Galong

I have seen this white fluffy insect a couple of times in the past, but I just saw a whole branch full of them in Khao Sok National Park.

Unlike the mom and pop shops, Tesco pays taxes.

It is not the expat community that keeps Tesco in business, it's the Thai consumers. I think it should be their choice. It would be interesting to find out why Thais shop at Tesco.

Personally, I shop at a variety of places. I'm fairly close to the main SuperCheap and go there a lot more than I go to Tesco. I do like having the option from time to time.

wow. How much?

It is about 60 cm tall and covered with peppers. It was only 129 Baht!

are you sure they are Habaneros?

Well, pretty sure. They're hot enough to be. At any rate, it's a beautiful plant and it's teeming with peppers, so I'm happy with the purchase.

wow. How much?

It is about 60 cm tall and covered with peppers. It was only 129 Baht!

Title should have been Boa ( I know it is not a cobra)

There are no Boas in this part of the world, at least not in the wild. There are three Boa species in the Americas and one in Africa.

OK, it's 4 PM, three hours after the protest supposedly started. I don't see where anything happened. What the scoop? Is anyone from TV in that area?

I would not be surprised if our Thai Muslim brothers and sisters act a bit more appropriately. As silly as it is to protest over a tacky video, I do support their right to protest peacefully.

My wife bought me a Habanero plant yesterday at SuperCheap in Phuket Town!!! The plant is absolutely loaded with peppers... yippee!

I've actually got PO Box 1 in Phuket

There is something to the idea that massive chiles change your palate so that it is harder to appreciate subtle foods.

And--I assure you--there is something to the idea that massive chiles [sic] cause stomach upset and diarrhea so that thereafter it is easier to appreciate subtle foods

And I doubly assure you that this doesn't apply to everyone. I don't get any side effects from eating really hot food. It does not affect my stomach and I don't have problems with the exit.

For some science instead of opinions on what chilies do to the stomach lining, see http://www.baileyfarmsinc.com/Facts/Damage.html and http://www.besthealthmag.ca/eat-well/healthy-eating/why-spicy-food-is-good-for-you

Case dismissed.

My favourite is Lobster, as it is but steamed. Can't believe what they do to this delicate tasting food to make it taste like a <deleted> chili.

Um, I have NEVER seen anyone, including fans of spicy food, ruin a lobster with chilies.

- Response to H90's post

I used to live in E-san and thought these people were nuts with their excessive chili usage until I came to Nakhon Si Thammarat. H90 is right and the people here are proud of their curry, especially geang som, which happens to not be my favorite. Even Bangkokians have a hard time adjusting to the chili usage down here and I will say in some dishes it's almost deemed necessary but with others I wonder if it's really that much needed.

If you are heading down here then I suggest geang boo (crab curry), which is a local favorite and quite tasty I might add.

I've been here for almost twenty years and I'm just now coming around to liking geang som. The quality of the fish sort of put me off, but I've found some restaurants that don't use barbs and carp in their soup. I love the gradual burning effect.

We all fall in love with our favorites. Mine is Pad Kra Pao Pla Meuk.

I'm not saying I don't like curry as there is a huge variety of it but yellow curry doesn't taste right according to me AND in the long run , curry dishes ain't that healthy as some southerners wanna claim. Think it has something to do with coconut-milk. But I have to say, they do have some nice fish dishes down here. Nakhon and Surat are all about seafood.

Yep, if the coconut milk was actually coconut milk and not mostly sugar it would be better. I made some curry for my family in the States this summer. I found a can of Thai coconut milk and actually tasted it instead of just pouring it in. My goodness, it was nausiatingly sweet.

- Response to H90's post

I used to live in E-san and thought these people were nuts with their excessive chili usage until I came to Nakhon Si Thammarat. H90 is right and the people here are proud of their curry, especially geang som, which happens to not be my favorite. Even Bangkokians have a hard time adjusting to the chili usage down here and I will say in some dishes it's almost deemed necessary but with others I wonder if it's really that much needed.

If you are heading down here then I suggest geang boo (crab curry), which is a local favorite and quite tasty I might add.

I've been here for almost twenty years and I'm just now coming around to liking geang som. The quality of the fish sort of put me off, but I've found some restaurants that don't use barbs and carp in their soup. I love the gradual burning effect.

Tourists who can't read Thai won't know that โทร means telephone. Wouldn't a phone icon make more sense? [rhetorical question]

I respectfully disagree. Your definition of food, Patrick, is simply your definition. It's not necessarily everyone's.

Eating super spicy food is both fun and literally addictive. Not only do I personally like the taste... yes taste... but I also like the slight endorphine buzz from it.

And honestly, what harm does it do if some of us like being macho in this realm? We're not hurting anyone else AND we're not hurting ourselves. They have a good bit of vitamin C, provide anti-inflammatory benefits and they speed up your metabolism. Eating peppers in moderation is good for you. I don't eat them every day. When I do eat them, I want them hot! My choice.

Having said all this, my ears are sweating right now. I made some chilli that is exceedingly hot. I put about a half a tablespoon of my hottest sauce in the bowl. Wow.

Just prior to that, I let my step daughter's girlfriend put the tip of her pinky finger in the hot sauce. She tried to act like it wasn't hot. Ah, the Thai ego is almost as big as mine.

Seconds later, of course, she was on a rampage in the fridge looking for milk.

Milk works does it.. I normally go for plain rice, icecream or sweet chocolate to soothe the after burn..

I had no idea that my/your liking to super hot spicy food would cause such olde fuddy duddy cantankerous rantings......it's childish.. "macho posturing"

They sound like my mom and shes 75..ish...."not that foreign food again" this applies to pizza or the mildest curries or anything that is not a carrot or potato...

Personally, being English I didn't eat really hot spicy food until i came to Thailand and I grew to love it, what is wrong in that? Get back to your Villa supermarket and baked beans on toast

Yeah, really, calling us childish is a bit over-the-top.

We should be able to have a bit of fun posturing about our superhuman talents.

Yep, milk works. I think the key is getting something with oil. Capsacin binds to fat/oil. Don't use skim milk obviously.

Burn away, bro!

heck we should cook something together

My mother was as child in India and learned cooking there, I loved these sweeter chilies just when I learned speaking. (My mother got a lot complains in restaurants what bad mother she is to allow that baby to eat something spicy).

I usually eat much spicier than people in Bangkok, Isaan or North. And no restaurant believes me if I order spicy....

But go to Nakhon Si Thammerat, they have spicy curries (not chili spicy), that is also demanding for me....some cold beer required.

But also most of the locals don't like that spicy and I am not sure if it doesn't harm the body. You feel it burning in the stomach and when you pee on the toilet the pee also burns.....

I once tried there with a 70 year old school-teacher who can eat more spicy.....She cried first, I followed 10 seconds later.....real strong stuff there.

I can eat just as much chilly as any Thai i have met too, if not more..never been beaten yet.

But, in a local restaurant the a newish waitress wanted to test me so she said...times x 10 chillies in my papaya salad...i said yes, rising to the challenge....and it came with lots of the tiny green chillies...

Bloody 'eck...The top of the salad was okay it was when i started spooning in the chilly pips and sauce from the bottom...my tongue, throat and stomach were burning..and i had tears coming out of my eyes and nose running...I knew they were watching the waitress and chef, so i moved table so i was facing a wall and continued crying and sniveling into my food untill it was finished....

I am not joking, I could not stop crying it was so hot...but i finished it...my tongue was gone..and so was I... I paid up at the till with tears rolling down my face..

I went and bought some ice cream and chocolate ran home scoffed the them down and lay down for a few hours..it was murder...never eaten anything so hot and spicy.....it didn't and doesn't stop me though...just made me stronger for eating chilly...

Sounds a bit childish to me, like having a test who can drink the hottest coffee.

I agree - totally childish.

Food is about the combination of ingredients and how they balance and add to the flavour of the dish as a whole.

Eating what is basically a bowl full of prik-e-noo is just pointless macho posturing.

Patrick

I respectfully disagree. Your definition of food, Patrick, is simply your definition. It's not necessarily everyone's.

Eating super spicy food is both fun and literally addictive. Not only do I personally like the taste... yes taste... but I also like the slight endorphine buzz from it.

And honestly, what harm does it do if some of us like being macho in this realm? We're not hurting anyone else AND we're not hurting ourselves. They have a good bit of vitamin C, provide anti-inflammatory benefits and they speed up your metabolism. Eating peppers in moderation is good for you. I don't eat them every day. When I do eat them, I want them hot! My choice.

Having said all this, my ears are sweating right now. I made some chilli that is exceedingly hot. I put about a half a tablespoon of my hottest sauce in the bowl. Wow.

Just prior to that, I let my step daughter's girlfriend put the tip of her pinky finger in the hot sauce. She tried to act like it wasn't hot. Ah, the Thai ego is almost as big as mine.

Seconds later, of course, she was on a rampage in the fridge looking for milk.

I have a Retirement Visa, but wish to (OK, my Thai lady's stealing all of my money and business has forced me to) go back to work ... at age 60, not fun.

Suggestions on how this would be most easily be done, for the least money, and what places would possibly hire an old fart? I'm guessing the response

will be, "Learn to teach English, Old Fart, like everyone else," but wondering if there are more suggestions...I've a Bach of Arts degree, dual Associates degrees in Cooking and Restaurant Management,

but not a lot of recent experience...was doing sales, then online writing, etc. Have no, as in no cash, and very little credit, so each move is surrounded by lotsa mines, as it were. Thanks! - O.F.

Holy Cow, that's horrible! I wish you the best of luck in finding a job.

Are you planning on staying in Thailand as retired? If that is the case you are not likely to be able to obtain any work permit.

Ah, yes, I will be getting a retirement visa. So, I reckon they don't give temporary work permits in combination with that type of visa.

Thanks.

heck we should cook something together

My mother was as child in India and learned cooking there, I loved these sweeter chilies just when I learned speaking. (My mother got a lot complains in restaurants what bad mother she is to allow that baby to eat something spicy).

I usually eat much spicier than people in Bangkok, Isaan or North. And no restaurant believes me if I order spicy....

But go to Nakhon Si Thammerat, they have spicy curries (not chili spicy), that is also demanding for me....some cold beer required.

But also most of the locals don't like that spicy and I am not sure if it doesn't harm the body. You feel it burning in the stomach and when you pee on the toilet the pee also burns.....

I once tried there with a 70 year old school-teacher who can eat more spicy.....She cried first, I followed 10 seconds later.....real strong stuff there.

I can eat just as much chilly as any Thai i have met too, if not more..never been beaten yet.

But, in a local restaurant the a newish waitress wanted to test me so she said...times x 10 chillies in my papaya salad...i said yes, rising to the challenge....and it came with lots of the tiny green chillies...

Bloody 'eck...The top of the salad was okay it was when i started spooning in the chilly pips and sauce from the bottom...my tongue, throat and stomach were burning..and i had tears coming out of my eyes and nose running...I knew they were watching the waitress and chef, so i moved table so i was facing a wall and continued crying and sniveling into my food untill it was finished....

I am not joking, I could not stop crying it was so hot...but i finished it...my tongue was gone..and so was I... I paid up at the till with tears rolling down my face..

I went and bought some ice cream and chocolate ran home scoffed the them down and lay down for a few hours..it was murder...never eaten anything so hot and spicy.....it didn't and doesn't stop me though...just made me stronger for eating chilly...

My guess is that they didn't join you.

Well done for finishing it. I hope you said it was not really hot and that you were sweating because it was hot in the restaurant... save face at all costs!

woah the gang "eat spicy to be a real man" is out in full force today

Testify!

Guilty as charged...

The number of times a year they will give you one appears to be dependent on which DOL you use, Who is applying for it ie which company and why they want it.

I was always led to believe you could only get 1 temp permit a year but saying that we use temp WP to bring people into to do quick jobs and understand some of the guys have been issued more than 1 in a 12 month period, but I think your intent of 3 or 4 a year will result in the DOL telling you to get a proper WP

Guess all you can do is ask your local DOL

Hmm, not what I wanted to hear, but it was what I expected to hear.

I'll get my office to see about the possibilities... just thought I'd ask here first.

Much thanks!

Yeah, but imagine Thai food without chilies. Those came from the Americas and introduced by ... creamy people from the creamy countries. Now some of those same creamies come to Thailand and the first thing they learn to say in a restaurant is ... MAI PHET. It's a queer world!

All chilies found around the world today have their origins in Mexico, Central America and South America. Chilies were spread by the Spanish and the Portuguese in their quest to build a global empire and are still grown in their former colonies in Africa and Asia. The chili varieties found in Southeast Asia today were imported and cultivated by Spanish and the Portuguese colonists and traders.

http://en.wikipedia....#39;s_eye_chili

Really we pinkies gave them the chilies...I didn't know that....

They don't seem to know that either. I get really tired of telling Thais that I can eat as hot as any one of them. I do it politely, but it does get a bit old.

In reality, I have not found any Thai dish that I would consider especially hot. Chillies are kind of like candy. Having said that, they do eventually have a cumulative effect.

I grow my own Habaneros, Caribbean Red, Chocolate, and Naga Jolokia. I've to give one to a Thai friend who hasn't been completely blown away by the heat.

I absolutely love Thai food. It's even better when you put real peppers in it.

I want to retire in about five years, but I'd also still like to be able to run the ocassional tour. How often can I apply for a temporary work permit? Are there any downsides to getting a temporary work permit a few times per year? I'm thinking it would only be a max of three to four times per year.

I've read through past threads about this. I didn't see how much it costs. I did notice that commenters said it was quick.

I will remain a major share holder, but I don't want the hassle of being a full-time work-permited employee. I want the company to be 100% Thai and get all of the benefits of not having a foreigner in the company... such as not having to produce so much profit, etc.

Any insight, especially by those who have done several temporary work permits, would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

i finally got some seeds i ordered a month ago from the UK, some toms and some habaneros

i asked rawai post office why so long and they said there were busy! busy doing what? not busy delivering mail obviously! anyhow, different topic.

when my habs come up i'd love to swap a few plants with some of you

I'd be up for swapping plants. I should have plenty in a while.

I'm currently waiting for some Caribbean Reds to sprout. If I'm successful, I've got some Chocolate chillies (500,000 Scoville Units) and Ghost chillies (off the scale) to put in the ground.

The ghosts aren't off the scale, they're around 1.5 million I think. The Trinidad Moruga is 2,000,000.

The package actually says "Please keep away from eyes and bare skin", so I suppose burning your digestive tract out doesn't count.

A mere 500,000 units difference. I'm not sure if my palate could tell the difference.

Actually, thanks for letting me know about this one. I wasn't familiar with it. I just read about it at http://gizmodo.com/5885581/the-2-million-shu-trinidad-moruga-scorpion-pepper-is-the-worlds-hottest

My Caribbean Reds have started coming up through the soil... yippee.

I'm waiting for my Ghost peppers to come up now.

That looks like a Mekong Catfish. They stock them in a lot of the pay-to-fish lakes and some of the national park reservoirs.