featography

Disagree they do not taste the same some are much sweeter and others too much vinegar taste so consequently I have absconded with all the stock and hoarding it at my house.. It's an annual tradition for stock to run low this time of year as some may have noticed, so I bought out all the local ones I could find but still have a local Tops market that carries MY private stock!!! Hellmans is a close, acceptable, temporary substitute..

From the internet:

Mayonnaise/Miracle Whip

James Bond eats his lobster "with a good mayonnaise." (The book version of James Bond, that is.) If you've got a blender or a wire whisk w/strong arm, it's not hard to make your own. A good, homemade mayonnaise is truly worthy to dress lobster, or any other prime seafood or meat.

I'll give a recipe later on, but meanwhile let's talk about the eternal clash between mayonnaise and Miracle Whip.

Many people mistakenly believe they are the same thing. They are not. Bargain brands of either are also quite different than the original. The closest to homemade mayonnaise is Best Foods/Hellman's, and the next best is Kraft. Other brands differ widely in taste and texture. The cheaper you go, the farther you get from the taste of actual mayonnaise, which should be fluffy, eggy, and without noticeable vinegar. That's because you really do need to break some eggs to make real mayo, and the lesser varities tend to have less egg, and cheaper oils.

Miracle Whip is a unique product. It does seem to start out much like mayonnaise, but has additional sugar and vinegar, which defines it as a salad dressing. (mayo has no sugar, or a tiny amount) I've tried and failed to duplicate it my own kitchen.

I am a fellow mayo maniac. Hellmans and Best Foods are the same. In the eastern US you will find Hellmans most often, and in the western side, Best Foods. The problem arises for us farang in that in thailand most mayo is made for Thai, which love sugar. That concoction sold most, contains 22% sugar, whereas ours, right here in Thailand is more like mmm trying to remember,,,,,,something like 3%. It is correct that Tesco Lotus sells both, 22% and 3%, but in small squeeze bottles, usually mixed in with each other. Read the English ingredients, if not printed on the back labels, that is also hit and miss, have a Thai with you to read the Thai version, also on the back. I prefer Makro for mayo, you can get larger squeeze containers, and fill your own jars, and it is plainly marked on the front label, "Original Mayonaise", and easily verified on the back, showing the smaller % of sugar.

Between Makro, Foodland, and Tops, I have found the vast majority things that Tesco doesn't carry..

They clearly are in LOVE , and the feelings overcame them ! Nothing wrong with it except they are in the wrong place where it is against the law.

But wait !! What does the report say ?? 2 pm ??? The pictures show a NIGHTIME scenery ! It s 2 PAST MIDNIGHT ! Posters who claim Pattaya a family destination and are offended, should keep in mind that children are not allowed around the beach at this time of the day. Neither a "huge" crowd ! I bet the couple thought the nightfall would cover their act , but obviously the crowds are gathering quickly when they sniff action.

I can only congratulate our russian fellow people to their open minded, heartful behaviour !

The am and pm confuse many a Thai. I noticed a sign on the wall at Bangkok immigration that said, officers have lunch between 12am and 1am.

I hope they know that a couple hundered yards away there is a sewage drain that pupmps treated water out there. I wonder what crawly bacteria would work its way up you know what........

I suppose she will find out

Police said troops on duty found that the guns have gone missing...

Wow, must have been on some serious duty there.

Maybe they meant they were away, doing their duty (#1 and #2)

and they want to build a Nuclear Power Plant.

"Police! Police! We have some plutonium missing!"

How the hell can the weapons go missing, surely they have an Armoury?

Indeed, but your forgetting one vital thing....it is guarded by Thais zzzzzzzzz

Yes, lets investigate that heart medicine, shall we?

" He added that since the unrest sweeping the Arab world in early January, tourists from Europe have been changing their travel plans and Asia, especially Thailand, has been one of the main destinations. "

Does he mean that those millions of Europeans who were going to vacation in Arab countries, are now coming to Thailand Instead?

