Honkytowner

My dear General, you should know by now the red shirts NEVER take responsibility for anything. It's always someone elses' fault, not theirs'.

Surely this is true of most people in Thailand?

I don't see where the problem lies. If your internship is part of a proper study course from a recognised educational institution overseas, and the company has sponsored you for that internship, your Ed. visa should be valid in the circumstances.

The saying goes: "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned" but in your case, I think it will be impotent fury.

Relax and enjoy your stay.

"Never seen a police farce ... like the Thai police force"

Clarification needed. Are you referring to the uninformed branch or the defectives?

Gold bars offered for sale at Bangkok Bank are advertised as being 95% pure. That's generally considered too soft for Western-style jewellery (it scratches very easily), but is not pure enough for sale on international bullion markets, where .999 (99.9%) purity is the standard. Caveat emptor.

Let the revolution commence!

Just as I predicted in yesterday's thread on this topic. All the lovely "commissions" from those outsourced towing companies. The BiB must be rubbing their hands with anticipatory glee!

This is a terrible tragedy.

I suppose it's arguable that childbirth per se is not a medical emergency, but still, a woman presenting herself at a hospital in labour should never be turned away.

It's a great shame that the ancient and honourable profession of midwifery seems to be dying out all over the developed and developing world. It used to be that every neighbourhood, rural or urban, had a local midwife who could be called upon to assist with the delivery of a child.

My sister-in-law encountered a similar situation a couple of years ago in the Philippines. She went into labour two months prematurely and hired a motor tricycle to take her to the nearby hospital, where she was turned away for lack of a cash deposit. She was then driven to a second hospital, where she was again declined admission, even though by then her waters had broken and the baby was breeching. The nurses simply cut the umbilicus, cleaned her up and sent her home with her newborn baby girl, saying that she might not survive without intensive care.

Against the odds, the little one did survive and though she is a bit small for her age (2½), she is a perfectly normal, intelligent and active girl.

There is simply no excuse for this "money-first, care later" attitude that seems so prevalent in this part of the world.

Another great corruption opportunity for the BiB! They don't have enough tow trucks of their own to make any real impression on the number of vehicles illegally parked, so they'll be obliged to outsource to private towing companies, who will be required to pay a "commission" on each vehicle towed. This used to happen in Hong Kong back in the late 1960s, when the society there was about as developed as it now is here in Thailand.

There are two roots to this problem:

1. Whereas other major cities around the world reserve about 20% of their space for roads, Bangkok reserves only 10%;

2. The government is in thrall to foreign automotive manufacturers, for the revenue their production plants here provide, but shows little consideration for the convenience of its citizens — the people whose interests they should be putting first.

Likewise, the solution is twofold and relatively simple:

1. Allow the purchase of a private car only on production of documents showing a level of income commensurate with the ability to comfortably afford such, and proof of payment of related income tax;

2. Make much greater investment in developing fast, comfortable mass transit systems.

Mind you, since Bangkok is sinking at 3cm per year and sea levels are rising, the whole dam_n city will be awash within the next couple of decades, so the unvoiced attitude is "Why bother?"

It is true that the tailors along Sukhumvit aren't that good. But there are very good tailors in Bkk and almost everywhere else. You just need to find them.

With respect, this is not helpful. What's your point? To make this statement, you must have found them yourself, so why don't you answer the OP's question and share the good news?

Silly question, really. It all depends on what kind of lifestyle you intend to lead.

"Visitor Exports"? What's that supposed to mean? Is it the same as deportation?

I imagine the only consular assistance this guy will get is into restraints and onto a flight to wherever it is the Brits apply their "enhanced interrogation" techniques.

"Just ask if you can invade (sorry visit) and then get em to sign a pact with you. (please note, you have to be winning, otherwise they will sign for the other team)"

You mean, like in World War II?

Don't worry too much about jelly fish when swimming in Thailand. The real risk is exposure to fecal coli forms. The risk that you will be stung by a jelly fish is miniscule when compared to the likelihood that you will experience an ear, nose, throat, eye or skin infection from swimming in untreated sewerage.

They have recently conducted water quality tests on the seawater at Patong beach in Phuket. However the Thai authorities had to quash the findings because they were so disturbing.

However ... http://www.abc.net.au/health/yourstories/stories/2008/12/04/2437041.htm

http://guardianlv.com/2013/06/cannabis-cures-cancer-marijuana-touted-as-miracle-drug-video/

Does this sound like a "vile poison"?

Could anyone identify the football top the Scot is wearing ?

All I know is that it's the International Signal flag for "PR".

It might come as a shock to some, but Manila is NOT the capital of the Philippines. Quezon City is.

I don't think this is a snake at all. It looks like a caecilian — a legless amphibian. They're completely harmless to humans, living mostly in the soil and feeding on insects and other small invertebrates. They're probably finding their way into your home because of excessive ground water.

Check:

http://www.google.co.th/search?hl=en&site=imghp&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1280&bih=572&q=caecilian&oq=caecilian&gs_l=img.1.0.0l10.1229.3517.0.9348.9.9.0.0.0.0.218.1378.1j6j2.9.0....0...1ac.1.19.img.6SYKhDKL3X8

for images

and

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caecilian

for information.

No dealers? My backside! At the far end of the road from the police station is a guesthouse that's well-known among backpackers for retailing dope. It even has a smoking lounge! There's something funny going on if tourists can find it but the cops can't.

I never use the commercial stuff myself. As a resident of the Philippines, I was introduced to tawas – alum (hydrated potassium aluminium sulphate) – a naturally occurring colourless crystalline mineral that can be bought in chunks at many sundry goods stores. You just damp the surface and rub it in your armpits. It keeps you dry and prevents odour all day long, for a fraction of the cost of sticks and roll-ons. Back to basics!

"...to be held between July 1921 at CentralWorld."

What the hell is that supposed to mean? Does the Nation have sub-editors?

I've not had one that "leaks". The "leakage" is usually water that has simply splashed back from the target onto the nozzle and the hand holding it. With regard to the coldness of the water in more northerly climes, it shouldn't be a problem if the gun is used for just a couple of quick blasts (which should be all that's needed), since the water you use will have been in the hose and the pipes inside the house and therefore at indoor temperature.