Eneukman

I'll look forward to seeing this on tv at some point in the future. Sounds as though she got what she deserved. She obviously wasn't told the story of the tortise and the hare when she was a kid. Alan

I remember seeing that when it first came out. Just remembering the script would have been quite hard, even for someone as professional as he was. Alan

Is the new airport going to handle domestic flights as well as international flights? I reckon I'll be making a fair bit of use of the domestic terminal over the next year or two, though I'll try to avoid flying in or out immediately after it becomes operational, whenever that may be. Alan

I've seen the odd quad on the streets of Pattaya and they certainly seem safer than motorbikes though I'll pass on driving any sort of vehicle here. Alan

I know nothing about prices, but the guy who runs the new place on North Pattaya Road was at the Ex-Pats Club yesterday. He's a former Mr. Universe (2004) and indicated that he's really looking for family groups. He also said that he's going to close the membership list once it reaches a certain level. He mentioned a price, which from what I recall was not cheap. Alan

Didn't vote either as neither option applied. I used to fly BA for a couple of reasons. First, there are plenty of connecting flights to Heathrow from Edinburgh and secondly as a (former) shareholder I got a 10% discount on the cost of the flights. Some people hate Heathrow but I quite like it. It's easy to go from Terminl 1 to Terminal 4 and vice versa. I'm close to getting a bonus on my miles (principally, I think from flying 1st class with them last year) but I'll need to make some more enquiries to see how I can take advantage of this from Thailand. Alan

As I now live here, my intention is to buy clothes I need from the local shops along Jomtien Beach Road - Hawaii shirt for 150/200 baht. t-shirt for much the same. Granted the quality may not be the same but if I can get a quarter the amount of wear from them that I would get from something costing 6 times as much, I'm happy. Also, because of the heat, I tend to go for looser fitting clothes. The Tuesday/Friday market is on Soi Buakao. It's quite close to the junction with South Pattaya Road. It's a while since I've been there but t-shirts etc were available for 150 baht or so. I would normally try to barter but bot worth it at that price unless I was buying a few. Alan

I haven't heard any mention that Cheny had been drinking before the incident. Like driving, alcohol and shooting simply don't go together. Having said that, one single beer shouldn't have affected his judgement. As I said before I don't have a problem with shooting for sport IF the animals killed pass into the food chain. As for dining on the type of game that has just been shot, it is obviously impractical for birds shot that day to be served up for lunch or dinner an hour or two later. Alan

I should be totally amazed by the attitude of many Americans to this "accident" but because it's America, I aint. Grouse shooting takes place in Scotland from 14th August each year and if an incident like this had happened there, there would have been a major police investigation into what went wrong and why appropriate safety precautions weren't taken - i.e. How the hell was the guy who was shot allowed to get in the way in the first place? or Why was the vice-president shooting in the direction of his fellow shooters? Questions have to be answered and answered honestly (hard in Cheney's case being a politician!!!!) One other question. What happens to the birds that were shot? Do they end up on the dinner table of a fancy restauarant (or the ranch owner's freezer)? Or are the carcases just dumped? I don't have a problem with hunting for food (unless it's endangered species) but I do strongly object to killing PURELY for sport. I accept that in some cases a cull may be necessary to stop animals from starving due to overpopulation and the lack of natural predators or where there are health risks e.g. from bird flu. Alan

London to Bangkok is about 10 1/2 hours in the air and nearer 12 hours the other way. Alan

The new airport is closer to Pattaya than the old one. Not sure about travel time but maybe around 1 1/4 hours or so? According to latest reports from Khun Thaksin, the new airport will be operational from the latter half of June. Alan

You can't buy alcohol in supermarkets (at least not Family Mart where one guy saved my blushes by going to the fridge containing alcohol just before me). I passed a few beer bars in a baht bus this afternoon and the ones that were open were freely selling alcohol - either that or they were selling lemonade disguised as alcohol. Got my usual beer with my dinner though. Alan

According to the latest Pattaya Mail, there is a plan put waste water through extra treatment processess and then return it to the public supply. Hmmm - so you could in theory be taking a shower in your own piss! http://www.pattayamail.com/current/news.shtml#hd2 "City looks at treating wastewater to help ease possible water shortages Ariyawat Nuamsawat City administrators are investigating the possibility of re-treating wastewater as one way to help ease any possible water shortages in the future. The goal, they say, is to produce an additional 30,000 cubic meters of water per day. Water used for the project would come from the existing wastewater treatment plant, which would be re-treated using a sophisticated treatment process that would turn it into good quality, clean tap water. Pattaya City Engineering Director Sittiparp Muangkhum met with the Term Engineering Co., Ltd. last week at city hall to listen to their proposal to manage Pattaya’s wastewater treatment system plant. Tulyatep Uawithya, assistant managing director, who came to the meeting with a team of company directors, said that Term Engineering would invest in the construction of the water treatment plant, but that this would not include water feeds and distribution. He said that his company would be able to use direct sand filter processes to treat wastewater that has already gone through the treatment process, to eradicate microbes and other tiny matter. An ozone feed would also be used, as this is highly efficient in destroying disease-causing germs. Tulyatep went on to say that a lab would be constructed to check water quality. The responsibilities of the company would be limited to the construction of the water treatment plant system, he said, and it would be the responsibility of the city to purchase water from the treatment plant for distribution and sale. The plant would take one year to construct, and Tulyatep proposed that contract would initially be for 15 years, extendable for two more five year periods. Term Engineering Co., Ltd. will provide more details and management plans at the next meeting." Alan

