prakhonchai nick

Out here in Prakhonchai Moo refers to the street number. So 3M8 would be house or plot number 3 on village street number 8.

In my village each year (except last year) every moo within the village played a knock-out football competition against each other.

hi,

i was wondering if any of you guys went to watch the carabao concert last night in buriram?what did you think of the concert?

well i want along despite my wife's warning about fights however i didn't take her too serious as i have been to big day out concerts in australia which attracts up to 90;0000 concert goers and i have never been intimidated by it.last night it was different as i couldn't believe the amount of riot police present including one with a machinegun,the crowd was well behaved for the opening band set, when carabao started playing it didn't take long for the riot police to come into play at first i thought the police were overeacting,the longer the concert went on i totally agreed with the police heavy handed approach.i must admit i have never seen so many drunken village idiots trying to punch on, they wouldn't been able to punch on with my grandmother as they were pathetic.overall the vast majority of the crowd were well behaved unfortunetely for a small percentage of the crowd stuffed a good concert.as i was leaving the venue i witnessed groups fighting amongst themselves and i was told this morning one person was killed outside the venue.judt let me know if any of you guys were present.cheers.

Whilst clearly not the place to have been last night, it is a shame, once again, that the Buriram local farangs did not consider posting advance details of the concert on TV, so that those that live "out of town" but still within the province, could have had an opportunity of attending.

For those of you that like Kwitiou, (Thais staple food along with somtam) I can recommend a small restaurant on the outskirts of Prakhonchai.

Take the road from Prakhonchai to Phanom Rung, past Dieters German restaurant for approx half kilometer.

Serves a good Kwitiou Ped (Noodle Soup with Duck) for 25bt with Dim Sum as well. Outside seating in individual thatched roofed seats. Very busy between 12 noon and 1pm. The owner bears a striking resemblance to Add Carabao

In most situations when a winner is disqualified, the runner-up is promoted to winner.

For rather obscure reasons, despite being disqualified the ex PPP party members were permitted to change parties and still qualify as MP's. STRANGE!!

But it must be remembered that the PPP failed to control the government without the help of coalition parties. After all the shenanigan of the past year with 2 useless PM,'s it is not unreasonable for some of the coalition parties to decide to change their allegiances. Having done so, todays parliamentary vote was entirely democratic. Never mind talk of the involvement of the military behind the scenes (whether true or not); that is or would have been nothing compared to the constant intervention of Takkers, a convicted criminal on the run!

Good luck to Abhisit. If he can just ratchet up his strength a little bit, and move a little closer to the strength displayed by Barack Obama, we could well see a Democrat government for a long time, and a truly progressive democratic and corruption free Thailand.

Hi Nick

Let us know when you are planning to lurk around Surin, I will then arrange for a 24hr pass from 'er in doors'

Dave

Provisionally mid January. Our passes are being sought on the basis it is an Indian Food night!

Hello, I'm part of the 0.1%

It can be done, but you need something to occupy yourself that doesn't involve any of the locals,

Thad - you seem to have overlooked recent forays in Surin to break the monotony!

Still haven't seen you in the Shamrock (or anywhere else recently for that matter!). A good night expected tonight in the Shamrock.

A further private visit to Surin for a group from the Shamrock is planned for January - please feel free to join

Directions fine to the Honda place, but please elucidate as to what it is. Is it just a Thai food eating place or more as Ron would seem to imply.

Thanks

Ron

What exactly is the Honda store? You says its big. Apart from coffee and Thai food what else do they sell.

And for those of us unfamiliar with Buriram in general and UBC in particular, please tell exactly how to get there from say Big C or Taweekit.

Thanks

I'll be sure to pop in an partake when over in Surin. Not sure if before Xmas but sometime soon. If it is that good, I'll be asking for some frozen curries to take away for my freezer in Buriram !

It is good! Even the wife likes it!

I bought the entire stock of vindaloos and phalls last time I was there.

The Pad Kapow at Big C is good. My son swears on it. But the noise is deafening. Was in there this Monday -only 2 other people but the TV was blaring away, and various people with microphones were imploring all 4 of us to buy something. Give it a miss

Hi all.

