PM will visit Ubon Ratchathani

PM will visit Ubon Ratchathani despite anti-govt rally

BANGKOK, 4 October 2009 (NNT) – Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva is scheduled to visit the northeastern province of Ubon Ratchathani on 10 October 2009, according to Democrat Spokesperson MD Buranaj Smutharaks.

MD Buranaj announced that the prime minister would travel to meet local people in order to gain first-hand information on their problems. On the same day, Prime Minister Abhisit will visit and give monetary compensation to grandma Hai Khanjanta as well.

The spokesperson believed that although some anti-government groups intended to stage a rally to disrupt the Prime Minister’s visit, their gathering would not obstruct the government’s work in the area. He reiterated that the prime minister would make official visits to every region nationwide without fear of such movements by the anti-government groups.

The cabinet earlier approved a government central fund worth 4.9 million baht to compensate Ms Hai Khanjanta and her family, who have suffered from the construction of Huai Laha Dam in Natan district, Ubon Ratchathani.

News story from here: http://thainews.prd.go.th/en/news.php?id=255210040044

More red shirt unrest in Ubon

I blogged a few months ago about a red shirt protest here in Ubon. It was all over the Deputy Commerce Minister Alongkorn Polabutr who was visiting. There were a few hundered of them and at least double that number of Police. It makes you wonder what would happen if the Prime Minister would happen to visit.
I guess we will find out as he arrives this Saturday I have been told.
As Peppers is located so close and on the main road to the airport we get a lot of airport and airforce customers. Between them and our regular customers we get a good source of local information as to who is coming and going.
As I type a contingent of red shirts are in the shop eating and planning what is to happen on Saturday so I hope to have more information for you soon.

Typhoon Ketsana was a wimper but flooding is now a big problem

It seems that Typhoon Ketsana was just a wimper in Ubon Ratchatani. A fair bit of rain but not much wind and this morning even the sun was attempting to break through the clouds (to no avail). Of course Ketsana has wrecked havoc through the Philippines, Vietnam and Cambodia in recent days but by the time it got here it had almost run out of puff.
Flooding is now the only real threat both immediately from the rains and the possible release of water from upstream dams as they struggle to handle the new inflow.

According to New Zealander Dr Michael Hare who has lived in Ubon for more then a decade “The problem for us in Ubon the man-made water release from the dams up country. It is that water which has caused massive flooding in Ubon and Warin over the years, the most recent being 2000, 01 and 02.”
He continued saying “My maid says that the water from the Lat Phao dam Kalasin has already been released. I can not confirm this as the authorities would dare not say so. If it is true then except flooding in Ubon within 7-10 days.”

I heard through my sister in law last night that the river in the village is running an absolute banker. They have posted look outs along the river over night and there are regular updates over those blasted loud speakers giving regular updates. When asked how worried she was she replied by saying that she has already packed her bags ready for an immediate departure.

Typhoon Ketsana weakens in Thailand

According to enews.mcot.net Typhoon Ketsana has weakened and become a tropical depression.

“BANGKOK, Sept 30 (TNA) – Typhoon “Ketsana” has been downgraded to a tropical depression status and at 7 am Wednesday was centred in Khong Chiam district in the northeastern province of Ubon Ratchathani, according to the Meteorological Department.
Moving west at a speed of 15km/hr, it is forecast to pass over Ubon Ratchathani, Si Sa Ket, Surin, Burirum and Nakhon Ratchasima, causing strong winds and widespread rainfall.
When the storm moved into the northeastern province of Ubon Ratchathani, it caused widespread rainfall in 25 districts, where many roads have been flooded.
While the water level in the Mun River has increased, it is not threatening communities or farmlands.
Thailand’s lower northern and central provinces will be influenced by the storm by Wednesday afternoon.
Local residents in low-lying at-risk areas in the Northeast, the East and the South should be on alert for a possible flash flood.”

Considering that it would have crossed right over the top of us it was a bit of an anti-climax really, unless the break in the weather we are currently experiencing (7pm Wednesday night) is just a short little break. I doubt it though because as the day progressed the rain weakened (have now stopped) and the winds have almost completely dropped off.
Having been through the tail end of many cyclones in northern Australia I guess I was expecting a little more.

Typhoon Ketsana hits Thailand.

Well not really but it is on it’s way and is already having a big affect around Ubon Ratchatani. The rain slowly started yesterday mid morning and has slowly built up to be a steady continuous shower then hasn’t slackened at all over night and now this morning. This is apparently the front of the now Tropical Depression so I am expecting a lot more rain then this. The wind picked up over night but is not dangerous. The cooler weather is certainly welcome and last night we slept without the air con for the first time in many months.

