Gaybutton

If you don't like the commentary, don't read it. The converters you suggest are misleading. They quote the bank rates. That would be great if that was what you actually receive when you exchange money. It isn't. The rates I quote are what you actually receive. If you want to do it yourself, click here: http://www.krungsri.com/thai/home.aspx

BANGKOK, Oct 29 (TNA) Senior officials of the Royal Irrigation Department (RID) and related government agencies were scheduled to meet Sunday and assess the current flooding situation in the country as well as floods which could worsen with the approach of Typhoon Cimaron early next month. RID Director-General Samart Chokkanapitak said irrigation officials had been instructed to closely monitor water levels in reservoirs which now are at over 80 per cent capacity in preparation for heavy rains which could come hand-in-hand with the approaching tropical storm. Typhoon Cimaron is reportedly forming now in the Pacific near the Philippines and expected to reach the Vietnamese coast on November 1. The typhoon will possibly impact Thailand afterwards, said Samart. According to Mr. Samart, if Typhoon Cimaron moves to the North, major water retention sites in the region such as the Bhumibol Dam in Tak province and the Sirikit Dam in Uttaradit may have to release water within the next few days because they have already reached their maximum level. The water, if released, will further worsen flooding situation in central Thailand. Meanwhile, Suparerk Tansriratanawong, Director-General of the Meteorological Department, said it was still difficult to predict the strength of the new typhoon and more accurate forecasts can only be made after the storm hits the Philippines. (TNA) E-111 [attachmentid=66] [attachmentid=67]

Anyone can get broadband. As for which ISP to use, I'd start with whichever is the least expensive. If you become dissatisfied with their service you can always cancel them and try another service. Your Bangkok apartment probably is already wired for a direct line. Whether it is or not, your building manager or landlord should be able to tell you where to go to initiate the service. I cannot comment on whether TOT or TRUE is the best choice. I know nothing about TRUE. The deposit is minimal, only a couple thousand baht.

The following appears in THE NATION: _____ BOT Steps in as Baht Goes Higher Overseas-Investment Rules May be Eased The Bank of Thailand (BOT) is considering easing rules for overseas investment to counter the rising value of the baht as it continues to intervene in the currency, which has shot up to a near seven-year high at Bt36.88 to the US dollar. The strengthening of the baht has been attributed mainly to equity-linked capital inflows. Tarisa Watanagase, BOT governor-designate, admitted yesterday that the central bank had "overseen" the baht's value after the unit appreciated too much, too soon. Too high an appreciation of the baht would negatively affect the economy, she said. The baht opened at Bt36.90-Bt36.94 to the dollar yesterday and shot up to Bt36.88 during the day's trading, before closing at Bt36.89. Dealers said the baht was expected to move in the range of Bt36.50 to Bt37 against the greenback next week. Tarisa said the bank may relax rules on offshore investment for local entities to allow greater baht outflows amid strong capital inflows in the recent weeks. "It could be relaxation on the amount of investment or the conditions of investment. We are looking at the possibilities," Tarisa said. Yesterday, the SET Index closed at 725.77, 0.37 per cent lower than the previous day in line with regional markets and pressure in the energy sector from rising oil prices, dealers said. But the index has risen 6.44 per cent from 681.84 on October 3. However, she said the current baht level was still in line with the movement of regional currencies. This level has still not affected the country's competitiveness, she said. "Today the baht has appreciated significantly. We then had to oversee the baht closely. If it is too strong, it would affect the economy," Tarisa said. The equity-linked capital inflows have caused the baht to rise from Bt37.47 on Tuesday to its near seven-year high on Wednesday and reach a new record on the following days. The capital inflows into Asia are mainly due to the US Federal Reserve decision to maintain its policy rate unchanged at 5.25 per cent early this week. In addition, the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China's recent debut in the Hong Kong stock exchange, marking the world's largest initial public offering, has also drawn much attention from investors. The stock has been largely oversubscribed. Many believe funds left over from the ICBC subscription have been diverted to other markets in Asia, including Thailand. "We're closely monitoring capital inflows and know well where they are coming from as well as where they are going to. Most of the capital inflows went to the equity market as well as mutual funds. We'll still keep an eye on inflows to prevent them from affecting the baht too much," Tarisa said. Tarisa maintained the rise of the baht is in line with regional currencies. "Our currency is not the strongest," she said. "There are others that are much stronger and moving at a much faster pace. But we're in the strong group mainly due to capital inflows from the US after the Fed maintained its rate unchanged," she said. Somruedi Banchongduang

