hiro

on the subject but for the elderly.

I read somewhere some time ago that there is no fee for the elderly - i.e. 65 and over.

Can someone confirm this ?

try Wuerzburger or the ADAC

good luck

sorry can not help with the indian runner duck.

would be intereted to know where you buy the peacock and how much ?

also the wife is about to buy some pheasants, do you have any too ?

Regards,

can pm too if you prefer

A 1 the government figure looks pretty close to my findings. Consider no tapping days during rainy season, during dry season when the trees shed their leaves, resting days after tapping.

A2 in this area ( south ) about 25 years, depends on the quality of tapping, if someone butchers the trees it is less

A 4 currently 124 Baht, but this amount can vary substantially. Usually there is a correlation to the oilprice.

as long as the price of palmoil and rubber paid to the producer is going up too it is ok.

Both have nearly doubled in the past 3 months.

Wife came home just now, 71 kg liquid rubber off 600 trees for the nights work - almost 3.000 Baht. One year ago that would have been less than half that amount.

For those of us who depend on income from the Euro or Pound only tough times lie ahead.

there is a place outside bang sapahan. they have a few hundred.

the wife wants to buy a pair of siam pheasants for 10.000 Baht.

Would be interested to know whether anyone else knows another place ?

Goshawk. I read a lot of your posts concerning birds and you seem quite knowledgable about the subject, I actually keep and attempt to breed Gouldian Finches, Star Finch along with the more usual Zebras but apart from the Zebs I am not having a lot of luck, perhaps you have an imput to make, cheers.

There is a farm outside Bang Saphan they have lots of them. About 7.000 Baht for a pair if I remember correctly. I am looking at a pair of siam pheasants, they want 10.000 Baht for those.

Klaus

Pheasant - pluck when still warm.......roast with Bacon on the breast - beautiful

Pluck when still warm .............? - and then hang without feathers?????

It'll be full of maggots within a couple days - and bearing in mind you normally hang pheasent for a good 3 days to a week plus before it become real tender, I;d hate to think what would have become of it by then.

... the bacon idea is cool though - stops the breats drying out in the oven.

I went to look for a pair of siam pheasants in Bang Saphan the other day.

They want 10.000 Baht for a pair.

Anyone knows an alternate source ?

Thank you

I live between Surat and Krabi in the sticks.

Nearest 7/11 30 ks, nearest ATM too, no farang bar anywhere.

Going into my 6th year now and perfectly happy here.

Krabi is a great place to live in my opinion. We've been here for a bit more than 2 years, out near Big C, and find it wonderful. We have TT and T internet and it seems to work great. We're here because of the wife's work, but it's only 20 minutes drive to the beach at Haat Nopparat Thara.

Don't think I'd like to live in Ao Nang, but it's OK for a visit once in a while.

I think living well is a matter of who you're with and what you're doing, rather than where you are...

you may not get any answers as Thai visa seems to have some sort of bug at the moment..It does not direct to your question when clicking on "Todays best topics"..I got here by googling your question...Sorry although have been to ao Nang and going there next month have no idea about parking....I do know that thai shope and resteurants get pissed if you stopped their customers parking outside..well sometimes...Where you are going to park maybe best to ask a local shop owner if its ok..Best of luck Dave

I have been parking street side even in high season there, never had a problem.

Now in low season it is fairly easy to find parking unless on the road right on the beach......

I never thought my post would bring such controversy. I had pet snakes as a kid and therefore have no fear of them. Many varieties are extremely gentle, docile creatures that would never harm anything (but maybe small mice). My wife has bad dreams about them and can't even look at one on TV (she's Chinese, not Thai). I'm certain that when she gets to know one, she'll realize there was nothing to be scared of. I had two water dragon lizards before. When she first saw them she was petrified, but a day or two later she was feeding them beetles with chopsticks. She liked them when she realized they wouldn't hurt her. Conquering fears is the best thing we can do in life.

I have a fear of snakes that dates from a childhood encounter with a rattler. Nothing you could do would take away the fear. Period. It's only my opinion, but I think your idea is just plain dumb. I'll tell you right now, if my SO was so inconsiderate of my feelings as to bring a snake into this house, my SO would be gone.

you can have a Bamboo pit viper for FREE, it hangs in a Hibiscus plant about 3 meters away from where I am sitting now. Just need to pick it up yourself as I would not go near it. Sorry, not in Bangkok.

does anyone know if banks will change a bag full of 1 baht coins up into notes? or if not is there somewhere else i can get this done? cheers.

I've got all these 1,000 baht notes lying about..anyone know where I can change them into coins..come on ..get real man !

my wife changes her jar full of 25/50 Satang coins at Tesco, they love to take them. Just go to one of the cashiers. I am sure same applies to one Baht coins.

Firstly, want to say that (unlike some other people) I think that this Forum - or more particularly the majority of people contributing to it - are brilliant.

We moved here recently not knowing anyone, and it has been really very helpful to have peoples opinions and replies to questions. And I love the news items too, very interesting, and of course, anyone who does not like it can just not read it! Or contribute something they do like.

