hermespan

OK, so I am bit of a foodie, or a tisan-ee.

I am into herbal teas and sometimes greenteas. I travel with my own mug that is also a coffee press. That way I don't have to deal with bleached teabags.

In Phitsanulok I had 'green tea' in one coffee shop near a short-time hotel and another one at tge 'Coffee Corner' Topland mall kiosk. 25 and 40 baht respectively. In the first arty sort of corner cafe I was given something that had the bitterness (I like) and bright green colour characteristic of green tea but it had a weird sort of frothy look and slightly gritty texture. Is green tea supposed to taste and look like this?

I am not famiar with green tea except I have had in Japan the whisk it up powder and in Canada I drink Taiwanese green tea (loose leaf). It has a certain taste and green colour. I had an argument, two actually, with the staff girl at the second place. First she served me a bright green cup. I had seen her add a spoonful of WHITE powder, which appalled me so I rejected it. I had clearly said 'no milk, no sugar'. So, she reluctantly made it again. I watched her closely - she used a cappucino maker to produce * brown* tea (presumably oolong or some other fermented tea) Then she handed it to me.

We had the following conversation in Thai...

'This is not green colour so this is not green tea.'

"The powder makes it green"

'How can a *white* powder make a tea green?'

"It does. And it has no milk or sugar"

I paid the forty baht as there was policeman there and it is not the girl's fault if both her employer and customers like fake green tea.

I tasted it. It is low grade normal tea with a huge percentage of tannic acid. Nothing close to Tetley or Twinning - it tasted like bad American tea that Canadians find so disgusting crossing the border a d discovering that thd very same brand of 'Red Rose' tastes very different between countries. Tastes like very old stock too. I couldn't frink more than a third of the cup.

The best thing was the 'free' green tea provided to clean the palate after . That courtesy tea (I think Thais drink it after coffee even). That actually tasted like green tea.

What is this Dr . Frankenstein chemical mix passing as green tea?

Unless tea is made by infusion in properly boiled water and steeped at my table I will not buy tea in Thai cafes. Maybe I should give a high end coffee shop in Bangkok a try. This is why I travel with my own loose lesf teas and even teabags of better varieties for rush compromises. But come on, I figured at THB40 I would get real green tea. For twice that I can buy a whole package of Mountain grown green tea. There are multiple brands available at Tops Supermarket. You don't have to go to a specialty shop or luxury supermarket.

Any other tea afficianados tried this bizarre 'green tea' that Thai coffee shops assume I want iced, or with milk and sugar but rarely what I ordered - green tea, pure and simple

Air Asia direct payment works only with one or two Thai bank cards - unfortunately not the two Thai banks I use.

Goshawk wrote: "Bangkok Bob' too deserves a mention."

Are you referring to the author of "Backstreets of Bangkok and Pattaya"? If so, I can update about him. He was a friend and co-writer on another couple of projects. I know where he is now and the story of his publication. He told me over coffee in Texas.

And the other luminaries such as the author of 'Gentleman's Guide to Southeast Asia', Buckaroo Newsletter, Asia File, 'Nights in Bangkok and Pattaya' etc. Where are they now? They were pre-internet independent reporters not beholden to advertisers. All stopped.

Hmm, a previous poster wrote that Trink rated massage parlors. I find that hard to believe as I distinctly remember him writing in his column that he was *forbidden* to report on them (and brothels) and had to limit his editorials to beer bars, go-go bars etc. He also said that he gould not tell his readers WHY he was unable to do so.

Did that ever change?

And regarding Stickman, I suspect that being the Bangkok equivalent of Angeles's 'Harry the Horse' just was no longer fun.

Regarding google advertising - I've never understood why sex is some special category. To me it's part of life, just like politics, religion and economics. Why ghettoize it?

Oh, another difference. This is I consider a plus for Burma and a minus for its neighbours by comparison. Burma is multi-ethnic. Vietnam, except for a small Chinese minority and tribals in the mountains, is a monolithic culture. Thailand, like Cambodia, is overwhelmingly Thai except in border areas and those who do the s:$&! work.

And with one fanatical cultural element Thais are more openly critical of their government than the Burmese. I even had a Vietnamese businessman lecturing me on the evils of communism ('No, China is the teacher, Vietnam is the student' was his reply to my suggestion that China had liberalized). In two trips to Burma I heard no political talk. Even in Cuba a Protestant activist was hurling insults at Castro in our conversation. Not a peep in Burma.

While I do not advocate or personally use recreational drugs, Cambodia is a lot more loosey goosey than Burma and I hear Laos has aromatic coffee shop where Marc Emery woukd feel at ease. What the influence of gangsters is in Burma compared to its neighbours and what is the level of police corruption (convenient for petty matters, scary for big ones) I do not know.

Banking is far superior in Cambodia than any other country in the region.

I agree with the poster that Cambodia tolerates barang small-time business operators much better than Thailand does. And Burma too?

Regarding language Vietnamese is easier to read due to a (some would say bizarre) adaptation of Roman script. But Vietnamese is a *very* tough lingo to master. Burman can't be harder. Khmer, being non-tonal is a lot easier. The only lingos easier in *all* of SEA is Bahasa Melayu/Indonesia and various lingos if the Philippines. ut let's not go there (including the archipeligoes, Borneo and Malaysian penninsula because already the scope of abswering this question is so wide

My question demains unanswered: Why is everyone rushing to Burma? Is it the usual reasons - sex, money and power? Or are the foreign entrepreneurs and corporate employees enamoured of the sunsets over pagodas?

Or something other again, second rate?

I was taken by a friend to such a place not so far from the US Embassy and spent about THB850 for a bag of groceries. Before I get into the details of several products - prices were closer to Canada than Vietnam. For example, a spike of aloe vera was THB30 whereas in Hanoi it would be 5 baht. OK, 'be fair, compare apples with apples!' True, I know only the mega supermarket price, such as CO-OP in HCMC. No doubt, healthfood stores (if they exist in Saigon) aloe would be 15 baht. Maybe. Perhaps Thailand is just out of my budget when buying items considered luxuries for the fussy.

Anyway, my assessment of four products - all disappointments...

1. miso: In Canada I buy miso produced from an established macrobiotic company in Boston. I consume a lot of mugi miso, which is made from soy and barley. I purchased something called hugitcha (?) miso. While it may indeed also be MSG-free, it had no taste. And was weak and had no salt. I expect it is some Chinese version.

2. tempeh: In Phnom Penh I buy tempeh made fresh, from an Indonesian restaurant. I understand it being twice the price here. However, it is kept frozen and dated for expiry next year. Huh? Isn't the point of a fermented probiotic product it being a live culture? And it fell apart when cooked. Did so even when sliced. The tempeh I buy at any FAIRPRICE supermarket in Singapore and GIANT in Malaysia is tastier and sells out daily (all those overseas maids) so is pretty much guaranteed to be fresh - a matter if hours, not months. I suppose I should be buying Lao and Burmese products as there are huge expat workers here.

3. tahina: I am familiar with Lebanese and Israeli sesame paste - it's texture, taste and aroma. This shop's version, sold in a weird plastic bag, is coarser, less oily and does not taste as good as the real thing. I suspect it is Chinese sesame paste, a different 'animal' really.

Perhaps buying Japanese, Korean and Indonesian food products in Chiang Mai has to be done at ethnic stores, as in Phnom Penh.

4. Herbal mosquito coils: Better to use a mosquito net as all they did was make me cough. Maybe it's more of a poison due to the smoke. Couldn't smell any herb either. Certainly no essential oil component. Basically garbage quality.

I won't be returning to that 'healthfood store' because I feel cheated even though the nuts, seeds etc were OK.

A matter of opinion of course that train is worse than bus. In my experience and opinion the train is better because of comfort, safety and scenery. Plus it has a charm that the bus does not. It is also more social - passengers a tually talk to each other on the train. No security check (though passport number required). No having to be at departure point way in advance. Can ship ahead luggage all way to Bangkok unaccompanied fir under THB100. Train station is a ten minute songthaew ride from where I stay in Chiang Mai. Terrorists prefer airplanes. Huomphong is near an MRT and Chinatown. I could get off far in advance of destination.

A tually I might bus it from Phitsanulok to BKK but that is unlikely.

I am travelling light and wish to break up that gruelking train ride from Chiang Mai to Hualompong.

Have any readers visited both places? I have only been to N.

Factors of relevance...

1. Selection of vegetarian food

2. Good value guesthouses/hotels near train station

3. hotsprings/nightlife/beautiful temples (OK, dreaming)

I travel Air Asia 8 times a year. Looking for a storage room pit stop between flights. Organized storage, maybe sleep 1-3 nights - then hop on a plane again. Shared WC OK. Only essential is cameras and steel gate so can relax about theft when gone for months at a time. Budget: THB1200-1500 month

Mo Chit. (closer to DNK) versus Lad Krabang (ditto BKK). Which area is better value - prices vs. facilities?

Please move to correct sub-forum, my error...

I mean for expatriates not involved in politics and who don't have savings of over 6 figures.and who have no interest in wheeling and dealing in the corporate world (small business *maybe*). I cannot compare to Laos (Vientiane) as my trips there have been infrequent. I have been to Vietnam (Saigon) many times and worked there over the last 20 years, as well living and working extensively in Phnom Penh for the last 18 years.

