Praya Palazzo: A Riverside Palace is reborn

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Picture Praya Palazzo

Let's warn you first: This palace in italian style with Chinese elements is only accessible by boat from Chao Phraya River. And it has been a neglected building for many years. But then came Wichai Pitakvorrarat, assistant professor at Rangsit University's architecture faculty and principal of Process Architect and Planner Co, and his wife Preeyadhorn, owner and executive director of the company. They fell in love with the more than eighty years old mansion on the Thonburi side of Chao Phraya, searched the owners, convinced them, leased the palace, started the restauration of the old lady to its former glory in april 2008 and turned it into a luxury hotel with 14 rooms: Praya Palazzo has been born. And Nina Suebsukcharoen told this story in details in the Bangkok Post. Originally this house with the name Ban Bangyeekhan was built in 1923. Later it served as a school.

The Praya Palazzo hotel (757/1 Somdej Phra Pinklao Soi 2) is accessible by its private boat, which departs from Wat Rajathiwas pier every 30 minutes and service Phra Arthit pier on request. The room rates start from 10000 Bath. Read the excellent review by Bangkok Post. jakoboertle has a pretty photogallery, and Chakchai's site has another gallery. See also the video of the transformation of the old palace on youtube and follow an interview with Vichai Pitakvorarat on youtube. Praya Palazzo is also on Facebook.




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Floods in Thailand: Phetchaburi will be hit by Dam Overspill

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7.8.2018

Authorities warn, that the water level of Srinagarind Dam and Vajiralongkorn Dam in Kanchanaburi and Pranburi Dam in Prachuap Khiri Khan have risen rapidly and all were close to full capacity, according to The Nation. Meteorological Department director-general Wanchai Sakudomchai warned that Thailand will receive more rain during the next few days as a result of the stronger southwestern monsoon, especially in western region, which is directly facing the monsoon.

People in Phetchaburi brace for devastating floods Tuesday night at around 10pm, reports Bangkok Post. This after a massive volume of water was released from a major dam to the Phetchaburi River.
Kaeng Krachan dam has begun to overflow. It was close to capacity on Monday evening, with much of the water having flowed in from Myanmar after heavy rain.

Since late last week, the provincial governor have urged residents in the province's central and neighbouring districts to prepare for water levels of up to 50 centimetres on the streets. Muang, Ban Laem, Tha Lat and Tha Yang districts which are located downstream of the dam are expected to be affected, writes The Nation.


Hua Na Dam in Sisaket is holding 7% more water than its intended capacity, according to local officials. They are releasing water now. The Meteorological Department is forecasting more rain in the northeast early this week, which will raise the level of the Moon river. The stepped-up discharge rate should enable the dam to take in more water, reports Bangkok Post.


31.7.18:

People in five districts have been warned of possible effects as Lam Pao Dam in Kalasin province is now releasing more water. Five districts of Kalasin province — Yang Talat, Kamalasai, Khong Chai, Muang and Rong Kham — are expected to be affected by the release of more water from the dam, according to Thai PBS.

#MyKrungthep: Discover Bangkok by Google Maps

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#MyKrungthep Good Morning old Bangkok:In the Neighborhood of Wat Pho

This little walk starts at 9 am from Soi Pansook. Your look goes to Thanon Maharat: Schoolgirls and a monk.



Bangkok starts to get busy.



This curtain above the shops tells you: Maharat road is not far from Chao Phraya River. You are in the old centre of commerce, where the goods were brought by ships.



Breakfast is ready - for 25 Baht.




And he is already ready for a joke - in front of a chinese temple in Soi Pratu Nokyung.



Still sleeping? No, at the corner from Maharat Road to Tha Thien Pier the windows stay closed to keep the heat outside.



Great door-design!



Everything for your health: old pharmacy.



Thai and Chinese.



The shophouses of Tha Tien are believed to be built from 1865 to 1910, they lie around a fresh market inside.



Inside the fresh market: Here you find everything what can be salted and dried. Let's get some fish!



Mmh! We get hungry!



Small soi inside the fresh market.



Now we move towards the wood building with Tha Thien Pier.



The first smile today - may be a good day!



Tha Tien Pier looks like this, if you arrive from the boat on the Chao Phraya River.



After the long walk it's time for a foot or body massage by Wat Pho standards.



9.50 pm: Rub Aroon Café is awakening too.



On the other side of Maharat Road: Wat Pho.



A closed door is always a promise: there has to be even more beauty inside!



This view discloses more of the treasures of Wat Pho.



Noodlesoup for breakfast? Try it, you will love it.



Back on Maharat Road.



The side street: Soi Pratoo Nok Yoong again.