What a load of nionsense !

I know that some Brits like to vacation in Morocco, etc -- but the numbers are quite small.

Many Russians like to vacation in Egypt, but in most common classification, Russians are not considered European.

So, who are these Europeans who prefer the Thai style of protests over the Arab style of protests.

Americans, Canadians, Australians and the rest of Europe. Thai international maps show Thailand, Farangland, and each Asian country. I hope that answered your question

" He added that since the unrest sweeping the Arab world in early January, tourists from Europe have been changing their travel plans and Asia, especially Thailand, has been one of the main destinations. "

Does he mean that those millions of Europeans who were going to vacation in Arab countries, are now coming to Thailand Instead?

What a load of nionsense !

I know that some Brits like to vacation in Morocco, etc -- but the numbers are quite small.

Many Russians like to vacation in Egypt, but in most common classification, Russians are not considered European.

So, who are these Europeans who prefer the Thai style of protests over the Arab style of protests.

There is only 2 designations in Thai education; Thailand, and Farangland. Russia is on the same continent, so they must be Europeans

So, the correct question is who is pocketing 12.259 Billion of the Skywalk Project.

Most likely it will paid to the contractor who has to design the stand alone supports, arrange the construction right away, drive the piles probably some 30+ meters deep, build the scaffolding and forms, pour the concrete and install the steel structure for the parts of the skywalk that do not follow the existing BTS lines.

Most likely it will go to the snappy uniformed higher ups with all the fishing lures, Christmas tree decorations, scrambled eggs, parachutes, wings, rifles, stars and multicolor ribbons and bars jingling and jangling on their chests, shoulders and hats, who will designate who gets the contracts. We call that income, kickbacks.

The tax payers will pay, and the users (just watch) will pay again because they will install toll gates.

Would not surprise me if the planners were avid Sci Fi enthusiasts. Install aerial foot, rail transportations, attached to buildings, to keep the working class, employers, upper class dwellers safe, and keep the low lifes, criminals, rats, dogs, cats, garbage, hawkers on the street. Keep the crime and filth on the street, and the populace with money can travel safe above it all. Kinda reminds you of movies like Blade Runner, doesn't it?.

What a surprise. Expect no less from Thaksin. Thailand cannot live without Thaksin

Charles DeGaulle syndrome?

I dont know much about Sukhumvit Rd, but the Kings Royal Garden Inn next door to Thai Chinese Commerce building on Sathorn Rd (nearby) is a perfect place for the wife and me. The desk will automatically assume you want the 1200B room, but if you ask for the 900B room there's very little difference between the 2. Has hot water, cable, tv, refrigerator, swimming pool and indoor gym on the roof, a family mart ground floor facing the street, with the BTS right outside, same side of street. The rooms are very quiet, low traffic inside, taxi meters, taxi motorbikes and tuk tuks, by the scores, going by outside. We've been there many times and always the service has been great. They offer some kind of complimentary breakfast, but have never endulged. I prefer to sleep past the cut of time, walk out the front door, walk to the BTS stairs, to the food stall between hotel and neighboring building. What I found a good thing, is no matter how far you go, the skytrain takes you back right to the hotel door, and all taxis know where Thai CC building is. Getting into a taxi, only need say Thai CC kruhp. Between you and me, I hope all the TV members call me a high roller too, and make jokes about this place. I really don't want to see the place over run by farang

Thank you all for kind words. Strange thing about all this, is that if it happened back home no one would even mention it, as it is basically common courtesy. It is sort of sad to me that in Thailand it is considered out of the ordinary to help an injured person. I am not bashing Thai people here, but one has only to read this thread to see what I am talking about. Basically I love Thailand and Thai people, but to be honest, how many people on forum would really say they would rather be lying on the road injured here than they would back home, wherever that is? Unless maybe they are from Cambodia.

