KVJ

PD = Pupillory distance. As per Lopburi's instructions above and have done some youtubing so shouldn't be too tricky. Apparently you have to ask for it when you get your perscription as they don't normally give it as part of standard procedure.

No didn't order lenses in the end because the price they quoted me for my rimless glasses was 4500baht. These particular ones are only computer glasses for wearing at home so I'm going to try Zenni online and pick up a cheap frame and lenses as I figure it will come to a smaller amount. I wish they had of put my PD on the prescription now though...

Thanks Dave. I did decide to go in the end and I can confirm the cost was 1,300 baht so I don't know what the phone operator was going on about. I found the service highly efficient and organised despite the large number of patients; I was even seen ahead of my appointment time.

Definitely recommended.

Thanks Forkinhades. I had a feeling it would be like that.

Hi All,

I'm coming to BKK for a few days and want to get a new pair of glasses made. I don't have a prescription so I thought I would go to Rutnin Eye Hospital to get one and then get them to make the lenses. I just got off the phone with them and they said it was 3000baht to see the Dr or 300 bath for a regular eye test.  3k seems a pretty pricey but I'm also wondering if 300 baht might be a bit basic? I have amblyopia (lazy eye) with differing issues in either eye so I'm not exactly a normal case but I don't feel I need to be checked for everything under the sun (cataracts etc) either. I do an intense amount of computer work and reading also.

I'm wondering whether I should pay up and see the dr for 3000baht, or take the standard eye test, or just go straight to one of the eye shops in town without a prescription and take my chances? If anyone has suggestions for good opticians in BKK I'd be very grateful. I have read from other threads that stand alone shops are better than the chains.

I can't use an online option unfortunately as I have a particular pair of frames I like.

Cheers.

The problem with Thailand is that it has a government. The private sector works extremely well, despite the government and bureaucracy. Look around Bangkok and everything that works well id private sector and to an excellent standard. Then look at everything the government runs - the education system, police, road conditions etc ...... where the government is involved the standards are just piss poor. End of the day there is huge divide between what the private sector delivers and the government with huge resources........... we all know why.

Spot on. I say the same thing to anyone who listens. Compare the banks, mobile phones, internet, supermarkets etc to the police, garbage collection and disposal, water management, immigration, electricity, roads, hospitals schools etc. The private competitive market generally performs really well at reasonable prices here.

Sometimes I think this country would function better without any government at all

Great info. Thanks Mr.T. We'll take a look at both schools when we visit the area.

This area is definitely on our radar as a potential place to live so this thread has been very helpful. We're planning on going to visit and check out the area later this year.

Does anyone know of any decent schools in the area, say from Prachuap city down to Bang Saphan? Obviously international schools are out of the question but some Catholic schools with EP perhaps? If there isn't one with a decent reputation and at least a few other luk krungs we'll have to look at Hua Hin, which we really don't want to do

Look forward to watching this movie.

I have yet to see a good quality film in Thailand, and it's not through lack of trying.

Any recommendations highly appreciated.

Good luck finding a screening. The chances of a re-release in Thailand are quite remote.

Actually I just looked it up and I don't see a record that it WAS ever even released in Thailand.

Or anywhere else in a commercial theater.

It's only been a film festival movie. That's the way it is for most art films.

Even stranger, IMDB lists the film as having a USA origin, not a Thailand one ...

The story is based on an adaption of a Thai-American writer.

You can find most art films around the net if you look in the right places. This one, however, is going to be tricky.

Besides that, it has zero reviews on rottentomatoes, which makes me wonder if it is a decent movie at all.

The quest for a good Thai movie still remains elusive.

Look forward to watching this movie.

I have yet to see a good quality film in Thailand, and it's not through lack of trying.

Any recommendations highly appreciated.

Well with the current thai national school program revealed - as outlined in this week's NY Times article - to be promoting trivial school contests instead of academics. It's quite obvious the last thing this government wants in Thailand is Thai people proficient in English.

Stay dumb, stay loyal is the motto.

Got a link to the NY Times article?

Thanks IMO. Just youtube that or is there a particular youtube channel or website?

