cheshiremusicman

I normally pay 300 B to my regular caddy, who is a very good caddy, but if I end up with a 'Bag Puller' that is totally disinterested I will sometimes only give 200 B as a tip and make damn sure that I take there caddy number so I don't end up using them again. The converse can apply where you get a very good caddy, who does show interest and knowledge and you try and book them when you next visit this course.

Unfortunately, as a previous poster has said, it is mandatory to use a caddy here in Thailand; but that is just the way it is - like it or lump it!

Governor Apinan Suethanuwong ordered quick dredging of klongs to facilitate the flow of flood waters.

Pity someone didn't think to do this before the start of the rainy season

Oh NO, NO, NO; that would be far too logical a thing to do! Same problem here in Hua-Hin, major 'klongs' FULL of all kinds of big weeds etc. They would rather spend stupid money on digging out ineffective ditches by the side of the road.

Thanks for the info. I'm damned if I could find a picture of a snake that matched this one, no matter where I looked. It was the 'V' with the ring mark at the point of the 'V' that I couldn't find anywhere. Can anybody point me to a site that has pictures of this 'Kukri' and other such snakes? And , yes I will 'google' it after I've sent this, before some smarty pants comes and tells me to to do that!

Check post 101 on top of this page.

Clue:

http://www.thailandsnakes.com/non-venomous/brown-kukri-snake-non-venomous-not-dangerous/

Thanks 'Forethat'. I'd just found this site when I came back on TV. The body looks the same but I cannot see any pictures of very different marking on the head which looked most unusual to me.

I was brought up on a farm in Oz. My father told me all snakes were deadly.They were,where we lived, - many eastern and king browns, and some tiger snakes. I grew up with a fear of them. Still have it, but now I know a lot more. I would be very wary of blue kraits and anything else with a triangular shaped head in Thailand. But rather than killing everything, throw mothballs around your garden, snakes don't like them. Encourage the larger skinks and lizards. they don't like them either. Remember snakes are deaf, so noise won't work, but doing a ceremonial aboriginal dance while banging the ground with the end of a heavy stick does. If cornered, stand very, very still,- they will generally leave you alone. Leave the pythons alone - they do a good job on the rats.

In Australia I only killed browns but that was because we didnt have tiger snakes or copper heads where I lived. Tigers are savage and will attack like a brown(had a big one strike at our car years ago and hit just below the open window when I was in the army) and the copperhead will bite repeatedly so these 2 are on my kill on site list if they were ever near my house, actually you could probably add the death adder to that and that other little bugger in WA that is also very deadly. Australia has some of the deadliest snakes in the world which doesnt help. Never killed a red belly black as they eat brown snakes and they are being decimated by the cane toads because their main food source are frogs so they need to be saved. I only kill snakes that dont leave or are aggresive, if they leave my area they are left alone otherwise they meet "mr stick".

Your's sounds like a very 'Balanced Attitude' to your safety and responsibility to wildlife in general and you obviously have a very good appreciation and knowledge of the snakes that lived in Australia. I personally have nothing against snakes and am quite happy to leave them alone. My only problem is that I do not have enough knowledge to distinguish between those that could inflict a life threatening bite and the one's that are harmless. I was recently walking around the outside of my house on a sandstone washed path early evening and turned a corner and nearly stood on a snake which was eating a frog. Before I realised it, the snake released the frog and had a go at my foot ( I was barefoot) and luckily I manged to jump out of the way. Now I know, that this was the snake reacting to my sudden appearance, but it frightened the hell out of me. I was expecting visitors the next week and they have a young baby who is very active and my thoughts were centered around her. This particular snake I have never seen before, but it had a very well defined 'V' marking on it's head. I have to confess that I despatched it with a spade. I have looked on the internet to try and identify this snake without success, but two of the Thai gardeners told me that it was extremely dangerous when I showed them the pictures that I had taken to try and identify it. Identification of this snake would be appreciated.

I have had other snakes in the garden in the past which I have left alone unmolested (apart from a cobra that spat at me as I was trying to get my two cats away from it) and not seen again, so I am not out to kill all snakes, as I appreciate their environmental position in keeping down the rodent population; as has been amply described by others on this forum.

As I said previously, I would appreciate knowing what kind of snake this is, in order that I am not about to kill another one in the future, if I can identify it as not being dangerous.

NONvenemous Kukri. Either the gardeners have a "kill em all" attitude, didn't know or were telling you what they think you wanted to hear but the kukri is harmless.