Factors

1. ease of visas (Burma is much worse than Cambodia which is one of the easiest places in Asia to stay long term, Burma worse than Vietnam sounds like)

2. low cost of living (accommodation is MUCH higher than either, food not sure. Cambdoia is cheap)

3. vegetarian food (hassle in Hanoi, OK in HCMC, not bad in PNH)

4. nightlife (Cambodia is a fallen star, Laos never shone)

5. banking infrastructure (Cambodia excels)

6. 'Open for business' (Cambodia good, although real estate prices high; Vietnam keeps *talking* about liberalizing. blah, blah, blah)

7. Theravada culture (like Cambodia and Laos)

8. Trading in luxury goods (precious metals buying and selling is open in Cambodia though limited to gold and aloeswood resin, Vietnam gov't periodically interferes in the gold market; does Burma mine silver? It does of course have an active coloured stones market)

9. low population density (Cambodia excels, I find Vietnam rather crowded, everywhere)

10. easy-going people (Cambodia excels to the extreme - hard to get stuff done really; I find Vietnam too intense)

11. swimming (beaches near Sihanoukville excellent, a smattering of public pools in PNH at low cost)

12. TCM and ayurveda (Vietnam gov't hassles practitioners of traditional medicine, Cambodia has some TCM but no Indian system. As Burma is a a mix of South Asia and SEA, perhaps it has equivalent)

13. Reliable and good value modern hospitals (Cambodia is horrible, Vietnam excels)

14. Easy lingo (Viet is a killer, Khmer OK)

15. Attractive women (Except for Shan/Thai Yai, I was wasn't impressed compared to Cambodia and Vietnam)

Fundamentally, my question is IF you spend a lot of time in Yangon, other than JJs and Shwedagaon Pagoda - what's the point of doing so considering other similar options in the region?

Found a website detailing how to disassociate my credit card (which I used only * once* with this account/device - when I signed up for itunes Match fiasco) So it's still there but off. These buggers at Apple gave financial memories like elephants. Blowing my anonymity cover is bad enough but creeps me out when they keep my banking info without explicitly warning me and not just in reams of fine print.

I have changed my Apple IDs and passeords multiple times in the padt year and this did not happen.

Why should I do it now? In fact, just an hour ago I downloaded. two apps without this question. Only after going to download some Singapore apps did this happen. I thought it must be some Singapore oddity, but the same for Thailand apps. It shows my credit card info.

Have I been hacked?

I have considered GoPro. I will get that as well probably. Just bought a pair of the old Pivothead. Must say I am impressed with my test shoot. MUCH superior to similar products purchased fifteen years ago in USA.

Next question is because I have insufficient time to buy I cannot wait to get prescription lenses (same company does sell them). I am wondering how difficult it would be, or not at all, to just pop in a Bangkok optometrist and say pop *out* the lenses and say 'make these according to my prescription'.

Holey Moley

Pivothead website in Thailand lists one model 'on sale' at 13,500. That's CAD 461!

I am tempted to buy Pivothead (company now called Kudu due to copyright reasons they tell me) recording glasses to record my biking etc. But they are sooo expensive for plastic and a one hour maximum recording time. Company tells me that in October they are coming out with a new and improved version.

My hesitations are as follows...

1. No interchangeable lenbses included (contrary to Youtube reviews)

2. High price - $245 CAD with tax in BC

3. New model will presumably have more recording time Oprice unknown)

4. Although considerably cheaper in USA (e.g. B&H Photo in NY $199 USD), nobody has in stock.

I gues I am a dinosaur - I like to go into a brick and mortar store, discuss the product with a salesman, see it demonstrated, and buy for cash. Now retail seems to have gone online and credit cards/PayPal.

Anyway, aside that that issue, my question is whether this product and similar *quality* recording glasses are chaeper in Bangkok than say in Vancouver. Looked the product up on Craigslist and none available. A budy bought some 'spyware' devices at a kiosk at MBK and said it was garbage quality.

Or Malaysis for that matter.

My experience in high quality health devices is that such products are made not in China (or at least not *designed*) there and are cheaper in Canada than southeast Asia.

How about for knee braces?

I travel a lot in S.E. Asia and typically stay in cheap hotels although when I am working I stay in places with newish TVs.

I am in Canada at the moment and as a semi-geezer tired of watching Youtube and even reading websites on my iphone5. Had the brilliant idea to hook it up to a TV. I at currently shopping at Future Shop to see what I would need to buy to be able to watch streaming (or stored) videos and websites on my handheld eye-squinting device on a nice big TV. I am bowled over not so much by the equipment weight as the bulk and especially the price!

