mosquitoman

I found myself asking the question - Would they would have executed two westerners for the same offence?

MM

Such a situation would be less likely to happen. There are no tourist visas to KSA. Westerners, Thais, Indians, Pakistanis and Phillipinos go there to work. Westerners get paid much more money than "third country nationals" and are also screened carefully in their home countries before going to work in KSA. I'm speaking as an ex- manpower-recruiter for the biggest oil company there.

Such a situation may be less lightly to happen but what if 2 westerners got caught with say 2kg of cocaine - would they behead them?

Another Public Holiday yesterday, and then another one on Thursday. Its difficult to build up momentum at work due to all these unnecessary holidays. Bearing in mind that most of our customers are 24hr petrochemical process plants and downstream, but their staff take the days off just like banks, etc!

Just wondering when all these holidays were introduced and why?

Frustrating to say the least, has no-one ever (tried to) introduced a system of flexible time, lieu days, accrued holidays, whatever here? Crazy.

Take a look at this one and then see if there are too many holidays here in Thailand or in any other country?

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

Great list, but no mention of Thailand, it goes Tanzania to Tibet.

Sri Lanka does rather well with 28 days

MM

I have been living constantly in Thailand for almost 4 years now, and have been co-habiting with my partner (Thai national, female) in excess of 2 years now.

I am now thinking about going to the UK for a months holiday perhaps next year, and would love to take my partner.

Is there anything I should or could be doing to make it easier for my partner to obtain a UK visa, such as compiling proof of a long term de facto relationship or perhaps some how making the embassy aware of our relationship now so when the time comes to apply for a visa it will be easier to obtain.

MM

Here is a comprehensive list of FREE Wi Fi in Bangkok and Thailand courtesy of Stickman.

http://www.stickmanbangkok.com/wifi.htm

MM

Today while in Tesco Lotus (Samui) I saw them for sale at an astonishing 28,000 Baht.

Any one seen them anywhere else cheaper than this

MM

Petcherat marina is in Bang Rak

MM

Perfect! Thanks

If you need any help aquiring a boat or finding moorings etc contact Hammerhead Marine who are based in Bang Rak, yoou can call Lee on 0896457475.

Petcherat marina is in Bang Rak

MM

sun-dried cat placentas are the way to go! Nothing beats a sun-dried cat placenta in the glove compartment!

I always thought sun-dried cat placentas only worked if they were hanging from the rear view mirror!

MM

I cant see why any one would object either

MM

Sources tells me that one effect that these killings had was to push up the price of drugs as much as 500% so making the main dealers even richer.

MM

My gut tells me that these people are bogus, especially as they always seem more interested in collecting of ferangs than the natives.

When I donate in Thailand it is usually directly to the orgnisation, school, temple or to the individual in need.

MM

I ran across this very poignant blog posting of a Good Samaritan who was at the scene of the accident and assisted Matt and actually conversed with him. Everyone needs to read this and go back and read it again.

I have.

More than once.

http://www.tatt2dude.com/index.php?p=167

Very poignant

MM

In no particular order and the list could well change but today my fav 5 would be

Primal Scream - Screamadelica

Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon

Finley Quaye - Maverick a Strike

Bryan Ferry - Avalon

Joey Negro - Back to the Scene of the Crime

MM

i dont believe in closing my eyes to some of the harsher realities of what goes on in the world these days.

Dose that mean that if you were in Saudi Arabia you would attend a public execution?

MM

The most stupid thing I bought before coming to Thailand the first time was a mosquito net for 25 pounds that I could have bought almost any where in Thailand for 200 baht or less,

MM

Anybody who is currently on alkaline water therapy or who is interested in it, please PM me. Thanks.

Why? Are you going to try and sell me something?

MM

from amnesty international

Saudi Arabia has one of the highest rates of capital punishment in the world. Of the 766 executions recorded by Amnesty International between 1990 and 1999, over half were of migrant workers and other foreign nationals. While a high proportion of those were Asian migrant workers mainly from Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, the Philippines and Nepal -- who comprise between 60 and 80 per cent of Saudi Arabia's workforce -- at least 72 were Nigerians, mostly convicted for drug smuggling or armed robbery. By mid-June 2000 Saudi Arabia had executed 53 people, 25 of them in May: 19 were Saudi Arabian nationals and 30 were foreign nationals, including from Nigeria, India, Pakistan, Sudan, Eritrea, Yemen, the Philippines, Ethiopia, Egypt and Iraq. Migrant workers and other foreign nationals have faced discriminatory treatment under the criminal justice system in Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia has expanded the scope of the death penalty to cover a wide range of offences, including offences without lethal consequences such as apostasy, drug dealing, sodomy and ''witchcraft''. The scores of people who are executed every year, many for non-violent crimes, are put to death after summary trials that offer them no opportunity to defend themselves and almost no protection against miscarriages of justice.

I cant see any westerners in amnety's report, leave that one to Singapore I guess

MM

I found myself asking the question - Would they would have executed two westerners for the same offence?

MM

PS I've followed the debate about Firefox being less buggy and safer than IE and, after much more of this IE trouble, I may well switch.

I would if I were you, Firefox wins hands down

MM

British Embassy document IPS Guide to Taking a Good Photo for Your Passport states

The background for the photograph should be off-white, cream or light grey plain background so that your features are clearly distinguishable against the background

MM

Better exchange rate if you transfer pounds

MM

Obviously he didn't fancy sausage and eggs for breakfast

At Crazy Dave's that would cost 60 baht - salmonella extra.

I heard salmonella was included for 60 baht

MM

2 recent identical photos (35mm x 45mm) with white background - I would not call those 'onerous requirements'.

Dear Mr Hippo

Before jumping in with your 4 Big Feet and unhelpful Replies ...

Why not find out what the Subject is REALLY about !!!

If you download the requirements ...

you will find out that one of the MANY - "onerous" / STRICT

requirenents is that the Background must NOT be "White" !!!

:D

Not sure if my download on the my previous post is working but you can find the link for The IPS Guide to Taking a Good Photo for Your Passport at the following.

http://www.britishembassy.gov.uk/servlet/F...d=1065721632030

Cheers

MM

This link looks out of date to me, as it refers to 48 page passports being available.

Astral

I took along a copy of The IPS Guide to Taking a Good Photo for Your Passport, and showed it to my local shop that did passport photographs,

The girl soon got her head round what I needed

The results were so good that the British Embassy BKK issued me a passport.

You can download a copy of The IPS Guide to Taking a Good Photo for Your Passport below

Notes_20C1.pdf

MM