Ajarn

Did I miss something, or has anyone ever nailed down which Tesco they are saying this alleged explosive device went off at?

The one on the south side of Chiang Mai

I still think Pizza Hut has my favorite pizza. First, and most important to me, the quality is always good, every time. No other pizza place can match that, in my experience.

I cannot agree on Pizza Hut (as to producing pizza's that are all that wonderful) but as you rightly suggest they are "consistent" (same as Sizzler)

Pizza Hut and Sizzler are my favorite farang food. Both are prepared well, in places where they have good training, which is why the quality is excellent, in my opinion.

A very persistent rumour but nothing more than that.

I called them up to check when the same question was asked in a previous thread to check, and they said 'No, it's just a rumour' - they were open until midnight as usual, which would hardly have been the case if they had had a bomb go off.

My wife investigated this yesterday, and she says that two security officers were 'slightly hurt' when an explosive device, hidden in a trash can, exploded. The damage was minimal, and Tesco's obviously wants the whole thing kept quiet, so as not to scare away business..? Likewise, the tourists..!

That sounds like a story for your benefit, a wife might say...

I still think Pizza Hut has my favorite pizza. First, and most important to me, the quality is always good, every time. No other pizza place can match that, in my experience.

I know that we are all supposed to despise Pizza Hut, but I think that they are pretty good.

My big problem with them for me is that New York style crust isn't available in Thailand and that is REAL American pizza.

The new crusts that they've come up with just don't ring my bell.

Yeah, well, lucky me because I prefer the thick (plain) crusts

I still think Pizza Hut has my favorite pizza. First, and most important to me, the quality is always good, every time. No other pizza place can match that, in my experience.

I'm happy to say that this story doesn't surprise me in the least... After more than 20 years of living here, I've seen and experienced helpfull Thais in many situations.. In fact, I tell friends that I'm treated better here than I ever was in the US. That's pretty much the reason I've never complained about Thais here in this forum.

Ask your parents. They might be interested

Is it possible these minimarts are being used as a dumping ground by the main supermarkets for products nearing their 'best sell by' date in an effort to boost profits and thereby justifying their existence and subsequently strengthening their case for further expansion? Is the irony such that these Tesco Express marts are using the local shoppers to boost sales and therefore eventually giving the kiss of death to the smaller businesses.

I was referring to that...

Suspicious mind...

Er.. bascially i need a small amount ..

is for ingestion during a cleasning process of the body ..to ease the inner organ .

. Before doing all this i better double check how safe is it ..

i used use lime juice in the pass.

and also apple cider .

need a liver flush .

been fasting for about 3 days now . only Soy milk , water , and some juice .

pop a few vitimin pill . and some some fish liver oil .

Is this what you call fasting?

So what do you think of Muslim fasting then?

For those who may not be aware of Muslim fasting, following is for information only.

Muslim fasting starts on the 1st day of Ramadhan (according to lunar year, so changes every year for about 10 days). Whether it is hot or cold, they have to fast for one month from sunrise to sunset and they are not allowed to eat or drink anything, to be more specific, they cant in-take anything.

They are also required to refrain from having sexual activities as well. This process goes on for one month, 29 or 30 days, according to the lunar month.

I contend that muslims only 'fast' from sun up to sun down. Once it is dark, it's hot and heavy eating from what I have seen... There are many rules and exceptions that you can read about at http://AsiaRecipe.com/indofasting.html and at

http://AsiaRecipe.com/indohealth.html

in general i prefer Dutch people ( like our forumleader ) , don ' t you ?

I have never been to Holland, but I have noticed that Dutch people are almost all friendly and nice.

In the last 7 years, I have only had one Dutch customer who was kind of a twirp and he really wasn't that bad.

Some are twirps...

Like Americans

I have been on and off bikes for a while now.

Lots of experience on a bicycle.

Motorbikes on ly in THailand:

A couple of months on a 100cc

A couple more months on a 125cc

3 more months on a 125 with a clutch.

Then tried a 200 cc Phantom: it was fantastic! I loved it. I couldn't believe the difference.

Then many months on a 125.

A few more times on a 200 cc phantom.

Then a bit on a 400cc and then a couple of times on a 600cc.

All in thailand.

What is a good website for learning how to ride / theory?

And what about test centres in chiang mai?

If riding in thailand, gotta be ultra defensive!

For some safety issues in Thailand, check out http://asiarecipe.com/larry/motor.html

I'm of the opinion that some banks don't want to deal with anyone 'strange' as far as the newish currency and tax laws happening. First, a tourist visa is, by nature, temporary, unlike other visas. Second, if you have a work permit, then you are more likely to be tax payer. At Kasikorn Bank, they have a policy of 'fining' you 15% on any interest that you've gained, if you don't have a work permit. I'd imagine that some banks would rather not deal with farangs complaining about it...

I've also found that if you have a Thai Tax ID, this can be used in place of the work permit at a bank. Anyone can get a tax ID simply by going to any tax office and filing out a form...

