darhut

Too all the pontificators on here, hindsight is a wonderful thing.

I flew Air Australia less than 2 mths ago, and all was fine.

Yes they are a budget carrier, yes my needs were met. I felt like a beer I paid $7, about the same as any pub here.

I felt like a meal $12, and yes it was shit, but I was fed.

I watched pirated movies on my 10" tab like many others around me.

Water and coffee was free.

Thai and Qantas were about double the price of A.A.

I know all the experts here will profess they saw it coming, or I wouldn't take the risk.

Why didn't you have travel insurance etc. budget carriers are cashed, and full of cashed up bogans.

So I do Aud $918 cold, that's it. Yes it hurts, but not as much as my divorce lawyer charged me, that Hurt!

Time to suck it up princess and move on.

Have already booked today on Air Asia,for about $800 return OOL to HKT

I still get to see my girl and I know what awaits me.

The look on my face... Priceless!!

I hope you used a credit card this time

Met n married my wife thru a dating site best choice I ever made 6 years ago now. All hookers hahahahah funny tossers!!

If youve got half a brain you can easily weed out the bad uns.

Ditto, all I want to add to that is I met a good group of friends from the dating site both men and women and we still socialize with them to this day.

I met several other women before I met my wife and they were all as discribed, as travelmann says "If youve got half a brain you can easily weed out the bad uns"

i donnt think for one second that the bar owner gave the irish men their money back just no way.when a foreigner gets the better of these parasites they make up a big story and call the police.of course there was no foreign witnesses there are never any..i was never in trouble in thailand only coz i walked away even when i was in the right.im sick of those thai rip of merchants.take the sex out of it thailand would have verry little tourists

Rusty Dick maybe you should get yourself out of the bar scene and have a bit of a look around Thailand (and SE Asia), there are many tourists in Thailand that come for many other reasons other than what you are there for. Fair enough the sex/party tourist are concentrated in a few small areas but there is so much more to see in Thailand than just that.

This is a good video to use as an airport security training video for two reasons 1. What to do in this situation and how to handle the official. and 2. This official will lose face every time the video is played.

Browning is in the wrong profession he should be writing fiction novels.

And as for TeddyFlyfisherDavis singling out certain nationalities as the bad apples, you need to get out more and open your eyes.

There is good and bad no matter where you come from, just because you had a bad experience and were scared by a certain nationality doesn't make them all bad.

You look like you have a few years behind you, I would have thought you were a bit more sensible.

Care to enlighten us with what you would have done different in the crisis?? I see all this negative and have not seen any solid alternatives to the flood situation

To start with, she should have taken control of the situation herself, not had, from one day to the next, a different government expert, or a different government official, or a different government minister, making announcements on the government's behalf. What we needed was a leader who could stand up and say, "ok, this is what we are doing". Not someone who spent the vast majority of the time going round looking for good photo ops. Not someone who started weeping. In crisis you need someone strong to take charge. I don't think she did that. Do you?

Sorry for being rude in my earlier post.

Maybe she should have ordered all her ministers to keep quiet, but hey have you ever tried herding cats?

I think she did stand up and say, we are flooded but we cannot let inner BKK flood and she stuck to her word on that

I don't think she was looking for photo ops was she? More like she was out and about trying to get a grip of the situation, visiting places to see for herself.

As for weeping, well she was probably upset, frustrated and angry about all the shit on her shoulders and all the slagging off she was taking, she's human after all. Sir Winston Churchill also wept a lot and he was a magnificent leader in troubled times.

All in all and in retrospect I think she's done a great job and I wish her well.

Good comparison Winston Churchill was a good leader but a military disaster and alcoholic.

They should have done this long ago, no country should deprive their citizens from their nationality , ID or passport cuz governments easily could use this as a political weapon , that's why i don't understand how so many countries call themselves democracies and still they have this kind of laws. :jap:

someone on this forum who actually has a brain

amazing

Two people who seemingly share 1 brain cell more like it!!!!:jap:.

Took the words right outa my mouth Steve.

If these 2 guys had their way all convicted drug dealers, pedos, murderers, terrorists etc etc would be free to travel as they please and interpol would be more than happy to pick them up and drop them off home. Wake up, you do the crime you do the time.

as far as I can see this has nothing to do with hiring foreigners to teach English, it is solely concerned with hiring Thai teachers?

Here is the very first sentence.

