bahnhof

Two weeks without e-commo. That could be paradise.

Good drinks fuel good theories!

I have it on good authority from an unreliable bell boy at a questionable hotel that this is the clandestine lair of secret snow plow driver Buckmenster Fuller who, having broken with the KMT as they departed China ... Nevermind, it's almost time for another beverage - Seriously, cheers and happy New Year!

Yikes! Put that well-nourished serpent back in it's cage!

Talking of snakes this was quite Big.

The Mrs looks non too impressed there mate

She was a little nervous but managed to do it.

Gents:

Great exchange regarding the Phra Kaew (sp?). I remember being fascinated when first visiting Wat Phra Kaew in Bangkok, just realizing it was nearly three decades ago, and later perplexed when seeing it's namesake wat in Vientiane. It seems one of the most interesting apects of this icon and its saga - and many other wonderful things Thai - is that we won't likely ever be certain of all the facts. And therein lies an important part of the attraction. Thanks for the contributions.

Cheers,

Bahnhof

Great pictures. Love Thai/Lao temple architecture. Thanks.

Well put, both regarding Thailand and the positivity...

Variety certainly makes a more interesting community.

I for one is perfectly happy with my Thai wife. I did not come to Thailand wishing to meet and socialize with western men.

Yep me neither, but I am happy to shoot the breeze with any that I encounter.

Nice at it is for those of us with families coasting along in the slow lane, I can't say that Chiang Rai would be the first place I would choose to live if I were single so I can imagine how lonely it might be here for a single guy.

Send me a pm one-eyed and I will invite you to lunch at my wife's restaurant... will help other days seem less monotonous

One-eyed is not single.

Ah, that might explain the state of mind.

Good luck with your adventure. The first time I came to Thailand I was about your age. No regrets. Listen to the farangs, as idealism has undone more expatriates than its helped, and Thais too but choose your own path.

Good luck.

P.S. Post a picture so we know who to avoid.

Welcome back.

Someone ruins decent scotch by pouring lots of nam soda on it and your reaction is, "That looks refreshing."

Hold out until it's a dozen then ask for money.

I predict that the OP will be back, either as his current nickname or a new one. In my experience, posters who really want to leave a forum simply leave .. no announcement, no parting shots. Many announce their exit in hopes of being encouraged to stay.

On another note, klikster has been asked to leave the CR forum by at least 4 other members.

What about nets or traps?

Wondering if any of the contributors in this thread ended up living aboard on a river in Thai or Laos?

Back in the old, mostly cold country I lived aboard for a few years. Though I won't likely be doing it again I definitely recommend this alternative way of living.

VERY amusing. Thanks for the laugh.

I happened upon one of these a while back. Can't recall the name that I was told that it was. I almost ended up in a fight for my life though. I had been walking around in the same general area for some time, just looking at different things and not aware that the thing was in the area. When I finally realized it was there, I was within about two feet of it and it was very aware of me. I froze, remembering that you are not supposed to make quick movements, as that can be perceived as a threat. Being so close, I had to decide whether I would be allowed to move away without inviting a strike or if I should actually make the first strike- "a good offense being the best defense", kind of thinking. I kind of tested him out, to see if he would tip his hand, so to speak. I leaned a bit left and then a bit right, but as I did, he moved his head right in time and motion with me, almost imperceptibly, but movement all the same. As near as I could tell, he pretty much had me in his sights and he was as capable as I of striking first. I decided to go first, hoping I could strike hard and fast and then retreat out of reach as he tried to avoid the incoming threat.

Not wanting to telegraph my move, I slowly raise both of my hands, moving them farther away from my body as I raised them. He would have to divide his attention between the two and hopefully, that would give me the advantage I needed. I also started cocking my head from side to side, just to add one more bit of movement for him to inventory. At last, I realized that he was thoroughly involved in trying to monitor my decoy movements and as long as I chose the correct hand to strike with, things would go my way. Wanting to add just a bit more confusion to his situation, I slowly raised my right foot, eventually bringing my knee up almost to my chest. It was time to strike.

Then the tour guide came by and told me to move along to the next cage, which was a turtle display and that was kind of cool to see.

Ho no.

DL:

Nice project. Thanks for posting it. Good luck with the fishing.

Bahnhof

:jap:

Being retired Air Force and Vietnam Vet, when I was there in March, there is only 1 office in Thailand that deals with these matters, including benefits for retiees or if he is getting a pension from the VA, then they can eith help to answer questions or point to the right people. Ofiice is in Bangkok called JUSMAG-THAI run by 2 nurses that speak English. Here is the website. http://jusmagthai.com/medical.html

Or email them.

nursetida.th(at)san.osd.mil or nursepranee.ctr.th(at)san.osd.mil

Hope they can help a fellow vet in need.

Gino..., Nice contribution with those specific contacts. Bahnhof

Is he retired or just a VM vet? It makes a differance on Tricare help or if he is VA disabled......

I will check it up tomorrow. I do not think he is VA disabled, he is 62 years this year and he got some type of pension.

But I will come back with more details tomorrow!

Thanks for answering!

:jap:

Sven: As Harry mentioned, the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) has case officers that are typically the most capable source of navigating benefits. They have several branches in posts in Thailand. If he is a VN veteran, and especially if he's retired (having worked a full career) or service-connected disabled, he should qualify. Having helped others this is usually the best single source. I'm not in country at the moment so cannot provide additional help. I wish him well and thanks to you for helping him. Bahnhof

I'm feeling like a civet. I think I'll go make a cup of coffee while I have a cup of tea...

Perhaps if the tour guide had been on time instead of 1 hour late, this shooting would not have occurred.

I'm sure we have all been angry on many occasions due to the Thais lack of time-keeping.

Thai time keeping is not the best in the world, I have to shoot one or two of mt staff every week.

Hopefully just small caliber.

Being from the Republic of Texas...I guess that is a part of the south....I miss grits (polenta made from corn meal, which is available here is real close to that), REAL bar-b-que ( I do this quite well myself, but would enjoy going out for it), peaches, figs, pecans, sausage, vanilla wafers, venison, easily obtainable beef, microbrews (not really a Texas thing, though), tex-mex food (although I do and can make that here, myself...I do enjoy Kays at the night bizarre, though) real pizza (but that will be solved soon, as I am going to build a pizza oven), fresh oysters and seafood in general (lots of fish here as well as fresh water shrimp). I have noticed that my ingestion of prepared (read heavily processed) foods here is at an all time low, which it a really good thing. Having said all of that, I did have a crocodile omelet last night, something I could probably not get anywhere else, easy. Bon appetit...ett

... especially the micro brews and good thin crust pizza!