StickKettleOn

Southwest 19:

I agree with everything you have said. I am sure that 90% of the ferang residents on Samui would agree with everything you have said to be honest - though it would not seem the case on this thread. Consider though, that many of the established posters on the Samui forum are pretty conservative. The idea of authority, regulations and actualy anything that will prevent 'those blasted pithering hooligans' from running amok apeals to them. Trust me SW19, your opinion is likely shared by most of the people who live on Samui, but not this forum.

Quote of the day comes from Big C;

"truth is they probably always wanted to be a copper in there own country but they were not good enough. now they have a chnace to become one easily. so they grabbed there chance."

Fantastic stuff Big C. These guys are purely in it for the uniform. Anyone who actualy thinks they care a flying bugger about helping the community is deluded.... its all about the self percieved 'prestige' of being a ferang copper.

I know of one guy, without mentioning names, who is now a ferang copper and previously voluntered as ferang security for the first big Coco Blues festival. Couple of years back. It was ammusing to watch.... all these ferang guys, running around chests puffed out with black t shirts proclaiming in big white letters 'security'. Anyway, this guy would sleep, eat, drink, fart and fark with this t shirt on. Even weeks after the event, you would see him poncing around in his shirt. He had one of these little walkie talkie things with a cable attached to an earpiece. On his day off, he catualy went to the pub, proud as punch, wearing his security t shirt and had his little secret service style earpeace with the cable running down his back.... BUT IT WASNT CONNECTED TO ANYTHING! He left the actual walkie talkie thing on site, but went down to the pub showing off his little earpice, not attached to anything. This guy is now a ferang copper. Speaks for itself, dont you think?

I agree that the intentions of the Thai police are spot on. They have developed the concept of ferang police with honest intentions. The pitty is, they attracted the wrong crowd by offering a uniform and hand cuffs.

I wonder how many people would have voluntered if there was no uniform?

Hi one and all

Im having a blackberry sent over from the UK, which I hope to get unlocked. Does anyone know in laymans terms what package i have to go for, and with which provider? I have a feeling it may be available on the EDGE network... does that sound right?

Many thanks

SKO

So my internet connection is finaly back up to 850kbps.... after 3 months of being 'stitched up' by TOT and only having 150kbps. So thats great. Yesterday i could watch google videos to my hearts content.

Today - regardless of which video i try to watch i get 'video is currently unavailable please try again later'. I have done everything i possibly can to solve this problem using the google video help page - nothing works.

Even videos i watched yesterday - dont work.

Any tips? This seems to be a global common problem - but i cant find a solution.

"if you are in thailand for more then 3 consecutive tourist visas (90 days) then you are under the law required to go back to your own country and apply for a proper visa as you are not realy a tourist but more of a permenant resident"

Granted - but this law is fleible in the eyes of the system. In short; this is not essentialy enforced. If it is not enforced, and certain people consider it more convenient to apply for a TV, follow it up with 3 x 30 days stamps - and then apply for another TV multiple times, then that is up to to them.

For example - the new 'law' that requires border bouncers in Cambodia to provide an air ticket out of the country has always been there from year dot. It was only enforced recently.

You should know by now that Thai law has always been flexible on all levels. The law is the law - but if not enforced, it is a moot point and does not make any persons taking advantage of this flexability a 'low income tourist'.

lets use an analogy - riding your bike on Samui with no crash helmet is illegal. The law states, everyone must waer a crash helmet. Most people dont. Would this make them (quote) 'overiding the law'? I dont think so.

I will hold my hands up here and admit that my following opinion may be unfair... But i have always had the feeling that ferangs in Thailand on long term visas often, but not always, kind of class themselves as 'elite'. Your permancy in this country is exactly the same as a humble 30 day border bouncer - regardless of the visa you have.

For some people - it is more convenient to apply for multiple TV's than it is to fly home and apply for a 12 month visa. A 5 year visa - if one existed - i would agree with you. But flying home and going through the hassle of aquiring a 12 month visa for many, is a hassle best left avoided whn you can simply take advantage of the flexability of the the laws.

