ruskiehat

Ok lets have a serious discussion here and lets base it on some facts here in Thailand and around the world.

My background is in the subsea oil and gas industry, although I work for oil and gas I still like and support Greenpeace for what they stand for, though not always agreeing with them. But they are needed as they have highlighted a lot of short comings in our world. .

The latest Oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico will hopefully change a lot of attitudes and lead to an improvement in safety and safety culture offshore. This does not mean Offshore Drilling is unsafe; It is all how it is managed and done. In the North Sea after the Piper alpha disaster the whole offshore mentality has changed. Hopefully this will also take place in the Gulf of Mexico and elsewhere.

Installing a Oil rig will not kill off sea life if done properly if you must know, installing underwater pipelines and structures encourage sea life to take hold in areas where normally there was no place for sea life to take hold. Any scuba diver will tell you this.

Trust me on this I see this every day at work, plus because fishing is restricted in these areas we have a build up of sea life. If you don't believe me, look at Norway, a Oil producing country with one of the largest Seafood industries. Both Oil and Seafood industries living and working successfully side by side.

We all need Oil in order to live in our present modern world, unless we are able to wean ourselves off it overnight we have no viable alternative.

Now lets look at Thailand. A country which more than any other country in the region has probably used the tourism dollar to develop and in a way industrialise it's islands and beach's for mass tourism to such an extent that it is now verging on over development. All these Tourists shiting, eating and using Carbon fuels to get to and fro, where do you think majority of all this waste is going. You really think the Thai's are thinking long term when it comes to the Environment.

I would love to hear some Green policies that are being done by the Thai government, someone please enlighten me. I can on the other hand tell you that builders, homeowners are getting NO help to reduce their Carbon footprint and yet you still have tax subsidies for fuel in efficient pick up trucks!!!!

I live in Pattaya, apart from Buddha hill would any of our Pattaya BM's on here like to point out any GREEN PARK areas dedicated for Children to play in, for locals to walk and exercise?

The Only reason In Bangkok we have Lumpini Park and other parks in Bangkok is probably because it was a dedicated park set aside years ago, if that land was available for Condo or office development right now it would have been built over by now.

So before foreigners on here go on harping on about saving the environment in Thailand which I am in favour off, maybe they should try convincing the local population 1^st, who are quite willing to keep to BUILD BABY BUILD, without any planning from what I can see. This is what is going to kill the Thai environment more than one Oil rig

This post should be posted in the funny section... ie Thailand being Green... give me a break.. it's one of the most un-enviromentally countries I have been to.

Buy

Not until the relief wells are completed and the oil permanently stops flowing. BP is caught between a rock and a hard place, if the oil flow cannot be curtailed BP could end up bankrupt.

Oh man you should get on stage

There has been Offshore drilling in various parts of the world which has been done safely and without spills, just dont employ numpties, those invloved in the industry know who and what i mean.

Until we find a viable alternative we still need Oil, like it or not, Thailand is not a Green minded country, just look at the amount of waste in plastic bags alone. I am all for a greener enviroment but the Thai's and Green thinking.... um.. sorry just not seen it yet.

<br>Dont you care about the disaster that BP have caused? so much sea life that has been effected!! makes me sick people who invest in there shares to make a quick buck...  <img src="http://static.thaivisa.com/forum/public/style_emoticons/default/mad.gif" class="bbc_emoticon" alt=""><br>

Oh and how exactly did you fly to Thailand in a Hot air balloon?

BP are merely producing a service which you readily are willing to accept and buy, just like factory farming.<br><br>I have BP shares and think they are a good buy even at £4 a share<br>

For mac users like myself

try this, not the best, but it's free

http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/vide...oconverter.html

Sorry the link I supplied is now only letting you download a trial version, but look around there are sites where you can still download the whole version free

start fining pax who cannot get up without pulling on the seat in front, god that annoy's me

Well, if we're gonna talk about pet peeves: let's fine the pax that can't sit down with falling like Shamu into the pool.

