thailien8

If Somchai would do his part to avoid bloodshed, by resigning and dissolving parliament, then I think PAD would honor their pledge and stop the protest. What I hope would follow is an election campaign in which PAD does not run as a political party, but instead allies with the Democrat party and its candidate for PM, Abhisit. If the Democrats can manage to put forth a platform that offers something to the poor folks in the north and NE, they might just be able to win the next election.

From Bangkok Post yesterday, Nov. 20, on page 4: An extreme example of how the current strife is affecting Thai families:

Dad, daughter united in political extremes

WASSANA NANUAM

Despite warnings from her father of bombs being thrown at anti-government demonstrators, Khattiyaa Sawadipol refuses to stay away from the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) protests.

This puts her in direct political opposition to her father, Khattiya Sawadipol, known as Seh Daeng, even though she still lives in the same house with the man who is a hardline opponent of the PAD and who has threatened bomb attacks on its rallies.

Maj-Gen Khattiya, an army specialist, has warned of a possible full-scale war at Government House that would include nightly attacks with hand and rifle grenades. That makes his only daughter a target if the threat is carried out.

"I am not afraid. Whatever will be will be," said Miss Khattiyaa.

The 27-year-old legal adviser at Siam Premier Law joined the PAD demonstration shortly after Government House was occupied as she opposes the government's attempt to rewrite the constitution and have a new parliament built in the Kiakkai area where she lives. She was close to the clash site between police and demonstrators during the crackdown near parliament on Oct 7.

She said she does not agree with everything the PAD stood for, but some issues were significant enough for her to join the demonstration. If people have political disagreements but opt not to demonstrate, Thai politics will never improve, she said.

Despite her father's fierce opposition to the PAD, Miss Khattiyaa said he had never tried to prevent her from joining the protests and that she would never be able to persuade him to change his political views.

"Dad has his own way. He is my father, whom I respect. But when it comes to political stances, no one can be forced [to change]," she said.

She lives with her father at their house in the compound of the 4th Cavalry Battalion Royal Guards in the Kiakkai area. Though they live under the same roof, they do not discuss politics.

"At home, my dad is lovely. He always makes me happy. Without mom, I have only my dad left. He is everything to me.

"Despite our differences, we need not fight. We must be open-minded and respect each other's freedom," she said.

Miss Khattiyaa said she only asked her father once not to use force against the demonstrators, following his warning of bombings at the PAD sites.

"If I am going to the demonstration, I will tell him I will be there so that I will be safe," she said.

Maj-Gen Khattiya told her she had to take care of herself at the rally site.

"I told her if she was there, she had to take care of herself. I can't help it if she is hit by a bomb or an RPG.

"I lit a joss stick and told my wife, who passed away four years ago, that the nation was more important than a daughter. I can reproduce another child but the country cannot be reproduced," he said.

Miss Khattiyaa thanked her father for inspiring her to become enthused with politics. She said he had always discussed politics with her and that finally sparked her political interest. She also used to be a secretary to Puea Pandin party leader Suvit Khunkitti.

She said she started going to the rallies with friends who are fellow law graduates from George Washington University in the United States.

Apart from joining PAD demonstrations, she also donates to the ASTV television station that broadcasts PAD protests.

Miss Khattiyaa admitted she was concerned about other people knowing she is Maj-Gen Khattiya's daughter.

"I wouldn't like to join the protest and hear others curse my dad. Naturally I have hard feelings because I am his daughter. I'd just like to be there as an ordinary person," she said.

I invite any table tennis players to hit with me on the table in my condo building, Monterey Place, near Queen Sirikit Center MRT station. I played with the OP, Paulo, but he is too expert for me, tho we did have an excellent hour. I am retired, so can play almost any time. The table here is always free. If you would like to play, please PM me. Thanks

It was sad that the first location of Sports Academy had to close, as it was the best pool hall I've ever played in. But the new location, above the famous Thermae Coffee House on Sukhumvit between sois 13 and 15, is almost as good. Great tables, good house cues, good farang management, cute girls, some very good players. They have sorted out the smoking problem that plagued the first location, as now all smoking can be done outside on the balcony. So the inside is smoke-free!

