July 2003 91st Issue

July’s Holidays

13th Asarn Bucha Day
14th Buddhist Lent Day
15th Substitution for Asarn Bucha Day

The Asaha Puja Day is one of the most sacred days in Buddhism. It is observed on the fifteenth day of the waxing moon of the eight lunar month (July). It is an anniversary of the day on which Lord Buddha delivered his first Sermon to his five disciples at the Deer Park in Benares over two thousand five hundred years ago. The day also marks the beginning of the worship of the Triple Gems, namely: the Lord Buddha, His Teachings and His Disciples.
To observe this auspicious day, Buddhists all over the country perform the merit making and observe Silas. There are many activities in the family during this holiday like cleaning the house, hoisting the flag, and setting up an altar for religious ceremonies. Family members discuss problems in the family by taking the middle way as a guiding principle to abstain from sin. They are practicing the Dhamma in the temple, observing the precepts, praying to the triple gem, listening to the sermon and joining a candle procession around the temple not only as the family's activities but also in schools. In school, teachers and students mount exhibitions, prepare posters or picture notebooks on the religious holiday. Various of institutions like schools and universities, including public and private organizations organize a colorful candle procession leading to a temple where the offering of the candles where be made.
Some Buddhist followers consider the beginning of Buddhist Lent as a time for making resolution such as refraining from smoking or observing five precepts throughout the three-month.
Buddhists can practice their faith and get a good understanding on the importance of Buddhism.
Buddhist Lent covers a good part of the rainy season and lasts three lunar months. In Thailand, Buddhist monks resolve to stay in a temple of their choice and will not take an abode in an other temple until the Lent is over.
The celebration of the beginning of Buddhist Lent is marked by the ceremony of presenting candles to the monks. Various institutions e.g. schools and universities, including public and private organizations will organize a colorful candle procession leading to a temple where the offering of the candles will be made.
Some Buddhist followers consider the beginning of Buddhist Lent as a time for making resolution such as refraining from smoking or observing five precepts (Panjasila) throughout the three-month Rains Retreat.
On Buddhist Lent Day, Buddhist worshippers go to the temple, offer food and others necessities to the monks, and attend a 3-round candle procession around the Buddhist temple. They behave according to the rules of Buddist Commandments, pray and meditate, especially on this Buddhist Day of Worship.

Happy birthday your Royal Highness

HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn is the only son, the second of four children, of Their Majesties King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX) and Queen Sirikit of Thailand. He celebrates his birthday on 28 July.
HRH The Prince studied at the University of New South Wales, Australia and graduated with a B.A. in Military Studies, he then attended the Royal College of Defence Studies in UK.
He became Staff Officer at the Directorate of Army Intelligence in the 1970s. In 1988 he became Commanding General of the King’s Own Bodyguard. As the Crown Prince, he also is bestowed, at HM the King’s command, with the highest ranks of all three royal Thai armed forces: a General of the Royal Thai Army, an Admiral of the Royal Thai Navy, and an Air Chief Marshal of the Royal Thai Air Force.
As a military official and the royal heir, His Royal Highness is always on duty guarding Their Majesties the King and Queen on their visits to rural people all over the country. While on duty, after seeing Their Majesties safely working on their projects, he often takes the opportunity to visit the remote rural areas in the district to oversee the irrigation projects started by HM the King. He is always on the lookout to see if he can do anything to ease the plight of villagers in remote areas. At the end of 2001, he found that while visiting Ban Ta Yoy School in Ubon Ratchathani that the school lacked running water. In addition, during the rainy season the dirt road became so muddy that it was difficult for the students to commute on foot or on their bicycles. He therefore ordered that the road be paved and had the village’s running water system repaired, and he donated student uniforms, sports equipment, and blankets to the students and the school.

