phuketsub

I think now the question is: when it is going to end? February has statistically been the driest month, with the transition of the monsoon from the east to the west...but it's almost March now and really strong winds from the east continue to prevail. Something's gotta give. 

I did mine about a month ago in Hat Yai and an official there at the time confirmed to me that it was still 7 days after if done in person.

I am still addicted to caffeine, but the doctor told me to ease off due to suspected ulcers, so I experimented with various teas made from homegrown vegetables/herbs. The easiest combo so far that I have found is pandanus leaf and krathom, which is now legal. 

I also use the flowers of butterfly pea, ginger, galangal, tumeric and cinnamon. 

I used to throw in a chili, but the doc told me to cut that out too. 

I also sprinkle in some salt, not for the taste but because I have low sodium levels, the doc found. 

On 1/22/2023 at 12:48 PM, Stocky said:

The wall survived the monsoon season then!

I haven't been over there for a while, but I'll keep you posted when I do. All I need is a little chink in the armor and I am back in as jellyfish bait. 

Thanks Stocky....no longer an issue up here since they built the retarded seawall. I wonder if it'll affect the jellies. 

I did my 90-day in person yesterday, which is a 90-minute drive for me. It was quite crowded. The Immigration staff said they are still working out the details regarding the online system, but that he hoped is would be up and running well in the next three months. The LINE app is still central to getting it to work. 

1 minute ago, lopburi3 said:

If done in person that is still the case.

Thanks!

Has anyone successfully used the new system to do a 90-day report on line with Hat Yai Immigration? My due date was yesterday, so I am wondering:

1) does it work? 

2) If so, how long does the process take?

Also, it the past the grace period for the report was always two weeks prior, one week after...Can anyone confirm if this is still the case? thanks in advance for any help.

When will it ever end. I know in the past the grace period for the 90-day was two weeks before the specified date, and one week after...can anyone confirm if this is still the case? 

On 11/11/2022 at 6:01 AM, VinnieK said:

Narathiwat?

Sure....and the season lasts longer the further south you go. 

Don't despair..another two months to go.????????

The dry days are glorious though.

What happened to Narathiwat's weather radar?

Thanks Stocky. Useful, as always!

I notice the SatingPhra Weather Radar has a security glitch, so you have to go into advanced mode to see it. Big Government at work. 

1 hour ago, BostonRob2 said:

Thanks. Funnily enough it was rather "fowl" - I was very lucky overall and should have won far more easily if I hadn't made so many crass old man errors! I played tens of thousands of online games in the noughties but have quit that to concentrate on playing solo otherwise I'd look you up for a game. Online play can be detrimental to my thought processes and I also got tired of being called a cheat and even less savory names. You're in Phuket? We usually have a tournament there at Jung Ceylon, why not look in the next time. You'd be glad you did. Playing online I would suggest you also try isc.ro where the standar of players will be generally higher than scrabble Go. 

 

Sincerely,

 

Rooster

Thanks and Congrats Rooster, 

I am in Songkhla now, but was a long time resident of Phuket working in the media there. 

However I can get over there for a Scrabble tournament. I have never actually been in one. Is there a website or something where the times, dates and guidelines are available? Thanks again. 

Congrats to Rooster. Far from a fowl performance.  I play on the 

ScrabbleGo App (AWS: 22, id 117203430) ...Classic Mode if anyone is interested. None of my current regular opponents are Thai expats. 

Not that it is any consolation, but please note the double-parking and traffic problems are just as bad as ever...it still baffles me as to what is fueling it, given the overall economic decline. 

Just a heads up to anyone who needs to renew a work permit: the provincial labor office has moved to a new location, just up the street from the ferry docking area, from its old location near the BP Hotel at Samila Beach. What got me the most is that at the old office, which is now chained up, they didn't even have a sign to let people know to where they had moved. I got the precious intel from a group or tuk-tuk drivers nearby. Just an FYI. 

useful info, thanks 

On 5/27/2022 at 2:46 AM, Jingthing said:

When are they going to drop those infernal and largely useless temperature scanning thingies?

I had to buy one to reopen my school. They cost 1700 baht; cheaper than I expected but still a complete waste of money.

