Fore Man

I have enjoyed, for the most part, browsing through the earlier posts. Aside from the inevitable famers and trolls, there is a lot of good information to be had.

I have been here full-time since 2004, obtaining my annual extension of stay based solely on showing proof of THB 800K in my local account, properly seasoned of course. To me this requirement is an artifice demanded by the Thai government....we foreigners have a multitude of means to stay afloat when living permanently outside our home countries and having money in a Thai bank is meaningless. We have never tapped into that THB 800K+ bank account to live here...it simply remains on deposit wholly as a convenient means to get annual extensions of stay. We do however pay our in-country expenses almost entirely by hitting the ATM, which debits our US bank account. We pay the remainder of our living expenses here by using a US credit card, which I pay every month via my US checking account.

For the first time in 6 years, I am shifting to the 'proof of income' method rather than using seasoned funds in the bank. We want to buy a new automobile next year and will naturally want to use our 800K THB on deposit to help do this. My question is the following:

"After using the 'funds in the bank' method for 6 years, will I run into bureaucratic red tape this year (this month actually) by suddenly switching over to the income method? (I have the U.S. Consulate affidavit, plus ample back-up documentation of my income sources, e.g., W-2s from 2009 federal income tax submission; checking account records, etc)."

The second part of my question is this:

" Will Immigration want to see actual proof of my income sources and is there any impact, good or bad, by showing the full amount I earn (or by holding back)? None of it is earned from Thai sources; it is derived entirely from US earned income and pension sources."

Thanks!

I am a longtime member at GVCC. I used to reserve a certain caddy but always did so over the phone directly with her. We agreed on a meeting time and I would meet her in the parking lot. If you try to drive up to the bag drop area and get a special caddy, then that is not generally going to work, because a queue of caddies has formed, all waiting on the chance to get some work. It is simply not fair to them.

But a pre-arranged relationship is tolerated by all. Just don't rub their noses in it.

I later found that as you start to reply on one certain caddie to handle your bag, you also get the baggage that comes along with that girl and any quirks she may have...some tend to become mother hens, dictating which club to use. I actually had lady of this ilk refuse to hand me the club I wanted (a 60-degree wedge for a high-lofted bunker shot). Some girls start expecting little extras, such as an increase in their tip over time. And if you wake up late and miss your tee-time, and fail to pre-notify the lady, you generally owe some compensation to her. All in all, I decided a couple of years ago to simply grab the next girl in the queue. Life became a lot simpler.

The other thing we golfers have to remember is that the caddie is not responsible if you hit a bad shot, hit over or short of the green, or make an off-line putt or read the speed wrong. Hers is advice only and you have to be the final arbitrator of that advice. Most caddies also cannot differentiate distances to various pin locations on the greens, or factor in elevation changes. She simply parrots off the yardage shown on the nearest marker...which at GVCC is measured to the center of the green. As we all know, most greens can be 3 clubs deep...so knowing the correct yardage is a key factor. Use GPS, interpolate the caddie's information...whatever.

Endeth the sermon on caddies....enjoy the game!

Followed your instructions to the letter and was presented with this message when trying to open Channel 7 of the Iraqgoalstv site:

"Channel blocked by Makeitlive"

It may have worked yesterday but not now. Any suggestions?

hi Fore Man,

ive just tried it and it seems to be working fine!

the only thing i can suggest and not being all that clued up on all this computer jargin, is what browser are you using?

im on goolge chrome and it does say that when using the site that chrome is the recommended browser to use.

hope this may be of some assistants.

might be someone else out there that could point you in the right direction.

come on guys, sounds like Fore Man really wants to see the last round!

Thanks; I was using Chrome as well. Site still blocked. Might be my ISP (3BB). Thanks anyway; guess I'm stuck with the Golf Channel.

Followed your instructions to the letter and was presented with this message when trying to open Channel 7 of the Iraqgoalstv site:

"Channel blocked by Makeitlive"

It may have worked yesterday but not now. Any suggestions?

Take up golf....you'll get hooked and never want to leave CM. Once you're hooked, try playing at EGAT Mae Moh (Lampang Province) for a change in pace and tell me you're still bored.

Lads, just curious...but can one buy an IP4 in Singapore and use it here or are you always wedded to a SingTel or other account?

