PattayaMale

Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld a 14-year prison sentence for British national Maurice John Praill on charges of sexually abusing an 8-year-old boy eight years ago. The ruling was read out to Praill, 77, at a court in Chonburi, 90 kilometres east of Bangkok. Praiil was arrested in 2001 on charges of sexually abusing a minor at the beach community of Pattaya and sentenced to 14 years in prison but was allowed to live freely in Pattaya on bail for the past eight years as he appealed the case. Since his 2001 arrest, at least six new child sexual abuse charges have been filed against Praill, Supreme Court officials said. The initial sentence ordered by a lower court was upheld first by an appeals court and finally by the Supreme Court in Bangkok. Wednesday's ruling was welcomed by ECPAT, or End Child Prostitution Child Pornography and Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes, a non-governmental organisation, but it also expressed worries.

Chubb run the left baggage office next to the tourist police office in the airport. 100 Baht for the first 24 hours and 50 Baht for any following 12 hour period or part thereof. This was posted on Thai visa 2007. Another post said that the service was very good

Great point!

I notice that many times what is reported by some Thai newspapers turns out to be more of someones opinion or maybe PR. A couple of examples. At the end of December there was an article quoting that Thailand bank was thinking that the dollar would rise to 37 and then start to fall by mid Feb. Thai Air "slashes" air prices. As others have noticed it does not seem to have happened. 2 weeks ago I read that The TAT said its promotions were working as all hotel rooms in Pattaya were filled. I don't think so as I check for rooms on Asia Booking Hotels and many were able to give instant confirmation. Despite what seems as overwhelming evidence as shown on several foreign TV stations, the Thai press denied the Rohingya migrants were mistreated. (I have seen today that this may be changing as The Bangkok Post printed an editorial calling for an investigation). It is true that all news throughout the world is suspect. But I believe that the "free press" in Thailand might be under pressure.

Today during 4 - 6 pm you can see the eclipse of the sun. My Thai friend took a picture frame and blacked it with a candle. You can see it in Pattaya. Just make sure you don't look at it directly without the smoked glass and not too long or you can hurt your eye. I know there is a way to use a mirror which is less dangerous, but I don't remember how to do it.

I had dinner with a friend last night that flew on Thai Air from Ubon to Bangkok. Since it was a domestic flight the flight was to land at Don Muang airport. Due to the fog it was diverted to Suvarnabhumi airport. The passengers could not deplane and had to wait over an hour before the plane took off again and landed at Don Muang. That had to be a very expensive taxi ride! I guess things like this would be reason enough for Thai Air to move all operations back to Suvarnabhumi airport, which I read they will do. After the next election will they then have to move again?

I hope you have a good trip and that the OX of the New Year smiles upon you.

Everyone likes to be rewarded in some way for their honesty. May I suggest that in addition to a cash reward, something more personal, like a thank you note be given. The cash inside so if others are around she will be less embarrassed and more likely to accept. It will give you more karma too.

Best bet is to go online and check regularly. It seems that as traffic gets to be less, they may now do what is more reasonable than increasing fres and start to give better promotions

Thai Airways International Plc (THAI) is cutting domestic airfare in between 45-55 percent from market price while dipping ticket price for international routes up to 50 percent, aims to stimulate traveling in first quarter this year. "This is the first time the airline offers such extra lower airfare," Chris Chantalitanon, director area for Thailand, Indochina and Myanmar , said Wednesday. The Nation I noticed it did not say which routes were getting the 50% cut. Maybe just the Asian routes?

I noticed that the roads are crowded and some people seem to be getting ready for the Chinese New Year. By Thai friend said we can't clean the house today because of the New Year. I did not know that and was told not to empty the trash. Other than that, is there anything special going on that you will be doing to celebrate?

I didn't go because the trip would be 4 hours to Korat and then 3 more to Surin and just return. Not my idea of a holiday My idea of a holiday is.........when the cat's away the mouse will play.

Is immigration or the Embassy open Monday? I thought it was the Chinese New Year and things would be closed.........Am I wrong on this?

My Thai friend is back in Pattaya now and this is what he told me. Yesterday he took his father to Surin to see the Black Magic Thai fellow. They had to take an egg with them because after the process of getting rid of bad spirit a egg was rubbed over the arm of his father and then opened to see if everything is ok. If a black hair or spot is in the egg then there is a serious problem. Luckily the egg showed that all was ok. The man mixed some herbs and gave to him and off my friend and his father went back to Korat. That night the father slept fine. This morning he got up and went to work at his farm which he could not do for the last 10 days. This had been a worry because water has to be pumped each day for the rice. They have put one of the mixed herbs at the spirit house to rid it of a bad spirit that might have tried to occupy it. His father also took a different herb mixture last night. As some have said, maybe it is mind over matter. But my Thai friend believes that for those that have no doubts about it, it works. If you don't believe in it, it won't work.

