dddave

Thanks to a topic on this forum several years ago, I was introduced to the remarkably effective and versatile "HALOGEN OVEN", sometimes referred to as a "TURBO OVEN"

Sorry, I wish I knew how to insert a picture here but the process eludes me.

Like many on this forum, I have lived in a Thai style apartment with no formal kitchen. Over the years I have developed a decent workspace with a cabinet/counter unit, the ubiquitous gas bottle with a cooking ring, counter top induction "hotplate" which I love, microwave and some decent pots and pans.

Missing was the ability to roast meats, poultry, pies, breads, ect. That void was filled when I read that topic about Halogen Ovens which made it clear that they were much more than a late night TV Gimmick and space waster.

My local BIG-C had them on sale starting at B1000. Most have glass bowls but being an admitted klutz, I chose one with a stainless steel bowl; less likely to get broken and also useful to make the gravies which I love directly from the pan drippings. Total cost was B1150.

I use it constantly: Small roasts, both pork and beef, chicken; whole and cut up, ribs, pizza, some pies and even a less than successful try at bread. My only complaint was the size. I could do a whole chicken but not a turkey, which I really craved. I could do a lamb roast but not a whole leg; it just wasn't big enough. Also, sometimes when a chicken or roast was on the large size, the top close to the element would overcook and dry out if you weren't really careful about constantly turning it.

Recently I was shopping at FOODLAND. The butcher was about to slice a beautiful full rack of pork ribs into strips. I stopped him and asked him to weigh up the full rack. It was surprisingly cheap so I bought it....with no Idea how I was going to cook it. Sure; I could have cut it up into hunks and cooked it on a grill or in the Halogen oven but I really wanted to cook the whole thing.

I pondered for a while with little success and went about my business. Suddenly an idea. I didn't know if it would work but it was worth a try.

I took my tape measure and measured the diameter of the lid/power unit of my halogen cooker: just shy of 12 1/2" (32cm) I then put the measure into my pocked and headed to my local garden center. They have a huge selection of clay pots of many shapes and sizes. I found a tulip shaped one: about 2' tall, widest at the middle with a 12" top opening, exactly what I was looking for. It had a hole in the bottom so I also bought a clay dish that it could sit on.

I grabbed a taxi and brought it home. I washed it inside and out and partially lined the interior with foil. I devised an interior rack out of this & that.

After marinading the ribs for several hours in a citrus, then a chipotle marinade, I set it on the rack inside the pot and placed my Halogen lid on the top. In retrospect, I think next time I will pre-heat it but this time I started from cold. I wanted to try slow cooking them so I used a medium setting. I was really surprised at how effectively the unit heated the large volume space and the ribs began to brown quickly. I lowered the temp a bit and changed their position several times. They were looking really good so I called some friends who live nearby to bring themselves, their appetites and a few beers.

The ribs came out perfectly, cooked through but tender and juicy. The rack didn't last long.

Now that I know I can use this method for a large volume roaster, I will this year fulfill my dream and attempt to cook a real Christmas turkey. I am pretty confident it will work out, the halogen power unit certainly seems up to the task and the clay pot is the perfect oven.

If any of you reading this also have halogen units and have wished for a larger cooking space, give this a try. My clay pot cost less than B150 with the saucer...a cheap way to a great result.

Does anybody know a source for fresh, whole turkey in Bangkok?

You don't really need the 2 bowls. I used his technique but put the garlic in a large storage bowl with a tight lid and shook it the same way....worked pretty good.

What really ticked me off was them totally ignoring non-touch screen users when they did the Win 8.1 upgrade.

Yes...if you're the type who enjoys puzzles, riddles and untangling earphone cables...Windows 8 is probably fun and productive once figured out. For me, the frustrating lack of intuitive pathways along with the baffling users guides added a whole new level of vexation my life didn't need.

"CLASSIC SHELL" was welcome relief.

Win-95 = Triumph

Win. ME = Disaster

Win. XP = Triumph

Win Vista = Disaster

Win-7 = Triumph

Win 8 = Disaster

Looks like we have something to look forward to next time.

Cathay-Pacific has some "Open Jaw" ticket plans that allow for segmented travel. Check them out.

SWIFTKEY & GO KEYBOARD are two popular keyboard aps with good spell checkers and predictive text. Both are available on Google Play. Both offer a "free" version but they are trial versions and eventually expire. The aps are quite inexpensive if you decide to buy the full featured version.

There is a nice studio apartment building called CONTEMPO on Pridi (Soi) 13 off Sukhumvit 71 in Phra Khanong, one stop past Ekkamai. The rooms are 30s/m, fully furnished including fridge, TV and microwave. There is also a small swimming pool and fitness room. When a friend of mine stayed there he paid B7000/pm on a 6 month commitment, 3 months would probably be in the B8000 range.

