Relax at Soi Honey's all new Body Massage Parlour. Soi Honey is also known as Soi 11 and connects Pattaya's Second Road with Soi Buakhaow.

Another unannounced market happened on Pattaya Beach Promenade and frightened away Pattaya's famous models from their ancestral working places. The event started on July 22, 2010 at Soi 4 with boothes from Chantaburi presenting nice and mostly handmade OTOP goods. At the Loma fountain on Central Road a Singha Beergarden was waiting for dursty visitors. The Singha and Leo adverisments weren't covered, as required by a law. The new law seems to be effective for Walking Street's Insomnia Club only...

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The event was announced at http://www.pattaya.go.th/, Pattaya's official Website in Thai only. The Website, updated on July 22nd, said that it would be an OTOP fair happening from July 22 - 25, 2010. The fair would be open from 10:00 - 24:00, the website announced. In reality most vendors steped in after 15:00 only...

July 20, 2010: Students on their way to the Carnival Float Festival 2010.

East meets West at the Carnival Float Festival 2010.

Bangkok authorities said on July 12th anyone caught handing bunches of bananas or sugar cane to elephants faces a 10'000 Baht fine. The Thai authorities have repeatedly attempted to stamp out the problem of elephant handlers, known as mahouts. They are walking the creatures in the capital and selling bananas and sugar cane for people to feed them. Typically a tourist would pay 20 Baht for the privilege of handing a bunch of fruit or vegetables into the elephant's trunk. Friends of the Asian Elephant, a Thai non-government group, called the fines a good start and hopes other Thai cities would follow suit.

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It is a question of time only until Pattaya City Hall is introducing similar fines. Rumors already tell that Pattaya Police on Soi 9 is considering to fine Farangs for taking photos with Monkeys and Snakes on Walking Street, visiting weird shows at Pattaya's A-Go-Go Clubs, hiring Models on Pattaya's Beach Promenade and feeding Pattaya's famous Bar Ladies. Everybody walking in Pattaya with a Thai Lady and not being married to her will be fined too. The fine in Pattaya will be 9'999 Baht. (9 is Thailand's lucky number.) I like the idea to fine Farangs, a virtual police official told me. Farangs have all the money to boost my income, he said.

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All information published on this page are as accurate as possible. The first part of this story is true, the second part is fiction, but one that can come to reality in the very near future...

Pattaya's famous Marathon will take place on July 18th 2010 from 04:00 to 12:00. This date was announced during a press conference on Tuesday June 22nd (!) 2010 from 10.00 - 11.30 at the GMM Grammy Place in Bangkok by GMM Grammy, Pattaya City Mayor Itthiphol Khunpluem and his brother Sontaya Khunpluem*. During the event the organizer(s) announced that the event will be sponsored by a company called Power Plus Drink, better known as Thai Beverage Co. Ltd. Furthermore, the organizer(s) promised, Grammy artists will enjoy attendants with a mini concert. The event will be broadcasted through Thai TV Channel 9. And an official Website was announced too: http://www.pattayamarathon.com/ Until that date a Website known as http://www.pattaya-marathon.com/ was online, telling its visitors that the marathon will happen from July 30 until August 1, 2010. This address isn't active anymore, but its visitors were redirected to http://www.pattaya.go.th/, Pattaya's official Website. Nevertheless, the Tourism Authority of Thailand News Room - EVENT UPDATES page always announces Pattaya's International Chaos Marathon for July 30 - August 1, 2010 (on July 10th, the time of writing this information). A lot of other sites on the internet are mentioning July 30 - August 1, 2010 as the date of the event too... Advertisements are mentioning TAT (Tourism Authority of Thailand) as a co-sponsor of the event. Obviously TAT's left hand doesn't know what its right hand is sponsoring!

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It seems that the famous last minute events organized by The Khunpluem Brothers - mostly supported by GMM Grammy and (or some of their affiliates) - always have to be accompanied by a chaos.

