smotherb

Just now, simoh1490 said:

In this case, you probably don't understand the market in Thailand for Pharmaceuticals.

or perhaps you do not understand math

4 hours ago, simoh1490 said:

If you make something of a hobby out of it you will find you can slash the cost of your medication by several hundred percent, it takes time however to find those places and to feel comfortable buying in some of them. I started off, like many foreigners, getting my meds. from a private hospital. I then moved to the chain drug stores and eventually to fasciono's which I thought was cheap. But then I found a one off pharmacy near the hospital whose prices put fasciono's to shame. Then I found an even cheaper place and most recently I discovered a delightful rural pharmacy not far from home that is the cheapest ever. Conservatively speaking I estimate I have reduced my pharmacy costs from around 5k a month to under 2k AND I may yet still be able to go even lower! Examples: Methycobal was 335 baht a box, currently paying 180 baht. Was buying Crestor 10mg, then moved to generic, then moved to a Slovenian generic, then onto 20mg slovenian generic and a pill cutter - huge savings.

I'd be leery of advice which suggests slashing prices by several hundred percent.

6 hours ago, lopburi3 said:

Totally false stats I suspect.  Previously there were a lot more border crossings for new arrivals than there is now (where people are being forced to use real visas for long stays - and even a visa exempt entry can last 2 months now).

Careful, your denial bias is showing. The UK government sources appear to be Brit embassy and consulate data for reported Brit deaths, hospitalizations, rape charges, other sexual offenses, drug charges, and sundry arrests and conviction stats all around the world. It’s the TV sources that may rely on Thai entry-exit data.

7 minutes ago, InTransit said:

So all Brits have cockney accents? I think you'll find that a cockney accent derives from Londoners of English decent. And what do you expect spending your time hanging around up market places like Soi 4? Hardly the venue of choice if you are looking for a sophisticated night out is it.

From this report it doesn't appear you would likely encounter any Brits on a sophisticated night out.

2 hours ago, smotherb said:

That's because of all the guns in the US

Careful, your denial bias is showing. The UK government sources appear to be Brit embassy and consulate data for reported Brit deaths, hospitalizations, rape charges, other sexual offenses, and sundry arrests and conviction stats all around the world. It’s the TV sources that may rely on Thai entry-exit data.

53 minutes ago, Dustdevil said:

Wow, a small fraction of the number of Brits visiting the U.S. but triple the number of deaths.

That's because of all the guns in the US

3 hours ago, lopburi3 said:

Totally false stats I suspect.  Previously there were a lot more border crossings for new arrivals than there is now (where people are being forced to use real visas for long stays - and even a visa exempt entry can last 2 months now).

Well, they are UK government stats, but being Brits; they may be behaving worse too.

You can also return and go to Penang or any other Thai consulate and re-apply for the non-O and do a new extension.

34 minutes ago, Acharn said:

Ah, my bad. You're right. I was reading carelessly. I thought since he was posting here he planned to come here, but I guess he just figured he would be more likely to find knowledgeable people here.

 

I've never been to Cambodia. When I was younger I hoped to visit Angkor Wat, but don't think that's going to happen. I didn't realize the ATMs there dispense dollars.

No problem. Cambodia is worth the trip and not just for Angor Wat--you can actually get good beef, wines, spirits, cheeses, bread, and coffee very cheaply and there is little to no hassle for the visa.

4 hours ago, Bikeman93 said:

Yep, collect the $1 bills for a night out coz giving change is not their strong suit, and you can be sure your GF has no change.

This is why its best to bring at least some of your home currency to change a bit here and there straight into riel, 20,000 ($5) is my preference.

My home currency is USD and I get plenty of riels in change, so many that I invariably have them left-over when I leave--not sure where you are going.

3 hours ago, PeterA said:

I went to Siem Reap Cambodia last year. At customs, for a entry stamp, was the only place I used the local money. Everyone else wanted crisp, perfect USD. No torn, folded or less than perfect USD. Most things like shirts, hats, misc. was $5. Funny how everything seemed to be $5. Hotels took credit cards. Most restaurants did not.

I found more things one dollar than five dollars--a beer in a girlie bar, $1; a beer and a baguette sandwich, $1; a fine for not wearing your helmet, not having a Cambodian license and having your lights on in the daytime, $1. $5 bought a bottle of wine.

13 hours ago, Sheryl said:

The problem with withdrawing from ATMs is that you will run into ATM fees, I think about $4-$5 per transaction. . Also, if you travel off the beaten track, may have trouble finding one (not an issue if you stick to cities). And, the ATMs tend to dispense large bills which can be inconvenient/hard to change.

 

On the other hand you do not want to be travelling around Cambodia with large amounts of cash.

