Chiang Mai Chitchat Chiang Mai Chitchat A collection of vague ramblings from a 'Geordie' expat ensconced in the northern hills of Thailand who has nothing better to do with his time. If these cause offence to delicate dispositions it's not my intention, get over it, life is too short.
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Articles
Iran ? l?p ??t xong 3.000 my ly tm
2007-11-08 04:14:00 H N?i (TTXVN) - Ngy 7/11, Top Charoen Optical, T?ng th?ng Iran Mahmoud Amadinejad tuyn b? n??c ny ? ??t m?c tiu l?p ??t xong 3.000 my ly tm trong ch??ng trnh lm giu urani.Trong tuyn b? cng ngy, ng c?ng ti kh?ng ??nh ch??ng trnh h?t nhn c?a Iran l khng th? thay ??i b?t ch?p s?c p c?a c?ng ??ng qu?c t?.Pht bi?u tr??c m?t cu?c mt tinh t?i thnh ph? Birjand ? ?ng B?c Iran, T?ng th?ng Amadinejad nh?n m?nh Iran ? b??c vo giai ?o?n s?n xu?t n?ng l??ng h?t nhn ? quy m cng nghi?p. Theo cc nh khoa h?c, trong nh?ng ?i?u ki?n l t??ng, 3.000 my ly tm c th? s?n xu?t ?? l??ng urani lm giu m?c ?? cao trong th?i gian m?t n?m ?? c th? ch? t?o m?t qu? bom nguyn t?./.
Ng??i Vi?t pht minh h? th?ng chi?u sng t? ??ng cho t
2007-08-24 17:15:00 H N?i (TTXVN) - Gio s? ng??i Vi?t Tr?n Qu?c Khnh, Tr??ng khoa chuyn ngnh k? thu?t chi?u sng thu?c tr??ng ??i h?c k? thu?t TU Darmstadt (??c), ? pht minh ra h? th?ng chi?u sng t? ??ng cho t.H? th?ng k? thu?t chi?u sng (LED) m?i c?a Gio s? Khnh ???c g?n v?i m?t my "camera thng minh" cng v?i nh?ng thi?t b? c?m ?ng nh?y c?m, ho?t ??ng theo ch? ?? hon ton t? ??ng, t? ?i?u ti?t nh sng ??i v?i cc ??i t??ng trn ???ng, gip ng??i li xe khng c?n ph?i ?i?u ch?nh m?t cch th? cng cc c?p ?? sng t?i c?a ?n.Gio s? Khnh cho bi?t, cng trnh khoa h?c c?a ng ? ???c th? nghi?m thnh cng trong th?c t? v mu?n nh?t t?i n?m 2009 s? ???c s?n xu?t hng lo?t v?i m?c ?ch th??ng m?i.ng Tr?n Qu?c Khnh l chuyn gia nghin c?u ngnh ch? t?o my. ng ? b?o v? b?ng ti?n s? t?i ??i h?c Ilmenau, sau ? lm vi?c 17 n?m trong ngnh cng nghi?p trn c??ng v? l nh k? thu?t nh sng, sau ? chuy?n sang cng tc t?i ??i h?c Darmstadt.Gio s? Khnh c?ng ? pht tri?n m?t my chi?u p...