Brilliant!

I am wondering what time you went to Central Mall and what side you found the traffic screwed up. I went yesterday around 3:30 and drove down second road. I was sure the traffic was going to be horrible, but was really pleased that it was moving fine. They had the far left lane open for people to enter and exit. Since second road is a one way road no one crossed traffic lanes. Maybe I was lucky. I am going again later this afternoon and hope I find the traffic moving well.

My Thai friend left last night to go to his village because his father had not been able to sleep for 10 days due to a severe pain on the right side of his back, a numb right arm, and 10 days of constipation. I suggested he could just send some money so he could go to the local hospital. He told me his father wanted to go to Surin and have it taken care of by someone that cures by black magic. I am skeptical. He is not. He returns later tonight and I will let you know what happened when he returns. My question for now is, do you or you Thai friend believe in black magic?

I admit I last ate in Moscow about 25 years ago. But if Russian food is the same as then, I imagine Russians would not want to eat there either.

I am so happy it does not apply to God. I would be in jail for life! I did read that the Australian Government has asked for a Royal pardon for the author that has just been jailed.

I have 2 computers at my house. One is a PC and the other is a new laptop. Now I am not a computer whiz by any stretch, but I have been frustrated that I can't see some of my favorite US TV shows. They have many new episodes that you can stream to your computer BUT they will not stream outside of the US. I was searching for a way to get around that and finally found what is called a VPN. It costs only $15 a month and give me an IP address from the United States. They also have servers in Europe if you want to appear that you are using a computer from there. http://www.Reliablehosts.com Anyway, I wanted to upgrade my graphics card and the memory of my PC so the shows would stream well. I didn't want to lug my PC desktop up the stairs at Tukcom so I went to Wattana across from Foodland. They did an amazing job of installing 2 mg of memory and a graphic card that has 512 mb of memory. It is easy to do, but if something went wrong I did not want to go through explaining .......... The labor installation cost 200 baht. In the US it used to cost over $50. And they had it to me within 20 minutes

I was there today and did not see any sign or anything that said that, but it may be one of those secrets that happen all the time. GB asked if there is anything that you can't find in Pattaya already. The answer is YES. Many of the employees are from Bangkok and are here to help open the stores. I talked to several very handsome men (to my eyes) today. They work during the day and then go out at night. A few may be looking to stay in Pattaya and work. One told me he likes Pattaya because it only takes a few minutes to get to work. In Bangkok it takes him more than an hour each way. Some of the restaurants are the same as in Bangkok, but now in Pattaya. The one I really enjoyed is on the 5th floor or is it 6th??? Same floor as the cinema....It is a sushi place that brings food around on a conveyor belt. The price is 239 baht for all you can eat. But you must do so in 1 hour and 15 minutes or you will be charged 20 baht for each extra 10 minutes. I saw the owner of Amor there and he told me they have several in Bangkok. I thought the food was very good and fun. Tops on the ground floor looks like they have some of the best fruit around. On the same level they have many places where you can get prepared food which you can take home and heat up. It is not the usual street vendor food. It looks very good. The food court on the ground floor also looks like it has some really good food......... Some friends I ran into all seemed to say the same thing. You feel like you are in a upscale Bangkok mall.

It is always best to bring these kind of complaints to the management right away. Arguing with the waiter does not usually seem to bring results. May I suggest that the very first time something happens is the time to call the manager or owner over. So if the staff is really pulling a scam, the staff will know they won't get away with it on you. And may I further suggest that people always do it politely. Please let us know if the owners resolved the issue for you

This mall which is right on Beach Road and Second Road and before Center Road is to open Jan. 23. Many sales will be going on. There also will be a parade at 4pm down 2nd road announcing the opening. It is amazing to see Pattaya grow so fast. The Avenue Mall opened and still has many open spaces after I believe 2 years. The Avenue was promoted as an upscale open mall. I enjoy going to the movies there and shopping at Villa Market. This new Central Mall will also have a cinema complex. No matter which cinema complex I go to, at Big C or Avenue, there are few people. Oh and by the way, the new mall will enforce the no smoking ban just like all the other malls. It is the Thai way!

Now that the Chinese New Year is fast approaching I looked about what animal year I was born in. I learned that my Thai friend and I have the same Chinese zodiac and we were born on the same day of the week. We also have the same cycle (1 cycle is 12 years). My cycle is 5 and 3 months.

I have given up using credit cards unless I need to make an airline reservation or other online reservation. I am not so worried about the card being captured as I am about spending too much. When I use to want to purchase something it was so easy to take out the card. Now I carry cash only. I also save the 3% fee so many merchants try to charge for a card use.