Some banks reimburse ATM fees. Having the cash available when traveling off the beaten path has always been a travelers problem--I prefer carrying enough cash

1 hour ago, madusa said:

 

OH, thank you transam, if that is the case I had suck fish head way back in 1991 when I crossed the border from Malaysia to Golok on way to Hatyai, I forgot to stamp my passport , I was sleeping in the bus when everyone was getting off the bus to stamp their passports. It was my unlucky day, the immigration police refused my bribe (I was flabbergasted) he refused my money (can't believe it).

So they put me in the Narathiwat police lockup because I was arrested near there during the immigration road block near that area. 2 nights in the lock up because I was arrested on Saturday no court case on Sunday until Monday I was taken to see the Magistrate. That Fish head dinner was expensive, 2,000 baht.

Police lockup have no bed no mattress, just sleep on the cement floor and use my luggage as a pillow. It wasn't a prison, it was a district police jail.

Gee, I bet next time you wake up and do the border dance.

6 hours ago, crystal sauce said:

According to the measure of global job change, an individual is able to change his job three times in his life.

I had three different jobs by the time I was 12. I cannot count the number of jobs I had in over50 years of working. So, you must forgive me when I ask you to cite your sources.

According to the International Labor Organization only about 25% of the workers worldwide have permanent long-term jobs.

" . . . The World Employment and Social Outlook 2015 (WESO)   finds that, among countries with available data (covering 84 per cent of the global workforce), three quarters of workers are employed on temporary or short-term contracts, in informal jobs often without any contract, under own-account arrangements or in unpaid family jobs . . . Globally over 60 per cent of all workers lack any kind of employment contract, with most of them engaged in own-account or contributing family work in the developing world. However, even among wage and salaried workers, less than half (42 per cent) are working on a permanent contract . . . ".

http://www.ilo.org/global/about-the-ilo/newsroom/news/WCMS_368252/lang--en/index.htm

5 hours ago, rkidlad said:

'Huay Kwang police said she was tested for alcohol and was over the limit though they would not report by how much'

We'll have to see how much money is forthcoming before that's disclosed.

 

She has clearly learnt nothing from her first ordeal. Not even decency prevailed to stop her drink driving again. She's an abhorrent oxygen thief who makes this world worse. 

 

Go easy on her, it may be hereditary; she is Thai and Brit

Shop houses are common throughout Southeast Asia and a traditional building form among the overseas Chinese. The shop house conserves land, is used as a dual-purpose business and home, and as often seen a garage or communal space downstairs which can be easily converted to a business site when the space is emptied.

4 hours ago, BaiLao said:

Executive summary? Twaddle. Summary execution, more like it - if one can't enjoy old Rooster59...

wow, what a novel creature you are, you advocate the execution of someone who disagrees with you

1 hour ago, giddyup said:

No. It was dark, she had no lights and she's on the wrong side of the road, don't know how more wrong she could be.

It was dawn, lights are not enforced on bicycles, and neither is being on the wrong side of the road; you are not in Kansas Dorothy

12 hours ago, giddyup said:

You didn't notice that it was dark and she had no lights?

You didn't even notice you are not in a nanny state?

On 5/18/2017 at 5:45 PM, giddyup said:

I suppose we're expected to have eyes in the back of our heads as well? Is the falang ever in the right?

looking to he left does not required eyes in the back of your head

11 minutes ago, AjarnMartin said:

Executive Summary, my hat! I always find Rooster59's weekly digest an enjoyable read which is well written, humorous and insightful. It also acts as a brilliant executive summary because it negates the necessity to read all the other drivel which is made available for and by the poorly read and generally illiterate audience.

 

As an ex-hotmetal, print compositor (a WHAT???) one can forgive the odd literal... 'SEEM THAT COMING' but I question the spelling of 'sabre' without being aware of an alternative, 'saber' spelling.

 

Keep them coming, Rooster59... ?

well, ajarn, although I appreciate your opinion; you will have to forgive me if I am not as impressed as you.

You need an executive summary

36 minutes ago, swissie said:

Turn it around. Every Farang wanting to Bar Fine a Lady would have to present a certificate, indicating he is STD free. A certificate older than 3 days would be void.

It could have some beneficial effects. Farangs would have to spend their days in clinics, awaiting a new "clean bill of health". The clinics would thrive and the Farangs would not have time for Day-Time-Drinking-Sessions.

But there is a fly in the ointment. The "Ladies" on Beach-Road are not much into "Paperwork". So I was told.
Cheers. 

Used to love it in Vietnam and in the PI--all the sex workers had to be tested. Had a buddy who had a little bar just across the street from the Balibago STD checkpoint--had a great time catching the girls as they exited with a clean slate.

8 hours ago, sharktooth said:

I saw a documentary about prostitution in Germany. Because it is legal, they were sending unemployed women for job interviews in brothels. Mothers, wives and everything. Don't take the job, we stop your money. Figure that wan oot.

Figure what out? It is a job. If you want a job, there it is. Remember; it is not illegal and their is little social stigma.