LuukKoeyKorat

Yes, absolutely..working and saving the money yourself would be the best lesson, but maybe opportunities don't exist for her to earn..? OP offered to help out and was rejected outright. She loses as she still hasn't got what she desires. If she thinks about it she'll realise she burnt a bridge...and might learn from it?

ABCers last comment is spot on as far as I'm concerned - the daughter already has an attitude because 'second best' is not good enough for her *sigh* I think OP is absolutely doing the right thing.

Mr RealDeal obviously only ever buys the 'real deal' ie prefers to spend more than is necessary in the circumstances. Possibly foolish, probably misguided. :-)

But the money is not coming from her, is it. Somebody else's money. Yes/No. ....Is that good teaching. Yes/No.

ABCers last comment is spot on as far as I'm concerned - the daughter already has an attitude because 'second best' is not good enough for her *sigh* I think OP is absolutely doing the right thing.

Mr RealDeal obviously only ever buys the 'real deal' ie prefers to spend more than is necessary in the circumstances. Possibly foolish, probably misguided. :-)

Little bit more updated info on Lao visas:

Tourist visas cannot be extended anymore, whether they are VOA or from an embassy. You get your 30 days and then its a border run. This has been in effect atleast since October 2012.

Business visas (B2) cost me $500 for a one year on my Foreign Investors Licence (FIL) company. The following year this drops to $400. This is already expensive because I am using an Immigration person I know who does all the paperwork for meand adds her cut. Otherwise B2 visas never cost $650., more like the figure Lovelaos indicated.

Just my personal experience :-)

Off to Thailand on a shopping trip tomorrow, withdrew money from my Kip account to change to THB....impossible to exchange in any Lao bank since about 3 weeks ago. Fortunately, exchange is still possible in gold shops albeit at a lower rate.

This applies to THB, USD for sure, and a handful of other currencies I don't have confirmation of. Checked Thai banks online to see if they accept Lao Kip....looks like only Bangkok Bank.

Just a word of warning especially to Lao expats with Kip business earnings and accounts who might not be aware of this recent central bank directive, it was kept very quiet.

PS: I bank with BCEL and they refused to exchange.

Cheers

"Killing without intent".

In the light of the circumstances surrounding the death, what sort of half arsed, dipshit excuse is that? He had a fight. He lost. He is filmed going to 7-11 to get a knife. His adversary is stabbed to death. He does a runner.

There's a motive. And a reason for premeditation. Video evidence of him buying a potentially lethal weapon. Fleeing the country doesn't help his case.

How does he or his lawyer plan to defend the '..without intent' bit? Like an earlier poster noted...maybe both blokes were into home made French frying after a good night out, but the Marine slipped and fell on the knife...

Guilty as hell.

Right, flying into LP I once had to stand in line 30 minutes for VOA, but that's because the dude who had to sign off was at lunch. Other times over the bridge, never waited more than 10 minutes. Dare I add while in country you can extend your visa three times (if I recall correctly) with about zero hassle, cost two US bucks a day, last I checked. [but lunch sounds nice.]

No visa extensions allowed anymore - after the 30 days you need to leave the country. Sort of sounds familiar....

I've recently picked up on a story that a newly introduced Laos government policy will not allow Lao Kip to be exchanged into hard currency, ie USD, THB etc. Apparently this applies to all banks in Laos including BCEL. I haven't asked my local branch yet. Has anyone else in country already come across this personally? Cheers

LOL - post of the day

Too many stupid farangs come to Thailand and meet stupid Thai.

Mallorca in Spain has the same problems.

Didn't know there were stupid Thais in Mallorca.

In comparison, on a lighter note: last year I had to have an emergency appendix removal at Luang Prabang, Laos government hospital after all flights to Thailand were fully booked for that afternoon Your typical, large provincial hospital with dogs, chickens and people lying on the floor. I remember having to make a split decision and asking the Chinese surgeon, in acute pain and and increasing panic, if he was really able to perform this procedure in this hospital . Reluctantly signed the papers, was wheeled into a very clean modern surgery 30mins later, all surgeons and nurses super friendly and with good English language. Spent 4 nights recovering as in patient...total costs of surgery, medicine and VIP (ehum..!) room came to THB 6000!

Today's Thai 'feudalism' as you call it, is product of centuries of social and cultural makeup in the country. It won't disappear with the formation of AEC in 2 years time, but it will take increasing enlightenment by successive generations for years to come. If at all...unfortunately I am not convinced that there is any general desire, or any leadership figures on the horizon to change the social status quo.

I think you mean AEC?

An Imam named Yakob ? 2+2=5

Many Muslims use names from the Old Testament.

The usual Arabic spelling of Joseph/Jacob/Jakob is Youssef. You are right many Muslims use the 'Christianised' version.

