Scotswahay

I have a nice little pipe if you are interested. It's got "Monarck 1363" engraved on the stem. I was given it as a gift a couple of years ago along with a bag of tobacco but never used it after the tobacco ran out. If you're interested make me an offer. I'm up in Loei but can post no problem. here's a couple of pics.

Joe

A soapy massage is not a massage in any sense.

A good heavy oil massage (nahk/nahk) is what I go for. You can always ask them to lighten up if it is too hard. Best to make sure you go to a legit place or you might get your underwear yanked down as I did a few days ago. Had to put an end to that.

A happy end?

I don't understand why the word MAFIA had not been mentioned.

In Thailand, that word is reserved for non-police, non-military organized crime. Mafia is civilian organized crime. It is a distinction without a difference. My first Thai girlfriend's uncle runs portable casinos in Bangkok and Nakhon Sri Thammarat. I asked her directly if her family was mafia and she nodded. It is part of the Thai lexicon.

When I lived in Italy I was told there was "mafia" & "sunia". The sunia were most feared. They were the ones who had offices.

Why not fly straight to Loei? If you're leaving from Bangkok that is.

The rubber price stabilization program had spent 22 billion baht to buy 208,000 tons of rubber from farmers at the optimum price tag of 106 baht per KG. If the rubber is dumped into the market now, the scheme would cost the administration a loss of 7.9 billion baht as the market price of rubber is currently at 68 baht a kilo.

Where on earth do they get their figures from??? My wife & I have a rubber plantation In Loei & I can assure you there is nobody getting anywhere near 68 baht/Kg and haven't had for over a year. The current price here is 28 baht/Kg. People I know about 150 Km south of us are lucky to get 22 baht/Kg. We haven't opened our trees this season (we have around 700) for the simple reason that we don't want to put in so much work for a pittance of an income. Macadamia nuts or Rambutan or other fruit trees would give us a far easier income & we will have lots of timber from our rubber trees to sell. So that's our plan.

Thanks for feedback gents.

Did more googling and found marine batteries are available in Pattaya but they cost from 5k Baht onwards sounds like overkill for my use.

I'll go along with Scots' set up. Got a question though-does your solar cell do a good job of maintaining a decent charge while out and about (sunny day). What specifications should I looking for in that solar cell?

Btw, Cool rig with matching brolly, lots more comfy than my little crammed up inflatable.

I bought the solar charger from ebay mate. There are plenty to chose from. 4.5/5w is plenty to keep a reasonable charge all day (if you're not zooming about at top speed) I also run a fishfinder from same battery. You don't need lots of sun either.

Thanks for the compliment on the rig. My mate built it here from marine ply he used as packing cases when he moved here from England. It's a perfect fishing boat for us with plenty room & very stable. here he is on our maiden voyage celebrating the launch with a wee Chang :-)

Seven years in Thailand and never heard of WWII bombs being found, now 4 in a week in widely separated places, what the heck?

So far four 500-pound bombs of World War II had been discovered during the past 20 years. The finding in Chonburi is the fifth bomb to be discovered.

Perhaps 3 were found before you arrived?

I have a minkota motor I brought from Scotland & a Nissan car battery I bought here coupled up with a small solar charger I bought from Ebay. I've been using this set for over a year & never had any problems. I don't use full power much so as not to drain the battery to quickly. I use a trickle charger at home to keep it topped up full. Hope you have as much fun as I've had whe]n you get up & running & tight lines! Joe

Hi, I live in a village just outside Loei next to a beautiful lake you should visit when you get here. There are plenty good & not expensive hotels city centre ( around 400/night) also lots of apartments available within easy walk of centre (around 300/night) If you want to PM me I'll give you my mobile number. I'm happy to show you around if you want. It's a really cool place when you get to know it. Joe.

Read the book "Private dancer" by Stephen Leather. You won't be able to put it down. Should be compulsory reading for all newbies in Thailand. Good luck with your venture mate.

Joe.

Looks more like a fungus on a cave wall.

Honestly, my impression too...I have tried hard to see any drawing among those stains

Thai art don't forget...ya need some culture in ya to see it.

Culture? Do you mean Magic mushrooms?

Sorry but I just couldn't resist! In my honest & well travelled opinion, the best place to sit on ANY bus going ANYWHERE!........is on your bum!

Smallish town, I think. Nightlife isn't a major concern.

Hi Roger.

I live in a wee village near Loei. If you ever decide to come here I'd be happy to show you around. It's a good location to make day trips from to lots of really interesting places. A months rental of a small apartment would cost less than THB3000. I'm sure you would enjoy it here. PM me if you want any more details. Joe.

I buy Cumberland sausages in Makro called "fat boys" here op in Loei. They are excellent! Not sure if they will be in Pats though but worth a try.

In the frozen dept.

Hi! Welcome to Loei. I've been here a few years & I love the place. There's a few places where you are likely to bump into fellow farangs here. Feel free to PM me if you want details. Chok dee krup. Joe.

Wow! So many people with what they know! In my book it's WHO you know here in Thailand as well as the rest of our world. Not what you know. Sad but in reality so very very true. I wish the Op the best of luck. Chok dee krup!

^{If you want to call Thailand the best sim on offer in the UK is Lebara. 3p/min mobile to Thai mobile. 1p/min at weekends}

Once I got cut up by an idiot driving too fast while using his mobile phone. I got such a fright my bowl of cornflakes spilled all over my lap & the newspaper I was reading flew out the window!

Please don't tell me you spilt the KY -

KY?????? What exactly are you insinuating? I find your comment very strange!

Once I got cut up by an idiot driving too fast while using his mobile phone. I got such a fright my bowl of cornflakes spilled all over my lap & the newspaper I was reading flew out the window!

You should see how many Thais live in Australia.

You should see how many British live in the UK.............

Actually scrub that................

Mind you, I think the UK is finally coming to grips with the problem. For instance last time I was in Heathrow airport I actually saw a white baggage handler!

1. Naman tonbon. A big reservoir about 10k south of Loei. I live next to it & love the place. Enjoy lunch on a raft with your family with spectacular scenery for a few hundred baht. Great fishing too. Very popular with Thais but rarely see any farang. They don't advertise so only word of mouth brings people there.

2. Phu hin Ronkla. NW of Phetchabun. A great bike ride to the top of the mountain & national park with lots to see. Cool place to go camping or rent a chalet. Take your own beer though because not allowed to sell in national parks.

3. One for the kids. ( We took 30 kids from our village a few months ago & they absolutely loved it!) Korat Zoo & water theme park. A great day out.

I had an ex-wife who me a really great mountain bike one birthday.I loved it but the funny thing was when a month later I paid my account at the local hardware store along with the bill for the bike!

Another Ex-wife bought me an expensive fishing rod because she knows I love fishing. She travelled over 50 miles from where we lived to the Glasgow angling centre just to get it. The funny thing was I owned a fishing tackle shop in the town & could have bought it cost price!

Now these are not the only reasons they are now my ex-wives by the way!

The first present my Thai wife gave me 4 years ago was a huge bunch of flowers. I thought that was absolutely hilarious!