Are there any other countries near Thailand where an unlocked IP4 can be bought at a decent price?

Same issue--how about a 3G iPad?

Does anyone know the offical Apple Thailand debut date?

Thanks gents.

I live in Tambon Rimtai of Mae Rim and was a loyal, multi-year customer of JI-net delivered over TT&T. I even successfully negotiated a price decrease with them because, as the OP states, ISP pricing has plummeted. Even with this lowered pricing, we were still forking over THB 4,000 every month for special subscriber service (limited to 5 users).

But early this year, we began to see a serious ersoion in the quality of our JI connection...it was constantly flickering in and out. JI-net wasn't the culprit; TT&T had decided to discontinue support for its ADSL service where we live. Along came 3BB (Maxnet) with brand new wiring throughout our area, and best yet, they didn't need to tie up our phone line to deliver their broadband service. Instead, 3BB routed lines carrying their ADSL service that were independent of the telephone system. We happen to have a TOT main telephony line, which works fine. I was using the old TT&T line to handle my ASDL connection over Jasmine; plus I had a fax machine connected over the same TT&T carrier. As explained, TT&T dropped its ADSL service. This original TT&T line now handles my separate home office telephony and fax services. 3BB, with its independent ADSL line, handles only my broadband service. In effect, we have three hook-ups delivered by three companies. There is no overload nor outtages, except on a temporary emergency basis.

I decided to order 3BBs fixed IP service at an additional rate (5Mbps down/1.024 up). This costs more than their dynamic IP address plans, but I need the improved QOS to do my job. It costs THB 3,103 monthly, of which my company reimburses me the lion's share. We started this service in early March and so far it has been perfect...there are occasional line problems along the FO trunk which gets rountine and non-routine maintenance but all in all I cannot complain.

Had 3BB not come into provide fresh service, I may have ultimately considered 3G AIS, but I heard it is extremely slow and spotty where we live. IPSTAR satellite coverage is available, but I have not heard good things about it either, particularly during bad weather. For now, I am very pleased with 3BB. The only worry I have is the likelihood of oversubscribing in our area. Even with a fixed IP, I have experienced some slowdowns on international connections during peak periods when all subscribers are on line and drawing down bandwidth.

Good luck with your particular situation.

RIP indeed. Suicide can often be the result of a sympathetic reaction....when a person contemplating suicide, particularly a young child without sufficient grasp of his or her situation, sees a similar act performed by others...real or imagined (as on Thai TV)...they are often convinced that 'if they can do it, so can I".

In my previous military career, we experienced a spate of suicides by young soldiers in one locality (not in a war zone either) who literally copied others who had lost hope and were disillusioned with their lot in life. These men and women felt hopeless and that they had no one to turn to...to discuss their situations....which were almost always not as extreme as the victims believed them to be. They ideated their suicidal impulses and after so much of this it internalization it became easier to go through their final acts in life. It took a great deal of counseling and care on the part of leaders at all levels to overcome that terrible trend.

I abhor all Thai soaps because they portray various means of violence towards others and this is often directed towards family members as well. Thai audiences see these repeated scenes day after day and night after night and then begin to believe that it must be reasonable and correct to mimic those acts. After all, they saw it on TV and as with everything else, anything seen on TV is plausible. There is a recurrent theme in Thai TV dramas that allows undue expressions of sadness and melancholy...I am often aghast at the disparity between sorrowful scenes and happy, joyful ones. This must be something in the Thai personna that wants and expects to see these kinds of sad and emotional portrayals.

In a similar vein, I see the same problem occurring with nearly all product advertisements on Thai TV....those raptly watching TV, especially those with low incomes and the uneducated...believe without a doubt that all claims made are valid and the product must be worth buying ("hey, I saw it on TV, it must be good!"). The only way this cult of the 'Television God' will ever change is for Thai authorities, schools and religious leaders to counsel the population on what is reality and what is not.

As much as I feel for the family of the dead girl, they must share some of the blame for allowing her to watch violent and bizarre soap operas on TV. First and foremost, it is a parental responsibility to take care of children, and in Thailand it sickens me how often that grave responsibility is neglected.

Are there any Aeon's located in Chiang Mai?

Does anyone have the names of the other 10 besides Veera?

