สวัสดีครับ
ที่ลิงค์นี้ของหนังสือพิมพ์ Bangkok Post เขาลงความเห็นของชาวต่างประเทศ (ฝรั่ง)ที่มาเที่ยวและพักอยู่เมืองไทย พูดถึงเรื่องน้ำท่วมและเรื่องอื่น ๆ ด้วย ลองอ่านดูแล้วกันครับ บางเรื่องเป็นเรื่องเก่า ๆ ที่แม้แต่เราคนไทยก็บ่น แต่ก็มีบางเรื่องที่ฝรั่งติดใจเมืองไทย
จาก: http://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/263714/a-city-that-captivates
ถ้าต้องการอ่านหน้าซึ่งบอกคำแปลเมื่อวางเมาส์บนคำศัพท์
คลิกลิงค์นี้: http://tinyurl.com/3zgwuhb
ที่ลิงค์นี้ของหนังสือพิมพ์ Bangkok Post เขาลงความเห็นของชาวต่างประเทศ (ฝรั่ง)ที่มาเที่ยวและพักอยู่เมืองไทย พูดถึงเรื่องน้ำท่วมและเรื่องอื่น ๆ ด้วย ลองอ่านดูแล้วกันครับ บางเรื่องเป็นเรื่องเก่า ๆ ที่แม้แต่เราคนไทยก็บ่น แต่ก็มีบางเรื่องที่ฝรั่งติดใจเมืองไทย
จาก: http://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/263714/a-city-that-captivates
ถ้าต้องการอ่านหน้าซึ่งบอกคำแปลเมื่อวางเมาส์บนคำศัพท์
คลิกลิงค์นี้: http://tinyurl.com/3zgwuhb
A city that captivates
For any artist, falling in love with Bangkok is inevitable. Its rich architecture, culture and history capture your heart. When I first visited Bangkok several years ago, I knew that if I ever chose to live in Asia permanently, it would be here. As an artist, I could never get enough of this palatial paradise.
Koh Tao beach has lostsomeof its cleanliness and natural beauty, partly due to poor environmental and tourismmanagement on the island.
Yet I am without fear. Despite it all, it is still serene here, as always.
Although it is famous for the many tourist sites, Bangkok in essence takes one through an enchanting spiritual journey. The evocative rich past is ever present while it continues to fulfil the obligations of modernisation. There is something really subtle and captivating about this Kingdom which touches the soul; it awakens and inspires.
All that is ominous today will come to pass; but the rich, magical, nostalgic past will always linger on. Such is the splendour of the land.
Much as I am concerned for my dear friends and colleagues here, they are even more concerned about me; this is, after all, Thai hospitality. As a child I would often hear my mother speak about the Thai people: the finest, she would say. Today, in my own experience, I can truly concur.
Thailand is built upon a spirit that has been surviving through thousands of years; the delicate, preserving and serene spirit of the Thai people, it will bounce back.
To the people of Thailand, take heart. Our prayers are with you.
GELVEEN GILL
Bring back the canals
I first came to Thailand over 20 years ago. My heart goes out to those who have lost family members and personal property. This year's flooding has been a huge disaster, with the potential of a greater calamity on the horizon.Many people have lost their crops, jobs and incomes. If the government doesn't address this problem immediately, the crime wave to hit Thailand will be devastating. People without any income will turn to crime. It is human nature. It has already begun and that's not going to help tourism.
To prevent or alleviate future flooding, canals need to be dug to drain off excess water; this is obvious to everyone. Canals are a part of classic Thai culture. It is something that Thais used to do well. Thailand doesn't have to look to foreign governments. This is not a hi-tech job, it's manual labour. Put the money in the hands of those that will need it.
If everyone works together, the government will have the opportunity to solve two problems with one programme: protection from floods, and jobs for people.
If only it doesn't get swamped in a flood of corruption...
GARY MACLEAN
Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai
Flood or no flood, it's still heavenly out here
As a seasoned adventure hound I cannot deny that the best place, at the best prices, has to be Thailand.I first came to Thailand 18 years ago and stayed for one month. I was surprised to find, even as a tourist, it only cost me US$1,000. So, after continually examining many prospective vacation spots, I kept coming back to Thailand.
As I type this out I am sitting in the middle of a flood zone, with water on the first floor of my townhouse. So I have retreated to the second floor where we have moved the kitchen and have all the conveniences necessary.
Yes, there are 26 provinces here having moderate to severe problems with high water, as the rainy season comes to an end. But there are still 40 provinces that are unaffected by the flooding.
Suvarnabhumi Airport is in full use, Phuket international airport is open, and hotel rooms are available for $30 or less.
There are so many pristine beaches in southern Thailand, I cannot count them all. The seafood is fresh and cheap. The sun is still shining and the temperature during the day hovers around 32 Celsius. Give me a lounge chair and a beach umbrella, and don't bother me for a week.
When I'm tired of sleeping and feel fully baked, I will mingle with a few of the 15 million tourists who come here to escape the ice and snow in their own country. Maybe I will hang out in some choice cafes overlooking the beaches. I can close my eyes to the tropical breeze that tickles my brow, and listen, listen, to the music and language of a thousand ages.
