Indonesia - 10 beaches to visit in #Yogyakarta

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Many of us identify Yogyakarta with Malioboro and Prambanan temple. While the two places are certainly a must-visit, if you still have a few more days to explore the city this holiday season, Tourism Minister Arief Yahya encourages you to visit Yogyakarta's beaches. 

"Take a lot of pictures, upload them to your social media channels and use the hashtags #MudikPenuhPesona, #WisataJalurMudik and #PesonaCeritaMudik," he said. 

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 Here are 10 must-visit beaches around Yogyakarta.

Siung Beach

Located around 70 kilometers and about two-hour drive from the center of Yogyakarta, Siung Beach is mostly known for its huge corals and cliffs. The cliffs, especially, are haven for rock-climbing enthusiasts. There are more than 250 rock-climbing routes available at this beach. And for those who are keen to spending a night under the stars, there’s also a campsite available.

Pok Tunggal Beach

This white sand beach is one the most beautiful beaches in Yogyakarta. The beach itself is relatively new to the public, as it first gained recognition back in 2012. What’s unique about this beach is that there’s actually freshwater springs that comes from the river flow running beneath the soil.

Indrayanti Beach

The real name of this beach is actually Sawal Pulang or Pulsa Beach, the name Indrayanti is actually the name of a café’s owner whose business is located at the beach. Along the way, people began to associate the beach with Indrayanti and the name sticks until today.

This white sand beach is pretty well-known among tourists as lodgings, cafes and restaurants are already available in the area. The distance between Yogyakarta and Indrayanti beach is around 65.8 kilometers, or around two-hour drive from the city.

Sundak Beach

The story behind the name of Sundak Beach is actually pretty interesting, legend has it that in 1976 there was a pet dog who was playing there and it somehow got lost into a cave. Inside the cave, the dog saw a porcupine and wanted to eat it. This led into a fight between the two animals. 

In the end, the dog won the fight and the name Sundak was born; an acronym of asu (dog) and landak (porcupine). Before the name Sundak was coined, the beach was called Wedibelah.

Krakal Beach

Located in Tanjungsari district, Krakal Beach offers a view of white sandy beach and coral reefs found at the shore. The waves at this place are friendly enough for surfers and there are numerous hotels and restaurants there to welcome visitors.

Goa Cemara Beach

The beach is called Goa Cemara due to the fact that you will encounter rows of pine trees that create an illusion of entering a cave made of pine trees on your way to the beach. Those who are looking to enjoy the beach from a different angle may want to go to the lighthouse to see it from above. 

Baru Bantul Beach

Baru Bantul Beach is still in the same lane with Goa Cemara, Kuwaru, Pandan Sari and Pandan Simo beaches. Bantul Baru Beach is known for its seafood eateries. 

Depok Beach

Depok Beach is mostly known as the place for fish auctions (TPI) that sells many varieties of fish and other sea creatures.

Samas Beach

Just like in Goa Cemara Beach, Samas Beach also has a lighthouse that visitors can go. Since the shoreline of this beach is steep, it’s not advisable to swim your way too far beyond the shoreline. On the east side of Samas Side, there’s a new attraction called Pesona Pengklik (The Wonder of Pengklik) lagoon, which is currently being developed.

Parangtritis Beach

Probably the most famous beach in Yogyakarta, Parangtritis Beach is located close to other beaches such as Parangkusumo Beach, Parangendog Beach and Depok Beach. Apart from playing in the water, visitors can also tour around the beach using a bendi (horse-drawn carriage) or ATV (All-Terrain Vehicle). 

 

Source - TheJakartaPost

 

 Read also: Yogyakarta: One day, eight destinations

#Bangkok - Suvarnabhumi Standoff: Airport claps back after being called ninth worst

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Since being rated the ninth worst airport in the world last week in a report by the website airhelp.com, Suvarnabhumi has released a statement calling into question the survey, its data-collection methods, and their low score.  

In a Thai statement published on its Facebook page, Suvarnabhumi Airport called the survey unreliable and its methods unscientific.

