesses.
http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/air...sengers-revolt
Air Macau aborts flight after passengers revolt
April 22, 2015 10:50 am
Air Macau Airbus plane with 175 Thai and Chinese passengers forced the pilot to abort its flight to Macau yesterday after they felt unsafe for the second take-off from Suvarnabhumi airport.
The NX885 flight took off from Suvarnabhumi yesterday but returned to the airport an hour later after encountering trouble.
No explanation was given to the passengers after the plane touched down the airport an hour after take-off.
The 175 passengers, 36 of them are Thais from two tour groups, were left inside the plane waiting for two hours and were not explained by either the pilot and the hostesses.
http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/air...sengers-revolt
Last edited by transpac; Apr 21, 2015 at 11:45 pm
Apr 22, 2015, 8:02 pm
#154
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Snooky
Posts: 2,508
Apr 27, 2015, 5:02 am
#155
formerly known as 2lovelife
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: ORF : UA_Premier_Gold4Life, Bonvoy_titanium, Accor_Plat
Posts: 6,952
Free Uber Rides, from an email I got.
Note, I have not included my code. I'm only passing on the info.
What goes around, comes around. We hear this often, but why wait for the heavens to decide when you’ll be rewarded? With Uber, it’s as fast as you like. Your destiny is in your hand, literally.
How? Give your friends and family - or even complete strangers - the gift of safe and comfortable Uber rides. By sharing your personal invitation code, their first ride is free! When they take their first ride, you’ll immediately receive one free ride! You can invite as many people as you like.
What's more, we've increased the value from THB 200 to THB 300! And who knows what the heavens may give you on top of that?
How it works:
Invite new users to sign up for Uber
They will automatically get a free ride if they sign up using your code – you can find it under the “Free Rides” section in the app
Once they take their first ride, you will get one free ride
Free rides are up to THB 300 each, and will expire 3 months after they are applied
The free rides will only work in Bangkok
Existing Uber credits remain valid and will be used
after any free rides
Uber on!
Team Uber Bangkok
How? Give your friends and family - or even complete strangers - the gift of safe and comfortable Uber rides. By sharing your personal invitation code, their first ride is free! When they take their first ride, you’ll immediately receive one free ride! You can invite as many people as you like.
What's more, we've increased the value from THB 200 to THB 300! And who knows what the heavens may give you on top of that?
How it works:
Invite new users to sign up for Uber
They will automatically get a free ride if they sign up using your code – you can find it under the “Free Rides” section in the app
Once they take their first ride, you will get one free ride
Free rides are up to THB 300 each, and will expire 3 months after they are applied
The free rides will only work in Bangkok
Existing Uber credits remain valid and will be used
after any free rides
Uber on!
Team Uber Bangkok
Apr 27, 2015, 9:35 am
#156
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Bangkok or San Francisco
Programs: United 1k, Marriott Lifetime PE, Former DL Gold, Former SQ Solitaire, HH Gold
Posts: 11,886
Storm damage in Bangkok
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/gene...voc-on-traffic
The picture in the article is Sarasin going toward Witthayu. This is the route I have to take to get to work every morning. Sure glad I'm on vacation.
The thing with these kinds of storms is that this time of the year violent storms are not uncommon. But a few hours later the sun is out and it's blistering hot. I actually kind of enjoy sitting inside and watching the storms from the safety of my sofa.
The picture in the article is Sarasin going toward Witthayu. This is the route I have to take to get to work every morning. Sure glad I'm on vacation.
The thing with these kinds of storms is that this time of the year violent storms are not uncommon. But a few hours later the sun is out and it's blistering hot. I actually kind of enjoy sitting inside and watching the storms from the safety of my sofa.
Apr 27, 2015, 11:14 am
#157
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Snooky
Posts: 2,508
Yeah, we're getting a ton of thunderstorm activity here in CMB as well. I can't say I mind it, but it's a couple months early. Last Sept & Oct were really dry too. Maybe the traditional weather patterns have shifted a bit.