In the same way you would, riding a bike with no helmet.

Get legal or stay out is the message.

typical ......................

now tourists are illegal .

My point exactly. Tourists are torists - regardless of intended duration of stay.

Get legal or stay out is the message.

typical ......................

now tourists are illegal .

no tourist are more then welcome.

however, low income forigners who wish to redise in Thailand need to obtain a proper visa instead of running visas all the time and trying to overide imagration laws.

Why your precise targeting of 'low income' tourists? 'Cheap Charlies' have the monoploy on back to back tourist visa's? Is that your point? Apply for more than three tourist visa's and you are included in a demographic which is (quote) 'overiding the immigration laws'?

I have back to back tourist visa's. Are you suggesting I am a low income tourist?

I have a hot line to Peter Parker. Bugger the rest of you.

Jens - 'around these parts'? The mean old streats of Lipa Noi?

Aside from twating the occasional cockroach - you need not worry about confrontation in your 'hood.'

High Diver

This is my take on it, for what its worth;

It’s a good point you make regarding the whole notion of ‘Mafia’ on Samui. The general picture that many ferangs are presented with is a bunch of Carabao looking guys driving Harley’s, running from bar to bar demanding money with menace. It does not happen – as you rightly say. This whole idea is often discussed amongst the more seasoned bar fly’s who like to portray a Wild West frontier that does not exist.

I have known several bar owners on Samui – I was once a bar owner myself – and I can not recall one incident of a ‘mafia’ guy making threats. It’s all bullshite. Does not happen.

However – there certainly are mafia guys on Samui – but by and large, they are not mafia in the western sense of the word. They are more like powerful businessmen who would put you in a box in the ground if you messed with them. None of us do, and very little Thais do – that’s why, by and large, they rarely resort to ‘mafia’ style tactics. They don’t need to.

Years ago, it was a little different. When Samui was emerging as a tourist destination back in the late 80’s, these guys did not have as much money as they do now and so back then, they may indeed have been a little more, well…. Hard and ruthless.

You mention one club for example… the biggest on the island. The guy that runs that - I wont mention his name lets call him ‘Fred’ from what I am told was a complete and utter nightmare years ago, back in the 80’s. The story I have heard from Thais in the know was that Fred was just a simple bully at school. A ner’do well. Not too bright. Samui islanders years ago used to pass down the valuable farm land (usually on the slopes of the hills) to the smart, hard working guys. In turn, the lazy never do well’s would receive the poor land of little value – which just happens to be primarily beach land. Fred, apparently, inherited lots of this land, sold it on to developers and made a killing. As soon as he got a taste for the money – he went off on one and murdered, raped, pillaged anyone that prevented him from making more money.

His brother – I know very well. He owns a major sporting venue in Chaweng and is a very nice, decent chap. He has always been the opposite of his brother and personally, I have a lot of time for the guy. Very approachable, very decent bloke. However, I know stories first hand that would make your hair curl. In short – he is a great bloke, but you wouldn’t want to mess with him.

So I guess, they do exist – but on the level that is often portrayed in many bars, it is not true.

Kids running around Had Rin shooting each other…. I don’t see them as ‘mafia’.

Limbos

Thanks - that does make sense. In all my previous time on Samui, it seems i may have been a little confused with the whole 'Bo' thing.

I always thought that Bophud was the Amphur, as you say. But then, I was wrongly thinking that there was also a 'Bo Phut', being Fishermans Village.

So Fishermans Village is just that - Fishermans Village. Yup? There is no 'Bo Phut', only 'Bophud' which is the district. Thinking about it, as you drive into Chaweng Noi from Lamai, there is a sign saying 'welcome to the district of Bophud'

Hi Rak

I may be getting my 'Bo' and 'Phuts' confused.... but I thought Ban Rak was part of Bo Phut? If so, there a few beer bars there as you probably know. Cosmic bar alone would be at home on any stretch of Soi Cowboy.