Hourly charge for a table is 240 baht, with an attentive and attractive table attendant to hand you the rest, rack your balls, and refill your drinks. But I would like to give a special plug to the challenge table, the table nearest the entrance door. The owner is keen on keeping this table available for players who don't have a partner, come alone and would like to get a game. It's a good deal. Just write your name on the chalkboard, settle down to watch the action with your drink, and pretty soon it will be your turn at the table to play the winner of the previous game. If you win, it's free, and you continue playing as long as you win. If you lose, you pay only 20 baht, and can write your name again to play again soon. It's a good way to meet some new friends over the pool table. Some lovely ladies like to play on the challenge table, and they can play pretty well too.

I went there today, and greatly enjoyed watching the wall-to-wall action! Will definitely go back for more this week. Yes, it's free, and features great bowlers from dozens of countries. It's bowling's Olympic Games. The venue is SF Strike Lanes, on the 7th floor of The Mall shopping center, on Ngam Wong Wan Road at the junction with Pracha Chun Road, in the southeast corner of Nonthaburi. It's easy to get to. Take either BTS Skytrain to Morchit station, or MRT Subway to Phahon Yothin station and grab a taxi to The Mall Ngam Wong Wan. The meter should read about 70 baht when you arrive.

If you like bowling, but have never seen a top-class tournament live, don't miss this chance. The action goes morning, afternoon and evening through Saturday Aug. 30. Bring your camera.

Thanks for the good advice to arrive early at Suan Plu. On July 31, I got there at 8:10 and was given number 909. It was 8:40 when the first non-business number, 900, was called. Only two officers seemed to be working, so progress was slow. Meanwhile, the room was filling up with people who faced a much longer wait than me. With only nine people ahead of me, my number was finally called at 10:05. I had everything in order, so the retirement visa renewal was quick and painless. I had my stamp for another year by 10:20.

Does anyone know what is the latest time one can get a number at Suan Plu for retirement visa extension, and get served the same day?

Just to bring this up again as the police are around and warning bars etc 31st is the day they will be back, so looks like we gotta fall into line now!

maybe not a bad thing!

chris

In fact, a very good thing! May 31 is World No Tobacco Day. Thai police could not have picked a better day to "be back" and make the hold-out law-breaking bars "fall into line". So from now on, we can all breathe freely when we go out and spend our money in Thailand's nightlife venues. From what I've seen recently, the smoking ban is pretty much a done deal already. Almost all smokers are now outside in the heat and polluted air (not that this would bother them).

If any venues continue to tolerate smoking indoors, please remember that there is a 24-hour number to report violations of this law: 02-590-3342.

"For instance, over the last few years, they have already reduced the licensing hours in Thailand. Will it stop there? Or will there be more reductions? All of these Buddha days and Election days when the bars can't open. I can never remember there being so many. And will it stop there?"

Well bojangles, neither you nor I know if "it" will stop "there". Could you clarify your paranoia a little for those of us who are delighted about the new anti-smoking law? What do you mean by "over the last few years, they have already reduced the licensing hours in Thailand."? Are you talking about the bar closing hours varying between 1 am. to 3 am.?

The Buddhist holidays have stayed pretty consistent over the two decades I have been in Thailand. I respect Buddhism and suggest you do also.

The election days, when selling alcohol is prohibited, have increased of late. I agree that this is a ridiculous, worse-than-useless law, alienating tourists and pissing off bar owners. But you are wrong to state that "the bars can't open." They can and do open. When they do, they present us non-smoking alcoholic bar addicts with a problem similar to the problem that the nicotine addicts must face every day from now on in Thailand. We are free to choose to enter a bar, and not drink alcohol (horrors) or smoke (joy). The girls are still there for us to enjoy. I do. So I guess my question is: Are you smokers able to enter a bar, not smoke, and enjoy the girls anyway? Or does the nicotine fit get in the way when you are starting to have fun? Is a cigarette more important to you than a girl?

"The main argument seems to be about having choice, you know that word "choice". Something that people who live in democratic societies take for granted. I'm in the UK and as you know these laws where introduced over here last july. I actually don't mind it, as when i go for a beer i don't smoke as near as much as i did before the ban. But that is not the point, establishments should be able to choose whether they want to be smoking or smoke free."