Anyhow - worried at first that this should have gone on Thai Food Forum, but since it is about where to find breakfast sausages in Pattaya, hope I am right putting it here.

Foodland has good German ones, 'Swienworstel' or something similar. And these are the best so far for weekend breakfasts. They also have some rather nasty 'butter' sausages, the worst so far !

Anyone any tips on where to get 'real' sausages in Pattaya ?

Also - anyone know a good butcher - with weekend joints of meat ?

try the fairly new german/swiss butcher = see www.meat-stuff.com bet I have found thus far

As the title suggests. I have heard the post office is an inexpensive option for less than 3000 baht. Has anyone done this? Would I simply drive my bike to the post office and they take it from there? Any insurance options? Please do not suggest I drive my Fino there. Not interested. Thank you.

shipped one 4 years ago from Pattaya to Pra Saeng. No problems worked very well, just take your bike to the post office in Naklua.

Some off topic posts discussing race and the English language have been deleted.

Someone recommended the BRAUHAUS on 2nd road - suggest you give it a miss and try the DOMIZIL next door instead - not only better food but also friendlier service.

Bummer!

Well I guess if Moçambique, Cuba and Vietnam don't hack it either, poor ol' basjke is gonna have to bite the pillow and stay here.

Personally, the Vietnamese cuisine and insistence on blowing the truck/car/m'cycle horn at every bloody thing that moves puts me off.

That leaves Moçambique and Cuba and as you pointed out, it shouldn't be too long before FL annexes the 'other big island'.

So Moçambique it is then.

I am not a basher btw, I think Pattaya is just fine, it just needs some more TLC (and less whingers).

PS. Did I mention Puerto Rico?

You guy's seem to be well informed about several country's.Tell me about south africa.I always heard it's a world in one country and been told that it isn't that expensive either.seems however that only a particular part of the country has the good weather all year.Is this an alternative to pattaya?

You like SA - well they don't like immigrants - for more info - try BBC or CNN

Lived in SA for 15 years - would not go back there if you pay me - sole reason crime, crime crime

The products seem a bit pricy, maybe the pictures dont give the producys justice maybe 250bt for a large steak and kidney pie would be ok but the one in the picture looks like the standard small size that you can buy locally for 80bt.

Has anyone tried the products

Yes received the leg of lamb, bacon, etc. a few days ago total value 2.936 Baht.

A trip to Surat where I would have to go to buy these items - if I can get them - would cost 500 Baht in petrol alone. they deliver to your doorstep free of charge above 2.500 baht value and in a good frozen condition out in the sticks.

For me a very good service

has anyone been to this area ?

Anyone know the Baan Phu Lae bungalows ?

Your feedback is appreciated as I am planning to go there in Feb 2008.

For a long time I have been thinking to buy a condo and get out of that monthly stay/rent business. More space, more privacy and hopefully less distasteful people around.

Well, looking at the market myself I met alot of nice expats trying to make the extra buck by trying to sell condos that were in termite infested buildings, out somewhere in the woods, or simply at crime central like the Nirun/Niran. Talking to real estate agents I felt soon that I had just upgraded from the first group to the advanced level. Extensive internet searches had been helpful in getting a sobering overview over prices. Keeping my mouth shut when talking to these people I was on the look out for a bargain or discounted price. Well, they tried to take me for a ride and asked more than on the web (usually in the 100 K or plus range) for exactly the same place (same building, same unit). Ok, you can avoid that by making yourself smart and use your knowledge to test to agent. Ah, before one of those agents starts lecturing me about the market and my own misconceptions: Just keep quiet if you one of those persons who sold houses to foreigners by the company route. I was told so much crap about it and I m only lucky that i listened to Thai friends who warned me. No need to trust anyone who was part of this.

Touring Pattaya outside my usual rounds, I noticed how much it has changed. Construction literally everywhere with buildings going further up. In a short time the coastline will be lined by a concrete wall. These developments remind my pretty much of something like US projects from the 1940s (View Talay comes here first to mind) and I wonder how they are built, having seen these older condos and their problems (cracks). Assuming that the construction is sound and you opt for a new place and put up that money. I had contacted three developers who made it clear that there was no guarantee that they would not sell more than 49% to foreigners. So I might end up screwed very easily. But even without the construction boom that just increases water shortage, traffic congestion etc. there is enough more to worry about.

A short perusal of this and other forums' news clipping shows that crime is more and more targeting farangs and that includes the resident community. Any predictions for that trend? Somehow I m reluctant to turn myself into a sitting duck waiting that my turn comes.

Let's assume you get into trouble and it is not so bad or even no trouble at all but some other health emergency. What comes next? You are caught in a prefectly corrupt emergency health situation. An administrator at a know hospital that pays bribes for you being delivered to them might effectively decide if you live or die. Unless, of course, if you give them your cc in time. Extortion.

Then the visa situation. Constant changes and with the new rules at Poipet the 90 day rule is not much worth anymore. Right, you can go somewhere else, but be sure that will change as well. Given the political climate in this country, I have no hope for a turn around concerning this chauvinistic attitude. So I might have condo and wont be able to live it in....

