Kaoboi Bebobp

I have close calls like that pretty much every week.

Yes you have to look every direction like a crazy man ... but the surprise vehicles come anyway.

That pretty much says it.

Just when you think you've covered every possible angle of attack, someone bolts on a moto from a 7-11 in front of your toes. I really don't know how any of us gets through the day without a personal injury accident. Near misses are legion.

My personal favourite near miss is the moto coming at you from across the road (optional angle: from behind), cuts right in front of you into the 7-11 and parks, blocking you instantly and forcing you out into traffic. Strangling would be too good a demise for these perps.

Seems to be another delay in the never-ending revival of The Londoner. They pretty much have to do the brewing off site because the licensed brewery must be in an industrial area. The pub spot is not. Those I know who used to work there and are still being paid (!!!) say it could be close to the end of the year before the place takes shape. As of next month it will have been a year since it closed. I miss it a lot.

"1. One thing you find is Khmers are nosy, staring inside your wallet and grocery bags. One time I and a foreigner who was selling his motorcycle to me huddled together on the sidewalk only to have a moto taxi guy jump right up beside us to stare and listen. Looks like Cambodia is really the place to feel comfortable,NOT?"

This is one thing that can be quite off-putting.

"2 . I like the Khmer people a lot. I find them curious, Yeah you made that clear in your first point."

The context was positive characteristics, which would include asking questions if something was unfamiliar or not understood.

"3. I think it more likely I will make friends with a Khmer long before I could with a Thai. Can't really comment on that, because my experience is that itis an Asian thing, and last time I checked Cambodia was in Asia."

Every country within Asia is wholly unique. Just being in Asia does not mean they're homogenous in any way, shape or form.

"4. Really the place one want to live if you have to choose which side of the town you can go and which not, makes living there really comfortable. I can't remember when I was harassed by a beggar in Thailand last time."

Like anywhere you land, you ask local expats about the lesser and better places to stay.

"5. It's a known fact that Thailand has the poorest English skills in the region, but I doubt that is a reason to move."

The references to English aptitude was not in the context of moving anywhere. It was in the context of communicating and making friends with people who apparently studied English for years. The Khmers are enthusiastic talkers.

"6. I didn't move to an Asian country because I wanted to eat Western food. however I also like Western food now and then, I know that wherever I move it will be eating the local kitchen or stay where I am."

You are assuming incorrectly that people might choose Cambodia for the western food. There's a wide variety there, as Sheryl pointed out., including good Khmer and Thai food. I assume people moving to Cambodia have several more interesting reasons or simply want a new adventure.

"7. I've never been asked for money on any Thai border either, but I know that people who put money in their passport voluntary have something to hide."

Not at all. It just shortens the page-turning and long pauses (Viets are good at this) and hurries up the stamp, which is going to be given anyway. For contrast, Thai immigration officials are paid bonuses for the number of people they process. So the government is, in essence, bribing ifs officials. The Cambodian officials just do their jobs efficiently, as I learned later. The Viets however are a different story. Money moves stamp hands.

I'm agreeing with a lot of stuff posted by TheSiemReaper and Sheryl. I have lived in Cambodia and visited 4-5 times a year. And am looking forward to leaving Thailand and living in Cambodia again.

1. Money. I not only carry small stuff all the time and if I don't have it, immediately change some. I go so far as to pre-load my payment for most things. I don't like to stand on the street or market fumbling with my wallet or show what's in it. One thing you find is Khmers are nosy, staring inside your wallet and grocery bags. One time I and a foreigner who was selling his motorcycle to me huddled together on the sidewalk only to have a moto taxi guy jump right up beside us to stare and listen.

2. I like the Khmer people a lot. I find them curious, determined, hard working, friendly, willing to listen to instructions and the "why" of things, and polite.

3. I think it more likely I will make friends with a Khmer long before I could with a Thai. In fact, I think the latter is almost impossible because their culture precludes befriending foreigners and they don't understand what friendship means. To say nothing of the fact, their English is deplorable despite years of language "schooling".

4. Interesting theory about foreigner radar, Sheryl. I like it. I have been pretty much ignored by tuk tuk drivers and beggars now for the last couple of years. Of course, I never NEVER go the riverside. Once I'm safely on the west side of say, St. 13, I'm just another pedestrian. This mostly does not work in Thailand where I'm just another monied white face, hit upon by greeters and vendors.

5. I am astounded at how hard even poorer Khmer try to learn English or learn a trade. I second the details given above, but I knew a girl with three jobs AND learned English on the side. I'm not making this up.

6. I agree with Sheryl and Mr WW that the everyday western food in Cambodia is far superior to anything I've had in Thailand. It's one of the things I miss living (not by choice) in Thailand.

