Chang_paarp

They should have tripped him up and got the blonde to sit on him.

The boss says no. http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Prayut-rejects-proposal-to-ban-alcohol-sale-during-30249444.html

The inevitable kick-back against this has started. I am surprised that it took this long/ http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/alcohol-beverages-ban-triggers-outcry

The fun police are at it again. http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/446965/drinking-ban-sought-for-new-year-songkran Looks like the annual "Lets stop selling booze at the most popular time" folk are at it again. Next we will hear from the tourist folk saying how it will affect the tourist arrivals. New Year AND Songkran, that will go down well, the cops will be needing something to fill out their pockets so if it goes ahead they will be kind of happy. Do you think the locals will take any notice? I think not, especially in baan nork.

A great old one, have not seen the full version for years. It still makes me smile. Thanks for posting it.

The Russians need over $100/barrel to balance their budget, the current price is about $76, so they are in trouble.

I know most here want to eat our all the time but it is not always practical. All these ingredients are readily available in Thailand for the expats. Here is a very simple recipe for Ratatouille, the link has an instructional video for the culinary challenged. The only variation to the printed recipe I do, is to use passata (ask you friendly Italians) for what is described as tomato juice and I rinse the passata bottle out with some red wine and deglaze the smaller pan at the end the initial stage with that mixture before adding it all to the pot for cooking. It freezes well as the rec

I use ANZ in Oz (post #6), that is why I recommend taking cash overseas and exchange in any country but Oz. I see ANZ are no better in NZ.

As MM is showing even the banks will give a better rate for larger amounts. The exchange booths have even more leeway to negotiate on larger amounts, so if you are spending a day or so in Pattaya or BKK before going to visit the relatives, the stay in either city will be paid for or heavily subsidised by the better ex rate. Don't be afraid to negotiate, tell the Mrs she can bargain for the best rate. In Pattaya I recommend Gold bank in Soi Rungland, don't have a BKK place for exchange. (Hint; they like newish $100 bills)

Tell the bank to send US$, they are not to do the exchange, the local (Thai) banks give a better rate. They are taking the piss for the transfer. The fees are too high and the exchange rate is uncompetitive. I am guessing they are charging for the currency exchange and again for the swift transfer, they must have learned from the Aussie banks (the most profitable in the world due to BS fees). This is almost 10% they are trying to take from you. Looks like you will be taking cash if they keep that attitude up. 10K is only 100x $100 notes fits comfortably in your shirt pocket or wife's handb

I hope that is a representation of the food available on 27th, possibly pics from last year. If it is the same food to be presented on the day I hope TR has a big freezer and no power outages between now and then.

When transferring money from bank to bank you should usually pay one set of swift fees, this varies a little from about $30 to $15 usually depending on the bank and whether you use internet banking or speak to a real person. Some US banks have to use several banks to get to Thailand and as such charge for that so check how they get their fees. A swift transfer is usually the quickest and easiest. The best way I have found is to use internet banking. If you do not have it already set it up before you leave and then open an account in LOS and transfer the money to yourself (or wife) then give th

Looks cleaner and better organised that the zoos I have been to in Thailand. Thanks for the pics.

Didn't Bert open a new place on the darkside?

Cheese can be made in Thailand, but, dairy cattle tend to like a cooler climate than is common in most of Thailand. Green feed such as grass is important to them. Cheeses made from other animals such as goats sheep and even camels are not as common. There is a goat farm on the dark side that makes cheese but the costs involved makes it quite expensive. Beef cattle can and do thrive in warmer climates, and there is a push throughout Asia to increase the heard numbers and quality of beef cattle to improve the availability of meat protein to that population, much to the chagrin of the live c

does anyone have the URL of a web cam up or down these roads so those of us who can't be there can enjoy the chaos that will inevitably ensue?

In response to the OP, the best way to respond to the hakka is to turn your back as a team and go into a huddle and ignore them. The concept of the intimidation of the "cultural" dance is best ignored, the sooner that more teams get this the sooner it will go the way of the dodo.

A couple of things you have missed in your costing, the set-up costs of creating a venue, this includes key-money (a rip-off but sometimes a factor of doing business in some locations), the cost fit-out kitchen, décor, tables, seats, cutlery, in other words the initial investment to open the doors, these costs have to recouped through business activity. You have also missed the ongoing costs of wastage, breakages, electricity and cleaning due to smokers (air con filters) and to a lesser extent non smokers. Another aspect that is hard to value is the experience and ambience of a venue, thi

Yes mate, it can also be entertaining catching the BTS around Nana near shift start time too.

Would this encourage you take the train more often? I am sure it would help encourage some to climb the stairs.

Gee that is a shame, such a fine upstanding member of the Pattaya community. He only seemed to have the misfortune to pick the wrong mug.

Could not agree more! Good steak can be prepared as Tartar or cooked (never more than medium), it has taste and texture. It is all about quality along the supply chain from farm, through butchering (don't get me started about Thai "butchering") and cooking. Drowning steak in a sauce usually detracts from the flavour of the meat, many sauces are not cooked correctly to start with and then over seasoned. A good sauce can compliment the meat but it is an act of trust to get it over the meat coming from the kitchen in a place you do not know. BTW thanks for the ongoing updates fo this p

A bit of irreverent humour. Don't take it too seriously.

The Big Sleep "Tell 'im 'e's dreaming."

Yes it was Monty Python, but from the Holy Grail