During the recent protests in BKK, I decided to try China Air direct from CNX to TPE and return to avoid Suvarnabhumi. While I bought a business class seat (my company reimburses, thank goodness), China Air forced me to pay THB 2,750 additional baggage fee to send my two pieces of luggage. There was a large roll-on suitcase and a set of golf clubs. Normally I use TG for CNX-BKK-TPE and am never asked to pay any additional baggage fees....and when flying business class on TG I am allowed 3 checked items. On the return leg from TPE to CNX, I checked in at Seoul with China Air as my business took me there after my earlier stop in Taiwan. China Air at Seoul never charged me any additional fees, so I suppose this policy is left up to the discretion of the ticket agents at check-in. The flight service in business class was fine, as one would expect. But checking in at CNX was a major hassle as the flight back to TPE was full of returning Taiwanese passengers and the check-in area was a zoo. Would I do this again? Probably not, unless timing was important...the required intermediate stop in BKK aboard TG eats up 3 hours and gets one to TPE late in the evening whereas China Air gets you there around 3 PM.

Re Lanna, Currently they have suspended the Monday and Friday Sports Days in favour of upping the greens fee to the same as the other courses at 800THB, back to 500THB next month, making it very good value

Copied from my blog on website:

Went early to Lanna today to avoid the crowds. Arrived at the first tee of the 1st nine, 6 players there, we asked the starter if we could go on as they had not teed off-nope! So went to the racecourse a couple of threesomes in front so relatively OK. Completed the 9 holes and returned to 1st nine, a five on the course with another 6 waiting to tee off!

Asked if we could play course 2-nope closed! Returned to the racecourse where an even earlier 6 had finished their first nine and were now in front of us. Switched to hole 7 of the racecourse played the 3 holes returned to the tee-and you guessed it there was another 6 in front of us!

Not that many groups on the course but I counted 5 groups of 6. Won't be going there again in a hurry. TIT

You've hit the main reason I no longer go to Lanna...and never will again. Lanna is a sad example of how Thai golf plays the game by an entirely ungentlemanly set of rules, most of which would have you escorted off most courses in the West. Thai course owners will absolutely refuse to say no to money--even if means inconveniencing dozens of other players. The national trait of Thais to be unwilling to tell others of their nationality that they can't do something is perplexing and galling. But as the poster above relates, they have no qualms telling a non-Asian foreigner 'no'. Course marshaling is almost non-existent here...something we are very aware and mindful of in the USA and in Europe. I play here because it is generally a real bargain, great exercise and I don't really want to give up the game, but it is a very often a frustrating experience because I usually play as a single or in a 2-ball. If you are part of a 4 or 5-ball life is far more tolerable.

Expats who are thinking of joining a particular golf club should not jump into such a decision, but play there many times to determine the true tenor of how the course is run. It is quite disheartening to put up a huge sum of THB to pay for a membership and then find out that you are often stuck behind 6 and 7-balls. A local friend of mine had this happen to him and is now attempting to secure a refund of his fees, but I suspect that outcome will not be forthcoming from the greedy Bangkok owners of our particular course located in the Mae Rim area. During the low season, there are no refreshment kiosks open in the late afternoon and during evening play (we have lighting available on all 18-holes), and unless you come prepared with plenty of your own drinks, you'll experience a very unpleasant round, parched and badly needing to be rehydrated. As we all are aware, being dehydrated this time of year can lead to serious health problems and even death. Even though players teeing off for 9-holes at 4 PM have sufficient time to complete game using natural lighting, the course charges higher 'night golf' fees to help pay for their investment and additional utility bills...but the player never makes use of them before walking off the course at 6 PM. Another course located in the northern area of Chiang Mai has a published policy that golfers are not allowed to bring their own beverages, including water, onto the course. For all of these transgressions, it does absolutely no good at all to register a complaint, however tactfully it is done, with course management. They simply are not interested and you are wasting valuable time...even if you are a dues-paying member. I could go on and on, but the term Caveat Emptor is very applicable to golfing in Chiang Mai and throughout Thailand.

