nisakiman

I'm not so keen on Thai pop music, but when I was in Thailand about 14 - 15 years ago, I was in a restaurant where they put on an album by Waranuch Puttachart, and I was knocked out by her voice. I have about 4 or 5 of her CDs now.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bQ2a7kxKl8

You say that with all the unctuousness of someone who is unaffected by the situation and has no sympathy for genuine travellers whose plans will be seriously disrupted by this move.

My wife and I will be travelling to Thailand in December. The plan is to stay 8-10 weeks, as she has to have an operation which she wishes to have done in a Thai clinic. So how do I extend my stay beyond 30 days now? We will be in Ubon Ratchathani, and the plan was to pop over to Pakse once or twice, which is an easy trip. Now I will have to fly to Viengchang or Penang or Phnom Penh (two flights each way) with no idea how long it will take me to get a tourist visa when I get there. With the changes in the situation, I would imagine it will be bedlam at those embassies, with hordes of visa applicants.

"Oh", I hear you say, "get a tourist visa before you leave".

Well I live on a Greek island, and to get a visa from the Thai Embassy in Athens will entail a flight to Athens, plus at least one night in a hotel there, plus other expenses (local transport, eating etc) of being away in a city. I wouldn't see much (if any) change out of €500 just to get a tourist visa. And that's if I went to Athens on my own and left my wife at home.

You should be able to apply for your visas by mail. You may be able to qualify for non immigrant o visas based upon getting medical care.

I could give you more info but the embassy website http://www.thaiembassy.org/athens/en/home is down until late Tuesday here because it runs on the MFA servers that are down until then.

Thanks, I didn't realise that it was possible to apply by post. I'll get my wife to call them and see what the options are. It's only me that needs the visa - my wife was born and brought up in Ubon.

They use them here in Greece in summer, although a somewhat different style to the one in the photo. They are very effective. The first time I came across them was in Australia, back in about 1971 (in Kalgoorlie, if memory serves), and they were used as a sort of portable (on wheels, anyway) and cheap form of air-con. I think they're great. I hate air-con; it dries up my sinuses and makes me feel like crap, but these coolers I have no problems with.

Indeed and if you drink too much water you can die from water poisoning - what's your point?? In reply to Emptyset ;-)

Emptyset said that it was the tobacco smoke that was harmful in cigarettes, not so much the nicotine. I responded to correct him by saying that nicotine itself is also quite harmful. Nicotine was even used as an insecticide.

Different drugs have different levels of harm, and cannabis, for example, is a much safer alternative, especially when vaporized.

Of course nicotine is harmful if it is like 100% pure nicotine.... what's your point??

In e-liquid it is diluted in PG at as little as 8mg per ml that means it is diluted 99.2%

Nobody puts pure nicotine into an e-cig and good luck if you can get your hands on the stuff.... Almost everyone who smokes e-cigs know the danger of pure nic and avoid it like the plague... one drop on your skin will put you in hospital and possibly even kill you.

In real cigs there are just under 5000 other additives of which 69 are classified as very highly toxic and deadly in their pure form nicotine is not even in the top 20 of the most toxic on that list.... they are also all carcinogens.

When you go to a restaurant that gets its veg from a market, it is likely that you will be ingesting formaldehyde which itself is a known carcinogen and the amounts you ingest are far more higher than the formaldehyde in cigarettes.

what is in e-liquid???

Propylene glycol .... passed by all FDAs in the world as a food safe additive, also the pharmaceutical industry.

Vegetable glycerine ..... passed by FDAs worldwide as also food safe and pharmaceutical safe.

Food grade flavourings..... Again... passed as food safe.

Nicotine..... diluted to very safe levels and accepted in many forms such as cigarettes.

What is in real cigs?????

• Acetanisole

• Acetic Acid

• Acetoin

• Acetophenone

• 6-Acetoxydihydrotheaspirane

• 2-Acetyl-3- Ethylpyrazine

• 2-Acetyl-5-Methylfuran

• Acetylpyrazine

• 2-Acetylpyridine

• 3-Acetylpyridine

• 2-Acetylthiazole

• Aconitic Acid

• dl-Alanine

• Alfalfa Extract

• Allspice Extract,Oleoresin, and Oil

• Allyl Hexanoate

• Allyl Ionone

• Almond Bitter Oil

• Ambergris Tincture

• Ammonia

• Ammonium Bicarbonate

• Ammonium Hydroxide

• Ammonium Phosphate Dibasic

• Ammonium Sulfide

• Amyl Alcohol

• Amyl Butyrate

• Amyl Formate

• Amyl Octanoate

• alpha-Amylcinnamaldehyde

• Amyris Oil

• trans-Anethole

• Angelica Root Extract, Oil and Seed Oil

• Anise

• Anise Star, Extract and Oils

• Anisyl Acetate

• Anisyl Alcohol

• Anisyl Formate

• Anisyl Phenylacetate

• Apple Juice Concentrate, Extract, and Skins

• Apricot Extract and Juice Concentrate

• 1-Arginine

• Asafetida Fluid Extract And Oil

• Ascorbic Acid

• 1-Asparagine Monohydrate

• 1-Aspartic Acid

• Balsam Peru and Oil

• Basil Oil

• Bay Leaf, Oil and Sweet Oil

• Beeswax White

• Beet Juice Concentrate

• Benzaldehyde

• Benzaldehyde Glyceryl Acetal

• Benzoic Acid, Benzoin

• Benzoin Resin

• Benzophenone

• Benzyl Alcohol

• Benzyl Benzoate

• Benzyl Butyrate

• Benzyl Cinnamate

• Benzyl Propionate

• Benzyl Salicylate

• Bergamot Oil

• Bisabolene

• Black Currant Buds Absolute

• Borneol

• Bornyl Acetate

• Buchu Leaf Oil

• 1,3-Butanediol

• 2,3-Butanedione

• 1-Butanol

• 2-Butanone

• 4(2-Butenylidene)-3,5,5-Trimethyl-2-Cyclohexen-1-One

• Butter, Butter Esters, and Butter Oil

• Butyl Acetate

• Butyl Butyrate

• Butyl Butyryl Lactate

• Butyl Isovalerate

• Butyl Phenylacetate

• Butyl Undecylenate

• 3-Butylidenephthalide

• Butyric Acid]