What I am trying to establish is a list of potential clients (bars/restaurants/hotels etc.) who would appreciate a reliable company who can deliver, either, typical English "curry house" recipies, or something more sophisticated in Isaan.

Every dish would be of the highest quality with the spices & essential rare ingredients imported directly from India.

Can anyone help me in compiling this?

I think I know most of the major hotels but NOT lower level hotels/guest houses etc., so would appreciate maak maak any imput regarding any places that forum members may know, especially bars and restaurants which, normally, only have mobile numbers so are not listed in Yellow Pages etc.

Cheers in advance.

Laeotaekhun

Have tried to message you but you seem to be unavailable

Maybe I have something for you. Give me a PM

Nick

If Chalerm is elected PM, will he bring in his sons as deputies? Or maybe make them Interior minister and Foreign Minister respectively!

Thought elected MP's had to have university degrees? Perhaps it was McDonalds university!

Mickey Mouse is only 80. Perhaps he would be interested!

Please don't come up with this vote buying crap again as most ALL parties do it but it appears that only the winners get penalised in this crazy system.

True - most all parties have been involved in vote buying, BUT the reason for the dissolution is because an EXECUTIVE of each of the 3 parties bought votes, and as a result the whole party suffers. Had it been a lesser person only he/she would have been thrown out.

Hey nick --- I think you are wrong here --- one of the very questionable rules being applied here is that if a member any party is "red carded" then the ENTIRE PARTY can be disbanded. This rule has received wide spread criticism from around the world.

Imagine if applied world wide ---- a corrupt member of parliament and then the whole party is disbanded .....

There would be no governments anywhere left intact..... corrupt politicians.....

I do not believe that any of the banned executives were "carded" by the EC for anything---- please correct me if I'm wrong.

I agree something was needed to be done to eliminate corrupt practices--- as carried out by ALL parties -- but this is not reasonable

all the best in this mess.

Never heard about red-carded party members bringing the house down. In all previous elections, red carded winners could not stand again but it only affected the constituency, not the whole party.The 3 parties that were today dissolved each had an executive found guilty of electoral fraud

" By The Nation

The Constitution Court on Tuesday ruled to disband three coalition parties, People Power, Chart Thai and Matchima Thipataya, and banned the three's party executives from electoral process for five years.

The high court held the three parties for accountability on electoral fraud involving party executives, Yongyuth Tiyapairat of People Power, Monthien Songpracha of Chart Thai and Sunthorn Wilawan of Matchima Thipataya.

Hi Am

As you know my car is registered in Pattaya, and I have no problem renewing the tax each year locally. Pattaya transport office told me there was no need to change the number plates etc -only make sure you renew the tax every year.

See you on 12th - not sure which year though. You should have bought a jump jet not a motorcycle!

Please don't come up with this vote buying crap again as most ALL parties do it but it appears that only the winners get penalised in this crazy system.

True - most all parties have been involved in vote buying, BUT the reason for the dissolution is because an EXECUTIVE of each of the 3 parties bought votes, and as a result the whole party suffers. Had it been a lesser person only he/she would have been thrown out.

My Honda City also has a spacesaver spare tyre.

Don't see how it saves space however!

No problem many others will invest some more Baht when the corruption is reduced and the land gets a democratic elected government.

Thailand has a democratic elected government, only some MOBS do not respect democratic elections

A democratically elected government is one where the electorate are FREE to vote for the candidate of their choice. In much of rural Thailand, they were paid for their votes for particular candidates, often being told that if they did not vote for the designated candidate they would not be eligible for the village fund loans. That is not democracy.

Now Gen A is suggesting a new election. He can't be serious! 3-6 months down the line after yet more vote buying the same crowd will be "democratically" elected, with the same PM, and once again it will be unacceptable to the elite of Bangkok and others.

The solution as I see it is for a government of national Unity, with a mix of the best of all the parties and a well respected person to be PM. After 1 year, perhaps free and fair elections could be called.

It has been suggested to hold the next on in Surin sometime after Xmas. I am sure more info will be posted about that at alater date.