Re Lanna, Currently they have suspended the Monday and Friday Sports Days in favour of upping the greens fee to the same as the other courses at 800THB, back to 500THB next month, making it very good value

Re Inthanon, played last week and the new clubhouse is a month or so away from being open. Construction has begun on the hotel

No one mentions Alpine which is in superb condition. A bargain at the 800THB and it is virtually deserted

Most courses are very quiet these days so a slow round is not an issue.

Good point regards Alpine...it is a great course. It is normally too pricey for me to consider in discussing value options for golf in the province. I had overlooked the fact that it is running the 800 THB special during this low period. That makes it perhaps the best bargain of all. Be mindful that you will need to watch the speed of your putts out there; those greens run rather fast.

I received an Apple promotional email today showcasing the iPhone4 as it will be known.

I want one!

This being said, I have not yet purchased a 3G phone here and stll rely on my trusty but obsolate RAZR. Can anyone help me understand what 3G phones are for sale in Thailand and what the best one would be? I do need to be able to receive email and browse the web. I am confused on what technology is currently available in Thailand. We currently use AIS for our mobile service; would they be a smart pick for 3G service?

Thanks!

QUOTE (Fore Man @ 2010-06-06 03:14:37) Regards finding a decent local teaching pro...I have used both Khun Kitti at Stardome and Khun Gai at San Sai (now known as Golf Avenue). Of the two men, Gai was the much better teacher. His fees were also far less and he works with you until you are satisfied....for the price he originally charges you...even if that takes additional lessons above and beyond the norm. He has some other pros working with him who are excellent players but IMHO they are not as good at teaching golf...as this requires immense patience and empathy. I was ready to quit the game until Gai turned me around. That was less than a year ago and I am now playing to a 13 handicap index and closing in fast on a sub-80 game.

Regards Gymkhana...I agree with earlier posters...it is a low cost practice course but not well-maintained and far shorter than other regulation length venues. Gymkhana can be treacherous for a beginner. The hard, narrow fairways are lined with mature and overhanging trees, and you need to abolutely keep your ball in play or the round will prove to be very frustrating. Unlike most local courses, once you miss a fairway at Gymkhana, you will either not have a shot at all because your ball has been lost, or you'll find yourself in an adjoining fairway and have to negotiate your next shot around huge trees. The greens play terribly slow, especially in the early morning, and you can expect to make more putts than you normally would. By all means hire a caddy and be happy to pay them THB 200 or more for your 18-hole round. Their advice can easily save you the cost of lost balls and make your round more pleasurable. Stardome is another 9-hole course that is extremely well maintained and low-cost. Seniors can even get a nice discount. Water hazards there can dampen your enthusiasm unless you hit it straight.

As for driving ranges, I find that Stardome is the best all things considered. Their range balls, ball-spotting machines and mats were all replaced in the past year--major investments that most driving ranges here tend to shun. THB 100 gets you three trays of 40-balls each. The San Sai range has old and distance-limiting balls and you will not see the normal distance or trajectory you'd expect...and the concrete slabs on which the mats are placed are all canted slightly forward--downhill--to allow for rain runoff. This adds a level of difficulty for beginners who tend not to hit down on iron shots and end up topping them instead. These shortcomings when combined with rock hard mats can make for a difficult practice session.

I played Hang Dong last week for the first time in 6 months and found it in pretty rough condition. The greens were OK but the fairways and teeboxes were either barren, underlaid with too much sand, or taken over by weeds. The #9 fairway was especially in poor shape...full of bare, sandy lies which are very difficult to hit off of. The upside is that HD is dirt cheap, so you really get what you pay for. The best courses IMO are Royal Chiang Mai, Chiang Mai Highlands or Mae Jo. Mae Jo is the hardest to play well...as many fairways are hilly and wind around fruit orchards, requiring excellent shotmaking and placement ability. CM Highlands is the best course all things considered...a visual feast for the eye and a fair one to play as well, although the strategic bunkering can be vexing if you fail to keep the ball in play. They also do a much better job of marshalling than any other course in the province. Avoid Green Valley and Lanna like the plague, as these courses routinely allow 5 and 6 (and occasionally 7) balls to play. It is hard if not impossible for a Thai golf course to tell a large group they cannot all play together...and even if they try, the group will ignore the warning and stick together anyway. Caddies will not enforce the rules, unless it is a Farang breaking them. Sorry to say this but very true. Most of these large groups are wagering as well, and 7 golfers all taking 4-5 practice swings and agonizing over every putt will remove the last bit of patience you might have had for the day. If you are in a trailing double, and come across the sight of 10 to 14 people standing on the green ahead (including caddies), it can become very disheartening indeed.

