Flatouthruthefog

I recently sampled a Chicken Madras, found at Rimping and made by the Curry Nights/British Indian people.

It was as good as the best I ever had in my many years as an Indian addict in north London, and pernickety people I know say this range is always above the advertised weight, sometimes well above.

Some folk like it hot and some not. My only reservation is that they label this one as 'medium' when I'd have said 'hot'.

Let's hope I can find a Vindaloo to Vindicate their heat rating - and a Korma to go Krazy about. Keep up the good work folks - I have no connection other than as a very satisfied customer.

(Tried to find an old thread on this, Mods, but it seems to have disappeared).

As a poor person who cannot afford a lawyer (having lost a total of 107,000b to 2 crooked Chiang Mai lawyers over the years), here is what I have gleaned from several, hopefully reliable, sources.

Any Will in Thailand is valid if it is in Thai OR English. No other language. If it's English you don't need a Thai translation.

The whole Will must be written in your own handwriting, not simply the signature. It must be dated and carry your Thai home address.

It must be dated and be witnessed by TWO people (ideally Thai) who write their names, their full addresses and their signatures.

Under Thai law an Executor CAN be a beneficiary, unlike UK law for example.

It must only relate to your belongings and/or bank accounts in Thailand. Any assets outside Thailand need to be covered by another Will which does NOT contradict the Thai one in any way.

I admit to not knowing what authority 'certifies' or keeps this Will safely on your behalf, if not a Thai lawyer you can trust. After almost 2 decades here I trust TWO in Chiang Mai.

This is my best shot and I am happy to be corrected by those who are qualified and/or know better.

Has anyone noticed how younger Thai's are becoming ever more addicted to everything Korean?

From the cheesy soap opera's, "flock of seagulls" hairstyles, to the "Oscar Wilde" Style dress. I find this stuff unbearable to witness.

It's almost like they are going through their own version of the 80's. Surely they will look back on this with shame.

Does anyone feel like the farang is taking a back seat to the Koreans in regards to Thai ladies preference?

I agree that Korean culture is very popular in Thailand, including Korean fashion, music and television.

Having moved to Bangkok from London, I was also (pleasantly) surprised to find there is a Korean restaurant (or several) on most streets.

However, I didn't realise this interest in Korea was anything new. Many of the restaurants, for example, have been open for many years.

With regards to Thai ladies' preference for Korean men, I think other factors such as looks, personality, manners, education, class and wealth, are more important to them than a man's nationality.

Sent from iPhone; please forgive any typos or violations of forum rules

With respect, the word 'manners' can certainly be deleted from this list.

Ten years ago here in Thailand I met a group of young members of my profession, being hosted by their parent company. The English of them all was near-fluent, as were (on their first day & night) their appalling insulting attitudes to me, my fellow farangs and Thais.

For the next 3 days they were almost silent. I wish I'd been a fly on the wall when the boss addressed them that first night!

An American friend has taught English there for 2 years and tells me (and I can't be bothered to check) that for the past few years, S.Koreans must pass an exam in good manners before they are allowed a passport.

Keeping in mind the major importance that well-brought-up Thai ladies attach to politeness, I don't think most of we farangs have much to worry about.

Oh how I wish Thai people take heed of how they are being perceived from the outside and foreigners. To ignore it is ignoring self critique which is important for self improvement.

Any Thai with half a brain would recognise that the ignorant sneering that goes on in here doesn't reflect on them at all, but rather on the posters themselves.

Any poster with half a brain would recognise that the Thai people have been conned by their government and that their gullibility is a reflection of their education system as a whole.

The very first line of the announcement itself is a prime example:

"The first few tablet computers.....IS ready for delivery."

This is most certainly the Office of BASIC Education Commission. Or if the announcement was in Thai as I expect, it's the Thai-to-Tinglish translation room of tv's favourite newspaper to blame. Again.

'Moving ahead with the project' = 'Trying to secure funding', which indeed has been in progress, and therefore indeed 'progressing' for the last 15 years.

Hey, on a geological time scale that's not even that long. Whole mountain ranges may have formed there when it's completed.

Not only mountain ranges. The proposed new International Airport is sheduled for that neck of the CNX Woods, right on the CM-Lamphun provincial border!

