jaiyen

Whenever we go to Phuket I hire a car at the airport ( Honda Jazz 900 baht per day ) and we can drive all over the island in comfort. I do not drink until after dark and leave the car at the hotel and drink at local bars in Kata, where nobody has ever tried to rip me off in over 6 years. The bars are cheaper and quieter and the beach is free. Even the taxi rate back to the airport is reasonable. You wont see rows of tuk tuks in Kata. Why dont people boycott Patong ?? It is an overpriced sleazy sh.. hole ! Obviously a lot of people can only enjoy their holiday being completely pissed !! Rich farang equals rich pickings !

I am sure we will never see any metered tuk tuks. It aint the Thai way.

Can anybody recommend a nice place to live in Thailand preferably near the sea, that is fairly cheap to live in. Dont like Pattaya or Phuket Island.

Firstly, all the best pies in Oz are made by Vietnamese chefs now. They win all the competitions over here. The quality is much better nad they use meat and no grissle or fatty lumps, like Mrs Macs.

In Phuket there is a lady called Sue who makes great meat and fruit pies. She is from Sydney originally. Do a Google search for Sue the pie lady phuket. I think that will find her. Hope you live in Phuket. Happy hunting ! Another idea..... do a Google search , how to make meat pie and then make them yourself or ask a good Thai cook to do them, very easy.

Renting on Sukhumvit Soi 71

Hi

Anyone know this area? Are there stores around, massage, et cetera?

Any help appreciated

Cheers

If you want a genuine Thai massage there is a place run by blind people directly opposite the Honda motorbike shop next to the Jusco car park. These people are highly trained and very strong ! It was 300 baht for 2 hours last time I went.

Jusco is the best place to shop. There is a big Tesco Lotus at On Nut Right next to the Skytrain. Driving on Soi 71 is a nightmare, usually a big traffic jam. Use motorbikes as much as possible to get to the Skytrain or walk and check out the small shops. Food places are everywhere. There are a couple of places we often eat at between soi 14 and soi 16. Look for the one with the huge soup pot at the front. Highly recommended. A bit further up the road on the other side just past the bridge is a very good Chemist shop. She speaks English and prices are very cheap. We buy a lot of stuff there to take home to Australia. THe Phra Khanong market area is near the corner of Soi 71 and sukhumvit rd. Good place to buy fresh fruit and veg

Thanks everyone!

It sounds like we'll be able to send exactly what we want, and get it all back too :-)

Just to make sure, though, I'll mention it when we give them the application, and probably make a polite written request as well.

Cheers

Andrew and Nueng

When I did my application for my wife to come to Perth I remember that on the form it did state certain documents had to be originals. I had to give an original of our wedding certificate, my birth certificate, tax returns and my divorce paper and to get certifed copies from the British Embassy of some papers. We had no problems and all were returned in an envelope by our case officer who asked me to check them first. A first class service from all the girls at the visa section at Surasak and also at the Aussie Embassy, so dont worry

Thanks everyone!

It sounds like we'll be able to send exactly what we want, and get it all back too :-)

Just to make sure, though, I'll mention it when we give them the application, and probably make a polite written request as well.

Cheers

Andrew and Nueng

I see that there are a number of sporting and special interest groups under Community Forums, but no "Aviation in Thailand" forum. It seems that there a lot of pilots, ex-pilots, aviation enthusiasts, and radio control modelers in Thailand that might be able to support a new forum like this. If so, please reply and maybe the moderators at the support desk will set one up for us if enough respond.

I fear it might be a bit specialised, and a lot of stuff that really relates to travel would end up being posted there

Would you guys be OK with including Parachuting into this site ? I dont think there is any civilian skydiving yet in Thailand only the military base at Ao Manao in Prachuap Khiri Khan. I was not allowed to jump there when I made enquiries a few years ago. Maybe paragliding and hanggliding people would like to communicate here too

hi I live in Pattaya I am looking for a teacher in kenjutsu or ninjuutsu or any hind of related sword teaching

When I was looking for a Tai Chi teacher I did a lot of Google searches and I did find a few Kung <deleted> and Wu Shu schools in BKK and they were showing photos of some of theier teachers and competition students doing sword forms. That may be of some help tracing what you are looking for. Another good source of martial art info is the restaurants. ( Both Chinese and Japanese ) The staff always have good connections. I doubt you will find anything in your area, you will probably have to go to BKK

I was lucky, I found a great Tai Chi teacher who lived a 10 minute walk away !

... and any tips for removing condoms?

Well, when putting one on NEVER trust a Thai girl who wants to put on a rubber band for extra security !! It seems nobody can get them undone and nobody here is very profficient with a knife !! And who was it who likes to bite the the end off the bag ? Could make a very funny video !!