I assume that you still have to be connected to the internet to use the phone? I only have dial up in my condo. Broadband is available but until I've made up my mind where I really want to stay, I haven't done anything about installing it yet. I've just signed up for Skpe so far have only made one phone call to my brother in Scotland. A good clear line though we were disconnected once. A half hour call cost me 36p. Alan

I was on the phone to my brother yesterday afternoon and the post had just arrived. Out of 6 or so letters, one was for me and at least 3 or 4 of the others were for next door or two doors down. Now, he stays in a small town where the neighbours do generally know each other so there's no problem there. Nevertheless, an appalling percentage of letters wrongly delivered! Alan

According to a report in the Pattaya Mail, http://www.pattayamail.com/current/news.shtml#hd2, there will be repeat of last year's water shortages which saw many places getting daily deliveries of water by tanker. "Ariyawat Nuamsawat No water supply problems are anticipated this summer, with the completion of East Water’s water feed system from the Bang Pakong River to Bang Phra Reservoir, which has already started to ease the supply shortages in the Eastern region of the country. Other plans are also operational, with a second pipeline between Bang Pakong and Chonburi due for completion in 2007. Wanchai Lawatanatrakul, president of Eastern Water Resources Development and Management Plc, or East Water, said the company commenced laying the Bang Pakong - Bang Phra water pipes along the 53-kilometer route in August to supply water to Chonburi and Laem Chabang from the Bang Pakong River. Under the project water pumps have been installed at the Nakhorn Nuang Kaet Canal in Chachiangsao Province to feed water at times when the Bang Pakong River is turbulent. The project has been operable since the middle of January and is able to supply 10,000 cubic meters of water per day. “For the long-term the Royal Irrigation Department is planning connecting other water supplies, such as a second pipe feed from Bang Pakong to Chonburi for completion in 2007 as a direct feed to the Bang Phra Reservoir and water at the Wang Tonok Canal in Chanthaburi. The projects will create assurances for the public, industry operators and long-term investors,” said Wanchai. Wanchai added that for water management, East Water has held discussions with the Industry Organization of Thailand, the Royal Irrigation Department and the Regional Water Supply Department to estimate demands as future industry growth is anticipated in the region as well as the Suvarnabhumi Airport area. The latest SCADA technology is being implemented to monitor the water situation and supply, as well as reserve supplies from East Water allies, the development of water supplies in the area and water consumption surveys to seek other local water supplies in the future." We shall see. Alan

Good point, Chivas. I have high blood pressure though it's fully under control thanks to the pills I take. However, I would not be covered if I were to have a stroke or something else allied to high blood pressure. I'd better keep taking the pills. Alan

Never been asked for this myself, but I don't see any problems in giving the agents what they want. Hotels/condos etc lose money when people don't turn up and don't let them know that they're going elsewhere. Alan

I used my hotel address when I opened my account in November 2004. By the way, you wouldn't believe the form I had to fill in to change my address!!!! Suppose it keeps someone in a job. Alan

I'm pretty certain that Nationwide lowered the daily withdrawal limit to £300 some time ago - though I could well be wrong. Alan

I asked about this in my local branch just before I moved out here last year and was told that Thailand was one of the countries they wouldn't post cards to. They might be willing to have a duplicate card couriered out to you though no doubt at your exzpense! Alan

I would never go on the back of a motorbike in Pattaya. It's just too damned dangerous with everybody only looking out for themselves and even not even that at times. What really gets to me is that some of the worst offenders are farangs on the bigger, more powerful machines. A word of warning though. The Police seem to be having a crackdown on motorbike safety just now as in the last few days, I've seen several people being pulled over for some offence such as not wearing a crash helmet etc. Just this afternon, no fewer than 3 people were being "processed" at the junction of South Pattaya Road and 2nd Road. Alan

I did the same at the Pratamnak Road branch in Pattaya (the extension of 2nd Road heading towards Jomtien) though I had to wait a week to get my card. I tend to use an ATM operated by Siam Commercial Bank and get charged 20 (or sometimes 23) baht. No other fees and no charge if I use the ATM outside the branch though as it would cost me 20 baht to go there and back I just go for the convenience of a nearby ATM. Anyone know of the nearest Bangkok Bank ATM to View Talay 2? Alan

Slightly off topic but worth mentioning here. Until the last quarter of last year, you could import ONE shipment of personal effects free of duty if you had a retirement visa. That has now changed to a work permit (and maybe some other types of visa?). At today's meeting of the Pattaya Ex-Pats Club, one member said that he had just had a 2nd shipment sent out from Norway to Thailand - mainly CD's and books and Customs wanted to know how many books and CD's were in each case. They also wanted to know the names of the artists on the CDs. I brought all my camera equipment in to Thailand over 2 flights though my tripod was shipped over. Owen's suggestion is a good idea - IF you can get someone to store it for you or you can find a company to store it for you for a nominal fee. Alan

I came out in mid June last year and as far as I can recall it was hot (surprise, surprise ). There was some rain in the evening but nothing really drastic. A drink in a bar in Soi 7 saw one shower out. A good time to come as it's a bit quieter than late December, early January. September was OK last year though the rains started late and finished late. Alan