Mole

That is the annual temple fair.

ฉันไม่ได้ไปโรงเรียน(มา)หลายวันแล้ว means: I didn't go to school for a few days already.

ฉันไม่ได้ไปโรงเรียน(เมื่อ)หลายวันที่แล้ว means: I didn't go to school a few days ago.

The words in () can be omitted, but can also be added for clarity.

To answer your question about the property location, I would say the one near Fisherman's Village is better location than the other one.

That far south of Lamai isn't considered to be "Lamai" anymore and more in "Hua Thanon". Oceans around that area are also very shallow and from April-September, the level of ocean isn't really deep enough to swim.

The one near Fisherman's Village is definitely better location to rent out.

No, there hasn't been any shift in meaning since 80s.

Also, that bold you Quoted says something like:

Money or favours given to a person in order to influence that person's duties.

Do you read Thai? I don't think you actually understood that phrase correctly. Did you use google translation or something?

Like I said, if the emphasis was that it was not a bribe, then it can only be สินน้ำใจ. สินบน always means bribe.

Regular songthaew at standard price will run till around 5-6 PM in the afternoon. Anything after that, the price will go dramatically up. At least 100 to Chaweng and Lamai. Minivan, not sure, but probably 150.

I arrived to the Seatran pier a couple of weeks ago and these are the following options:

Songthaew will cost 60 (standard price) to Lamai or Chaweng. There will be several waiting and just tell where you're going and they'll direct you to the correct one. Not sure if the driver wants extra for heavy luggage. The drawback is that unless your hotel happens to be on their route, they won't be able to stop right in front of your hotel.

There's also shared minivans, which I took and cost 80. I live in Chaweng where the songthaew route doesn't pass, so that's why I chose this instead. I also had a 20 kg big luggage with me and didn't need to pay any extra for it.

There's also of course the taxis, but they'll probably want at least 600 to go to Lamai or Chaweng.

I am a native Thai, but the prices should also apply to farangs. Just don't tell them you read about it here...

Hotel transfer is of course most convenient, but most hotels would want at least 400 or more to pick up from Nathon to Chaweng or Lamai.

Link with proper explaining word components of สินบน, only in Thai language though.

According to the link, บน is originally a Khmer word.

http://www.royin.go.th/th/knowledge/detail.php?ID=4050

When reading your additional posts, the word you're after can be no other word than สินน้ำใจ, definitely not สินบน, trust me. Actually, don't just trust me, ask any other Thai person (or farang who is proficient in Thai for that matter) that you know, and they'll tell you the same as I do.

Also, I had a look at that link in thai-language.com and again it confirms that this site is probably run by some farangs and not really Thai people who are expert in Thai language. I see inconsistencies and errors on this site so often that I just can't take it seriously.

In there, it is explained that บน means up or above. Although this is the most common meaning of the word บน, บน can also mean "oath or pray".

For instance, when people go to a particular shrine to make a wish, it's called บน and when their wish is granted, it's expected that they go back to that shrine and แก้บน in a timely manner, otherwise their wish which was granted may be reversed. For example in the famous Erawan shrine near Rachaprasong, when people had their wish granted, they'll go back to แก้บน and give donation to dancers to perform a dance as thanks to the gods.

In the case of meaning of สินบน it's not "wealth"+"up/above" but "wealth"+"oath", in other words, "oath money", which is quite metaphoric for "bribe".

The way you described in in your original post as "gift from the heart" surely sounds like สินน้ำใจ than สินบน

"Sin bon" is always used in context meaning "bribe".

The meaning of "sin nam jai" is exactly as you wrote, that it's a gift out of admiration where nothing is expected in return, while "sin bon" is a bribe where of course something is expected in return.

You should also not get too stuck up in the meaning of each individual words, because often when words are combined in Thai, they may get an entire different meaning. In Thai, always look at the meaning of the full word.

Another pitfall, as you can see in my next post is that many Thai words may be spelled exactly the same, but have totally different meanings. Sometimes, there may be some slightly different spellings, but pronounced the same, but sometimes, they're spelled exactly the same.

No, it's not "sin bon", it's สินน้ำใจ "sin nam jai".

Bruno, a cat I've taken in, has been missing for days and one of my cats as well as several of my neighbours cats has recently died because of illness. So I guess there's room in my neighbourhood for 1 more cat.

I'd recommend you check out Sabieng Le seafood restaurant in Lamai near the grandfather rock. It's right next to the beach and is one of the best seafood restaurants on the island. It's on the way to the waterfalls, so you're not wasting precious time on detours.

I got warned about the raid a couple of days before. Also my DJ friends told me they was told about the impending raid and instructed not to bring any of dem Columbian imports with them.

It was all just for show. Everybody who was gonna get raided got notified in advanced about this raid.

FYI, funeral is currently held at Bo Phut temple.

Pic from funeral:

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=617656581669425&set=a.106755686092853.7482.100002752659777

Pic of the deceased:

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=617550748346675&set=a.106755686092853.7482.100002752659777

Karma Sutra or Kama Sutra? Karma and Kama is not the same thing...

The deceased was the brother of a lady even more influential in the underworld.

Yes, I spoke to her.

My suggestion is that it's OK to get produce from elsewhere too, as long as they're organic of course.

Now that the durian season will be here in coming months, it may also be good idea to bring any special varieties of durian. I'm pretty sure that there will be people (such as me) who are willing to fork out some dosh to get some premium garden durian, or a taste of some obscure durian variety.

It would also be great if there would be a butcher stall with organic livestock or wildlife meat. I would gladly pay premium for local free range pork or chicken. You can for example vacuum pack them and put in a refrigerator in a stall.

Excellent! I'm lying in bed with fever so didn't have the strength to go. Will definitely go on 3rd.

What about keeping a bigger dog to keep other smaller dogs away...???

Their bails were set at 1 million and they're already out on bail....

Pulling what freaking legs?

I'm merely just telling what the dam airline told me.

For the sake of it, I just called them right now to confirm and they told me first you'll have to notify them well in advanced of your flight that you'll be travelling with an animal. Some flights can't accommodate animals at all, but they confirmed that USM-UTP can.

When it comes to dogs, if the dogs are barking or making too much noises, they'll refuse it onboard. The same goes for the cat, if it's for example screaming all the time etc, they won't take it onboard.

Sedation is not necessary if the animal is quiet.

The cage must be sturdy and firmly shut. Also it must be a type which will have a closed bottom to hold any excrements.

You'll have to go to a vet to get the sedation medicaments to give your cat. The vet will know how much to give to your kitten.

Bangkok Airline insist that the animal be sedated. If they see that your cat is wide awake and not laying still and making noises etc, they may refuse to let you check in and take it onboard.

This is what they told me on the phone when I asked a while ago.

It's probably written as an irony.

Standard pronunciation is with short vowel, but it's written with long vowels instead.

It's like saying: Aimmm noot druuunnkk yeeet... (as in not drunk [enough] yet...)