Gladiator

Some time ago I posted regarding MAGIC radio. Can't find the original topic now, no doubt it has fallen off of the horizon.

But I recently have been listening to HAPPY Radio. Not everyone's 'cup of tea' I acknowledge but depending on the time of day and day of week they play a variety of English language music with English language CNN new broadcasts.

I only have a twist the dial- to find the station radio but it appears to be at 98.5, and good reception here at Nam Phrae Hang Dong. I checked the web and it is online but the music being played was different than that coming from the radio

We all have our own listening medium for music and news but still its good background.

Funny enough in a previous verson of Google Earth.... before it was updated regularly, I used to look at my old family home and for a few years could see my old warhorse - a Landrover Discovery parked outside

I can not imagine anything that would taste good when combined with Vegemite/Marmite.

I suppose that our individual taste is what makes the world go around.

As a kid I spent some in growing up in South Carolina and Georgia, and was subjected to grits and fried okra.

Now George... have you ever experienced these culinary delights ??? !!!!

I can not imagine anything that would taste good when combined with Vegemite/Marmite.

Hah. I could mention a few! Ho Ho. still everyone to their own. Nope... Marmie and Vegemite are both unique. But if you cannmo get one - the other wll suffice !

Although I acknowledge that marmite (vegemite) is an acquired taste....

I tried the above today and it made a very different and yummy sandwich!

I Wanna Go Home (Sloop John C) Lnnie Donegan and Van Morrison

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzur3nM0k0w&feature=related

Forget tones on most words.

Remember tones on the 10-20 words in frequent use with different meanings.

(Cow, Maa, Key, Mai, etc)

Spend the time saved increasing your vocab.

I have to stand with Luditeman here.

Depends on is what your objective

want to be a cunning linquist?

or just communicate?

To what extent do you wish to be able to speak and even read Thai such as newspapers? Even if you master the alphabet, upper and lower notations - ever try to read Thai in block paragraphs?

If you wish to to be able to fully understand and communicate inThai Language then the best method may be total immersion. Still, that has its draw backs. I learnt 'central' Thai and live in Chang Mai. Many of the words in local dialect are not comprehensable to me as my spoken Thai is not to many of the North Thai locals. Dito as my wife is from Khon Kaen in Issan and they also have their own dialect.

I acknowledge that 'tones' are imprtant' but only is so far as the degree that you wish to speak Thai language.

IMHO

Gilbey's 1857 Light Rum, 70cl, 310 baht @ Friendship or Tops

or even Yeow Ngnern - 'Silver Eagle' Thai rum, although can make you go blind 120 Baht per bottle

Gotta be careful how you prounounce the Thai words - otherwise can be interpreted as silver ching chong !

Gilbey's 1857 Light Rum, 70cl, 310 baht @ Friendship or Tops

or even Yeow Ngnern - 'Silver Eagle' Thai rum, although can make you go blind 120 Baht per bottle

RYC - Royal Varuna Yacht Club

'When I'm Dead and Gone' McGuinness Flint

Rob,

How about deliiveries?

Still cash only?

Does anyone know how much these recyclable depots pay for the plastic bottles and aluminium cans? per Kg ..

50 satang for one can, not sure about kg.

I am not sure about klilo price either. But at least when I lived on a Thai housing estate behind Big C Hang Dong - the recycle mortobike man with sidecar and scales used to call at the door. Just down the Soi was a house which also bought recycle bits and bobs. Now that we lve further out in the country we have to take it to various locations. Not exact but to give you some idea we are lucky to get 30 Baht for 2 small dustbins of bottles and a small dustbin of plastic. Hardly worth the cost of diesel in transporting it. On another thread - sorry but I cannot give you the link - the poster mentioned "just leave it outside the gates".

In the early days when I lived in a house close to Arcade bus station - that was exactly what happened.. In, my then ignorance, I thought that they were garbage pickers. How wrong could I have been.

That is very sad.

Although I did know know either Norman or Eileen well - I have know them for a long time and I have been their customer and they became mne when they came on a visit to Chiang Mai.

Sincere condolences

http://en.wikipedia....ternet_pioneers

British, French and other nationalities on this list.

( an American who grew up in Silicon Valley)

My apoligies to all. it is quite late and that is my excuse....

