TheVicar

A number of sources say that this fish ( Pangas/pangasius ) is safe to eat and the campaign against it is a hoax. I'm not sure one way or the other, but, personally, I would eat it once in a while without worry.

Moreover, World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has confirmed that Vietnamese pangasius was safe for human consumption and the local fish industry is developing in a sustainable way.

http://www.thefishsi...amese-pangasius

The source you quoted relies on a Vietnamese bureaucrat responsible for the fishing industry. Here's how the story you linked to begins: "According to Chairman and General Director of Hung Vuong Corporation and Vice Chairman of Viet Nam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), Duong Ngoc Minh..." Do you really think the bureaucrat responsible for exporting this junk who is also a high up in the company exporting it would tell the truth? Meanwhile, WWF helped set up the group in Vietnam so it is hardly an impartial source either. In short, they have a lot to lose (read $$$$) following the disclosure of how and what this fish and the fishing industry in Vietnam operates. The sources I provided, and there are many other reputable ones if you do a Google search, are very negative on this product.

You are what you eat. Stay away from this fish. By the way, catfish (and that is what this fish is) are bottom eaters. They are like pigs in water. Not a good fish to begin with, and then given the toxic atmosphere of the Vietnamese fisheries for it.... OUCH!

I checked out the sodium content for V-8 juice: it is between 25-30%! That's a killer (sodium=salt). Make your own.

What is the source of that information?

25-30% of what?

Of 100%. And sodium is a metal that bursts into flame when it contacts water.

This may be of interest to anyone who thinks critically - http://www.stat.berk...~census/573.pdf

That figure (25-30%) is a percentage of the amount of sodium recommended per day. In other words, that one can of V8 juice gives you almost 1/3 of your recommended daily total of sodium!

Here's some info on V8 Juice and its high sodium content:

"We found the ingredients elsewhere, and reading it, one can see that, true, all the juice is from vegetables, but there are added ingredients. Here’s the list:

Tomato Juice From Concentrate (Water, Tomato Concentrate), Reconstituted Vegetable Juice Blend (Water and Concentrated Juices of Carrots, Celery, Beets, Parsley, Lettuce, Watercress, Spinach), Salt, Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid), Flavoring, Citric Acid.

The number 1 addition is water! Notice that V8 is from concentrate. This means that the veggies were at one point juiced, but for logistical purposes, the water content was removed. (Same thing happens with orange juice). So you’re not getting freshly juiced vegetables. For all we know the veggies have been stored in refrigerated vats as concentrate for months.

Interesting addition to the list are the salt, vitamin C, and flavorings. A single glass of V8 contains 480mg of sodium, or 20% (!!!) of the daily maximum. Compare to 135mg for a small McDonald’s French Fries, or 290mg for a medium.

Why so much salt you ask? Because it tastes good. There’s a low sodium option with only 140mg, and after you taste it, you’ll understand. But could there be a middle ground, or some attempt to slowly reduce the salt content over time?

The added vitamin C is worth mentioning too. Why would a vitamin rich juice need any additions? Well, vitamin C is one of the mot volatile micronutrients, in a sense that it easily and quickly “evaporates” from fruits and vegetables the moment they are exposed to oxygen. So food processors simply add more. V8 adds a lot more – it contains 120% of the daily value.

The added flavorings are always a riddle. They are trade secrets, and are usually crafted to make a product smell and taste better. So is V8′s great taste to be attributed to the natural veggies, or some laboratory in New Jersey? Most likely a mix of both.

...

As for the other marketing claims – shame on the American Heart Association for endorsing this product. High sodium intake leads to heart problems, and the AHA is actively encouraging people to reduce their consumption. From the AHA website:

From the AHA website:

High-sodium diets are linked to an increase in blood pressure and a higher risk for heart disease and stroke. Reducing the amount of sodium you consume can help lower high blood pressure or prevent it from developing in the first place. Keeping your blood pressure at healthy levels is important, because high blood pressure can lead to heart attacks or stroke.

The American Heart Association recommends that you choose and prepare foods with little or no salt to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Aim to eat less than 1,500 mg of sodium per day.

So why in the world would the AHA recommend a product that with once glass reached a third of the daily maximum? (hint: Campbell’s, the owner of V8 brand, pays the AHA a hefty sum for each product endorsed.)

As for the “Essential Antioxidants” blurb, it has absolutely no meaning, no way to be verified, and unfortunately misguides shoppers.

Bottom line: V8 may not as bad as soda, but is a far cry from a daily, nurturing habit. The high sodium content is very worrying, and from a veggie perspective, you are better off consuming the real deal, fiber and other fresh nutrients included."

SOURCE: http://blog.fooducat...-a-health-scam/

Like I said in an earlier post, make your own juice; it's healthier and tastier.

As an aside, the developer of V8 juice, W. Peacock, died at what age? He made it to the ripe old age of....52! Died of a massive heart attack. That's what big doses of sodium does to the heart.

I am not one for restaurant threads, BUT Pedr makes a very good choice with Francescas. Problem possibly: you have to have wheels to get there. It is about 1km south of Mae Hia market on the east side of the road. Look for the "PIZZA" sign. For the rest, I have had both good and bad meals at all of those mentioned so far. The worst service was Antonio's; basically a managerial problem, the food was okay. The worst experience was at Billy's. Rotten food (You really don't want to know!) and service. Could have been a bad night. (An Italian restaurant named "Billy's ?! ) In any case, Chiang Mai is truly blessed with decent Italian restaurants, many not yet mentioned! Go for it! Otherwise, judging from the comments so far, this is pretty much a budget crowd!

My exact thought on Billy's. Not an Italian name so immediately suspect (although I admit I have not been there and would not go there with that name). My favorite is Restaurante Italiano Pulcinella da Stefano (often just called Stefano's) (now there is a real Italian name run by an Italian) very centrally located next to Gecko Books within a short walk of TP Gate. Punch & Judy decor (which gives the place its name). The owner is there all the time and watches over quality like a hawk. Good service, reasonable prices and authentic Italian food, excellent gelato. Try the 3 course special meal for B 350; it's a great bargain. A nice starter is the parma ham with melon (a serving large enough for 2 people). Yummy!

I have mixed feelings about "Why Not" which is on Nimmanhemin Soi 11. Nice place, especially outdoor seating but food is so so and a bit pricy. I had a not so good pizza there (following a good pasta dish). Service was a bit pretentious.

Also excellent is Prego run by a Thai cook who worked in Italy for many years. It is in the old city. Prices are a tad on the high side, though, maybe because it is in the tourist zone and often frequented by them. The chef is friendly and often brings dishes to the customer himself.

NOTE: many people here seem to equate Italian food with pizza. It is far more than that! AND, the Italians taught the French how to cook.

You have the stickers and need help putting them on "neatly"?

This is a pressing issue for the community? Surely, you're spending too much time here on posts.

Sawasdee Khrup, Khun NancyL,

Congratulations on what sounds like a very successful event; I don't know how I missed hearing about it, and would have attended had I heard, but I'll certainly keep my eye out for the next one, if I remain in this body that long.

yrs, ~o:37;

How can you tell it was a successful attempt if you didn't attend and moreoever you didn't even hear about it? I did attend (even bought some things) and I stand by my criticisms above. Note that Nancy L was the chief organizer for this event (something she might have told people in her original post). It sounds like she's looking more for pats on the back than on honest critical comments: you can only improve if you listen to the criticisms of others Nancy and not to the brownnosers. Lots of other posters here seconded many of the criticisms I made of the event (hard to find; bad timing competing with the jazz festival and the Saturday morning market; too commercial; overpriced food (especially from the restaurants and hotels) too many farangs and not enough Thais etc.). If I was Nancy L, I would try to encourage more individuals (rather than businesses) to take part next year; people who might otherwise be selling their items at garage sales. I would also choose a better date, and would have volunteers working on a giant outdoor BBQ that sold food and drink at a reasonable price. I think these are all valid criticisms and I was there! And live music (NOT canned crap) would be nice too; if you are from the British legation, you should have enough clout to deal with the "music police". Every neighborhood event in CM seems to have live music so that excuse is preposterous.

