Archive for the ‘Southeast Asia’ Category

The global shark fin trade

Wednesday, December 17th, 2008

Last month, filmmaker Shawn Heinrichs visited Misool Eco Resort to work on his documentary about the global shark fin trade. His story appeared on the front page of CNN.com on 11 Dec and included reference to Misool Eco Resort's efforts to combat it in their No-Take Zone. You can read the article ...

Thailand sinks aircraft to make artificial reef

Tuesday, December 9th, 2008

Ten aircraft have been submerged off Bang Tao Bay in Phuket’s Talang district in the Andaman Sea to form a new artificial coral reef and diving site. The 16-18 meters deep area where the fleet was sunk has a sand bed, and is one kilometre away from the natural coral ...

Thai Airports Update

Friday, December 5th, 2008

The anti-government protestors that had been holding Bangkok's two major airports - Suvarnabhumi and Don Muang - as well as Thailand's tourism industry and image under siege, returned the airports to the official authorities on Wednesday, after having caused enormous damage to the Thai economy. Flights are however gradually returning to ...

Thailand Airports Update

Wednesday, December 3rd, 2008

The anti-government protestors that have been holding Bangkok's two major airports - Suvarnabhumi and Don Muang - as well as Thailand's tourism industry and image under siege, are packing up and leaving today, after having caused long-lasting damage to the economy. However is it at all clear, when Suvarnabhumi or Don ...

Thailand Update

Wednesday, December 3rd, 2008

BANGKOK. Tue.02Dec'08   This afternoon the Constitution Court banned Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat from politics for five years and dissolved the ruling People Power party (PPP) and two other coalition parties, Chart Thai and Matchimathipataya, over voting fraud cases.  As the court unanimously decided to dissolve the PPP, therefore the leader of ...

Thailand update

Tuesday, December 2nd, 2008

Today, the Thailand Constitutional Court dissolved the People Power Party and its coalition partners due to alleged election irregularities and has banned its executives from holding political office for five years.  This means the Prime Minister has lost his job so, technically, the PAD protestors have got what they wanted. Hopefully ...

Thailand Situation Update

Friday, November 28th, 2008

Below are some clippings from Reuters and Bangkok Post.  At this moment the situation remains calm. Apart from at the Bangkok Airports that have been occupied by the activists, life goes on as normal in Bangkok and the rest of the country.  Travel in and out of Thailand is still possible ...

Thailand- Political Situation

Thursday, November 27th, 2008

 Update as from 4pm on the 27th November 2008:   Suvarnabhumi (Bangkok International Airport) BKK  Suvanabhumi Airport will be closed until Saturday 29 November 2008 at 6 PM. The re-open after those time is unpredictable. We will monitor the situation and keep you updated the as soon as possible.   Don Muang Airport (second Bangkok airport used mainly for domestic ...

Thailand- Political Situation

Thursday, November 27th, 2008

Suvarnabhumi (Bangkok International Airport) BKK Flights are still not operating and it is expected that the situation will not be resolved before tomorrow. The Bangkok International Airport has been closed since yesterday due to anti-government protestors forcing their way into the airport. Today the protesters have said that they will leave the airport ...

Deals for Divers: Sipadan-Kapalai Dive Resort

Wednesday, November 26th, 2008

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="490" caption="Sipadan Kapalai Resort, Malaysia"][/caption] Offer Dates: 10th Nov -15th Dec 2008 Special Offer: 10 % off 5D/4N Diving Package: MYR 3,050/person NOW MYR 2,745/person CONTACT: diver@symbiosis-travel.com or use the online contact form. For more info about the Sipadn Kapalai Resort in Malaysia visit: http://www.symbiosis-travel.com/malaysia/escapes-hideaways/84/sipadan-kapalai-resort/

Siem Reap Air Announces New Flights

Monday, October 27th, 2008

Siem Reap Air, a partnership airline of Bangkok Air will be starting direct daily flights from Siem Reap to Ho Chi Minh City and Ho CHi Minh City to Siem Reap. These daily flights will be scheduled as below: SR- HCM FT981- 11:00am-11:55am- Daily HCMC- SR FT982- 12:40pm-13:35 Daily Daily flights will begin on 26 October ...

Cambodia-Thailand Border Tensions

Monday, October 27th, 2008

Prime Minister Hun Sen and Thai Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat met in Bejing on Friday, at the Asia-Europe Summint, to discuss the recent conflict at Preah Vihear. The two Prime Ministers made an agreement to avoide anyt further fighting on the border. They also agreed to set up a committee and negotiate ...

Dive permits for Sipadan, Sabah

Tuesday, October 21st, 2008

    [caption id="attachment_170" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Pulau Sipadan, Sabah, Malaysia"][/caption] For people hoping to dive at the world renowned island of Sipadan, off the north coast of Sabah, Malaysian Borneo, I would advise planning - and booking - well ahead! The issuance of diving permits is very strict these days. The quota per day ...

Thailand- Cambodian Border Quiet After Negotiations

Friday, October 17th, 2008

"A tense quiet hangs over Preah Vihear temple [today]" (Tha Cambodia Daily). After four hours of negotiatins between Thai and Cambodia military officials an agreement had been made that no gunfir will be exchange "just like before" (The Cambodia Daily). In what seems to be a somewhat unworkable agreement Cambodia and Thailand ...

Bangkok to Saigon Cycle Challenge 2008

Thursday, October 16th, 2008

Dear Friends, This year's Bangkok to Saigon Cycle Challenge (8-23 Nov 08) has, like many things I'm sure, suffered from the West's economic woes, and we only have 4 people signed up to go.  However, it IS guaranteed to happen and I will be going along with myself as usual. I would ...