She Means Well
2007-06-05 00:32:00 Having persuaded my ex caddie, Neu Lek, to spring into action and clean my house twice a week, the jury is still out on whether it was a smart move or not. E.g., she still hasn't quite got the knack of the vacuum cleaner. She handle's it like I handle my 3-wood, with about the same sense of direction. The washing machine would be, by now, redundant if I hadn't persisted with the in-house training. Even now it receives some disparaging looks when she runs into difficulties. Machines fault of course! She means well.The ball-cock on the water tank failed the other day and, as it does, the water, spilled over the top. Quick as flash she tripped the electric supply to the house thinking that this would alleviate the problem (the water fills the tank via mains pressure). The only effect it had was to send my unsaved Word docs into the ether never to be seen again. She means well. Nong Gan-Neu Lek's boy (my reading glasses) The Written WordPopped into the Chiang Mai Forum and it seems ... More About: Well
I have a Dream - Part 1
2007-05-26 02:13:00 I have a dream that one day I'll walk past an Indian tailors and no one will speak to me. I have a dream.I have a dream that all the dogs down my street will contract a severe case of canine laryngitis, I have a dream.I have a dream there will come a time when I have all the right paperwork first time when dealing with Thai governmental agencies, I have a dream.I have a dream that someone will realise that 'Red' means 'Go' at the traffic lights and change the order accordingly, I have a dream.I have a dream when I have visitors from UK they don't want to go to Doi Suthep, I have a dream.I have a dream that when my friends and I order a meal we get the dishes at the same time and the starters first not last, I have a dream.I have a dream that one day on the golf course my caddie will get her 'left' and 'right' sorted out when lining up my putt, I have a dream.I have a dream of driving on the finished Super Highway, I have a dream.I have a dream that UBC TV satellite signal ... More About: Dream , Part , I have a dream
Rain, rain and more #*$%#* rain!
2007-05-15 10:35:00 Seems someone considered we didn't get enough water during Songkran and decided to add some more. And it's not officially the rainy season yet! Maybe there is something in this rain-making hoo-ha after all. Will there be any respite from these downpours before we are hit by the 'official' rain, I ask myself. Or will they merge and cause yet another chaotic flooding situation that is ominously becoming the norm. Although last year wasn't quite as bad as the previous year when Chiang Mai was hit on three occasions by torrential downpours, flash floods and inept crisis handling by the powers that be. Dog's best friend? Sometimes it just doesn't seem fair?Joined the band of hopefulls at the Olde Bell quiz last night, exposed my lack of general knowledge for the whole world to titter at. Not alone, I was in good company in the shape of Harry, fresh up from Pattaya and oozing with confidence. I suppose someone had to be last! Didn't go a great bundle on the Quiz Master, Mine Host ... More About: Rain , More
Simon
2007-05-04 12:15:00 My young nephew, Simon , was killed yesterday in Afghanistan. He was only 22 years old and had been out there for one week.He was a favourite of my mother who, before she died in March, told me how terrified she would be if he were posted to Iraq or Afghanistan. During my last visit to UK, Simon and I had a few beers together and discussed his plans to join the army and he asked my opinion. I told him if that was what he really wanted he should do it and not be put off by others.He loved my mother very much and would do anything for her. I felt he had replaced me as the son she never saw enough. To his mother, my sister Maureen, my heart goes out, God give her the strength she will surely need.Simon will be buried next to his Gran, may they both rest in peace.Top
The Aftermath
2007-04-23 13:59:00 So how did we do? Well, we did ok. We only killed 361 people over the Songkran festival and injured 4,805 in 4274 road accidents. That was 77 more accidents than last year but that's ok 'cause we killed 14 people less!! So woopee the government campaign to reduce the casualties during Songkran Festival really did work, didn't it??But not to worry the government will review this year's performance and evaluate the measures for better protection plan in the future to further reduce the number of accidents and casualties as much as possible. Can't wait.Depending upon who's statistics you believe, it would seem that Chiang Mai did improve slightly we dropped to 3rd place this year by only killing 13 compared with 17 the previous year. Deepest sympathy to the families, most of them were young people.How about this quote from The Nation; "Officials are manning 3,251 checkpoints across the country in a bid to enforce traffic laws and enhance road safety.Checks on 1,819,299 vehicles s... More About: Math , After , Erma , The A , Term
On The Move
2007-04-06 14:06:00 The 'Dukes' restaurant is opening a new outlet near to McDonalds in the Night Market; True Blue is no more, John, the proprietor, having gone back to UK, Ian the Queen Vic's boss, is said to have an interest in the place, although the owner is quoted as saying he will not allow it to be opened as a pub or restaurant. The Sheraton is now the Holiday Inn. Rimping Supermarket has closed the Chotna branch and opened a super new store near to the airport. (Nim City Daily Branch) JJ''s Bakery once tagged onto the end of Rimping Supermarket (Nawarat Branch) has closed and S&P restaurant have stepped in. (Click here for large City map of Rimping's Store locations - click on button at bottom right to enlarge)The extension to the airport is complete and the new international terminals are up and running. Hopefully in better condition than it's big brother at Bangkok. And many more, too many to mention, have either shut or newly opened.Talk about a place on the move!In Print Popped into... More About: Move
Water, Water, Everywhere!
