gomangosteen

A very poor and misleading OP; the vehicle was 'off-road' and fortunately veered into a bank rather than a significant drop-off down the mountainside, heading to Wat Khao Prabat (Khao Khitchakut National Park, Chanthaburi) a temple which is open 8 weeks per year; transport is by 4WD pickup on a steep clay track. Visitors are limited to 24,500 per day over this timeframe, buses leave from Bangkok Bus Terminal (Chatuchak) at 8.00pm aiming to arrive around midnight followed by a 4WD trip to the midway point, shrine/worship there then on the second stage, followed by a 1.5km walk for the ideal sunrise views however vehicles and people arrive 24hrs a day. There are approx 100 4WDs in operation. Pic from Matichon News We've been but chose a daytime trip, and quite an adventure it was. This from a travel blog: While the traffic runs from the left side in Thailand, the rules are completely different on the road up to Khao Phra Bat mountain. Along the 5 km long road up to the top, the traffic shifts to both left or right before the sharp bends so that the vehicles driving up can easily turn the bends. The left/right shift happens along the longer and straight stretches, signposted well. Both driving up and down happens at relatively high speed, so, it is very “exciting” and at the same time a bit scary to see how cars suddenly change left/right while meeting cars driving in the opposite direction.

I've been stopped by Highway Police while cycling on highway #3 south through Chanthaburi. In a brief comedy moment I was asked if my drink bottle contained alcohol, the usual "what country are you from?", then given a bottle of water, and more useful, directions for an alternative route to my destination with less traffic. That's their good deed of the day

I'll start a new thread: I pay for something and the cashier hands the change back to my daughter? This began when she was about five years old and whenever we were at the local shops she'd put her hand out for my change, keep the coins in her little purse and I'd get the notes. This of course compounded as at next shop I didn't have coins and she got the change again . . . Then a series of moneyboxes lined up in her bedroom for each denomination coin. We opened an education account with Omsin Bank and each time her money reached 1000 she'd go with me to the bank to deposit. While she no longer goes shopping with us, still gets our coins at the end of the day. Topped up with birthday gifts from family - eg 777 baht for her 7th, now at 17 she has 82,000 baht saved towards uni expenses.

Not very specific at all, some and several. And Thailand cannot 'extradite' a farang in this manner - that's for bringing one back not sending one away. If at all correct, deport would be the right term.

Appreciate a source for that autopsy outcome, I haven't found any such confirmation online in English or Thai news. A link would be useful thanks.

My partner's company has two of these; but even then, one ended up off-road in a ditch last year, unladen, too fast in rain descending a long hill.

Good grief; a fine example of a teaching expat. 'Don't give up your day job'

An article on the HMS Minstrel / HMS Phosamton The Loneliest Minesweeper? Shipsearcher staff share views of the last of the Algerine class minesweepers that served in vital roles in the Second World War: HMS Minstrel / HTMS Phosamton. Shipsearcher Identification Section (SIS) staff search extensively for satellite views of some of the last survivors of famous classes of warships. During the Second World War, the British Algerine fleet or ocean-going minesweeper design formed an important class of Allied warship. At 225 feet long and about 1,300 tons displacement, they were larger than other designs, such as the Bangor or Bathurst sweepers. This new class could be constructed by commercial shipyards – an important feature for speeding up wartime production of the vital hulls. More than half of the 110 ships were built in Canadian shipyards: Port Arthur Shipbuilding, Toronto Shipbuilding, and Redfern Construction. These ships were all powered by reciprocating engines, while some of the British-built ships were turbine-driven. In addition to regular minesweeping duties, ships were quickly pressed into service as ocean escorts, helping to bulk up protection for the vital transatlantic convoys. The dozen Royal Canadian Navy units spent most of their wartime duty in this role, providing important service alongside River class frigates and Flower class corvettes. 1943 photograph of HMCS Sault Ste. Marie, a Canadian-built Algerine, built by the Port Arthur Shipbuilding Co. and similar to the original configuration of HMS Minstrel. Credit: Canada. Department of National Defence / Library and Archives Canada CT-247 HMS Minstrel J-445, was one of the last ships launched from the Toronto, Ontario shipyards of Redfern Construction Company in 1945, as the war ended. Minstrel was transferred to the Royal Thai Navy In 1947 as HTMS Phosamton (or “Phosampton” depending on the source). With most of her sister-ships scrapped in the 1960s, her service stretched on and on into the early 2000s. According to 1980s editions of Jane’s Fighting Ships, she was given an engineering upgrade and modified with a large classroom deckhouse over the quarterdeck, serving as a training vessel. Most online sources still call the Phosamton the last active Algerine, serving out of Samut Prakan naval base. However, the Navypedia entry notes it was stricken (removed from service) in 2017, with other sources suggesting it was retired in 2012. A Thai news source had a more accurate updated location that we were able to look up, and images online confirm the location. This minesweeper has been located nearby at Samet Ngam since at least 2013, and shipsearcher staff very much hope that it will be saved from scrapping. However, it has been languishing in a deteriorated condition. More recent views show a large barge moored alongside. As the ship is reported to be resting on the bottom at her berth, the barge may be alongside to commence dismantling the venerable sweeper in situ. Thailand has gone to lengths to preserve other contemporary warships, after their long second careers with the Royal Thai Navy, so there is still hope for this last Algerine. Check out the Royal Thai Navy pages for other views of the Phosamton

Evening, Tha Mai park, Chanthaburi Eastern Thailand: Chachoengsao, Chanthaburi, Chon Buri, Prachin Buri, Rayong, Sa Kaeo, Trat

Nil value in immature unripened fruit; season here is April-June.

