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PussyLover 69
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Report from Bangkok Post dated Monday 8 May 2006 :-
MASTER OF FLEA MARKETS : From a used Levi's vendor to top executive, 'Meng Chatuchak' has come a long way and he's not done yet
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While Chatree Sophonbunnarak may not be very well known, his alias "Meng Chatuchak" is guaranteed to ring a bell among those in the flea-market business as the man behind the legendary success of Chatuchak, Bangkok's most famous weekend market.
Mr Chatree, 47, has managed dozens of flea markets around the country. The experience has transformed him from a small vendor with an initial investment of 4,000 baht into a top executive of a multi-billion-baht project.
But the path to success was not always smooth. Even with a master's degree in political science from Ramkhamhaeng University, he chose to become a merchant, a master of his own destiny, instead of finding office jobs like most graduates.
His first undertaking was buying used Levi's jeans from Pattani province for sale at Chatuchak market, a moderately successful business.
Like most open markets at the time, Chatuchak was very different from now, with no rules or order. Walkways were bumpy and dirty and those that weren't were buried in grass. Goods and foods were sold wherever the vendors pleased with no planning or zoning. Floods were a way of life after the rain.
After a while, a Bangkok governor decided to breathe new life into the dying market. Mr Chatree was selected to represent the vendors and joined the team to draft the development plan.
Today, Chatuchak is divided into 26 zones where different products such as amulets, plants, handicrafts, fashion and jewellery are sold.
Since the overhaul, Chatuchak has become well known among shoppers, with up to 300,000 visitors per day.
Having contributed to this success, Mr Chatree has stepped up his role from a small vendor to become a manager of other flea markets nationwide.
The Pattaya Market in South Pattaya, owned by the Telan family, is the first project he managed.
"Everybody thought I was out of my mind since nobody was investing in the resort city in 2002. Even worse, people believed the land was cursed because nobody had ever succeeded in developing it before - the plot had been left vacant for seven years," says Mr Chatree.
To restore morale, Mr Chatree asked Visit Techakasem, a master in feng shui, the old Chinese science of nature and harmony, to apply a remedy. Mr Chatree then adopted the business strategy and merchandise mix used at the Chatuchak market. More marketing blitzes followed.
But one of his campaigns to promote the market brought him controversial publicity. It involved having models dressed scantily as mermaids on a pickup truck driven around the small town. Mr Chatree was arrested for promoting lewd public behaviour as a result.
Yet he had no regrets. From a commercial point of view, the campaign was a big success. His name and the project became the talk of the town and its grand opening caused quite a stir.
"I paid a 500-baht fine but look what I got. My marketing initiative was published on the front page of many high-circulation newspapers, media where it would normally cost over one million baht to advertise. Since then, our project has become a household name," says Mr Chatree.
After the success of the Pattaya Market, Mr Chatree started to think of retiring from the flea-market business. "Twenty years in flea markets is enough," he says.
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Thai Girls : Meet Sexy Thai Girls
Posted on: 9:05 pm on May 7, 2006
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PussyLover 69
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Report from Bangkok Post dated Thursday 9 November 2006 :-
Vigilantes raid Chatuchak market
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Over 100 men demolished vendor stalls at Chatuchak market this early morning, which lead to a clash between the men and vendors, police said.
According to police at Bang Sue station, the clash resulted from a conflict of interest on the plot of land currently rented by vendors. The land owner, police said, wants the sellers to leave but they refused to move out.
The demolition follows yesterday's gathering of sellers at the police station to inform police about the conflict between them and the land owners.
It is unclear exactly when the men invaded the area and closed the market entrances, preventing sellers to go into the market that houses about 500 stalls. Some said it was as early as 3 a.m. while others said the fight began at 6 a.m.
Police successfully took control of the situation at about 10 a.m. and invited representatives from both sides - vendors and the Sunday Holding Company that leases the land - to settle the dispute at the station.
Police said many people were physically injured because of the clash, among them was a vendor who tried to take a photo of the men but was assaulted after they spotted him.
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Bangkok Women : Meet Sensual Bangkok Women
Posted on: 12:22 am on Nov. 9, 2006
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PussyLover 69
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Report from Bangkok Post dated Sunday 12 November 2006 :-
Wildlife spies to hit JJ Market
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Students are helping to stamp out the illegal trade in wildlife by becoming "JJ spies".
More than 30 students from six universities have been trained to help state wildlife officials monitor wildlife trade at Chatuchak Market, where illegal traders are still active despite occasional crackdowns.
Chatuchak, better known as JJ Market, is a weekend market on Phahon Yothin road. Parts of it, such as the Sunday Market and Chatuchak Plaza, are famous for their wildlife trade.
The students visited these areas as part of a three-day training course earlier this month to have a look at shops and animals being sold.
They also went on a field trip to the Khao Prathapchang Wildlife Breeding Centre in Ratchaburi's Chom Bung district.
"I think students should not be responsible for the mission. But the country needs more help to stop the illegal trade," said Thammasat University student Chatlada Chanakarn.