The airhelp report, released last Monday, said that it took into consideration reviews from passengers regarding customer service, security, comfort, check-in, user experience, and quality of facilities at 76 airports around the world. Suvarnabhumi International Airport was rated 68, scoring just 6.3 points out of a possible 10. 

 

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The Bangkok airport said that, while they are open to criticism and suggestions for improvement, they never provided any info to airhelp and have a much higher rating on the better-known site FlightStat, which tracks flight data and airports. 

They also accused airhelp of only taking into account reviews written in English while the majority of reviews for the Bangkok airport are written in Thai.

Below is a translation of the statement released by the airport about the recent ranking:
Suvarnabhumi Airport will take comments from the passengers or the organizations who conducted the survey into consideration, as Suvarnabhumi views that this information is greatly beneficial to the management of the airport. We know that this information reflects the thoughts of the passengers. 

The ranking on airhelp.com was conducted for the first time this year, claiming that the survey was conducted between Dec. 2016 – March 2017 from sources that have no standards. Regarding the rankings for on-time performance, quality and service, and passenger sentiment categories, the survey does not declare the merits and demerits of the airports ranked in the list.
They address each ratings category individually:

1. On-time Performance
www.airhelp.com does not clearly state their source for the ranking. Suvarnabhumi insists that it has not provided any information regarding its performance to this website.
However, Flight Stats, an organization collecting real-time information on air traffic, ranks Suvarnabhumi at 13th place in the category of Global Hub Performance in May 2017.

2. Quality and Service
Airhelp.com stated that it sourced the information from SKYTRAX star ratings collected between Dec. 22, 2016 – March 20, 2017. There is no evidence that SKYTRAX confirms the correctness of the information for Airhelp.
The Airport Council International ranked Suvarnabhumi as the 10th best airport in the world last year.

3. Passenger Sentiment.
Airhelp.com stated that it sourced from Twitter. We found that Airhelp only conducts their ranking from English-language tweets and its own tools.
Suvarnabhumi Airport welcomes the results of all surveys if these surveys are from reliable or well-known organizations such as the Airport Council International, which ranked Suvarnabhumi 10th best airport in the world.

Probably worth pointing out here that the Airport Council International is a lobbying group for airports.

Source - Coconuts.co

#Myanmar, (Burma) Golf tourism needs long drive out of bunkers.

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Myanmar is far from a golf tourist destination despite having many courses in different cities, said U Phyo Wai Yar Zar, vice chair of Myanmar Tourism Federation.

Speaking to The Myanmar Times, he said that golf tourism has a potential niche market but the local courses are not up to the expectations of international golfers.

“We have to try hard if we want to make Myanmar a golfing destination. We can count the number of courses that are of international standard. But that number cannot be compared with other regional countries which have already developed the game and facilities,” U Phyo Wai Yar Zar said.

There are no more than 10 tour agencies offering packages, including golfing.

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In Vietnam, there are 32 international courses. Myanmar has about 60 courses in the whole country.

Daw Su Su Tin, vice chair of Myanmar Tourism Marketing Committee, said, “Some tourists have tried golf courses in neighboring countries. A few tours operators are offering a golf program in their itinerary but we cannot promote golfing tourism too much.”

“Myanmar has fine weather, not as expensive as other countries and has a huge potential for golf tourism development,” she said.

U Phyo Wai Yar Zar added, “People know Myanmar as a cultural tourism centre. Perhaps now is the time to promote traditional sport related tourism like chinlone (caneball) and other Myanmar sporting events.”

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“Chinlone as a sporting event cannot be found in other countries. Relevant government departments should make it popular as a tourism product,” he said.

“Also, the golfing market is for high-end tourists who are mostly big spenders. Other facilities such as high-end restaurants and amenities need to be developed,” he said.

Currently, there are no more than six or seven international fine dining restaurants in Yangon.

U Phyo Wai Yar Zar said, “We should first get the primary requirements done up and then continue with other things,” he said.

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“As I know, there’s no website, specific market figures on golfing for tourists. Concerned authorities need to build up the human capital first and the required infrastructure before promoting golf as a product,” he said.