How about Mr yakity yak yak yak and Mr Oversized hand Carry on which can fit in the overhead locker

.....maybe just me, but there's a lot of frustration with this current regime....

You and the people you interact with are entitled to opinions. The current government ('regime' as you say) is not perfect, but are doing quite well considering the sustained animosity towards them. On a nearly weekly basis, there are threats of civil (uncivil) unrest, either coming from the puppet master himself, or echoing from others who look to him for direction. That's not a good way to conduct a political campaign: to continually threaten violence, if you don't get your way. It's like a group of naughty kids who threaten to dump all the trash cans at the school if they don't get an added day off each week.

Thailand has a dearth of good leadership material, but hopefully with Abhisit, there's a trend toward improvements. Let the man get going with the business of trying to enact improvements for Thailand. It's hard to run a marathon with spectators throwing bottles at your feet.

I agree let him get on with it and hopefully he will unite the country, but seriously do you see him doing that? Just curious, I hope he does and wish him the best, but there's a lot of selfish self intrests as always when politics are involved which he needs to overcome, do you not think so?

Think most Thai's which ever side of the fence they sit on, basically want to get on with their lives without Red/Yellow shirted people ruining their livelyhood in their names, that's where also a fair ammount of frustration stems from.

For mac users like myself

try this, not the best, but it's free

http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/vide...oconverter.html

This might have been the case a few years ago, but I do feel there is a sense of frustration with the common every day folk.

At any given time there's usually at least one group in society that feels frustrated. Perhaps it's just that you happen to be living amongst the group that currently feels that way? Had you come to my neighbourhood five years ago you would have met then an awful lot of common every day folk who were extremely frustrated - pissed off to put it blunty. Now, in general at least, they seem not to be. It's all about who you speak to. Don't mistake those you do speak to as speaking for the nation.

You are quite correct in what you say, but I feel, maybe just me, but there's a lot of frustration with this current regime and this is from people who formerly supported the yellow shirt movement.

Lastly please dont be blinded by the fact that bangkok or the cities is thailand, there's more out there, but I do agree with what you say.

Have you considered Manila?

That's what I found so funny, someone on as manilalover complaining about thailand

Um, not sure what a BOSET is to be honest.

Been going offshore since 1991, but I have to say mainly on ships (ROV) so all I have had is a Survival cert and a medical. The rest is dependant on where and who you work for, by that time your employer is liable to getting you all that stuff surely?

One thing i will say is this year for the subsea side could start off very slow, as very few contracts have been awarded, well that's what my office is telling me, again SE Asia can be totally different from Africa or the North Sea. You might find your easist way in is with companies working in Africa, not many guys want to work there and often companies pay more, but be aware some places are well dodgy.

Well I live in a Moo Bahn just on the edge of Chiang Mai and just behind the house there is an overgrown area with a couple of ponds. Usually I see keelbacks out there when I try a little fishing. But this guy was right in the yard checking us out.

Lucky you

I am not a great fan of snakes, have been know to run like a girl when I see one

About time , not that obese people are not wonderful human beings , it just sucks to have to sit next to a sweaty heavy breathing pig.

I agree and they should not stop there, start fining pax who cannot get up without pulling on the seat in front, god that annoy's me

I just finished up an Esaan wedding last week. Every situation has it's own story. Each couple makes the decision how it goes. Monks, lay monks or no monks. We had a lay monk. Low cost, and her and village choice. If you are loaded, get nine monks and have bigface as they say up here. The ceremony was beautiful, simple, and required two venues as it started in one house and ended in the other. Depends on the couple and families. The big deal, the party, is all about controlling bigface expenditures,. Learn how to say no and limit your liability. Don't blow big baht for bigface,. Pick a number and draw the line. When the beer, and Thai whisky runs out DO NOT BUY MORE, and then the freeloaders will go home, not until then. I stopped at a modest 10000, fed the mutitudes and flowed a lot of leo beer. Everyone was happy. The other house sis about the same money and that party went 24 hours. So, watch yourself, enjoy the experience and don't be another ATM. Sounds like you have a good woman and a good situation,m as I do . best of luck.