This past weekend saw, in Bangkok, an attempt led by several disgruntled generals/ringleaders at toppling a popularly elected government. Amongst the actions taken, according to news reports, were ramming a police barricade with a huge truck. Several people were injured. The rally fizzled and had little or no popular support. Police support likely cost taxpayers and the government millions of baht and several casualties.

My query: the people behind this "rally" made inflammatory speeches calling for the violent overthrow of a popularly elected government. Why are they not being charged with and tried for high treason? I believe the penalty is death under the Thai constitution for treason (which is generally meant to be the forceful overthrow or attempted overthrow of a legitimate government). At the very least, the generals/ringleaders responsible should have their pensions and other privileges revoked.

If I'm reading the sign properly that you attached , it's a buffet of beer, not a food buffet. Right? If so, definitely not very interesting (to me at least).

^^

"I purchase insurance from the point of view of the service this company will provide if I get injured, have an accident, etc. On that basis I trust AA - and Manfred in particular - to come thru for me."

Hmm...it's not AA who has to come thru; but the Ins Co. they brokered for you.

And besides, how can you come up with that statement if as you say: " I have never made a claim, so have no first hand experience".

Sounds like an olde boys' club not unlike the many embassy staff congratulatory circles glad-handing one another over yet another year of 'service' - NOT.

Yup, to me the whole thread reads like an advert. Does it even belong here? Where's the moderator?

methinks...

were not 'guests', we live here now.

Guests?

We don't even qualify as guests here. I wasn't invited; were you?

We're more like party-crashers - and Chiang Mai was a party in the 70's and into the early 80's as anyone who was here at the time could tell you.

But then again, maybe not. There's an old saying, "If you can remember Chiang Mai in the 70's, you weren't there".

But I can, and I was; sometimes anyway. In my more lucid moments I could enlighten you in all sorts of ways.

Nowadays, we've crashed a party that has ended...a banquet hall deserted. The feast has been consumed - everything from fruit to nuts - and the pits and bones spit out on the floor.

All that's left is the debris and a bunch of know-nothing greenhorns to debate the issue in pubs and on internet forums.

You're just getting old and spouting sentimental nonsense. If foreigners are living here legally, they are no longer guests. That's true in other countries, including the home country of the person whom you are paying tribute to. "In my more lucid moments I could enlighten you in all sorts of ways." Sentimental nonsense and completely self-serving. And well beyond your original tribute.

Nor does this fit in well with your statement about how farangs need to learn more about Thai culture: "I've made an arrangement with his family - wife and two grown children - to print one of his designs, a real beauty, as a T-shirt.

It's a semi-nude girl riding a tiger with "Lucy's Tiger Den...Bangkok" in letters that are sort of like chinese brushstrokes.." That's a tribute to Thai culture? Give me a break! I'm sure Lucy's Tiger den symbolized by a semi-nude girl riding a Tiger (a not so discreet sexual symbol) is just the kind of things most Thais of culture would deem antithetical to their own culture, especially in Chiang Mai. So now you're spouting hypocritical nonsense too.

"While I'll have used it quite a bit, it will still be essentially a new MB." If you use it a lot, it is not essentially new! Lot's of people I've seen selling things here in CM automatically assume they will get most of their money back on used items. The general rule is you'll be lucky to get 50% of what you spent back. Anything used is not new, especially something "used quite a bit".

Yes, I went and there were some nice things and some not so nice things about it:

1) the location sucks. It doesn't help that there is another JJ Market near the Night Bazaar and this location is out of the way. Lots of people who have lived here for years had to consult maps to figure out where this was.

2) it was too commercial; too many businesses (especially hotels and restaurants) selling overpriced food and drink and there just "flying their flags". I saw a wine tasting for about B 240; really? Come on, who's going to pay that at a casual, outdoor event like this? How about a community/organization run BBQ (chicken, burgers, pork, sausages) that offers good food & drink at sane prices? That would go over big, in my opinion. Maybe the restaurants and hotels should consider giving out some free samples of their food rather than charging B 100 or more for small servings. There was a local monthly magazine there (maybe one of the sponsors) selling yearly subscriptions to their tourist magazine which is given away for free! I noted that they had no customers.