That said - maybe i have my areas wrong. Is Fishermans Village the definative Bo Phut? If so then yes.... not one girly bar in sight in this area which is a good thing, in my opinion. Fishermans Village has never realy been my cup of tea to hang out in, but i like the area and would hate to see it spoiled by beer bars.

Clear that up for me will you Rak? Im interested to know a little more about that. The whole notion of some nasty as fark mafia dude, with strong moral beliefs keeping an eye on his area...I am intrigued by that and respect it.

But anyway - i agree with Rak. There are mafia on Samui. Plenty of them. I disagree with the concept of 'Mafia' as we know them back in the west - I like to think of them as powerfull business people that you dont piss around with on Samui. The stories of mafia guys turning up at your bar, demanding money with menace - does not happen, in my experience. These days, they are just powerfull business people but still mafia, never the less. You ould only realy see the mafia in them, if you got on the wrong side of them.

Cheers Pike, nice to hear from you pal.

Moo!

Highdiver

I agree - they did a great job. However, ther is certainly something about the old 'sala' that was extremely endearing. Both new and old are very nice, but the old sala - it kind of warmed you up for the island. Shame its gone.

I am no longer a resient of Samui. That said, i do nip back every now and then and i can not recall seeing Charlie and his Angels keeping the peace. Where are those guys hanging out? I have been to Samui several times this year and as yet, I have not seen any ferang police on any street corner - 'taking care of business.'

I dunno. I guess they are all hanging out in the 'Bat Cave' when i arive and the Batmobile is on the blink. Needs a new clutch. apparently. They are waiting for delivery of said clutch from a garage in Surrathani.

So where exactly are they keeping an eye on things? last time i was on the island - last month - I stood outside Burger King at 4am... i seen a 9 foot lady boy beating seven colours of <deleted> out of a ferang dwarf - didnt see any uniformed ferang prevent this episode. i seen a bloke the size of a house run rampage in a Soi mango bar - pissed everyone off, including me - i was refrained from twating the guy as i was rather hoping a ferang police ninja would swing in through the window, Die Hard style, and cuff the guy. Didnt happen.

And so - what exactly do they do and further more - do they exist? I am waiting for conformation - and proof that they make a difference. I will keep my eyes open for a news alert that one of these guys has been awarded the congresional medal of honor, for guiding a Swiss tourist to the nearest 7/11. 'Just down the there, on the left.... 50 yards love'

Im gonna capture a ferang police guy. I plan on making it my hobby. Just to prove they exist.

I should be carefull with my words here. These guys are affiliated with Spiderman, Iceman, and The Incredible Hulk. I dont wish to piss the wrong people off.

Ahh... Im just having a laugh. Dont ban me again, you misserable buggers.

Well, yep i guess it is different strokes for different folks. I recall back in those days, whilst i was on the verge of loosing it and became super paranoid on pot - half of my friends became super paranoid without it.

Good luck - it sends a shiver down my spine thinking of that awful period for me, and no one will ever truly understand just how horrible panic and anxiety attacks are, if they have never expereienced them. They are a sheer living nightmare when you get them daily.

I would go with the yoga thing. I just googled it, and it seems that yoga is a well established proven method to cure this problem.

Best of luck

SKO

I am an occasional pill popper. If i have to fly.home, go on a visa run, or indeed any situation where i need to be out of it for several hours, i take 2-4 xanax and i am out for hours. I do not even move.

I only take xanax maybe once a month.

FYI - the best available in Thailand come in a silver strip of 10 x 1mg, costing around 100-150 baht. Look out for a brand by the name of 'HK'.

Blue xanax are usualy 1mg. Pink, usualy 0.5.

I take valium now and then - but only if i have had a bummer day and feel a bit stressed. Never more than a few times a month and only small amounts.

