billyhouston

Available on Kickass for those who use torrents.

For what it's worth www.asian-ephebes.com is available on True without problems.

It all depends on where you are. Happening to have two service providers at the moment I checked both 3BB and True, both of which gave the dreaded 'This video is not available'. Also having a VPN available, I connected from several places around the world and had no problems. Thai censorship I'm afraid.

At the age of fifty I had to choose between carrying on working and having more money or stopping work and having more fun. The decision didn't take long and I've never regretted it. If you have sufficient income for your needs, you don't need any more but the amount varies from person to person and can be difficult to ascertain! The great iniquities for UK citizens living in Thailand are the failure to index the NI pension (it's indexed in the States but not in Canada and some other Commonwealth countries... there's no logic to it) and the attempt to prevent their use of the NHS.

Like many Brits, I have been in the habit of obtaining my 'non-immigrant Category O visa' from the (normally excellent) Thai Consulate in Hull. In the light of the changes regarding the back-to-back visa exempt situation, I decided to take a look at their latest 'Additional Evidence for Non-Immigrant Visas' document. In comparing the document dated 15.04.13 with that of 10.02.14 I notice significant changes. The following are based on the documents which, presumably, reflect Hull's interpretation of the regulations: 1. Married to a Thai national. Additional documents required including copy of Thai Spouses ID card (or passport). There is also a requirement to show a regular income of minimum Bht 65,000 per month with the admonition that this may be checked 2. Visiting non Thai family working and/or living in Thailand. This category has been removed. 3. Visiting Thailand as Retired Person aged between 50 and 64 years. This category has been removed. Presumably those in 2 and 3 above are now required to get a Tourist Visa. There are also changes, in the same document, to the requirements for a Category B Visa: "Applicant taking up employment in Thailand with a company located in Thailand. Evidence required: a) Letter of Invitation from Thai company stating rationale for employing/hiring applicant and objective(s) of visit. b) Copy of Contract of Employment with Thai company stating position and salary to be signed by authorised Director and to include Company Seal. c) Copy of corporate registration documents from Thai company including:- 1) List of shareholders 2) Business registration and licence. 3) Company profile 4) Details of business operation 5) List of all foreign workers stating names, nationalities and positions 6) Map indicating location of company 7) Company Balance Sheet and Statements of Income Tax and Business Tax (Por Ngor Dor 50 and Por Ngor Dor 30) for latest year Alien Income Tax Return (Por Ngor Dor 91) 9) Value Added Tax Registration (Por Ngor Dor 20) 10) Copy of all pages (including blank ones) of Work Permit (if applicable)." Those of us old fogies in receipt of our NI Pension do not appear to be affected.

Driving in Bangkok is not for the faint of heart but, if you know where you are going, it's doable. It's less stressful in Chiang Mai where my biggest concern is the motorcycles. Because they seem to lack any instinct for self-preservation, it's very difficult to predict how and where they are going to move. By contrast, in Europe people are quite anxious to live to fight another day but perhaps Buddhism plays a part in SE Asia. Outside of the big cities driving is straightforward, due to lack of traffic, but it can be quite tedious where distances are large and the scenery doesn't change very much. Used with caution, satellite navigation on a smart phone can make life easier. Sygic provide a fairly decent Thai map (TomTom based, I believe) for a very reasonable price.

RAF VC10s had rear facing seats and that was for safety reasons, but it was a long time ago. I'm not sure whether the modern transport aircraft have the same configuration.

I find the price of Illy and Lavazza beans, especially the former, to be absurd in Tops but I figure Thais buy them because they are expensive. They have the idea that expensive is better and it's not easy to convince them that, in reality, it's better that is sometimes more expensive. There is a Dutchman in Chiang Mai who buys (Arabica) beans from the hills around Chiang Rai (I believe), roasts them and sells them as Alti Coffee. I not only use them in CM but brought a couple of Kg back to UK. There's also Hillkoff who, as well as having one of the best selections of 'machinery', mostly commercial, that I've seen anywhere also have an 'Italian Espresso' roast.

Much appreciated. Better we should have it than they.

A typo I think. Not even AirAsia (or Ryan Air for that matter) could get away with 19.5" 29.5"

Unless, of course, those involved were Members of Parliament.