2007-04-03 02:44:00 Poi Sang Long Festival A very colorful celebration begins this week, the yearly and colorful Poi Sang Long festival in Chiang Mai and surrounding provinces begins this week. The festival marks the time when Burmese-Thai, Thai Yai and Shan State residents gather for a three-day ordination party for their young boys. Before becoming novice monks, the boys have their heads shaved by family members then are dressed to resemble princes of the past with intricate headdresses and bright silk clothes. During the three days of festivities it is said that the boys cannot touch the ground with their feet, so the future novices spend most of their time on the shoulders of relatives and friends.The largest and most colorful festivities occur in Mae Hong Song but if you don?t want to travel that far below is a list of places and dates scheduled to hold Poi Sang Long:Chiang Mai at Wat Papao, April 4-6; Mae Tang district, 1-5 April, Wat Tiyasatharn Wiang Haeng district, 31 March ? 2 April, Wat Kon... More About: Water , Everywhere , Here , Ever , Where
Nong Hoi - Part 2
2007-03-24 10:42:00 Continuing on from Part 1 here are a few more of the colourful characters I have dealings with in this busy Chiang Mai suburb:Car WashThe boys across the road at the car wash are an industrious bunch. Never seem to stop working and never stop smiling. I rewarded my Suzuki with a wash and brush-up yesterday for her valiant effort of lugging my portly frame up Doi Inthanon. I leave her in the capable hand of Khun Dex and in 30 minutes she's back to her old radiant self. It's Baht 6o I don't mind spending every week. Who says I'm tight-fisted! And, I have the inside cleaned every year whether she needs it or not. Can't do enough for the old lady.PharmacyMy local Apothecary, Khun Pranee, is a little treasure. If she can't fix me up with my medicinal needs she sweet-talks me to the extent that I forget what I came in for and leave a fitter and healthier person. Doesn't take much these days to inflate the old ego. When she talks about such things as betamethasone dipropionateit or ...
Many Thanks
2007-03-19 11:29:00 Would like to thank all of the caring people who expressed condolences over the death of my mother. Your kind thoughts were very much appreciated. More About: Thanks , Hank
Winnie's Lament
2007-03-03 02:11:00 My mother passed away this week unexpectedly. She was into her 91st year and was taken into hospital for a small operation and unfortunately took a turn for the worst and lapsed into unconsciousness and died peacefully.An Irish colleen from Killybegs, Co. Donegal in Ireland, who came over during the war and helped the effort working in an aircraft factory together with her sister Christine near Weybridge in Surry. She moved up to the Northeast of England after the war with my dad, Bob and suffered the hardships of a miners wife in the small colliery village of Dudley in Northumberland.She raised me and my two younger sisters, Kathleen and Maureen amid the cobbled streets and corner shops of this poor pit village never allowing us to want for food or the clothes to keep us warm during the long hard winter days and nights. And if we did want a little extra she magically pulled a penny or two from her apron pocket and with a wink pressed it into our ungrateful hands and declared, "That... More About: Men , Lament , Lame , Amen
Time Gentlemen Please!
