MarkBKK

Central. Emporium. Villa. Saw an LBV in Tescos a few years back, but not recently. Foodland. Pacific Liqueur. Few other places. Paragon. You really only have to look.

Well, at least in Bangkok.

We looked at each other and said ''But it was one on one! Why didn't all his friends join in?''

yes that's really an unusual sight for somebody used at one of the be(a)st thai's "rule"....

It really was weird at the time. One-on-one rather than 17-to-one. What must he have been thinking?

I love Vietnam. The people seem very friendly. Less of a language barrier than here. I tend to go to Hanoi. I love it. Food is a problem (certainly for the wife ... great seafood, but they don't seem to use chillies much, and the rice can be ... a bit hard, at least up north.) Been to Da Nang, Hoi An and other places halfway to HCMC and the food was much better. The beer hoi keeps dragging me back to Hanoi though. Along with the vibe and the people. Brilliant kebabs too (well, for 25 satang or whatever they cost). And with the weather from October to February.

Please do not confuse the surly and abusive Thai woman who seems to run the visa section at the embassy with Vietnamese people. She would appear to be in it only for the money (that she can skim off the top.)

Twice I've applied for (and paid for) multi-entry visas only to receive single-entry. Both times she told me I'd filled the form out incorrectly (I hadn't, as she admitted when I asked to see it both times). Both times I was given the choice of paying an extra 2,000 baht or so to get the correct visa or to simply <deleted> off. Both times I refused. (I fcuked off. I wasn't going to give her the extra cash.)

The last time I queued up with three other English people. Each of us was charged a different price for our identical single entry visas. Bloke at the head of the queue was even older than me, and he simply said ''She always does this.''

As for the Vietnamese not being afraid of confrontation ... the second or third time my wife and I were in Hanoi we saw a fight between a motorsai guy and someone else.

We both stood there mouths agape.

We watched the whole thing in shock.

It was ONE motorsai guy against one other person.

That's when I knew we were really in tune (me and the wife, not me and the motorsai guy). On the same wavelength.

Or maybe I've just been here too long.

We looked at each other and said ''But it was one on one! Why didn't all his friends join in?''

(And then I realised that they'd kicked Yankee arse, so why not?)

Two months ago I sent an email to the British Embassy asking at which embassies in Asia a civil partnership could be performed. No reply. But no surprise there.

Does anyone know of any other places in Asia (apart from Hanoi and HCMC) where CPs can be performed?

AFAIK it is only possible in Vietnam and Japan.

Takes all of five minutes to change her I.D. card down at the local Amphur.

Passport office at Cheng Wattana also pretty slick. Advantage if you are

travelling she will get less hassle at immigration checks, same goes for

checking in at hotels, particularly in Thailand, none of those sideway

looks you get when they think you have Miss Shorttime in tow (or so my

friends tell me)

Actually ... it depends on the surname. The rendition of my surname into Thai proves to be a second name that is ''not allowed'', as the wife found out when she tried to change her name.

Er ... it's not ''BKK'', BTW, but contains consonants that don't exist in Thai and the transliteration turns it into a common noun that while inoffensive seems to be a word that Thais are not allowed to have as a second name.

If it's a guy with a machine gun I'll be OK then. He'll probably go for the bigot (that's you by the way).

(D'oh! They always need telling, don't they?)

Oh, sorry for the aside, Ian. If it's a donkey, you'll probably be busy ... considering you've already said Iraqi women aren't human ...

PS Your smileys make your casual racism seem so much funnier :D

Actually, I don't have a racist bone in my body, unless telling the truth is considered racist. If a country treats its women like possessions, with no rights and little or no medical treatment, then they are backward. Obviously that doesn't include all Islamic countries, but the ones forcing women to wear burqas are. I can as a simple question... woud YOU choose a woman for a wife if you never got to see what she looked like? And, the practise of female circumcision to keep women subservient is abhorrent... whether or not you think it's okay.

I had a really smartarse reply but I couldn't be bothered wasting it on you. You are simply not worth it.

You are a casual racist. Your version of the truth (''Iraqi women may not be human'') proves it.

Please, if you ever meet me, do not say to me ''the practise of female circumcision to keep women subservient is abhorrent... whether or not you think it's okay''.

It would be very bad.

Cheers

MarkBKK :D

the uk government also send out letters, to confirm you are still alive for state pension, Certificate of existence

Can I get a certificate saying I'm dead (or simply brain dead)? It could save a lot of bother.

Korp khun na khrab, KevJohn. I will pursue your suggestion in the morning.....

If you can't sort it out then maybe this link might help.

http://windows.micro...-sound-problems

I know it sounds (no pun intended) silly, but have you tried unplugging the audio leads and plugging them in again? (Dirt ... humidity ... loose connections?)

I thank you.

It seems some posters are allowed to call Iraqi women ''not human'' and get away with it.

Oh if only I could say that about Welsh people and get away with it!

There are flocks that would thank me.