Bought mine at: http://www.thaieasyelec.com/

For the posters son....download AutoIT..for windows. He can learn programming with that. I can make small programs that simplify my windows 7 on my laptop. (there are tons of free stuff on their forum to download). Working with it is a pleasure, and there is a fun forum group. Very easy to program with....and addictive.

Excellent. Thanks for that. Trying to gather as many resources as I can to throw at him and see what sticks. Hopefully something will. Want to get him off that damn tablet!

Great. Will grab one. Cheers. Wish me luck! Hope the boy goes for it.

Excellent replies here guys. Thanks heaps. I think we'll give it a whirl. Like one commentator said it doesn't cost a whole lot so if it doesn't work out its no big deal.

What's the best way to get a hold of one of these in Thailand via internet order? I looked on some old threads and seems there is a few shady dealers around?

Thanks will look into that.

Just want to pick the brains trust here about this. I have an 8 year old son who I would like to get interested in programming and I'm wondering if the Raspberry Pi would be the way to go. Definitely don't want to have another passive toy to play with but something he can started on the basics of progamming. I know next to nothing about programming myself but am quite happy to learn along with him. Is this the right device for him? I'm not getting much info out of all the youtube stuff. Seems to be something that adult computer hobbyists are getting into rather than kids??

Appreciate any thoughts.

Thailand should be a federation of largely autonomous states. Possiblities could be the North and North East as one region (or two seperate), Central Thailand and Southern Thailand could be grouped together as another and Muslim deep South as another.

They would be largely self governing but sharing national defense etc on the federal level wiht free movement of people and trade through the regions.

One can dream

"Its amazing how much having no sleep can beat you down quickly and affect your appetite, motivation etc"

People always say that psychological problems cause insomnia but to me the reverse is true: insomnia causes psychological problems.

You've got nothing to lose by trying it. You never know.

Yes, that's one of the problems with sleeping aids - you start playing mind games, I haven't taken enough, when's it going to kick in?, they aren't working any more, I'm devleoping tolerance etc etc etc.

Again, for me, once I gave up the struggle, things got better. Not great but better. And even though I'm not sleeping so great it's somewhat of a consolation to know that I've been able to muddle through without sleeping aids.

ps. the melatonin I tried was over the counter at Morya pharmacy. They were slow release ones and quite expensive too.

I have tried melatonin and didn't do anything for me.

I have used benzos from time to time just to break out of a bad run but have avoided using them regularly for the same reasons you outline.

My sleep "hygene" (annoying word!) is fine and I'm not particularly stressed so it is pretty frustrating to read the same old trite advice all the time when you've got it all covered. It's possible there's a physical cause but searching for it leads you down endless fruitless dead ends.

The thing that has helped me more than anything was letting go - shrugging my shoulders, aceepting that, for whatever reason, I don't sleep well, and appreciating whatever sleep I may get. It's ironic with sleep that the harder you try to sort it out the worse the problem seems to get. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is all the go with sleep disorders now, which is, from what I gather, based on similar modes of thought. Anyway, for what it's worth I sleep better now than I used too when I was "fighting it", although it's still not ideal, I just try not to let it get on top of me and at least I'm not popping pills regularly.

Sorry I can't be of more help than that. Wish there was an easy solution but seems there isn't one.

I think you're best bet is to go into one of the big Thai book chain stores and get them to search their database.

Unless your niece is a bookworm (do they exist in Thailand?) I would be wary of giving her something of that length to read though - pretty daunting.

Maybe instead you could try one of Rand's non-fiction books? They tend to be quite thin.

I don't think it is important that Thais learn to speak English. Most of them will not have any use for it in their working lives, and so a basic exposure to English at school is sufficient for them. I don't see the Japanese economy suffering because of a lack of English fluency.

Those working in tourism, trade, or other international professions will obviously need to develop good language skills but that's not a majority.

Pressure at the shower head seems fine. The water pressure in the shower in general seems fine - it's not great but it wasn't anything flash at the old place either and it worked fine there.

The water pressure elseswhere in the house upstairs is OK too. The pressure downstairs is very strong.

Will look at getting the pressure adjusted at the pump.