Friday, August 28, 2009

Miss Photogenic 2009, Chutima Durongdej

Miss Universe 2009


Miss Photogenic 2009
Name : Chutima Durongdej Age: 23







Chutima Durongdej, 23, is a contestants from Thailand for Miss Universe 2009.
Even though the beauty crown goes to Miss Venezuela again, Chutima has done her best to win "Miss Photogenic".


Miss Universe 2009 result


Miss Venezuela
Stefanía Fernández, 18

First Runner-Up: Miss Domincan Republic, Ada Aimee De La Cruz; will assume the duties of MISS UNIVERSE 2009 if the titleholder for some reason cannot fulfill her responsibilities.

Second Runner-Up: Miss Kosovo, Gona Dragusha.

Rest of Top Five: Miss Australia, Rachael Finch; Miss Puerto Rico, Mayra Matos Perez.

Rest of Top Ten: Miss South Africa, Tatum Keshwar; Miss Czech Republic, Iveta Lutovska; Miss Switzerland, Whitney Toyloy; Miss USA, Kristen Dalton; and Miss France, Chloe Mortaud.

Rest of Top Fifteen: Miss Albania, Hasna Xhukici; Miss Belgium, Zeynep Sever; Miss Croatia, Sarah Cosic; Miss Iceland, Ingibjorg Egilsdottir; and Miss Sweden, Renate Cerljen.

Miss Photogenic Universe™ Award: Miss Thailand, Chutima Durongdej. The general public voted on www.nbc.com for the delegate who exemplifies beauty through the lens of a camera. She was awarded a $1,000 cash prize and a gift from pageant sponsor Diamond Nexus Labs.

Miss Congeniality Universe™ Award: Miss China, Wang Jingyao. This award reflects the respect and admiration of the delegate’s peers, who voted for her as the most congenial, charismatic and inspirational participant. She was awarded a $1,000 cash prize and a gift from Diamond Nexus Labs.



Monday, August 24, 2009

Koh Hin Ngam - Tarutao National Park





Koh Hin Ngam - Tarutao National Park

Tarutao National Park, consisting of 51 islands, is located in the Andaman Sea. It can be divided into two island groups : Tarutao and Adang-Rawi, which are scattered from 20 to 70 Kilometers distance from the southwestern most point of mainland Thailand.

Koh Hin Ngam is located in the southwest of Koh Adang. The whole island is amazingly covered with shiny black pebbles.

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Swine Flu , H1N1(2009) in Thailand

As of date (19 August 09), The Swine flu or H1N1 (2009) is still a topic in Thailand but with less degree. The pandemic H1N1 (2009) is spreading rapidly while the severity of the disease is moderate. At first, Thai people were so panic with the widely spread of the disease. They were even more panic every time the death cases were announced.

The Ministry of Public Health runs campaigns to prevent people from the virus.
Below is part of a helpful Public Health Advice dated 9 July 2009.

Advice for the general public

The public are advised not to get into a panic about the disease. Meanwhile, they are recommended to acquire knowledge about it in order to seek ways to protect themselves against the virus by means of monitoring the Ministry of Public Health’s advice; maintaining good health; regularly exercising; eating nutritious food like vegetables, fruit, eggs, milk, etc.; having enough sleep; often washing their hands; avoiding closely mixing with patients with influenza-like symptoms; and fostering a habit of not using their fingers or hands to pick their nose, rub their eyes, or even touch their face. To be safe from the viral infection, tissue paper should be used, if necessary. Moreover, people are able to look after themselves or their family members as well as prevent the viral transmission by suspending studying or working, covering their nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, wearing surgical masks while socializing with other people, and often washing their hands. This will help keep the epidemic under control as well as reduce other impacts as much as possible.


Before the Swine flu, it was not common and was rare to find one wearing a surgical mask on street.

Unlike other countries such as Japan, it was not common for Thais to put on the mask when they got a cold or flu.

Now the situation has changed, Thai people are too scared of getting infected and the government is also campaigning people to wear the mask in public, especially in busy area.

Travelers may prepare themselves with a surgical mask while traveling in a crowded area. A surgical mask is available in Pharmacy.



Translate to French by google translate

Grippe porcine, H1N1 (2009) en Thaïlande
À la date (19 août 09), la grippe porcine ou H1N1 (2009) est encore un sujet en Thaïlande, mais avec moins de degré. Le H1N1 pandémique (2009) se répand rapidement, tandis que la sévérité de la maladie est modérée. Au début, les Thaïlandais ont été ainsi de la panique très répandue de la maladie. Ils étaient encore plus de panique chaque fois que le cas de décès ont été annoncés.

