Have Banjo Will Travel

Permission Granted!

2010-09-09T03:47:00.000-07:00

September in Thailand is a very important time for me. It's the month I go to Immigration to renew my Non Immigrant-O (Retirement) Visa.

This Visa allows me to stay in in the Kingdom of Thailand year round without having to exit the country. The requirements for obtaining a Retirement Visa are pretty straight forward.

Today, I submited my paperwork and have been granted permission to reside in Thailand until Dec 2011.

I've been in Thailand since June 2006 and couldn't imagine living anywhere else.

A GREAT Time to Visit Thailand

2010-06-22T00:09:00.000-07:00

Despite what you may have heard in the news, now is a great time to visit Thailand.

It is low season (May - Sep) and hotel rates are inexpensive. You can find great rooms for as low as 500 Baht a night ($16 USD)in resort areas such as Jomtien Beach & Pattaya.

Many airlines are offering lower fares to encourage the return of tourists.

Additionally, the Government has exempted all fees for Tourist Visas until March 31, 2011.

The eastern seaboard of Thailand was never affected by the political unrest that befell Bangkok.

So book a flight and enjoy amazing Thailand!

Dave Carroll is my Hero!

2010-06-02T23:12:00.000-07:00

Having been a travelling musician for the better part of 30 years I've seen my fair share of abuse levied on my Banjo by uncaring airline employees.

I try to hand carry my Banjo whenever possible but that is sole at the whim of what ever airline employee is standing in front of me at the time. No rhyme or reason...

A couple years ago folk musician Dave Carroll had his guitar destroyed by United Airlines. After going through the standard claim procedures (and being denied) he decided to do what musicians do best...sing!

And sing he did. On Youtube. To over 8 MILLION HITS!!!

Dave YOU are my hero!!

Happy Birthday Vince Eager

2010-06-02T22:57:00.000-07:00

June 4th will be my good friend Vince Eager's 70th birthday.

Vince was a pioneer of 50's Pop / Rock in the UK along with Billy Fury, Marty Wilde, Adam Faith etc.

I wrote an extensive blog about him in Feb 2009 here

Vince does a monthly radio show in England and tonight (June 3rd) he will be doing a very special show. Here's his note to me about it.

I've decided on a little self indulgence on my radio show this week which is on Thursday 3rd June. As it's my 70th birthday on Friday I'm gonna play the sound track to my life, well, the highlights! Hope you can join me at 9.00pm (UK time) on http://mixstream.net/stream/652/listen.ram.

I will be up at 3am Thailand time to catch it for sure. If you can't get it, here are a couple vintage Vince tracks from Youtube..

Wishing you a VERY Happy Birthday my friend!!

Troubling Times in Thailand

2010-04-29T19:43:00.000-07:00

For those of you who follow International News, undoubtedly you are aware of the ongoing political problems besetting the Kingdom of Thailand.

As a long term resident, I am saddened by the events but I must say I am not especially worried about my own personal safety. Not yet, at least.

The confrontations (so far) have been limited to Bangkok and to a lesser extent Chiang Mai.

Here is Pattaya, life goes on pretty much as normal.

There are decidedly fewer tourists in town than usual but otherwise you'd never know there was a problem (unless you watch the news).

My hope is that cooler heads will prevail and Thailand will again become the welcoming travel destination it has been for many years.

In the meantime, I go about my daily life and I'm thankful to wake up every morning in the land of smiles.

Downloading My Second Childhood

2010-03-28T04:25:00.000-07:00

As my 56th Birthday rapidly approaches, I find myself drifting back to memories of my my youth. Having been born in 1954, I am of a generation who doesn't remember a time when there wasn't Television.

Today, with 500 channels of News, Entertainment, Music , Sports and Information at my fingertips, I find myself longing for a simpler time when there was only three choices and the world was (almost always) in Black & While.

Fortunately, the Internet can help me relive my youth.

http://www.archive.org/browse.php?field=subject&mediatype=movies&collection=classic_tv

By clicking on the above link, you'll be taken to Archive.Org, a video repository of Classic TV that is now in the public Domain. You'll find Ozzie & Harriet, Richard Diamond, My Little Margie, Our Miss Brooks, The Lucy Show, Roy Rogers, Pinky Lee, Bonanza,Howdy Doody, Life Of Riley, I Married Joan, Space Patrol, Studio One, Thriller, This Is Your Life, Medic, Dragnet and the list goes on and on...

You can watch them online or download them to your computer for later viewing.

But, because Man cannot live by TV alone, there is also a Feature Film Vault as well containing 100's of films. I especially enjoy the Sci-Fi from the 1950's that were a staple of my youth. Sure, they were low budget and quite often corny but who could resist The Giant Gila Monster, The Brain From Planet Arous or Earth Vs Flying Saucers!

http://www.archive.org/browse.php?field=subject&mediatype=movies&collection=feature_films

So far I have about 100 Gig of Old TV & Movies. Using 512K MPEG4, That's about 500 Hours of viewing!

For the story behind the story, I heartily recommend the blog, Masters of My Public Domain written by my brother Mike Coston.

Now excuse me but Annie Oakley is coming on....

Seven Days In March

2010-03-09T19:11:00.000-08:00

Once again, Thailand holds it's breath as political divisions brings the country to the brink.

The "Red Shirts" have vowed a million man march in Bangkok starting this weekend to bring down the current government in 7 days.

Police have been mobilized and the ISA (Internal Security Act) has been invoked to give special powers to the government in times of crisis.

Many foreign governments have issued travel warnings to their citizens to avoid areas where demonstrations are likely.

So far, there are no outward signs of government preparation in my area (Jomtien Beach) and life goes on as normal.

As a foreigner living in Thailand, it would be inappropriate for me to comment on which side should prevail. That is a decision for Thais only.

As an American, I wouldn't want someone from Thailand (or any other country) telling me how America should run their government either!

Regardless of how this turns out, my prayers are with Thailand. I truly love this country and it's people and regard Thailand as my home.

Let's hope cooler heads prevail and Thailand returns to being "the Land Of Smiles"

A Lightweight Road Warrior solution

2010-03-09T00:44:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I went out and bought a new Samsung N150 Netbook. At only 11,500 baht (approx $350), it was the cheapest portable computer I could find.

My computing needs are twofold. At home, I need the power and fexibilty a desktop computer supplies.

On the road, I need mainly email ability and basic computer functions in a small, lightweight footprint. Of course, it’s nice to be able to listen to music, watch movies and play a few games too.

For a road machine, the Samsung fit’s the bill for me. My travel requires constant internet access with my agents, extended battery life for trans-national flights and a machine that is light on the shoulder.

An ample 220 gig HD, I gig of ram onboard, built in webcam, Wifi & bluetooth enabled, screen resolution of up to 1152x864 , Windows 7 installed, an eight hour + battery life and all under 3lbs in weight!

It has three USB ports, video out, mic input, audio output , Wired LAN port, and a multi-card slot and utilizes the Atom Intel processor.

Sure, the keyboard is a little cramped and it’s not the speediest machine on the market but it certainly does the job.

Flying the Friendly Skies of Vietnam Airlines

2010-03-09T00:41:00.000-08:00

I flew back to Bangkok from Saigon last Friday.

It was my first flight on Vietnam Airlines and I must say I was quite impressed!

First off all, the airport in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) is clean, modern and easily traversed. From Check-in to immigration to my Gate took less than 15 minutes.

Boarding the plane, it was obviously fairly new and had been pre-cooled before boarding

The flight from Saigon to Bangkok clocks in at about 1 hour & 5 minutes. Basically, once you are at altitude, you start your descent.

With such a short flight time, I expected only minimal service.

WRONG!!

First, pillow & blankets were distributed to those who requested them (no charge, unlike in the USA). Then, as soon as we cleared 10,000 feet, food carts emerged and everyone was served a hot meal (braised beef, rice, veggies and a fruit plate). Wine & Beer was offered (free) with the service and as we descended hot coffee & tea was offered.

All this in economy on a short hop flight!

Somehow, I don’t see this kind of service ever returning to the western carriers.

A GREAT Cruise for me!!

2010-02-23T03:26:00.000-08:00

I'll be flying to Singapore later this week to do an 8 day cruise contract sailing to Ho Chi Mihn City. It's a last minute booking and I'm thankful for the work.

Just got my Cruise Itinerary and had to laugh!

2/25/2010 Fly To Singapore and join ship
2/26/2010 Day at sea
2/27/2010 Koh Samui (Thailand) 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
2/28/2010 Bangkok (Laem Chebang) Arrive 10:00 AM
3/1/2010 Bangkok (Laem Chebang) Overnight
3/2/2010 Bangkok (Laem Chebang) Depart 6:00 PM
3/3/2010 Koh Samui (Thailand) 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM
3/4/2010 Day At Sea
3/5/2010 Ho Chi Minh City Arrive & Fly to Bangkok Arrive 6:10 PM

I fly to Singapore and have one day at sea followed by 5 days in Thailand (2 days in Koh Samui and 3 days in Laem Chebang - the port is 20 minutes from my house so I can actually go home!)! One final day at sea and then I fly home!

Of course this all depends on what happens following the Supreme Court decision on Friday! If things go haywire, they may have to change the itinerary for passenger safety. I sincerely hope things stay calm.

Trying Times in Thailand

2010-02-20T23:32:00.000-08:00

If you are an Ex-Pat living in Thailand, or the friend or relative of one, you may have read some alarming headlines lately regarding the ongoing turmoil in the Land of Smiles.

Foreign operators urged to switch tour groups to non-Bangkok destinations.

Thailand braces for explosive verdict.

Iraq, India And Colombia Top Maplecroft Terrorism List - Thailand Emerges As Extreme Risk Nation.

On February 26th, the Supreme Court of Thailand will render judgement on the currently frozen 2.2 billion USD bank accounts of ousted former premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

Thaksin supporters (known as Red Shirts), have have vowed to demonstrate after the verdict (widely expected to go against them).

Embassies have issued travel warnings and the government has deployed thousands of troops and assigned guards to Supreme Court judges due to fears of a violent backlash if the tycoon's funds are seized on Friday.

The Thai government has announced it will cede control of security to the army and even declare an emergency if necessary, but says it hopes to control the situation.

So, we wait....

No one knows for sure how the court will rule ..or how the affected parties will react.

On a personal level, I feel no direct concern for my safety. I will take the usual precautions one should during a contentious time in any country. I will avoid crowds (especially in the "hot spots" around Bangkok), I will make sure I have plenty of food, water, batteries, cash etc at home in the event some businesses close and I'll keep a close eye on the local Thai media for any signs of escalation.

Other than that, it's life as usual here in Jomtien Beach.

Unfortunately, Thailand is now in the top 10 of the Maplecroft Terrorism List (#9). The index measures not only the risks of an attack, but also the chances of mass casualties occurring.

The top listing is as follows...

Iraq (1) Afghanistan (2) Pakistan (3) Somalia (4)Lebanon (5) India (6) Algeria (7) Colombia (8) and Thailand (9).

The figures however, here are a little misleading. The majority of the unrest in Thailand occurs in the very southern region (hundreds of miles away from BKK) along the border with Malaysia and doesn't affect the the tourist destinations of Bangkok, Chiang Mai & Pattaya at all.

I've spent considerable time in India (5) and Columbia (8) and believe me, I feel 1000 times safer in Thailand than I ever did there and even safer than in the United States (46).

Thailand is a beautiful, welcoming country that deserves a much better reputation than it currently holds. This current crisis will pass, and hopefully without incident.

Thailand has been my home since 2006 and I have no desire to live anywhere else.

The Saint's Go Marchin In!

2010-02-09T01:17:00.001-08:00

It was a thing of beauty..

SAINTS WIN SUPERBOWL

Initial reports it may have been the most watched Television program in American history. I watched here in Thailand at 6:30 am with friends.

Even up by 14 points and less than two minutes to play, I held my breath until it was over.

Like all New Orleanians (OK, I only lived there 21 years so it's honorary at best), I shed tears of joy for the city that has waited 42 years for this moment.

Especially after Hurricane Katrina.

I still remember my first return to the city following the disaster. Katrina struck August 29th, 2005 and we were first allowed back into the city (dusk curfew still in effect) on October 19th.

Driving into the city, the first thing you really see that feels like "home" was the Superdome. Of course, just six weeks earlier it had been the refuge of last resort for thousands of people trapped by the storm.

As you drove past it, you could see the ravages inflicted on the building by the storm and it's aftermath.

Those scars are now beginning to heal.....

Bless You Boys!!!

To a Long, Long Life....

2010-02-04T00:22:00.000-08:00

As you get older one tends to get interested in longevity. There's an Interesting website that tracks whether famous people are still alive or whether they have passed away called DEAD OR ALIVE.

Although it is always sad to see who has passed, to me more interesting is who is still among us. I'm pleased to say a couple of those on this list are friends of mine.

Dolores Hope - 100
Luise Rainer - 100
Gloria Stuart - 99
Mitch Miller - 98
Art Linkletter - 97
Tony Martin - 96
Kevin McCarthy - 95
Irwin Corey - 95
Jack LaLanne - 95
Norman Lloyd - 95
Norman Wisdom 95
Harry Morgan - 94
Frank Cady - 94
Eli Wallach - 94
Barbara Billingsley - 94
Olivia de Havilland - 93
June Havoc - 93
Sherwood Schwartz - 93
Ernest Borgnine - 93
Kirk Douglas - 92
Zsa Zsa Gabor - 92
Vera Lynn - 92
Celeste Holm - 92
George Gaynes - 92
Phyllis Diller - 92
Herbert Lom - 92
June Foray - 92
Joan Fontaine - 92
John Forsythe - 92
Don Pardo - 91
Marjorie Lord - 91
Efrem Zimbalist, Jr. - 91
Betty Garrett - 90
Louis Jourdan - 90
Al Molinaro - 90
Dino De Laurentiis - 90
Sid Melton - 89
Maureen O'Hara - 89
Mickey Rooney - 89
Jayne Meadows - 89
Nanette Fabray - 89
Noel Neill - 89
Carol Channing - 89
Hugh Downs - 88
Abe Vigoda - 88
Barbara Hale - 88
Jane Russell - 88
Nancy Reagan - 88
Esther Williams - 88
Monty Hall - 88
Deanna Durbin - 88
Betty White - 88
Patrick Macnee - 87
Kathryn Grayson - 87
Carl Reiner - 87
Marty Allen - 87
Turhan Bey - 87
Michael Ansara - 87
Jack Klugman - 87
Bill Macy - 87
Eleanor Parker - 87
William Schallert - 87
Blake Edwards - 87
Norman Lear - 87
Sid Caesar - 87
Jackie Cooper - 87
Janis Paige - 87
Fyvush Finkel - 87
Larry Storch - 87
Jean Stapleton - 87
Conrad Bain - 87

Som Tam - A Thai Taste Tradition

2009-12-07T06:24:00.000-08:00

Som Tam is one of the most popular foods among Thai people for its fiercely spicy and sour flavors. Som Tam, which literally means "Sour Pounded", is a spicy salad made from a mix of fresh vegetables including shredded unripened papaya, yardlong beans and tomato, lime, peanuts & (in central Thailand) dried shrimp.

Som tam is derived from a traditional dish in Laos called tam mak hoong. The dish combines the four main tastes of Thai cuisine: sour lime, hot chile, salty fish sauce, and sweetness added by palm sugar.

Som Tam is unique that the spicy dressing and salad vegetables are pounded and mixed in the mortar using a pestle.

Here's a typical recipe for this unique Thai Dish.

About 2 cups shredded green papaya
2 tablespoon fish sauce
1 ½ tablespoon palm sugar, if not available can substitute it with regular sugar
3 tablespoon lime juice
½ cups tomato, wedged
⅓ cup dried shrimp
¼ cup peanuts
10 green chilli
5 cloves garlic

Use motar and prestle to crush the chilli and garlic, add shrimps, continue crushing, add sugar, continue beating with the prestle, add the papaya, (continue beating), add fish sauce, (continue beating), add lime juice, (continue beating), add tomato, (continue beating), add peanuts, (more beating),,... you may want to add either sugar, fish sauce, or lime.

The final taste on the balance between sweet, (pepper) hot, salty, and sour. Thais tend to eat a very spicy version of the dish (Ped) - you may want to use less chili's (Mai Ped)

Serve with vegetables (cabbage, sting bean, napa,..).

Som Tam is good for your health that it contains no fat, low calorie and high vitamins. Enjoy!!

Eating Out in Thailand

2009-12-07T05:52:00.000-08:00

Sometimes it feels like eating is a National Pastime in Thailand. Food is everywhere.

You can eat at luxury restaurants or small "mom & pop" Thai kitchens and you will experience the wonderful flavors that define South East Asia.

I tend to eat like a local. On rare occasions, I'll opt for "farang (Western) food" but most days I prefer the taste, convienence and price of Thai food.

About one block from my Condo is a parking lot next to a 7/11 Store. Every day about 4pm about a dozen food vendors set up their stalls and cook their wares.

Three or four times a week I walk over and buy Som Tam (Spicy Papaya Salad), Pla (Fish), Kai (Chicken) and rice. Dinner usually runs between 20 - 50 Baht ( .60 cents to $1.80).

Think of it as an Open Air Thai Food Court.

Some westerners are wary about "eating on the street". Personally, in four years on eating like a local, I've never had any gastric difficulties.

If you come to Thailand, don't miss out on the wonderful food available here!!