Good luck with your game and I apologize for rambling on...hope these observations are helpful to you.

Foreman I just about agree with everything you say in your post apart from Highlands and Lanna golf courses.

You mention marshalling at Highlands. In a 2 ball there we were bumped off the tee twice by the starter to make way for an Asian 2 ball and on the back nine by a Thai 5 ball. Complaints to the starter fell on deaf ears. Mentioning this in the office was also a waste of breathe and to finally finish any interest I might have had at Highlands the farang manager at Highlands was even more unhelpful. He truly could not care less. That is my experience of this so called top course in the province……not pleasant to say the least.

As far as Lanna goes (which I play regularly) I've personally never seen a 7 ball let alone a 6 ball. In the high season it's a bit of nightmare as its so busy but just now you virtually have the course to yourself and its fairly easy to get to. Lanna is certainly not everyone's idea of a good course though and my first choice taking everything into consideration is Mai Jo. A delight to play and the young Thai guy owner does try hard in every respect.

Eek ……as far a practise ranges are concerned I would recommend Sansai (The Avenue) much much better than Gymkhana and when the time comes to make take your game public the attached little 9 holer is great fun, but watch out for the water.

Sadly, I must agree with your comment on CM Highlands....I took a similar complaint to the Farang pro and he was friendly but totally noncomittal. I had the feeling it went through one ear and out the other. I still believe the course itself is top-notch for playability, but yes, the management practices there could use some overhauling. It seems that almost any Thai course will blindly cater to large, well-heeled groups...and reject any considerations for smaller groups, especially those not paying high, walk-in greens fees nor renting carts. I guess the truth is that a single or double has virtually no rights on any golf course, other than to pay their money and play 18 holes...no matter how long it takes or how frustrating the experience might be.

As for Lanna, I enjoy Course #3--the newer one that is mostly contained by the race track. I find that the large influx of Japanese and Thai players makes for an intolerably long round, but I have not tried Lanna in the low season. Mainly, because they refuse to give us a decent price as long-term residents but who are non-members. For the money they want to charge, we'd rather go to Stardome and have a much better experience. Stardome can get busy as well, especially in the afternoons and on weekends; so we tend to avoid it during those times.

I really enjoy Mae Jo too....even though their refreshment kiosk was closed when we walked by (top of the hill before #14), we had the caddy call back to the clubhouse and they cheerfully brought drinks out to us by cart. Nice touch.

QUOTE (Fore Man @ 2010-06-06 06:06:23) QUOTE (Thailand @ 2010-06-06 09:45:28) ForeMan have you played at Inthanon and Gold Canyon? Both have huge potential, but that's coming from a hacker who definitely needs lessons.

Yes-have played Gold Canyon multiple times and Inthanon only once. I find GC a bit rough around the edges, especially the newer back 9. They also routinely allow large groups to play, ruining any chance of maintaining one's tempo. We spoke to the owner who explained that he built the course for the satisfaction of local Thai players...it was never envisioned as a country club course catering to everyone. Inthanon was much more enjoyable for me...there are challenges for everyone there. It is out on the countryside and fairly flat (some exceptions to this) with little shade, although the views are nice. This lack of shade makes a round played in the hot season a not particularly pleasant experience unless you rent a cart (which we did). I understand they are steadily improving the course so as time goes on I want to give it another go.

Yes, I was told by the caddies that groups of up to 7 are allowed at GC which is ridiculous but I was under the impression it was aimed at Koreans? Inthanon played a few times, I think it could turn out to be one of the top courses around as it matures, like it a lot.

I saw a recommendation for Sansai here, played there once 3years ago and without doubt the most dangerous course I have ever come across-maybe it has changed?.

My own experience at GVCC pertains to large groups of Koreans and Thais too...notably a group of policemen. The caddies were scared to death of asking the BiB to allow 2 farangs to pass through. So I boldy but very politely stepped up to ask myself.... The lead gent in their group instantly understood that we wanted to play through them, but after consulting with his fellows, the answer in Thai, which I instantly understood, came back to my caddy "The Farangs can wait". But in all honesty, for every arrogant, selfish group of Koreans or Thais, I have had the opposite reaction as well from other groups...call it a 50% poor sports versus 50% friendly folks. You just have to grin and bear it.

