"YES" TO ELECTRIC BUSES!

Maybe much smaller than this, doors on the other side - but they are coming.

After years of debate, it's now official. Chiangmai will have a modern bus service, Lord Mayor Boonlert Buranupakorn told 'Good Morning Chiangmai News' late last month. "A budget of 100,000US$ has been allocated and we are talking to the Armstrong company in France, and Siemens "

"There will be a feasibility study and we will look at modern electric buses running on rubber tyres, possibly in their own allocated lanes."

There had been no decision to buy 20 electric trams, as reported in another local publication last month.

Cutting the black spaghetti

The Prime Minister's concern for his home city has resulted in a budget to bury the ugly overhead power and phone lines in Changklan (Night Bazaar), Thapae and Rachadamnern Roads. The Lord Mayor says that work will begin in the next 3 months.

ELEFACTS3: MUSTH is the term used to describe certain behaviour patterns in male elephants after the age of about 8. The symptoms can occur at any time, for an indeterminate period. Research is not conclusive but the following has been observed:

The period in which MUSTH takes places varies according to to the bull's age, and, interestingly, to their position in the social hierarchy. Older bulls supress the MUSTH cycle of less dominant younger bulls, creating a stable hierarchy of bull elephants.

More 'Elefacts'? See www.thaifocus.com/elephant

WERE YOU SITTING COMFORTABLY…..

…..on your flight to Thailand? Whether or not, we're just so glad you had one, because a shortage of airline seats on appropriate routes is one of the biggest factors limiting tourism here, says newly appointed TAT Governor Mrs Juthamas Siriwan.

Although THAI International have ordered 3 new aircraft, the number of available seats still falls well short of demand. Last year, 10.5 million people arrived and promotion of the Kingdom's hotels, spas and golf courses in particular could boost arrivals to 15.3 million over the next 5 years, she said.

Now watch that passport!

Don't give your passport to hotels or vehicle hire companies. That's the advice on the British Government website covering Thailand. Our advice: offer them photo copies of the relevant pages instead. If that's not acceptable, move on - plenty to choose from! Japanese tourists in particular are advised to take good care of their passports at all times, as they fetch a premium price on the black market.

THE MOZZIE MAN COMETH

Don't be alarmed if you hear the whine of a tiny petrol engine, then see a masked man emerge from a cloud of white smoke. It's not an alien from Mars, it's a man on a mission - to eliminate mosquitos.

The Chiangmai city authority is spraying a solution of 25% Cypermethrin and 75% water to reduce the population of the little biters. The chemical is extracted from plants and has no ill effects on humans or plant life.

EDUCATORS AND THE ENVIRONMENT

The main goals of 'Sharing for a Sustainable Future' at Prem International Center were to share ideas of current environmental education practices and to determine future goals and objectives. In addition, the conference sought to strengthen co-operation between government agencies, educators and schools, and to find ways that children could learn to conserve environmental quality.

The 300-plus participants from 9 nations attended 3 days of workshops to assess the future of environmental education, the first ever opportunity for educators, from student teachers to Ministry of Education representatives, to discuss best practices together.

IT'S LESS BOVVER ON A HOVER!

From this Red River crossing in China, the intrepid Reinhard goes upmarket to a hover on the Mekong.

One of the most imaginative, up-market vacation adventures in recent years purrs off smoothly and quietly along the Mekong River on November 2nd under the guidance of Chiangmai based tour director Reinhard Hohler.

'Expedition Mekong - River of Dreams' will take fortunate travellers downstream from China for 17 days (7,700US$ each) or 15 days back upstream from Cambodia for 300 dollars less, starting November 21st.

The aim is to travel the entire navigable length of this major river - and part of the adventure includes an overnight stay in a basic guest house while the huge hover is craned out of the water and trucked around a waterfall!

Meals, overnight accommodation, ground transport and some domestic flights are included and at time of going to press there were still a few seats left on both journeys. More on www.expedition-mekong.com

BRUSHING UP THE BORDER

Prior to the closure, Mae Sai visitors could often clearly witness illegal cross border trade!

