gomangosteen

Facts? First it's: "parcel containing 7.5 kilogrammes of concealed cocaine" Later it's become: "white powder found was heroin, weighing 7.5 kilogrammes" Next: "It was just sugar"

First paragraph in bold does state: "suffering an electric shock from downed power lines" which does give a clue

Not due for completion until late 2024, the International Mangrove Botanical Gardens at Samet Ngam, Chanthaburi. Dedicated to Rama IX; at present many of the trails through the mangroves are accessible, as is one observation tower, but the raised walkways remain a work in progress. We went on Sunday, just a couple of electricians working on site. Eastern Thailand: Chachoengsao, Chanthaburi, Chonburi, Prachin Buri, Rayong, Sa Kaeo, Trat

When we lived in Sa Kaeo we visited Pang Sida National Park and got permission at the ranger station to take the dirt trail a further 20km on our motorbike. Given a briefing about conditions, and what must have been his all-time best joke, told us to keep the windows up, and if we saw a tiger take photos and note the location. It was only after returning home we found that it wasn't completely a joke. From the Thai National Park website: Some of the interesting mammals of Pang Sida are; elephants, tigers, marbled-cats, gaurs ... and so on.

And a bonus photo! Highway 317 heading north towards Soi Dao. Many a foreigner will have been through here Pong Nam Ron to go east to the Cambodian border crossing at Ban Pakkard or Ban Laem. Khao Soi Dao Tai is its highest peak at 1,675 metres (5,495 ft). Minus the cloud

Hi Can't help you with the whole route, but we travel the Sa Kaeo - Chanthaburi section of 317 fairly often, most recently 4 December. No issues, been hugely improved in the time we've lived here, for years there were roadworks from Makham towards Pong Nam Ton but all all finished now. If time not of importance, go past Sa Kaeo and take a right/south on highway 3395, slower, more scenic, less traffic. You bypass Chan city, intersection Chanthaburi to Trat puts you on Sukhumvit #3 to Trat, good road. As both roads are the main transport routes in the region, there will be trucks. Going north from Chan there some long inclines up to Soi Dao area the trucks crawl along - as with everywhere, just a little patience required. There are two permanent army checkpoints but in our (now 13) years here we have only ever been properly stopped once - and that was to check my wife as being Thai and that maybe I wasn't smuggling her in from Cambodia. Other times just a smile and waved through. No shortage of fuel stations and Amazon cafes along the way. Happy travels.

Neither can I. But: Latest motorbike purchase - 19 December 2023 Honda dealer had a checklist of documents for me to provide: Passport, ID Card & yellow house book (or letter from Immigration), Thai motorcycle licence. I changed dealer due to a better deal, but the first one (also Honda) had the same checklist for purchase. As they will complete the new vehicle registration on my behalf I presume that's the current requirements. Last one I bought was 2013 don't remember what they needed back then. Maybe like the new bank requirements things have changed recently? There does seem quite an obsession with proof of identity lately. As others have mentioned I don't see why an owner should necessarily hold a licence, but that was my experience two weeks ago.

The issue of the restaurant/ cafe and associated building has been resolved. All demolished and site cleared this week, I visited the site yesterday. The whole construction was not legal, not consented / permitted and this could not be done retrospectively as was in breach of the minimum 12 metres from the clifftop requirements - it was built to the clifftop and in places extended over the edge, they were given until 30 December to demolish it all. So maybe there was no 'winner' in the family dispute over ownership, and who paid for the demolition? Beware the Drop (almost) it's loose stones near the edge don't get too close There's now a coffee caravan and awning area for hot / cold drinks and food, set back towards the treeline. Signs for the (gone) Skyline Cafe remain at intervals on the roadside from about 3km away, but there's still the view to enjoy.

The family go-everywhere Fino. Bought October 2013, now 94,300km. 3yrs of daughter to uni 24km each time. All recommended Yamaha servicing at dealer we bought it from, minimal costs for a long life. Bought a Click 160 last week, the Fino has zero sale value, will keep it until it stops permanently. Previously bought a 2008 model Fino sold at 54,000km to wife's colleague she had it to 88,000km. Maintenance, servicing and basic home care, just how long will it last?

It's a liveaboard dive boat, 3 nights at sea.

No need in our family, however - there had to be an exception - wife, her sister and grandma offer some support to a brother who is a sole parent, children 12 and 15. Practical things, for new years they're getting full sets of new sheets, towels and some additional money for the son and daughter's new clothes, though the daughter does ok for fashion clothes she gets our daughter's (18) hand-me-downs. Small stuff, he's a good guy working full-time and appreciates the family support. No difference culturally - I'd do the same if I had someone in a similar situation.

My 'medical' on 15 December entailed just height, weight, blood pressure and asked one question: 'any illness that could affect my driving?' My NZ licence has an endorsement for "correcting lenses must be worn while driving" however that doesn't seem relevant here.

