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"The Rounds"
A Breather from Severe Weather -- Sort of American Citizen Services to Visit Udorn Thani; Important Change Regarding Passports HealthCare Vision Defunct in Thailand, at Least, Apparently Massage Parlor Opening Opposite a School Leads to Crackdown Increased Taxes on Distilled Spirits? Oktoberfest at the Great American Rib Company New Bangkok International Airport Becoming a Reality * * * * * * * * * * Just a reminder you can sign-up for free to receive the BangkokAtoZ.com Updates (plain text) e-mail to always know when I add something new to the site or modify it in some important way. A great way to be sure YOU don't miss something of interest, best of all is that this service is absolutely FREE! * * * * * * * * * * A Breather from Severe Weather -- Sort of Wednesday, September 28, 2005 The world in general is having a bit of a break from tropical storms, typhoons, and hurricanes. Both the Eastern Hemisphere and the Western Hemisphere are approaching record numbers of named storms in a single year; Typhoon Damrey, which wreaked havoc across the Philippines, China's southern coast and Hainan Island, and Vietnam -- and which brought heavy rains early yesterday to the Kingdom's North and Northeast -- is petering out, after becoming the 18th named storm in the Pacific this year. The Northeast is currently been hit with heavy rains, and people in the North are making preparations. (As far as I know, no one died in Vietnam, nor -- so far, here in Thailand.) However, forecasters are keeping a wary eye on Tropical Storm Longwang the 19th named storm, currently located about due south of Japan's Kyuushu Island and almost due east of Taiwan. Longwang is headed on a track WNW predicted to move it across the northern end of Taiwan and on into the southeastern coast of China. Average winds are low at about 54kph/34mph Hurricane Rita, the 17th named storm of this year's Atlantic season, swept across the Bahamas, the southern end of Florida, Cuba, then roared across the Gulf of Mexico and slammed into the U.S. Gulf Coast immediately east of the Texas-Louisiana state line -- an area devastated a bit further east by Hurricane Katrina just a few weeks before -- has pretty much died out. I haven't been able to find how many named storms there have been in the Indian Ocean this year, where they are called "cyclones," though I know there have been some. After the disastrous aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, people reacted swiftly to both Hurricane Rita and Typhoon Damrey. Thankfully, Rita turned northeast slightly and lost some punch shortly before making landfall, hitting an area far less populated than metro Houston, feared to be in the hurricanes path. An amazing 2.7 million people or so evacuated the area, either on their own or through the assistance of various government, military, and relief agencies. That, combined with Rita's change of direction and weakening, undoubtedly contributed to the extremely low casualty numbers. About the only criticism of any real substance I've heard of authorities in the U.S. is that they could have reversed the direction of traffic on major motorways leading away from the coast; there were numerous live broadcast of wide interstate highways, such as I-45 that runs north from Houston towards Dallas, with the southbound lanes virtually empty while the northbound ones where packed, and, more importantly, moving slower than a snail. Lanes were reversed, at times, but the surprise is they weren't reversed and left that way, thereby doubling the rate at which people could flee. But that criticism aside, the reactions from both the citizenry and the government -- at all levels -- was vastly better than to Katrina, both before and after the respective hurricanes. (As an American, I can tell you Katrina was a real wake-up call for me, just as it was for tens of millions of other people, and not just Americans. As for Damrey, the death toll has already exceed the much more powerful Rita, but swift action by authorities in the Philippines, China, and Vietnam kept the number low; for example, by the time it hit Vietnam, about 300,000 people had been evacuated to safety. The official season doesn't end until the end of November, but experts say we should be moving into a lesser period -- though in the case of the Atlantic, at least, they're hedging their bets, some saying we might, or even should, expect 1 or 2 more Category 3 or stronger hurricane(s) this year. Despite the enormous economic (especially) and human costs of Katrina, on the human side it helps to put the deaths into perspective. On April 30, 1991 a huge cyclone struck southeastern Bangladesh; the numbers of deaths alone ranged from about 131,000 to 141,000 -- with the number made homeless in that unfortunate land estimated at around 9,000,000. I recall news reports at the time saying at least a third of the country was underwater. Seeing the blow dealt the U.S. by Katrina, I can't even begin to imagine the despair the survivors in Bangladesh must have felt, nor the hopelessness of the task of the government. It has indeed been an extraordinary year since last December's tsunami for Nature to flex her muscles. . . . * * * * * * * * * * to Visit Udorn Thani; Important Change Regarding Passports Wednesday, September 28, 2005 I've received a couple e-mails from the American Citizens Services Unit here in Bangkok announcing an upcoming consular visit to Udorn Thani, and another announcing new passport security enhancement. Here are the announcements: Dear Udorn Area American Citizens, The American Embassy is pleased to announce an upcoming consular visit to the Udorn area. Consular staff will be available to provide consular services to resident American citizens on Friday, October 21st, from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM at the Charoensri Grand Royal Hotel in downtown Udorn. The following consular services will be available: *Passport renewal applications (US $67.00 or baht 2,680 for adult passports) *Additional passport pages (no charge) *Notarial services (US $30 or baht 1,200 for the first notarial; US $20 or baht 800 for each additional related notarial), including income letters for immigration. *Embassy registration and/or address change *Absentee ballot application and voting abroad information *Social security, VA or other federal benefits questions *Obtaining forms for marriage registration, report of birth, etc. Please note that because of the time and paperwork required to complete most applications for Consular Reports of Birth Abroad (CRBA), no CRBA applications will be accepted during consular outreach trips. **We ask that you bring the correct fee as we will not be able to provide change or accept credit cards. Please note this date on your calendar, and extend an invitation to the America Community residing in the Udorn area. If you have any questions, please e-mail: acsbkk@state.gov or call the American Citizen Services Unit at: 02-205-4049 for more information. We look forward to seeing you on October 21st. Sincerely, American Citizen Services U.S. Embassy Bangkok * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * To subscribe or unsubscribe to this list, go to: http://bangkok.usembassy.gov/embassy/acsemaillist.htm The U.S. Embassy Consular Section is located at 95 Wireless Road, Bangkok 10330, Thailand (Nearest BTS Skytrain station: Phloen Chit) American Citizen Services Unit Window Hours: Monday - Friday, 7:30 - 11 AM and 1 - 2 PM Note: The ACS unit is CLOSED on the last Friday of every month. Tel: +66-2-205-4049 Fax: +66-2-205-4103 E-mail: acsbkk@state.gov <mailto:acsbkk@state.gov And the 2nd one, regarding passports: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE Office of the Spokesman September 19, 2005 2005/872 MEDIA NOTE Important Passport Security Enhancement: No Amendments Effective September 26, 2005, as an additional security enhancement, Passport Services will no longer amend valid passports. Instead, customers requesting name changes, extension of validity for limited passports, or correction of a printing error will apply for replacement passports. If the change is within one year after issuance, they will submit a U.S. Passport Re-Application Form (DS 5504), together with the passport that needs the change, the documentation required, and new passport pictures. There will be no charge for routine processing. If the change is more than one year after issuance, customers will need to submit an Application for Passport By Mail (DS-82), together with the passport that needs the change, the documentation required, and new pictures. The cost includes the $55 application fee and $12 security surcharge, for a total of $67 for routine processing. Of course, if the requested data change is due to a printing error by Passport Services, there will be no charge. Those only needing to add visa pages to their passports will submit an Application for Additional Visa Pages (DS-4085). This service is always free of charge when routine. All of these forms will be available online at http://travel.state.gov. The Passport Amendment/Validation Form (DS-19), previously used to amend passports, will no longer be valid. For more information on applying for a U.S. passport, forms, and a wealth of other international travel information, please visit our website at http://travel.state.gov. * * * * * * * * * * in Thailand, at Least, Apparently Friday, September 30, 2005 The insurance company that was taking care of military retirees' claims here has apparently gone down the tubes, according to a senior member and past commander of the Bangkok V.F.W. Post; he was at a hospital this week signing claim forms again the hospital staff were going to try submitting directly to TriCare. The company operated in other places as well, but my friend in the V.F.W. is unsure its status in those places. Anyone reliant on the company's system would be well advised to check to see if it is still operational where they are. Veterans resident in Thailand who have not already heard need to follow up ASAP. Let me stress I have no direct knowledge of this, as I myself am not a veteran/retiree, but want to pass along possibly useful anecdotal information. My friend has always proved a reliable source in the past, but given my lack of direct knowledge, if you are potentially affected, you do need to check into the situation so you're not caught up short. * * * * * * * * * * Opposite a School Leads to Crackdown Friday, September 30, 2005 Alaina Massage Parlor opened on Ratchadapisek Road here in the capital recently, opened opposed a school, leading to a public outcry. The story hit the headlines last week. The government has made a measured, restrained response. There haven't been any orders issued arbitrarily closing down such venues, which sometimes are covers for commercial sex venues. The official attitude that to do so would be unfair given that the Entertainment Venue Act is reportedly unclear on the locating of such a business. Instead, officials are considering measures such as increasing license, license transfer, and tax prices to discourage people from opening such venues. The concern is legitimate. No parent wants to see his or her children exposed so blatantly to such activities. While this sort of thing is widespread here, much of the time it is away from schools and places of worship. I have no idea why whoever is behind Alaina chose that particular location, other than it is a high-traffic area where, I presume, operators might reasonably expect significant business. Perhaps just as big a story as the location of Alaina is that of the government's calm response, big when one recalls the War on Drugs and the response to separatist attacks in the Kingdom's Deep South, responses some felt were heavy-handed. It is encouraging to see senior government officials working within the existing framework rather than moving in harshly on perhaps arguably debatable grounds. An equally big story will be the follow-up on the government's persistence in attempting to move in a direction of protecting the nation's youth from some of the darkest influences of any society. * * * * * * * * * * Friday, September 30, 2005, 2005 Here's the latest newsletter from the post commander:
C.L.