Now, you wouldn't be trying to place me between a rock and a hard place, would you? I think most people know I have no favorites. I don't operate that way. It's either I delete the posts you think are inappropriate or I'm a pussy? Those are the only options? I hope you won't be too upset if I make my own decisions. So far, the only post I found it necessary to delete on this thread was a post that simply said "Please delete."

Baht Strengthens too Quickly, Says BOT BANGKOK, Oct 27 (TNA) The baht has strengthened too quickly in the past couple of days mainly because there was a short-term foreign capital inflow into the Stock Exchange of Thailand, according to the Bank of Thailand. BOT

The Siam Palm has a web site: http://www.siam-palm.com/index2.html

Play it again, Sam.

The following appears in the BANGKOK POST: _____ Authorities Crack Down on North Korean Asylum Seekers THEERAWAT KHAMTHITA, WASSAYOS NGAMKHAM & MANOP THIP-OSOD Chiang Rai _ Authorities are stepping up border surveillance to prevent North Korean migrants from trying to illegally enter Thailand so they can seek asylum in third countries. The alert comes after growing pressure from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) for Thailand to deal seriously with illegal entry. More North Korean migrants may be heading to Thailand due to the United Nations sanctions to curb Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions, Mae Sai district's customs chief Jetsada Yaisun said. The sanctions were imposed after North Korea declared it had carried out a test of a nuclear device on Oct 9. At least 20 North Koreans who cross the border illegally are captured in Chiang Rai every month, most of them hoping to be granted asylum in South Korea, Pol Col Jetsada said. Immigration police offices in Chiang Rai's Mae Sai, Chiang Saen and Chiang Khong districts will work with relevant state agencies to intercept the migrants. The efforts will focus on the 130km stretch of the Mekong river, the natural border with Laos, in Chiang Saen and Chiang Khong districts, he said. ''Next-door neighbours, particularly Laos and Burma, will be asked to catch asylum seekers when they get to the jump-off points in those countries,'' he said. Charged 150,000 baht per head by Chinese smuggling rings, the North Koreans are ferried on speedboats from China to Laos for a brief rest there. They are eventually taken into Thailand through Chiang Rai. The whole trip from China to Laos takes only five hours, compared to a week on a Chinese cargo ship. In Bangkok, police will today recommend the arraignment of 91 North Koreans caught in an apartment in Pathum Thani on Tuesday on illegal entry charges. Immigration Bureau chief Suwat Thamrongsrisakul said that after legal proceedings, the bureau would transfer the 91 suspects who had sought asylum in South Korea to the care of the UNHCR and the South Korean embassy. Pol Lt-Gen Suwat said he would propose that the government map out long-term solutions to the problem.

