papajohn

Thanks, you just reminded me I'm due for a change again...can you repost every 6 months or so? LOL

I really miss my mommy, have to change my own nappies now

I like the direction the dollar seems to be heading this year. I hope it continues in it's upward trend.

I like you have been waiting for a return to a better return . The baht was at 39 to the buck when I arrived. Went down to 30 alarming !! Been looking around at other

places on my list and PI appears to be a better place to retire . The peso was on par

with the baht 39-40 to the buck. Now the peso is 49 while the baht is holding in the lower 30's. Big lose in real money in comparison. I love Thailand but when it comes down to cost of living and the demands of Immigration each year for long stay the

PI looks very appealing. Sawatdee Kup

Have exactly the same problem, often it disconnects after just 5 seconds!

Currently on the road and using Dtac, hope it gets resolved quickly, because for me (read in my area) AIS is a fair bit faster then Dtac.

Thanks for the education folks nice feedback. I guess you saved my stuff.

I will muddle thru and try to mellow out. Will try some of the ideas.

Sawatdee Kup

Had this service for a couple years, slow but dependable. The last 2 weeks

I keep getting disconnected after 2 or 3 minutes !!! Very annoying !!!

I was wondering if anyone on this service has this problem before I chuck the

Nokia and computer out the window. Feed back welcome. thanks

Have been watching the Thai Public Service ads on WeTv lately.

I don't understand Thai that well but the visuals get the message

across. The ads address many issues, wife abuse, drunk driving, bad

behavior in Thai bars etc. Kudos to the company that produces the ads.

They do it in a light but strong way and the message is made. Sad but true.

It was indeed a beautiful sight, but it hurt my neck muscles, having to look up so high in the night-sky to see it.

Could not the government or U.N. pass a new law, or international-treaty perhaps, to make the moon stay closer to the horizon and hence easier to view ? This might assist local tourism !

You have to get off the bar seat to enjoy the view! Don't hurt yourself!

The UN could pass a resolution but like most resolutions from the UN it

is worthless.

Very nice of you Bean.

Restores my faith in that there are still decent humans in the world.

Canadians....we's good people eh?

Only when the Bruins are wiping thier ass in the forum!

Robert Orr lives forever as a BRUIN.

The Master

Ya, Bobby Orr, The greatest thing to come out of our friends in Canada since Molsons Golden Beer.

I was in the Garden and saw him score 'That winning shot in the playoffs" he was air borne on the shot, talk about dedication !!! He is my kids hero Thanks Canada.

Thanks gpdjohn for the flashback

I have lived in Pai four years so far and I have never seen anyone I would call a 'hippy', maybe a few 'old farts' passing through but no hippies. Maybe Chiang Mai could send some up to satisfy the lookers and add a bit of colour to the town!!

Colin

You must be a "young fart"

After reading the last post I went outside. It's only 6:25 PM but it's already beautiful.

Cold hearted orb that rules the night,

Removes the colors from our sight,

Red is grey and yellow white,

But we decide which is right.

And which is an illusion ?

"Late Lament"--Nights in white satin,

Moody Blues

Greenside, You are an awesome photographer!

Great pic, I can see McDonalds Double CheeseBurger to go!

Well, the Foremost milk I used to pay 55 B or so for a couple yrs ago was up to about 68 B by 12/07 and now it's frikking 84 B per container!! Taking the Farang to the cleaners unless the cows have cut back their supplies. And me thinks not. Btw, lat week Tesco had the milk marked down with their red slash pricetags: From 84.25 --> 84 Baht only Wow ! Why bother ?!

Your right, the dairy mafia is out of control here. I like cheese as much

as the next guy, I am not a conersewer of cheese I like packaged cheese.

Kraft or a local brand I forget the name, silver and blue pack. 16 slice

to a 1 lb package Lotus. In 6 months Kraft (imported) went from B175 to B250

the local guys followed from B160 to B245. At first I say it is cost of transport

because of petrol price. The buggers have gone up B30 in the last month while petrol has gone down. <deleted>.

I stop buying cheese, I can live without !! I hope they eat a ton of their own cheese and die of clogged arteries. Shelf items with an expire date are vulnerable to consumer demand. Just stop buying for awhile and watch the price drop!!

