CMBob

At least the protestors are Thais willing to stand up for the Thai way.

You've got to be kidding. You're only right if you think that the "Thai way" means ultra right-wing nationalist views. You ought to read about the Monk as noted. And, if it helps, the Bangkok Post in their poll showed that the vast majority of Thais agreed with what the Ambassador said at the foreign press association conference.

Noticed yesterday some small Christmas trees in the new stationery store on Huay Gaew about 30 yards west of the Shell gas station. Not sure about decorations for them, though. Oh....various colors including even a pink one.

I'm doubtful we know most of the story here. It theoretically could have been a colossal screw-up by the local government and, if that's the case, they'll pay dearly for that; however, there are so many notices over time that are required for public condemnation that somehow I simply can't believe that the owner had no culpability at all with this.

As noted before, those before and after photos can't be accurate. In the first photo, look at the white house on the right with the brick chimney. It's clearly not there in the second photo (let alone the wires are missing, front and back trees missing, etc.).

What's interesting....at least to me....is apparently the military junta's blanket order prohibiting any public demonstrations of 5 or more people apparently doesn't apply to any group which either wears the proper colored shirt or which spouts things the junta likes to hear. The Bangkok demonstration was organized by the one "different" (I'm using that word to avoid a defamation suit) Monk and I suspect his followers were involved with the minimal protest here. This Monk's name is Luang Pu Buddha Issara and you can learn more about him by googling his name.

This is reported by several sources as being the Google street view of the house before demolition. The second pic is reported as being after demolition.

Sometimes it's helpful to actually look at the photos....and it's my guess just based on observation that those are not the "before" and "after" photos. The house on the left doesn't look the same to me (look at the trim) but the kicker is the house on the right (hmmm....notice the house with the brick chimney in the second photo? It isn't there).

I suspect it was a minor offense but that he missed a court appointment and they automatically issued a warrant. He might very well have believed he had taken care of the matter and never known about the warrant. New York City alone has 650,000 warrants outstanding at any given time.

Not within the realm of any reasonable possibility. Any form of misdemeanor assault would not have been enforceable (one couldn't be extradited for it) across even state borders in the US and no misdemeanor assault charge would have ever been entered on a national (FBI) database. There's no doubt that any "assault" charge that was on the FBI (and likely Interpol) database involved a charge at the felony level. I have no clue whatsoever if this guy is guilty of anything but the charge is certainly no minor one.

Grab a taxi. The taxi services there that I've used charge a fixed price to town...and I think it's 150 baht. For going to the railroad station, maybe they'll tack on an extra 50 baht. The lady at the taxi kiosk will tell you the exact cost.

Given you may be hauling luggage and it likely will be pretty hot in the afternoon, an air-conditioned taxi in my book is the only way to go. Too much problem dragging luggage into a baht bus. You could get a baht bus out on the street maybe but they'll also charge you more to go to the train station....but cheaper than a taxi. I say "out on the street" as the baht busses aren't supposed to be picking up passengers in the airport although I've seen it happen a few times.

What happens if I get drunk one night and end up spending the night at some seedy hotel with a cheap floozy?

A "seedy hotel" and she's cheap?!?

Am I obliged to tell everyone where I`ve been? Is there a special form for that?

Yes, but it depends on the situation. There's TM 31 (if you're married), otherwise known as a divorce summons and/or there's always a police report when your "lovely" kicks the bejesus out of you for calling her a cheap floozie!

Anyway, liked your post....5555555555

There was a thread here about that several weeks ago....maybe you can find that. Most of the places require reservations and you could be a tad late (although, good luck). I remember that Duke's had a single sitting (1 or 2PM?) at Maya and Promenada and maybe more than one sitting at their river restaurant. Don't remember the others.

The most common area to grab one is at the Chiang Mai gate as noted; however, you often can get on one at Kad Luang or the Chang Phuak bus station (there likely may be other locations and I'd also note I see people flag them down here and there).