Elms Post 9951, Bangkok, Thailand
Website:
www.geocities.com/vfw9951 * * * * * * * * * * Increased Taxes on Distilled Spirits? Friday, September 30, 2005 A couple weeks ago there was a story in The Phuket Gazette reporting that the Excise Department has boosted taxes on distilled spirits, though not on beer and wine, under the headline "Bad news for booze." I've put off writing about this to wait to see the effects on the retail prices. Though the story says higher prices are showing up on the shelves of stores in Phuket, I haven't seen any increases at the bar and restaurant level here in Bangkok. (I don't keep alcohol at home, so never buy at a grocery or liquor store, so don't know about prices in those.) The story is a bit confusing on a couple fronts. First, despite the apparent hefty tax increase, the price of various spirits reported went up a pretty insignificant amount -- 10 or 20 baht per liter. At 25 or so drinks per liter, that translates into a miniscule per-drink materials' costs increase. Secondly, given that I've not heard a peep out of anyone -- especially not from bar owners here, a number of whom are my friends and are certainly given to protesting any increase in their cost of doing business, which makes me wonder if the increase was on a provincial, even municipal, basis as opposed to being in effect right across the Kingdom. From a different angle, there are a couple more points giving rise to reflection. According to the story, the ostensible reasons for the increase are to discourage excessive consumption of alcohol and to raise more money for government coffers. Considering the sad state of affairs regarding tourism in Phuket in the wake of last year's tsunami, I doubt there is a marked social problem with folks imbibing too much -- there aren't very many there. As for raising revenues further, well, the same thing applies -- where there are few buyers anyway, does it make any significant contribution to tax revenues to boost the excise tax? Finally, the government is striving mightily to rebuild tourism in Phuket and other devastated areas; making it more expensive to visit those places hardly seems to fit hand-in-glove with, for example, the efforts of the Tourism Authority of Thailand to lure visitors back. At this point, I'm pretty much at a loss. If anyone down Phuket way can shed any light, by all means let me know. * * * * * * * * * * Great American Rib Company Friday, September 30, 2005 Boy oh boy, am I ever red-faced with embarrassment at dropping the ball on this announcement, which I got over 2 weeks ago in an e-mail from the fine folks at this most excellent restaurant announcing yet another promotion in celebration of the famous German autumn celebration, Oktoberfest. Well, I done up and embarrassed myself by letting 2 of the 4 dates go by without putting this online, so there's naught to do for it but to get it up now -- so here it is:
* * * * * * * * * * Airport Becoming a Reality Friday, September 30, 2005 Suvarnabhumi Airport has finally actually had aircraft land there in test flights, 2 Wednesday and 1 yesterday, all successful. Long derided as "Cobra Swamp Airport" -- for the simple reason the site was a cobra-infested swamp in decades gone by, according to really old Old Thai Hands -- the progress of the facility has been long, winding, plagued with all sorts of problems, torturous, but is finally showing signs of bearing fruit. Yesterday's flight was particularly significant, in terms of public relations. A Thai Airways Boeing 747 carrying Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and dozens of luminaries from both the public and private sectors departed Bangkok's current international airport, venerable Don Muang Airport, for the short flight to Suvarnabhumi Airport, a flight meant to show confidence and to garner public support, despite numerous controversies and delays. Yesterday was meant to be the official opening of the airport, and though it's still quite a ways from being ready to handle regular traffic, it was important, in the Asian universe, that planes be seen landing and taking off from there -- if for no other reason than that of face. In fact, before yesterday was set as the official opening, it was hoped its opening would coincide with Her Majesty the Queen's birthday this past August 12th, but that plan finally had to be abandoned as being simply beyond possibility. For me personally, in terms of travel time to an airport, it's about the same to either the current airport or the new one -- unless plans to extend the Skytrain to the new airport actually come to fruition, in which case the new airport will be more rapidly accessible to me than Don Muang Airport is. And if other mass transit goals can be met, some including transportation from other directions, for the airport can be implemented, a lot of other people will find the new airport more convenient than the current one, which is served by a single railway line (and not very conveniently at that) as far as mass transit goes. I don't know if the Prime Minister's dream of making Bangkok the transportation hub of Southeast Asia will ever be realized, but given that the new airport will be able to handle many more passengers per year than the current one, it certainly should bring considerable economic benefit to the Kingdom in general, and to the area along the Bangkok-Chon Buri-Pattya/Jomtien axis in particular. At present, the new airport should become fully operational sometime next year, barring further delays and glitches. If so, it should be a boon -- instead of a boondoggle -- for Thailand. * * * * * * * * * * Enough for one go . . . Until next time -- Mekhong Kurt
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