2007-02-25 00:12:00 I hear time-out was called on one of our colonial friends in The Olde Bell, down Loi Kroi Road, last week, after only one round! The Olde BellFollowing a misunderstanding over the bill, things got a little heated. Obviously the antagonist wasn't aware of the reputation of Mine Host, Khun Pedr, who being a Millwall fan and a Welsh rugby supporter to boot, was well within his depth when grabbing a kangaroo by its tail and showing him the door. Millwall Fan - would you mess with him?Although I did also hear that Mine Hostess, Khun Beer, was herself in the thick of it, aiding and abetting her loving spouse. Both of them are heading east tomorrow no doubt to brush-up on their Muay Thai boxing skills and then off to UK for a well earned rest. Wish them both Bon Voyage. Doi InthanonMe and my trusty steed made it to the top of the world last week when we gritted our teeth and girded our crankshafts and recklessly charged up the unknown. My first trip up the mountain and I enjoyed every me... More About: Time , Men , Please , Lease , Ease
Nowhere Man
2007-02-19 11:33:00 Was having a quiet drink the other night in a local downtown Chiang Mai pub with a friend, talking about this and that but mainly the other. In the background local songsters were playing their own rendering of the Beatles song "Nowhere Man" I knew it was this song because my friend did the interpretation. Not that the song wasn't in English, it was, or at least was meant to be, it was just that, well to be kind, it needed a wee bit more practice. Not that yours truly could have done a better job, but I tend to keep my sorrowful serenading behind my shower curtain and not contaminate the all-ready over contaminated Chiang Mai air with more pollution.As the song reached its welcoming end my friend said to me in a thoughtful manner "You know, you're a bit of a Nowhere Man". I thought nothing of it at the time but later I reflected on what she had said and what caused her to say it, "a bit of a Nowhere Man". Ok, so it was out with the lyrics and on with the MP3. At the end I could se... More About: Here , Where
Chiew It
2007-02-17 04:00:00 The title may seem appropriate for a Chiang Mai blog, but before you do a quick scan down the page to check out all the naughty bits, "Chiew It" refers to the first day of the Chinese New Year in Chinese dialect, it is a day of remembrance and thanksgiving as family members demonstrate their gratitude and indebtedness to the spiritual forces that watch over them, bestow good fortune and happy times and protect them from evil or harm. This is an extract from Citylife e-zine: "Chiang Mai Chinatown Festival 18th -19th FebruaryChinese New Years is celebrated this year in Chiang Mai on February 18-19. A narrow, buzzing alley will be filled with Chinese celebrative activities and cultural shows, such as the dragon dance, on the Chinese New Year. Activities to be held include a parade of a 40-metre dragon, various Chinese shows and a contest for little girls and boys aged 4-6 to find the cutest and cleverest Chinese-descent kiddy."The Chinese New Year, which will be the Year of the Pig, a...
Happy Valentine
2007-02-14 06:48:00 To both of my readers More About: Valentine , Happy , Valenti , Vale , Lent
Rutted
2007-02-11 02:03:00 Is it 2007 already? Seems like I've been asleep for years. And maybe I have. At least in terms of living a purposeful life. Felt that the proverbial 'rut' was widening and sucking me into its belly. The Collins New Dictionary defines 'rut' as "a narrow or predictable way of life, dreary or undeviating routine."(not the alternative: "sexual excitement of male ruminants", I hasten to add!) Yep, I guess that's about it, seems to fit the bill, or at least did. That's not to say that being in a rut is necessarily an undesirable state for all. There are many who languish in its sanctuary, and indeed wouldn't (or couldn't) have it any other way. It was Arnold Bennett, the British Novelist who said “The great advantage of being in a rut is that when one is in a rut, one knows exactly where one is.” But Ellen Glasgow, the American Novelist suggests “The only difference between a rut and a grave is their dimensions.” Take your pick.So what am I doing about it you may ask. The...