Yes, they'll stop pretty much wherever you push the button (i.e., don't expect the driver to automatically stop). As for getting back, the best tactic is just go over to the other side (west side) of the road and flag one down when it comes back. You might have to wait 10-15+ minutes to catch one. If you attempt a return trip on the east side of the road, you'll eventually get back to Chiang Mai gate but after you've had the grand tour of Hang Dong (i.e., these busses are going to Hang Dong and aren't going to simply turn around and bring you back to CM).

Can someone clarify whetehr you are allowed to release fire lanterns this year? and is tomorrow night the 'big' night at Tha Pae Gate..ie parade etc

Opening ceremony is tonight (Tuesday) starting about 6PM...with some speeches, etc., at the stage at Thaphae Gate. Then there's a small parade from there to Pantip Plaza.

The big parade is Thursday night, starting about 7PM at Thaphae Gate and heading to the city (municipal) offices just north of the American consulate.

The balloon deal and the krathong-making contest is supposedly tomorrow (Wednesday) morning at the municipal offices.

As to when is it legal to release the lanterns....it's only part of one day and one night....but I'm not sure which day (but I'll bet 5 baht I see at least some lanterns flying all three nights).

I recently bought a new compact camera....Canon Power Shot SX710 HS, 30x optical zoom, 20 mega pixel foll HD for 10.9 K baht from Sian TV. I'm just getting used to it but the 30x zoom is superb.

I've got the same camera (although I thought mine was a 700) and, yes, the 30-power optical zoom is rather good. And the camera takes very good photos....just about as good as my DSLR (a Canon EOS 7D). And more often than not I take the 700 with me and leave the 7D at home given it's so small, light, and takes comparable photos (well, except in low light).

Unfortunately, almost all the digital cameras cost 20-30% more here in Thailand than in the US (and that's regardless of the fact that they make most of the Canon cameras here in Thailand!).

If Obama vetos this and any Iraq or Syrian commits a terrorist act on American soil, the history books will make an entire chapter of the 'Obama Veto' that assisted Muslim terrorist in the USA.

Baloney. First off, this particular House bill will likely never make it to the floor of the Senate and, even if it does, it won't pass. Alternatively, the Senate will pass a new bill (amended with some of the extreme measures deleted), the amended bill would head back to the House (and/or conference), and, should that amended bill pass, Obama would likely sign it.

In the west, at least the part I come from, when somebody says "later" it often means something like "no, not now, but who knows, maybe sometime in the future." But it (the western use) really doesn't usually mean you will really agree to do it later in time. And often it's a way to simply say "no" in somewhat of a slangy, polite, manner. Other times...somewhat depending on use of a sharper tone/attitude....saying "later" really means "no way, now go away and quit bothering me."

So I really don't think using a Thai version of "later" (meaning a time in the future) would translate well here. I never see any of the very few motorsy taxi dudes up here in Chiangmai but I do often get the tuk tuk drivers asking if I want a ride somewhere. I simply say (when the situation seems to require something to be said) "mai ao" ("don't want") and follow it with a "kawp Kuhn krap" (well, "kap" up here in the boonies) and that seems to handle things comfortably for both sides.

But if I had a group of motorsy guys clamoring for me to take a ride, I would most likely either not make eye contact at all, say nothing, and keep walking or, maybe, just smile at them without saying a word.

After considering the matter, I will attend McCormick Hospital.

They are non-profit

Staff more caring

An officer of the hospital telephoned me twice with a view to answer any questions I may have had.

Your opening post indicated that you broke your leg, you were treated at RAM for it, and now, 6 months later, you're dissatisfied with the healing process; however, unintended or not, the inference you've given is that something RAM did or didn't do has some connection to your dissatisfaction.

To be fair, why not re-open this thread and report back after you visit/consult with the McCormick doctors (i.e., whether they think your current problem has anything to do with what RAM did or didn't do)?

I asked about this yesterday when I was at Imm. Prom. and also talked with our condo's juristic person mgr. Both have the same story. When you leave the country your "housemaster" must file another TM 30 but not if you travel elsewhere in Thailand. Our condo office files the TM 30s on-line and does a "print screen" so we have a document to staple in our passport if asked to prove they've filed.

To me, the answer doesn't make sense.