Apr 27, 2015, 8:25 pm
#158
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 1999
Posts: 12,375
Another amazing weather day here in Bangkok; we actually had very small hail here in Asoke. Very strong winds, huge downpours, thunder/lightening and it was sunny.
Out towards the airport it was clear to partly cloudy.
Scattered t-storms over the next three days with temps inching back up to 38.
Out towards the airport it was clear to partly cloudy.
Scattered t-storms over the next three days with temps inching back up to 38.
Apr 27, 2015, 9:04 pm
#159
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Bangkok or San Francisco
Programs: United 1k, Marriott Lifetime PE, Former DL Gold, Former SQ Solitaire, HH Gold
Posts: 11,886
Please tell me that there is typo in the reporting in the BKK Post. The draft Constitution is 131 pages long?
Apr 28, 2015, 6:14 pm
#160
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Truth or Consequences, NM
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott Titanium, Hertz President's Circle, UA Silver, Mobile Passport Unobtanium
Posts: 6,194
http://www.bangkokpost.com/learning/...tution-of-2015
May 1, 2015, 3:33 am
#161
formerly known as 2lovelife
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: ORF : UA_Premier_Gold4Life, Bonvoy_titanium, Accor_Plat
Posts: 6,952
As posted by another member...
http://www.eturbonews.com/58371/thai...urism-industry
"eTN has learned consulting company AVCON Worldwide had warned the President of Thai Airways International on September 2013 in regards to evidence collected enough to downgrade the safety record for Star Alliance Airline Thai Airways from CAT1 to CAT 2.
CAT 2 would mean Thai would no longer be allowed to fly to North America or the European Union or Japan due to safety concerns."
I thought it would interest people on this forum too....
http://www.eturbonews.com/58371/thai...urism-industry
"eTN has learned consulting company AVCON Worldwide had warned the President of Thai Airways International on September 2013 in regards to evidence collected enough to downgrade the safety record for Star Alliance Airline Thai Airways from CAT1 to CAT 2.
CAT 2 would mean Thai would no longer be allowed to fly to North America or the European Union or Japan due to safety concerns."
I thought it would interest people on this forum too....
May 1, 2015, 4:14 am
#162
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 1999
Posts: 12,375
Garuda and Philippine Airlines have come back after being in similar situations, I think. But it will take a lot of work, some re-trenching, admission of fault (not easy, culturally), possibly re-branding.
Thailand is facing similar challenges with regards to Slavery/Human Trafficking, Intellectual Property, Illegal Fishing, Human Rights, Illegal Migrant workers, Freedom of the Press, even the national Religion is under fire. And the schisms within the society are as vast and deep as ever. And the impending event(s) will further test the backbone of the people. Tough times for the Kingdom, the good times are over.
Thailand is facing similar challenges with regards to Slavery/Human Trafficking, Intellectual Property, Illegal Fishing, Human Rights, Illegal Migrant workers, Freedom of the Press, even the national Religion is under fire. And the schisms within the society are as vast and deep as ever. And the impending event(s) will further test the backbone of the people. Tough times for the Kingdom, the good times are over.
May 3, 2015, 8:47 pm
#163
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 1999
Posts: 12,375
More shocking news regarding Thailand's slavery trade.
Survivor believes more than 500 killed in camps
The Nation May 4, 2015 1:00 am
Migrant reveals many who could not afford to pay ransom were shot or clubbed to death; special police team set up
KURAMIA, a migrant, paid out Bt95,000 in ransom to save his nephew Kazim, who was being held at a border camp. But he never saw him alive. His nephew's was among 26 bodies recently exhumed from a mass-grave site in Songkhla's Sadao district.
A migrant who escaped that tragic fate has told police he saw a trafficker named Arnua and his henchmen beat Kazim to death. Speaking via an interpreter on condition of anonymity, this survivor said he had heard that more than 500 victims were killed at various camps holding human-trafficking or kidnap victims along the Thai-Malaysian borders.
"I've also heard that thousands of Rohingya migrants were at those camps waiting for promised jobs or for ransom to arrive," he said.
