socalbro

Actually its suprising they don't have a "kill it yer'self" option for those really in need of big face. Shotgun shells and a tie-down of your animal are included, all for maybe about 20,000 Baht. It has to die somehow, why not increase profits and let the diners have a little pride in their meals.

Even big hair hi-so girls can be brave hunters now. Just have your driver pull up alongside some unsuspecting beaver or koala bear or whatever, hold your coctail tight between your knees and pull the trigger a few times, and you just killed your first big game dinner.

Maybe for 40,000 Baht or so they could even let you torture the animals for a while first. You get to keep the hide, bones and teeth to make tribal safari outfits and jewelery, proudly announcing that you can afford to pay an absurd amount of money for the prestige of killing, maiming and eating your very own majestic wild animal.

Being far more culturally sophisticated and socially polished than the common peasant on the street, their more advanced nature will be ever more evident as they parade through the Emporium in a "Crocadille Dunde" genuine animal hide outfit, available exclusively from the Chiang Mai Night Safari.

What says "I'm richer than you'll ever be" better than a panda bear tuxedo, one of only two available in all Thailand. The Chinese might get pissed off for a while, but they will come around shortly, as who better than they know how important a man's need to eat an endangered species in order to maintain a 36 hour erection and de-flower no less than a dozen virgins is, and far outweighs the need to protect any animal species, no matter how rare on our planet they are.

Last time I was at the Chiang Mai Zoo there were no moose in their cages, so until they can get some, I'll just have to wait until the "Rocky & Bullwinkle Mixed Grill" is back on the menu before blowing all my rent money on another "Huckleberry Hound Pie" or "Laughing Hyiena Hamburger" again. A nice red wine always goes best with good dog meat, domestic or otherwise, however white wine is a must with any rodent or marsupial dishes.

A safari is what they call it?!? Sounds more like the circus to me, one where the clowns somehow got in charge.

Kaiser Souse? - Doubt it!

The most suitable sentance for these pushers would be a heavy heroin addiction while in jail awaiting a final fatal overdose to be administered without any prior warning. If they receive a life sentance rather than the death penalty, the same punishment should apply, only with periods when they are pulled cold-turkey from the drugs on a regular basis to suffer that henious drugs withdrawls without any medical help of easement of the symptoms.

The time should fit the crime. They deserve to suffer the same fate so many of their clients had to all in the name of the greed and the evil they were willing to partake in for the almighty dollar selling their poison.

dumb and dumber

Iranians in Thailand

being watched

well hello

yes they are watching

and waiting

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If they are smuggling weed rather than explosives then I gotta say "right on!". If there were more weed heads maybe there would be less hate-inspired action going down in our world. Although I don't partake myself, I happen to know that a little smoking makes for a mellow fellow far better than a drunk hooligan or a sober bomber.

Possesing weed is a crime! Posessing a gun is not (In the States anyways)! That's for our protection of course. We can all handle a loaded weapon, but God forbid we would have a loaded joint, somebody might get hurt after all.

Agreed, the prime minister might just be the next Edi Amin.

However the Muslims here and around the world are just way outta

Yet there seems to be some major problem inherent with their religion that leads many to falsly believe Allah sees it fit to murder innocent people in his name.

I for one am sick of it, and any sympathies I may have held for them in the past are well drained by now.

False prophets abound

I left a bag (my valuables not to leave my side - YEAAA) at the taxi tax booth at Don Muang upon a return trip from the states. Passport, camera, cell phone, a $500 watch, money and gifts all still there when I made a stressful taxi ride back to the airport after arriving at my room missing it. 16 hour flights take it out of me and I am a zombie, but a lucky one as it was 100% accounted for. Tips all around - nobody said no.

I left a less valuable, but still costly bag on a bus after a country trip back from Essan with gf. Stood up at the statiohn and stepped off the bus at 5am, got my luggage from underneath, realized my phone was still on board, climed back up and went to my seat and another passenger or employee had already pocketed it. I'm not so good after 9 hour drives from Essan to BKK, and this time the zombie lost.

I am ha-sip/ha-sip (50/50 %) in Thailand to date. All I can say is it pays to travel next to me on long trips.

