Regular features from September 2002 81st Issue

For more Thai vocabulary click here. This month find out what day of the week it is:

Vocab:
order - sung - สั่ง
I'd like to order food - sung aharn krup - สั่งอาหารครับ
food - aharn / khao - อาหาร / ข้าว
drink - deum - ดื่ม
plate - jahn - จาน
bottle - kuat -ขวด
jug - yeuak - เหยือก
spoon - chon - ช้อน
fork - sorm -ส้อม
knife - meet -มีด
glass - gaew - แก้ว
tea - cha - ชา
coffee - gafeh - กาแฟ
hungry - hiw - หิว
thirsty - hiwnam - หิวน้ำ
water - nam - น้ำ
salt - gluah - เกลือ
sugar - numdtaan - น้ำตาล
fish sauce - numbpla - น้ำปลา
eat - gin / tahn - กิน / ทาน
full up - im laew - อิ่มแล้ว
tasty - aroi -อร่อย
sour - priow - เปรี้ยว
bitter - kom - ขม
sweet - wahn - หวาน
spicy - pet - เผ็ด
I can't eat spicy - gin pet mai dai - กินเผ็ดไม่ได้
I like spicy food - chorp aharn pet pet - ชอบอาหารเผ็ดๆ

Eating Ettiquette: When invited round someones house for a meal in Thailand there are a few little polite gestures that can be made. Meals usually consist of a bowl of rice each and the main dishes in the centre of the table, it is polite to take a spoon of rice first to show gratitude for the meal as rice is the most important part of the meal and an important part of Thai tradition. No Thai food is large enough to be cut up, this is why there is only a fork and spoon, you should eat with the spoon. It is also polite to leave some food on the plate at the end of the meal to show the host that you are full, an empty plate indicates hunger!

If you have any language questions or would like translations, send us an email at the Observer.

Thai Goes Green In Phetchaburi

More than three hundred Thai Airways International staff, including the airline's President, Kanok Abhiradee, have taken part in a one day reforestation project. The event was in co-operation with the Royal Development Study Center Committee from Cha-am in Phetburi province. Also present was Dr Sumet Tantivejkul, the secretary of the Chaipattana Foundation. "We fully recognise the importance of Thailand's natural resources and the need to prevent their depletion," said Khun Kanok at the planting. "So , Thai decided to launch this project six years ago and has made it an annual activity since, where members of our staff join together on a voluntary basis. I am pleased to say that the development is remarkable. A large number of plants are able to grow successfully; its forest stage is gradually returning." On the day, 1,500 trees, including teak, mango wood and mahogany were planted at Huay Sai in Phetchaburi. "We are proud to be able to contribute to Thailand's environmental and community development," the Thai President said.

Flight News

With thanks to Alain de Rocker
Jet lag could be consigned to the history books as scientists develop anti-jet lag glasses. Australian scientists have developed glasses which emit blue and green light to reduce tiredness after a long-haul flight. A light-sensitive gland in the brain is stimulated, fooling the wearer's body clock into resetting itself. The glasses, which are powered by a small battery, should be worn for three hours a day, two days before the flight and for three hours during the flight.
Boeing is predicting a doubling of the world's civil aircraft fleet and an aviation market worth USD4.9 trillion over the next 20 years. As the airline business struggles through one of its worst ever periods, the optimistic outlook comes from the 2002 Current Market Outlook which the (now) Chicago based company released during the Farnborough (UK) Air Show. Boeing estimates the world fleet will double to almost 33,000 jets by 2021, comprising around 17,200 new planes for market growth; 6,700 for replacement and more than 8,500 airplanes that currently are flying. The aircraft will be needed to accommodate a 4.9% increase in air travel. The survey expects Latin America to be one of the fastest growing regional markets.
A number of US carriers are planning on reducing the number of flights they operate around the anniversary of last year's September 11 atrocities. American Airlines and United Airlines will cut unspecified flights, citing a reduction in bookings. Delta Airlines is decreasing flights for the week from September 9 to 13. US Airways is not expecting a decline in travel and will not be making any changes to its schedules. Continental Airlines has yet to make a decision on the subject. Meanwhile, BA said it would cancel 24 of its 78 flights between the US and the UK due to a lack of bookings. Virgin Atlantic said it planned to operate a full service on September 11, although they are reviewing the situation.
The world's longest plane was entered into service this month by Virgin Atlantic, offering 25% more seats than the airline's current fleet. The Airbus A340- 600 is 75.3m long, 4.8m longer than any other commercial plane. Upper Class will seat 50 passengers, Premium Economy can hold 28 and Economy has room for 233. Onboard entertainment will be provided through 3,000 hours of video on demand, 14 audio on demand channels and 15 computer games. The A340-600 has a range of 7,300nm/13,500 km and will be deployed on routes with growing passenger demand. This year the aircraft will fly between Heathrow and New York , Tokyo and Hong Kong .
+++ US Airways - the first major US airline to declare bankruptcy since the events of September 11. +++
US Airways has become the first major airline to declare bankruptcy since last year's terrorist hijackings, a move that came 11 months to the day after the industry was rocked by the attacks.
US Airways, the seventh-largest carrier in the U.S. , said flights will continue normally, and the company expressed optimism that it will emerge from bankruptcy early next year. In its Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing last Sunday, the company listed assets of USD7.81 billion and liabilities of USD7.83 billion and said its cash flow was relatively stable.

Favourite Holiday Dishes from Tantawan's Kitchen

Yam Som O (herbed pomelo salad)
1 portion
150G Pomelo meat
100G Pomelo salad sauce
20G Shredded boiled chicken breast
38G Boiled shrimp (3ps)
4G Crispy fried shallots
2G Crispy fried garlic
8G Fried peanuts
1G Toasted sliced coconut meat
5G Chilli oil
Stir the minced shrimp and chicken with some coconut cream in a wok until cooked. The add the rest of the coconut cream and bring to the boil. Add the chilli oil, chilli jam, salt and sugar. Boil until well mixed, then add some lime juice. Mixx all ingredients together including the salad sauce. As a topping, sprinkle the toasted sliced coconut meat before serving.Sauce
100G Chopped shrimp meat
50G Chopped chicken breast
400G Cooked coconut cream
15G Chilli oil
5G Chilli jam (paste)
9G Salt
20G Lime juice
28G White sugar
17G Palm sugar

Birthday boy Paul celebrates with friends

Observer girl Tantatwan is another year older

Ian and Grace having fun at the football party

Past and present Presidents at the Hua Hin Rotary

Elvis entertains at Baan Hua Hin

Congratulations
to Klaus and Mrs Rauter on the birth of their baby girl Tanya Chirapa Rauter born on August 5th 2002

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