pgs

Yes, the fun of people who shout so they can be understood.

I told one woman doing to TW that she is Thai, not deaf... no need to shout.

I do it here - it is something of a scam though, as the reports are often doctored in the office to make it look good enough so the shop/eatery/whatever will ask for it to be done again.

I've put some somewhat scathing ones in - more bad than good things - and was told they couldn't go in like that & had to be changed.

It doesn't really pay, either. We might get $50 to check a bistro/restaurant, with a list of what we are to have, but it comes out of what we are paid. By the time we travel to get there & spend the time filling in the forms after...

Some don't pay for the time, you pay the meal & get the cost back to a certain amount. Go over that & it's your bill.

The mystery of shopping in TH is wether you get what you paid for. :-)

@ Cooked: Their hovel, your castle. As long as you're happy, it matters not what others think.

I live in a city (Sydney) here by necessity, not by choice. I'm far happier in TH, in a little village somewhere without most of the unecessary mod-cons (emphasis on cons) of today.

To be fair Rotary, it does depend on the individual.

Some people can't bear being away from the city, others hate being there. Some love country life, some need city life.

In the majority of the large country towns/cities, if you can't find what you want in a shop, there is usually at least one that will try get it in for you.

You sound like you're still getting use to being in country areas. It can take time. Some never get use to it. Others fall into it and wonder why it took so long to find.

Horses for courses.

It's been interesting reading over the lives of people for the SIX years since this thread was started. I'm amazed it's still going - especially as there doesn't seem to have been much in the way of the usual trolling or aggression.

While the basics are much the same, they are all different.

Over the past few years, we've had a couple of deaths, a few uni grads, nephew has made sergent in the army - with 95% in his exam. The niece that caused lots of trouble as a teenager has seen the light & settled down, only a year or so off being a nurse and is buying her parents thier first house.

Watching the villages of our area grow and change each visit has been interesting. New stores, new markets, new houses. The bus to Chaiyaphum is less frequent than before. Good thing it's only 40km. There are still only a few foreigners about the place. Haven't met any of them over the years, but I know they exist. I remember seeing one in the next village once, about 7 years back. I don't recall ever seeing any tourist types though. Few in Chaiyaphum sometimes, but not near us.

My Thai is still limited - I don't pick up a lot of the tones, so I'd only understand the wrong things anyway.

Last trip we did a 'walking tour' of the village, taking photos of the old buildings and their inhabitants when possible. It's nice to have a record of what was there before the (grand)kids get the place & knock it down. As with the westerners, a lot of the oldies have some interesting stories to tell; just ask what their lives were like when they were kids. A lot of them will be happy to tell someone that wants to listen. For most of us it will be very different to what we had.

The way around the booze DF issue is to buy it in town - which is often cheaper anyway - & put it in your check in bag. Just remember to declare it.

Loong, falang, whatever.

Doesn't really matter as long as they don't call me late for dinner.

One neice calls me 'pig', which is fine as long as her tall and scawny self is ok answering to 'Giraffe'.

By any chance is there a way of using Win 8 on the net without being logged into an email account? Not sure if I've stuffed something during the upgrade, but if I don't log in to hotmail there is no pc access.

I am aware I can create a 'local' account - but apparently that won't have internet access.

Can anyone shed some light in this corner?

With all the crap MS determined we should have on the main screen, it will be one hell of a download hog on wireless.

Some things in Win 8 are ok - bit painful finding the way around at first & some things, like closing programs, are not obvious. If being permanently connected via MS mail account is an unlisted pre-requisit, I'd prefer to go to Linux.

Thanks pgs. Do you know how brittle the concrete jars/tanks are for drilling holes in?

Happily, I've not yet had that pleasure....

If you're buying new ones, they can be ordered with holes. Not sure of the village name, but it is near Korat - all size pots & pottery can be made to order.

oldsailor35

RUBBISH ! you can buy d/f on arrival at Brisbane and probably the other airports in oz.

I don't control the 'travelsecure.infrastructure.gov.au/international/lags/dutyfree_to.aspx' website. I don't make the rules. That was the wording lifted directly from their page. Feel free to take it up with them.

Yes, you can buy at any AU international airport at arrivals - if you particularly like paying more than in most Asian countries.

Spoonman:

This I find confusing, I flew out of Brisbane 2 weeks ago and me and the missus had a 1.125lt bottle of OP rum each as carry on.

I had not had a problem taking booze out of AU either - taking it out wan't restricted.

Now there's generally not a lot of difference between DF in arrivals & Dan Murphy's, so I don't often bother with it coming in.

The main thing is, the resriction is to be lifted. I guess some poli wanted to bring some.

Today's Daily Terrorgraph:

Airport X-rays to end 100ml liquid limits

• Neil Wilson
  
• Herald Sun
  
• April 17, 2012 12:00AM
  

THE 100ml limit on alcohol, perfumes and other liquids that can be carried on board international flights is to be phased out.

The move comes as security equipment that detects liquid explosives is installed at airports in Australia and overseas.