• Cadinene

• Caffeine

• Calcium Carbonate

• Camphene

• Cananga Oil

• Capsicum Oleoresin

• Caramel Color

• Caraway Oil

• Carbon Dioxide

• Cardamom Oleoresin, Extract, Seed Oil, and Powder

• Carob Bean and Extract

• beta-Carotene

• Carrot Oil

• Carvacrol

• 4-Carvomenthenol

• 1-Carvone

• beta-Caryophyllene

• beta-Caryophyllene Oxide

• Cascarilla Oil and Bark Extract

• Cassia Bark Oil

• Cassie Absolute and Oil

• Castoreum Extract, Tincture and Absolute

• Cedar Leaf Oil

• Cedarwood Oil Terpenes and Virginiana

• Cedrol

• Celery Seed Extract, Solid, Oil, And Oleoresin

• Cellulose Fiber

• Chamomile Flower Oil And Extract

• Chicory Extract

• Chocolate

• Cinnamaldehyde

• Cinnamic Acid

• Cinnamon Leaf Oil, Bark Oil, and Extract

• Cinnamyl Acetate

• Cinnamyl Alcohol

• Cinnamyl Cinnamate

• Cinnamyl Isovalerate

• Cinnamyl Propionate

• Citral

• Citric Acid

• Citronella Oil

• dl-Citronellol

• Citronellyl Butyrate

• itronellyl Isobutyrate

• Civet Absolute

• Clary Oil

• Clover Tops, Red Solid Extract

• Cocoa

• Cocoa Shells, Extract, Distillate And Powder

• Coconut Oil

• Coffee

• Cognac White and Green Oil

• Copaiba Oil

• Coriander Extract and Oil

• Corn Oil

• Corn Silk

• Costus Root Oil

• Cubeb Oil

• Cuminaldehyde

• para-Cymene

• 1-Cysteine Dandelion Root Solid Extract

• Davana Oil

• 2-trans, 4-trans-Decadienal

• delta-Decalactone

• gamma-Decalactone

• Decanal

• Decanoic Acid

• 1-Decanol

• 2-Decenal

• Dehydromenthofurolactone

• Diethyl Malonate

• Diethyl Sebacate

• 2,3-Diethylpyrazine

• Dihydro Anethole

• 5,7-Dihydro-2-Methylthieno(3,4-D) Pyrimidine

• Dill Seed Oil and Extract

• meta-Dimethoxybenzene

• para-Dimethoxybenzene

• 2,6-Dimethoxyphenol

• Dimethyl Succinate

• 3,4-Dimethyl-1,2 Cyclopentanedione

• 3,5- Dimethyl-1,2-Cyclopentanedione

• 3,7-Dimethyl-1,3,6-Octatriene

• 4,5-Dimethyl-3-Hydroxy-2,5-

Dihydrofuran-2-One

• 6,10-Dimethyl-5,9-Undecadien-

2-One

• 3,7-Dimethyl-6-Octenoic Acid

• 2,4 Dimethylacetophenone

• alpha,para-Dimethylbenzyl Alcohol

• alpha,alpha-Dimethylphenethyl Acetate

• alpha,alpha Dimethylphenethyl Butyrate

• 2,3-Dimethylpyrazine

• 2,5-Dimethylpyrazine

• 2,6-Dimethylpyrazine

• Dimethyltetrahydrobenzofuranone

• delta-Dodecalactone

• gamma-Dodecalactone

• para-Ethoxybenzaldehyde

• Ethyl 10-Undecenoate

• Ethyl 2-Methylbutyrate

• Ethyl Acetate

• Ethyl Acetoacetate

• Ethyl Alcohol

• Ethyl Benzoate

• Ethyl Butyrate

• Ethyl Cinnamate

• Ethyl Decanoate

• Ethyl Fenchol

• Ethyl Furoate

• Ethyl Heptanoate

• Ethyl Hexanoate

• Ethyl Isovalerate

• Ethyl Lactate

• Ethyl Laurate

• Ethyl Levulinate

• Ethyl Maltol

• Ethyl Methyl Phenylglycidate

• Ethyl Myristate

• Ethyl Nonanoate

• Ethyl Octadecanoate

• Ethyl Octanoate

• Ethyl Oleate

• Ethyl Palmitate

• Ethyl Phenylacetate

• Ethyl Propionate

• Ethyl Salicylate

• Ethyl trans-2-Butenoate

• Ethyl Valerate

• Ethyl Vanillin

• 2-Ethyl (or Methyl)-(3,5 and 6)-Methoxypyrazine

• 2-Ethyl-1-Hexanol, 3-Ethyl -2 -

Hydroxy-2-Cyclopenten-1-One

• 2-Ethyl-3, (5 or 6)-Dimethylpyrazine

• 5-Ethyl-3-Hydroxy-4-Methyl-2 (5H)-Furanone

• 2-Ethyl-3-Methylpyrazine

• 4-Ethylbenzaldehyde

• 4-Ethylguaiacol

• para-Ethylphenol

• 3-Ethylpyridine

• Eucalyptol

• Farnesol

• D-Fenchone

• Fennel Sweet Oil

• Fenugreek, Extract, Resin, and Absolute

• Fig Juice Concentrate

• Food Starch Modified

• Furfuryl Mercaptan

• 4-(2-Furyl)-3-Buten-2-One

• Galbanum Oil

• Genet Absolute

• Gentian Root Extract

• Geraniol

• Geranium Rose Oil

• Geranyl Acetate

• Geranyl Butyrate

• Geranyl Formate

• Geranyl Isovalerate

• Geranyl Phenylacetate

• Ginger Oil and Oleoresin

• 1-Glutamic Acid

• 1-Glutamine

• Glycerol

• Glycyrrhizin Ammoniated

• Grape Juice Concentrate

• Guaiac Wood Oil

• Guaiacol

• Guar Gum

• 2,4-Heptadienal

• gamma-Heptalactone

• Heptanoic Acid

• 2-Heptanone

• 3-Hepten-2-One

• 2-Hepten-4-One

• 4-Heptenal

• trans -2-Heptenal

• Heptyl Acetate

• omega-6-Hexadecenlactone

• gamma-Hexalactone

• Hexanal

• Hexanoic Acid

• 2-Hexen-1-Ol

• 3-Hexen-1-Ol

• cis-3-Hexen-1-Yl Acetate

