bagheera

The bakery must have heard the news that roach brains contain molecules capable of effectively killing drug resistant e-coli and MRSA bacteria. Apparently, they prey on bedbugs as well so you missed out on a real bargain there !

I imagine VOA and Visa Exemption are not the same.

U.K. passport holders receive 90 day permission to stay stamp with no visa necessary when entering Malaysia in the same way they would receive 30/15 day stamp on entering Thailand without a visa, so don't panic, you'll get 90 days as I did a few days ago.

<br />these people got no right driving anything other than motorbikes. watching them try to drive cars or trucks reminds me of borat trying to use a cell phone.<br />

<br /><br /><br /> Banal nonsense, try taking the coach on the 1680 bends route to Mai Hong Son. The way the coach drivers negotiate the seemingly never ending hairpin bends that leave many a passenger (especially Thai girls) gurgling into paper bags is astounding and I'm glad that it's those drivers that perform this difficult task and not yet another foreign bigot in Thailand.....no offence intended....of course.

So a married man cannot turned religious and become a monk? Even Buddha himself was married and have children. THIS IS A FACT.

Doesn't becoming a monk mean you are dedicating your life to the discovery of the true path of enlightenment, hmmmm, hard to do when you have responsibilities of a family, from my observations many become monks because it is an excuse to continue laziness with a viable religious excuse, but still make money to pay for bills and support themselves and family, nothing different from other religions, same old same old no personal responsibility, use the crutch of religion to make life easier. Of course this is not all monks, but why don't we have a special Buddha holiday for the monks, we will call it no cell phone, no atm, no smoking day

It's not about not owning a cell phone etc....it's about not being attached, there is a difference. You say from your " observations...........still make money to pay bills and support themselves and family ." So how many monks do you know ? What did these "observations" entail exactly ? The way you write "not all monks" infers the majority of monks and I suspect that your knowledge of Buddhist monks in Thailand and possibly Thai culture in general to be minimal and your opinions unqualified.

My observations, A married man who takes out a loan from the bank, builds a new home, then becomes a monk to beg and pay for said house, another man, supposed Mafia, now a monk smokes drinks, get's his money from the locales and continues to live a normal life with all attachments only difference is now lives at temple and dresses in orange....Monks driving Tuktuks, Monks smoking, Monks drinking these are observations over a few years...you sound bitter or have you been anointed as the defender of Thailand's religious customs and cultures....what you do live at a temple for 3 months, get off of your high horse your not the only one who has experiences in Thailand.

Just to put you straight, monks don't beg, they collect alms and there is a huge difference between the two.The fact that you don't seem to be aware of this only enforces my suspicion that your knowledge of Buddhist monks in Thailand and Thai culture is not what it should be after your "observations over a few years" The rest sounds like expat bar tales of which I'm sure you have many

So a married man cannot turned religious and become a monk? Even Buddha himself was married and have children. THIS IS A FACT.

Doesn't becoming a monk mean you are dedicating your life to the discovery of the true path of enlightenment, hmmmm, hard to do when you have responsibilities of a family, from my observations many become monks because it is an excuse to continue laziness with a viable religious excuse, but still make money to pay for bills and support themselves and family, nothing different from other religions, same old same old no personal responsibility, use the crutch of religion to make life easier. Of course this is not all monks, but why don't we have a special Buddha holiday for the monks, we will call it no cell phone, no atm, no smoking day

It's not about not owning a cell phone etc....it's about not being attached, there is a difference. You say from your " observations...........still make money to pay bills and support themselves and family ." So how many monks do you know ? What did these "observations" entail exactly ? The way you write "not all monks" infers the majority of monks and I suspect that your knowledge of Buddhist monks in Thailand and possibly Thai culture in general to be minimal and your opinions unqualified.

Since when did Monks have Wives, or is this a case of Some Pigs are more equal than others.I'm Shocked.?.

Your reference to Orwell"s Animal Farm and comparing monks with pigs is wholly inaccurate, inappropriate and distasteful . As Samrit points out, a monk may not marry, but may have married before becoming a monk as is commonly the case. You state in your post that you are shocked, well i'm also shocked. Shocked(but sadly not surprised) that somebody listed as a 'senior member' on this forum could be so ignorant of common customs and traditions in Thailand. Next time you feel like comparing several million people to pigs I suggest you do your homework first. May I take this opportunity to apologise on behalf of wandrin star to anybody offended by his/her ignorance.