7. Last, I've never been asked for money by Cambodian immigration, direct or indirect, airport or land crossing. A couple of times on the Koh Kong/Chaem Yaek border point and the Mekong Cambo-VN crossover, I slid a bit of US money in my passport but both times it was returned without comment.

I've had PSAs done there and seem to be accurate. I've confirmed Lifecare's work with another lab just to feel more secure.

Looking at the posted Streetview map, that's the same location it's been in for years.

I am looking for vari-focal, photo-chromatic lenses. I was quoted 23K in my usual shop in Tesco on Suk. I have been told it costs a quarter of this in UK?

I am going for a holiday there in August; do I wait or is there somewhere cheaper in the Pattaya area?

I just bought the same thing in Canada except for the vari-focal, which I know is a bit expensive. Superb quality glass with expensive surfacing to keep off grime (better than anything I've bought in Thailand before), photochromatic lenses for single vision (I am short-sighted), high quality designer frames and hard-case. Price under 10,000 baht.

After this experience, I'll never buy glasses in Thailand again, if it can be helped. BTW, this pair was a backup set. A Canadian friend will never buy in Thailand again either after similar quotes.

I drink soda water in bars. It's odd that bar bottles are always bigger, while you can only buy the small ones in the supermarkets. Anyone seen the big bottles in the shops?

Why is it then that Beer Laos is readily available?

Really? Where? This was about the only good memory I had of Laos!! Best beer I tasted in my time in SE Asia

Beer Lao is sold at a few bars: At All and Witherspoon's on Soi Buakhao and at Triangle Bar on Soi Chaiyaphum.

I would love to have Angkor beer. My guess is Cambrew (a Carlsberg company) might not have enough capacity to export Angkor. More likely, Thailand (i.e., the 2 most powerful breweries) doesn't want it.

I always wait till I go back home to buy jeans. They're 40-50% less in regular pricing of Levi's, for example.

^^^ An International Driver's PERMIT (not license) is only valid for 1 (one) year in pretty much every jurisdiction in the world.

Cancelled your flight without any notice? Whoa!

Another winner brought to you by the Dept of Civil Aviation.

For me, it's the big hit in the exchange rate that is making me weigh the options. I am going back home to Canada tomorrow and won't be back for 2 months, maybe more. I usually only go back for 10 days to 2 weeks. If I come back here this summer, I will return to Canada again in the fall for 1-2 months, at least. There are many reasons but the overall poor value for money is a biggie. It seems every month prices for groceries go up.

On my last trip in September, I went around and priced the things I buy in Thailand. Nearly all the grocery products were cheaper by big amounts. The big difference back home is rent, which is very high compared to here. I regret a little bit selling my condo 3 years ago.

My offshore oil friends, which is a lot of people, are not having their contracts renewed, despite years of service. They are all based in Thailand, except one from France. They are not hopeful of getting another contract. Another friend not in oil is being courted by a US company and he may just leave after 10 years here, with a solid relationship, for the same reasons of high costs and frankly, the complete loss of the sanuk factor. I was just talking with him last night here in BKK, in a completely empty bar on soi 22

Last, I live on the Darkside of Pattaya. With no supermarket on this side and the horrendously long, costly and risky moto ride to the bright side and back, my fate was sealed and I will leave. The big questions is, where to go. I'm returning home to contemplate the options. The home country is looking better and better. BTW, I do not participate in the night life so that won't be missed.

So you leave Thailand because there is no supermarket on the east side of Sukhumvit?

Hardly. Nothing is ever that simple. I should have added ". . . fate was sealed and I will leave Pattaya." The isolation of the Darkside by the Sukhumvit construction was the final reason in a long list of negatives about Pattaya (and Thailand) that is leading me to weigh all other options. The unpredictable nature of exchange rates is clouding everything though. What I do know is that I've lost 12,000 baht in cash-in-hand since late last fall. And many others are experiencing the same, of course.

For me, it's the big hit in the exchange rate that is making me weigh the options. I am going back home to Canada tomorrow and won't be back for 2 months, maybe more. I usually only go back for 10 days to 2 weeks. If I come back here this summer, I will return to Canada again in the fall for 1-2 months, at least. There are many reasons but the overall poor value for money is a biggie. It seems every month prices for groceries go up.

On my last trip in September, I went around and priced the things I buy in Thailand. Nearly all the grocery products were cheaper by big amounts. The big difference back home is rent, which is very high compared to here. I regret a little bit selling my condo 3 years ago.