I played Sansai a few times but it was so incredibly crude and poorly maintained that I have never gone back. I am told by a close golfing friend that it has not changed at all. I respect the teaching pro there but he is not associated with the golf course or driving range management.

Can the OP tell us where he lives? I am in the northern outskirts of CM and have never come across one of these...yet anyway. Is the red snake prevalent all over Thailand or just in certain locales? Thanks.

ForeMan have you played at Inthanon and Gold Canyon? Both have huge potential, but that's coming from a hacker who definitely needs lessons.

Yes-have played Gold Canyon multiple times and Inthanon only once. I find GC a bit rough around the edges, especially the newer back 9. They also routinely allow large groups to play, ruining any chance of maintaining one's tempo. We spoke to the owner who explained that he built the course for the satisfaction of local Thai players...it was never envisioned as a country club course catering to everyone. Inthanon was much more enjoyable for me...there are challenges for everyone there. It is out on the countryside and fairly flat (some exceptions to this) with little shade, although the views are nice. This lack of shade makes a round played in the hot season a not particularly pleasant experience unless you rent a cart (which we did). I understand they are steadily improving the course so as time goes on I want to give it another go.

Regards finding a decent local teaching pro...I have used both Khun Kitti at Stardome and Khun Gai at San Sai (now known as Golf Avenue). Of the two men, Gai was the much better teacher. His fees were also far less and he works with you until you are satisfied....for the price he originally charges you...even if that takes additional lessons above and beyond the norm. He has some other pros working with him who are excellent players but IMHO they are not as good at teaching golf...as this requires immense patience and empathy. I was ready to quit the game until Gai turned me around. That was less than a year ago and I am now playing to a 13 handicap index and closing in fast on a sub-80 game.

Regards Gymkhana...I agree with earlier posters...it is a low cost practice course but not well-maintained and far shorter than other regulation length venues. Gymkhana can be treacherous for a beginner. The hard, narrow fairways are lined with mature and overhanging trees, and you need to abolutely keep your ball in play or the round will prove to be very frustrating. Unlike most local courses, once you miss a fairway at Gymkhana, you will either not have a shot at all because your ball has been lost, or you'll find yourself in an adjoining fairway and have to negotiate your next shot around huge trees. The greens play terribly slow, especially in the early morning, and you can expect to make more putts than you normally would. By all means hire a caddy and be happy to pay them THB 200 or more for your 18-hole round. Their advice can easily save you the cost of lost balls and make your round more pleasurable. Stardome is another 9-hole course that is extremely well maintained and low-cost. Seniors can even get a nice discount. Water hazards there can dampen your enthusiasm unless you hit it straight.

As for driving ranges, I find that Stardome is the best all things considered. Their range balls, ball-spotting machines and mats were all replaced in the past year--major investments that most driving ranges here tend to shun. THB 100 gets you three trays of 40-balls each. The San Sai range has old and distance-limiting balls and you will not see the normal distance or trajectory you'd expect...and the concrete slabs on which the mats are placed are all canted slightly forward--downhill--to allow for rain runoff. This adds a level of difficulty for beginners who tend not to hit down on iron shots and end up topping them instead. These shortcomings when combined with rock hard mats can make for a difficult practice session.

I played Hang Dong last week for the first time in 6 months and found it in pretty rough condition. The greens were OK but the fairways and teeboxes were either barren, underlaid with too much sand, or taken over by weeds. The #9 fairway was especially in poor shape...full of bare, sandy lies which are very difficult to hit off of. The upside is that HD is dirt cheap, so you really get what you pay for. The best courses IMO are Royal Chiang Mai, Chiang Mai Highlands or Mae Jo. Mae Jo is the hardest to play well...as many fairways are hilly and wind around fruit orchards, requiring excellent shotmaking and placement ability. CM Highlands is the best course all things considered...a visual feast for the eye and a fair one to play as well, although the strategic bunkering can be vexing if you fail to keep the ball in play. They also do a much better job of marshalling than any other course in the province. Avoid Green Valley and Lanna like the plague, as these courses routinely allow 5 and 6 (and occasionally 7) balls to play. It is hard if not impossible for a Thai golf course to tell a large group they cannot all play together...and even if they try, the group will ignore the warning and stick together anyway. Caddies will not enforce the rules, unless it is a Farang breaking them. Sorry to say this but very true. Most of these large groups are wagering as well, and 7 golfers all taking 4-5 practice swings and agonizing over every putt will remove the last bit of patience you might have had for the day. If you are in a trailing double, and come across the sight of 10 to 14 people standing on the green ahead (including caddies), it can become very disheartening indeed.

