wilson steer

I have been an imbiber of Chang Beer since day one in the L.O.S. but decided just recently to try a few cases of the relatively new 'Red Horse', which I encountered in the Philippines, all those years ago.

The taste of Red Horse is smoother, no funny faces pulled, after the initial slake, and although the mathematics suggest that Red Horse is 8% stronger I don't find myself urinating in the wardrobe at 4.00 am.

What are your views? Am I alone as a tentative convert to Red Horse or should I reconsider the 'dizzy heights' and memory loss of Chang?

Wilson Steer.

The Bangkok Post is not bad for 20 baht. The news is poor, but the business section is good and the travel and database are good pull-out sections. The letters pages are entertaining and on a Friday the football coverage is good for the weekend. The sport pages are good and Sportsbag is funny.

The leader column in the Bangkok Post is decent, as are the columnists, the classifieds are informative and the colour glossy front three days a week makes a good wrapping for disposal of Issan foodstuffs.

All for 20 baht, (28 pence in U.K.). I think the Telegraph is 60 pence now!

Wilson Steer.

EVO, what airline was that at Heathrow?

Wilson Steer.

monty: i am due to get a loxinfo broadband connection here in Pattaya in about three weeks time. TT&T have fitted a new line and I am on dial up now with scratch cards, most days connecting at 52 Kbps.

I am quite happy with this, but is broadband much better? I use Royal Garden broadband in the cafe and it is not that impressive and I think that is 512 Kbps.

What are your thoughts on Pattaya broadband versus dial up?

Wilson Steer.

I hear on the local grapevine that Pattaya won't be as bad as recent years. High powered water guns are banned and only small water pistols will be allowed. Although it will last 10-11 days in Pattaya it will not be so aggressive.

Last year some Thai female shop workers were soaked early morning by mental farang (who actually come to Pattaya especially for Songkhran) and made a police complaint. The farangs were locked up and I hear the police will be in full force to prevent the loony farang from going mental. (except on 19 April).

I guess, if you keep away from Soi 1,2,6,7,8, Post Office and Yamoto, you will be O.K.

Wilson Steer.

The problem isn't coming into Thailand with a one way ticket, the problem is at some U.K. airports. If you get a snotty check-in clerk, they can make life difficult for anyone travelling on a one way ticket.

I got a snotty woman once at Manchester airport who just kept shaking her head and saying no way, eventually I was O.K. though because I had a tourist visa.

Other worldwide airports don't care at all. But I have yet to hear of anyone who was absoultely not allowed to travel on a one way ticket who had a tourist visa or non I. for Thailand.

Wilson Steer.

Diet has a considerable effect on slowing down hair loss but at the end of the day, it is almost always a genetic factor that causes baldness in men.

The so called 'gene' can be inherited from either male or female parent. The female parent story is a myth.

However even with this 'gene' it depends upon the androgens in a male body.

The Androgens are Testosterone, and dihydrotosterone. They play an important part in male baldness.

If they reach high concentrations in the blood; hair loss will result.

Testosterone is converted into DHT (Dihydrotestosterone) by an enzyme named Finasteride. This DHT in turn blocks the protein which makes hair. This protein is named keratin.

It is a medical matter that is much overlooked, but the baldness must be treated at the first signs of hair loss, perhaps in the males 20's, if left it is a hopeless situation.

Surely there aren't people in the L.O.S. actually wearing wigs, men I mean?

Wilson Steer.

Tramadol is addictive and reacts badly with alcohol. I recommend Temgesic for severe pain. It is probably one of the finest, non addictive analgesics available.

It is expensive, but excellent. Tiny pills are dissolved sub-lingually (under the tongue) for rapid relief of pain.

It is available at some Thai pharmacies. The reason it is frowned upon is because it is used by diamorphine and cocaine addicts to alleviate withdrawal symptoms.

When used to treat pain it is superb.

Wilson Steer.

I would be surprised if vitamin B12 eases a hangover. That is more essential for preventative measure against vitamin B deficiency.

