dereklev

Congrats to Mr and (the soon to be) Mrs BS....

Finally a happy ending to their story.....

No did not declare them, but for god sake man 150,000 baht is well over 2000 pounds for a few poxy cigs. I am in shock.

The limit on importing cigarettes to Thailand is 200/1 carton.

When you buy a carton of Marlboro Lights for 510 Baht here why on earth would you want to import 50 cartons? ?

Have to agree though that import duty of 3980 Baht a carton is excessive and taking you for 150,000 Baht is just...well, theft!!!

1) ThaiVisa

2) BBC News and Sport

3) Stockmarkets

I am meeting up with Ace, OxfordWill and Teach tomorrow (Sunday 19th) at the Dynasty Inn, Sukhumvit Soi 4 at 7pm.

We will then move on to Sin and/or Hilary's also Soi 4.

Any others of you who wish to join us are more than welcome.

I know this is but I didn't want to start a new thread.....

Actor/Actress Jack Nicholson/Halle Berry

Musician Carlos Santana

Comedian Robin Williams

Politician Mahatma Gandhi or Nelson Mandela - Can't decide

TV Member I like you alll..... But LC and her cousin Rose to make up the ladies.

Sportsman/Author Sir Steve Redgrave/Luke Rheinhart (for the Dice Man a great inspiration in my wayward youth!!)

OK,  This is me.

I'm 39 years old, I don't live in Thailand, in fact I don't live anywhere.

I have no credit card but I  do have a big knife, so stay away 'cos I'm tough

Gee. Looks just like me. Long lost brothers maybe? But 39? I thought I was 55.....

Geez I thought it was you too!!!

Same garden as well, I still love it!!

[it certainly looks beautiful, if you are looking for elegance rather than "rustic charm"

I wonder if it still looks that good....

I don't know what it is with those pictures but the place didn't look like that to me. I don't think it's unusual for Thai hotel/resorts to exhibit pictures of over-decorated, more-luxurious-than actual room photos. It was a nice highland resort, there wasn't anything about this place unmatching to its environment, as far as I could tell from my experience staying there 3 - 4 years ago.

My response was tongue in cheek....I actually thought it looked like that!!

I have known hotels to over-do the website and brochures to some degree....but if this was just a nice highland resort they have certainly gone to town on their website!!!

Are you really LC.....

I thought you were 27/28 tops.

Really.. Getting old, ya know. But thanks.

Me I am 55 going on 30!    

Don't we know that..

I'll take that as a compliment then... :D

http://www.sakphuduen.com/

This is where I stayed many years ago when it was very new and it was quite good (looked better and newer than the Juldis to me) , except the breakfast wasn't so great.   About 15 - 20 minutes drive to the gate of the national park (9km away).  10 minutes drive off the road that leads to the national park, a bit scary drive at night but the view is great.

It certainly looks beautiful, if you are looking for elegance rather than "rustic charm"

I wonder if it still looks that good....

32 this October

Are you really LC.....

I thought you were 27/28 tops.

Me I am 55 going on 30!

Derek, thanks for the good words about Juldis. It looked nice to us as well. Current rate for an ordinary room is only 1500 on the R24 web site. (Thanx George....)

And, Jai Dee, if you can remember the name of that one, let us know. (Actually, sounds almost like Juldis as described by Derek....)

You are welcome.

It iis not the same place Jai Dee mentioned.....I know where he means as we have visited the Buddha on a few ocassions.

By the by, I saw your photo in the How Old thread, love your garden!

Where are you based???

We stayed at the Juldis Resort about 2kms outside the park. Nice bungalows which easily slept 4 were about 3,000 Baht a night. We stayed High season so I am sure they can be had cheaper. Also had rooms at under 2,000 Baht. The hotel has beautiful gardens, swimming pool, lovely views etc. etc.

To get there you take the 2nd Pak Chong exit on the BKK road. It is signed Pak Chong/Khao Yai. Then the hotel is about 5kms on the left. There are many hotels along this road.

