happyrobert

Would appreciate postings of recent MRI prices anywhere in Thailand.

Specifically lumbar spine, but any pricing insight is appreciated.

Thanks.

Quoted 9,000 baht at Bangkok hospital in Korat about a week ago.

Lefty

Did they know you are not Thai? I made an appt with Bangkok Hospital at 9400 baht. When I showed up they said farang price 13,500. Why I'm still looking.

Can folks please post recent pricing for MRI's along with what hospital and where?

Lumbar spine to be specific, but a comparison of any MRI's would be insightful.

Have vertebrae, will travel...

Thanks.

I'm coming for you happybob

Seriously, they've always had it in stock when I was there, even just last week, on Soi 33. It's the Branston Pickle Relish that's always out of stock. Can't have a proper ham sandwhich, unless you want to buy that Schwarzengger size Coleman's can which goes moldy in a month.

Bovril

Raker's old chap you seem to be getting very despondent of the the lack of Bovril in your diet....in the course of my travels around Pattaya/BKK if I happen to come across some (usually find it in Villa Major in BKK) or that place down stairs in Central Pattaya, I will gladly pick you up a couple of jars, and we can come up with a cunning plan to get it too you...

As a fellow Bovril addict, I do feel your pain....

Wibble....

Thanks SP

I have been informed by the kindly folks at Villa that they will let me know when the next batch comes in.

Fingers crossed.

Don't know what Villa's problem is. I buy 2 dozen jars a week there and resell in Trat central and Koh Chang to all the Brit expats at a tidy profit.

WHY ARE YOU HERE!?!?

I thought about this a long time ago. And I think the answer is quite simple. Problem is ........ for many people the truth is hard to accept.

Think about it this way. Imagine you're back home in London or NYC or LA or Sydney. Imagine you've got a great job. Imagine prospects for promotion are looming. Imagine you love the wife and the kids are doing great at school. Imagine the house repayments are going well, and in only another year or so the car will be completely paid off.

In this situation, are you going to wake up one morning and decide to scrap everything so that you can come and live in Thailand?

I think people here in Thailand can be classified as follows ................

1. Genuine expats. These people are the senior managers who have been transferred here. They usually stay for a year or two. They live in expensive rented accommodation and enjoy massive benefits. Their children go to the top international schools.

2. Failures. These are people who lost their jobs or their wives (or both) and became disillusioned with their own countries. They came to Thailand for a kind of sex vacation, and then decided to stay. Many failures re-invent themselves and start new lives here. Some become successful and blend in well with the local culture

3. Born losers. These are the mis-fits that never made it in their own countries and will never make it here in Thailand. Many born losers are surprisingly nice people. Many are educated and intelligent. Many teach English at government schools.

4. Criminals. There are many criminals here in Thailand. Some operate boiler room scams; others get invloved with drugs, pornography and prostitution.

5. The mentally ill. I have met many men over the years who quite clearly were mentally ill. I think they receive some kind of disability pension from their own country and then come here to live modestly and enjoy the warm weather and friendly people. Many mentally ill people I've met were Americans suffering from post traumatic stress disorder.

6. Sexpats. These men are usually low-budget retirees who come here for sex. They often meet their wives or girlfriends online, and then live here in cheap or rented accommodation. Many of these men are very happy with their lives in Thailand, and some of them make great drinking buddies.

Maybe there are other categories I've overlooked, but I've been here long enough to know that what I've just written describes the majority of foreign men here in Thailand.

So, if you're not a senior manager, then you are here because you are an emotionally immature social misfit?

Apparently, if some of us can comfortably retire here at 50 from a major metropolitan police department, I'd have to say that none of your categories are applicable.

Yes, I think you overlooked a few categories.

So ..... why are YOU here. Would you be here if all the women wore veils? Would you be here if sex between foreigners and local women was a massive no?

PLEASE ........ do not tell me that you are here because you love the culture or the history or the architecture or the cuisine.

If you are a successful American retiree .......... why didn't you stay in the States? The answer is simple. You were disillusioned with your country. You doubted your ability to form a meaningful relationship with a woman in your country. You were attracted to Thailand because of cheap and readily available sex.

You can argue as much as you want. You may fool yourself, but you won't fool anyone else.

In recent months, I have made an attempt to tone down my replies to posters such as yourself. But, for you, I will make an exception as you are exceptionally ignorant and rude.

