sfbandung

Ist graders are 6 years old?

none odf the kids at the local government scchool can read at that age.

They're playing Angry Birds. You don't need to be able to read for that.

Sugar is like salt and fat. Too much kills you slowly, too little kills you very quickly.

I think the stats are wrong too. In my travels around Thailand there is now way that one in three are obese. Even in BKK.

The spotlight is on individuals caught in the Bangkok and Pattaya underworld. The size of the network involved is hard to gauge from this report, but the "Uzbek connection" is a slice of the local sex industry that has grown over the years, allegedly because rogue Army and police officers protect it.

What's changed from when Thai Police and Farang Police were busting Uzbek prostitutes in Pattaya, albeit with a somewhat different police arresting protocol?

PATTAYA VOLUNTEER POLICE INDULGE IN UZBEK STING OPERATION

Undercover Pattaya Tourist Police pretend to solicit sex from foreign women. Four women from Republic of Uzbekistan were arrested.

On the 22nd May 2007, at 02:30 am, Pol. Lt. Col. Withichart Luensukan, Tourist Police Inspector of Pattaya, and his team, planned an operation to nab Uzbek Prostitutes around the night time entertainment areas. The undercover Pattaya Tourist Police officers managed to arrest four ladies who were offering their services.

The foreign undercover officers made arrangements with the four Uzbek women for sexual services at the Pattaya Inn Hotel.

When the love making sessions were concluded, the prostitutes asked for 2,000 baht each.

The undercover representatives gave a total of 8,000 baht to the women, and the police placed them under arrest.

http://www.thaivisa....n-uzbeki-girls/

At least they were good enough to pay them before arresting them. I mean they did "conclude" the love making sessions so it's only fair.

At least they've closed to try and get it under control. This sort of stuff can go through a school quicker than head lice.

I think TrueVisions is pretty good. We get good service from the Udon office and the rates aren't off the planet. Pirates have to have a reason to justify stealng and normally that the rates are abusive works for them. Funny how many otherwise perfectly honest people don't mind stealing this stuff and intellectual property. "If the software was cheaper I'd buy a proper copy". No, you wouldn't. But you should, really. And you know it.

I'm an IT guy and my son has a massive collection of movies etc he's pulled off bit torrent sites. I just couldn't be bothered with all the filing and backing up and fart arsing around.

And I like to channel surf. But that's just me.

I have known many Thai women who had took up with farangs in Thailand, being lead to believe that these guys were single, had no other commitments, were sincere and committed to these women. Then after a period of having a free girlfriend and bed partner during their stay in Thailand, held together by deceit and lies, the guys suddenly disappeared off the scene leaving these women emotionally hurt and bewildered.

Lies, cheating and deceit can work both ways. Perhaps she was just a decent lady that has been scorned and hurt? And has good cause to be angry.

So far we have only heard a brief account of one side of the story, as our herpes100 seems to have taken a powder and gone silent.

And I see the exact same thing, but turned around 180 degrees:

Then after a period of having a free boyfriend and bed partner during his stay in Thailand, held together by deceit and lies, the girls suddenly become vicious and nasty leaving these men emotionally hurt and bewildered.

Simply depends on your perspective. I've know way too many Thai women tapping multiple farangs.

And interestingly enough, their BF is generally doing the same. Likes attract likes. Karmatically -- make perfect sense!

"Karmatically"

I like that....

I just love wandering into the gents and a couple of ladies are sat there on chairs while blokes walk in and use the urinals. Even at the airport. Seems to be a uniquely Thai thing. And by third world standards the toilets are generally excellent. In PNG you would rather sh!t your pants than use any public toilets here.

We only signed up for True in January and HD boxes were delivered. We've got 3 of them so I hope it keeps working. Like internet I'm more concerned about quality than cost and so far so good.

I'm no do gooder but I come from a software background and am naturally anti-piracy. If you use a service you should pay for it.

I think there is some confusion because of the previous article saying they wanted to move domestic flights to DM.

Air Asia is moving all its flights, domestic and international, to DM. It won't cost them any business at all. Probably increase it as the service in the terminal will improve dramatically.