Beer and all alcohol depletes the body of vitamin B (all types) and is also amplified in the tropics.

Even moderate daily drinkers living in the tropics will develop vitamin B deficiency.

You would be surprised how many people in Thailand exhibit Vitamin B deficiency. The symptoms are rarely absent in some form or another.

The shakes, sweating, tightness in the chest, heavy breathing, loss of appetite, nausea, panic attacks, anxiety, mood swings, memory loss, bad dreams, tiredness....the list is endless. Women, are particularly vulnerable to vitamin B deficiency.

In the U.K. it is law that B vitamins be added to all beer products, and unless you eat a loaf of wholemeal bread a day, all alcohol imbibers in Thailand are at risk.

Go to your local pharmacy and buy some vitamin B complex tablets, eat them daily with your meal and notice the incredible difference after a few days.

Wilson Steer.

Sorry for a boring post on a Saturday night...Where in Pattaya can I buy a 'deluxe' can opener, by that I mean one that opens the tin cleanly witha rotary mechanism, very common in the U.K. for about £3?

I am tired of cutting my fingers on tin lids cut by the can opener/bottle opener style ones that cost 12 baht.

I have tried so far: Big C, Carrefour, Tops and even the massive kitchenware shop on second road nearly opposite Royal Garden.

Wilson Steer.

RDN : thanks for the information on this matter. Yes that's the packet I bought for 350 baht at Carrefour in Pattaya. I suppose it's too late to ask for a refund since I have opened the packet, but it will make a suitable Christmas gift to someone on dial-up and on TOT.

Well that has put that topic to sleep. I was done! lucky it was only 350 baht, however do you know of any unlimited weekly/monthly packages I can use on TT&T?

I think CSLoxinfo is expensive at 750 baht for 64 hours, those hours sure go fast!

Wilson Steer

I went to pacific's website, opted for English and got a mixed message regarding TOT and TT&T 1222 connection. The advertised packages for 7 and 30 days say only 1222 is for TOT but on the webpage 'Dial up' it says 1222 is good for both TOT and TT&T.

Still no joy. Anyone out there with a TT&T line EVER been successful dialing 1222?

Wilson Steer

I normally use a CSLOXINFO dedicated number, but bought a 30 day unlimited package for 350 baht: pacific internet. The only access number is 1222. However it states on the package that 1222 is good for TOT and TT&T lines.

Still puzzled, 1222 is engaged/busy permanently.

Anyone any more info regarding 1222

Wilson Steer

1222 is still busy. Is it actually accessible (1222) from a TT&T line?

Anyone, Anywhere a clue please.......

Wilson Steer.

No it's not a free number, just an nationwide local rate number....still engaged.

W.S.

Where is the FLB bar it. rings a bell but I can't place it...

Sad news, I really must start wearing a helmet on motorcycles and going careful.

W.S.

I am on a TT&T line but the 1222 is permanently engaged. Am I missing something here?

Wilson Steer

In todays Bangkok Post business section, page 3 there is a short article about Hutchinson CAT wireless Multimedia offering 153 kbps for 999 baht per month from April 1st.

It saysthe coverage areas include Bangkok and 25 provinces.

Anyone know which '25 provinces'?

Wilson Steer

Living in Pattaya I see and hear a lot of AIDS stories.

The saddest thing is the fact that many bar girls will have unprotected sex with farangs for extra money, or else if he 'keeps' her for the length of his holiday.

Equally sad was a farang Liverpudlian, who sent money to his bar girl girlfriend while she carried on a relation ship with her Thai boyfriend. He is now HIV positive.

Another terrible situation is a bargirl relation of my girlfriend who continues a steady relationship with a farang, whilst she is HIV positive. I wonder if she suggests the use of condoms, or is too scared in case the farang boyfriend gets suspicious?

My theory is that, if the bar girls have additional Thai boyfriends then HIV risk is much increased. That falang on a two week dream holiday, might go back to his home country HIV positive, unknown to himself, and spread it around for several years. This is the real horror of AIDS.