• 2-Hexenal

• 3-Hexenoic Acid

• trans-2-Hexenoic Acid

• cis-3-Hexenyl Formate

• Hexyl 2-Methylbutyrate

• Hexyl Acetate

• Hexyl Alcohol

• Hexyl Phenylacetate

• 1-Histidine

• Honey

• Hops Oil

• Hydrolyzed Milk Solids

• Hydrolyzed Plant Proteins

• 5-Hydroxy-2,4-Decadienoic Acid delta-Lactone

• 4-Hydroxy-2,5-Dimethyl-3(2H)-Furanone

• 2-Hydroxy-3,5,5-Trimethyl-2-Cyclohexen-1-One

• 4-Hydroxy -3-Pentenoic Acid Lactone

• 2-Hydroxy-4-Methylbenzaldehyde

• 4-Hydroxybutanoic Acid Lactone

• Hydroxycitronellal

• 6-Hydroxydihydrotheaspirane

• 4-(para-Hydroxyphenyl)-2-Butanone

• Hyssop Oil

• Immortelle Absolute and Extract

• alpha-Ionone

• beta-Ionone

• alpha-Irone

• Isoamyl Acetate

• Isoamyl Benzoate

• Isoamyl Butyrate

• Isoamyl Cinnamate

• Isoamyl Formate, IsoamylHexanoate

• Isoamyl Isovalerate

• Isoamyl Octanoate

• Isoamyl Phenylacetate

• Isobornyl Acetate

• Isobutyl Acetate

• Isobutyl Alcohol

• Isobutyl Cinnamate

• Isobutyl Phenylacetate

• Isobutyl Salicylate

• 2-Isobutyl-3-Methoxypyrazine

• alpha-Isobutylphenethyl Alcohol

• Isobutyraldehyde

• Isobutyric Acid

• d,l-Isoleucine

• alpha-Isomethylionone

• 2-Isopropylphenol

• Isovaleric Acid

• Jasmine Absolute, Concrete and Oil

• Kola Nut Extract

• Labdanum Absolute and Oleoresin

• Lactic Acid

• Lauric Acid

• Lauric Aldehyde

• Lavandin Oil

• Lavender Oil

• Lemon Oil and Extract

• Lemongrass Oil

• 1-Leucine

• Levulinic Acid

• Licorice Root, Fluid, Extract

and Powder

• Lime Oil

• Linalool

• Linalool Oxide

• Linalyl Acetate

• Linden Flowers

• Lovage Oil And Extract

• 1-Lysine]

• Mace Powder, Extract and Oil

• Magnesium Carbonate

• Malic Acid

• Malt and Malt Extract

• Maltodextrin

• Maltol

• Maltyl Isobutyrate

• Mandarin Oil

• Maple Syrup and Concentrate

• Mate Leaf, Absolute and Oil

• para-Mentha-8-Thiol-3-One

• Menthol

• Menthone

• Menthyl Acetate

• dl-Methionine

• Methoprene

• 2-Methoxy-4-Methylphenol

• 2-Methoxy-4-Vinylphenol

• para-Methoxybenzaldehyde

• 1-(para-Methoxyphenyl)-1-Penten-3-One

• 4-(para-Methoxyphenyl)-2-Butanone

• 1-(para-Methoxyphenyl)-2-Propanone

• Methoxypyrazine

• Methyl 2-Furoate

• Methyl 2-Octynoate

• Methyl 2-Pyrrolyl Ketone

• Methyl Anisate

• Methyl Anthranilate

• Methyl Benzoate

• Methyl Cinnamate

• Methyl Dihydrojasmonate

• Methyl Ester of Rosin, Partially Hydrogenated

• Methyl Isovalerate

• Methyl Linoleate (48%)

• Methyl Linolenate (52%) Mixture

• Methyl Naphthyl Ketone

• Methyl Nicotinate

• Methyl Phenylacetate

• Methyl Salicylate

• Methyl Sulfide

• 3-Methyl-1-Cyclopentadecanone

• 4-Methyl-1-Phenyl-2-Pentanone

• 5-Methyl-2-Phenyl-2-Hexenal

• 5-Methyl-2-Thiophene-carboxaldehyde

• 6-Methyl-3,-5-Heptadien-2-One

• 2-Methyl-3-(para-Isopropylphenyl) Propionaldehyde

• 5-Methyl-3-Hexen-2-One

• 1-Methyl-3Methoxy-4-Isopropylbenzene

• 4-Methyl-3-Pentene-2-One

• 2-Methyl-4-Phenylbutyraldehyde

• 6-Methyl-5-Hepten-2-One

• 4-Methyl-5-Thiazoleethanol

• 4-Methyl-5-Vinylthiazole

• Methyl-alpha-Ionone

• Methyl-trans-2-Butenoic Acid

• 4-Methylacetophenone

• para-Methylanisole

• alpha-Methylbenzyl Acetate

• alpha-Methylbenzyl Alcohol

• 2-Methylbutyraldehyde

• 3-Methylbutyraldehyde

• 2-Methylbutyric Acid

• alpha-Methylcinnamaldehyde

• Methylcyclopentenolone

• 2-Methylheptanoic Acid

• 2-Methylhexanoic Acid

• 3-Methylpentanoic Acid

• 4-Methylpentanoic Acid

• 2-Methylpyrazine

• 5-Methylquinoxaline

• 2-Methyltetrahydrofuran-3-One

• (Methylthio)Methylpyrazine (Mixture Of Isomers)

• 3-Methylthiopropionaldehyde

• Methyl 3-Methylthiopropionate

• 2-Methylvaleric Acid

• Mimosa Absolute and Extract

• Molasses Extract and Tincture

• Mountain Maple Solid Extract

• Mullein Flowers

• Myristaldehyde

• Myristic Acid

• Myrrh Oil

• beta-Napthyl Ethyl Ether

• Nerol

• Neroli Bigarde Oil

• Nerolidol

• Nona-2-trans,6-cis-Dienal

• 2,6-Nonadien-1-Ol

• gamma-Nonalactone

• Nonanal

• Nonanoic Acid

• Nonanone

• trans-2-Nonen-1-Ol

• 2-Nonenal

• Nonyl Acetate

• Nutmeg Powder and Oil

• Oak Chips Extract and Oil

• Oak Moss Absolute

• 9,12-Octadecadienoic Acid (48%)

