gomangosteen

Not all negative, here's my recent "Positive Encounter with the Thai Medical Establishment" Friday 1 December I had a trip/fall while trail running, heavy impact jaw and ribs; local government hospital I'd give 10/10 for assessment and treatment. Nothing broken this time fortunately, I'd been there before after a more serious mountainbike accident, jaw and dental that time and left with a nice row of tidily sewn sutures, and dental referral. Latest one, 100b plus 70b for three prescription medications, a week later 40b for repeat medications. No complaints. Edit: and no fee for BP checks!

Of course she has to tell you that ... to ensure you keep on paying

You mean like New Zealand? Quoting from Manukau (Auckland) City Medical Centre: Enrolled patient 18-64 $18.00; Non-resident $80.00. Fail to see why a country should subsidise medical expenses for foreigners.

These fees are not just for a 'visit', they are for the guided 2-4 hour tour, as per The Nation Registration for trips into the cave were opened on December 15. Initially, the trip will be organised twice, in the mornings and afternoons, on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Eligible tourists will join a two- to four-hour exploration along the approximately 700-metre-deep route. They will encounter the stalacites, rocks and holes that caused the rescue difficulties in 2018. The cave trip

My experience last Friday 15 December; my Thai licences were long expired, not renewals, so started from new. Took 55 minutes from arriving to departure, 310 baht total fee for car and motorcycle licences. Provided documents: medical (100 baht); passport; ID card; yellow book; NZ driver licence; IDP International Driver Permit. They took two copies of each at no extra charge. Very brief tests took total about 3 minutes - braking coordination, colours, depth perception, peripheral vision. Paid fee then photo taken and two licences issued. Really, not so difficult, an hour out of my not so busy day.

Provincial variations; a little further south, this morning for my motorcycle and car licences at Chanthaburi - I'd checked what they wanted by phone yesterday - requested my passport plus pink ID card and yellow house book as proof of identity/address. Arrived ten minutes before opening and was customer #2. Didn't even charge for the multiple photocopies of those items (two copies for each licence), a 10/10 for service.

Xmas at Central

Chinese theatre in Tha Mai, Chanthaburi, 27 November 2023

One from the archives - Xmas Day 2012 kayaking - hope to do the same this year

So if we're to believe this bs OP, he went to Soi Buakhaobin the Pattaya sleaze pit and didn't encounter the classy elite people he'd hoped for. I'm shocked.

I'd kept a house and a small commercial property in Wellington New Zealand, initially house was leased to a bank for senior staff, after about 4 yrs that changed and put it with a rental tenancy agency, by this time house was over 12 years old, combination of tenants who didn't care and ongoing maintenance costs, I later sold it, moderate gains The other one I finalised in March this year, had been a good earner, minimal maintenance/ costs leased to a car spray paint and panel business, he made me an offer and bought it outright, cutting my final tie to that country. If I had it all over again I'd have sold the house when I left the country, but at the time it was a good income @ $600 a week (taxable, and NZ not USD unfortunately). Easy to look back on decisions, was the right idea at the time.

If you attach/marry yourself into a certain social class, you get what you paid for. What else did you expect? I look forward to our New Year gathering, unless there's been some other major family event mid-year it's the only time most of us are together, though we try to see them individually during the year. Catch up with brothers- and sisters-in-law, see how the various nephews and nieces have grown. No smelly food, whatever that is, last year lunch was catered and brought in; no screaming kids; a conservative, educated, no-alcohol family. And for the record, English may be spoken. Happy new year, wherever you may be.

Not all Thailand. Not all 'they' either. Five churches within 20 minutes of our home in rural Chanthaburi, the cathedral in Chan city is on a site established 1711 with a diocese congregation over 40,000. Thousands will attend the sound and light show in cathedral grounds over the seven nights pre-25th. Our town has a church plus associated junior and high schools, the streets will be closed for annual Xmas eve parade followed by celebrations at the church leading up to mass at midnight. Xmas will be celebrated.

There's an anomaly in Google Maps between Chanthaburi city to our home 15km west. Each time, same place about 4km on the highway I get told "make a U-turn in 50 metres" which would take me back to the city, then seconds later it re-routes to the correct direction. No apology provided! Can't explain it ... and U-turn not an option either with a 2m wide built up median for a further km.