I am not here because I love the culture, the history, the architecture or the cuisine. I don't. I did not stay in the States because I had planned for quite a few years to come here to write my first novel, which is set in SE Asia. So I needed to study the culture, the history, the architecture, and the cuisine.

I am also here because my retirement was due me and my beloved wife--with whom I had a meaningful relationship for 27 years--was killed by a drunk driver on her way home from her work to my retirement party. She herself was going to retire seven months later and we were both going to come to Thailand together. I stayed in the States another four years before coming here.

Your accusation about the cheap and available sex is presumptuous, childish and indicative of a low level of intelligence and empathy for your fellow man.

What a sad life you must lead. Don't try to drag me into it.

WHY ARE YOU HERE!?!?

I thought about this a long time ago. And I think the answer is quite simple. Problem is ........ for many people the truth is hard to accept.

Think about it this way. Imagine you're back home in London or NYC or LA or Sydney. Imagine you've got a great job. Imagine prospects for promotion are looming. Imagine you love the wife and the kids are doing great at school. Imagine the house repayments are going well, and in only another year or so the car will be completely paid off.

In this situation, are you going to wake up one morning and decide to scrap everything so that you can come and live in Thailand?

I think people here in Thailand can be classified as follows ................

1. Genuine expats. These people are the senior managers who have been transferred here. They usually stay for a year or two. They live in expensive rented accommodation and enjoy massive benefits. Their children go to the top international schools.

2. Failures. These are people who lost their jobs or their wives (or both) and became disillusioned with their own countries. They came to Thailand for a kind of sex vacation, and then decided to stay. Many failures re-invent themselves and start new lives here. Some become successful and blend in well with the local culture

3. Born losers. These are the mis-fits that never made it in their own countries and will never make it here in Thailand. Many born losers are surprisingly nice people. Many are educated and intelligent. Many teach English at government schools.

4. Criminals. There are many criminals here in Thailand. Some operate boiler room scams; others get invloved with drugs, pornography and prostitution.

5. The mentally ill. I have met many men over the years who quite clearly were mentally ill. I think they receive some kind of disability pension from their own country and then come here to live modestly and enjoy the warm weather and friendly people. Many mentally ill people I've met were Americans suffering from post traumatic stress disorder.

6. Sexpats. These men are usually low-budget retirees who come here for sex. They often meet their wives or girlfriends online, and then live here in cheap or rented accommodation. Many of these men are very happy with their lives in Thailand, and some of them make great drinking buddies.

Maybe there are other categories I've overlooked, but I've been here long enough to know that what I've just written describes the majority of foreign men here in Thailand.

So, if you're not a senior manager, then you are here because you are an emotionally immature social misfit?

Apparently, if some of us can comfortably retire here at 50 from a major metropolitan police department, I'd have to say that none of your categories are applicable.

Yes, I think you overlooked a few categories.

I am sensing where a laxative might be what is missing in your life.

Hi, Not sure where you got the idea I needed a laxative but eating Thai food everyday is all the laxative I need. I would never use Epsom salts for a laxative anyway. What it is best for is healing aches and pains, especially joint pain and getting magnesium in your body quickly when you are deficient.

*sigh*

You mentioned laxatives. Magnesium is a laxative. Milk of Magnesia can be used as a laxative.

You seem quite uptight and mentioned you were ranting. Hence, the need for a laxative that you yourself mentioned. Okie, dokey?

I can spell it out further for you if necessary, but prefer not to.

We, let's see, some are here because their companies told them to come here.

Some are here because they are businessmen/women and have financial interests here.

Some are here because they teach young people a new language.

Some are here because they truly love their wives/husbands and unselfishly wish for them to be happy and near family.

Some are here because, contrary to what to you unsupportedly presume and contend are the majority, most like it here, even if they are sometimes a bit put off or dismayed by the customs.

Some are here to get away from fellows like you in their home countries and here you are stalking them.

What makes your judging them different from their judging Thais? Hmmm?

If you don't like the few who exercise their right to voice their opinion, why don't you go home? Nobdy is asking you to stay.

Wait three more years then try to post something original and intelligent.

How can she possibly know where you are, where you are going and what bar you will be in?

'cause she works in all the same bars, dude!

I am sensing where a laxative might be what is missing in your life.

In America, we have had Smokey the Bear for 50 years, as our "don't burn" mascot.

What do they have as a mascot in Thailand? (Gotta have hands to wave and hold the shovel)

I would like to vote for Khwannie the Khwai. (Khwan (ควัน) as in smoke)

Not bad. Quite clever, actually.