Photo from when we lived in Sa Kaeo 2010-11, the canine holiday pickup, daughter was 5 then we'd tell her the 'holiday' story. Those were the good old days?

I wrote about it at the time, July 2019 my wife was cycling to the gym, knocked off her bike and bitten by a dog. Grazes and bites; hospital and a course of rabies shots. The hospital notified the police, however the owners denied it was their dog, just one they fed that lived around their house. We'd lived nearby over a year at that time, knew it was their dog. As it wasn't their dog, well they won't have missed it will they? as it 'went on holiday' soon after.

Excellent accurate details in OP. On Friday 15 December I gained my new (not renewal) licences for car and motorcycle from our friendly Chanthaburi DLT. Similar process to Rayong however as I had a valid International Driver Permit IDP I was exempt from the online testing section. No appointment system here with a smaller population, told they opened at 8, arrived 7.50 and was customer ticket #2. I'd checked earlier in the week, and brought with me: Passport; yellow book; ID card, NZ licence, IDP, medical cert (cost 100b from their suggested medical centre). Staff made all required copies at no charge I just had to sign each page. For passport they copied front/photo page, retirement stamp, and the Chanthaburi Immigration paper confirming my next 90-day report date. No requirement for TM30 or immigration residency cert as my yellow book/ ID was acceptable. Same basic tests as in OP, vision etc. Paid 310b, photo taken and two two-year licences received. From start to finish 55 minutes, and ten of that was waiting on the licences at the end. Very pleasant and helpful staff - the senior office person seemed to adopt me temporarily and followed my progress to ensure I got everything completed ok.

So on that basis, you'd count New Zealand and Australia as being colonised as well? We have very different interpretations. "At any one time between June 1942 and mid-1944 there were between 15,000 and 45,000 American servicemen in camp in New Zealand." "The first Americans arrived in Brisbane on 22 December 1941, and by mid 1943 the number in Australia had risen to 150,000"

Wow, where to begin with your creative fantasy. The French occupation of Chanthaburi involved a garrison of approximately 400 troops, some at Laem Sing (entrance to Chanthaburi river) the balance in Chantaboon on the site of the existing fortress in what is now the Taksin military camp. Definitely no 'colonisation' it was a political statement. The French were not forced out by the Japanese, or Nazis for that matter!. The French departed in 1906 after agreement was reached over land borders. The annual commemoration of their departure takes place at the 'peace chedi' in Laem Sing next month. The impact of their time here - their barracks (Tuak Daeng) at Laem Sing - housing about 40 soldiers - still exists, it was the Laem Sing library but currently vacant. Their seven small buildings remain inside the military camp and were renovated between 2011-14. The Catholic church was rebuilt in French gothic style in Chantanamit and completed 1909 on the same site as the previous four Catholic churches, the first chapel being built there in 1711; we attended their 300th anniversary 2011. That's 182 years before the French occupation. There's an office of the National Archives here, adjacent to the Chanthaburi Immigration building opposite the military camp if you care to learn some real history.

Unique. Then there's Coffee War in Chonburi, similarly set up with cafes inside planes

Day and night at St Joseph church, Tha Mai, Chanthaburi Eastern Thailand: Chachoengsao, Chanthaburi, Chonburi, Prachin Buri, Rayong, Sa Kaeo, Trat

Christmas at the cathedral, Chantanamit, Chanthaburi city. The cathedral was completed in 1909, the fifth church building in Chantanamit/Chantaboon since the original chapel in 1711. In previous years they'd held impressive sound and light shows in the week leading up to the 25th, but not in 2023. Eastern Thailand: Chachoengsao, Chanthaburi, Chonburi, Prachin Buri, Rayong, Sa Kaeo, Trat

Chalong - how long ago? We've stayed in contact with owners of the bungalow we rented for 8500b until 2009 on Soi Yodsane, Chalong; current monthly rental 21,000b - big increase recently from 18,000 a year ago, a case of supply and demand in 2023. I had a hired motorbike back then from a place in Rawai @ 3000b / month.

I saw a taser used on my last trip to Wellington, New Zealand. Large man either drink / drugged or both, 'dancing' as if he was a boxer, challenging two police to a fist fight. On the third police warning a taser was fired, dropped him immediately, very effective on that occasion.

"throwing their weight around" I hope he hit them with his false leg, throwing some of his own weight around?

Not big on gifts, though we've got our best yet tree and home decorations this year. Family dinner on 24th evening then to see the local parade, central town streets get closed for an hour for parade from/to the church. 2010 we were holidaying on the coast and got held up getting back to our hotel by the Xmas parade, moved here the following year. Monday 25th they're at school / work I'll be out for my annual Xmas day sea kayaking trip.

Bought a new motorbike yesterday - and dealer did ask if I wanted to wait till next month for same reason. Suppose if I was likely to sell it in 1-2 years it may be relevant, but as I've had current one since 2013 (and keeping it) think as time goes by the date of first registration is less relevant than the condition, odometer reading, service history.