LesT21

This is for a friend, a military retiree with a Thai wife. They're currently Stateside, but wanting to come back in February of 2022 for their annual visit that has been postponed by the pandemic. 

Here is his question:

'Has any U.S.A. military retiree entering Thailand on any visa been able to get proof of the required medical insurance from TRICARE, or any U.S.A. insurance carrier.   We know and understand Media-Care does not cover overseas.'

Thanks

My 2002 S4 Monster, told everyone I caught bird flu in Thailand in 2005. Came home with a bad case of Duc fever, cured it with this.

Prefer the old style trellis frame and early headlight design. The newer headlights just look odd to me.

Like the new Scramblers by Ducati, wouldn't turn down an Ariel Square Four if offered.

11 hours ago, Fortean1 said:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dean_Barrett

His books appeal to some readers.  I can't vouch for his work as I read only non-fiction.

Terry

( a few miles south of Hua Hin )

I've read and enjoyed both his Thailand based ones and his Chinese based novels. All good reading.

For non-fiction find his early 1980 'The Girls of Thailand' or 2001 'Thailand: Land of Beautiful Women', just happen to have both. Not much text, but the photos are outstanding.

Les T.

เลส ท

8 hours ago, connda said:

A Dr. Siri Paiboun Mystery: Various novels by Colin Cotterill
Set in Laos but great reading.  Up their with John Burdett but not as nearly as dark. 
The adventures of a 72 year old Lao doctor.  They are much more interesting that that sounds.

Start with The Coroner's Lunch to get a feel for the character and the author's style. 

"

Laos, 1975: The Communist Pathet Lao has taken over this former French colony. Dr. Siri Paiboun, a 72-year-old Paris-trained doctor, is appointed national coroner. Although he has no training for the job, there is no one else: the rest of the educated class have fled.

He is expected to come up with the answers the party wants, but crafty and charming Dr. Siri is immune to bureaucratic pressure. At his age, he reasons, what can they do to him? And he knows he cannot fail the dead who come into his care without risk of incurring their boundless displeasure. Eternity could be a long time to have the spirits mad at you."

"Vientiane, 1980: For a man of his age and in his corner of the world, Dr. Siri, the 76-year-old former national coroner of Laos, is doing remarkably well - especially considering the fact that he is possessed by a 1,000-year-old Hmong shaman. That is, until he finds a mysterious note tied to his dog's tail."

And away you go..... 

https://www.amazon.com/Dr-Siri-Paiboun-Mystery-Book/dp/B07KYRP8T1

Big Cotterill fan, have all the Dr. Siri books. Check out his Jimm Juree series set in Thailand, unfortunately on 4 books in one. Hopefully he will continue this series.

Back in the 1960's, the plant cafeteria had a couple of microwaves for cooking frozen foods sold in the vending machine. No timer, just buttons numbered 1 to 5, you pushed the button corresponding to the number on the food package. Now these early microwaves didn't have glass in the door, just a colander like sheet of steel. Holes sized to keep the microwaves inside the cavity.

Well a couple of mates and I decided to try to make a 3 minute egg. We kind of had an idea of how long each button went from using them on burritos. So picked 4 and went with it. Bell sounded, we opened the door and stared at the egg. Now the question, was it done or not? No way to tell. 

So we made a command decision to hit the 1 button just for insurance. We got about 5 feet from the microwave when it went boom. Now there was egg extruding out of the holes in the door and all over the interior.

We beat a hasty retreat back to our department and avoided the cafeteria for a couple of weeks.

Have the set of 'It Ain't Half Hot Mum', absolutely hilarious, 'Fawlty Towers' has been a long standing favorite. 'Stalag Luft' is great, need to dig out my copy and watch again.

Speaking of Stephen Fry, his series 'Kingdom' was great, the they left things unresolved with an ultimate cliffhanger in the last episode.  Still want to know the outcome of that, oh well.

How soon will this be the Army's next big purchase?

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/33042/irans-military-makes-bat<deleted>-claim-that-this-stupid-contraption-detects-coronavirus

+1000 for the bum gun. Have had one stateside for years.

15 hours ago, zydeco said:

Not sure dropping Izzy's name would help these days. I believe he departed from the CR on less than friendly terms. 

