Monthly Archives: April 2009

How to Prevent Deforestation

Posted on by
Reply

Everyone in the world would do well to know how to prevent deforestation. The profound effects of deforestation on the world are getting increasingly worse. More and more natural disasters are occurring every year, in all parts of the world. The tsunami in Phuket, the disastrous, devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina, and dozens of other disasters have left the communities they touch in ruins. Not so long ago, it seemed like we only needed to worry about deforestation in the rain forest. Now, however, it is occurring in every imaginable location. Trees and vegetation are being destroyed to make room for housing and businesses. The far reaching implications of this occurrence are almost too horrible to even consider  but we must, for the sake of our environment.

Every person can do his or her part to prevent deforestation. Doing so is surprisingly simple. Every individual gesture helps; the gesture may seem small right now, but each one is like a ripple in a pond, which grows larger and larger. In order to neutralise a negative event, one must counter it with a positive one. To counteract the removal of trees, simply plant some more. Doing this in the yard of one’s own home can have a hugely positive effect. It also makes life healthier. After all, every tree, big or small, gives off oxygen. Trees also contain water, which guards and protects against soil erosion.

Naturally, recycling does wonders too. Quite a lot of things most people use in their day to day lives can be recycled. This includes books, paper products, shopping bags, bottles, and cans, just to name a few. This prevents the need for raw material to make new products. With paper products, this is especially important, as trees are, of course, used to make paper. Once, recycled paper seemed like a novelty. Now it is a necessity, and even some companies and businesses are using recycled products.

Those who farm the land should consider crop rotation. These means planting new crops in the plot of land from which other crops have recently been harvested. That way, new plots of land need not be used. Crop rotation actually makes for more fertile soil as well.

Sometimes, trees do have to be cut down. However, only mature trees should be cut. Saplings should be left to grow and thrive. It is also an excellent practice to make up for every tree cut down by planting a new tree.

Whenever possible, firewood should not be used to heat the house. Rather, coals are a much more environmentally safe alternative. Firewood is consumed in just a few hours. However, the tree which produced that wood took years to grow to maturity. Conversely, coals can burn for quite a while. They will not only keep the house warmer, they will also be safer for the environment and monumental in preventing deforestation.

Trees have long been a valuable resource. They provide food, oxygen, shade, and beauty. However, although with more and more animals and natural resources every year, they are in danger of disappearing altogether.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Breaking Tradition in Phuket City

Posted on by
Reply
phuket city

phuket city

Phuket: Thailand’s most famous island, with a rich history in tin mining. An island lost to overdevelopment, whore houses, package tours and traffic. Twenty years ago, Phuket was… well, who cares what it was 20 years ago? And who cares what cynical journos and travel writers think they know about the island? Clued-up travellers are starting to scratch Phuket from their itineraries because their buddies stayed in Patong and came back with horror stories about how dirty the beach is and how trashy the bars are.

News flash, folks: there’s more to Phuket than Patong. Phuket City, despite feeling more like a large village than a city, is the backbone of the island and the capital of the province. From a base in Phuket City, it’s possible to see beautiful beaches, captivating culture and the real people of the island. All you need is 24 hours, a thirst for adventure and nerves of steel on the back of a motorcycle.

First up, check into some hip digs that won’t break the bank. Digs don’t come much hipper than Phuket 346 (346-348 Phuket Rd, 076-256128). For upwards of 1,200 baht a night, you can stay in one of three rooms in a guesthouse that doubles as an art gallery. After a good night’s sleep, the fun begins.

To travel around Phuket City, you’re going to need some transport. Motorcycle taxis are the easiest way to get around. Forty baht is a fair price for a trip in Phuket City.

Head straight to Kwan Khanon Jeen restaurant on Thung Kha Rd, next to the entrance to Phuket Merlin Hotel. Khanon jeen is about as local a meal as you’ll find in Phuket. For the same price as a can of Coke, you can feast on a bowl of rice noodles and curry that tastes so delicious it’s almost criminal.

After breakfast, you could follow your guidebook and trundle around the island… or you could ride 20 minutes in a tuk-tuk (about 150 baht) to Laem Hin Pier (north of Phuket City, on the east coast) and catch a longtail boat (15 baht per person) to Coconut Island, where you’ll find a tiny community that uses solar panels to generate power. When you arrive, ask a motorcycle-taxi rider to take you to Yao Beach (15 baht per person). You’ll need to take down the cellphone number of the rider to take you back to the pier when you’re done at the beach – it’s that deserted. Take a picnic for lunch because there are no restaurants or 7-Elevens on the island.