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/nati...-30259271.html
At least 30 graves found in southern Thailand, and a lone survivor
Bangkok (CNN)At least 30 graves containing human remains have been found in a "detention camp" in southern Thailand, along with a lone male survivor, Thai authorities said.
The survivor is "very sick" and has been hospitalized, said Thai police spokesman Lt. General Prawut Thavornsiri. Police have not been able to interview the survivor yet and aren't sure of his nationality, but they believe he is Burmese.
Thai authorities learned about the camp from a suspect who tipped them off, Thavornsiri said. He would not say whether that suspect was linked with human trafficking.
http://edition.cnn.com/2015/05/02/as...d-mass-graves/
Survivor believes more than 500 killed in camps
The Nation May 4, 2015 1:00 am
Migrant reveals many who could not afford to pay ransom were shot or clubbed to death; special police team set up
KURAMIA, a migrant, paid out Bt95,000 in ransom to save his nephew Kazim, who was being held at a border camp. But he never saw him alive. His nephew's was among 26 bodies recently exhumed from a mass-grave site in Songkhla's Sadao district.
A migrant who escaped that tragic fate has told police he saw a trafficker named Arnua and his henchmen beat Kazim to death. Speaking via an interpreter on condition of anonymity, this survivor said he had heard that more than 500 victims were killed at various camps holding human-trafficking or kidnap victims along the Thai-Malaysian borders.
"I've also heard that thousands of Rohingya migrants were at those camps waiting for promised jobs or for ransom to arrive," he said.
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/nati...-30259271.html
At least 30 graves found in southern Thailand, and a lone survivor
Bangkok (CNN)At least 30 graves containing human remains have been found in a "detention camp" in southern Thailand, along with a lone male survivor, Thai authorities said.
The survivor is "very sick" and has been hospitalized, said Thai police spokesman Lt. General Prawut Thavornsiri. Police have not been able to interview the survivor yet and aren't sure of his nationality, but they believe he is Burmese.
Thai authorities learned about the camp from a suspect who tipped them off, Thavornsiri said. He would not say whether that suspect was linked with human trafficking.
http://edition.cnn.com/2015/05/02/as...d-mass-graves/
May 4, 2015, 9:50 pm
#164
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Snooky
Posts: 2,508
there's a ton of Bangladeshis in the mix too. Here's a better article on the human trafficking camps: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/05/wo...g-network.html
May 5, 2015, 3:50 am
#165
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 1999
Posts: 12,375
This Pulitzer winning Reuters article/report from 2013 illustrates the depth to which Thailand is complicit in this horrendous activity. The Royal Thai Navy responded by filing criminal charges (defamation) against Phuketwan which quoted parts of the article. Good to see them squirming now.
Special Report - Thailand secretly dumps Myanmar refugees into trafficking rings
(Reuters) - One afternoon in October, in the watery no-man's land between Thailand and Myanmar, Muhammad Ismail vanished.
Thai immigration officials said he was being deported to Myanmar. In fact, they sold Ismail, 23, and hundreds of other Rohingya Muslims to human traffickers, who then spirited them into brutal jungle camps.
As thousands of Rohingya flee Myanmar to escape religious persecution, a Reuters investigation in three countries has uncovered a clandestine policy to remove Rohingya refugees from Thailand's immigration detention centers and deliver them to human traffickers waiting at sea.
http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/1...9B400920131205
Special Report - Thailand secretly dumps Myanmar refugees into trafficking rings
(Reuters) - One afternoon in October, in the watery no-man's land between Thailand and Myanmar, Muhammad Ismail vanished.
Thai immigration officials said he was being deported to Myanmar. In fact, they sold Ismail, 23, and hundreds of other Rohingya Muslims to human traffickers, who then spirited them into brutal jungle camps.
As thousands of Rohingya flee Myanmar to escape religious persecution, a Reuters investigation in three countries has uncovered a clandestine policy to remove Rohingya refugees from Thailand's immigration detention centers and deliver them to human traffickers waiting at sea.
http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/1...9B400920131205