The Goose Is Getting Fat
2006-12-20 21:45:00 Popped in to say hello to my friend Doris at her home at Mae Rim. Doris, who is making her name as a local cum national celebrity with her art exibhitions, is in the final throws of completing her first novel "Broken Halo". Centered around the unhappy experiences of two young Hilltribe children and their sad immersion into the sordid drugs and sex scene both in Chiang Mai and Bangkok. Although, sadly, an all to well known shamefull issue here in Chiang Mai, the book takes a non-judgemental approach electing to focus on the struggle of a brother and his sister during their individual experiences of survival in the jungle of sex and drugs exploitation. More after I have read the copy. Doris outside her house The festive season started off with a bang for Sukanya Liddle, wife of my golfing nemesis, Albert. The bang was the result of her head being struck by a not-so-well-directed drive on the 18th at Gymkhana Golf Club. The resulting head injury put pay to her respectable score she was... More About: Goose , The Go , The G
Spare a Thought (or a Baht or Two)
2006-12-09 02:37:00 Well it's almost arrived, that time of the year, when many Christian pockets grow just a little bit deeper and Christian hearts turn a little bit sweeter. When songs about Santa drift over the shopping plaza airways and Christmas trees sprout over night and are adorned with baubles and bright shining stars. It's also a time when a lot of good charity work is done for the many children’s homes throughout the area, with a hard core of generous, tireless expats doing what they can to make it a special occasion for some of the 'lucky' Chiang Mai kids. Their efforts have to be applauded.But spare a thought for the many more poor children who roam the streets of Chiang Mai, both day and night, who don't have the luxury of a bed and sometimes a roof, who rummage around the garbage bins and piles of waste. A good day for them is finding a record breaking cache of empty cans and plastic water bottles to fill out the large plastic bags they have been presented with in the early morning... More About: Thought , Spar , Pare
Bits 'n' Pieces
2006-11-24 00:29:00 After all the excitement of the Laos trip life has settled down to more mundane matters in and around Chiang Mai. Golf at Hang Dong is a little busier these days maybe with the Royal Flora Ratchaphruek next door and the visiting delegates squeezing a quick round before the doors open. But still, not busy enough, thankfully, to interrupt the flow of our game, I say "flow" some may say stagger.The Olde Bell on Loy Kroy Road had it's first experience of live music on Wednesday with an impressive performance by Warren and co., knocking out some foot stomping blues. Warren and Co.Another impressive performance was the late entertainment of Mr Jim Watson vibrating the rafters with dynamic renderings of such favourites as 'We'll Meet Again' and 'The Surrey With The Fringe On Top'. All this and Chicken Tikka too, life just doesn't get any better! Warren and JimA visit to The Pub on Friday evening turned into a, more than usual, intellectual bla bla, it was instigated by big John's ... More About: Piece , Pieces , Bits
His Name Is Kom - Finale
2006-11-20 12:04:00 His big brown eyes looked up at me when I handed him the bundle of clothes, he smiled shyly, bowed his head and with a clumsy 'wai' said "Tanks you sir" and was off, clutching his first ever new clothes. He was 11 years old and this evening he would be warm. Only another 349 to go! KomThe day was a great success. After and hour or so of hard barganing at Phousi Market we stuffed the bags of clothes into a 'Jumbo' tuk tuk and made for the orphanage. With the help of the teachers we managed to arrange some assemblance of order and began the distribution. The whole atmosphere was party-like, everyone laughing and giggling at their friend's attempts to courtesy or bow in the correct manner with most of them getting it wrong. I suppose for most of them it was probably the nearest they had every come to any sort of formalities and didn't they love it! Sorting outThe Ice Cream Man I had arranged to come was already waiting under the shade with his mobile ice cream drum primed ready... More About: Finale , Name , Final , Fina
His Name Is Kom - Update
