msg362

Just to add I checked that staff in a chain of hotels in the UK WERE trained to escort guests and check no one was left. Standard practice in properly run hotels. The smoke was confined to the basement, the hotel was not 'on fire'. Panic is not the best option in such circumstances

And why did everyone RUN out?

Oh get real, this is Bangkok and a hotel on fire full of guests ! How many of them went on fire fighting courses like you did before checking in? People are going to run.

I am real, you train the the staff to control the guests. Not Rocket Science. The report implies the staff ran as well

If this is a photo of the room, why on earth is a working compressor in the same rom as (in)flammable liquids. The basic rule is that you do not have ignition sources in the same room as volatile flammable liquids. Lighting etc is flame proof. That stops the fire ever starting in the first place! And why did everyone RUN out? the first rule of a safe exit is to walk ,not run. Did the staff have fire wardens? were there assembly points? When was the last test of the fire alarm and when was the last practice evacuation? I bet I know the answers to most of these questions!

Not in Phuket, but for many years in Chiang Mai. There should not be a problem I think

I may be wrong and correct me if I am but I believe that the Thai 'Highway Code' (or what passes for such) does say that all traffic must yield to all merging traffic; hence the common tendency to "pull out of a side turning without checking for oncoming traffic." They have right of way.

If that is correct NanLaew then that is a very important, in fact, critical observation. Can someone confirm?

I know that Thais get incensed at farangs motorcyclists taking up position in the middle of the road and not using the side lane. If you asked the average farang they would reckon that the side lane was a " Hard Shoulder" as we call it in the UK, and that it would be illegal to use that.

Is it the case that it's the farangs who are ignorant of the Highway code??

I alos get fed up with Thais who occupy the nearside lane of the new road to BoSang from don Chan ( CM), a wonderful bike lane, ignored

Have not read al the posts ( far too long). but just to confirm the system actually works extremely well. Got there about 10.45 for an 11.00 appointment. Very depressed to see probably 50-70 burmese and the same number of 'farangs' ( Yesterday was a public holiday). It was very crowded. 11.00, handed my papers in for extension of retirement visa. 40 minutes later, called, no interview, nothing just done. (I had all my previous visa extensions photocopied, the statement of income from the UK consulate ( 2250 Baht!!), copy of my yellow 'Tabien Baan' TM7 with photo,and all the pages already signed, (seems very important)).

All I can say is that the UK could learn from CM immigration!

So Thanks CM Immigration, all done efficiently and most of all with smiles.

The driving here is still much better than many other countries. Just got back from Egypt where they drive like maniacs. During my visit to Vietnam, scooters on the sidewalks actually honk at you to get out of their way!!!!! Unreal....

Crazy driving in Vietnam - fully agreed.

But they can drive. Thais cannot. That's why i feel saver there.

Those in cars - I agree to a certain extent. Some of them are truly awful BUT, I've seen the same stupid manoeuvres back in the UK (overtaking before immediately turning left, not leaving enough room when overtaking etc.).

Many however, are at least aware of 'bikes (unlike in the UK where, generally they're only expecting another car) - presumably as they were scooter drivers for years before getting a car.

Thais on scooters? Yes, they take chances that leave me open-mouthed, but as another scooter driver I trust them (unless they're children or v young) far more than Westerners.

Edit - although it does still annoy me when they pull out of a side turning without checking for oncoming traffic...

They do that in cars too!

[media=]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&NR=1&v=z45sZR1_XOU[/media]

Is that it? it happens every day I want to see something really exciting!

I have been informed that if you are married with a Thai you cannot obtain a Usufruct to be "certified" by the Land Office/Amphur?. Guess you should check this one out to verify.

I'm married to a Thai and have an usufruct ( and a yellow Tabien Baan) My wife bought the house before we were married and got the Tabien Baan ( I think) before we got married, Might have been after, can't remember! Now she has my farang surname and I have the magic book etc

Everyone knows Carrefour, i would only remember the new name BigC extra on a very good day, if ever

I actually would like to clear the new name out of my memory.

I agree, we still call it Carrefour here in CM ( there are still traces if you look around the store long enough)

Easy fix:

Make it compulsory for the main owners and people resposible for the safety at these estates to have their offices at these estates and compulsory to spend most of their time there.

This is what Dupont did in the last century (after a serious explosion I think). Managers were made to live on site. It concentrated their minds wonderfully and Dupont are a world leader in safe working. Most plants go for years without a lost time inury. And guess what? they are very profitable. The two go together. Efficient, safe working without losses of materials or personnel actually works. Don't tell this lot tho', they'll get confused, far better to import some more burmese labourers

Accidents happen... and NGO's will get on their high horse about them.

Try talking from the other end, closer to your head!

The standard procedure when cleaning a tank that contained inflammable solvents is to flush it through with air/ nitrogen, check the atmosphere to ensure there is not an explosive environment and it is safe to breathe and to constantly ventilate. This prevents explosions, it's done all the time in organised countries. ( There are variations on this). I strongly suspect these precautions were not taken. Somehow I think the police are not best equipped to investigate this, it is not in their rule book concerning road violations.

Do you still have Carrefour? I thought it was Big C Extra?

And the budget for qualified trained inspectors is coming from where?

ALL factories in Thailand will need to be "inspected" every 90 days.

