Here is a crude video of Thai Electric technicians climbing up the poles to rearrange the wiring for a new road. There must of been at least 20 on the poles all at the same time down the street! Sorry for the quality of the video...
Showing posts with label thaksin shinawatra. Show all posts
Showing posts with label thaksin shinawatra. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Friday, March 14, 2008
Gambling in Myanmar!
Yesterday a friend of mine and I went to Tachilek Myanmar to check out some shopping and a casino!
As you can see our attempts to document this visit on video was hindered by the hotel's security. Later on in the day, by coincidence, I was perusing the Bangkok Post newspaper's web-site to come across this article on gambling in Thailand.
In case the link is disabled, here is the text from the the last story in the article:
====
-Follow the money-
Kiatchai: Owns Burmese casino
Politics and casinos are sometimes inseparable.
Every now and then the issue of the legalisation of casinos comes up, as certain political leaders are strongly behind the plan.
The latest leader to raise the point is Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej, who is pushing for legal gambling venues to be allowed in five major tourist destinations: Pattaya, Phuket, Khon Kaen, Chiang Mai and Hat Yai.
Unsurprisingly, the idea has drawn loud choruses of both praise and criticism.
Like it or not, casinos have sprouted up along our borders with Cambodia, Burma and Laos - and they're doing a roaring trade.
It is also well known that many politicians are involved in the running and setting up of these "foreign" casinos.
Money from these gambling dens supply the Thai politicians who own them directly or via nominees with regular flowing cash.
Money from these casinos act as a major financial source during local and national elections.
One of them is former Udon Thani MP Kiatchai Chaichaowarat, who turned his back on politics after his Thai Rak Thai party was disbanded.
His casino is located in the Burmese border town of Tachilek, opposite Chiang Rai's Mae Sai district, and in the Golden Triangle near Chiang Saen.
A brother of a key politician of the Chart Thai Party is also linked to a casino on the Burmese side of the Golden Triangle. It is believed he holds a major stake in the place.
A veteran politician now in the senior ranks of Puea Pandin is also said to own at least two casinos in the border town of Poipet in Cambodia, opposite Sa Kaeo's Aranyaprathet district.
Current cabinet members have frequently been spotted in casinos they partially own in Burma and Cambodia, particularly so when they were politically unemployed after the 2006 coup.
"The gambling amount is as high as hundreds of millions of baht.
"But the money is not to be seen, it's just written figures," one source said when trying to explain how these games between politicians and businessmen work.
Repayments were apparently made during the December 23 elections.
"Some politicians took their families back and forth to manage casinos in neighbouring countries, amassing wealth during the political break," said the source.
Casino earnings were recently used in a ploy to attack political opponents, said the source.
"Some Thai politicians joined hands with the military, bringing in casino money from the border, pretending it was money for vote-buying during the Dec 23 elections.
They set up arrests, making false accusations against their political opponents in order to discredit them," the source said.
====
So the casino we visited is owned by a major Thai politician. I wonder if not being able to film had something to do with that?
At this time, the new Thai government is seriously considering the legalization of gambling. Which makes sense since since Thais go outside of the country to gamble. They also gamble online and in illegal gambling dens. Let's face it, Thais and Asians in general love to gamble...modern life in general is a gamble.
If you would like further information about the casino in Myanmar, you can obtain more information from their very nice web-site.
Next time, let me shoot a decent video!!
As you can see our attempts to document this visit on video was hindered by the hotel's security. Later on in the day, by coincidence, I was perusing the Bangkok Post newspaper's web-site to come across this article on gambling in Thailand.
In case the link is disabled, here is the text from the the last story in the article:
====
-Follow the money-
Kiatchai: Owns Burmese casino
Politics and casinos are sometimes inseparable.
Every now and then the issue of the legalisation of casinos comes up, as certain political leaders are strongly behind the plan.
The latest leader to raise the point is Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej, who is pushing for legal gambling venues to be allowed in five major tourist destinations: Pattaya, Phuket, Khon Kaen, Chiang Mai and Hat Yai.
Unsurprisingly, the idea has drawn loud choruses of both praise and criticism.
Like it or not, casinos have sprouted up along our borders with Cambodia, Burma and Laos - and they're doing a roaring trade.
It is also well known that many politicians are involved in the running and setting up of these "foreign" casinos.
Money from these gambling dens supply the Thai politicians who own them directly or via nominees with regular flowing cash.
Money from these casinos act as a major financial source during local and national elections.
One of them is former Udon Thani MP Kiatchai Chaichaowarat, who turned his back on politics after his Thai Rak Thai party was disbanded.
His casino is located in the Burmese border town of Tachilek, opposite Chiang Rai's Mae Sai district, and in the Golden Triangle near Chiang Saen.