Thanks for the info. I'm damned if I could find a picture of a snake that matched this one, no matter where I looked. It was the 'V' with the ring mark at the point of the 'V' that I couldn't find anywhere. Can anybody point me to a site that has pictures of this 'Kukri' and other such snakes? And , yes I will 'google' it after I've sent this, before some smarty pants comes and tells me to to do that!

I was brought up on a farm in Oz. My father told me all snakes were deadly.They were,where we lived, - many eastern and king browns, and some tiger snakes. I grew up with a fear of them. Still have it, but now I know a lot more. I would be very wary of blue kraits and anything else with a triangular shaped head in Thailand. But rather than killing everything, throw mothballs around your garden, snakes don't like them. Encourage the larger skinks and lizards. they don't like them either. Remember snakes are deaf, so noise won't work, but doing a ceremonial aboriginal dance while banging the ground with the end of a heavy stick does. If cornered, stand very, very still,- they will generally leave you alone. Leave the pythons alone - they do a good job on the rats.

In Australia I only killed browns but that was because we didnt have tiger snakes or copper heads where I lived. Tigers are savage and will attack like a brown(had a big one strike at our car years ago and hit just below the open window when I was in the army) and the copperhead will bite repeatedly so these 2 are on my kill on site list if they were ever near my house, actually you could probably add the death adder to that and that other little bugger in WA that is also very deadly. Australia has some of the deadliest snakes in the world which doesnt help. Never killed a red belly black as they eat brown snakes and they are being decimated by the cane toads because their main food source are frogs so they need to be saved. I only kill snakes that dont leave or are aggresive, if they leave my area they are left alone otherwise they meet "mr stick".

Your's sounds like a very 'Balanced Attitude' to your safety and responsibility to wildlife in general and you obviously have a very good appreciation and knowledge of the snakes that lived in Australia. I personally have nothing against snakes and am quite happy to leave them alone. My only problem is that I do not have enough knowledge to distinguish between those that could inflict a life threatening bite and the one's that are harmless. I was recently walking around the outside of my house on a sandstone washed path early evening and turned a corner and nearly stood on a snake which was eating a frog. Before I realised it, the snake released the frog and had a go at my foot ( I was barefoot) and luckily I manged to jump out of the way. Now I know, that this was the snake reacting to my sudden appearance, but it frightened the hell out of me. I was expecting visitors the next week and they have a young baby who is very active and my thoughts were centered around her. This particular snake I have never seen before, but it had a very well defined 'V' marking on it's head. I have to confess that I despatched it with a spade. I have looked on the internet to try and identify this snake without success, but two of the Thai gardeners told me that it was extremely dangerous when I showed them the pictures that I had taken to try and identify it. Identification of this snake would be appreciated.

I have had other snakes in the garden in the past which I have left alone unmolested (apart from a cobra that spat at me as I was trying to get my two cats away from it) and not seen again, so I am not out to kill all snakes, as I appreciate their environmental position in keeping down the rodent population; as has been amply described by others on this forum.

As I said previously, I would appreciate knowing what kind of snake this is, in order that I am not about to kill another one in the future, if I can identify it as not being dangerous.

Poi Pet will NOT allow a Thai car in.

If you do get a chance to meet the head guy at customs he will tell you that you need travel to Phnom Penh and obtain permission ( which could take up to 1 month) .

After you obtain permission than you can travel back to the border and drive your car in.

The ONLY borders that will allow a Thai registered car in are Koh Kong ( where you will be asked for 100 baht /day that you tell them your going to stay and you will be told that you can only drive in Koh Kong Province) AND

they take the export papers that the thai customs gives you.

I have entered 3 times here as have a few friends of mine

Note in 2008-9 i had my thai car in Cambodia for over 7 months without any trouble, when i left they asked me why i had stayed so long ( as you only legally allowed to have ur car out for 30 days) I told them i was having a good time :-)

Osmach ( south of Surin) allows cars in. I have entered 3 times there, very easy and no extra $$ charged.

I have exited Cambodia at Poi Pet, Palin and Osmach with no trouble

Motorcycles can get in at Poi Pet thou.

Just cause something is official ( as the above paperwork is) nobody signed the agreement.

Many thanks for this info. Did you arrange some form of car insurance inside Cambodia or just go on a wing and a prayer?

I would be interested to know places of interest that you visited and places to stay along the way. Can you buy maps for planning routes as I don't know if I can get my GPS loaded with the Cambodia road info?

