Mark Wolfe

I have an unsubstantiated report of a guest at a Lamai resort having been diagnosed with swine flu and all the employees were compelled to go for a check at a hospital. My source says that the entire thing is very hush, hush and she got this from her friend who was an employee. The resort was not closed and I get the impression that anyone leaking the name of the resort would be looking for another job.

I am skeptical of this, but some of the details I am not able to post or PM lead me to believe that this could be possible.

However, I am also led to believe that what could have been a normal flu or similar ailment could have been misunderstood to be swine flu.

For my own part, I am equally very concerned about swine flu in the same way that I am very concerned about being hit by a meteor at the same instant I am struck by lightning. Frightening thought -- keeps me awake at night.

LolaSamui:

Regarding the flies - I remember being told when I was little that flies squirt some sort of digestive fluid onto food before they eat it, so they land on poo, squirt on it, suck it back up, land on your meat, squirt on it (with some off the poo that they just ate), and then suck it back up. I thought that's how they transferred germs? Did my primary school teacher feed me porky pies?

I thought you didn't eat meat...

What might "some of the poo" amount to, quantitatively? When a fly lands on your soda pop top, do you toss it all out then? What about when a fly lands on your meal? Out it goes -- off to MacDonald's? I wouldn't sweat it.

Home for me is London and I wouldn't drink the water coming out of the taps there if you paid me. It tastes disgusting.

And as for you and SBK, I thought the nature of the question was, "Is the water safe to drink from the tap?" not, "Is the water tasty from the tap?" Okay, point taken that some tap water isn't as refreshing as a US$3.49 bottle of water, but you can still safely drink it.

But your comment about people here buying and eating things from the wet market everyday isn't really the point - people who were born and brought up here will have developed resistance to native bugs and the like whereas my Western immune system will probably take a few months to adjust.

Is this "developed resistance to native bugs and the like" based on any science or just barstool wisdom? While I agree that different foods can produce different results on one's system, due to unfamiliarity, I am not at all sure that there is any real foundation for claiming a greater resistance from ailments from bad water or food. Because I have eaten food in Asia for many years means that it is more difficult for salmonella to infect me? That may be the case, but I'd need some scientific backing before I'd accept it as fact.

By the way, zucchini is disgusting.

And people who use bottled water to brush their teeth here? Wow, talk about paranoia. Maybe these people ought to bring their own spoons and forks with them when they dine out. Oh, better bring your own drinking glasses, and now that I think of it, best bring your own water as well. Cloth napkins? Don't even touch them! And if you have to use the toilet -- don't; it's nothing but a horrible breeding ground for all nature of ghastly parasites, worms, spiral-looking things under a microscope and "BUGS!"

LolaSamui:

I never drink from taps, even back home, ...

That's bizarre to my mind, but maybe things back in the West have moved toward the commercialized paranoia created by merchandisers. Unless "back home" is a Kenyan slum, tap water in the West (or certainly in the US and the UK) is potable. The concept that "drinking" water has to come from a bottle costing more, often, than petrol for your car, is one that has been foisted on the public by bottled water companies and has nothing to do with water "safety."

If "20l bottles" refer to the ubiquitous, large, white bottles of water -- the bottle is purchased for 100 baht and refills are 15 baht (used to be 10), then this water is completely safe. There would be no point in selling water in these large plastic bottles if you couldn't drink it.

It is interesting to see that the same 15 baht for a "big" bottle in 7-Eleven can buy you 20 times (or more) water if you use the 20l bottles. It shows what a scam bottled water in the shops really is.

I have drunken the water from the tap here in Lamai, although not on a regular basis, without any adverse effects.

As for the food issue, living in SE Asia for over two decades has shown me that we from the West, I am an American, have become totally anal when it comes to food "cleanliness." Every wet market in SE Asia looks pretty much the same -- no refrigeration for the meat and flies around. However, we in the West are "trained" to view this as horribly unsanitary, when in fact the meat there is probably fresher than what you get at the butcher in your home neighborhood. And while flies are not thought of as clean, they aren't some sort of sci-fi creature planting disease everywhere they touch down.