I hope this helps.

Derek

St Christopher medallions for good luck....?

Who is St.Christopher ? nickname of Platinum Amex Card ? or scrambled number of Swiss Bank Account ?

Seroiusly - I have no idea - every flavor of Christianity has legions of saints, semi saints and saints with pending aproval...

I believe you will find that St Christopher is the Patron Saint of Travellers, and many Christians wear a medallion showing him carrying Christ across a river for good luck when travelling. I personally am not a Christian, and may not have given him his correct title or role, but I am sure that the likes of Mr Merton will be able to confirm or add to this description.

The reason for quoting St Christopher as an example, was simply to address your previous post on Christian amulets having nothing to do with luck and providing protection etc...

"star of david" has nothing to do with Judaism, "cross" - just an aknowledgement of christian faith. Nothing to do with luck, protection, health problems ...

"graven images" - is a little part of ten commendments, seems like "not very good".

anyway, sorry for alternative point of view. my fault.

Maybe the underlying feeling of comfort and security afforded to some by the wearing of an amulet is not so different regardless of the religion concerned...?

Well put Rags

That is what I was trying to say, regardless of the religious significance it is the comfort the amulet offers that appeals to so many people.

I was expecting to see an avalanche of "Business for sale" ads in the Phuket Gazette over the last few months, but, this hasn't happened. I guess people are still hoping that the next high season will get them through.

Also, these initiatives to attract people to come to Phuket all seem to be initiated by the government. Very few "good deals" being generated by the private sector.

Guess that even if people put their businesses up for sale no one would be interested in buying!

I am sure anyone who previously wanted to set-up a business on Phuket will wait at least a year to look for proper signs of a recovery.

When you refer to "graven images and "religious problems" Oleg, are you talking about Christianity or Judaism?

Both religions seem to be overloaded with amulets......the Cross and the Star of David.

So why your aversion to Buddhist amulets.....

...as Jai Dee has explained most of us wear them with pride.

"star of david" has nothing to do with Judaism, "cross" - just an aknowledgement of christian faith. Nothing to do with luck, protection, health problems ...

"graven images" - is a little part of ten commendments, seems like "not very good".

anyway, sorry for alternative point of view. my fault.

The six points symbolize God's rule over the universe in all six directions.

Through the Jewish people's long and often difficult history, we have come to the realization that our only hope is to place our trust in God. The six points of the Star of David symbolize God's rule over the universe in all six directions: north, south, east, west, up and down.

The Magen David (Star of David) is certainly affliated to Judaism.

By the way Oleg your alternative point of view is as valid as mine....

There are some of us here that discretely wear amulets... and for very special personal reasons that we've already made public in this thread.

Whether an amulet is made of stone, or gold, or even (as in my case) a coin, wearing one is a matter of personal choice, and most of us wear them with pride.

Jai Dee, point well taken. I hope I didn't offend you. Just something about "graven images" makes me feel unconfortable, but surely it's my own religious problem.

Cheers, hope see you at next Pissup Party'July 2005

When you refer to "graven images and "religious problems" Oleg, are you talking about Christianity or Judaism?

Both religions seem to be overloaded with amulets......the Cross and the Star of David.

So why your aversion to Buddhist amulets.....

...as Jai Dee has explained most of us wear them with pride.

It was chucking it down in Phuket last night. Sorry. 

Cheers RDN.....hope it didn't interfere with the Pool!!!!

Most helpful post so far - cheers Thomas.

I'll pop along to the chemist now, don't really fancy the yoghurt treatment as it'll be messy and i'll have to keep it in the fridge and Val will probably eat it.

Actually the yoghurt is a good method to remedy your problem, but you need to insert a slice of warm toast on top of the yoghurt. The heat speeds up the

anti-fungal properties of the yoghurt and by covering the yoghurt, the warm toast also prevents the yoghurt from drying out, again increasing it's effectiveness. It does require you to sleep on your stomach for the night, but it's worth it.