As for h2o dunce statement about badge, which actually is called a shield, when people retire from law enforcement in US they generally are given a retired police shield. It says retired clearly, along with rank you retired at, which in my case was lieutenant. Yes i know I am not a cop here and have no authority. However the fact is this shield has been every useful. It has gotten me out of two potentially costly situations while driving, where what with me being a farang and therefore always at fault, nevertheless the other parties, who in both cases were Thai, upon seeing the shield in my wallet, just ran away from the scene. I guess this is due to the usual Thai reluctance to get involved with any kind of police. Also, since it is NY police shield, I usually get decent treatment from Thai police and immigration, since they all seem to like American police tv shows and movies. I am not saying this is right or wrong, it is just the way it is.

Possibly I can justify the dunce's statement about the badge. Non American farang have issues with Americans. Secondly, It is common knowledge that Thai authorities have more respect for American professionals. In your case it is what we call back home, "Professional courtesies" than other farang. True you don't have any authority, or pull any weight here, but you are given above norm respect by Thai for your class position in life, and the fact that you are a trained professional in an admired country by thai. Unlike others, Thai authorities understand that when you retired, you didnt lose all those years of experience and knowledge. I am no retired cop, but I am a 28 yr. career retireee from one of the 2 largest small package delivery companies in the world, and whenever BIB target me while driving, I have no hesitation pulling out the photos of me next to my delivery truck, in uniform from work. This does get a mutual respect as a driver, and I dont pay tea money or get tickets that stick. Twice, to save face BIB issued them, and I drove to the police dept with pictures, drivers license, company id card, and wife, the translater, and both times the tickets were retracted. I keep it humble and polite, but am firm in letting authority know that I know Thai driving laws, have decades of experience as a pro, and obey them.

So pull the shield when necessary, and alway cover your a$$, and alway turn deaf to pak mah farang.

As for h2o dunce statement about badge, which actually is called a shield, when people retire from law enforcement in US they generally are given a retired police shield. It says retired clearly, along with rank you retired at, which in my case was lieutenant. Yes i know I am not a cop here and have no authority. However the fact is this shield has been every useful. It has gotten me out of two potentially costly situations while driving, where what with me being a farang and therefore always at fault, nevertheless the other parties, who in both cases were Thai, upon seeing the shield in my wallet, just ran away from the scene. I guess this is due to the usual Thai reluctance to get involved with any kind of police. Also, since it is NY police shield, I usually get decent treatment from Thai police and immigration, since they all seem to like American police tv shows and movies. I am not saying this is right or wrong, it is just the way it is.

Is garnering preferential treatment for oneself the main purpose of these badges, or is it just a perk to be used at one's own discretion?

I guess at the end of the day if you are comfortable with the idea that you deserve to be treated differently, that's good for you.

Now now, theres no need to be insulting, just cuz youre jealous.

Good work. You did pretty much all you could. You can sleep well tonight (hopefully).

Not surprisingly, no one said thank you or anything at all,

After five years here it really does astound me that Thais have this view of themselves as kind, compassionate, friendly, superior people.

Amazing.

Ya I've never seen this compassion and kindness that others speak of here, only the exact opposite and quite constantly. Although the fact that other people did help and called an ambulance is a good sign. Good for you op, you're my hero in a land that desperately needs em.

And there may lie the underlying problem with Thai. They go generations between Heroes.

I agree with the shirt on vote. I'm surprised that you have been here 7 years and don't understand the clothes on/off custom. It doesn't matter what the Thai kids down the road do, farlang are expected to show respect. It's not our country.

I saw a Russian girl in Pattaya Big C some time ago wearing a G string and a way too small bikini top, casually doing her shopping. Lovely body, but if the stares could talk, no-one was impressed with her disregard for custom.

Made your day?

Pictures d@#%^%# it We want proof.

Yes he should wear a shirt whilst driving the car and the older you get the more reasons to do so (even if you are slim and dont have a pair of man boobs) for me its part of growing up and maturity.