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*Sontaya Khunpluem started his political career as a Chonburi councilor and became the first Chonburi MP under the Samakkeetham Party. He then left Samakkeetham and moved to the Chart Pattana Party. 1995 Sontaya joined the Chat Thai Party. Later, as a Chat Thai Party secretary-general he defected with his 20-member Chon Buri faction to Thaksin Shinawatra's Thai Rak Thai Party. When Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was ousted by the military he rejoined with his men to Chat Thai. Sontaya Khunpluem has held many positions in Bangkok including Deputy Minister of industry, Deputy Minister of communications, Minister of science, technology and the environment, and Minister of tourism and sports. Today Sontaya Khunpluem is the president of Pattaya United, Pattaya's football club. Wittaya Khunpluem, a younger brother, holds the same position at the FC Chonburi and is a chief executive of the provincial administrative organisation. Itthiphol Khunpluem is the Mayor of Pattaya. The father of the three Khunpluem brothers, Somchai Khunpluem, widely known as 'Kamnan Poh', is (or was?) a most influential local politician. During many years Somchai Khunpluem was the mayor of Saen Suk and was involved in the expansion of Bang Saen. He had (or probably even has) very good connections to other communities in Chonburi. Some years ago he was being accused of masterminding the murder of another local leader, Mr. Prayoon Sitthichoti, known as Kamnan Yoon. But 'Kamnan Poh' was set free on a 10-million Baht government-bond bail by Thailand's Criminal Court. However, the court barred him from leaving the kingdom. Nevertheless, Somchai Khunpluem escaped and is currently hiding himself in Cambodia. Thailand's Police is still hunting the father of the three Khunpluem brothers for corruption and a few other offences, including the murder case mentioned above.

On July 7th at about 21:00 the Royal Thai Police Inspection Division 7 raided Insomnia Disco on Walking Street and arrested the manager of the venue. He 'forget' to cover the advertisements of alcoholic beverages in his bar. Thailand's Health Departments are enforcing the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act which bans both external and internal signs and advertisements for any kind of alcoholic beverages. Signs have to be removed or covered up, including beer taps. No problems for Chang & Singha (no-beer) signs: The two companies already launched their drinking waters. But ads for their Soda Waters (!) are banned too, perhaps to show the whole world the stupidity of the responsible law makers. Nevertheless, McDonald's at Royal Garden Plaza didn't (had to) cover its large Singha Light Beer 'distribution center' in the middle of its food outlet yet. But what will happen with Pattaya Beer Garden and all that Beer Bar and Bar Beer signs around the town? They all are promoting the popular juice made from malted barley and water. And what happens with menue cards mentioning alcoholics...? Is the exposure of Red Kimchi's Micro-Brewery at Royal Garden Plaza an alcoholic advertisement or not? And what this sign tells Thailand's law maker(s)? Same, same but very different At Carrefour and at CentralFestival OTOP's are presenting their Thai wines made from grapes and any other kind of Thai fruits without covering any advertisements - and are selling the bottles whole the day... Will police arrest everybody wearing a Heineken T-shirt - or will they fine the people only? TiT (This is Thailand). Seen at CentralFestival on July 14th 2010 too:

On July 14th we made the following pictures within 500 meters on Pattaya 3rd Road: Seen at CentralFestival on July 14th 2010 too: To run a successful business in Thailand you don't need the support of a corrupt family - but it could help a lot!

It seems that Pattaya Police consists of a bunch of lawbreaking individuals.

Since March 2010 the Pattaya Baht Bus Co-operative can ask a base fare of 10 Baht and a long-distance rate of 20 Baht. The new fare was approved by the Chonburi Traffic Department to be charged for Thais and non-Thais as well. But since a few week the drivers from the Pattaya Baht Bus mafia, the Pattaya Baht Bus Corporation, is asking 10 Baht for Thai passengers and 20 Baht for all non-Thai people. It's time the Chonburi Traffic Department clarifies that they approved the new fare for all passengers, independent of their race and the color of their skins. We recommend to ignore the Baht Busses and walk the few hundred meters to the next destination - and tell your lady why she has to walk too!. Do not forget to call 1337 and tell the ladies at Pattaya City Hall's Call Center that you don't will accept this kind of overcharging anymore.