"

THREE WHEELS ON MY WAGON

Three wheels on my wagon,

And I’m still rolling along

The Cherokees are chasing me

Arrows fly, right on by

But I’m singing a happy song

I’m singing a higgity, haggity, hoggety, high

Pioneers, they never say die

A mile up the road there’s a hidden cave

And we can watch those Cherokees

Go galloping by

SPOKEN: “George, they’re catching up to us!”

“Get back in the wagon woman!”

Two wheels on my wagon,

And I’m still rolling along

Them Cherokees are after me

Flaming spears, burn my ears

But I’m singing a happy song

I’m singing a higgity, haggity hoggety, high

Pioneers, they never say die

Half a mile up the road there’s a hidden cave

And we can watch those Cherokees

Go galloping by

SPOKEN: “Duh, Paw? Are you sure this is the right road?”

“Will you hush up? You and your maps!”

One wheel on my wagon,

And I’m still rolling along

Them Cherokees after me

I’m all in flames, at the reins

But I’m singing a happy song

I’m singing a higgity, haggity hoggety, high

Pioneers, they never say die

Right around that turn there’s a hidden cave

And we can watch those Cherokees

Go galloping by

SPOKEN: “George? Should I get the bag of beads and trinkets?”

“Woman, I know what I’m doing!”

No wheels on my wagon,

So I’m not rolling along

The Cherokees captured me

They look mad, things look bad

But I’m singing a happy song

SPOKEN: “C’mon all you Cherokees sing along with me!”

Higgity, haggity hoggety, high

Pioneers, they never say die…

Right now -

Breakdown by Jack Johnson

Thank you CMsally for introducing me to his music. I am a big fan and player of ukelele

I have hesitated before joining this Posting but here goes…

I am a dual-national, American/British, a son of a US military soldier.

As a child I had cause to be raised in a number of countries – perhaps good and bad. But it did open my eyes to the world that existed outside the British Isles and Continental North America and this perhaps instigated wanderlust,

I first visited Chiang Mai in 1976 to meet with my blood and Thai family, and since then have made repeated visits until my migration in 2001.

Land of Honey and Roses – No. But today, in a vis-à-vis perspective, I would take Chiang Mai and Thailand, warts and all, over my previous life in both the U.S., Europe and England. Why? Many of the reasons have already been posted. But briefly –

Wife, Family, Weather, Easy Going, Easy access to may other locations within Thailand,

Food, Good Restaurants and Entertainment, A degree of freedom.

Anyway – That how I feel

Gladiator

You have no reason to hesitate, Gladiator.

Don't worry about the yank-bashers, it comes with the territory when you are a US citizen.

I am an American, and my maternal grandfather enlisted in the RFC (Royal Flying Corp) during the Great War (World War I). I have all his pilot logs and uniform insignia. He was English, from East Anglia. He spent most of his youth flying reconnaissance against the Germans in Belgium and France.

My father was in the US Navy in the South Pacific in WWII as a Pharmacist's Mate First Class. Fancy name for a hospital medic. He was on an aircraft carrier, and later on some islands in forward combat areas. He treated many British POW's who were rescued after being treated very harshly in Japanese labor camps towards the end of the war.

We don't expect the younger generation to know about, or even care about these long ago events.

The ties that bind the UK and the US are very strong, but fraught with a lot of resentment and rancor. The US fought the English, in a revolution, and won their independence. The English saw their Empire wither to nothing after 1945...and then these brash upstarts started talking big and loud, and pushing their weight around the world. Now it's our turn, Pax Americana is slowly shriveling away, and there is more than a little sense of schadenfreude attached to this on the part of our British brethren.

No worries. Let's just whistle a happy tune- and try to get along.

My apologies to other Posters for drifting off from Topic

Mcgriffith,

Many thaks for your reply.

In my own case my maternal English grandfather - (The Great War)

I think that your Grandfather was a lucky man .... by the looks of it he was in the 12th Battalion The London Regiment and was wounded in the foot on the 20th of June 1916 ... on the 1st of July the 12th London was in the Battle of Gommecourt ..... on that day they lost 447 of 803 men with 191 killed. Trench slaughter.

He returned to France to drive ambulances until the end of the war.

My American father was a Ranger, Not sure one hudred per cent of the details but on D-Day they were landed at the wrong beach but ultimately ended

up on Omaha. He was in the Signal Corps and had to lug one of those heavy two-way radios up and down the beach and into France. Funny thing was that he particpated in three world conflicts without a scratch. Smoked and drank like a fish and ultmately it was a sllly automobile accident that ended his life in his mid 70's.

