POAK

Hi, would anyone know of or can suggest a Muay Thai gym in or around Nong Ki?

We (family) are heading to visit the wife's parent's for about 6 week's at the end of March and rather sit around and not do anything all day and go stir crazy, I thought about going to a Muay Thai gym to loose a few kg's (pound's) and do some physical activity, rather then chase the chickens around the house.

The in-laws live just outside of Nong Ki so am looking for something close, doesn't have to be flash, just decent enough to learn a thing or two and not get swindled out of all my money for training fee's.

We have a pick-up to get around in, but I don't want to drive all the way to Khorat (Nakhon Ratchasima) every day just to pay some guy to sweat in a gym.

Thank's in advance.

Hi, just a general topic if anyone has had the same experience and can point me in the right direction...

My Thai wife's former partner has not provided any financial assistance or support to his two children since he left my wife over 12 years ago.

They were never married and we have no idea where his whereabouts are?

My wife's two children are being looked after and supported by my wife's parents. We send them money every month.

We are going to Thailand next year for about 6 week's and we want to try to get the necessary paper work signed off and authenticated at the Amphur and or Thai Court so we can apply for the two children to get a tourist visa to come to Australia at the end of next year to come stay with us for at least a minimum of 3 month's.

We need to have all the necessary documents so that we can lodge them at the local Amphur and or Thai court, giving my wife sole custody of her two children.

We don't know his whereabouts of her former partner and we cannot get him to sign any document's.

My wife's children have a Thai ID Card each and are also registered in their grandparent's blue tabien baan or blue house book (Thor.Ror.14).

Basically we want to make sure that all the necessary paper work is prepared so that my wife and I can lodge them at the required department's (Amphur and or Thai courts) and or any other Government Department, so that my wife has full custody and legal responsibility for her two children.

We want to make sure that there is no legal repercussions and to make sure we have everything lodged and filed in the courts in case her former partner wants to intervene.

We are unable to locate or make contact with the children's father and his whereabouts are unknown to us.

Whilst renting a pick-up for about 3 week's when we were visiting the other half's parent's/family just outside of Nong Ki, we only saw 3 accident's, 2 were scooter related accident's in Korat, it appeared that the rider's were ok, but how ok is one when you get hit by a pick-up? the 3rd and most terrible accident we saw was the last day we were returning the car to Korat, a pick-up came off the highway and hit the middle of the medium strip and overturned, the roof and cabin of the pick up was flattened, so not sure if anyone survived the accident....

Thank's JLCrab, your probably right in everything that you have said, just wanted to let everyone know that my experience was a pleasant one. If I had a bad experience I would have also placed it here on the forum.

I always make sure to drive extra carefully and keep too or just under the speed limits, making sure I carry my drivers licence, international driver's licence and passport with my at all times when I am behind the wheel of the car and never drink if I am going to drive.

Hi everyone just wanted to let you know of a little business that I came across when I was looking to rent a car recently in Korat.

As I don't own a Credit Card any more, just was racking up to much debt all of the time, I tried to rent a car from the Budget Car Rental place at Tesco's in Korat. They wouldn't rent me a car without a Credit Card that they could deduct the 20,000.00THB deposit from, even when I had the cash in my hand to give to them and pay for the rental of the car as well.

I came across this business - Korat Car Rent (http://www.koratcarrental.com/) it’s run by a really nice Indian guy who has lived all his life in Thailand and speaks very good English, his name is Jimmy.

His business rent's car's to anyone who is over the age of 21 and has a valid driving license. All vehicles are fully insured and he also offers a Chauffeur driver service from Suvarnabhumi Airport to korat and visa versa.

After renting a Mitsubishi Triton from him for about 2 week’s at a really good price. If you mention that Jim from Brisbane (Australia) has referred you onto him, he said he would try and help out as best as he can with anyone looking to rent from him.

I will defiantly be using his service again when I need to rent a car while I am in Korat.

Safe Driving…

So, it got me to thinking. When they say Thailand, Land of Smiles, are they talking about the people welcoming people to their country or are they just saying behind their smiles, we going to rob you blind stupid Falang?

Case in hand, am driving the little lady and family in tow to The Mall (Korat), am driving a pick up and am in the far right lane. Traffic ahead of me about to turn right, so I indicate to change lanes to go to the left lane so I can then drive into the parking area. At this stage the traffic has stopped and I have already commenced to merge into the next lane but of course no one will let me in.

Out of no where, then man in brown (police) walks up to the driver’s window and politely knocks on the window, I lower the window and he again politely smiles and salutes me asking for my driving license.