An organisation called Pattaya Film Academy is trying to change the image of Pattaya forever. Next year - perhaps - the Pattaya Film Academy likes to host the International Pattaya Filmfestival and let the whole world know that the famous City of Beer Bars vanished into thin air. Did the organizer ever visit Cannes and/or Los Angeles during their festivals? There is always an influx of prostitutes, often called Starlets to use an nicer word. Pattaya-at-Night already started to use the word Models for the daily users of Pattaya's Catwalk, the famous Beach Promenade - but perhaps we should call them Starlets too... At least the ladies bring back some glamour to the seamy Beach Promenade.

As predicted in NightWalker's News Flash from March 2010:
The all new Peppermint A-Go-Go got a new LED sign too.
We are just waiting for the new sign for The Cavern. Work is in full progress...

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The influx of new and nice LED-Signs is far from over: The groups latest acquisition of Carousel A-Go-Go will need a new sign too. And - perhaps - the Happy A-Go-Go Group is considering to buy or create some new businesses again - who knows? Possibly its CEO...

When I was on the look-out for OTOP-Products my lady asked me 'Why Farangs always think that everything has to be exactly as Thai people say?. City Hall announced a fair - and here is it. Sometimes City Hall calls it Red Shirt's Fair, sometimes Culture from the City of the Sea and sometimes Color of the Eastern Seaboard OTOP, but it remains a fair. Everything else is Fantasy or simply fun!'. 'You mean, if a Thai director tells me that his hotel is 5-Star hotel it hasn't to be one in reality?' I asked here. 'Now you got it! His hotel is a hotel - everything else is leaving to his fantasy and to the imagination of his guests...' she told me. Nevertheless, the event was a nice fair with a lot of beautiful ladies, good foods, piles of smiles and new phone numbers and a few interesting OTOPs, but unfortunately repeatedly interrupted by heavy rains.

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Markets like the Color of the Eastern Seaboard OTOP Fair are called 'thalart doen' or 'thalart khon doen' by Thai people, which means walking market in a loose translation. Sometimes I also heard 'larn doen', which means walking shop(s). Most Thai people like markets, but hate walking. Therefore the correct translation would be 'rambling market' or 'extended market' and already implies a warning...

Since a few days smoking is prohibited at health-related venues, primary and secondary schools, public transport outlets and religious centres. Smoking is allowed at government offices, universities, petrol stations and international airports, but smoking areas must be located outside. Public places are required to carry signs with the message smoke-free area. Is it therefore that the Thailand Tabacco Monopoly occupied one of Beach Promenade's nicest places during the Color of the Eastern Seaboard OTOP Fair?

Carrefour never removed the banners announcing the 1'445 Baht DVD player. Carrefour is touting a 4x80-gram multipack of LUX soaps too, for 49 Baht. Tesco/Lotus sells the same soaps in a 4x115-gram multipack for the very same 49 Baht and the 4x80-gram multipack for 39 Baht! Recommendation: Before buying at Carrefour check the offers at all the other shops and shopping centers carefully!

The new Hang Loose Bar opened on Soi 8, about 30 meters from Beach Road. The bar promises 24 hours happy hour and free Wi-Fi. All beers 55 Baht, Bacardi, Gin or Vodka 60 Baht/glas. The bar has a few very nice ladies too...

Dream's Bar Beer is not only a see through bar, but a nice coyote club on Soi 8 with beautiful dancing ladies in daily changing themed costumes.