Good luck with your game and I apologize for rambling on...hope these observations are helpful to you.

My heart goes out to you both! It would seem on the face of it that this crime--kidnapping--should not be difficult for Thai authorities to solve. Your wife's relatives ought to be easy enough to track down and once all family members are interrogated, the whereabouts of your son should become well known. It also seems that they should be jumping on this and rigorously pursuing the perpetrators...one has to assume that kidnapping is a capital crime in Thailand (I certainly hope so!) and it is deplorable that the Police have acted so shamefully...and it is sad to say...but so typically. I trust that I am joined by other TV members in pryaing for a speedy resolution and that your boy is returned safely and quickly.

We own a huge, 800-sq. meter sprawling home in a district of CM. Our electric bill averages THB 7,000 monthly over the course of a year. We just received our highest bill ever for the past month--THB 11,348. We operate a pool pump 6 hours a day, normally have one of three hybrid, large capacity A/C on all day and night year-round and make occasional use of room-size units for smaller areas. All cooking is done via gas appliances except for a microwave, but we do have no fewer than 5 referigerators running continuously, although one of them is a small bar unit. The home has two 300-liter hot water heaters, one of which is switched off unless guests come. Our maid does a lot of ironing and running the washer & dryer (both electric). Our bill peaked this month because we had family guests for 6 weeks that used a room A/C and spent more time using the TV than normal. The pool's chlorination system and cleaning pump was run extra hours because we needed to overcome an algae bloom. In sum, we are big electricity consumers. I have neighbors with similarly-sized homes who have similarly-sized bills. I say all this because I consider that our THB 11,348 electric bill was reasonable considering the huge physical plant we operate; the OP's bill of THB 8,000 absolutely suggests that he is being scammed...hugely scammed. The suggestions by other posters to isolate his own electrical use and then check the circuits make perfect sense. Hire an electrician and have him thoroughly document his findings. Have him attempt to gather information on electrical usage for the entire building. If there is an irregularity found, use his report to register your complaint to the electrical company and to the police. In the end, without adequate renter protection statutes and government ombudsmen, you are on your own with the landlord. If she still refuses to accept the facts, vote with your feet. This is pure BS and unchecked greed in my opinion.

Not much to do unless add snakes or cats in to the equation.

Thai cats rarely attack rats. They know they'll lose the fight

The answer is education. At my kids school, all of the kids just throw their trash on the floor. The teachers just let them do it! At a recent event, I watched as their parents and whole families did the same. At the end of the meeting, about 2 hours, a mountain of uneaten food and trash was left behind. Every chair was covered with sticky gunge and spilled sugary drinks. Hordes of ants appeared from nowhere and bit us to death.

I remember the days when I was at school when it was 1 hour's detention if you even threw a small piece of paper on the floor.

Our small female cat killed a huge rat here in Chiang Mai and drug it in to show it off to us. That rat was half the size of the cat!

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Crikey, someones got a chip on their shoulder about the British

Yeah, seems that way. I have a lot of fine, upstanding Brit friends, and have run into 'football hooligans' a few times in Pattaya, but it is unfair to label all Britons in such a rude way. For every belligerent, cocky chap from the Isles, I have met an equal number from other lands. Shame on the contributing poster for his apparent xenophobia.

Once upon a time there was order in the 1000 year empire. Thats the kind of order Abhisits masters want now. Is that really the life people want to live? Perceived peace - if you behave by rules you have no influence to change?

Hey, worked for Singapore. It has become a benign police state of sorts, and you have to obey the law, but they do live in peace down there. Nothing wrong with that IMHO.