Le ministère de la Santé publique organise des campagnes pour empêcher les gens contre le virus.
Ci-dessous fait partie d'un intéressant la santé publique Conseils en date du 9 Juillet 2009.

Conseils pour le grand public

Le public est avisé de ne pas monter dans une peur panique de la maladie. Entre-temps, il leur est recommandé d'acquérir des connaissances à ce sujet afin de rechercher les moyens de se protéger contre le virus par le biais de la surveillance du ministère de conseils Santé publique, le maintien d'une bonne santé; de l'exercice régulièrement, manger des aliments nutritifs comme des légumes, des fruits, des œufs, du lait , etc, ayant suffisamment de sommeil, laver souvent les mains, en évitant de mélanger étroitement avec les patients avec des symptômes pseudo-grippaux, ainsi qu'à promouvoir une habitude de ne pas utiliser leurs doigts ou les mains pour prendre leur nez, se frottent les yeux, ni même de toucher son visage. Pour être à l'abri de l'infection virale, de papiers tissu doit être utilisé, si nécessaire. En outre, les gens sont capables de s'occuper d'eux-mêmes ou les membres de leur famille ainsi que de prévenir la transmission virale par la suspension des études ou de travail, couvrant le nez et la bouche avec un mouchoir lorsque vous toussez ou éternuez, portant des masques chirurgicaux tout en socialisant avec d'autres personnes, et souvent se laver les mains. Cela permettra de garder l'épidémie sous contrôle ainsi que de réduire les autres impacts, autant que possible.

Avant que la grippe porcine, il n'était pas courante et était rare de trouver un port d'un masque chirurgical sur la rue.

Contrairement aux autres pays comme le Japon, il n'était pas courant pour les Thaïlandais à mettre sur le masque quand ils ont eu un rhume ou une grippe.

Maintenant, la situation a changé, les Thaïlandais ont trop peur d'être infecté et le gouvernement se bat également les gens à porter le masque en public, en particulier en zone occupée.

Travelers mai se préparer avec un masque chirurgical lors d'un déplacement dans une zone très peuplée. Un masque chirurgical est disponible en pharmacie.

Chiang Mai Zoo Snow Dome now opens



Chiang Mai Zoo


Not too long after Thai people are so excited and happy with the new born baby panda in Chiang Mai Zoo.

The baby panda is named “Lin Ping”.
“Lin” is after the first word of its mother, “Lin Hui”.
“Ping” means "Ice:" in Chinese but for Thai people, it also means “Ping River” , which is one of the major rivers in Northern Thailand.


Chiang Mai Zoo has built a 580-square-metre Snow Dome being as the latest attraction in Chiang Mai. Soon to be the new home and play pen for the panda family. Other than an observation area for visitors to enjoy viewing the panda family, the Snow Dome also features a separate area where visitors can enjoy themselves with the Icy touch & feel of snow.


Visitors will be provided with a coat and shoes to keep warm while inside the dome. This newly-opened Snow Dome is sure to be popular with children and families. It will soon become one of the top travel destinations that not to be missed out.

The admission fee is 150 baht each for adults and 100 baht for children less than 135 cm in height. Visits are limited to 20-minutes. The zoo runs a total of 12 Snow Dome sessions per day with the first session beginning at 9.00 a.m



Chiang Mai Hotel

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Shopping guide - Where to shop in Bangkok

Where to shop in Bangkok

If you love shopping, you have come to the right place. Bangkok is a paradise of shopping with many shopping area ranging from bargain stores on the streets to luxurious stores for world class branded items.

Shopping is not only limited to one or two major streets, but there are so many shopping areas throughout Bangkok.

Here is just a selection of some of the main shopping districts.

  • Ploenchit-Ratchaprasong
    This area highlights top department stores and luxury shopping malls. Just to name a few, Central World Plaza, Sogo, Gaysorn Plaza, Isetan, Zen, Peninsula Plaza.
    All of which together make the largest shopping promenade in Bangkok.
    Ratchaprasong intersection is the gateway to several shopping areas such as Ploenchit-Sukhumvit, Siam Square-Mah Boon Krong (MBK centre), Siam Paragon, Silom and Pratunam-Phetchaburi.
    The top places for tourist to do their shopping are MBK centre and Siam (next to MBK centre)

    Find Hotels

  • Silom-Surawong-Patpong
    Silom Road
    is the main artery of Bangkok’s commercial heart and is paralleled by Surawong road, while Patpong runs crosswise between the two. In addition to housing dozens of specialist shops and boutiques representing all the major buys, this area also boasts many branches of well-known retailers and several shopping plazas. Street stalls also abound, most notably at Patpong’s famous night market

    Find Hotels in Silom

  • Silom-Mahesak-New road
    Silom leads into New Road which parallel the Chao Phraya River, and notable shopping opportunities include gems and jewellery stores (Mahesak road is a gem trading centre), Oriental Plaza and River City shopping complex.