What a tragedy. RIP.

Caught the bus once from Udon to BKK. Thought it would be good to see the view on the way. Never again, we were upstairs and it felt really top heavy. All day. Nope. Air Asia, $50, 1 hour.

It's the myth of colonic irrigation again. Mysterious objects hidden in our innards since forever. Marbles not only falling out of our behinds but also remembered having been swallowed 22 years ago. Why not call it colonic archeology, it has got nothing to do with irrigation. Our bodies can take care of themselves if we eat right (enough vegetables and fruit). Who makes this shit up? Ah, I see : SPONSORED ARTICLE, a new era has dawned.

" colonic archeology" That's a gem.

Why do people still visit that dump anyway?

Yep. I've asked this before, but why does Pattaya still have baht buses but in Phuket the tuk tuk drivers have managed to pull this minimum 200 baht charge?

Young guys and stupid. What the hell are you doing in a 3rd world country with no money? You see it here in PNG too. People down and out broke but they don't just pack up and go home. Perhaps running from the law in UK?

Thanks. Let me know how you go with baggage collection. That was our drama on return to OOL.

What was the baggage issue at OOL?

Landed early am. With 3 other flights. 90 minutes to get our luggage. Carousel was way too small, and only 1.

Took the day flight KUL-OOL, way more civilised for a 7.5 hour flight, no issues re baggage collection, but took almost an hour to get through customs. Split into 3 lines, one straight through, one bags x-rayed, one all bags manually searched. Very dull!

Thanks for that. Sounds like things have improved. We're confirmed in August on TG out of BNE. But Christmas I think we'll give AA another go through KUL.

<deleted> is this

Serious investigative journalism at its best? A well written promotional press release?

Or maybe it's a joke Bill. Joke. Get it?

Not sure why people are predicting disaster. I answered No to the poll because of the amiguous nature of the question. "Some flights"? ALL domestic would be ridiculous. DM should just become the LCCT for Bangkok. Air Asia would move their whole operation to DM surely. Just as they operate out of the LCCT in KL. And out of OOL in QLD. Etc. Air Asia aren't foolish enough to not recognise what splitting their operations would do to their revenue base. Not to mention their cost base by duplicating administration overheads.

Better to stick to blowing whistles in parking lots.

What is the age of consent in Thailand and why is this not statutory rape?

Age of consent in Norway is 16, Thailand 15.

But in Thailand it has to be with the parents permission.

"Hi, I'm here seeking permission to have sex with your 15 year old daughter. How does 2,000 baht sound?"

Fair dinkum, what a joke. I wonder if she gets a say.

Thanks Mick, it was 3 years ago. My cousin lives in KL and said the LCCT has improved. I get AA's promo emails and they had specials again recently. Out of GC at 9pm means after an overnighter we'd have a few hours layover then we'd make Udon Thani same day. If KL LCCT has improved I might be tempted ...

LCCT is a converted cargo shed (built to take 10million pax pa, now running at about 18million) and is due to be replaced by a dedicated LCCT(KLIA2) at some stage (March 2013 seems to be a popular date but it has slipped a few times already. AA is still haggling over charges etc and has faced political issues as Air Asia X becomes a greater threat to MAS.

Personally I am a huge fan of AA and have just hit my half century of flights over the past 2 years.

LCCT can be a bit of a scrum first thing in the morning as the initial bank of flights departs, but overall it has improved considerably in the past 2 years alone, but it is still a converted cargo shed.

Have a series of flights with AA in the next few days, including my first taste of Air Asia X (KUL-OOL for $94!!). Will let you know if there are any dramas.

Thanks. Let me know how you go with baggage collection. That was our drama on return to OOL.

What was the baggage issue at OOL?

Landed early am. With 3 other flights. 90 minutes to get our luggage. Carousel was way too small, and only 1.

Thanks Mick, it was 3 years ago. My cousin lives in KL and said the LCCT has improved. I get AA's promo emails and they had specials again recently. Out of GC at 9pm means after an overnighter we'd have a few hours layover then we'd make Udon Thani same day. If KL LCCT has improved I might be tempted ...