Jim Carter - Daydreamer

2009-11-30T23:52:00.000-08:00

Heard from my old friend Jim Carter recently.

We worked together in Orlando in the early 1980's at a Vaudeville / Melodrama Theater called Daisy's Basement and again teamed up at Rosie O'Gradys (Church Street Station) as a banjo/piano duo.

[Jim Carter at Daisy's Basement Circa 1981]

Jim was my first "Show Biz Partner" and I can honestly say, if it weren't for his great talent carrying the act, I probably never would have made it past my first gig!

Although our career paths have gone in different directions, we've kept in touch. Jim still lives and works in the greater Orlando area.

He has been doing a "Dueling Piano Act" at Universal Studios City Walk for many years and recently put together a one-man Tribute act to Fats Domino called "Fats"

Jim released a new album this summer and I'm pleased to have the opportunity to promote it here. It features a great selection of tracks

You've Lost That Lovin Feeling
Summertime
Walkin' in Memphis
Vehicle
Drift Away
My Music Is My Lover Tonight
Sittin' On the Dock of the Bay
Colour My World
Sail On Sailor
Sixteen Tons

Jim's CD "Daydreamer" (Tree Records/Orchard Label release) is available on iTunes,Amazon, & CD Baby

THE AWFUL TOOTH

2009-11-20T02:13:00.000-08:00

One of the primary concerns an ex-pat faces is the availability of good quality Medical / Dental care in their adopted country. In the 3+ years I've spent in Thailand, I've not needed to worry about it … until now.

I've been very lucky in my adult life to have had pretty good teeth. I got my first cavity filled at age 35 and I've never had to deal with as much as a toothache.

But time marches on. At age 55, the cracks are beginning to appear (literally). Last week, a tooth that had been filled back in 1989, crumbled around the outside, leaving a jagged edge and and a problem with food lodging between the teeth.

Fortunately, no pain. Like most rational, intelligent, ex medical personnel, I did the standard treatment. I IGNORED IT AND HOPED IT WOULD GO AWAY.

Having failed my first treatment option, it became obvious that I needed to see a Dentist. I rank that right up there with being audited by the IRS as one of my least desirable appointments.

As luck would have it, another ex-pat friend of my from Ireland needed a Dentist earlier this week. He went to a Thai Dentist and reported back to me that he was very good.

In Thailand, you'll find a LOT of Dentists. Many have large clinics and specialize in treating foreigners with implants, dentures etc. They are much cheaper than you'd find in the States but very expensive for the average working Thai.

Others cater to “the locals” providing general dentistry services at amazingly low prices. The Dentist I chose was from this category.

So..... this morning I called the office. Spoke directly with the Dentist (whose English was very good) and confirmed a same day 3pm appointment.

I arrived a few minutes early and watched TV in the waiting room. At 3:05 the Dentist greeted me, appologized for the delay (5 minutes!) and took me into his office.

After a cursory exam, he proceeded to clean my teeth to obtain a better exam. He then removed the old filling, re-drill the tooth and the adjoining tooth and put in two fillings.

All of this with no anesthesia .... and NO PAIN!!!

45 minutes later, I'm done. He said my teeth and gums were in good condition and I didn't need any more work.

There was no paperwork to fill out (they only asked for my name)and I happily paid on my way out.

How much you ask?

1.) Cleaning
2.) Remove old Filling
3.) Two new Fillings

= 1700 Baht .... thyat's approximately $51.00 USD

GOD , I LOVE THAILAND !!!!

VICTOR THE WRESTLING BEAR

2009-11-20T02:07:00.000-08:00

Back in the 1970's, when I was a Paramedic for Charleston (SC) Emergency Medical Service, I took one of those testosterone induced dares that only a foolish 20-something would even contemplate.

One of these involved a 450 pound bear named Victor.

It all began while watching the local TV station one night. One of these newscasters stated that he would “wrestle” Victor the Bear at the Coastal Carolina Fair (it must have been SWEEPS WEEK). A group of us paramedics sat around and debated how crazy you'd have to be to do such a stupid thing.

Then, the testosterone took over. Someone asked if we were “afraid” to do it too?

Now, understand your dealing with a group of medics who routinely put themselves on the line day after day for little more than minimum wage.

A little chiding and goading and (not so ) good natured kidding and I managed to paint myself into a corner by “agreeing” to take on the bear

By the late 1970's, Victor The Wrestling Bear had had quite a show business career. With appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show (Toast Of The Town) in the 1950's and The Hollywood Palace (in 1965) , Victor managed to play hundreds of fairgrounds across the USA taking on all challengers.

He was quite a wrestler too, he defeated the likes of Gorgeous George and Wahoo McDaniel in their prime.

Basically, you paid $5 and signed a release form, climbed into a cage and try to last 60 seconds with this (thankfully) muzzled and de-clawed beast. True to my word, I took the challenge and entered the cage.

It was over very quickly, I'm afraid.

I was no match for Victor. I lasted the 60 seconds but that about the only positive thing I can say about my performance. I had black & blue marks across my chest & back and my muscles ached for days!

I'm not really sure what ever happened to Victor, years later I heard he had been poisoned with tainted meat but I've never had that confirmed. Anybody out there know?

While I don't have any pictures from my “Kodiak Moment”, there are several youtube videos that chronicle Victor's career including this one....

Fall is Here!!!

2009-11-20T02:01:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was a very anticipated day by many people here in Thailand.

We awoke to that special day where you first notice that fall is in the air. After months of the typical heat and humidity one would expect in a country at our latitude, there suddenly was crispness in the air.

The night before, a tremendous storm blew through with high wind, thunder, lightning and copious amounts of rain.

Today, the humidity is low, temperatures are about 10 – 15 degrees less and a lovely breeze fills the air.

Heaven on Earth!!

Now, don't be fooled. It isn't exactly cold here. It rarely drops below 60 degrees here at night.

But compared to the last eight months.....

The windows are open, the A/C is off and my favorite time of the year has arrived.

A Merry (Freeware) Christmas!!

2009-11-17T08:05:00.000-08:00

(NOTE: This is an updated version of a blog I ran in December 2008)

Looking for a Christmas Present for that hard to please tech geek (that won't break the bank)?

For the price of a blank CD and a little download time, you can compile a collection of the best Freeware available on the web (for PC). Freeware is exactly that - FREE. No nag screens, ads , crippled features or time limits. They are free to distribute.

Best of all, you can make one CD and send a copy to all your friends

Here's my favorites list for 2009.

My Top 20+ Freeware Downloads

AbiWord 2.8.1 – Just need a good basic word processor? AbiWord could do the job nicely. Lots of add-ons available too (Thesaurus, Language Translation etc.)

Ad-Aware SE – Keep your system free from Spyware. Update files are provided regularly via the internet

Avant Browser – Based on the I.E. Kernel, this web browser is faster than almost any other browser out there. One of the first (and best) tabbed browsers.

Avast Anti Virus Home Edition – Simply the best anti-virus program that money can’t buy. Period.

Audacity 1.3.9 – Truly the neatest audio utility I’ve ever seen. Cut, paste, change tempo, pitch, add echo, fade in, fade out .. it does it all (mp3 & wav)

Copernic Desktop 3.2.1 – Now where is that file and what did I name it? Sound familiar? Copernic Desktop indexes everything on you computer (not just the file name but the file content too) and allows you to search for any word string. It’s lightning fast – like using Google on the Web.

Essential PIM – Currently at version 3.1, this Personal Information Manager is evolving nicely. I won’t give up my registered copy of Time & Chaos 7.0 anytime soon, but this is a solid PIM for the price (free)

Faststone Capture 5.3 – Ever need to capture a map or picture from a webpage. With this little utility, you can save a jpg of anything visible on your screen. NOTE: The newest version of FSCapture is now SHAREWARE. The Freeware version is still available online here

Faststone Image Viewer 3.9 – A great image viewer similar to AC/DC. Simple built in editing tools and fast rendering of large galleries makes is a winner.

Filezilla 3.3.0.1 – There are a number of good FTP clients available on the web. I try them all and keep coming back to this one.

Fences – Clean up your desktop with this novel program that allows you to group your icons the way YOU want them! My favorite “new find' of 2009!!

Freecalc 1.2.0.6 – A Calculator with a running tape.

Foxit PDF Viewer 3.1.3 – Tired of waiting for Acrobat Reader to load? Try this lightweight PDF reader (it even works on a USB drive!)

Great News 1.0.0.383 – a very good RSS Reader. Easy to use and update.

Open Office 3.10 – If you want the equivalent to MS Office without the price tag, here it is. You get a word processor, database, spreadsheet, PowerPoint equivalent and drawing program. The download is over 100 meg so have a high speed connection…and patience.

Photofiltre 6.32 – Not all the bells and whistles of “Photo Shop” but far easier to learn. Great for touching up photos.

Qlock 1.88 – Know the time anywhere in the world. This world time program allows you to place as many clocks for specific locations worldwide on your desktop as you want.

RadioSure 2.0.872 – Probably the best Internet Streaming Radio Program on the web. You can record too!! Over 12,000 Stations in it's search-able database.

Skype 4.1.0 – Talk free with other Skype users world wide or call any telephone in the world for just pennies. Requires a high speed connection.

Spider Player 2.3.1.1 - After years of using Winamp, I've switched to Spider Music Player. It's a leaner program that doesn't hog resources.

Stickies 7.1 – Virtual “Post It” notes for your desk top. Couldn’t live without them

Trillian 4.0 – You have chat friends on Yahoo, MSN, AOL and ICQ? Don’t open four programs, use Trillian to handle all your major chat platforms.

Weather Pulse 2.2.4.1 – Weather forecasts (up to 10 days) for anywhere in the world. Satellite maps, Doppler radar, severe weather alerts included

You can always find the latest freeware at http://www.snapfiles.com/ and http://www.freewarefiles.com/

There you have it – the best of the best – and best of all, they are all free!

Going Cold Turkey

2009-11-06T23:15:00.000-08:00

Sometimes you get into a bad habit without realizing it.

In the past couple of years I have become "Diet Cola Dependant". I find myself drinking two liters a day and if I have a choice between drinking water or Diet Cola - the carbonated one always wins.

Water didn't seem to quench my thirst anymore.

Recently, there have been a number of studies done concerning the health risks of diet sodas and their effectiveness in controlling weight gain. While there is still debate as to what these studies actually proved, it is worth noting.

I also looked at a more immediate concern - cost.

I figured at two liters a day, I'm spending almost 20,000 baht a year ($600.00) for artificially sweetened caramel colored water! By comparison, bottled water costs me a total of 600 Baht ($18 USD) for the same amount.

20,000 Baht covers my entire Health Insurance policy for the year (including travel Insurance).

While I know I will miss it, I'm banning colas from the house. It's been almost a week now and although it's been hard, I've managed to stay the course.

Will I drink Diet Colas again? Sure. From time to time I might have a mixed drink (although I tend to order gin & tonics) or as a special treat with a meal in a restaurant.

But if you come over to the house, you'll have to "make do" with a glass of water.

It Was 20 years Ago Today...

2009-11-06T23:09:00.000-08:00

I had just disembarked the cruise ship "Crown Odyssey" in Athens Greece. I had an overnight at a hotel in the resort area called Glyfada near to the International airport.

Knowing I had a very early flight to the States the next morning, I decided to eat early and go to bed about 7pm. I decided to walk about the area in search of a place to eat.

Not too far from the Hotel Emmatina, where I was staying, was a beautiful Chinese Restaurant. I decided that my last meal in Greece would be Chinese.

It almost was!

The food was delicious and cheap and the red & black velvet decor quite nice. I finished my meal and made my way back to my room fat & happy.

About midnight I was awakened with a wave of nausea & hyper salivation. I laid perfectly still hoping (& praying) it would pass. Eventually, I had to move and that was it! I dashed to the bathroom just in time.

I had the worst case of food poisoning I had ever experienced.

The next four hours found me on the bathroom floor making noises that sounded like they were from a slaughterhouse. I apologize to those in adjoining rooms as it was truly disturbing, I know. Eventually, my body had no more to give and I laid on the cold floor in total exhaustion.

I only had two Imodium tablets with me and I decided not to take them until the absolute last minute for fear of not keeping them down. Just before leaving the hotel, I took a chance and swallowed them.

As sick as I was, I was determined to make my flight. I was completely washed out and hardly able to walk. What little I remember during the check-in process evolved around me carrying my baggage 10-15 feet stopping due to exhaustion, waiting and moving another few yards.

Somehow I made it on the flight (Middle seat) and thankfully slept to my first layover.

I was still in a fog as I de-planed and had about four hours til my onward flight to NYC. I found my connecting gate and a large black leather chair to collapse in.

As sick as I was, I could see there was a buzz of excitement about the airport. People were huddled in bars watching TV (a soccer match, I assumed) and singing loudly.

Still, I was too sick to care and my only thought was "holding it together" until I boarded my flight to the USA as I didn't want to stay in a foreign hospital if I could avoid it.

Once I made it onto the NY bound flight, I fell to sleep again and remember little of my journey.

It was only when I made it home the next day that I discovered what the commotion at the airport was all about.

Turning on CNN, I found out why they were celebrating at the airport .... Frankfort Airport on November 9, 1989 .... and it wasn't a soccer game at all - THE BERLIN WALL HAD JUST COME DOWN!!

Loy Krathong in Pattaya

2009-11-02T23:33:00.002-08:00

One of the most beautiful holidays of the year in Thailand is celebrated this time of the year - Loy Krathong.

It is held on the full moon of the 12th month in the traditional Thai lunar calendar. In the western calendar this usually falls in November.

This year, I spent it on the beach with about a dozen Thai friends. The music, fireworks, food & drink most enjoyable. I posted a blog last year about the history of the celebration... At the time I wrote...

{From Wikipedia}

"Loi" means "to float". "Krathong" is a raft about a handspan in diameter traditionally made from a section of banana tree trunk (although modern-day versions use specially made bread 'flowers' and may use styrofoam), decorated with elaborately-folded banana leaves, flowers, candles, incense sticks etc.

During the night of the full moon, many people will release a small raft like this on a river. Governmental offices, corporations and other organizations also build much bigger and more elaborate rafts, and these are often judged in contests. In addition, fireworks and beauty contests take place during the festival.

The festival probably originated in India as a Hindu festival similar to Deepavali as thanksgiving to the deity of the Ganges with floating lanterns for giving life throughout the year.

According to the writings of H.M. King Rama IV in 1863, the originally Brahmanical festival was adapted by Buddhists in Thailand as a ceremony to honour the original Buddha, Siddhartha Guatama. Apart from venerating the Buddha with light (the candle on the raft), the act of floating away the candle raft is symbolic of letting go of all one's grudges, anger and defilements, so that one can start life afresh on a better foot.

People will also cut their fingernails and hair and add them to the raft as a symbol of letting go of the bad parts of oneself. Many Thai believe that floating a krathong will create good luck, and they do it to honor and thank the Goddess of Water, Phra Mae Khongkha.

The Thai tradition of Loy Kratong started off in Sukhothai, but is now celebrated throughout Thailand, with the festivities in Chiang Mai and Ayutthaya being particularly well known.

A multitude of Lanna-style hot-air lanterns (khom fai) are also launched into the air where they resemble large flocks of giant fluorescent jellyfish gracefully floating by through the skies. These are believed to help rid the locals of troubles and are also taken to decorate houses and streets.

If you ever have the opportunity to experience this wonderful event, don't miss it!!

We're Number 2!!!

2009-11-02T23:21:00.000-08:00

Travel guide firm Lonely Planet said Tuesday that Thailand is the second best-value destination (Iceland, after it's economic woes is currently 1st).

According to Lonely Planet, the annual snapshot captures "the world's hottest travel trends, destinations, journeys and experiences for the year ahead,".

London, South Africa, India, Malaysia, Mexico, Bulgaria, Kenya and Las Vegas rounded out the top 10, said the British-based company in its "Best In Travel 2010" guide.

Thailand, at number two, remained "perennially good value", said the book.

"It's one of the cheapest long-haul holidays for European holidaymakers... visitors are always spoilt for choice regarding accommodation."

Hopefully, this will bode well for the future of Thai Tourism, which has taken quite a hit of late. After three years living in country, I can honestly say that Thailand is truly amazing.

Free Wifi At Suvarnabhumi Airport

2009-10-31T22:19:00.000-07:00

Great news for travellers who use Suvarnabhumi Airport (Bangkok Int'l)!

Three years after the airport initially opened, FREE WIFI was inuagurated this week bringing it inline with services already available from regional competitors such as Singapore and Hong Kong.

To use the service, simply present your boarding pass at any airport information counter to get a username and password for the 1 Mbps service.

Suvarnabhumi Airport opened 126 kiosks earlier this year, providing free Internet access for people without laptops.

Martini In the Morning

2009-10-29T06:30:00.000-07:00

Every once in awhile, you come across something special and want to share it with everyone you know.

For me, Martini In The Morning is one of those special things.

What is Martini In the Morning, you ask?

Just my favorite Internet Streaming Radio Station, that's all.

As I write this, I'm enjoying Louis Armstrong's "A Kiss To Build A Dream On". Moments ago they played Bette Midler & Linda Ronstadt's "Sisters".

24 hours a day they play the best of what they call "Lounge Music" Frank Sinatra, Harry Connick, Michael Bublé, Tony Bennett, Ella Fitzgerald, Bobby Darin, Rosemary Clooney and many more.

