Fried Rice

Looking to see if anyone has stayed at Lum Num Nan National Park in Uttaradit province. I am going to be in staying in Uttaradit with my family and wanted to spend a few days out by Sirikit Dam. I have not been able to find much information except that the park itself offers a bungalow rental.

http://www.thaiforestbooking.com/np_home.asp?npid=156&lg=2

I also wanted to play golf at Sirikit Dam Golf course, looks nice. Just wondering if anyone is familiar with the area or has any good advice about accommodations.

The Napalai hotel has a great pool. We stay there all the time because our 3 kids love their swimming pool. It is very big and also has a seperate shallow pool. The hotel itself is decent, nothing fancy but has been clean and fine for us on our stays. Staff has been friendly and helpful in my opinion. It's been over a year but we will be back there next month swimming around.

http://www.napalaihoteludon.com/

I have sent and received many packages over the years in both Udon Thani and Uttradit Province. Never has a package been lost or anything missing which I am greatful for. I just sent a package over to the inlaws consisting of 2 cartons of Cigs for Father in Law, Photos of family,vitamins and allergy medicine for Mother in law. They had to go and pick it up at the office because it was to big for the postman to carry on his motorbike to the village. When they went to pick it up they had to pay 1200 baht which is way more than I have ever heard or actually had to pay.

On a couple occasions when the package was inspected in customs we had to pay anywhere from 150-300 baht but never anything close to 1200 baht.

Just curious if anyone else has recently been hit with a big duty bill. I put the value of the package at 100 USD which would be 3500 baht so almost 1/3 of the value for duty seems silly.

Nong On is not far from Udon at all. It is the village my house and farm are in. My house is a stones throw from Ho Chi Minhs boyhood home which still stands. Take the ring road to kut chap road. It is just a little past Chiang Pin and about halfway to Kut Chap. It is almost exactly 10 Kilometers from the ring road. For his home and Museum there is a small green sign in english and thai (which is easy to miss) at the sign take a left an it is a few hundred feet. I have walked over there several times and it has never been open. It is well taken care of but I have never seen anyone around there.

When I go to the Market in Udon there is a Pigs head vendor that has a large stand filled with about 20 pigs head. The first time I walked by it I said <deleted> is going on here.

I really don't give it much of a look anymore, but it is interesting that is actually more a ceremonial thing.

I figured Thai people just like eating pig heads.

Running electricity 1 km is not as expensive as you might think. We have a farm alittle over 1 KM on the main road just outside of Udon. The wife talked with the people at the electric office and we got a meter put in just off the main road. We also got the reduced electric rate since where we built the house is considered a farm. (1000 baht insured that) Anyway we then had to buy power poles, mostly bought 5 meter high concrete poles which were 750 baht each, and a few 6 meter concrete poles for 1000 baht each for some low spots. The wire by far was the most expensive, although can't remember exact price per meter. We also had a electrician in the village to install the poles and run the wires for 6000 baht. Very cheap and he did great work. We figured out adding in all expenses it cost us alittle more than 50,000 baht to run the electricty just over 1km. Not nearly as expensive as I thought it would be. We just finished in Febuary an everything is working great. If you want more exact prices on the wire I have it written down you can pm me and I will get it. It does save much money to buy everything yourself and then have it put up. Also don't be affraid to throw the electricity office a bone or 2, it does help.

Hmmm, lets see if this works.

Well... thanks glaukua and khall.... i love my present avatar.. in fact i reckon it's the second best i've had so far... 

totster   

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

why my name is so difficult to spell?

I have forgotten I really like Fried Rice avatar...

first time a saw it I could not stop laughing...

I just though of all those times we tv member are in deep discussion and we get angry and try to replay as fast as possible...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Gee thanks Glauka, I'm glad you got a laugh.

I do prefer the animated avatars and there are plenty of good ones out there.

I think I like Krugens the best.

When we send packages from Uttaradit to Udon we go to the bus station in Uttaradit. Address the box and then check the bus schedule with the shipping people. They have a window/office inside the train station. They get the box on the next bus headed that way and let you know when it will be at the destination.

Then whoever you are sending it to can pick it up at the bus station at the destination city.

Usually for an average size box it cost us between 60 and 100 baht. The next day for us the box has always made it there.

We have never sent anything of very high value but for simple deliveries it has been great and quick

Just to elaborate on the other answer, there are usually 3 flights on Thursday, Friday, Sunday (and maybe Monday, not sure), otherwise only two flights. 

As for the taxis, most will take you anywhere in Phitlok for 200 baht flat rate (not overtly expensive).  Your own pickup is preferable and parking at the airport is free and plentiful.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Fair enough on the 200 baht anywhere in Phitlok for the taxis.

I have to go all the way to Uttaradit (120km North) and the typical fare will be between 1.000 and 1.500 (as much as the airfare from Bangkok)

The VIP bus is 150 baht....

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I took the lunchtime flight from Bkk to Phitsanulok about 3 weeks ago on Friday. I bought the tickets the night before at a bit over 2000 baht. The flight I was on had many open seats, but the last time I took it I thought that flight was full. Anyway short and sweet and beats the heck out of the train.