And 9,12,15-Octadecatrienoic Acid (52%)

• delta-Octalactone

• gamma-Octalactone

• Octanal

• Octanoic Acid

• 1-Octanol

• 2-Octanone

• 3-Octen-2-One

• 1-Octen-3-Ol

• 1-Octen-3-Yl Acetate

• 2-Octenal

• Octyl Isobutyrate

• Oleic Acid

• Olibanum Oil

• Opoponax Oil And Gum

• Orange Blossoms Water, Absolute, and Leaf Absolute

• Orange Oil and Extract

• Origanum Oil

• Orris Concrete Oil and Root

Extract

• Palmarosa Oil

• Palmitic Acid

• Parsley Seed Oil

• Patchouli Oil

• omega-Pentadecalactone

• 2,3-Pentanedione

• 2-Pentanone

• 4-Pentenoic Acid

• 2-Pentylpyridine

• Pepper Oil, Black And White

• Peppermint Oil

• Peruvian (Bois De Rose) Oil

• Petitgrain Absolute, Mandarin Oil and Terpeneless Oil

• alpha-Phellandrene

• 2-Phenenthyl Acetate

• Phenenthyl Alcohol

• Phenethyl Butyrate

• Phenethyl Cinnamate

• Phenethyl Isobutyrate

• Phenethyl Isovalerate

• Phenethyl Phenylacetate

• Phenethyl Salicylate

• 1-Phenyl-1-Propanol

• 3-Phenyl-1-Propanol

• 2-Phenyl-2-Butenal

• 4-Phenyl-3-Buten-2-Ol

• 4-Phenyl-3-Buten-2-One

• Phenylacetaldehyde

• Phenylacetic Acid

• 1-Phenylalanine

• 3-Phenylpropionaldehyde

• 3-Phenylpropionic Acid

• 3-Phenylpropyl Acetate

• 3-Phenylpropyl Cinnamate

• 2-(3-Phenylpropyl)Tetrahydrofuran

• Phosphoric Acid

• Pimenta Leaf Oil

• Pine Needle Oil, Pine Oil, Scotch

• Pineapple Juice Concentrate

• alpha-Pinene, beta-Pinene

• D-Piperitone

• Piperonal

• Pipsissewa Leaf Extract

• Plum Juice

• Potassium Sorbate

• 1-Proline

• Propenylguaethol

• Propionic Acid

• Propyl Acetate

• Propyl para-Hydroxybenzoate

• Propylene Glycol

• 3-Propylidenephthalide

• Prune Juice and Concentrate

• Pyridine

• Pyroligneous Acid And Extract

• Pyrrole

• Pyruvic Acid

• Raisin Juice Concentrate

• Rhodinol

• Rose Absolute and Oil

• Rosemary Oil

• Rum

• Rum Ether

• Rye Extract

• Sage, Sage Oil, and Sage

Oleoresin

• Salicylaldehyde

• Sandalwood Oil, Yellow

• Sclareolide

• Skatole

• Smoke Flavor

• Snakeroot Oil

• Sodium Acetate

• Sodium Benzoate

• Sodium Bicarbonate

• Sodium Carbonate

• Sodium Chloride

• Sodium Citrate

• Sodium Hydroxide

• Solanone

• Spearmint Oil

• Styrax Extract, Gum and Oil

• Sucrose Octaacetate

• Sugar Alcohols

• Sugars

• Tagetes Oil

• Tannic Acid

• Tartaric Acid

• Tea Leaf and Absolute

• alpha-Terpineol

• Terpinolene

• Terpinyl Acetate

• 5,6,7,8-Tetrahydroquinoxaline

• 1,5,5,9-Tetramethyl-13-Oxatricyclo(8.3.0.0(4,9))Tridecane

• 2,3,4,5, and 3,4,5,6-

Tetramethylethyl-Cyclohexanone

• 2,3,5,6-Tetramethylpyrazine

• Thiamine Hydrochloride

• Thiazole

• 1-Threonine

• Thyme Oil, White and Red

• Thymol

• Tobacco Extracts

• Tochopherols (mixed)

• Tolu Balsam Gum and Extract

• Tolualdehydes

• para-Tolyl 3-Methylbutyrate

• para-Tolyl Acetaldehyde

• para-Tolyl Acetate

• para-Tolyl Isobutyrate

• para-Tolyl Phenylacetate

• Triacetin

• 2-Tridecanone

• 2-Tridecenal

• Triethyl Citrate

• 3,5,5-Trimethyl -1-Hexanol

• para,alpha,alpha-Trimethylbenzyl Alcohol

• 4-(2,6,6-Trimethylcyclohex-1-

Enyl)But-2-En-4-One

• 2,6,6-Trimethylcyclohex-2-

Ene-1,4-Dione

• 2,6,6-Trimethylcyclohexa-1,

3-Dienyl Methan

• 4-(2,6,6-Trimethylcyclohexa-1,

3-Dienyl)But-2-En-4-One

• 2,2,6-Trimethylcyclohexanone

• 2,3,5-Trimethylpyrazine

• 1-Tyrosine

• delta-Undercalactone

• gamma-Undecalactone

• Undecanal

• 2-Undecanone, 1

• 0-Undecenal

• Urea

• Valencene

• Valeraldehyde

• Valerian Root Extract, Oil

and Powder

• Valeric Acid

• gamma-Valerolactone

• Valine

• Vanilla Extract And Oleoresin

• Vanillin

• Veratraldehyde

• Vetiver Oil

• Vinegar

• Violet Leaf Absolute

• Walnut Hull Extract

• Water

• Wheat Extract And Flour

• Wild Cherry Bark Extract

• Wine and Wine Sherry

• Xanthan Gum

• 3,4-Xylenol

• Yeast

Oh, we can do that for lots of things to scare the children.

Ever wondered what's in chocolate?

