jesimps

I guess they have to use the road because they have beggar all chance of going more than a few yards here on the "pavement".

Yes! I joined the British Army.

20 hours ago, Ben Zioner said:

Yes I/we had to do it in the good old times when getting "Thai wife" extensions. My lady said that some people are just unable to read a map as there is something like an "information overload", their brains can't handle it.

 

In 10 years of daily on-line purchases, out of all delivery services, only Ikea made use of GPS coordinates, and just called the night before to make an appointment. All the others make 5 phone calls and get the wife to explain step by step to get to the house.

That's the best guess I've seen so far. My Thai wife finds it impossible to do and when I ask her for directions she sort of points at the top of the windscreen and says "Over der".

10 hours ago, Walker88 said:

Try Manali in Himachal Pradesh. Absolutely spectacular.

 

Manali is already at altitude and has lovely fresh air, carrying the glorious scent of the deodar cedar trees that pepper the landscape. Though it might be a tourist spot, I've never seen another tourist there. That part of India is predominantly Buddhist, not Hindu. Lots of bell-wearing yaks around town. There are small guest houses and one nice hotel, rooms with a fireplace and a large balcony, where the snow-capped Himalayas are in full view.

 

From Manali it's a gut-wrenching drive up to Rohtang Pass, but well worth it (provided you survive). The road is gravel, winding up another 8-10,000 feet to Rohtang. Boulders sometimes roll down the moutain and cross the road, so one must keep his eyes open. Traffic obviously goes in both directions, but generally there's only space for one vehicle, and there are no guardrails. The traditional wood-framed trucks common to India roads come at you full speed, with Shiva as their co-pilot, so to speak, so caution is not their byword. There are a few spots along the drive where the drop is around 5000 feet, straight as a beggar can spit. Plenty of cars and buses do not make it, and their wrecks are still sitting untouched near the bottom of the drive. So common are bus mishaps that take dozens of lives on India's Himalayan roads, that the reporting makes maybe Page 29 of The Times of India newspaper. It's a 'dog bites man' sort of tale.

 

Keep going after Rohtang and you hit the Ladakh area. The entire area gives one the feel of the Sean Connery/Michael Caine film "The Man Who Would Be King", based on the Kipling tale. In honor of that film, the first time I went I grew the beard as worn by Connery in the movie (the under-chin area clean shaven).

 

There was a TV show in the US called Ice Road Truckers or something like that, and one of the drives they did was up over Rohtang Pass.

 

 

When I was working in Delhi I drove up to the Rhotang Pass and back in my old Ford Granada. Stayed in a guest house in Kulu which was very basic, but adequate and cheap. I found the whole journey from the plains to be terrifying and I wouldn't attempt it again for anything. The views from the Rhotang Pass made the journey almost worthwhile, despite the two punctures and the fact that the engine kept cutting out on the hairiest parts of the track because of the thin air. To this day I can still hear the screams of my girlfriend at the time who travelled with me. 

I also visited Mussoorie during my time there which was a much easier drive and I found the place very relaxing, partly because I didn't have to spend the whole holiday dreading the drive back down. We needed a wood fire every evening because it got quite chilly, which made a nice change from the heat of Delhi.

I used to get hit on, now they just call me "papa" 😞

4 hours ago, Zack61 said:

I concur. Makes no sense. Serves no purpose and has no benefits. Any benefits are a figment of someone’s distorted imagination. 

It's always been a right pain in the backside for the wife and I, who always like to do our shopping early so that we have the rest of the day to do whatever. As things stand, we have to go during alcohol friendly times to buy my booze and return home during the lunch-time traffic snarl up. It'd be easier to live with if I thought that the law served any useful purpose.

On my marriage extension before last, they returned my two TM7s which I'd filled in by hand in blue ink telling me that they were the old forms. I then, with my shaky hand, had to fill in two new ones. On returning home, I realised that except for a few dots in different places, they were identical to the new ones. I think they realise this, but they lose face if they accept all your forms without picking you up on something.

3 hours ago, shackleton said:

Can't see the guys involved getting away out of the Country

They are heading for a long stay in the land of smiles 😃  

The red hair, football shirts and kilts will be a dead giveaway at airport departures.

4 hours ago, rwill said:

Lot's of businesses here claim the road in front of them as their property.  The police allow them to do so.

So while they do not own the road they are allowed to act as if it is their property.

 

It's happened to me outside of shops a couple of times. Little old ladies come out screaming and gesturing, probably because they were expecting a cola delivery. Best to get off your mark quickly, because if you insist on parking, your car is likely to have picked up a scratch or two when you return.

3 hours ago, Purdey said:

Accidents are caused by drivers moving faster than the speed limit. If the limit is 80, they do 120. If the limit is 50, they will likely do 120 if there are no speed bumps. Not likely on major roads.

Please, no speed bumps, we don't want roads like they were in the the days of the horse and cart. Speed cameras and police enforcing the law, yes.

3 hours ago, giddyup said:

I very much doubt if the police would have been as quick in identifying the robbers and recovering the valuables if it had happened in Britain.

These days I'd be surprised if they even investigated it. 

9 hours ago, BritScot said:

Think that is military mythology about being charged just to scare recruits into being careful.  I can only vouch for Brtish Military law and I  never saw any law that could be used to punish a victim of theft. 

You could in my day 1960-71. If you left the barrack room with your locker open and someone in authority discovered it, you could be charged. It was indeed providing temptation for the sticky fingered little toerags, one of whom seemed to be in every room of 30 squaddies. They were very strict about it. because nothing destroys moral more than knowing that one of your mates has stolen from you.

7 hours ago, Lacessit said:

It says something about Thailand's craving for sugar that Mitrapol has bought up Australia's sugar production lock, stock and barrel.

 

I have noticed with many dishes Thais ladle on chilli. then ladle on an equal amount of sugar to soften the bite of the chilli. It would be healthier to use a smaller amount of spice, and omit sugar.

 

At a food court, I have to tell the cooks to leave out the sugar.

For many years now I've been very careful about asking for no sugar in hot savoury food. If they say it's in the sauce etc I don't buy it. A lot of their savoury dishes to me taste like deserts there's so much sugar added.

On 2/11/2024 at 5:19 AM, MangoKorat said:

There was a recent thread on AN regarding being exposed to gay behaviour on TV programmes etc.  I was strongly criticised by a couple of members on that thread for stating that I don't want to see such behaviour - it honestly makes me feel physically sick.  I was accused of being a 'Gay Hater' which is ridiculous, I don't hate Gay people in any way, shape of form. I believe that Gay people have the same rights in life as anyone does and I would defend that to the death. I was simply answering the question posed by the thread and stating my preference.

 

Ten days ago after a brief 'holiday' from the site, I re-joined a popular dating app and paid for their 'Gold' subscription - thankfully only for one month.  As usual I received several 'likes' each day with some coming from Ladyboys - some of whom do not state their sexual orientation in their initial contact. I have no interest in dating a ladyboy and so to try and reduce the amount of contact from them. I wrote 'No Trans' in a list of preferences my profile. I also get regular 'matches' on the site from 'girls' who's real intention is to try and sell me Crypto Currency - so I also include 'No Crypto' in my profile. I have no interest in hearing from either.

 

Today my account has been banned from the app for 'hate speech' - I presume because of the 'No Trans' statement, they don't say.  Just banned me and no offer to refund the fee for Gold membership. An appeal is allowed but strangely the site does not offer the facility for someone to state why they are appealing - there is just a button to click that says 'appeal'. Maybe I'm wrong, maybe I've offended Crypto Currency - in this screwed up world, who knows?

 

So I ask you, what is the world coming to - has this PC sentiment gone too far? It has in my opinion - way too far. How is simply stating a group that you do not want to hear from 'hate'?  How long will it be before Gay and Trans people are allowed to take someone to court for refusing to date them?  Will that be classed as 'discrimination'? Will we all be required to date a 'Trans' person if they wish to date us? 

 

IMHO, there is something very wrong with today's world.  Genuine hate speech should not in any way be tolerated and should be treated in the same way as racial discrimination.  On that subject, I have no particular preference on the skin colour of the girls I date but if I did, would I not be allowed to state so? I clearly state in my profile that I am straight, surely a person who makes such a statement is within their rights? If I had stated 'NO Pervy Trans/Queers' in my profile, that would be hate speech. But when did simpy stating your preferences become wrong? Careful in stating that you like blondes lads, the brunettes will be sueing you!