3) the best part was the individual people (not businesses) who brought unusual things for sale and were ready to bargain on their prices (unlike the commercial ventures). Lots of nice books, records, cds, dvds, clothing etc. for sale at great prices. But again, food and drink were vastly overpriced. Because some of the money goes to charity, does that mean it's an occasion to nick the entire community? High prices also meant that locals were effectively screened out (or smart enough to stay away and visit the far vaster and cheaper Saturday morning market). This was mostly an expat affair, not many Thais except for the "usual suspects" as vendors.

4) lots of the same vendors that sell the same things everywhere else and can be seen time and again at all the other walking streets. Why not try to screen these people, who seem to make their business off of such events, out? They're boring and repetitive.

5) I heard no music. How about some live, free music to attract customers and also to keep them?

6) the timing was bad. Kind of post Thanksgiving for Americans; competed with the Jazz festival; and in the middle of Loy Kratong activities for Thais plus at exactly the same time as the Saturday morning market.

A few weeks ago I requested low sodium V8 from the Rimping manager close to Airport Central. Guess I should ask a few more times. I forget the exact sodium contact in the normal V8 or the spicy version, but recall it's enormous -- sufficiently so to prevent my purchase, just as it did in the USA.

Agree it's possible to have a smoothie made to your taste, but I'm not always near such a place when wanted. And I don't keep the veges in the reefer that long to ensure it's available. The small can is handy!

I'm waiting for someone to tell you to go out to the market and buy 8 types of vegetables and a blender - it's better for you!

I'll be back in Rimping Nim City tomorrow, reminding them that customers are waiting for that V-8.

A blender doesn't work for hard veggies; you need a juicer. Different product entirely. They cost slightly more than a blender; between B 2-3,000 for a good one. A blender just mixes together all ingredients put in it (and you cannot put carrots or beets into a blender without breaking it). A juicer extracts the juice from vegetables, even hard ones like carrots and beets. Nor are "smoothies" the pure juice of vegetables and fruits; watch them being made and you'll see a lot of syrup and chemicals added.

I'm a newbie here, but I'd just like to interject a comment about blending carrots.

Maybe it just depends on the blender. We make healthy veggie/fruit shakes every

day at home using an inexpensive (China-made) blender and no problems.

Just šayin'.

You might be making fruit shakes with your blender but a carrot is not a fruit (maybe you're adding just slivers of carrot?). It's a hard vegetable (apples and beets are also too hard for the blender). Blenders are fine for mangoes, bananas (where a juicer doesn't work), berries, papaya etc. but for hard things, you need a juicer. Moreover, a blender mixes everything up (there is no waste product); a juicer extracts juice from fruits and vegetables and leaves the pulp (usually discarded in an attached waste bin). I wouldn't advise putting a whole carrot in a blender but that is exactly what juicers are made for. Many of the "healthy blends" or "smoothies" being sold on the streets come with lots of sugar water and other additives. Make your own and you know what the contents are.

I checked out the sodium content for V-8 juice: it is between 25-30%! That's a killer (sodium=salt). Make your own.

Elektrified wrote: "The one (Royal Project Store) on Huay Kaew usually has smoked trout (but nothing else except yogurt with expired dates). Honestly I don't see how that place stays open. I've been in there many times and I have always been the only customer."

That was my experience for the one off of Suthep Road: not much aside from honey, dried noodles, overpriced veggies plus rude service and no prices on many items. These places can stay open only because of their patronage. I was the only customer on a Saturday afternoon at the Suthep branch. There are venders selling much the same stuff just outside at lower prices and they smile!

I'd much rather buy produce from the farmers at small Wats (many wats have a market day once or twice a week) and buy the packaged stuff from Rimping stores (excellent!) and Makro (great prices and good produce too). Just stay away from the Vietnamese catfish.

Buying Pangas supports unscrupulous, greedy evil corporations and food conglomerates

Gosh!