He then asked the little lady where we are going and asks that I pull over to the side of the curb; he stops traffic for me to allow me to pull over.

He then asks the little lady to accompany him to his police box, I of course follow.

He has a brief conversation and charges us, well her 100 baht for apparently making an illegal lane change?

I’m furious at this stage but am dragged away by the little lady saying it will cost me more if I yak yak the police….

We are in Bangkok for two night’s staying at a very cheap hotel, name of hotel with held at this stage…the day we want to check out, the receptionist with a polite tone and a big smile want’s to then charge me for 2 missing glasses…

The second day of our stay they moved us to another room for no apparent reason.

When I refused this charge she made a quick phone call to room service I guess then tells me with another polite tone and smile they we actually broke one glass…

I told her to blow it out of her pretty ass and would not be paying anything as we did not lose, stole or broke any glasses.

After a brief talk with the little lady she smiles and said she made a mistake and that was it…

Land of Smiles…me think not

Unfortunately, sometimes this sort of behavior tends to go on while people are on holidays.

Men drinking excessively while on holiday’s with little to no regard to local customs or traditions.

For example, if you have a bunch of mates travelling to Thailand to do the Thai thing, lady’s, drink, club’s and partying all day and night, knowing that in 2 or 3 week’s you will be home, they will feel like they are on top of the world and they can do and say as they like.

Don’t get me wrong, you can go out on a Friday, Saturday night in Brisbane and still find yourself in a fight for no apparent reason.

The driving force behind a lot of violence is alcohol. In Australia if you’re deemed to have had too much, the publican can refuse you entry into their establishment and bar staff by law can/must refuse to serve you any more alcohol.

I doubt that a bar/club in Thailand would stop serving alcohol to someone who was so paraletic (drunk).

I was in a bar in Bangkok about a year or so ago and there was a bunch of 4 to 5 young Brit’s, very drunk and having a good time. I don’t mind having a drink like the next person. But as I observed them they became very aggressive, abusive and started to speak to the Thai bar girls in a derogative manner and tone. They had ordered drinks but then proceeded to argue with the Bar girls that they had only ordered 1 beer and they refused to pay for the other’s beers that they were happily drinking while they were arguing with the bar staff.

Not sure what happened as we soon left the bar once the atmosphere started to change with all the commotion that was going on.

I guess at the end of the day it takes a bigger man to walk away than to go toe to toe…

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/2013/01/27/08/00/southeast-qld-on-tornado-alert

Southeast Queensland remains on alert after six tornadoes damaged homes and businesses in the Bundaberg region in the past 24 hours.

And hundreds of homes are at risk of flooding in the central Queensland cities of Gladstone and Bundaberg.

Floods are also expected at Gympie and Maryborough.

Brisbane, the Gold and Sunshine coasts, and northern NSW are also on flood watch as the low pressure system that was Cyclone Oswald tracks south.

Premier Campbell Newman inspected tornado damage at Bargara, near Bundaberg, on Sunday and said emergency services were being stretched by simultaneously unfolding emergencies.

He said the army would likely be called in to help authorities, with the Brisbane-based 7th Brigade on standby to provide support.

"The challenge now is that we've got multiple events going on," he told reporters.

"Let's not forget Gladstone and the needs of that community. We also have Maryborough and Gympie that will see a large flood as well in the next few days and we also have to be very mindful of what might happen in southeast Queensland."

Mr Newman said authorities had to be very careful about where they deployed already stretched resources.

"The places that have the biggest need, particularly I'm talking about rescuing people, preserving public safety ... that's where the initial resourcing effort always has to go," he said.

At Gympie, north of Brisbane, residents are being rescued from rooftops.

A 27-year-old man is missing in floodwaters after trying to cross a flooded creek near Gympie. Two other people were rescued but a swiftwater rescue team lost its boat in the operation.

The city's CBD is expected to flood later on Sunday as the Mary River rises towards an expected peak of 17 metres - just shy of levels reached during the devastating 2011 floods.

"We have people on rooftops in Widgee and Sexton and we have a swiftwater rescue team currently deployed in Widgee," Mayor Ron Dyne told AAP.

"At this stage, we've got major concerns.

"Everything's occurred rather rapidly given the amount of rain we've had ..."

At Bundaberg, north of Gympie, authorities fear up to 200 homes and 100 businesses will go under.

Flood levels are expected to peak higher than they did in 2010 and 2011, when the city suffered destructive floods.

Efforts are continuing to patch up homes and businesses that lost roofs when six cyclones swept through the Bundaberg region on Saturday and Sunday.

Rural towns around Bundaberg, including Gayndah, are also experiencing flooding.