Couple that with their very early news that most of the "film studio" would be open air (not enclosed in large buildings) and you have "action" punctuated by very loud aircraft noise every 15 minutes, or so.

Was it one of the big scenes in 'Cleopatra' that had a jet vapour trail running across the sky?

I think it's high time these folk put up or shut up.

Did Mr Robles tell you that they have 'options' on the land, not chenorts? No, I guess not.

Gorgeous and fascinating, thanks!

I noticed the BY on the number plate.

Does this mean "bye-bye Bangles"?

I don't know your part of Thailand, so all I can advise is that the workshops/garages authorised to check older vehicles have yellow signs outside with a blue 'cogwheel' inside them.

They differ as chalk from cheese in my experience. One totally refused to look at a car because it had the wrong colour on the logbook (tabien rot), another pointed out the problem, gave the car a pass and said "Get that changed at Land Transport soonest!" (LT needs a receipt from a paint shop showing that they changed the colour).

Other than that, the test stations are mainly looking at brakes, clean (!) emissions, lights and horn.

Chok dee.

Passing with a flash from these drivers is akin to dicing with death. Back off. Calm down. Await a wide open straight expanse, and even then be prepared for someone on a food cart to dart out from nowhere.

With due respect, that's not always possible on long journeys on winding roads with precious few safe overtaking opportunities (eg Chiang Mai-Chiang Rai via Chang Dao).

I agree with the other responses here re the "usual meaning" of the usual flashes we see. I'd only add:

In the past 15 years Thai truck drivers have improved out of ALL measure. (WHO achieved this? The employers or the insurance companies??). With the obvious exceptions, they do their best to flash you through (left flash) or say NO (right flash) up here in Chiang Mai and further north, anyway. The average bus driver seems to me to be still some way down on the unselfish/helpful scale. And I see more of their wreckage in the weeds than trucks these days.

British drivers are more at risk re flashing than most visitors here. In the UK, depending on the circs, a flash of headlights in front of you, in daylight, can mean "You go first" or "Out of the way!" Here, it ALWAYS mean "Out of the way, NOW!"

Last for now, if a Thai driver (especially a motorcyclist!) starts to do something unutterably stupid in front of you, your horn or lights will make NO difference. He/she will look death in the face (or the mirror if they have one) and continue rather than change their mind.

Chok dee!

The ads are an essential fact of life, I am sure, not just to feather certain nests but to keep the show on the road, but broadly speaking I agree.

I read it long before I first posted (that may prevent me being shot down in flames immediately, as a relative 'newbie', but I doubt it).

Yes, in the good ole days people posted mainly to help each other and answer queries, and you could get to an amazing 6 or 7 posts before the flamers came out of the woodwork.

Mods had a broad based tolerance - even a sense of humour (yes!) and helpful posters were not rapped over the knuckles for the occasional playful jibe.

More vitally for the real innocent newbies, attracted by the actual name of the game, the visa advice was sound and regularly updated.

Ah well. Dear old days................!

Well, apart from riding a horse 'n' carriage it was boring, boring, boring.

Well it says something that the horse and carriage was the only non-boring thing for you.

What sort of things did you look for and didn't find that would have interested you?

Answer here: nothing.

Answer to the OP question: no.

Really!

Get to another hospital for a 2nd opinion ASAP. Sripat at CMU would be an excellent choice. Not as fancy as RAM but there are many good docs there. Ask/demand to see a senior Professor of Neurology for a 2nd opinion.

Best of luck.

This is excellent, grade A advice.

Don`t waste any more time at the Ram, and obtain a proper diagnoses before the situation becomes any worse.

Really, the thread could have ended here...

Absolutely right, but let me add a PS. CM Ram is grossly overpriced on everything they do, especially since they were taken over recently by Bangkok Hospital. (I invite them to defend themselves against this here and now). They will not, of course!

Despite going there some years back after a m/cyc accident with a broken collar bone and 4 broken ribs (the latter being 'invisible' on their x-ray) and sent home in (increasing) agony, I trusted them with my 3 year old sons sudden soaring temperature. Twice. Fool me, huh?

First time there was 2,000b on the bill they couldn't explain, 2nd time, 4,000b. And NO diagnosis!!

The 3rd and last time it happened we took him to Rajavej (opposite Holiday Inn on the river). Excellent, intelligent, treatment and diagnosis and NO hidden charges!

