onlooker

He means a 'Canuk'.

I like how the main character was changed from being a deaf mute as Nick couldn't have gone through a movie without speaking.

Looks similar to the Outlander

http://www.mitsubishicars.com/MMNA/jsp/outlander/08/index.do

You might want to get hold of a copy of 'A coup for the Rich' - by his brother 'Ji' (Giles) all about the ins and outs of the 2006 coup. Very good read, banned now in Thailand but can now download the pdf for free online

From Today's Nation - the main storyon the website this morning:

Pattaya prices take off

Market rides on strong foreign investor interest

Published on March 20, 2008

Resale prices of luxury condominium projects in Pattaya have surged by up to 100 per cent due to strong demand from foreign investors, especially from the UK and Russia, according to a research report by property firm Raimon Land yesterday.

The Raimon Land report said that demand for luxury condominium projects located close to Jomtien Beach, Wong-Amat Beach and Pattaya Bay had risen strongly while new project launches have been limited.

As a result, the resale price of luxury condominium projects in Pattaya have increased from an average of Bt74,000 per square metre in 2005 to Bt150,000 in the first two months of this year.

Investors who are interested in snapping up properties in Pattaya are mainly from Russia, the UK, Australia, Germany, and Sweden.

Half the buyers of Pattaya properties treat it as an investment, which generates returns of between 8 to 10 per cent a year, while the other half invest in them as a second home, Simon Derville, Raimon Land vice president for research and development, said.

With strong demand in the market, a number of property firms have launched new residential projects.

According to the report, 19 new luxury condominium projects, or 5,177 units, were launched last year worth nearly Bt30 billion. Some are going through the construction phase and this year about 281 units would be completed. About 1,115 units are being constructed now and will be completed next year or over the next two years.

Some 3,781 units would be built over the next two years, to add to the booming Pattaya property market. Raimon Land is a property firm, which is planning to launch a new luxury condominium project this year called "EDGE", with an investment of Bt3.6 billion.

Raimon Land was very successful with its Northshore project in Pattaya, worth Bt1.49 billion. Its Northpoint project has recorded presales of more than 50 per cent.

Somluck Srimalee

The Nation

++

So lets have no more whinging about the state of things. I'm off to buy a condo now and look forward to my 100% ROI this time next year.

Affliate programs can work. The only thing you need is a website that has a large number of visitors who will click on links and buy stuff, which I guess you dont have . . . otherwise you'd already have some for of affiliate programs or advertising on your site.

But they look quite nice decorated sheds

OP - How are the folks on the "impressive members list" putting themselves at risk. Surely, if the forum really is as offensive to Thais as you think it is the Thai authorities would go after those who run it or at least block it - as they do with any site they feel offends sensibilities

Find out first what's available as I guess most of the popular places on good beaches will already be fully booked for Songkran. Last year the island was pakced for the holiday,cars everywhere.

Plaloma Cliff is by the sea I thinkbut a fewminutes walk to the sand beach. TopResort isOk - stayed there a couple of years ago for a night.

No chance.

For the obvious reason that the organisers if the last coup screwed up big time in their estimation of the loyalties of the rural Thais and 'he who cannot be mentioned on this forum' is highly unlikely to sanction another overthrow of a democratically elected government after the last fiasco.

Have a read of Ji Ungpakorn's most recent book - A Coup for the Rich', recently banned here after being on sale in Thammasat Uni bookshops for a while. Can download the pdf for free though

Forgot to mention we stayed at Chang Park one year - nice gardens for kids to play. Also Paradise, which I think is the best of the north Klong Prao beach hotels. Have good play area for kids.

try hotels in Kai Bae or the north end of Klong Prao Beach. No need to take songthaews anywhere if you stay there. Can walk to plenty of shops, restaurants etc

In Kai Bae you'll find lots of shops, restaurants etc by the beach and by the roadside. Also a small market where you can buy fresh fruit etc every day in the centre of the village - near Gajapuri Resort. Other hotels to see: Chang Park, Cliff Beach, SeaView

At the north end of Klong Prao beach there are also a lot of places to shop, eat & drink within 5-10 minutes walk of hotels also roadside stalls selling fruit and in the evening small stalls selling noodles, pad thai etc by the roadside. Hotels - Paradise Resort, Coconut Beach, Chai Chet Bungalows, Koh Cahng Resort & Klong Prao Resort

Who was one of the guys killing the "communist students" with his own hands? Samak the new prime minister. Footage from the massacre clearly shows him.

No it doesn't. Samak wasn't part of any mobs or in the armed forces at that time he was a Deputy Interior minister in the Democrat Government.

His involvement was limited to stirring up trouble via radio broadcasts which encouraged the mobs that attacked the university. It was after Oct 76, when he got promotion to Interior Minister, when he claimed the title of the most hated civilian in Thailand by his crackdown on any student leader who spoke out of turn.

On the other hand the nice man, Gen Surayud - the last PM, personally led a group of 16 soldiers into the Royal Hotel which was a temporary field hospital during the 1992 coup. Here, his soldiers beat and kicked people. News reports from the BBC and CNN at the time show soldiers walking on top of those who were made to lie on the floor.

Congratulations on your rebranded member. Sounds painful.

Within the last 7 days I witnessed one single man being beaten by 5 or more Thais in the exact location Walking street soi 15 at about 1am. What worried me most is that I hung around for several minutes and not one Police officer arrived on the scene.

So you didn't call the police then? Why not? Or did you just expect them to show up automatically?

What would worry me most is that a fellow farang witnesses the scene and doesn't make any attempt to contact the police.

He jumps - it's hauling him back onto the boat that's the problem.

Rif the thing out and replace it with a sensible light fitting. Simple, no buzz and your ceiling won't look 'upcountry'.

They were probably expecting sand as they were told they'd be visiting Rattanokosin Island. Easy mistake to make, could have happened to anyone.

But yeah, a nice idea for a spoof article but not really in the 'NottheNation.com' class. Keep practising the writing skills IJWT.

Not a huge number from what I've seen down there. Much quieter than Phuket. Can' compare.

http://elitecretethailand.com/

Thanks - any contact details as only 2 pages on the site work and there's no email address or phone number listed anywhere.

You'll find all the contact numbers for royal palaces here: http://www.palaces.thai.net/index_brh.htm

Try calling and just ask for him, see if he's in but bear in mind he may be too busy to talk.

All this is good practice for the real thing. But most locals where I live have given up watching TV as it's too depressing. As far as the conference goes, odd to see that even though HRH Princess Sirindhorn is opening it, the main topics to be debated by both Thai and forgin academics still can't be discussed here.

Thanks for the info. I know one Thai guy who had a flexible rubber mat brought over from Norway and he used that, rather than the solid framed stamp. It works fine but the pattern isnt one that I like.

I'd have thought there was a big market for the flexible mats here as you don't have to be a rocket scientist to use them and Thais love to concrete over everything they can.

Looks like I might have to see if I can get any brought over from Europe.

Does anyone have any idea where concrete stamps or texture mats - eg Matcrete can be bought in Thailand? Google doesnt come up with anything.