mobs00

This is a really cool weather map I just found. It's interactive.

Chiang Mai Weather

What a tease!

This Sunday's CH4 (May 4) MIXED HASH run.

Drive past Doi Saket and look for signs on the left towards the Wang Tung Resort.

Run @ 5, Pick up from the Fish n' Chips shop at 4

ON Oooooooooooooooon

All quiet on the northern front. No wind last night. Anyway it's coming closer.

Coming closer, but probably not heading directly this way & now going into Northern Myanmar.

http://www.wunderground.com/tropical/track...el.html#a_topad

This map shows the computer generated projected path. It will vary as new information is received and updated in the computer.

The last update shows Friday at 1700 EDT which would make it Saturday 0400 in Chiang Mai.

Its too bad that backpacker dollars aren't considered "quality". Last time I checked a baht was a baht and was more likely to be spent at ground level by the backpackers. Spent on local food, local guides, the cheap things that the average working Thai provides. These so called "quality tourists" spend most of their money in house at the large resorts and I doubt if the impact of their money reaches as far as the "low quality" tourists dollar does. Correct me if I am wrong but Chiang Mai's economy and people seem to be relying more on the people the government is trying to drive away.

How is Pai doing with the new "changes"? It was once a backpacker hub and that is who the people relied upon for their income.

It has slowed down a bit but it is still going to come. From the image below you can see that most of the activity is on the eastern front. So no matter what you do Rasseru it looks like everyone is going to get a taste of this one.

Being a relative Thailand newbie(2 years) this is one question which I am confused about. Many have stated that "Prostitution" is illegal in Thailand. My question is does anyone have any data or anecdotal information about how many people have been arrested or prosecuted for obtaining of "sex for money" services? I have googled around and can't find anything except for sex with minors or an occasional katoey dragnet. Maybe some of the long time residents know of people who have been snared by the PoPo.

I have never heard of it happening and doubt it ever would be enforced even if a complaint is made. There is to much money at stake. Below are some excerpts from Wiki and a link to more info on the matter.

"Estimates of the number of prostitutes in Thailand vary widely and are subject to controversy. One estimate published in 2003 placed the trade at US$ 4.3 billion per year, about three percent of the Thai economy. There are around 10,000 prostitutes in Koh Samui alone a place not usually associated with prostitution, and Thai officials have an uncomfortable relationship with this side of their country."

"After a police raid on some Bangkok parlours where policemen had sex with prostitutes, "Acting Suthisan Police chief Colonel Varanvas Karunyathat defended the police action, saying that the (police) officers involved needed to have sex with the masseuses to gain evidence for the arrest."^[7] Apparently, this is standard practice as a separate police force did the same in Pattaya in May 2007."

And my personal favorite:

"Even more evidence of politicians supporting prostitution industry and the sexual habits of elderly Thai men in general is how Viagra is being given to elderly voters in exchange for their votes in an election drive."

$4.3 Billion Industry

So in short, what would happen if pu yai wanted to stay and bring his less than significant other?

You guys crack me up...2 inches...shelter from the storm....

I think I vote tor the Rain People, over the Smoke People, for pure entertainment value.

Look, two inches is only what they are predicting. From the looks of it I know it'll be more.

Mobs00 is it the Rajabhat building on the 2nd pic?

Yup. I live nearby so I keep an eye on things in there....

It's coming closer. I just took these shots. It seems to be rising from the south moving in a northerly direction.

Contrary to what some people are saying it is in fact going to be quite large!

Back on topic, we just had 10 minutes of strong winds and heavy rain (I'm in Saraphee). An appetizer? (In French "mise en bouche" )

This is good jb. Maybe everyone can follow your lead and we'll have a blow by blow report of the situation.

Two inches is not a very promising start .

Presumably not mobs00?

The prediction is for two inches, but they also pointed to the fact that whatever amount is received it will probably be quite substantial.

WOW! That is a generous offer jb. And I always thought inflation made prices rise.

. . . I may end up being blown right from my bike!!!

You intend to accept adjan ab's generous offer?

I had no idea an offer was on the table. But whatever the offer, we may end geting wet.

Currently category 3 storm with winds up to 125mph, gusts to 155mph.

Tropical Cyclone Nargis

I really wish I had a car now, I may end up being blown right from my bike!!!

This Saturday's MIXED hash (May 3rd)

DIRECTIONS

Go north on the Chiang Mai / Mae Rim Road.

Go through the CM/MR road and the Outer Ring Road intersection.

Travel ~2.5 km and take a left at the HHH sign (after the army base).

Travel ~4.5 km and take a left at the intersection, at the HHH sign.

Trave ~1 km and take a left at the HHH sign.

Follow the HHH signs about 4 km to the runsite.

Has anyone had any experience with local Toyota dealers in Chiang Mai. I know prices are pretty much the same but how about any freebies they throw in?

What about service? Are there any you had a positive overall experience with? Any dealers to avoid?

I am looking to buy a car in the near future and any help is much appreciated. Thanks.