Nice one Mark, even though I just spat my beer all over the keyboard, I appreciated that.

Flocks...........

And to think I was going to bed 30 mins ago ...

Please don't waste any more beer over me save it a buy me a pint in the Bull's Hea ... Royal Oak :jap:

:lol:

Have you compared Iraq and Afghan women to Thai women?

Oh, wait, you can't even SEE Iraq women. You get to see a big, black tent thrown over something that may or may not be human.

Sorry, are you saying that Iraqi women may not be human?

No, there obviously has to be SOME women in Iraq, otherwise there there wouldn't be so many people. But, what I AM saying is I have no idea what is under that black tent. It could be some guy with a machine gun. Or it could be a donkey trying to stay out of the sun.

If it's a guy with a machine gun I'll be OK then. He'll probably go for the bigot (that's you by the way).

(D'oh! They always need telling, don't they?)

Oh, sorry for the aside, Ian. If it's a donkey, you'll probably be busy ... considering you've already said Iraqi women aren't human ...

PS Your smileys make your casual racism seem so much funnier :D

I have no illusions about "true love" and all that romance BS.

I only hope I never grow to be as jaded as you as I grow old. My grandparents were the most loving couple I know. When my grandfather passed away my grandmother died within the week. They were married at 18, truly in love their entire lives, and died knowing the person next to them was their best friend and the person who helped them build a family.

You can have all the young girls you want. Have 10 at a time if that is what turns you on. Doesn't interest me in the slightest though. Might have in university, but not any more. Now I want what my grandparents had.

This post is about circles, and I can only maintain that I will do everything in my power to keep my wife within my circle for as long as both of us inhabit this planet. I neither disparage nor envy those of you with mistresses. I do believe however that you are missing out on one of the great joys in life by not maintaining a committed, monogamous relationship to your death. It is a pleasure that I for one don't intend to forsake.

You beat me to it. I was going to say ...

I have no illusions about "true love" and all that romance BS.

How very, very sad. I feel for your pain. I am shedding a tear for your loss. Really.

However, young Ian does seem to have lived a very, very sheltered life and appears to be somewhat jaded and angry ... I could add to your story of your grandparents with stories of my own grandparents ... and parents ... and hopefully my wife.

I was also going to call him (again?) on the ''Oooooh there's so many SEALs in Thailand'' thing (yes, I know it's sad). The last SEAL platoon left in 71. How long was the training? They're all VERY OLD or DEAD. The ones who aren't don't say ''I was a SEAL in that Nam ...''

Well spotted Sir .

I thank you.

It seems some posters are allowed to call Iraqi women ''not human'' and get away with it.

Oh if only I could say that about Welsh people and get away with it!

There are flocks that would thank me.

What on EARTH are you talking about?

Speak English, or indeed Thai, and we MIGHT be able to help.

I think ''khet'' is a decent transliteration.

How would you transliterate the Thai word for district? My (Thai) wife says that khet is about right. She knew what I meant when I said it ... but perhaps your Thai is better than hers? She's from Lanna ... perhaps it's a Bangkok thing? Or maybe that Essex, mockney thing?

The only circles I travel in are the ones I make myself. It actually wouldn't surprise me if there were a lot of ex-Navy SEALS and military types in Thailand left over from the Vietnam war. That war exposed men to places and things they had never seen before, and the war did not prepare them well for returning to their home lands. War tends to do that to people.

Does that mean in the future there's going to be a lot of expats in Iraq and Afghan.

:lol:

Have you compared Iraq and Afghan women to Thai women?

Oh, wait, you can't even SEE Iraq women. You get to see a big, black tent thrown over something that may or may not be human.

Sorry, are you saying that Iraqi women may not be human?

I wonder why these "Can I Own A Gun" topics always get more attention than let's say a hamburger thread?

Clash of cultures I suppose. Being a Brit, virtually the only time you hear about the use of these sorts of weapons is in a very negative context such as incidents in Dunblane and Hungerford (which did involve a chinese version of an AK47). Apart from a few small groups there is no real history of gun use for 'positive' purposes such as hunting of self-defence and therefore there is a very strong insinuation between gun use/ownership and brutal murder of people and particularly children as in the Dunblane case.

Also it is a lot harder to hurt somebody with a hamburger!

No it didn't (Hungerford). Lazy reporting, lazy readers.

IIRC it was an AK-55 or something. Semi-automatic, not fully automatic.

You are generally correct in your view, though.

MarkC

PS Several US states (and to be fair, some countries) gun ownership laws are very good. Collect them all together ... evolution in action.

It's my personal opinion that pointy shoes are an abomination and I'm sure The Lord would have worked an extra verse into Leviticus if they'd been around when he wrote the Bible.

Forgive them for they know not what they wear!

Dirk wears white socks (and God bless him for it).

Anyone ??

First download Calibre. It converts between most ebook formats and is one of the few ebook utils that lets you edit metadata properly.