Yes, I agree with your point. When smokers ruled all the Thai bars, I often thought that if I were a bar owner, I would choose to run my bar as a non-smoking establishment. Actually, it surprised me that there did not seem to be any such venue in Thailand, or at least I never found one. Maybe I could have made a ton of money by owning the only such bar. But maybe not. A bar owner who chose to exclude the legions of smokers would likely lose money because I doubt that any smokers would patronize such a bar, even though they would be free to choose to come in, buy a drink, and not smoke. So, since all Thai bars used to be smoking bars, the only choice for a non-smoker was to endure the smoke, or stay away. Of course, by staying away, a non-smoker had to forfeit the pleasures of Thai nightlife, not a choice that I could make. So I chose to suffer the smoke, and enjoyed the lovely ladies.

I would have greatly appreciated having a choice. But there was no choice. All bars allowed smoking. There were no non-smoking bars. Understandably, all bar owners chose not to exclude any smoking customers. This was the norm.

Now the Thai government has stepped in, in its typically heavy-handed way, and banned smoking in all bars. Yes, this is draconian, and is anti-choice. But maybe smokers can think of this as a step toward needed compromise. After some time, hopefully the ideal world will be reached, wherein there are nightlife venues for smokers, and for those of us who prefer oxygen.

As BangkokWildcat so aptly put it:

"For all my adult life I've had to suck in secondhand smoke from mostly selfish smokers and have had to deal with the health ramifications from that. And before you say "It's your choice Mate, you don't have to frequent these establishments...blah blah blah" (sorry if I'm assuming you would say that) I discount that retort because I do like to go out and drink but I don't spit my waste onto other customers nearby. I don't fart in their faces, sneeze on their mouths, cough up their noses, shit on their heads, throw up on their clothes, etc. I do like to go out, drink, eat, and spend my money in entertainment venues and until now, almost every place had smokers.

I've had to bite my tongue, hold my breath, move my seat, and try (mostly in vain) to avoid the plumes of smoke blown my way (90% of the time smokers don't even try to blow their smoke away from nonsmokers) in a futile attempt to salvage whatever's left of my lungs."

As one of the Bkk. residents who enjoys the nightlife as much as he hates cigarette smoke, I too am very happy with the new law. In a way, it's non-smokers' revenge for countless times when smokers' rights came first. I agree with Wildcat's contention that:

"Having lived here for so long I'm well-aware that the crucial time in getting this law to be effective or not is already upon us. So I would advocate to all nonsmokers to boycott (unnamed smoking venues) at least until they abide by the anti-smoking law and it's up to them if they choose to economically punish the owner(s) for resisting it.

BTW, I would advocate this treatment for ALL places that refuse to honor the new law. Vote with your feet and mouth..."

Yes, my fear is that this new law might be ignored, forgotten, or bribed away (as often happens in enforcement-challenged Thailand), and after a while the previous situation where smokers rule all nightlife venues, while non-smokers suffer in silence, will be back again. So I'm doing what I can to help the new law take hold. Basically, I've been going to as many nightlife venues as I can, and simply asking at the door whether or not smoking is allowed inside. If yes, I make it clear that is why I am not going in. If no, I make sure to go in and spend some money. I don't get emotional. I just want them to know that some customers are paying attention.

That said, I also agree with Sunderland's opinion that:

"In some ways I think it would be reasonable to have bars that allow smoking and others that ban it. I would not be the only person who would choose to take my custom to the latter given the choice.

In a nutshell, I think that customers and service staff should be given the opportunity to go out on the town and drink and eat or go about their work in a smoke free atmosphere if they choose without being forced to sit outside or inhale something they consider to be detrimental to their long term health.

Similarly, I believe that smokers should have the right to sit in a smoke filled bar with other people who enjoy that atmosphere served by staff who are prepared to work in that environment without complaint or fear of lung cancer in the future."

Why should Thai nightlife be all smoking, or all non-smoking? Smokers need to smoke to enjoy themselves, just as non-smokers need to be able to breathe freely. I hope that some kind of compromise will work itself out over this important issue.

During the past week I've stopped at, or in, about 50 agogo bars in Pattaya and Bangkok. I ask the same question to the hello girls and guys outside each bar: "Smoking or no smoking?" Those who tell me that smoking is not allowed in their bar often do so in an apologetic way, as if they think I will be upset with the law being enforced. I make a little show of delight and enter the bar, tho sometimes not for long if some customer(s) inside are smoking anyway.

When my smoking question is answered affirmatively, the door person always does so with no apologies, assuming that I am asking because I am a smoker and want to break the law inside their bar. I get some satisfaction from showing my disappointment with their answer, giving a thumbs-down, and walking away.

I'm an American living and teaching in BKK for almost 7 years now. I've been back to the USA twice since I've left, and each time I was there I couldn't wait to return to Thailand. Things are so FUBAR there! Everyone I know has lost their job at least once since I've left, and one of my friends has given up looking for IT work because of outsourcing to India et al. I've thought about returning to make money, but what would I return to? I'd not be much better off than a Mexican crossing the border-no money, no healthcare, no car, no credit, and most important NO THAI GIRLFRIEND I'd only return if my family needs me. Corruption, pollution, traffic jams, poverty, crime, racism-are we talking about BKK or Los Angeles, Detroit, or New York? Living in Thailand isn't always easy, but for me the positives far outweigh the negatives.

Well said! Do you manage to save a little for retirement? OK if you're not, but I wasn't able to stomach the fear of being poor in Thailand with few options.

Well said indeed. I was "an American living and teaching in BKK for almost 7 years", back in '99. I was enjoying the process quite a lot at the time, and continued to teach here for 12 years total, until retirement became a possibility (thanks Mom and Dad!). Teaching English here is, IMHO, a good option for tortured souls like I was, caught up in the rat race in Farangland. I didn't have much money saved when I visited for the first time in 1991, and the Thai charm won me over. I got a TEFL certificate on my weekends that summer, took a deep breath, quit my boring job, sold my old car and changed my life radically. 16 years later, no regrets at all.

Once settled in BKK, with a job teaching English to several lovely Thai ladies in a pleasant setting, I knew I'd made the right decision. Sure, it was not easy at the beginning. I'd never taught before, and it takes time to get comfortable. Had some problems with the heat, the food, the buses, and the bargirls. My first school paid me 150 baht an hour--$6 in 1992, when I was 45. My Mom was not happy with me. Why had I chosen to take a pay cut of more than 50%? I could only suggest to her that it's not all about the money for me. Living and working in Thailand, full-time, was the best experience of my life, even tho it reduced the final total of my big earnings sheet in the sky.

I was very lucky to have understanding parents, who finally supported my midlife crisis decision, and eventually let me know that I could count on an inheritance. This has since happened, and I must say that living in BKK in a nice apartment, with enough money, not allowed to work on a retirement visa, single and free and still healthy enough to enjoy it all for quite some time yet (I fervently hope) is my idea of HAWG HEAVEN, and I'm the HAWG.

So I guess I can offer encouragement to some of you unhappy wage slaves in Farangland. Thailand still needs teachers. If you daydream about your times in Thailand while on the clock where it's now cold and snowy out there, there is a way out. I did it, and have many friends who did it too. Not difficult....

You may not need to sign the contract for just one more year; then scrimp and save and be miserable for just another year, until you accumulate enough money to move to Thailand, hoping the dosh doesn't run out. Instead, give yourself a way to earn your living among the lovely Thai people, learning and enjoying life while possibly struggling a bit to adapt. If you feel more at home here than in Farangland, you will, I suspect, make a life of it here.

If not, your TEFL certificate and teaching experience can be of help to you, even back in the dreaded States. A friend didn't like living abroad (it's not for everybody), so he went back to California and soon got a job as English writing tutor in a college there. To his delight, almost all of his students were Asian ladies from the aristocracy. Last I heard, he had shacked up with one of them for some kind of intensive course.

Thanks for the responses. My situation is I am living outside BKK now. I have a Thai company and my guaranteed montly income is about 60K baht. But it often goes much higher. Once I can access my IRA, that would add another 50k baht/month. I own a house now, but want to move to BKK. I found a 2 room apartment in a decent neighborhood for 9500/mo. The 65k baht/month threshold sounds reasonable.

You have money too mut for live in the Bangkok. Enjoy!

