phuketsub

I would note that while the new office looks more impressive, it isn't any more comfortable for their customers.

There is one girl who works at the front desk who is a real angel, though.

Yup. When I first went there I got there at 12.30 and waited at the old spot, thinking they were on a lunch break. They didn't have a sign up at the old spot in English yet.

Anyway, Hat Yai is still far preferable to Phuket in terms of customer service, that's for sure.

Thanks for that Stocky. I had to go on successive days and it was really a mob scene at what is usually a pretty laid back airport.

I also agree with your comments about Hat Yai.

Here's a new one that I have been told is only used in the South:

แหมเห้ย Mae Heuy. This is an interjection to be used when some loudmouthed, know-it-all starts in on the same sermon for the upteenth time.

Similar to the meaning of 'here we go again!' used in English under similar circumstances -- or at least that is my take on it. Any other thoughts?

Not to my knowledge. Most regional transport in the South nowadays is covered by passenger vans, which typically end (last departure) at dusk. One route that might be of interest to you is the van that goes from Trang-Phattalung-Ranode-Songkhla Town. They also have one minibus that does the same route to cover the extra load at peak time.

Overnight public transport in the region is largely limited to buses and trains to Bangkok.

However, there are also overnight buses from both Songkhla Town and Hat Yai to Phuket. I think the bus from Hat Yai to Phuket stops in Krabi, but not sure what time. You would have to go to the BorKorSor (Transport station) and ask.

I pass through there occasionally, but seldom see any other farang.

I wish I could get 100 baht for every time I've had to do one of these interviews, though!

The worst is Samila Beach in Songkhla Town, where there are many, many schools. It's almost impossible to walk the strand for five minutes without having a pack of high school students approach for an interview request.

Actually it was last weekend. We had a pretty good time. There are lots of hiking trails through rubber plantation, so I got some exercise while my wife was hanging out with her old university friends. Where do you live in NST?

I just realized there is a thread about Southern Thai Language on Wikipedia. It says that Southern Thai is also known as 'Dambro', which is a surprise to me because I have never heard of it before.

My daughter, who is fluent in English as well as Central and Southern Thai, says she has never heard of that name for it either.

So I am just wondering if any others are aware of it.

Overall, the Southern Thai Language thread there is pretty interesting and worth a read if you haven't seen it already.

On 4/20/2019 at 9:51 AM, surfdog said:

Let's talk about รถถีบ "rot teep"
why I hear a P even though spelled with a B...

Anyways I was caught off guard but easily guessed in context the รถถีบ is a bicycle. Teep = Pedal

I figured this was southern but it is just "old"

I learned ปั่น = pedal จักรยาน for bicycle = "Pun Jakayan"

Perhaps there is a preference for word Rot Teep in the south?

maybe not... but it is not specifically southern language but possibly a preference for usage.

Maybe I'm just talking with too many seniors.




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Yes, my elderly peasants-in-law always use all the seniors รถถีบ and I never heard it until I moved in with them. Among the younger ones it tends to be จักรยาน

My wife is going on a university reunion to a homestay in Chang Klang District in Nakhon Sri Thammarat next weekend. It looks like a hilly area, but can't find out much about it...As I'll be up there for two days with our daughter in my capacity as chauffeur, I'd appreciate any helpful comments or tips about what might be interesting to do while there...

Well, I just got back from a week in Phuket and it has gotten much, much worse in terms of parking there. Someone told me that one trick for Haad Yai is to simply push the offending, blocking vehicle out of the way as the owners leave the cars in neutral when they block? Has anyone else tried that? I am sure I will get a chance on my next trip into town...

1 hour ago, sfokevin said:

Consider yourself lucky!... An XL here is a tight fit for me... 

I have noticed it has become a lot easier to find XL clothes that fit, thanks to the obesity epidemic that has puffed out the citizenry in this country. It was definitely not as easy 30 years ago. And all the Salvation Army and Goodwill stuff that ends up on sale in flea markets around the country really helps too...

It's all about listening in context.

True, there is more context out there now than ever before with Netflix, podcasts, regular TV and what-have-you, but it seems all of these compete among themselves ever more for one's attention. Also, the Thai language subtitles also serve as a crutch that hinders natural learning by listening. 

