Stone Inscription 1

I guess the welfare state did not look after all their needs.

12 hours ago, Phuketshrew said:

I recall Big Joke saying that there were none left. Where have they found another 537 from?

The article suggests they were found to have come from Africa.

Most everyone knew he was just a stooge of the military and Bangkok elites. They feared losing power, prestige and influence to the popular Shinawatras; therefore, they set up Suthep as a frontman to make it seem that the people wanted a return to the days of Phibun and Sarit.

Isaan is a region consisting of a number of Provinces.

1 hour ago, LazySlipper said:

Looking forward to seeing what our pretty boy Canadian PM is going to do. Hope Trump says, "Your fired!"

 

Seriously, Canadian dollar has to go up against the bht. Been four years of losing serious money because of a weak loonie. 30 bht to the Canadian dollar used to be good, but 25 -- 26 OMG that sucks.

Make that 24 baht now.....

I am sure she will be happier than in her first marriage. Sunaree is an outstanding singer and a wonderful personality. I met her for dinner and a concert in Khao Yai a few years ago. A very nice lady indeed. 

As 'Another User' mentioned, you do not get a great exchange rate on the Thai baht. Use the Lao kip and try to make sure you use them up before you leave Laos as no other country wants Lao money.

There is a bus every couple of hours from the baw kaw saw near Central in Udon that goes to the central market (Talat Sao) in Viang Chan (Vientiane). Or you can try the cramped mini-van mentioned above that leaves from Central Department store in Udon Thani. I don't know its arrival destination in Viang Chan.

About 15-20 minutes from the bus station/market in Savannakhet is the important That Ing Hang, which is very interesting. I think it is around 600 baht to get there and back by tuk-tuk.

Thak Khet (ທ່າແຂກ) is a small town a few hours north of Savannakhet. The town has some interesting vats, and a nice area to eat by the Mekong at night. It is across the river from Nakhon Phanom. About 6 km. south of the town is the revered Vat Pha That Sikhotabong. Many Thais come to visit this site. http://www.frommers.com/destinations/tha-khek/attractions/537243

Not far away you can explore the Mahaxai Caves and the beautiful karst formations. https://books.google.ca/books?id=3nLCBAAAQBAJ&pg=PT200&lpg=PT200&dq=mahaxai+caves&source=bl&ots=7ID-1--2rc&sig=-cnFQ2M6OxV1faYjENlopIzQwIg&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjxwbTP5v_MAhUJNT4KHdWADokQ6AEIUTAM#v=onepage&q=mahaxai%20caves&f=false

Fled to Muslim Malaysia where the police are Muslim...hmmm. Singapore might have been a safer option if they are worried about Muslim males.

The Chinese already run the economies and politics of Southeast Asia with perhaps the exception of Malaysia with its jus soli policy (Malays first). For example, look at the politicians in the Thai government including the PM, and leaders of the parties, they are all Sino-Thais as is Thaksin. Suthep and Sondhi the puppet leaders of PAD to serve the military and Bangkok elites to overthrow elected governments are also Sino-Thais.

For those that do not know.....You do not tip in China...so no surprise they don't tip when they are holiday.

The first meal I had in China I walked out of the place and left a very small amount of change as I only had large notes left in my wallet.

One of the waiters ran after me in the street to give it back....and he insisted I took it.

I have not been to Japan - but it is considered rude to tip.... service is supposed to be good and expected.

This is the same in Norway. My son tried to get rid of his change as he was on the way to Iceland, but the taxi-driver kept refusing. He said it is an insult to offer tips in that country.

This is fairly common world-wide. It happens in Canada and it happens in Thailand. I remember back in the late-70s, agents for a certain travel agency in Chiang Mai would procure young university students at Chiang Mai U. for its Japan Airlines clients.