Today I renewed my retirement visa at Bangkok Immigration. I had gone there on August 2, 800,000 in Bkk. Bank, but for only two months after topping up, and without any letter or receipt showing the money came from abroad. They gave me a 30-day extension, enough time for the money to season another month, reaching the 3-month requirement.

After reading all the forum discussions on retirement visa, I thought it good to come over-prepared, which I did. Got three receipts from Bkk. Bank (receipts, not letters) showing the three SWIFT transfers I've made from abroad. Re-copied everything as if I was making a first-time visa renewal. Showed up at Immigration at 9 am., got my queue number, and sat down to wait. 90 minutes later, my number was called. The officer looked only at my passport, seeing that I was on the one-month "under consideration" stamp. She had no interest in seeing any of my fresh paperwork. Instead she directed my to the two desks just inside the front door to Room 101, put my passport into the inbox, and handed me another queue number. My passport was taken to where they keep the files of paperwork, and was quickly returned to the first desk, with my file. The officer never looked at me or my fresh paperwork. He glanced thru the file, stamped my new visa for eleven more months, and passed it all to the officer to his left. She reviewed it briefly and called my number. I took the passport, saw the desired result, and let out a big sigh of relief.

So for those of you who must return to Immigration a month after having paid and handed in your paperwork, I'd suggest bypassing the queue in the main part of Room 101. Just toss your passport into the in box at the two desks just inside the door, take the queue number there, and you should be in and out quickly if everything is in order.

Since I never had to produce the bank's receipts showing money being wired in from abroad, I'll keep them and use them next year, along with a fresh bank letter verifying the account balance.

In an attempt to comply with the new requirement about showing proof of money coming into Thailand from abroad, today I went to the Bkk. Bank head office on Silom Road. I had my bank statements from Bank of America showing the three Swift wire transfers I've made to Bkk. Bank in 2005, 2006 and 2007, to maintain the 800,000 baht balance needed for the retirement visa. At Bkk. Bank, I was directed to the Inward Funds Transfer Inquiry Service area, on 2nd floor next to the Foreign Exchange area. I showed my BofA statements to a teller, asking him to make official-looking Bkk. Bank receipts of the Swift transfers in order to satisfy Thai Immigration. He seemed to know what I was talking about, and was able to quickly produce three full-page forms with all the details of the transfers. These forms have the Bkk. Bank logo stamped at the top, and state that they are from the Bank's "Global Payment Services Department".

I was a little dubious about the bottom part of these forms, where it states that "This credit advice is computer generated and does not require an authorized signature." A hand-stamp saying "Duplicate" was stamped on the forms. This did not look all that official to me, so I asked the teller and a colleague if this would really satisfy Immigration; they seemed to think it would. I will find out next week when I go back to Immigration with these forms, and the rest of the paperwork, to see if they will turn my one-month "under consideration" extension into another year here in Paradise.

So I guess my question is if anyone else has recent experience with a bank form showing that money was wired in from abroad--was it deemed acceptable by Immigration? Also, I would like to show someone at Immigration these bank forms, just to get an opinion as to whether this is what they are looking for--before the big day when I must sit down with the Immigration officer who will decide my fate. Is there anyone at SuanPlu Immigration who might be able to reassure me that I have what they want to see?

I also had the misfortune of trying to renew my retirement visa at Suan Phlu this afternoon, Aug. 2. When I got my queue number slip and entered room 101, at 1:20 pm., I was distressed to see it jammed with far more people waiting than I'd ever seen there before. There were 100 numbers before mine was due, and at the rate they were calling them, I figured a couple of hours to wait. Luckily, there is a foot massage spa two blocks away, toward Sathorn, so I killed an hour in comfort. Back to Immigration, only to be faced with well over another hour of waiting. Finally at 5:20 pm. (a 4-hour wait) my number was called. I thought I had everything in order, as I've sailed thru the renewal process twice before without problems.

But as previous posters have warned, the officer said something about wanting to see a letter from Bkk. Bank proving that the money I had wired in to fulfill the 800K balance had really come from abroad. She had already seen the FTT code in the bankbook, which I had thought was proof enough, but not any more. So she gave me a one-month extension and said to come back with an updated bankbook, but not needing the bank letter until next year. At least I think that's what she said, as her English was pretty poor, and there was no written notification. I will re-visit Bkk. Bank in the meantime to see what kind of documentation they can provide. I wasn't aware of the 3-months-in-the-bank requirement, but noticed that Aug. 30, my day to return, is exactly 3 months after the date of my last wire transfer. She never mentioned this requirement verbally though.