The sentence was disgraceful, but are you surprised? http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,185060,00.html Chalerm is now Deputy Prime Minister and employed Duangchalerm in his ministerial office as far as I recall. TIT

The recently refurbished Centre Point Langsuan offers these Japanese devices. My partner and I were terrified that the 'wand' would gain a mind of its own and go beserk.

I always wondered what it was that made paras jump.... until one day I spent a couple of hours circuit bashing, with high cross winds, in a Herc. At least HM Government paid me to do that! Last DC3 I flew in was a Spantax aircraft between Spanish Mediterranean Islands and that was a long time ago. Spotted a large collection of DC3s at San Juan, Puerto Rico, about 15 years ago.

This morning, following my post last night, there was a large number of e-mails from AirAsia concerning the dozen, or so, flights I have with them over the next seven months. Having previously received a number of texts telling me of the move, there now appears to have been a complete reissue of itineraries for all my flights which are in/out of, or through, DMK. These were booked a long time ago and I guess AirAsia are making certain that nobody has an excuse for turning up at the wrong airport.You can't blame them for that! One thing's for sure, if I'm arriving from Europe and flying directly to Chiang Mai, I shall be using Bangkok Airways for the final leg of the flight. They code share with both EVA and AirFrance and even though their flights, booked well enough ahead, can be cheaper than AirAsia, nobody has ever accused them of being an lcc. The code share allows you to check the bags to CNX and, as a transit passenger, avoid the immigration queues at BKK.

All AirAsia flights are due to move to Don Muang and I've had several notifications that my (2013) Yangon flights will depart from there. I was hoping that immigration queues might be a little shorter at DMK. Wishful thinking perhaps?

When I first stopped at Traders in 2001 it was about $50/night and that increased very gradually to about $80 in 2011. I had rooms at that rate in January 2012 but since then it has gone mad. For January 2013 they want $277 so I shall be staying elsewhere. The location is great and although the hotel had not had a refurbishment since opening, until this year, the rooms were clean and the staff were great. Outside of Yangon I prefer to stay in smaller hotels though, in all honesty, in most places that's the only choice. Of all the small hotels, my favourite is the Thiri Marlar in (New) Bagan. Breakfast on the roof, or dinner for that matter, is amazing as you look out across all those 13th century temples. Thailand has never treated those who have fled across the border as they should have done. Thais have ruthlessly exploited these vulnerable people and the worst offenders are.... the boys in brown. There are many Shan working in and around the night market in CM, all of whom have to pay 'tea money'. A friend who failed to do so was caught, arrested and thrown in the slammer before being taken to court and heavily fined. I asked him how someone could tell who was and was not paying and he told me that you got a paper, to show where needed! The country does not want these people there and yet the construction business and the restaurant business would fall apart (certainly in the north) without them. The fighting in Kachin and Shan makes it unsafe for them to be 'repatriated' and it's a disgrace that it's even suggested. Some years ago while trekking north east of Kengtung I visited a remote village of the Ann people. They don't own land and, having to work on the land for other people, are the poorest of the poor. Meeting with some of the 'elders' I guessed that they were about my age but discovered that they were a little over half that. It's a very hard life they lead. When questioned, my guide explained that people such as me going to that village meant that the military would not demand unpaid labour from them as happened with other villages. 'Unpaid labour and bring your own food and drink.' The government writ did not run in this area and we actually had to go through Burmese immigration in Kengtung before going there. There are lots of crossings between Mae Sai and Mae Sot... and you don't need a passport or visa, but don't get caught. The region between Taunggyi and Kentung has been off-limits to foreigners for more than 50 years so many people there have never seen a foreigner 'in the flesh'. No electric, no gas, no running water and you cook over a wood fire. Some people with generators have satellite internet connections and we use video chat. It is my dearest wish that this region will become accessible to foreigners but I don't see this in the near future. Alas, the better treatment of locals will have to come before the areas open up. There is also the cultivation of poppy to consider. The government, officially at least, condemns this but their policies force it on people and, then, the government taxes the opium! It amuses me to point out that their tax rate is less than the basic rate (20%) in UK and, for that, their poppy crop is protected. Apologies for the long post. I have tried to respond to points raised but I'm afraid that the treatment of the hilltribes in general, and the Shan in particular, causes me to get on my soapbox. Murder, rape and pillage are instruments of government policy, still, in the hilltribe areas.

