Bob

From now on, the guy should limit his thefts from first floor or basement apartments.... Every once in a while, god does have a sense of humor.

The "English" statement seemed ignorant as well as harsh. Many Thais speak and understand English well and a large chunk of the population in the big cities speak and understand at least some English. And the percentage is one hell of a lot higher than the percentage of falang who speak Thai.

Tdperhs, I'm wondering what your professor friend means by the "Chinese are preparing to pull themselves loose from the dollar." If he means the Chinese are going to unpeg the yuan to the US dollar and let it float in the free market, you could expect the dollar to devalue (to the yuan) by at least 40-50% (the US government has complained for years about the undervaluation). But this simply isn't going to happen (my opinion) as that would mean that every Chinese product would cost 40-50% more in the US, exports from China to the US would die a quick death, and the Chinese economy would take a major hit. I'm thinking he means that the Chinese are going to start dumping their dollars....and I've read some accounts of the Chinese officials suggesting that they were going to balance their foreign reserves by using a basket of currencies rather than primarily sitting on billions of US dollars. Many other countries are doing the same and, of course, that's one of the main reasons the US dollar has fallen like a rock (nobody wants the damn things). Foreign governments (Japan and China being two of the largest) supposedly finance almost 70% of the US debt (they take the billions of dollars they get for selling their products and then buy US Treasury Bills). I've always wondered why this system wouldn't collapse when the foreign currencies are appreciating so much against the US dollar (i.e., why earn 3% on a T-Bill for a year when the principal is worth 8-10% less to you for that same year - a definite losing proposition). Some economists have suggested that the US currency could totally collapse if Japan and China simply dumped (exchanged them for other foreign currencies regardless of the price) 20% of their US dollar reserves. Maybe we're seeing the beginning of that process now.

My guess is he's referring to what a lot of investment people are suggesting - that China's economy is about to head downhill shortly (which makes sense as it's overheated to a great degree). A lot of these soothsayers suggest it'll happen right after the Olympics but lately there is more talk that it'll happen sooner than that. Regardless of if/when it happens, I'm doubtful that a downturn in the Chinese economy will affect the US dollar much or at all. The Chinese peg the yuan to the dollar (there is no free market float of the yuan) and, as long as they continue that practice, the dollar isn't rising or falling to the yuan at all (other than the amount the Chinese allow to occur - which seems to be about 6-7% per year as of late). The US downturn is somewhat spreading around the world (with some notable exceptions - perhaps South America being one of those exceptions) and, if that continues, then the US dollar ought to strengthen a bit. But I'd bet it'll never be valued anywhere near where it was for the rest of our lifetimes as the time of US position in the world economy will only continue to slide (at least relatively) to the emerging markets such as India, China, and South America.

Sure...depending on what you're looking for. If all you want is a guide that's male, you certainly can arrange that with about any tour desk at any hotel. Or just by googling can find you some guides/escorts. Or, if what you're interested in is hiring one of the bar boys (perhaps one that strikes your fancy), just ask him (or, better yet, maybe tell the mamasan at the bar what you're interested in). But be aware that many of the bar boys can only guide you to some of the discos and shopping malls (I've taken long-time barboys in Bangkok for their first visit to the Grand Palace!). Of course, unless you know enough Thai to communicate, you'd need to make sure the boy speaks passable English.

I sympathize for Kevin's plight and concerned about his health and family. And I wish him well. To that extent, we agree. But....I don't know the facts of Kevin's case and neither do you. If you have direct knowledge of any facts of the case, fine, share them; if not (and presuming you're relying on newspaper accounts), you hardly have enough information to determine anything about the case. All I know is that Kevin was convicted by one court, one court partially reversed that conviction, and the Thai Supreme Court overturned the appellate court's reversal and thus upheld the verdict of the trial court. I also know Kevin was guilty of smuggling cigarettes as he has acknowledged that to be true. And, finally, I also know that a lot of the speculation that has occurred over the years was based on the writings of Andrew Drummond (and I'm mindful that a totally separate Thai court has determined that what he wrote was false and libelous). That's about all of the nitty gritty that we really know. Having attended enough trials myself, I can honestly say that most newspaper writers erroneously report about many of them (sometimes I wonder if my eyes deceived me that the writer was even in the same courtroom!) so I've learned not to trust the newspaper accounts of trial events let alone their selective mentioning of only a few things they heard that caught their fancy (and I certainly know enough not reach any important conclusion based on that stuff). As for trying to reach a fair conclusion based on reports in the Thai newspapers? I'd rather read tea leaves or consult with the holy monk woman of Chiangrai. I might be able to reach a fair conclusion if I read the court transcript - as that was the evidence on which the conviction was obtained. But I haven't read that and I'm doubtful you have either. Your heart may tell you Kevin is "innocent" (hey, I like the guy too but that's not enough) but your brain doesn't have enough verifiable data to conclude anything. As GB said, let's let the competent people representing Kevin sort this out the best they can for him.