1. lightening digital AV adapter (for new TVs) - $55

2. lightening to VGA adapter (for old TVS) - $55

3. RCA equivalent (for ancient TVs) - $?

4. HDMI cable 12" (I sit far away for vision and health) - $60

5. whatever a VGA cable costs

Plus HST and environmental fees of course. That's like $225

Hey, I don't want to cash in my term deposits, just watch my movies and view my iPhone photos!

Apple TV is not an option because of the lousy Wifi connection. Chrome something or other device neither as it really limits what you can watch.

How do you guys solve this problem other than carrying a huge suitcase of doodads and being rich?

AC =

guns

criminals

many Korean male tourists

bad food

Worse than Manila, and I didn't think that was possible.

Yes, I have been to both.

AC is the only place why I have been both ripped off by a foreigner (big time) and had two attempted robberies. And I have been to every Asian country except Brunei, Pakistan, North Korea, Macau and Sri Lanka

Well, Apple from Makaysia, Apple Canada took my money and*started* to add album art work but then I got an error message that I needed to log out of Itunes store (where I purchased subscription), and I don't see any changes so far - 30 minutes later . I have a good wifi connected.

Perhaps simultaneously updating itunes was a bad idea? I stopped that process at. &0 %. But Apple is supposed to ve seamlessly integrated and a no brainer.

well, Malaysia at the moment actually.

Despite disliking Apple's 'privacy' policies (at least better than Google's), and not liking using credit cards - I want to take advantage of this service. However, I am travelling in SEA and will soon be back in Canada.

How complicated is this going to be adding content from various countries (not online), as in ISPs will vary wildly. My second major concern is that the identity of my appleid will not match my credit card

Circumstances (in case it makes any difference)...

1. Canadian and Cambodian credit cards

2. Canadian purchase of iphone5 with cash and registered to 'John Doe'

3. Canadian itunes purchases of songs with anonymous Canadian gift cards so far

4. 2000 songs mostly from ripping library CDs and sharing websites

5. Most songs already in mp3 format

6. Most songs on external hard drives stored in Thailand (some loose, some in backups of itunes)

7. I am a computer retard

8. Appleid us registered to 'Fred Smith' in Zimbawe or some such

9. I do not own a Mac computer/ipad and while I might buy an ipad not sure if I will ever get a Mac laptop (which if I do will be a digital HD 'Air' model)

10. I have itunes installed on my 2 years-old PC laptop

11. All my itunes purchased songs are so far only on my iphone5

The goal is to get all content integrated with the least effort and technical knowhow and ideally telling Apple as little about my personal business (whereabouts and banking for example) as possible. And without losing my ratings and playlists of course.

The anarchist in me couldn't help but notice the following...

At Thai Immigration

a. sign "No photos"

b. camera placed to take photos if all departing passengers

I wonder what would happen if a sovereign individual refused to consent or insisted on photographing the officer? There is a modern tradition, at least in USA (don't know about Canada and Europe) of legal resistance against the use of power of the state and simple documenting actions by representatives of the state - by photographing law enforcement as they go about their jobs. They don't like it but court precedent has established the right to do so.

It's called reciprocity. If agents of the state can take our images, we can do do of them. I am sure they have nothing to hide...

I thought I commented in a previous post (a few years ago) that I was concerned about the future of the non-bank safety box company in the United Centre on Silom - because to my observation the proprietor had 'one foot in the grave'

Well, now he has two feet. As in six feet under. Or burned to a crisp.

The new 'guards' are even less professional looking than the old contracted in ones. Will the business survive under his widowed Thai wife's management? Time will tell, but I am glad I moved my valuables out.

I would most like to hear from someone who is Thai.

What is it with the fear or discomfort of people taking notes and asking questuons. This has happened many times over the years, the most rdcent example when I asked for a business card and enquired after the working hours at Vidyasom pharmacy in Banglamphu. I thought her reply was hilarious: "Why do you want to know?"

My guess, and that is all it is, is that Thais are suspicious of anyone with a notepad. We are perceived to be corporate spies, reporters or policemen. Or Thais just are not a literate people, unlike say Vietnamese who seem to relish the written word. Another possibility is fhat asking 'skill testing questions' is considered rude because they might not know the answers and are afraid of being perceived to be uninformed (losing face). Or there are so many laws that criminalize so many petty things that businessmen are constantly in anxiety about being arrested for labour or safety regulations.

In Japan and Malaysia writing things down is not generally taken as a threat. Why so here?

Let's have a tone of civity gentlemen please.

Thursday night 11:46 pm BTS Nana gates locked and workers going home. This creates problems.

I agree with UKrules on this matter.

And as a long standing problem of pedestrian traffic I would fire whoever in law enforcement is permitting vendors from clogging Sukhumvit north side from Soi 3.Chamlong Srimuang where are you?