Lost my wallet 2x in the states. Both times sent back to me in the mail with everything including cash still inside. Once from NYC sent to me back in LA, the opther time from Rhodi Island back to LA. The one from NYC came back 6 months later as it was found beneath a car seat I took a ride in from a concert. The one in RI came back sooner and was found on the side of the road near a strip of bars...Oops - hic.

It's just a crap shoot. There's good and bad everywhere. Such is life.

I am agnostic myself and I am not a big fan of religion but it sickens me to see such hateful/insulting words from some people here.

Jem

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If that sickens you, how do you feel about these "teachers" using their influence, all in the name of their God, to twist young minds into believing some higher power is pleased by them if they get themselves killed while murdering countless other innocent people, children included.

That is sickening. I don't follow any particular religion, but one thing is certain, if your God is the sort that rewards murder, butchery and terrorism in his name, well maybe it just might be time to look for a better higher-power. That God would be the last sort I would want spend eternity in the afterlife with. I'll settle for the loving ones.

Right, right, I know the majority of islam don't feel or behave this way. People in this world, I believe, are generally good. But for as long as I can remember there has been a large ugly element of isam basing their senseless killings on what they believe their God expects of them. And then convincing their young to do their dirty work.

Time and time again it happens and their is only one religion that seems to somehow breed this pattern of violence. Sorry but the proof is in the pudding.

This is what is absoutly twisted, moronic and sickening - just to put it mildly.

...

What sort of role-models do the kids here have?  Pop-stars and the Wealthy?

How can they learn right from wrong when what they are told versus what they see are completely different from each other. 

How must it feel knowing there is nothing you can really ever do to change things and must finally just give-up and accept it and/or become that way too? 

...

Yet nothing stands out as much as the criminal behavior so prevelant amongst those who are inpowered to protect and govern their citizens, that it's regarded as normal and therefore will remain....

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Very well put. It will take a very special person to change things - and I can't see such a person in the political or social scene at the moment.

And if we farangs try to point out a different way of doing things, we get the "not your country" retorts from Thais and "go home if you don't like it" from 'fellow' farangs.

Very sad.

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Go home if you don't like it!

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My bad...I forgot that some of us out there like being robbed by the brown clowns. Call it a bribery if you like, but the terms theft, robbery, intemidation, stealing, harassment and screwing over your entire country and its people come to mine.

Oh by the way, it is those same people having to take this corruption that endear me to Thailand, its people and culture.

If Americans had to take this kind of abuse their entire lives I don't believe we could ever remain such a warm, generous and friendly people such as the Thais have managed. And it is exactly that quality of character of the general population that upsets me so much to see cheated by those abusing power.

I just find it impossible to completely accept coming from my background. Justice would be such a wonderful thing to see everyone here, Thai and Farang have the opportunity to enjoy.

So nanny, nanny billy goat right back at ya...

If they just abolished clothing they would have nowhere to hide either bombs or guns. But I guess that might not keep them from hiding grenade launchers...OUCH

Yes I filled a report with the police, which may do little more than getting a bit of leniency if I ever did see them somewhere with a few beers in me.

I really hope not to run into them again, not out of fear, but out of again stirring up a dark deep-seated hatred that has no place in my life.

Could I control myself? Who knows, but that is often what seperates good folks from the criminals. It only takes a momentary loss of control in a crime of passion that sends the best of us over the edge, often it's a one-way ticket.

Of course it would be ideal to get a chance to bite that dudes nose off or something, but where would that leave me...questioning whether I was any better than them to begin with.

Feeling hate and violence toward another is a fair emotion to have about this, but holding onto it in my head and chest only multiplies the damage they did to me physically.

So I let it go...I hope.

I really like the beyond scortching hot Essan/Laos somtom and hardly a day goes bye that GF is not having some.

However does anyone know what one of the most essential ingredients is? It's called "Pra La" and it's thousands of stinky little fish crushed-up in their entirety with a little salt added to taste and then fermented for years in large jars sitting in the sun or sometimes buried up to the neck.

The only thing "better" than one year-old pra la is two and three year-old pra la. It's bacteria heaven! Had I not already been eating it and developed a taste for it when I learned of this ingredient I may have never tried.