The following appears in THE NATION: _____ EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW Sonthi Told Thaksin He Would Stage a Coup For the First Time, General Reveals the Inside Story of Hhow the Regime was Toppled At last, the story behind that unique part of the "first announcement" by the September 19 coup leaders - "We are sorry for the inconvenience"- can be told. Aside from the need to pacify a stunned public, it owed as much to one of General Sonthi Boonyaratglin's personal habits. "It's in my nature to apologise to people - my tennis partners, even my subordinates - for even tiny little things," the head of the Council for National Security told Nation Group editors in an exclusive interview on Tuesday. The light-hearted revelation led to more serious ones: He drafted most of the coup announcements by himself, starting early in the afternoon of that fateful day. When most drafts were ready, he became worried about their legal aspects and someone recommended Meechai Ruchuphan, who was immediately contacted and picked up from his home that night to help. "It was the first time I talked to him," Sonthi said of the man who was elected president of the interim National Legislative Assembly on the day of the interview. Sonthi said he prepared the drafts himself so that "nobody else would know what we were up to". The coup was plotted and carried out by eight key men, including Sonthi. It was originally intended to take place on September 20 because, with another major anti-Thaksin rally planned for that day, the collaborators could repeat the "Portuguese example", in which military mutiny and anti-government uprising complement each other. But having considered risk factors, the plan was moved up to September 19, when Thaksin was still in New York. According to Sonthi, only four top commanders knew the entire picture of the plan. But the other four executed their jobs well. "Each of us took care of our own piece of the jigsaw, which fell into place nicely at the end," he said. One significant piece of the jigsaw was the role of the Special Forces from Lop Buri who provided the coup leaders with much-needed combat experience, loyalty and allegiance. "Faith and trust among men at arms doesn't come easily. It goes back a long time," he said. His words may have carried a hint of scorn for Thaksin Shinawatra, whose "close ties with Class 10" failed to produce significant resistance to the coup. The provincial troops were told to move into the capital at midnight on September 19, to avoid traffic complications. But at 8pm, even men on the street were talking about an imminent coup. "We couldn't cope with the news leaks, so I decided to move up the schedule," he said. In the early evening, Sonthi was in contact with the national police to ensure major units stayed put and cooperated with the coup leaders. Contrary to what many believed, Sonthi said the coup was not an urgent measure mooted just a couple of days earlier. However, he was adamant the Thaksin camp was also scheming to create violence on September 20, so as to enforce a State of Emergency. "The State of Emergency would have given the government a pretext to remove me because I wouldn't have obeyed any order to use force against Thai people," he said. During the two-hour interview, the CNS chief revealed tales of mistrust between him and the former prime minister. The general disclosed that during their recent visit to Burma, shortly before the coup, he had instructed his men to sneak a gun into the C-130 plane so, if the need arose, he could protect himself. Asked what made him do that and what he thought Thaksin was plotting, Sonthi said: "I don't know. I was just being alert. On the plane, I sat near the entrance to the cockpit, where I could know quickly if something was about to happen. I had been told to wear my uniform but I wore a suit which better covered what I wanted to cover." The level of Thaksin's trust in Sonthi must have been similarly low. After all, according to Sonthi, the ousted prime minister was given clear warnings of what was coming, long before the coup. The CNS head recalled a time when Thaksin was regularly tongue-in-cheek about transferring top commanders to the Prime Minister's Office. It was then that he asked Sonthi: "Will you stage a coup?" Thaksin was taken aback when Sonthi replied: "I will." Sonthi did not elaborate on the exchange, which took place during Thaksin's lunch with armed forces' leaders at Air Force headquarters. But, apparently, Thaksin was less than pleased with reponses from the other top commanders, as well. The embattled prime minister sparked a public controversy afterwards by claiming an "influential figure beyond the scope of the Constitution" was plotting to overthrow him. At the same time, military sources said he had further alienated himself from the armed forces with certain "highly controversial" remarks. Sonthi said it was then that Thaksin asked him again whether he was plotting to overthrow him. "I told him my answer remained the same," Sonthi said.