It's not just that, it is that the producers are coming up with a very unhealthy product. Watch this video, to see how unsanitary their fish production (which is catfish, basically a dirty "bottom feeder" to begin with) is:

http://telly.com/8XW9Q

There are other more explicit ones available on Youtube (I tried to embed a link here and a warning came up that this could and should not be done. Just Google Vietnamese and "catfish" in Youtube.

These fish are grown industrially in dangerous "baths" of harmful chemicals and pollutants. Some of the fish farms are located next to chemical plants and cement factories that empty their effluent directly into the Mekong River, which is one of the most polluted in the world. This is an instance where fish is not good for you (increasingly, health gurus are warning people to avoid fish consumption because of such practices).

Really good smoked trout at the kings project on Suthep rd

Could you provide more info on the location for this? Sounds great.

If your traveling up Suthep Rd away from the moat cross Canal Rd and take the first right into a small cluster of buildings. Take another right into the parking lot and it's the building on your left.

Thanks for the directions, I found the place. BUT there were no smoked trout to be seen (frozen? I saw some freezer cases with what looked like frozen fish inside but they were unmarked). The store mostly had things like honey, dried and candied Thai fruits, dried packaged noodles and some vegetables (that were more expensive than those being sold by vendors outside in the parking lot). Many products had no names so it was hard to identify exactly what they were. A product that looked suspiciously like miso base (for miso soup) was written in Thai only; it might at least have used the word "miso" somewhere. Some products had no price on them.

I was not impressed especially by the arrogant attitude of the store clerk who looked like she was doing you a favor by taking your money (I bought some honey). I was the only shopper inside. The next door coffee shop was far busier as were the outside vendors. From what I saw, I would not return as all the major retailers sell the same things, manytimes in bilingual packaging, often at better prices, and with friendlier staff. I'll stick with Rimping and Makro.

It depends on the length of your visa.

60 days or less no need (can drive using any valid license printed in English).

90 days or more need (Thai license required).

The fine is only 200bht (it might have just gone up to 400bht) , insurance not paying out may cost considerably more. All the previous posters have given you incorrect information. I'm amazed at the ignorance in the expat community.

There is a big difference between what you should have, and what you have previously managed to get away with. Spreading the ignorance you are posting helps nobody.

You appear to be correct about the 90 days. Another important note, many insurance policies (in fine print) require the driver to have a Thai driver's license in order for them to be effective:

"Once you have been in Thailand for a period extending 3 months, you will need an Thai driving licence, even though international drivers licenses are legally accepted. Several insurance companies have a fine print stating that the driver should hold a valid Thai driving licence to be fully covered. Besides that: You'll offer the local law enforcement great opportunities by continuing to drive with an international license."

Source:

http://driving.information.in.th/driving-licence.html

A valid licence from your home country and a current International driver's licence are all you need.

If it's for driving cars only, this does not mean motor bikes/scooters.

Since the OP didn't indicate he has an international driver's license/permit, it would not be legal for him to drive in Thailand just with a foreign license. (The reverse would be true too; a Thai could not drive, say in California, without a California driver's license or an international driver's license/permit). If you are involved in an accident, you will be in trouble, nor will the "insurance" you purchased be valid because you will have been driving without a legal license (the insurance company simply will refuse to pay any claim). There is no "grace period". Thailand issues separate driving licenses for cars and motorbikes (one is not good for the other).

Really good smoked trout at the kings project on Suthep rd

Could you provide more info on the location for this? Sounds great.

Nat Motors is on Huey Kaew on the south side between Neimenheiman and Canal Rd.

Good selection but maybe less than the one on Kaeo Narawat Road.

There's also a very large Honda dealer near the Japanese Consul/airport area. Many models; also sells used ones.

A few weeks ago I requested low sodium V8 from the Rimping manager close to Airport Central. Guess I should ask a few more times. I forget the exact sodium contact in the normal V8 or the spicy version, but recall it's enormous -- sufficiently so to prevent my purchase, just as it did in the USA.

Agree it's possible to have a smoothie made to your taste, but I'm not always near such a place when wanted. And I don't keep the veges in the reefer that long to ensure it's available. The small can is handy!

I'm waiting for someone to tell you to go out to the market and buy 8 types of vegetables and a blender - it's better for you!

