khall64au

It was moved in with news, since it was felt a dedicated forum was no longer needed

Thanks Sbk - I tried George's suggestion but came up with nothing - appreciate any further feedback.

Actually, forums like this are now invaluable for researching grass roots inputs on the Asian tsunami - as many research topics are now focusing on the value of long-term lessons learned.

Have the early inputs had a long-term positive impact, etc? I was hoping to find all the original posts in "original" order.

Cheers

Kerrie

ps. sorry about short answer to 'whats-is-name' but don't need feedback like that...

You know a thing called Google?

Used Google many times - found many research papers for my needs, thank-you very much. Since you joined in 2007, you may not know - there was once a dedicated Forum called 'Tsunami News'. That's the Asian tsunami of 26 Dec, 2004.

Thanks for your feedback!

Oh, deliciously naughty. You are going to start something > I went to a 3rd world dentist in Melbourne. One tooth extracted cost? AU$ 150. No discount or rebate for old age pensioners.In Oz.

Well - one reason I started the post is the 'mafia'-style forced appointments I was encountering after my initial "check-up and clean". It went from (1) check to (2) "maybe" need fillings to (3) jamming x-ray thingies in my mouth with no prior warning and 2 x fillings (4) dental hygiene education class to ... (5) "excuse me, but I came for teeth cleaning, could you please clean my teeth"!?

After the price of an airline ticket to Thailand, I got my teeth cleaned... it was only 2 yrs since I saw my Thai dentist - no need for the 'strait-jacket' treatment received. :0

What happened to the Tsunami News section on Thaivisa Forum? Is it in archives somewhere - and how to access? Am sure there is a valuable store of information there for historical research purposes!?

Hi all,

Am researching at university-level, the social effects of long-term tsunami aid - beyond the days of short-term benefit, essential to many in recovery of the severe impacts of tsunami devastation - but I would like to hear from anyone with information about long-term programs, designed to assist communities in recovery beyond the days of shelter and immediate needs - looking to the future (in the early days) of the needs and aspirations that would come (and have now long-eventuated).

Success stories please!

Am happy to hear any hints or concrete programs from anyone involved in those past-programs.

Thankyou!

Hi all,

A topic close to all our mouths is dental care - and formally living in Thailand, I was very happy with the degree of technology and professional treatments on offer, and of course the cost was very satisfactory and highly superior on a global scale.

Since returning to live in Australia - I am overwhelmed by the hyper-inflated cost and less than satisfactory levels of professionalism in the dental field.

Simple procedures cost xxxxxxxxxx times more, and I have endured dental practitioners bad-mouthing Thai dentists for their "third world training and standards"....

Relatives and friends have re-iterated to me how dentists over-dramatise dental conditions to promote their own dental products and services on offer.

I am disgusted by the dental profession in my country - have spent way too much money in the past year on the advice of "professional" dental practitioners treating me for initial 'check-ups' leading to "essential" dental health preventions....

Too bad, I am so busy that I cannot leave the country at present but:-

* Give me a holiday in Thailand any day - with a dental check up on the side!

We are doing similar research Vanalli: send me a PM - I can link you up with past volunteers in many different humanitarian fields.

For biosecurity reasons, you will not be able to export any uncooked shrimp products to Oz.

A recent update:

Due to protest by prawn importers, a recent revision of the raw prawn import ban was announced on 9 May 2011 (AQIS, Public Quarantine Alert PQA0722) allowing uncooked, peeled prawns to enter Australia with test certification clearing for WSSV and YHV (Source: aqis.gov.au/icon32).

A bit strange that no one has looked at this thread since US, Europe, Japan and Australia are major importers of this aquaculture prawn product.

Surely there are some opinions on the vannamei prawn industry since it took over tiger prawn export production back in 2004?

Thanks SBK - just what I was looking for, very useful for my research right now: I note that the local farmers were trying to restore and conserve their coastline while CP Company moved in to consume it!

Is this the twilight zone? I remember this topic well from the deep past- and below posts of circa 2004?

Has anything changed?

I really hope so!

Am studying a university topic on shrimp aquaculture in Thailand.

Since I cannot find confirmation from official sources, just wondering if anyone has information or links to official sources that will confirm if:

L. vannamei species prawn production is commercially legal in Thailand or not?

Am doing a case study on L. vannamei production in south Thailand, for sales to Australian importers - for academic purposes only - where can you suggest is the best source to get info on whether vannamei is a legally-traded commodity?

Vannamei is an exotic prawn species from Latin America - until a few years ago from recent research, the species was only approved for importation of broodstock (from Hawaii) for experimentation purposes only from 2001.

But vannamei production is now, just a decade on, a US$2.5billion annual export product from Thailand - way surpassing tiger prawn production.

When I look at the Thai Seafood Assoc product database it only mentions black tiger prawns (native to Thailand).

Correct me if I am wrong!

I need to know if L, vannamei has actually been officially approved by Thai govt for commercial production in Thailand.

Does anyone know of Thai government documentation (preferably in English)to confirm this?

Thanks for your help!

Cheers

Phuket’s 2nd incinerator to be ready December 2011

Tagged with: Politics

http://phuketnews.phuketindex.com/environment/phuket-2nd-179917.html

On September 8th 2010, Tri Akaradecha, a Vice Governor of Phuket, and the President of Phuket Trash Management Committee, discussed about the construction progress of Phuket’s second incinerator.

Prachoom Suriya, Head of Environmental Work, Phuket City Municipality, reported that the contractor was preparing construction including land development, foundations, area survey, electricity system removal, temporary office, and worker accommodation construction. The total budget used in the new incinerator construction was 940 million baht. The incinerator was estimated to be ready by December 2011.

