Big C - shopping and telephones

There are a great number of people who come on holiday and cannot be left alone without their Internet connection - be it from their computers or their telephones.


The cost for charges abroad can be astronomical using a phone with billing from overseas so why not simply buy a telephone from Big C and get a local Sim Card in it OR change your sim when you come?


Big C have a plethora of phones to choose from AND / OR sim cards.


Then there is also the shopping...

Beach Bums but no Beers

Question: Do I need a liquor license to sell beer from a beer cart on the beach?


Answer from Officer at Public Health and Environment Division of Patong


We do not allow any beach vendors to set up stalls selling alcoholic beverages....


Now I understand why sometimes they run away somewhere to get me a beer.

from:

Does your grass smell?

What a pleasant surprise in the morning - after a night of rain and I was left with the sweet smell from the grass.


They then cut it down and took it away - what do they use it for?
Ya Kaa...?

Por Tor comes to Phuket Town

I have posted on my personal blog and the company’s blog regarding the Por Tor Festival in Phuket Town.


I started the festival with photographs taken for my work permit – always choosing Klinc Kong in Phuket Town AND they know the right size.

Then I visited the places where they make the turtle cakes and put on the intricate writings – my daughter thought that they were beautiful.


This year was different - I went with my friend Jamie from Phuket  (always a pleasure, nice camera too) and met Chaya from Phuket Heritage Trails – visit both sites and learn more about Phuket.


Then it was time for a cocktail at Siam Indigo – gin and tonic was perfect but I did steal it from one of our group – sorry.


We had our cocktail and Chaya told us about the history of the event and then entered the fray – noise, wonderful, busy and full of fun – Phuket at it’s best.

    

Plastic bag pollution

I have read about John Gray's opinion on his blog regarding the amount of harm that can come to animals with the human indiscriminate disposal of rubbish and no plastic bag day in Phuket.

Did anyone tell this cat?
Plastic bag kills a turtle...


Think before you toss that plastic bag with food in...

Sidecars for motorbikes

Article and picture from the Phuket Gazette

It has been decided that this (above and below) is going to be illegal.

The sidecar will no longer (was it ever) be able to carry passengers even if they have installed a plastic chair inside.


I wonder how many people from Phuket are affected by this decision? I wonder whether it would be okay if they wore a helmet?

Train tracks are a cure

picture from www.ibtimes.com

I read more and more about train tracks being built in Phuket (along with a tunnel through Patong Hill) and I wonder whether this will become 'fashionable' in Phuket.


The above picture is from Jakarta though...


Then I laugh at my experiences in the UK with, "Sorry the Train is late because of the wrong leaves on the track" and now "Sorry the train is late but there was a person asleep and we could not wake them up (he was dead) but normal service will be resumed as soon as possible".

Delicious bugs?

We went out to the Fair at Sapan Hin last week.





Have had some before BUT NOT the caterpillars.




I have also promised the staff (some are keen bug eaters) to bring some to the staff party - watch this space.

click for location

Bird's Nest Soup

One of the experiences that I enjoy whilst teaching is the pupils talking to me about their experiences.


This week the conversation that we had was about Bird's Nest Soup.


Bird's nests are harvested in Thailand and I know that we are given small jars of soup occasionally.  It tastes of nothing - a cheap broth is the closest I can imagine. Made from the harden saliva of birds!


But the pupils all had a different opinion as to it's properties and as to the idea of a 'Virgin Bird's Nest' which is white I had to find out more.


I didn't... but then I read in the Bangkok Post that the percentage of 'Bird's Nest in the bottles' is between 1.1% and 1.4%!

Phuket News July 2011

The dead body of missing Aussie tourist is found - how did she die?
What does a red flag mean?


Thaksin case reviewed... why were they wrong?


The worlds largest floating bookshop comes to Phuket.


'Boy' does not contact his mother and a request is made through the Phuket Gazette for him to contact his mother - he does BUT he will not tell us why he did not - this is his prerogative - did you tell you mother everything - NO, i though not - shhhh i didn't.


The death of Mr De Jong from the Secret Cove was a shock BUT there is now a Korean in custody.


Yingluck promises the minimum wage will start in Phuket
Watch this space...

picture from the Phuket Gazette

How does a car 'wrap itself' around a pole'?
Accident happened at 5am - death and hospital.
BUT
Alcohol is not a factor.


Mystery death likely to be suicide
However, a Phuket Gazette news reporter at the scene soon after the recovery of the body stood by the initial report. There were extensive bloodstains on the wall, trauma to the skull and a pillow covered the face of the body, the reporter said.If the late Ms Chamaiporn had taken her own life she must have done so in a very unusual fashion, the reporter said. 


Speculation - a Danish man dies...


An American dies - possible murder - is this business getting busy?


A policeman kills his wife and then commits suicide - jealous.


A temple shoot out - brings security concerns in Phuket, but I find strange is that the person who was shot had people with them who - "His assistants returned fire, sparking a shootout that left 11 wounded, including five-year-old Pornicha Thammasangwan, who died on her way to hospital."
Then the Phuket Gazette indicate that land deals are a recipe for a shoot out - maybe it's a good idea that the 'farang' does not own land?


25 tons of Fake Goods were burnt - 
No wonder I could not buy any DVDs last week but sshhh - there is a place that I know...

picture from the Phuket Gazette

Then I read that the pirate sellers of Kata and Katong are complaining that they are the areas where their businesses are 'picked on' by the police - please choose another place to raid and where is the warning letter?


Boulders from a construction site up the hill roll down - this cannot be the only time.


Cherry Clean skin hears God telling her to turn herself in to the police and confess to her crimes
is that all? - What will the fine be? NOT Buddah though - so she will be 'tainted' by the foreigner' and let off likely?


90% of the land controlled by the foreigner - how?


Crackdown on illegal Russian and Korean tour agents 
- does this mean that some are legal?


The complaint alleges that members of the Patong Police, some on plainclothes duty, are trafficking women from Burma, Cambodia and Laos to work in the local sex trade.
 The complaint alleges that the racket is being carried out in the “That’s Siam” section in the basement of the upscale Jungceylon shopping plaza.
What is the complaint - that Jungceylon is being used or that the police are involved?


The International Meditation Center at Tah Chat Chai which had the foundation stone laid on March 2nd but now the site is inappropriate because of transport inconveniences - weren't the transport inconveniences there previously?


Possible murder of a tourist in Patong


The US nationals enrol in STEP (Smart Traveler Enrolment Program) - would you?
1984, big brother, tracking...


Lee Aldhouse extradition is possible - waiting for the UK Home Secretary -
and he is guilty, the issue is the terms of the jail.


Nobody allowed to ride in a sidecar - Good Luck.


The story continues - Tattooists in Phuket - the idea was about the inappropriate place to put a tattoo is now about health and safety....

Chelsea fan takes a dive - copied from the players?
Which reminds me - are Liverpool coming?


More football (from Bangkok Post) - Larissa Riquelme (a Paraguay model) tells us that she will go naked if the national side win Copa America - so why do I write this here? 
Because her breasts (and telephone) adorned the front cover of the Bangkok Post Sports Section on Sunday.
1) will Phuket FC win if a Thailand Miss World strips?  
2) I would also like to know whether her telephone company also sponsor her?
3) Comments are closed on the above due to legal reasons?
but then I read

The 24-year-old is not the first person to promise to streak in the event of a World Cup win.
Earlier, Argentina coach Diego Maradona had issued a similar guarantee. (ANI)

Thailand is a wonderful place to live - but not if you have an Education Visa but don't go to school - a bit like in the UK and get unemployment benefit but don't attempt to get a job - maybe it is a loophole which should be closed? But I am sure there are more!


Landslide warning on the West Coast.
The west coast of Phuket province, known as a tourist paradise, is at risk from landslides due to land-use change and forestry, the Mineral Resources Department revealed yesterday. Kata, Karon, Patong, Kamala and Sai Khao beaches are on alert for landslides during the rainy season.

A person with a Bachelor Degree who majored in Business English and has received certificates from New York and California is on their page in a bikini?


A German TV show (We save your holiday) which travels the world to destinations where German tourists have become ill or found themselves in trouble and they look at the bacteria in the sea on Kata Beach - no other German problems?


I am looking forward to the next time they come back with different problems.

Klong Mu-Dong Canoe Race

It was the local canoe race around the corner from my house in Borae – Klong Mu-Dong, the canal next to the market and near to the monkey ‘hang-out’.

The rain did nothing to dampen the enthusiasm of the children who had gathered early and clearly practised their dance routines and what they were going to eat – and there was a lot to eat!

There were a great number of people going to race in a canoe and they started with the children – which clearly excited the crowd who all chanted a little bit louder.

This was not an event that was to find a hero and this was clear from the beginning.  It was clearly fun for the children and taking part was the key but I think that the way to pick up the young men by being stranded in their canoe was pushing it a little.

The environment was wonderful – than Jemma and I found the balloons, 
the sprite, the monkeys and then the candy-floss – 
a wonderful experience.

click for a map

    

Thailand and corruption Part II

Following the previous blog regarding corruption. I read the letters page (23^rd July) in the Bangkok Post regarding the statement that the Chamber of Commerce estimated that 30% of the cost of a project for the Government was ‘Tea Money’ – the letter was titled – “the man in the street is equally corrupt”.

On the same page there was a letter entitled – “corruption shows how bad Thai education is” – a survey indicated that “65% indicated that approved corruption in government".

Then I read that "Corruption does not pay".

Thailand is not the same as the West – our values are very different – is there any wonder why so many people escape the West to live in Thailand? 

In Thailand we then read that "Corruption is a way of life".

No wonder Thai peoples values are not our values – WHO are we to indicate that their values are wrong? – WHO are we to say it is a corrupt system of Government  – we have an opinion and it is only an opinion…

AND

People like to complain that they have to pay more or pay monies to the right person and Thai people do not know how to drive… – if you want to live in Thailand then you MUST follow the rules, you are after all only a guest.  If they do not like Thailand then they can always return to the country that issued them their passport.

Would they?

I certainly would not.

Thailand and corruption

Living in Thailand you do get the feeling that it is not the most 'transparent' place on Earth but I was surprised it was only seventy eight out of one hundred and seventy eight.


There is a forum here on thaivisa.com and click here for the full report. 


But this was in October 2010 - some things do happen quickly here in Thailand.

Thailand is a hub for animal smuggling

photo from Bangkok Post

The latest news regarding this was the snakes on a plane - an Iranian Man has been detained after 50+ snakes were allegedly found in socks in his suitcase - but the Iranian man declares that he bought them legally at Chatuchak Market (I knew there were strange things there but I have never seen snakes).

Then I read in the Bangkok Post

Thailand remains a hub for illegal exports of protected animals, as smugglers develop smarter methods 

to avoid detection by authorities, and wildlife officials say the law acts fails to act as a tough enough deterrent

Not sure that snakes in socks is 'intelligent' but...

I was not aware that the Pangolin is a species which is most at risk by the smuggling because of their meat is a delicacy and their scales are an ingredient in Chinese Traditional Medicine.

Customs officials at Hat Yai airport in 2009 confiscated as many as 

1,134 water monitors and 169 pangolins on one flight.

save the pangolin

I was not aware that this was such an enormous problem in Thailand - I will liaise with my friend John Gray (an ardent environmentalist) for his personal opinion and post it 
on his personal blog.

BUT the next time I see someone struggle with their bag at Suvarnabhumi I

 am not going to help - especially if socks are falling out of a bag!

UPDATE (21/7/11) - Thai people caught smuggling