And look at it this way: People here buy and eat goods from the wet market without incident every day.

However, to be fair, I think the veggies are the things you need to be most concerned about (in a mild sense) as they are the only things that have given me any problems -- some diarrhea -- and that's from, I think, the chemical insecticides and fertilizers. Meat doesn't just "go bad" in an afternoon, but produce (lettuce seems to be the real culprit here), is often in need of a good washing before you consume it.

The bottom line is this: Food in Samui, wherever you purchase it, is safe to eat. Water from the tap won't kill you but for pure drinking, any water in a bottle is also safe. Tap water can be used for showering, brushing your teeth, washing your face (splash it in your eyes -- no worries!), cooking, tea or coffee, washing fruits and vegetables and so on.

Just because it looks "dirty" according to your Western cultural bias, doesn't mean it isn't fine. Just remember the old saying about Chinese restaurants: Chinese food is great, but never look in the kitchen -- you'll never eat Chinese again...

For a few months you might as well rent.

I looked at Fabianfred's site and the "interesting" section.

It reminded me of a couple of months ago I went to Silver Beach near Lamai in Samui and happened upon a group of (foreigner) parents and their kids in the shallows playing. One girl, maybe three years old, was naked as was her playmate. I raised my camera to take a photo of what I thought was a "cute" scene and one of the mothers started to give me a very harsh look, and I thought, "She's right. As innocent as this is, I can't take photos of young kids in today's social climate -- clothed or otherwise. They'll think I'm some pervert."

I left without the photo.

Personally, I don't find anything wrong with taking photos of anything. I find photos of kids on a par with photos of dogs, or chickens.

Start slowly, get the 50mm f1.4.

Am I right in thinking that this isn't the same thing as your film camera lens size inasmuch as with the digital camera -- and not digital zoom -- with the actual zoom, the lens is actually something like 28-85 or something? Do you know what I mean? You don't need a "zoom" lens, do you?

I want one lens that will act as a 28-85.

I would imagine these are exploring for gas, not oil, but I could be wrong not having the seismic data or the geology information. But for reasons too lengthy to go into here, gas makes more sense.

I'm no expert, but when you see so many Thai women playing solitaire and making "blessing" motions at the cards, and saying that certain solitaire positions are lucky...I have to just shake my head.

Then again, maybe the snake is a guardian spirit. Kiss it and see if it turns into a tailor or fake DVD seller.

Or better yet, capture it and learn to charm it with your flute...

Is that ALL the information you got from the photo? Only that little, tiny bit?

Wow, when I think of information about a photo I think, "The green thingy means it's in focus...."

Here is a "painting" I did several years ago.

Seriously, a large, very venomous snake residing somewhere around or under or near your home and your girl says let it stay because it's good luck? I think a new girlfriend might be good luck too.

Maybe your girl wears the pants in the family, but in this instance, the snake must go. You need to put your foot down, before you step on Mamba.

haybilly:

"Before you all jump on me--it's a joke! As is this picture."

Oh, I don't know about that. When was the last time you were in any museum of modern art? I think this has merit. Maybe you just need it to be blown up to 4 by 6 feet and framed in a gallery.

Well, thank you. Actually thinking that my post was plagiarized is quite a compliment. But then you ought to know I am a writer and editor.

I was going to say that looking at the original images closely, the two programs are different. The one with the people in it is interesting in the way it interprets shading. I wish the OP would offer us more info on what the program is and how it was used.

Well, if you already have a boyfriend, I'm not coming!

By the way, for a second there, I glanced at this thread and thought, "<deleted>? How do you get a "Drinks Visa" to Thailand!?

Immigration: "How much Chang can you drink in one evening?"

Applicant: "12 might be the limit."

Immigration: "Hmmm....can you start drinking at 10am and continue all day and night?"

Applicant: "I'm British."

Immigration: "Right, in you go."