You'll hear original recordings along side of newer versions of classic songs by the likes of Rod Stewart, Barry Manilow, Natalie Cole, Diana Krall and Steve Tyrell.

If your musical taste runs toward Cole Porter, Harold Arlen and George Gershwin - this is where you'll want to listen everyday.

I first found MITM via my mp3 player that supports streaming Internet radio. If you don't use a media player (like Winamp, Spider, Real Player) you can listen via the Web at:

http://www.martiniinthemorning.com/martinivision.html

One of the first things you'll notice is the fact that they have very few commercials - maybe 2 or 3 minutes an hour. Most stations' these days run 15 minutes or more an hour.

{ As I'm writing Ella Fitzgerald's BEGIN THE BEGUINE fills the air}

The driving force behind MITM is Music Mixologist Brad "Martini" Chambers who has kept the music playing for the past three years despite the fact that many in the Radio Industry maintained it couldn't be done.

It hasn't been easy. This musical labor of love deserves a lot more listeners.

Brad hosts the morning show (Pacific Time) which actually is evening for me in Thailand. His personal conversational style augments the music nicely and doesn't detract from the main focus - the music.

So, do yourself (and Brad) a favor and give Martini In The Morning a listen.

Drop them a note and let them know you appreciate them keeping the great American Songbook alive.

{Micheal Bublé is now singing "Pennies From Heaven"....}

Miton Supman - Dead at Age 83

2009-10-22T20:58:00.000-07:00

Yes, it's true.

The iconic golden age of Television entertainer passed away today (Oct 22, 2009)in New York City.

A little history....

Milton was born in Franklinton NC in 1926 and after a stint in the Navy in the latter part of WW2, became a Disc Jockey. He parlayed that into local Television shows in Cleveland and Detroit before attracting national exposure in the late 50's and 60's.

I met Milton (very briefly) while standing in line behind him at Orlando International Airport back in the mid 80's. Although his hair had greyed, his rubber face and infectious smile remained.

He was always known for his having time for his fans and would sign autographs graciously.

In recent years, his health has been failing and he has been out of the spotlight.

Of course, his greatest success came from doing a children's show in NYC (actually watched by a lot of adults) but he was a familiar face on game shows.

Wild & zany, he sometimes got into trouble with his on air pranks. Once he encouraged children to go into their parent's wallet and send him pictures of US Presidents on green paper (They did!).

During the course of his career, over 20,000 creme pies were hurled....

He shared the stage with hundreds of stars including Ernest Borgnine, Frank Sinatra, Shirley MacClaine ........ and White Fang, Black Tooth and Pookie the Lion!!

By now, some of you know who Milton Supman became....

It was, of course Soupy Sales!!

Into Everyone's Life....

2009-10-11T20:37:00.000-07:00

...A Little Rain must Fall.

And so it is in Thailand .... especially in October.

When you talk about seasonal changes here you really don't think hot or cold (except in North Thailand where in can get very cold!). Here (since it's always warm), we think in terms of wet or dry.

Right now were thinking wet.

Although "Monsoon Season" begins in June, September & October are traditionally the wettest months and this year is no exception. We've been treated to some spectacular lightning displays late at night (much more interesting to watch than most television these days)and the temps have moderated to the point that Air Con really isn't needed at all.

All this will begin to resolve itself in the next few weeks and make way for our glorious high season weather.

By mid November the humidity and temps will fall noticeably. It won't be "cold" but it will certainly feel cool & brisk compared to the summer months.

Although I love Thailand hot or cold, wet or dry - November to February are my favorite months!!

Bad News For Willie Wonka

2009-09-30T23:20:00.000-07:00

Sometimes a news report crosses the wire you just can't ignore..

From BBC News

Daily sweets 'linked to violence'

Children who eat sweets and chocolate every day are more likely to be violent as adults, according to UK researchers.

The Cardiff University study involving 17,500 people is the first into effects of childhood diet on adult violence.

It found 10-year-olds who ate sweets daily were significantly more likely to have a violence conviction by age 34.....

The study was reported in the British Journal of Psychiatry.

There is, of course debate as to whether it is actually the candy is to blame or whether giving children sweets and chocolate regularly may stop them learning how to wait to obtain something they want.

Personally,until more research is completed,I'm going to me more wary when I'm around overweight felons with rotten teeth and bad skin!

Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin on!

2009-09-30T21:18:00.000-07:00

The last 72 hours have been unkind to the Asia Pacific region.

Typhoon Ketsana roared across the Philippines before setting it's sights on Vietnam and Cambodia. Latest death tolls from the storm are Philippines 277,Cambodia 11 and Vietnam 86.

As the storm moves inland, Thai authorities upcountry and in the capital are braced for a major blow from tropical storm the storm.

Authorities in the northern and northeastern regions have been ordered to be to be on alert for possible flash floods. The Interior Ministry had allocated Bt50 million from its emergency budget to each province to help flood victims.

American Samoa was devastated by a magnitude 8+ earthquake and resultant Tsunami. I was in Pango Pango just about a year ago and to see the devastation coming out of there now is disturbing.

The latest and possibly most destructive event occurred last night when a 7.6 magnitude quake struck just off the coast of Padang, Indonesia. Initially, a tsunami alert was posted including potential "arrival times" for Phuket, Thailand but was cancelled about an hour later.

First reports out of the region indicate hundreds of buildings including schools and hospitals have been destroyed and the death toll was at 200 and rising.

This temblor was followed today by a 7.0 aftershock. Immediate reports of injuries and damage are still pending.

Indonesia has long been a victim of devastating seismic activity being located on the Pacific "Ring of Fire".

26 Dec 2004: Asian tsunami kills 170,000 in Indonesia alone. According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), The 9.0 earthquake that generated the great Indian Ocean tsunami is estimated to have released the energy of 23,000 Hiroshima-type atomic bombs.

28 March 2005: About 1,300 killed after a magnitude 8.7 quake hits the coast of Sumatra

27 May 2006: Quake hits ancient city of Yogyakarta, killing 5,000

17 July 2006: A tsunami after a 7.7 magnitude quake in West Java province kills 550 people.

News stories involving tragedies half way around the world are not uncommon. Please consider helping those less fortunate by donating to reputable charities such as the Red Cross.

Also remember that disasters don't always happen in "far away places with strange sounding names". They can happen to you (just ask the citizens of Hurricane ravaged New Orleans and Galveston). Have a survival and evacuation plan.Be prepared.

To that end, I recommend following http://afludiary.blogspot.com/ written by my brother Mike. Although much of his writing deals with H1N1 and Avian Flu, he also covers pandemic (and emergency) preparedness in general.

As in most things in life, your best defense is knowledge and preparedness.

Thailand Medical News

2009-09-24T01:05:00.000-07:00

Two Medical Stories out of Thailand today...

First, from THE NATION

Prepare for new swine flu wave, ministry warns public

The Public Health Ministry Wednesday urged people to be vigilant in frequently washing their hands and wearing face masks when they are in public areas, in a bid to slow down the second wave of the type-A (H1N1) influenza virus expected to reemerge from next month until January.

The move comes after the ministry learned that people nationwide have been ignoring personal hygiene in flu prevention - such as eating well cooked food, not sharing spoons, frequently washing hands, and using face masks.

Full Story Here

And this from The Bangkok Post...

Vaccine cuts AIDS infection risk for first time

An experimental AIDS vaccine has for the first time cut the risk of infection, researchers said Thursday, hailing at a medical "breakthrough" in the quarter-century battle against the disease.

"This is a very important scientific advance and gives us hope that a globally effective vaccine may be possible in the future," Colonel Jerome Kim of the US military HIV research programme told a news conference in Bangkok.

"It is the first demonstration that a vaccine against HIV can protect against infection," he said via videolink....

"The vaccine has a 31.2 percent efficacy in reducing the risk of HIV infection."

Full Story Here

Back In The Saddle Again...

2009-09-21T19:10:00.000-07:00

If you speak to most Cruise Ship Entertainers, 2009 has not been kind.

The Worldwide Recession, coupled with H1N1 Virus fears have left a lot of us either unemployed or at least under-employed through much of this year.

Fortunately, living in Thailand is a lot cheaper than living in the States and so the necessary "hunkering down" hasn't been too painful.

Whereas I'd have to work 24-28 weeks a year to "break even" in the USA, I can achieve the same thing here in only 6 to 8 weeks! In tough economic times, that fact has allowed me to sleep well (most) nights.

Today I awakened to find the first "light at the end of the tunnel" in my email box. I have been offered the World Cruise on the Pacific Princess sailing from Hong Kong to Singapore April 06 - 15, 2010.

OK, it's only 9 days...but its a very welcome start!!

Pianafiddle!

2009-09-14T01:04:00.000-07:00

Got an email yesterday from my good friend Randy Morris, who is currently in South Korea.

In many ways, I wouldn't be banjo player today if it weren't for Randy's support some 35 years ago. I wrote about him extensively back in 2007. At the time, I wrote...

I met Randy Morris at Disney World while he was playing ragtime piano at “Coke Corner” on Main Street.

Due to the popularity of the movie “The Sting”, Ragtime music had a bit of revival at the time. I had enjoyed recordings of people like Max Morath and Joanne Castle, but I had never seen it performed “up close”.

Randy’s stride piano stylings along with his corny jokes and personable nature had me hooked immediately. I waited around after each set and talked with him at length. He seemed to sense that I had a real interest in the music and remembered me every time I returned to the Theme Park.

After a few visits, while all my friends would be off on there 32nd ride on Space Mountain, I’d be contently sitting there watching Randy perform. Randy told me about a place he was performing at night in downtown Orlando Fl called “Rosie O’Grady’s”.

I went there and watched him perform not only Piano but Banjo as well with Bill Allred’s Band. If you’ve never been there, in it’s heyday (70’s & 80’s), “Rosie’s” was an unbelievable Dixieland Jazz club owned by entrepreneur Bob Snow. The band was the most high powered jazz band I’d ever heard.

I knew that I wanted to be on that stage playing this wonderful style of music. I had played a little guitar so I naturally gravitated toward stringed instruments. From the very beginning, Randy was supportive and accessible – he helped me find an out of print Harry Reser Banjo Lesson book and even gave me a few private lessons at his home.

We became friends and have remained so for over 35 years. Through his inspiration and his thoughtful guidance, I became a professional Banjo Cabaret Act and have enjoyed a career spanning 25 plus years.

There are so many worthwhile Randy Morris stories to share … and I promise to do so in future blogs.

Well, since I promised to write more about Randy, here goes...

Randy is now touring in a new two man show called PIANAFIDDLE along with the wonderful classically trained Violinist turned Fiddler Adam DeGraff.

Although I haven't had the pleasure of seeing the show, I have seen the videos on Youtube and they are spectacular.

Do yourself a favor, check out their website and performance schedule. If they are in your area, plan on quite an enjoyable evening of music.

http://www.pianafiddle.com

Sunny Skylar ...Updated

2009-09-10T00:43:00.000-07:00

In 2007 I wrote a blog about my encounter with Songwriter Sunny Skylar some twenty years earlier.

At the Time, I wrote..

In 1989, While working on board the Golden Odyssey in SE Asia I met Sunny Skylar.

You are stunned, I can tell... Since you probably DON'T know who Sunny Skylar is, a brief history is in order...

Sunny Skylar was a songwriter who penned the lyrics such hits as "Amor",(1943),"Besame Mucho" (1944), "Gotta Be This or That (1945), "It Must Be Jelly (Cause Jam Don't Shake Like That)"(1942),"Just a Little Bit South Of North Carolina" (1941) and many others.

Sunny, who then lived in Las Vegas decided to take his wife on the cruise due to a sudden cash windfall when he received substantial royalties for the use of "Besame Mucho" in the 1988 movie "Moon over Parador" with Richard Dryfuss and Raul Julia.

To show you how profitable song writing can be, Sunny told me that "Besame Mucho" paid for his first house ... and put his kids through college. Of course those are 1940's prices, but still!

Although Sunny wrote with many American composers, he found his niche by taking Latin American songs and writing English lyrics for them such as "Amor", "Be Mine Tonight (Noche De Ronda)" and of course "Besame Mucho".

Skylar, who looked to be well into his 70's had a wife easily 30 years younger. He was (maybe) 5 foot tall and she towered over him - especially when they danced with his head firmly planted in her rather ample chest! Clearly, here was a man who enjoyed life!

Sunny Skylar, a great songwriter and vocalist with an infectious laugh and a great love of life was also a wonderful storyteller. Each night he'd regale us with fascinating stories of the Big Band singers and Orchestra Leaders.

Sunny was born in Brooklyn NY in 1913 and to this date, I can find no reference to his passing so I assume he is still with us, hopefully still dancing with his wife somewhere.

Next time you listen to the Big Bands of the 1940's, take a moment to fondly remember one of it's most prolific songwriters - Sunny Skylar

Recently I received a very nice email from Sunny's son Paul Skylar. He had found my blog and wanted to let me know that he enjoyed my memories of his dad.

Paul went on tell tell me that Sunny passed away earlier this year at the age of 95. Not bad.

I wrote back and thanked Paul and told him that we can all be thankful that everytime we hear Besame Mucho or Amor, a little bit of Sunny remains with us.

09/09/09

2009-09-09T09:36:00.000-07:00

Today's date has cultural significance in many countries, including Thailand

From the Bangkok Post...

Nation marks 09/09/09 for King
Writer: BangkokPost.com
Published: 9/09/2009 at 10:50 AM T

he government joined Thais nationwide in paying respect to His Majesty the King, the ninth monarch of the Chakri Dynasty, at 9.09am on the auspicious date of the ninth day of the ninth month of 2009.

At Government House, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva lit a candle in front of the portrait of His Majesty and spoke in honour of him. He then led his cabinet, civil servants and high-ranking military officers in singing the royal anthem to mark the auspicious time and day.

"We want to draw attention to the charisma of His Majesty the King, both domestically and internationally.

"During his 63-year reign, His Majesty has helped solving the country's problems for the people," Mr Abhisit said.

Civil servants and general public sing royal anthem to honour His Majesty the King and to mark 09/09/09 on Wednesday.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration held a religious ceremony at City Hall to mark the special occasion. Government officials and general public took part in offering food to 109 monks during morning alms at 9.09am.

In central Bangkok, a large crowd gathered at Lumpini park, where national flags and yellow flags representing the monarchy were shown. They sang the royal anthem at the auspicious time.

Read complete article Here

Another Year in Paradise!

2009-09-09T00:57:00.000-07:00

It's that time again. Time to renew my Thai Retirement Visa.This (Non-Immigrant) Visa allows me to stay year round in the Kingdom without having to leave the country for "border runs".

About the only restrictions placed on me is a quarterly (90 day) address verification at the Immigration Office and I am not allowed to work in Thailand.

If you read the Ex-Pat Message Boards, it always looks like a daunting task to the first time applicant.

I'm happy to report that nothing could be further from the truth.

The Retirement Visa requirements are pretty basic.

1.) You must be over 50 years of age

2.) You must have a minimum of 800,000 baht (24,000 USD) in a Thai approved Bank account (or a verified annual income equal to that amount).

3.) You must not be of undesirable character ( I don't mention the banjo...)

To apply you need a passport photo, a letter from the bank confirming your bank balance and you fill out a basic one page (front & back) form.

I started at 11:30 am at the bank, received the letter, filled out the requisite forms and turned them into Pattaya Immigration at 1pm. By 2 pm I was in possession of a shiny new Visa valid until Dec 2010.

I applied and received at the same time, a multiple re-entry stamp that allows me to come & go out of the Kingdom as many times as I like throughout the validity of the Visa.

So it's another wonderful year in paradise!!!!

How I Spent My Summer Vacation...

2009-09-08T13:07:00.000-07:00

Yes, I know - I haven't written anything lately.

Living on the beach in Thailand (well... not on the beach, things haven't gotten that bad...yet!) tends to make one very lazy. It's been a very slow summer ( meaning no work) and thus I really haven't had much to write about.

That's not to say I haven't been productive. I've now acquired Backing Tracks for both of my shows and spent a great deal of time getting used to working with them. Unlike working with a live band, with tracks there is no opportunity for variance - you have to follow the track.

Additionally, I've used the summer to learn 40-50 new songs. I must spend, on average 2-3 hours a day practicing and can honestly say I'm a better Banjoist now than anytime in my career - I just can't prove it!

In many ways the cruise entertainment industry has taken quite a hit this year. Between the uncertain world economy and the H1N1 virus, a lot of entertainers (myself included) have found themselves working less and less this year.

But Labor Day is over, time to get back to work.

Cruise ships will begin their seasonal repositioning in the next two months and "hopefully" that will bode well for work. We'll see....

Two passings to note: Singer/Impressionist Fred Travelena who I worked with on the World Cruise on the Island Princess many years ago departed us on June 28, 2009.

His television credits began in the 1970s, as a regular performer on The ABC Comedy Hour and the Dean Martin Roasts. I first saw him in Las Vegas in the late 1970's and thoroughly enjoyed his show.

Twenty years later we sailed together to Israel and throughout the Mediterranean. A very talented, generous performer who will be missed.

And, of course the legendary Ed McMahon who left us June 23, 2009 at age 86. I had the pleasure of working with him in New Orleans at the Convention Center in 2002 and later that night attending a party with him at the Blue Room of the Fairmont Hotel.

