Stevemercer

Good on him for giving it a go. He'll learn from his experience and do better next time. I used to bicycle tour a lot in Australia, often riding several thousand kilometres at a time. We rode Melbourne to Brisbane and back again (3,000 km), Brisbane to the top of Cape York (2,000 km) etc. etc. However, we used to travel much lighter using typical road bikes and no more than 5 kg of gear. You don't really need to take much. Typically we would cover 120 - 130 km per day and sleep under bridges or by the side of the road. Sometimes we'd stay at a caravan park for a special treat. Obviously in Thailand it is cheap enough to stay in hotels and not have to cook your own food. Riding with a friend helps because you can compete and motivate each other. You can also slip-stream each other making things a bit easier. You might have different, but complementing, styles. For example, I liked to leave early in the morning and would force my friend to get up early. My friend would force me to ride in the late afternoon when I would get lazy. Of course, after a 10 days or so we couldn't stand each other and might ride the day separately, at our own pace, and meet up at night at an agreed location. Riding in hot and boring conditions is hard and normally we would leave early (5:00 am), rest between 12:00 - 4:00 pm and ride a few hours in the late afternoon. Getting food poisoning, or other illness, makes things even more discouraging, but normally doesn't stop you from riding. If there are two of you, there is less talk about quiting becasue you know it will affect the other person. You also don't want to be the first to admit you're in trouble. It's mainly physcological. Daily motivators include stopping for food/drink, resting near water under shady trees, reaching a decent camping place, stopping at a public swimming pool/river etc. Sometimes, on really hot days, we might spend the afternoon in an air conditioned public library or shopping centre. You really want to avoid riding when it is >35 degrees because it will suck the life out of you. I think route planning would be important in this case, to try and avoid days and days of riding hot, flat and boring highways; and to try and take advantage of any prevailing winds. In Australia, we would normally head for the mountains during summer and head for the tropics in winter. Maybe the rider should try splitting the journey into two separate trips and try to find alternative routes even if they are much longer. The simplest way to lsucceed would be to find someone who is like minded and not cycle alone.

I live in Kosum (near Khon Kaen) where peple have been flooded out over the last two years because the irrigation authority has released too much water, too fast in the last month of the wet season. Both time the weather department predicted late season heavy rain, but it never materialised. The irrigation authority was obviously trying to lower the dams in case of a deluge, but erred in releasing far too much water. They could have released it slower and over a longer period. They normally pay compenation, but it is a pittance. Maybe it is a difficult decision, because if late rain had arrived, and the dams had not been lowered, maybe there was a risk of the dams overtopping.

Isn't Phuket run by the Muslim mafia, or is this just an urban myth? Maybe that has something to do with attitudes towards foreigners, or maybe not.

I'm not sure this is the case, particularly in rural Thailand. Go to a karaoke joint or Mor Lam for a bit of dancing, and Thais will be lining up to buy you a beer. (The women will be lining up for you to buy them a beer) I'm sure they would do the same if you sing, play a musical instrument, have some other talent or make an effort to be inclusive. I find Thai men are not at all uptight about a farang chatting up women (unless it is their wife) because there are plenty to go around. I have a few male friends I cycle with or ride motorbikes with. Having said that, I don't really have any close friends (Thai or western).

I know of a senior Thai lawyer involved in this practice. She also allegedly stole from a French client who pursued the allegation in court, and won.

I agree with the other posters about staying in a Wat for 3 months. There must be some in Chiang Mai that cater for westerners with reasonable accommodation etc. I say this becasue all Thais assimilate Thai Buddhism and precepts as they grow up. Understanding and experiencing this thinking helps understand Thai culture and behaviours. Having said this, a westerner can never fully assimilate into Thai culture. Thainess is like a cult and you have to be born into it. The downside is once you join the cult you can never leave.

Anywhere in the Southern Hemisphere will be safer than the Northern Hemisphere.

As said in the movie 'There's Something About Mary', you must masturbate before you go anywhere you might encounter attractive girls. Not doing so is like going out with a loaded gun. You will get sidetracked, into trouble, fall into lust and waste your money. Empty that gun as many times as necessary and enjoy a relaxing time with your mates, and save money too.

Thais will always complain about loud WESTERN Music.

No, but I sometimes talk with a farang wife who understands English, but her husband does not.

I think the OP answered his own question. After a pattern of failed relationships, or a disasterous marriage, many Thai woman get friendly with a Tom, try to meet a farang or want to travel overseas and (hopefully) start a new life.

I agree. If World 111 threatens to break out, the wokists would all be for appeasement despite the lessons of previous wars.