“We have no information yet about the various courses and it is hard to find out who are those interested in golfing in Myanmar. Golfing is the best way to attract visitors as part of tourism,” U Phyo Wai Yar Zar said.

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Source - mmtimes

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#Vietnam - Southeast Asia's longest cross-sea bridge to open shortly

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The 5.4-km long bridge in Hai Phong to undergo tests on May 14. 

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 The Tan Vu - Lach Huyen Bridge, the longest cross-sea bridge in Southeast Asia, will undergo a test run to check loading capacity on May 14, according to a report from local media.
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The 5.4-km long bridge is part of the Tan Vu - Lach Huyen Highway project, which connects developing areas in the east of the northern port city of Hai Phong with Lach Huyen Port in the island district of Cat Hai and the Hanoi - Hai Phong Highway.
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A source from the management board was quoted by the Vietnam News Agency as saying that 99.8 per cent of the work has been completed on the bridge section built by Japan’s Sumitomo Mitsui Construction Co. and Vietnam’s Civil Engineering Construction Corporation No.4 (Cienco 4). 

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Once the bridge is operational, traveling from Hai Phong city to Cat Hai Island will take about five minutes, compared to hours on ferries.
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The Tan Vu - Lach Huyen Highway project has total investment of almost VND11.85 trillion ($525.3 million), the majority of which comes from Japanese official development assistance. Construction began in May 2014 and was scheduled to be completed this month.
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The project is expected to form a complete transport network facilitating transportation to Lach Huyen International Port, thereby attracting investment to Hai Phong. 

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Source - http://vneconomictimes.com/

Car slams into Erawan Shrine, 6 injured (+VIDEO)

.Six people were injured last night when a driver had a seizure and her car plowed into the Erawan Shrine at Ratchaprasong intersection, a year after the Hindu shrine was hit by a fatal bomb.
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The light blue sedan veered off of Rama I Road in the middle of the city at about 8:20pm and slammed through a gate onto the grounds of Erawan Shrine, the site of a bombing in August 2015 that left 20 dead and scores injured.
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"It was an accident," Lumpini police commander Pornchai Chalodet told AFP of the car crash.
This afternoon, Post Today revealed the names of the injured people. They are two Singaporeans, two Indonesians, one Thai, and one Chinese.
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The two indonesians injured were Janto Kuriawan, 73, and Rosita Kuriawan, 56. The Singaporeans were Ong Cney, 70, and Ng Ican Leng, 35. The Chinese woman was Leena Bong, 81, and the Thai woman was Kanuengjit Taecholarn, 55.
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The shrine, a popular stop for East Asian tourists, was thronged with worshippers at the time of the accident, according to an AFP reporter at the scene.
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"We were praying and then suddenly we heard a big noise and we saw a car coming inside. We ran like crazy. It was very scary. At I first thought it was a car bomb but everyone was very calm around us," Kristy, a 21-year-old tourist from Vietnam, told AFP.
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In Friday's incident, police said the driver, who appeared to be about 40 years old, lost control of her Toyota Soluna and crashed through the sidewalk fence at the intersection beside the shrine before passing through the Erawan gate and stopping just before hitting the shrine.
The identity of the driver has not been revealed at the time of publication. The local media reported that she is currently receiving treatment in the intensive care unit.
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Also accompanying the driver in the car was her 20-year-old daughter, who told police her mom did not have a history of epilepsy. She had the seizure while she was about to take a turn at Ratchaprasong intersection.
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.Police will charge the driver with reckless driving leading to injuries of other people and will take the her medical diagnosis into consideration.
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VIDEO

Source: Coconuts.co 

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Skywalk linking road outside CentralWorld to Platinum mall has opened, #Bangkok

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#Bangkok - The new skywalk, built over the crowded sidewalk of Ratchadamri Road outside Central World Shopping Mall, opened yesterday to facilitate pedestrians who just want to walk — not shop for sunglasses or buy fried chicken on the street.
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The new skywalk, called “Bangkok Skyline,” starts on Ratchadamri Road and stretches all the way to Novotel Bangkok Hotel and Platinum Shopping Mall. The skywalk was built because the roadside down below is currently overflowing with street vendors, causing heavy pedestrian congestion every night.
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The congestion only gets worse once you have to squeeze through the tiny bridge above Saen Saeb canal, which is also occupied by hawkers and beggars.
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The new skywalk also is directly linked with the second floor of Platinum — a famous stop for those who love affordable clothes.
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 Source & Photos: Pai Chanikarn/ Coconuts Media.