Once when walking up Shukumvit I fell in line behind a shirtless wide vehicle the smell was overpowering. When I looked down on his calf he had a football tatoo from my home town, I felt ashamed to be from the same town as him. He was also drinking a can of Singha this was 10:30 in the morning! takes all.

Thank you for not posting a picture.

Thais DO expect farangs to be better than them so being respectable in dress is expected. So if confronted by a cop, especially an officer, which can happen any day, then one should be dressed to show respect and get respect otherwise it will upset. The beach is different.

My mrs won't let me out to town in shorts , says not respectable for farang.

I agree they probably do expect more from us, but they don't just pick on foreigners. My old girlfriend got sent home when she showed up in a pair of jeans and a T shirt to apply for her passport.

Wow, that is a bit strong.

But l have noticed that when the mrs and l go to government place they always give you the visual once over. Must admit l sometimes wear a pink shirt with the Kings crest on it and always get first class treatment. What's the saying, every little helps.

..... and do u put ur balls in wife's purse

Only the smart men do. Ever notice how vigilant and diligent a Thai woman guards, defends, and kills to protect her purse??? No safer place for a man's balls. that concludes todays lesson in;

Thai 101

Thais DO expect farangs to be better than them so being respectable in dress is expected. So if confronted by a cop, especially an officer, which can happen any day, then one should be dressed to show respect and get respect otherwise it will upset. The beach is different.

My mrs won't let me out to town in shorts , says not respectable for farang.

My wife agrees with your wife. Farang are guests in this country, and should follow all the customs out of respect, and we should be honoring our wives by looking good. We are a reflection on our wives, so dudes!!!! make your wife proud to be married to you. Wear a shirt in public, wear collared shirt and long pants in govt. buildings. When we look good, do good, our wives have pride, not embarrassment around the natives.

"Compelling Reasons to return to Thailand" are the magic words. Evaluate her chances by making a list of her compelling reasons to return, ranking them from most important downward. Then use your own judgement as to the quality of the reasons. The interviewer is mandated by law to start the interview process with the assumption she will overstay and it is up to her to prove to him otherwise.

Money, ownership of land and the like are not compelling reasons to return.

Your long stay in Thailand in the past and into the future can be compelling if your relationship with her is strong and well documented. The question remains, why you haven't married her after so long a time with her.

Yes her visa chances increase if you married her.

Yes her visa chances increase if you have long stay visa in Thailand, have an established domicile in Thailand and she has a job of long standing to return to. Having and caring for her children, if any, also is a compelling reason to return. Purpose of trip, whether you will accompany her etc. are critical questions.

There are many threads on this subject in Thaivisa.

There are soo many conflicting opinions about the US tourist visa.

She graduated uni, but has no job. No kids. We rent a house and finance a car. Just regular stuff. We have been talking about getting married but we have been stalling because we cant decide what US Visa to apply for. Know what I mean?

Well I think we will apply again after we get married and I change my visa. I really thought we had it in the bag and im still REALLY annoyed about the whole thing.

Marry in Thailand is cheaper, easier, and recognized legally in US. Marry here, later marry someone else in US without a legal divorce here, you are still guilty of bigamy. In 2007, my legal with marriage papers, wife applied at Bkk US consulate. She said it was demeaning how she was treated, but being a, shall I say, persistent, strong willed woman, prevailed and got a tourist visa. I accompanied her but stood away from her while she talked to 2 people, first an American young man, no problem, expedited her to the next window quickly and was very polite and professional, speaking excellant Thai, where she got a Thai young woman, who confused my wife with her English skills. At that point, wife turned, signaled for me to come over, and I asked the lady what was the problem. Lady said, she asked wife where is my home. Wife said US, and that gave the impression that I was there visiting. I explained to her that just like with Thai when you ask someone where home is, the answer refers to family home where one grew up. In that context, US is my home, but I showed her my drivers license and said I was retired and reside full time here in Thailand. The lady lost a little face there, but we had documents showing the wife owned a late model car, paid for, bought before I moved here, owned the home we live in, bought before I got here, owns her own RESPECTABLE business, started before I got here, had photos of her entire family, and farm,showing she owned a segment of it, and explained we are only going to the US for a vacation so my wife can meet my family.WE are returning HOME to Thailand. With egg on her face, the lady granted the visa, we went to the US for a month. Incidentally, as one poster misunderstands, a tourist visa is not for an extended period of time, the wifes showed 6 mos, but rather that shows the window of time that the tourist can use the visa to travel to the US. It is misleading the way it appears on the stamp in passport, but upon clarification later at the consulate, found the later to be the case.

