phuketsub

The human olfactory system is amazing at detecting impurities in water.

I grew up in the west on high-quality tap water, but my Thai wife grew up drinking rainwater collected from the roof in jugs.

But in Phuket, she insists on the overpriced see-though plastic bottles (60baht for 6liters), while I buy the big 10 liter bottles for 12 baht.

When she is out, I fill the used one-liter bottles with the "cheap stuff" and she has never once been able to tell the difference, even though she insists the stuff in the big bottles tastes bad.

The key is to simply taste and smell the water out of the big bottle before purchase.

The considerable savings go toward purchase of beer.

This method also cuts down on the amount of waste plastic we dispose of.

Thai excels over English and many other languages because its higher pitch makes it easier to hear across long distances, such as rice fields, or in loud places like discos and clubs.

December 1: "Phuket Old Town Run 2" (The

2nd Annual Ban Bangneaw School Fun Run (4k) and Minimarathon (10k))

I'll first note for the record that it is sacrilege to call a 10k race a minimarathon.

Anyway, it starts and finishes at Ban Bangneaw School on Phuket Road, near the library, at 6am

The fun run course just goes down around Saphan Hin and back.

The longer one covers much of Phuket Town, the longer goes all around old Phuket Town.

Headstart and BanBangneaw School are among the sponsors.

Trophies to the winners.

Sign up in advance at the school

8 -17 November Phuket City Loy Kratong Festival @ Central Stage Area Sapahn Hin

I went last night and there was lots going on: lots of stuff for the kids, food, live bands, stuff for sale of every description, (lots of plants) and lots of cute girls. Beer sponsor is Chang, but other brands are available.

The kids rides look pretty rickety and dangerous to me, except for the trampoline which is really one of the safest I have seen at an event like this.

This seems like pretty much one of your run-of-the-mill, anything goes events that will be a success if the nice weather holds.

There are different bands every night, but none that I had heard of before.

..and how is it that every SuperCheap minimart has the exact same, rank odor?

That place was a colossal firetrap that could have killed hundreds if not thousands, yet the brand remains the kwanjai (sweetheart) of the Thais. Then when Tesco threatens to open an outlet with all modern safety design and equipmnet, they bay for blood. I don't get it; really don't.

It's called 'protestocracy'. When the social underpinnings to support a real democracy and rule of law are too deeply compromised, this is the inevitable result. And in this country it can be found top-to-bottom, from nursery schools right up to the highest echelons of [so-called] government -- just look at the Amnesty Bill protests.

That part of the island has a history of such protests, such as the protests at Ban Kor En. I've been in similar situations and it is not a nice place to be, to say the least.

It seems to me that the OP was seeking some sympathy after enduring a highly traumatic event. He has mine, for whatever it might be worth.

I wish we could have a functional, working definition of the word 'café'...it seems to mean something different everywhere I go. In Haad Yai, it's a nightclub. In the States (US) its a cheap restaurant. Now, in this thread, it seems to be something like 'beachside bar'. I know it is a French word, but I don't even have a clear idea of what it means there. (I would be grateful for enlightenment in this regard). I hope it has something to do with coffee.

However you define the word, I think the idea of working beachside on a laptop fails to live up to all the hype, especially when real deadlines loom.

December 5: "Food & Home For Monkey Park @ Phuket Project"

Despite the date, this is actually an ongoing project to help plant more trees up on Khao Toh Seh Park in Rassada (the one with all the TV broadcast antenna).

They are starting today by putting up ropes to allow people to access some of the steeper sections where the seedlings will be planted, mostly between viewpoints 5&6.

The name of the project in Thai differs radically from the English, simply stating that it is a tree planting project in honor of HM The King's birthday on December 5.

Groups involved are the OrBorJor, Satree Phuket School, the television stations with facilities on the hill, the Khao Toh Seh Hillwalkers Association, and the Monkey Feeding Group, which I never before knew existed.

Contact Ko Nong for more info @ 081-5389659 on how to purchase a seedling or larger tree.

I like this as a potential movie plot: great opening and who knows what could happen next...

It's a great spectator sport, and not just for leering purposes. I hope the weather over in Karon is better than the open faucet we have in Rassada now.

Update re: Sek Loso concert. (see post #150)

November 1: Sek Loso Concert @ Mazda Field (Phang Nga Rd, near Sea Horse Circle), 7:30pm.

Tickets 380 baht.)

I just called the sponsor ArrowMedia and they said that it is still on.

They don't know what happened to all the signs that had been put up advertising it.

The backup acts are: Neng (Y Not 7), Bae (I Rock) and Gop (Taxi).

