Friday, December 4, 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."
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.


Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Ko Phayam เกาะพยาม

See the locations on Ko Phayam Google Map by #treasuresofthailand
See the Thai weather forecast for Ranong



Ao Yai on Ko Phayam, picture by © ed.h


White sand beaches, where mass tourism has not arrived and you get a lot of sand for yourself, paths in the dense jungle, cashew-nut plantations and places to snorkel. "A breath of fresh air, think Samui in the early 80’s and you’re getting close", grazee describes Koh Phayam on travelfish.org. Around 500 people make their living on fishing, cashew nut, rubber farming and tourism of course. Today many are working in the tourism industry. Aow Mae Mai village near the pier with the Post office, some shops and restaurants but no ATM is the small centre of the island. There are no cars, you have to walk (many paths) or rent a motorbike. On the West coast you find a temple in the sea. The island still has many cheap budget bungalows. Read also Tezza's report on Backpackin Thailand and Alex Franmgos' tip for a good noodle soup on wsj.com or Rough Guide. The island is part of the Mu Ko Ranong National Park อุทยานแห่งชาติหมู่เกาะพยาม. More and also maps of the Mo Koo Pha Yam National Park. See also this great photo-report by hadrin.com. And well, don' miss to read, what Scott tells us about Koh Phayam.


Temple in the sea: Wat Phayam. Picture ed.h



Buffalo Bay, picture by © prilfish



Hut, picture by © ed.h



Ao Kao Kwai

During tide there is no water in the bay.


Chomjan Bungalows:


Vijit Bungalows: From 300 Bath.


Mr. Gao: From 500 Bath.


Payam Cottage Resort: From 1400 Bath.


Waterlily Resort:



Ao Mae Mai:

Blue Sky Resort: From 3200 Bath. Villas on stilts over the water next to the mangroves.



Ao Mook:

Andamanburi Resort: It's not on the beach but not so far.



Ao Yai:

Aow Yai Bungalows: From 300 Bath.


Baan Suan Kayoo Cottages: From 400 Bath. See picture by Bonazera.


Bamboo Bungalows:


Big Tree Bungalows: From 200 Bath.


Buffalo Bay Vacation Club: From 1000 Bath with fan and 4000 Nath with aircon.


HornBill Hut:


Ko Payam Resort: Ten bungalows with open air shower


Koh Phayam Sanctuary: You can rent two houses for one month or longer, located inside the island, you walk from Ao Yai Beach 10 to 15 minutes.


Payam Cabana:


Phayam Coconut Beach Resort:


Phayam Lodge: It has a dive center with PADI courses.


Smile Hut Thai: From 400 Bath.


PP Land Resort: Paul (Belgian) and Pearl (Thai) prise their resort as organic and ecological friendly, they grow the majority of the food right on the property.



How you get to Ko Phayam:

From Ranong: At Saphon Pla Pier ferries leave at 09:00 and 14:00 and arrive on the island about 2 hours later (150 Baht). A speed boat leaves from Ton Son Pier at 10:00, 14:30 and 17.30, arriving 40 minutes later (350 Baht). Pon's Place in Ranong is a travel agent, who can help you booking the resorts and a boat for Koh Phayan.



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Thursday, January 29, 2015

British Women, reported missing on Ko Tao, has been found

The website missingabroad.org is looking for the British women Lauren Hebden (27) from Bradford. She is missing since 22nd December 2014. According to the site she went travelling in September 2013 and kept in touch regularly via email and Skype. She stopped in September 2014, apart from one email in December 2014. Missingabroad.org says that "she is last believed to have been in Ko Tao".
A Facebook page with the name Lauren Hebden seems to show, that this person started for a holiday in Thailand in September 2013. According to the Facebook page she worked as Scuba instructor on Ko Tao, first at Roctopus Dive from October 2013 until January 2014, later at Mojo Divers. The two dive shops did not confirm that she worked there. But on the Facebook page of Lauren Hebden you see her with T-Shirts of Roctopus. And Roctopus posted this picture with her. The last post on her page here is from March 2014. A friend uploaded a picture of her on april 29.

Update on 28.1.2015
People living on Ko Tao say on Facebook that Lauren Hebden was seen on Ko Tao in the last days (here). Especially Thelma Mc Nelly is saying this. It could be that Lauren Hebden is just refusing to call her parents. As everywhere else in Thailand some foreigners are working without work permit also on Ko Tao. This makes it difficult to find out the truth.

Update on 29.1.2015

"We are happy to report that Lauren Hebden has been found safe and well, thanks for your great support". This is a Tweet of @MissingAbroad published today. This organisation had published before, that she was missing.


Read more:
Ko Tao เกาะเต่า - a Hotspot for Diving


Tuesday, January 27, 2015

British Woman found dead on Ko Tao:
What happened

A young British woman, Christina Annesley (23), was found dead on the night of January 21 on Ko Tao in Thailand - on the same island where Britons Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were murdered in September 2014. This led to speculations.
But the Daily Mirror reports, citing Christina’s mother, Margaret, that Annesley died of “natural causes". On January 19 Christina Annesley had tweeted, that she needed antibiotics.
According to her tweets Christina Annesley was travelling alone. Before arriving on Ko Tao she had stayed on Ko Samui. Annesley had been in a relationsship with Olly Neville, former youth leader of UKIP party in Great Britian. UKIP party leader, Nigel Farage, tweeted: "Very sad and shocked to hear of the death of Christina Annesley. Thoughts and prayers with her family and friends."

Update on 23.1.2015
As Bangkok Post reports, Christina Annesley suffered from a chest infection during her holiday in Thailand. As documented on her Twitter-Account she drunk a lot of alcohol, what is not recommended during chest infections. Police said the body of Christina Annesley was discovered inside a bungalow room at the InTouch Resort on Sai Ree beach.

Christina Annesley took antibiotics to fight her chest infection. Drinking alcohol then can be dangerous. Read more: Can I drink alcohol while taking antibiotics?


Update on 27.1.2015
Autopsy by Thailands police found Valium and alcohol in the body of Christina Annesley, as The Nation reports. A combination of alcohol and Valium can lead to death, as it is explained here. In her Twitter-Account Annesley posted about consumation of both.