I have stayed in the Patong Beach Bungalows, pre-tsunami, and loved it. The rooms are very nice and right on the beach. They have an excellent swimming pool too and it is only a few minutes walk to the Paradise Complex, where most of the gay bars are. They are gay-friendly there. The rooms each have a sign on the inside of the door and the sign talks about joiner fees, but I was never asked to pay a joiner fee when I had a 'guest.' Another inexpensive accommodation is the Connect Guesthouse, which is a gay guesthouse. I've stayed there too and was quite satisfied with it. They have everything you need and you can't beat the price. It's located right in the heart of the Paradise Complex. Their web site is: http://www.beachpatong.com/connect

Today may not be the best day to do much money exchanging. At the moment I'm posting this, the exchange rate between the US dollar and the baht is 36.84. This is the first time since the Asian currency crash that the baht has been in the 36 to the US dollar range. This is expected to be short-lived, but who knows? A couple of months ago all the predictions were that the baht would stabilize between 41 to 42 per US dollar. That didn't happen. However, this time it looks like the BOT (Bank of Thailand) will probably intervene. Even they are saying the baht is too strong against other currencies. For those of you who have been following my daily exchange rate posts, I had planned to discontinue those posts as of November 1. I think I'll keep it going a couple weeks longer so that those interested can follow what will happen. _____ BANGKOK, Oct 26 (TNA) The baht has appreciated to touch 37.10 to the US dollar on Wednesday

Actually, your boyfriend is right. At present both names are being used and he apparently wants to transition back to only the name Ol

I do. I've actually become accustomed to the terrible driving habits of so many Thai people. In all honesty, it is rare for me to drive anywhere without at least one or two close calls. But believe it or not, for me the most scary moments are encounters with "farang" motorcycle drivers. With the Thais, at least they are predictable as to the movements they'll make. With the "farang," you never have a clue. I'm no more afraid driving in Thailand than I was driving in Florida. I do not drive in Bangkok, if I can avoid it, but not out of fear. I avoid driving in Bangkok because of the heavy traffic delays. Also, once you finally get where you're going it's very difficult to find a place to park. If you are going to drive in Bangkok, I suggest filling the fuel tank before you get to Bangkok. Gas stations are few and far between in Bangkok. If you don't already know where the Bangkok gas stations are, good luck if you start running low on fuel. If I am going to be in Bangkok overnight, I usually stay at the Pinnacle. It's easy to get to the Pinnacle from Pattaya and, of course, the hotel has parking for the guests. One time I was at the Pinnacle and was going to go to the Babylon sauna. I drove over. No place to park. I tried to park on the street, but was shooed away by security guards. The closest parking I could find was right back at the Pinnacle. I walked over to Babylon that day. In Pattaya, along with dealing with drivers who seem bent on suicide and taking a few other people with them, the usual problems I encounter are potholes. Potholes are everywhere and even the most dangerous ones are rarely marked. Just the other night, on a major soi near where I live, a Thai motorcycle driver was killed when he hit a dangerous pothole that wasn't marked in any way. Another problem is the narrowness of the sois. That's another one on my "I don't get it" list. When the sois were built there actually was such a thing as cars, but so many of the sois are so narrow that it is nearly impossible for two cars to encounter each other, going in opposite directions, without having to make major maneuvers to avoid hitting each other. Those sois rarely have sidewalks, so you end up not only having to dodge motorcycles going the wrong way, but also pushcart vendors, motorcycles with sidecars, pedestrians, dogs, etc. Why did they build these sois so narrow? Quite often I have friends who stay at Howard's. Ever try driving down there? It isn't easy, especially at night when the bars are open. I never tell any of my friends that I won't come down to Howard's to pick them up, but it is almost always a pain getting there and even more of a pain trying to get out of there. Parking can be a problem in Pattaya too. Here's another one for my "I don't get it" list: The shops that put barriers in the streets so that nobody can park in front of their shop. My first question is why? Why do they do that? How is it possibly hurting their business if a car parks on the street in front of their shop? Do they think that somehow a parked car is going to cause people not to enter their shop? If anything, I'll refuse to shop at a store that placed a barrier in front of a perfectly good parking spot that would have made it convenient to shop there when I end up having to park blocks and blocks away. Maybe they think a car parked in front of their shop will cause pedestrians to be unable to see their shop. Who knows? My second question is how do they get away with that in the first place? They are placing barriers on a public street. That doesn't seem legal to me, but they do it anyway. I have yet to ever see a police officer make them remove the barriers. I've actually moved the barriers out of the way myself, although I'm told that is never a good idea. I'm liable to come back to find tires slashed, the paint on the car "keyed," or Lord-knows-what. The next problem in Pattaya is the constant road construction. There's a third one for today's "I don't get it" list. They are constantly tearing up and re-paving roads that were perfectly good and yet doing absolutely nothing about the sois that are in desperate need of repair or, better still, re-paving. Traffic signals are insane in Pattaya. The light at the intersection of Third Road and South Road (Pattaya Tai) is, I believe, the worst in Pattaya. That is especially true if you are trying to come down South Road from Sukhumvit Highway. The light does not remain green anywhere near long enough. It usually takes three to five light changes before I finally get through that intersection. Quite often I take winding side roads as an alternative to waiting for that particular traffic signal. It may be more difficult that way, but it's much better than spending half your life waiting for that traffic signal. I suppose the next logical question would be, if I had it to do all over again, would I drive in Pattaya or the rest of Thailand? My answer is yes. You don't really need to have a car if you live here, but once you have one, you don't know how you ever lived without it. Despite all the problems associated with driving in Thailand, I'd much rather have a car than be without one.

