grtaylor

I've had some great meals at Mata Hari - on Theparak Road between Pattaya and Jomtien.

I guess I am odd man out on this as I prefer IE7. Does tabs better than Ff.

I have Firefox as a backup browser but months seem to go by without using it.

Opera, which gets a lot of press for being the innovator, is a non-starter for me. The way it handles bookmarks drives me crazy. Constantly sliding from one box to the next. Argh!

Chrome? Don't want to use a beta. Come back to it when there is a final.

I wasn't happy with the Tabs in either IE or FF, but there is an add-on to Firefox called "Tab Mix Plus" which really improves it with many extra options.

I'm on Firefox but lately, it has a nasty habit of crashing or stalling whenever I start downloading files. It eve crashes even if I am not doing anything. I have removed most of the unimportant extensions but it still crashes.

Any ideas?

Works fine for me, including when downloading - not had it crash at all . . . . .

firefox with foxmarks ( which now does passwords )

Foxmarks is amazing, given that I have five computers I use regularly. I would never be able to keep my bookmarks up-to-date otherwise.

I have converted to Google Chrome, as its faster than FireFox. As second browser I'm using Opera, which can mimic IE for some internet sites that requires IE (some banks and others).

Firefox has an add-on called "IE Tab" which does exactly that, too.

I like the whole concept of add-ons in Firefox, so that you can choose which "bells and whistles" you want!

G

Thailand embraces in its bosom all people of Thai blood.

Every inch of Thailand belongs to the Thais.

It has long maintained its sovereignty,

Because the Thais have always been united.

The Thai people are peace-loving,

But they are no cowards at war.

They shall allow no one to rob them of their independence,

Nor shall they suffer tyranny.

All Thais are ready to give up every drop of blood

For the nation's safety, freedom and progress.

I'm sorry, but using the words of any National Anthem to support a view like this is ridiculous.

Read what the words of verse 2 of "God Save the Queen" says about foreigners for example:

O Lord, our God, arise,

Scatter her enemies,

And make them fall.

Confound their politics,

Frustrate their knavish tricks,

On thee our hopes we fix:

God save the Queen.

And is there any more vicious text than the French National Anthem?

Arise children of the fatherland

The day of glory has arrived

Against us tyranny's

Bloody standard is raised

Listen to the sound in the fields

The howling of these fearsome soldiers

They are coming into our midst

To cut the throats of your sons and consorts

To arms citizens Form your battalions

March, march

Let impure blood

Water our furrows

What do they want this horde of slaves

Of traitors and conspiratorial kings?

For whom these vile chains

These long-prepared irons?

Frenchmen, for us, ah! What outrage

What methods must be taken?

It is us they dare plan

To return to the old slavery!

Dual pricing is disgraceful, racist and insulting considering foreigners put so much into the Thai economy. Last year I noticed that some National Parks reduced their prices to a more reasonable figure so I visited 2 of them. Ticket issuers USED TO acknowledge years' visas, Thai driving licences etc.; but not now. The only recourse we have is to veto those places with dual pricing rates.

And when did they stop acknowledging driving licences? I had no problem getting the lower price with my driving licence on Koh Chang in late October this year . . . . .

Thailand will never be home, there are too many cultural differences.

Nonetheless, once you understand this, it's a v beautiful and relaxed place to live - just ignore the bg's and ex-pats with bg's and it's far more pleasant than home.

What are "bg's"?

I love thailand and have been calling it "home". But Home for me is still back in Canada, home is where your family is. Even though I have no intent on returning there, it will always be my home! Thailand is my home away from home you could say. Though I love christmas time and Thailand just does not do it for me....always good to return home to your family at chirstmas time...

Almost 19 years here. I'm single, so, define "family" . . . . I go back to the UK once a year to visit my Mother. I have a sister and her family there, but we've never been that close. I doubt I would go back as much as once a year, were my mother not there.

If it is part of the Sarasas group of schools in Bangkok, the owners of the group are Thai Catholics.

Is a Thai Catholic different from any other Catholic?

No. Perhaps I should have said "the Thai owners of the group are Roman Catholics".

One of the latest crazes to have hit Chiang Mai is the naming of schools as Catholic schools. An example of this is Sarasas Witaed Catholic School Chiangmai.

The school was opened last May and was, duly, blessed by the local Monks. We had a further visit from the Monks for the owner's birthday and today received the following letter to parents

"Sarasas Witaed Chiangmai is launching a project called "School Making Merit". The school would like to ask parents and students to join the activity on Thursday 4th of December 2008 at 07.00am beside the activity hall. The purpose of this event is to encourage everyone to be good Buddhists. Thank you for your kindly co-operation"

In the 7 months that the school has been opened, i have never seen or heard of a priest or nun being on the premisis. Before anyone thinks I have a chip on my shoulder, let me state that it is an excellent school, where 70% of classes are held through English and the remaining 30% through Thai.

I am extremely happy with my daughter's progress, but cannot understand the inclusion of the word Catholic in the school name.

As there is no Catholic instruction whatsoever, the only reason for calling it a catholic school would appear to justify the school keeping fees at a higher level. Incidentally, Sarasas is only one of a growing number of "Catholic" schools here.

If it is part of the Sarasas group of schools in Bangkok, the owners of the group are Thai Catholics.

loads of thugs wearing yellows and reds

Agreed - but its not a word . . . . .