While we spoke only briefly and had a picture together, he was very gracious man who hearty laughter still echoes in my mind. Truly one of TV's pioneers.

Blogging My Resume

2009-05-16T21:05:00.000-07:00

{One of the advantages of having your own blog is that you can pretty much write about what ever you want. After almost 200 blog entries over the past three years, I've decided to use this forum to promote myself a little!}

With almost 30 years in show business primarily as a headline cabaret act on Cruise Ships and in Nightclubs, my shows are geared to a family audience. I can easily perform as the featured entertainment or as a specialty act slotted into a larger show.

With the recent addition of high quality backing tracks, my shows can be presented without the added expense of a backing band!

For full details, visit www.jimcoston.com and you can view my promotional videos at www.youtube.com/jcoston

JIM COSTON

Tenor Banjoist

Few sounds are as distinctively American as Dixieland Jazz. From the smoke filled clubs of New Orleans' French Quarter and up the Mississippi River on the great stern wheelers, banjo players have spread a style of toe tapping good time music recognized the world over.

Today, there are but a handful of musicians to carry on that legacy. One of them, Jim Coston has been sharing his hard driving banjo solos and homespun sense of humor with audiences around the world for almost thirty years.

More than just a musician - Jim Coston is an entertainer. By combining traditional Dixieland Jazz with a selection of Broadway show tunes, popular standards, classical favorites, novelty tunes and just a touch of bluegrass, Jim Coston brings the banjo into the new millennium with and eclectic evening of music and comedy sure to please audiences everywhere.

Jim Coston has been a featured headline Cabaret Act on over 80 different cruise ships worldwide. Additionally, he has been featured at numerous Theaters, Fairs, Conventions, Corporate Events and Nightclubs across the USA as well as local and national Radio & Television appearances.

Currently, Jim has three shows of approximately 45 minutes in length.

Update! : Jim Coston now has two complete 45 minute shows available using high quality Backing (Click) Tracks!

These tracks can be used by themselves or can be used to augment a rhythm section or small combo to produce a full sounding show without the expense of a complete orchestra!

I am currently available for any medium to long term engagements (1 week or longer) worldwide for Cruise Ships, Nightclubs, Casinos, Fairs, Festivals, Theme Parks, Productions Shows, Touring Shows, Corporate Events, Radio & TV.

Due to my international travel & performance schedule, email is the fastest and most efficient way to contact me. jcoston@yahoo.com

It's Royal Ploughing Day!!

2009-05-10T22:13:00.000-07:00

Today is a national holiday in Thailand called Royal Ploughing Day.

It's roots go back centuries and is usually in April or May (depending on lunar phases as most religious holidays are here).

From Wikipedia..

The Royal Ploughing Ceremony is an ancient royal rite held in Cambodia and Thailand to mark the traditional beginning of the rice-growing season. In the Khmer language, it is called "Pithi Chrat Preah Neangkol, and in the Thai language, it is called "Phraraj Pithi Jarod Phranangkal Reak Na Kwan."

In 2009, the ceremony was held on May 11 in Thailand and on May 12 in Cambodia. The date is usually in May, but varies as it is determined by Hora (astrology) (Thai: โหราศาสตร์ (ho-ra-sat).

In the ceremony, two sacred oxen are hitched to a wooden plough and they plough a furrow in some ceremonial ground, while rice seed is sown by court Brahmins. After the ploughing, the oxen are offered plates of food, including rice, corn, green beans, sesame, fresh-cut grass, water and rice whisky.

Depending on what the oxen eat, court soothsayers make a prediction on whether the coming growing season will be bountiful or not. The ceremony is rooted in Brahman belief, and is held to ensure a good harvest.

In Thailand, the rite dates back to the Sukhothai Kingdom (1238-1438). By the time of King Prajadhipok in the 1920s, the practice had been discontinued. It was revived in 1960 by King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

In both Cambodia and Thailand, the ceremony is typically presided over by the monarch, or an appointee. Sometimes the monarch himself has taken part in the ceremony and actually guided the plough behind the oxen.

In recent years in Thailand, Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn has presided over the ceremony, which is held at Sanam Luang in Bangkok. Rice grown on the Chitralada Palace grounds, home of King Bhumibol Adulyadej is sown in the ceremony, and afterward, onlookers swarm the field to gather the seed, which is believed to be auspicious. Farmers will often mix the grains with their own rice stock, or the grains might be kept as a good luck charm.

The Bangkok Post reports this year's Royal Ploughing Ceremony has predicted that water and food in the country would be bountiful.

If it's Tuesday it must be....PINK!!

2009-05-10T02:00:00.000-07:00

There are many types of superstitions in Thailand. Wearing the proper colors is considered to be Good Luck or "Chok Dee"

Many Thais believe that if they dress with the color synchronized with the day it will bring them good luck. I have listed below colors appropriate for each day:

Monday = Yellow

Tuesday = Pink

Wednesday = Green

Thursday = Orange

Friday = Blue

Saturday = Purple

Sunday = Red

Black is not a lucky color for for many older Thais as it is reserved for funerals. You do see many younger Thais wearing Black as it is considered to be trendy.

What's in a (Nick) Name

2009-05-10T01:23:00.000-07:00

Names in Thailand are very interesting...and long!!

In my previous post regarding H1N1, I referenced the Public Health Permanent Secretary Prat Boonyawongwiroj - and that's one of the easier names!!

Thai's have first and last name but no middle name. Most Thai's cannot tell you their close friend's last name and quite possibly may not know their real first name either.

The last name is rarely used except in formal introductions and writing.

All Thai's have nicknames or "Chu Lin" which translates into english as "name for play".

Thais are usually given their nicknames at birth or as a young child by their parents.

Here is a short list of some of the more interesting nicknames

Ay: First letter of the western alphabet – name given to the first born of the family
Bee: Second letter of the western alphabet – name given to the second born of the family
Boo: Crab
Daow: Star in the sky
Daa: Eye
Dang: Red
Duan: Moon
Dumm: Black
Fah: Sky
Fon: Rain
Gai: Chicken
Ged: Raisin
Goong: Prawn or shrimp
Gop: Frog
La: An Isaan word meaning last born child
Lek: Small
Maow: Cat
Mee: Bear
Monn: Isaan word for ball
Moo: Pig.
Mud: Small black dog flea
Nah: Rice field
Nam: Water
Ngah: Tusk, elephant’s tusk, ivory
Neung: The number “1” Usually refers to first born child
Nid: Tiny, titch
Nid-noy: A little bit, a small amount
Nim: Soft
Nok: Bird,
Noot: Younger
Noy: Tiny
Nuan: White face powder
Oh: Derived from the western alphabet character “O”
Ong: Buddha image or monk,
Oo-un: Fat
Ot: Tadpole
Oy: Sugar cane
Pah: To take someone somewhere
Pair: Raft
Prair: Silk
Ped: Duck
Pee: Derived from the western alphabet character “P”
Pen: The night of a full moon
Perng: Bee
Pla: Fish
Roong: Contraction of "roong gin nam" which means rainbow
Shumpoo: Rose apple
Sie: Clear, transparent - implies purity
Som: Orange - the colour and the fruit
Tair: Contraction of Gratair which means a small breed of rabbit
Tarr: Name of a plant
Tee: Contraction of the Isaan word “Too-wee” which means buffalo
Took: Contraction of the Thai word “took-ah-tah” which means a child’s doll or cuddly toy
Too-wee: Isaan word for Buffalo
Waan: Sweet
Waan-jie: Sweetheart
Wee: Brush, comb
Yar: Medicine
Yaart: Rainwater
Yoo: Whirlwind

First Case of H1N1 in Thailand

2009-05-10T01:15:00.000-07:00

The newspaper The Nation is reporting the first case of H1N1 (Swine Flu)in Thailand.

Details are sketchy ..

Public Health confirms suspect case of swine flu detected in Thailand

Public Health permanent secretary Prat Boonyawongwiroj confirmed Saturday that a suspect case of Influenza A(H1N1) has been detected in Thailand.

He said the person is under quarantine and has been healed from the illness.

The Public Health Ministry has request a test by the a US lab to confirm the finding, Prat said.

Friday H1N1 Roundup

2009-04-30T22:45:00.000-07:00

So far, all quiet on the SE Asian Front.

From The Bangkok Post

GPO boosts antiviral drug production to combat flu
The Government Pharmaceutical Organisation has produced an extra million antiviral tablets to make sure there are enough supplies if the country is hit by an outbreak of swine flu.... Read the entire story here

* * * * * * * * *

ASEAN to discuss H1N1 flu next week

Published: 30/04/2009 at 02:34 PM Thailand will host a regional public health meeting next week to discuss ways of dealing with the threatened spread of Mexican flu, known as the A/H1N1 virus, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said on Thursday. Full Story Here

* * * * * * * * *

Following the recent disruption of the ASEAN Conference held in Pattaya last month, there are continuing security concerns...

Army ready to guard Asean ministers

Published: 1/05/2009 at 12:08 PM The army is ready to provide security for ASEAN health ministers when they gather for a regional meeting on how best to handle the Mexican swine-flu threat on May 7 and 8, army chief Gen Anupong Paojinda said on Friday. Details Here

Thai Govt To Distribute Masks in BKK

2009-04-30T02:13:00.000-07:00

While Thailand (thankfully) remains in the clear, the government is encouraging the use of Face Masks in the capitol city...

Tourists, cabbies to get free masks
By: BangkokPost.com
Published: 30/04/2009 at 01:42 PM Bangkok governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra will on Friday hand out 100,000 free face masks to taxi drivers and tourists in Bangkok in an effort to prevent swine flu from spreading to the Thai population, deputy governor Malinee Sukavejworakit said Thursday.

The gauze masks would be handed out to foreigners staying at guesthouses, she said.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) ws also encouraging taxi drivers to wear face masks while driving passengers.

General public could go and get free masks at the BMA on Friday.

Tracking The H1N1 Outbreak

2009-04-29T23:26:00.000-07:00

Thailand, thankfully remains quiet on the H1N1 watch. New suspected cases are being reported in New Zealand and South Korea meanwhile numbers of cases in North America and Europe continue to grow.

There is a fascinating Google Map App called "The Global Incident Map" (see graphic) that is contantly updated to show where suspected and confirmed cases of H1N1 are being reported.

It's well worth a look and a bookmark.

Thailand Swine Flu Roundup April 29

2009-04-28T23:43:00.000-07:00

Thankfully, Thailand has yet to report a confirmed case of H1N1 (Swine Flu). With cases popping up all over the world, one doubts we will be able to avoid it entirely.

The special panel in charge of swine-flu prevention, headed by Deputy Prime Minister Sanan Kachornprasart will meet for the first time today.

Representatives from agencies involved in the task will join the meeting, to be held at the parliament, to discuss further measures to stop swine flu from spreading into the country.

* * * * * * * * *

Today I went to the pharmacy to obtain Purell Hand Sanitizer. I couldn't find the familiar brand but was able to purchase an equivalent. The price ( I think) was unusually high 210 baht ($6 USD) for a medium sized bottle - not sure if it's always that expensive here or if the price is jacked up due to demand.

* * * * * * * * *

Two articles of note from today's Bangkok Post

Travellers might need health clearance
By: BangkokPost.com
Published: 29/04/2009 at 10:58 AM Thai Airways International (THAI) says passengers with flu symptoms should bring their medical records with them to the airport, or they might not be allowed to board the aircraft, because of the global swine flu alert.

The airline's Crisis Management Operation Centre director, Surapol Isarangkul Na Ayutthaya, said on Wednesday that Thai Airways had no plans to change its flight schedules and no passengers had cancelled because of the flu scare.

However, intending passengers might not be allowed to board if they showed flu-like symptoms and could not provide proof of good health.

The airline had informed its cabin crews of the severity of swine flu and ways to protect themselves from infection.....

* * * * * * * * *

Doctors: Woman free of swine flu
By: BangkokPost.com
Published: 29/04/2009 at 11:46 AM Laboratory tests conducted on a 42-year-old Thai woman who was quarantined on Tuesday for possible swine-flu infection showed that she is free from the deadly virus, a hospital official said on Wednesday.

Two tests were made on samples from the woman. She was found to be suffering from ordinary human flu, Chulalongkorn Hospital virus speciaist Dr Yong Pooworawan said at a press conference.

The woman was admitted to Chulalongkorn hospital on Tuesday after having a fever since last Thursday, after arriving back from Singapore. Her trip had earlier taken her to Mexico and the USA between April 3 and 19.

* * * * * * * * *

Thai Arirport to Use Thermal Scanners

2009-04-27T01:40:00.000-07:00

Although Thailand has no reported cases of Swine Flu, it is a major travel destination and receives visitors from around the world on a daily basis.

Today, I went to the pharmacy and stocked up on face masks and enquired about the availability of Tamiflu. Most prescription medications are available over the counter in Thailand, but alas TamiFlu is not.

In speaking with several Doctors and Pharmacists, I have been assured that all the hospitals have sufficient stock of Tamiflu on hand.

Today, from the Bangkok Post

Thermal scanning at Thai airports
By: TNA
Published: 27/04/2009 at 02:53 PM Air passengers arriving from the southern USA and Mexico will be screened by thermal detectors for signs of fever as Thailand begins precautions against the spread of an outbreak of swine flu which has claimed more than 100 lives in Mexico.

Public Health Minister Witthaya Kaewparadai said on Monday that quarantine officials at every international airport, including Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport, have been ordered to use thermal scanners to monitor people arriving from the infected zones.

Mr Witthaya said health cards detailing the outbreak of swine flu will be distributed to both departing and arriving passengers.

The World Health Organisation declared the outbreak of influenza in Mexico and the US a “public health emergency of international concern” on Sunday.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Local Newspapers (in Thai and English) are carrying this story as front page news as is CNN International, BBC World News etc.

I have taken the precaution of stocking up on non-perishable foods, extra bottled water, Radio Batteries, Candles and medications.

At this point, there is little more to do than avoid crowds, wash hands frequently and follow the news.

For great news coverage and analysis, check out http://afludiary.blogspot.com/

Thai Government Reacts to Swine Flu

2009-04-26T02:18:00.000-07:00

So far so good. But New Zealand is now reporting suspected cases of Swine Flu.

Government: No swine flu outbreak yet
By: BangkokPost.com
Published: 26/04/2009 at 01:21 PM No swine flu cases have been reported in Thailand, but relevant units are prepared for potential swine flu outbreak, Public Health Minister Wittaya Kaewparadai said on Sunday.

The minister said he had assigned the Bureau of Epidemiology to closely monitor the situation and coordinate with the World Health Organisation and the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to deal with this respiratory disease.

Permanent Secretary for Public Health Prat Boonyawongvirot said people can catch swine flu from close proximity to pigs, but they cannot catch it from eating pork.

Its symptoms are similar to the symptoms of human influenza, such as high fever, body aches, coughing, and runny nose.

The Public Health Ministry asked people with these symptoms to wear protective masks and avoid going to public areas.

The ministry also warned people, who may travel to Mexico or the states of California and Texas during this period, to follow the situation closely and be careful of the swine flu outbreaks.

* * * * * * * * *

Since Thailand is a popular travel destination for people around the world, we need to be on guard and prepared.

CDC experts note that while it is possible to contain an outbreak of disease that is in one limited area, once it is reported in widespread locations, the spread is impossible to control.

Follow the latest updates and analysis at http://afludiary.blogspot.com/

Swine Flu Preparedness

2009-04-25T20:24:00.000-07:00

My previous Post on Swine Flu Concerns in Asia outlines precautions being implemented throughout Asia following the recent Influenza outbreak in North America.

At the bottom of the post, I recommended you follow Avian Flu Diary blogged by my brother Mike Coston.

Since most people are not sure what Swine Flu is, I suggest you read his recent post A Pandemic Primer, it outlines the entire situation in language even I can understand.

But don't stop there, amongst the more technical posts, there are dozens of articles regarding individual, family and community preparedness for pandemics or any other kind of disaster.

Forewarned is Forearmed.

You may be a long way from Mexico and think this doesn't concern you... you'd be wrong.

In the 1918 Influenza outbreak killed over 50 million people in just 18 months.

That was before air travel, when going from London to Sydney could take weeks or even months and yet it still spread across the globe.

Today, you can be anywhere in the world in as little as 24 hours (unless, of course you are booked by my travel agent).

And so can the Flu.

Follow the News... have a preparedness plan ... and please... wash your hands!

Swine Flu Concerns in Asia

2009-04-25T19:11:00.000-07:00

While most of the world's attention is focused on the events occuring in North America, Asia is stepping up it's monitoring for a potential Swine Flu outbreak.

From The Times of India April 25th..

Asia takes precautions after swine flu outbreak
25 Apr 2009, 1635 hrs IST, AP

TOKYO: Some Asian nations enforced checks Saturday on passengers and pork products from Mexico amid fears that its deadly outbreak of swine flu might spread to a continent that has battled hard to contain bird flu.

Japan's biggest international airport stepped up health surveillance, while the Philippines said it may quarantine passengers with fevers who have been to Mexico. Health authorities in Thailand and Hong Kong said they were closely monitoring the situation.

In Mexico, at least 62 people have died from severe pneumonia caused by a flu-like illness, the World Health Organization said. Some of those deaths have been confirmed as a type of swine flu — labeled A/H1N1 — not previously seen in pigs or humans.

At Tokyo's Narita airport — among the world's busiest with more than 96,000 people using it daily — officials installed a device at the arrival gate for flights from Mexico to measure the temperatures of passengers.