Regarding the pot smoking - i have my own take on this. I smoked a truck load of pot, from the ages 16-19 - about 15 years ago. I loved the stuff, and felt super chilled. As time went on, i gradualy become paraniod on the stuff. In time, i would have all out panick attacks to the stage that just 3 or 4 puffs would set me into a complete irational mindset, thinking about everything in a negative light, and super SUPER paranoid. I simply could not smoke anymore.

During this time, i began to suffer very bad panick attacks and became horribly paranoid. I would have these feelings for a good 5 years after - even though i would not touch the stuff, and could not smoke it.

Even such a simple task as getting on a train was a nightmare. I would feel convinced that everyone on the train thought i was mad - for no reason. I could not use any public transport. I could not go in a room full of strangers. Actualy it was even hard to sit in a room full of friends and fammily. I would feel convinced i was considered an odd ball, a freak. For no reason. if i left the room for 2 mins, i would be 100% convinced beyond doubt that everyone in the room talked about me.

Fark... i even developed a speeach impediment! My once confident tone turned into incoherent ramblings (a bit like this post, lol).

The panick attacks came several times per day. I developed claustraphobia - something i never had before. Even sitting in the back of a car would set off a panick attack. Lifts? No chance. I recall one time going to an ammusment park, jumping on a roler coaster and when the saftey belt came over head and strapped me in, i screamed blue murder - i told the guard if he did not let me off before the ride started, i would knock him out on my return. I was a real, bad mess.

Quit my job - couldnt work. For a good few months, i could hardly leave the house. Even walking to the shop to buy a paper, i would feel convinced the passing people in cars were 'looking at me'.

I told the doc i was mad. He said i was not, as if i was mad - i wouldnt admit to it, lol.

Sleeping - i would wake up in the middle of the night for no reason, on the verge of a heart attack. I would then pace around the room for an hour, trying to calm down. Dozens of iritional, crazy, meesed up thoughts going through my head.

Then over a period of around 12 months, it got better. Then, almost overnight, i got the spring back in my step and it all vanished. I have been 'back to normal' for a good 10 years now. No iritional thoughts, no attacks, very little anxiety - just real mild, when i have had a stress day.

I couldnt tell you how i got better. I just did. It all stopped. The turning point for me was when i had to give a presentation to 60 sales execs in a hotel corporate suite, towards the end of my 'recovery'. I came off the podium realising that i was not at all phased by the experience, and presented myself very well. Compare that to a few years previous - when i litteraly 'ran' out of a conferance room with a dozen people in attendance - just because i couldnt handle it.

I firmly put this down to pot. I am convinced. At the time, i did a little coke, a few extasy pills, the odd acid here and there - but honestly.... very very small amounts. Pot was my drug of choice as a teenager, and i blame pot for my wacked out state of mind for several years.

There probably are no Oasis fans reading this - but Noel Gallagher had exactly the same problems. He took drugs for a little while, then started having panic attacks and getting paranoid - it just came out of the blue. He wrote the song 'Gas Panic' about it.

Yep - bad times indeed. 5 years down the pan and i am convinced it was the pot that triggered it.

Som Nam naa

You know the rules. If you get caught and then end up in IDC whose fault is that? Thai officals? No yours.

Cripes. Gotta have an enemy, right mate?

You should jon in the debate going on over on the airport forum. There is a disscusion going regarding ferangs in Thai prisons, serving long prison terms, for small offences. when this topic runs its course, you can jump over to that forum and condem these scum of the earth ferangs, celebrate the fact they are in Thai prisons for years to come and sing kum bye are my lord, or whatever the heck it is, with the other Thai wannabees on this forum.

Stop taking life so seriously. The OP didnt kill anyone. Didnt rape anyone. ((edit - lopburi3)) He didnt get drunk and run over a couple school kids. He overstayed his visa - thats all. Nothing more, nothing less. Its wrong to overstay your visa yes.... but the guy has found himself in hard times. A little compasion maybe? Make allowances? Display understanding, just a little?