When you enter soi 13, take the very first left about 20 yards in and follow around the curve.

It is only 4 years old so good condition and clean. Don't forget that you will have to pay for your electricity so if you use AC, it can add 1 to 2 thousand a month.

BTW, wi-fi and cable TV are included in the rent.

There is also a complex just past the Thong Lo BTS station on the even soi side going towards Bearing. Many single rooms but probably closer to B10,000.

There is a nice studio apartment building called CONTEMPO on Pridi (Soi) 13 off Sukhumvit 71 in Phra Khanong, one stop past Ekkamai. The rooms are 30s/m, fully furnished including fridge, TV and microwave. There is also a small swimming pool and fitness room. When a friend of mine stayed there he paid B7000/pm on a 6 month commitment, 3 months would probably be in the B8000 range.

When you enter soi 13, take the very first left about 20 yards in and follow around the curve.

It is only 4 years old so good condition and clean. Don't forget that you will have to pay for your electricity so if you use AC, it can add 1 to 2 thousand a month.

BTW, wi-fi and cable TV are included in the rent.

There is also a complex just past the Thong Lo BTS station on the even soi side going towards Bearing. Many single rooms but probably closer to B10,000.

But for smartphones, of course you visit neither of these two places. Go to Siam then transfer and get to National Stadium to walk into MBK.

Actually, a lot of phone shops on the first and second levels of Fortune with a full range of selection and competitive prices, also tablets.

Computers and laptops on 3 and 4.

There is also an attached Tesco/Lotus that has an array of mobile phones at decent prices.

I have a difficult time trusting the shops at MBK, especially for higher end devices.

ON Sukhumvit itself, the 4th floor of Central World has several large phone shops and a Power Buy which often has very good prices.

Siam Paragon has the Power Mall within the Emporium that also has good promotions and a huge selection.

Don't believe for a minute that both Myanmar and Laos do not have strongly enforced animal control laws. There is probably more international pressure for cross border animal enforcement than human because of the concerns about animal borne viruses and diseases. You will be taking a big chance for a lot of problems, especially with a dog that young. Worse case scenario would be the dog could be seized and put into quarantine, not probable but possible and not worth the chance.

A kennel, even just for a few days is also not a good idea for a dog that young. My family lost a dog many years ago from a disease she almost certainly contracted while boarded in a kennel.

Taxi drivers all know Imperial Latphrao (& Big C) very well as it is an established landmark on Latphrao. You'll be fine. You can MRT it to Latphrao station and then take a taxi east along Latphrao.

Really no need for a taxi. There's a bus stop just outside the station and there are very frequent buses that go along Lat Phrao. Every bus passes and stops outside Big C. Just make sure you exit on the north side of Lat Phrao. The yellow, air-conditioned ones are the most comfortable. Number 8 to be avoided (crazy drivers, clapped out buses).

The #40 yellow air conditioned bus runs a very long route from near Bangkok Noi on the Thonbury side of the river, across...through Yaowarat (Chinatown), past MBK and along the length of Sukhumvit to Sukhumvit 71 in Phra Khanong. There it turns left onto Suk. 71 which becomes Soi Rhamkhamheng. It ends up near the BanKapi Mall, a short moto ride from the Imperial Lad Phroaw mall.

A taxi from the Mor Chit area will run about B80, from Asok about B120.

Just returned from a trip to Laos from Bangkok yesterday; not a visa run. Flew Air Asia to Udon Thani from DMK, B1250 inclusive, booked online a month in advance; a very aggravating and tricky website.

Van to Border/Nong Khai from the airport in Udon was B200 pp, about one hour.

Exiting Thailand was quick and easy, shuttle bus (B20) across bridge to Lao check point.

Somewhat confusing...go to the Immigration Booth on the left and knock on the little right hand window and wait patiently for them to hand you the forms. Fill them out and then go to the little left hand window and hand them in along with a visa photo and US$35 or B1500....unless, of course it is after 2pm at which time you are assessed an extra $1 or B100 "Overtime" charge.

Then round the corner of the building and wait near the window and eventually your passport will be handed back to you. You do not have to wait and pass through the Immigration booths after getting your passport,...just walk along the side of the building and present your passport at the next checkpoint.

Once you clear Immigration, there will be many van, tuk-tuk, and car drivers all willing to transport you to Vientiane. Your bargaining skills will ultimately determine the cost but figure around B200 per person. Depending on supply & demand, you may pay more or less. BTW, B100=25,000 KIP, the local currency.

I booked a room at the INNER CITY BOUTIQUE HOTEL right on the river near the night market in Vientiane on AGODA for about $22 and was very satisfied with the hotel...but my tastes are simple.