Probably the bottle has been open too long or it was a bad bottle, that happens with every type of wine now and than.

The red wine at Sizzler is not that bad, it's a special type made for them by Jacobs Creek. I no it's not grand cru, but for an industrial wine given the crazy prices in Thailand for wine it's good value.

Problem with Sizzler is the same as in many Thai restaurants and shops, there is no service and the staff don't know shit about what they are selling or serving. If you complain they look like a sheep and to run away from it.

I would guess, but could be wrong, that wine from these outlets is the vacuum box variety.

That would be the best way they could provide it under low consumption conditions. Absolutely nothing wrong with some of the 'boxed' wines that come from Chile, Argentina, America as everyday quaffing wines. Don't agree that 'Jacob Creek' is crap; try the very much overpriced Thai Crap and compare! I have to say, that now that they have imposed ridiculous tax rates on 'Boxed' wines that the bottled wines are becoming more attractive.

My son and I traveled to Siem Reap from Bangkok on 4 November. Here is how we did it. First l got an e-visa on line. Son has Thai passport so he didn't need a visa. At 5 am we drove my car from Bangkok to the Aran/Poipet border and parked in the secure parking lot near the Thai Immigration for B100 per day. We arrived there around 08;30 and got through Thai and Camboidian Imm in about 30 min, so if possible get there early. Many taxi's available and we got one for B800 arriving at the hotel around 12:00. Departed Siem Reap by taxi on 7 Nov. around 09:00 for $25.00. Hotel arranged the taxi. Not so lucky at Immigration as we arrived around 11:30 and it took about 2 hours to get stamped back in Thailand. Picked up the car at the secure lot, paid B400 and drove back to Bangkok. The best way I would say would be to fly but it's an interesting trip by road.

Interested in this, as I would like (if possible) to take my vehicle into Cambodia and have a tour around. Does anybody have any info as to whether this is feasible? Do you have to get your plates 'translated', as you do when crossing into Malaysia and how do you arrange car insurance and road tax?

I think there are a lot of injuries from Thai massage we never hear about. Obviously a sudden death like this we would tend to hear about it. I am sure many of these massage workers are not properly skilled and trained and has been said medical screening is pretty much unheard of.

This unfortunate man probably thought he was going in for something relaxing. Thai massage is often not relaxing at all. I especially think the groin pressure thing and the quick head twisting are extremely questionable from a medical point of view, especially in the hands of the unskilled.

This is one of the reasons I stopped going to a chiropractor despite still getting back pain. The neck twist can prove fatal

Sent from my iPad using ThaiVisa app

There is a helluva difference between a 'Trained Chiropractor' and your average 'Thai Masseuse'. Under these circumstances they DO know what they are doing - speaking from personal experience now.

i own a very successful massage business in patong, all new customers are sat down and have to fill in a questionnaire regarding medical conditions, this was supplied by the Thai authorities and we gladly welcomed it, we also ask please make us aware of any problem area's, if a lady is pregnant, we simply won't massage her, average massage girls train for a few hours to get a certificate to cover them in the naughty massage places, our masseurs train a minimum of 150 hours, tested and re-tested then all certificates awarded via a independent assessor, same as 5 star hotels, when people say Thai's are naturals at massage, i say " what would you rather have, a natural born dentist or a fully trained and qualified one" the trained dentist every time!!!!!, so go to a qualified masseur, you can't muck about especially regarding proper Thai massage techniques, it's a real shame about the young Russian guy that died, i'm sure he must have had a underlying medical condition, again a terrible thing to happen!!!!!

Well, in your case you obviously take the business very seriously, as I am sure some others do; but not the vast majority, who lay into people as though they were a slab of meat; with no real understanding of the physical damage that can be inflicted. I wouldn't be at all surprised, from what you've written, that YOU have insurance to cover any contingencies - but just my own speculation!

Nice to hear that at least somebody takes the 'Massage business' seriously - good luck with the business.

Thai massage can lead to a massive temporary increase in blood pressure and for this reason is not recommended for anyone already suffering from hypertension or heart condition. This advice should be prominently displayed in all massage facilities and explained in tourist literature, but of course...

If anyone reading this is about to retort "that's tosh" or similar, try this: Using a home blood pressure monitor take your BP in both arms before and after a massage. Prepare to be shocked by what you see. You may feel 'relaxed' by the experience, but your circulation is not.

