captnhoy

By Captain Hoy

Amen! My wife's good friend is the head English teacher at the local gov't school. Know what she can say to me? BYE BYE! I've also spent some good money sending a niece to private school primarily for the language opportunity. 4 years later as a 10 year old she cannot even say BYE BYE! The education system here sucks and it is by design. How can you have an elite society without the peons?

By CasualBiker

That's your mistake.. Private school.. The best Thai English teachers are at government schools!

Captain Hoy

Yeah says you. I offered the short version of the niece's story - 2 years private and then back into 2 years "advanced gov't". Same result. If it is not about parrotting the lesson she has no clue what I'm saying or how to respond to me. Beyond the obligatory "I am fine thank you". Carry on - I'm sure it is all very effective and I'm just having a run of bad luck because I did not run string around my house and all.

But I understand that (the majority of) Thais have NEVER been educated, taught to question and even reason.

They have NEVER been educated !!! I wonder why, I dont think it was because of the lack of money but the decisions of where it was important to spend that money and for what reasons....

What nonsense all Thais in the last 60 years have some form of education and certainly the under 35's have a decent education!

You think? I had a GF that was certainly not stupid and she didnt even know we had landed on the moon until we looked at it through a telescope I dont think she even realised what it was. I had to show her Appolo 13 and tell her this really happened. Until then the moon was for knowing when to plant the rice.

How can an education system that does not encourage questioning and passes everyone as long as you attend the exam at the end of the year be deemed a decent education?

I have had ladies working for be with Bachelors in various fields and their education was not up to my 1975 high school education, but then I try never to stop learning and question / analyze why and how, something that is sadly lacking in the majority of Thai society!!

As I stated previously 2000 schools in Thailand have no electricity, so computers are not going to be much good are they? How many children does this affect?

I think the key to your statement is ¨some form of education¨, that doesn´t make it a proper or decent education does it (or even an education at all).

When the current PM states that he couldn´t do a primary schooler´s homework as it was too difficult, that is a worry !!!

Amen! My wife's good friend is the head English teacher at the local gov't school. Know what she can say to me? BYE BYE! I've also spent some good money sending a niece to private school primarily for the language opportunity. 4 years later as a 10 year old she cannot even say BYE BYE! The education system here sucks and it is by design. How can you have an elite society without the peons?

We in the west are no better at demanding TRUE democracy than the Thai's are. Our two party systems, especially in the USA, are just a dog and pony show to make the public think they have a choice. But both major parties are indirectly controlled by the same multi-national mega corporations and the ultra wealthy global families that own controlling interest. It's called fascism. Mussolini called it "corporitivo" - "corporatism". But at least Americans are finally waking up to that which is probably why the last elections in 2014 had the lowest voter turnout in history and congress approval rating is only 7%. Sorry, I got slightly off topic but still relevant.

Quute right.

Ironically it's Yanks here that do most of the criticizing. They are so brainwashed thinking that they have democracy but subconsciously know they don't so love trying to bring Thailand down.

How do you know who does the most criticizing here? You have a way to keep score? As a Yank, I'd say Miami Bob did a very good job of summarizing a global political problem. And your response? Bashing Yanks. IMO the only change that will happen in the USA will be brought on by a revolution. A wise minority had that vision in the 60's. I was too young to see it then and too old to do it now. And where are YOU from oh great and mighty Sawan Chan who are so much better than Yanks?

I think he answers only to God, erm, make that A god.

Yeah, great input -THANKS. Looks like it's not worth the effort then. Also I did not know that CP bought Makro. I was trying to boycott CP after reading The Guardian's in depth expose on the fishing boat slave workers that support the feed industry for prawn farming.

I live in a small town in the south. The Phuket Makro has very good selection somewhat tailored to foreign tastes. When in BKK I always shop Villa Mkt or Foodland to take back good cheese, ham, etc. I have a Makro card and wondered what the BKK locations are like. I see that it will be a trek to get there though. The Bang Kapi location looks like it might be doable by canal ferry. Probably best to just go back to Villa but thought I'd check here,

Cheers - CH

I did that same trip last Friday but at noon. I went upstairs and got my taxi as he dropped a passenger at departures. Used the meter and about 115 baht to Mo Chit BTS. Got off at Nana right at Soi 6 and walked 3 minutes to the guesthouse. Traffic at that time will be much worse but still your best option I think.