Where would we be as a human race if we did not question? Lemmings just following the leader? I think it is human nature to ask questions; explore what we are told just for the sake of satisfying our curiosity.

So the world is flat, Columbus and St. Brendan didn't think so......

How much does it cost? How many mg per pill and how many pills per bottle?

I should add that it doesn't just have to be western food. I have liked just about all home cooking I have had. Except for the embryonic chicken egg, never got around to trying that.

lacked proper stimulants.

Should the tigers be given cocaine or methedrine?

I was wondering who the first would be to pick up on that.

Grass, trees, plants, water, goats, chickens, cows, etc. would suffice.

I prefer to eat simple. When I say “simple” I don’t mean bread and water, I want some good old fashioned home cooking. For me it would be corned beef and cabbage, boiled veggies and potatoes, followed by an apple pie my grandmother used to make every Sunday.

I don’t like going to restaurants that have more silverware on the table than food. I am just looking for traditional fare you would find on any table in any working class home (or in any pub) anywhere in the world. Shepard’s pie, goulash, the left-overs from the week all thrown together as one; basic, affordable food.

Before I start would like to say that I have no association with this business. I am not trying to write a good report or a bad report. I went to the Tiger Park with an open mind and have tried to write this as I experienced it.

I went to the Tiger Park and restaurant today April 26. We got there and there was more than enough staff to take care of us. We ordered from the 2 page menu and it was very basic. Dishes on average between 60-100 baht each. The food was ok, nothing spectacular, although the portions were small. From our seats we could see the tigers in the main viewing area.

My friend and I paid 300 baht each for a tour around the facility and to go inside the pen with the young tigers. To take a look around is free though. The first thing I noticed was that the cages were quite small. For the viewing area at the restaurant, there is an open pen with a small area for the tigers to play in a pool. They weren’t ready for us so our guide took us around to show the other animals.

Our guide said these animals came from the Ubon Zoo.

They had a small Clouded Leopard (the guide said it was a tiger) in a cage. She said that it was caught in the wild so we can’t go inside with it. I am not sure why it needed to be trapped and taken from the jungle, but I didn’t ask.

Next we went to see about 5, five week old cubs. They were in a separate building away from the parents. You can view them on A TV from outside. Again I did not ask why they weren’t with the mother or how and what they are fed. About fifty feet away is another double enclosure with the 5 year old breeding pair adult tigers. They are in separate cages and have a common area in the middle but are only allowed in one at a time. The mother was panting on the concrete floor. I did not get a good look at her but can imagine if she just had cubs and they are not feeding, she must be bloated with excess milk. The father was pacing in circles around his cage and there was no water in the small pool in the common area. Our guide told us these two tigers are strictly for breeding more cubs for the park. They were brought from the Ubon Zoo.

We now had the chance to go into the enclosure with the young tigers. There were about 5 roaming around and two other larger tigers (6 month old) in the cage. We got inside and were allowed to take photos ourselves and there was also a staff member who takes photos and will sell you a CD copy for 200 Baht. I must say these tigers in no way seemed sedated. A few times they tried to take a bite and/or swipe at me. Could’ve been the fried chicken I had for lunch?! We were allowed to play with them with palm fronds and coconut shells. You can also sit next to them and pet them. They are trained using negative reinforcement by means of a small bamboo stick which they use to hit them on the nose. I thought to myself "what good is an 18" piece of bamboo going to be?" Towards the end I was petting one on the belly and it tried to grab me, similar to what a 25kg house cat would do; luckily I pulled back in time. The guide then told me I need to hit the tiger to teach it not to bite me. I decided not to.

So we left the cage and I had a few more questions. I asked the guide what happens to the youngsters when they get bigger. She told us that when they are around 5-6 months old they are removed from the viewing enclosure and put in other cages as they are too big to be played with. I then asked where do they get more cubs? “They use the breeding pair to produce more” she said. So it seems that in a couple months time these 5 will be put somewhere else and the 5 or so newborns will be moved in.

We got our photo CD and left. I have not been to many other animal parks so I cannot compare facilities. I feel the facilities were too small and lacked proper stimulants. I don't think the animals are abused but you could not tell by going during normal business hours. They also don't seem to be sedated in any way.

I would not go back after finding out about the breeding pair and the subsequent offspring. I just couldn’t pay to see this again knowing that in a few months time these tigers will be too old and put in a small concrete and chain link enclosure to live out the rest of their days. Maybe I am wrong? This is just my opinion, things I saw, and questions I asked today and answers I received.

Pictures are included below.

As of today, the pickup and run times have now changed for the summer. Pickup is @4:30 and the run is @5:30

This Tuesday's CUMH3 (April 22) is out in Maejo. Drive just past the uni and look for HHH on the right, take the u-turn and look for signs on the left. Hare is Suck-it.

Run @ 5 Pick up from Fish n Chips at 4.

ON Oooooooooooooooon

BEER IS THE FRUIT OF OUR LABOUR !

BIRRA EMOLUMENTA LABORUM !