timber

In our area probably a lot of seminars or teaching courses for the teachers to learn about the computers which will again cut into the teaching time.

I write checks to myself on a regular basis for deposit to my bank account in Thailand.

The exchange rate seems to work out ok. These checks are for thousands of Canadian dollars.

Account at TMB.

There used to be a free ride in a van to the casinos

Was quite pleased by the service. Took the express about 1:00 pm. Lots of seats and the

trip took 20 min. or so. Got off the train and took the BTS to my hotel. Was very pleased.

If I had more luggage not sure how it would be.

Surprise surprise dams at 50% during the dry season. Kinda like having dams at 100%

during the wet season

I think the need to speak and understand English is simple. English is but a tool to

make you a global person, both in business and knowledge. It broadens opportunities

in a large way. If you have a narrow perspective of your future and a rich dad you

don't need to learn English. There are many rural schools outside of Bangkok where

the school doesn't take English seriously. I am not sure how set the curriculum is, so

that there is a flow from one grade to the next. When I taught in Bangkok a few years

ago there wasn't much input into what was taught in the current year from what was taught

the previous year. What was being taught was not orientated to who was being taught>

I have logged near salmon bearing streams with major restrictions imposed

on the results. This was done with no negative effects on the fishery.

I would think it is more important to educate the hill people to

understand the why's and how's that need to be used to protect the environment,

and have field personnel present for control and education

I see major environmental impacts being used all over Thailand in the way roads are constructed and maintained.

People can live and use the environmentas long as they understand and use the procedures needed to conserve it. I think the Hill People have a greater love for the land concerned than the government people

that may want to log, mine or otherwise use the land.

The days are passed when forest can be withdrawn from the active land base. Pretty well all forest sites can be used as long as the proper procedures are used.

Normal cycle in Thai road maintenance. Road is good for 2 years and

is fixed every four years.

"cattle class?"

It's nice to see a nice favorable message for a change.

Any place has it's ups and downs. Could be a lot worse.

I transfer money from my broker to my account in Thailand.

give them my name, account number, SWIFT code, bank contact person and their phone number

Well Steve are rubber trees are dead

If you maintain records dam levels should be able to be projected with

about 95% certainty, with a 15 - 20% margin for error. To maintain 50%

dam levels during the dry season Feb. through April is asking for a whole

lot of different problems. To have dam levels at 100% in September is

a criminal matter or gross negligence.

What is the mandate for pushing through a change to the constitution? Can Thaksin get it through

without support from minorities.

There is a nice route that goes to the coast at Sawi to Laung Suan. A pretty ride with very little traffic.

It has lots of resorts with little occupancy at Pak Num Toko and Luang Suan.

There are some nice places to see in Chiang Mai, but a lot of people come here for the shopping. There are areas in the out lying districts that have wonderful products in wood, silk, clothes and what ever

for sale. Stop at any tourist information center and they have maps and advice on where to gol.

The flooding seems to be easing off right now, but

had a very hard time getting to Chumphon on the

highway yesterday. Had to take side roads on the

way back. The highway seemed to be acting as a

dam holding the water back. More water was coming

down that the system could handle.

4evermaat

Well done. I go to Chumphon often to shop,

but don't really know anyone who lives there, so

this helps me to be more aware of things I might

not notice. Thank you and take care.

I think that is one of the most insensitive, stupid, uninformed post that I have read for a long time. There are MANY MANY relationships between farangs and bar girls that are totally successful , just as there are MANY MANY relationships between farangs and Thai women from so called 'decent backgrounds' that are a total disaster.

Other than the word stupid I have to agree that using a big brush to label a segment of the population

does not create a better world. As with any group there are the good and bad. Good relationships and

bad relationships in every segment of the population all over the world. With out these relationships

there would be a lot less chance that families could keep their heads above water, kids could go to

school and the old people working in the fields.

I don't have a 3G modem, but my signal has increased significantly.

We live in a remote area south of Chumphon and have a small

AIS station to relay the signal. Still not great, but better. Wonder

if I brought a 3G modem would I get a 3G signal.

Steve you are saying we are above average in rainfall and

the rainy season and we still have October and November to go

through. Wow! Why am I not surprised. We got 13 baht for

the biggies and 8 baht for small a couple of weeks ago.

If you aren't in a hurry. I just write a CIBC check to myself and deposit

it in the TMB account. Takes about a month and the exchange rates

seem ok. Live in a rural area so not many options.

I like this idea of increased the skill level. Of course if you increase the skill level then you need less people so many will loose their jobs. If this works then in the future when I walk around Lotus instead of seeing 40 workers picking their noses, pimples and ass maybe I will only see 15. I wonder how happy the 25 newly unemployed are politically going to feel?

I think this point is pretty significant. In going to a lot of big construction

orientated stores if the people on the floor knew what they were selling

and how to sell they would need 50 to 75% less staff on the floor. I would

think that when wages become higher they stores will simply cut back on

staff. There are a lot of improvement to sales in the store that can cut

back on the amount of staff on the floor. Although, inventory control would

pay the increase also. But, the first step is cut back staff.

Went to Ranong on the 15th of June 2011 and were requested to go to the

Amphere Office to get our marriage licence certified. The Amphere office made out a

two page certification which we were to give back to immigration. Our normal Amphere

office would be in Sawi in the Chumphon district. First we were aware of this requirement.

At the TMB bank the account freezes after a year of inactivity

and you need to go to the bank and reactivate it.