'The Phuket Primary Education Area Office has relaxed the requirements for foreigners to be hired as English-language teachers at government schools in Phuket.'

Take the time to read all the article, understand what is written, "comprehension and clear thinking" you will quickly discover that the person you are being critical of is actually correct. The education department has decided to relax the requirements on foreigners because they are unable to source enough locally qualified teachers for the reasons stated.

Let's hope you are not intending on applying for a job until 6th. grade English has been attained. It is safe to assume that Phuket will be sourcing teachers that comprehend the English language.

Thanks for the entertainment.

Reading yours and other posts it amazes how self important so many are. Why would they assume that the only people capable of speaking and teaching the English language come from western countries.

I imagine there would be thousands of of teachers out there that do not expect to received over inflated salaries to teach in a foreign country. If they the westerners were competent enough as teachers they would still be teaching in their country of origin. As many western education departments now expect results from teacher, it is safe to assume that the majority of western teachers teaching in Thailand are doing so because they cannot gain suitable employment elsewhere.

TT69

I would suggest you reread your post and correct your errors. It would seem we have a clear case of the pot calling the kettle black.

If you cannot find 6 errors in your post please sit in the corner for the remainder of the day.

So you think it was a wild assumption that they attempted to defraud the insurance company.....when they have gone on record stating that this was why they filed the false robbery claim?

Check the small print on your travel insurance.

If you are unable to make the distinction between an intention, and an attempt, I am unable to help you further.

ps I never use travel insurance - waste of money.

Mr Jack

I think it is a waste of time trying to explain this to Mr Red he just simply doesn't understand that you can't be legally guilty of thinking about doing something. I am a little concerned that a Global Moderator (LivinginKata) has trouble grasping it.

I believe the contradiction is this:

From Article 1

"The Chao Phraya River's water level in Bangkok will likely rise to 2.6 metres [above normal sea level] over the coming weekend. It's going to be higher than the embankment," Bangkok Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra said yesterday.

From Article 2

The level of the sea is expected to rise to about 2.45 metres from Thursday to Monday, though the embankments along Chao Phraya are 2.5m high.

That extra 1.5 meters might make a big difference, I should think. BTW, elsewhere I've read articles on this board that claim the embankment is on average 2.5 meters high. It sure would be nice to know whether that latter number is indeed an average or a minimum.

Not too sure where you come up with 1.5 metres? Maybe I misunderstand your comment? The difference between 2.6 and 2.45 comes to 0.15. So that equates to 150 millimeters.

Here is some old video of Bangkok in 1942 when rainfall was about the same as this year.

I am no expert at flood control BUT it seems to me everyone is missing the point in attributing blame. It has been quite clearly reported that the rains this year have been no heavier than in previous years. In other words the problems we are experiencing now are not a result of nature but as a result of mismanagement.

From what I have gleaned from reports the problem was caused by retaining too much water in the dams up north. Someone was betting the farm on less rains than normal and the extra water retained being used for irrigation and power generation. As it turns out this was a bad bet.

What I have not seen reported is who made this disastrous decision. However one thing is clear and that is that the decision was made recently. Previous administrations are not to blame.

Not sure where these reports got their facts and figures? I have looked at some Thailand rainfall statistics and there hasn't been this amount of rain since 1970.

Here is a average rainfall graph for Chiang Mai (0 being average)

http://asiapacific.a...rom-average.jpg

As much as I dissaprove of the present government I don't think there is a great deal they could have done to stop this flood, at best they may have been able to minimise it slightly. This is a once in 50 year maybe even a 100 year flood.

Australia had the same problems in December 2010 and January 2011, 50% of Queensland was flooded. Sure you can have plans in place and infrastructure to alleviate the flooding but you can't stop the sheer volume of water.

Nahh it was Yinglucks fault, karma I recon. :jap:

I'm just happy that there are some high class gents as BOS2BKK to share a spot of tea with, away from you loud obnoxious louts and yanks. I'm sure we could share some simply scintillating banter.

Enough crap about that pompus yank. If he cannot be extradited to Thailand I hope the US then proceed to try to extradite him, if only to tie him up in jail longer. I understand innocent until proven but there is just too much evidence here.

So long as it doesn't have an 8503 (no further stay)stamp, that is correct. I have done exactly the same and my GF (now wife) stayed for 6 months. Visa was relatively easy, hardest part was she needed a medical/ chest xray because of the total amount of time in country.

