masuk

JAIME SINGLETON, Australian traveller

“Last December I was on holiday with my partner and we were walking down the street after dinner in Phuket, at about 8pm, and thought we’d go to the Dino Bar at the Marina Phuket Resort as it looked like an attraction.

There we saw “Nadia” the baby elephant tied up outside it and she was having photos taken with tourists.

She was roped around her back leg, and tied up to a pole. There was a man standing close to her and he had his hand on her ear. There were tourists surrounding her and hanging off her, offering food in return for the photos.

http://zite.to/1Op8APl

Seems it's only swan-shaped paddle boats at the lake now.

apart from that, the nearest beach is way south of here...

It's meant to represent a Cannon, half buried, muzzle down in the earth and was put there to commemorate the Armistice.

Patrick

What armistice would that be? Curious to know.

and I would suggest he implement some sort of environmental plan before the whole place becomes a plastic garbage dump. I live here and am absolutely appalled at what I see across the whole country. Visitors come to see "amazing Thailand" not polluted oceans and waterways fillled piles and piles of plastic and trash. Clean it up while your tourists are still coming and maybe they'll come back again.

or... maybe the PM could visit Chiang Mai once again, and try and get around the city on foot. He would find it difficult to stay on the footpaths, as they're filled with motor bikes, and many of the footpaths are broken and crumbling away. It's easier, but more risky, to walk on the streets. Thais do this, but always with their backs to the traffic.

I've been here more than 3 years and have yet to see any work done for those using their feet.

As for motor traffic, gridlocks are becoming more common, as so many large farm vehicles (4WDs) take up a lane and a half and think they're king of the road.

I once bought tubs of yellow ice cream for the kids while in transit across Java.

Locals were highly amused as four kids rushed to the bins and were spitting and gagging.

My first (and last) encounter with durian ice cream.

Thanks WTK. VF - I hear what you're saying. Not everyone paints inside of the lines.

Anybody been out there today who can confirm?

Huay Keow Road is deathly quiet. No rock bands, no crowds. Everything shut down at 22:00.

It was a noisy but fun 3 days. If I walked down the road, I knew I'd get wet.

I enjoyed it and so did the crowds.

Incoming transfers are not processed if it is a bank holiday or on weekends. It has always been that way. I would guess most countries operate that way.

Domestic transfers and etc are sill processed

In February, I made the mistake of transferring my pension here in Baht, using International Telegraphic Transfer. It was processed in Australia and sent here the same day - then it went off the map.

It took 5 days for BKK bank to locate the money and credit my account. Normally my money is sent in dollars and arrives the same day.

I can only guess that something like 'short term investment' took place.

Very sad that 3 people drown in water waist deep.....and not a surf beach.

It happens in Indonesia often enough. All dressed up (no ankles showing please), walking along the beach in a bit of water, one larger than usual wave and those jeans don't help.

Plus the fact that almost no-one can swim.

Once again, the national financial problems would be fixed if they employ a fleet of alcohol and drug breathalysers, and maybe save a few hundred lives a WEEK!.

The introduction of these 'booze buses' caused a significant drop in alcohol related deaths in Western countries, and those on drugs are now also being snared.

While the publicans might complain, more families will keep their fathers and sons.

But it's all in the hands of the government and a competent police force.

wow...call for a speedboat? I am no doctor by any means but did anyone try to clear his airways? smash him on the back? the heimlich? (is that still in fashion?) or open his trachea to let some air in? or try anything even to clear the obstruction? Jeez this is all high school first aid stuff. What about the master of the ship? or did they all just stand around and watch this poor fellow die without rendering assistance? So he was choking all the way from the ship to nearly the shore, and who knows how long previously, seems plenty of time to try something. Totally unnecessary death IMHO. RIP

Do they teach First Aid in Thailand?

Two legs on Air Asia is cheapest, BKK-KUL and KUL-CRK, but you'll have to overnight in KUL to catch the morning KUL-CRK leg. There are no longer any direct BKK-CRK flights, due I suspect to a surprising lack of traffic, plus probably more relevantly, the inevitable corruption at the CRK end; almost no routes last more than a few months flying into/out of Clark.

I flew into and out of CRK direct from BKK about 4 years ago. It was one heck of a headache to get back to CRK from Manila, and the traffic jams really slowed things down. got there on one trip just as the gate was about to close.

I'd only go to MNL if I went to the Philippines again.

CEBU air seemed very efficient, but I only used them for domestic flights.

One other side note... One the road there near the entrance to the waterfall is a small wat on the right that has a great naga and stair steps up to a cave... Great side trip for the kids!

how about a Google Map reference please?

Is it economical to repair it? I have a single plate induction cooker which is great, but it cost just on 950baht.

might pay to ask for a quote first.

No pictures?

my contribution...

nothing. seems this facility is not working at present.

I bought Win 8 and put it on my new HP All-In-One, and it didn't take long to learn to hate it. Constant freeze ups, crashes, and things just not doing what they are supposed to do. Finally gave it to my son, who is only home on weekends, and bought a Mac Mini. Smartest move I've made in a long time.

Same thing happened to me. I checked the specs carefully and compared these with prices in Australia. I bought a HP All-in-One, at exactly the same price as in Aussie.