'but the physical is a manifestation of the spiritual'

How?

Through the application of infinite wisdom

Infinite wisdom - means ?

One could say that Stephen Hawkins has infinite wisom in his field

I believe that Mr. Hawking would disagree with that assumption.

People trip over the misconception that the intelligence that created the universe must somehow by comprehended by the finite and conflicted human mind. This is human nature we measure things by what we know. Infinite wisdom would be knowing everything to the point of thought and creation becoming a continuum without error.

"thought and creation becoming a continuum without error"......do go on....

So, if there is or were a god that created everything, where did that god come from and if  he\she\it took only one week to create the earth why the rush job?...could have taken more time over it, made earth a bit bigger and Germany a bit smaller or something.......

Have you ever thought that that God is all there is? In that case how could He come from something?

Creating the Earth is a small thing, making matter from nothing, that's a very big deal.

If god is all there is how can god be a 'he'.......don't tell me....old man, clouds, long flowing white beard, cherubs,....

would it make a difference?

Well, yes it would make a difference if god were an old man with a long flowing white beard and surrounded by naked children with wings, sounds like a paedophile on acid.

So, if there is or were a god that created everything, where did that god come from and if  he\she\it took only one week to create the earth why the rush job?...could have taken more time over it, made earth a bit bigger and Germany a bit smaller or something.......

Have you ever thought that that God is all there is? In that case how could He come from something?

Creating the Earth is a small thing, making matter from nothing, that's a very big deal.

If god is all there is how can god be a 'he'.......don't tell me....old man, clouds, long flowing white beard, cherubs,....

So, if there is or were a god that created everything, where did that god come from and if  he\she\it took only one week to create the earth why the rush job?...could have taken more time over it, made earth a bit bigger and Germany a bit smaller or something.......

After watching the vdo clip and seeing photos of the wounds inflicted I have come to the conclusion that this art "teacher' is a sadistic, cretinous buffoon of the first order who has brought the Thai education system into (more) disrepute. I also have witnessed canings in Thai schools but they were given reasonably, without any real force, only enough to smart for an hour or so and with the consent of the parents. I'm sure, teachers all over Thailand are cringing at what has been done by this fool of an art 'teacher'.

I find this kind of punishment in the 21st century absolutely outrageous, it could almost have been a scene from Dickens ' Bleak House '. Now, if you really want to put the fear of God into the little monkeys.......... show them the taser !!!

The case of Victor Bout intrigues many of us in Thailand.

It would seem that the American DEA team created a specific crime, which would not have otherwise existed, and enticed Victor Bout to participate in that crime. In America, that would constitute "illegal entrapment". I wonder if the Thai Government gave permission for America to create a crime on Thai soil? Or, did the American DEA act without Thailand's permission, and did America thus violate Thailand's sovereignty with the act of illegal entrapment?

Further, I find that the entire concept of unilaterally-declared "universal jurisdiction" is illegal and unworkable. What I want to know is, whose laws take precedence? For example, taking it closer to America, if Mexico claimed that Mexican law applied in Texas, and if America claimed that Texas law applied in Mexico, the result would be a war, (after which the victor would impose its own laws on the vanquished).

My point is, under what internationally-accepted law does America claim universal worldwide jurisdiction? American agents engineered the arrest of a Russian citizen on Thai soil, who had committed no crime in Thailand. Has Thailand ceded its sovereignty to the American FBI/CIA/DHS/DEA?

Perhaps Victor Bout has participated in some "international business" in his life, but closer to home for the rest of us here in Thailand, perhaps American agents are breaking Thai law every time that they send their agents snooping about here in Thailand.

I personally would like to see this case resolved with Victor Bout freed and allowed to go back home to Russia. I would like to see a Thai Judge rule that the American agents had no right to create a crime in Thailand.

The entire Victor Bout case really smells to anyone who has ever sought a safe, and presumably "neutral" location to discuss international business transactions of any sort, and this case doesn't help Thailand's image.

Just my opinion.

