chonabot

Dont want to be negative but i taught and lived in kalasin for one year and didnt renew my contract because of the lack of things to do and sheer boredom. Luckily you have family there and they will hopefully keep you company. There are lots of festivals all the time and markets to eat at. They have a big tesco now too. I have been in issan for 5 years now and will be leaving soon, I cant say I didnt have some good times here but lets get real, there is a big world out there and issan isnt part of it.

50/50 on that one, in the next 5 or 6 years places like Kalasin will be a part of 'it'

There is a lot of money here and things are changing, but hopefully Kalasin will never become too civilized

Hi Kirsty

I live in Kalasin and just finished teaching at the biggest Government school there.

Myself and my family will be returning to the UK in about 3 weeks.

My wife is from Kalasin - let me know if you want any info about the schools etc

Kalasin is pretty civilized to be honest and there is a fair amount to do.

Regards nightlife, it is not too bad, depends on what you like.

Let me know by pm about the school etc as I know a few teachers here.

There are quite a few NES teachers in Kalasin and to be honest, as a Thai/Aus you will have no problems at all - the kids will love you.

As I said pm me for any more details, or ask on here

Good luck

Phil

My wife would be over the moon if I did the ironing. However, that's her job and I have my job which is the one that gets the money. She would never let me do it outside where others could see.

I'm a little more flexible regarding roles and chores - and my wife is very happy

Ok - I'm deleting my reply to this no mark - placing him on ignore and enjoying the rest of my day ironing the crap out of anything that moves.

It's also possible that some species lend themselves to backyard farming, but I suspect there isn't enough of a demand to support the level of effort required for that.

Nice of those species to 'lend themselves' ..bizarre phrase..but not altogether repulsive, which describes any sort of modern taxidermy.

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Nothing specific to the topic - "lends itself to" is a standard English idiomatic phrase, meaning something is suitable for, can be adapted to.

"This commentary lends itself to several different interpretations."

"This property lends itself to a variety of uses."

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Also, I don't think "taxidermy" is used much in connection with insects, that has more to do with reconstructing higher-level animals, removing the flesh, structuring the skin over the bones etc. Apparently the term is lepidopterology for butterflies.

Yes I am aware of the phrase and its connotations, just never heard it in connection to http://m.pinterest.com/marisolfarda/insect-taxidermy/

before

It's also possible that some species lend themselves to backyard farming, but I suspect there isn't enough of a demand to support the level of effort required for that.

Nice of those species to 'lend themselves' ..bizarre phrase..but not altogether repulsive, which describes any sort of modern taxidermy.

Everyone has different tolerances, so there really is no point trying to get your own idealistic view of this short period of time in a contentious

stance.

Each to their own and goodnite peeps

Nice one - so......NEP after the test was it ?

I like to listen to the giggles when kids pour water on each other.

But, I don't understand why adults do it.

Perhaps they enjoy it - we don't all turn into Victor Meldrew when we hit 30

Some turn into passive-agressives, with their hostility masquerading as a joke...

I enjoy it as a participant and a slightly merry pedestrian observer - But 3 days is my abolute limit..........ok I could stretch to 3.5

Don't mind Songkran, coming from Aust. though, I can't help but see a massive waste of a precious resource - water.

Also gung-ho tourists with very high-powered super soaker water pistols squirting dirty gutter water in your eyes/ears/nose/mouth is annoying.

But by using the dirty gutter water, surely they are lessening the need to use clean and useful water?

Like most Thai festivals, group activities of any type, Songkran leans on the intensely childish side seemingly more appropriate for adolescents than any other age group. Hard for the typically more adult-like personalities of Westerners to enjoy such childishness. It would be akin to adults getting as amped up as the children to go Easter egg hunting. Quite silly by all Western standards.

On the other side, I have no gripes about Thais enjoying it. They certainly do know how to be 'sanook' as it is fundamentally important in their laid back culture.

A little sillyness is good every now and then

You would need to meet at least two or three hundred from each country and know them intimately before you could comment on their 'mentally' with any real pertinence.

I personally find the way they can cheer me up on a bad day, a very attractive quality.

Perhaps it is their 'childish' outlook that puts a pleasant slant on an increasingly grey and dull serious mentality held by many Westerners.

I have never considered their place in the world of beautiful women, who really cares about such a crass classification?

Must be a slow Sunday for some of us

I like to listen to the giggles when kids pour water on each other.

But, I don't understand why adults do it.

Perhaps they enjoy it - we don't all turn into Victor Meldrew when we hit 30

Post Office - use the EMS courier option and I find this the best and most cost efficient

Will they collect from the UK?

Still love it - Only lasts 3 days in Kalasin.

Last year my wife got into an altercation with a English guy, he was walking through the mayhem with a face like a slapped arse.

Daring people to soak him , most couldn't be bothered, my wife doused him with a bucket of ice water, quite gently though.

Even though her arm was in a sling, he started shouting and shoved her quite hard.

There was a large inflatable swimming pool full of ice water that we used for refills.

He became quite friendly with it for a while

Kalasin is a big enough place to avoid the main festivities, this berk was looking for trouble and ended up cooling down.

My first songkran was in 1987 as a 22 year old - madness - but that was in Patts.

a very unnecessary post & some replies to it removed.

I missed that one..sadly

Great policing as ever B x

Lovely words all - Thanks

I'm hearing less nice words from my 'mates' back home - jealous buggers they are

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What you mean like "are you crazy? don't do it!" ?

I would agree with that sentiment, no I am hearing...'Oh so you couldn't hack it overseas then?'...that kind of negative <deleted>

Lovely words all - Thanks

I'm hearing less nice words from my 'mates' back home - jealous buggers they are

Thanks Guys - I booked via parcel2go who are agents for Fedex - cost about 30 quid for a 3 day service

I asked this question a while back for a debit card someone recommended dhl or ups can't remember which one but they seemed to mention £35 for delivery in 3 days I think that is pretty reasonable

Sound much better - thanks

I'll have another look using the search function.

I need some documents sent to me from the UK pretty quickly and by guaranteed post.

I refuse to use DHL after they lost a valuable package of mine last year.

I got a quote of 65 UKGB from Fedex, but seems a little steep for a single envelope - 7 days service.

Does anyone use a service for this purpose ( UK-THA) - and can you let me know the cost/experiences etc please ?

Cheers in advance

wow - 20 minutes after emailing them - I got a reply saying the booking was reinstated.

They are Human after all - now I just need to get past the address issue

I knew I should have stayed in bed today....