Raesum

I, too, live just out of Nonthaburi-at the Bang Sue end. Hubby and I have just started exploring the canals around here.We just use one of the family's flat bottomed fibreglass boats to paddle around in.As it stays in the water don't even need a launching place just a couple of steps on the canal wall to climb down into the boat. Reminds my husband of when he was young and he and all his family used to swim in the canals we paddle. Obviously alot of posters here on TV don't live in the rural atmosphere we are lucky enough to have nearby.

In my opinion, Chang is quite nice but, the quality varies. Normally it is alright - but at times you really get a bad bottle. Hmm.

Very true - the quality is all over the place (but perhaps the issue is poor handling at the retail end?). I like Chang although its a bit too stronger than it needs to be. Don't think it deserves a gold medal anywhere other than Thailand (worst beer in Asia) though.

Glad someone montioned the "bad bottle" bit.As the wine is so dear here in LOS I have changed(back) to beer and really do like Chang. However in the last couple of months have come across more than a couple of bad bottles. I think its got something to do with the cleaning of the bottles with residue of whatever being left in the lines(rather than at the retail end) I not only encountered it down in Bag Saen, then again several times up in Nong Khai.It seems to be only the big bottles. The small bottles and the cans-no problem.

Has anyone else come agross this as I intend to write to Thai Bev about it? I don't find it that strong-in fact can't remember the last time "an elephant sat on my head"

I dealt with them about a year ago.I actually went to their outlet in Bang Yai, Nonthaburi. They do have a website under Aussie Small Goods.

Just had a look there now and the contact details are Bangkok Tel 02 594 0562. Phuket Tel Susan Usher 0818955690

Here in Bangkok we are having a big birthday party all day for my Thai brother in law - whole cow on the spit, food galore, people galore and plenty of "refreshments" We are combining that with Christmas celebrations as we have got visitors from both Greece and Australia. I think its going to be one to remember!

Merry Christmas and a safe and healthy New Year everybody

Daniel Craig as 007...... For me he doesn't quite cut it.

My question is "What are armys for?" Why...to hold your handies on of course!!!

Its my Thai husbands cheeky conversation and his bulging biceps that make me glad we've been married for sooooo... many years.

He Da Maaan......

Sounds like what you can put on a "roo bar" in Australia in the front of cars to scare the kangaroos off the road

Might I suggest an alternative to Siam Ocean World and at a fraction of the price. Bueng Chawark Park. It is a couple of hours drive from Bangkok but worth both the drive and the savings.They not only have many aquariums-walk thru etc(I'm sorry I can't compare it to SOW as I took one look at the price and ran) but also huge crocodile area and there was another building in progress-forget what for. Anyway the admission price of 30 baht is for everybody.They also have a walk thru aviary, tons of (white) tigers, lions etc again with the same entry fee. There is also a lovely garden which I haven't been to for years but can only guess that is also 30 baht entry.Each of these sites covers a wide area, the place is very clean and I am sure offers much more for your baht than a whizz around SOW for mega baht. Bueng Chawak also has waterside accomodation starting from 800 baht. Tel 035-430099-100.No I don't have shares in the place-in fact I believe it is one of the Kings projects-hence the low entry fees.

On the other hand, yes my Thai drivers license works pretty much everywhere for the "Khon Thai" price

I had some root canal work done recently in the locality of Tao Poon, Bangkok. It cost 1000 baht per hour and I was totally satisfied with the outcome.I know you wanted reputable hospitals or clinics but don't feel like the place I went to was "disreputable" in the least

Probably no 3 if anything.Living here totally legally with all visas and reportings correct.Neither of us work, don't have kids.Neither of us has ever been asked about a single baht of income,bank accounts etc.Not sure if this will change with the new regs however-so far so good!

I read one the other morning at 6am -where a Brit is complaining about being stranded and asks why even the Germans have been able to get seats on a plane.The next poster advised it was because the Germans got up early and put their towels on the seats.

I was still laughing at 6pm!!!

tbh sounds like you just got some idiot. I haven't experienced anything like that myself regarding my half thai son, in fact I find people bend over backwards to help me when they see my surname & that my child is thai. Something I naturally encourage (why not, I like not having to jump through hoops as much as anyone)

The only time I get this kind of thing is when I get dual priced for something, me hubby & son all wanted to go on the cable car in Pattaya, husband went to buy tickets & mine was gonna be several hundred baht more, husband explained we were spouses & that he (thai citizen) was paying for my ticket so they were double pricing a thai person but the girl was not moving. Result? We didn't go so they lost all fares, up to them. We weren't bothered either way.

Do you know that if you show your Thai driving license at MOST places (don't know specifically about Pattaya Park as I've never been there) they charge you the Thai price?

Works for us guys anyway.

Yes showing Thai drivers license in and around Bangkok seems to work as well

Lately too much but have found it invaluable in providing up to date information. I am generally on TV most days for say 30 minutes but ,like now, when its the wee hours of the morning and I can't sleep TV is where I come.

Hey Sarge-maybe others who post during the night may live o/s. I know we have posters in UK and Israel

DISCLAIMER - This post is a bit tongue in cheek............but only a bit.

100,000 foreigners trapped in Thailand. It must be true because the BBC says so. How many PAD in Suvarnabhumi? Nothing like 100,000. The numbers are on our side. Why don't we get organised and go to throw them out ourselves?

My stranded visitors have also suggested that.

Does anyone know where the bus from Utapao stops in Bangkok? Due to pick somone one up tomorrow, perhaps I should drive to the airport itself but have no idea how to get there and I know that parking facilities are limited. Any knowledgable help would be deeply appreciated.