``We are increasing health surveillance following the outbreak of swine flu,'' said Akira Yukitoki, an official at the airport's quarantine station. He said more than 160 passengers arriving from Mexico on Saturday were screened by the thermographic machine. No one complained of fever or severe coughing.

The airport also plans to put up special signs for passengers going to Mexico, urging them to ``wear masks, wash hands and gargle,'' Yukitoki said.

In the Philippines, passengers with fevers who have been to Mexico may be quarantined in government hospitals, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said. The government was also tightening monitoring at all ports to prevent the entry of any hogs or pork from Mexico and the US

In Hong Kong, health officials said authorities were closely monitoring the swine flu investigation by their US and Mexican counterparts.

``What we have to do now is to see ... whether all cases in Mexico are epidemiologically linked,'' said Undersecretary for Food and Health Gabriel Leung. He refused to say whether Hong Kong would implement checks on people arriving from Mexico.

In Thailand, health officials met to discuss the outbreak but have not implemented checks at airports because ``at this moment, there is no advisory from WHO,'' said Kumnuan Ungchusak, the director of the Bureau of Epidemiology.

``Our people were alerted,'' Kumnuan said. ``We will monitor the situation day by day.'' ......

For more information on Swine Flu, Avian Flu and Pandemic Preparedness in general, I heartily refer you to http://afludiary.blogspot.com/ a very comprehensive blog maintained by my brother, Mike Coston

Room At the Inn

2009-04-22T02:32:00.001-07:00

An interesting story from Todays Bangkok Post regarding the Tourism downturn in Thailand and the attemps to revive it..

BANGKOK: -- Tourism operators in Pattaya plan to offer free hotel rooms from May 1 to Oct 31 to attract local and international tourists during the low season.

Apart from hotels, restaurants and shopping malls will also join the campaign, offering discounts up to 50%. Final details will be decided tomorrow.

The seaside resort city is facing difficult times because of the global economic recession and local political problems, said Chatchawal Supachayanont, president of the Eastern Chapter of the Thai Hotels Association (THA).

"With this campaign, we hope tourists and meeting, incentive, convention and exhibition (Mice) activities will be lured back to Pattaya again and tourism sentiment will improve as well," he said.

Mr Chatchawal said Pattaya's hotels had about 20,000 rooms and that all operators would join the promotion.

"This is the first time we have had co-operation from all parties, aiming to restore Pattaya's tourism image," he said.

"Average occupancy was not so bad at around 30-40% after the Songkran festival. But we are very concerned about reservations from overseas, which are not coming yet."

Pattaya's image took a hit just before Songkran when red-shirted protesters forced the cancellation of the Asean Summit after they stormed the meeting site, the Royal Cliff Beach Hotel.

Operators in Pattaya hope that when Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva goes abroad he will be able to explain the problems in Thailand and how the government intends to solve them, in order to restore confidence among visitors.

As soon as details are finalized, I'll post them. Pattaya (as well as all of Thailand) is a wonderful place to visit and the Airlines are offering lower ticket prices as well.

If you are looking to visit, now is the time!

The State Of The State Of Emergency Part 2

2009-04-14T00:14:00.000-07:00

Life in Bangkok slowly returns to normal.

Reports are that Malls around Siam area in Bangkok reopened on Tuesday afternoon after the red-shirted mob surrounding government house announced they were dissolving their protest.

During a national televised address this morning, Army Spokesman Col Sansern Kaewkamnerd explained that the Emergency decree is not meant to affect the general public and that they are welcome to enjoy the Songkran festivities if they wish to.

The Army spokesman also stated that the Emergency decree is meant to restrict the movements and actions of the red-shirt protesters and not the general public.

Since it is Thai New Years or SONGKRAN, I thought a little information about this celebration was in order..

Songkran - the Thai New Years celebration held every year in mid April is the Siamese equivalent to Mardi Gras - only they throw water instead of beads!

The throwing of water originally was a way to pay respect to people, by gently pouring a small amount of lustral water on other people’s hands or over a shoulder as a sign of respect.

Among young people the holiday evolved to include dousing strangers with water to relieve the heat, since April is the hottest month in Thailand .

This has further evolved into water fights and splashing water over people riding in vehicles.

And, like Mardi Gras, there is a lot of drinking..and unfortunately driving.

Every year, traffic deaths take a substantial toll in Thailand during this celebration. Most are alcohol related.

According to The Bangkok Post, there have been 220 deaths and 2,658 injuries from road accidents after four days into the “seven dangerous days” period of Songkran holidays travel, according to official figures.

The Dust Settles... for now

2009-04-13T22:59:00.000-07:00

With the dawn of a new day, cooler heads are beginning to prevail.

Crossing the wires this morning....

Military 'won't interfere' at Govt House
By: BangkokPost.com

In a special announcement by a military spokesman broadcast on all TV and radio stations at 10am, a spokesman said the army would continue operations in downtown Bangkok.

"But our aim is only to clear the streets so that normal traffic can move," he said.

He said the protest of red shirts at Government House is legal and would not be harmed.

* * * * * * * * * *

Red-shirts accept free rides home
By: BangkokPost.com

Some red-shirt protesters at Government House have have accepted the offer of free transport back to their home provinces, government spokeman Panitan Wattanayagorn said on Tuesday morning.

Several airconditioned buses were seen arriving near the protest site about midnight. Speakers using loud hailers offered protesters a free ride home. The offer was made in Lao dialect, the main language of the rural Northeast.

Mr Panitan said some protesters accepted the offer of government assistance.

* * * * * * * * * *

2 red-shirt leaders surrender
By: BangkokPost.com

Two red-shirt core leaders Veera Musikhapong and Suporn Uttawong surrendered to police on Tuesday after they told protesters to disperse.
The two contacted with police and asked them to pick them up at Misakawan intersection near the Government House where the red-shirts gathered since the end of March.

* * * * * * * * * *

So it appears the protests have been suspended but NOT abandoned.

The toll of the past few days include over 100 injured, 2 confirmed deaths along with property damage and of course damage to Thailand's image and tourism industry.

I'll continue to blog as events warrent, but hopefully this is the end to a very ugly situation.

Black Songkran

2009-04-13T09:11:00.000-07:00

Local newsers are referring to today's' events as Black Songkran.

Wire reports now say that two persons were killed during the clash between vendors of Nang Lerng Market and red-shirted people late Monday evening....

The Army maintains that they have brought the situation "under control"....

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva gave a live TV address this evening, saying the government's mission to restore law and order is about to complete soon.

The violence threatens to slash tourism revenue and could lead to the loss of 200,000 jobs in the industry that directly employs about 2 million people, said Kongkrit Hiranyakit, chairman of the Tourism Council of Thailand.

And, in a surreal turn of events, while all of this is going on, there are reports that despite the State of Emergency decree, Songkran festivities are in "full swing" in the tourist heavy Silom Road area....

Darkness Fall on Tense City

2009-04-13T07:09:00.000-07:00

Continuing the timeline for this afternoon and early evening... (Culled from reports in The Nation and Thai Asean News Network)

15.30: Chairman of adhoc emergency committee vows to restore order. He's reiterated that the authorities will not use force against the protesters but reserve the rights to defend themselves without excessive force.

16.02: Military successfully remove LPG tanker from the front of Din Daeng flat

16:30: Army Spokesman Col Sansern Kaewkamnerd dismissed reports that soldiers who dispersed the red shrits in many areas used live bullets and have killed many protesters.

17.04: Homemade bomb thrown at Army headquarters, more riot units called forth

17.30: Fire broke out at the Education ministry near the Padung Krungkasem canel. Firetrucks were initially unable to approach the area as the red-shirt protesters were blocking access. The fire was later successfully put out.

1730: Audience in Khon Kaen and around 10 provinces in the upper Northeast are unable to watch news report on NBT channel as the red-shirted group demanded the station to cease broadcasting. After the rally in front of the station, the protesters are reportedly moving to block part of the Mitaparb Road and traffic has started to be congested.

18:30: Narenthorn Emergency Centre's director Chatree Charoenchivakul in his interview with Thai PBS denies the rumour of death caused by the crackdown. "We are doctors and we have medical ethics. We'll certainly report the death if there is any."

He says that the latest report shows 94 people injured of which 24 are in serious conditions. The injured people are both civilians and military officers and they are treated equally.

18.40: Former premier Thaksin Shinawatra gave an interview on CNN. He claims military is trying to cover up deaths of red-shirt protesters.

19.00: PM Abhisit Vejjajiva gave a telephone interview to deny claims by former premier Thaksin Shinawatra that his government is undemocratic.

19.40: Deputy PM Suthep Thaugsuban warns chaos could break out tonight. The deputy premier urges the public to be watchful of possible torchings and bombings.

* * * * * * * * * *

Here in Pattaya all is quiet. Songkran (Thai New Years) celebrations have begun with the traditional water throwing frenzy, however there appears to be fewer participant than in previous years....

Mid Afternoon Update

2009-04-13T02:10:00.000-07:00

The chairman of a special adhoc committee set up to monitor the emergency situation held a national televised address at 3pm this afternoon to reassure the public that the committee is doing everything in its power to restore order.

Supreme Commander Gen Songkitti Jakkabatra also reiterated the government's promise not to use force against the protesters. However the general said the authorities reserve the rights to use weapons to defend themselves.

He also urged the public to constantly monitor the news and exercise their own judgment when they've received news or information about the unrest.

* * * * * * * * * *

Army spokesman Colonel Sansern Kaewkamnerd stated the military has been able to seize back control over the Victory monument, Chai intersection near Rajavithi Road, Makkasan intersection, area in front of Channel 5 TV station, Din Daeng intersection. Protesters were forced to retreat when military officers fired shots into the air.

* * * * * * * * * *

Thai TV continues to show scenes of smoke billowing from tires set aflame. It's unclear if the shots are live or repeated tape.

This Morning's Timeline

2009-04-12T23:19:00.000-07:00

Events are escalating quickly.From the Asean News Network..

04.17: Dispersal of red-shirt protesters at Din Daeng intersection began

08.30: Pheu Thai Payap Panket, former Sing Buri MP, called on red-shirt protesters to surround and possibly torch King Power duty free in Rangnam

08.39: Red-shirts closed traffic at Sri Ayutthaya intersection near Foreign Affairs ministry. Buses used to block entries. Tires were set on fire causing heavy fumes and lack of visibility in the area

9.15: Police requested members of the press to leave Democrats headquarters after red-shirt protesters have threatened to torch the compound

9.30: Red-shirts took back control of Din Daeng intersection, LPG tanker blocks entrance/exit

10.05: Police and military call for back-up, fearing red-shirts protesters may use LPG gas tanker to torch Democrats headquarters

10.11: Fire bomb allegedly thrown at and set fire to a traffic police booth near Transport Ministry on Ratchadamnern Nok Road

10.20: Red-shirts have once again occupied the Victory Monument

10.40: Democrats evacuated headquarters in response to threats by red-shirts to torch the compound with gas tankers

10.41: Pattaya police reveals red-shirt leader Arisman Pongruengrong is still under the custody of the Pattaya court

11.19: 50 red-shirt protesters gather in front of Rajavithee Hospital to demand the authorities release the bodies of protesters who have allegedly died during military dispersal of protesters

11.40: PM holds another national televised address to call for public to help cooperate with authorities to restore order and for protesters not to destroy public property with gas explosion

12.10: Red-shirt protesters set fire to an empty public bus near Din Daeng intersection. Military responded by shooting into the air to force protesters to retreat. Another group of red-shirts attempted run down military officers with another public bus

12.30: Govt spokesperson held national televised address to reveal security measures are in place at various ports, airports and infrastructures to ensure security of public

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Thai TV shows live pictures of major intersections being blocked by the Red Shirts using some 30 busses they have commandeered over the last two days. Heavy smoke from burning tires can be seen in some areas including Rama 6 road near the Ramatibodi Hospital, reducing visibility to almost zero.

Residents living on Din Daeng Road on Monday were told to flee the area as the red shirts seized two gas trucks each carrying eight tons of fuel to block the road by parking one of them near National Housing Authority flat.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Everything seems fairly quiet here in Pattaya although there are now reports of several small IED's being dismantled here last night after a small explosion blew up a water pipe.

Off The air...

2009-04-12T19:39:00.000-07:00

The only English Language News Station in Thailand http://www.thailandoutlook.tv/ is effectively off the air now. Their website continues to be updated, however.

The Screen shows the following message superimposed over taped programming . "DUE TO SECURITY THREATS WE HAVE BEEN FORCED TO EVACUATE OUR STUDIOS".....

Thai Language TV stations, for the most part are still on the air, however
there are reports that newsmen have withdrawn from the rally site after being told their safety cannot be guaranteed by the protesters.

The BKK Post is reporting Red shirt protesters have blocked up-country roads, railways and bridges to protest the Bangkok Emergency Decree and crackdown orders.

Currently, areas to avoid in BKK include the entire Rattanakosin island, Sri Ayutthaya intersection, Rama 6 road, Phoholyothin road, Victory monument, Din Daeng intersection, Suthisarn that crosses over to Vipavadi, Arjnarong expressway exit and Yomaraj expressway exit.

All trains heading to Bangkok stopped at the Bang Sue Intersection and train services at the Hua Lampong railway were cancelled Monday morning. The NATION

THE BKK POST : The Bangkok governor has cancelled all Songkran (Thai New Years) activities hosted by city hall after the Sunday declaration of emergency by the central government.

A Tense Standoff

2009-04-12T18:50:00.000-07:00

The situation continues to simmer in Bangkok early Monday morning..

Govt, Army spokesmen insist soldiers use negotiation before force

The acting government spokesman and Army spokesman insisted during a press conference Monday morning that soldiers tried to talk protesters to stop blocking roads at the Din Daeng Intersection before forcefully dispersing them.

Red Shirts Run Amok Vow "Fight To the Death"
Military and police forces are on alert as the government issues orders for protesters to clear the streets or face harsher measures under a state of emergency.

68 people injured in crackdown: BMA Health Department

The Health Department of Bangkok Metropolitan Administration announced Monday that a total of 68 people were injured in the crackdown on protesters at the Din Daeng intersection.

Doctor Phetpong Kamchornkijakarn, director of the department, said soldiers were also injured.

* * * * * * * * * * *

As of 8:30 am Monday, Protesters continued to block the Si Ayutthaya Intersection with buses. Burning tires were reported at three spots on the roads.

Reports of Westerners leaving their hotels and heading to the Airport for flights out. To my knowledge, there are no reports of westerners have been injured during this ongoing altercation.

Meanwhile, Pattaya remains quiet....

Watering Holes

2009-04-12T12:39:00.000-07:00

↑ Grab this Headline Animator

After monitoring the websites and keeping one eye on the TV monitor for most of the day, I decided to go into South Pattaya and get tuned in with the ex-pat community.

Like in most expat heavy communities, that means going out to a bar. Watering Holes are the life blood of news, gossip and inter-connection.

I met up with a number of expats tonight, many of which have resided in Thailand up to 20 years. The conversations all centered on the current events that are unfolding just 100 Km away in Bangkok.

It's hard to fathom what emotions are like in Bangkok tonight. Pattaya looked no different than any other night (except for fewer people on the streets than usual). The Bars and Restaurants were open, music is playing, traffic moved along nicely and life seems to go on as usual.

While many points of view were expressed, certain themes were expressed by almost everyone I spoke with.

1.) A profound sadness for Thailand and it's people. A more beautiful, welcoming country could not be found anywhere on earth.

2.) Fear that this situation will continue to deteriorate. Sides are so polarized, it is hard to see how they can be reconciled, at least in the short term.

3.) Personal preparedness and an "exit strategy, should it be needed. I'm happy to say, not one person I spoke to was ready to leave - but everyone was aware that the possibility exists.

4.) Concern for the economic impact of these events on the Thai economy. Just as the rest of the world is struggling with the economic downturn, Thailand is no exception. Worldwide perception (not to mention State Department Warnings)will have a grave impact on Tourism and commerce for years to come.

Although I have not been directly affected by these events, all my Thai friends have been apologizing for this situation. Very Thai.

It's late night here (about 3am) so things are fairly quiet. The News Portals have not updated their pages in about five hours and TV is, for the most part showing regular programming.

Some of the latest headlines to cross the wire include...

FLASH NEWS: Hong Kong Issues Travel Advisory for Thailand
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Hong Kong has issued a travel advisory for its citizens in traveling to Thailand, especially to Bangkok. As for its citizens who are already here, the Hong Kong government advises them to avoid areas of protests and crowded places.

FLASH NEWS: Public Buses and Shopping Malls Affected by Red Shirt Riots
Sunday, April 12, 2009
The Bangkok Mass Transit Authority ordered public buses in Bangkok to cease their services at 9pm, fearing more buses will be hijacked by the red shirt protesters after 20 buses were already taken by them.

FLASH NEWS: Red Shirt Protesters Take Control of Another Tank
Sunday, April 12, 2009
After taking control of 2 tanks at the BTS Siam earlier today, red shirt protesters were able to intercept three military vehicles and riot control equipment at the Dindaeng intersection. Soldiers are believed to have been ordered out to crackdown on the protests.

For English Language coverage from within Thailand, visit the following sites...

http://www.bangkokpost.com

http://www.thailandoutlook.tv

http://www.nationmultimedia.com

A Coup is Due?