I'll be back in Rimping Nim City tomorrow, reminding them that customers are waiting for that V-8.

A blender doesn't work for hard veggies; you need a juicer. Different product entirely. They cost slightly more than a blender; between B 2-3,000 for a good one. A blender just mixes together all ingredients put in it (and you cannot put carrots or beets into a blender without breaking it). A juicer extracts the juice from vegetables, even hard ones like carrots and beets. Nor are "smoothies" the pure juice of vegetables and fruits; watch them being made and you'll see a lot of syrup and chemicals added.

No Pepsi without sugar, no V-8 with low sodium. Yes , life can be hard sometimes. Could I recommend normal drinking water?

Good one! If you want juice, buy a juicer and make your own. You can buy a good juicer for between B 2-3,000. Given the price of the juices sold in the stores, you'll get your money back soon enough. And you control the quality of your juice.

I think it's time to get out of Dodge, but please don't tell me to go home.

GO HOME; life in Thailand is about trying to be positive....most farang have had up to the neck with negatives from farangland, ask yourself why are you here, why are we here? life is short........there is a headstone in England up for grabs, engraved on it says "it was good while it lasted"

not condoning that statement for him in hindsight but its one to live by.............

I'm sure that was the motto of the dead farang who died in his motorcycle crash (taking someone with him) at the age of 56 when he was drunk/stoned out of his mind and crashed into the Canal barrier. You're a deadbeat. The trouble with deadbeats is they cause trouble (and even death) for others.

I have just read up on this story in the Chiang Mai news and this is what it says happened which contradicts the OP to a certain extent.

1. The deceased is 56 year old JERRY LESTER DOW from Abu Dhabi, UAE. He was a tourist that frequented the Chiang Mai Beer Bar scene and that he rented a big bike from in town.

2. On the evening of the 11th he had hooked up with a Beer Bar girl and they went for a ride around the city. At 2am on the morning of the 12th the two on the motorbike had lost control on the canal rd and hit the wall throwing them into the canal. They died instantly. Her body was recovered the following day.

3. At 10am on the 14th a passer-by seen the body of Mr Jerry Lester Dow floating face down in the canal. The forensic crew believed he had been dead no less that 2 days. His wallet and Iphone 3 were still on his person. The police therefore believe that the two deceased, even though thier bodies were discovered on different days were both victims of the same motorbike accident.

http://www.chiangmai.../page/?p=132556

WARNING !! Graphic image in this link. http://www.chiangmai...7;ำ-1.jpg

Thanks for the links. After reading the messages here and especially some posts from the dead mans' friends, I'm now convinced this was little more than an accident and that the BP reporter made huge mistakes in his/her original story. I'll mention again that I posted only because of the tremendous variation in the story lines between the newspaper accounts. The last picture you posted clearly shows he had trousers on (that were likely removed by the body recovery team).

Good for the police for doing their job and count your GF lucky for not being charged with an attempted bribe on top of her illegal parking. There's nothing worse than a driver who parks illegally and holds up lines of traffic. I've even seen a Thai park on a street blocking traffic, jump out of his truck, and go into a business, intentionally leaving traffic snarled. That is irresponsible and selfish.

Parking tickets and clamps are also quite common in Bangkok.

Go Home!

It's obvious why you have no farang neighbors, and likely no Thai ones either.

I ride up an down the canal on my mountain bike and lately the water is moving pretty quickly so I think a body could travel some distance.

Sure people may have heard an accident but there is a definite tendency for Thai's to not get involved in accidents. Not sure the exact reason but its a bias. Not judging but just a reality.

Would be interesting to hear some theories on why Thai people don't rush to get involved in accidents etc.

That may be true in some minor fender benders but this is an accident in which it is claimed that two people died. You can see that gets the attention of Thais from all the people in the picture at the canal. It's not clear where the ladies body was found but it would seem to be near the crash site. A dead body on the road usually attracts attention. There are also multiple police boxes on Canal Road in that area. I think something sounds strange about the official account and the wide disparity between the newspaper accounts, with the BP originally reporting that a body was found and was being taken to a hospital for an autopsy. That doesn't happen in routine traffic accidents.