News and Agenda

At 05 December 2007: Celebrations of His Majesty the King's 80th birthday

Don't pay a fortune: ECO Guesthouse near Naiyang Beach, Phuket

6 Nov 2006: New safety regulations for hand luggage

As of 6 November 2006, new safety regulations for hand luggage apply to all departures and onward flights from EU airports as well as Iceland, Norway and Switzerland in order to meet the requirements of the revised, EU-wide Security Regulations. Liquids, gels and sprays not exceeding 100 ml per container are allowed to be carried in the hand luggage. These items must be packed all together in one transparent, re-sealable plastic bag with a maximum one litre capacity. One bag is permitted per person. The exceptions are baby food (if children are also traveling), special dietary requirements (e.g. for medical purposes) and medication that passengers need during the flight. For medicines and dietary products a medical confirmation or a prescription have to be carried along.

Laptops and electronic equipment such as mobile phones, mp3 players, digital cameras as well as jackets and coats will be screened separately at the security controls. Liquids, sprays and gels that are purchased in a duty free shop at an European airport or on board of an aircraft registered in the EU will be handed out to the passenger in a sealed plastic bag, in which it has to be transported.

Nov. 2006: Center Point Naiyang Village ready to work

December 2006: Up to date pictures of ECO Guesthouse

	16 December 2006: 2nd anniversary of Tsunami Our friend Heinz Billenstein from Germany wrote by SMS: "TODAY is 2nd anniversary of Tsunami. I never forget your words ON HILL. SAFETY. Sign of life by SMS. God bless you, Nong. As ever, Birgit & Bill." Thanks, Birgit and Bill! Nong.
	29 December 2006: Black bread German style is now available in 108 Shop. Come around and try it!
	20 - 21 February, 2007: Chinese New Year

3 March, Makha Pucha

On 3 March is one of Thailand's most important Buddhist celebrations, Makha Pucha. Falling on the full moon of the third lunar month, the event marks the occasion when the Buddha first recited the rules of the monks and also announced that he would pass away in three months. Many people go to their local monastery on the night of Makha Pucha to take part in a candle-lit procession that circles the Ubosoth (Ordination Hall) three times.

Ubosoth of Wat Choeng Thale

March 2007: Obsequies for Dead Abbot of Wat Naiyang

to be hold from 7 - 13 March.

March 2007: Annual Festival 2007 of the Two Heroines

to be hold from 11 - 13 March.

March 2007: Additional Equipment at ECOG

Internet Access

Protecting Curtain

	For the convenience of our guests we installed 2 additional features: 1.) An Internet access by a new wireless connection to CAT (Communication Authority of Thailand) with 230 kbit / sec. 2.) A curtain in all 3 rooms between the air condition unit and the bed. Closing the curtain you may let run the airco during night and will not suffer by a cold air stream.
	March 2007: Hanuman harvesting coconuts in neighbor's garden

eco guesthouse, naiyang, phuket, hanuman harvesting coconuts

eco guesthouse, naiyang, phuket, monkey harvesting coconuts

	Songkran, 13 - 15 April, the Thai New Year Festival The date of the opening of the New Year is 13 April, but the occasion is celebrated over three days. Even though the official New Year date is 1 January, Thai people still celebrate the traditional period with considerable more enthusiasm. Mid-April is a logical time for farming people to celebrate a new year because it comes at an important change in the seasons. The very hot, dry weather is just about over by then and the beginning of cooler and wetter weather is not far off. The change in the environment at about that time is considerable. The period also comes at the end of the rice-growing cycle, when one rice harvest has been gathered in and the new crop has not yet been planted.
	24 November 2007: Loi Krathong Festival At full moon in November is the Loi Krathong festival, a gentle and beautiful festival, concerned with inner reflection. Loi means "to float" and a krathong is a small boat. The little boats are usually circular. The base is a slice of banana palm, cut straight across the stem, and then banana leaves are used to make the sides of the boat. In the center each carries a candle, an incense stick, flowers and sometimes a small coin. An explanation for the festival is that it is a way of making offerings to Mae Kong Ka, the goddess of water, to thank her for allowing the donor to make use of the water over the past year. The gifts of light, incense and money also atone for any pollution the donor may have caused to the water. As the krathong floats away, the sins of the donor are carried away with it. The origins of the festival are obscure. Probably it originated in the old Sukhothai kingdom about 700 years ago.

Krathongs for carrying away our sins

2007: Thai@Siam Restaurant established

In 2007 the Swiss-Thai couple Frey established a gourmet restaurant at Naiyang village, on the road to Indigo Pearl Hotel, just opposite to ECO Guesthouse.

Thai@Siam Restaurant at Naiyang Village opposite to ECOG

February 2008: HKT's Terminal-2 opened

Terminal-2 of Phuket International Airport HKT

	November 2008: A small apartment established
	Small Apartment (kuti): Bedroom with Protecting Curtain

	April 2009: Novices at Wat Naiyang
	Novices at Wat Naiyang

November 2009:
New saltwater pool and its open sala ready

	New Saltwater Pool (9 x 4 x 1,20) m at ECOG ...
	... and its Open Sala

December 2009: 3 new bungalows established behind ECOG's garden

Wattana's bungalows at Naiyang Village, Phuket

The left blue buildings are ...

... the bungalows

February 2010: Non-paying guests at ECOG I

Tomcat Garfield at ECOG's Garden

February 2010: Non-paying guests at ECOG II

ECOG's Garden: A Birds' Paradise

28 March 2010: A-380 starts service SIN - ZRH - SIN

From 28 March 2010 Singapore Airlines operates daily flights between Singapore and Zürich using the double-decker jet A-380.

Here is the timetable:

SIN	01:10	-	08:00	ZRH
ZRH	12:00	-	06:05	SIN

Connecting flights from and to Phuket HKT by SilkAir and other airlines.

Airbus A-380

13 April 2553 / 2010: Songkran, the Thai New Year

Songkran 2553 / 2010

15 April 2010: Volcano Eruption at Iceland

Air traffic in Northern and Central Europe suspended

The column of smoke after the volcanic eruption increased more than eleven kilometers in the air. Photo: REUTERS.

April 2010: FuFu, Garfield's son emerged in ECOG's garden

"FuFu is son of Mr. Garfield. He visits me today. I show you by photos that he is more friendly. When I call him, he comes suddenly and touches his body to my legs. And I can touch him. Not same Mr. Garfield. But Mr. Garfield looks more lovely."

FuFu, Garfield's son in ECOG's Garden

June 2010: ECOG's New Signboard

ECOG's New Signboard, June 2010

June 2010: Two More Rooms for the ECOG in Planning

We could buy the house next door, which is directly adjacent to the west of ECOG's plot of land. Following the market, we decided to set up two more rooms and offer them in the near future to our guests. They well be pretty much in size and equipment corresponding to those of the ECOG.