Here is the report from the PATTAYA CITY NEWS: _____ 2 Million Baht

The following appears in the PATTAYA CITY NEWS: _____ Thai Man Caught Stealing Lady

You know how so many people write about how dangerous it is trying to cross Second Road? Read this, from the PATTAYA CITY NEWS: ____ Irish Man Badly Hurt as he Hit by Speeding Motorbike on Pattaya Second Road Police and rescue workers along with an ambulance from the Bangkok-Pattaya Hospital rushed to Pattaya Second Road in front of the entrance to Soi 13 in the early hours of Monday Morning after receiving reports of a foreign man who had been knocked down and badly injured by a speeding motorbike. At the scene, the victim an Irish National was being treated by medical staff for a badly broken right leg and a serious head injury. According to witnesses he had been hit, as he crossed the road, by a fast approaching motorbike driven by a Thai man who did not give us his name. The Irish man was treated at the scene and later taken to Hospital where is now recovering from his injuries. We urge you to take care when you cross roads here in Pattaya as cars and motorbikes can often come from nowhere. As you cross the road, keep looking for approaching vehicles and cross the road as quick as you can

I'm not going there, for sure. I opened the door for others to go there, if they want to do that. But this is one time I'm going to just sit back, relax, and let everyone else do the arguing. Have a good time, guys . . .

Reminder . . . Those of you Americans in Pattaya who need embassy services, they'll be here on Friday, this week.

There is nothing new in these arguments. Many still insist upon applying western thinking to what goes on in Thailand. Some view these boys as nothing but human garbage, whores and liars, to be used as cheaply as possible and worthy of nothing but contempt. Some view them as God's gift to the planet, to be worshipped and garlands of flowers strewn in their path. Obviously, most view them as something in between those extremes. One thing I note that is usually left out of these arguments is how we "farang" are viewed by the boys. What are we to them? That ought to generate a comment or two . . .

I had the same thing happen to me. When I switched over to TOT's high speed I continued to use the ADSL modem I already had. It never really achieved high speed. I even had technicians from TOT over here to check it out. When they tried it with a modem they brought with them, they got high speed. They told me that a router is what I need. So, off to Tuk Com. They are not particularly expensive, but it pays to shop around. I found what I was looking for at one shop, but still shopped around a bit more. At another shop I saw exactly the same router, but it was selling for 800 baht less. Anyway, ever since replacing the old modem with the new router, I get the speed.

The following appears in the BANGKOK POST _____ Third Army Moves Troops to Capital Follows Fears Thaksin may Return to Country WASSANA NANUAM, ANUCHA CHAROENPO & MONGKOL BANGPRAPA The Third Army sent a battalion of troops to Bangkok last night following fears of the return of deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and protests against the election of Meechai Ruchupan as National Legislative Assembly (NLA) president. An army source said the troops were sent from Nakhon Sawan, the closest contingent of the Third Army to Bangkok. Another four battalions were reported to be moving down from Phitsanulok. Army chief Gen Sonthi Boonyaratkalin has instructed the First Army, especially units based in Bangkok, to be on alert to deal with any untoward developments over the coming week, the source said. For its part, the Fourth Army in charge of the South has been instructed to step up road checkpoints in the region for fear that Mr Thaksin might sneak back by car into the country from Malaysia via Singapore, the source added. The precautions followed unconfirmed reports that Mr Thaksin had travelled to Singapore from England, where he has been in self-imposed exile since he was ousted in the Sept 19 coup. ''We have to take precautions because Pol Lt-Col Thaksin is the sort of person who says yes when he means no and no when he means yes,'' the source noted. The military movements came to light after Mr Meechai was elected president of the NLA yesterday, in a move that sparked fierce criticism from anti-Thaksin groups who see him as being loyal to the deposed prime minister. The election came amid an upsurge of criticism against the Council for National Security (CNS) and the interim government of Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont. The critics include academics and non-governmental organisations opposed to the coup, including the Campaign for Popular Democracy that was at the forefront in the People's Alliance for Democracy that protested against Mr Thaksin for several months earlier this year. Several mobs could form at this juncture, the army sources said, quoting intelligence reports. They include those against Mr Meechai's election as NLA president, and those protesting the continued imposition of martial law. ''This is where the military fears that a third hand, or previously powerful elements loyal to Pol Lt-Col Thaksin may create a situation by infiltrating or organising mobs to stir up violence in order to lure soldiers into using force, or violent means because they are empowered to do so under martial law,'' a source said. The army sources said Gen Saprang Kalyanamitr, assistant army chief and assistant secretary-general of the CNS, asked Gen Sonthi for permission to move Third Army forces under the command of Lt-Gen Chiradej Kotcharat into Bangkok to reinforce units based in the capital. Gen Sonthi and Gen Vinai Paetayakul, permanent secretary for defence and CNS secretary-general, had been in consultations with Gen Surayud about the matter. The military was also concerned about the spread of reports of division in the CNS, especially reports that Pol Gen Kowit Wattana would be dismissed as the national police chief because he had failed to follow policy, the sources said. The recent razing of schools in the provinces has been put down to the failure of police to contain the situation. ''Pol Gen Kowit has not been dismissed because he is a classmate of Gen Sonthi and most members of the CNS. But his role and stand have been discussed in the CNS several times,'' the sources said. The CNS was watching local politicians and former Thai Rak Thai MPs based in the Northeast and North, the sources said. It was also monitoring the movements of former communist insurgents who were close to core members of Mr Thaksin's ousted government as there were attempts to rally these people around their common grievance about the state's failure to allot land to them. Intelligence reports suggested that police and military officers loyal to Mr Thaksin were stirring up discontent with leaflets and rumours, the sources said. Mr Meechai promised to prove his worth as head of the interim parliament and called on his critics to give him time. As NLA president, he would only be responsible for supervising the selection of the 2,000 members of the National People's Assembly, which will proceed with drafting the constitution, he said. His assembly was not the one drafting the new constitution. The interim charter had clearly divided the responsibilities of the two assemblies, Mr Meechai said. Privy Council president Prem Tinsulanonda said Mr Meechai was an ''ace legal expert'' and honourable person who would be a ''good president'' of the NLA.

I suppose there are other reasons why smugglers would attempt to get 350 dogs into Laos, but the idea that perhaps they were to be used as food certainly crosses my mind. Dog meat is sold in Laos. I have not yet had the pleasure. As much of a sacrifice that it is, I think I'll wait around a bit before sitting down to a plate of Dog Stroganoff or Fido Fazoo. The following appears in THE NATION _____ Marine Police Rescue 350 Dogs from Being Smuggled to Laos Nakhon Phanom - Mekong Patrol Police rescued 350 dogs early Tuesday morning before they were smuggled to Laos. Pol Capt Sommai Duangkam, leader of the patrol unit for Ban Paeng Pier in Tambon Ban paeng of Nakhon Phanom's Bang Paeng district, said his unit heard dogs barking and howling from a river bank at 5 am. Sommai said when he checked the spot he found that villagers were transporting 39 cages with 350 dogs onto 2 long-tailed boats. He said the villagers fled on foot upon seeing his patrol boat. The dogs were sent to the Nakhon Phanom animals quarantine centre for further action.

At first, raising the legal minimum drinking age to 25 was seriously considered. Now it has been settled that one must be at least 20 years old before liquor can legally be consumed. I am amused because either way a Thai boy can work in a bar at age 18, but he can't drink in the same bar until he is 20. BANGKOK, Oct. 24 (TNA) Thailand's Cabinet Tuesday decided to raise the threshold making the legal age for liquor consumption to be age 20 and to complete the process to enforce the new regulation along with the total ban on liquor commercials by November. Public Health Minister Mongkol Na Songkhla said the Cabinet discussed the legal drinking age, which was originally pondered to be 25, and decided on 20. The Disease Control Department will work out details of the draft Alcoholic Beverage Consumption Control Act before seeking Cabinet approval. After Cabinet endorsement, the draft will be sent to the Council of State and the whole process which leads to enforcement of this new rule should be completed by November, according to Dr. Mongkol. Apart from setting the drinking age, the Cabinet also discussed complaints about the impact of the Food and Drug Administration's order banning liquor advertisements around the clock that will result in a Bt200 million revenue loss to the state. Dr. Mongkol said the Cabinet is of the view that advertising revenue from the alcoholic drink sector is neither significant nor sustainable. The Cabinet is pondering a possible solution in the form of increasing the so-called 'sin tax'

I guess it isn't enough that so many Thai people are suffering huge losses because of the severe flooding and so many people are now suffering from diseases as a result. Now they (and you too if you're out in the provinces) also need to be careful of crocodile attacks: _____ BANGKOK, Oct 22 (TNA) Thailand's Department of Fisheries Sunday warned that crocodiles bred in illegal reptile farms have been escaping from their confinement due to the floods encompassing much of the central provinces, and that the animals --unused to a natural environment -- may look for food in all the wrong places. An undetermined number of crocodile farms, both legal and illegal, are located in the flood-ravaged central provinces, which have been battered by severe floods this year. The escaped reptiles are likely to approach humans because they are used to being fed by farm raisers, according to Fisheries Department director-general Charanthada Kannasut. The director-general suggested that villagers not walk or travel by boat in flooded areas at night in order to avoid from being attacked by hungry crocodiles. The difficulty in seeing crocodiles, though, is that their nose and eyes are visible only slightly above water, he said. At night they might not be noticed at all. Members of the public who see crocodiles at large should inform the authorities immediately, Mr. Charanthada advised. Crocodiles raised by legal farms have been moved to safe areas from the floods which are now ravaging several of Thailand's central provinces but the public, especially residents living near waterways, should be on alert for crocodiles that have escaped from illegal reptile farms, Mr. Charanthada said. Mr. Charanthada said that crocodiles from legal farms have been relocated and are now being kept in safe areas. Meanwhile, he warned, an undetermined number of crocodiles from unregistered crocodile farms have escaped from inundated farms and are still roaming free in canals and rivers. (TNA) - E 111