balford

If I remember correctly, about four or five years ago a scientific team from Australia actually provided information regarding the growing of rice in damp conditions as opposed to flooding the paddy fields and thus saving a lot of water and becoming more productive.

It seems that the farmers, the irrigation department, the agricultural ministry and the relevant ministers were much smarter than these scientists and failed to heed the advice - or was it the middlemen in the seed, fertiliser and related businesses and political persuasions who put the pressure on farmers to ignore it? Now everyone is crying poor bugger me when they've been shown how to be more productive and warned time and again of drought conditions.

Bob A. Relaxed in Lampang

I rest my case...

Bob A. Relaxed in Lampang

Well I'm shocked - only six contradictory stories so far! Surely a Thai psuedo-elite and his croni- friends can do better than that... They are so good at it.

Bob A. Relaxed in Lampang

Now, now TV detectives - no need to go off half-cocked (pun intended) over this. After all, he got a medal from the Dubai camel herder so all will be OK. Just a mistake in breaking international, Thai and Japanese laws, but hey, don't you know who he is?

Just another display of the ineptness, arrogance and class system practiced - no, perfected, here.

Bob A. Relaxed in Lampang

If medical tourists wish to have the procedures and can pay for them, let them. But surely medical tourism is not a justifiable excuse for charging the same fees for Thai and Expat patients, some of whom cannot afford the high fees, even with insurance.

Even the clinics do the same. I've been charged double and triple the cost of medicines compared to Thai patients getting the same items. Now I ask for a script, go to the chemist 200m up the road and get the same medications at a fraction of the cost and in sealed containers - not ziplock plastic bags.

And these same clinics are run by doctors working in the private hospital system as an after hours practice. Nice work if you can get it...

Bob A. Relaxed in Lampang.

G'day John,

Finally I have caught up with you and will call soon.

To those who responded, many thanks - I appreciate you taking the time.

Cheers,

Bob A. Relaxed in Lampang.

The drains have been cleaned ad nauseum but why blame the ones who throw the garbage into the Klongs, onto the streets and build shanties on the river banks and Klongs when you can blame someone as a political stunt? In Australia it's called cutting down the tall poppie.

These so-called social media aces and bar stool philosophers should blame the Somchais and Somchits who cause the blocked drains and watercourses instead of cherry picking for the easiest target.

End of rant.

Bob A. Relaxed in Lampang

I am involved in a project to prepare a travelling display relating to WWII and am after a series of carved wooden aircraft models as part of the display - wood is preferred because the display will be on the road for twelve months so they need to be strong and durable.

There used to be a bloke in Chiangmai who made these models and they were excellent - he had a small stand in the Sunday Walking Street each Sunday. I had his card but have lost it and I'd like to get in touch with him. Anybody here on Thaivisa know of this bloke and/or his contact details please?

Cheers,

Bob A. Relaxed in Lampang

Once it is all confirmed as to which building it really is, start date, address ,etc., it might be worth a detailed article here. No doubt there will be many living outside Chiangmai who won't know where these places are without some guidance from fora such as TV.

Bob A. Relaxed in Lampang.

He and the rest of his family are oxygen thieves supported by the media and its craven kowtowing.

Bob A. Relaxed in Lampang

This all makes me wonder at the Thai Navy's next move against the Phuket news team who relayed the report about its involvement in trafficking...

But, it does make scriptwriters' jobs so much easier - they don't have to make it up.

Bob A. Relaxed in Lampang

No insurance payout on suicide so I guess they got even with the wife after all...

Bob A. Relaxed in Lampang

My Thai wife and I moved from Darwin eight years ago and now live in a village southwest of Lampang - I am the only Farang here and I know of only a handful of others in Lampang itself though I've been told there are quite a few here.

We visit our family back in Oz every couple of years and I have ex-RAAF mates over in Chiangmai, but I don't miss any interaction with they ot other westerners. We enjoy the quiet life and our six dogs - sometimes they let us out to play...

There are people in Darwin we know who are planning to retire to Thailand in the future but to my knowledge there has been no noticeable increase or decrease in Farang here in Lampang.

Bob A. Relaxed in Lampang

Despite the stupidity of the suggestion of leaks by these dinosaurs covering their backsides, there would ideally be both a Confidentiality Clause and a declaration regarding any conflict of interest in the contractual documents.

If you're dealing with foreign consultants or businesses regard them with the same, if not more, suspicion as you would with a Thai concern. Thailand is no more corrupt than other countries - it's just more open about it.

Bob A. Relaxed in Lampang

Notes to self: Must keep my ear to the ground - looks like some cheap plots of land might be up for sale soon. Contact 'Honest Somchai' at the Amphoe... Buy brown envelopes.

Bob A. Relaxed in Lampang

Well, I'm shocked! Corrupt officials? Must be Burmese, Lao or Cambodian... No Thai would ever do that.

Bob A. Relaxed in Lampang

After over nine years in Malaysia, then Queensland and 25 years in Darwin the last eight in Thailand have been pretty good. We have dry heat here which is much more comfortable than the humidity in northern Australia, where troppo season, mango madness and the 'build-up' all drain whatever energy you might have.

Here the fan during the day and air-con on 25c at night and all's well.

Bob A. Relaxed in Lampang

Perhaps they should send in the Italian and French instructors - or tons of running shoes...

And Abbott? He's as useful as twenty men on leave and by the time he stops dithering the IS will have all died of old age.

Bob A. Relaxed in Lampang

The Americans apologised? What a novel concept...

Bob A. Relaxed in Lampang

Jetstar (aka s**tstar) is just as duplicitous and unethical as Air Asia in its charges and so-called cheap flight promotions. You really have to focus on the fine print and conditions to get a realistic idea of the real costs once the hidden fees and charges are exposed.

I recently booked return flights from Bangkok to Darwin and initially went to Jetstar to do the costings. I then went to SIA/Silk Air and by the time all the necessary (not just a wish list) add-ons to the base fare - you know, seating, luggage, taxes, fuel surcharge, etc. for Jetstar were factored in the SIA/Silk Air option was a few dollars more. Guess which airline won hands down?

So for a comparable fare we get 30kg luggage allowance, full service, efficiency and comfort.

For the Lampang-Bangkok return trip we have and always will use Bangkok Airways, despite Nok Air joining the route recently.

Bob A. Relaxed in Lampang

"A courageous statement Minister."

Signed.

Sir Humphrey.

Bob A. Relaxed in Lampang

It doesn't matter which words he uses the media will twist it to suit their own agenda - or that of the owner of the outlet. Good news doesn't sell.

Bob A. Relaxed in Lampang

These floating lanterns could be just as dangerous as the lasers that are also mentioned. Why have the floating lanterns in Bangkok or south of the northern provinces anyway? It isn't part of the culture there, whereas in the north it is.

Despite it being part of the culture there are times when common sense should prevail and these activities could ideally take place southwest of the centres and with prevailing northeasterly winds.

But, the use of the lasers is also highly dangerous and anyone caught using them against aircraft severely dealt with - there have been some nasty incidents on Australia (and no doubt elsewhere) as a result of idiots using them.

Bob A. Relaxed in Lampang

It was a Burmese, Cambodian, Lao wave - oops, no waves in Laos, and Thai waves don't do that sort of thing... Suicide. Move along, nothing to see here.

Bob A. Relaxed in Lampang

I reckon that with all these criminal activities Thailand should aspire to becoming a third world country - that would elevate it way above its present position on the ladder of ethics and humanity.

Bob A. Relaxed in Lampang