In 17 years in CM I have never heard a single credible complaint about Rajavej.

Your decision(s)!

Hi Rob,

Sounds perfect. Where do I have to go?

Wow! I've spent all my LIFE looking for someone with an unlimited budget. If i give you info here for free, how about we start our lonnnng relationship with dinner at Le Coq d'Or? Jai Bin, of course!

Hillside Condo has a gym but is dark, has tiny lifts which break down all the time, and on the windward side has rain blowing in through the window frames.

And any closer to the University than that and you'll be surrounded by loud student parties on a regular basis.

And the traffic is appalling, so you'd better cycle or jog everywhere. At 98 deg in the shade.

Nope.

Try Changklan, but be sure to have your rowing boat ready for the annual floods.

Sooooo, welcome to condoland, Chiang Mai!

ermm... not sure

but for the limited stock that they do have... better than driving into town.

I understand that Kad F arang is undergoing a major revamp and Rimping will go.

I understand that Kad Farang is breathing its last breath. Lost count of the number of businesses opened and closed there. Why ask us anyway? Ask Khun Phairoj (that's how he spells it), the MD. He's charming and straightforward, with fluent English, and accessible by writing out one of those little slips near the cashiers.

Chiang Mai is the capital of road accident and watch out for the Lumphun ลำพูน plate, no joke.

You are sooo right about Lumphun plates, It's well known with Thais drivers in Chiang Mai to watch out for Lumphun plate.........A bit like bike riders and Volvo car driver in the UK.

Quite right. My Thai wife and I have determined over a period of 13 years in Chiang Mai (accident free, thank God):

Lamphun registered vehicles: slow and dangerous

Lampang registered vehicles: fast and dangerous

Bangkok registered vehicles: the drivers think they own the road as well as the vehicle. Fast and agressive on the open road. But utterly incompetent in CM traffic.

Caprot emptor!

des gourmet is the restaurant.

That's helpful, thanks.

What would be MUCH more helpful would be a media news release from their Embassy to advise expats and travelers, the people they are meant to serve.

Dam poor show if you ask me.

OK, you didn't.

anyone want to challenge the fact that the best Yorkshire puddings are from Yorkshire?

That would be just plain stupidity, my Mother lives in Yorkshire!!

Not only Yorkshire, not only (even!) West Yorkshire (God's own county) but Huddersfield, eh?

Yes, I read your other post here.

I left (Lindley) before curries arrived, sadly, but would appreciate updates. Curries, Olde Bell type places?

I am old enough to remember that the best fish n chips in the centre came from the Elite, but the bxstxrdx built the Civic Centre over it.

New thread? Maybe not. It's great place to come from, but methinks not to go back to.........!

'Scuse me, OP.........

Av you bin drinkin??

It's a scam sent to random email addresses.

Delete and ignore.

Agree.

I got one telling me my account had been closed. It's been so pathetically small for so long I was not Amazed. But I looked at the balance in an ATM only this evening and it's still alive and well.

And small.

The number of incidents is not increasing. It's the numbers of those willing to come forward to articulate their abuse.

YES! So true, and long may youngsters be encouraged to come forward. But just imagine how hard that is when you are very young, powerless, intimidated, and one or more of your closest relations is/are the culprit(s).

A very experienced UK probation officer told me almost 20 years ago: "Daughters may give evidence against their fathers, but no-one has ever heard of any child giving evidence against their mother."

Last for now, this lead story is one of THE worst written and subbed stuff I've ever read in a newspaper which I otherwise respect. Get a grip you lot, or if you can't handle a sensitive topic, spike it!

This is far from 'official' but it may be a start point for you.

Try Darets Guest House & Caff on the east side of Thapae Gate (outside of the moat), opposite the most northern bricks of the Gate.

They have a CM resident, occasional visiting, Thai tour guide who is fluent in Spanish. I saw him there late last week. He is taller than average and speaks good English too. Sorry, no name.

Ask the Darets owner, Khun See, or his wife (usually at the cashiers desk) rather than the staff. His English is fine, hers rather limited.

Good hearted people who will help link you up if they can.

My wife grew up with Isaan maids and parents too busy working to notice the spicy food she was always eating...

Consequently food that brings tears to my eyes doesn't even give her the sniffles....