After a day at the beach, travel back to the mainland. Catch the sun setting beyond the backdrop of the city at the top of Khao Rang hill. It’s easy to get to and motorcycle-taxi drivers know the spot as “Khao Rang viewpoint”. As the night begins, catch a ride down to Chumphon Rd, where you’ll find the perfect spot for dinner at Fine Day (www.fineday-phuket.com). This is the place the local kids hang out, eat and drink until about midnight.

For after-dinner activities, you have a wealth of options. You’ll see references to Timber Hut and KorTorMor in your guidebook, but these places have lost their shine thanks to their own popularity.

For something a bit more local and with a lot more space, check out Music Matters (off Surin Circle, past T2 and turn right) for some pre-club drinks. It’s a tiny jazz bar hidden out of the way. The owner, Jeff, is a laidback dude who likes to chill and play his music. A bunch of Jeff’s friends form a makeshift band some nights.

Once you’ve had enough of Music Matters, Oasis on Mae Luang Rd beckons. A small Thai club, Oasis is a typical Thai party zone where a band rattles through Thai favourites and random Western oddities before a DJ loses control of his beats, causing a frenzy on the dancefloor with techno remixes of Eminem and 50 Cent. Foreign faces are rare, but welcome.

Most clubs in Phuket close at 1 am or 2 am. After Oasis, it’s time to really go into the heart of the city. Head over to Barzah in Phunpol. It’s dark, dirty and obnoxiously loud, but it’s a blast. Despite being in one of shadier parts of town, you won’t find any trouble. Hip hop beats are the order of the night.

By the time Barzah has closed, your options are limited. Short of heading into Phunpol’s underbelly, there is James Garden on Poonpol Rd Soi 1. You can order jugs of beer and toast to a successful day and night that most visitors to Phuket won’t find themselves anywhere near.

And there you have it. Twenty-four hours in Phuket, a whole lot of fun and not a guidebook in sight. They said it couldn’t be done.

Popularity: 3% [?]

The Thai Baht and Fluctuating Exchange Rates

Posted on by
Reply
The Thai Baht and Fluctuating Exchange Rates

The Thai Baht and Fluctuating Exchange Rates

For anyone visiting Phuket in Thailand, an obvious point of concern is how much things will cost. Thailand has always been a relatively cheap place to go for a holiday. As a destination, Phuket is favored by everyone from Brits to Israelis. But the global economic crisis coupled with the effects of negative media coverage on Thailand has meant that less people are visiting the country. Yet perhaps bigger problem is today’s exchange rate.

When I first arrived in Thailand, about four years ago, the pound sterling was changing at one to 75 baht. That was a decent exchange rate and it meant that my money went far, be it in Bangkok or Phuket. Now, I find myself in Phuket looking at an exchange rate that defies believe. The pound sterling is now trading at one to 52 baht. That’s a decline of almost one third in just a few years.

Prices in Thailand have not changed dramatically in that time. Expats living in the country certainly wouldn’t have noticed too much of a difference, but for people visiting from the United Kingdom, having one third less to spend than usual is a big change.

It isn’t, however, that the baht has become especially strong. What is happening is that the pound is incredibly weak. It’s so weak that at the moment it’s trading about one for one with the euro, which makes trips to Europe unappealing for any British people. The Brits are staying home. Money is tight enough as it is without the exchange rates working against people.

The Americans are in a similar situation. The dollar has typically been trading at about one to 35 baht in the past few years. Right now, it’s down to one to 22 baht. Again, that’s a decline of about one third. Ultimately, people will travel to Thailand regardless of political turmoil and internal squabbling. But these people are not going to travel if they don’t have the money to do so.

With it being so close to 50 baht to the pound, changing money from sterling to baht is almost financial suicide. Conversely, it’s not a bad time for British people to be paid in baht. As an example, I recently wired a large sum of baht to the UK at an exchange rate of 52 baht to the pound. That’s about as low as it is going to get and it’s difficult to trust the baht in the long run, whereas the pound is a traditionally strong currency.

For all of us in Phuket and the rest of Thailand, we can only hope that 2009 brings more favorable exchange rates against the baht. The pound and the dollar have taken some really big knocks this year and it couldn’t have come at a worse time. The tourism industry in Phuket needs all the help it can get at the moment, but some things are out of the control of the island and its people.

Popularity: 9% [?]