Boxclever

I just want to say what an awesome job Khun Suthep is doing. The way he has forced a democratically elected Government from office and his demand for a “peoples Committee” is outstanding. His “4 point plan” is brilliant, especially the setting up of a peoples police force in all the provinces to crush any opposition immediately it arises….brilliant!

A peoples police force would need a uniform, we can’t have armed thugs roaming the streets and keeping order in flip-flops and t-shirts so I suggest to Khun Suthep to drop the yellow shirts and start using brown ones to crush the red shirts. Once order and security is established then change to black shirts that was actually designed by Hugo Boss himself! It worked brilliantly in the 1920’s & 30’s just need to change the logo's a little bit (upsets the Northerners for some reason).

So....All hail Khun Suthep

Zeig....

Zeig....

I often have breakfast or lunch at one of the bistros along Riverside. Over the past 2 years there is one particular begger in a wheelchair with both legs gone just below his knees, clearly a victim of a landmine. Anyway I have give him a dollar or two from time to time because he genuinly looks destitute.

The other day I was sat at Metro and low and behold there he was...two shiny artificial legs on, walking about chatting to some tuktuk drivers with nice shirt and pants on (nothing like the rags he wears when he's begging) and then he proceeds to get on his brand new Honda Wave and rode off!!

I felt pretty angry at the time, I bloody well helped to pay for that new scooter. Anyway last time I donate to any of those beggers

Right, great he's spelled out the problems but...

Not one word about a solution!

I can think of 10 to get started

1) Crack down hard on illegally parked cars in peak hour times. Tow them, wheel clamp them and tripple the fines and release charges

2) Dramatically increase the highway patrol and make an incentive for not being scared to pull over expensive care by say, kickbacks to officers are directly linked to the price of the car being fined.

3) Red light cameras....start installing them at traffic intersections and FOLLOW UP on collecting the now trippled fines

4) Ban all street vendors from roads and sidewalks in built up areas. Police to confinscate the stalls on second offence.

5) Impliment an odd-even number plate system in Bkk. Same as Singapore does, Odds on Monday, Evens on Tuesday...etc.

See, not so complicated. I'd clean up the mess in a month if they gave me the big stick.

I'm booked to fly into Thailand on the 12th for a mates wedding. I'm pretty worried that if the yellowshirts don't get their way in the next couple of days their next target will be the airports again.

Is this a possibility?

I recently had need to conduct a domestic water quality analysis for a project I am managing in PP.

The results that came back suprised me. Basically the potable water quality straight from the tap far exceeds W.H.O standards!

I am told the reason is because there is no (or very few) heavy industries in cambodia that can pollute the water table. Also the agricultural sector uses very little pesticides and chemicals (too expensive for farmers to use) resulting in very good water quality.

Water in PP is more than safe to drink straight from the tap!

WATER ANALYSIS REPORT.pdf

Go to the local markets...

Someone mentioned Dan\s meats but they are very expensive.

For pork, duck, chicken, beef...here in Cambodia is very good quality, most or all is organicaly grow (mainly because farmers can't aford chemical/pesticides).

Central Market is the place...very cheap. Stay away from the super markets for fruit, veg & meat. Local markets are MUCH cheaper and fresher.

I wonder if 'sheryl' has even been to snookyville? It is a dodgy place for tourists to visit and a high percentage do get robbed or worse in that place. Maybe PP is rated worse on the danger aspect but this is only due to population numbers. For a small place like snookyville with small population it does have a high danger element to it and backpackers should be aware.

I personally cant think of anywhere more dodgy in SE Asia than Sihanoukville for a backpacker and I have travelled everywhere

Let me tell you...

I've been working in PP over 2 years and we travel down to Sihanoukville every time we can. Never in my or any of my expat friends have experienced any danger, violence or even police intimidation in Sihanoukville.

Perhaps there is the odd tale here and there but let me tell you from first hand experience Sihanoukville is one of the best, laidback, relaxing, cheap, unpoluted (the water is actually clear and full of fish), safe and pleasureable places in SEA.

I don't know of any Thai language schools but this lady provide tutoring in Thai at home: Ms Kai 099721487

And some of the international schools may offer Thai as a foreign language

Thanks Sheryl,

After a bit of research I've found a few Thai lanuage schools in PP, now trying to find the best one.

Should add terrorist charges to the list...

People were threatened with physical force if they did not leave their offices.