Some of this sounds similar to the situation in Canadian private schools. If your child is doing poorly in regular high school, just send him/her to a private school and the student who was struggling to achieve a fifty will now be getting over 90%. Some of the owners of these private schools (many of whom are Chinese and Indians) just ask the student what mark is desired and that is it. In Canada's major city, Toronto, there is a Jewish private school that has never graduated anyone but that gives out 90%+ to anyone who pays the fees to take one of their classes.

First of all, he will not study it at all. He is the one telling them what it should contain.

Second, if the history of Thailand is anything to go by, Thai constitutions are implemented only to be replaced somewhere down the line.

In other words, the current Military Government does not want any annoying questions that may debate their legitimacy, and they want it understood if critics do speak out there will be a period of attitude adjustment on the horizon for said culprits. 555+

Methinks the author did not actually visit Vang Vieng, and based his review on out-of-date guidebooks. Yes, there are lots of young people visiting the place, and there are some who drink too much, but it is not a rowdy, raucous atmosphere. As the samll number of massage places would suggest, sex is available too...for a price.

Yes, Vang Vieng is a hot spot for tubing, but many Lao, Tha and foreign visitors also go to visit the caves, and wonder at the scenery.

Suthep was the stooge of the military and Bangkok Sino-Thai elties with a mission to disrupt the elected government of Yingluck so that the military could stage a coup to overthrow their democratic enemy. It worked to perfection, and now there is a Thai military government. No-one in their right mind could expect a decision of the NACC to be anything but this.

Gullable people are every where , Massage jobs overseas really ! TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE , having the money 10k - 30k to spend up front , when a little 15 baht session on the internet looking at employment rules of the countries offered, so many quotes are applicable to this scam,

I know a young lady (31) from the Sukhothai area who has working in massage parlours in South Korea for 3 years now. This is to escape an unhappy marriage and to support her son.

It seems he works and speaks for, and is supported by, the non-elected government in much the same way the yellow shirt leader Suthep got assisted by the Bangkok elites.

A close reading of the Lamphun Chronicle will show that Loy Krathong originated with the Mon people of Lamphun. According to the chronicle, a number of residents of Lamphun moved to Mon Pegu in Burma during a sickness somewhere in the 11th century A.D. On returning to Lamphun a number of years later, the Mons of Lamphun placed small boats of thanks in the river to send down to their brethren in Pegu.

North of Luang Prabang, the next tourist stop is Luang Namtha.

The next tourist stop north of Luang Prabang is actually Oudomxai although not many westerners visit it. The city has some interesting wats, market and friendly people. Nearby are waterfalls and hill tribes.

North of Xai, you can visit Phongsali a centre of tea production, and another area for trekking.

West of Oudomxai, one can visit Luang Namtha (3 hours by bus), Muang Sing (2 more hours) near the Burma and China border, and Boten (2 hours north of Luang Namtha) where one can enter China.

The bus to Xieng Khouang (Phonsavan) nowadays is a comfortable enough one and it takes 7-9 hours to get there. You can also take a mini-van, but if you are tall you will be cramped as leg room is small, which is why I took the bus. The Plain of Jars is well-worth seeing as is the small town of Muang Koun around 30 minutes from Xieng Khouang.

Luang Namtha is a great place to visit although the bus ride to get there from Luang Prabang is long and tedious, but there is spectaular scenery along the way. As mentioned above, this is a trekking area, but there is a nice temple in town and some minority villages within a few miles of the town.

To the south of Luang Prabang and two and a half hours away by bus is the town of Sayaboury. This is an elephant centre and stays can be arranged at the elephant site for a night up to a week or more. There is nice scenery between the two cities.

I can get by in Thailand with spoken, written and reading Thai. That helped me pick up written and spoken Lao in about three months. I can also read Lao but do not always know what the phrase means.

As one member mentioned many Lao, in particular, young people can speak English in the cities and towns. This holds true up north in places like Oudomxai and Sam Neua, and in the south around Pakse too.

If I got really stuck with speaking Lao/Thai or English, I would write out the words in Lao, and that helped immensely.