NguuMuu

I just mentioned this in the shaking house thread, but yes, the Thai media has said there were 4 earthquakes in Burma (strongest was around a 6) which were feelable (my word) in Hua Hin.

The thai TV news in bangkok has reported earthquakes in Burma, which were indeed felt in Hua Hin. In fact, Burma had four earthquakes, the strongest of which was around a 6 (I believe).

About 30 minutes every few days...I guess that averages out to only 5-10 minutes a day.

I think just losing him fixed the airport in a major way...

Thanks for the advice Chantal. Whatever happens, I'm definitely gonna make my best attempt to get out there in October. I especially like this little (unsurprising) tidbit:

And yes, Nguumuu the Parks are officially , unofficially closed from May - November if you know what I mean. For example if you go in October you still pay the Similan Park fees.

I've already been to most of the other islands in the area so really just interested in the similans.

Bambina, that site says the park is closed (I know the park is the whole islands), but I have read other places that this is just a government guidline and private tours can still go to the islands...

Any idea if this is true?

Last time I went back to the US (entered through LAX) I was basically interoggated as well. They sent me through customs three times! Once they just told me to go through, then at the last gate they sent me back to check for organic stuff, then back at the last gate they sent me back again to check my bags for other stuff! This time I got to stand next to some customs booth (not immigration) while some mexican asked me questions and wrote about 3 paragraphs on me. They even wanted me to turn on my digital camera so they could see the pictures (although there was nothing since I had transferred everything to the computer already).

I was pissed, tired from a 16 hour flight, and just wanted to tell them off, but I restrained myself. No matter how bad they annoy you, I would not advise doing that.

I plan on being in Phuket for a few days in mid October and was hoping to do a day trip to the Similan islands. No diving, just snorkeling and not to stay overnight. I've read conflicting/questionable info on whether access to the islands is available at this time.

Do tour boats run to the islands at that time? Is it still daily, weather permitting? Should I expect the weather to be permitting, or is it still too close to the rainy season to know?

Hoping some locals can help me out...

So can anyone tell me...which wall is the proper wall to be facing when using a squat toilet?

I have a friend that sells 'muu bping' (you know, grilled pork on a stick) for 5 baht a stick on the street on a normal road far away from any tourist areas (where everything gets marked up). He does quite well for himself. I'm not sure how much he sells in a day, or what the profit margin is exactly (maybe 1 baht/stick?)...but he does sell a lot. he always has money to go out, he travels very often, and even saved up enough to buy an tiny 'apartment' building (very ghetto, about 10 rooms...but thats some more income from the rent). Not to mention the land he buys in buriram for the family.

No mercedes yet, but he is very happy and his income is pretty good.

So does anyone actually know where those pictures from the OP are?

For unknown reasons we have not received our UBC mag this month but from other posts believe it may contain 60 baht of time and you top up as normal.

Quite a few other people I've talked to have not yet received their UBC mag either. Normally they would be surprised, as it is certainly late now. In this case, though, knowing what is inside the magazine they are not surprised it never made it.....

Don't be surprised if yours never makes it.

True is the new name of Orange.

That explains a bit...not sure how I missed that in the news.

So anyway, does that mean this is a no-strings-attached free SIM card?

The other day packaged within my monthly UBC magazine there was a True SIM card. Along with it were instructions in English (fine grammar) and Thai, but neither me nor a Thai can figure out what the deal is. I would like to give it a try, but I hesitate to use it because it is attached to my name and address and I wouldn't be too happy to find mysterious mobile phone charges on my cable bill. The card says its prepaid, but I'm thinking there must be some catch. Also, if I wanted to top up my card, what company would I ask for...I never heard of True as a mobile service supplier.

I suppose this could be a simple promotion for True, but why use a SIM card??

I think I saw on TV something about them sending these to all their subscribers, but my Thai wasn't quick enough to really understand. I haven't verified anyone else receiving this yet. Has anyone here gotten a free SIM in their monthly UBC guide? Can anyone else shed some light?

South Korea should be high on that list.

And I bet North Korea would be even higher...

We sell beer Lao retail min one case in Bangkok

Totally legal with tax seal

So, Sel, who and where is 'we'? And how much does a case run for anyway? Thanks!!

All the beer lao I've had does indeed have the import sticker attached on the neck over the cap.

Also, as deathbydurian said, they all have the black tiger rubbed off, whited out, or covered with a black marker....what's the point of this?

Thanks for the replies!

The nokia 6610 looks OK, but maybe a little older than I would like. Prices seem to be around 2,500 baht for that one.

Crabstix, that Motorola L6 is sounding pretty nice...looks like it fits all my needs and more for a good price. I found it online at telewiz for only 4,500 baht. This could be my next phone...thanks for the suggestion.

Lung, I've known about siamphone.com, but it's mostly Thai so not too easy for me to use. Thaimobilecenter.com is a nice site I haven't seen before, though. A lot of Thai, but a good amount of English too...thanks for the reference.

I'm looking to buy a new mobile phone and was wondering if anyone had some recommendations. This is what I'm looking for:

• Price around 5-6,000 baht.
  
• Looks good (image is everything in thailand, right?). I've always liked phones that flip open.
  
• Has a color screen (is that standard these days?)
  
• Has some decent games for those long, traffic-jammed taxi rides.
  
• I do not need internet capability or palm pilot or other complex capabilities.
  
• Easy for typing text messages in Thai and English.
  
• A camera is a nice feature, but by no means required.
  
• The phone is to be bought in Thailand for use in Thailand only.
  

I think there's a lot of phones that would fit these requirements now a days. If you have a phone that you really like, let me know. Any model recommendations, or sites where I can browse through phones?

TIT

Hold your horses now....

We don't even have any real word on whether the bars will be open or not.

Can any bar owners or the like enlighten us?

And last, but not least, everyone should give frogs on a stick a try. Tastes like chicken....jing jing!

And this concludes my display of locally available soi food. I hope you guys enjoyed looking as much as I enjoyed eating (most of) it!

Some fried flowers on the tiny bangkok island ko kret. Aroi mak!

dawk mai tawt

Some tasty sausages and chestnuts...all at the same vendor. Anyone know what that spiky green thing is next to the chestnuts?

name wuun sen + (chestnut in thai?)

Some more scorpions and a large insect (I have no idea what kind) for the girlfriend. The sandwich in the background is for me. The large insect is also a common ingrediant in chilli sauces. It has a distinct, pungent taste that is, well, just disgusting (IMHnon-thaiO). If it is in a chilli sauce I can tell instantly by the taste.

malaeng bong (scorpion) and maeng da (?)

A plateful of malaeng (bugs)....here we have some crickets, frogs, and ants.