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One Diazepam; doesn't rate against Chiang Mai Charly in the news today, British man Charly Garcia 'invested' 800,000 baht to on-sell drugs to tourists. All on a student visa! He'll have plenty of time to become fluent in Thai in the years ahead. Cocaine, ketamine, mushrooms, LSD, MDMA, and 160 tablets of diazepam (Valium) and alprazolam (Xanax). Briton arrested for selling drugs to tourists

Still in Eastern Thailand - last saw this style of boat racing in Phra Phloeng, Sa Kaeo province

On the water again in Chanthaburi; in the last three weeks we've had the Singha WaterSports Powerboat Grand Prix at Laem Sing beach; longtail speedboat races at Khamong, and next month two days of Langsuan traditional longboat racing at Makham 16 Apr 2024 - Boat Race teams of 5 Rowers 17 Apr 2024 - Boat Race teams of 17 Rowers

Been and gone, he's being entertained, fed and accommodated here in Chanthaburi tonight after his interview for CTV Chanthaburi (wearing a Tourism Trat polo shirt). Earlier, he was photographed at Tuek Daeng the old French barracks building, and on the Taksin Maharat bridge at Laem Sing. Hope he makes it home safely - may get more provincial hospitality along the way.

1000 baht. Took about 15 minutes they had to program it, test it. Ideally never be needed, but a small outlay if it is

Beach access. Is the coastline supposed to be freely accessible? Not Phuket - we're in Chanthaburi, an area at the south end of the best beach area has recently been developed, I thought it was to be a public park as appeared to be part of a conservation area. Wrong - it's to be a resort. Construction hasn't begun, but they've now fenced off the area, removed the coastal pathway and blocking access to a popular snorkeling and spearfishing area as well as to the adjacent conservation area. "Private".

We built in 2018, aircon in main bedroom only, none of our previous house had aircon, I do my exercise cycling running during the day, I'll take heat anytime over a cold climate. Use aircon on warmer nights 30-40 min at 26C before 'lights out'. Yes I was wearing a polar fleece jacket at Dune 2 on Sunday. Cinemas are the worst.

I do not accept Reddit as a credible, believable new source. Full of fabricated, exaggerated, attention -seeking posts. I'm surprised Thaiger hasn't run the story of the 14 year old wanting to sue his school for discrimination as he was taller than their height chart. Or yesterday the Canadian who admitted being DUI, riding his motorbike wrong side of the road, he crashed head-on and destroyed two motorbikes (his a rental), put two Thais in hospital - one with a broken arm and leg - he was seeking advice on fleeing the country as police had his passport. I hope he tries.

I had a 3mth work contract in New Zealand in 2022, had the pick of the manual cars in the business fleet due to the very high % of staff who could drive autos only. A sign of age! None of the under 30s I worked with had a manual endorsement on their licence. As leases expired, all manual cars were being replaced with autos. There was a minivan that 'no one can drive' - three speed column shift. Useful when I wanted to move my furniture.

We're still waiting for last year's rain season. It was forecast as up to three months late, well that didn't happen. Nearest reservoir never reached 40% capacity. Small lake near home is bare earth. Our pond about 20x10 has gone from max about 3m deep to a muddy green less than 1m. I like the heat, but in an area that's primarily orchards it's tough times for those without an accessible water supply.

This occurs all down the eastern coast - similar here in Chanthaburi all it takes is a strong wind to mess up otherwise clean beach - I'm going swimming today at Chao Lao and expect there'll be a line along the high tide mark of squid boat lights, buoys, bits of net, plastic bottles, and always a shoe - usually encrusted with little shellfish they've been at sea for some time. Up to the resorts and restaurants along Chao Lao beach to clean up, but the other main beach at Laem Sing has council workers who 'sweep' the beach every morning, not even a windblown leave escapes their attention.

Agree with you on that one! For around six years until Aug 2022 I was working in NZ on 3mth and 6mth contracts, return flights varied from under NZ$1000 (best was $899 - so good I bought two) to NZ$2200 depending on how much in advance I could book, and seasonal fare increases, never gave a thought to not flying here to try and save a few $. I like the national park example. Read a review of the National Maritime Museum where the farang said he did remain in his car 'on principle' because family paid 40 baht and it was 100 for him. Must have been a fun ride home with a sulky old git at the wheel. Back to the NZ Embassy fee and service change - disappointing they will no longer accept in-person applications as I always found them exceptionally helpful (convenient as I was working in Wellington), business was quiet enough that the last time I was there the person at the counter went through my documents, put ticks and initials on each page while i waited and confirmed all OK and it would be approved, pick up in two working days, and received an email the day after, confirming I could collect the following morning.

Even Batman showed up for yesterday's screening of Dune 2 in English with Thai subtitles at Major Cineplex, Central Chanthaburi

The Chinese New Year dragon was still there last Wednesday, but removed when we were there yesterday 3 March 2024

Local fun at a temple fair yesterday, Wat Khamong, Sunday 3 March 2024

Our wild area we've chosen not to develop too much, I cleared some of the medium height scrub/trees, thinned the larger trees and removed all the vines and their ongoing regrowth. Provided more sunlight and clean air flight paths around a pond about 15x10m. Over time the wildlife has increased, various water birds, two white egrets, racquet tail drongos, coucals, various other little ground birds who seem to prefer walking to flying. And your mynahs (prefer the h ones) birds. Add squirrels who help themselves to bananas and papaya. One water monitor about 1.2m set up residence mid last year I'm less fond of, though I won't mind if it takes out the wandering cats, or the pigeons.

Are we just lucky? Six years old next month our Samsung 10kg gets used every night - four adults. In that time just one repair, a solenoid last year, cost 400b to repair. Before that a Samsung 6.5kg which was very overworked, died after seven years. Good enough to stay with same brand.

There's a motorbike in there . . . mobile beach clothes and toy sales at Laem Sing Beach Chanthaburi, 24 Feb 2024

Went along to watch two races each on Saturday and Sunday; ideal conditions for racing on both days.

Photos of the accident scene from Facebook; not on one of the steeper sections; rolling like that it's almost a surprise more than one didn't die. Back on its wheels showing the passenger seating

I'd like to send one there We have one over the wall in our 'jungle' area, about 1.2m / 4ft. Knew we had a visitor - heard splashes in the pond - it's quite bold and doesn't scare easy (well, not as easy as I scare). Just as long as it stays over there and doesn't decide to take up residence in the garage.

No, not another one. Already:

Mine on Wednesday (Chanthaburi) Passport, completed TM47. The tear-off TM30 receipt is stapled in back of my passport, don't know if he looked at it, just noted in computer and I was on my way at 8.32am (first customer of the day).

I was just 'surprised' ... It's quite a percentage from a population just over 5m. We're not in a high overseas tourist area, the only NZer I've met in Thailand since Covid was last year - at the NZ Embassy (a likely place!). We've hosted various NZers over the years, mostly here on extended stopovers to or from UK/Europe; all were short stay visa exempt, there's no numbers I can't find any figures on how many actually visit on longer SETV or METV.

Swim Cycle Run. Yes, a former triathlete. Yesterday completed a February 1000km cycle challenge - reached 1012km on my hybrid MTB (ie not a 'road' bike), over 8200km on these wheels since buying in May. We (+ wife) did two running events in February, that's six since November, have three more booked through to May, a dead spot in April with just one but missed out on that one as the max entry number limit was reached. Evenings we'll often be walking at the local park / sports complex while daughter uses their gym. Swim at local 25m pool and more often in the sea as a break on cycle rides, beach is a nice 36km loop ride from home. No gym, prefer simple outdoors exercise.