GarryP

I once used "To see a man about a dog", but it just does not work in Thai.

1. I learned that I am cheap because I would rather take the bus than a taxi.

2. I learned that I am cheap because I don't see the point in spending 150 Baht on a meat pie. What a waste of money!

3. I learned that I must be weird because I do not see the point of traveling half the way around the world to spend my days eating English food for(pick your home country!) breakfast, lunch and dinner and finishing the day off in the pub. What is the point? There must be more to it than the warmer weather.

4. I have learned that people who have turned up on the doorstep of Thailand not more than three or four years ago, are unable to speak or read the language, do not mix with the locals (with certain exceptions: wives/gfs), and spend their time bending their elbows, know so much about Thailand it is really and truly amazing. I am in awe of these people.

5. I have learned that despite all the crap that gets posted on TV, there is also a lot of interesting, valuable information and quite a number of the posters are genuinely helpful people. I just can't remember what or who.

6. I have learned that when I start getting serious it is time to sign off!!!

Having the same problem. Ordinary coke is available everywhere but zero is much harder to find. I did manage to get half a dozen cans of zero at Max Value Supermarket on lower Onnut on Saturday, but prefer the 12 and 17 Baht bottles.

This month I did not receive my TOT bill until it was already past the due date so I had no option but to visit their local office. I just don't understand why they would issue a bill without first extending the due date or coming to some arrangement with banks and counter service points. I assume TOT's billing arm was affected by the floods and this was the reason for the delay.

I have rarely heard and never used "sawadi don chao" (I have only ever heard it used by foreigners and certain locals when taking the Mickey). Have used and heard "Aroon Sawadt". Always early in the morning and the first greeting after waking up.

Have used and heard "ratree sawadt". Say it when going to bed or taking leave to go to bed.

Doesn't bother me in the slightest. They can see what is in your file anyway so what is there to be embarrassed about. The average nurse will have seen more than enough male appendages, and other sensitive bits, not to be more than superficially interested in your problems. Making a song and and dance about it though will certainly mean she remembers you and you embarrassing problems for future visits and give her something to tell her colleagues.

What disaster was brought to Thailand by the coup?

Please explain!

Yes I support what the PAD does, fighting for democracy and against corruption. What is wrong with that?

If it is true that PAD was fighting for democracy, I agree nothing but good arose from the coup.

Oooh! Semantics don't you just love 'em!

Hi Garry, sorry for the delay in replying. Thanks for your advice and information. I am looking forward to spending lots of time on the lake, hopefully catch more than the one jungle perch I've caught so far. That was spinning. I'm thinking of getting a little aluminium hulled boat at some point, so I'll have more options that way.

Patttaya Noi is still the name of the rafts you spoke about. I've been there a few times for a few beers.

I've not been right down to the dam though, so i'll give that a go too.

Thanks again

Ever thought about kayak fishing on the dam. A sit on top kayak would be great for shore hugging and stealth fishing. You could use something like a Hobie Cat or a locally manufactured Moken (FeelFree). Alternatively, make your own stitch and glue SOT kayak (let me know if you can find a supplier of marine ply ). One of my dreams is to disappear for a week fishing around the dam (lake) on my own kayak. I need to build the kayak first though (another dream)

Hi Garry, Yes I did think about a sot. I still might get one at some point. I like the aluminium hulled boats with the sun shade. I don't think nows a good time to buy one though, as they'll be either out of stock, or 3 times the price.

I saw some thai guys in one of those boats made by the company that does the ice boxes, they're really popular round here, they just chuck them in the back of a truck when they're done.

So is the best spot to fish down by the dam? any particular reason if it is?

Cath you later

To be honest I don't know which is the best part of the lake, up near the dam or at the other end, just that I've done all my fishing at the other end, where there are lots of inlets and places where snake heads like to hand out.

Maybe once the floods recede here in BKK, you will be able to pick up a nice cheap second hand SOT. I don't expect everyone will hold on to the boats they bought for the floods.

No I haven't fished the Moon river (couldn't resist) in the vicinity of the Pak Mun Dam. I've fished down stream a little waay from Kaeng Sapur (sp?) and seen plenty of people using throw nets in that area. However, most of my fishing in the river is done much closer to Ubol city, such as at Haad Kudua, Haad Wat Tai, near Wat Subat and across the river from the city. Also did quite a bit of fishing in some of the large ponds between Ubol and Warin.

I had heard that with the introduction of the Pak Mun Dam, fish populations of many species were decimated due to the dam blocking access to spawning grounds. Many locals who supported themselves through fishing, had to turn to other revenue sources. Whether it ever picked up or not I do not know.