As relations between Bangkok and Rangoon steadily improve, plans are being made to improve trade and investment co-operation - even to spruce up our nearest land border crossing, Mae Sai in Chiangrai province

The long planned second road bridge over the narrow river to Tachilek in Burma should be built promptly, and the image of both towns improved to attract greater tourism, said Dr Krasae Chanawong, a Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister, on a visit there last month. He also encouraged all parties involved to plan in advance for the expansion of Chang Saen as a Mekong river port, serving increased import and export trade with China.

At time of going to press, all land border crossings to Burma remained closed.

ALASKAN CAN JOB SCAM

If you hear someone promoting work in an Alaskan fish canning factory, tell them to can it! Scammers are "recruiting" Thais to work a 2 year contract at US$7 per hour. Free food, accommodation and medication!. The catch? Each must pay 525,000b in advance for "travelling expenses". That buys a lot of travel - but only for the scammers. Thai workers fall victim to fraudulent overseas job agents year after year.

ALL ABOARD THE MAGIC BUS

1,848 million methamphetamine pills were on board a long distance bus stopped by police in Chiangrai province. After discovering a hidden compartment containing the drugs, police arrested the driver and 4 passengers, then searched the home of the vehicle's owner and confiscated many other vehicles. A few days later, Lamphun police noticed a car which had run out of petrol. If the 36 year old Lisu driver had used 300b from his boot he'd have had no trouble. Boot contents? 9.5 million baht in small notes!

Pedestrian lights up

Pedestrian-controlled traffic lights will be installed on 43 city centre crossings, the Mayor has announced. The estimated cost of 37.4 million baht will be paid by a Japanese loan project and contractors have been asked to submit tenders.

HILLTRIBES IN LEGAL BID

The Law Society will sue the Interior Ministry on behalf of 1,243 hilltribe people in Mae Ai district, Chiangmai, in a bid to restore their Thai citizenship. A human rights lawyer says that the recent revocation of their citizenship was illegal and that Mae Ai authorities should not have rejected their case.

WILL THE ZOO MOVE?

No fewer than 25 local groups, projects and clubs have asked Chiangmai-born Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra for transparency and detailed explanations on the 750m baht plan to move Chiangmai Zoo further into degraded forest land in the foothills of Doi Suthep.

A massive area of over 9,000 rai is being discussed. The groups are also worried about the 'Night Safari Park' project (reported here in August) on environmental and cost grounds. It is planned to create a new public park on the existing site.

Pet topics

Pet lovers compete for prizes on October 5-6th at the first ever Love Animal Fair on the 3rd floor of the Central Airport Plaza parking building. There are many different classes for dogs, cats, fish, birds and rodents - full information from Louis Aquarium near Tesco Lotus, Superhighway, tel 0-5341-2662.

MILLION BAHT FLOODS

Mae Tang, Chai Prakarn and Jomthong areas of Chiangmai Province were worst affected by last month's flooding, with around one million baht's worth of damage being caused to roads, bridges and mines.

WORK PERMIT FEES TRIPLED

With no public announcement, the Labour Office tripled the fee for a one year Work Permit to 3,000 baht, effective from September 17th. A permit for 3-6 months now costs 1,500b and 750b for under 3 months. The fee for changing locations, companies or employers has been reduced to 150b

NEWS OF THE PAST

In October 1996, 'Good Morning Chiangmai News' reported:

NEWS OF THE FUTURE

A supreme sacrifice which brought lasting freedom

100 years ago, did this brave young Dane save Northern Thailand?

Remembering countless other casualties

David Hardy

Boat racing on the mighty Mekong

Riverbank Stone

Chiangmai and the North

My Chiangmai

David Hardy

Chiangmai Pool League

Night Fowl

Reasons to Relax

Ric Klein

Ric Klein learned more about his own city by guiding visitors.

The Drinks Page

Night Fowl

Letters

ALASKAN CAN JOB SCAM

If you hear someone promoting work in an Alaskan fish canning factory, tell them to can it! Scammers are "recruiting" Thais to work a 2 year contract at US$7 per hour. (...).

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