I have not once in the last three years gotten sick from it. Mussels on the other hand can be a ticket to the hospital with food poisioning you would swear you were not going to live through.

Amazing Thailand!!!

And by the way, thats what you smell when driving past Klong Toey market on Rama 4, not just the klong itself.

Bon appetite

The real answer we'd all like to know is which one floats the best?

I say #2, because she probably floats upright.

#1 might just bob around at all sorts of unsafe angles unless tethered by her feet.

Actually glad to hear its a mall. a friend told me it was BKK's newest high security prison. I think I'd rather shop...

A vendor I work with in Baan Tawaii has a 1Gig kpbs service with TTT and suggested I get the same about 1,000B. However at Pantip I was told my pre-fix must go through TOT as it was in their service area. The TOT office is two shops down and I found they cannot connect me without thefamily and house papers of the lady I rent from. Went back and filled out the forms and was told there was a 6 week backlog for connection services. I bought the ADSL modum just to be pre-pared.

Two months later and nothing. I go back to TOT office and the girls fresh from uni said we are still in line on the waiting list, I considered this might be code for "tip us if you want your service connected" but gave them my phone #'s again and was told to wait on ther call, it shouldn't be much longer now.

one month later, the tissue the put my # on must have been used for more immediate needs. I went back and was luck to find a branch manager whowas very appoligetic and said he would have someone over to my place tomorrow, which he did. Only he came un-prepared without the right materials necessary to create a connection. He said he would return in a week, but I had to be in BKK for a month and said I would arrange for him to return then.

Back in CM TOT office, the girls again had no clue as to what to do, so they dialed their manager and he remembered us and has someone out two days later. He got it up and running, with my modum and phone line, but was using his own company username and password. He then gave set-up my connection with my username and password, and said my account would be connected in about a week.

Three weeks later, that's right -NOTHING. Went back to the office and was told they were still working to expand their lines into my part of town, Nong Hoi, and it could be another month since we were considered far from town center.

I tried to explain that the service guy connected using his name and passwork from my computeri n my house, in Nong Hoi when he came out, given a valid password and ID mine should connect as well - right? Wrong, the cable/phone lines have not reached so far out of town and I may have to wait a while longer.

driving around my neighborhood I came across a computer business from a neighbors home and related my problem to him; "What problem is that? I have TOT ADSL here and it works fine". He had only waited one month for the innitial instilation guy to come out and hook him up as has been successfully using it ever since.

Went back to the office. Even with my Thai wife explaining to the girls what going on, when they were so inclined to look-up from their hand mirrors, they took our address and said they would get someone there this week. Only who shows up at my place is a telephone repair guy from TOT askingwhat phones in the house were not working.

Before coming back to BKK I went again and was told it should be turned on at the main computer office anyday now. Here I am in BKK until next week when I return to CM, and what do you wanna bet I gotta start from scratch at the TOT office in Pantip again.

Five months now and they can't get it done and I not sure they ever will. I find it so entirely frustrating I feel like giving up.

Being in a TOT neighborhood, are they the only company I can use? I know TTT cannot, art there any other high-speed providers I should check out?I do alot of work over the internet and I really need the speed. My 7-11 CSLox card is lucky to give me over 24-28 speed and usually 18kpbs.

I'm at the end of my rope, any ideas as to what I should do? Has anyone tried the new pay-in-advance TRUE service and could it possibly work for me?

Ay advice is welcome...Thanks

So before cell phones were commonplace how were bombs triggered? This problem has been around alot longer than that. I'm guessing that it only requires an electrical impulse into an explosive to detonate it, right? how about walkie talkies, tv remote controls, remote control car toys, digital timers.

I know nothing about the subgect except what I've read in spy novels so if I'm wrong let me know. But this solution seems a bit over the top and not a real solution to a real problem...Just politicans trying to look like they are doing something which does very litte in the end, if anything at all.

It even seems like there may be some ulterior motives involved here related to the phone service providers, that's my conspiricy theory. The marketing possibilities are unlimited with the mailing list they will be creating.