It's only a matter of weeks (January 26 2023) since another incident with a longtail boat from Krabi. On that occasion a passing fisherman hauled them out of the water but a mother and her 5 year old daughter died. AseanNow thread here (Update: Boat capsize latest: Two tourists - mother and daughter - die after long tail boat capsizes in Krabi)

There used to be a 'poster of the year' ... this could be pinned towards 'expat of the year'. When she was 4-5yrs old, our daughter would threaten me "I'll tell mum" and make pretend calls on my phone ... here we have what is apparently a grown man doing the same "I'll tell mum - or else" Expat comedy. But as always, from a very high horse expat vantage point "It's the principle "

The 80-baht martyr The National Maritime Museum is in Chanthaburi province, about 7km from the city at Bang Kacha inside the walls of a fortress built around 1834 during the reign of Rama III against invading Vietnamese, walls still lined with cannon. This review from a farang visiting from Bangkok - hope whoever he was traveling with also agreed on his 'principle' and missed seeing the museum altogether. Guessing it was a sour journey home with a miserable git moaning the whole way. "It's the principle!"

No money involved in this one - should I feel discriminated against? This morning we were at the temple adjacent to the Taksin Military Camp in Chanthaburi, noticed there was an open day and went to walk in with our group. One of the soldiers cut in and explained that no foreigners, only Thai nationals, were permitted inside the gates. New policy it seems, I've been three times previously in past ten years without any fuss. Anyhow, no drama, just taken by surprise, my first experience as a foreign spy.

Experiences may vary. The two National Parks near us had new signage in 2013 which made clear one price - the lower one - was for Thai ID card holders only. Everyone else, you pay the higher rate. As I do, regularly, regardless of my visa status here. They're good places to visit, the fees are not on my worry list. Of course this thread can go on forever as others have. Interested as to why should holding a Thai driver's licence somehow make the holder eligible for discount? It's not a Monopoly game 'get out of jail free' card.

Nothing smart about this - they got away with living here over three years. From the article: "officers received an anonymous tip-off from a concerned citizen that they (Foreigners from the African continent) stayed in an area where not many people lived and were suspected of being involved with romance scams."

Nothing surprises. When we lived in Sa Kaeo there was a brief craze of high school students fitting mirrors facing forward to reflect back at oncoming traffic. Either the police or high school put a stop to it. Another not so clever idea.

Singing at the rugby. No Delilah. Swing low sweet chariot is not popular. And, next, Flower of Scotland: The former Scotland rugby coach Jim Telfer has reiterated his stance that his country's national anthem should be changed on the eve of the Six Nations. Telfer, 82, believes it is time for the anthem to be shelved because of its anti-English connotations. He has long vocalised his desire for change for the song that was first adopted by the Scottish rugby team when he was forwards coach back in 1990. Telfer has now reiterated his stance on the song that references Scotland's victory over English forces at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314. "Back then [in 1990], it really got the crowd behind us, but I’d like to think we have moved on..."

Sir Tom Jones' hit, Delilah, has been banned ! Good. Ghastly sound. Something more recent please, rather than a relic from parents/grandparents era.

That's a long way north from Trat province.

Chanthaburi, east side of the river near Chantaboon; house being reclaimed by nature on a bright sunny day

From Sunday at Khamong, Khlong Khut, Chanthaburi A nice social day in the sun, enjoyed it. Next races are on the other side of the road, a little further along at Wat Kamong on 5 March. Eastern Thailand: Chachoengsao, Chanthaburi, Chon Buri, Prachin Buri, Rayong, Sa Kaeo, Trat

No-alcohol, ever; same with her boyfriend and his family. And to simplify things in case someone's hoping, there's no bar in our town of 9,000; no pub, no licensed premises. Never had an explanation, it just 'is'. Suits us just fine.

Good grief, what level of society do you occupy? Plenty of English-speaking people in professional occupations. My partner, senior accountant, worked with multinationals through internship and post-graduation, now deals on a daily basis with companies in Japan, Germany, Malaysia all in the common business language, English. As do her colleagues and friends. I don't expect any were working as bar girls prior to accountancy, law, pharmacy and dentist careers. Daughter #1 graduated last year, double major in Employment Law and HR Management, and you may be surprised to be told she speaks English too.

Lake Nam Khao at Tha Chang, 3km up the Chanthaburi river from Chantaboon on Thasing Rd, venue for boating and jetski racing events Eastern Thailand: Chachoengsao, Chanthaburi, Chon Buri, Prachin Buri, Rayong, Sa Kaeo, Trat