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Film director, Orson Welles, once said, there are three things in life that one cannot tolerate: cold coffee, champagne gone warm and a woman who is overly excited. A soft gulp of coffee can enlighten one’s liveness, creativity and attitude towards an ever-lasting work day.

The world has produced some strange coffee, including the legendary Kopi Luwak (Civet Coffee), that uses a fermentation process through feline intestines. Thailand, recently, has invented a coffee, handpicked from cow’s dung. The coffee is said to be minimally acidic and bitter, but pricey, as it sells at US $300 per kg.

It might take some nerves to try this new coffee. According to online magazine, Taiguo, inspiration of the coffee came from the originality of Kopi Luwak at the Thailand Chiang Rai Agricultural College. First, healthy coffee beans are mixed with fruits of the Rain Tree, which are fed to a herd of cows. Farmers then regather the fermented coffee beans from the dung at a ‘suitable spot’, washed and stored for a year before it is roasted and sold. The complicated process is to increase the richness and aroma of the beans.

Those who had the nerves to try the coffee described the taste as slightly bitter and slightly acidic, before those flavors disappear into a fragrant wave of sweetness.

Since the Kopi Luwak craze began a decade ago, coffee connoisseurs have sought unusual ways to perfect a coffee brew, including the invention of Thailand’s Handpicked Elephant-Dung Coffee, Black Ivory, sold at US $250 per 100g, making it the most expensive coffee in the world.

Source: China Times

Although there were only 15 trading days in the month due to long Tet holidays, total transaction contracts reached 421,824 with combined par value of nearly 44.67 trillion VND (1.96 billion USD), up 3.21 percent and 2.98 percent, respectively, from the previous month.

The average trading volume on the market enjoyed a month-on-month surge of 51.37 percent to 22,122 contracts per session, with value averaging nearly 3 trillion VND (133.3 million USD). This was the highest trading data in the market’s seven-month existence.

As of February 28, total open market volume was 11,461 contracts, also a record high. The HNX attributed the increase of the open market volume to investors’ interest in derivatives products, which was demonstrated through the 9.51 percent growth of trading account numbers against January to 21,819 accounts.

Most of the investments on the market came from individual investors who dominated 97.87 percent of the total transactions. Meanwhile, trading of domestic institutional investors only accounted for 0.16 percent.

According to the HNX, the derivatives market has served as an effective investment channel and a hedge of risk that helps stabilise the investors’ psychology, especially when the market was highly volatile.

While the VN-Index tapered off over 93 points on February 5-6, the derivatives market still went vibrant with a record of 39,311 transactions on February 6.

The derivatives market has operated smoothly with sound information system that provides timely and accurate information for the investors.

The derivatives market opens at 8.45am, 15 minutes earlier than the opening hour of the stock market and close at 3pm. Prices of products are allowed to fluctuate by /- 7 percent and price quotation is 0.1 VN30 index point.

source: vietnamnet

A 200 billion baht (US$6.4 billion) high-speed rail project linking three key airports in Thailand has been approved by a high-level committee led by Prime Minister Chan-O-Cha, the Bangkok Post reported on Monday (Feb 26).

The Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) Committee has reportedly approved the 260km project, which will link Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang and U-Tapao airports.

All that is needed now for construction to begin is approval from the Thai Cabinet.

The high-speed link will comprise a 21km link from Bangkok’s Phaya Thai station to Don Mueang airport; a 29km line from Phaya Thai to Suvarnabhumi airport; and a 170km line linking Suvarnabhumi and U-Tapao airports, the Bangkok Post reported.

At speeds of up to 250kmh, commuters will take about 45 minutes to travel from Bangkok to U-Tapao airport on the proposed high-speed link.

According to the report, initial fares are planned at about 270 baht from Bangkok’s Makkasan station to Pattaya and 330 baht from Makkasan to U-Tapao airport.

“The economic return for the entire project is 700 billion baht,” said industry minister Uttama Savanayana.

“In the first 50 years, the private sector will be allowed to run the project with an economic value of 400 billion baht. After that, the project will be returned to the government with the remaining economic value of 300 billion baht,” he said.

The airport high-rail project is part of a wider scheme to help boost infrastructure in Thailand.

On Feb 8, Thailand’s parliament approved legislation geared towards attracting more investment in an ambitious US$45 billion project in the EEC, which is located in the country’s industrial east.

The EEC bill is part of a series of measures to spur investment in the Thai economy, which the government projects to grow 4.2 per cent in 2018.

