Burma Bill

Up yours China - you know what you can do with your roads and belts, stuff them up your .........!!

With respect, I have recently returned to my home in Siem Reap after one week's holiday in Chiang Mai. No foul air during my stay. Everyday sunshine and blue sky with clear views of Wat Doi Suthep from my hotel window. Really enjoyable mountain views. I saw many tourists cycling around the city.

Load the Chinese junk onto Junks and force them to sail back to China!

Also on the day itself - certainly out in the sticks from Mom & Pop stores as I can recall.

It is a matter of personal choice with several routes (as mentioned above). I lived in this area often driving from Chiang Mai via Uttaradit to Khon Kaen. For fast highways, may I suggest Route 11 to Phitsanulok, then keep left onto Route 12 for Petchabun Province, Lomsak, Chumphae and Khon Kaen. Then north on Super Highway 2 to Udon Thani and Nong Khai. There is spectacular scenery, especially in the Lomsak area which includes Nam Nao National Park (Route 12 becomes a 2 lane road through the park and is in excellent condition. There are check points at each end of the park). To avoid Khon Kaen, in Chumphae turn left off Route 12 onto Route 228 (this is at a set of traffic lights with Chumphae Government Hospital prominant on your left. Follow Route 228 to Nong Bua Lamphu eventually meeting Route 210 at a major junction. Turn right onto Route 210 through to Udon Thani to join Route 2 northwards to Nong Khai. There are several turns on this route but there are clear road signs.

He was expecting some crumpet but got "meat and two veg" instead!

Is Accident Insurance a Requirement in Thailand? No, but advisable. Travel Insurance - yes IMO. I could never get Travel/Medical/Life Insurance being an insulin dependent Type 2 Diabetic. However I did qualify for Accident Insurance. For several years during my retirement in Lanna and Isaan, Bangkok Bank covered me. It had a range of variously priced policies to select from. Fortunately I only had to claim once after an accident in my hotel bathroom - no bath mat provided whilst taking a shower standing in the bath. The hotel admitted liability but paid nothing towards my hospital expenses (only a basket of fruit). After 2 weeks in hospital, Bangkok Bank paid just over half of my hospital bill - 30,000 baht whilst I paid 25,000 baht. This was a private hospital but not a rip-off RAM or Bangkok Hospital.

Thank you for your comment and true in many cases. I have witnessed empty gin and vodka bottles being refilled with a "clear" liquid (ethanol) being poured from large plastic containers. The full bottles were then put back onto the optics for use in the "happy hour" cocktail specials. I will not state the location for fear of litigation. It was a high grade hotel and not a backpackers doss house. I do not drink cocktails anywhere in this part of the World.

Thanks and very much so. From the crude distillation method (an example below) poisonous methanol is the result and not ethanol. I have seen such crude stills when I lived in Lanna. In this sad incident, LAO KHAO from LAOS!

My sincere apologies - I should have quoted the 1st November 2024 In reality, when I travelled from CNX to DMK on 14th November 2024, no such identification system was in operation - i.e. defunct! Reference Google: As of November 1, 2024, six airports—including Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang, Chiang Mai, Mae Fah Luang/Chiang Rai, Phuket, and Hat Yai—now use automated biometric identification for domestic travelers.Nov 6, 2024

Easy - if the driver was driving using "crossed arms" to turn the wheel. I have seen this many times in Northern Thailand. Can lose control.

FOR REFERENCE: My apologies if I have mistaken this technology as the "facial recognition system", which is supposed to be in operation. Last Thursday 14th November, I returned home to Siem Reap (SAI Cambodia) from Chiang Mai (CNX) using Air Asia's "Fly-thru" service. On arrival at Air Asia's check-in desk, I was issued with two boarding passes CNX to DMK and DMK to SAI. The new facial recognition technology was installed but not operational. In fact the camera was blocked by an AA placard explaining cabin baggage size and weight. At the Immigration desk I presented my passport and both boarding passes, eventually being cleared to leave Thailand. At the departure gate, all passengers had to show their boarding passes. So much for the new Thai technology operational from 1st October - defunct!!

Congratulations and I envy you. During the short period of democracy I visited Mandalay twice, Bagan once and Rangoon three times. I found Burma a very friendly and fascinating country. Plans to visit thesedays were scuppered by the latest Junta. All my visits were by Air Asia's "Fly-thru" from Khon Kaen. I do not think I would be allowed in now, being a retired member of the UK Police Service.

Gheckos are harmless and are beneficial in controlling flying insects such as mosquitoes (as you quite rightly stated). For reference (Google) The only thing I have found that not only kills geckos, but really turns them off, and gets them to move on is insect spray. I have had huge geckos in my home before. They are hard to catch. I sprayed them directly on the face with an ample amount of insect spray, and it seemed to really dull them and slow them down.

Utter rubbish truck driver! How can you be driving normally to end up crashing into the school vehicle whilst it was picking up students going to school? Glued to your smartphone?

Sadly, not much to see I would have thought. RIP truck driver.

What a laugh - now his ambition is well and truly "down the Swanee"!

Will they be "no alcohol" days?

I just completed this quiz. My Score 40/100 My Time 307 seconds  

Holy Smoke!!

I just completed this quiz. My Score 30/100 My Time 302 seconds  

Thanks, my thought as well. How about this in Nairobi, Kenya - so fa, so good!

Ten passengers on a double deck bus - hardly profitable!

It has definitely been reported in an "unmentionable" Thai media outlet. I read about it here in Cambodia. The Thai Transport Ministry is planning to target motorcyclists not wearing helmets. This includes both driver and pillion passenger. Offenders will have to attend a series of relevent road safety lectures. Motorcycle dealers will be required to sell 2 crash helmets per bike they sell. For reference (the only I could find) https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2897948/transport-minister-plans-road-safety-campaign-for-motorcyclists Moderators - please remove this reference if it does not comply. My apologies in advance.

Absolutely spot on - it was Hilda Baker.