If you've never ridden, I would suggest that you not learn here. Too dangerous for newbies here, in my opinion.

Come on, we want a new challenge!

:D

As I said, the current picture is too obvious.. but, where were your little comments on the first picture??

how can it be a disaster zone if nobody died or even got sick (at least nothing about it in this article) and, so far, no demage was done to the environment?

My assumption is that a disaster declaration has something to do with money, either applying for aid or qualifying for aid.

Yeah, it seems clear that MHS and CM have made themselves disaster areas to qualify for emergency clothing.

I got my money in a Thai bank that pays 5.5 percent

Ajarn, is that 5.5 % net? May I ask which bank and is your money safe enough here?

cheers

Phil

Yep, net. At government housing bank. Yes, I feel it is safe, after having my account a few years now...

Yes. Wiang Pa Pao is in Chiang Rai province. (Even though it's closer to Chiang Mai town than it is to Chiang Rai town, and more easily reached from Chiang Mai as well)

Wiang Pa Pao is closer to chiang rai.. It is more than 100 kilos from chiang mai, and considerably less mileage and time from chiang rai..

sometime the best way to earn is not to do anything .

... plus some bank give good rate . look into it . doing notthing and get intrested for some fund is better then risking it at another country

Ta22, I assume you mean a bank outside of Thailand? As I believe the interest rates here are very low.

What do you mean, get interest from some fund?

What you say makes sense as I’ve researched different business’s here and can’t find anything worth investing in!

I’ve searched the forum for ideas but I suppose anyone making any REAL money here by western standards isn’t doing to give their secret away regarding what they do to make their money.

Having said that us farangs are so limited in what we are allowed to do here. It’s all very well buying a business here that usually has far too many staff, but it still doesn’t give you anything to do.

Lazing around all day sounds great but gets boring after a couple of months.

I spoke to a British guy in his 30’s who rented a 7 room guesthouse in Hua Hin with his dad. He admitted that they didn’t make enough to have holidays back to the UK.

What I would like to know is what the heck do farangs do here that makes REAL money??

I got my money in a Thai bank that pays 5.5 percent

I had some takeaway murtabak from a stall at the Monday night market at Meechok Plaza, along with a bag of fried wontons. Just like mom's cooking!

Pleeeeeze!

Where is 'Meechok Plaza,' and the location of this stall. I am seriously missing a good murtabak!

Thanks.

The Fly Fisherman

Meechok Plaza is on Mae Jo rd, connected to Talaat Ruamckoke..

where you'll also find the new Rimping, and the 'Farang Cafe', if that helps at all.

Farang cafe is terrible, imo.

I had some takeaway murtabak from a stall at the Monday night market at Meechok Plaza, along with a bag of fried wontons. Just like mom's cooking!

Pleeeeeze!

Where is 'Meechok Plaza,' and the location of this stall. I am seriously missing a good murtabak!

Thanks.

The Fly Fisherman

Meechok Plaza is on Mae Jo rd, connected to Talaat Ruamckoke..

I'd suggest that he would need about 3 million baht to survive the first year

This photo was taken in 1986.. I'm afraid the new one is too obvious..

I am not really sure yet, Ajarn.

As it is a twenty year old picture it might be allowed to ask some simple questions with the purpose to update your presentation:

1) Could it be that the house in the meantime got a street about four meters in front of it?

2) Could it be that you can bring dirty clothes there and pick them up clean some days later?

3) Ban Nam Lat Soi 3?

Limbo

KM142 Baan Mae Suay...The view today. Everyone who drives to Chiang Mai sees it.. 1km before charin resort

<br>

This photo was taken in 1986.. I'm afraid the new one is too obvious..

I have to admit that I'm getting tired of International companies like Starbucks, 7-11 and Boots coming in and destroying Thai owned businesses that are already doing a good job. The International Pigs pay absurd amounts of rent to get into the best areas, and eventually, no small business people can afford good locations anymore; the rent goes up so high that they have to move elsewhere.

Boots Pharmacy just moved into Thapae Gate and they have nothing to offer that the stores that are there already are not providing. There is a wonderful woman with a pharmacy just inside the gate who provides much better service and at lower prices than Boots ever will and a bunch of other decent pharmacies as well.

Unfortunately, these International companies seem to be able to lose money for years until they can drive out all their competition, so in the long run consumers don't have a choice.

Starbucks at Thapae Gate is paying an amazingly high rent with almost no customers, yet there they sit, waiting for the rents in the area to get so high that no competitors can afford to be near them. Then they can raise their silly prices even higher.

out of interest, what would the rent be ?

75,000 baht per month, but Starbucks also pretty much tore the old building down and then rebuilt it from the ground up as part of the rental agreement. That cost a pretty sum for a business that seems to average about 10 customers a day in the middle of high season, but the landlords are sitting pretty!

How do you know? I suspect the figure as being primarily gossip, with nothing and nobody to back the story... True, or not?

I am neighbors and friends with the landlord who owns the propery that both Boots and Starbucks are renting, so my figures should be correct.

Okay, good to hear some facts