Thailand won't be attacked in the event of a world war. However, it will be dominated by China and may become increasingly subservient. Sooner or late China will come after any foreigners living in Thailand, particularly those nationalities seen as enemies. China would expect Thai authorities to round up such individuals and hand them over for 'safe keeping'. Thailand will oblige and may even 'nationalise' any assets for the benefit of the nation (read those in charge).

You might have something similar to me - bladder diverticulus (sort of like a little pouch off the bladder). It's assymptomatic, but bacteria can get stuck in the little pouch causing recurring infections. It's diagnosed through an abdominal CT. Having said that, I don't think there is anything that can be done.

Wet ones don't break down and shouldn't be flushed.

The other thing is that taking more does not necessarily have an 'add on' effect (e.g if 100 mg does not work, then the chances are that 200 mg will not work. I suspect most 'overdoses' are people trying to take the pills too frequently(e.g. once every 6 hours over a few days).

Most of the cheap ones for sale everywhere have lead-acid batteries which probably have a life span of less than 2 years, on average. Typical top speed would be up to 25 km/hr witha range of 10 km (when new). Expect to pay at least 20,000 Baht for one with a decent Li-Po battery and life span.

She has been able to bring her 2 Thai children to Sweden where they will have more opportunities in life.

When our house becomes infested, we go to Australia for a few months holiday. When we come back all the pests have gone given the lack of a food source. I keep telling the missus to stop leaving food out, but it never stops/

Ha Ha. He was moved because he was threatening to embarass his superior in the immigration biometrics rort (remember the BMW 'smart cars'). His car was shot up as a warning to keep his mouth shut.

I once knew a Thai massage lady who asked for help filling out all the forms to pick berries in Sweden. She went and ended up marrying a Swedish bloke and is now a citizen living in that country. Similarly, my Thai sister-in-law is in Sydney picking vegetables. She is paid $180 per day (4,000 Baht) per day, cash in hand. It is hard work, but she is a farmer from Isan and can manage. She recently met and will marry an Australian bloke. I always tell Thai ladies looking for foreigners, do whatever you can to work in a foreign/western country. It is much easier to meet/marry someone once you are in that country, compared to Thailand.

I think the Baht has been 'talked up' by the central bank and previous government. They see a strong Baht as a mark of good economic management and still have bad memories of the 1997 crisis. Sure, the US dollar is strengthening and will continue to do so against most currencies. I deal with the Australian dollar which seems to move in tandem with the Thai Baht against the US dollar. The Baht has continued to maintain its value despite poor liquidity and economic fundamentals. The current government is calling for a drop in interest rates which would put pressure on the Baht. I think the Baht is probably over-valued by 10-15%. Such a 'real' drop (e'g. not just an 'apparent' drop against a rising US dollar) would make Thai exports competitive.

Regrettably, Thailand does not seem to have an effective or universal 'buy back' scheme (eg excess solar power feeds into the grid rolling your meter back). I guess electricity companies don't like it because they can't make any money. Distribution companies hate it because they get no return. And governments are happy to go along becasue they are always ripping dividends out of these public companies and want a return on investment. Setting aside household use, if you are in the fortunate position to be able to feed your excess solar into an EV (e.g. you don't use the EV much during peak daylight hours) then solar is looking attractive. Even more so given many current EVs can feed their battery back into the house in an emergency. Without an EV, and assuming the electric authority will not buy excess power off you, then you really need a decent battery for solar to start to make sense. Unfortunately, they are still too expensive for most of us.

I had a colonoscopy and gastroscopy (and abdominal and chest CTs) at a government hospital late last year. It was an overnight stay. I didn't have to pay (my wife is a government worker) but the charge on the invoice for the two endoscopy procedures was 2,800 Baht. As stated by other posters, waiting times are a problem. Based on advice from others, I went to a doctor's after-hours private clinic (he was the chief gastric surgeon at the government hospital) who offered a 'facilitation' service. For 5,000 Baht, he booked/arranged the endoscopy procedures at his hospital for the next day, and the CTs at another government hospital the following week, together with a follow-up appointment to go through the reports (which were in English).

I am married to a former government worker (retired teacher) and am covered by her social security. So I get free treatment at government hospitals which includes medications dispensed at the hospital and coverage for existing conditions. I have regular appointments with specialists at government hospitals for my depression, urological problems, glaucoma and cholesterol. It certainly works out more convenient and cheaper for me than in Australia where I had to pay about $2,500 (50,000 Baht) after Medicare rebate/refunds per year, mainly for specialists and prescription medicines. I also don't have to worry about getting specialist referrals from my 'family doctor' like in Australia. So I am saving 50,000 Baht per year. While I am thinking about returning to Australia, I am worried that I might be better off (medically speaking) staying in Thailand.