Hogboy

I'm something of a coffee enthusiast, and have tried many Thai brands - Redcliff, Akha Ama, Doi Chang keep recurring, but I have never really settled on anything that ticks all the boxes to make a perfect espresso. 

Anyone with any serious recommendations out there? Bearing in mind that it's whole beans roasted for espresso I'm looking for.

The Ministry of Education stipulates that international schools much teach Thai for a minimum number of hours to Thai nationals (equates to around three lessons per week). That means if they are fully Thai, they will learn Thai, if they are half Thai, they can, but are not obliged to.

In my experience, very few non Thai parents at international schools look for extra lessons, but those that do want them are often frustrated that there is not much on offer and look for private tuition.

Thehelmsman - while English Program schools are a step up from government schools, often the huge flaw is that English is not taught by first language speakers, and where it is, the teachers are often only TEFL qualified. Students' achievements in such schools rarely compare to those of students in international schools. Even those with commendable achievement will have quite poor English skills, even if they have one English speaking parent.

Re going to university - yes they can do foundation years, but the choice will be thin on the ground, and the universities will tend to be lower tier.

Anything considered, but must be furnished with two bedrooms. Dates are flexible.

One extra quirk worthy of note is that once in possession of my new passport, I had to get the HMPO to send a certificate validating that they had indeed issued the passport themselves before immigration would transfer my visa to the new passport.

This can be an email, and can be arranged by the same individual that will contact you to notify that your passport has been issued.

My passport finally arrived this week after an eleven week stressful wait.

Three times I had to call the HMPO who failed every time to fulfill their promise to call me back within 72 hours with a progress report.

After my current passport finally ran out, I contacted my constituency MP back in the UK, who contacted the HMPO on my behalf.

Within a few days I had a mail from the HMPO stating that my passport had been issued and that it would arrive within 15 days. A week later it arrived to my address, despite the HMPO's insistence that I would have to go to Bangkok to collect it in person.

When I made my application, the stated turnaround time was four weeks. The HMPO site now says six weeks, but be warned!

That really is the most sensible thing - see the schools yourself, and get your own picture of the atmosphere, the staff, and how compatible the school is with your idea of a good school.

Every poster has a bias, and nobody knows your child as well as you.

I have finally got everything working since the changeover, but most of the new HD channels keep "dropping out" to a grey screen every few seconds.

All the non HD channels are fine.

Anyone out there can explain ? Much appreciated if so.

Dr Ning is now ONLY in Lamai, on the main road going south having closed the clinic in Nathon.

New place not far from Tesco heading south before the veterinary clinic - Dr Wirath is purporting to be an ENT clinic among other things. Sadly even more pricey than Ning though.........

Today was my third experience of Toyota Samui, and after today I have sworn never to go back.

I have visited three other Thai Toyota dealerships and been treated very well - no complaints necessary.

On my first visit (for a brake malfunction) my car was returned to me after a 3,000 baht bill with the same malfunction. Two hours later they managed to correct it.

On my second visit, (for a service, and to fix an interior light switch and order and aerial), having called me to tell me the car was fixed, on arrival I was rudely informed that as my friend had ordered new parts I would have to wait, and that of course the car could not be ready so quickly. What parts ? You just called me ! What friend even ?

It turned out that there was identical car, but it took them THREE hours to admit the problem. Even then they couldn't apologise. I left the dealership without the light being fixed, nor the aerial AND with them having lost all details of my car on their computer system AND given me the wrong key.

Why go back a third time you ask ? Because there are no other dealers on Samui, and I have two young kids.

So - last week I ordered a new number plate holder, a new switch for the light, and a new interior box. Today I arrive to pick it up, pay 5400 baht, go to the car and NOTHING has been done bar the service, and this after having waited a whole week.

No worry I thought, I can't be bothered to argue, from now on I will go to a non-Toyota garage and get them to sort it out. Toyota obviously have no interest in helping me. But then I get in the car and it won't even move. The tyres are stuck under the wheel arches. Oh I'm told, we change the wheels around and suspension setting at 140,000 kms. How did they even move the car to the forecourt ? How do they expect anyone to drive it away ?

After a lecture in how we need to pay a deposit to order parts (it helps if they tell us this as we order them), and another hour to unstick the wheels I am happy to report that another garage will sort it out for half the cost and zero hassle.

Toyota Samui - I hope I never cross paths ever again.

One little aside from all this - the new ladyboy member of staff is the same one who shortchanged me 500 baht when she worked at Tesco ! That took an hour of counting the whole till out until I got an apology.

Amazing Thailand still continues to amaze.

Hi.

We are a jazz band that plays regular gigs here, but sadly our singer returns to the United States.

If you are looking to do more than just jam then do drop me a line.

All the best,

Aubrey

I have just noticed that nobody has stamped my departure card on entry as they normally would.

Do you think this is an issue that my local immigration can rectify too ?

Seems I can no longer download any torrents. Have a new computer and a completely new system (which I hoped would solve the problem) but no joy.

Has been suggested that Maxnet have stopped my ability to download pending some kind of upgraded package.