To logic in Thailand. One of the problems in Thailand is, they can;t think logic!!

Why would they make it public that they know who it is, wouldn't that just make the other 2 likely to 'disappear' quicker?

Perhaps they could have said they have no idea who is the mastermind, until they arrest him/her.

Chefku, you're a newbie to this forum (welcome!) but most importantly, you seem to be a newbie to Thailand.

They do think logically, and it makes sense. The problem is that you don't understand their logic, as you come from a different cultural background. My suggestion is to learn the Thai culture and language, and try to understand their logic, before posting any judgemental opinions.

Tom how on earth from 1 sentence do you come to the conclusion that Chefku is a newbie to Thailand? Totally amazing.

Worawat claims the reds deserve posts because they were elected...... They WEREN'T. They were each given places on the party list. Nobody voted for them in a constituency.

Same as Yingluck. And we've all witnessed her lack of ability to carry out her appointed role last week.

This government is an absolute joke.

For which government positions are these guys qualified?

Ministers Of Offense.

Sport and Recreation

I am so surprised that being the first female Prime Minister of Thailand is not the main focus as it really is a world first and an event that should be celebrated. But as usual, its straight to the throat of the new prime minister. Good luck to her, and Thailand, perhaps it takes the prowess of a female to sort out Thialands mess.

I think you mean a first for Thailand definately not a world first (maybe a world first for Thailand to have one lol) no real reason to celebrate as there have been over 50 female PM's worldwide in the last 60 years.

And she shouldn't be treated any different just because she is a she. She will learn to woMAN up.

I would have loved to listen to the phone call, maybe started something like " P chai Tacky they are all being nasty to me, can you tell them to stop?

Many posters here continue to insinuate that it is in some way that this may well be an insurance scam but as stated in the article "Mr Lindgren said he had not had time to take out home and contents insurance."

Sure he may well try to claim on other forms of insurance but very unlikely they would be successful given it was his house the robbery/ burglary/ thieft took place.

I don't have a problem with other people eating dog as long as the dogs are either bred for their meat or are real strays and they are looked after while being bred and transported, then put down humainly. No more taking peoples pets.

I lost a dog 2 years ago in NP and ironically the dogs name was Laos (he looked like a Laos dog), he may well have been eaten by his name sake.

He was an old dog I just hope he wasn't tenderised .

I still don't get why there is no belts on buses.. anywhere in the world?

There are seatbelts on many buses in Thailand, the ones I catch from Nakhon Phanom have them it's just no one wears them. There are also many places around the world that have seat belts on buses. Look next time your on a bus.

I am used to getting my shirts and suits in Hong Kong (Jantzen if anyone knows...)

Are any of these places mentioned above comparable to the quality of HK tailors?! or am I better off visiting there...?

Stick to Hong Kong mate.

Never seen so many poorly dressed farang, a cheap suit is just that, cheap.

Poor quality material, badly cut and ill fitting suits not hanging right, stitching that aint worth a shit, cheapest buttons available that do nothing to enhance the suit, when was the last time you saw hand stitched lapels?

Bangkok choice of teachers, boiler room boys and those who dont know what a good suit should look like.

rgs2001uk It sounds to me like you may well need one of those english? teachers. "stitching that aint worth a shit" what is this "aint"? Is it Queens english?

Gary I was also concerned about the combi brake for the same reasons but after trying my hardest to lock the front brake on sand and gravel covered roads and also on grass it just didn't happen, the back would lock and get out of shape but not the front. The combi system only applies a small amount of braking to the front and if you want more front brakes you still have that option on the right .

I guess the problem in the future will be making sure the brakes are adjusted right during maintenance.

I didn't really want the idle stop either but thats just a flick of a switch (in a convenient position) and it's turned off. It does work well and would be handy in a lot of traffic and traffic lights but not here where I am.

It might just be a scooter but WOW it looks good.

Had mine a week now and I do notice the head turning and comments BSJ so maybe still a little WOW factor (maybe just that I'm in a small town)

I actually bought it for the comfort,brakes and fact that it's not too big for my wife.

As for price you get what you pay for.

Naughtier have a read of this http://www.americanthinker.com/2009/04/offshore_oil_drilling_an_envir.html

Shows the damage to marine life lol

And by the way I have never worked in O&G industry I just dislike people stating misinformed information.