Trang islands as one of ‘Best in Asia’ destinations

Trang islands are one of Lonely Planet’s top ten picks for lesser-known Asian go-to destinations for this year. The small islands off the coast of Trang province rank number eight on the list, beating out contenders from India and Taiwan.

Way to go Thailand!

The picturesque Trang islands were characterized by Lonely Planet as being on the same level as the famous Koh Phi Phi and Koh Lanta, with way less crowds. They described the islands as a place where “blonde beaches glisten amid shards of jungle-topped karst; beachfront bungalows line crescents of squeaky sand; rainbows of fish flit through the aquamarine.”

Made up of five smaller islands: Koh Kradan, Koh Ngai, Koh Sukorn, Koh Muk, and Koh Libong with its own distinctive attraction, Trang islands have remained largely under the radar.

The list, which was announced this week, sets its sight on the hidden gems waiting to be discovered by any aspiring travelers looking for excitement.

Regionally, Japan’s Hokkaido topped the list for its wild, mountainous landscape. That Northen Japanese locale is followed by Shanghai (China), Jeonju (South Korea), and Con Dao Islands (Vietnam).

Source: Coconuts.co

Bangkok, First look at Mangmoom Card

First look at Mangmoom Card, only all-in-one public transport card you’ll need

.No more fumbling for BTS, MRT and Airport Rail Link tickets. The Ministry of Transport has released the first look of the Mangmoom Card, the versatile ticketing system that works on several public transportation systems..
Just when we thought the news about Mangmoom Card from eight months ago was all a dream, the officials said they are testing the new system and preparing to launch the card by the end of the year, Chaiwat Thongkamkoon, Director of Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning, told Channel 3 News..
Introduced under the name "mangmoom” card or "spider” card in English, the universal ticket can be used as payment for several public transportation systems including the BTS, MRT and Airport Rail Link..
Why mangmoom? Just like spiders that spin webs that reach everywhere, this ticket can be used to travel anywhere.

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 Chaiwat said the office has also prepared 200,000 cards to give away to citizens as a trial. While information about how you can register for a free card is not yet available, Chaiwat said officials will select people who use the trains regularly..
The Mangmoom Card, whose release date has been pushed back from August, can also be used at the MRT Purple Line, which will open on August 12..
In the future, officials will develop the system further so that holders can use the card to pay for the fares on buses, boats, expressways, and even government services.

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Source: Coconuts

Thai athletes to get advice on avoiding the Zika virus

THAILAND is on high alert for the Zika virus as athletes and staff are set to travel to the Olympic Games in Brazil.

Zika infections have been detected in Thailand, but the situation here is thought to be well under control. "There are now just one or two cases in two provinces, namely Udon Thani and Beung Kan," Deputy Prime Minister Admiral Narong Pipatanasai said yesterday, in his role as chairman of the committee on emerging infectious diseases.

He said his committee had discussed preparations to protect Thai athletes and staff who will attend the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro in August.

"They should be advised about how to protect themselves," Narong said.

His panel plans to raise the issue with the Olympic Committee of Thailand.

Some 46 athletes from the Kingdom have so far booked Olympic berths in 14 sports, but the figure is likely to rise as the country expects to get more spots in badminton.

Brazil is one of 58 countries and territories that have reported continuing transmission of Zika virus by mosquitoes to date. Zika can cause birth defects, including a devastating syndrome known as microcephaly in which babies are born with unusually small heads and brains.

According to Agence France-Presse, nearly 1,300 babies have been born in Brazil with the irreversible defect since Zika began circulating there last year.