Have spoken to then and they say only that " I should turn off my modem occasionally".

Have done but nothing has changed

Anyone experiencing similar ?

Seems I can't download torrents at all using Frostwire, Limewire etc. Crucial to my life so any help appreciated.

SORRY, BUT THAT BEHAVIOR IS NOT STEREOTYPICAL OF ANY BREED. THE OWNERS AND WHOEVER TRAINED THESE DOGS ARE SOLELY RESPONSIBLE. PERIOD!

I wish this were the case, but it seems from all the evidence that the Pitbull is a breed with a predestination for violence. To say that it is all about the way a dog is trained is untrue - why are some dogs harder to train than others ? Read any dog related training book and all will stress how the breed of a dog will determine its response to training. You simply cannot train a dog to go against it's instincts. Retrievers will always steal things and Pitbulls will always be aggressive. It's in their genes and it's nobody's fault other than the humans who bred them that way. I do agree that the problem is enhanced by the combination of aggressive dog and irresponsible owner, but with this breed even if you have done your best to train them (and let's face it nobody trains them to attack their own owners !) then you never know if it will be you or somebody else they go for. Couple this with the fear factor that some of us give off (and I think I probably do too around this breed ! ) and things are really out of control.

The findings of many specialists and dog lovers all over the world have come to the same conclusion and outright BANNED this breed because they defy the normal expectations of the canine world. This is not a step taken lightly and only done after exhaustive research.

So I must disagree in the strongest possible terms with Oilman- the behaviour is HIGHLY stereotypical of the breed. They were bred to be this way, that's why they do it, and that's the quality people who have them are looking for.

Two questions for you too:

If the breed is not the problem, then why is it ONLY Pitbull Terriers that are reported doing these horrible things ?

Would you leave your children alone in the company of a couple of "well trained" Pitbulls ?

Human beings are a breed, but some of us kill each other mindlessly too.

We are very satisfied using the two pediatricians in the Nathon clinics/Koh Samui Hospital. We have used the one at Bangkok Hospital who was also very good but the problem there is they go overboard on expensive testing and analysis and the hospital admin is hopeless.

I can concur with this but would add that unless you go to see a doctor privately in Nathon, the wait at the hospital or in the new Maenam clinic can be up to four hours. For the sake of 50 baht, go direct to the surgery in Nathon (I wasn't aware there was more than one on the main road but will keep my eyes open next time).They can administer all vaccines and stamp the baby book as the govt hospitals do too.

My wife insisted on giving birth two months ago in the govt hospital in her home town (small home town in Isaan) despite my concerns, but I was stunned at the high level of care there. No issues, no fuss, and no charges other than 600 baht a night for a private room. As mentioned earlier, the same doctors that practice privately elsewhere.

That said, I have been in govt hospitals in big cities, notably Surat Thani, where people are in beds in every corridor and even stairwells are full. These places are completely different entities and should not be confused with the regional town hospitals. I felt uncomfortable just as a visitor there !

Agree that a stroller etc should be bought elsewhere. Quality can be found but at a higher price than back home.

Would also advise that some pre-natal care should be sought at the proposed hospital before simply turning up in labour !

About to register my child with the UK embassy so can report later as to my experiences.

I have the Maxnet premier service at 1090 baht / month which gives me around 1800 down and 750 up on average. It's more expensive than the standard 2mb service (only around 400k upload) but having tried other peoples standard Maxnet I would not swap as something like Skype is far more reliable and stable with the faster upload. If you don't use Skype or equivalents however there is no reason to go for the premier package as you will not need the extra upload speed.

In general I am very pleased with the service - have yet to have an outage in three months (fingers crossed). My only gripe was the installation. 4500 baht to run a cable from the nearest junction box, and then two weeks waiting for the turn on. I am quite clued up about internet stuff, and was 100% patronised by the installation people when I reported that I had no service despite Maxnet's insistence that it was on. The guy tested all the cables which were completely dead, and then went and connected something at the junction box which had obviously not been properly done in the first place. He had the gall to tell me that there was a problem with my computer (it's a Macintosh). Complete bullshit and left me wanting to tell him where to stick his poxy internet service. (Don't worry I didn't or I wouldn't be typing this now).

One other thing - don't be fooled into thinking you are getting a free wireless modem. A Hatari "Wireless" modem is nothing of the sort even though the box is covered with the wireless symbol and the word wireless. That is just it's name ! Ha !

To add some info to that already posted - I got bike and car licence last week with only a multiple entry tourist visa so it seems that Non-O and Non-B are not strictly necessary. All advice suggests that non Thai licences are fine with any hire vehicle, but not if you intend to buy your own.

One further thing to add for non Thai speakers is that it's worth taking someone who can help a little when doing the tests as the official doesn't explain anything in English. When taking the colour tests it is quite acceptable to respond in English. Alternatively learn Thai for all colours in advance !

Re medicals - the last doctor on the right going towards the office in Nathon simply looks you up and down and signs a note ! Doesn't even ask if he thinks you look well enough !