robsamui

Any ministerial or government proposals regarding education is earmarked as a joke before it's even off the ground. The government has no intention of educating their people - the last thing they want is a restless generation of informed and world-aware workers causing internal strife The top few percent of the populace - the HiSo and/or wealthy Thais - already educate their children privately and always abroad . . . certainly when it comes to higher education and university. Their own workforce they regard as factory fodder, deliberately 'educated' to have no insight, creativity or initiative. It'll be many generations before Thailand realises that it's not an island, and that it can't survive without being a useful and cooperative member of the big wide world outside.

Simon - see personal message.

If the reporters were Thai, then they wouldn't have a clue about the ins-and-outs of what's needed for long-stay foreigners. (None of the very many Thais I've talked to over the years have been able to believe the visa tangles and costs and think I'm making it up - they just assume that farangs simply 'stay' here!)

Phones. That's the problem. The python is immediately and clearly visible on a PC with a 27-inch monitor.

A few years back I was pulled over on my bike - and refused to pay the spot fine. After a minute or two grumpy threats the officer said 'follow me' and sped off leaving me sitting there. So I waited . . . and waited . . . and then carried on home.

Does a home stereo need to be covered in flashing disco lights? Little kids love this kinda stuff, and that includes dressing up.

It all seems to be an ongoing hook to hang the poor and (deliberately) under-educated peasants on. Thailand is the only country I've heard about where banks will lend you the money to buy a house as long as you first lodge the equivalent amount of money with them. Then they will use it to buy the house, charge you interest on the loan, and then allow you to pay in monthly instalments. And before I get hammered - I know that's simplified and not (quite) accurate - but, in essence, it's what it amounts to . . . unless you can find a farang to act as guarantor . . . but, fortunately, I've never had much luck with that.

All the fertilisers geared to growing weed are selling for silly high prices as they seem to be imported. Anyone found a local source? The Thais are notorious for not using the NPL convention on their packaging. instead preferring exaggerated claims that bring to mind a traveling snake oil seller. Also they have the idea that bigger and more is better – so most of their stuff seems to be 45:0:0 rather than a gentle ratio of 4:2:3. I’m looking for liquid concentrates of as close to these ratios as possible - 4:2:3 and 2:8:4: - or close. Can anyone help? Photos of the label or a live link would be appreciated ????