Brazilian authorities have confirmed that the Olympics will be held in Rio in August, as scheduled. This is despite a petition to the World Health Organisation (WHO) signed by more than 100 prominent doctors and scientists, who called for the event to be postponed or moved to another city.

Thai Disease Control Department director-general Dr Amnuay Gajeena said athletes would take preventive measures, such as by applying mosquito repellent power or cream.

"They will have to undergo health checks both before and after their Olympic Games trip," he said.

He believes that when the number of staff is included, it is likely that more than 100 Thais will head to Brazil for the huge sport event.

Asked about the situation in Thailand, Amnuay said eight villages in Udon Thani's Sang Com district were declared a "red zone" over the Zika threat because a man from the district was found to have contracted the virus. "His infection was diagnosed on May 22 while he was in Taiwan," he said. His office has stepped up moves to counter the disease in Udon.

Udon Thani public health chief Dr Smit Prasunnakarn said two pregnant women were found to have contracted the virus but showed no symptoms. "Ultrasound shows foetus development is normal. We will constantly monitor their conditions. Psychiatrists are also on hand," he said.

WHO has classified Thailand and the Philippines as countries with "sporadic transmission" of Zika, as opposed to most countries in South America and the Caribbean which have seen "increasing or widespread transmission." Indonesia, Malaysia, and Cambodia have not made the list. Singapore last month became the latest country in Asean to be hit by the virus while Vietnam reported its first cases in February.

Source: The Nation

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Thailand - EDITORIAL: Tracking you down... for safety!

Thai Immigration Pattaya / Chonburi

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The new immigration form mandating foreign nationals disclose various personal details is intrusive, much like distrusting parents tracking their children’s smart-phones. Not only do authorities appear to lack subtlety and a clear understanding of how technology works, they also seem to lack the capacity to safely manage and protect the extensive data they are collecting.

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 Thai Immigration Chiang Mai

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 At best, they can hope to better “track down” foreigners when problems arise. Though such a move should surprise no one in this age of mass surveillance, perhaps what is hard to swallow for many foreign residents is the utter lack of subtlety – the perception that officials view all foreigners as potential criminals, and possible scapegoats in any legal unpleasantness that might arise.

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 Bank account numbers will not give authorities access to your money. Knowing what websites you visit and where you hang out sounds more like an awkward first-date script.

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 Thai Immigration Bangkok

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 Your licence plate numbers should already be easily accessible for any functioning bureaucracy.
Your social media details are already on the internet – if you were worried about privacy, you should have read the fine print and never signed up to disclose your personal content on the internet in the first place.
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At worst, the form may invoke fear amongst some alien denizens, who may or may not be deterred from committing any nefarious deeds for fear of being traced. Not exactly the most scientifically proven method of crime-prevention, but fairly standard for authoritarian states throughout time. Human Rights Watch also thinks the form “risks alienating foreign investors and tourists who play a major role in the Thai economy”... which is the standard response to xenophobic polices worldwide.

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 Thai Immigration Phuket

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What is not pointed out is that xenophobia is the foundation of all immigration policies that exist today, worldwide, and foreign investors already absorb it into their cost-benefit analysis. And as Thailand makes a rather endearing effort to catch up with the modern surveillance states, lives will
not change, nor will they be destroyed any more than usual.

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Source:  thephuketnews.com/
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Thailand - Happy Ending

Spa association urges authorities to give them a happy ending.

 The Federation of Thai Spa Associations (FTSPA) is asking the government to crack down on the sexual services on offer at some of the country’s many massage parlors.

FTSPA advisor Apichai Jearadisak noted that many massage parlors are offering sexual services to tourists and damaging the reputation and image of traditional Thai massage parlors and spas. 

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Spas and traditional Thai massage are one of the big draws for tourists traveling to Thailand, but some visitors might get rubbed the wrong way when they are offered services in the back room that are very different than those that appear on the services list by the door.

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The FTSPA also noted that only about a quarter of the spas operating in the country are registered with the appropriate offices, according to the Bangkok Post.