We met through sport and those interests have continued, cycling, kayaking and entering every available 5/10km fun run, had one 26 Nov, next one 9 Dec, have booked ahead through to February next year. I cycle 800-1000km per month, my main activity away from home. Built a small low-maintenance house in 2018 I don't need to play home handyman often, and no interest in being tied to looking after a 'farang palace'. Sport is hereditary. Daughter represented her high school in volleyball, football and athletics this week, well done!

Mrs M recently celebrated 10 years with her employer, accounting/audit work, and no intention of giving up; good company and colleagues, social life, no thoughts of leaving (healthy bonus system) or stopping work. She's never been out of work, previously with Viriyah Insurance, before that Procter & Gamble, a solid career progression. Works well for us.

and judging by many posts on this forum, about the same for a few pensioners here too. Strange process for the lottery, presume he had to prove identity, password etc to log-in, once the system has confirmed it's him, told he's won a prize but can't claim it. Great use of technology.

Back again on Sunday for kayaking Through the mangroves, follow the marker poles. We went through a nesting area for white egrets and brahminy kites and out into the bay Entrance to the estuary; the buildings with yellow roof are the marine education centre (free entry); to the right is the end of the Khung Wiman peninsula, with a good beach over the hills; not clear in this pic that's Ban Hua Lem Pagoda in the centre marking the entranceway.

Been a lot of coverage of this on our local Facebook and also on CTV Chanthaburi; death threats, guns involved. Add in that the building itself is questionable in terms of the extensions, and that the land is 'owned' by Wat Ko Proet and whether they ever actually approved of the use of the site for a cafe and the amount of destruction of the landscape this has entailed, including the removal of some concrete structures related to the use of Ko Proet as a refugee camp for approx 5000 Vietnamese and later Cambodians fleeing conflict in their respective countries, many of whom died here. 2017 before any clearance for cafe Mentioned in this book the author Michael Harpold was here

DHL - I must have struck the perfect times for flights, new passport from Wellington New Zealand was picked up by DHL on a Monday 9am - tracked via Auckland - Singapore - Bangkok and was available for collection at the DHL Chanthaburi city office Wednesday afternoon. I'd expected a week. 10/10.

Out of the mangroves this is Khung Kraben bay/estuary. Safe and calm kayaking, the entrance to the Gulf of Thailand a narrow 300m. Not my photo: Aerial view of the mangroves and estuary - entrance at top left

About 2km of boardwalk through the mangroves Swingbridge allows for kayaks to paddle under Kayaks (all new this season) available October to April - note the prices still the same as 2011: single is 50 baht one hour, doubles (and larger for two adults and one child) 100 baht. Note lifejackets are provided and wearing is compulsory, there's a range of adult and child sizes

Twelve years later Khung Kraben (also Kung, Krabaen or Krabean) is still here. I cycled there on Monday. Beware! Marked cycle lane on the coast highway; about 1km from KK the lane is separated from the road traffic by a 1m wide concrete strip, this style runs right through Chao Lao town about 4km in total One of three entrances, chose this one as there are a few food carts here (needed water) and a railing to lock my bike to The start of the boardwalk train through the mangroves, this first section recently replaced with concrete as the old wooden one is decaying in places

I'm back! Refer earlier post re the Fino cutting out. Been to three shops (and one twice) for spark plug, battery, fuel pump and was fine for a while Then an unexpected stop two weekends ago opposite a shop set up by a mechanic ex-Yamaha, he couldn't find the fault as it started ok when he got to look at it, 100 baht thanks. Again this morning - I have isolated 'when' it happens, always when backing off the throttle eg today stopping for traffic lights. I was near my destination, Thai Watsadu so left the bike roadside, returned 40 min later and it started. The previous two stops were also slowing/off throttle at lights/intersections. 30 minutes is average for it to start again as if nothing was wrong. Is there a clue somewhere in this? Intention is for daughter to use for university but not with this current ailment. Thanks The accused (or is it 'alleged offender?)

Last Friday out cycling I heard a siren in the distance while I was stopped at an intersection. Waited for the vehicle police or ambulance or fire to pass ... then the source appeared. An aged Honda Wave motorbike sped past, helmetless rider carrying a fishing rod, rear tail light and registration plate replaced with a set of blue/red flashing lights, siren screaming. Must have heard the fishing was good below the dam west of here. A genuine emergency. #2 a long time ago, when we lived in Sa Kaeo there was a trend to have both handlebar mirrors facing forward so at night they reflected oncoming traffic headlights back ... no idea why someone thought this was a good idea.