Suggestion, be legally married here, show every document she has pertaining to her, and showing reason to trust that she will return, and not abondon you once she is on US soil. If she has an average education, is under 40, these raise flags with the consulate, like it or not, fair or not, that is the way it is.

I will say that my "adopted" Thai daughter, university degree, speaks perfect Australian English applied in person at the same consulate to visit US on a tourist visa. She said they gave her the same indignity, as the wife got with the woman there, but, in the case of "adopted" daughter, she was alone for the interview, had a Thai passport with all the Asian country visa stamps in it from representing her employer on many many business trips. She doesnt own a home, but rents, didnt own a car at the time, but showed family ties here. She got the visa that day, and has been back to the US 2 more times since then.

Sorry to make this a novelette.

Why not clear the damned footpaths of vendors - far cheaper...

They will when the skywalk is finished. All the vendors will all relocate there, making room for a new generaton of lower seniority vendors to take their place on the sidewalks. Don't cha just love progress, ThaiSty!!

quote; “Having a field trip or educational tour at the year end may help solve the problem somewhat."

Excuse me!?!?!? A field trip to where and to do what?

[

How does this make sense? CO2 in their rooms? thailand doesnt have the same issues with heaters killing people from CO2 as they do in the US. There is no CO2 producing equipment in the rooms. It make more sense that the woman died in bed and them the man decided to drop his body. Doesnt it get tiring from comments by those continuously complaining about thailand and its ways. Just go home and be quiet. It makes the forum so boring to read even when there is something interesting on here. perhaps the forum should be split up into 2 parts. the jokers and complainers - and the positive contributors. in the real world thats usually the kind of people who hang out with each other.

Wrong side of bed old chap?

For the record, Carbon Monoxide is CO. Carbon Dioxide is CO2

Based on my education, I would sumise that this poor couple died of CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING..... it would fit every piece of this seemingly unidentifiable puzzle. Carbon monoxide is odourless, slow acting ,and has the efect of putting people into a sleep followed by coma, then death. Perhaps the police should concentrate on items removed and professional/business interests and monetary gains by possible competitors. RIP to these poor people.

I've stayed at Downtown Inn a few times - don't recall anything there that would provide the carbon monoxide to kill anything.

No gas heaters & no chance of parking the car in the room.

Possibly they've just had their time.

We have had mysterious, non violent deaths in rooms before, in Thailand. I've read more than once, it being blamed on toxic air from the a/c units, that go too long being cleaned and serviced. They are just as susceptable to virus', bacterea, whatever it is that blows on unsuspecting customers, it is fast acting and lethal. Sorry I don't remember exactly what came out of the past ones that killed people in the rooms, but do remember the blame fell on the a/c units.

My sincere condolences to the family. On another note, I am not so sure that the powers that be are anywhere near 100% responsible for not following up or finding causes to peoples' demise. I put 2 cents on the snooze media being the ones that don't follow up on the results.

I feel so sorry for those teachers , once again those bus drivers really need to receive proper training for road safety and how to use a bus. You cannot wake up in the morning and pretend to be a bus driver like this .

RIP for those who died .

There's 19 deaths in 2 seperate minivan accidents within 24 hours. How many did the hi so brat kill on the toll way,,,, 7-9?...for a total of 3 seperate minivan accidents and what 26+ deaths?

Come on Bureau of Land Transportation,

Come on traffic police,

Come on politicians, clean it up;

Or is this thai way of population control?