Back in the UK over Christmas we had a curry (IMO curries in the UK are excellent). My Wife ordered a *Phaal.... The Chef and several waiters repeatedly came out to ask if all was ok, my wife was fine and hardly blinked at the spicy dish. I on the other hand (who enjoys spicy food) after tasting a bit used up numerous tissues and continued to sweat profusely and also from areas I'd previously never perspired before such as my eyelids and inside my ears !!!!

The hottest food I ever had in Thailand is Gaeng-Som in Hat-Ya... I was on iced water for nearly an hour after the delayed reaction of a few spoons of that soup hit me.

*A Phaal (fahl) is an Indian curry, much hotter than a vindaloo and re-invented for the British pisshead who after 10 pints has decided he is invincible !!! The Phaal has become known as the 'hottest Indian curry'

At last! Someone who knows his Phaal. Or 'Phal' in some excellent north London Indian places!

Why doesn't some enterprising restauranteur have a contest. I once won one (with a Phal!) in West Hampstead, at a restaurant next door to a fire station!!

Come on - let's have a challenge. I'll take you all on.

And, OP, at the risk of being both pedantic and accurate, I think you meant: How hot are the chillies you can eat? Yes?

wow some interesting points of view and information here, pity its not in main stream media, maybe a case for this information being made available to media outside the country, how to do this?

Don't worry.

They'll be reading.

As will the Thai powers-that-be and the environmentalists.

The only real reason for making a choice is if the child is male and wants to be ineligible for National service. but it's a bit OTT for that as you can simply live outside Thailand during your 20s to avoid being called up, and keep the nationality.

I am sure you are right. But may I add (and I haven't checked this out yet, my boy is only 6) that if any male born in Thailand VOLUNTEERS for national service at a certain age, he will do just 6 months in a cadet squad and never have to do more.

Except in case of war, maybe?

I think this is a most valid topic of great interest to many foreign fathers of boys born here. All sensible additional info most welcome!!

As usual (or 'should be'), you get the quality you pay for.

It's generally acknowledged around here over many years, especially among the classic car lot, that the best and most expensive is Chiang Mai - Lamphun Garage on the Old Lamphun Road, run by Khun Seeton.

If a small or medium sized car needs some metalwork repairs/restoration as well as a first class paint job you'll pay in the 100,000b area. But you will be delighted.

For around half that price, maybe less, many can recommend Team Bodyshop run by Khun Anusorn, just off the south side of the moat, east of Chiang Mai Gate.

It's always a good idea to ask the customers. If you can, go to Bistro 1 at NIM City (aka Rimping near the airport) from 10.00am to Noon, last Sunday of any month, and ask members of Classic Cars of Lanna. They will probably give you 2 or 3 other places to go get quotations.

Hi ‘Flatout’ I’ve no issue with anything you said, I also understand it’s the principle, (and a spot of feeling you’re being treated like a mug) but what I don’t get, it just seems strange that when you handed over 100 Baht, why didn’t you get your change, (20 Baht) at that point.

I would have asked for it then…..Not sat down then asked for it before leaving at the end. I don’t mean to nit-pick, but if this is how you did the deal, then you may have set yourself up for this rip-off…….Why did you not get your 20 Baht change at the point of paying?

Hi Tonto.

You can call me Flato.

I generally like your posts and yours here (along with Realthaideal, Bobl, msg and a very few others) are what tv should be all about. Helping and clarifying, not carping.

On every previous occasion I've been to Diamond, I've been charged in advance at the office, given a stamped receipt, then handed that to the guy at the other end of the line when the car is ready. And never a problem.

OK I should have paid more attention to the new flashy lady (!) and MORE to the fact that this time no receipt or change was given. When the car was ready I made the fair assumption (based on my checking of the price verbally in Thai in advance AND 5 years previous positive experience with this business) that she had forgotten the change. Which is when the rip-off arose.

And of course it IS the principle, not the 20b, and of course there IS no Trade Descriptions Act in Thailand (no humour either in some cases).

To those who say 20b is SO cheap - it may be by your standards, you lucky people, but it's not here and (apart from using a car wash now and then) I live in the Thai economy.

Let's continue as usual for 2012, me just trying to be helpful and the usual suspects making the usual assinine remarks.