Many thanks for all those that turned up. And if you did miss it, try for the next one if you want a very pleasnt afternoon in good company

Hi Dave's

It was mentioned that Nobby's German bar might be an idea as a few hav'nt tried it. Parking is good, its in Soi Kola Entertainment Street next to the Thong Tarin Hotel. European/German food is available and good German bottled/draft beer is also avialable.

Early January would suit me better and I look forward to meeting up.

Dave

A lunchtime booze up is not everyones cup of tea. As well as changing the venues how about staggering the times also. Late afternoon/early evening might see more turn out.

Nick

Yingluck Shinawatra: Marital Status-unknown.

Is Thailand ready for a female Prime Minister?

Thailand is ready for any PM, male or female, who will work honestly and openly and put the people first.

This years Loy Kratong celebration in Prakhonchai was most disappointing. In previous years there has been entertainment for the children, and water borne fun games. This year there was nothing except for a dozen or so very ordinary looking girls vying to be crowned Miss Loy Kratong. Thousands of people turned up, but many just floated their boats and left.

Next year I will look for somewhere else to take the family.

Prehaps thats a good excuse for another p!ss-up(Erm, Business meeting)

Dave

Don't forget early notification of the next "business meeting". I'll get the wife to press my suit whilst I fill the briefcase with all the required requisites!

Will there be dual pricing as at most other tourist attractions?

This mirrors our previous post and the thoughts of my wife & I. As much as I love the thought of moving there in my old age with my wife there are so many other factors to consider in future. The economy is driving interest rates down not up around the world, house prices are sliding fast, pension funds are suffering and currencies are weakening against the baht. This all affects the viability longer term for Thailand as it becomes more expensive to travel or live there when compared against other countries. I can't believe for one minute that the people already retired there living on offshore savings are not sweating at the moment with the current economic climate. All said and done the real reason I could never stay in Thailand well into my old age would be health care. After seeing my son become sick in UK it made me appreciate how important your health is. Most take chances living out in Thailand without cover only to return back to the west when their health runs into more serious problems. We know a couple of people who have had no choice but to return to Uk with heart problems as they could not afford treatment locally. No matter what cover you have the Thais will always find a way out of paying if you do not use a reputable company. Even if you can get cover initially most insurers will not cover you into your late 70's anyhow so how long can anybody really stay there unless you throw caution to the wind. Let's face it how many 80/90 year old farangs do you see walking around, I've not seen many in Thailand. I've seen people in the 50's, 60, and a few in there 70's but older than that they are not to be seen much. You can only draw public pensions now when you are over 65 in UK so unless you plan to retire early off your own savings then most would have difficulty funding a move to LOS. However, I still dream of spending more time there in future but sadly feel those chances are fast slipping for the masses who have not already made the move before times go bad.

It's easy to come up with numerous reasons not to settle in Thailand, especially if you are not keen to do so, as it would appear you are not. If you wanted to come, I'm sure you would not find it that difficult. Health care is important, and insurance IS available for life, even if you turn 100. The cover I have is not age related, you remain at the same age for premium purposes as you were when you started. I drink every week with a farang well into his 80's (he's as fit as a fiddle) How many golden oldies do you drink with in the UK? Most people that age in the UK, are huddled around the fire wondering how they are going to pay all the bills, and no doubt just waiting to die. If you own your own home in the UK, then even with diminishing prices, with the average value around £200,000, that would give you 11 million baht, more than enough for a great life, and with the state and any other pensions to come at a later date, assuming you are currently under 65.

But turning to the thread subject, my wife realises that life overall here in Thailand, despite it's many problems, is far better than it would be in the UK or Europe in general, with its exhorbitant prices, and has no wish to leave, other than for a short holiday.

Thanks for the map Ray, barring fire, floods, earthquake or a total meltdown of the exchange rate, I'll be there.

There's a minibus going from the Shamrock - Prakhonchai 3.30 Sat 1st Nov. Think there are 2/3 seats left. Let me know if you want one.

Further to my earlier post, I would advise that the maximum annual loan rate permitted by law is 28%. It is a virtual certainty that a loan shark will be charging more than this, which would invalidate any loan contract, regardless of the nature and ownership of the guarantee. Yet another reason why the shark would prefer to avoid going before the judge.