Acetic-acid, aesculetin, alanine, alkaloids, alpha-sitosterol, alpha-theosterol, amyl-acetate, amyl-alcohol, amyl-butyrate, amylase, apigenin-7-o-glucoside, arabinose, arachidic-acid, arginine, ascorbic-acid, ascorbic-acid-oxidase, aspariginase, beta-carotene, beta-sitosterol, beta-theosterol, biotin, caffeic-acid, caffeine, calcium, campesterol, catalase, catechins, catechol, cellulase, cellulose, chlorogenic-acid, chrysoeriol-7-o-glucoside, citric-acid, coumarin, cyanidin, cyanidin-3-beta-l-arabinoside, cyanidin-3-galactoside, cyanidin-glycoside, cycloartanol, d-galactose, decarboxylase, dextrinase, diacetyl, dopamine, epigallocatechin, ergosterol, ferulic-acid, formic-acid, fructose, furfurol, galacturonic-acid, gallocatechin, gentisic-acid, glucose, glutamic-acid, glycerin, glycerophosphatase, glycine, glycolic-acid, glycosidase, haematin, histidine, i-butyric-acid, idaein, invertase, isobutylacetate, isoleucine, isopropyl-acetate, isovitexin, kaempferol, l-epicatechin, leucine, leucocyanidins, linalool, linoleic-acid, lipase, luteolin, luteolin-7-o-glucoside, lysine, lysophosphatidyl-choline, maleic-acid, mannan, manninotriose, mannose, melibiose, mesoinositol, methylheptenone, n-butylacetate, n-nonacosane, niacin, nicotinamide, nicotinic- acid, nitrogen, nonanoic-acid, o-hydroxyphenylacetic-acid, octoic-acid, oleic- acid, oleo-dipalmatin, oleopalmitostearin, oxalic-acid, p-anisic-acid, p-coumaric-acid, p-coumarylquinic-acid, p-hydroxybenzoic-acid, p-hydroxyphenylacetic-acid, palmitic-acid, palmitodiolen, pantothenic-acid, pectin, pentose, peroxidase, phenylacetic-acid, phenylalanine, phlobaphene, phosphatidyl-choline, phosphatidyl- ethanolamine, phosphatidyl-inositol, phospholipids, phosphorus, phytase, planteose, polygalacturonate, polyphenol-oxidase, polyphenols, proline, propionic-acid, propyl-acetate, protocatechuic-acid, purine, pyridoxine, quercetin, quercetin-3-o-galactoside, quercetin-3-o-glucoside, quercitrin, raffinase, raffinose, reductase, rhamnose, riboflavin, rutin, rutoside, saccharose, salsolinol, serine, sinapic-acid, stachyose, stearic-acid, stearodiolein, stigmasterol, sucrose, syringic-acid, tannins, tartaric-acid, theobromine, theophylline, thiamin, threonine, trigonelline, tyramine, tyrosine, valerianic-acid, valine, vanillic-acid, verbascose, verbascotetrose, vitexin

http://www.rain-tree.com/chocolate.htm#.U1WSm6Lx0dU

Pretty horrifying stuff, eh? So give up the chocolate all of you - it's full of toxic chemicals, so it's gonna kill you, for sure.

All those 'chemicals' in cigarettes are found in a multitude of things that we ingest on a daily basis. They are all around us. It's just part of the propaganda machine designed to scare us.

That's how propaganda works, and the fanatics in Tobacco Control have honed it to a fine art.

It's a combination of frightening people with the fear of the unknown, i.e. telling people that things contain deadly toxins that are used in batteries, toilet cleaner etc etc, but omitting to mention that the quantities involved are miniscule and that those same toxins are found in the food we consume daily (the first rule of toxicology is that the dose makes the poison), and telling lies over and over again until they become the perceived reality.

“If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it. The lie can be maintained only for such time as the State can shield the people from the political, economic and/or military consequences of the lie. It thus becomes vitally important for the State to use all of its powers to repress dissent, for the truth is the mortal enemy of the lie, and thus by extension, the truth is the greatest enemy of the State.”

Joseph Goebbels - Hitler's Propaganda Minister

this one should work,right across the street, over the klong

any were from 500tb to 800tb per night

I've stayed at the Krung Kasem Sri Krung hotel quite a few times, although not recently. I like it. It's basic but clean, there's a lift, room service and a not bad restaurant downstairs. Last time I was there was about six or seven years ago, and a double room was 600 Baht. As mentioned already, it's a Chinese hotel, and the staff were always friendly and helpful. No problem with taking girls to your room for the night, either. Handy for Yaowarat, too, just a five minute walk.

Never knew the Thai Song Greet, musta missed that one. When I was in Bangkok in 1971, I stayed a couple of days at the Malaysia, where the air-con was a killer (about 20 C inside the hotel, and close to 40 C outside) and then moved to the Hualamphong hotel (fan only), just around the corner from the main station entrance. Dunno if it still exists. Back then, it was heaving, particularly the cafe downstairs. GIs on R&R from Vietnam and backpackers mainly. And of course the resident girls. Everyone was smoking dope and drinking beer and listening to loud music. It was a hoot! I even managed to get a dose of Vietnam Rose while I was there. I seem to remember it cost me about ten times as much to get rid of it as it cost to get it. Ah well, we live and learn.

Costas, it's perfectly fine to do this! Especially when you wear an outfit like this.

You may ridicule the traditional costume, but the guys who wear this uniform are the 'Evzones', or presidential guards, and those guys can kick ass. They only wear the dress uniform when on ceremonial duties, like when on duty in Syntagma Square in Athens, where they guard the tomb of the unknown soldier.

I'm surprised Thailand hasn't done this earlier. I'll bet the Thai girls will give their Japanese counterparts a run for their money in the cosplay stakes. As mentioned above, some of the girls' costumes are quite, erm, attractive...

Great stuff. A lot of fun for all concerned, disparaging remarks about 'culture' notwithstanding. Culture comes in many guises, and the comic-con meme has become a global phenomenon. And the youngsters love it.

With any luck it will become an annual event and attract people from all over the world. Good luck to them.

I think that anyone in possession of a Tourist Police Volunteer polo shirt should receive an instant passport, title of nobility, and a secret decoder ring.

Sent from my iPhone using ThaiVisa app

Totally agree

Don't forget the X-ray glasses.

Without even talking about citizenship we are not even allowed to live here without showing our axx every 3 months...

They treat me like monkey si I treat them like monkeys.

Yes! This!