Just using a rough figure of say 100,000 factories in Thailand,

1/4 is 25,000 divided by 90 days = 277.77 Inspections PER DAY.

Assuming it takes half a day and only one inspector is assigned,

that means 138.8 inspectors need to do 2 jobs every day, including travel.

Now lets look at 100,000 ever 90 days with an inspector and assistant.

1,111.1 inspections per day using 2,222 inspectors; head and assistant/witness.

or best case two locations per day 555.55 inspections PER DAY using

2,222 inspectors; head and assistant/witness.

Having paired inspectors minimises the easy of tea money changing hands,

and ability to cover larger places. Of course this will still happen,

and the TM swill move up the chain per usual.

OK say there are 2,222 what is their wage per month?

Say Minimum 15k costs 33,330,000 a month

or 399,960,000 million baht a year... not including car leasing

1,111 car fleet, gas 1,000 a day x 1111000 per day

x 365 = 40,5515,000 per year.

Cost for inspections a nominal 805,475,000 a year at least.

before paperwork and office space.

But does Thailand have ONLY 100,000 Factories Using Chemicals?

Is a factory employing 25 people,

but using toxic and flammable toluene and blow torches inspect-able?

Or is it some arcane number to shave the budget like 100 employees and up?

Or only factories in approved Factory Parks going to be included in

"All Factories To Be Inspected Every 90 Days".

Does Anyone think before writing her speeches?

I agree, I was an Inspector in the UK. She is talking out some other orifice. It simply won't happen I was trained for 2 years with a P/G diploma before being set loose. Then we concentrated on serious issues. This country is simply a joke when it comes to safety. Lots of signs 'Safety first' then , on construction site, workers wandering around in flip flops. when it comes to high level hazards I'd stay well away

Someone once asked why they were called 'speed bumps' when they didn't speed you up, merely slowed you down ( or broke your car)

Go watch a cock fight, less painful for the combatants

What is interesting about watching two big men punch each other to a pulp? I've never understood

Where is the shop located?

Here is a link to Google Maps with our location:

http://maps.google.c...&num=1&t=m&z=16

Just saying Bangkok would help those of us who live up North! Then the map is really helpful

Adobe launches Student and Teacher Editions

Offering students and teachers access to world-class tools at up to 90%* discount

January 9, 2012, Bangkok - Adobe Systems Incorporated today reinforced its commitment to digital education and eLearning, announcing the availability of significantly discounted versions of its industry-leading software for students and teachers for the first time in Thailand. Adobe Student and Teacher Editions provide discounts of up to 90%* on a range of popular products including Adobe® Creative Suite® 5.5 Design Premium, Creative Suite5.5 Design Standard, Creative Suite 5.5 Web Premium and Adobe Acrobat® X Pro.

Media Release .pdf

Thank you for this, but this is the problem. Design premium does not include Premiere Pro. That is my frustration!

Thanks, have asked mods to do that

My wife is a full time lecturer at CMU and wants a copy of Adobe Premiere Pro ( CS6 either creative suite or the one below). This would be a legitimate copy, she can authenticate her employment.

In the US/UK etc that is possible, but looking on the SE Asia site it does not seem to be there. ( I realise CS6 will be out in a few weeks)

Does anyone know if it is possible or if not why it is banned?

Is there a way we can do this and end up with a legitimate copy but not paying the price of a small house for it?

Thanks

You lot really need to buy yourselves a GoPro small video camera, you an fit it onto your bike and run it. It would lighten up these posts no end if we could see the stupidity (? and the carnage??)

You don't know what a sherbert dab is, do you ?

You stick a digit in it then suck it. A lemony taste if I recall from my youth

the 'e' makes all the difference ( not in the morning however!!)

http://www.suntory.c...rize/index.html

It has been known for some time now by those truly knowledgeable in the area that the best whiskeys are now made in Japan. This is especially true if you want value. Scottish whiskeys are grossly overvalued like many things in the 'old countries'.

Get him a good Japanese whiskey, and there's nothing wrong with a couple words of education when handing over the gift.

"This is for you. It's a Japanese brand of whiskey which is regarded by whiskey experts around the world to be among the best there is. Don't worry, it was not too expensive. Enjoy."

Case closed.

I 'm sure Japanese wiskey is OK, unfortunately we who have lived in the land know it's called 'whisky' not 'whiskey'. That's from other parts- Ireland, America and Japan. So real whisky, the best, comes from bonnie Scotland

Hmmm... I thought whisky/whiskey was invented in America by Scottish immigrants. Anyways, I'm sure either would do.

How wrong can you be?

http://www.suntory.c...rize/index.html

It has been known for some time now by those truly knowledgeable in the area that the best whiskeys are now made in Japan. This is especially true if you want value. Scottish whiskeys are grossly overvalued like many things in the 'old countries'.

Get him a good Japanese whiskey, and there's nothing wrong with a couple words of education when handing over the gift.

"This is for you. It's a Japanese brand of whiskey which is regarded by whiskey experts around the world to be among the best there is. Don't worry, it was not too expensive. Enjoy."

Case closed.

I 'm sure Japanese wiskey is OK, unfortunately we who have lived in the land know it's called 'whisky' not 'whiskey'. That's from other parts- Ireland, America and Japan. So real whisky, the best, comes from bonnie Scotland