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Apichai noted that other issues in the industry include giving jobs as Thai masseuses to migrant workers when the spas should focus on maintaining "Thainess" and feature workers trained in traditional Thai techniques. 

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Spa professionals across the country would like to see a crackdown on illegal practices but also more safety standards to ensure that visitors have good experiences and keep returning.

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Source: Coconuts

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Cross-border route to link India, Myanmar, Thailand

1,400 km highway and other transport ties are major part of 'act east'policy, Indian ambassador says; world war ll bridges being repaired.

INDIA, Thailand and Myanmar are negotiating a breakthrough 1,400-kilometre highway that will link India with Southeast Asia by land for the first time in decades.

In an interview with The Nation, Indian Ambassador Bhagwant Singh Bishnoi said 73 bridges in Myanmar built during World War II more than seven decades ago are being renovated with funding from the Indian government to allow vehicles to cross the highway safely.

When the repair work is completed in 18 months, the highway could be opened to traffic from all three countries.

The planned highway, which starts in the eastern region of India from Moreh city to Myanmar's Tamu city, has received a positive response from Myanmar's new government following the recent general election.

At this stage, negotiations are underway to conclude a tri-nation motor vehicle agreement for the use of the 1,400km road that will reach Thailand at Tak's Mae Sot district.

 This will lead to land transport connectivity between South Asia and Southeast Asia and increased trade and investment among all partner countries with cargo transportation being the first priority.

However, there are still some security challenges for a section inside Myanmar, which will have to be resolved with the authorities.

The tri-nation highway exemplifies India's "Act East" policy, under which the Asian giant aims to boost its economic and other relations neighbouring countries in the East.

Myanmar's Dawei deep-sea port and industrial estate project near the Thai border is also expected to help further integrate eastern India with Asean.

The planned port can be linked up with India's Chennai port as well as Thailand's Laem Chabang Port on the other side of the ocean.

Under the "Act East" policy, India is also preparing to negotiate a Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) which includes the 10-country Asean grouping on top of the current India-Asean free-trade agreement (FTA).

Some Asean countries such as Vietnam, Singapore and Malaysia have become members of the US-led Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) FTA, so Asean is upgrading its FTAs with major trading partners such as India and China to formulate RCEP agreements, which are more advanced.

India views Asean as a central component of its "Act East" policy. Myanmar shares a border with India, while Thailand is a maritime neighbour with long-standing cultural and other ties, so both nations are India's gateway to Asean.

Thai-Indian trade amounted to US$8 billion (Bt285.5 billion) last year, while 1 million Indian tourists visited Thailand last year. There were also about 300 Indian weddings held here.

Among major Thai investors in India are CP Group, Delta Electronics, Ital-Thai and Pruksa Real Estate, while the major Indian firms operating in Thailand are Tata Group, Aditya Birla and Indorama.

India continues to rack up high economic growth of 7 per cent per year amid the global slowdown, he added.

 India’s recent pact with Bhutan, Bangladesh and Nepal to facilitate free vehicular movement coupled with the India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway could potentially increase intraregional trade by almost 60% as well as extract maximum strategic mileage.

A strategic pact signed by India to facilitate free vehicular movement with Bhutan, Bangladesh and Nepal; alongside a proposal to step-up work on operationalising a 3200-km road link from Moreh (India) to Mae Sot (Thailand), are two vital components of the NDA government’s reinforced ‘Act East’ policy.

India’s recent pact with Bhutan, Bangladesh and Nepal to facilitate free vehicular movement coupled with the India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway could potentially increase intraregional trade by almost 60% as well as extract maximum strategic mileage.
A strategic pact signed by India to facilitate free vehicular movement with Bhutan, Bangladesh and Nepal; alongside a proposal to step-up work on operationalising a 3200-km road link from Moreh (India) to Mae Sot (Thailand), are two vital components of the NDA government’s reinforced ‘Act East’ policy.
- See more at: http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/sub-regional-road-connectivity-pacts-from-looking-east-to-linking-east/#sthash.E0idX9lr.dpuf