Reminiscent of Berlin, 1932

I've been working here for 2 years now and looks like my contract will extend another 12 months. My wife has put her foot down and either I come back to Thailand or her and my 8 year old Son come and live live with me in Phnom Penh. I want my Son to continue his Thai language education as our future will be in Thailand. His english is fine as he spent his first 3 years inAustralia and my wife and I continually home school him.

Anyone know of a good Thai corriculum school in Phnom Penh?

Thanks in advance

Your SiL wants 30k per month?!!!

Even Thai courts recognise that alimony payments are to help raise the child NOT to provide the Mother with funds to last her a life time.

2- 3k per month maximum and even a Thai court will saction that.

This is great news!

I live in Thailand but have worked in Phnom Penh the past 2 years (Construction Manager for Vattanac Tower).

Look forward to contributing to this forum.

There isn't really enough information on the reasons why your friend isn't considering the option of going back to Oz to offer any sound advice. Did you ever consider asking him?

If his savings are going to last just another month in Thailand, I would think they'd last about a week down under and thats not even including airfare so where would he get the funds to move back and try to find a job?

The fact that your concerned makes you a good friend. You can give him advice but he'll have to figure the rest out on his own.

That's just it, as soon as the option of going back to Oz was raised he completely dismissed the idea!

He won't even concider the idea. Next he'll be asking for loans.

What about the rest of the Thai family, can they provide any backup or is he out there alone? If there is any well working family network in the backround a further stay "may" be at least a little reasonable. But when he´s basically alone, what´s left to keep him here? He has no rights, what about the visa, who owns the house, everything will fall apart and any return home will be very difficult without any funds left. Is there any family back home which is ready to help him outta this mess if necessary? They even might be able to convince him to do the right thing now!

For a seven year old it might be really hard to accept such a change of life. My wife moved from China to Thailand when she was eight, she still tells me what kind of horror it was for her, but the wellbeing of the whole family might depend on that drastic move.

It sounds like a disaster is waiting to happen if nothing changes, after one year of looking for a job it might not happen the next month very likely

Edit: In the case of my wife moving from China to Thailand she stated that at that time noone was prepared or ready to give any assistance in her attempt to integrate into the Thai system. In Australia that should be not the case i guess, less hardship at least.

Yes there is a Thai family around him (his deceased wife's) and they do help with day-to-day living but they cost him a fortune!

I've met them and they are quite nice people but for the past 10 years he has supported them all financially so now they expect the money forever.

Yes it's a disaster waiting to happen, unless he gets a job in the next few weeks he will be broke.

I’m flabbergasted!

I have a close friend that has recently hit on hard times. He was laid off work about a year ago and has been unable to secure another job since and now he has only enough funds to last him another month.

He lives in Thailand, has a house and two kids aged 7 & 2. His wife died last year so now he is a single father raising his kids.

He’s been desperately trying get another job in the region and to say the least, he is very worried about what to do when the money runs out this month. I told him I was in a similar situation about 6 years ago and that I took my wife and Son back to Australia before the money ran out. Got a job, put my Son in kindergarten, relaxed and kept looking for another job in Thailand. After only 9 months I got the job, moved back to Thailand and have been in the same job since. It ended up being a very positive experience especially for my Son. He got his grounding in English and now, even though he attends a Thai school, it is his first language.

By his reaction you would have thought I suggest he take his kids to hell for a few months! No way was he open to going home even for a short time when it is clearly the only logical option left for him. When I asked him what plan B was…he didn’t know (perhaps sell his house?) but it is certainly not going back to Oz for a few months.

I’ve met plenty of men with the same attitude and I truly believe, like my friend, they are completely addicted Thailand to the point of even ignoring their children’s welfare. For me…I wouldn’t think twice about going back for a while if I had too. acyually it's a nice thought.

What do others think?

Look on the bright side.

They are trying to improve Mae Sot.

Yes I agree, they are only there untill the job is finished.

Really, you need to eccept the situation, there is nothing you can do but perhaps to negotiate with the boss that all loud construction work must cease at say 6:00pm. Stressing about it will only send you round the bend!

Why call it swampy?

Most new airports in the world are built on reclaimed land.

My Son grey up with this website

http://www.nickjr.com/

Alot of educational games too.

Any one know a good boat shop in Bkk or Kanchanaburi that sells small run-about's & motors?

Thanks in advance.

Why don't you spent more time with your Son and teach him English?

You're a rich Hotelier right? you can affort the education!

Get your priorities right Simon