    Find Hotels in Silom

  • Sukhumvit
    Like Silom, Sukhumvit is one of Bangkok’s main thoroughfares, and the long road is lined with shops, boutiques and modern shopping plazas ranging from Soi 3 (Nana Nua) up to Soi 63 (Ekamai). Most shops and restaurants are concentrated between Soi 3 and Soi 21 (Asoke) and along shortcuts between Asoke and Ekamai.

    Find Hotels in Sukhumvit

  • Chinatown
    Chinatown is situated on Yaowaraj Road.
    Along Bangkok’s Chinatown, there are plenty of gold shops as well as two nearby traditional shopping places, Ban Mo Jewellery Street and Phahurat ClothMarket.

    Find Hotels in China Town

  • Bang Lamphu
    Situated close to the Grand Palace and Temple of the Emerald Buddha, Bang Lamphu has a lively market where clothing is a popular buy.

  • Pratunam-Phetchaburi
    A highlight in the distinct is Pratunam market, one of Bangkok’s biggest centres for ready-to-wear clothing. You will find a big wholesale place for clothing and accessories. “The Platinum” is the busiest place where both local people and foreigners love to do their shopping either for own use or for trading.

    Find Hotels in Pratunam

  • Baiyoke Tower
    Located next to Bangkok’s tallest hotel building, Baiyoke Tower is one of the city’s renowned garment centres.


  • Bo-Be Market
    Situated close to Bangkok Railway Station, Bo-be is one of the city’s renowned ready-to-wear clothing centres, both wholesale and retail.

  • Chatuchak Weekend Market
    Spend your weekends on Chatuchak Weekend Market , or in the other name, JJ Market. The market is open on Saturday and Sunday.
    Basically you will find almost everything on JJ market , from clothing to potted plants and everything in between. It is truly a paradise for browsers and bargain-hunters alike.
    JJ Market also offers a wide range of furniture and home decor. It is also where professional and amateur art-lovers and artists meet.
    You can accessed JJ market easily by public transportation such as Bus, BTS, MRT.

    Find Hotels in Chatuchak area

Enjoy Shopping!

VAT Refund

VAT Refund

Visitors entering the Kingdom on tourist visas are entitled to refunds of the 7% value-added tax (VAT) paid on goods purchased at shops and department stores displaying “VAT Refund for Tourists” signs. The refund may be claimed if the claimed amounts in all P.P.10’s have been totaled 5,000 baht or over. Tourist is eligible to receive P.P.10 form when the total purchase of 2,000 baht or over is made from the same store on the same date. Before checking in at the international airport (Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Hat Yai, Phuket, Utapao), tourist must show your purchases, completed P.P.10 form and tax invoices to the Customs Officer for inspection. Certain luxury goods must be shown to an excise official. Refunds may be in bank draft form or credited to a credit card. For more information, please contact the VAT Refund for Tourists Office, Tel: 0 2272 9388, 0 2272 8195-8 or www.rd.go.th/vrt/engindex.html

Procedure on VAT Refund for Tourists
At the store
1. Shop at stores displaying "VAT Refund for Tourists" sign.
2. Spend at least 2,000 baht per store per day.
3. Present your passport and ask for a P.P.10 form (VAT Refund Application Form) immediately on the purchase date.
4. The total value of purchases (per person) as combined from all P.P.10's shall be at least 5,000 baht before you are eligible to claim a VAT refund.
At the airport
5. Let the Custom Officers check the purchased goods before you check in and have them sign all P.P.10's on the departure date.
6. Bring all P.P.10's and original tax invoices to claim your VAT refund at the VAT Refund Office after the Immigration Checkpoint.
7. Jewelry, gold ornaments, watches, glasses and pens, of which the value is 10,000 baht or over, shall be re-inspected at the VAT Refund Office again.
8. The purchased goods are required to be taken out of the country within 60 days since the purchase date through the International Airports.


Source : TAT website : www.tourismthailand.org

Shopping Tips

Shopping Tips

Department stores and a number of shops in Bangkok have fixed prices, but at most of others bargaining is acceptable and expected; some department stores will even offer a discount on expensive items like jewellery and fine furniture. No fixed rules can be given on the process depending as it does on the bargainer’s skill and the shopkeeper’s mood, but the final price may be reduced as much as 30% to that first quoted. An important point to keep in mind is that Thais admire good manners and a sense of humour and tend to be put off by a loss of temper. Providing you have the time, a good general rule is to make a survey of several shops selling the sort of items you want before coming to a final decision.

Source : TAT website : www.tourismthailand.org