Having lived in Thailand for 40 years I am still amazed to this day how little the people who live here understand the cultures of this area. I of course wouldn't have paid the extra US$7, but you have to know how to do it. This alas is the problem with too many expats they don't know how to do it, and they never will. These expats are the same ones who say when they are back in their home country about immigrants: "they come here and live and can't learn English or respect are culture". Sadly they come here and do the same the are hypocrites

How could we get you to take a page from BritTim's book and explain "how to do it"? After 40 years you must have much to share if you'd only loosen up a little and do so. With a teacher like you we could understand so much more. Then we'd all be happier and post pleasant contributions to the forums. Please, don't keep your techniques a secret. I'm sure your "like" button will be nearly worn out. You'd probably even get PM's thanking you for your generosity. I've only been here 10 years myself and still probably do not know even 25% of the secrets that you possess. You are so right about the language issue too. Unfortunately for me I cannot HEAR all of the tonal variations that are used in Thai language. So I think I have the word or phrase in my vocabulary only to get a blank stare when I use it. I bet you could teach me Thai too. Thanks for sharing.

Since they have no history of furniture, why buy it when you are away? I bet you'd be happier with the choices if you bought it in person. Other posters already told you how to get it home. I also agree with the oneday's post. I'd get a good mattress first and wait on the other stuff if I only could spend 10,000.

I shopped for my new home at Ikea in Bangkok. I hired a friend and his truck to deliver it some 800 kilometers away. My budget was bigger than yours and I'm quite pleased with the results.

I have no argument re Golden Bar - the owner is a very well connected Chinese-Thai who can pretty much do as he wants - but this is the first time I've seen Nana Hotel referred to as 'five star'. They've had the same website (complete with reference to a 'smashing disco club' which opens every 3-6 months to great fanfare and closes again within 6 weeks) for roughly 20 years and they certainly dont refer to themselves as such.

Well clearly they are not a five star hotel. My sarcasm on that must not have been clear. That's the point I was trying to make with the post that claimed it was only for 5 star hotels.

There are a couple of odd points in this story that no-one has so far commented on.

Hotels, along with the airports, are supposed to be exempt and the article clearly says, "a restaurant in a hotel called Everyone's Inn in Banglamung district was selling alcohol to foreign tourists". So why weren't they exempt?

The report says that the raid took place at 11.00 pm. Maha Bucha day finished at midnight, so was it really necessary to call out the army to uphold the ban for 1 more hour? Had the lady been a bit more cunning she could just have said, "Ok", waited for the police to go, and then served a bit more slowly for an hour or so.

Rightly or wrongly, it has been the custom in the past for the bars to start selling alcohol again from about 11.00 pm, although the go-go bars tend not to bother and give the girls a night off.

All in all, this story doesn't make much sense at face value.

The exemption to alcohol bans is limited to major tourist hotels. Pop into the Marriott etc and you can drink. AFAIK nothing short of real 5 star places are exempt.

Sorry to nitpick, buy HEY! This is TV right? I've seen the Golden Beer Bar serving when the rest of Soi Nana was dark. You know the one - out front of the FIVE STAR Nana Hotel.

Outside? You mean the place on the street? Even if the Nana was theoretically exempt that place wouldn't be.

If you are referring to the past, not particularly significant these days.

Actually I'm a seer and I was referring to the future. You want a pissing contest? OK - I'm in. Anybody have a drink at the golden Beer Bar at the Nana Hotel on the day in question? Jeeeez - another TV member who knows every <deleted> thing.

There are a couple of odd points in this story that no-one has so far commented on.

Hotels, along with the airports, are supposed to be exempt and the article clearly says, "a restaurant in a hotel called Everyone's Inn in Banglamung district was selling alcohol to foreign tourists". So why weren't they exempt?

The report says that the raid took place at 11.00 pm. Maha Bucha day finished at midnight, so was it really necessary to call out the army to uphold the ban for 1 more hour? Had the lady been a bit more cunning she could just have said, "Ok", waited for the police to go, and then served a bit more slowly for an hour or so.

Rightly or wrongly, it has been the custom in the past for the bars to start selling alcohol again from about 11.00 pm, although the go-go bars tend not to bother and give the girls a night off.

All in all, this story doesn't make much sense at face value.

The exemption to alcohol bans is limited to major tourist hotels. Pop into the Marriott etc and you can drink. AFAIK nothing short of real 5 star places are exempt.

Sorry to nitpick, buy HEY! This is TV right? I've seen the Golden Beer Bar serving when the rest of Soi Nana was dark. You know the one - out front of the FIVE STAR Nana Hotel.