I don't want to be a Thai citizen, but I would love to be able to stop the 90 day stuff. I wouldn't mind a multi-year extension either. When I took my wife to the US she got a Green Card that was good for 10 years! But back over here and I'm always thinking, "Jeez, immigration this month or next?" It's always there, lurking.

Spot on!

I'm a Brit married to a Thai but I live in Spain.

We jumped through a mountain of hoops both in Thailand and Spain.

In Spain it took 5 months to get her registered as a resident there, good for 5years.

She also has full free national health cover as my wife.

Can work if she want's to.

Can own property.

Can travel anywhere in the Schengan countries - NOT the UK and was refused a visa to accompany me on a holiday to meet my family and friends.

No 90 day reports

No re-entry permits - can come and go as she likes, no questions.

In 5 years she will need to renew her ID card - like everyone else has to but it will be a routine matter.

Never mind Thai citizenship, let us also jump the hoops and then grant us a Foreigners resident's permit, good for 5 or more years. Allow such Foreign residents to do any work without a WP. Allow national health cover (if the Thai qualified for it - same as the UK requirement).

I think this would give most of us what we want, no 90 day reports, visa extensions and re-entry permits and no work permits or job restrictions.

Like the OP, I wondered why Thai wives don't band together and demand this!

Clearly, it would be the Farang husbands that would need to do all the organisation, but the wives are the only ones qualified to campaign - they are THAI, it's their country, their problem.

Same as that, except we live in Greece. 5 year residence permit (which wasn't actually that difficult to get) and she can get a tax number, work, own land, move throughout Schengen freely, and do almost everything a Greek citizen can. She doesn't have to become Greek - she keeps her Thai passport. But she has residency here, and as long as she:

a) doesn't break the law in any serious way,

doesn't become a burden on the state,

then she can stay here without let or hindrance.

That, to me seems fair and reasonable, and it would be nice if Thailand could adopt a similar attitude to foreign nationals who wish to live with their spouses in Thailand.

After 20+ years, I'm horrified when there is no bum gun and I am forced to use paper.

I feel the same. Next trip back to the UK I'm taking s bumgun with me.

Be careful about that. I got one brought back to NZ from Thailand....it was not made for the high pressure here and the day after installation, I came home to a river pouring out of my toilet. Also, the UK may not be suitable unless you have a supply of tepid water.

It's not the gun, but the flexible hose that usually fails under constant pressure. They are designed as shower hoses where they just act as a conduit for water, not as in-line parts of a pressurised system.. What I've done is to connect the bum gun hose to a valve / tap so I turn on the pressure when I want to use it and turn it off after use (and also release the pressure in the hose by pressing the lever on the gun). Not perfect, but it solves the problem of the higher water pressure.

I think the bum gun topic has been done to death. I also get the impression from previous threads that the majority of farang in LOS have embraced the use of said bum gun with considerable enthusiasm, it being an obviously superior and more hygenic way of cleaning up.

ever looked to see how clean the bum gun head is?

Our bum gun gets immersed in a solution of bleach on a regular basis, not that it is ever visually contaminated.

Actually, on the subject of bum guns, when we were in LOS a couple of months ago, I discovered a really superior piece of kit, much better than the usual plastic guns that seem to have a very limited life-span. Not cheap, but real quality in stainless steel.

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

I think some, but not all Home Pro stores sell them. I got ours from a plumber's merchant in central Ubon.

I think the bum gun topic has been done to death. I also get the impression from previous threads that the majority of farang in LOS have embraced the use of said bum gun with considerable enthusiasm, it being an obviously superior and more hygenic way of cleaning up.

Are there any airlines in Thailand - or S.E.Asia generally - that allow passengers to smoke, or to "vape"? ...i would happily pay more.

I am sure that would be successful.

When we were still able to smoke on board, I once got sat next to a Saudi who chain smoked the entire way to wherever we were going, I think it was Cairo. He was a real machine. Couldn't imagine a plane of just smokers, might be like a Cheech and Chong movie.

You might be interested in this study commissioned by US Congress and submitted by the US Dept of Transportation on airline cabin environment, specifically of smoking on flights. It's another of those studies which didn't actually come up with the results that the health zealots wanted, so was buried out of sight (and out of mind). But assiduous researcher that I am, I managed to dig it up, albeit a PDF of scanned papers.

The first link is a summary done by Forces, the American smokers' rights organisation, and the second link is the actual, original report. The original is some 367 pages long, but makes for some interesting reading if you have the time. However, the summary in the first link gives you most of the salient points.

http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/tid/ghc37d00/pdf;jsessionid=93668D62E226A92CA122B7A697569C6A.tobacco03

http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/tid/qwr31d00/pdf

The wife's 4s had no sound, and a guy in Ubon looked at it and said it needed a new board which would cost 1800. He didn't have the part, however, and the next day we were at Central Mall, and so she took it to a guy who had a stall there. Young, punky guy, piercings, tats etc (I always find guys like that are good at tech stuff for some reason). Anyway, he looked at it, and said it needed a new board, same as the other guy, but said it would cost 600 Baht - a third the original quote! Did it in 20 minutes and it's been fine since. So it may be worth getting a couple of quotes.

This is a post from a Danish blogger, but contains links to all the original research results, so is not an opinion piece, just a summary of the research:

Nicotine boosts attention,

precision, motor skills,

speed and memory

http://dengulenegl.dk/English/Nicotine.html

Well, there you go folks.

In only one thread, we've gone from a complaint that a pilot is breaking company rules to EVERY pilot SHOULD smoke to avoid being branded as a dullard, uncoordinated, slow and absent-minded.

The lengths to which some go to to support a filthy, anti-social habit that kills millions worldwide.

Who'd a thunk it?

You obviously have an irony gland malfunction.

Actually, the article that 'nisakiman' linked states that the risk could be lower than thought, it does not support that posters 'fact' that "Nobody has EVER died from so-called 'second-hand smoke'."

Kind of makes their post worthless, irrelevant and downright stupid.

totster

Ok then 'totster', since you seem to have knowledge that I don't, kindly find me one (and I'm only asking for one out of the allegedly hundreds of thousands) certified death, anywhere in the world, that has been attributed to so-called 'second-hand smoke'. That should be easy enough for you, should it not? Particularly given that you seem to be an 'expert' in these matters.