 

If we, and by we, I include moderate Straight, Gay and Trans people, don't make a stand on this and 'nip it in the bud' - I can see a time, not so far away where simply stating you are 'straight' will be classed as discriminatory - think about it. 

 

I'll be completely clear on this - there are moves afoot - maybe even already in existence in some countries where Trans people are able to alter their birth certificate. This is just as opinion and I believe we all have a right to one but I believe that for example, having an operation, taking hormones etc. etc. does not alter the gender of a person. I can never see, for example, a day when a male to female Trans will be able to have a baby and breastfeed it.  All the operations ect. do is to alter the sexual orientation of that person and give them the physical appearance of a female.

 

Now, there are those amongst you that are attracted to Ladyboys and that is fine for you but in itself that is a distinction - they are attracted to the fact that Ladyboys are transgender and many specifically visit Thailand in order to meet them.  How long before such people also come under fire for only being attracted to a person BECAUSE they are Trans. Will that also be discriminatory?  Will Ladyboys start complaining, 'You don't like me because I'm a woman, you only like me because I am Trans'?

 

The way things are going, if we are 'straight' we will all be compelled to offer relationships to any person who presents themselves to us, regardless of their actual gender.  Taking it to the extremes, will you have to date a fat person or someone you consider ugly , even if you do not find them attractive in the slightest? If you refuse, will that be classed as 'hate'? Is it discrimination?

 

Will each one of us soon lose the right to choose the factual gender of our long term or sexual partners? Lose the right to choose what attracts us and what doesn't?

 

In all honesty, I'm glad I'm the age I am because as far as I'm concerned, the world has gone mad.  We've gone from giving gay and transgender people equal rights in law - to which they are very much entitled, to utter madness.  There are websites and other places I believe, where you are not allowed to call someone 'he' or she' its 'they or 'them' - you must refer to them not as what they actually are, but as per how they 'identify'.

 

What the hell is going on and where will it end?

 

(Purely as a footnote - to the 2 or 3 people that jumped on me on the other thread - I have honestly placed you on ignore so you are wasting your time replying directly to me, all I am able to see is that you have posted - up to you, I care not.)

I saw something about this on you tube yesterday, people complaining that they'd been told that they can't say "no trans" on their dating site. I personally would  expect to have the right to choose to date someone who was a woman at birth and is still of that gender. I can see a lot of dating sites going to the wall if this continues.

On 2/11/2024 at 11:03 AM, GammaGlobulin said:

 

You are correct.

I was remiss in not posting the audio.

But, in fact, some here know this bird well, just by my description of the time of day, and its noisiness.

 

Next time I have my Note4 handy, I will record this bird, and post the audio.

 

This will be my pleasure.

 

 

It goes "Tu-weeee-oo" in an extremely loud voice for its size. Seems to have been going on for months over my way at all sorts of ungodly hours through the night and all day. Goodness knows when it sleeps. It's been happening every year that I've been here so like bass-heavy music and barking dogs, I'm resigned to it.

8 hours ago, CharlieH said:

I wish the OP good luck, I am sure he did his research and there is a growing community of supporters to assist in such projects and its development. Personally, it's all still too new and the capital expenditure for some can be the non starter.If you have the funds are willing to "go for it" I wish you well and hope it turns out just as you expected.

 

Many aspects for me are very much "too new" and not enough data.Besides which financially it would be a non starter anyway.Even if I had the funds its not something I would pursue at the low cost of electricity here against capital investment against my probable remaining lifespan. 😀

 

 

At 80 yoa this June, my thinking is along the same lines.

Those balconies look very low to me. Add in a night out on the booze, lose your balance and topple over.

3 hours ago, Korat Kiwi said:

See he was wearing blue top and in photo just now, it's green. 

 

There's no way the man in this photo is one of the Canadian Wongs. I tend to think the top pic is the correct one.

2 hours ago, JeffersLos said:

 

The cap on backwards is worth that alone. 

Especially when indoors. Sheer bad manners 😮

Whoopee! Just the news I've been waiting for.....not!!!

Seems to go on forever in Pattaya anyway, so don't suppose we'll notice much difference here. Just another case of Thais kicking the aris out of things. 

.....and before the usual suspects wade in, no I'm not going back to my own country. The wife wouldn't let me and I actually like it here most of the time. Something to do with the weather.