Drunk and disorderly: English and Irish women are world's biggest drinkers

When people see the Mona Lisa, for example, I would wager that very, very few people comment on the brush strokes or the kind of paint used or the particular technique employed alone. They comment on the subject as well -- who is the Mona Lisa model? What is the deal with that...is it a smile? a knowing smirk? What was the relationship of the model with da Vinci? Or, as some speculate, was the subject fact da Vinci himself?

So please don't vilify me for commenting on the nature of the "painting" submitted for exactly the purpose of being commented on.

No one, even those skilled in the arts who could know of nuances in painting with brushes and palette knives, would fail to comment on the subject of any artwork.

I encourage everyone, including the foul-mouthed member who PM'ed me, to go back and look at the original image. What strikes you first about it? At the very least you think, "Who is this guy? Who is this girl? Why does she have her head like that? Are they friends? Lovers? Father and daughter (it could be)? Who took the photo or was it on a timer? And where is this?

I could make the same kind of comments on the other "painting"; what program did you use to do this or did you paint over a photo or something? Where is this? Who is that person? Did he catch any fish? And so on.

I do not think the intent of this sort of public posting was, "Look at the image but ignore the content -- just look at the "technique." The fact is that is impossible in any art form. We all look at the photo of the little girl running naked in the road away from her napalmed village during the Vietnam War and think: "Gosh, I wonder what ASA he had his camera set at? I guess that must have been Kodak film. Wonder what lens and body he was using."

Yeah? Ya think?

I made my own judgment on what I was seeing and posted it. It wasn't defamatory any more than saying the Mona Lisa looks like a dyke. I mean, she's not very feminine-looking to me. Who would get upset over that opinion, whatever it's worth?

Viewers should remember that these two people in the "painting" are complete strangers to almost everyone looking at them and as such, might as well be models in a magazine ad or two ducks in a pond. You wouldn't cut people off from commenting on those anonymous models, so why here and now?

The OP, who I haven't seen back, choose that photo. We all have the right now that it is in the public domain, to comment on it.

Oh, and this post in NOT directed at any moderation issues or moderators. It is directed at fellow members who might have taken umbrage at my comments on the original "painting."

It's so quiet now that you can just come and walk along the beach and stop in wherever it looks interesting to you. Everywhere has rooms open.

Peko-chan

You may remember some months ago the atomic bomb that was accidentally detonated near Surattani. It didn't receive much press as the blast was low yield and the government was keen on keeping it quiet (not another reason for tourists to stay away!).

I was lucky enough to catch the mushroom cloud and yet be far enough away not to feel the effects of the fallout.

I promise to submit clouds, the whole clouds and nothing but the clouds, so help me frog.

A swimming pool?

Holy cow!

Macwalen, every post you make is like watching you put another nail in your own coffin.

There is nothing more frustrating than having the "management" attempt to put the blame back on the person making critical remarks.

Regarding the teachers. I have not been in the class and I am not able to exactly picture what it looked like but you were the only person who complained. I have spoken with both teachers and perhaps you overreacted a little. They are actually well trained. As a matter of fact I train teachers on a regular basis.

"I wasn't in the class, so I don't know what is really going on (but that won't stop me from proceeding as if I had been), but no one else complained so you must be the troublemaker and the teachers, whom I train my wonderful self regularly, make it out that YOU were the problem and were overreacting."

And then a litany of defensive posts.

I thought my years in management school were more or less exercises in common sense, but you take the cake. You should assume the student is right and make every effort to not only make things right for him, but for others who glean information from these exchanges as well.

Looking over your posts and your tenor, I wouldn't come near your school. (And you will probably reply in the vein of, "Great, we don't want a student like you anyway!")

I would like to request that this thread be deleted and a new one started.

First off, the "rules," are that the winner of the challenge selects the next topic. That was HDR photos. Just because someone can't understand this type of processing or can't download the trial version of Photomatrix doesn't make it an invalid topic. In fact, it could compel some to actually discover more about photography instead of just shrugging and thinking, "I could never do that."