And of course to tap into a private conversation by police or other "authority figures" will be able to now link that call to the phone owner and address. Just think of all the control possibilities here. Is there anything remotly like due process here or can big brother drop on anyone he wants and use what is heard to make arrests.

I guess it could help a small bit with the bombs, they'll just find new and better ways to kill people. I'm just used to being in a country where privacy is protected and legislation is not just imposed on a whim.

Hey nowhere is perfect...and I still prefer it here.

Oh and if I ever run across them again anywhere...I'll just turn and walk away as any civilized person would when faced with dangerous rabid animals.

Sitting at Mike's burger ordering a take-away burger, some guys were going on about football, obviously now I realise they were refering to what Americans like myself know as soccer. Growing up watching American football, I asked if any had seen the recent Superbowl, only to be answered with a fist to the side of my head, a brief wrestling match and then three of them standing on me and kicking me in the face. Lovely assho's. My pregnant wife waiting in the car herd the commotion, and screamed at them to stop since everyone else at the busy burger stand decided it was best to stand aside and watch. They started to approach her and I was up again, grabbed her and made it to the truck and locked up as they beat dents into the hood.

Bad in my part was mouthing off when we were safely locked in the car, but the whole thing started as I was trying to make light conversation about footbal, no contriversy, while waiting for my food. If "Did you catch the Superbowl?" is enough to make someone come over and blind-side me (his friends jumped in after the first punch knocked me off my stool, but I somehow managed to pin him down and returned the favor, and as they came over to help him by kicking my face in, he got up and bit the back of my neck so hard he took a chunk of skin and tissue away with him).

No doubt British by their accents and dedication to English football. My wife had to talk the good sense into me to not make a lap around the moat and run the worthless runts over. Had they touched her I imagine I would have. Thank God cooler heads prevailed. I am not violent, not fighting since grade school, but as I healed over the next week I had some absolutely murderous feelings pass through an otherwise friendly good-natured mind. And the dreams were not much better. No major damage except for a slight hairline fracture to one cheek and black swollen eyes.

Why the long story, I guess since I'm new to TV I want to take advantage of the public forum, and let go of any residual anger I might still feel at times for anyone willing to spend several hours watching a scoreless game (OK that was my cheap shot).

But I also believe it fits well into this forum about Chaing Mai and the undesirables that should be avoided. Start with Mike's burgers, Mike was kind enough to give me a few free burgers when I came back to try and see if anyone could identify these punks, but at 12-2am 99% of the customers are drunk or high on something, and having only 2-3 girls behind the counter is not any help at setteling rowdy customers, nor did anyone call the police. I think a tough security/counter worker would be a welcome addition - at least if I am going to eat there again, even though they do have the best late-nit grub. Had I been drinking to I also don't know how it would have turned out, but worse I'm sure.

Cheap rooms, beers and drugs have definatly attracted an unwelcome element, probable no more than 5-10% max, but those are the odds and I lost that night. At least in BKK they keep the majority of the holligans around Khao San Road. And as much as I love the atmosphere the guesthouses create with their lively staffs and adventure seeking farangs there are some nasty people cruising around there, and it would not bother me at all to see them weeded out somehow. Overnight drunk tanks might be a good start for those who have completely lost control of themselves.

So as mentioned above, pick your friends in CM carefully and thanks for letting me get the whole thing out of my system, holding a grudge is poison to the system and can have no positive results. And yes I'll continue to try meeting people wherever I go, as mentioned above the majority of us are truely good and pleasant accuantances, and possible friends.

what should I expect to be charged by a lawer for a divorce from my Thai wife residing in the states and myself living in Thailand (American). Spoke with one lawyer in CM and it can definatly be done, but he wanted 60,000 baht ++travel expenses to go to her home province(Nakon Sawan) and possibly BKK.

I think that's much too high, but have no idea.

Any suggestions? Or good Chiang Mai lawyers offering services at fair rates? It should be a fairly straight forward case.

This looks like the place to ask advice about first where to have my wife go to see a ob/gyn as she is 6mths pregnant and our only doctor is in BKK where we travel to monthly, for business not just the Dr. But I would feel better if we had a good hospital/doctor in Chiang Mai - any suggestions we live in Nong Hoi, but I'll drive wherever for the best doctors.