In fact in Ubol you are spoiled as there are so many places to fish. Just between Phibul and Ubol city there are a number or small rivers, large streams, resevoirs, ponds, etc. that can be fished without worry of being sent packing for trespassing. Common sense will tell you which is on private land and which is open to public access.

You are just coming into the cool season so as long as it is not too cold yet, you should have a few more weeks good fishing left. Once it gets quite chilly the fish become quite torpid and the action tails off.

It is my understanding that the holding back of water to allow for harvesting of rice wasn't only with the intention of reaping benefits from the mortgage scheme, but also that a great deal of rice was being grown to fill the rice barns of the Emirate where the subject of this thread resides. It just would be a bad show not to protect that investment. Thus, flooding in Nakorn Nayok area was nowhere near as bad as would have normally been expected, given the circumstances. Best to keep schtum about what is happening in your former home, otherwise people might start wagging their fingers, putting one and one together and asking tough questions.

Perhaps the best thing to be is quiet.

As we head towards Loy Kratong you will hear this increasingly as the local youths let off fire crackers and rockets. Then, as if by magic, after Loy Kratong, everything will become peaceful again.

Also, with school holidays extended due to flooding and the youth of the city having more time on their hands than they know what to do with, you will hear explosions in the daytime too.

Yingluck and PTPs support hasnt dipped at all where it matters and comments like this only harden the support in those places. This is written for a certain audience that reads that newspaper and wants to hear things like this

Both The Daily News and the Thai Rath have published columns criticizing her lack of leadership skills. A glaring example was the public argument between Chalit of the Irrigation Dept and Sukhumpan. Yingluk was chairing the meeting and just looked embarrassed.

This crisis has cruelly exposed her limitations and whilst the Issan faithful may still remain loyal, the hundreds of thousands laid off by the floods may not feel the same way.

Actually, this may be just another eye-opener. Just as Jatuporn was slammed by the locals themselves for meddling in local politics in the north, many of those Isan factory workers will have returned home with tales of incompetence of the current government. Maybe the message will get out that this lot really aren't as good as expected.

What's that bit about lousy swimmers? You'd think living on an island most would be able to swim.

Hi Garry, sorry for the delay in replying. Thanks for your advice and information. I am looking forward to spending lots of time on the lake, hopefully catch more than the one jungle perch I've caught so far. That was spinning. I'm thinking of getting a little aluminium hulled boat at some point, so I'll have more options that way.

Patttaya Noi is still the name of the rafts you spoke about. I've been there a few times for a few beers.

I've not been right down to the dam though, so i'll give that a go too.

Thanks again

Ever thought about kayak fishing on the dam. A sit on top kayak would be great for shore hugging and stealth fishing. You could use something like a Hobie Cat or a locally manufactured Moken (FeelFree). Alternatively, make your own stitch and glue SOT kayak (let me know if you can find a supplier of marine ply ). One of my dreams is to disappear for a week fishing around the dam (lake) on my own kayak. I need to build the kayak first though (another dream)

Just read in the press Bang Chak advised to evacuate.Too close to home for my comfort

Not true. It's Nong Jak, not Bang Chak. Far apart.

I read it in the N****** it's on the front page , definately states Bang Chak but no further information.It's possible it's a mistake on their behalf but that's what it says

I have been cycling around this afternoon in the Bangjak and Prakanong areas. Definitely no flooding. Klong Prakanong, which would be the culprit in case of Bangjak, is high but not overflowing.

No license required. You can make a day out of it. Take your family and drop them off at the raft restaurants in Little Pattaya (it used to be called this but it may have changed) on the way from Pibul to Chongmek, and then you continue on and select somewhere that takes your fancy. Many people just fish from the rafts though.

An alternative, and one that I have done several times in the past, is to hook up with a local who has a boat. Pay for his fuel, eats and libations and have him drop you off at one of the many islands when on his way to check his nets/traps. Take plenty of water with you. There are some great places for spinning which you can do either from the shore or wading up to chest deep. Make sure you pick someone trustworthy as you need them to come back and pick you up on their way back. Alternatively, have them stay on the island with you but in addition to fuel you will need to pay for their time. Caught my largest ever jungle perch from one of those islands, wading and spinning. I ended up going all the way round the island that day. Felt great but I was out like a light that night and slept solid for 12 hours.

Another idea is just to fish from a boat. Fishing near the large fish traps for giant snakehead or any of the many quiet inlets into the dam is great. The snakeheads hunt near the traps and inlets.