Wilson Steer.

I find that after spending two weeks in Thailand, the body adjusts and loose bowel movements subside.

Here are a few tips:

1. Only drink pure sealed mineral water.

2. Avoid ice in all bars

3. Avoid all seafood except in top restaurants

4. Beware of rice, make sure it's freshly prepared and hot

5. Eat a large breakfast and less later in the day

If you do get TD (travellers diarrhea) DON'T take immodium. It will delay your recovery, instead sit in the toilet and move your T.V. to the doorway and drink 2 litres of water per hour. Then drink black tea. Then sleep for 18 hours. Bingo tummy troubles over.

Incidentally if you have a fever with the diarrhea, see a doctor.

Wilson Steer.

I think Kickboxer must be set in Bangkok and Thailand, it's a pretty old film now, funny enough, not available in Thailand, I have my own copy from the U.K.

Also Emmanuelle 1 is set in Pattaya or is supposed to be, Someone out there will know.....

Nope, its not a visa electron, it is a proper visa symbol which can be used anywhere there is a VISA symbol. The closest I've come to using it is for an emergency cash advance inside a Japanese bank because Japanese ATM's hate western VISA cards.

Actually, can I get a visa electron for my Thai savings account? That would be useful in supermarkets etc.

I used to use the internet a lot to book hotels, buy tickets etc. However since my credit card has expired, until replacement card is got (another story) my only option is to use my Debit VISA/DELTA card. However since this is my money and not a credit card I am wary to use it online.

I fear some sort of disaster where my bank account is emptied either by fraud or else my a mistake or computer error etc. And we all know how (un) helpful banks can be on the telephone when the loss is not their own.

Question is this: Are there any guarantees of safety when using a VISA/DELTA card debit card online, and what 'if it all goes wrong'. Do I end up with and empty current account, pulling my hair out?

Any feedback might alleviate my Debit Card 'Hang Ups'

Wilson Steer.

There is a massive difference between travelling business class and economy class. The airlines I have travelled business class with have varied between good to excellent. Oddly enough I nominate Lufthansa for business travel, better than Emirates, KLM, BA and JAL and Qatar.

I say oddly enough because I am British.

However, Economy is a different story, let's face it I am not paying for business class out my own pocket, that's for the company to pay, I see business class is £400 quid minimum extra.

Economy I say Emirates, the stop in Dubai is good, good lounge access, even if you have to pay £15 or a silver card gets you into the business lounge.

British Airways used to be O.K. but now economy class is terrible. Really bad, I have complained but I will never pay for a BA ticket for as long as I live.

Lufthansa economy is packed and lots of babies, slow service because they are so busy.

KLM economy passable, but attendents will never be forgiven for serving me a glass of whiskey and coke with no whiskey, just smeared the edges with tissue doused in whiskey. True story :they still do it on three-four drinks in to a flight.

JAL economy good, very good, I wanted the flights to last longer, sadly it is an Airline I only use in Asia, not European travel.

A special mention to PAL, Philippine Airlines, travel from Tokyo to Manila, an aged 747 but the amount of whiskey they served me direct from a full litre bottle was surreal, the giggling Filipina staff (men and women) were actually trying to get me supernugs.

Worst ecomomy Saudi, obvious reasons no booze plus anti western hostility from male only staff. But otherwise avoid BA, they have a bad delay record as well, particularly short haul. Very bad. I feel a lot of anger towards BA and regularly rip advertisments from glossy magazines and ....well I better stop here.

Wilson Steer.

I installed the SP 2 after I had problems with USB devices that Windows XP was supposed to be finding, and I got a new jukebox 'thingy'. I have had no problems since but, I was really sweating during installation and I backed up everything on to CD's.

I still run an old 98 desktop, which is on it's last legs and there are no updates from Microsoft, which I think is unfair because I bet there are millions still using it.

Anyone know any good 98 links to keep it running?

Wilson Steer.