We must be living in a golden age for Thai solo acts.

My wife tells me they are all legitimate stars in the Thai rock constellation.

"I just checked it out. It sounds like they put a gay meth-head in charge of the elevator music."

Quote reminds me of something my father said when the Beatles came out back in 62: "You call that long haired shit music?"

The thing that strikes me about this "drum & bass" (I just listened to a bunch on youtube) is there are plenty of instruments, certainly not just drum & bass.

Much better than some rap that's popular today. (I don't dislike rap music in general, just some of the words.)

Creativity is what's good. In this day and age, you don't have to be a musician to make music.

Just for historical accuracy, the Beatles did not have long hair in 1962.

Re: 'Creativity is what's good. In this day and age, you don't have to be a musician to make music.'

Herein lies the problem. One hundred years ago, if you wanted to enjoy music you had to learn how to play an instrument -- unless you were rich enough to (literally) 'pay the piper'.

When I was growing up there was definitely a 'generational bias' as to what constituted good music, but we are losing that along with the loss of musicianship -- and I think it is a great shame.

I suppose it is true that 'in this day and age you don't need to be a musician to make music', but I guess that depends on how you define the word 'music'. Technically speaking, anyone who creates music is a musician, right? But for me 'DnB' is a bit of a stretch.

Anyway, my comment "It sounds like they put a gay meth-head in charge of the elevator music" was off-the-cuff, tongue-in-cheek and based on three minutes of YouTube research -- not exactly a representative sample.

Maybe I am not taking the right drugs.

beatles 1963.htm

http://www.vipboxsports.me/motorsports/95559/1/skysports-f1-:-skyf1-live-stream-online.html

There is an apparatus for reporting "negative" news (police radios, using rescue workers as reporters, etc) that does not exist for positive news. I think you will find most news editors on the island would love the chance to report something positive for a change, but they need to be made aware of it...

Drum and Bass? Why don't ya enlighten us all with a few youtube links to what you think are the pinnacle of this genre, which I have never heard of before.

Serious never heard of it?? Ain't my thing but a lot of ppl love it. Get on you tube search drum and bass will soon see

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

I just checked it out. It sounds like they put a gay meth-head in charge of the elevator music.

Drum and Bass? Why don't ya enlighten us all with a few youtube links to what you think are the pinnacle of this genre, which I have never heard of before.

The fantasy solution would be to let the Burmese operate taxis, then they would be Super Cheap.

What happens if you forget to pay your phone bill?

I have a post-paid service, and AIS is pretty good at reminding me.

Have your bill automatically deducted from your Thai Bank account and not only will you not have to remember it but you won't have to go anywhere to pay it

I know that service is available, but I am kind of 'old school' in that respect -- and I don't really trust them with my bank details anymore than I do to provide a continuous power supply...

When I was paying my overdue PEA bill at their office about 6 months ago they were offering a [future] service to remind customers via text message if their bills were coming due, so I signed up.

Today I got my first text message reminding me, so I paid up at 7-Eleven by the deadline.

I happen to live near the PEA office, so paying late is not a big deal for me, but for people in other parts of the island this might be a useful service.

To sign up call the hotline 1129 and have your bill with the 10-digit user number ready to give to the operator.

They had an operator on-duty who spoke passable English when I called to see if it would actually work today.

I hope this will save some of my fellow TV members some hassles in the future.

The service is available nationwide.

November 1: Sek Loso Concert @ Mazda Field (Phang Nga Rd, near Sea Horse Circle), 7:30pm.

Tickets 380 baht.

Saw him at a small club in Bangkok about 5 years ago, broke out some Hendrix. That should be a good gig.

I do have a few concerns, however. There were a bunch of signs up around town advertising it that have since disappeared, though the main sign at the field is still there...I will have to get to the bottom of it and let you all know.

My other concern is whether or not it would be safe to take my daughter, age 8. She loves Loso, but I have been to other big outdoor concerts here that got out of control.

A third concern is the price: I can't remember the last time I had to pay for stage entertainment in Phuket! I always thought this was the upside to the fact that everything else here is overpriced.

FINALLY: (and with a view to staying on topic)

FC Phuket's last home match of the season is tonight against last-place Rayong.

Not much in it, really. Phuket is right at mid table and Rayong are gonna be relegated no matter what. The kickoff is earlier than usual, 5pm.

Congrats to AirForce United and PTT on their likely promotions..the third promo spot is still anyone's guess.

November 1: Sek Loso Concert @ Mazda Field (Phang Nga Rd, near Sea Horse Circle), 7:30pm.

Tickets 380 baht.

At least they kept the "trick" theme going at that location.