Source: Channel News Asia

Thailand is the top travel destination among globe trotters. From cheap famous shopping hubs in Bangkok to long sandy beaches in Phuket, the country offers the widest and wildest types of travel itineraries. With half of the country lying along the coast of the South China Sea, small cities line the coastline and each offers some spectacular travel destinations. Head to these road-less-traveled spots, for an offbeat travel experience in this exotic country.

Wat Tang Sai, sits atop of the hills in the Phrachuap Khiri Khan province. The temple complex was built in 1996 to celebrate the 50-year reign of the late king. The temple offers the most spectacular view of the nearby coastline bordered by a line of white sandy beaches in the distance. High and mighty, the 9 golden-topped pagodas ventures into the sky above, beyond a vast lush garden below. The modernized marbled groundwork, orange tiled rooftops, golden painted pagoda towers and intricately carved doorways certainly don’t disappoint the country’s reputable royal touch.

Venture into the province’s mountainous region, and discover the Phraya Nakhon Cave in Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park. In the center of the cave is the Kuha Karuhas Pavilion. On early mornings, natural light shines into the cave through its vast opening above, illuminating the pavilion and its bushy backdrop. The view is mystical, yet tranquil. Continue to explore the cave complex for its ancient stalagmites and waterfall formations.

Ranong, the bordering province to Myanmar, hosts some of the most remote and undisturbed beaches and rainforests in Thailand. Its famous Ngao Waterfall National Park, is picturesque and thunderous. The highest waterfall plunges a 300-meters from the mountain top, and can be seen from afar. Hike the park for its smaller waterfall scenery in the valley.

Besides the clear, blue beaches in the outlying islands of the country such as Krabi, Phuket and Koh Samui, Satun province is famous for its Mu Koh National Park. Walk along its pristine beaches extending from the towering limestone cliffs. The ancient formations are topped with tropical rainforests contrasting to the vibrant aqua landscape below. The coast is a paradise for shallow water adventures. Submerge yourself into the undisturbed waters.

As the second most southern province in Thailand, Pattani, is a close neighbor to Malaysia. The region has the diverse mix of Thai and Malay cultures and hosts the country’s largest Muslim Mosque: The Central Mosque of Pattani, where construction began in the early 1950s. The mosque is cornered by 4 pillars, structured with green domes and is fronted by a large pond to reflect the structure on sunny days. With a more modern approach, the Songkhla Central Mosque, in a neighboring province, is highly geometric and minimalist in terms of its architecture.

Last, but not the least, , is the most visited shoreline region and it treasures numerous hidden beaches and outlying islands. Its vast number of beaches makes the region the most popular getaway destination. The region brims with western expats and tourists, but its faraway beaches can be a relaxation for the wild adventurers and travelers. The waterways, framed by countless limestone forest formations, is the perfect setting to explore around on a kayak. Glide through the emerald waters and go island hopping onto remote beaches at its offshore islands.

A new Bangkok-Pattaya train service that will allow tourists to make day trips to the Thai coastal city will be introduced in March, the DPA news agency reported on Wednesday (Feb 21).

Launched on a six-month trial, the new train service will run twice daily on weekends. It will depart from Bangkok at 6.30am and reach Pattaya at 9am, and leave Pattaya at 3.50pm to arrive back at the capital at 6.50pm.

There is already a train service between Bangkok and Pattaya, a popular seaside resort city about 100km southeast of the capital. But the train runs only on weekdays – it leaves Bangkok and reaches Pattaya at 11.20am, while the only train to Bangkok from Pattaya leaves at 1.35pm.

The new train will also be air-conditioned, unlike the current train in operation. The journey will also be shortened by about an hour, down from three-and-a-half hours currently.

The introduction of the new train service will help boost tourism in the country, DPA cited a Thai railway official as saying.

Mr Oratai Suwannatas, tourism marketing executive at the State Railway of Thailand, told DPA that the new service “is to accommodate both Thai and foreign tourists planning for one-day or weekend trips in Pattaya”.

“The timing makes it impossible for a one-day trip. Hardly any tourists get on it,” Mr Oratai said.
He confirmed that the train will operate on a permanent basis if the trial run is successful.

According to the Pattaya Mail, there will be six stations on the new train service. Shuttle services to nearby tourist attractions will be available at each station.

The six stops will be located near the Sriracha Tiger Zoo, North Pattaya, Pattaya Floating Market, Yanasanwararam Temple, Nong Nooch Tropical Garden and the Plutaluang Railway Station.

Source: Channel News Asia