gomangosteen

Not Pattaya, we're further south, Chanthaburi province. The two schools in our town have two policemen each for mornings and afternoons, assisted by teachers on each side of the road plus one on the median strip, efforts to get schoolchildren safely across the marked pedestrian crossings. Yet still motorbikes 'take the gap' and race through between schoolkids. My solution of a sniper further along the road is apparently not acceptable. The spikes they use to stop fleeing vehicles, placed each side of the crossing could work though.

Is it the distinction between 'arrested' and 'convicted'? As this man was fined, that would place him in the second category.

Not correct. In my own case, I am insured with Southern Cross Medical Insurance - Optional: Moped and motorbike cover - up to 200cc (which fits nicely with Thailand) My extra premium was NZ $20 (less than 500 baht) on top of the standard policy. To get this optional cover, you must: • choose the moped or motorbike option when you apply for cover • pay the extra premium. You will know you have cover as it will be written on your Certificate of Insurance We only cover your claims for riding a moped or motorbike if you meet the conditions below. Ride the moped or motorbike safely and legally While riding a moped or motorbike, you must always do all the following. • Wear a helmet, even if the local laws do not require you to do so • Stay within the law – including following all driving laws, such as speed limits and blood alcohol limits • Make sure the driver has the right driver’s licence for the class of moped or motorbike you’re riding, as required by: – their country of permanent residence – the country you are in

So why bother posting on an anonymous forum to tell others that he has 'never heard of ...'? I'm reminded of when we moved to a new area in 2010 - I was told there was an Englishman living about 5km away who I 'must meet' - for he was 'educated', and 'a writer'. I took the bait. Turns out his journalistic ability was posting endless one-liners on the ThaiVisa forum. A writer indeed!

Bingo As soon as I saw the headline I wondered how long till an aged crust came up with 'never heard of...' And there it is, the very first response. Thanks. Get out a bit ... 31,000 posts must be exhausting!

Clarification, since posters here so obsessed with nationality... Patrick Ward was an Irish national who had been born in New Zealand, traveling on a Tourist Visa. Irish man dies after falling from train in Thailand An Irish national has died after falling from a train in Thailand along what is known as the “death railway”. A Department of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman said they were aware of the incident and are ready to provide counsellor assistance if needed.

Or you could read the linked news item: The New Zealander had then opened the train door to snap some good shots of the scenery but in doing so somehow slipped and fell to the ground.

Well they did both die in hospital. I'd hope a doctor might recognise the symptoms.

Xmas in Chanthaburi - the cathedral in the city, and St Joseph's church in Tha Mai Eastern Thailand: Chachoengsao, Chanthaburi, Chon Buri, Prachin Buri, Rayong, Sa Kaeo, Trat

And a couple more Chanthaburi rabbits - the provincial symbol

Not interested in the shopping ... but they've done a nice job on the canal side of Central Chanthaburi with walking track, playground, outdoor eating, and a dog exercise area. I was out biking, used to ride here a lot before the Bhakti Rambai canal system was developed and the sealed pathways/roads built. Somewhere there may still be the area of concrete I rode through not realising it was fresh, leaving a line of wide mountainbike tyre imprints. Now it's sealed both sides, enjoyed peadalling alongside the waterways. A few photos from Wednesday. View across the canal from Central Chanthaburi to the hills of Namtok Phliu National Park The small dog exercise area - for small dogs! And remember this, by the canal-side entrance, public toilets

Maybe they do. Do you know anything on the topic? Enlighten us, please. We previously lived within view of the Royal Thai Navy airstrip in Tha Mai, Chanthaburi. For three weeks April/May there were approx 600 jumps per day - I don't know how many jumps for each person, or how many required to get 'wings'. Police and army were also involved, and the last day was a skydiving competition to land on a 10m x 10m target area.

He was travelling with his wife and three children. Does seem peculiar that he'd want 'self-defence' on a family holiday. Who knows; we get drip-fed snippets from various news sources, maybe there's a fraction of truth, somewhere.

December 2022 and an update on HTMS Phosamton - formerly HMS Minstrel, Algerine class minesweeper from WWII. In 2018 there were various people here from the Thai navy inspecting the ship. I heard of two options, again, either refloating and towing out to sea as an artificial reef, or dragging into a channel to be dug in the river beach and then enclosing it, as per the HTMS Prasae in Rayong province. Nothing eventuated. The ship has settled into the riverbed at its mooring at the Samet Ngam pier on the Chantahburi river. Water flows through holes in the sides, the decks are corroded, collapsing. I doubt now that refloating to tow away / move would be an option. It can just gently corrode away and I suppose become a genuine 'shipwreck'.