2009-04-12T02:29:00.000-07:00

The focus shifts away from Pattaya to Bangkok following the disruption of the ASEAN Conference here yesterday.

STATE OF EMERGENCY DECLARED FOR BANGKOK, 5 OTHER PROVINCES
The government Sunday afternoon announced the state of emergency for Bangkok and some districts in satellite provinces. The government reasoned that protesters had committed violence in the areas so the government had to declare the state of emergency to restore normality in the areas.

The areas include some districts in Nonthaburi, Samut Prakan, Pathum Thani, Nakhon Pathom and Ayutthaya....

Military secure roads around Palace

The military has blocked the roads around Chitralada Palace Sunday afternoon after the declaration of the state of emergency

1,000 police armed with teargas head to Government House

About 1,000 policemen armed with teargases headed to the Government House Sunday afternoon apparently to make preparations for cracking down protesters.

Tanks mobilised in Bangkok

Tanks have been mobilised in parts of Bangkok as part of the government's policy to maintain order under the state of emergency as declared by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Sunday afternoon.

Army spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd said the announcement of the state of emergency did not mean that the authority to implement the policy would rest in the hands of the army. He said the military was a part of the effort to enforce the policy, which also included police.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
All is quiet here in Pattaya. Apparently one TV Station is off the air (DTV) showing only a screen saying its broadcast is not available because ThaiCom had to comply with the state of emergency so it has to stop airing DTV.

As mentioned previously, you can follow the news live (in English) on the Internet at http://www.thailandoutlook.tv.Hopefully they can stay on the air (they are saying on air they may have evacuate their Broadcast Center at ASTV).

While I don't think I will be directly affected by any of this (most Westerners never are), I've stockpiled food, medicine, candles, extra cash and batteries for my SW Radio. I'll blog as long as possible, but if things deteriorate, Internet may go down as well...

I pray for Thailand and it's people...

Pattaya Emergency Decree Lifted

2009-04-11T06:14:00.001-07:00

From The Bangkok Post..

The government has lifted the Emergency Decree in Pattaya and Chon Buri, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said on Saturday evening.

The prime minister in the afternoon announced a state of emergency after anti-government United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) protesters were able to break into the venue for hosting the 14th Asean Summit and related summits.

The decree was revoked after Asian leaders who attended the regional meetings left the country safely.....
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Walking around Jomtien Beach tonight (it's about 8pm Saturday night here), roadblock are gone and traffic is moving normally again.

Restaurants and Bars appear to be operating normally and a significant number of Expats and Thais are out on the streets again.

I heard two helicopters circling around 6pm but the air has been quiet ever since.

Looks like we dodged a bullet this time, but the underlying issues remain.

Thailand is one of the safest countries in the world and I have no desire to live anywhere else. It does bring to the forefront the fact that no matter where you live - you need to have a plan of preparedness whether it be a natural disaster, civil unrest or other calamity.

For more information on disaster preparedness, I heartily recommend you follow my twin brothers' blog http://afludiary.blogspot.com/

As the Dust Settles....

2009-04-11T03:23:00.000-07:00

As in almost all fast moving breaking news, there are bound to be false reports and rumour reported as fact.

Today in Pattaya is no different. In an earlier post, I referred to a rumour that a Red Shirt Protester had been killed. Since then, I have not found any news report to confirm that as fact.

News outlets are reporting that 10 people were injured. Details are few.

I also speculated that the State of Emergency would be lifted shortly. That may NOT be the case afterall.

The Nation reports...

Pattaya - Songkran celebrations in Pattaya will not be much fun this year because Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has declared a state of emergency in Chon Buri province, which prohibits any gatherings of five or more people, the resort city's mayor Itthipon Khunpleum said Saturday.....

....The cancellations might translate into losses of Bt70 million per day, he added.

More than 4,000 members of the American Navy, who were scheduled to dock in Pattaya this week, have already cancelled, the mayor said......

.....The mayor added that the special Songkran events planned in Pattaya for April 19 would also be affected by the incident and the state of emergency.

"War" In Pattaya over for now?

2009-04-11T02:09:00.000-07:00

From The Nation

Natthawut declares victory, tells red-shirts to leave Pattaya for Bangkok

Natthawut Saikua, a leader of the red-shirted movement, declared victory for the Pattaya battle and told the protesters to leave the town and head back to Bangkok.

"The war in Pattaya was over now. Since we have gained victory, all red-shirted people in Pattaya will return to join the rally in front of the Government Hous," Natthawut said.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

It now appears the focus will move back to Bangkok in the coming days, however a STATE OF EMERGENCY remains in effect. I assume once all of the ASEAN Leaders are gone, the curfew will be lifted.

BBC News reports ASEAN Leaders evacuated by Helicopter from Royal Cliff Hotel in Pattaya including Phillipine President Gloria Arroyo.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The Nation reports Thailand's tourism industry will lose at least Bt200 billion (5.7 Billion USD) of revenue this year, as the consequences of political unrest sparked by both yellow and red-shirted protesters, said Kongkrit Hiranyakit, chairman of the Tourism Council of Thailand.....

...."Some tourists have showed their desire to leave the country, on fear that the protesters may continue to block the airport like last year. Those incoming tourists have also questioned on security issue and demanded cancellation," he said....

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

ExPat Message Boards are all busy today. Some voicing support for one side or the other and some just preparing exit strategies...

Yellow Shirts Push Back

2009-04-11T01:32:00.000-07:00

From the Bangkok Post...

People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) leaders called on the government to exercise its full authority against the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) protesters who pressured the government to postpone the 14th Asean Summit and related summits in Pattaya indefinitely....

....The PAD core members said the group was ready to organise a gathering to protect the country's reputation, but the government told them on Friday that some high-ranking police and military officials may use this opportunity to use force to disperse the protesters.....

.....The yellow-shirt group however asked its supporters to be prepared, should it decided to stage a rally again....

If this occurs, it will set up a direct confrontation (again) between the Red & Yellow Shirts factions..

Meanwhile, here in Jomtien Beach, things are pretty quiet but most people are sticking pretty close to home today....

The State of "The State of Emergency"

2009-04-11T00:43:00.000-07:00

News breaking fast here in Pattaya... (From The Nation)

The summit of Asean leaders with dialogue partners has been cancelled and state of emergency declared in Pattaya after a clash of red-shirted and blue-shirted people outside the meeting venue and a subsequent invasion of the hotel.....

....The state of emergency law imposes tough restrictions on public gathering and dissemination of information. Authorities are given added power to search residents and venues and restrict travels.

Hundreds of protesters broke through a glass and poured into a Royal Cliff Beach Resort Hotel building where reporters stayed. The section is about 100 metres apart from a hotel section where summit leaders are supposed to meet. ....

....Terrified local residents closed their houses and many were seen weeping with fear.....

Rumours abound. Just had a call from an American Teacher in BKK saying a Red Shirt Protester had been killed (no confirmation). Reports of protesters carrying Molotov Cocktails about 2 Km from my house.

The Expat Community is buzzing with text messages going back and forth warning those who don't have access to English speaking news reports. Thai TV is carrying pictures of the Conference being overrun by protesters.

Honestly, at this point, I don't feel my safety is compromised in any way. I have stockpiled food, water and medicine and I'm staying very close to home monitoring the events via TV & Internet.

It is all very sad for those of us who love Thailand.

Update: 3:00p, April 11,2009 Thai television has resumed normal TV programming...

ASEAN Turmoil

2009-04-10T23:33:00.000-07:00

For all my friends who have expressed concern for my safety during the ASEAN Conference protests occuring near my home,rest assured I'm fine! The Royal Cliff Hotel, where the summit is being held is a bout 2 km from my home.

There is a substantial police presence throughout Jomtien Beach and Pattaya with roadblocks and checkpoints every few blocks. As this is an internal Thai dispute, there is very little scrutiny of Westerners.... as long as you carry proper ID.

On this side of town, other than the police presence and traffic delays, you'd never know there was a problem.

This political turmoil is regrettable and certainly an embarrassment for Thailand. I can only hope cooler heads will prevail and this situation will be resolved in a sane, peaceful manner.

For those who want to follow this story live (in english), I can suggest you check out the Thai Asean News Network on http://www.thailandoutlook.tv/.

As Songkran (Thai New Years) rapidly approaches, it is hoped the protesters will return to their homes. What lies ahead, we can only wait and see

On Turning Double Nickels

2009-04-04T02:44:00.000-07:00

55

Doesn't seem possible, but there you have it!

Turning 55 today hasn't been as traumatic as I assumed it would back in my youth. Getting here has been a great ride!

I'm thankful for my good health, the opportunity to live my life in two wonderful counties (USA & Thailand) and the opportunity to travel to well over 100 countries and territories around the globe.

I'm thrilled to have had two wonderful careers, both rewarding in their own ways. First, as a Paramedic from the Mid 1970's to the Mid 1980's and secondly as a Banjo Cabaret Act for the better part of the last 30 years!

I'm thankful for a wealth of friends and family that have enriched my life and given me support and guidance throughout the years.

For a kid who grew up in a small town in central Florida, I've had the extreme honor to have met and spent time with NASA Astronauts, Pulitzer Prize Winning Authors, Academy Award Winning Actors, Grammy Winners, Jazz Musicians, TV Actors and literally hundreds of journeyman entertainers whose influence on me have been immeasurable!

As an entertainer, I've been lucky enough to perform at Two World's Fairs,in New Orleans' Historic French Quarter, in National Touring Shows, on 85+ different Riverboats and Cruise Ships for a total audience estimated upwards of 1 million people.

All in all, the first 55 years have been pretty good!

A Roll Of The Dice...

2009-04-02T12:44:00.000-07:00

I got an email from my agent (of 22 years) the other day.

It seems that some of the Cruise Lines are beginning to hire only Cabaret Acts that are "self contained", ie: not needing a back up band.

It's a matter of ecomonics, I guess. Cutbacks are everywhere in the industry and if they can provide an evenings' entertainment without thhe use of a house band, those musicians can be used elsewhere on board the ship.

As a result, ships are moving more toward comics, jugglers, magicians and other acts that can work without a band.

I've seen this day coming for awhile.

Entertainment has always evolved, leaving those who refuse to change on the dustheap of booking history.

Just as Talkies replaced Silent Films, Television replaced Radio, Discos replaced live Dance Halls and the Internet replaced EVERYTHING, times change.

Some entertainers made the transition from silents to Talkies and radio to TV by adapting and accepting the new technology.

To that end, I've made the jump in hopes there is life after "live".

I've commisioned www.chartsandtracks.com to click track two, 45 minute shows for me based upon the charts I am currently using.

A full 90 minutes of material professionally orchestrated and click tracked doesn't come cheap and there is no guarentee of more bookings just because I have them done.

It's a roll of the dice.

Nothing will ever replace the look and feel of live musicians on stage, and I have been very reluctant to make this move for a long time but I'm confident that these tracks will be the best possible solution to this emerging situation.

The tracks can be used as stand alone backing or used to augment the sound of a rhythm section or small combo.

Being self contained hopefully will open up other venues such as hotels and corporate dates that have been elusive in the past!

Time will tell.

The Facebook Hoax

2009-03-29T09:59:00.000-07:00

Earlier today I received the following message from a friend on FACEBOOK...

Facebook is recently becoming very overpopulated,there have been many members complaining that Facebook is becoming very slow. Records show that the reason is that there are too many non-active Facebook members and, on the other side, too many new Facebook members.

We will be sending this message around to see if members are active or not. If you are active please send to at least 15 other users using Copy Paste to show that you are still active. Those who do not send this message within 2 weeks will be deleted without hesitation to create more space.

Send this message to all your friends and to show me that your still active and you will not be deleted.

Founder of Facebook,
Mark Zuckerberg

This of course is a HOAX!!

Lord only knows how many people have forwarded this and hundreds of other phony emails to friends and family with good intentions.

I am amazed how many people continue to fall for such obvious scams every single day. I receive emails from friends several times a week about fictitious viruses that will melt my monitor, proposed taxes on my emails and sick children who are trying to make it into the Guinness Book Of Records by receiving the most Birthday Cards.

STOP IT!!!!

Any email that asks you to forward the email to more people should be immediately suspect. If you are not sure, go to Snopes.com , Hoax-Slayer.com, Urban Legends.com or simply copy the first line of the text into google and you pull up the search results.

Before you hit that FORWARD button on your email, be a good Cyber Citizen and verify the post!

One More Reason I Love Thailand

2009-03-28T23:06:00.000-07:00

Lately, my cell phone has been acting up.

It's fine 90% of the time and then will freeze and require me to remove the battery and do a hard reboot thus losing any previously unsaved messages.

Last night I decide to take it down to Tukcom, our 6 story IT "Department Store" in South Pattaya. There are hundreds of computer, camera and cell phone shops and kiosks located in this one location.

The second floor is strickly cell phones. Here you can choose from 1000's of phones and accessories provided by dozens of dealers.

I took my phone in and described my problem to a service tech. He took the phone apart, cleaned it, ran diagnotics, restored factory settings after backing up my data AND NOT ONCE TRIED TO SELL ME A NEW CELLPHONE!

After investing 20 minutes of his time, he handed the phone back to me, working good as new.... and NO CHARGE!! I tried to offer him a tip and he refused that as well.

Khop Khun Khrup (thank you) , I said.

He bowed his head slightly and smiled.

I walked away thinking "God, I Love Thailand!"

Good Eats in Pattaya!

2009-03-26T02:35:00.001-07:00

One of the best things about living in Thailand is the great food found everywhere. Whether you are eating in from a street vendor's stall or one of the thousands of restaurants, who can be assured of a great dining experience.

Personally, I love street food.

Everynight, vendors set up their food stalls in night markets and on street corners throughout Thailand. Chicken, fish, pork, shrimp and a myriad of others, not so easily identifiable items are cooked in front of you and served fresh.

Many people worry about eating on the street. All I can say is, I've never suffered any ill effects (except to my waistline).

When you are fortunate to live in or visit a different country and culture - take advantage of all of it! Big Macs will be waiting for you when you get home!

Mae Naak - A Thai Ghost Story

2009-03-15T05:00:00.000-07:00

Recently, spoke with a Thai friend of mine. He told me he hadn't slept at all the night before and I asked him why?

He said his family was away and he was home alone... and he was afraid of ghosts!

"Pee'e" or ghosts are common in Thai lore and, to this day many Thais fervently believe in them.

The pee'e often spends the first week following death by visiting friends and relatives. Friends and relatives claim to know when the spirit is near by the sweet aroma of a Thai perfume wafting through the air.

After a week the ghost usually accepts the fact that death has claimed him and is usually not seen or heard from again. If the pee'e stubbornly refuses to accept death he will wander about aimlessly for eternity.

According to legend, spirits and ghosts live almost everywhere in Thailand. Most large trees are said to have a ghost or spirit living inside of them.

The favorite place for female ghosts to live is in a banana grove. There are many species of banana plants in Thailand, but a 'tani' banana grove is the preferred haunting place.

As you travel throughout the country, you will see offerings to the spirits such as flowers, incense, or food placed in front of shops, on the bows of boats, in front of Buddhist icons and spirit houses. Brightly-coloured ribbon is wrapped around trees or other objects as offerings to the spirits that reside there.

Many Thais wear medallions or amulets around their necks and which they believe will protect them from harm or provide them with other forms of assistance. Different amulets have different powers but amulets offer well-being to the wearer and help keep bad spirits away.

There is no Thai who does not know Mae Naak. The gothic tale of Mae Naak has been filmed more than twenty times, every one of them is a box-office hit. Whether Mae Naak ever existed or just a fabrication is unknown as there is no historical evidence of her existence. Most Thais tend to believe her story is genuine.

The story is Mae Naak dies during complications of childbirth after her husband, Nai Maak is conscripted into military service. She and the child are quickly buried but her strong spirit refuses to rest.

When Nai Maak comes back from the war, the ghost of Mae Naak disguises herself and her "infant son" as humans. Eventually, Nai Maak discovers the ghostly truth and runs away and of course, Mae Naak follows.

There are many gory accounts of how Mae Naak chases, harasses, and even kills whoever comes between Nai Maak and her.

Almost every night you can count on the Thai TV to dramatize one or two ghost stories, Thais love them and many DO believe!!

Pattaya Music Festival Returns!!

2009-03-13T02:00:00.000-07:00

After a years' absence, the Grand Pattaya Music Festival is back in town March 20 - 22, 2009 for a weekend of listening and dancing to beautiful music performed by more than 100 musicians.

The annual event is part of a wider nation-wide campaign Amazing Thailand Amazing Value managed by the Tourism Authority of Thailand to deliver events and value-for-money features to Thai and international travellers.

The event is sponsored sevearl music companies incluing GMM Grammy and its partners Modernine TV, Channel [V] Thailand, Channel [V] International and the Korea Foundation for International Exchange.

The event features three music stages located at the Bali Hai pier at the southern end of the main bay, central Pattaya, and Pattaya Soi 4. Music themes (Pop, Hip-Hop, R&B, C&W, Rock music) will rotate between all three stages.

On Friday 20 March, visitors can enjoy Pop songs at the Bali Hai, Rock at central Pattaya and easy listening music at Soi 4.

On Saturday March 21, Pop and Rock will be performed at the Bali Hai stage, Hip-Hop at central Pattaya, and Jazz at Soi 4.

On Sunday March 22, visitors can enjoy Rock at Bali Hai, Country Western music at central Pattaya, and Pop Rock at Soi 4.