So the goalposts seem to have shifted again, to the dismay of not only the retirees, but also the overworked Immigration staff who were still struggling with the last of the crowd after 5:30. Now that most of us need to make two trips to Suan Phlu, when one used to suffice, another 4-hour wait may in the offing a month from now.

Hi Jet Gorgon,

Thanks for your reply, but either you did not read my post carefully enough, or I did not make myself clear. My underarms and chest were not affected at all by the skin rashes. My thighs and forearms were the worst about two weeks ago. I still use the same laundry detergent, Breeze, that I've used for over ten years here. The plausible theory of bugs, mites, etc. causing this has been discounted to my satisfaction. There are several skin diseases of unknown origin. I will repeat my main points: !. The corticosteroid cream, Dermovate, was a miracle-worker for relieving the itching and the rashes. It has nothing to do with bug bites that I am aware of. 2. Consult several Drs. if you have a problem that seems mysterious to some to them, or that does not respond to treatments prescribed by the first Dr(s) you visit.

Thanks to you who replied about my skin rash problem of June. I thought an update might be of some interest. I did internet research on scabies, and indeed this sounded plausible, so I had a Dr. do a simple skin test described on some scabies websites. It turned up negative. Still, I appreciate the suggestion, as I was able to eliminate scabies as a cause of the problem.

To recap, the mysterious outbreak of a nasty skin disease started in early June, and spread as an itchy rash on arms, legs and torso. Luckily, face, cock, hands and feet are spared. It started out in my groin, looking just like ringworm, but a skin scraping showed that it was not this fungal disease. When the rashes started spreading, a creepy feeling indeed, a Dr. at BNH Hospital did a biopsy that resulted in a verdict of "deep gyrate erythema", tho another Dr. at Bkk. Christian Hospital seemed sure on visual examination that it is "pityriasis rosea". These, and other, skin diseases are of unknown cause and uncertain treatment. They are not contagious and are not a form of STD.

Last month I wrote this lament to a friend here: The itching is very bothersome as it seems that there is always some part of my rash-covered limbs and sides that is itching. It moves around--the right arm may itch for a while and then stop but the left side starts up. As I sit with a bag of ice to quell the itch on one place, I feel like I'm playing Whack-a-Mole as it pops up in another place. With antihistamine pills, skin lotions, ice, valium and general exhaustion, I've been able to get some sleep the last three nights. One possibly hopeful sign is that the site of the original outbreak, the crotch, doesn't itch any more, so maybe the more recent outbreaks will follow that pattern. But my skin looks like absolute hel_l. Some of the newer outbreaks are around the waistline area, sides and front, meaning that when I put on shorts and pants, cinched with belt, these all irritate and itch this area. Thus I'm not comfortable putting on clothes and going out, so spend most of the day sitting around my apt. naked, trying not to look at my ugly body.

I had a top-of-the-line physical check-up done (15,000 baht at BNH), because possibly the skin rash is a symptom of an underlying systemic problem. Part of the check-up was a less-than-delightful barium enema, looking for colon cancer. This was explained to me as kind of a proto-colonoscopy. It was not done under sedation, and I was uncomfortably aware of the nozzle up my butt that was pumping barium into my bowels. An anesthetized colonoscopy sounds less traumatic. The good news is that I seem pretty ###### healthy internally, even the abused liver. The bad news is that there are no leads on cause of skin problem. The consensus seems to be that the skin rashes will gradually go away in time (months), tho they could recur.

So I consulted a third Dr. at Bkk. Christian. He seemed interested, took photos of my rashes, and prescribed a corticosteroid cream, Dermovate. I've been using this for a week, and it has helped greatly. Within the first two days, the annoying itching stopped, and the bright red rashes faded noticeably. Now I look and feel almost normal again, which certainly renews my appreciation for normality. Internet research quickly revealed that corticosteroids are standard treatment for this type of skin problem, which begs the question of why the first two Drs. did not prescribe this wonderful stuff. Lessons learned are that second and third medical opinions can be valuable, and the most expensive hospitals and Drs. are not necessarily the most helpful. Bkk. Christian is now my hospital of first resort for this or any other problem. The charges are considerably less than BNH or Bumrungrad, waiting time is minimal, and the Drs. seem competent.