Are you taking the piss?

No, not at all, there's lots of home remedies using common everyday foods. For example, for jock itch or a fungal infection on the crotch, soaking your testicles in warm oatmeal works quite well. Another one is if you suffer from diarrhea, eat a bag of marshmallows and the sponge-effect will slow things up quite well. Yet another involves peanut butter, turpentine, wet gym socks, a pair of pliers, and a pile of dirt for treatment of premature ejaculation, but it's a rather involved and lengthy procedure.

Oh stop it... please...

I can just imagine him in his bathroom tonight having a go a your "remedies"..

totster

Taking the piss or not John......

....your remedies are absolutely hilarious!!! :D

dereklev

Here near Korat just a little rain would help too!!

because of the lack of rain the family's having big problems with to much salt coming to the surface and mixing with what ever water supplies they have

Yes we had that problem before Songkran, the water in the lake was so low that the salt level was very high.

For about 3 months there has been no water in the lake so we have to ship in water from Korat.

I live near NoneThai which has some of the best Salt Water in Thailand. Some of my brother-in-laws have a business shipping it all over Thailand for use in things like fish sauce, beer, soft drinks etc.

My wife once bought some and put it in our new car!!

I had a girlfriend that once used diesel instead of gasoline and and it was a very expensive folly which resulted in leaving the car at the garage for a day and a half while they had to drain it empty and clean it before putting proper gasoline in the tank.

Uh...Scamp...I believe the guy was referring to his girlfriend leaving a Durian inside the car - like maybe on the back seat?

Perhaps not in the fuel tank...

Coorrect Boon Mee....

Scamp doesn't seem all there since he returned to the UK....

quote from toxin ' now if the whole country can unite and work together with this forward way of thinking we can avoid any future shortages'

Great plan...

Here near Korat just a little rain would help too!!

Ah, but what about the 12" step you now have down to your ground level   

My missus is miffed that she didn't get a Water Buffalo (or pig, or cow, or rubber trees) 

She says she vote for Thaksin so she should get one, this is Thailand and she is Thai. I suppose I'll have to go shopping now, do Tesco sell Water Buffalo???

Not as weird as it seems.......

They recently had a draw in every village where the winners got a free calf!!!

Our village had 7 up for grabs and my wife didn't win one...yippee

The last thing I need is for her to start a liking for bovines.

Low-strength Singha on the cards

Boonrawd Brewery is considering making a new

low-alcohol beer under its Singha brand.

Thai consumers would be able to consume quality beer with a lower alcohol content, which would be good for their health and would reduce road accidents resulting from drunkenness.

--The Nation 2005-06-16

Not drinking and driving will reduce road accidents resulting from drunkeness!!!!

I tried it once and wasn't too keen on it.

I didn't hate it but I wasn't comfortable with the taste which reminded me of egg and burnt coffee sweetner.

I don't know where this rotting smell myth comes from, it doesn't smell that bad.

Kind of like a cross between egg and burnt coffee sweetner.

Scamp.....

How on earth do you know what burnt coffee sweetner tastes/smells like? ?

My wife once bought some and put it in our new car!! The smell lingered for days although she denied there was any smell at all!!!

Used endless cans of airspray and polish before the smell went.....

Banned from house and car now.

Can anyone recommend any good opticians they've used in Khon Kaen, and their address/location? 

I don't just mean ones with tempting pink-suited eye candy hanging around the doors either, but ones with a qualified optician who is not just interested in selling you the most expensive frames in the shop.

Remember a while ago, someone saying that Top Charoen in Udon is one to avoid, but maybe they vary province by province?

Cheers for any advice, before I trust my eyes to a pro/amateur.

Before reading your post I was going to recommend Top Chareon.

Not used them in Khon Kaen but have twice used them in Korat.

Super service, not just eye candy!!

Good, thorough eye tests etc.

Also have the advantage that if you have a problem with your glasses you can visit any of their stores nationwide and they will fix it free of charge.