So with these thoughts and my amazement at the high prices for condos as compared to other locations I simply could not make up my mind and part from my hard earned money. It was not really decision but hesitancy. Nothing was really what I liked or I could feel comfortable with. All options were compromises and the only "positive" argument was that prices will go up more and it would just get worse.

Well, here is the final straw:

The plan for a nuclear power plant some 20-30 kms south of Pattaya. Surely, it will be perfectly safe like those Russian models, the renamed British processing plant, those old German reactors, and the American models (Harrisburg). So I do believe that the industry has only our best interest on its mind and is far from being only profit oriented. The issue the is the slow and continuous contamination of the air and the water. Perhaps the radiation will clean the sea water from Pattaya's sewer bacteria and I dont swim there anyhow, but the air.... But then, what price is too high to watch a melt down from the highest building in Thailand. I finally got it, why an apartment in such tower is a must.

In sum, it's time to look elsewhere for that retirement place we deserve.

you are serios about retiring ?

I used to live near Pattaya now I am actually retired in the south of the country.

None of those concerns you refering to around here.

There are others depending on what your expectations are if these do not fit forget it - but for retirement it is ideal.

I can offer you to build a house, hardwood Thai style, 2 bedrooms on my wifes land, 9 rai, for less than 2 Mio Baht on a 30 year lease. would cost you many times the price on a shady company ownership deal araound there with all the other things still being there. Land ownership is as you know illigal for us farang.

Interested send me a mail.

last count

Baht bus charges = 1.563 hits

beer prices = 1.605 hits

honest taxi driver = 244 hits

does this reflect the interests of the forum readers ? If so, any analysis worthy looking at to the meaning of these stats ?

maybe someone out there is qualified to enlighten me

this is a slap in the face to all of those thai bashers on this site !

say thank you and return to the usual run of the mill stuff like shootings, rape, child abuse, baht bus fares etc. ?

i suggest an account be opened by a founder member of this forum at a local bank

into which anyone can pay in to say thank you from this community.

on closure of the donation period, perhaps 2 weeks, the man should be presented with the money.

appropiate coverage by the thai media should be arranged.

as guests in this country we should all say thank you to people like this honest taxi driver.

Anyone know of a bookshop or other outlet selling books hardcover or paperbacks in or near Krabi ?

Any input is much appreciated.

Hi Hiro

I live in Nakhon but the wife comes from Lam Tap, Krabi. Not sure if thats far from you?

Went last week for a ceramony for our new born, lived out in the wilds for 4 days, brilliant! Even got to slaughter a pig for the feast!

I'm looking at some land for sale next to her families plantation, thinking of rubber and palm. Any suggestions from experience? Would like to move there in a few years, far more peacefull and calm than Nakhon.

We pass Lam Tap on our way to Krabi but it is about 80 ks from here.

What I can offer is to tell you about our piece of land to give you some idea.

The land belonged to the neighbour who could not afford to repay the bank after the rubber trees were cut down and the wood sold, i.e. lack of income from the land for a period of about 7 years.

The offer came through word of mouth as the wifes parents and other family live in the area. I never got involved in any negotiations for the obvious reason - price goes up.

The land is next to a secondary road, i.e. dirt road to the main road for about 1km, has no municipal water connection as yet (could get from the neighbour by laying pipes myself) which determines the price as well. We have plenty of water on the land though and had a pond dug for the geese and ducks plus as a well for the shower and kitchen water etc.

The land has full title deed (chanot) which has an influence on the price too. Cost was 50.000 Baht per rai. To dig a well, a pond, to clear the land and plant rubber trees yourself and see it all grow within a year is great fun and not expensive. We have 9 rai only small enough to work the plot ourselves, most recent addition was a brush cutter which the wife took into action this morning for an hour. I do not like poison tho be put on the land as most do to keep the weeds under control as the stuff will run into the pond and kill the fish which I have put in.

I hope this will help you a bit and if you have any specific questions you can PM me too.

Here is another attempt at giving some input to the Krabi Forum after all I live 80ks away from Krabi which is the closest to civilization I can get.

Two days ago my wife brought 8 chickens and the mother hen from her parents home as the white dog there had a desire to eat small chickens when hungry. Not surprising really as I am sure he was not fed too well most of the time. The chickens were only a day old and put with the others for the night. Sitting out on the terrace sipping my drink I hear a comotion and alerted the wife to go and look in the fowl pen. Sure as hel_l the ants had taken to the little chickens and killed two of them already. We took the mother hen and the other 6 for a good clean up and freed them of all the ants. Then they where put into the bathroom for the night. Glad to say now everything is well and they raom around in the pen again.

But that is not the actuall story I want to tell. Thai rubber farmers employ Burmese migrants to tap and process the rubber. They work on a commission basis, many of them are illigally employed.

But that is a whole subject on its own. Anyway the MIL has Burmese workers as well for the job. She had told them that the white dog is naughty and she does not like him anymore.

Guess what ? The next day he was gone ...... first cooked and then grilled by the Burmese and some of his pals.

By the way Burmese make good money tapping rubber by Thai standards.