Thai's don't need a passport to enter Laos. Just present your ID card (presuming the Thai authorities didn't cancel that one) and you can stay up to 14 days.

" - how far out"

" Oh totally, man"

sorry I couldn't resist..

I've been advised as a general rule of thumb: daytime mosquito bites cause Dengue (only the so called big 'Tiger' mozzies), and sunset/night time mosquito bites cause Malaria (the 'usual' annoying mozzies). However - always best to take precautions all the time, but especially this time of year.

Not sure what the prices for Beer Lao are in Thailand - here in Laos obviously its dirt cheap (one of only few things comparatively cheap and affordable for all , the other being cigarettes).

As mentioned before, freshness and taste quality of the beer has a lot to do with delivery from the factories in Vientiane or Champassak. Again.. (I love this country's economic priorities )...beer delivery to wholesales is one of the few things that work well in Laos. I imagine it takes longer to get through Nong Khai to Bangkok and then the rest of LOS.

Is it worth the premium? Personally I think its a great tasting beer, in the top 3 of Asia. If I still lived in LOS I would buy it regularly for sure. Its brewed with quality imported malts from Belgium and France and hops and yeast from Germany. I don't know where the ingredients for local Thai beers are sourced. I also believe that the original Beer Lao Braumeister was sent to the breweries in Munich to learn his craft.

http://www.beerlao.la/eng/brewing.php?id=8

I lived for 7 years on the island before relocating to Laos two years ago....but its still got a hold on me! Have'nt been back since but I am due a beach holiday VERY soon

OK, so I need to get this rant off my chest because it hurts. Most of the arm chair warriors and know-it-all-about-Phangan-critics on TV lap up one article and think they know whats bad and whats best for this beautiful island. The FMP is concentrated only on a small part of Phangan once a month. Yes, it can be a messy affair. Yes, it can attract 1000's of visitors to Thailand who will inevitably take a piss in the sea. Yes- as in any large public festival gatherings around the world- it will attract drugs and violence and some visitors to the island will go over the top. Yes - (dare I mention it)...any successful venture will grow into a bigger and ultimately less-controllable experience...that's life, that's business. No point crying over your memories of 1988. Don't keep judging an entire island culture and community on what you read in a random article. Phangan is beautiful, relaxed, comparatively very much unspoilt and under developed compared to the other major islands. It has a million other things to offer than buckets, mushrooms, psy-trance or comatose backpackers lying on the beach. And if the know-it-alls find it really difficult to believe that Phangan is not the monstrous shithole that you believe it is...please come down and experience the island life for yourself. There are not many big islands left in LOS that have retained its original Thai island uniqueness and chilled culture. Of course, you are always welcome to have a night out in Haad Rin if you get too bored of beach paradise..but that will be a 25km trip away from your bungalow.

Well said.

I live on Samui and I still love going to KPG for my holiday

Have you ever been to Koh Phangan? Been to a Full Moon Party? Have you ever been to any island (apart from Phuket, Samui....)? I fully agree - public toilets must be built with the affluent flowing into the sea Thai style . Phangan's drug use is MINISCULE compared to BKK or Phuket, believe me.

Thailand's Full Moon Party 25 years on
Once a peaceful gathering, the wild beach extravaganza now attracts 20,000 hardcore backpackers looking to party.
George Henton

Koh Phangan, Thailand - According to those there in late 1988, the first Full Moon Party on Thailand's Koh Phangan was a peaceful gathering of travelers from around the world, the full moon providing the only light available at night on the remote island.

Today, 20,000 people regularly cram the shores of Haad Rin beach, attracted by cheap alcohol, readily available drugs and, of course, the lure of a party often referred to as a backpackers' rite of passage in Southeast Asia.

This month's party was typical of what it has become 25 years later. A tawdry scene of increasingly intoxicated 20-somethings, each holding onto their buckets of booze as they stumble along the beach for hours on end. As the sun rose, hidden behind a grey blanket of clouds, the night's excesses were laid bear. Bodies littered the beach, semi conscious, surrounded by broken bottles and plastic buckets.

Full story: http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/inpictures/2013/07/201373091551508782.html

-- AL JAZEERA 2013-07-31

Maybe a good time to build some good public toilets, so not everybody is pissing and shitting in the sea, it's disgusting place how can be proud of this its a so big no no
As well its really time to do some clean up on all the drug use

Its threads like these that make TV outstanding. Also saves me money on buying crime novels.

I'll have to agree with DrEvil....you will find this ambience on Koh Phangan. I lived there for 7 years and I can recommend Than Sadet, more so the far side of Thong Nai Pan Noy beach....excellent chillout bar (forgot the name..!) on a beautiful sand beach.

Wow - you're a brave man

What the hell is going on in Phuket?! is this normal life or are the media picking on the island?