nisakiman

Thanks. I was hoping to get some helpful responses from people who know better than I do.

Fortunately it looks like I got a couple of helpful responses (as well as a few not so helpful ones).

Thanks for all for your comments. This was my first post and I have learned a couple of things from it.

Assuming you're genuine, dont take any of this too seriously : we do get trolled on a regular basis, often by longtimers reinventing themselves under a different board name and having some fun at our expense. Most here would kill to have access to anything resembling 200k baht a month to live on in Thailand - your only enemy will be the nightlife but I expect that's the same in London / Hong Kong / most US cities.

"Most here would kill to have access to anything resembling 200k baht a month to live on in Thailand"

To be honest, I can't think how I'd be able to spend that much, for both me and my wife. When we're in Thailand, even when we're staying in Bangkok, eating out every meal, staying in a hotel (we don't do 5 star, just comfortable), taxis, BTS and metro, shopping etc etc etc, I don't think I get through much more than 40K Baht in a month. And that's in holiday mode, when you spend more freely than when you're resident mode. Ok, we don't do nightlife, but even when I was single and doing that stuff, I don't remember it being that expensive.

200K? I'd have to be buying expensive cars, expensive women and always eating in top restaurants to even approach that sort of expenditure.

I replaced all in our house after breaking with American Standard, brushed stainless steel with steel valve lever. I guess they will last long. It's a bit modern design, works perfect and no comments from the boss too.

BumGun.jpg

I also have this type of bum gun, and have found it to be the best. It's made by VRH (a Thai company, I believe) and cost about 1000 Baht when I bought it a year or so ago. I bought two, in fact, to bring back to Europe with me, as in the past I've found (the cheaper) bum guns to have a limited lifespan, but the original is still as good as new and the other one is still in its unopened packaging.

This is the model:

http://www.vrh.co.th/product_detail.aspx?p_id=890&language=en

And their website is here:

http://www.vrh.co.th/product_series.aspx?cat_id=1&language=en

They do all types of taps, showers and accessories in stainless steel, and all in nice designs. A bit more expensive than the usual run of the mill, but as they say, you get what you pay for.

Hopefully the expansion is done in typical Thai fashion and they just keep extending it from one end in a nice long line. I want to walk more to get to my flights!!

I nearly missed my flight earlier this week, partly because the gate was about 2 km from immigration (and several of the moving walkways weren't working and those that were working were blocked) and partly because security and immigration were under-manned, and took forever to negotiate. In fact at immigration, I had to queue-jump. Fortunately, the guys in front of me were very understanding, and allowed me through with good grace. My wife was through the 'Thai Passports Only' in two minutes, but the 'Foreigner' section was packed.

There must surely be a better way than having such vast distances to travel to some of the gates? Even when you're not running late it's a pain. The moving walkways are a good system, but are often rendered pointless because so many people get on them and then just stand there instead of walking, and so block them up so nobody else can make proper use of them.

Perhaps if they expand the place further, they should think about splitting immigration desks into two sections, situated at and serving opposite ends of the airport, and site the check-in for the relevant airlines accordingly.

And in fact, the bald statement "SMOKING KILLS" is BS. It doesn't. Living kills, every time. Not smoking.

Did you know that the majority of people who live to 90 - 100 years old were smokers?

Scientists at the Albert Einstein College in New York were recently studying the factors in the lives of 90 year olds that may have affected their longevity. These researchers discovered that 70% of the men over the age of 90 smoked. In the same age group, 30% of the women still smoked. In other words, roughly 50% of the people in the study were still using tobacco products.

.................................................................

So smoking self-evidently doesn't kill.