Tips to make your holiday smooth

Thai people believe the head is the most sacred part of the body. Refrain from touching a Thai person on the head.
The feet should not be used for pointing at people or objects.
The Buddhist faith is strong here, it is considered disrespectful to wear beach clothes to a temple, or to climb over Buddha images.
The Royal Family is deeply loved, and speaking ill of any its members is considered a serious matter.
Displays of affection in public is poor form as is topless sunbathing.
Most independent small businesses and street vendors are open to bargaining. All discussions should be done in a friendly manner.
Thailand and in particular Hua Hin/Cha Am remain very safe for tourists with almost no violent crime, pickpockets and credit card crime rares its ugly head from time to time.
Respect for the police should be shown at all times, they do not take kindly to rude or loud talk.
Take particular care on the road, motorbike spills are very common and can ruin your holiday. If you hire a motorbike and it is damaged, you will have to pay for its repair. The major car hire companies do have insurance, but check first. An accident can be very costly.

Remember these Thai phrases throughout your stay “Sanuk” which describes anything which is fun, and “Mai pen rai” which means never mind, and all will be well!

Flying High by Alain de Rocker

SARS Impact Greater Than Iraq War.

The damaging effects of the SARS virus were highlighted today when a new report revealed that the disease has had a more significant impact on the global airline industry than the war in Iraq.
The report, from flight schedule information provider OAG, said: "The
impact of SARS on global flight schedules was not unexpected but the
scale of the fall is quite staggering. In the past, the Asia Pacific
region, particularly China, has been an area of growth. These statistics
show that SARS has had a far greater effect on global air travel than
the war itself."
China and the Asia Pacific region have seen the biggest impact with
flights to and from China down by 45 percent despite being up 20 percent in the last quarter. The number of flights to and from the region is up marginally year on year, but seat numbers have actually fallen by
128,000, reflecting the dramatic reduction in travel caused by SARS.
According to the report, despite signs of recovery shown earlier in the
year, the total number of scheduled flights worldwide has fallen by 3
percent compared to last year. This is largely due to the combined
impact of SARS, war and the worldwide economic slowdown.
Elsewhere, figures show that despite recent cuts by some airlines to
their services, the key transatlantic route shows little change overall
compared to the same week in 2002.
There has been a steep fall in flights between Hong Kong and Western
Europe and between Hong Kong and the US and Canada.
The bright spot in the report is the low-cost sector which has continued
to perform strongly with flights within Europe up 77 percent and
services to and from the UK up by 36 percent.
The only region failing to show growth in the budget market in Asia,
where flights within the region are down by 18 percent.

New Airports Not Needed Says BA
British Airways today called for more runways to be developed in the UK
but said it did not support the building of new regional airports.
The airline would like to see a second runway at Birmingham and,
eventually, extra runways at Scotland's two major airports, Glasgow and
Edinburgh.
At the country's largest regional airport, Manchester, BA said it
favours building new passenger terminals and also proposes that any new
runway at London Heathrow should have between 30 and 60 daily take-offs and landings reserved for extra flights to more UK regional airports.
The UK's largest carrier was responding to the government's regional air
studies consultation which is examining possible development of airports
outside the south-east of England over a period of 30 years.
BA suggested that a short runway at Heathrow should be reserved for
smaller aircraft on short haul services which should not be displaced by
long haul flights which would operate from the two longer runways.
Regional passengers would then be guaranteed access into the UK's
international hub airport and destinations around the world.
Rod Eddington, British Airways' chief executive, said: "We support fully
the sustainable development of airports in the British regions, in
response to increasing passenger demand, and believe that any new
runways should be built at existing airports rather than at new sites.
"Strong air links to London and the range of services provided by an
international hub airport are vital for regional development in the UK.
Most regional airports are unable to support an extensive long haul
flight network as there is insufficient passenger demand in the
immediate catchments area. That is why the role of Heathrow is key to
the success of Britain.
"During the last few years, the number of regional routes served from
Heathrow has been reduced due to the lack of runway capacity there. A third runway will enable British Airways and other airlines to start new commercially viable regional services from Heathrow, hopefully using slots reserved for that purpose."