Ms Chatlada, a junior student in the faculty of liberal arts, decided to join the training because of her interest in environmental conservation.
Using an economic approach to analyse the illegal wildlife trade, she said the best way to cope with the problem is to instil a sense of wildlife protection into buyers. If there was no demand, there would be no supply, she said.
The students are mostly from university environmental clubs so it was not too difficult to train them, according to WildAid Foundation (Thailand), a non-governmental organisation which runs the JJ spy programme.
''At least they share a will to protect natural resources,'' said WildAid consultant Tassanee Vejpongsa.
''We have high hopes that the students will work with us effectively.''
The new generation of youth activists would be a big help to the state's efforts to effectively eradicate the network of illegal wildlife trading.
Ms Tassanee said many state wildlife agencies lack enough officials to carry out crackdowns.
After the students complete the course, they will work closely with police, environmental and customs officials in detecting and reporting illegal wildlife trade activities at Chatuchak Market.
''They will have personal phone numbers of each official to share information about the illegal trade,'' Ms Tassanee said.
According to WildAid, 60% of the illegal wildlife trade involves exotic animals from inside the country while 40% involves those from foreign countries like Madagascar, India, Nepal and Cambodia.
The group has also found that traders at Chatuchak Market secretly took wild animals from trucks parked in nearby alleys. Many vendors hid the ''goods'' at the back of their shops and offered them to some buyers, while others run illegal shops freely.
Thanayod Kengkasikij, chief of the state illegal trade suppression unit, admitted that the wildlife trade was on the rise. Traders smuggled exotic animals into the country without being arrested by officers, he said.
More sellers had been also attracted to the trade due to the lucrative profits involved, he added.
''Now we are keeping an eye on pythons, many of which have been delivered via the postal service,'' Mr Thanayod said.
The outcome of attempts to crack down on illegal wildlife trading still depends on government policy, said Pornchai Prathumratanatan, chief of the Khao Prathapchang Wildlife Breeding Centre.
If the government took the matter seriously, a lot of seized animals would be sent to his centre, which serves as a refuge for them. If the policy becomes lenient, fewer animals would be sent there.
He said the JJ spies may give new hope to the wildlife conservation effort, even though he does not think the students can all seriously carry out the mission.
''But if 1% of them take serious action on the issue, that's enough for me,'' he said.
Wildlife crime cases for 2006 :-
http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/12Nov2006_news02.php
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Thai Girls : Meet Sexy Thai Girls
Posted on: 2:10 am on Nov. 12, 2006
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Bangkoksexydotcom
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Would be nice to see if they going to check every fish tank in there. Sure its nice that they are trying something lets see how long it will work.
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Bangkok Girls : Meet Sexy Bangkok Girls
Posted on: 6:17 am on Nov. 18, 2006
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PussyLover 69
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Report from The Nation dated Sunday 27 May 2006 :-
Plea for smoking-free markets
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Eight of every 10 shoppers and vendors at Chatuchak weekend market want it to be smoking-free, according to Action on Smoking and Health.
ASH secretary-general Dr Prakit Vateesatokkij told yesterday's campaign for a smoking-free market that a survey of shoppers and sellers at Chatuchak had showed 83 per cent wanted it a no-smoking zone.
79% are happy to see smoking banned at all Bangkok Metropolitan Administration markets.
However, the main reason people want smoking banned is not for better health but fear of fire.
Prakit did not say how many shoppers and vendors had responded to the survey conducted by ASH and the Abac Poll Research Centre.
Bangkok Deputy Governor Wallop Suwandee said it was good that people wanted Chatuchak and other markets declared no-smoking areas. But to do so would require a change in the law, he added.
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Thai Women : Meet Matured Thai Women
Posted on: 8:20 am on May 27, 2007
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Mel Gibson
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here we go,, the hate smokers campaign even spreads to Thailand.
I'll never forget when I was called as a witness to a court,out in sarges,western parts of Sydney.
I was really wanting to have a cigarette so I went to the toilets,, BIG sign,, smoke detectors have been placed in thgs room,, fine for smoking AUD100,,,just below the sign was a "needle box with advertisement " please put your needles here",, WTF!!!!! shoot up smack ok,, have a cigarette your in BIG trouble.
Mel
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Bangkok Women : Meet Beautiful Thai Girls
Posted on: 9:51 am on May 27, 2007
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lrw301jl
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What is the best way to get Chatuchak Markets from Nana? I prefer to take the BTS.
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Bangkok Girls : Meet Attractive Thai Girls
Posted on: 9:08 am on July 23, 2008
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dunque
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just go to Mo Chit and follow the crowd
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Thai Girls : Meet Active Thai Girls
Posted on: 9:11 am on July 23, 2008
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DrLove
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Alternatively you can take the MRT to Kampeng Phet Road and you'll be in the middle of the market.
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Thai Women : Meet Matured Thai Women
Posted on: 9:16 am on July 23, 2008
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