You will be absoloutley fine, dont worry. As suggested, ensure you fly out of the country - do not use the land borders.... chances of being caught on the way to the border are very low, but not worth the risk. Also, border officials are not to 'happy' in terms of of long overstayers, and may give you a hard time (make you wait in an office while the run checks on you etc).

The airport officials do not care less about a 6 month overstay. They simply adhere to policy which is this;

500B per day, not exceeding 20,000B, regardless of months/years overstayed. I assure you, they wont even blink an eye. You will be free to pay the overstay, and depart.

I previously had a 4 month overstay and had no problem getting a visa.

However, there are no guarantees. I was nervous as hel_l when i applied for my visa after overstaying such a long time, but i got one. Bless'em.

Good luck mate. Life has its up and downs. 2006 was one of the worst years in what has always been a pretty stable life for me - all sorts of horrible things happened for me and i found myself in the same boat as you. The right wing hardliners who use this forum loath and detest overstayers and blame all of the recent regulations on folks such as us, which is a nonsense. I am back on my feet again, doing well, happy and plodding away. I will never overstay again... no way.

Jeez. I am buggered then, yup?

Just so I am clear - i signed up for the quickest packagae they had at 1000B month (ok, not a huge amount, but that was the most they had). It works fine for 5/6 months and then they pump more clients through my 'pipe' which takes up bandwidth.

Is that about the jist of things?

I may aswell just downgrade my package to the cheapest one they have, which i believe is 400B month. It would be the same speeds.

Funny thing is - this happened overnight almost. It went from 750kbs to 120KBPS pretty much overnight, and has never changed.

Hi all

I am never so confident posting on this section. I always feel such a bloody newbie, as im pretty clueless with anything tech.

Anyway - not sure if anyone has any pointers for me. My internet connection has dropped in speed hugely over the last 6/7 weeks. I have TOT Gold Cyber which is not super quick - but quick enough for my needs at around 750kbps download speed. For several weeks now, it has been running at around 120kbps download speed - thats quite a reduction.

Srange thing is - my upload speed is three times faster... 335kbps. I recall that previously, the upload speed was way lower than the download speed. Clearly something is amiss here?

A friend suggested a try a tracert (something i have never done before). I ran a tracert to yahoo.co.uk and came up with the following info;

-25 'hops' in total

-1st hop (from my router) 99ms

-2nd to 16th hop around 27ms

-the last nine hops range from 300 to 600ms

Does this (or should this) indicate anything?

Its becoming a chore now. I dont have UBC here, and dont realy want it. I watch a lot of streaming media and now, i cant even do that. Google Videos etc all say 'error, file not found' when i know for a fact the video files are there, as i tested from an internet cafe. This must be something to do with my sudden low speeds, right? Since my speed has been so slow, i can not watch streaming media - apart from liveleak, and then i get the old 'buffering' every few seconds.

Please people - any pointers would be muchio appreciado.

Thanks

SKO

The guy in Samui prison.... you have to be shitting me, right? I would appreciate a little more info on this, should anyone be aware of it.

Are you seriously saying that this guy took a botle of whiskey from the hotel bar, explained to the guard the he would pay in the morning - then got a 3 year sentance for theft?

If this is true, and it actualy did happen just like that, then i am sorry guys.... we are all pottential jail birds in LOS.

I am not suggesting that we are pottential cheeky buggers who take whisky from hotel bars.. but come on! Surely that is not even worthy of calling the police! The sollution is simple; knock on the guys door the next morning, scold him for being an arrogant git thinking he can help himself to booze, charge him for the cost of the bottle and thats all.

Three years behind bars in a Samui prison for that?

I know of a guy that only got 7 years in a Spanish prison, for murder!

It worries me. Truly, it does. Especialy living up here in knowehereburi.... anything can happen.

Why would it worry you unless you intend to break the law....

He took a bottle of whiskey from a hotel bar....he could have asked the receptionist to get him something to drink, He only offered to pay for it when he got caught...didnt have funds to pay for it on him...made no arrangement to pay prior to being caught....GUILTY

There is no potential for me to be a jailbird on this one...Dont take without asking...