I used to head out from the other side of the dam from the Chongmek, but cross the dam at the south end and fish on on the Chomgmek side as there are many very promising places on that side. I did my fishing out of Non Kalong.

Writing this makes me wish I was back there. Haven't been for 3 years now and I have an itch that needs to be scratched. Hopefully, next year around this time I will be able to get out there.

NB: This dam is very different to Srinakarin. There are few rocky areas, the shoreline mainly comprises rice fields and gently sloping land, nowhere near as steep as Srinakarin.

All we need now is some realistic competition for Truevisions

Here, here. But not just TrueVisions, the whole CP/True conglomerate.

I have never been in an Ikea store and in fact only saw my first store three weeks ago when I cycled down Bang Na Trad road. How does the quality and pricing compare to other major furniture suppliers such as SB and Index? Is the fuss about this new place really warranted. From the website it looks expensive. Please note that I have never knowingly seen any furniture from Ikea either so have no idea about the quality of the products.

If you ever have been to an Index outlet, then you may have some idea about the products that Ikea sells.

Over the last 3 years Index Livingmall changed from a medium-range furniture store to a small Ikea with not only furniture, but all kinds of interior-items and ideas.

IKEA however, is a day out. Strolling around the usually huge showrooms, browsing through the basement with all the useful or useless household items, being amazed about the typical Swedish design.

I hope that IKEA Thailand does have the money-back guarantee..........for sure I'll buy some smaller interior things, assemble them and bring them back..........just missed the regular Mecano-feeling.

Thanks. I shall cycle out there on Saturday to familiarize myself with the "Ikea experience". My new house will be ready for furnishing in the next month or so and as it is only a town house, I need some space saving storage ideas (wardrobes, chest of drawers, etc. I understand from another poster that Ikea is probably my best bet for such items.

Also, assembling my own furniture is something I would enjoy.

Greedy swedish farang. Still want to make money when million of thai people are in a crisis.

And what would you have them do? Stay closed until the floods have receded? What purpose would that serve? So what about SB and Index who both have outlets open on Bang Na Trad Road? Are they greedy too? If not, why not? They are serving the same customer base.

Methinks someone is stressed out by the floods, possibly wet and wanting to share his/her misery. If you are suffering, you have my sympathy, but don't blame those who have nothing to do with the current situation for your problems. Attack those who deserve it.

I have never been in an Ikea store and in fact only saw my first store three weeks ago when I cycled down Bang Na Trad road. How does the quality and pricing compare to other major furniture suppliers such as SB and Index? Is the fuss about this new place really warranted. From the website it looks expensive. Please note that I have never knowingly seen any furniture from Ikea either so have no idea about the quality of the products.

I will use the sand to make a pissoir for my dogs. The bags will be slung in the rubbish.

Just heard it also flooded down by Soi 50 again. Two different areas of the same road.

Thanks for that Garry. You wouldn't happen to know the fate of the other side: Soi On Nut (On Nutch) Suk. 77 especially by the Big C area (Sukhumvit end)?

Just asked the mrs, she has family living in the area, latest is no problem in that area.

Thanks for the update mate!

On Saturday I cycled the full length of Onnut and then some out to Ladkrabang. The klong was high but not overflowing. Again, yesterday, I cycled to Onnut 17 to check out whether the fish were biting and noted that the level of the klong had actually dropped. So far lower Onnut is looking fine.

The irony of it all is that the average Thai golfer is not your average Thai. A great number of Thai golfers are earning just as much as the foreigner on the course. Have you ever seen a Thai factory worker hitting a round? If it is a perception of the foreigner earning more than the locals (golfers) then it is misplaced. More than likely it is a simple matter of "if they can get away with it, why not?", rather than intentional racism. Doesn't make it right though and if I played golf I would not patronize such a place.

^And the point is? How does this relate to an issue of student cards? I'm sure the OP would have no problem paying the regular rate (if there was a single rate for Thais and foreigners alike) and allowing students (regardless of race) to play for half price. Comparing apples with bananas?

Just got back from Prakanong. The klong is actually lower than it was yesterday. Tesco Onnut car park was very quiet although a lot of people shopping and motorcycle taxis doing a roaring trade. Upon getting home my wife informed me that it had just been announced on TV (television)that there was flooding in Bangna Nai, which I assume is along Tang Rot Rai Gow Rd. heading from Sanpawut Rd. to Samrong. I will check. It appears to be that area across Sukhumvit from Bitec and the Royal Naval Sports club.