Second I am at the point of just starting to think about the languages our child will need to know. My wife is Essan, I'm an Americanfrom California. I think worrying about their accent English/American/Aussie is sort of an old school consideration. I'm fairly certain kids pick up their accent from their parents not their schools, but that could be not quite the whole story. I'll feel grateful if they're not trying to copy the hip-hop gangster slang like so many are - around the world. Since when did it become cool to sound like a complete moron...

Will my child be fluent in Thai if they don't attend any Thai schools, either public or private. Are there schools with mixed classes, I want him/her to have full communication in both Thai and English, for family, future life and business needs. As far as English v. American accents that won't make any difference to me, it must be more about the class system stuff that is much more important in the UK, again I'm sure he/she'll speak much like myself, hopefully better if put through better than my smalltown public school. Just as long as they don't say zet for the letter zzzzzzzzzzzzzz

I just want to make sure my child identifies with being both Thai and American. What's the best solution, say starting with pre-school?

I've got time to think that over. But for now could someone please recommend where to take my wife in for a check-up and meet a good doctor just in case of an emergency or early labor and the like. How's the hospital across from the Sheraton?

For price, service, decor and overall decent quality, I like Fuji Restaurant in Airport Central Plaza for Japanese food.  I ate in the one in BKK as well and the quality is consistent.

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Love Fuji too...

BUT got the worst case of food poisoning in my intire adult life from the steamed mussels w/garlic...absolutly ruined my appetite for that dish possibly for good...infact just thinking back on it now makes me feel like throwing-up again.

Beware of any seafood, especially shellfish, at restaurants far inland such as Chiang Mai...I won't be eating that again ever!

If you like Fuji, give Zen Japanese restaurant a try in the Airport Mall too. Food is just as good or better, but I believe their menu selection is larger. Its on the back side of the mall across form KFC.

I just read that they have bought 6 of the new airbus mega-planes.

Hope it translates to more comfort - leg room and better economics - cheaper tickets...

I guess the wait for boarding off and on will increase, not to mention the wait at the luggage terminals will be much longer...same terminals pleanty more bags off-loading

What's that thing due to carry, something like 1,000 or so fliers???

it can be hard...but with modern technology it is easier than it once was. I get frequent SMS's and the occasional chat on messenger.

I wouldnt pay good money to get her checked out, as Spee said, there has to be trust and mutual understanding. You have no control over what she does when you are not there, so why worry about it.

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Great philosophy

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What you/they don't know can't hurt or would that be ignorance is bliss?

Guess it starts with whether or not you can trust yourself...nothing eats up a great relationship more than a guilty conscience

i'm an executive working for a foreign company.  i have not encountered many ppl like me on this forum.

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I'm not an executive, but I am on a full expat package with a long term assignment in Thailand for a Multi National Corp in the oil and gas industry.

TH

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okay then i guess there are a few of us here on expat terms...but still very few on this forum. my impression is most ppl on this forum are

a) retirees, or

those who have made their bundle and do not need to work anymore, living here on a permanent or semi-permanent basis, or

c) those who are living here and working for themselves, either as private investors or in small businesses, or

d) those who are married to a thai and are here trying to start life over as a thai (many of whom live outside of Bangkok), or a combination of the above, or

e) those who are clueless, single and jobless with fantasies of being a DJ

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f) fugitives from the law - smart enough to get away with the money!

Apparently nobody reads through the posts to see that Scamp was blowing smoke where the sun don't shine. The debate continues...

I think they should consider putting in Starbuck's on each end and one about halfway down. Coffee's gonna keep on selling, but I think condos have just about reached the celing as far as price and supply go...the bubble nearing its bursting point when I can get the same size condo in the states for not too much more than they are selling for here.

It would take 20 yrs to fill the amount of condo space that could fix on top of cowboy.

I read in a book about different people around BKK and one chapter devoted to Cowboy said that most of it is owned by the police and most of the rest by a group of Germans. Old book though...

Hey, wouldn't it be great if they tore it down and put a Subway, KFC, McD, and then topped it off with a Walmart??? Or hey why not get Sears and Target to come out over here too...

Na, then we might start feeling kinda force fed don'tcha think...urp!