India’s recent pact with Bhutan, Bangladesh and Nepal to facilitate free vehicular movement coupled with the India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway could potentially increase intraregional trade by almost 60% as well as extract maximum strategic mileage.
A strategic pact signed by India to facilitate free vehicular movement with Bhutan, Bangladesh and Nepal; alongside a proposal to step-up work on operationalising a 3200-km road link from Moreh (India) to Mae Sot (Thailand), are two vital components of the NDA government’s reinforced ‘Act East’ policy.
- See more at: http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/sub-regional-road-connectivity-pacts-from-looking-east-to-linking-east/#sthash.E0idX9lr.dpuf

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Severe coral bleaching threatens popular Phi Phi dive spots

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Coral bleaching is rife in Phi Phi national park - the worst ever recorded in Thailand - alarmed conservation officials reported Thursday.

Many varieties of coral have been affected by the bleaching, which is due to the sea temperature rising to between 31 to 35 degrees Celsius, said an official from the Department of National Parks Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP).

Staghorn coral, lesser coral, mushroom coral, cauliflower coral, and hump coral are all being affected by the bleaching, which is far worse than observed in 2010, said Tikamporn Wongtawatchai, a specialist from Marine National Park and Protected Areas Innovation Center (MNIPC).

"Coral bleaching has been recorded all over the Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi marine national park, but the bleaching is worse at Koh Kai," said Tikamporn.

This is the first time hump coral has been affected by bleaching, indicating that the bleaching is far worse than ever before. The bleaching has occurred in several popular dive spots, including Pileh Bay, Loh Samah Bay, Koh Yoong, Monkey Beach, Koh Pai and Koh Gai.

Conservationists earlier this week proposed closing off Maya Bay to tourists to help restore the bleached coral and other endangered marine life there (story here).

"We cannot control nature. However, we can stop people from disturbing the marine life in these spots. Hopefully, this latest report of the extensive damage will persuade the DNP to take quick action by closing off Maya bay and other spots in Phi Phi national park affected by the bleaching," said Tikamporn.

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Bali Art Festival

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French performers and artists are all set to take part in the annual arts festival that gets underway next month

Around 15,000 artists are expected to take part in the 38th Bali Arts Festival, a month-long cultural festival, which this year runs from June 11 until July 9.

More than 300 traditional and contemporary art performances are scheduled to enliven Bali's biggest and most magnificent cultural fiesta.

Ida Ayu Masyeni, arts and movie section head at the Bali Cultural Agency, says a cultural street parade will mark the opening of the festival on the afternoon of June 11. Hundreds of artists from across Bali will participate in the parade, displaying their best performances.

"Representatives of all eight regencies across Bali will perform," Ayu confirms.

The street parade will take place in the Renon area of Denpasar, and all participants will encircle the Bajrasandhi Monument, a museum built in the form of a giant genta — a sacred bell used by Hindu High Priests.
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 Beside participants from across Bali, the street parade will also be enlivened by cultural performances from France.

"We are expecting more participants from overseas," says street parade coordinator Anak Agung Gede Raka.

Raka congratulated France for its participation in the event. "This will deepen our relations with France," he says.

After the parade, the event will continue with an opening ceremony on the Ardha Candra open stage at the Bali Arts Centre in Denpasar. President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo is expected to officially open the event.

The month-long fiesta will take place around the Bali Arts Centre. Besides art performances, the event will also feature arts and handicraft exhibitions, competitions, seminars, movie screenings and culinary events where people can enjoy authentic Balinese food.

Located on Jl. Nusa Indah in downtown Denpasar, the Bali Arts Centre is a cultural complex showcasing traditional Balinese architecture. The Bali Arts Centre contains many stages, an exhibition hall and many other facilities for various cultural activities. It was opened in 1973 and was designed to preserve Balinese culture. The Bali Arts Festival was first held there in 1979.

Masyeni says preparations for the festival are 70 per cent complete. As of now, France is the only country that has confirmed that it will participate in the event. The organisers, however, are still open to other countries taking part.
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 "France has confirmed its participation in the Bali Arts Festival. French citizens will participate in the street parade and the opening ceremony," she says.