Given the millions and millions of massages administered in Thailand yearly, a "massive temporary increase in blood pressure" would be killing a significant number of people ... and that is not happening.

Meanwhile years ago the manager of the Nana hotel opposite Nana plaza told me the hotel has several heart attacks cases yearly with older men having sex with young ladies. Probably pumped up on Viarga and way over exertion. Actually I feel much more for the poor lady than the man. Given the Thai's superstitions about spirits and ghosts, she's probably haunted for life.

One assumes that the vast majority of Thai massage customers are not at high risk. Those without pre-conditions are unlikely to have a problem from the very much elevated BP that can occur during Thai massage. But if you have severe hypertension, had a previous condition and/or are at risk of stroke or heart attack, the best advice is DO NOT have a Thai massage. This man would probably not have partaken if he had known that in advance, or if the practitioner had run a routine health questionnaire beforehand (as responsible massage spas do).

The point I have made is not 'my opinion' on the matter. I am stating a fact and it is quite easy for anyone with a blood pressure monitor to check for themselves. Such knowledge can prevent loss of lives.

Many people seem to be under the impression that having a 'massage' keeps you fit and is a substitute for exercise! Personally, I've tried a few various massages, but the only one that I could honestly say that I felt any 'benefit' from was in Goa, from an Indian Male. The others, were a non event as far as feeling relaxed or beneficial afterwards. Pity that people don't do more exercise, rather than relying on the so called 'health benefits of massage'. I also agree, that some of the practises re 'rapid neck movements' are utterly stupid in the extreme and could cause major damage to the recipient and should be avoided at all costs.

This morning, I ran in Cha am forest park: disaster ! many, many trees down, some very big ; yesterday, I was in the center, Lotus express , Cj express, in front of the fresh market, crossfire, Petchkasem : water everywhere, about 30 cms; no pictures, sorry, but very impressive: this morning, much better

Some pics of the storm damage near Soi 126 south of Hua-Hin. Hopefully no one was taking shelter when this tree crushed the shelter and seat.

You can't do it you will need to show both passports. Immigration at the airport or border will transfer your entry/permit to stay stamp into new passport and stamp you out in it. A visa is never transfered.

Sorry, but I have to disagree. My 'Retirement visa' and 'Multiple Entry' was transferred to my new passport here in Hua-Hin. Cost me about 300B if I remember. I didn't know what the procedure should be, so went to the Immigration office to ask and they said it had to be transferred. Maybe it's different where you are; as we all know, that what one Immigration office does doesn't mean that another will do.

The best way is to contact a Thai shipping / clearance agent. From what I understand, your wife can bring in the container duty free.

If you need help, send me PM I can give you a number of the Thai agent I used, you can have a talk to him, at least it's a start.

I used a small London based shipping agent that did an excellent job at very reasonable cost. I think the name was Robinson or something similar, but if you hunt around the London yellow pages I'm sure you'll find them. They had been established about 40 years and advertised themselves as a Family Business. They shipped all my stuff in half of a container for around 1300 Pounds - the cost being so low because the container was shared with another client shipping to Thailand. They spent two days at our house, wrapping and boxing everything before collection in the north of England. We did not insure the shipping and when it arrived at our house here in Thailand we did not have one single broken item. The agent here in Thailand was 'Asian Tigers' from Bangkok and they were fantastic. The container arrived with the seal still unbroken at about 0730 in the morning and some 30 mins later a minibus arrived with 6 uniformed staff, who proceeded to unload all the boxes and unwrap everything. My wife just told them where she wanted everything put and they did it. when the job was finished they removed all the packaging materials and left the house spotlessly clean at around 1500. I cannot recommend this company more highly.

I wish you luck with your shipping. If I can be of any further help just PM me.

OMG....How do you live in a place with ants like this....Spray, chalk, spray for you own good.

I had same kind of problems a few years ago until I found 'Chaindrite Stedfast 30SC'. I use this in a spray format and have also used it with a paint brush on the outside walls of the house and around the outside of the window frames- just paint it on. This completely eliminated ants invading the house. Obviously heavy rain will eventually wash this chemical off. It works on termites,powder post beetles, ants and other pests. Painting it on is far better and you are not breathing in the spray. I use a small 2 inch brush to paint it around the skirting areas and a 6 inch brush for the outside walls, quick and very very effective. Hope this helps others with the same problems.

Well done to minister, not many people "walk the shop floor"

Agree wholeheartedly! One small step for Thailand. Hopefully he can encourage (Force) his staff to do the same thing and report back to him.

A small light at the end of the tunnel, but a glimmer of hope. Let's not forget, that here in Thailand, it takes an awful lot of BALLS to stand out from the crowd; particularly if your Thai. Well done that man, let's hope he is an inspiration to others of the same ilk!

I rode to Ko Larn a few weeks ago on one of these boats. They are OLD. The one I was on was grossly overloaded. We had to stand on the focsle (the front). The only place I could see life jackets was on the upper deck. I saw none on the lower deck where I was standing. There must have been 200 people on that boat. There could not have been more than half that number of life jackets, and as I said, there were none on the lower deck. That's probably why people all tried to go to the upper deck when there was a problem; they were looking for life jackets.

There is no way to tell if there are missing people unless somebody reports a friend missing. There is no record of who or how many people are on that boat.

It was just a matter of time....

In view of your statement re the age of the ship; the overcrowding; the obvious lack of life jackets; What the heck were you doing still sailing on it? You said WE in the above! were they your family? I for one would have never got on in the first place; or had it ended up being so overcrowded as you stated it was would have got off and asked for my money back - yes and pigs will fly. Maybe, all of us ought to use our brains a bit more, when we can clearly see the possible outcome of these situations.

Another very very sad and unnecessary loss of life in Thailand that should never have occurred. Respects to all who have lost loved one's and the injured.

The BBC news also mentioned that the police were looking for the 'Captain of the vessel'. Another 'name change' coming up I wouldn't wonder. I was speaking to a Thai friend a few months ago about this and he said that it was very very easy for a Thai to just disappear and reappear with a different name - how the hxxl do they manage this? Surely, there must be some records somewhere as to who owns this vessel and who is employed as crew; but then again we are in Thailand and we all know that regulations as such don't mean anything here, they just pretend that they do; can't loose FACE can we?

When I die, I am instructing the wife to have a 7 day party. I want there to be enough sound equipment to put out at least 100,000 watts of beautiful baroque and classical music at 200 Db, from noon until 10pm each night. I will put together the sound track with the intent to annoy everyone in a 10 mile radius.

Sounds (If you'll pardon the pun), like a brilliant ploy! If we both snuff it at the same time we could arrange to have quadrophony - that'd really pxxs them off. I will go for Bach Cello music, Sitar rag's and the 'Rites of Spring', followed by the 1812 Overture, that should really do the trick.

How many people do they need to get into the photo - becoming stupid.

Well you've got to show off your latest 'wide angle lense' sometime!

Sorry, forgot to add : Just loved the headline, it's a cracker! Obviously got a Thai degree in journalism, or maybe it's an Indian one - B.A. Oxford - failed!

Another sad example of the poor driving skills and knowledge here. You see them driving everyday down the wrong side of the road because they are too lazy to take 5 minutes and drive on the correct side of the road. It is just an extension of this mentality. The Thai Truck said to the Thai Train, I got here first, you wait for me. OPPS! Why no stop?

I believe, very sadly (and I do like Thai people, before you accuse me of 'Thai bashing'), that his is a perfect analysis of 99% of Thai 'thinking' - or the pathetic lack of it!. The whole Thai upbringing; from childhood, seems to censor any 'individual thought'; particularly, when it comes to road sense.

I love this country; but I despair about their future in the Asian/ far eastern continent and feel very sorry for those bright minds that are stultified by the 'Thai system', who will never be allowed to shine and develop!

So, is it only in Thailand? And if so, why? There are always plenty of kids in green shirts milling about the counter, no way they’re going to miss a new customer.

I suspect the next post will be a praise of the new bahtbus air horns. The more noise the better.

I think you just answered your own question -------THE MORE NOISE THE BETTER.

It also pixxes me off as well, just like the inane announcements in places like Tesco with the DING-DONG, DING-DONG. and then the same childish voice repeating the same thing three or four times. THAI'S just like noise, a bit like American and Canadians that can't stand a second of silence on the TV. Why is it they have ALWAYS got to have music playing, even when someone is speaking?? Beats the life out of me; but even the BBC have got in on the act and started to follow suit.

My New Year's Wish:

FFB down for 1 week every month; maybe, just maybe, people start to talk again to each other

I wish I could grant your wish, I'd love to see the outcome; but maybe not - the hospitals would be full to overflowing with psychiatric patients, or the bedazzled and bemused still gawping at their useless 'smartphones' lost in a world of emptyness. Oh WHAT a sight for sore eyes!