So, like most things you read about smoking, what is written on the pack 'warning label' (and that applies to all the various permutations) is just a barefaced lie. Propaganda with no basis in reality. Most of the medico-porn is photoshopped, and many of the 'models' weren't even smokers. The so-called 'smoker's black lung' is a myth, as it is impossible to differentiate between the lungs from smokers and non-smokers, even for a pathologist performing an autopsy. The anti-tobacco fanatics simply don't like smoking, and they will lie and exaggerate to try to stop people from doing it. They don't care how they do it - to them the end justifies the means, and if the global hospitality industry (and all those who worked in it) has to be sacrificed on the alter of self-rightious prohibitionism, then tough. Sacrificed it will be. It was never about health; it was always about destroying the whole social culture of smoking.

It's a shame and a horror to read what some "experts" write about Greece and it's political and economic situation: "Grexit" would be the best solution ("has nothing to loose ...) for Greece, writes the OP. And going on: "But Greece seems to have the upper hand thanks to the game-changing presence of the BRICS' alliance".

Maybe he doesn't know what BRICS means?

• B-rasil - in deap, deap trouble. At the moment the government has big problems because of the state Petrolio-Curruption case; upcoming powercuts and shortage of water are perdicted if there isn't some heavy rain very soon.

• R-ussia - falling gas and oil prices (more than 50%) with enormous negative influence on the budget; war in Ucraine; economic sanctions by the US and the EU. Has yet some foreign money reserves, but will need it for itself during sanction time. An oil-pipe-line to Greece would be of interest.

• I-ndia - cannot solve it's own problems, i.e. budget deficits; disastrous infra structure; income gap between the rich and the poor = social frictions; .....

• C-hina - the only serious candidate for supporting; but is Greece of big importance for China? Location?

• S-outh Africa - Housing, crimes, AIDS, education, income gap betwenn the rich and the poor. Inspite of the rich natural resources it seems not to be interested in solving the failed promises of Greece.

So it's highly unrealistic that these states would like to solve the Greek problem. And they would learn from what the EU missed to consider many years before:

1. Greece has a substandard bureaucray, especialy in the financial/tax sector. One of the reasons why tax evading for the big fishes is rather normal. No government was able to solve this problem. You can guess some politicians didn't want it either. In a nutshell, government and political promises are not reliable in Greece. 25% of the working class got their saleries from the state coffers . This noble rate didn't work for a better quality as proven before (tax offices).

2. Lying and deceiving. To receive the benefits (money) from the EU and the Euro the Greek governments faked their reports about their budgets. They did it to become a member of the Euro-group. Manipulated reports about it's financial status have been the norm over years. Of course, while the EU-bureaucray was sleeping or closed the eyes. One EUR-rule was the budget deficit should not exceed 3%, but is was up to 15% over many years. The EU was sleeping voluntarily for some time, because Germany's and Italy's (France's too?) budgets crossed the 3%-limit. Once the bubble had to burst.

3. Corruption. I wonder why the EU couldn't or wouldn't recognise this endemic disease. A German with a restaurant on the beautiful island Corfu - who I met here in Thailand before 2008 - told me he had to pay 15 % in average. Everybody living in Greece would know it, all but the EURO-embassadors.

4. Money spending for populist policies (what Greece didn't earn by itself). Like in the rice scheme here in Thailand, to be reelected the politicians promised and gave the people more than the government earned with it's own taxes and other income: high rents, wages, receiving your pension aged 50!. This was not in a reasonable and healthy ratio to what the country and the people produced. If you do all this for many years - spending more money than you earnt by yourself - you'll go bankrupt what happened to Geece. And don't forget, a lot of the EU money for investment projects didn't go to where it should have been used. Instead it went to the Greek budget for the populist policies - well hidden.

If you are in a club (EU) and you would have a member lying and cheating to receive the best benefits would you like to stay with it any more?

OP, do you think the BRICS states don't know this now? Although Russia talked already about some steps to support the Greeks, "political love" is not for free, if there is any .... .

But I agree with you, Grexit would be the best ...... for the Euro. The EURo states will loose too much money in the future. But remember, even the new left government doesn't want to loose the constant EUR money benefits. But believing all their promises that's another, but serious story.