Then search through the various ebook forums for discussions on best formats for pictures and file formats for various ebook readers.

Last night I had a fair-sized sirloin steak (not my favourite cut) at the new 7 Seas restaurant in that funny square off Soi 11 (Cheap Charlie's, Charley Brown's, those two curry houses, et al).

It was melt in the mouth tender, tasted fantastic and perfectly cooked ... and it was Thai beef. 350 baht.

Better than Chokchai. Better than the Four Seasons. Better than Outback. I've been to a few other steakhouses over the years, but I can't remember a better steak (yes, I know it sounds mad ... maybe my memory's going, but it was bloody good), and in terms of value for money, I know it's the best I've had here.

Complimented the waitress, and she said she'd tell the owner because he was very proud of where he'd sourced the meat (she didn't tell me where. But then I didn't ask.)

I'm sure many people know where to enjoy a better steak in Bangkok, but I don't reckon you'll find better value for money. And I don't think you'll find a steak that tastes that much better anywhere ... and in a seafood restaurant!

And no, I'm not the owner. I was just so surprised that I thought I'd share ...

And before anyone says ''Yeah, well, they always did great steaks in Soi 4 dummy,'' I never went to the Soi 4 restaurant.

Someone doesn't know their metrosexuals from their heteropolitans.

..... and what are Birkenstocks? Something to do with lederhosen? ..... and do you wear white socks with them?

I believe that're known as Laughingstocks in the UK.

White socks optional.

Dirk wears white socks ...

Edit: Oh bugger! I'm not on 666 posts any more :-(

Only by getting lost in the fog, can you learn to see clearly.

Thanks for the fog (smile).

I think I ought to add (in case there's any confusion ... as there was in my mind when I re-read my post) that when I said ''but I do try to improve myself and not lecture others'', I was in no way referring to manarak's post when he said ''all please read this again and again''. That was sound advice, and most definitely not ''lecturing''.

Reason for edit: I've just noticed that I am no longer the neighbour of the beast. I have the mark of the beast. Wow. I now have to never post ever again so I can forever remain on post No 666 ...

What you are referring to is called prostrating.

The five-point prostration (head, hands & knees) starts with kneeling and with the hands in the Thai Wai position at the chest, called in Pali Anjali..... then the hands come up to the head with thumbs touching the nose, called Wantaa .... then you bend down keeping the hands together until they are about to touch the floor when they part and are placed flat upon the floor just wide enough for the head to come and touch the floor between them. At this point the forearms should be in line with the knees and with the elbows touching the knees. This position is called Aphiwaa. When done together by a large group one person calls out the Anjali, Wantaa, Aphiwaa so that all do it together which looks nicer than all bobbing up and down individually. This is repeated three times to p[ay respects to the Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha.

Buddhists do not pray......The Buddha is not our version of God.....instead we pay respects to our greatest teacher. It is merituous to pay respect to those who deserve respect.....parents, teachers, elderly, monks etc.

all please read this again and again

no god, no prayer, no blessing...

You are, of course, quite correct. But may I add that Buddhist monks do not smoke, drink, have sex with women or solicit alms for next week's winning lottery numbers. No criticism of (or offence to) anyone intended, nor, I hope, taken. I too, believe it or not, am far from perfect, but I do try to improve myself and not lecture others. We live in a curious (curioser and curioser) world, where some things do not make immediate sense.

Yes a usufruct .is what you want .You get your name on the Chanote and you have use of the house and land for at least 30 years .Will cost around 5,ooo baht .

Usufruct lasts until you die, not 30 years (fact). Thirty years is a lease. Haven't got round to it (usufruct) myself yet, but I believe you go to the land office and it's a 30 baht form (Thai friend who is an estate agent told me ... she also said she hadn't done one for years, so maybe more now, but she reckoned it wouldn't cost more than 100 baht).

Also, you don't need an usufruct, or even a 30-year lease, to get your name on the chanote. Just someone in the land office who will put a farang's name on the chanote (I've been told as ''head of household''.) But I admit, that isn't (always) easy.

To be legal you'll need to fit a double-check valve to prevent back flow, get them from B&Q

You may want to use a mixer valve to get the water a bit warmer

AFAIK, bum guns are completely illegal in the UK (totally against building regs). Worries about faecal matter entering the water supply. Apparently, however many NRVs you fit, the authorities are still worried. This may have changed recently ... I don't know. You may wish to UTFSE. (Or maybe I should have used it, considering how surprised I was when I found out the requirement to have two doors between a kitchen and a bog had been changed ...)

Bum guns are, however, very common in certain blocks of flats in certain parts of London according to a surveyor friend. Fit them yourself ... or ask a plumber if he wants some extra (off the books) work.

I smell one of the first flop (not a real flop but not a success too) of the Apple.

IMO this tablet is a little ridiculous.

You're either quite young or have a bad memory. Apple doesn't have as many flops as M$, but it has certainly had more then a few. (Personally, I'd put the Lisa or Taligent at the top of the list.)