kmart

My girlfriend once asked me to "kiss her where it smells". - So I took her to Bradford.

Pattaya isn't so bad. A billion cockroaches can't be wrong?...

I do hope they don't start indulging in "fee sek", which is the average Thai's conception of the hippy phenomenon. Or rather proof of their own moral superiority....

This is a "must go", eh? Loads of dippo, liberal hippies sat in a field talking about solving the world's problems whilst eating vegan beanburgers; juggling; and fire-eating.

Its ok, I used to play with bb guns (shoot plastic balls), plastic knifes, swords, I even made a ninja star and used to sharpen metal sticks like they were spears.

Metalwork classes at school were devoted to making throwing knives and Ninja stars. I made a beautiful shuriken once, until a dog ran off with it. Ok, it was stuck in its back at the time, but....

Kids like stuff like that. Its better than him playing with Barbie Dolls, no?

Easy enough to be cynical about this. (Sometimes you can't be cynical enough in Asia). But as a general rule of thumb; learn to love yourself before asking anyone else to love you.

Look for an educated woman roughly your own age; cultural gaps are difficult enough without generation gaps widening the chasm further.

Don't bother with bar girls. Ever. Doubtless, there are a lot of people who found a wonderful woman; wife; mother; etc in a bar. But they are big exceptions to the rule.

Phuket has already lost the US$ 4 million Johnnie Walker Classic which had been scheduled for March next year. 10,000 visitors and the world's top golfers.

The tournament organisers shifted it to South Korea earlier today. It won't be coming back.

Don't suppose the New Puritans ever thought about the wider implications of all this hypocritical <deleted>, eh?

Hahahaha.

^^Well done to Bob. Been to his place and he sure does make a tasty burger as well as,... ridiculous publicity stunt food, too.

Lighten up a bit fellas, if you were throwing a large party, the burger would be a great centre-piece. $400 is nothing.

Just two things;-

Dissolve or totally restructure the present Police Force. They are rotten to the core; hated by the general population; and seem to be responsible for more crime than they prevent.

Full steam ahead with the much-stalled education reform of this country. Thailand is falling behind countries in this region in respect to skills; computer and English literacy; etc. And labour rates are getting higher. Thailand does not have to lose any of its unique culture or character by doing this.

Another shady little done deal from the murkiest corridors of power, with smirks and wai's all round.

He wouldn't send "the boss" without some "all clear" from the generals.

Macchiavelli For Dummies.

It seems that there is a lot of "new" people in the government determined to make their mark, only a little inexperienced and naive regarding policy. (I'm trying to be polite here....)

I'll give them a bit more time before judging I think, but the alcohol fiasco doesn't exactly set my spirits soaring. (pun unintended )

I've had a couple of near-misses with drunken locals; who can be a bigoted racist lot on occasions.

Bear in mind the Thais usually turn up armed and mob-handed to settle a dispute or perceived insult, and the figures arn't so startling maybe...

Learning to speak the language fluently opens your ears and eyes to whole new set of insults; racial slurs; bigotry and wilfull ignorance, as well as the good parts!

I wouldn't like to live in most tourist areas of Thailand. They attract a lot of the scum of both cultures; out for easy pickings and looking for gullible / naive people.

Filling stations close at 10pm though.

Those protester's placards and banners are a really professional job though, eh?

Gee, why is the population in the USA growing by leaps and bounds when everyone is the world hates the U.S? It's all the people immigrating there, thats why.

Don't think I've ever met anyone who claims to "hate the U.S.".

Wonderful country, and some of the nicest people in the world. Normally the orchestrated flag-burners you see on tv represent about .01% of that countries population. But are whipped up by the international media's demands for headlines and dramatic images to push their respective agendas and sell their product.

In the US's case that might be the fear and paranoia whipped up by the War On Terrorism, to keep people in their place.

Its an old European trick.

Huh! We've got three (3) 7/11 stores just in the little village where I live. And about another 4 copycat type of store. All selling the same stuff....

The nearest Tesco Lotus is about 30 mins drive away, and is always mobbed out with Thai shoppers every time I've been. The locals buy pickup trucks worth of goods every time and sell them on at Mom & Pop stores back in the vilages.

What's the problem?

I have definately seem improvement on the streets is Bkk. I also saw a police officer ticket a guy for throwing a cigarrete on the street! !

You saw a Thai cop selectively enforcing a very lucrative little law to line his bosses pocket. Thats all.

Thats all they see it as too.