One of the laudable EU ideas is to help poor states to win a higher income for the poor people. But if you cannot rely on this state and if it doesn't want to change seriously - as promised - let it alone. As you think the Drachme will be okay for Greece, go and buy them, you'll have nothing to lose (your words).

A German with a restaurant on the beautiful island Corfu - who I met here in Thailand before 2008 - told me he had to pay 15 % in average. Everybody living in Greece would know it, all but the EURO-embassadors.

Lots of BS in your post, but this one really stands out! As it happens, I've lived on Corfu for nearly 15 years. When I first moved there, I bought and ran a bar for a few years. I was never approached by anyone for anything other than normal local and state taxes.

Who, exactly, was your German friend paying this 15% to? Because if we're talking about 'tea money' I can tell you now, it wasn't the police, and it wasn't anyone from local government. Oh, there is corruption in Greece all right, but low level corruption disappeared a long time ago. If you offered a policeman a bribe in Greece these days, you would probably get arrested on the spot. These days the corruption is in backhanders for multi-million Euro contracts, maybe backhanders to tax officials to overlook some off-book accounting. But the days of the 'fakilo' (envelope stuffed with money) are just about gone.

Is Corfu still available?

Don't laugh - there were rumours of a Qatari bid for Corfu a few years ago! Probably only rumour, but the Troika were pushing Greece hard to sell off the family jewels at the time!

Maybe we should sell off Greece to the Turks if they are not willing to pay off their loans.

Seriously Greeks have no shame. I hope Germany and the rest of the countries that helped Greece will find a way to hurt them so badly that their grandchildren will forever blame their parents for the stupidity they committed.

Let us not forget that countries like Greece and Spain and Italy not only never really contributed to the EU they only ever got subsidies from it and were always benefiting and draining EU resources. Screw them all and kick them out. Not only is the Euro low because of the idiot Greeks also Mario Draghi and his monetary plans are screwing us over. Its time the countries paying for those idiots are getting a saying in it instead of those draining the EU.

Maybe only countries who are contributors to the EU like Netherlands . Germany , Uk and so on should be allowed to vote on measures like this.

Maybe we should sell off Greece to the Turks if they are not willing to pay off their loans.

We? And who exactly is 'we'?

You don't really understand much about it, do you?

Have you any idea what financial contortions the EU performed to drag Greece into the Eurozone? Have you any idea how much Germany benefited from having the Southern European countries involved in the Euro and keeping its value low? Have you any idea about the usurious interest rates that Greece has been paying on its loans?

No, of course you don't. You know nothing about it.

Is Corfu still available?

Don't laugh - there were rumours of a Qatari bid for Corfu a few years ago! Probably only rumour, but the Troika were pushing Greece hard to sell off the family jewels at the time!

hua hin is for cool people with money.

if that is not you, please don't come here.

I do hope that was just a not very clever attempt at jocularity.

I'd hate to think that there are really such insufferable prigs living in HH.

Whatever, it was an unnecessarily unpleasant comment. The guy is asking for information. Politely. There is no need for smart-alec responses like that.

I guess you have never been to Hua Hin on a weekend. Good chance you will be hit by a Mercedes. My point is if you are comfortable with my statement then Hua Hin is for you. Very expensive places full of the elite are not for everyone.

Sure I've been in HH on a weekend, and sure it's got lots of stupidly expensive eateries full of hi-sos. So has Bangkok. I don't need to go to those places, so I'm unaffected by them. It's no different to anywhere else in the world.

there are a number of accommodations in the vicinity of hualampong catering to a broad range of budgets

True, although they tend towards the lower end. I've often stayed at the Sri Krung hotel just across the canal from Hualumphong. It's basic, but clean, and has a good little restaurant downstairs for breakfast. About 700 Baht, I think.