But do you see a problem down the road when the ladies tell their farangs that they need money for the veterinarian as Khwannie has sufferred from smoke inhalation in his valient efforts at fighting fires?

It is apparently rude. I like to whistle but I've been told by numerous people, mainly girls, that it is rude and unbecoming of a gentleman. They can't tell me why, they just know it is. One went as far as to say that it is reminiscent of the wolf-whistling of builders and motorcycle taxi-drivers.

Having said that one of my Thai neighbours upcountry is an excellent whistler who is always bang on tune, rhythm and vibrato. He enjoys his own whistling and he doesn't give a shit what anyone else says.

I too, have been told by Thai that it is rude, but they also could not say why.

She may have crossed a line when she mentioned she was lecturing us in one of her posts. But it was an interesting thread. I certainly wish it could have been carried out with a bit more politeness to stretch it out a bit. It was better than the DJ with the work permit. It would be nice if she came back and told us what her new plans are.

There are people who seek advice sincerely, then listen politely to what others offer. They hang on to the good and ignore the bad, and thus learn something. These people, regardless of intelligence, are worthy of respect and patience and the assurance that the advice offered is solid.

Then there are those who, without an iota of prior research, ask questions believing they already know the answers and immediately correct those of whom they inquire. Indeed, she stated she came to be educated but felt it necessary to educate us about everything from visas andwork permits to housing and schooling in a place in which she's never been.

No mercy.

I understand your point I feel the same as you about her approach but being a Canadian man and so used to women with this attitude (it is common there if not rabid) from Canadian women., I still was holding out for the slightest little chance she was maybe able to learn. Now we are seeing the other side of her sorry to say. Now that people have shown her she is way off base, she is unwilling to really take advice. This is common also with Canadian women. When proven wrong they just refuse to accept .

But I feel bullying just reinforces their stance to castrate us males. I believe as men we should take the higher ground.

Is it a Canadian face thing? It would be news to me. I was kind of hoping she would come back and apologize and then carry on with her questions. I make lots of mistakes. That's what I would have done. But I guess this being Thai Visa changes things. One poster a while back made an awful language mistake that had someone used the word they may have been seriously hurt but he never came back to the thread to admit his error. Oh well.

Well, I too, try to admit when I'm wrong. Last night, when quite tired, I made a post and spelled bottom with one t. It was not a spelling error, rather a typo. Then some spelling-steroided supercilious stinkweed called me a "septic tank" and said I was teaching non-English speakers poor grammar...blah, blah, blah...not worth repeating.

I still came back and posted again because I can handle a tool just fine. But others are intimidated by them and head for the hills.

Either way, I was not willing to be castrated by either of them. (But I'd love to have her come back with a bit of contriteness and allow us to assist her accordingly, but she was so far off base, it would be like a doctor trying to save a decapitated patient.)

Sorry to have started this thread without doing a search.... I should have known it would already be an issue for some people. Interesting that there is conjecture that it comes from North....even from as far as China.

Ok......II shall research the issue via searching previous threads.. I don't currently have respiratory issues but I hate smoke.

It's haze, not smoke. If you get a very local source, like some idiot neighbour burning leaves then you'd smell smoke. This haze stuff doesn't smell like smoke, it's mostly just very bad visibility. You can't see the mountain until you're almost on top of it.

We live about 1/2 KM from the beach, south of Pattaya. It gets really hazy here also. And you can smell the smoke when they burn around here. I remember driving back from the airport earlier this year and was amazed at all the hillsides being burned...even though it is illegal!!

Even down south, they are having problems. The smoke is coming up from Indonesia.

In America, we have had Smokey the Bear for 50 years, as our "don't burn" mascot.

What do they have as a mascot in Thailand? (Gotta have hands to wave and hold the shovel)

Now, wait a minute fellow posters: the OP was polite, using please and thank you, why the hostility? Maybe he's writing a novel and needs some input...

1. I can speak from ongoing observation of my neighbor's facial expressions that burning fluorescent lighbulbs and used plastic baby diapers seems to be the very definition of happiness.

2. When I asked my girlfriend, what makes Thai people happy, she came back with the fastest response ever: Money.

She must not be Thai then, and this has now opened up a long period of my trying to figure out where the hell she is from.