I can only say I have used Deedial to the USA and it works for me at the published rate and the calls were just fine on my mobile even though my hearing is not the best.

Well, seeing as I've paid a deposit to them, I'll try again. Perhaps just a bad connection that time.

I've tried to phone my mother in the UK twice. The first time I got charged for the call even though the line went dead after two rings (however they did reimburse me), and the second time the quality was so bad, delay and echo, that I had to ring off and use the 009 code instead. Haven't tried again.

Not impressed.

1 You don't clear Immigration at Butterworth, that happens at Padang Basar, the border station, where you also change trains to a KTMB train. The time is therefore built in to the journey.

You don't actually change trains in Pedang Besar, passengers re-board the same coach after clearing immigrations. The train does swap engines at the border though.

Ah ok - so thats changed then, it used to be the case. Apologies.

A COUNTRY VERY NEARLY ON THE EDGE OF A CIVIL CONFLICT POSSIBLY FLEETING POSSIBLY DISASTROUS, A COUNTRY THAT HAS TEETERED ON THIS EDGE BEFORE BUT WITHOUT THE INTERNATIONAL SPIN AND A DEVELOPED MEDIA AND THE MONSTROUS MEDDLING OF DYE HAIRED DYE HARD FAKE DEGREED EX PREMIER, THE INVISIBLE HAND ETC. CAN THE MAGIC OF A KINGS WORDS SAVE THE NATION AGAIN? WE CAN ALL HOPE THAT FOR NOW IT DOES, BECAUSE YOUR ALL GONNA WISH YOUR HEADS WERENT IN THE SAND WHEN IT ALL BLOWS UP BEHING YOU!

No need to shout . . . . .

Yesterday Sunday 11/30 I was able to book train service BKK to Butterworth for Friday 5th Dec, departure 1445 pm, arrival next day 12/6 1255 pm. Can anyone advise answers to following?

1. After arrival Butterworth, how long would it take to clear immigration, etc., and go into Malaysia side at Penang?

2. Are there readily available taxis at Malaysia side of station, and what is cost and time to take a taxi to Penang Airport? And what is cost and time to go into central Penang? Would there be any taxi scams or big rip-off?

3. I'm going to Malaysian airlines office tomorrow to try book flight to Kuala Lumpur for whenever I can, hopefully after arrival at Butterworth on 12/6 1255 pm. If flight is available what would be safe time interval so that I can catch the first flight Penang to KL -- 1600 pm or 1700 pm or when?

4. If I cannot catch flight Penang to KL same day 12/6, should I stay at hotel near airport or would it make more sense to go into central Penang and stay at a hotel in center of town? Any suggestion for reasonable cost, decent hotel, centrally located?

Thanks for any help from anyone who has done this routing before.

tangoll

1 You don't clear Immigration at Butterworth, that happens at Padang Basar, the border station, where you also change trains to a KTMB train. The time is therefore built in to the journey.

2 I haven't done it but I would guess about 30-40 minutes to Penang airport, over the Penang Bridge.

3 If all goes well, I would think you should be able to catch a fliight at 16:00, but I would err on the safe side.

4 City Bayview is where I usually stay at MYR 135 a night. There are lots of cheaper places in the Chulia Road area.

The so called nanny state has only sprung up in the last ten years or so because the pathetic little wimps living there need nanny to gently wipe their noses and ar5es for them.

Actually, I think its the other way round, the "pathetic little wimps" are the way they are BECAUSE the nanny state sprung up and did all it has done for/to them!

OK - its a very bad situation, and we all feel sorry for the tourists caught in the middle of this domestic dispute. I am appalled by the damage these people are doing to the reputation and the economy of Thailand, but, to say this:

"It's very dangerous, the people and government are unstable and you risk your life going there"

An exclusive video from thaksin

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Hypocritical much??

If Thaksin returns to regain direct power it would be by means of a bloodbath, followed by a further bloodbath as every opponent (and others too) would be eliminated.

If a coup is executed then it will be the Thaksin gang that are eliminated.

I don't know how he's got the balls to say some of the things he does, but what I find really scary is that I find myself wondering whether he wouldn't be a better alternative to the current situation . . . . .

You can read my previous posts in the past few years. I am totally against the military running the country, but at the point we are right now, I would support a coup.

I think I agree with you on both points. I mean, what is the alternative?

I wonder if Thaksin could probably walk in to the country now and nothing happen. His crimes may be there for all to see, but let us face it, thousands of people closing airports aren't even being harrassed by Police or Army. And, who would have the guts to arrest him now with all this going on. He would probably only get bail

Perhaps that's how he's planned it all . . . . . . .

Did the whole deal today. Roasted turkey with home made dressing, cream gravy, mashed potatoes, candied sweet potatoes, broccoli and cauliflower, salad, and before dinner a dip with chips and cut up veggies. Pumpkin pie with home made whipped cream for dessert, but everybody was too full to have any -- people will stop by tomorrow to have a slice.

I thought it was called "Thanksgiving", thats what my American friends told me . . . . . . .

I leave too. Why spend Xmas in a country that doesn't really celebrate it? Doesn't make sense to me.

One of my friends deliberately goes on holiday to countries which don't celebrate Christmas just to get away from it all.