I love to take the train to HH on the odd occasions I go there. As mentioned, it does take ages, but it's a great way to travel. And if you're looking for an evening meal, there's a great little place just behind the Hong Kong Noodle place (you can't miss it - it's opposite the station), and near the MRT entrance. Tucked away a bit, but look for the lights that seem to drip (if you know what I mean...). A few tables outside, and more inside. Always busy. The chicken with orange sauce is delicious.

hua hin is for cool people with money.

if that is not you, please don't come here.

I do hope that was just a not very clever attempt at jocularity.

I'd hate to think that there are really such insufferable prigs living in HH.

Whatever, it was an unnecessarily unpleasant comment. The guy is asking for information. Politely. There is no need for smart-alec responses like that.

Well Greeks say NO with a head nod.

They also use the same gesture of palm down waving of the hand to beckon people. And actually, it's not a nod to say no, it's a slight jerking up of the chin, usually accompanied by a low "Tsk!"

Perhaps all the 'experts' on the profligate Greeks should read this:

Edit because comments was playing sillybuggers for some reason.

"Epidemiology is just medical statistics..."

who told you this!? i asked because you seem to be misinformed my friend.

I would say that there is little to choose between those two definitions. Epidemiology is merely statistics as applied in the medical field, and as such is as much subject to misinterpretation (deliberate or otherwise) as any other statistics.

..................................

Epidemiologists Vote to Keep Doing Junk Science

Epidemiology Monitor (October 1997)

An estimated 300 attendees a recent meeting of the American College of

Epidemiology voted approximately 2 to 1 to keep doing junk science!

Specifically, the attending epidemiologists voted against a motion

proposed in an Oxford-style debate that “risk factor” epidemiology is

placing the field of epidemiology at risk of losing its credibility.

Risk factor epidemiology focuses on specific cause-and-effect

relationships–like heavy coffee drinking increases heart attack risk. A

different approach to epidemiology might take a broader

perspective–placing heart attack risk in the context of more than just

one risk factor, including social factors.

Risk factor epidemiology is nothing more than a perpetual junk science machine.

But as NIEHS epidemiologist Marilyn Tseng said “It’s hard to be an

epidemiologist and vote that what most of us are doing is actually harmful

to epidemiology.”

http://www.manhealthissue.com/2007/06/epidemiologists-vote-to-keep-doing-junk-science.html

Epidemiology is just medical statistics, and we all know the saying popularised by Mark Twain:

"There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics."

It is basically junk science, and can be used (or misused) in any way the epidemiologist wants, depending on his or her personal beliefs / likes / dislikes.

Lies, Damned Lies, and Medical Science

Much of what medical researchers conclude in their studies is misleading, exaggerated, or flat-out wrong.

"...before long he discovered that the range of errors being committed was astonishing: from what questions researchers posed, to how they set up the studies, to which patients they recruited for the studies, to which measurements they took, to how they analyzed the data, to how they presented their results, to how particular studies came to be published in medical journals."

.......................

“The studies were biased,” he says. “Sometimes they were overtly biased. Sometimes it was difficult to see the bias, but it was there.” Researchers headed into their studies wanting certain results—and, lo and behold, they were getting them. We think of the scientific process as being objective, rigorous, and even ruthless in separating out what is true from what we merely wish to be true, but in fact it’s easy to manipulate results, even unintentionally or unconsciously.

..................................

Thailand needs many things, but more epidemiologists is emphatically not one of them.

Edit to add link:

http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2010/11/lies-damned-lies-and-medical-science/308269/

Millions of jews,christians,muslims lived peacefuly during the ottoman era.

The west should fund moderate islam groups.

Moderate islam is nothing to be scared of.

Actually, don't laugh before giving this one a thought.

The Chinese resolved the problem in Xinjiang. Sure they still have some problems but they will go away.

What did they do? They decided on a plan to breed them out.

They sent in more Han people than Uighurs and sooner or later they will disappear.

I say sell the whole middle east to the Chinese and let them breed them out.

Or perhaps maybe the Indians could do it instead. Might be a better choice with not so far to travel.

"The Chinese resolved the problem in Xinjiang. Sure they still have some problems but they will go away.