Thai musicians include Golf & Mike, Pancake, Clash, ABNormal, Paradox, Bodyslam, Ebola, Zeal, Joey Boy and THE STAR.

International artists such as SHINEE and Girl’s generation from Korea, Kym Jin Sha from China, Cirque due Freak from Australia, Minh Thu from Vietnam, Rynn Lim from Malaysia, and Kenny Kwan from Hong Kong will also perform.

For more information
TAT Call Center 1672
TAT Pattaya 66 (0) 3842 1005-6
e-mail : tatchon@tat.or.th

We're #5!!!

2009-03-11T06:07:00.000-07:00

Suvarnabhumi Airport (aka Bangkok International Airport) was awarded the world's 5th best airport of 2008 by the Geneva-based Airports Council International (ACI), it was announced earlier today.

South Korea's Incheon International Airport won the Best Airports Worldwide category for the fourth straight year. Twelve international airports took part in this competition.

Not surprisingly, the top three airports with the best service quality were all from Asia, including South Korea's Incheon International Airport, Singapore's Changi Airport and Hong Kong International Airport.

The ACI conducted a survey on service quality of 108 international airports, involving over 200,000 passengers worldwide.

The ACI ranked Suvarnabhumi as the 28th airport with the best service quality, moving up from the 41st spot in 2007.

Thailand's international airport, which opened two years ago can accommodate more than 40 million passengers annually.

Having personally flown in and out of Suvarnabhumi AIrport more than 20 times since it's opening, I can say it deserves the recognition!

How Low Will It Go??

2009-03-03T22:02:00.000-08:00

Back in June 2008, I wrote a blog about the impending worldwide financial meltdown that was predicted to occur in the Sep - Nov 2008 timeframe.

Quoting from the London Telegraph...

"A report by the bank's (RBS) research team warns that the S&P 500 index of Wall Street equities is likely to fall by more than 300 points to around 1050 by September as "all the chickens come home to roost" from the excesses of the global boom, with contagion spreading across Europe and emerging markets.

Such a slide on world bourses would amount to one of the worst bear markets over the last century."

I got a lot of scoffing from friends who considered themselves to be "financial experts".

One friend went so far as to say the downturn (the DOW was at 11,500 at the time) was the "perfect" time to move into stocks as they likely would never be that cheap again.

I hope he bought lots of stocks that week!!

I have been telling my friends to move to a cash position for over a year. I recieved an email from one of them this morning.

Last January we worked together in Tahiti, he told me he was having sleepless nights over his stock portfolio and unsure what to do. I of course told him to sell...and soon.

Today he writes...

Oh, how happy do I continue to be for selling all that stock a year ago? Citigroup is about $1.50 (I sold at around $19) and Bank Of America is around $3 (I sold around $28). Remember how tortured I was about selling those two? Now I'm dancing a JIG!

If you are still in the market, it may be too late to bail out now as almost all value has been eroded. The smart money left a long, long time ago...

Thailand In A Glass

2009-02-23T22:48:00.000-08:00

A Shot of Vodka
Coconut Liqueur
A dash of chili pepper and sugar
Lime juice
A few slivers of lemongrass and ginger
Shaken not stirred, then strained into a glass
Add ice and soda water.....

And you have the "Siam Sunray" a new signature drink the TAT (Tourism Authority of Thailand) unveiled this week in the hopes it will boost tourism.

“Successful signature drinks are one way to fast-track holiday destinations onto the world tourism map,” the tourism authority said in a joint statement with the Thai Hotels Association.

Siam Sunrays was the winner of a competition sponsored by the two agencies to create a national cocktail.

“Thailand's new signature drink is based on very Thai ingredients,” the statement said, adding that the drink was now available at hotels and resorts across the country.

The TAT hopes that the Siam Sunray will soon be as well known as the Singapore Sling, Cuba's Mohito or New Yorks' Manhattan.

While I haven't tried one yet, it does sound cool and inviting. Unfortunately the pubs I frequent tend to carry more standard libations such as Singha Beer!

The Launch of chartsandtracks.com

2009-02-19T20:40:00.000-08:00

I recently blogged about my friend Jeff Fabischek, a talented musician/arranger I met on board the cruise ship Volendam.

He is currently providing me with backing tracks to augment my shows when I am faced with smaller band configurations.

Sadly, with the economic downturn, backing tracks are becoming a necessity throughout the industry.

My first tracks arrived this week and they are excellent!

I'm pleased to say, Jeff's website is now online with tons of samples of his work. If you are a professional entertainer and you need new charts, old charts cleaned up & digitized or click backing tracks that sound like the real instruments, be sure and check him out!

The website is http://www.chartsandtracks.com/

Vince Eager

2009-02-19T01:57:00.000-08:00

Over the past 20 or so years I've been very proud to call Vince Eager a friend. We first worked together on board the Cruise Ship "Ocean Islander" in 1988 and have remained in touch ever since.

For those not familiar with Vince, from his Bio..

"VINCE EAGER is a name synonymous with British pop. As a member of the legendary "Larry Parnes stable", along with Tommy Steele, Marty Wilde, Billy Fury and Joe Brown, Vince became a household name. "

Today, Vince still keeps knocking them dead with his unbelievably powerful voice. If you've never heard him, take a moment to watch this wonderful Youtube clip..

A Youtube search on his name turns up a number of his early recordings including Lonely Blue Boy.

I remember while working with him on board the Cruise Ship "Ocean Islander", he would share with me over a late night drink (or two) many wonderful stories about the early days (pre-Beatles) of British Pop.

I often urged him to write down his life experiences in the form of a book. I'm pleased to say that finally did just that!

It's available from his website . He has also released the definitive Vince Eager Collection on CD (available there too).

Along with his wife Anette, Vince is now based in rural Nottinghamshire close to his two sons Simon and Christie and their families.

Not only a true pioneer in British Pop history but one of the truly special people in the industry! If he's performing near you - don't miss him!!!

30 Seconds to Fame

2009-02-14T22:25:00.000-08:00

Back in 2002, I was working part time in the office of Carl Mack Presents , an entertainment agency in New Orleans.

One of the acts I booked was Daniel Browning Smith, a young contortionist from Meridian MS.

As a young man, Daniel ran away from home and joined a circus as a contortionist (really!). He went to circus school and trained with Master Lu Yi in the art of contortion to become the most flexible man alive.

Daniel had worked on numerous occasions for Carl and I had heard about a new TV show called "30 Seconds to Fame" that was looking for unusual talent.

After securing permission from Daniel, I submitted his demo tape to Pat Buckles, one of the shows' producers.

Here is the clip from the Show...

I'm pleased to say, Daniel won $25,000 for his appearance!

Since then, Daniel has racked up numerous TV & Film credits including "Minority Report", "Don't Mess With The Zohan", "Monk" , "CSI:NY", "The Vaudevillian" and many more.

He now resides in Los Angeles and combines his unique abilities with acting to conform into anything imaginable for movies, commercials, stunts and motion capture!

Catching Up with Bruce Block

2009-02-14T21:11:00.000-08:00

Back in the 1990's I had the opportunity to work with zany comedian / juggler Bruce Block.

Our paths crossed again last year, albeit briefly on board a cruise ship.

When I first worked with Bruce, his big claim to fame was the ability to balance cigar boxes on his chin.... 213 of them for a period of 9.2 seconds!

The "Guinness Book of Records" recognized this as a world record.

To call Bruce " just a juggler" would be to underestimate him. Bruce continued honing his talents by singing, dancing, and acting in productions of "Kiss Me Kate,""Lil' Abner," "Guys and Dolls," "Camelot," "The King and I," "Carousel" and others. After a six-month run in the burlesque musical "Sugar Babies," Bruce met veteran vaudeville comedian Buddy Graf.

Bruce appeared at Buddy's Midwest Theater working as Buddy's sidekick and straight man. Bruce became a friend and protégé to this Top Banana who taught him the tools of the trade. Soon Bruce was using many different talents to entertain his audience.

Nothing proved as big of a challenge to Bruce's versatility as appearing in the title role of P.T. Barnum in the national touring company of the Broadway musical "Barnum."

Bruce has appeared on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,""The Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon," "Comedy Central," "CBS This Morning," "Entertainment Tonight," "CNN News," and as Captain Pete on the popular children's television series "Mighty Morphin Power Rangers."

Additionally, Bruce has worked with Jay Leno, Joan Rivers, Gary Shandling, Regis Philbin, Jeff Foxworthy, Cybil Shephard, Harry Blackstone Jr., Steve Harvey, Richard Carpenter, Judy Tenuta, Nipsey Russell, Arsenio Hall, Howard Stern, The Mavericks, Porno for Pyros, Alan Jackson, and many others.

As luck would have it, here in Thailand they are running the second season of Americas Got Talent on TV (yes, we get ALL the latest shows!) where Bruce appeared on two episodes (including one where he pulls a Rabbi out of a hat!)

If you get the chance to catch Bruce's act, don't miss him!

Bill Fegan Attractions

2009-02-09T12:22:00.000-08:00

Back in 1982, I was a young struggling banjo player hoping against hope I might get a break in show business.

That break came through a phone call from Bill Fegan.

Bill produced national touring shows through his office in Dallas TX.

Among the many shows Bill produced was The Riverboat Ragtime Review. This "musical memoir" to the turn of the century featured Don Cowan as Mark Twain, Singer / Tap Dancer Joe Kelly, Vocal Quartet The New San Francisco Singers, Blues singer Beatrice Loo and the Riverboat Ramblers, a Dixieland band made up of such New Orleans "heavy hitters" as Bob French, Walter Payton, Orange Kellin,Pud Brown ...... and me!

I was clearly out of my league, but an opportunity like this comes along so rarely, I jumped at the chance!

Not only was it a very welcome paycheck and an opportunity to play over 60 cities from Eugene Or to West Palm Beach Fl, it was a wonderful learning experience!

All in all, I did three tours of RRR in '82 / '83. The discipline of performing every night and having to work within a group was invaluable to me and probably helped me develop more as an act than any other of my early show biz experiences.

Thank you Bill Fegan for taking a chance on me!

Bill Fegan now lives in Raton NM and was the winner of the 2007 New Mexico Governor's Award for Excellence in the Arts

He maintains an office in the Historic Shuler Theater from which he manages the Santa Fe Trail School for the Performing Arts (SFTSPA). SFTSPA sponsors the Raton Youth Theater, annual performances of A Christmas Carol during the holiday season, and a summer repertory season featuring professional productions of four different plays and musicals.

Ramsen Followup

2009-02-09T12:10:00.000-08:00

Last week I blogged about Comedian Bobby Ramsen & his wife Gloria.

I mentioned that I had not heard from Bobby in several years but that he was in good health and still working last we talked.

Within a day or two of posting the entry, I got an email from Rick Saphire Celebrity Entertainment saying that Bobby & Gloria continue to be well & Bobby continues to work!

Thanks Rick for taking the time to write and for passing my best reagrds onto the Ramsens!

Meet Donald King Cowan

2009-02-02T19:38:00.000-08:00

Social Networking on the internet is a wonderous thing.

In the past few weeks I've been re-united with old friends including Don Cowan with whom I toured nationally in 1982-83 in The Riverboat Ragtime Review.

Don has toured for years in his one man show "Meet Mark Twain" since 1975 and re-created the role of Twain in "RRR" for Bill Fegan Productions.

A native of Fort Smith, Arkansas, Don Cowan made his professional debut at the New London Barn Playhouse in New London, New Hampshire, in l972, beginning his theatrical career in the time-honored New England summer stock tradition.

During several seasons at the Barn, he was featured in such shows as The Straw Hat Revue, Angel Street, You Can't Take It With You, Mame, Man of La Mancha, Cabaret, The Boy Friend and Guys and Dolls.

Audiences across the country have since seen him in productions of Enter Laughing, Gypsy, Oklahoma!, A Christmas Carol , Murder At Rutherford House and Love Letters, to name a few, as well as in the television series Dallas and the Oliver Stone film JFK starring Kevin Costner.

Today, Don lives in Dallas and still performs as Twain, devoting more time to working "behind the scenes" in the Texas entertainment industry as a talented producer, administrator and designer who has worked on a variety of television, theatre and film projects with such stars as Gary Oldman, Morgan Fairchild, Billy Dee Williams, Della Reese, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Dorothy Malone, Patrick MacNee, James Drury, Alice Ghostley and Jerry Haynes.

In response to a widespread need, Cowan continues to help non-profit organizations around the country raise operating revenues through sponsorship of the innovative fund-raising gala Dress For Dinner With Mark Twain

Bobby & Gloria Ramsen

2009-02-02T18:59:00.000-08:00

While channel flipping the other day, I ran across an old episode of "The Nanny" (That's because there are no NEW episodes..).

To my surprise, my old friend Bobby Ramsen was in the show. Bobby is a wonderful comedian/actor who I worked with for many years on Royal Cruise Line in the late 1980's.

Starting as a radio actor, Bobby's first "role" was playing a mosquito in a sketch on WOR's "Rainbow House." In a short time he was playing juvenile parts on such radio serials as "Dick Tracy," "Let's Pretend," "Front Page Farrell," and "Terry and the Pirates." At age fourteen he made his Broadway debut in a play titled "Career Angel."

His performances at the Copacabana and Latin Quarter led to bookings in Las Vegas, Lake Tahoe, and Atlantic City. Bobby then traveled throughout the country sharing billing with such stars as Dinah Shore, Tom Jones, Englebert Humperdink, and Diana Ross.

TV & Movie roles followed including Double Trouble, Night Court, Diffrent Strokes, Newhart and The Bob Newhart Show.

Movie roles included cult films such as "Hell up in Harlem" and "It Lives Again!".

He also made numerous Tonight Show, Merv Griffin & Ed Sullivan show appearances.

Bobby married Gloria, a showgirl from Lou Walter's Latin Quarter. Here's a picture of her from the performance days.

During the late '80's and early '90's the three of us traveled together quite often and I have very fond memories of both of them.

I last spoke to Bobby & Gloria about five years ago and both, I'm pleased to say were doing well. Bobby and his wife Gloria live in New Jersey and he is still quite active on the performance circuit.

Is Anybody Out There??

2009-02-02T18:12:00.000-08:00

Whenever you write a blog, you always wonder if ANYBODY is reading it.

Although I was aware there were ways to track website hits, I tended to avoid them for fear I'd find out my blog is lonlier than the Maytag Repairman.

Buoyed by the fact that even the Super Bowl ratings were down this year, I decided to try an experiment....

So yesterday, I placed a widget on this page to track visitors ( just locations). You'll see a small map on the left hand column called Recent Visitors.

For those of you from Seattle to Rome who have dropped by, I thank you!

With millions of websites competing for eyeballs, I'm very pleased to see a few coming my way.

I'll be posting several new blogs in the coming days.

Master of His Public Domain

2009-01-30T01:30:00.000-08:00

I admit it, I'm a sucker for old movies & TV shows (for those under 30, this was BEFORE reality TV destoyed the genre).

Tragically, a lot of early TV was lost when the recordings were either thrown away or recorded over to save money.

Fortunately a few things survived and have been archived on the net.

While today, most films and TV shows are protected by copyright, many earlier ones have lapsed into the public domain.

To that end, my twin brother Mike (who also writes the Avian Flu Diary Blog) has begun to blog about the wonderful treasures that are available for free downloading.

THe website is http://masterofmypublicdomain.blogspot.com

More than just a listing of available files, Mike brings you the backstory in a very readable, entertaining format. You see stars before they "made it" and revisit a lot of fond memories.

So, go take a look ... but be prepared to upgrade your hard drive once you see what gems are available!

Video Killed the Banjo Star

2009-01-29T00:52:00.000-08:00

You notice a new Google module in the left hand corner of my blog.

I've added a Youtube channel to this and my webpage featuring about a dozen clips from a recent live performance on board ship.

You can either subscribe or simply visit www.youtube.com/jcoston

Additionally, I have a number of videos posted at http://jimcoston.blip.tv

I've seen the Future...

2009-01-26T14:19:00.000-08:00

As the Cruise Entertainment Industry continues to change, I've reluctantly come to the conclusion that before long, acts that DON'T have professional backing tracks are destined to be left on the dustheap of booking history.

Cruise Lines are cutting back on show bands (some are cutting them out completely) and acts that continue to rely on them will find engagements fewer & farther between.

My biggest problem with tracks has always been that they almost always sound like tracks - not live musicians. I believe trumpets should sound like trumpets, not a Casio keyboard.

Today, I heard the future.

While working on board the Volendam, I met Jeff Fabischek. He is a talented guitarist / arranger who has the most impressive computerized notation/arranging set-up I've ever seen.
I spent most of the afternoon listening to some of the work he's done for other artists and I now believe that well written charts with proper sequencing can produce tracks that sound like a live orchestra.

Not only are the instrument samples top notch, he knows how to use them to re-create the sound and feel of the real thing. Truly a talent.

My goal in 2009 is to have him produce tracks for both of my shows. While I plan to use live musicians whenever they are available, the ability to go in and do a show without a band opens up numerous employment opportunities on and off ships.

Whether you are looking for new Charts (6 to 11 Pieces) written, cleaning up old charts, adding horns to existing charts, converting old charts to digital copies or backing audio tracks, Jeff can handle the task.

If you are interested in contacting Jeff, shoot him an email at Jfabbusiness@yahoo.com and he'll gladly supply you with a price list.