LOL! Mate – take a breath, sit back, and take stock for a moment will’ya? Should this be true and the guy was arrested and locked up for three years in the manner described – you don’t see that as a little ummm, harsh?

Yes yes yes – I know that he should not have taken the booze. You do not need to remind me that this is illegal – I am aware of it. However, I do not see this as being any more illegal than say…. Driving a motorbike, drunk. If every pissed up motorbike rider was to be charged and sentenced to three years in chokey, you would probably see a quarter of TV posters disappear overnight.

Your point is; he broke the law, he deserved it. Its illegal – end of. This is pretty much your point, right? I would say that is extreme and a little black and white, to say the least. You actually think this is a case of ‘som nam naa’? You don’t think he should have been fined, told off, and warned? No? You think three years in a dungeon is acceptable?

Of course – this may all be moot. As SBK points out, the story is a little hard to believe. That is why I asked for feedback, if anyone can offer any.

To answer your question though – it does worry me. You here frequent stories of injustice in this country – guys locked up for trivial offenses. I remember once paying for a round of golf and ‘stocking up‘ in the pro shop on a new shirt, balls, glove, tees etc etc. I spent a pretty penny. I didn’t realise until half way through the round that the hat I had tried on (and left on my head) in the very busy pro shop, was not declared to the assistant (I forgot I was wearing it). My intention was to pay for it at the end of the round. I didn’t. I forgot and anyway, it was a cheap hat

Had the assistant seen me leaving the course, I highly doubt she would have alerted the special police over a 300 Baht hat. However, if she did and I was locked up for three years…. Would you adopt the same attitude? I deserve all I get, as its illegal?

The guy in Samui prison.... you have to be shitting me, right? I would appreciate a little more info on this, should anyone be aware of it.

Are you seriously saying that this guy took a botle of whiskey from the hotel bar, explained to the guard the he would pay in the morning - then got a 3 year sentance for theft?

If this is true, and it actualy did happen just like that, then i am sorry guys.... we are all pottential jail birds in LOS.

I am not suggesting that we are pottential cheeky buggers who take whisky from hotel bars.. but come on! Surely that is not even worthy of calling the police! The sollution is simple; knock on the guys door the next morning, scold him for being an arrogant git thinking he can help himself to booze, charge him for the cost of the bottle and thats all.

Three years behind bars in a Samui prison for that?

I know of a guy that only got 7 years in a Spanish prison, for murder!

It worries me. Truly, it does. Especialy living up here in knowehereburi.... anything can happen.

Looking at the emails sent to Crispins site, this one struck me as optomistic, to say the least;

looked at the website and would like to help.

how many people can you get to pledge some monies,

lets say 100 people put in 50,000 b each,what do you think .

Best to get peoples names ,

count me in for 50,000 john gerald (1).

get back to me on your thoughts.....

Yeh, good luck with that cry to the masses son. Lets see how many replies you get.

I never met the bloke. I cant believe that after a few years living on the island, i fail to recal facial hair like that. Either way, it does seem very injust.... just look at the rap sheet. No way in hel_l is any guy past or present capable of running up a stream of offences like that, without alarm bells ringing at an earlier stage.

If he is suspected of someting - try him. if not, let him go. It beggers belief that he has spent 9 months in the Hilton, with nearly all of his charges dropped. With just 2 charged remaining - why cant they move forward?

Seems unfair to me. Very unfair.

I wish the guy all the best and a fair outcome.

Thaddeus

The 2500 that you paid; that was for installation only. Did you pay anything extra for the dish? That is where most of my money went. Extortionate. Then again, i had not been in LOS too long at the time and with a permanent hangover to boot. Thais have a sixth sense for suckers (and so do i, albeit in a different context) and they may have seen me coming a mile away, and decided to stitch me up. Here is a newbie, looks like he has been hitting it hard since he has been here so lets tuck up the naive brain frazzled guy and rob him blind. I dont know, maybe. Maybe it was just more expensive 3.5 years ago. Either way, it was ten times more than you paid.

