August 2003 92nd Issue

Visa Hikes

Be prepared for an increase in the cost of your visas. The charges have gone up for all types of visa, tourist, non-imm and residents. More info can be found here: www.thaivisa.com

Before long pillion passengers on motorcycles will have to wear crash helmets. Fines of 1,000 Baht expected.

Sightseeing in Hua Hin

with thanks to R.P. Hamilton Accies Asia Rep, OJG, (Occassional Journalists Guild),
Ba. N.D.I.T. Bachelor of Arts, National Diploma Information Technology

One of the vastly underrated sightseeing features of Hua Hin is the daily performance of the batman at Hua Hin International Airport. Tickets for this event are very hard to get and visitors are advised to book early because the batman only appears for 20 minutes in morning to greet the incoming Bangkok Airway flight and once again in the evening to see it safely off.
During my last trip to Hua Hin, I witnessed perhaps the finest performance by the batman. What made this performance Oscar winning was that the batman started his performance when the plane was still on the runway some 300 metres away from the terminal. He obviously knew I was on the plane and could not wait to begin his performance. His opening move involved several elegant sweeps of his right hand. Unfortunately, the pilot appeared to take no notice of this and kept the plane trundling straight down the runway. However, it may be that these initial movements were intended to warm up the pilot for a sharp turn to the right to enter the parking area. On the other hand, it could be that because the batman has his back to the plane, he was unaware that we had landed and was still going through his own warm up. In any event, his actions were very fluid and precise and I gave him very high marks for style – an East-West combination of lessons from a Tai Chi teacher and a German army drill instructor.
The only slight blemish in his performance was that he gave the signal for the plane to turn too early and we consequently missed the designated parking sport by 10 metres. In fairness, there are approximately 17 million sq. metres of concrete apron in the new airport so that the technical challenge of guiding the plane to its designated parking spot should not be underestimated. Just as well, we were the only plane on the tarmac. I do not think he is ready yet for Heathrow airport.
The other passengers and I, who were all enthralled by the performance, gave him a 9.6.

H.M. The Queen's Birthday (Mothers Day)

Her Majesty Queen Sirikit's birthday on August 12, celebrated nationwide as Mother's Day. Individual people and organizations raise flags and portraits of Her Majesty in Bangkok and all over the kingdom.
As a tribute to Her Majesty's boundless contributions for the happiness of the entire population and the prosperity of the nation as a whole, August 12 is now a public holiday. We join all loyal and devoted subjects of the kingdom in wishing Her Majesty the Queen a long life of good health and happiness. Her Majesty Queen Sirikit was born on Friday, August 12,1932

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!

Cool Shades

Like Ozzy Osbourne's round, turquoise shades? If you really want to be comfortable in the glare and protect your eyes -- and your children's eyes -- from future cataracts, there is more to selecting sunglasses than mere "coolness" (desirable as that is).
Although the human body is good at replacing some damaged cells, the cells in the lens of the eye are never replaced. Damage from ultraviolet and (to a lesser degree) infrared rays can build up over a lifetime and gradually create cloudy areas on your cornea. It's hard to see through cataracts and they often must be removed surgically. Macular degeneration, another eye condition resulting from damage to the retina, also may be accelerated by too much unfiltered sun blasting onto the retinas.
The thing you want to guard against mainly is ultraviolet rays. You want to filter as many of these as you can away from your eyes. Most sunglasses, coated with UV blockers, block the ultraviolet B rays, but the cheaper ones may cheat a little on ultraviolet Examine the label. (Some contact lenses also block UVB -- ask your eye doctor.)
Besides UV, brightness is an issue. What people don't realize, is that going from inside to outside involves confronting light thousands of times brighter than that going into the eye the moment before. Brightness is a comfort issue -- it's uncomfortable to go into the sun from the shade and to have undimmed light flowing into your eyes.
So the darker the lens in your sunglasses the better? Clear glass transmits 90% of light. As the glasses get darker, less and less light goes through. Lightly tinted lenses let in 75% to 80% of light. Military standards specify that only 15% of light should penetrate, glasses in the 20% range are ideal.
What Color?
The overall best color to get is gray. This absorbs light across the spectrum equally.
Tech Innovations
A popular option is "polarized" sunglasses. These are very helpful against reflected light (such as on water, snow, or the road). The light particles called photons travel in a wave form. Polarized sunglasses, which have a protective layer bonded on much like the tinted film put on car windshields, admit only vertical waves. Since most of the reflected waves are coming in horizontally, those are blocked.
Cool Kids
Parents who slap some sunglasses on their babies have the right idea. Every human should wear sunglasses. Wearing sunglasses is especially important between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Even children with dark eyes, which provide partial protection, should wear them.
Like adults, kids who wear prescription glasses can get prescription sunglasses. For kids, you want wearability. Something comfortable, something they will keep on.
Glass or Plastic?
Glass is adequate at blocking UV. But polychromic sunglasses -- glass lenses that get darker as you encounter brightness -- are the gold standard. Glass sunglasses are heavy, despite being long-lasting. Glass doesn't scratch as easily as plastic.
And for driving? Sunglasses can cut glare. But never wear them at night.

Sheraton coming to a beach near you

STARWOOD Hotels and Resorts is planning to put the Sheraton flag on a brand new hotel development in Hua Hin if negotiations with the owners of the site can be satisfactorily concluded.
Starwood executives in Bangkok refused point blank to comment on the development, but they did confirm that Hua Hin was one of several places in Thailand where they would like to be represented. However, Hua Hin sources said a 250-room hotel was envisaged, along with a strong residential content which could be in the form of condominiums or villas.
The site of what will probably become the Sheraton Hua Hin is on the beach just north of the town. Although an opening date of late 2005 has not been fixed, a fast-track development is anticipated.

Hua Hin Rotary Club

The Hua Hin Rotary club invited the Mayor Khun Jira Pongpaiboon to welcome the new President Dr Danai Adoolyasakde, and to thank last year’s President Wanna Choksuchart for all her excellent efforts.

On a very special night for the Rotary members Past President of Rotary International Mr Bhichai Rattakul gave a talk about his life and times working for Rotary International
(Pictured above with President Dr Danai, and below with lady members)

Left are Rtn. PP. Darunee Ratanopas, Rtn. PP. Thasanee Gidcharapoom, Rtn. President elect Liza Onghang, Rtn. Sureerat ardoonyasak, and Rtn. Wassana Srikanchana who thrilled the audience at the Grand Hotel with their colourful and lively dance routines.

Three Rotarians celebrated their birthdays this month at the family night. Rtn. Somboon Jitsavas, Rtn. PP Supot Tanprasertkul, and Rtn. Thantawan Chantuma

Congratulations

Many congratulations to Richard and Kom who were married at Poole Court Register Office in Bristol UK on Saturday 5th of July.
Richard is a member of Hua Hin Golf society and regular visitor to the regions golf courses.
Good luck and happiness to you both.

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