A brother of a key politician of the Chart Thai Party is also linked to a casino on the Burmese side of the Golden Triangle. It is believed he holds a major stake in the place.
A veteran politician now in the senior ranks of Puea Pandin is also said to own at least two casinos in the border town of Poipet in Cambodia, opposite Sa Kaeo's Aranyaprathet district.
Current cabinet members have frequently been spotted in casinos they partially own in Burma and Cambodia, particularly so when they were politically unemployed after the 2006 coup.
"The gambling amount is as high as hundreds of millions of baht.
"But the money is not to be seen, it's just written figures," one source said when trying to explain how these games between politicians and businessmen work.
Repayments were apparently made during the December 23 elections.
"Some politicians took their families back and forth to manage casinos in neighbouring countries, amassing wealth during the political break," said the source.
Casino earnings were recently used in a ploy to attack political opponents, said the source.
"Some Thai politicians joined hands with the military, bringing in casino money from the border, pretending it was money for vote-buying during the Dec 23 elections.
They set up arrests, making false accusations against their political opponents in order to discredit them," the source said.
====
So the casino we visited is owned by a major Thai politician. I wonder if not being able to film had something to do with that?
At this time, the new Thai government is seriously considering the legalization of gambling. Which makes sense since since Thais go outside of the country to gamble. They also gamble online and in illegal gambling dens. Let's face it, Thais and Asians in general love to gamble...modern life in general is a gamble.
If you would like further information about the casino in Myanmar, you can obtain more information from their very nice web-site.
Next time, let me shoot a decent video!!
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
An Apology For Not Posting the Wedding Vid and The Effects of Construction and Progress
We're so sorry about the wedding video everyone, but I tried maybe a half dozen times to blogger.com's server and I'm still waiting on approval on the vid from Revver.com. What is up?! I think it may be my internet...now let's admit that Thailand is not the greatest for internet, however, it's really not that bad. In all frankness, it's actually all the construction for the new downtown to airport bridge and road! All of it is just right next door to where we live and the bridge itself will land next to the house my wife grew up in!!
Now if you think I'm excited about this...well...I am! To an extent..
It's somewhat of a dichotomy as the bridge will bring a significant increase of traffic to my neighborhood. But, an increase in traffic equates to business opportunities...I don't know...I guess we'll just have to wait and see.
Stay tuned as I bring you a video of the construction and how they are doing it Northern Thai style!
Now if you think I'm excited about this...well...I am! To an extent..
It's somewhat of a dichotomy as the bridge will bring a significant increase of traffic to my neighborhood. But, an increase in traffic equates to business opportunities...I don't know...I guess we'll just have to wait and see.
Stay tuned as I bring you a video of the construction and how they are doing it Northern Thai style!
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
New Chiang-Rai Le Meridien Resort Opening in September 2008
The Royal Meridien Group and Starwood are going to open a beautiful new 160 room Le Meridien resort nestled next to the Rimkok river. Now I know what they're building down the street from where I live! This resort will be sure to liven things up a little around here, and most certainly, it will increase the stature of Chiang-Rai of being probably one of the most resort laden areas in the world - They are literally everywhere around here! From all price ranges too...so, if you want to relax, Chiang-Rai is the place to be!
Don't forget to check out all our cool Chiang-Rai videos at Revver.com!
Don't forget to check out all our cool Chiang-Rai videos at Revver.com!
Sunday, February 24, 2008
The Golden Triangle Maesai Thailand/Tachilek Myanmar Visa Run
This useful video describes in detail how to make the Maesai Thailand/Tachilek Myanmar Visa run. Oriented towards those who would like to travel within Thailand longer then the initial 1 month visa given upon entry into Thailand.
Monday, December 24, 2007
PPP, the reincarnation of Thaksin Shinawatra and same as it ever was...
Well...it looks like it's the same as it ever was here in Thailand. After a peaceful military coup, new constitution, law suits and the closing of bars for the new elections - The proxy party of deposed PM Thaksin Shinawatra is in power.
Which just goes to say that things really don't change in Thailand on a political and social level; no matter what goes on...I just hope that with all the hyperbole since the last election and coup, that Thailand can get on the road to real progress. Real progress to benefit all the people of this wonderful country I now call home. And as far as Thaksin Shinawatra goes...he has allegedly done some really bad things and he should be tried. Failure to do so will only bring continued division...I hope this doesn't stay the same...
Which just goes to say that things really don't change in Thailand on a political and social level; no matter what goes on...I just hope that with all the hyperbole since the last election and coup, that Thailand can get on the road to real progress. Real progress to benefit all the people of this wonderful country I now call home. And as far as Thaksin Shinawatra goes...he has allegedly done some really bad things and he should be tried. Failure to do so will only bring continued division...I hope this doesn't stay the same...
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