I read the article you linked to. Then I read the following:

http://www.nhs.uk/chq/pages/2289.aspx?categoryid=53&

http://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancercauses/tobaccocancer/secondhand-smoke

http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-info/healthyliving/smokingandtobacco/passivesmoking/smoking-and-cancer-secondhand-smoke

http://www.webmd.com/smoking-cessation/effects-of-secondhand-smoke

http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/secondhand_smoke/general_facts/

All those 'studies' you link to, daftvader, have been commissioned by avowedly anti-smoking organisations. So the results were, of course, a foregone conclusion. And if you read them a little more closely, you will see that they are long on hyperbole and very short on verifiable fact. For the most part, they rely on 'meta-analyses' (read cherry picking) of previous research.

The largest and most recent study on SHS was commissioned by the WHO in 1998, and was conducted in seven European countries with strict controls. Rather unfortunately for the health zealots at the WHO, they didn't quite get the results they expected, so the report was rapidly buried. However, you will be pleased to know that I have a link to the original for your perusal. But to summarise this, the World Health Organisation's own huge study (Boffetta et al) into second hand smoke, we have:

Workplace: Relative Risk 1.17. Result - INSIGNIFICANT

Spousal:.... Relative Risk 1.16. Result - INSIGNIFICANT

Childhood: Relative Risk 0.78. Result - SIGNIFICANT...children exposed to second hand smoke are 22% LESS LIKELY to get lung cancer in later life compared to children of non-smokers.

http://jnci.oxfordjournals.org/content/90/19/1440.full.pdf

In their own words..."The results of our study of the risk of lung cancer from ETS in several European countries showed a reduced risk for exposure during childhood and a measurable effect of exposure to ETS from the spouse and at the workplace, in particular when these two sources were combined to better represent total adult exposure. Statistically significant results were the reduced risk from childhood exposure and the increasing trend in risk for weighted duration of exposure to ETS from the spouse or at the workplace. Vehicles and public indoor settings did not represent an important source of ETS exposure."

They did actually try to spin it a bit for their paymasters at the WHO, but at the end of the day they were, unusually, too honest to actually fudge the figures.

So, the Relative Risk of second hand smoke is 1.17, which means an increase in risk of 17%. To put this into some sort of perspective, you've more chance of getting cancer from drinking water (RR 1.25), whole milk (RR 2.14), bacon (RR 3.00), and even keeping pet birds! (RR 6.00)

Would any sane person believe that a persons health can be seriously harmed by a glass of water? Of course not.

Robert E Madden,

Practicing chest surgeon, teacher and a former cancer researcher. Past president of the NY Cancer Society. USA

"To me the most offensive element of the smoking bans is the resort to science as "proving that environmental smoke, second hand smoke, causes lung cancer". Not only is this unproven but there is abundant and substantial evidence to the contrary. It is frustrating, even insulting, for a scientist like myself to hear the bloated statistics put out by the American Cancer Society (of which I am a member) and the American Lung Association used to justify what is best described as a political agenda."

These anti-smoking campaigns are a political agenda. This is NOT about health.

Despite these gallons and gallons of spilled cyber-ink, my nose still runs, my eyes get red and run, my throat tightens up, and I cough and sneeze--when around second-hand smoke. And I'm not the only one.

Doesn't that count for anything?

Yes, of course that counts for something. I have the same reaction when I come in close proximity to someone who has slathered on certain perfumes and after-shaves, so I do sympathise. However, I know that the smell of over-perfumed people, although anathema to me, is not going to kill me, and I know also that if I want relief from the olfactory onslaught, I have only to move away. It certainly wouldn't occur to me to contemplate banning people from wearing perfumes, or insisting that bars and restaurants be 'perfume-free', just because the smell makes my nose itch, my eyes run and puts me off my food. I merely try to avoid those situations. It's called 'live and let live'.

And to return to the OP, the fact that the pilot was smoking should not be a problem to anyone. Back in the day, most pilots smoked, and I don't recollect planes falling out of the sky as a result.

As I mentioned in an earlier post, a smoking pilot will have higher levels of concentration, greater cognitive ability and greater mental endurance than a non-smoking pilot. That seems like a good reason to make smoking mandatory for pilots rather than the other way round.

This is a post from a Danish blogger, but contains links to all the original research results, so is not an opinion piece, just a summary of the research:

Nicotine boosts attention,

precision, motor skills,

speed and memory

http://dengulenegl.dk/English/Nicotine.html

You ARE joking, I presume? Nobody has EVER died from so-called 'second-hand smoke'. That is one of the biggest cons ever perpetrated on the world, and has been comprehensively demolished.

http://acsh.org/2013/12/two-stories-one-link-found-secondhand-smoke-lung-cancer-one-seems-care/

I read the article you linked to. Then I read the following:

http://www.nhs.uk/chq/pages/2289.aspx?categoryid=53&

http://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancercauses/tobaccocancer/secondhand-smoke

http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-info/healthyliving/smokingandtobacco/passivesmoking/smoking-and-cancer-secondhand-smoke

http://www.webmd.com/smoking-cessation/effects-of-secondhand-smoke

http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/secondhand_smoke/general_facts/

My conclusion? There is a good chance I will survive being hit by a new car travelling below 30mph. Funnily enough I still look both ways before crossing the road and don't think "Oh, that's a lovely new 5 star NCAP rated car travelling below 30, here I go". Same here, I accept that the links might be "weak" but even this article still admits a link. I quit smoking 12 years ago and have looked after myself VERY well since then. If smokers want to ruin their lives they can but I don't want the "risk" of cancer from 2nd hand smoke.

Back on the point this pilot has a HUGE duty of responsibility, is paid accordingly and has demonstrated that he is not deserving. If the OP has decent evidence then I suggest he push this for the safety of the 100s of 1,000s of passengers who choose Nok Air each year.

Actually, the article that 'nisakiman' linked states that the risk could be lower than thought, it does not support that posters 'fact' that "Nobody has EVER died from so-called 'second-hand smoke'."

Kind of makes their post worthless, irrelevant and downright stupid.

totster

Ok then 'totster', since you seem to have knowledge that I don't, kindly find me one (and I'm only asking for one out of the allegedly hundreds of thousands) certified death, anywhere in the world, that has been attributed to so-called 'second-hand smoke'. That should be easy enough for you, should it not? Particularly given that you seem to be an 'expert' in these matters.