LCCT is a converted cargo shed (built to take 10million pax pa, now running at about 18million) and is due to be replaced by a dedicated LCCT(KLIA2) at some stage (March 2013 seems to be a popular date but it has slipped a few times already. AA is still haggling over charges etc and has faced political issues as Air Asia X becomes a greater threat to MAS.

Personally I am a huge fan of AA and have just hit my half century of flights over the past 2 years.

LCCT can be a bit of a scrum first thing in the morning as the initial bank of flights departs, but overall it has improved considerably in the past 2 years alone, but it is still a converted cargo shed.

Have a series of flights with AA in the next few days, including my first taste of Air Asia X (KUL-OOL for $94!!). Will let you know if there are any dramas.

Thanks. Let me know how you go with baggage collection. That was our drama on return to OOL.

The sooner the better. Air Asia clogs up the airport. BKK is better put to use by the full service airlines that need the baggage facilities, and that would benefit from efficient landing and departure slots. I do not deny that the LCC meet a need and provide a valuable service to some travelers. However, it is more important if the big planes are not subjected to the congestion caused by carriers like Air Asia. PG and TG can take care of the pax in transit. The cost savings offered by a Air Asia to pax transiting has never been there once all the additional fees and hidden costs were added up so a move shouldn't cause airfares to jump.

By all means get those low cost peasants out of the way, so that the IMPORTANT people are not inconvenienced.

Your casual dismissal of AA flies in the face of the economic facts - it is succeeding like few other businesses in the region. Fares are significantly lower even with the costs beyond their control, and for those wishing to make bookings well in advance, the difference can be spectacular.

In my own case, I used promo sales to book Gold Coast - KUL - Surat - KUL - Gold Coast for around B10,000. If I had not chosen to have the best seats on all 4 flights, that could have very close to B7000.

As an alternative, I could have flown to BKK with Bangkok Air, only B9000 return. Then flown Thai to Bribane return for only another B40,000.

We did this once. And we saved a load as you point out.

However, our original point of origin was Port Moresby so we had to fly into Brisbane. Then commute to Gold Coast and stay in a hotel overnight. That was all good and the AA flight was ok, brand new plane. Packed but freezing cold for some reason. Perhaps to sell "comfort packs", the only way to get a blanket. They should be called a survival kit. 45 kg Thai missus nearly froze to death. After buying two comfort packs.

Arrive LCC terminal KUL. Now that is truly a crap airport to transit at. We had to overnight anyway as no connection to BKK same day. Next day massive queue to the KUL BKK flight. One check in counter. Short hop to BKK all good. It was a pleasure to arrive at Swampy.

Return. Check in for AA at BKK a nightmare. Nowhere near enough staff, 1 hour in the check in queue. Back to KUL. Another nightmare check in queue, another hour lined up with all the associated aggro, turds jumping the queue etc. About a 3 hour wait in the scungy, alcohol free terminal. Then head to the boarding area past the, "There are no toilets past this point" sign. What's that? Then jamming into the buses to get to the plane. Arrive early morning at Cooloongatta, along with another 3 large planes. An hour and a half to get our luggage. One carousel clearly designed for smaller domestic aircraft.

Never again. We use them on domestic (BKK UTH) flights occasionally because they have a late flight. And at Udon there is rarely a queue.

And let's not talk about their website. Slow. And the default is always for buying the insurance. You have to cancel it twice, it must be lucrative for them. Add all the fees, even without picking a "premium" seat, luggage etc and the crap service at check in and I'll pay the difference. I'm not important I just couldn't bear to do it again.

They have their place for sure, mostly for really budget conscious holidaymakers. KUL Phuket may have been better but that budget terminal is just depressing.

Sorry for long post...

I take it this adventure was a few years back. Temp problem has been fixed, though I still carry on a light jumper on board.

Check in no longer a major problem, with most using free-standing computer consoles/printers for boarding pass. You still have to queue, but time spent at counter reduced by at least half.

LCCT at KUL has improved out of sight. Bar, duty free shops and free wi-fi and charging stations. Even installed a thermostat.

There are also flights leaving GC at ~21:00 a few days/week, and only wed/thu lines up with Surat flights (so far). I am going to try Surat as a departure later this year, arrival was slow with what looked like a temporary immigration set-up.

