fiddlehead

There's got to be at least 1,000 buses here in Phuket now. 
So many, everywhere. 

I'm surprised there are not more accidents like this. 
Especially when I see the black smoke pouring out of their exhausts. 

Reminds me of the rumor I heard that the Bangkok police are fining those pollute the air so bad. 
So, they are shipping the worst ones down south. 

If they don't want to change the air filters and clean the injectors, why would they check the brakes?

Could be the drivers fault. 
But I'm betting on the stingy owners.

Although I think it a plus that Thailand tries very hard to keep it's culture, language, and religion intact,

if the teachers consider that they are training people for futures in: trash pickup, weed wacker operators, ditch diggers, construction laborers, truck drivers, etc....................then they are correct.  (muay thai boxers maybe?)

If, however, they are preparing kids for futures in science, airlines, tourist industry, policemen, engineering, IT specialists, doctors, nurses, etc........Then they are quite wrong. 

 Also, If their students ever  want to go to universities in other countries, they are going to be behind in world history and geography as well as language. 
Not wise IMO. 

You'd think educators would think a little higher than that.

A tourist told me she uses the app "Grab" for taxis in Phuket. 
I think it is for the company Grab Taxi. 
Said it's legal and approved by the govt. 

Does anyone know about this , or use it? 

Said it's much cheaper than the taxis or tuk tuks. 

19 minutes ago, Plutojames88 said:

Don't think because its further south it's going to stay there.

 

 

Hotels are indicative of getting tourists .

 

 

Didn't take long this will now bite hard into their tourism industry .

The Government had assured you all was normal ...it is not.
They can't protect you.

Civil strife in Thailand is now under way.

I can only urge people travelling there to continue monitoring embassy and westerner media information.
Thailand appears to be entering a politically charged situation with backlash against its oppressive military junta increasingly likely.

Violence and bombings place tourists at risk.

This seems now a very clear indication a bombing campaign has begun .

I thought bombings in Pattani were (sadly) a bit normal. 
I like to travel, and have been to 72 of the 76 provinces in Thailand. 
Stayed away from Pattani, Narawat, and Yala as if they had the plague. 

So, I don't know if your scaremongering is justified.

This from wikipedia under "south thailand insurgency":    Over 6,500 people died and almost 12,000 were injured between 2004 and 2015 in a formerly ethnic separatist insurgency, which has currently been taken over by hard-linejihadis and pitted them against both the Thai-speaking Buddhist minority and local Muslims who have a moderate approach or who support the Thai government.^[8]

A traveler came to the gates of a new city and asked the gatekeeper, "What kind of people live here?"

The gatekeeper answered with a question of his own, "What kind of people lived in the city you just came from?"

The traveler replied, "They were mostly a cantankerous lot, greedy and self-centered."

The gatekeeper answered, "I expect you will find the people here just the same."

Soon after, another traveler met the gatekeeper and asked the same question.  Again the gatekeeper asked, "How did you find the residents of the city you visited last?"

The traveler answered enthusiastically, "They were warm and hospitable; truly a fine group of people."

The gatekeeper responded, "I expect you will find these folk just the same."

As they love to say in Thailand:  "Up to you"

Everyone's different. 

When I was 40, I thought 50 was old. (ran a 100 miler at age 51, so that dis-proved that)

When I was 50, I figured 60 must be old.    (ran my last full marathon at 60)

Now, I'm 66 and know I'm getting slower, but can still run.  (still run the half-marathon every year at Laguna)
70 must be old. 

Maybe not. 

Could you get an ATM card for her? 

Start a separate bank account in your home country. 
Transfer money to the card whenever you see fit. 
You'd lose a bit on the fees but your biggest problem is probably going to be the family trying to use it instead. 
Perhaps buy her a smart phone, put viber or whatsapp on there (something Thais are not familiar with generally), and text or call her every time you want to send he money? 
 

You could even change the pin number from time to time and tell her the new one (or have her call you for it each time)

Just an idea. 

Every once in a while, I hit "Wine Lovers", next to Rosovivo in Rawai (near Chalong circle)

They now have wraps on their new menu and I had the salmon wrap with pickles and parmesan cheese I believe it was. 
Very good. 
I am usually impressed with their food. 
It is first class, complete with lovely staff. 

IMO. 

I don't fault the guy for getting drunk and having a bit of fun after his medal performance. 
And I don't believe he tried to sensationalize it at all. 
Seems to me he just tole his Mom, and she was the one to make it a big story. 

Then, once the media grabbed it:  Well, he should have just come out with the truth at that time and said it was all a big misunderstanding, and apologized sincerely. 

Unfortunately, he did not. 

And yes, this recent apology seems to be a bit weak and to his teammates more than the people of Brazil, or the security people.

I often remember this quote by Jack Nicholson: "Women are smarter than men, and they don't play fair"

Read through the 1st 2 pages only. 
Everybody talking about money. 
No one talking about his time. 
What's he gonna do with his time? 
 