The extra payment for maga bites downloaded came after 3 or 4 months. My service went down, so i called them up and they aranged to send the techs out. Techs came - usual routine; i gave them a couple of thousand and they installed a new modem. New modem did not work so they called the hotline. Hotline told them i had been cut off as i had not paid the bill. What bill? I said.... i have paid 7000 every month on time, even though i have only had 50% active internet. 'No Mr. You not clear bill for data' I did not know anything about this.

I went down to the shop, told the agent i had enough enough and politley informed him i would not be paying the bill for data recieved. I lived there for another year i think, and did not recieve an official bill of any kind for the 'extra data' so i do wonder if the whole thing was a stitch up.

Do not ever sign up for IPSTAR. It is, quite frankly, a load of cock.

For me, the speed was no issue - and the weather conditions seemed to bare no affect on the connection. I rceal a few real heavy tropical storms and it worked fine.

It is the service that is the problem. Unfortunatley i dont live on Samui right now, but i do have TOT ADSl where i am in LOS and it breaks down maybe once a week, but is back up in a few hours. With IPSTAR, i found that downtime could not be resolved remotley. Customer service never had a clue and would send out 2 techs everytime i had a problem. The trouble was, the techs were based in Surathani, and it was always minimum 3 day wait before they even left - and then they had to drive to Donsak, catch the ferry, stay in Nathon for the night as strangely they would always get the last ferry to Samui, drive to Ban Rak to my place only to swap the router over, which always worked.

This was three times a month - in any one month i reckon i was good for 2 weeks connection.

The cost? 25,000 for the dish and 7000 a month.

The funny thing is, looking back on it i appreciate what a newbie i was. Whenever the guys would come out to swap over the modem, i always had to pay for there 'hotel in Nathon' plus ferry back to Surathani and a few quid for petrol. Total cost to get custmer service out was usualy around 2500 Baht. No wonder they came three times a month. They probably had a timed charger in the router fixed to detonate every 8/9 days - just so i would call them and get them out again.

Plus, the 'agent' at the computer shop which i would love to mention but i wont, did not tell me that i had to pay extra for the mega bits downloaded each month. My bad for not reading the finer points of the agreement i guess, but i just took his word for it that 7000 Baht a month would be unlimited. A humble 20 minute Ricci Gervais podcast download would have cost me the price of a chang, without knowing it. That Ron Jeremy & Traci Lordes 5 hour fest that i downloaded probably cost me the equivelent of a night up Solo bar, with brass piled on top of me.

I can say this, as my bill after 3 months of service was 32.000 baht for 'data downloaded'. This excludes the 7000 baht a month rental.

Obviously, i told them to bugger off. I had no problem paying the 7000 Baht per month - but i was clearly misinformed/stitched up on the data transfer issue and so i told them to go bugger themselves.

Hope that helps.

I have never been able to get my head around the bashing of English food. We knock up some of the best food in the world in my opinion – our food is no nonsense, staunchy, tasty, hearty, and warm. Rarely will you find many English dishes with numpty sauces and garnishing. That’s the point; it’s no nonsense, but tastes ace.

For anyone who has seen the Peter Kay ‘No Nonsense’ adverts for John Smiths beer, I would say this applies to our food also.

Toad in the whole, bangers and mash, roast dinners, pie and mash etc etc. Not very inventive, granted – but I have yet to find any other grub worldwide that really knocks you out and hits the spot.

English breakfast is world wide famous. Best in the world.

Anyway – back on topic….I have yet to find a decent breakfast in Bangkok, anywhere. The sausage is usually savaloy, bacon is usually just a strip of fat – and who needs bloody salad of all things served with a fry up?

The closest I have ever got to a proper breakfast in Thailand is at Big Joes, in Ko Samui.