Judge Dredd

The D.E.A. have to work together with Thai police as an American D.E.A. agent has no power of arrest and is also forbidden to carry a gun, so my guess is, yes, they did have permission of the Thai police.

An American DEA agent has no power of arrest in Thailand is what i meant

The case of Victor Bout intrigues many of us in Thailand.

It would seem that the American DEA team created a specific crime, which would not have otherwise existed, and enticed Victor Bout to participate in that crime. In America, that would constitute "illegal entrapment". I wonder if the Thai Government gave permission for America to create a crime on Thai soil? Or, did the American DEA act without Thailand's permission, and did America thus violate Thailand's sovereignty with the act of illegal entrapment?

Further, I find that the entire concept of unilaterally-declared "universal jurisdiction" is illegal and unworkable. What I want to know is, whose laws take precedence? For example, taking it closer to America, if Mexico claimed that Mexican law applied in Texas, and if America claimed that Texas law applied in Mexico, the result would be a war, (after which the victor would impose its own laws on the vanquished).

My point is, under what internationally-accepted law does America claim universal worldwide jurisdiction? American agents engineered the arrest of a Russian citizen on Thai soil, who had committed no crime in Thailand. Has Thailand ceded its sovereignty to the American FBI/CIA/DHS/DEA?

Perhaps Victor Bout has participated in some "international business" in his life, but closer to home for the rest of us here in Thailand, perhaps American agents are breaking Thai law every time that they send their agents snooping about here in Thailand.

I personally would like to see this case resolved with Victor Bout freed and allowed to go back home to Russia. I would like to see a Thai Judge rule that the American agents had no right to create a crime in Thailand.

The entire Victor Bout case really smells to anyone who has ever sought a safe, and presumably "neutral" location to discuss international business transactions of any sort, and this case doesn't help Thailand's image.

Just my opinion.

Judge Dredd

The D.E.A. have to work together with Thai police as an American D.E.A. agent has no power of arrest and is also forbidden to carry a gun, so my guess is, yes, they did have permission of the Thai police.

I also occasionally have this problem and found that using the STREEMA internet radio website will connect to the beeb ok.

hi gravion, try the website by the name of 'The man in seat Sixty One', it should have all the info you need. Have a good trip.

 you can buy wi fi antennae that plugs in to your usb, the version  that i have looks like oversized flash drive, costs around 1500 bht.  Make  a   'satellite' dish with a vegetable strainer and incorporate antennae into this. I boost  2mbs to 18mbs with this method, it's cheap too.Check out  'cantennaes' on the internet for variations. Good luck.

Insufficent information provided. There has to be more

to this. Visa's are not denied on a whim, although

I'm sure there will be posters who will disagree.

He was refused his THIRD tourist visa, i.e. he already has TWO back to back tourist visas in his passport, the issuance was denied for this reason and he was told so by KB consulate staff. I was informed by guest house manager of stricter enforcement regarding visa issuance rules and regs' the day before i spoke to the English guy who was refused visa. Not a whim .

just encountered an English guy refused third tourist visa here in k.b., no red stamp, just a simple refusal to process................be warned !

illegal in Thailand but legal in most other countries ? What jiggery pokery could this be ? IF you do it in Thailand, use an I.P. masking program to avoid the gambling's illegal thingy.

if you check cnet.com you'll find a wider selection of media players that are able to play internnet streaming radio. Try winamp or media monkey, they both have plug-ins for shoutcast internet radio which has a wide choice of genres all totally free and with some stations as low as 32 kbs if you have a slowww connection. You can also download MP3 recorders for free that can record streaming internet radio, I use the media player together with these to record music for my MP3 player (phone). Check Soma F.M. (internet radio station) next time you are connected for the more non commercial beats.

I must wholeheartedly agree with the o.p. and have the utmost empathy for the poor dear. Why, only last week, upon boarding the number 2 bus at Sanam Luang I discovered only too late that all the seats were taken and yet the lady conductor was still allowing people to board! How one is supposed to reach soi nana in such discomfort Heaven only knows and to top it all the driver could not even tune the blasted radio in order to catch the cricket results. Had the afore mentioned conductor offered me a cup of Darjeeling to ease the discomfort I certainly would not have felt so hard done by but it is too late now, for I plan to complain to the Ministry about this, oh yes.