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Our friend Jim who has lived in Bangkok for many years is starting a newsletter if you are interested in Asia travel and what is going on in Bangkok and thailand news this is a good resourse fro you to check out.

Please see our other blog Cheap Charlies Hotels Asia Blog

Jim our man in Bangkok news letter
Issue No 2
This is the last

FREE,
Issue of this news letter from Bangkok

Payment details are on the e-mail cover letter.

Right get your self a cup of tea, coffee, cool drink or a beer, and give a little time to read this letter.
Getting in the mood, after reading the first paragraph, close eyes arms hanging down at your side and see in your mind what you have read.

I am sitting having lunch in what is probably the biggest shopping store, or mall. I have ever been in. I am thinking to myself. I am lucky. I have four-days to shop until I drop, then its back to the usual grind of being an air hostess, but for now it's time to shop and shop. Things are so cheap, and the staff is so helpful, I have left bags all over the place, and when I finish I will collect my entire bags jump in a taxi back to the hotel. Now a quick cup of coffee, get the caffeine back up, then it's a charge on, we got in late last night and for sure, I will have an early night tonight.
So now it's about 3 30 p.m. I have collected all my bags, of which there are about 20, and one of the kind staff are assisting me out to the shop and trying to wave down a taxi. I think I remembered reading in someone's newsletter about Bangkok at 4 p.m. the taxis change shifts, we have stopped at least five or six taxis, and none of them want to take me back to the hotel, at last, a taxi that's going my way.
As I shuffle myself and my bags into the taxi. I notice it's getting quite dark, and a cool wind appears on the scene. Suddenly there's a bright flash, followed by large bang and the heavens open up the rain that falls is unbelievable, the windscreen wipers of the taxi having almost no effect at all, traffic is creeping along the road as flashes of lightning and claps of thunder continue, not to worry, I'm dry in a taxi.
We finally arrive in front of my hotel, I'm trying to get out of the taxi and get the bags at the same time, the rain and the wind driving down on me and my shopping. I fumble for my purse which is in my bag the rain is getting in my bag in my purse and in my shopping The taxi has only about two inches of his window open and two fingers sticking out waiting for me to pay him, so quickly. I give him a 100, baht note, window is closed, and he's gone, leaving me standing there with the rain driving down on me and my shopping. What is wrong with my foot, I look down and see, my heal of my shoe is broken, but still attached to the shoe, this must have happened while I was trying to get the bags out of the taxi, dam should have bought more shoes. With this I pick up my bags, I'm wet the shopping is wet, and I hobble into the hotel, leaving little puddles of water wherever I go. Whilst getting my key, the staff is telling me to quickly shower, dry well, or I will get sick. Entering the lift with my bags, leaving little puddles, wherever I go, get out of the lift and along to my room. On entering my room I noticed I was shivering, so dump everything and strip off all my clothes rushing to the bathroom and a hot shower.
The hot shower was really good, and after leaving the bathroom I gaze at the wet clothes wet shopping and think I will attend to this later. As I sit on the bed ,this feels really good maybe I will take a little knap, so off with the towels, and slid under the covers, God what a day, great shopping, good prices and that rain. A small grin is on my face as I drift into sleep, thinking this is almost as good as sex.


Ok if you’re all done let’s get on.

Overview

My fear as mentioned in my last newsletter that Thailand was in a delay mode. This week, the fruit farmers were the first to suffer, not only did they have a bumper harvest with 40% going to the local market and the remaining 60% for export. This unfortunately is not the case, the 60% have not been bought by the exporters, the government has rushed in to offer the farmers a minimum price, which will allow the fruits to go on the market for as little as two baht per kilo. Cassava is also suffering the same fate, and it is low as one baht per kilo. Rice was the next product to be effected and the government has bought some 2,000,000 tons, and stock piled them.
This situation can only get worse as exporters are not buying the products as they intern have no buyers. The government is rushing to borrow money from anywhere, how long can this situation be sustained, even if the West recovers from the downturn. It will still take time for situation to return to normal. So if you are a big fan of Lynches, Mangostine and Rambutan at these prices get over here.





Economy.

This seems pretty normal and as yet there seems to be very little change, apart from some products, as mentioned above, being very cheap at a large cost to the government. The government announced this week; they would give to unemployed people. Some 50,000 baht to start their own business, I don't know of any business in Bangkok that you could start for 50,000 baht, the rents are so high and what product or service would you offer that is not already in the market. The government also removed subsidies on gasoline and diesel stating that they no longer have the budget to support this. As oil prices have risen as and when this filters into the market we can expect a price rise in transport, which will then affect prices, taxis seem to be a little bit more expensive than before.





Political


The Prime Minister was on radio and TV and has asked that all politicians remain available in Bangkok from the 15 to 25 June. There are some very big changes that I think the Parliament will have to deal with, and if it concerns changing laws or the Constitution, they will have to have a full Parliament present. Unfortunately, we will not know the answers to this until after 25 June, so this will be in my newsletter of 1 July. I feel sure the red T-shirts are planning something. Between 15 and 25 June, I hope there is not too much disruption in the city of Bangkok.