He's got to have some hobbies. 
How he spends his time will determine if he is to be successful in this endeavor. 

Maybe he likes music?   Art?  Photography?  Yachting?  Kite surfing?  Swimming?  Cooking? 
Maybe he could immerse himself into his hobby until he gets good enough to start a business, or teach, or go to trade shows. 
I'd have to meet the guy but the world is full of opportunities. 
Much more so to those who have some money to spend on their hobbies. 

Life isn't just about trying to make your savings last until you die. 
It's about living it doing something you enjoy. 

When you see fathers throwing trash  in front of their children, it becomes a cultural problem. 
Education is the key (along with bins or course)
Perhaps taking the school kids once a month on a trash pickup detail for an hour or so would help?

The parents aren't going to teach the kids not to litter. 
Perhaps the other way around is they key. 

The beaches is a good start. 
 

On 8/8/2016 at 0:08 PM, Kwasaki said:

 

Not difficult owners or managers private party.

Why did you not go back at 4pm as asked.

Sapan Hin is a city park and government owned and operated. 

I got a bit mad today as my son and I went to Sapan Hin in Phuket town to play some badminton at the building there with 10 badminton courts (which I've never seen full)
When we arrived, the cleaning lady and a man outside, said: "Closed" come back at 4 PM (this was around 10 AM)

We asked why but they wouldn't tell us, just said it was closed. 
We left for 30 minutes to get some food and came back. 
Now the man who said we couldn't go in was inside, playing badminton with 3 others (doubles)
Why would they close the place to kids on weekends? 
What is the building for?  

Who makes these rules? 

I would agree the colder the input water, the more wattage you need. 
Some of them have more safety features than others. 
I bought a cheap one about 6 years ago and it is still working fine, so, I don't know how much a brand name helps.

I'm not in Chiang Mai, so, don't know how cold your input water is. 
 

I tried to read (the English version that someone posted a link to on TV) the new constitution. 
It was long, boring and full of lawyer-speak.  Which I find hard to understand. 

So, as these politicians and leaders say things good or bad about the new rules, I really wish that they would quote a specific passage of it when they speak. 
Because I didn't find anything that would point to what they are saying. 
 

I'd like to be more aware of it's intricacies, if possible.  

Reminds me when GPS's first came out. 
People said they'd never replace paper maps. 
Yeah right. 

Solar power also becoming much more advanced in the last 2-3 years. 
Battery storage is next. 

The world is changing,  

Sometimes for the better. 

Don't know if I'd call it embarassing, but the negativity on this forum is often "over the top", and I have a hard time believing that the worst offenders are actually that hateful in real life.

Maybe this IS their life?  

If so: SAD!
 

I know I  personally would feel very guilty for leaving anywhere near that much food. 

I always try to eat all I take at one of these barbeques.

Maybe I was brought up differently. 

A months course and you can be part of developing a childs education.

This is nothing short of criminal.

I have to relate a story to you sir.

At my wife's mother's house in Issan, their neighbor is a recently retired English teacher (Thai lady of course) after 40 years of teaching English in Thai schools.

One night we had a big wind and rain storm, while I was there.

Next morning I asked her if the wind kept her awake last night.

She said: "What?"

I then said: "Did rain come in your house last night" (as it did ours)

She said: "What?"

Me: "How are you?"

Her: "Fine thank you"

Turns out she only knew about 7 or 8 phrases and couldn't understand anything besides these phrases.

I think any native English speaking person could do a better job than that woman teaching English to Thais.

So what you are saying is that because one ex-teacher didn't understand your English that is justification for allowing inexperienced, unqualified foreigners to try it? Brilliant.

Hard for me to believe that you would prefer that retired Thai woman teaching your child rather than the OP of this thread.

But hey! To each his own.

A months course and you can be part of developing a childs education.

This is nothing short of criminal.

I have to relate a story to you sir.

At my wife's mother's house in Issan, their neighbor is a recently retired English teacher (Thai lady of course) after 40 years of teaching English in Thai schools.

One night we had a big wind and rain storm, while I was there.

Next morning I asked her if the wind kept her awake last night.

She said: "What?"

I then said: "Did rain come in your house last night" (as it did ours)

She said: "What?"

Me: "How are you?"

Her: "Fine thank you"

Turns out she only knew about 7 or 8 phrases and couldn't understand anything besides these phrases.

I think any native English speaking person could do a better job than that woman teaching English to Thais.

Am I the only one here who thinks the nose in the OP looks fine?

Try PS2. (northern part of Rat-t-thit road, east side of road)
Nice courtyard, old pool, but still a pool.

Not bad location (2 blocks to the beach, 6 to Bangla).
Great prices.
Not sure of air-con room prices, I used to stay in the fan rooms for less than 1,000 baht.