I realise I can't get an exact figure due to the infinite variables, but given that I'll be growing them in the sandy isaan soil that has been used previously for rice farming could anyone verify that using spacings of 2 metres between trees I should expect each tree to weigh about a ton in 7 years assuming I throw a bit of fertiliser around every year? This is what I've been told but can't seem to find any figures anywhere, I have looked, maybe in the wrong places, but I have looked.

I have planted a trial area with Eucalyptus canadulensis ( red river gum ) Do a ggogle search on this tree. The field they are planted in was a mango orchard for many years but the locals would steal the fruit so there was no profit for the family in this venture.

Mine have been in for 20 months and have reached heights between 3 and 6 metres depending where in the field they are. The soil is very fertile and there has been very good rainfall. They have been planted 1 metre apart which will encourage a fast straight growth making them ideal for posts and scaffold poles and can be harvested in omly 3 years if you want to make a quick profit but I will leave them for at least 5 years to see how they develop. I dont think they will grow wide enough for furniture use, which I think is what you are aiming for. Red River Gum is a great wood for furniture and has a lovely colour for floorboards.

I got some info from Google serches but all Thai reseach info was very old. There is a Forestry Administration Department in BKK near Chatuchak. I will be going there in a few months to get help with my next planting for next year. CSIRO in Australia is probably the best place to get info from. They have done a lot of research over the last 30 years. In my wifes village ( Near Tak ) some people have planted 2 metres apart and just left them and the trees have been overcome by weeds and many have died and a lot of them are small and not straight. It is very important that the young trees are kept weed free for the first six months. They can withstand several months of flooding too. All they need is 1 very good drink each year too survive.

THe best and most efficient way is to transfer a reasonable amount of money to your Visa account before you leave your own country and when you get to Thailand just go to a good bank ( I always use Siam Bank ) and withdraw at least enough to keep you going for a week. Just take in your Passport and Visa card. The exchange rate is good and you only get hit for one withdrawal fee. Take note !!!! Every time you use an ATM, even to check your balance, you will get slugged for a transaction fee and believe me, the machines can play up and give wrong balances so you check it again.

Here in Western Australia you may use a mobile phone only if you are stationary and parked or off the road. Thats OK but in Bangkok where the hel_l could you find somewhere to pull over and park when your phone rings !! This is a stupid idea that will never be accepted by anybody. Next thing will be the satellite navigation screens on the dashboard. I wonder what comical law they will think up for that !!

How would you rwespond to a situation if you and your lady were in a pub or restaurant and the guy next to you kept letting rip some really foul smelling farts ?? I bet you would say something or at the least move away or leave. But if he lit up a ciggy ! Well thats OK we will tolerate that !! See how we have been conditioned to put up with the offensive and health threatening smell of fags without a fuss but if someone farts ( Which nobody has ever died from yet ! ) then you find that so much more offensive ! I think there should be certain pubs clubs and restaurants for smokers only and let the majority enjoy the fresh air, the little there is in BKK. Next we should start on the people with BO ! There are plenty of them too !

about time

Thats a joke !! September seems to be the chosen month again. Remember last September ? Wasnt it almost exactly the same date ? I think it was the 29th. Nothing more than another embarrassing ego trip for Toxin. Presume it will be the same this time.

I remember last year that an expert who had been involved with the setting up of new airports for over 30 years said that the FAA woould have to give their approval before any airport could operate commercially and that would take about 6 months to test and approve all systems, operations, air traffic control, passenger movement, security etc. I notice in the goverment announcement that neither the FAA or any other organisation was mentioned, only Thai Airways.

Oh well, lets sit back and wait for the latest fiasco to proceed !

I wonder if they have filled the huge cracks in the main hall with silicone sealant as promised ! Would have used a lot of tubes !! Oh ! And what about the runway ?? Maybe that was filled with tiling grout !!!

When I first went to Thailand 4 years ago it was only 22 baht to A$1. Since then it has risen to over 30 baht to a dollar and stayed there for about a year before going down over the last 4 months, which is really bad for anybody buying expensive items, I just bought land in Phuket and it has already cost me 10% more than if I had bought it in January. So remember we have had a good run with the Aussie dollar lately so the baht is only heading back to were it was. Bloody shame though !!

You might think I am old fashioned but I always use cash ! I have never been ripped off, in fact I get a good discount on purchases. I have been to Thailand 12 times now and always spend a lot of money but I refuse to even take a credit card with me. Once it is used too many people get your information. Now check out the frauds related too internet banking. Its big too.

It is a statistic that approximately 97% of the men that go with prostitutes in Thailand are Thai ! So dont blame the sex trade on farangs. It was happening a long time before tourists went to Thailand. But as usual Thailand will never blame itself for its wrongdoings.