Now we have a glimpse of Chakrabongse Villas จักรพงษ์ วิลล่า, built in 1908 by Prince Chakrabongse Bhuvanath as secondary residence on the Chao Phraya River. Later it was the residence of Prince Chula Chakrabongse. Today its maintained by his daughter Narisa. If you want to pay at least 8000 Baht a day, you can stay here. See a picture, how it looks from the river by Dr GiGi



From the street you cannot see that, but Aungaey published this picture in her blog. And 4travel.jp has some nice insights too.




Discover more in Bangkok:
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Bombing at Erawan Shrine: Was there a bomb under Chao Phraya Princess Pier before?

Did the bombers of Erawan Shrine first plant a bomb at Chao Phraya Princess Pier in Bangkok, where hundreds of Chinese tourists gather each day to board dinner cruises along the river? The bomb planted at Erawan Shrine on August 17 in 2015 killed 20 people, mostly ethnic Chinese. Now reporters of Reuters cite the military indictment, according to which a first attempt at Chao Phraya Princess Pier (River City pier) failed.

Yusufu Mieraili and Adem Karadag, the two suspects arrested last year by Thai police after the attack at Erawan shrine, are Uighur Muslims from China's Xinjiang region. The two suspects appeared in a Bangkok military court on February 16 to hear the charges against them, including murder and illegal possession of explosives. Both men say they are innocent. Read more.

The motive for the bombing is still uncleared. But speculations have centred on revenge, because Thailand repatriated 109 Uighurs to China in July 2015.

Authorities downplay IS Terror Warning for Phuket and Thailand, but beef up Security

It has emerged that the Russian Intelligence Service FSB has warned Thailand, that terrorists could have arrived in Phuket and travelled on to other places in Thailand. According to FSB 10 Syrians connected to Islamic State (IS) entered the Kingdom in October with a possible plan to attack Russian interests, reports The Nation. Thaiöands security authorities boosted safety measures in the capital and many provinces. PM's Office Minister Suwaphan Tanyuvardhana said that Russia had exchanged information with Thailand and wanted the Thai side to check the accuracy of the information on whether the Syrians had entered Thailand. "Thai authorities looked into the information and as of yesterday, we found no clues on Russia's concerns," he said.

The Governor of Phuket, Jamleran Tipayapongtada, said that all military, police and other authorities were aware of the reports and had intensified security precautions, as phuletwan.com reports. "Everybody who lives on Phuket or is visiting Phuket can help," he said. '"Please let police know if you see something that is not quite right."
Targets for terrorists could be Phuket, Khao San Road in Bangkok and the walking street in Pattaya. But experts as Thammasat University Middle East specialist Jaran Maluleemsay say, that Thailand could also not be the target but a safe hub for terrorists, reports The Nation.

Also in Malaysia police have beefed up security, particularly around places associated with Russian and Western interests, which the reports indicated the militants were likely to target, writes Thai PBS.

Malaysia's police said on Saturday that it had arrested five people, including a European employed as a teacher, on suspicion of links with militant groups like the Islamic State and al-Qaeda, reports Reuters.

Bombing at Erawan shrine: They point at the Uigurs

Who was behind the bombing at Erawan shrine in Bangkok on August 17, that cost twenty lifes? More and more annaouncements of Thailands Police point at people with connections to China's ethnic Uighur minority.

A man, carrying a Chinese passport in the name Abudureheman Abudusataer (also known as "Izan" or "Ishan"), may have directed the Aug 17 bombing of the Erawan shrine according to the police. He left Thailand on Aug 16 for Bangladesh.Information gathered by Thai police and Bangladeshi officials showed that the man departed Bangladesh's capital, Dhaka, on Aug 30 and travelled to Istanbul in Turkey as his final destination, via New Delhi and Abu Dhabi, as Bangkok Post reports.

Several of the 12 bombing suspects for whom arrest warrants have been issued are believed to be Turkish.

Two suspects in the Erawan bombing case were moved from Min Buri prison to the 11th Military Circle for 12 days of detention on Monday: Adem Karadag, 28, and Yusufu Mieraili, 25, as Bangkok Post reported. Yusufu Mieraili was carrying a Chinese passport, as bbc.com noted. In Thai custody he admitted giving a bag containing a device to the man who carried out the bomb attack. He seems to have travelled from Nong Chok to Hua Lamphong station. A Chinese official told the press that Mieraili may have belonged to the East Turkestan Islamic Movement, a local militant group active in Xinjiang, reports time.com.

Adam Karadag, also known as Mohammed Bilaturk, insisted he had nothing to do with the attack trough his lawyer on Monday, as Khaosod English. reports. Karadag traveled from Turkey to Thailand via Laos and Vietnam, having paid a broker called Abdullah Abdullahman for his passage, his lawyer said.