What did they do? They decided on a plan to breed them out.

They sent in more Han people than Uighurs and sooner or later they will disappear.

I say sell the whole middle east to the Chinese and let them breed them out."

That's precisely what the Muslims are in the process of doing in Europe. And they seem to be succeeding.

Urethane modified acrylic satin is tough as nails and is soap and water cleanup in the brand I use. Double check the cleanup instructions online if you have to.

Acrylic flows out really nice, covers well, resists mildew and looks great when applied. Sherwin Williams brand doesn't even leave brush marks if you use a good brush. I know you said spray, but paint that's brushed on will be tougher because the mechanical action will force it to adhere better. Spray just lays it on there.

Either way, the paint you are seeing may be water cleanup and it's worth checking out.

Cheers.

Edit: PS If it's water cleanup it won't have a horrible smell either.

Yes, you're right about how tough water based paints are these days - as the technology has advanced, the performance gap between water based and oil based has narrowed to almost nothing.

Is the brand you mention available in Thailand, or is it one that you use in your home country?

Over the years living in Ubon, I have found the shop that has the best knowledge of paints is Kit Charoen. They now have a shop immediately past Thai Watsadu on the Ring road. The paint brand I have found the best has been Captain.

Ah! Thanks for that. I'll try them tomorrow and see what they've got. I've done a first coat with the matt, but if I could get a good satin for the second coat I would be most pleased!

@ JS

Does Thailand have professional painters?

Sorry! I thought this might be the ticket: http://www.toa.com.my/products_superpremium.html

Thanks for that link Seligne. The paint I've got is the TOA Supershield (the one on the left in the pic), which I bought at Thai Watsadu, but that was the only one they had in the range, and they only had it in matt! It appears to be designed as an exterior paint for timber houses, with the emphasis on exterior durability rather than finish. Having said that, if I could get it in a satin finish perhaps it would give a better finish. Never mind. Looks like the in-laws are going to have matt finish kitchen doors!

You must have very demanding in laws?

Heh! No, not at all - it's me who is the demanding one! The in-laws are just happy I'm painting the doors for them, but because I do this sort of thing for a living, I set my standards high - my future jobs depend on the quality of my work.

@samsensam

I've seen Dulux in at least one of the shops here, but a very small range, and of course, not the paint I want.

It surprises me that there isn't an actual PAINT shop, selling only paint, given that Ubon is quite a large city. I live on a Greek island which has a much smaller population than Ubon, yet there is a shop there that sells predominantly paint and all the peripheral goods like compressors and spray guns, rollers and trays, brushes etc etc. And they stock every type of paint, stain, varnish, filler, sandpaper etc that a tradesman might possibly need. And several different brands of each. They even sell wood waxes and Teak and Danish oils. The works. Where do professional painters and decorators in Ubon buy their stuff?

Sorry! I thought this might be the ticket: http://www.toa.com.my/products_superpremium.html

Thanks for that link Seligne. The paint I've got is the TOA Supershield (the one on the left in the pic), which I bought at Thai Watsadu, but that was the only one they had in the range, and they only had it in matt! It appears to be designed as an exterior paint for timber houses, with the emphasis on exterior durability rather than finish. Having said that, if I could get it in a satin finish perhaps it would give a better finish. Never mind. Looks like the in-laws are going to have matt finish kitchen doors!

Tried a TOA paint shop?

Just about every shop I've been to sells TOA paints, but not what I'm looking for!

@ JS

I'm originally from UK, but I live in Greece, and up until about 10 years ago there was a limited selection of paints, varnishes and stains. Now, however, I can get just about everything I want - all the Dutch and Belgian stains and varnishes (which tend to be the best), and the locally produced paints cover the whole range now and are very good quality. A large part of my business is designing and building (and fitting) kitchens, and many of my clients want painted MDF doors, which not only look clean and modern, but are much cheaper than hardwood fielded panel doors. I've found that water based paints give an excellent finish when sprayed, and are tough and hardwearing, and it has become my paint of choice when I'm doing those sort of jobs. I can't believe it is so difficult to find here!