Thank you very much  for  that  nasty pic .....     (scary indeed)

common name -  Gekkor / ตุ๊กแก/dtook gae

scienctific name -Gekko gekko

in chinese medicine ..grilled  gecko = VIAGRA

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Gekko gekko or Tuckee, hmm my GF said the name was Gekko but I just thought it was a general name for all nasty lizards. Interesting. Thanks again all.

Mr. Gekko Gekko made his way back in the house last night I got another pic of the nasty mean Gekko.

This Gecko was living outside our house until recently when he decided to move in.

I was wondering if anyone knows the official name english or Thai. He is very loud at night when he makes his call, it is usually 3 or 4 calls that can be heard even a couple houses down.

I took this picture of him on the wall before trying to get him out. He was biting the broom when I was trying to escort him out. Seemed none to happy but after about 30 minutes got him back outside. He is about 18 inches long, I think its 45 cm. We live outside Uttaradit if the location helps with the ID.

Thanks.

I was up in Udon this weekend visiting to see the progress on the house we are building. I was amazed how many farangs I saw around Udon as well. I have been staying in a small village about 40 km outside Uttaradit and have not seen any farangs around. Although I know there is 1 close. The GF always points out the house when we pass it. It is kinda funny seems everyone in the village can point out his house and can tell you all about him.

While in Udon we went to the Global home store and saw a bunch of farangs, none of which made eye contact with me at all. Not a big deal but would have been nice to have a conversation in English. My GF speaks fluent English but she is the only one around our village with a good enough grasp to chat with. I am working on my Thai, but progress is slow.

When my GF said she was getting transferred to work in the Hospital in Udon I thought it would be nice. Beside the quick long weekends I have not spent much time there, so only time will tell. I personally look forward to seeing more farangs around. Not sure if that will change with time as I get use to living in Udon.

I can see the negatives of a big farang presence, but can see some positives to. The good with the bad.

For a 1000 Baht and a cell phone I would have saved what little pride I had left and walk my silly arse home.

I bet you everyone of the coppers were laughing their arse off at Mr. Tommy Christian and his little adventure. 

I doubt any cop would waste their time looking into this matter further regardless of the country it occured.

Lesson learnt for Mr. Tommy.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

it doesn't matter what some one has done, they don't deserve to be robed by anyone

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Tell me where in my post I said he deserved to be robed?

You'll find these lovely pics on all cigarette pakcs in Thailand, they are imposed as part of the gov's anti-smoking campaign.

It's supposed to make people feel bad about smoking.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I can't believe the government would/could control pictures going on a pack of smokes?

Although I can't think of a reason that a tobacco company would put that image on their cigs.

My neighbour has been smoking for f'ing years. He makes 100-200 baht a day when he works. He likes to work for a few days, especially at this time of year(harvest) and come home and have a little dram and a smoke. How the h ell is he going to do that now.

Pouches of tobacco are sold for 3-5 Baht presently, and the gyus roll anything from 20-30 fags from it. That might of course go up to 4-6 Baht.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The father in law usually smokes the pipe on the farm, but on trips into the city prefers to have brand name cigs. I guess he thinks he looks cooler with a camel cig in his mouth then a pipe. He always lets me know when his camel stash is running low, 4 cartons gets him a long way as he doesn't venture into town much.

I was also looking at my neighbors pack of menthol cigarettes, not sure the brand name but the image on the front was a man with a cigarette and a cloud of smoke around his head holding a baby in his arms.

Seems they could have come up with a better image than that to sell some smokes.

For a 1000 Baht and a cell phone I would have saved what little pride I had left and walk my silly arse home.

I bet you everyone of the coppers were laughing their arse off at Mr. Tommy Christian and his little adventure.

I doubt any cop would waste their time looking into this matter further regardless of the country it occured.

Lesson learnt for Mr. Tommy.

My Thai neighbor said that next year they are going to increase the price of cigarettes to 100 baht a pack. I didn't think much about it as I don't smoke. Then he said currently he is paying 26 baht now per pack.

Not sure how accurate his information is as he was piss drunk off alittle of the ole Thai Vodka.

On a side note, He was celebrating his fish tourney victory where he caught a 2.6 kilo catfish and won a big trophy and 2000 baht.

Thanks G.

Any recommendations about which free antivirus software?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I use Avast and have been for a few months. It has been great so far and is free.

Seems like my computer is alot faster after uninstalling norton as well.

Avast Download page

Here is Bobo, not really a Soi Dog but kinda more the country variety. He is a great dog. 2 weeks ago a bunch of rabbits escaped their pen and Bobo ate 5 of them. Blood and bunny guts everywhere

The very next day Bobo got hit by a car.

Girlfriends parents insist that it was karma.

Bobo suffered a broken leg but is getting really quick now on his three good legs. Seems like he will make a full recovery, more than can be said for the Bunny Rabbits.

Ouagadougou

On the subject of sick dogs did you see Sam the Ugliest dog died at 14 years of age.

What a sad day indeed.

Article on Sam

Rest in peace mate. You will be missed.

Bern, Switzerland

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You got it little kitty, Bern it is.

Allrighty Boy and Girls, can you name this city?

Innsbruck, Austria