I am glad to have thrown myself into a "must listen to survive" situation to learn Thai before the advent of Internet and the rest of the digital info avalanche.

Best bang for the buck is just to find a cartoon series or English language media  that will engage the listener enough to keep him/her tuned in for long stretches. The good news is that it's free. The bad news is that the person has to focus and listen when there are so many competing windows for attention these days.

Do any other forum members drive a car in Hat Yai? What is up with the parking situation there? I've driven in a lot of big cities before, but even though it's was hard to find a parking in them at least there were some rules to the game.

Hat Yai is insane. I got blocked in by double-parkers three times in one day on Monday. And when the guilty parties appear after wasting my precious time, they just act like it's another day at the office...they don't even apologize.

One of them even gave me a retarded soldiers salute as if I was pulling rank on him by asking him to move his rusty contraption, which was also causing a bottleneck on a main road.

And where are the cops? Don't they know they can get money by writing tickets?

Who's in charge there? It's not a built up city like Manhattan...why don't they just make some parking lots? There is still plenty of free space. Even the parking lot at Robinson's there aren't enough free spaces because they have an ongoing tent sale in what used to be a prime parking area.

Phuket still takes the cake as the perfect storm for bad driving overall, but Hat Yai is still the second most frustrating place to drive in the South, imho.

Thanks SoiDog2. I just got through with it. It took a good couple of hours of rinsing/sweeping to get all the muck out. I put it on some plants, and not others of the same variety, to try and see what difference it makes, if any.

One of the things I was worried about was slipping on the muck-covered concrete inside the tank, but fortunately the almost complete lack of sunlight in there keeps out sunlight and there wasn't much algae at all . ????

58 minutes ago, soidog2 said:

I would use it to just spread the slurry around the cultivated area. 

 

My rain water tanks end up with lots of decomposing leaves, snails, airborne dust. All good organic additives for your soil.

Well, at least they are admitting that those huge sand bags didn't make a difference...all gone! (pic from 2015)

As for Songkhla keeping it prize beach clean, they will never be able to keep up with sources both from the sea and on land in the form of piggish, litter-bugging visitors. Even though the whole strand is lined with trash cans, people still turn up with enough crap to have a huge picnic, then just leave the whole mess on the beach when they leave.

They even leave little kids pampers full of feces just lying there. Disgusting.

Photos relating to this issue...

Now that we are in the drought, my 10,000l water tank is almost empty, so after five years I have decided today is the day to clean up all the muck off the bottom?

I am curious to know if the muck would be useful as fertilizer and, if so, how to add to my preexisting compost piles.

The tank holds roof rainwater runoff, so I think the main source of muck is bird droppings, dust, some algae. I just use this water for a rainwater bath inside the house and the water quality is good year-round. We live in a relatively clean area air-pollution wise, between Thailand's largest lake and the sea, so not much toxic input from above (at least compared to other parts of Thailand).

Anyway, any inputs suggestions welcome.

Another note that surprised me when I moved from Phuket to Hat Yai was that they also required me to get a new guarantor...I think I was on a marriage extension at the time. The spouse cannot be the guarantor.

We just want something basic and good value for the money. On the beach would be nice. It is just me, my wife and our (very) 13-year-old daughter -- she'll probably blow a gasket if they don't have wifi. I really want to get in some darts! If anyone in Khanm enjoys a game pls PM me! We'll probably be there the week before Songran.

On the menu at a seafood restaurant on Koh Yor in Songkhla...

15 hours ago, mikebike said:

DUSTY GECKO restaurant in Khanom has free pool and darts.  And very good food also 55555!!!!! Cheers!!

Looks good. Thanks for the recommendation.

I am planning a Songkran road trip to Khanom (NST) and just wonder if any bars or pubs there have a dart board. Also, if anyone can recommend a reasonably-priced resort pls send me a PM. Any advice appreciated.

15 hours ago, atecom said:

Any recommendations against taking the Jungle route train on the East coast from Johor Bahru to Hat Yai which passes through this region? My understanding is violence can happen with that route but is rare. Thinking about taking that route in the not to distant future.

Don't worry about it and just enjoy the trip. If you enjoy a drink, it's byob and keep it low key on the train and you'll be fine.