Tourism



This has not changed from my last letter; In fact it has got worse. Now the rainy season is here traditionally tourist arrivals would be down, coupled with the fact that the airlines have not reduced the cost of tickets, we can expect very few arrivals. I think most hotels are discounting their rates and offering all sorts of bonuses to those who say there. I will have further information on the outlying districts as a friend of mine will be visiting Thailand, next week and plans trips to both Udontani and
Pattaya. This will give us feedback from those who live in those areas as to how bad the situation is, most outlying districts of suffering badly do to lack of tourists and also the fact locals are not traveling, to those Districts. More on that in my next news letter




What’s on offer and discounts




There is a full international Jazz Festival that will take place on 12 15 of June at the beach resort of Hua Hin. This festival is to celebrate the 60th year of his Royal highness the Kings attainment to the thrown. There is no charge for the public to attend this festival. It should be a very good weekend by the sea.

Everywhere in Bangkok is now advertising, grand Thailand sale, every item, whether it be brand-name or made in Thailand is offered at between 20% to 80% discount.
Now, it's a paradise, for shopping on any item you can think of. Remember as a tourist, you can also get 7% VAT cash back on all items that cost more than 5000 baht. There are still good deals on many resorts all over the country. This is being done to encourage tourists and locals alike to spend money. I saw silver jewelry on a market stall local made but well known brand will not turn black after a while 5-10 baht a piece



Traffic.



This is much the same as I mentioned in my previous letter. Only with one more ingredient added to the chaos that already exists, the rainy season has arrived.
This unfortunately, will be the sad case for the next four months, as that's how long the rainy season is expected to last. If you are planning to visit Thailand in the next few months bring your umbrella and carry a pair of flip-flops. So that if you are caught in a flash flood, you can change from good shoe to flip-flop and before you leave, you can throw the flip-flop away.


Transport



The free buses are still going, for how long I do not know as the government has just decided to buy 4000 new buses that are fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly. The sky train has now officially opened the section that crosses the river at Taksin Bridge and goes on to one station the other side. The cost to take this is FREE for the next three months, it's a way of getting the people to try it and if they like it, to pay for it after three months. The river taxi has complained bitterly to the governor of Bangkok. They have lost some 20,000 passengers a day, which no longer use their services and use the sky train; instead, you win some you lose some.






Prices


They are falling all the time and on so many items hotels, shopping, resorts, to many to list here. I think the food prices; will also come down in the domestic market with domestic products, a little bit of dumping could well be on the cards, if you can not export the products, what are you going to do with it. I mentioned above about the fruits and I feel many more products will also get the same treatment, what choice has the government. There are no exporters buying they in turn have no buyers to export to.
Booze in the pubs and clubs is not as cheap as before and the customers are also not there as in the past. I have noticed that a music pub that had 2-3 bands a night is now only running 1 band with breaks; they are also feeling the pinch
Some pool bars have closed and I think a few more to come as they were everywhere.





Where to go and Holidays.


I have put these two together as they about the same.

This time of the year with the rains upon us ,places like Phuket in the south is not a place to be, most venders close up and what is there is very poor compared to the high season. The Andaman Sea is very dangerous at this time of the year and only a few days ago a visitor drowned.
It is a good time to see the north of Thailand, garden of Thailand as its known everything is growing at full pace you can get deals on resorts in the hills. The climate is also not as harsh as Bangkok. Clean air for a start, good fresh food cool nights and spectacular storms lightening thunder the whole nine yards.


Heard it on the grape vine

There was a comment on the news a Prof, of high respect wants Thailand to go back to the old name of SIAM. He stated that Thailand was not a legal name but Siam is I am not sure why this would be good for the country. Thai airways, is thinking of canceling the order for A380 air craft, no money I think. The Swine Flu has hit Pattaya with over 40 cases confirmed that will not help the resort attract tourists.
Again the government is buying palm oil, tapioca and corn in the hope that at least farmers will have money back from this year's harvest. How long can they keep this up, because they need to borrow money from the markets and banks? This coming week, as mentioned before, all politicians have been asked to stay in Bangkok and not to leave the country, their votes are going to be needed. It will be interesting to find out what the Government proposes from the 15th to 25 June. They have also increased the danger money for government and education workers in the south of Thailand to 2500 baht extra per month.



Where do we go from here?



Sales, this is the key word; I think it's time to look outside the box. The days of opening a shop stocking it and hoping people will come have past. If the people won’t come to the shop, then take the shop to the people. Let's face it; if you have a shop, you have stocked it and that's money invested so to invest small additional money for transport should not be overly expensive. Now you are able to take your stock to the people. There are many reasons that people will not come to a shop and buy such as no time, transport not easy and expensive, the weather, to hot to cold raining, can not carry very much, you taking your shop to the people, you have overcome at least 99% of the reasons for the people not to shop.

This is certainly a good time for anyone outside of Thailand, who is thinking of importing to their country, to come and have a very careful look at what's on offer in Thailand and see if this is a viable proposition. The export promotions department of Thailand are bending over backwards to help and assist any interested party, that is looking to export from Thailand. If this appeals, to you and you would like to visit Thailand do not forget to take out travel medical insurance as swine flu is everywhere,
Hospitals in Bangkok are very good and also very expensive. If you're looking for a good hotel with a 50% discount on the room rate then contact me
This wraps up this edition of the newsletter. I hope you have enjoyed it and found it useful. Remember follow the instructions on the cover e-mail. So you can continue to receive this newsletter twice a month for the following year

Thanks

JIM.