Wringing In the New Year

2009-01-01T01:43:00.000-08:00

From the "Glamour of Show Business" Files....

I'm currently on board the "Volendam" in Sydney, Australia ...unfortunately, my luggage isn't!

I flew from Bangkok to Christchurch, NZ on Christmas Day to join the cruise. I even checked in 3 1/2 hours ahead of my flight - somehow my luggage never made it on the plane.

As a result, I've lived in the same clothes I traveled in for seven days (so far).

So I'm hand washing my one pair underwear & socks in my sink every night and "wringing" in the New Year as we speak.

We are in Sydney for New Years Eve (overnight) so I went to the Airport this afternoon, and with the help of a friend who works for the Port Agent, I was able to locate my luggage. It's sitting in Christchurch (where it arrived two days after we sailed).

The Lost Luggage people at Sydney Airport were extremely helpful (of course, it didn't hurt to have the Port Agent with me!) and they took the time to really search for it (thank you!)

I went downtown (Pitt Street) and bought new socks & underwear today so my mood has improved immensely.

"Hopefully", the suitcase will be here in Sydney on Jan 5th. Believe me, 10 days of "Drip Dry" is more than enough.

On the positive side, the Cruise ship was kind enough to loan me a Tuxedo for my Shows and the audiences were great!

And I must admit, Sydney knows how to put on a GREAT New Years Fireworks Display!!!

Season's Greetings from Thailand

2008-12-17T22:09:00.000-08:00

Life goes on here pretty much as usual (which ain't at all bad!!). The weather is beautiful this time of year in Jomtien Beach with cooler evenings and warm sunny breezy days.

Christmas Trees, decorations and holiday music are everywhere - it's hard to believe this country is 95% Buddhist, but Thais love to celebrate ANYTHING!!

It's also hard for me to believe I'm about to start my fourth year as an ex-pat in Thailand. I've already secured my visa for 2009 so it looks like this will continue to be my home for the forseeable future.

I'm very thankful for a wonderful 2008. My health is good, I'm devoid of debt and I'm still working .... these days thats as good as it gets!

I'm getting ready to fly to Christchurch N.Z. on Dec 25th to join the "Volendam" for four weeks sailing through Australia & New Zealand. After almost seven weeks off, it's definitely time to get back to work.

As an added bonus, I'll be in Sydney Harbour for the New Years Eve fireworks celebration. My cabin is on an upper deck so I'll have the best seat in the house to ring in 2009.

I'm scheduled back home (Thailand) on Jan 26th and I'm hopeful the current economic downturn doesn't completely disrupt the cruise industry for the coming year.

Here's wishing all of my friends & family a wonderful holiday season and a bright and prosperous 2009! And a big thank you to all of yopu who have taken the time to follow my blog!!!

Warmest Regards,

Jim Coston

PS: Due to my cruising schedule, I won't be able to do much blogging until I return home in late January. I look forward to resuming thisw blog in 2009!

Wild "Kingdom"

2008-12-17T21:45:00.000-08:00

The Thailand Tourist Authority has used the phrase "Amazing Thailand" in it's promotional materials for several years - now scientists are proving how amazing it really is!

The wetlands and rainforest along the Mekong River in Cambodia, Laos, Burma, Thailand, Vietnam and China is home to striped rabbits, bright pink millipedes laced with cyanide and a rat that was believed to have become extinct 11 million years ago.

A host of new species has been found in the area, which is so full of life that previously unknown animals and plants have been turning up at a rate of two a week for a decade.

At least 1,068 new species were identified in the Greater Mekong region from 1997 to 2007.

Among the strangest to be discovered was a hot-pink, spiny dragon millipede, Desmoxytes purpurosea. It has glands that produce cyanide to protect them from predators. They apparently smell like almonds.

A huntsman spider the size of a dinner plate, named Heteropoda maxima, was found in caves in Laos. It was described as the "most remarkable" of 88 new species of spider located in Laos, Thailand and the Yunnan province of China.

The discoveries documented in the WWF report First Contact in the Greater Mekong include 519 plants, 15 mammals, 89 frogs, 279 fish, 46 lizards, 22 snakes, 4 birds, 4 turtles and 2 salamanders.

Among the 15 mammals discovered in the region was the Laotian rock rat, Laonastes aenigmamus. It was found on sale in a food market in 2005 but had been assumed to be exinct for 11 million years.

Throw Me Somethin, Mister!!

2008-12-17T21:20:00.000-08:00

Seems like Thailand is looking more and more like home to me these days...

The Pattaya International Mardi Gras is set to take place on January 23 2009.

This will be the first ever Mardi Gras Festival here in Pattaya and will be based on Mardi Gras celebrations around the world.

The highlight of the festival will be an Electric Parade which will take place in the evening. It will start at Pattaya City Hall and finish on Pattaya Beach close to the Central Pattaya Road intersection.

Local Schools and Private Companies will be taking part in the parade which will be colorful and full of energy according to the organizers who are Pattaya City Hall and the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

It is hoped it will grow and be an annual event. As I noted in the past, Thais love to celebrate and have embraced other counties traditions such as Christmas & Halloween.

One small quibble. Mardi Gras means "Fat Tuesday" and falls this year on Feb 2th yet January 23rd is a FRIDAY!!

Fly Free to Thailand!!

2008-12-17T08:30:00.000-08:00

In an attempt to woo tourists back to Thailand after it's recent political turmoil, Southeast Asia’s leading budget airline said Tuesday it will give away 100,000 plane tickets as part of a regional marketing .

AirAsia is working with Thailand’s Tourism Authority to send the message it is now safe to travel back to the Land of Smiles.

The free tickets would be good for travel to the Thai capital of Bangkok from Vietnam, Cambodia, Myammar, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and China as well as for flights within Thailand.

Tickets can be obtained only through AirAsia’s Web site from Wednesday through Friday and will be good for travel between Jan. 6 and March 31. Passengers will have to pay airport taxes and an administration fee.

AirAsia operates more than 400 international weekly flights that connect Thailand to the rest of Southeast Asia and China. Within Thailand, its affiliate, Thai AirAsia, operates 378 flights weekly.

Air fare deals are now available and Thailand needs your support. Tourism is a major industry here and it has taken a big hit lately. Now is your chance to visit one of the worlds' most amazing destinations... for "free"!!!

Thai Blind Massage Institute

2008-12-14T02:13:00.000-08:00

I've just returned home from a two hour traditional thai massage (that's the no sex kind, for those of you not sure) at the Thai Blind Massage Institute here in Jomtien Beach. It was my first time there and will be back again and again!

Thai massage is different from what we expect in the west. Thai massage is a type of massage that involves stretching and deep massage. It is known in Thailand as "nuat phaen boran", literally, the ancient-manner massage; or just "nuat phaen thai". Thai massage originated in India and is based on Ayurveda and Yoga. It was believed that the massage art was brought over to Thailand by Shivago Komarpaj over 2500 years ago.

The charity project, The Thai Blind Massage Institute, was opened in 1999 by Khun Sayan. He spent 4 years in the monkhood (from 13 to 17 years of age), which instilled within him kindness and social awareness. With this idea in mind, he approached his friend, Mr. Henri, to sponsor the institute, and within 2 months of hard work, 6 units in the Jomtien Complex Condotel were transformed into the institute.

The blind have all received thorough training in Chiang Mai and all have certificates showing they have successfully completed at least 300 hours of training. Many also have years of professional experience.

I requested a "strong" massage and it was exquisite torture! My masseur was middle aged and blind (obviously). He spoke enough english to communicate and was very pleasant. He was also very strong!! I've had my fair share massages and this certainly was among the best.

If your are in the Greater Pattaya area, check it out. You'll be helping out a worthwhile charity and get a great massage at a very reasonable price - 300 baht for 2 hours. That's less than 9 USD!!!

They are located in Jomtien Complex at 413/8-9, Moo 10, Thappraya Road, Jomtien Beach PH 038 303 418, 038 303 177. Ext 1008

It's Beginning to Look a lot like Krit Mat

2008-12-12T01:24:00.000-08:00

Although Thailand is 95% Buddhist, there are Christmas decorations up all over the place. Thailand is very open and tolerant to other religions and their holidays.

Of course Thais will take any excuse for a celebration, even if it is not native to their culture. Even Halloween is popular here!

Wan Krit Mat (วันคริสต์มาส) or Christmas Day is primarily a commercial holiday in the land of smile. While some Christian ex-pats celebrate it as a religious event, shopping malls are adorned with Christmas Trees & tinsel along with the obligatory holiday songs played through the loudspeakers.

A walk through the Malls at night look every bit as festive as those in the United States.

I've spent Christmas in Singapore and found it rather unsettling to be in such a swelteringly hot climate with red suited department store Santas everywhere along Orchard Road. At least here in Thailand, the weather cools off enough (especially at night) to make the visuals seem right.

There will be, of course traditional Christmas Dinners (turkey & all the fixin's) served at restaurants & hotels around town for the ex-pats who are homesick.

For me, I'll be flying Christmas Day to Christchurch, NZ to join the Holland America cruise ship Volendam. I'll be sailing Australia & N.Z. until Jan 25. As an added treat, we will be docked at Sydney Harbour overnight on New Years Eve which will give me a front row seat to one of the world's best fireworks displays

Traditionally, Christmas Day is a quiet travel day in Europe & the Americas. I'm hopeful the same holds true here as well!

The Mickey Finn Show

2008-12-08T20:50:00.000-08:00

One of the great things about social networking sites like Facebook is that you end up re-connecting with people from your past, sometimes quite unexpectedly.

I had the good fortune of hearing from Fred "Mickey" Finn the other day after almost 25 years! For those of you who don't know Fred, a little history.

Fred Finn is a rinky-tink pianist, band leader, TV producer, and composer who opened a very sucessful nightclub in San Diego in the early 1960's and after 3 million visitors through the doors, parlayed it into a summer replacement series on NBC in 1966.

He went on to present one of the most entertaining shows in Las Vegas for many many years ( I first saw him live in the late 1970's at the Union Plaza Hotel).

Fred is married to Cathy Reilly, the 1st woman inducted into the National Banjo Hall of Fame. She caught Finn's eye while winning the talent portion of the Miss America Pageant. As Miss Delaware, she was responsible for 100 million people being mesmerized by her banjoistics as one of the top ten finalists. After a Far East tour she was named "USO Entertainer of the Year". Cathy has performed all over the US convention headliner, casinos in Las Vegas and Atlantic City.

Together with Fred, they now perform on 5 Star Cruise ships, Disney World's Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Performing Arts Theaters and national TV specials.

While we have often passed in the night, due to some similiar elements to our shows, we never actually have been booked together.

I remember quite fondly the NBC TV show, it featured banjoist Don Van Palta and comedian Mickey Manners (both of whom I have worked with on ships through the years).

When I first met Fred in Las Vegas, I was impressed not only by the zany music & comedy but by Fred's willingness to be accessable after the show. We had a mutual friend in Orlando, FL - pianist extraordinaire Randy Morris and a few years later would all get together at Walt Disney World.

If you ever have the opportunity to see the Mickey Finn Show, do yourself a favor - a great evening is in store!!

Father's Day

2008-12-04T08:47:00.000-08:00

Today, December 5th is a very special day in Thailand.

It is the King's Birthday and is considered to be "Fathers Day" as well.

Bhumibol Adulyadej is the current King and Head of the State of Thailand. He is also known as Rama IX. Having reigned since June 9, 1946, he is the world's longest-serving current head of state and the longest-serving monarch in the Thai history.

King Bhumibol was born in Cambridge, Mass. in 1927 and educated primarily in Switzerland. He can speak French, Italian, German and English. He is also an accomplished musician, artist, sailor and inventor.

He is an accomplished jazz musician and composer, particularly the alto saxophone. He was the first Asian composer awarded honorary membership of the Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts in Vienna at the age of 32.

In his travels, he has played with such jazz legends as Benny Goodman, Jack Teagarden, Lionel Hampton, Maynard Ferguson, and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band. His songs can often be heard at social gatherings and are performed in concerts.

He is the only Thai monarch and possibly the only monarch in the world to hold a patent. He obtained one in 1993 for a waste water aerator named "Chai Pattana" and several patents on rainmaking since 1955.

Living in Thailand, I can tell you there is no one more revered in the country. I have developed a great respect and admiration for the King and the royal family in my three years here.

So today is a very special day in Thailand.

A Very Techy Christmas

2008-12-03T17:57:00.001-08:00

Looking for a Christmas Present for that hard to please tech geek (that won't break the bank)?

For the price of a blank CD and a little download time, you can compile a collection of the best Freeware available on the web (for PC). Freeware is exactly that - FREE. No nag screens, ads , crippled features or time limits. They are free to distribute.

Best of all, you can make one CD and send a copy to all your friends

Here's my favorites list for 2008.

My Top 25 Freeware Downloads

AbiWord 2.6.5 – Just need a good basic word processor? AbiWord could do the job nicely. Lots of add-ons available too (Thesaurus, Language Translation etc.)

ACE FTP 3.0 – There are a number of good FTP clients available on the web. I try them all and keep coming back to this one.

Ad-Aware SE – Keep your system free from Spyware. Update files are provided regularly via the internet

Avant Browser – Based on the I.E. Kernel, this web browser is faster than almost any other browser out there. One of the first (and best) tabbed browsers.

Avast Anti Virus Home Edition 4.8 – Simply the best anti-virus program that money can’t buy. Period.

Audacity 1.2.6 – Truly the neatest audio utility I’ve ever seen. Cut, paste, change tempo, pitch, add echo, fade in, fade out .. it does it all (mp3 & wav)

Audio Grabber 1.83 – Need a simple, straightforward fast program to rip tracks from CD’s? This is the one!

Copernic Desktop 3.0 – Now where is that file and what did I name it? Sound familiar? Copernic Desktop indexes everything on you computer (not just the file name but the file content too) and allows you to search for any word string. It’s lightning fast – like using Google on the Web.

Essential PIM – Currently at version 2.81, this Personal Information Manager is evolving nicely. I won’t give up my registered copy of Time & Chaos 7.0 anytime soon, but this is a solid PIM for the price (free)

Faststone Capture 5.3 – Ever need to capture a map or picture from a webpage. With this little utility, you can save a jpg of anything visible on your screen.

Faststone Image Viewer 3.6 – A great image viewer similar to AC/DC. Simple built in editing tools and fast rendering of large galleries makes is a winner.

Freecalc 1.2.0.6 – A Calculator with a running tape.

Foxit PDF Viewer 3.0 – Tired of waiting for Acrobat Reader to load? Try this lightweight PDF reader (it even works on a USB drive!)

Great News 1.0.0.383 – a very good RSS Reader. Easy to use and update.

Irfanview 4.20 – My “go to” program to open almost any graphic file format . Nice basic editing tools and easy to use features keeps this on my desktop.

Open Office 2.3.1 – If you want the equivalent to MS Office without the price tag, here it is. You get a word processor, database, spreadsheet, PowerPoint equivalent and drawing program. The download is over 100 meg so have a high speed connection…and patience.

Photofiltre 6.32– Not all the bells and whistles of “Photo Shop” but far easier to learn. Great for touching up photos

Qlock 1.87 – Know the time anywhere in the world. This world time program allows you to place as many clocks for specific locations worldwide on your desktop as you want.

Skype 4.0 (Beta). – Talk free with other Skype users world wide or call any telephone in the world for just pennies. Requires a high speed connection.

Spider Player 2.3.9 - After years of using Winamp, I've switched to Spider Music Player. It's a leaner program that doesn't hog resources.

Stickies 6.7a– Virtual “Post It” notes for your desk top. Couldn’t live without them

Syncback SE 3.2.1 – Back up your important files or sync files between two drives / folders with this well thought out utility.

Trillian 3.1.12 – You have chat friends on Yahoo, MSN, AOL and ICQ? Don’t open four programs, use Trillian to handle all your major chat platforms.

Weather Pulse 2.17 – Weather forecasts (up to 10 days) for anywhere in the world. Satellite maps, Doppler radar, severe weather alerts included

You can always find the latest freeware at http://www.snapfiles.com/ and http://www.freewarefiles.com/

There you have it – the best of the best – and best of all, they are all free!

Living in A Dangerous World

2008-12-02T08:12:00.000-08:00

With the political events swirling around here in Thailand, terrorist attacks in India and even flooding in Venice (yikes!!), one doesn't have to look far to see we live in a world where events can change in the blink of an eye.

Being prepared to deal with the unexpected is far more important now than ever.

My twin brother, Mike has helmed the Avian Flu Diary a blog covering Pandemic Influenza and other Emerging Infectious Diseases for several years now and is considered to be an expert in the field.

He is a strong advocate for personal preparedness.

"Pandemics" these days seem not only to be viral, but financial and political as well.

During the unrest in Thailand, I made provisions in the event the situation exacerbated. I stocked plenty on non-perishable food & bottled water, three months of prescription Meds (plus Antibiotics, etc), bought batteries for my SW Radio, Candles, withdrew enough cash from my bank account to tide me over if the banks close and I registered with the American Embassy in BKK.

And I also scanned all of my important documents (Passport, Insurance, Medical files, Bank Passbook etc.) encrypted them and uploaded them to my email account. That way, I can access copies of them anywhere in the world where I have an Internet connection.

Whether the threat is terrorism, weather related, political strife, disease or worldwide economic downturn, personal preparedness may be the difference between life or death.

Do you have a personal disaster plan? You should!