The organisers acknowledge that foreign participants could be fewer this year as the festival will be held during the Islamic fasting month of Ramadhan. So far, only the province of Central Java has confirmed its attendance at the festival. Last year, at least 14 regencies and provinces took part.

Amandine Grisard, the director of Alliance Francaise Bali, said that French art would be displayed during the parade. Her organisation will collaborate with Printemps Francais 2016, a French-Indonesian Cultural Festival being held in 10 cities across Indonesia, including Denpasar.
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Source: The Nation
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Cambodians flock to Thailand over long weekend

CAMBODIA’S four-day long weekend to celebrate the birthday of King Norodom Sihamoni is expected to result in at least 4,000 Cambodian tourists visiting Thailand per day via Sa Kaew and potentially generate up to Bt80 million for the economy, a senior official said yesterday.

 The holiday finishes tomorrow.

Lt-Colonel Benjapol Rodsawat, deputy chief of Sa Kaew immigration police, inspected the crowded situation at the Aranyaprathet immigration border checkpoint yesterday in a bid to ensure smooth services.

Cambodian families crossed the border to visit popular attractions including in Bangkok and Pattaya. 

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The Tourism Authority encourage Thais to saddle up for bicycle rides "in hidden cities"

The Tourism Authority encourage Thais to saddle up for bicycle rides "in hidden cities"

 THE TOURISM AUTHORITY of Thailand is adding another sub-chapter to its epic "Amazing Thailand" and "Discover Thailand" campaigns this year with the launch of the "Slow Life Ride in Hidden Cities" activity, which aims to encourage tourists, both local and foreign, to take to the road on two wheels.

A follow on from last year's "12 Cities … You Can't Say No" campaign, which was designed to boost local tourism, the new activity aims to promote sustainable tourism and raise environmental awareness.

Organised in collaboration with Nation Broadcasting Corporation, with which TAT has been worked to motivate more Thais to take up cycling, the project begins with a pilot phase that takes cyclists to Phatthalung in the South on May 29, to Rayong in the East on June 26, to Chaiyaphum in the Northeast on July 24, to Nakhon Pathom in the Central province on August 28 and to Lamphun in the North on September 25.

"Bike tourism is still the hottest trend in Thailand," says Sujitra Jongchansitto, deputy governor for domestic marketing of Tourism Authority of Thailand. 

New 100 Million Baht Tourist Attraction Burned To The Ground

A brand new 100 million baht Thai-style wooden house at Ban Phayamai near Pattaya was burned to the ground on Friday morning.
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The new tourist attraction was completely destroyed after taking almost ten years to build as workers put the finishing touches to the interior before opening to paying visitors.
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Firefighters were called to Ban Phayamai in Nong Preu at around 10am and took several hours to bring the blaze under control.
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The large wooden house was built of teak and other precious wood at a cost of 100 million baht and is owned by Khunthong Ou-ngern, a well-known businessman and owner of Poipet market.
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The fire was believed to have been started by an electrical fault.

Fire crews struggle to bring the flames under control as fire rages through the yet to be opened Ban Phayamai tourist attraction in Pattaya, Chon Buri, on Friday morning. The Thai-style wooden house, which took about 10 years to build at a cost of 100 million baht, was completely destroyed. (Photo by Chaiyot Phuttanapong)
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Ps. 1 Euro = 40 Thai Baht.
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Source: Stickboybangkok
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Booking affiliates

We use HotelsCombined  (All in one)

WHY ???

The are the most trustful !

 We use several affiliate programs, but the only the really pay out is HotelsCombined.

From the others (many visitors) but not one coin come on the bank.
Booking.com / Agoda.com / Hotels.com / ….

And not start to talk about TripAdvisor
The only use you for there own benefits and reviews.
We are before number one in Thailand / Bangkok with Reviews
But when you want be a affiliate, the use a 3th part and sale expensive banners.

I make this blog-post maybe for open their eyes.
But I doubt.

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