Another problem, which was also evident, was the flood of spivs and sharks whose motto was 'Ask not what you can do for Myanmar* but what Myanmar can do for you'. (with apologies to JFK) A particularly obnoxious UN employee, from Australia but born in UK, seated himself next to me on the return flight and all he could talk about was using the country to increase his salary..... by writing a PhD thesis on it. He couldn't name the President and assured me that there had never been a Burmese Secretary General of the UN. I fear that unrestrained 'development' will only line the pockets of the 'haves' and leave the 'have-nots' worse off than they are now. Nothing that the 'boungbe chut' have done is irreversible and the real test will be at the next general election, if there is one. What is happening in Kachin and (especially Northern) Shan, both beautiful places, does not inspire confidence. I may be cynical but I still fear for the ordinary people, especially the hilltribes. *Myanmar = abbreviation for my preferred term 'The Union of Burma' boungbe chut = literally 'men who have taken off their trousers' but meaning 'military in civvies'.

Earlier this year, when I asked reception at Traders whether it would be a problem if I stayed with Shan bf, they looked at me as though I was stupid and asked 'Why should it be a problem?' We also checked in at Park Royal without any comment and were well treated. One problem in Yangon at the moment is the increased prices these establishments are able to demand!

Yes, I had looked at the statistics but their aircraft on this route is the Boeing 777-300ER rather than the Airbus equivalent. Having said that, it may be that all the attention drawn to the Airbus may mean that, for the moment at least, it is a safe option. Against that, their crew training appeared to leave a lot to be desired! The withdrawal, a couple of years ago by both BA and BMI, of the evening shuttle to MAN, meant an overnight at Heathrow in one of those doss houses that are called hotels, the hassle of bags as EVA would not write the through ticket and an extra 15 hours added to the journey. ( I see that the evening shuttles are, at least partially, reinstated.) Baggage allowance on EVA is 25Kg but 46Kg with Air France plus 18Kg in the cabin.

The rules governing APD run to 50 pages. Bangkok/London/Bangkok pays APD but Bangkok/London/Rome/London/Bangkok has "£0 APD due". Having had an unsatisfactory flight on EVA, I recently decided to try another airline for next winter. On the dates I fly and in their Premium Voyageur cabin Air F(Ch)ance want £1108 MAN-CDG-BKK-CDG-MAN. However on the same flights in the same cabin, if you book separate fares, MAN-CDG-MAN costs £485 and CDG-BKK-CDG costs £1373 (using today's exchange rate). The through ticket specifically requires the MAN-CDG leg to be taken and you can no longer, as in the days before computers, simply tear off the first coupon. Air France clearly have excess capacity on their Bangkok flight and wish to encourage passengers flying from UK regional airports to fly via Paris. Frankly anything is better than transiting Heathrow. The through ticket incurs the 'standard' rate of APD ( in other words the higher rate) at £162.

Your pension is frozen and you cannot use the NHS but, if you remain UK Domiciled, HMRC screw you for Inheritance Tax on your worldwide assets. Losing UK Domicile isn't easy; simply living overseas for 20 years doesn't do it.

Beg your pardon, I obviously didn't make myself clear, though the final paragraph explains that these charges can be avoided by 'supersizing' online. The charges relate to baggage not booked online prior to arriving at the airport. For one flight BKK-CNX in October I found, to my surprise, Bangkok Airways to be the cheapest option. I normally avoid them because of their rip-off charges to Koh Samui and Luang Prabang.

Those who regularly fly with AirAsia might like to check their revised baggage charges. It seems as though they are doing a 'Ryanair'! On domestic flights excess baggage is now charged at Bht350/Kg and internationally Bht450/Kg. Since the most you can buy at checkin is 15Kg, turn up with 20Kg and your charge will be Bht2265. (Bht515 + 5 x 350) Pays to 'supersize' online even though those charges have increased significantly over the past year or so.

The late Scottish Cardinal Whining (sic) cast doubt on John Cornwell's suitability as a biographer by noting that the cover photograph, shown earlier above, was incorrectly dated. This was perfectly clear to anyone who read the book. For a Jewish perspective on the matter you might care to look at 'The Last Three Popes and the Jews' by Pinchas E. Lapide.