Moreover, the topic, selected not by the winner, of "clouds" is basically the same as what we just had: Landscapes. I am disappointed that out of all those topics someone posted, clouds was the most "interesting" selection.

I think at the very least the winner of last month's competition should select the new topic. I don't think you can say, "The winner selects the topic unless it's too different or makes people actually become more involved in post production photography." Or if you want to continue separating HDR, then the runner-up should have the choice, not Kan Win.

By the way, HDR processing couldn't be easier. Making the photos look good, however, is tricky.

I don't think the solution is charity "teaching," by amateurs, although it is laudable.

Maybe the cost increase is for more tables and chairs and materials for all the extra bodies. And, it is reasonable if the workload has gone up for the teachers, they would want more money.

I was a teacher once (for six years) and if suddenly I had more students and more classes (more homework to grade for a start), I'd be asking if pay was going to increase because of the extra work. That only seems fair.

Jose:

I so totally understand your doubts and need for absolute proof, Mark.

So just for your benefit, I will swim out 500m to the coral reef every morning and wait there with camera in hand ready, just on the off chance the Orion crew dumps their garbage within photo range.

That would be good.

Seriously, posting a photo of a boat and claiming that it is the one that is dumping is pretty much false accusation, or in Thaivisa parlance -- libel. You could post a photo of any boat and say the same thing and it's just your own claim with a photo as "evidence" that shows nothing. I don't even see any garbage or anything floating near the boat, so even circumstantial evidence is lacking.

This isn't the Lock Ness Monster, you know. If they really blatantly dump as you say, it should be fairly straight forward to get a photo of it happening. Take the tour, stake out the boat, do what you have to if you think exposing them is important. But then you seem to make it out to be nearly impossible to see this happening: 500m away over a coral reef and an "off chance" that something will happen....

Remember BBC's problems with neighbors dumping? His photographic evidence was pretty convincing. Is yours?

Mark Wolfe:

"Fisherman's Village" means there is only one fisherman (I can't believe I have to explain my sarcasm of last post... ).

SBK:

Not everyone on the board is a native English speaker, something to bear in mind for future posts.

Sigh...I was commenting on the SIGN at the entry pronouncing it "Fisherman's Village," NOT anyone's post. Interesting how everyone gets defensive before considering what I was actually talking about.

Steverino:

The other great thing about it is there are no Bar girls....sorry, no girly bars, which is indeed a wonderful thing.

That statement sits nicely next to your avatar of the jiggling jugs of the dancing girl in the bikini.

As for Fisherman's Village, I always thought it a nice place, but nothing even remotely special. Just a row of beachfront restaurants, basically. They look nice, though.

The last time I was there was about a month ago in the afternoon. I was sort of looking for a spot to sit and contemplate my navel and wandered into one of the ubiquitous places to see what it looked like (I wanted a comfy chair). There was no one else in the bar and the Thai woman (owner?) came up and said: "Do you want something to drink?" And I replied, "I don't know." To which she made a foul face and said, "Then why did you come in here?!"

I almost said, "Because I saw your face and the monkey wants it's bum back."

I should have said I was checking it out for my party of 20 millionaire regatta fans who were looking for a place to chill later and that her surly attitude just cost her big time. The fact is that she didn't know that I wasn't doing just that. Maybe she's just the one bad apple, but it didn't wow me into wanting to drive all the way back there any time soon.

You can have a nice looking restaurant, but if the staff are pigs, then the place is still a pigsty.

I am amazed at people who come here and complain about rain. This is the earth; it rains, get over it.

Will be heading for Phangan tomorrow to spend the rest of my stay.

Some of you will be happy when visitors stay away, and yes, this visitor won't return to Samui again. I had no idea it was this overcommercialised. For me this is no Thailand.

"Overcommericialised"? That's an interesting term.

What "Thailand" are you looking for? There's a lot of jungle out there where you could pitch a tent.

Guess we found the venue for the Samui/KP/KT Thaivisa party....BBQ, ghetto-blaster...fireworks, mysterious lascivious girls ...yeah!