Earlier this year was offered "free" very much advance-purchase flights, only pay taxes. Surat -BKK for B320 - the bus/ferry to the airport costs B350.

Thanks Mick, it was 3 years ago. My cousin lives in KL and said the LCCT has improved. I get AA's promo emails and they had specials again recently. Out of GC at 9pm means after an overnighter we'd have a few hours layover then we'd make Udon Thani same day. If KL LCCT has improved I might be tempted ...

The sooner the better. Air Asia clogs up the airport. BKK is better put to use by the full service airlines that need the baggage facilities, and that would benefit from efficient landing and departure slots. I do not deny that the LCC meet a need and provide a valuable service to some travelers. However, it is more important if the big planes are not subjected to the congestion caused by carriers like Air Asia. PG and TG can take care of the pax in transit. The cost savings offered by a Air Asia to pax transiting has never been there once all the additional fees and hidden costs were added up so a move shouldn't cause airfares to jump.

By all means get those low cost peasants out of the way, so that the IMPORTANT people are not inconvenienced.

Your casual dismissal of AA flies in the face of the economic facts - it is succeeding like few other businesses in the region. Fares are significantly lower even with the costs beyond their control, and for those wishing to make bookings well in advance, the difference can be spectacular.

In my own case, I used promo sales to book Gold Coast - KUL - Surat - KUL - Gold Coast for around B10,000. If I had not chosen to have the best seats on all 4 flights, that could have very close to B7000.

As an alternative, I could have flown to BKK with Bangkok Air, only B9000 return. Then flown Thai to Bribane return for only another B40,000.

We did this once. And we saved a load as you point out.

However, our original point of origin was Port Moresby so we had to fly into Brisbane. Then commute to Gold Coast and stay in a hotel overnight. That was all good and the AA flight was ok, brand new plane. Packed but freezing cold for some reason. Perhaps to sell "comfort packs", the only way to get a blanket. They should be called a survival kit. 45 kg Thai missus nearly froze to death. After buying two comfort packs.

Arrive LCC terminal KUL. Now that is truly a crap airport to transit at. We had to overnight anyway as no connection to BKK same day. Next day massive queue to the KUL BKK flight. One check in counter. Short hop to BKK all good. It was a pleasure to arrive at Swampy.

Return. Check in for AA at BKK a nightmare. Nowhere near enough staff, 1 hour in the check in queue. Back to KUL. Another nightmare check in queue, another hour lined up with all the associated aggro, turds jumping the queue etc. About a 3 hour wait in the scungy, alcohol free terminal. Then head to the boarding area past the, "There are no toilets past this point" sign. What's that? Then jamming into the buses to get to the plane. Arrive early morning at Cooloongatta, along with another 3 large planes. An hour and a half to get our luggage. One carousel clearly designed for smaller domestic aircraft.

Never again. We use them on domestic (BKK UTH) flights occasionally because they have a late flight. And at Udon there is rarely a queue.

And let's not talk about their website. Slow. And the default is always for buying the insurance. You have to cancel it twice, it must be lucrative for them. Add all the fees, even without picking a "premium" seat, luggage etc and the crap service at check in and I'll pay the difference. I'm not important I just couldn't bear to do it again.

They have their place for sure, mostly for really budget conscious holidaymakers. KUL Phuket may have been better but that budget terminal is just depressing.

Sorry for long post...

If the kid is actually the son of a jilted girlfriend (see other story) then the "explicit material" needs to be produced. If it cannot be produced then you'd have to go with the jilted ex using her son for revenge.

These are terrible accusations if true but the sole basis for prosecuting him ought not to be a 12 year old who is not at arms length.

Another case of not enough facts to make a judgement.

Who's surprised? Munched up rhino horn and tiger's penises, human foetuses.

It's the source that's potentially a bit disturbing.

What's that movie with bill Murray in where he keeps re-living the same day over and over?

Something about hogs, I think.

It's Groundhog Day. But I have a feeling you two are taking the piss.

Kinda like the lunatic who wants to revive this scam scheme.