My offshore oil friends, which is a lot of people, are not having their contracts renewed, despite years of service. They are all based in Thailand, except one from France. They are not hopeful of getting another contract. Another friend not in oil is being courted by a US company and he may just leave after 10 years here, with a solid relationship, for the same reasons of high costs and frankly, the complete loss of the sanuk factor. I was just talking with him last night here in BKK, in a completely empty bar on soi 22

Last, I live on the Darkside of Pattaya. With no supermarket on this side and the horrendously long, costly and risky moto ride to the bright side and back, my fate was sealed and I will leave. The big questions is, where to go. I'm returning home to contemplate the options. The home country is looking better and better. BTW, I do not participate in the night life so that won't be missed.

I hate to break it to Thai media and readers here, but Calkins is a backbench MP who I had never heard of until now. Not only did he deliver standard forward-looking motherhood statements, his low status as a visitor means his statements are worth just about 000.00.

Made the mistake of staying all through last year's hot season and Songkran. Won't do that again. This year it's back to Canada and for a lengthy period. Leaving this week for the chilly north and I'm looking forward to the long break from the heat and steam.

I'm kind of seconding the police option. These days, the police are under military pressure to do their jobs and you might just get some co-operation. With an appropriate donation, of course. An immediate gift will do wonders, if I may emphasize the point.

The Airport bus to Jomtien beats Immigration every time-avoid it if you can!

I forgot about that since I tend to stay in my BKK apartment one night before going to Pattaya. Yes, you get the best-of-the-best post-flight odour assault. But you have to give everyone a little leeway because of that. But a quick trip to the toilet for a touchup with the roll-on deodorant would not go amiss. Hint hint . . .

The worst offenders, IMO, are the 50+ guys with heavy tans and wife beaters. The odour has nowhere to go but up your nose.

To the right is a barely noticeable symbol like this: ^

Click it.

Done.

Thanks.

Thought I'd have to log out and never come back.

Yup, I was almost there already. In fact, when I read stuff on my iPhone 4s, 20% of the readable screen is already blocked. And I will not use the app, thank you. They are rarely as effective as the Full Version. Well, I just tested it: I cannot get to the "Retract" button on the yellow banner. OK, no more reading Thaivisa on my phone. It won't be long before I leave the site altogether.

I am glad to hear it tastes better than it looks. Were fried potatoes on offer in another set meal or as an added cost option?

Food Mart in Jomtien. They are miserable.

I hope to get a hello or hopefully a thank you but nooooo.

One day I did get a bizarre reply from the cashier.

Me: Hi, how are you?

Her: "I'm not rich like the farang."

I guess she's not planning on scamming me or screwing me so why be nice?

I am not shopping at Food mart much , mainly because they are more expensive but also the lack of smiles and the attitude among the staff towards foreigners. Maybe they have experienced drunk and rude tourists and had enough of it, who knows.

Yes , they are playing with us , a couple of the girls are actually cute but they just hate us don't they ? No smiles and try to ask a question and you will most certainly get a rude reply back . Stay away.

I used to go in there when my (ex) GF lived nearby. I can't recall a more miserable staff in Thailand than in that Food Mart. Must have been the dour, dismissive Russians who crapped on their party. It's polar opposite is Foodland on Klang, although I can't help thinking the Foodland staff are running through scripts in their heads rather than being naturally polite. Once in a while I joke a little bit with a cashier and their expressions are blank. They'd rather chat with the box boys. They just want to see the end of their shifts. I can imagine that clerking there they see farang and Thais come in and spend 4000 baht without batting an eyelid, which is far more than a clerk's monthly rent. Overall in Thailand, we are just money pouches. In the end, the quality of living here has gone down over the years.

Congratulations......treasure it...............

You will not have the opportunity to witness that many times in thailand.

So it was your Lucky day

I find myself agreeing with Costas. I will go take my medicine now.

Something I've noticed recently on Sophon is that there is a lot more broadcast time devoted to promotional/advertising programs. Sometimes all three movie channels are showing promos at the same time.

I sent Kasikorn 3 messages last week about this. NO REPLY.

I would recommend staying away from this bank.

It's not just KBank that doesn't reply to emails. Nearly every Thai company does not. The only time I've ever gotten email replies were from two farang-owned insurance brokers in Pattaya.

Some of the vendors start packing up around 3 pm. But after years of going there for something to do or actual shopping, the Buakhao Market selection of knockoff clothing and whatnot has gotten pretty predictable and tiresome.

There's a new market on Soi Xcyte, in the big parking lot at the 3rd Road end. It was a weekend market but just last week it was extended to every night. Not big but it does have good food and the usual clothes and home hardware, plus kid activities including a big inflatable slide and some trampoline-like thingies.