Nothing would surprise. I'd say it will be the weather to blame, and leave it at that. No hope of a genuine inquiry being released to the public - using the old 'in the interests of national security' clause. I see a lifejacket washed up on an island of Chumpon today, with a plastic bag attached holding the ID card, wallet, phone. of one of the crew members. Strange, however maybe he didn't have time to put it on and lost it once in the water. Still, unusual to find it intact like that.

You've quoted from the Academy - 120 successful candidates from 15,000 applicants. No mention of the general conscription 20 year olds. Even then, note the entry requirement - "50-meter swim" SCUBA does not entail being a good swimmer. Royal Thai Navy took approx 6,000 conscripts in this year's draft. Potentially not everyone on board was a professional sailor - some on board in that additional 30 were from the Air and Coastal Defence group. And what's a 'very good' swimmer? I competed across NZ, Australia and SE Asia in open water swims, specialising in 3-5km distances, plus surf lifesaving competition, triathlon, as a semi-professional athlete until 2009. Good swimmer, yes, that was my strongest sector in triathlons, and well above average - but none of that experience would necessarily prepare me for being 20km from shore at midnight in 3-4m swells. Just where would I swim to? Few would survive in the circumstances, as evidenced by these fatalities/missing crew.

An error. If you read the linked article you'll find it was the 191st Special Operations Patrol Division, and that three offciers were involved. Three.

The first good news of the day for searchers, ThaiPBS News reports that a crewman Channu Kaensriya has been found at 2.00pm this afternoon, alive. No success in locating the remaining 29.

All? My partner is an accountant for a civil engineering company, costing contracts for highways and bridges; currently 155 staff but this often increases for specific contracts. Current daily rates for non-salary staff are 400 basic and up to 1100 per day for the skilled machine operators - these machines are not cheap to buy, touchscreen computer operations, training with the manufacturer upon purchase eg Wirtgen, Sakai. With individual contracts often 600-800 million baht any enforced wage increase will simply be added in to the costing for each contract tendered for; won't make them any less competitive as same will apply to competing contractors. And just to add here, one of the more pricey machines, lays double-lane asphalt, its prime operator is a woman, as are several of the other earthworks machine operators. I'm told they're better at the job!

Just a comment on the sea conditions that night - two other ships, one trawler and an oil tanker aground: Thai-MECC [Thai Maritime Enforcement Command Centre] Region 1 reported that in addition to the Sukhothai: The freighter Anuphum encountered heavy seas about 5.7 nautical miles from Chumphon, which caused the ship to list. The cargo ship's ten crew were rescued by another vessel, the Pataravarin 88. Merchant ship Santhat Samut 2, with nine crew members and a cargo of timber, sent a distress signal before the ship sank about 35 nautical miles from Samui. All of the ship's crew were safely rescued, and some 30 containers were spotted near the shore in Surat Thani's Chaiya district, the office said. Trawler Sor Nopparat 4 capsized about 30 nautical miles southwest of Koh Samae Sarn, although fortunately, all of its crew were rescued safely. Oil tanker Pattarapun was swept towards the shore by strong winds, causing it to run aground in the mouth of Songkhla Lake. The company which operates the ship will tow the tanker back out to sea when conditions permit.

Bringing your work home . . . Takat Ngao about 2km inland from Paknam Khaem Nu on the Chanthaburi coast Eastern Thailand: Chachoengsao, Chanthaburi, Chon Buri, Prachin Buri, Rayong, Sa Kaeo, Trat

Agree there's something missing or lost in translation. What happened to the kayak - they don't tend to sink if overturned, just left floating out there? The quoted BBC article states he said he was going to "swim to shore" rather than get back to the jetty; which may suggest he was swimming away from the jetty to the shore/beach, but as above still doesn't seem right. More questions than answers, sad for his friends and family.

Everyone's a comedian on Aseannow. Thairath currently reports there are still approx 30 crew members unaccounted for and a search effort is underway involving ships, Dornier aircraft and helicopters. 12 hours in the water; and of course the possibility some may have been below decks.

Eastern Thailand comprises the provinces of: Chachoengsao, Chanthaburi, Chon Buri, Prachin Buri, Rayong, Sa Kaeo, Trat Winter calm, 15 December 2022 at Chao Lao beach, Chanthaburi Eastern Thailand: Chachoengsao, Chanthaburi, Chon Buri, Prachin Buri, Rayong, Sa Kaeo, Trat