October in Thailand-A Lot of Hot Air.

October in Thailand is the end of the rainy season, signalling a cool period of weather across the country. This might well have arrived at just the right time as far as Thailand's politicians are concerned since much of this month has seen them exhaling a lot of hot air over issues such as climate change, Thai Railways and the ASEAN summit in Hua Hin. Sadly this month has also seen HM the King hospitalised were he currently remains although the latest reports suggest he is on his way to recovery.

Thailand has once again hosted an ASEAN summit amid huge security, following the disaster that surrounded a similar conference in Pattaya early this year. This time Hua Hin was chosen, quite a clever choice of location in my opinion, with its royal connections. HM the King has a palace there and it has always been considered a no go area as regards political demonstration for this reason.

With thousands of police and military deployed on security duties, events outside the conference location passed without incident. While inside and out intense debate was created when it was revealed that the Cambodian leader might well offer a refuge for Thaksin Shinawatra, the ex-Prime Minister of Thailand, in Cambodia. With relationships between the two countries already strained over a border dispute this suggestion only served to add more fuel to the fire.

With all the hot air around at the conference it is perhaps appropriate to mention that earlier in the month Bangkok hosted a climate change conference at which the delegates remained cool in their air conditioned rooms but achieved absolutely nothing in the green sense.

Hua Hin also made the news in early October when a State Railway of Thailand(SRT) express train travelling North to Bangkok derailed just South of the city (Hua Hin). With several people killed in the accident the hunt for a scapegoat to hang the blame on quickly became the focus of media attention. The driver of the locomotive who allegedly fled the scene (unsubstantiated) was soon in the spotlight, with suggestions that he fell asleep and missed a danger signal. With headlines like, "Death Railway Thailand-SRT needs to take action," the SRT and its operating procedures also came under the media spotlight.

The subsequent witch hunt led to strike action by SRT Union members who complained that drivers were asked to work long shifts with only one rest day every two weeks. They also highlighted the poor state of SRT rolling stock and locomotives refusing to drive them. A resolution finally seems to have been found and trains are now running normally but not before the Thai government threatened to use military and retired drivers to man the loco's. Once again calls were heard for the privatisation of the SRT.

Just how important HM the King is to Thailand, its people and their economy was also demonstrated this month when, following wild speculation about the monarchs health, the Stock Exchange of Thailand(SET) and the Thai Baht crashed for a few days. Fortunately for everyone concerned HM the King continues to recover in hospital in Bangkok and the rumour mongers are being investigated. The SET and Baht have also recovered. Although the Baht has weakened a little.

Finally for today with all this talk of hot air, a word about the weather. This week has seen a shift in wind direction from SW to NE which heralds the arrival of the NE Monsoon or Cool Season here in Thailand. For those of us living here and for visiting tourists the promise of cool mornings (very cool in the North), clear blue skies, no rain to speak of and a humidity level of around 60% for three months are indeed a treat to be enjoyed especially after a rather hot, humid and wet October in Thailand.


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