Agree, this was a few years back, but think he had already parted ways with them then. Last time I saw Izzy was in 2006 at a gathering of old AAM, CASI, USAID and others in BKK. Was just regular USAF back in the day, but got hooked up with those guys in the late 1990's, lots of interesting conversations when they get together. Unfortunately, there are fewer of them every day.

A few years back a group of us dropped by the Crown Royal looking for some Crown Royal, no have. They did have a couple empty bottles on display. We probably should have dropped Izzy's name but didn't. Whenever in country always stop in at the Madrid for a bite to eat, a drink or two and soak in the atmosphere. 

Some of the same scenes I got with my 8mm camera when my wife came over for a visit in March of 1971. We did some of the same tours including TIMLand, plus a visit to Kanchanaburi and up to the base at NKP. Brings back a lot of memories!

Growing up in farm country and having driven tractors with them behind me, disc harrows have always given me the chills. Got them looking at this picture. not a good way to go, but at least he didn't get caught by the harrow. RIP and condolences to his family. 

As Maxwell Smart would say, 'missed it by that much'.  Looks like c/g was right on the edge and going up the ramp shifted it back beyond the tipping point. Might have made it on a level route. 555

Wasn't an issue when I first went to Thailand. In the majority of places there was only a restroom, easy choice. Got used to the unisex facilities fairly quickly.

Now my wife (round eye) was a bit surprised on her first trip over in 1971 when a taxi pulled up along side our parked bus and the driver got out and took a leak between his cab and the bus in downtown Bangkok. The Air Force did tell us that they didn't care what the locals did, AF personnel were not to pee on telephone poles downtown.

Great photos, was in Korat a couple of years ago, my first time there. My old stomping ground was Nakhon Phanom.

What's the red device on the Honda's left handle bar?

The red device is a anti-theft device (burglar alarm). It was powered by batteries and activated by a key. If the bike was moved it let out a loud squeal.

Interesting, don't remember seeing any of them up NKP way back then.

I saw a buried conduit run where ants had completely stripped the insulation off the wires. It was at a friends desert property were everything was de-energized when they weren't there. We were powering things on and one breaker tripped as soon as we flipped it on. Pulled the cover and found the trail of ants coming out of that conduit.

Have heard that rats think some of the plastic insulation tastes sweet, so they chew on them. We figured the same held true for the ants.

Great photos, was in Korat a couple of years ago, my first time there. My old stomping ground was Nakhon Phanom.

What's the red device on the Honda's left handle bar?

Here's a local version of 'Ring of Fire':

BTW, I like Isaan and Lao versions of som tam, it's my favorite lite meal on hot days. Like it with the little dried shrimp.

NanLaew, have a signed copy of Robbins book (good read) and I know Fred.

I'm a member of China Post 1, as is Thanyburi Mac, and Fred is our Post Commander.

Les T.
เลส ท.

Good book available at Amazon by Craig Duerhing, THE LAIR OF THE RAVEN

I got it as a Kindle edition.

Mac

Just got it last week to read on the flight over.

Les T.
เลส ท.

If you haven't read "The Ravens" by Christopher Robbins yet, put it on your list.

One of the characters that features in many former Raven soliloquies is the Air Force certified eccentric, Captain Fred 'Magnet Ass' Platt, a dear friend of mine from Houston. His 2012 reunion trip in Thailand was a memorable event.

Was just too enthusiastic while checking for those snap on skimmers.

Good book available at Amazon by Craig Duerhing, THE LAIR OF THE RAVEN

I got it as a Kindle edition.

Mac

Just got it last week to read on the flight over.

Les T.

เลส ท.

Had the honor of meeting Dutch in 2010, a quiet gentleman. May he rest in peace!

Too many posters intent on making a mountain out of a mole-hill.

Too many posters asking questions that nobody can answer.

Too many posters saying that the sky will fall on Thailand if these measures are implemented.

Too many posters with a lack of perspective.

Very easy. If you intend on staying in Thailand for more than thirty days, get the correct visa.

If you intend on staying in Thailand for more than ninety days, get the correct long-term visa.

here comes the genius

mr easy i want to stay as tourist in thailand for 1 year because i have lot of money to do that

whats my visa?

Easy.

Thailand Elite Card.

It's your only choice, but, hey, if you have a lot of money................

From the Thailand Elite Card site: