tahaan

Sorry it showed not posted so hit it again.

Try a something in IT ...just a thought.

The Pullman has got to offer the best night's rest in KK. Really comfortable beds and you won't hear any street noise on one of the higher floors. Maybe a little more expensive than some but it helps to keep the riff-raff out 😉 Much, much better value than the nearby and similarly priced Kosa IMHO.

so many frang know how to run this country did they leave there own country because they fluck there own country up

Nope, I returned to mine to appreciate the benefits after several years watching the Thais do that to theirs knowing that I would never have a say.

Ah well, it's their train set.

Perhaps some of the older members may be able to point out examples of where similar administrations have worked before?

...just what I was alluding to with a little dig at the 'experts' on TV from a so-called expert ?

Edited to get back on topic.

I bought a used Rolex in MBK and it's got a large engraving on the case back. I think it's genuine because it appears to be a Thai Chinese symbol. Should I be worried? ?

MBK is a place for experts whether you're looking for genuine or fake. You need to have done your homework, know what you're doing and where to go otherwise you might end up paying for something that isn't exactly as it seems. If you are not confident it might just be safer going somewhere else. I'm not saying all goods are dodgy or fake but you're not necessarily going to get a bargain walking in off the BTS. Most of the customers at the high end dealers appeared to be other dealers.

This of course is not restricted to watches and MBK but true for so many things in Thailand - caveat emptor.

Grinding, yes it's a 39mm. Incidentally, there was a used 36mm 14270 10 years old marked up at £3,750 in a shop window in the same centre.

My choice was between a blue faced mid size Aqua Terra and the Explorer. The Rolex seemed to have a better feel to it although they're both good looking all rounders. The Rolex will also have a higher resale value but this is not a watch I will want to sell.

I've tried the 5mm adjustment and links in and out but it still doesn't seem right all the time. It's probably natural changes in the wrist but I might enquire whether you can get half links like the Omega SMP uses. By the way, there's no comparison between the bracelet of the old 36mm Explorer and the new 39mm. The old pressed steel catch felt very flimsy for the best part of 4g.

Explorer 1 is a great watch. Worn mine nearly every day for 10 years now.

OB

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I bet it looks as good and is probably worth more than it did 10 years ago. Have you had it serviced? Would servicing costs differ in Thailand?

Grinding, yes it's a 39mm. Incidentally, there was a used 36mm 14270 10 years old marked up at £3,750 in a shop window in the same centre.

My choice was between a blue faced mid size Aqua Terra and the Explorer. The Rolex seemed to have a better feel to it although they're both good looking all rounders. The Rolex will also have a higher resale value but this is not a watch I will want to sell.

I've tried the 5mm adjustment and links in and out but it still doesn't seem right all the time. It's probably natural changes in the wrist but I might enquire whether you can get half links like the Omega SMP uses. By the way, there's no comparison between the bracelet of the old 36mm Explorer and the new 39mm. The old pressed steel catch felt very flimsy for the best part of 4g.

I was looking at Datejust in those MBK stores on a recent trip but decided against it after reading some online reports.

I ended up buying an Explorer 1 in a High St AD in SW London for £3900 saving 400 on list. A great understated watch although I'm having trouble with the bracelet. It's either slightly too tight or just a tad loose.

Any pointers to these reports?

I think I googled 'watch forum MBK'' or similar. Some people say there fine but others aren't so sure. I thought paying the extra couple of hundred was probably worth it for the peace of mind. Anyway, you'll get a slight premium moving it on if the watch originated in the UK providing you sell there of course.

I was looking at Datejust in those MBK stores on a recent trip but decided against it after reading some online reports.

I ended up buying an Explorer 1 in a High St AD in SW London for £3900 saving 400 on list. A great understated watch although I'm having trouble with the bracelet. It's either slightly too tight or just a tad loose.

Cyclist around the world generally suck. They need to learn to stick to near the gutter.

Where all the broken glass and road detritus gathers? I guess you're saying that we should know our place. Do you drive a Fortuna?

Phayao gets my vote. It always strikes me as very neat and tidy especially the lakeside.

For fox sake, this guy has more money than me, perhaps I should head back to the "nanny state" and get myself certified, can I self certify or do I need a Drs note?

Shouldn't be too difficult based on your post.

What do reckon, ban everyone from travelling who doesn't meet your idea of normality? lock em up?

The owl is the symbol of Chumphae municipality, Khon Kaen. I doubt, even the good burghers of Isaan would have chosen it if it was considered unlucky.

Regarding the pet owl. I understand that an owl's digestive systems requires 'roughage' in the form of fur, feathers, bones and the hard parts of insects that are later regurgitated as pellets. Make sure that you include some bits and pieces in the diet.

If living together in Thailand, proving the relationship is genuine is fairly easy; as well as marriage certificate and any children's birth certificates you can also use letters addressed to you both jointly or each individually, tabien baan, copy of sponsor's passport showing their immigration status

Hmmm, I agree that it should be. However, when my wife applied for settlement my expired passport included with the application was returned to her by VFS staff as "not necessary" I had to fight my way past security to argue the point that it was vital evidence proving that I had been present in Thailand over the period stated in the app. That passport and a few photos were all the evidence we had. My then current passport had a brand new visa and one entry. As mentioned above, who goes through life filing receipts and stuff just in case they might be useful as evidence? Our flash to bang time between deciding to go and making the application was a couple of months.

Forgot to add - even the photos were difficult. I had hundreds of her and family but only a handful of us together. Most of those were taken at parties with the inevitable beer in hand.

In a whore bar, I turned her with Good grace of the lord

...left or right of the line?

Interesting that the Thai's gave a victory medal in World War 2. Since the Thais were part of the Axis powers who lost I am wondering who would get the medal.

These are a list of medals/honors (6) for Yingluck including The Boyscout Citation Medal. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yingluck_Shinawatra#Royal_decorations

These are some recipients of the Victory Metal (not all WW2) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Recipients_of_the_Victory_Medal_%28Thailand%29

..but the thais have never been invaded or subjugated. The japs in Thailand in WW2 were invited guests doing humanitarian engineering work

They had a pop at the French though

Can't buy me love - The Beatles

[quote name="hellodolly" post="6931667"

The bridge itself was just a rail toad bridge probably didn't take that long to build it. I am told it is not the original one any how.

Edit

GD spelling

It is the real bridge!

The bridge standing today was the second built at K'buri and was brought to Thailand from Java by the Japanese. They had already built a timber bridge that was used while construction of the second was under way. Both were regularly bombed by the allies during the latter stages of the war and damage can still be seen on the original metal spans of the remaining bridge.

A visit must include a trip on the railway over the Wampo viaduct and on to Namtok where you can get a bus on to Hellfire Pass. The last time I travelled on it I think we payed over 300 B on the outward trip on a train full of tourists but only around 10 on the way back because the tourists on their organised tours had got off to return by road leaving the train to the Thais.

The cemeteries were not built by the Australians. Of the two in K'buri the most moving is at Chunkai over the river and the site of the original hospital camp burial ground. I think there may be a reciprocal arrangement in place with the UK where Australia manages cemeteries in Asia and the UK looks after Australian graves in Europe and Africa but don't quote me.

The Japanese interpretor in the book and soon to be released film, The Railway Man worked for the allied team recovering POW bodies from the up country railway construction camps for re burial in the three Commonwealth cemeteries on the railway after the Jap surrender.

yes but you do really need to understand the major reason for this. Whilst the Asian indentured labour would have been more acclimatised, more used to hardship, and more used to a very bad diet, unlike the military, there was no order, no structure, no discipline, no planning, no education, no medical expertise, no mateship or camaraderie, I.E. When cholera would hit the native labour camps it would all but wipe them out.

A well known former Australian Labor Politician, Tom Uren, and POW on the Railway uses a story in his 'Maiden Speech' to Parliament upon election as a Government Minister, about what happens when a unit breaks down and the values of Australian mateship and egalitarianism etc. (Labor Values of the day) Worth a read of it if you can get hold of it from somewhere.

A force of about 800 Brit POWs marched into the jungle and made camp across a stream from the Australians. From the word go, it was everyman for himself. The officers got the pick of what there was of any stores and equipment etc, then the NCOs, then the grunts if anything was left at all. Every man for himself. A complete breakdown. The law of the jungle ensued. I can't remember the entire speech, only the guts of it. In the Australian Camp everything was allocated to the wounded, sick and dying as a priority and rank did not come into the equation, although discipline was still maintained. Within a short time only 400 brits walked out of that camp, and by the time it was finished only a handful survived.

I agree about the need to maintain discipline and structure. Uren was talking about Hintok and the leadership of another hero, Weary Dunlop. His words:

" just before the wet season came in, about 400 Britishers came in out of H Force and for temporary arrangements they had tents. The officers took the best tents, the senior NCOs took the next best and the men got the dregs. And you know, within six weeks less than 50 of those men marched out and less than half of those survived ultimately. They either died of cholera or dysentery and, I said in my maiden speech, that only a creek divided us: on the one side the law of the jungle prevailed and on the other side the principles of socialism."

It's not just an Australian thing as the leadership of Toosey shows. As for setting a fine example, how about that of Cmdr 8 Div, Maj Gen Gordon Bennett? ?

The bridge isn't even the bridge, don't get too excited. Hellfire pass is worth a trip and quite haunting.

The bridge is the bridge. The existing bridge is one of two built and shows damage from allied bombing.

You could always try making your own

http://www.warbirdsnews.com/avaition-museum-news/movie-replica-mitsubishi-display-japan.html

I also enjoyed the tale. OP, we share some common ground. HK from 77 at Stanley with 1 RGJ with lots of time on the border although probably more spent in Wanch at the CFC, OCH and the rather more up market Bull and Bear in Central. I enjoyed my time in Thailand but decided to move on when that enjoyment began to fade and I thought it time to find a new challenge. I'll maybe move back after retirement. We still have the house. However, knowing what I know now, I'm not so sure.