In a recent article published in the Phuket Gazette it was reported that the National Disaster Warning Center (NDWC) has finally received the money from central government for 2 more tsunami warning buoys that will protect the towns and villages on the coast of the Andaman Sea. These will add to the 79 warning buoys the six southern provinces already have, with the tourist destination of Patong on the island of Phuket with three towers, although five have been requested.

The following is an edited version (for clarity and size) the original article can been found here.

The NDWC has finally received 165 million baht from the central government to install two more tsunami-warning buoys in the Andaman Sea. They will be installed by the middle of 2008, NDWC Director Dr Smith Dharmasaroja told a conference in Phuket City, held to simultaneously update a total of 77 key figures in the region.

Dr Smith confirmed that the budget was approved only the day before the seminar, on January 20 saying “The two buoys will be about 250 to 300 kilometers from Phuket, much closer to shore than the one already installed, which is about 1,000 kilometers from the coast. They will give us better and faster information than the old buoy; the Meteorological Department will be responsible for making sure they are functioning,”. He added “The buoys will confirm whether or not a tsunami is approaching, and will be critical in making the decision whether or not to issue a tsunami warning,”.

Dr Smith warned the conference though that, “We have to hurry because there have been many earthquakes in the region” and expressed concern about the system of warning towers throughout the six tsunami-affected provinces saying “Many areas still need more warning towers and some islands still do not have any warning towers at all….with Krabi, Phang Nga and Ranong provinces asking for more warning towers”. He went on to say that with only one tsunami shelter on Koh Phi Phi Don the number of tourists there in the high season wont have enough protection, if hit by another tsunami.

Phuket Gazette 23 January 2008

After your 1st visit to Bangkok you will either fall in love with it or you will hate it enough to ensure you never go there again. One thing you will not be is indifferent about the place. With its gleaming skyscrapers sitting next to historic temples this city is a mix of western development and eastern history. Vibrant, colourful, busy and totally mind blowing Bangkok will get under your skin, in a good or bad way!

Suvarnabhumi International Airport opened in 2006 taking over from Don Muang Airport that has now re-opened to handle some domestic flights only. The new airport, pronounced Su-Wan-Na-Poom, has not been a successful episode in Thailand with many problems coming to light less than 1 year after its opening. However airport officials have reported these as merely teething troubles that are being dealt with as they are discovered. Regardless of teeth troubles or not this will most likely be your first point of contact in Thailand.

Unless on a package tour you will find getting transport from the Airport to your hotel very easy. A Bangkok Taxi is the most convenient and cheapest (300-500Bht). Limo Services (900Bht) are also available, but this only works best if there are 3 or more of you with very little luggage, as the boat, or trunk, of these are usually take up with LPG tanks. Bus services are available but unless you are travelling alone a taxi would be a better choice. If you are travelling alone it may be best to seek out other travellers and ask to share a cab with them.

Hotels are in abundance in Bangkok with a price range like no other major city. The cheap end of town used to be Khaosan Road but this area has become a tourist trap now with many of the budget places increasing their prices but not their standards. Sukhumvit is now the area were you will find the majority of hotels within the middle range price bracket. The biggest advantage of these places in my opinion is that they can be booked in advance, so when you arrive in Bangkok you will have a destination to aim for instead of the tourist desks in the airport. These hotels will be a little more expensive but still in no way near the prices you would pay in the UK for a similar standard hotel.

MY HOTEL RECOMMENDATIONS

Now I haven’t been in every hotel in Bangkok but I have stayed in a few, and booked others for previous customers so the following list is not a complete overview of all the good hotels in Bangkok, just the ones I have liked. Over time I will create more posts reviewing hotels, if you have any you want to let me know about good or bad, then post it in the comments.

Belaire Princess – Soi 5 Sukhumvit – From 3200Bht (Approx. £55) per room
Majestic Grande – Soi 2 Suvhumvit – From 3200Bht (Approx. £55) per room
Baiyoke Sky – 222 Rajprarop Road – From 2600Bht (Aprrox.£44) per room
Suk 11 – Soi 11 Sukhumvit – From 480Bht (Aproxx. £8) per room