I believe buses are coming and going from the Raddison Hotel in Bangkok. Check first though.

The last time I rode my bike around the Sameoung Loop, I counted 22 dogs that had at least some part of their body on the traveled portion of the road. That is .26 SD/KM. Here in my neighborhood, I think the measure is more like 8.5 SD/KM.

I think we need a new SI unit: the mutt = 1 SD/km.

Actually that would better be a millimutt as the base unit would have to be in metres, hence 1 mutt = 1 SD/m = 1000 SD/km and thus 1 SD/km= 1 millimutt.

That makes Sameoung 260 micromutts.

This should be written up and published in Metrologia.

All those mutts make an awful lot of dog <deleted>. I looked forward to July 3rd this year which I heard was "D-Day" All strays to be removed. Still waiting. I go out to my soi and sweep the aforementioned <deleted> all up once a week, trying to get the message across to the residents who feed them-surprisingly I now have one ally who does same!

I was looking at an English book with my 11 yr old nephew recently and it was about building a kennel. Whats a kennel.? Had to explain about how people in other countries actually give their dog a little house and maybe a cushion, blanket,toy etc. I think looking at the patchy skinned, fur missing mutts roaming near our place it was a bit hard to believe. The thing is, although not a dog lover myself some of these mutts look like they used to belong to someone once. Maybe someone who had to move and could no longer care for their dog or just got sick of it and turfed it. If you're looking for a dog to love let me know-there's about 50 around here.All I can say is thank goodness they ignore me and I do same

Quite clearly not a dog lover! You look forward to someone poisoning dogs putting them through unbearable agony before they die? You're v sick. If you're not totally incapable of human emotion - DONATE TO SOI DOGS TO STERILISE THEM. Call them out, tell them you've got a problem. I realise a 'phone call is hard work, but perhaps it will give you some 'merit'.

to FI Fanatic Please answer asap. I need the phone numbers!!!!!!!!!!!!PS Where's the RSPCA located??????

Quite clearly not a dog lover! You look forward to someone poisoning dogs putting them through unbearable agony before they die? You're v sick. If you're not totally incapable of human emotion - DONATE TO SOI DOGS TO STERILISE THEM. Call them out, tell them you've got a problem. I realise a 'phone call is hard work, but perhaps it will give you some 'merit'.

Bugger the "merit" Give me the phone numbers!!! I think you misunderstand me-I would love to make a phone call -not hard work at all. I just didn't know who to approach.

Jai yen yen,don't give yourself a heart attack

Don't suppose you'd settle for cheap Promite?

Quite a few of us live here with our Thai spouses. Believe me, our (Thai) families are just as concerned about the situation as you/we are particularly if we live in Bangkok. Your choice to explore other parts of the world is up to you. Let others make their own decisions. We still have friends and family planning to visit us next year and we know in our hearts they will be here-come hel_l or high water!!!

Having lived in other countries together you learn to be tolerant of different points of view. However at this exact point in time we are both sitting in front of the telly swearing and giving our opinions anytime anything yellow appears on the screen

The last time I rode my bike around the Sameoung Loop, I counted 22 dogs that had at least some part of their body on the traveled portion of the road. That is .26 SD/KM. Here in my neighborhood, I think the measure is more like 8.5 SD/KM.

I think we need a new SI unit: the mutt = 1 SD/km.

Actually that would better be a millimutt as the base unit would have to be in metres, hence 1 mutt = 1 SD/m = 1000 SD/km and thus 1 SD/km= 1 millimutt.

That makes Sameoung 260 micromutts.

This should be written up and published in Metrologia.

All those mutts make an awful lot of dog <deleted>. I looked forward to July 3rd this year which I heard was "D-Day" All strays to be removed. Still waiting. I go out to my soi and sweep the aforementioned <deleted> all up once a week, trying to get the message across to the residents who feed them-surprisingly I now have one ally who does same!

I was looking at an English book with my 11 yr old nephew recently and it was about building a kennel. Whats a kennel.? Had to explain about how people in other countries actually give their dog a little house and maybe a cushion, blanket,toy etc. I think looking at the patchy skinned, fur missing mutts roaming near our place it was a bit hard to believe. The thing is, although not a dog lover myself some of these mutts look like they used to belong to someone once. Maybe someone who had to move and could no longer care for their dog or just got sick of it and turfed it. If you're looking for a dog to love let me know-there's about 50 around here.All I can say is thank goodness they ignore me and I do same

Next question.

Where's the cheapest Marmite to be found?

I am always giving my visitors from home a little shopping list . So next time someone comes to visit just mention the Marmite (Although being a Vegemite girl....), say you'll pay them when they get here. 11 times out of 10 they will bring you the goods and say "Nooo, don't worry..." How cheap is that?

I know, I know. When its a big list I do transfer the money to their account at home-for example last time was ski pants etc-nothing to do with Marmite really

Personally I think its just MEN per say... you know, Venus and Mars !!!!!

I prefer the one that goes "Men are from Mars, Women are from Earth". It always gets a bite from the husband.

Yes Boo ,same as you-I just go ahead and do what needs to be attended to and if its worth mentioning then you mention it. If I need a hand to communicate(in my limited Thai) then I ask but otherwise I have a go and more often than not get the required result . I've always been the same-result of lots of travel, backpacking etc and not marrying my "Thai Hero" until in my 30's. A girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do!!!

Kiwi met Thai husband in Australia-introduced by a Scotsman

Actually I think you answered it your self when you said "My son is a product of two cultures". Easy!!