Since farang appear to be the only market for cheese, not a favorite of Thais,

We are subject to "FAT" Farang Added Tax", Screw Em stop buying !! Rant over

Sawatdee Kup

The big news is the appointment system, but I am fine with that. Might even cut down on the waiting.

I have always found them helpful and informed. The middle aged American lady with reddish hair was very helpful. Even the Thai staff is efficient.

SSA noticed my Thai address and automatically decided I did not want Medicare premiums deducted. For SSA questions, it is best to call the experts at the embassy in Manila.

You are right on the money Blondie, The folks in PI have a good reputation

for helping expats in S.E. Asia. Both SSA and VA affairs can be addressed

thru them.

Mail: Social Security Admin Division

or: Dept. of Veterans Affairs

U.S. Embassy Building

1131 Roxas Blvd, Ermita

0930 Manila, Philippines,1000

Telephone: (632) 301-2000

Fax (632) 301-2017

I have been reading forums about PI as a fall back position in case things go belly-up here. I pray not but one must be prepared

Sawatdee Kup

One of the few reasons to be happy I live in the US now, I don't have to deal with these idiots anymore...

Actually in 2 visits in 2 years I found them helpful. I, like you, try to avoid any

contact with any government agencies. It's our freedom loving nature I guess.

The woman at the service window has many answers to questions and is very efficient. You yanks that have early retirement with SSA be aware that when

you reach 65 the SSA starts taking about $100.00 a month out of your check for Medicare. The catch is Medicare does not cover you outside the USA !!! You must go to the Consulate for a form, fill it out and mail to the SSA in the states to cancel the medicare. SSA will do nothing for you over the telephone. Do this before your 65th birthday. Sawatdee Kup.

Got your heart beating again but is true, the consulate will be closed

on Thursday, January 20,2009 for 1 day. More important starting February 10,2009

an appointment must be made, no walk in service. check it out @

http://chiangmai.usconsulate.gov/ hope I got the link right, your tix for the inaugural

ball are in the mail

<br />

This thread proves that it doesn't matter what VISA-regulations they enforce, there will always be scum being able to wiggle their way through.

<br /><br /> <img src="style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="laugh.gif" /> <img src="style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="laugh.gif" /> <img src="style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="laugh.gif" /> <img src="style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="laugh.gif" /> correct<br />

I agree, the scum will pay in the end, the Karma of Thailand is quite strong. A balcony fall or a chalk outline on the road or a visit from the BIB. Best you head home to your mama.

Holiday Inn buffet. I selected

1. Oysters on the half shell
   
2. crab
   
3. lobster
   
4. smoked salmon
   
5. salmon sashimi
   
6. cheeses
   
7. lamb
   
8. rabbit
   
9. 6 kinds of dessert
   
10. champagne
    

Too full after all that to even look at the rest of the offerings.

I went to the Holiday Inn too (Bangkok).

The staff were very good. The buffet selection was wide (didn't see any beef though), particularly good were the starters and desserts (although the Xmas pudding & custard wasn't 'proper') and no roast potatoes or yorkshire to go with my turkey...

1100 baht for buffet (coffee included, but no other drinks). I paid 200 baht more for a glass of Chilean white (very nice).

It was good, but I'll try somewhere else next year (Landmark is better - I should have taken Corkscrew's advice and gone this year...)

Despite a Thai santa it didn't feel very Xmassy (WWF playing on the three giant TV's...), and I always get depressed here over Xmas / New Year.

I've got six days New Year holiday, maybe I'll head up to CM.

Did you have the staff as dessert ?

I was invited to dinner too.

The menu was limited compared to you all.

openers : Roasted Cricket w/ chili

Loy Kroy Centipede W/chili--a heart stopper!!

Hang Dong Frog, fried to perfection

Entree : Cow Afterbirth in a lite and savory garlic.

served with 4 kinds of grass and leaves. breathless !!

followed by Pigs blood soup, always a delite.

and of course, sticky rice.

Dessert: generous rounds of Sang Som and beer Chang

to help you forget what you just ate.

Turkey Smurky, I can see Doi Suthep even at night !!

Happy Holidays to all. Peace on Earth, what an elusive thing !!

Sawatdee Kup.

Nice pic. Is it a self-portrait?

