The News Review:

- Khun-In takes an innovative approach to a traditional Thai instrument…
- Hotels gear up for monsoon
- Bangkok Post : Business news
- Bangkok Post : Business news

Khun-In takes an innovative approach to a traditional Thai instrument…
Bangkok Post – Jun 6, 2008
Also on the album is the percussion workout Siam Beat a hip hop reworking of the classic Lao Duang Duen and the “heavy” ranat of Nakleng Ranat. As I said this is an amazing range of styles to play on one album; most of the tracks work well but I don’t like the contrived jazz of Yo-Salam. Maybe that is just a personal preference on my part – my Thai chums like that song. As Khun-In develops his music I hope he has the time to take a few trips overseas trips to collaborate with musicians from different backgrounds and cultures perhaps like the African kora (21-string harp) master Toumani Diabate has done over the past 20 years or guitarist Bob Brozman. I’m sure the results would be fascinating. Several of the songs on ff Beat Siam like Lao Duang Duen appear in a different this time in Northern traditional style on another recent AMI release The Spirit of Lanna: Music from the North of Thailand. The songs are performed by the Lai Muang Ensemble led by multi-instrumentalist Somboon “Khru Boy” Kawichai whose peejum salwa and pin pia playing is exceptional; tracks featuring his sublime peejum playing like the peejum solo are my favourites… I think what the producers mean is that they want to make this music accessible and they have certainly done that. Jazz trumpeter Leroi Jones begins a short season at the Living Room Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit Hotel this week along with pianist Jeremy Monteiro and his trio. Well worth checking out. Sadly news has just come that one of R’n'B’s most loved sons and a pioneer of rock’n'roll Bo Diddley has died at the age of 79. Born tha Ellas Bates Diddley was one of a few key performers – Chuck Berry Jerry Lee Lewis Little Richard were among the others – to take R’n'B gospel and the blues and whip it all up into rock ‘n’ roll. I saw seen him perform several times with his distinctive box guitar belting out classics like I’m a Man Bo Diddley and Crackin’ Up and his gigs were always action-packed and lots of fun.

Hotels gear up for monsoon
Times of India – Jun 6, 2008
“Hotels ranging from three-stars tofive-stars have lowered their rates by 20 to 25% on an average for themonsoons” informs Earnest Dias vice president Sita. With stiffcompetition from other destinations in India and the domestic market choosingoptions overseas hotels have been aggressively pursuing the Indian tourist withtantalising offers and discounts. “Pricing plays a major role forthe middle-class tourist. Many now can travel abroad. Sri Lanka is opening up… Many now can travel abroad. Sri Lanka is opening up. Many tourists find it economical to visit Thailand and south east Asiancountries. Even Kerala draws tourists during monsoon with its offering ofAyurvedic tourism” Dias says. The package includes return air fare all mealsall transfers all taxes and sightseeing. Goa has also become apopular destination for monsoon weddings of NRIs and business conferencesduring this season.

Bangkok Post : Business news
Bangkok Post – Jun 6, 2008
61 billion baht this year or up 20% from last year. The hotel and quick-service restaurant operator had been projecting 15% revenue growth for 2008. Ronnachit Mahattanapreut a CENTEL senior vice-president said the company’s hotel business was expected to rise 30% this year following the opening of the Centara Grand and Bangkok Convention Centre at CentralWorld. For the first quarter the company’s average room rate rose to 4038 baht per night up from 3848 baht the year before… 846 billion the same period last year. Hotel earnings rose 35% year-on-year to 211 million baht for the first quarter with food operations up 19% to 59 million. Shares of CENTEL closed yesterday on the Stock Exchange of Thailand at 5. 90 baht up five satang in trade worth 6.

Bangkok Post : Business news
Bangkok Post – Jun 6, 2008
965-billion-baht fund managed by TMB Asset Management will be listed in the property sector under the symbol LUXF. The fund will invest in Pakoh Resort located on Koh Noi and managed by the Six Senses Hideaway group. Pakoh Hotel the previous owner of the resort would guarantee a 6% to 7% return on investment for LUXF holders for the first five years. Labour shortage RUBBER :The cyclone in Burma has prompted rubber plantation workers to return home from Thailand with a small impact on production says Reyong Kittipol executive vice-president of Thai Hua Rubber the country’s third-largest exporter. Natural rubber futures prices in Tokyo have climbed 8% since the May 2 cyclone as investors anticipated shortfalls in output in Thailand. “utput this year will likely be above three million tonnes” Mr Reyong said. “Rain has delayed raw materials in the South as it gives us fewer days to tap rubber… The links to related content will be sent back to the mobile phone. 22% DEBT MARKET :The Bank of Thailand yesterday sold 75 billion baht worth of 14-day bills for a weighted average accepted yield of 3. Accepted bid yields ranged from 3. 23% with the bid coverage ratio 1.

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