I'm currently having a hel_l of a time with an itching skin affliction. It started out in my crotch as a rash and after several days developed into something that looked like ringworm. The Dr. at BNH Hospital in Bkk. thought so too, and prescribed meds for ringworm, that I took for a week. On my third visit to him, he noted that nothing had improved, so did a scraping of the skin and sent it to the lab, which reported that no fungus was present, meaning it is not ringworm. I was asked to come back the following week for a biopsy to determine the problem.

Then followed a hellish weekend when the crotch infection started spreading rapidly to my arms and legs. These do not look like ringworm (as yet), but are many small, and larger red bumps of various sizes and shapes, that itch a lot. This shit is aggressively spreading to my underarms and sides. Today the biopsy was done, but the result does not come back for a week. Dr. prescribed Physiogel cream, and three kinds of pills: Telfast, Xyzal, and Rulid. The cream does little to relieve the itching. Putting ice on the itching areas for as long as I can stand it seems to give some relief.

The Dr. theorizes that this could be a case of Granuloma Annulare. Researching this on the net is not re-assuring. The cause is unknown, and there is no real treatment. Usually it goes away by itself, but can hang on for months or even years. Right now my arms look scary, and my crotch is from a horror movie. Mercifully, so far the penis and face are unaffected.

Given that this started in my crotch, I suspect some kind of STD from one of the working girls I've consorted with, or it could be an allergic reaction to something. Anyway, I'm itching, look like hel_l, can forget about a sex life, and am worried about this getting worse and lasting forever. Anyone have any similar experience?

The recent Money Expo at Sirikit Convention Center was unbearable to me. I had some questions to ask, but the amplified jabbering by the girls with microphones was painful to the ears. They never shut up in the brief time I was there. I couldn't speak over them, couldn't hear who I was trying to talk with, couldn't think, couldn't get out of there fast enough. This shrill loud yapping is a regular feature of shows and events like this. I pity the people stuck all day at booths near these miked-up shriekers.

The MRT subway in Bangkok has had "beefed-up" security at all stations for several months already. But in the somewhat half-assed way that Thais do things, BTS skytrain still lets anyone get into a station with no bag inspection. Hopefully that will change soon.

Bowling centers in Bkk. are pretty bad if you go there just to bowl, rather than eat, drink, listen to loud crappy music or sing karaoke. I've tried several centers, and all have problems. The music really puts me off, tho sometimes early afternoons are not quite so loud. The pinsetter problems mentioned by the OP are also common, tho not quite as bad as at MBK. Lane maintenance is not so hot either. The center in the mall on Sukhumvit near Ekamai is not too bad sometimes. I've had to change lanes several times to find one that is problem-free, but the staff there are usually helpful. I keep my ball and shoes in a locker there. My ball still bears the wounds inflicted by a pinsetting machine that took a couple of small chunks while failing to return it, at a center that is now closed, next to The Londoner on Sukh. at soi 33. Never bowled in Pattaya, but I like the old-fashioned quiet atmosphere in the OD Hotel and Bowling way down in south Pattaya. No idea about the equipment there.

I am of the opinion that we will only see matches in which James Wattana is playing. There was one match shown last year.

The reason it is not televised is probably that the BBC have the rights and are charging too much.

Right, there used to be lots of snooker on TV when Wattana was young and hot. A ranking tournament was held in Bkk. each year for several years. Now with Ding, the tournament has moved to China, and they might even show TV snooker. But now too expensive for TrueTV, so we get endless hours of wrestling. That must come real cheap.

There used to be a good facility in back of a large open-front Thai restaurant on Central Road (Pattaya Klang) between Second and Third Roads, with several good tables and equipment available. Some good players too. But when I looked in there last month (Feb. 2007) the tables were gone. No one working in the restaurant seemed to know where the table tennis went, tho I think it must be somewhere else now. They had some good players. Somebody must know where they play now.