To me, a lot of this makes no sense. I've rented the same townhouse for almost 5 years and I believe (but don't know for sure) that the owner filed a TM-30 when I started renting. Two weeks ago, I flew over to Burma for a few days and the owner wasn't even aware I was gone. So the owner is required to file a new TM-30 every time I hop over to Burma, KL, Laos, or wherever?

so its out somewhere near the ksk police station then ?

Yup, sorta next door or to the left of that.

Actually, it's now located at the north end of the Lotus hotel building....and you reach it by going out the door at the back of KSK after you go up the steps to the food vendors (or out the back door by the artists).

re

Huh? Please tell us how you know/think that the postal branch office at Kad Suan Kaew is not a "real" postal branch office.

the real thai post office in ksk basement closed about two years ago

i think what you are using is the por lor shop ( or something like that )

which is an agent like dhl and has branches in ksk , maya mall , central festival , tesco ,big c etc

dave2

ps ... thai post offices are painted red and white

agents are not !

You're right, Dave, the "real" Thai post office in the basement (the one unfortunately situated way to close to the karaoke machines!) closed early last year; however, they just moved the office (which, I suspect, that neither you or the other poster has ever visited). Anyway, I happened to go buy a few stamps this morning and, just for your benefit, took a photo of the outside of the "real" post office. Here it be (and hopefully there's enough red and white there for you....):

Make sure that you send things through a 'real' post office rather than the contract shops, Kad Suan Kaew being an example. Less chance of light fingers being applied to your parcels.

Huh? Please tell us how you know/think that the postal branch office at Kad Suan Kaew is not a "real" postal branch office.

Best place I've found is on Nimman 11 (or 13?), southern side of the street. They've framed some fairly valuable artwork for me--prints, etchings, and watercolors--10 pieces or so, at a professional standard.

It's Soi 11 and I'd guess that it's maybe 200 yards east of Nimmanhaemin. I've walked by that place a lot and their framing does look rather good.

Not sure I can help but I sent a gift package (box) which probably was 1-2 pounds (under 2kg) a few weeks ago to the US through the Chiangmai post office (Kad Suan Kaew branch) and I wasn't asked for anything other than the approximately 300 baht for the mailing cost. What surprised me is that I wasn't asked for nor provided any customs form which I've always had to provide when mailing packages before (the form lists sender's and receiver's name and address, description of goods in the box, and estimated value). I've never had to show any ID to mail a package here (but everything I've ever mailed from here was probably under 2kg).

I lived a couple of times on the Canal (Prasiertland) side of the Punna Condo there on Soi 6 and obviously knew of ever event they had over there. At times, I actually liked it as hearing the noise was often the only way to know an event was happening there and usually it was fun to go have some food, beer, and a listen there. Those events, though, ended well before midnight.

That horrible bar, Chalerm Groong, built in a tin shed, was the worst noisemaker in that neighborhood (neither Tawan Daeng or the new Infinity bothered us much at all) and thankfully Chalerm Groong has been demolished (it's now the office/condo-sample of the new Nimmana condo complex). The noise was so bad it physically rattled our balcony slider and windows until 2AM and, after that, we'd have to tolerate the occasional loud fights in the bar parking lot.

A million Lao kip is currently about $122.00, I believe.....which would indicate you don't often eat at the food courts!

As far as I know, the banks around here want nothing to do with Lao kip so the only thing I can suggest is to try to find somebody going to Laos and make a deal.

You will not be missed all that much Mr Carter, not many people on this earth consider you a great leader,

maybe a great peanuts farmer and a habitat builder, but a great leader? far from it....

Unfortunately, too many people measure Carter only by a few things (an oil embargo, an economic recession, and a failed raid to rescue the hostages) and he, like many Presidents who have lousy things happen during their presidency, really shouldn't be blamed for any of that. He had no ability to stop or control the oil embargo or recession and, had the daring hostage rescue attempt actually succeeded, he would have been hailed a hero.

Given what Carter (and his wife) have done since he left the Presidency - approximately the last 30 years - he has shown his true character and I'm doubtful there is or has been a single politician in the world who could hold a candle to his long legacy of charitable and political good works. Someday he'll be missed by a whole lot of people.