PHUKET: While perusing old photographs of Chiang Mai, I came across some views of Doi Inthanan. This mountain, at 2,564 meters, is not only the highest in Thailand, but boasts some spectacular montane forests and flowers. At the summit, the twin Chedis appear to float, disembodied, in swirling mists that are more reminiscent of a Scottish “haar” than a tropical mountainscape. The upper slopes of Doi Inthanon offer a perfect setting for temperate plants – lower diurnal temperatures and cooler nights – that would otherwise struggle to survive in Thailand’s hot-house environment. With more than 300 kinds of birds, there is greater biodiversity here than in any part of the country. Red rhododendrons – unique to this area of the kingdom – grow near the summit, there are two varieties of conifer found only here, and the moist hillsides provide a perfect environment for epiphytic plants such as wanda orchids, and a range of lichens, lianas, sphagnum mosses and osmada ferns. Royal … [Read more...] about Angel’s Trumpets: Alluring but…
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Shopping for vinyl from Los Angeles to Tel Aviv
“I love flipping through vinyl — the sound it makes and the tactile feeling of it,” says Toronto native Mike Milosh, better known as the intoxicating voice behind R&B’s Rhye. Milosh — who just released a new album, Home , to critical acclaim — grew up loving now-bygone city stalwarts like Penguin Music and Vortex Records, where he spent hours wandering the aisles digging through piles of LPs searching for new music. Now, as a touring musician (pre-pandemic, of course), he skips the typical tourist attractions and looks for the coolest record shops he can find so he can get a feel for whatever city he’s in. “In São Paulo, Brazil, I found a Japanese tea spot that also had vinyl, and it was an amazing way to just enjoy hanging out,” he explains. “I found something similar in Seoul, South Korea. I couldn’t even read its sign, but it was so cool to have tea, read magazines, and look through their vinyl collection.” Here are some of his other favourite spots. Romano (Tel Aviv, … [Read more...] about Shopping for vinyl from Los Angeles to Tel Aviv
Germany’s strength in depth delivers ultimate prize
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Germany’s strength in depth delivers ultimate prize Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Germany’s impressive strength in depth proved the decisive factor in their 1-0 extra-time World Cup final victory over Argentina on Sunday as Lionel Messi failed to deliver the golden touch for the South Americans. It was a substitute, Mario Goetze, who struck the decisive blow for Germany after coming on for Miroslav Klose while in contrast, with Messi below his best, Argentina’s other strikers failed to compensate. International football has become a 14-man game, never more so than when extra time makes it a two-hour contest, and it was Germany’s bench that provided the extra firepower to turn the match in their favour. Argentina came into this tournament widely described as a team with an abundance of attacking talent but a questionable defence – but throughout the month in Brazil … [Read more...] about Germany’s strength in depth delivers ultimate prize
Argentina beat Dutch in shootout to reach final
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Argentina beat Dutch in shootout to reach final Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Argentina’s Sergio Romero saved two penalties in a 4-2 shootout win over the Netherlands to seal their first World Cup final place in 24 years after the first ever goalless semi-final at the end of extra time on Wednesday. Romero plunged low to his left to save the first penalty kick from defender Ron Vlaar and then made a superb stop from Wesley Sneijder as Argentina’s jubilant fans went wild at the Corinthians arena. The pressure of scoring the winning penalty kick fell to Argentina substitute Maxi Rodriguez who slotted high past Jasper Cillessen, with the Dutch keeper failing to emulate the heroics of backup Tim Krul in their quarter-final win over Costa Rica. Twice champions Argentina now travel to Rio de Janeiro for Sunday’s final against old rivals Germany, who thrashed hosts Brazil … [Read more...] about Argentina beat Dutch in shootout to reach final
Myanmar writes to Mizoram govt, seeks 8 cops who fled post coup
Myanmar has requested the administration in Mizoram to send back eight policemen, who have apparently crossed over to the northeastern state to take refuge, following last month's military coup in the neighbouring country, an official in Aizawl said. Photograph: Reuters Mizoram shares a 510-km-long porous border with Myanmar, where mass demonstrations are being held in protest against the declaration of a year-long emergency by the country's armed forces. According to Maria CT Zuali, the deputy commissioner in Champai district, her counterpart in Myanmar's Falam has sought the 'handover of eight police personnel who fled the neighbouring country and entered India'. "I have received a letter from the deputy commissioner of Falam district in Myanmar seeking the detainment and handover of eight police personnel to Naypyitaw as a friendly gesture," Zuali told PTI on Saturday. The letter, a copy of which was available with PTI , said that eight police … [Read more...] about Myanmar writes to Mizoram govt, seeks 8 cops who fled post coup
Former Miss Universe Thailand speaks up on missing activist
Model and beauty queen Maria Lynn Ehren aka Maria Poonlertlarp spoke up about the case of exiled political activist Wanchalearm Satsaksit, who went missing in Phnom Penh last Thursday, airing her opinions on Instagram. She wrote that Thailand has been “ruled through fear” for as long as she can remember. “What’s scary is that many exiled Thais have been disappearing and later found dead stuffed with concrete under water… what kind of place are we living in when we cannot simply voice our opinion? Life is diverse and so are opinions. I’m tired of living in fear. Aren’t you? I’m nervous yet excited that people in my country are becoming more vocal. Time for change is near.” “I am standing together with Thai people, demanding that what is happening is wrong and we want an answer.” On Monday afternoon, around 30 activists gathered outside the Cambodian Embassy in Bangkok, calling on the Cambodian government to help find the missing activist. They were met by an embassy … [Read more...] about Former Miss Universe Thailand speaks up on missing activist