I think you completely missed the point of my original posts TingTongrb. Hardly surprising. Some people are completely devoid of any cop on.

My sympathies on your mother's passing but even more so for your poor wife who isn't called Rosie.

Unfortunately for you I live in CM but I don't think our paths will ever cross since you seem to be glued to your keyboard. Let's hope they never do for your sake. Happy New Year.

I guess Christmas is over, HUMBUG !!

Very Strange story here, maybe I miss something, I don't have to much trust in the Thai Police, but with a Brit Gov Rep at his side and a few Bahts to the boys in Khai he should have walk free in the first place. HMMMMMMMMM!

I am glad to see your post !! It is tripe like this that dummies in other

countries think is the norm here. I see a lot of it here on TV and it is pure BS.

The Thai cops are inept and all are on the take gives a very wrong picture to

the readers.

The story is not strange, it happens here. In the TPD office is a BIG sign

that states that " you are making a statement of fact and it will be investigated

and you will be prosecuted for false statements" ( sic). If you make a false report

and sign it thinking you put one over on your insurance company you are in deep

kim chee if caught. The TPD give the tourists plenty of respect and expect same.

I was surprised that they took him to his room at the GH, most times they radio a car to check out the room for the reported "lost" items. When you sign the police report it gives them legal right to investigate. Yes I believe this article. My question is where is the THAI TERROR ? This is an example of a CRY BABY generation that

thinks that they can get away with fraud by making fools of another country.

To those of you who believe the crap you read here "beware" you could end up

doing hard time ( not terror) poor baby. If you want real terror go to Afganistan or the middle east or Africa.

Happy Holidays

Sometimes we forget we all LIVE ON THE SAME Planet !

So nationalism and our human things and nonsense are all shit .

Being ignorant is another thing ofcourse .

Just ask any of the 1 billion Muslims. Do the live on the same planet?

Great action shots, are you a pro? I enjoyed Driver #70 showing how much he love Thailand. Thanks mate

Loud Tuk-Tuks.....How can you even ask?

It's because the guys enjoy it along with the shouting salespeople in supermarkets, the all night Karaoke, the "entertainment" on buses, the performers in your local moo-ka-ta (sp?), the village Head Man who reaches for the mike at 6.30, the dogs (but only after midnight), the announcements at the airport, the monk with the loudhailer, the monk with the mike, the purgatory that's the waiting area for the movies at Airport Plaza, the Boys with the Bikes and I could go on....

The only time when I'm surprised is when I ask my girlfriend, happily watching the subtitles of an English movie on TV, to turn the volume up above a whisper and she says "What's the matter? Are you going deaf?"

Gere lau...

Yep!

Excellent observations, ya gotta laff or you'd cry, it is AMAZING !! Leave the tuk-tuks alone. They are a landmark in CM.

Mike Hunt, think about it. Up there with Ben Dover, Wayne Kerr and Tess Tickle. Have you tried to Google your name Kevin? Some interesting hits. Apparently you are quite famous.

World famous in Chiang Mai. They've never heard of me in Uttaradit but I'm world famous here.

Sorry , I forgot. I'll say it from now on, now that I know who I'm dealing with ......

'That was a joke'.

May I have a glass of H2O. please ? Now that I know who I'm dealing with

Mine's my boy.

As already mentioned, using your real, full name on a forum is just not a good idea, but hey, think yourself lucky mum and dad didn't name you Mike!

I thought TV made him put in "evin" otherwise ????? Mixed company

ya know

My real name is SUE, how do you do. Dad was a joker, loved Johnny Cash,

its been uphill ever since. Guess he wanted a girl.

Papajohn was given to me by my Thai friends, Kinda like it.

I see a big smiley face looking S/W from the window.

Truly something to see Amazing !! Thanks for the planet info I had

Jupitor but Venus ( The Goddess of love ) fooled me again

Been watching CNN and the reporter from Bangkok Airport said " and gangs of red shirts are roaming the streets of Chiang Mai " what a load of crap, TAT shoud file a deformation suit against CNN for

irresponsible reporting. The only "gang" that I saw was a high school marching band going around the moat, a delight, they played rather well. A P.S. to above, the travelers at the airport were good natured and glad to see people that could help them in there native language. All is calm in CM. If anyone on TV sees a gang of red shirts roaming the streets please post and I will retract.