According to Facebook friends there are many roads already closed around Ubon, I am guessing these would be the ones closest to the river. I believe the worst is still to come and although I doubt there will be dangerous winds the flooding could be a different story.

Three nights in Bangkok

Got back last night after a wonderful four days in the big smoke. Left Monday morning early and arrived back Thursday Evening. Splashed out and stayed at the Lebua hotel which the kids just loved. Heaps of room, big pool, great breakfast and in a good location. Caught up with the Martins every day but basically took it very easy. One big day was spent at Yo-Yo land at Seacon Square where the kids had a blast and were very exhausted that night. Highlights for the kids apart from Yo-Yo land was a ride on the sky train, swimming in the pool, the power up and take off in the aeroplane and watching Tom and Jerry whilst being allowed to jump on their beds!
Hopefully next time my wife can come as well!

Ariya with her new 'princess' dress and her first Barbi doll. She kept on telling me that now she needs 'tip top' shoes to wear with her princess dress. I think she means high heels!

Smiles at Yo-Yo land.

Lebua Hotel swimming pool

View of Bangkok skyline from the Lebua hotel

Tom and Jerry time before bed.

On the road in rural Thailand.

Back on August the 9th I made a promise of eight upcoming blogs as a result of my friends the Martins visit for 10 days. Well finally here is the final one. It simply is a selection of photos taken from the car during our time touring around the province of Ubon Ratchatani.

Everyone in the back for the short 100m hop from Sunee to home.

There were three in the back and the little one said....

Packing them in Thai style.

Buffalo having a drink at Sirindhorn Dam

Rice fields for miles and miles.

Massive rain storm just a few kms from the village.

I'm NOT tired!

Catching a ride home.

Off to market

Clint driving while I pretend to know how to use a GPS.

Modern day kids.

Huai Luang waterfall, Ubon Ratchatani

The Huai Luang waterfall is located inside the Phu Chong Na Yoi National Park which is in the Amphur of Na Cha Luai, right up against the Cambodian border, a 2 hour drive from Ubon Ratchatani but just a 30 minute drive from my village. I have been here many times with friends and family and am constantly impressed by it’s beauty and power. The price has come way down from when I first visited and is now a much more respectable 100 baht ($3.30 AUS) per foreigner to visit. As per usual I complained about the dual pricing (a Thai person is 20 baht) and so they allowed the kids to enter for free.
There are some quite steep steps to navigate to get down to the river level so not recommended for very young kids or very old people. Bring your bathers as there is no problems with having a swim to cool off when you arrive.

Once again, a big thank you Clint for letting me use his photos and once again I will let the pictures tell the story.

Entrance to the Phu Chong Na Yoi National Park

The river continues on down stream heading to Cambodia which is just a few kms away.

Nick and Rochelle chilling on a log.

That's a lot of water going over every second.

The kids took a snap of their Dad.

This was part of a poster up in the office showing the changing of the seasons and how the flow of the waterfall changes throughout the year. A photo for each month from January on the left to December on the right.

Thailand village life from the view finder of a first time visitor

Time for the next blog promised during the Martins trip here a few weeks ago. My wife’s village is a tiny little place in one of the most remote places in Thailand, extremely close to where the Thai, Cambodian and Laos borders intersect. I love taking people there and for a long time had wanted to let the Martins experience first hand this unique place. The place is a little rough and I was worried as to how they would handle it which was wasted energy as they all had a great time and fitted in perfectly to village life.
I thought it would make a good blog to post some pics from the first time visitors camera instead of from mine so when we got home to Ubon I downloaded all the pics that they had taken and here is a selection of them.

Buffalo taking a nap in someone's front yard.

The kids were quite an attraction

Off exploring one of the three 'streets' in town.

Toast for breakfast.

Cruising the main street.

Making up pig feed at my sister in laws house/shop.

Grabbing a lift with my brother in law.

Getting up close and personal at my families pig farm.

Checking out the chicks.

More pigs.

Eating the seeds from the Lotus flower.

A flower of a different variety.

A farmer heading off to work.

Bubba was a big hit.

It had been a bit wet.

Dinner time.

After dinner we went up to the local school to set some fireworks off that we had brought with us - they were huge!

Ubon Ratchatani from the air Take II

Well I am none the wiser but the only way around the Thai Police problem was by reducing the size of the photos! So below is what I wanted to say earlier today…

I have been sitting on these photos for a few weeks and was hoping to blog about them after finishing my other blogs of touring around Ubon. Due to work and health issues I haven’t had the time to finish those blogs so thought I would slip these pics in now so that you don’t think I have abandoned this blog!

They were supplied by a friend of mine called Nootprapa who got them herself from a friend at www.guideubon.com

Enjoy.