Stocky

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Normally, tribal people treat themselves using ancestral wisdom and familiar herbs, Sakchai said. However, the herbs they use are becoming tougher to find due to deforestation, resulting in tribes having to ask their acquaintances from the outside world to take the seriously ill to a hospital. 

I suspect the Sakai peoples would be happier if efforts concentrated on preserving their habitat, rather than giving them 'gold cards'.  We'd all be better off if there was a halt to the increasing number of palm oil plantations that are replacing what little forest areas that are left down here in the south.

Didn't stay, just driving up the coast, stopped for lunch.

I've visited, but it's been a few years since I last passed through.

Nakhon Si Thammarat is the provincial capital, a moderate sized town with an ancient history, though there's little left of the historical city, just a bit of the north wall and gate, plus Wat Phra Mahathat. It was once the trading port of Ligor, but the port and coast has long silted up. There are beaches to the north, but it's about 80km to Khanom, which is the nearest beach that passes for a resort. Wet season is end September through to New Year, dry season is from New Year to end of March. Nicest time to visit is around February.

'Veggie restaurants' - I have no idea, it's predominantly Thai restaurants, I didn't see any western restaurants, but then I wasn't looking.

It's worth a trip, but it'll probably only hold your interest for a couple of days - NST isn't Krabi.

40 minutes ago, Formaleins said:

So yes, every day is like Christmas.

...sounds like everyday's a potential nightmare to me.

50 minutes ago, recom273 said:

the spot on the roof is on top of a condo towards the university, not too sure if it’s still open.

Possibly the Good Evening, yes it's closed already. There's another called "The Roof Top" which is on Supasarnrangsan road near the Chue Chang Chinese temple, but I've not tried it yet.

But the OP was asking about western expat meeting places, I'm not a great one for seeking out expat company, but the venerable 'Swan' is about the only place I do note expats on a regular basis. Few in number, but then there aren't many anyway.

31 minutes ago, recom273 said:

There are lots of places in Hat Yai to eat and drink, not just the “yawn” swan.

You can add to the recommendations on this thread.

27 minutes ago, recom273 said:

There is a little community of younger guys who know all about the rooftop bars and other places away from the strip.

Well do tell, that's the point of the forum!!

On 11/28/2018 at 8:08 AM, simon43 said:

I'm thinking to grow some designer stubble

Just grow a damn beard; designer bloody stubble, good god man next thing you'll be sporting a pony tail and getting some tattoos.

1 hour ago, OneMoreFarang said:

The motorcyclist, Phuwadol Srisamrong, 23, waited for police at the scene.

Yes, I did think that remarkable.

I suspect it was a more a case of spotting an opportunity to acquire a couple of M16 assault rifles.

3 hours ago, wgdanson said:

Sorry to sound thick, but can anyone tell me what Linux can do which Windows 10 doesn't, please. And vice versa.

It's more a case of what Linux doesn't do.

It doesn't crash and burn and it doesn't get infected, it just works.  I use both Linux and Windows, my work laptops run Windows because I have software that only runs and is supported on Windows. My desktop and the children's desktop both run Linux. Having initially set the children up with Windows, after the second issue with viruses brought back with USB sticks from school, I dumped Windows for Linux - no problems since. They can't break it and it does all they need.

The Grim Reaper should have claimed Mad Bob decades ago.

"Top 10 ways to avoid Dengue Fever"

There's only one way, don't get bitten.

A Brummie and proud of it.

12 hours ago, janclaes47 said:

How long ago you bought it?

If everything's still working, probably last week.

Grab has annoyed the hell out of me. Problem in rush hour Bangkok is the buggers cancel on you, it takes you ages to get a Grab cab, you stand there watching the little taxi creeping slowly toward you, then when he's almost there he cancels; either didn't like the traffic ahead or most likely got a better option come up.

They all want you to give them 5 stars, but where's the option to give the guy who pulls the plug on you ZERO stars?!  Once they add that as an option I'll might start using Grab again.

58 minutes ago, Baerboxer said:

 

Eric, less than half felt they were not better off. You do realize less than half isn't the majority don't you?

Did you bother reading the article?

"47.68 percent of the respondents said they felt they were as happy as they used to be they didn’t see anything changes for the better to their livelihood, saying that the economic situation remains unchanged but the cost of living is still high.

30.64 percent of the respondents, however, said they were less happy because of the rising cost of living, restriction of freedom and liberty as well as inefficient law enforcement and law amendments which do not address problems at their root causes.

21.20 percent of the respondents said they were much happier under the current government because of improvement in peace and order, less corruption and several populist schemes for the grassroots people."

So in total 78.32% of those polled said life was no better or in fact worse than it was before the Junta took over.

16 hours ago, mrfill said:

Once the protagonists discover that they can more money with peace it will stop immediately

Well that's part of the problem. Many of the people with the guns are making full use of the opportunity it allows them to control the smuggling routes; drugs, human trafficking, fuel, alcohol, cigarettes - plenty of money to be made.

As for the locals they see nothing, there's no investment in the south, there are few jobs and you have to lock and bar your doors after dark. That's why Hat Yai has seen such an influx of what are basically refugees from the troubles, both Buddhist and Muslims.