2006-11-02 09:44:00 I will be going back to Luang Prabang on Monday Nov. 7. I am told the weather is now changing and beginning to turn quite cold. So I don't want to delay the buying of the clothes. I have had several donations, a very big thanks to them, I will be sending a photo of the child who received their donated clothes. I will also give each child the address of the donor so they can thank them personally for their kindness. Should any more of you feel you would like to help one of these orphans please send me an email pledging the money (380 Baht) along with your full address. The email should reach me by midday on Monday. In anticipation of your kindness, a big thank you from the children of the Luang Prabang Orphanage.Top More About: Name , Update
His Name Is Kom
2006-10-15 15:27:00 His name is Kom, he is one of 350 students at the Luang Prabang Orphanage School. He is holding his lunch, his first meal of the day, a fistful of stick rice and watery soup that barely covers the bottom of a chipped enamel bowl which has seen better times. There will be another in the evening which will not be much different. He is on his way back to his dormitory to eat because there are no tables in the dinning room. He doesn’t need eating utensils, even if he did there are none, he will gnaw away at the ball of sticky rice using his right hand and sup from the soup bowl using his left. It doesn’t take long and washing the dishes after isn’t a big chore. The clothes he wears were handed down to him when his brother grew out of them. Apart from a faded T-shirt advertising Pepsi and a pair of oversized football shorts this is all he possesses. The cold weather is fast approaching in the mountains of northern Laos, he doesn’t have winter clothing, soon his feeble body will f... More About: Name
So What!
2006-10-13 00:49:00 Should you walk around the centre of Chiang Mai, especially at night you will see that it has a thriving community of mostly young, gays, lesbians and transsexuals (lady boys). Maybe not in the San Francisco league but given its diminutive proportions has, some would say, more than its fair share. This for most liberal and broard minded, modern and well travelled persons is of no significance. There are some however that consider this public manifestation of what they consider repulsive life styles to be a blight on society and would be grateful if the city fathers were to, let's say, find a 'solution' to this unnatural existence. This would prevent their holier-than-thou personages having to endure the indignity of mingling with such low-life.Maybe a leaf out of a certain Mr Adolf Hitler’s philosophy of extermination would be viewed as a satisfactory way of handling the situation. Or another, more humane method such as that adopted by the Catholic Church and practiced for cent... More About: What , Hat
A Closer Look
2006-10-07 09:41:00 Peered into the latest on-line issue of the Chiang Mai Mail today and took a little longer to go through it instead of the usual cursory scan. And what do you know, found a few interesting articles well worthy of a closer look.Take for example the sex life of Chuang-Chuang and Lin-Hui, our resident, non coupling, pandas, who "are to be subjected to another alteration in their “breeding strategies”. The new attempt follows on the heels of previous “breeding strategy” attempts, such as bombarding the luckless pair with “panda porn”. Panda Porn!!!! Has the world gone completely gaga? "Kesini Sakham, 40, a resident of Fang district, Chiang Mai, was arrested during a drugs search whilst travelling on a tour bus to Bangkok. Police officers discovered 8,000 ya ba pills hidden in her panties. Chai Prakan police officers, working in cooperation with soldiers of the Pha Muang task force, stopped the tour bus at Pha Hong checkpoint in Chai Prakan district, Chiang Mai. After observi... More About: Close , Loser , Closer , Look
My Nong Hoi - Part 1
2006-09-26 05:45:00 I've been living in Nong Hoi since I moved up north 4 years ago. A small bustling community on the southern outskirts of Chiang Mai City. At first glance it doesn't have much going for it, no bright lights, tourist traps or any of the various other attractions that would endear it to the fun-seeking thousands that invade Chiang Mai province every year. But that significant difference is welcomed by the expat community who have hung their hats in this quiet suburbia. It is a place of extremes, there are many small, local bars, restaurants and brassy Karaoke along side of which is the towering Sheraton Hotel and arguably the most expensive restaurant in Chiang Mai and all of Thailand, with the exception of Bangkok, Le Coq d' Or. The River Ping which runs through the heart of Nong Hoi is straddled with up-market riverside restaurants of all offering a tranquil and romantic setting with the full spectrum of Thai cuisine, the majority of the patrons being Thai. Khun Jang - My restaura... More About: Part
