Thai Rice

The Thai King has sponsored a scientific programme to discover the genes which produce the aroma in Thai rice. The genes have now been patented and the King has called on the nation to keep being true Thai and to continue to eat Thai rice and not imported rice. Thailand is the world biggest rice exporter, Vietnam is a close second and the Thais are worried that they will overtake them. Apparently the Vietnamese are exporting a strain of rice taken from Thailand in the past and Thailand may be able to control this problem with the new patent.

 
Another amazing Thai fruit is Mangkud also very delicious

 
Many wonderful Thai fruit in the market these are called ngorh, very delicious

Some History for You

On this day June 24 1314 (695 years ago), Robert the Bruce of Scotland defeated the English army under Edward II at Bannockburn, near Stirling. I have mixed feelings about this, my Scottish side feels that the Union of Scotland and England in 1707, nearly 400 years later, was a good thing, and my English side feels the pain of being hacked to bits by swords while surrounded by the harrowing sight of several hundered dead bodies of my fellow men.

 
Some of my friends on the cycle circuit tonight, 8 laps (40 km) in 100 minutes, I drank 4 mugs of tea after this !!

Phitsanulok, พิษณุโลก, (in English - Vishnu's Heaven)

Phitsanulok is an important and historic city in lower northern Thailand and is the capital of Phitsanulok Province, which stretches all the way to the Laotian border. Phitsanulok is one of the oldest cities in Thailand, founded over 600 years ago. It is probably best known as the birthplace of King Naresuan, who freed the country from Burmese domination in the late 16th Century, and his brother and successor King Ekathosarot (Sanpet III). As the cross-road between the northern and central regions of the country, it has long been important both for political and strategic reasons, and was fought over many times in centuries past. Phitsanulok was the capital of Thailand for 25 years during the reign of King Boromma Trailokanat of Ayutthaya. Located on the banks of the Nan River, the city was originally a small Khmer outpost known as Song Kwae, before the Khwae Noi River changed its course in the 11th Century A.D. Phitsanulok was also a provincial center of the Angkorian Empire during the Angkorian period.[1] Phitsanulok is home to Naresuan University and Pibulsongkram Rajabhat University, as well as to a major Royal Thai Army base.

 
Seven circuits of the track this evening

 
Out with the cycling club today

Children playing in a puddle after the rain

 

Now is the rainy season and some evenings there are big rain storms, but global warming is changing the climate and farmers are worried that the rains are now less reliable, with many days with no rain even during the rainy season. When it rains it rains, and last night just returning from cycling my boots filled with water in no time.

Afternoon Rain

 

Cycling is popular in Phitsanulok

I join a cycling club
The local cyclists all congregate every evening near my house to cycle round a route which is the main approach-way to the local airport, this makes a good cycle track circuit about 5 km long and is very popular with about 50 cyclists most evenings.

I stay at this house in Phitsanulok

 

The Thai Economy

Thai Economy
Thailand's exports slumped by more than a quarter in May - a record fall - as demand for Thai goods overseas continued to drop during the downturn. Exports fell by 26.6% compared with a year earlier, to $11.7bn (£7.1bn). Imports dropped by 34.7% to $9.3bn.
"Exports to key markets were all lower due to weak demand and intensifying competition," the government said. The Thai economy, which is suffering from its worst recession in decades, is heavily dependent on exports. And analysts believe the country's exporters, which account for more than 60% of Thailand's entire economic activity, will continue to suffer.
"It is less likely there will be a strong rebound in Thai exports in the near future as demand for imports of raw materials has not picked up yet," said Suara Wilaipich at Standard Chartered Bank.
Tourist visitor numbers are down from 15 million per year to 12 million per year, a 20% reduction. Actually I realise that this figure is a government target, the actual figure is much worse with tourist numbers in June only one quarter of last years numbers.
The Thai economy has been hit hard by the global economic downturn but also by political unrest at the end of 2008.
Despite the general problems of the economy Thailand remains the biggest exporter of prawns in the world, many going to USA, EU and other Asian countries.

Thai 747 from London

 

Travel to Thailand on Tues 16 June

Thoughts on airports
Any place where a journey starts or finishes is exciting, train stations, bus stations can all be exciting, but airports are the most exciting, big with lots of activity due to the sheer numbers of people. Watching all the different people here in London Heathrow, there are many different reasons for being here, to arrive, to depart, to go to work, to go on holiday, to visit family or like me to leave forever. Not really forever but it sort of feels like that.
Terminal 5 (where the BA flight from Manchester lands is very big, light and airy, but it feels very British with British people everywhere. Terminal 3 is much more cosmopolitan, it is very unbeautiful but it reminds us that the world is a huge and very diverse place with all the different nationalities evident especially in this Terminal.
All the destinations, Nairobi, Tokyo, Barcelona, , HongKong, Bangkok, Bejing, You get the feeling that you are everywhere and nowhere at the same time, rather strange.