They finally let me reopen my school, but it is frustrating trying to teach kids who are muzzled up English because you can't see their mouths move...this will be a huge step forward. Strangely, most of the kids seem quite happy to wear the masks...not the same for their teacher, though!

I find one of the best ways to keep students on their toes is to 'randomly' throw out questions for them to answer. I used to give them all a little piece of paper to draw from a hat until I discovered this sight: www.random.org

Just assign each student a number at the beginning of class and let the chips fall where they may. 

It is probably one of my most used online resources for teaching and thought other teachers who weren't aware of it might benefit. Have a nice day.

23 hours ago, GammaGlobulin said:

Well,

 

aa. If you are too poor to actually travel to other countries, then you might still be able to visit Disney's EPCOT Theme Park, where you can travel the world just by walking through the exhibits, within about an hour.

 

bb. Or, if you have a bit more money, then you might be able to travel, as a tourist, to places like Thailand.  And, during your visit to Thailand, you might be able to see this land in the same way as you might see the Thailand exhibit at the EPCOT theme park.

 

I am not sure how much clearer I could be.

 

cc.  What I suggested is that tourists, in many cases, treat foreign countries as oddities.  Tourists treat real countries in almost the same way they might view exhibits in a theme park, such as EPCOT center.

 

dd.  Maybe this is why tourists are viewed with distaste, by most.  And, it is only the money of the tourist which makes the tourist slightly tolerable. 

 

 

OK.

 

NOW, do you get my meaning?

 

Hope it is crystal clear.

Yes, I get your point; though at this stage nothing is crystal clear. As for profound insights, I don't have many, but one thing I have learned along the way is to steer clear of people who think they know 'the truth'. I just try to enjoy the show.

3 hours ago, GammaGlobulin said:

So, after 33 years, other than this topic, what is your most profound thought about your experience, so far?

 

You came to Thailand in 1989.  And, I first came to Thailand in 1971, although I wish I had come earlier.

 

I would have preferred to come to Thailand in 1961, for sure....  Maybe, if I had done so, then I would be far more fluent than I am now.

 

Here is a profound thought for you:

 

During the past several decades, probably beginning around 1970, the culture here, just as the culture in other Asian lands, has been evermore diluted by gradually increasing tourism, but even more by television and other types of media.

 

Even in 1971, there was still an extensive amount of western influence in Thailand, Japan, Hong Kong, etc., etc., etc.

 

So here is a profound question for you:

 

Just how far back would you need to travel, in time, in order to find an unadulterated, pure, culture?

 

The answer is, of course, there is no such thing as an unadulterated culture.

 

You just need to choose your time and place.

 

As for me, I might like to choose Hong Kong and HK Disneyland.

 

Hong Kong Disneyland is my idea of an ideal Asia.

 

Any more profound thoughts, my friend?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I like the concept of 'unadulterated culture', which makes me think of a barren petri dish bathed in preservative. I don't really get the Hong Kong Disneyland reference, though. Maybe you could explain. 

1 hour ago, Peterw42 said:

As others have touched on. These guys that wallow in a state of victumhood, are the very guys that created it. They come as 2 week millionaires, splash the cash around, pay double the taxi fare, tip a waitress half a days pay, pay more than western prices for good/services, label anyone not doing the same as cheap Charlies.

Then they move here and wonder why everything is 2 week millionaire pricing.

I think you're right...Living here hand-to-mouth for a long stretch seemed rough at times, but actually paid off in the long run. Also, Thais are mostly helpful and supportive when you're just scraping by...and that includes bar girls, at least in my experience. 

13 hours ago, CrunchWrapSupreme said:

Indeed. One must watch out more for the other farangs. They're the real snakes in the grass. Especially as a teacher, if you have the misfortune of working under another farang. They'll totally throw you under the bus. They've become their Thai bosses' obedient lackies, emasculated, castrated, hehe, so they must do something to soothe those bruised egos. They very well can't bite the hand that feeds them, so they go after the only ones they can, other farangs. Truly some sad sacks.

Yes, that is a good point. I have come across a number of very shady and untrustworthy farangs here. Most are fine, but the some who get to minor management positions can turn for the worse.