Blooming Genius!


Professors from the Department of Physics, Faculty of Science in Chiang Mai University (CMU) revealed that the Nanomaterials Research Unit, CMU has successfully produced a micro flower in Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) for the first time in Thailand.
The flower grown in CNTs was produced by an application of Spark Sputtering Deposition and Chemical Vapour Deposition of Hydrocarbon techniques. The micro flower is sprouted from iron particles which function as a catalyst attached on the glass plate. This is the first time nano flowers have successfully bloomed using this special technique in Thailand.
The research was conducted by Dr Pisit Singjai and Dr Somchai Thongtem, professors from the Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, CMU and funded by the Thailand Research Fund (TRF) in a two-year period at a B1.5 million budget. The research commenced in June 2004 and the resultant CNT process can be used for many beneficial purposes such as Cold Field emission in a flat electronic light bulb which produces a high volume of light and saves energy.

Villagers and Investors Squabble over Cash
Baan Mae Kam Pong, a successful homestay tourism village in Chiang Mai, is now in the middle of a conflict between the villagers and business investors about a generally accepted public fee payment in the town. Baan Mae Kam Pong is a small village in the Mae On district of Chiang Mai. There are only 130 families (comprising 416 members) in the village and it has been a popular homestay tourism destination since 1996, where tourists can closely explore the local people's way of living in the atmospheric mountain village.
A homestay tourist in Baan Mae Kam Pong pays about B550 for a night with three meals and B900 for two nights with six meals. Due to an agreement among the village members, a homestay house owner pays B100 to the village fund of which 60 percent goes to the village's cooperative, while 20 percent is for village expenses and the rest is saved for other needs.
Since the homestay program has been successful in attracting more tourists, foreign investors have been motivated to start their own accommodation business, competing with the villagers. However, the conflict started when no payment from non-villager private investors was made to the village. Somsak, the chief of the village and his predecessor, Prommin, claimed that the investors ought to follow the agreement of the village, namely they should pay the B100 fee as locals do.

Chiang Mai Soon to be Full of Fags
A new government-owned tobacco plant will be constructed in Sansai, Chiang Mai. It will have a production capacity of 25,000 million cigarettes a year.
The government last year instructed the current tobacco plant to look for construction operators and instruments for a new plant but required that it must be a joint operation between the Thai and Chinese governments. CYC Company of China will be a joint construction operator with Thailand.
The new tobacco plant has guaranteed that it would cause no environmental harm to the public with the use of modern technology.
The government has approved the B14,733.50 million budget for the project, (1,719.50 million more than previously stated) as well as expanding the time frame for the plant to supply revenue back to the national coffers from 2006 to 2008.
It was stated that the new plant will be located near tobacco sources which will help reduce the cost of transportation and waste, while increasing the competitive power of the new plant. This project will also help tobacco farmers in the north requesting that the government raise the buying price 12 baht more per kilogram to 78 baht since they have been facing a capital loss due to increasing production costs.

Chiang Mai Walking Street Lost Focus


Though a colourful social playground for the people of Chiang Mai as well as providing economic opportunities for many, the walking street project needs to remember the primary reason it was set up in the first place. The majority of money changing hands comes from sales of handicrafts and traditional products, which many critics argue just makes the project a municipally sponsored Night Bazaar. It also fails to promote tourism, as the majority of the 30,000 people who come are locals. That said, the money generated is not to be scoffed at - around 10 million baht per week which means that the average person spends just over 300 baht.
Rawiwan Olanratmanee, a professor from the Faculty of Architecture at Chiang Mai University has conducted research on the Sunday Walking Street. 33,000 is the weekly average figure of visitors all year round and the finding clearly showed that the number doesn't increase in high season as anticipated, which made Rawiwan draw the conclusion that the major group of visitors are Chiang Mai residents, not tourists.
What's more, traffic has increased as a result of bad parking management and the pollution problems have increased due to the number of cars which converge on the small area. To sustain the growth of this crowded street, Rawiwan stated that it is necessary to rethink its initial objectives regarding environmental issues. Otherwise, the project will become another busy market which has lost sight of its goals of contributing to the betterment of life for us all in Chiang Mai.
The walking street is held every Sunday from 3 p.m. until 11 p.m. from Tha Pae Gate along Ratchadamnern Rd.