"Sorry For The Inconvenience"
2006-09-20 02:29:00 The announcement from the Army spokesman in Bangkok declaring a coup had taken place in Thailand ended with words typifying the culture of the Thai people "....sorry for the inconvenience.” Wonderful! Whilst here in Chiang Mai on this drizzly Wednesday, life goes on, as would be expected. Golf this morning and with a holiday being declared i.e. banks, schools, government offices etc remaining closed this could increase the attendance at the golf course. Although I would expect most Thai golfing types to be huddled around their TV and radios waiting for normal services to be resumed and catch-up with last nights historical, although not unique, events.On the way to and from the golf course there were a few armed soldiers to be seen 'guarding' major intersections and bridges over the Ping River, all looked relaxed, even to the point of bored, certainly not coup-defensive by any means. Added to that, the general atmosphere of the city appeared normal with its usual laid-back attitu... More About: Convenience , Sorry
Todays Special
2006-09-06 23:46:00 In line with my latest obsession, cooking badly, I offer to the Chiang Mai expat society (free of charge) the following four-course menu, inspired by the years of living in this beautiful part of the world. Hope it goes down well.- Hors d'oeuvres - CruditésThinly sliced (used) cucumber Purchased from the Butterfly Bar (has a lingering flavour unmatched in Chiang Mai); Crunchy Carrots Julienne Sensually coated with a smear of Hummus to relive those more intimate moments; Crispy stalks of cool celery Accompanied by a Blue Cheese Dip to remind your taste buds of those less intimate moments. - Soup -Oriental Pea Soup Flavoured by the mountain waters of the hilltribes Chiang Mai Chowder Freshly caught crabs down Loy Kroy Road - Entrée -Chicken Provencale Tender full breasts marinated in local beer and seasoned with a breath of fresh garlic and chilli peppers in a creamy white sauce Olde English Toad in The Hole One of JJ's favourites - Dessert -Loy Kroy Tart and custard (lumps et al)... More About: Today , Special , Days
Some You Win, Some You Lose
2006-08-27 12:26:00 Trotted up the Hang Dong Road on Friday to the Vehicle Taxation Office to keep me on the right side of the law with my 'Japanese lady', my ever dependable Suzuki Caribbean. As she is over 7 years old, (she's 15), I was required to take her for her yearly check-up. Of course she passed with flying colours. The point I want to make is as this was my first trip to the Taxation Office alone, i.e. without a 'helper' I was hoping that there wouldn't be too much hassle involved, mainly due to my poor command of the Thai language. I went, as you do, armed to the teeth with every conceivable document, photocopies etc that I thought they may ask for, in an effort to eliminate a return journey (or two) before I eventually ended up with that little piece of square paper that is proudly displayed on my windscreen. I needn't have worried.From the wee lassie (Khun Noi) sitting behind the information desk at the entrance, to the charming photocopier at the 'purple desk' and the efficient m... More About: Some
Just Another Day In Paradise
More articles from this author:2006-08-18 19:43:00 Had quite a surprising reaction to the previous post “Night Bird” so much so that I am delighted to tell you that young Nok has been ‘rescued’ and returned to her family in Mae Sai. I only hope it stays a happy ending.Now onto more depressing items. My golf score card. No, best not talk about that, there may be children reading. Don’t want to give them nightmares. It scares me; God only knows what it would do to the minds of innocent children. If nothing else it has improved my caddy's (Neu Lek) arithmetic no end, since the introductions of 9s, 10s, 11s and yes and even an odd (very odd) 12, she has progressed quite well into unknown territory, for her, of adding double digits. Sadly, due to the increased frequency of high scoring games she has become very proficient and rarely makes a mistake, even under persistent pressure and the threat of a reduced tip. Ah well, c'est la vie! Or should it be Sacré bleu!And what about the weather! It’s become impossible to guess, o... More About: Other , Just , Paradise , Para , Another 1, 2 |
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