I applaud her. While Thailand of course is a predominately Buddhist culture, it is not an ENTIRELY Buddhist culture. And yet this law is crammed down everyone's throat. One time I asked a man doing some work for me if he was Muslim and he said "No, I'm Thai". Evidently no one else counts.

Turkey noodle soup or beef stroganoff - it's a tossup for me.

Even volunteers need work permits. Was all his paperwork in place before critisizing others?

My paperwork?

Yep, copies of everything in a nice neat plastic folder. But that isn't the issue.

And here we have another misunderstanding. Callaway wrote "his paperwork", which I'm pretty sure means the volunteer who criticised you. What I consider as I fumble through this life is "You can be right or you can be happy". Unfortunately all too often I choose to be right.

I actually find your questioning it stranger than her doing it. No offence intended.

So what about the EXISTING PORT named Songkhla.. It is a containerport as good as any other port.......

Glegolo

Which is why I asked in my original post "Is there one I don't know about?"

Because Songkhla is on the East coast in the Gulf Of Thailand......so goods etc from the West still have to go around the Malay Peninsular.....

Yes but at least it is on the western side of the bay, and on the western side of Thailand no doubt....Better you direct your comment to the guy who think Rayong etc is on the westcoast!! He is completely lost!!

Glegolo

With all due respect, Songkhla is on the east coast of Thailand known as The Gulf Of Thailand.

Satun, Phuket and Ranong are on the west coast - known as the Andaman Sea

I spent my money on women, liquor and boats. The rest of it I just pissed away.

captnhoy / PaulHaon Do you have any contact details of transporter have 43 ft 14 ton to move East - West (Phuket - Eastcost ) might be able to work with op

Sent you a PM.

capthoy

Air height (Base of keel to top of wheelhouse) 15’9”. length 43 width 12’9”.mast is off . Phuket to Hua Hin.

I'll ask around for contact deets. Do you speak Thai or have a translator? You'll need that ability.

captnhoy / PaulHaon Do you have any contact details of transporter have 43 ft 14 ton to move East - West (Phuket - Eastcost ) might be able to work with op

I do not have contact deets but perhaps could get them. 43 feet and 14 ton sounds quite doable - there is a height restriction of ? . . . not sure . . maybe 5 meters. So if there is a mast involved it will need to be stepped. Your destination is confusing - OP is wanting to go West from the East coast. And you? The same or from Phuket to the East coast?

If you have to ask i doubt that you'd manage that adventure. It is common for boats to be trucked from Chumpon on the gulf side to a ramp in Kra Buri. This puts your boat into a big river that is the border between Myanmar and Thailand. Place the pointy end downstream and you will soon be passing by Ranong and entering the Andaman Sea 300 kilometers North of Phuket.

Your info on Mo Chit is nonsense. SNIP

I would have agreed with you had I not seen it for myself. You would not recognize that part of MoChit - there is no taxi queue. Well, a very small one with way more passengers than taxis and it's in a different location. We ended up in a minivan to South Bus Station as we could not find a meter or afford to wait our turn in a long queue.

I don't understand that you have to wait 1 hour to find your transport at mo chit ?, its full of buses, skytrains and taxis, if you don't know ask info at skytrain ticket office, they can tell you what train, or bus you have to take. tell your destination to the money collector on the bus, they will tell you where to get off, halt a passingby taxi, get in let hem start driving and say where you have to go. 9/10 he open meter, if not say you want meter KRAB. if he stop just get out. speaking Thai and be soft and polite helps.

I suggest that you go to Mo Chit and see how it has CHANGED. I've taken taxi's there many times with no stress but when I was there in mid December the old efficient taxi queue with plenty of metered taxis was no more. That spot was empty. I am not a noob but I'm sure those who are will appreciate your help.

Your info on Mo Chit is nonsense. SNIP

I would have agreed with you had I not seen it for myself. You would not recognize that part of MoChit - there is no taxi queue. Well, a very small one with way more passengers than taxis and it's in a different location. We ended up in a minivan to South Bus Station as we could not find a meter or afford to wait our turn in a long queue.

Which is it,no taxi queue or a long one you have to wait 5-10 minutes for.Hardly relevant after 7 hours in a bus.How long did you wait at southern bus station?Worst of all you then went in a mini van,madness.

What's really worst of all are the TV members like you who know every <deleted> thing even when it was not YOUR experience but the other guy's.