Emirates Gives Boeing Slice Of Massive Order
Emirates said, this June 16th, that its huge order announced at the
Paris Air Show will include leased Boeing planes bringing the total
number of aircraft being acquired to 71.
The Dubai-based airline claimed that the deal, totalling USD$19 billion, is the largest in civil aviation history.
Boeing's slice of the order is for 26 of its long range 777-300ERs,
which will be leased through GE Capital Aviation Services and
International Lease Finance.
European rival Airbus has won the biggest share as the Middle East
carrier opted for 23 more of the company's super jumbo A380 planes, two of them on lease, and 22 of the wide-body A340 range. Emirates now has on order 45 of the world's largest passenger jet, the A380.
The airline's Chairman, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, said: "We need many more aircraft to continue our plans to become a truly global airline and had already announced a major aircraft order at the 2001 Dubai International Air Show.
"Now we are placing more multi-billion dollar orders and have chosen A380s, A340s and 777s to meet exceptionally strong demand from passengers and cargo customers. We will fund them from our own reserves, from banks and institutional investors and through operating leases."
The expanded order book will increase Emirates' fleet to 125 aircraft by 2012, as part of long-term plans to serve new destinations. The new jets will also boost flights on existing routes to the UK, Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Maldives, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.

Concorde Becomes Museum Piece
The last transatlantic journey by an Air France Concorde was made
Thursday when the supersonic plane flew to Washington to become a museum piece.
It will go on display at the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and
Space Museum. Two more Concorde's will go on display to the public following the retirement of the Air France fleet from commercial
service. One will find a home at France's own air and space museum north of Paris and will circle the city tomorrow before taking up permanent retirement.
A third plane will be housed at Germany's Technik Museum Sinsheim.
European aircraft manufacturer Airbus, which evolved from the company which built Concorde, will receive one of the aircraft at its Toulouse headquarters at the end of the month. The last of the Air France fleet will go on view at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport.

Air Canada Gloom As Revenue Slumps
Air Canada, which is operating under creditor protection, says its
receipts slumped by more than CAD$200 million (USD$148.1 million) in May and it expects a shortfall of CAD$1 billion for 2003.
The Montreal-based carrier's troubles were heightened by the SARS
epidemic which trimmed its April revenues by CAD$125 million.
Traffic on routes to Asia, where the virus is still causing concern, was
down by 68 percent last month and the outbreak of the disease in Toronto
saw passenger numbers fall by 22 percent. The airline said it does not
see any prospect of immediate recovery from its difficulties.
"As can be seen from our results, the SARS outbreak continues to have a
major negative impact on traffic, not only on our Asian routes but on
our entire network, and in particular, our main hub at Toronto," said
Robert Milton, the airline's President and Chief Executive Officer.
"Given the ongoing concerns over the outbreaks in Toronto, other than
for a few Asian Pacific carriers, SARS is proving more devastating to
Air Canada than any other airline worldwide.
"Advance international bookings for the summer are weak and we expect that the entire Canadian tourism industry is under similar pressure.
International travellers are avoiding Canada in general, linking the SARS outbreaks to the entire country rather than to Toronto.
"We currently expect the 2003 year over year revenue shortfall to be significantly in excess of CAD$1 billion with no expectation of meaningful recovery before the third quarter of 2004," said Mr. Milton.

In the News . . .

The continuing saga over the beach restaurants continues to stir great interest with rumour and speculation rife. There is a website dedicated to keeping the pier area as it is. For more information contact info@savehuahin.com.

Mr Alan Cooper has some strong views on the state of the beaches in Hua Hin. His very educated and informative letters have been published in the Bangkok Post. He is interested to hear your comments - coopera@eudoramail.com

New Generation Guard opened their new offices and are looking to expand their business.

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