Australia will lead the world in ending the ban from July 1, when the X-ray equipment begins operating in international transit lounges.

It will be extended from about April next year, in line with a relaxation of the strict 100ml rule at European airports and in the US.

Initially it will apply only to items bought in sealed bags at airport duty-free shops.

The Federal Government will contribute $28.5 million to help airports phase in the new technology.

I'm no plumber either, but have had the pleasure of living with tank water for some time.

some options I considered for TH, was:

1) run a pipe from the bottom of 1 tank to the top of the next (seated slightly lower) tank. as each fills, the overflow goes to the next.

2) run the pipe from about 6" to 12" from the top of one into the top of the next.

In either case, use something to filter the draining end of each pipe. As the first tank will cop the rubbish off the roof, it will be OK for the garden.

There will probably be someone in TV with more experience that can give better ideas / guidance.

Good luck with it.

Mrs uses a good one on the edge of Pratunam market - don't recall the street name. Only one she'll go to.

Best I can remember is it's around 50M from the corner - near Thanon Ratchaprarop

Was listening to he show in Sydney for a while last year - very repetitive. Which actually makes it not a whole lot different to any other DJ.

Bring back Bluebottle.

Mr Bo, as far as TW is concerned, any excuse to go to HomePro is a good one....

Crime: Can I extend my Visa which I got when I arrived at the Airport?

... someone else up for the punishment ?

Immediate deportation to Laos.

Leave Laos alone - what's it done to deserve that?

Crime: Can I extend my Visa which I got when I arrived at the Airport?

... someone else up for the punishment ?

to wait in the immigration queue for eternity

hang on, that's normal.....

eternity + a week.

Crime .............. Asking why their favourite European groceries are out of stock at Villa market.

Punishment ..... Only Mama noodles for breakfast, lunch and dinner for a week.

You say that like it's a bad thing....

just add chilli, it'll be OK.

Trolling from Scotland

Punishment being made to drink watered down American Whiskey and wear a sporan filled with lead.while performing Irish Jigs.

You're cruel.

Turn it back on them & make a joke out of it. If they think they are losing face or you don't react how they want, they will stop.

Ah, yes... been through that a few times.

First time was scary - she hadn't been here long. Would up calling the Thai Welfare counsellor to try to find out if I had done something wrong that I wasn't aware of.

All good, just a weirdo mood swing.

Now I just ask how long it will keep going so I know how long I can have fun.

The thought of hubby having fun is usually enough to bring her back to reality.

Daniel,

I can't help with the German side, although I imagine it will be reasonably similar to the Australian requirements - and probably change as often.

20kg boxes may not be worth the trouble/expense of freight forwarders.

Using any of the 'big' couriers: UPS/DHL/TNT, they will tend to the import paperwork, pay the customs duty & add a fee for doing it. These might take a week or so from pickup to delivery.

UPS can be a pain, as a lot of our suburbs & towns that have a shared postcode don't exist in their system. You have to use whatever town they have listed & add the correct address in the delivery notes. Otherwise, I've had no problem with them.

Using the post is also OK for 20kg & under - it might take 4 - 8 weeks to be delivered. You have a 98% chance the parcel will be checked, so I REALLY wouldn't be trying the 'gift' option - Customs are known to issue nice fines for that. It is far better for you just to pay the import taxes & add it to the price. The PO will send you a letter to download a form from the Customs website. The form is nicely hidden, have fun finding it. Filling it in is more fun as YOU get the pleasure of deciding which category and sub catgory the goods come under. Get it wrong & risk being fined. Send the form (post/email/fax) back to the PO, who will send you the payment advice. The PO is then paid to a Westpac account & the goods are release a few days later.

The PO will & do hold parcels. I had one held for 6 weeks for no reason - just would not send the letter. Customs blamed the PO, PO blamed Customs. Threat of a call to the ombudsman at the 6th week resulted in forced action. They will also let some orders slip through with being taxed. The upside to that is you'll miss the customs duty - the GST you'll still pay when you sell it or do your BAS.

Thailand has a 'special' tax status depending what you're importing. The tax rate varies with each item, but seems to hover between 2% & 5%.

Most of the info you need you wil find on ato.gov.au - but don't bother calling for advice, they will just tell you to find an accountant.

There is another group that you will gain an enormous amount of info from (I hide in that forum also) - I will PM you the details.

Have fun & try to stay on the right side of the tax laws.

You would also find it far cheaper to send Thai > DE & Thai > AU than Thai > AU > DE. You're just adding a layer of costs & a lot of otherwise unnecessary paperwork.

Going on some of these comments, some of you should really just be happy that they even speak to you.

Loong, loong lang, falang, farang, hey you... whatever. it doesn't really matter.

The nearest most of the locals get to pronouncing my name properly is 'Pearl'. That's fine. It's close enough. We know who they mean.

It worse for them - if I can't remember the name, I have to describe them... :-)

if this goes true to form, that will be enough to close it.