I will make new friends and find out where the best bargain markets are. Along the way I can pick up barbecued pork or chicken. This is not America or Germany. It will always be Thailand. And if I decide to stay, I can rent a townhouse for $150 a month.
JEFFREY JOHNSON
The pattern of rainfall
I have a columned wall calendar in my kitchen which is useful for highlighting important dates throughout the year and other things. For the last few years I have been marking rainy days out of interest as they have appeared to arrive earlier each year.The first significant rainfall in this area (Ram Intra) started on Feb 15 and was intermittently heavy after that (especially in March) until the early onset of the monsoon. Moreover March and April were relatively cool when they should have been oppressively hot.
Go figure.
ROBIN LESLIE
Keep posted on the web
Re: ''Tell us in English, please'' (Postbag, Oct 28). I would like to advise Kurt Walther that the best source of information in English on the current flood problem is the Bangkok Post's ''Breaking News'' on its webpage. It is updated on a regular basis and whenever necessary. .I used it during the previous trouble that paralysed Bangkok and it was an excellent, informative site. I will say that it is just as helpful in the current situation.
BANGKOK CRAWDAD
Airport Rail Link leaves you in empty wasteland
Having been back in England on a business trip, I thought I would try the new Airport Rail Link that has been the subject of such derision and now has been supposedly given much needed attention by Mr Airport Link.I decided to catch the direct service to Makkasan Station, having seen the rather utilitarian plastic seats of the City Line service to Phaya Thai, and for the fact that the Makkasan service was leaving in 2 minutes and the City Line in 17 minutes _ a decision I would subsequently lament.
The service left promptly and the train was as equally comfortable as the Heathrow Express in England which I had used the previous day. The ride was smooth and the journey extremely swift; certainly the experience thus far was world-class.
That was to change dramatically.
On alighting from the train at Makkasan Station, I saw I was amongst three other passengers who quickly disappeared. As I had a suitcase, hand luggage and a laptop bag, I had to use the lift. When I reached the ground floor I emerged into a large, soulless void bereft of any signage as to what to do. I presumed that I had gone to the wrong level and went up a floor to discover a meeting room and lavatory, so I returned to the emptiness below.
I ventured a bit further this time and in the vast corridor I was walking down saw a piece of A4 paper stuck to the wall which read ''Taxi'' and an arrow pointing along the corridor. This I followed and found myself among a hoard of commuters coming down the escalators from the City Line.
I followed the throng out of the building and indeed there was one lone taxi which all the commuters marched swiftly by.
I was soon to find out why. The driver declined to use the meter and quoted 250 baht to take me to Sathorn. When I took out a piece of paper and started to write down the cab licence number, he threatened me.
I walked off into the barren, threatening wasteland that is the environs of Makkasan Station. I saw another lone taxi in the distance and enquired, but the answer was the same.
Eventually, after a considerable walk, I managed to hail a meter-taxi on Phetchaburi Road.
All I can say is that if this is the new ''improved'' service, then I cannot imagine what it was like before. What is undeniably a very good link from the airport comes to a crashing and horrific halt at Makkasan Station.
I will certainly never use it again and shall tell all not to do so. What a waste of taxpayers' money.
JOHN DE LAURENT
Lament for an island that once was a gem
Re: ''Beautiful allies'' (BP, @Thailand, Oct 22). Yes, it is sad that a beautiful place like Koh Tao is in such a state. But then again, it is no different from, say, Patong which is nothing short of a smelly, overcrowded mess, as are most of the other ''favoured'' beach or island destinations around the country.
There is zero town-planning enforcement due to greed, and corruption seems to have allowed constant over-development without any future infrastructure planning whatsoever, which is taking its toll.Look at the flooding. Why does a country that has so much rain have unforseen flooding problems, with the technology available in 2011? Even sillier, there are water shortages at times.
In Koh Tao's situation, though, I can remember shooting a video there around 2003 and the stench of urine on the main beach in the early morning before the breeze came up was sickening. I can only imagine what it is like now. Mangrove destruction, overfishing, chemical pollution, excess rubbish, excess boats, boat fuel and sewage discharge _ it all adds up and each year you have more of everything.
And please do not tell me that Dive Operators are planet saviours. They are just businesses. A boat is a boat and an anchor is an anchor and no one can see what is thrown overboard, only the environment does.
Obviously development has to be restricted, planned and sustainable but that would interfere with someone's pocket, so good luck there. A few days ago the I read a Tourism Authority of Thailand official's statement to the effect that if tourism-related businesses are not careful, the customers will stop returning. I am guessing that that's been happening for a while. It would be interesting to see the actual demographic figures of who comes back to where and how often.
Sadly, the 20-year-old pictures of Phi Phi Island and Phang-nga are being replaced with reality stories of jet ski extortion, bus accidents, vendor harassment, taxi madness and other holiday horror stories on the internet and Facebook. The time to act was long ago!
PERRY
Chon Buri
Chon Buri
พิพัฒน์
www.facebook.com/e4thai
e4thai@live.com
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