I cannot believe you guys in this forum. It is one thing to point out where someone is way off course with their thinking bit it really another thing to start attacking a new member. Some of you people should learn to show a little more respect for others. She is young misinformed but that doesnot make her subject to abuse. I think earlier in this thread people where trying to let her know her plan needed a lot more work an planning and effort than she realised. This isnot good cause to attack someone.Bullying is for kids in playgrounds, so please leave it there not in a forum.

She may have crossed a line when she mentioned she was lecturing us in one of her posts. But it was an interesting thread. I certainly wish it could have been carried out with a bit more politeness to stretch it out a bit. It was better than the DJ with the work permit. It would be nice if she came back and told us what her new plans are.

There are people who seek advice sincerely, then listen politely to what others offer. They hang on to the good and ignore the bad, and thus learn something. These people, regardless of intelligence, are worthy of respect and patience and the assurance that the advice offered is solid.

Then there are those who, without an iota of prior research, ask questions believing they already know the answers and immediately correct those of whom they inquire. Indeed, she stated she came to be educated but felt it necessary to educate us about everything from visas andwork permits to housing and schooling in a place in which she's never been.

No mercy.

Strange post. Oh, look! It's only his 5th

Anyway, Winggirls are far better. I had a friend who used to go out with an attractive female we worked with. She'd get into a side converstaion with some cuties and they'd say, what about your boyfriend? and she'd say, oh, he just broke up with his girlfriend who cheated on him, I'm just hanging with him, not my boyfriend.

Puts the girls at ease as it appears you're safe and not on the hunt. Worked like a charm.

Settle down peoples.

.................................

OP obviously has never had the pleasure of entering a Thai car parking facility. Plenty of whistling there.

Yes, and it's usually very frenetic whistling as I back out farang-style. (Especially if there weren't restrooms where I was shopping!)

Okay, let's make this a poll, so we can get to the botom of it.

Indeed ,Does or will the poll include categories for analysing Incorrect spelling, incorrect grammar, of which every post here is guilty . So that we can get to the bottom of it?My apologies , IF you are 2nd Language speakers, But I have a sneaking suspicion, you are mainly septic tanks .Am i right or wrong? Go, Go ,Go

I said "poll" not "troll"

If you can't play well with others, go play with yourself.

My comment was very much directed at you. What has this do to do with "play'"?. It has to do with your inability to be able to use correct English. Thai Visa has a "spell checker" which, uses American English .TURN IT ON. Use it,so you are not teaching bad English , to those who are NOT first Language speakers. Too difficult for you? Very sorry. Try to control your arrogance.

You know, we've been encouraged recently by some mods to report posts like yours, as they are intrusive to the thread topics and contrary to mature adults enjoying the forum. But me, I'd rather leave yours right where they are so others can see what an anti-social, antagonistic, miserable person of low self-esteem you really are.

Hard to imagine, a thread about happy whistling, and you bring hate and discontent as your offering.

Okay, let's make this a poll, so we can get to the botom of it.

Indeed ,Does or will the poll include categories for analysing Incorrect spelling, incorrect grammar, of which every post here is guilty . So that we can get to the bottom of it?My apologies , IF you are 2nd Language speakers, But I have a sneaking suspicion, you are mainly septic tanks .Am i right or wrong? Go, Go ,Go

I said "poll" not "troll"

If you can't play well with others, go play with yourself.

My comment was very much directed at you. What has this do to do with "play'"?. It has to do with your inability to be able to use correct English. Thai Visa has a "spell checker" which, uses American English .TURN IT ON. Use it,so you are not teaching bad English , to those who are NOT first Language speakers. Too difficult for you? Very sorry. Try to control your arrogance.

Okay, let's make this a poll, so we can get to the botom of it.

Indeed ,Does or will the poll include categories for analysing Incorrect spelling, incorrect grammar, of which every post here is guilty . So that we can get to the bottom of it?My apologies , IF you are 2nd Language speakers, But I have a sneaking suspicion, you are mainly septic tanks .Am i right or wrong? Go, Go ,Go

I said "poll" not "troll"

If you can't play well with others, go play with yourself.

Okay, let's make this a poll, so we can get to the botom of it.

Well, when I want to get someone's attention faraway, I stick two fingers in my mouth and whistle.

However this for some reason it's not so popular in this country. The normal thing would be to clap ones hands to get the attention.

Yea, but whattabout whistling for the shear enjoyment? Ever hear it here?

P.S. I liked your old avatar mucho mas!

There is no substitute for sea breezes wafting through your house from the beach. Windows open 24/7 here.