Too Much Focus on Economic Interest in Northern Provinces
Representatives from the Upper Northern Provinces believe development has focused too much on financial benefit at the expense of social and human resources. The group says that greater participation of local administrative offices as well as educational institutions is in demand in drawing a balanced development plan.
Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krua-ngam attended the assessment meeting in Chiang Mai recently with representatives of the eight Upper Northern Provinces.The intention was to review last year's development plan and to draw up a new plan for 2005. The conclusion was that almost the entire focus of the current year's plan had been on economic issues.
“In 2005, the Lanna provinces group will need to focus on the development of transportation in order to expand the investment and business interest. This will help increase the connection channels with neighboring countries and support tourism, agriculture and industry. The more convenient transportation is, the faster the development can be accomplished“, he said.
The budget for the Lanna provinces group for 2005 is 8,865 million baht, of which Chiang Mai will receive 3,567 million, which is the largest amount, and Chiang Rai 1,663 million. Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Son will focus on tourism, Chiang Rai and Nan on investment, Lampang and Phrae on handicrafts and OTOPs, while Phayao and Lamphun will keep their spotlight on agricultural issues.

A Good Hard Ride


Chiang Mai has introduced five new bike routes to Doi Inthanon to promote non-polluting tourism for people interested in exploring nature in the vicinity of Inthanon Mountain. The routes are not alike and give different nature experiences.
The first unseen route takes riders to Baan Mae Hoi to explore the mixed deciduous forest where bikers will also pass a small stream. This route goes past Paa Chor Cliff. The second route is the most popular route because the riders can stop by Siriphum Waterfall and a Hmong Village on an asphalt paved road. This route is appropriate for amateur riders.
Another route is similar to the second route, as riders are led past Siriphum Waterfall too, but this route leads to Paa Naa Pee Cliff (Ghost Face cliff), where there is a viewpoint.
The fourth route is from the Doi Inthanon National Park Office to a Hmong village and Mae Ya waterfall. This is a good route for riders who enjoy long rides in the hills. The last unseen route will take the riders to Baan Paa Mon to see terraced fields tended by Pa Ga Ger Yor tribal group.
From 31st October to the 6th November, there was a bike rally to Doi Inthanon peak to promote this new tourist option.

Stargazers' Delight
The government plans to build an astronomy research centre on Doi Inthanon. The centre, which will be the biggest observatory in South East Asia, has a budget of over 300 million baht. It is expected that it will stimulate the study of astronomy for Thai students and also become a new tourism spot on the Inthanon peak.
The plan is projected to finish in 2007 and will have a 2-metre-diameter telescope installed. The plan is to honour His Majesty the King on the occasion of his 80th Birth Anniversary. Doi Inthanon has been chosen to be the site for the observatory due to its 2500-metre height above sea level and the high number of clear skied days (the clouds on the top of the mountain are usually lower than the peak, making it perfect for this project).

Burmese Conflict may Increase Drug Problems
The Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) Northern Region fears the situation in Burma may affect drug problems as minority groups are likely to increase drug production in order to fund weapons and supplies due to potential hostile action by the government.
“Everything depends on the reaction of the new leader as to how he decides to deal with the minority groups in Burma. Some groups are concerned that the new leader may try to crack down on them, resulting in the increase of drug production to gather money for weapons and provisions to fight against the government,” he said.
Thailand would be affected considerably, as it is a big drug distribution target and serves as a transit point to other countries. The problem of illegal immigrants needs to be closely watched by Thailand's government as well.
However, Pitiaya said that it is too early to sum up the situation in Burma but he hopes that the new leadership will not change the policy set by both governments regarding the drug issue. Pamuang Special Operation Unit, the operation team tackling drug problems along the border in the north, has also increased investigations in the area to prevent drug trafficking into Thailand.

Lampang River Lodge
Congratulations to Lampang River Lodge which has been awarded the Golden Kinaree, a prize for excellence presented by Tourism Authority of Thailand for resort hotels in the north with 80 rooms or less. Only two resort hotels throughout Thailand have received the highest award this year and The River Lodge was praised for maintaining a high standard in terms of service, accommodation and food.

CM Zoo Strict on Checks
The Chiang Mai Governor, Suwat Tantipat, has supervised checks on the City Zoo's precautions to prevent bird flu spreading among the animals, after the infection was found at a private Tiger Zoo in Sriracha.
At the entrance, there is a sterilizer basin for any car entering the zoo and the path from the entrance to the animal display areas is being sprayed on a daily basis.
Carnivores are now fed pork instead of chicken and no kinds of bird are allowed to be brought in to Chiang Mai zoo at the moment. In addition, staff are required to put on gloves and face masks while on duty.