He said that this construction budget was supported by the government’s project ‘Thai Khem Khang’ (Thai Strength), for constructing an asphalt road leading to the incinerator and landfill area, installing high metal light posts in the landfill area, installing 12 sets of CCTV, constructing the trash-vehicle washing area, and buying vehicles and Ultra-Low-Volume (ULV) sprayers.

He additionally said that there was now 500 tons of trash a day. Meanwhile, the existing incinerator could handle only 250 tons per day. The rest of the trash was sent to the landfill. He estimated that the existing incinerator would work for one more year and had a solution plan for trash management in the future by repairing and increasing the incinerators’ abilities, to also generate electricity.

Paiboon Upatasing, President of Phuket Provincial Administration Organization, added that they will campaign for all sectors to together separate more garbage and develop more local organic fertilizer factories in future, in line with the disposal of organic waste and to reduce burdens on the incinerators.

Some of the "lifeguards" here can't swim in the surf themselves. I personally haven't seen one of them even enter the water. I was a judge at the Kata surf contest a couple of years ago and at least one Thai surfer had to be rescued by a farang surfer. The way to get out of a "riptide" is to swim parallel to the shore until you are out of the riptide area and then swim ashore. You can see riptides as the water is brown with the sand it is carrying out to sea and waves don't break in the area.

Of all the topics dear to my heart after six years living on Phuket ( and two years now absent) _ I am sick up and fed of the same old discussions and statistics regurgitated about the lack of surf safety and drownings on Phuket beaches.

When will the resorts and tourism/ safety authorities say "enough deaths already!" - we will tackle this problem now!!! ? Bring in the Bondi Lifesavers if that is what it takes...

Come on Thai people - how many billions more bahts do you need to earn in order to spend some serious money on training and equipment to keep your tourists (dollars) safe from dying on Phuket beaches during the ever-busy, danger-ridden, monsoon season? Do it now ... keep the beaches safe- NOW!!!

There was a recent story on Oz tv about an 18yo girl heading to Malaysia for some plastic surgery. Apart from the obvious clamour by all and sundry against such a young girl getting this treatment, the local plastic surgeons representative came on with warnings and horror stories about surgery gone wrong in asia.

It's all about keeping the business for themselves.

Agreed Old Croc... it's all sour cheese, advertising in the guise of 'A Current Affairs' - sad but true!

OMG - Such a healthy man ... what happened? Sincere wishes to family and friends

Just wondering , since a recent fatal accident in the news - involving an illegal motorcycle sidecar travelling on the wrong side of the road caused a bus to crash and tragically killing two people:

http://www.phuketgazette.net/dailynews/index.asp?id=6887

What is the insurance status of accidents with illegal sidecars?

I don't mean to sound fickle - but how come I could not buy a 1-2-Call phonecard at Don's supermarket these past few months? Everytime I tried, the staff said NO HAB!

Don't get me wrong, I really appreciate that Don has free wireless internet and I frequented his place for many meals doing business each week... but comes a time when you need to buy fresh phone cred.

So off down the road I trekked to a mom and pop shop to top up my 1-2- Call.... No Hab at Don's! How come Don? You are losing business Don ....

It's an Alligator Gar (Lepisosteus spatula). They are a species native to the USA/Mexico but was introduced to Thailand (and other countries) for private fishing lakes. That one is just a baby!

Oh my god, how scary - does it bite? Is it fresh water only or... where does it live? An introduced species can harm the balance of ecology in local environments. Can it harm tourists like the box-jellyfish?

Fire away!

As a reviewer and writer, I would highly recommend Siam Indigo restaurant on Phang Nga Rd in Phuket Town: fabulous Thai/ French food in a stylish and historic building, set in an interesting cultural precinct.

As a reviewer what do you think about their food quality?

Gerd

Hi THAIGERD - On the occasions I dined at Siam Indigo, the food was fresh, innovative and delicious. I do highly recommend it, especially if you book ahead as a VIP with the owner Celine - she will not disappoint.

What do you mean, 'You book ahead as a VIP?' Is that how you review restaurants, by getting special treatment? A good restaurant should be consistent in quality and treat every order as if it was special. To let the owner know you are a reviewer breaks the first rule of genuine reviewers: you don't let the owner or chef know that you are there.

You failed to notice the full stop. I said ' On the occasions I dined at Siam Indigo ... innovative and delicious.' I never said I alerted the owner or chef I was there. But, nevertheless, Siam Indigo is a fine dining experience totally under-recognised and under-estimated in SE Asian gastronomical circles.

All the finalists of Australian Idol? Courtesy of .... Jetstar!!!

Who the fok is Rick Stein??

Who the fok is Sir Burr??

As a reviewer and writer, I would highly recommend Siam Indigo restaurant on Phang Nga Rd in Phuket Town: fabulous Thai/ French food in a stylish and historic building, set in an interesting cultural precinct.

As a reviewer what do you think about their food quality?

Gerd

Hi THAIGERD - On the occasions I dined at Siam Indigo, the food was fresh, innovative and delicious. I do highly recommend it, especially if you book ahead as a VIP with the owner Celine - she will not disappoint.

As a reviewer and writer, I would highly recommend Siam Indigo restaurant on Phang Nga Rd in Phuket Town: fabulous Thai/ French food in a stylish and historic building, set in an interesting cultural precinct.

Because you don't seem to want to listen.

You first claimed Bukit meant peninsula. Three posters told you it meant hill.

Then you suggest it could mean hilly peninsula.

Maybe it is you that should get a grip and gracefully admit that you are/were wrong.

ThaiVisa is a discussion forum not a history competition! I suggested that "as I understand from prior research, Bukit means peninsular" ... so what if I'm wrong - no big deal! Doesn't make the other "hill" suggestions right either - unless there is definite historical proof that Bukit means Hill.

Nobody can find Noah's Ark, after all...