Very sound advice there, I agree about not being embarrased about being carefull, a similar situation just happened to me in Ubon last week.

Take the money away and it all collapses like a pack of cards.

Absolutely (same goes for the PAD i might add).

It's a fight for power - nothing to do with the greater good of the country as some members would have you believe - and money is what fuels it. Take away the money and everyone goes back home and gets on with living their lives.

This might have been the case a few years ago, but I do feel there is a sense of frustration with the common every day folk. I have heard thai's talk about leaders in a way i have never dreamed of before and we live in an age of information, where the truth is not easily conceled. Give the Thai people a little respect, they have their own future at stake here and a lot are pissed of with the current status quo.

I really dont think the basic Thai's living out in Isarn working from sunrise to sunset out in his farm gives a flying shit about how comfortable a farang is sitting at his pool.

They were being asked to?

Truth is, no Thai, whether that be a rich city banker or a humble rural farmer, has to in any way give a "flying shit" about what any foreigner thinks or feels. Maybe i'm just lucky. The ones i meet do.

My quote was not intended to be directed personally but as a general view from those in this country who have had little if no contact with a farang and belive me there's quite a lot of them. However like you say, it's like anyone who has a one on one relationship or friendship with another race or nationality views on that race and nationality will change.

How many active members ? How many never posted anything ?

Must admit not posted much on here, as I have not got enough time and was posting elsewhere before... but I find Thai Visa the most informative for those who live in Thailand.

Be carefull, some companies like Amazon or Play.com will not deliver CD's, DVD's or such like to Thailand, not sure why. But what I have done before for software has been getting it delivered to my address abroad and then having it mailed to me. You will get charged Duty at the post office sometimes (depends on their mood I guess), but it's not much.

Civil War comes to Thailand..?? Brilliant. Another simply EXCELLENT way to highlight the country around the world!

Bye-bye tourists for another season..!!!

R.I.P Thailand

Paramilitary are illegal!

Shove them in the slow house, until the trial in 2 - 3 years!

This is the best way to keep the tourists away.

Very good for the economy.

I really dont think the basic Thai's living out in Isarn working from sunrise to sunset out in his farm gives a flying shit about how comfortable a farang is sitting at his pool. A vast majority of them out there are genuinely pissed off by being disenfranchised from the wealth that is being created and kept by a few in Thailand. Pure and simple.

The reason they voted for Thaksin even with all his faults was because he was the 1st to stand up for them, even though most regard him as corrupt, but they regard all of governing figures to be corrupt. However will side with the ones which are going to help the basic man on the street, who's basic day to day life has not improved. This country is too divided right now between those who live off others and those who work.

I often wonder how many on this forum that attack the red shirts so vehemently have really tried understand the views of rural people ?

Seeing that majority (not all) of expats are based in and around big cities, I would say most would have very little understanding of rural life of the people there, apart from the times they had to transfer money for broken buffalo or sick aunty etc.

Apart from the Royal Cliff, is there anywhere else decent which is not going to attract a plague of balloon chassers. This is a special day, want to make it a special event.

See my posts above #10 and #23.

You won't get 'balloon chasers' when you have to pay for a Christmas Dinner.

The balloon chasers will be looking for the free pig-spit-roasts.

Thanks guys, for the suggestions

Hope you all have a Great Christmas and New Year

Anyone know if you are able to rent a motor home in Thailand. It would be a cool way to visit the inlaws up country.

Apart from the Royal Cliff, is there anywhere else decent which is not going to attract a plague of balloon chassers. This is a special day, want to make it a special event.

Thank's guy's, very helpfull forum. I am planning on going to Dubai with my Tilak for shopping week and was intrested in extending my O visa. This site was very helpfull.