A few months later, I did a Windows update, and the whole thing crashed: turned out the OS was not legit and I had to take it back to the store and have things reinstalled. This happens about every 6 months, which is a nuisance, but at least they don't charge me for the time.

I'll install a paid-for edition of Windows 10 when it's available.

I'm hiding. Should be working on our income taxes, but it's more fun to mess around on the internet and procrastinate. Heck, it's only the 13th and they're due on the 15th. Later if I file an extension, but seeing as how it takes just a couple hours to do the work if I really actually get started, I shouldn't have to file an extension. I'm not going anywhere over Songkran. Just me and the cats in the condo.

Hubby, however LOVES Songkran and got up bright and early this morning like a kid on Christmas day. He went out at 5 am and did his usual early morning walk around the moat. I thought he might skip that because of plans for later in the day, but he said no, it was an essential part of the Songkran strategy. He returned around 6:30 am to file a Sit-Rep with his Songkran buddies on-line and then a quick nap, waiting for me to wake up at the time normal people get up.

After breakfast, he went into the storage closet to look for last year's water canon and test it. The cats picked up on Hubby's excitement and the rare opportunity to climb around in the storage closet. Plus, the cool, clear morning air added to the festive air. Hubby insisted the cats were all excited about Songkran, too, and wanted to go out and "play Songkran" with him. I don't think so! Fortunately for the cats, Hubby found that last year's water canon was broken and he had to make a quick trip to Kad Suan Kaew to purchase new armament prior to meeting up with his Songkran buddies.

The cats looked on in wonder as Hubby put on his new, very loud Songkran shirt and transferred just a few essentials from his wallet into a plastic ziploc. When he left, they stared at his wallet, wondering why he'd forgotten it.

Now, they've settled in for their afternoon naps. This year there must not be a band playing in front of Kad Suan Kaew because we can't hear the beating bass -- at least not yet. I'm not complaining, mind you. It's just that it's rather quiet so far. Oh wait, I just heard a few screams. They're the same screams that you hear at amusement parks, aren't they? You know, when people are riding roller coasters.

I'll bet you heard them later in the day. I counted five rock bands between the condo and Computer Plaza. Even the SHELL garage opposite was adding to the din..err music.

All good fun!

Did I see that the OP has not ridden a motorbike before?

that leads to the question: How can he possibly have a Motor bike licence?

I was told quite firmly at the Transport Office in Chiang Mai that I would have to obtain my licence in Australia, (AU$800 course) and then have my International Licence updated.

Yes, I know that anything goes here, but Medical and Hospital insurance is void, and the police in some areas just love to catch farangs with no m/bike licence.

I think they keep the passport if you're only doing 'shopping' in the bridge vicinity. If you're headed further afield, then you'd need your passport.

Red means STOP!!!

It's either "Driver Education" or "Driver Eradication". As an international news sources says in another item on Thailand, there is not a lot of rule of law.

If this mayhem took place in an aircraft or train crash, it would be international news, but until the Govt and the police get their act together, it will go on, 70 per day, year after year.

Cameras at red lights would mean an instant boost in government funds, hopefully reduce road deaths, and also be a double check on registered vehicle addresses. i.e. a fine or summons returned as 'unknown' would/should alert someone to do a bit of checking.

You, the other bus passengers as well as the pickup occupants are all very fortunate to be alive.

The road from CM to Phrae becomes very slippery at the windy and hilly stretch of road near Denchai. I ALWAYS see vehicles flipped over on the side of the road when driving through that area.

I remember taking an overnight bus from Bkk to CM in 1988. After all the passengers had boarded the bus but before the bus had departed Mor Chit, a man came aboard the bus with a video camera and slowly took a video of every passenger aboard that bus. I reckon that his purpose for doing so was to have a visual record of everyone who was on the bus in case the bus crashed. Ghoulish...

Same thing happened on the CNX to BKK train in January.

some guy photographed us all before departure.

Rent a scooter CM is a good idea.

Of course, there are some risks and caution is advised but we also come here for a little adventure.

The scooter allows you to escape the ghetto tourist center and discover this beautiful city according to your desire. Also escape the laborious discussions with taxis and other tuc tuc, all at low cost, between 100 and 300 baht per day.

Again, how do the Thais? They overwhelmingly choose two wheels for good reason certainly close to your concerns.

It should be mentioned that the Thais, like many other Asians, dislike walking. In the cooler, drier weather, it's quite pleasant to explore around the city, the shops, the temples. Bicycle might be a nice way to do this.

Bicycle helmets don't seem to be used much, and I don't know if they are available here.

Many motor cyclists put a lot of trust in faith, and won't wear helmets. After dark, about 90% won't put them on. just hang them on the handlebars. The police do snap raids almost every day, and take a $3.00 fine (8 hours wages) which it is suspected does not go into the nation's Treasury.

Ensure that you have good medical and hospital insurance, and that you have a current motor cycle licence, and are covered for motorbike accidents. It's a very real thing here.

Running red lights is a hazard of this place, along with other very strange driving habits.

It's not something I'd care to do. I'll stay with 4 wheels. Public transport around the city is 20 baht.

Sure, a bike is great for getting around the countryside,so it depends what your plans are.