Further north, communities around Gladstone are seeing unprecedented flooding, with 900 homes evacuated.

Gladstone Deputy Disaster Coordinator, Inspector Les Bulluss, says a high tide combined with 8.5 metres of water going over the Awoonga Dam wall is to blame.

Boyne Island and Tannum Sands are experiencing flooding, but so far there are no reports of homes going under there, Gladstone mayor Gail Sellers told AAP.

But the news is not as good for residents at nearby Baffle Creek, where some homes have water up to their ceilings.

Ms Sellers said there had been several rescue efforts at Baffle Creek and at Yarwun, north of Gladstone.

If you marry an Aussie Sheila!

Three friends married women from different parts of the world............

The first man married a Filipino.

He told her that she was to do the dishes and house cleaning.

It took a couple of days, but on the third day, he came home to see a clean house and dishes washed and put away.

The second man married a Thai.

He gave his wife orders that she was to do all the cleaning, dishes and the cooking.

The first day he didn't see any results, but the next day he saw it was better.

By the third day, he saw his house was clean, the dishes were done, and there was a huge dinner on the table.

The third man married a girl from Australia.

He ordered her to keep the house cleaned, dishes washed, lawn mowed, laundry washed, and hot meals on the table for every meal.

He said the first day he didn't see anything.

The second day he didn't see anything.

But by the third day, some of the swelling had gone down and he could see a little out of his left eye and his arm was healed enough that he could fix himself a sandwich and load the dishwasher. He still has some difficulty when he pees.

On my many trip's back and forth and living in both Thailand and Australia, it got me to thinking where would I like to be when my time comes, here in Thailand or back home in Australia?

Of course, I would like to have my final resting place in my country of birth, next to family and friends and familiar surroundings.

I don’t think I am a very religious person, I think I am like the next person, I sometimes go to church e.g. wedding, funerals and christenings.

I frequent the temple with the little lady often, but wouldn’t say that I am drawn to the Thai Buddhist way.

Is there a heaven or Hell, guess I will find out when my times comes, just got me to thinking where would I like my final resting place to be…

Thailand has over twenty international overland border crossings. These allow overland travel to Malaysia (via seven crossings), Burma (three crossing, daytrips only), Laos (via six crossings) and Cambodia (six crossings). You can also arrive by air at a number of international airports, including Bangkok, Phuket, Ko Samui, Chiang Mai and Hat Yai.

If your only after a few more days I think they will give you a 15 day visa if your coming back via overland...

Sent from my GT-I9100T using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Thank's canuckamuck, will check out their web site today...

Thank's craigt3365 & wayned for your prompt reply.

I know there are lot's of timber/lumber places around the place, just need to find someone close to where we live, as we are out side of Khorat (Nong Ki) and don't want to get charged nearly 5,000.00 Baht that we have already been quoted for just for delivery.

Anyone else who can help and lives in or around Khorat, it would be much appreciated.

Many thank's...

Thank's craigt3365, are you in Thailand?

When you went looking for plywood can you remember where the shop was?

We are just out side of Khorat so any directions or land marks would be of help.

Many thank's,

Hi everyone, Happy New Year...

Was wondering if anyone could possibly help me?

I am looking to replace the in law's flooring as it's warped and falling apart. I need to find a good timber yard/manufacturer in Khorat (Nakornratchasima).

I have searched Google for timber in Khorat (Nakornratchasima) but can not find anything. I have had a look at Homepro and Do Home websites but cannot find what I am looking for.

Not looking for teak flooring but just good reliable Plywood sheet's to replace the old flooring.

If anyone can help, it would be much appreciated.

Thank's muratremix for the info, it's much appreciated.

astral, where has my post been moved too?

Hi, was wondering if anyone could advice and or point me in the right direction.

Am planning to head back to Thailand shortly and want my other half to get her car license. Does anyone know off any good Driving Schools in Khorat or say in or near Nong Ki?

Am trying to find out the following;

1. Location of reputable Driving School in Khorat or in or near Nong Ki

2. How long do the course/lessons take?

3. Cost of course/lessons

Any help would be much appreciated.

I watch this story tonight on A Current Affair, very sad...

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/2012/11/27/17/27/thai-police-tried-to-blame-boyfriend-for-womans-death

Thanks’ arthurwait for your reply. I have been told that a Thai person who has been outside of their country for more than a year and is returning home can bring back with them personal belonging (which also includes clothing) at no excess by custom's. I cannot confirm this and the Thai Customs Web page is vague.

There are many custom brokers here in Brisbane, but each one that I speak with give me a different explanations to what you can bring into Thailand.