I read the article you linked to. Then I read the following:

http://www.nhs.uk/chq/pages/2289.aspx?categoryid=53&

http://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancercauses/tobaccocancer/secondhand-smoke

http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-info/healthyliving/smokingandtobacco/passivesmoking/smoking-and-cancer-secondhand-smoke

http://www.webmd.com/smoking-cessation/effects-of-secondhand-smoke

http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/secondhand_smoke/general_facts/

All those 'studies' you link to, daftvader, have been commissioned by avowedly anti-smoking organisations. So the results were, of course, a foregone conclusion. And if you read them a little more closely, you will see that they are long on hyperbole and very short on verifiable fact. For the most part, they rely on 'meta-analyses' (read cherry picking) of previous research.

The largest and most recent study on SHS was commissioned by the WHO in 1998, and was conducted in seven European countries with strict controls. Rather unfortunately for the health zealots at the WHO, they didn't quite get the results they expected, so the report was rapidly buried. However, you will be pleased to know that I have a link to the original for your perusal. But to summarise this, the World Health Organisation's own huge study (Boffetta et al) into second hand smoke, we have:

Workplace: Relative Risk 1.17. Result - INSIGNIFICANT

Spousal:.... Relative Risk 1.16. Result - INSIGNIFICANT

Childhood: Relative Risk 0.78. Result - SIGNIFICANT...children exposed to second hand smoke are 22% LESS LIKELY to get lung cancer in later life compared to children of non-smokers.

http://jnci.oxfordjournals.org/content/90/19/1440.full.pdf

In their own words..."The results of our study of the risk of lung cancer from ETS in several European countries showed a reduced risk for exposure during childhood and a measurable effect of exposure to ETS from the spouse and at the workplace, in particular when these two sources were combined to better represent total adult exposure. Statistically significant results were the reduced risk from childhood exposure and the increasing trend in risk for weighted duration of exposure to ETS from the spouse or at the workplace. Vehicles and public indoor settings did not represent an important source of ETS exposure."

They did actually try to spin it a bit for their paymasters at the WHO, but at the end of the day they were, unusually, too honest to actually fudge the figures.

So, the Relative Risk of second hand smoke is 1.17, which means an increase in risk of 17%. To put this into some sort of perspective, you've more chance of getting cancer from drinking water (RR 1.25), whole milk (RR 2.14), bacon (RR 3.00), and even keeping pet birds! (RR 6.00)

Would any sane person believe that a persons health can be seriously harmed by a glass of water? Of course not.

Robert E Madden,

Practicing chest surgeon, teacher and a former cancer researcher. Past president of the NY Cancer Society. USA

"To me the most offensive element of the smoking bans is the resort to science as "proving that environmental smoke, second hand smoke, causes lung cancer". Not only is this unproven but there is abundant and substantial evidence to the contrary. It is frustrating, even insulting, for a scientist like myself to hear the bloated statistics put out by the American Cancer Society (of which I am a member) and the American Lung Association used to justify what is best described as a political agenda."

These anti-smoking campaigns are a political agenda. This is NOT about health.

After using Air Asia since their inception, I've tried Nok Air for my last three flights. It was generally a good experience. However, this is a thread worth making me reconsider. I put up with bus drivers who smoke in Thailand because I usually don't have a choice of other buses on a route. However, I will certainly look for other competing airlines on Nok's routes, if any. Besides being allergic to cigarette smoke, the safety angle certainly bothers me.

It is not possible to be allergic to tobacco smoke, as allergies are set off by proteins, and there are no proteins in tobacco smoke.

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For the second time this year I have suffered badly from cigarette smoke from the Flight Deck.

I hope you didn't spend too much time in hospital from this incident.

How many others were taken ill ? Were there any deaths related to this incident ?

Give the guy a break, he might be asthmatic or something.

I come from a family where 2 siblings, who never personally smoked, died from second hand smoke. I support the OP.

You ARE joking, I presume? Nobody has EVER died from so-called 'second-hand smoke'. That is one of the biggest cons ever perpetrated on the world, and has been comprehensively demolished.

http://acsh.org/2013/12/two-stories-one-link-found-secondhand-smoke-lung-cancer-one-seems-care/

For the second time this year I have suffered badly from cigarette smoke from the Flight Deck.

I hope you didn't spend too much time in hospital from this incident.

How many others were taken ill ? Were there any deaths related to this incident ?

The pilot smoked in his closed room a cigarette....yes that sounds like a real dangerous situation.......yesterday I saw a taxi driver who didn't use a the safety belt ...where I can report that?

Taxi drivers are exempt from seat belt rules.

So you condone a pilot smoking on an airplane ?

I am not familiar with aviation rules but I doubt that smoking anywhere on a plane by the pilot, passengers or God Almighty Himself.

Am I the only one who supports the OP in highlighting this apparent breach of airline safety.

It's got absolutely nothing to do with 'safety' and everything to do with Political Correctness. In case you hadn't noticed, it's only the past decade or two that smoking has been banned on flights, and the reason the airlines went along with the health fascists who were demanding bans was because they could save money.

I would much rather have a pilot who was smoking during the flight, as smoking is known to improve alertness, mental endurance and cognitive ability.

The OP is a whinging little sneak, and I hope his name gets passed around the airlines so that he can be accorded 'special' service whenever he flies. I can just imagine him when he was at school, running to the teacher; "Please Sir, please Sir, Smith is smoking behind the bike sheds, Sir!" "Can I be a prefect now, Sir, so I can boss all the other boys around?"

If you like your coffee and you live near the Lao border, nip over and stock up. Excellent coffees from the Bolaven Plateau, and very reasonable prices.

http://www.paksong.info/

I bought a few kilos of just a bog standard coffee in a Pakse supermarket (Dao brand), and a 500g pack was (I think) 30,000 Kip (about 130 Baht). Even though it's not a fancy brand, it's very good coffee, and had I not had to think of my weight limits coming back to Europe, I would have bought more than the 5 kilos I picked up. Doubtless if you were to drive over and actually go to the coffee growing areas you would be able to get higher quality at lower prices.