After traveling to Luang Prabang (Most spectacular bus ride ever) and staying 4 nights, returned to Vientiane (Bus broke down 3 times, 3 hours late) and crossed just before 10 PM into Thailand...much faster and less complicated leaving than entering but there is a B50 fee for some silly pass card. We stayed in Nong Khai and then flew back to DMK on NOK Air for about B1400 each, booked online a week in advance. Nok's website is much more agreeable to use than Air Asia's.

Using "CLASSIC SHELL" on a new, non-touch screen, Win-8, HP notebook as I type this. Works great with FIREFOX set as the default browser, giving me a Win-7 environment.

Computer shut down is still a senseless three step process and not apparent when you first use it. Click the "Windows" logo in the lower toolbar, then the "Power" icon, then select "Shut Down" from a long menu of options.

One other minor annoyance is I still get the right side "Charms" menu sometimes when I hover my cursor on the right side but it goes away easily.

Thanks all for the helpful suggestions. Google Authenticator looks like the best option at this point but I will give everything a try.

As an air courier, I travel...A LOT!! My destinations are often smaller airports without public Wi-Fi but I can usually find a public computer to log into my Gmail account.

Recently, Gmail has been aggressively locking me out of my account whenever I try to log in from a unknown foreign location using a public computer.

I later get an automatic Email from them saying "Someone" was trying to log onto my account from such & such a place and that access was denied because they didn't know who it was.

What is really annoying is that I am never given the chance to enter my password or given the pre-selected identity questions. There seems to be no way to bypass it and log on.

I've searched Gmail help files but can find nothing about it.

Has anybody found a workaround for this heavy handed security block?

TRUE recently replaced my router...then a week later had to replace the replacement...then two weeks after, had to replace the replacements replacement..

The first was a cheap "BILLION" so I wasn't surprised but the next was a ZYXEL which are supposed to be pretty decent. I suspect they stock a lot of refurbished units.

We'll see how the second ZYXEL does.

My Sister and her husband will be visiting me next month in Bangkok from Boston, Ma. They got return tickets, BOS-BKK on JAL for $944...flying on the 787. Even in high season, it seems JAL is having difficulty selling seats in the 787. Their fare was close to $500 below the next nearest competition.

I might encourage them to bring their own roll of duct tape.

It might help if you spelled Yangon correctly.

http://www.yangonair.com/

Thanks for the link. Spelling never my strong point.

If you live convienient to the MRT, you can also go to FORTUNE TOWER, directly above the Rama-9 station. Many shops on the 3rd and 4th level, right hand end of the building

Must be time for World Vision to replace their fleet of Land Cruisers. They are particularily known for parading highly overstated and unsubstantiated media bites such as this, feeding off of years of similar hysterical NGO propaganda that have only gained credibility through repitition.

When I lived in Udon Thani, I had a Thai neighbor who worked as a canvasser for World Vision. Six days a week, ten hours a day; all training and supervisory sessions on her day off...B4000/Mo., yet when the WV sen yai's came to town, they would always stay at the Grand Chaeronsri Hotel in Udon...only the best for them.

Does anybody know the official website for Air Yangoon (or Yangoon Air)?? I keep getting look-alike websites that front for secondary ticket sellers when i do websearches. Difficult to know which is the genuine website.

Make sure you read the topic from a few months ago on the difficulties she will have exiting the Philippines unless you already have that covered.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/664645-thai-visa-for-my-filipino-girlfriend/

Somewhere deep in the thread, there is a post by a person who works for Philippine Immigration who explains the restrictions very well.

In the Northern Bus station, when you enter the main door, you will see a 7-11 INSIDE the terminal on your left. walk to your left there going towards the food area. Immediately on the right near the first set of doors is a small convenience shop and left baggage is to the right of that.

Not very well marked and very untidy.

The previous suggestion to see if your hotel has a baggage room is a better choice. Most hotels do.

Just landed 3 hours ago. EVA; LAX-TPE-BKK. This time I flew standard economy, last month did the same route Premium Econ.

Seating on the 777-200 was 3-3-3 so the seats were a bit more generous than those that use 3-4-3. The flight was full but there were an adequate number of very pleasant FA's who were Quite attentive. Beverage trays were brought around frequently during the trans-Pacific leg and snacks were laid out in the rear galley area. As said before...for Econ. the seats were reasonably comfortable with adaquate distance from the seat in front.

Premium Econ on EVA is definitely a cut above...2-3-2 seating near the front of the plane. Note that there is often no Premium Econ available on the TPE-BKK leg. The food I would say was pretty much the same for both. I will say that by economy standards...the food is not bad. I flew to the US this time on Delta and their food was far less appetizing. United is the worse for food...both quality and portion wise.

All in all, considering it was a completely full flight, it was about as comfortable as one can expect to get in that price range. IFE was OK, a decent selection of recent movies however regular flyers such as myself will soon run out of viewing options as they don't change the playlist very frequently.

Eva Air has a very flexible return policy. Used to be 6 months with a Economy Delux booking...not sure if still true but worth checking out.