I have wached a number of graphic wartime movies to try to understand what these brave men and woman actually went through on our behalf - sometimes futilely, if some historians have got their facts right.

Brave warriors

All good things and peace to you all

Gladiator

... snip ... I won't bore you with my catalogue of various conditions that RAM has come through for. It just suits me. I do note that many folk claim that they 'load' the price with various unrequired Lab procedures. In my own case I have not experienced this.

Sawasdee Khrup, Khun Gladiator,

First, may I congratulate you on what seems to be a great result from your procedure ! And, I'm glad you had a positive experience with Ram.

My own experience, as others, with Ram was a "kiting the bill into the stratosphere" debacle, and I would never go there again, but I will say that the doctor, Dr. Paiboon, who patched up my multiply, spirally, broken right leg (thanks to some drunken or yaa-baa'd hit-and-run motorcyclist who ran me down on my bicycle crossing over to the "wrong" side of the road to do so) was excellent, and the outcome was excellent.

May you see clearly, forever !

best, ~o:37;

o-37

Thank you for your good wishes.

Life is short, precious and fragle.

Wherever we go may choose to go to promate our well being and to remain intact -

May we all stay healthy

Avoid Ram like the plague! Money making place! Sure procedures are carried out well for eye problems, but from my experience any other issues should well be avoided by this place. Lanna is by far cheaper and far more competent!

Well BB

I guess that we all have to take as we find and fortunately have the independance of choice.

I won't bore you with my catalogue of various conditions that RAM has come through for. It just suits me. I do note that many folk claim that they 'load' the price with various unrequired Lab procedures. In my own case I have not experienced this.

I have never used Lanna, so cannot comment, But in the early days when I paid Thai National Social Security I was assigned to Rajavej Hospital and at that time they let me down badly. RAM then did the biz. However I later came to use Rajavej on a private occasion (Bronchiial Asthma), at the same time as my wife was in the hospital, and they were splendid.

Whichever hospital that you use - Stay well.

Gladiator

What type of lens did they use? Were you given the option, or did they tell you "this" lens is best? Also did they give the prices for the different lenses, as this effects the overall price. many thanks.

Doctor Seree is the head surgeon at the Ram and is worth knowing that.Number 2 surgeon Doctor Lee but they also work in other hospitals also.I guess there are not to many good surgeons around and other hospitals share them like Lanna hospital on superhighway. The above are 2 very good doctors/surgeons

Dr. Surgeon Saree has operated on a number of occasions and I am led to believe tha he is one of the best in Thailand. I agree

Had the same surgery at St Peters about 5 years ago,similar price if I remember.

And yes, the day after results were spectacular.From being unable to barely see the chart before the operation I was also able to read it within 24 hours!

I was advised that this would be he case and was delighted find that the result was just that - spectacular!

What type of lens did they use? Were you given the option, or did they tell you "this" lens is best? Also did they give the prices for the different lenses, as this effects the overall price. many thanks.

I believe that the 'Lens' was flexible silicone. Yes, I was given the option of having 'prescribed Lenses made up for me. I only wear specs occasionally so no big deal for me. Sorry I did not ask the price of the prescribed Lens but for sure it would have been a lot higher

Which surgeon performed your operation?

If it's who I think it is, that was roughly the price I was quoted.

The surgeon was Dr. Rachada, assisted by another surgeon in the theatre, possible her husband as indicated by another PM

A few days ago I had this procedure performed to remove the cateract and replace an artificial lens in one of my eyes. Still have to get he other sorted - but in time.

For those of you who may be in the same situation the following is the cost that I incurred but subject your own situaion it may differ according to your own circumstances.

I acknowledge that there are other hospitals where this procedure may be performed at a cheaper price but I am a long time user of RAM and have confidence in the surgeons and the facilities.

Both my age and possession of a VIP card attracted a discount but the overall cost was 43,000 baht for the procedure to be performed on one eye. This included a full physical examination before the surgery. The operation lasted approximately 30 minutes and although uncomfortable, I experienced no pain.

The following morning I returned to the Eye Specialist and was able to read the eye chart with my right eye from top to bottom without difficulty.

Gladiator