THAISiDE|PRAJUMSOOK.COM

When I first came to Thailand fifteen years ago there wasn’t really that much in the way of English media. All we had at the time were two national newspapers in English and a few programmes on television if we tuned in to a certain radio station to get the English soundtrack. Also, if I travelled into Bangkok I could watch the latest Hollywood movies with the original soundtrack. Things have certainly changed

One of the most ambitious plans for a tourist attraction in Samut Prakan Province is the 139 meter high tower that will give fine views of the Gulf of Thailand. The plan for the tower has been around for a while and for the past few years it seems it had been put on hold.

Tomorrow is the 82nd Birthday for H.M. The King. In past years, most Thai people would wear yellow in honour of His Majesty. In Bangkok there would be a sea of yellow

Today saw the start of the 182nd Phra Samut Chedi Temple Fair in Samut Prakan. This takes place every year five days after the full moon in October. It goes on for twelve days and twelve nights and includes mandy sideshow games as well as a lot of really delicious food. The event started today with a parade of the sacred red cloth through the towns of Samut Prakan and Phra Pradaeng.

One of my favourite festivals in Thailand is the Rap Bua Festival in Bang Phli, Samut Prakan. I usually go every year now. In English, the festival translates as “Lotus Receiving Festival”

The Thai government is trying to scare the Thai people into believing the current H1N1 virus could be the death of so many people. They continue to release idiotic statements through the media and it seems that people high up in the government are probably the main culprits. Deputy Prime Minister Sanan Kajornprasart said on Monday, “The government plans to buy 10 million face masks and distribute them to people to help curb the H1N1 flu outbreak.” I have said before and this is directly from the World Health Organization’s website

I reported on the outbreak of swine flu or H1N1 virus. Our school took the steps early to close the school after a student showed the symptoms of the virus. On Thursday the doors were closed to students and the teachers went home at 11am after cleaning their homeroom classroom. I blogged on this here if you want to see pictures and such.