Ganymede Names New Manager

Ganymede Resort & Spa officially named their new Manager on Monday, Nov 20th, 2011.

Ganymede Names New Manager

Ward De Meulder, Belgian national, born 1974, studied communications at university in Antwerp, specializing in tourism.

He has spent most of his life working in Tourism and Hospitality industry, e.g. as travel agent, hotel director, excursions provider, bar and coffee shop manager.

Ward has lived in Spain, Scotland and Thailand and has a passion for languages. He speaks Dutch, French, German, Spanish and English fluently.

When not at work, he enjoys kayaking, tennis, gym and ice cold beers. Ward married 4 years ago in Spain to Andres and they are living happily ever after.

Flood, Sweat & Beers

While the worst of the flooding in Thailand appears to be slowly receding, it has left the tourism industry scrambling to entice visitors back to the Land of Smiles.

News coverage around the world has caused the number of visitors arriving at Suvarnabhumi Airport to drop 25% according to the airport's acting director Somchai Sawasdipol.

Shortages of stock of store shelves due to the flood interrupting manufacturing and deliveries are reported throughout Thailand. While many of those initial shortages have been alleviated, the one everyone will remember years from now is the Great Beer Shortage of 2011.

Beverage-makers have been allocating more working resources to producing bottled drinking water, which is in great demand from flood-hit areas but have also committed to improving the beer shortage significantly within a month, when the flood water has receded and their logistics systems are back to normal.

Beer availability seems to be hit & miss depending what shop you enter. Some brands are available (at inflated prices) while others are nowhere to be found.

Bar owners are doing their best to keep the shelves stocked but have been hit with price increases of 30% or more. Hopefully this will come back down along with the water levels.

With the rainy season over, the hot, sunny days make the demand for a "cold one" even more pressing.

Thailand will recover from this. There are things we can all do to help.

If you are a tourist, visit Thailand and enjoy the warm, hospitality the kingdom has to offer. This will help the economy greatly.

When you go out, be aware there may be times when your favorite beverage might be in short supply. Please be patient and use this as an opportunity to try another beverage,,,you might like it!

Whether you live here or only visit, consider donating to the flood relief effort.

Loy Krathong - Festival of Lights

Note: Loy Krathong is Thursday, November 10th

In Thailand, the word "sanuk" means to have fun. Throughout the year there are many celebrations and festivals but none more magical than Loy Krathong.

Loi" means "to float" and a "krathong" is traditionally made from a section of banana tree trunk. During the night of the full moon of the twelfth lunar month, Thais will float their krathongs on a river, canal or a lake.

The Loy Kratong ritual is a simple one - you need only to light the candles and the joss sticks, make one's wishes and let it float away with the current of a river or a canal. Many people also add a few small coins, a lock of hair or fingernail clippings.

On this night, hundreds of thousands of these tiny boats will be cast into the waters and the sky will be filled with fireworks and floating lanterns 'khom loy'. These large balloon-like lanterns are released at temples,homes and along the waterfront in the hope that misfortune flies away with them.

As dusk falls, thousands of people, Thais and Tourists alike will maker their way to the waterfront to enjoy this unique "Festival of Light". Jomtien Beach offers a great location to enjoy these festivities.

As you approach the beach, you'll hear the sound of music coming from various stages punctuated by the sound of fireworks, There will be dozens of vendors selling beautiful "kratongs" for $2 or $3 US Dollars ...... and of course there will be Food EVERYWHERE!!

Once you settle in to your beach chair to enjoy the cool November breeze, you'll be in a front row seat for a spectacular light show that will go on from dusk to the wee hours of the morning. Vendors will be there to sell you food & Drink, fireworks, floating lanterns and kratongs to enable you to take part in the fun.

Thais & Farang (westerners), Gay & Straight, Couples and families all look forward to this special night.