Does anyone know where I can buy a good quality water-based wood paint in Ubon? I'm looking for a satin (semi-gloss) finish paint to use for re-painting the FIL's kitchen cupboard doors. In Europe, I nearly always use water based paint for MDF doors (after I've put an oil based primer on) because it gives a great finish when sprayed, but is also good when applied with a roller. It's also much easier to clean up afterwards, without all that pesky toxic thinners to dispose of.

I've been to Home Pro, Home Hub, Thai Watsadu and a couple of other stores in town, but all I've found so far is a matt finish acrylic for wood, which is basically intended for exterior weatherboarding, and doesn't really 'float' to give a good finish. I just want basic white (although in Greece, where I live, it's available in any colour you like). When I ask (via my wife) for what I want, I'm just greeted with blank looks, like it doesn't exist. But it has been common in Europe for years, so I would have expected it to be available here. Is there a shop here that actually specialises in paints, rather than just having a basic 'paint section'?

Thailand doesn't need a 'high speed' railway system, it needs a railway system with two sets of tracks so if one train is delayed the whole set-up doesn't grind to a halt.

High-speed rail is Big Boy's Toys for countries that already have an efficient, functioning rail system, money to spare and want to show off a bit to their neighbours.

As an aside, what's with the 'Standard' gauge of 1.435 metres? I thought perhaps it was a conversion from feet and inches, but when I googled the conversion, I got 56.496063 inches.

Huh? Where did that gauge come from? It's not an obvious number to come up with. I mean, did a bunch of early railway engineers sit around discussing how wide to make the tracks, and decide: "Yes, I think 1.435 metres would be a good width". Why not 1.5 metres? Any railway buffs out there who can enlighten me?

Standard guage is 4 feet 8 and a half inches. It was the distance between to cart wheels being dragged by a horse in the (British) Industrial Revolution.

The beginnings of the 4 ft 8 ¹⁄₂ in gauge

George Stephenson's Stockton and Darlington railway (S&DR) was built primarily to transport coal from mines near Shildon to the port at Stockton-on-Tees. The initial gauge of 4 ft 8 in (1,422 mm) was set to accommodate the existing gauge of hundreds of horse-drawn chaldron wagons^[11] that were already in use on the wagonways in the mines. The railway used this gauge for 15 years before a change was made to 4 ft 8 ¹⁄₂ in gauge.^[10][12]

Wiki

http://www.snopes.com/history/american/gauge.asp

I appreciate the posts pointing out where the 'Standard Gauge' originated, and indeed I didn't know before now. However, I'm still flummoxed as to why, even if the cartwheels tended to be 4'8" apart, why they didn't go to a simpler figure of, say, 5' for rail. It would have been simple to put spacers on the cartwheels. And actually, given the fact that horses, like people, come in all shapes and sizes, why was 4'8" made the standard? Why not 4'6" or 5'?

Maybe I'm just too logical...

It's a funny old world, and that's a fact! Still, it makes life interesting!

This is the classic 'thin edge of the wedge'.

To quote from the movie 'The Fly':

" Be afraid. Be very afraid".

Thailand doesn't need a 'high speed' railway system, it needs a railway system with two sets of tracks so if one train is delayed the whole set-up doesn't grind to a halt.

High-speed rail is Big Boy's Toys for countries that already have an efficient, functioning rail system, money to spare and want to show off a bit to their neighbours.

As an aside, what's with the 'Standard' gauge of 1.435 metres? I thought perhaps it was a conversion from feet and inches, but when I googled the conversion, I got 56.496063 inches.

Huh? Where did that gauge come from? It's not an obvious number to come up with. I mean, did a bunch of early railway engineers sit around discussing how wide to make the tracks, and decide: "Yes, I think 1.435 metres would be a good width". Why not 1.5 metres? Any railway buffs out there who can enlighten me?