More fuzzy bits on the TV, like cigarettes and guns???

Just bought a load of vcd's and dvd's from a trip to Pattaya. From a legal source and high profile outlet.

Started watching them and they are all censored. I've since returned them for audio cd's; and tried my best to get the illegal; poorer quality; but most importantly untampered-with versions on Beach Rd.

Ridicularse x 10.

Certainly the military sees this too in that I just read another story saying take a long break don’t come back anytime soon.

A good example may be found by recalling once more his SE Asian predecessor Marcos. He was allowed to return to the Philippines seven years after he fled and four years after he had died.

Marcos's wife still holds a lot of power and influence there. And a lot of shoes....

The question that needs answering is 'When will America sink'?

More like "when will America speak Spanish as a first language?"

I just read somewhere that it has been discovered that Komodo dragons actually secrete a poison that is deadly, and that it was not due to bacteria as has been the theory for many years. You can read more about this on Wikipedia at:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Komodo_dragon...nt_developments

Thais by and large fear and hate the 'hia' as noted above. It is a common curse word, although I don't know which came first, the animal or the curse. I suspect the former. My wife refers to them as ตัวเงินตัวทอง which means the silver and gold thing, as hia is too rude for her. We had two small ones appear on subsequent days, but both were killed by our dogs unfortunately. My wife was so freaked out when she saw them she at first convinced herself that they were crocs or some other animal. She just didn't want to accept the fact that these creatures had visited our house-probably the bad luck angle.

Interesting. I once saw a natural history prog about the dragons in Indonesia. It showed two of them hunting and bringing down a large deer. It wasn't a quick death for the poor animal.

The Thais are scared of them as you noted. Provincial politicos and mafiosi (same thing usually) like to put them in each other's back gardens as intimidatory / scare tactics.

Thai term for the monitors is "hia". They are supposed to be bad luck in Thai superstition. There are quite a few of them scattered all over Thailand. Not venomous, or big and dangerous like the Komodo Dragons in Indonesia; but the bacteria alone in these beast's mouths can kill you from a bite, apparently.

Obesity seems to be rampant everywhere. There are some fat kids wobbling around the malls of Thailand to be sure; but the US and Western Europe really lead the way.

Looks like obesity might be "thinning the herd?"

Sorry, but I'd rather take Pattaya over Phuket any day of the week. Pattaya may be smelly; polluted; gridlocked and tacky; but it does have some great alternative attractions; family days out; great dining; nightclubs; cultural attractions, etc. Also great competitive prices; service; and shopping.

Its a bit like a scab; unpleasant, sore, and nasty; but you have to back and have another play with it.

Phuket, on the other hand has a blanket 10% service charge slapped on everything. Consequently the service is dire; rude; and is the worst definition of a "tourist trap" because there isn't a great deal of competition. I won't be going back for a while. (Patong).

Wonder what the entertainment industry thinks of this. This would kill RCA, Ratchada soi 4 and the likes. And where to go and find the nice little uni girls that love to party on a bottle of Johnny?

As usual, wider implications are given scant thought. Wonder how many livelihoods will be affected in the much-maligned but still enormous entertainment industry?

I'd rather have them serving drinks somewhere than breaking into my house, thanks.

I met this girl in a thai nightclub last night,

BAD GIRL

Don't jump to conclusions. Not everygirl you meet in a nightclub is bad. Be fair to those good girls who just want to relax after a hectic working day.

Good girls don't go to nightclubs. They go to libraries!

Gosh! Arn't you the prude then? Contrary to the demure; shy; and reserved appearance of a lot of riab-roi office ladies and hard-working professional girls; when they get together and start talking, they can be a filthy lot! And some of them even,....*gasp* Enjoy sex!

Fancy that, eh?

Top Aussie bloke Errol Flynn. Once read his bio; "My Wicked, Wicked Ways". Been a pro boxer; panhandler; gold-prospecter; and slave-driver before he landed in Hollywood. Then he really let go!

Went through his leading ladies like salts through a goose, and apparently could play the piano ("Chopsticks") with his allegedly large tool.

Terry, spell his name right, <deleted>!

Is Don King interested? Taste-wise it could be a match made in heaven.

I'm not sure that Safari World still offers this little cultural nugget. Last time I looked, the Orangs looked to be a little punch-drunk, and even the sharpened sticks of bored spectators couldn't stir them into much pugilistic activity.

I've heard that the new attraction of Pangolin Baiting seems to be faring much better. With some serious wager action going on too!