Last month we published that South Africa's blowing horn is the poor man's Alphorn. That's not correct. It's a musical instrument belonging to a church. The Vuvuzela is a blowing horn of approximately 1 m in length. It is commonly blown by fans at football matches in South Africa and requires some lip and lung strength to blow and emits a loud monotone sound. The instrument has a sound level of up to 127 decibels. This is a dangerously high sound pressure level for unprotected ears. South Africa's blowing horn has been used in Mexican stadiums since the 1970s. Freddie 'Saddam' Maake claims to have invented the Vuvuzela as early as 1965. South Africa-based company Masincedane Sport began the mass-production of a plastic version in 2001. The company says that their Vuvuzela is based on kudu horn instruments, an historic African instrument, but the claim is disputed. Nine years later, in early 2010 the Nazareth Baptist Church suddenly discovered that the Vuvuzela belongs to their church and announced legal action against the use of Vuvuzelas. The Alphorn isn't part of the church's claim. The archaeological record of the Alphorn stretches back nearly two thousand years to the Celtic tribes that originally settled the rugged land on the northern slopes of the Alps. As the famous Swiss Alphorn the Vuvuzela is an aerophone or labrophone. A musical instrument which produces sound primarily by causing a body of air to vibrate. A horn like the Vuvuzela or the Alphorn has no lateral openings and therefore gives the pure natural harmonic series of an open pipe. The notes of the Alphorn are tuned by nature to a scale of unique beauty. A virtous player has a range of musical expression over three full octaves! There are Alphorns manufactured by using glas fibre, carbon fibre and acrylic materials, but they never achieved the sound quality of a wooden instrument originally crafted in the hills of good old Switzerland. Leopold Mozart as well as other famous composer created masterpieces to be played on an Alphorn. Until today we don't know of any composition written for the Vuvuzela...

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Today most Netbooks are built around Intel's Atom microprocessors. The Intel Atom is Intel's line of low-power, low-cost and low-performance x86 and x86-64 microprocessors for use in Netbooks up to 10.1-inch displays. The Atom N270 debuted on June 3, 2008 and the Atom N280 on February 6, 2009. The N270 has a clock frequency of 1600 MHz, the N280 runs at 1667 MHz. Both microprocessors are Single-Core CPUs built around 47 million transistors. Graphic and memory controllers are not integrated into the chips. On December 21, 2009 Intel released the Atom N450 CPU and on March 1, 2010 the Atom N470. The N450 runs at 1667 MHz and the N470 at 1833 MHz. Both microprocessors are Single-Core CPUs built around 123 million transistors and have integrated graphics and memory controllers supporting DDR2-667 memory-cards. Released in the 2nd quarter of 2010 Intel's Atom N455 and Atom N475 are virtual N450 and N470 processors but are supporting the faster DDR3-800 memory cards. In the 3rd quarter of 2010 Intel released the Atom N550 for use in Netbooks. The new CPU is a Dual-Core microprocessor that runs at 1500 MHz. It has built-in graphic and memory controllers, uses 176 million transistors and supports DDR3-800 memory cards. Benchmarked with 7-Zip a N550 Netbook shows about twice the power of a N450 Netbook, but it also uses about 50% more power from the battery...

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Designated for Sub Netbooks (e.g. Sony's VAIO P) only: During the 2nd quarter of 2010 Intel released the Atom Z5xx serie of CPUs and announced an Atom Z6xx serie for 2011. These microprocessors are Single-Core CPUs. The Z5xx serie uses 47 million transistors and comes without integrated graphic and memory controllers. The Z6xx serie will use about 140 million transistors and will have integrated graphic and memory controllers.

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Another serie of Atom processors is designated for the use in small Desktop computers: The Atom 230 is a Single-Core and the Atom 330 a Dual-Core processor without integrated graphic and memory controllers and are running at 1800MHz. Intel's D410 and D425 are Single-Core CPU's with integrated graphic and memory controllers and last but not least Intel released the D510 and the D525 Dual-Core microprocessors also with integrated graphic and memory controllers. D410 and D510 are supporting DDR2-800 memory-cards, whereas the D425 and the D525 are addressing DDR3-800 memory cards.