Come on.....no sexual innuendo was intended by my comments. You may be cute, GB, but not that cute...... B)

Look forward to your reports as I'm one of the crazy/demented falangs that enjoys the Songkran activities. And, if I was there - just to get things started and to give you something to report - I'd nail you from behind with a bucket of water (perrier, of course).

As a final note, I wish to state once and for all that I never got pregnant. B)

Hmmm. Now that you mention that, perhaps I dreamt the episode. Hell, at the time, I was rushing from the plane with my head down to avoid sniper fire in Bosnia so I could listen to my crazy pastor excoriate honkies. Or was I reading bible verses while getting an oil massage at One 2 Come in Chiangmai? Probably one or the other.....

Thanks, Xian....I was thinking it might be some kind of rice powder. When it's wet, sticky, gooey, and splattered on you and your evening clothes, it's quite uncomfortable. But, no, it doesn't cause any lasting stains. I handled it well and only regretted that I didn't have a fire truck handy to retaliate bigtime.

Lol. Hardly. But I make a point of taking a few baggies with me and my wallet, in a baggie, has never gotten wet. T-shirt, shorts, and waterproof sandals (without white or black socks....) are all you need. I almost always take my camera and, at times, stick that in plastic bag when I'm about to encounter a substantial soaking (but usually I'm standing back 5 yards or so and taking photos). I only remember being pissed off once during Songkran. I was in Bangkok many years ago and was going out to dinner about 8:30PM with a couple of friends when we came around a corner and took a substantial pasting with that sticky white crap. I wasn't expecting it (it was after dark after the usual activities ended for the day) and wasn't happy sitting at the restaurant with that sticky crap all over my face and black shirt. By the way, I've never asked anybody what that white sticky crap (my term) is made of....but it felt something like wet flour paste.

Yep, there are those that love it and those that hate it. Having been to the crazy songkran activities in Chiangmai a few times, I'm one of the crazies that thinks its a blast. But I dress for it and go with an attitude of having fun....and I always do.

No, I was referring to your use of the word "dear" which, unfortunately, has been an old habit. I understand your point but to suggest the guy is "complicit" with a brutal regime because he toured Burma isn't any more fair than suggesting my trip to Luang Prabang helped promote communism. We all oppose the Burmese regime (and, I hope, the Lao regime) but their are fair differences of opinion as to how to express that opposition. Isolation (North Korea, Cuba, etc.) in my opinion has historically proven to be very unsuccessful in changing anything (except to assist keeping the citizens poor, distressed, and ignorant of what's happening in the bulk of the world).

Returning to your grand and prior form, Hedda? If you've been to Burma, tell us your experiences; otherwise, your "dear" paternalistic broadsides are a bit tiring. There are many who think that traveling to Burma and buying goods at the little stalls and restaurants is supportive of the Burmese people; others don't (they see it only as somehow lining the pockets of the dictators). I've been across the border at Mae Sae a couple of times and bought a few items within the touristy shopping area (about a 2 block square area consisting of various stalls that appear to be manned by less than the elite) and I personally don't see any harm at all in doing that. I also spent a week in Luang Prabang amongst the lovely Laos and found them very warm and compelling (and, by all appearances, they didn't give a hoot about the little dictators running that country). Similarly, some people advocate boycotting the Chinese Olympics to protest Chinese failure to clamp down on Burma and/or to protest other Chinese excesses (e.g., Tibet). But a fair number of people, myself included, believe that the goodwill and people-to-people contacts of the Olympics does more to help change Chinese society than not showing up and posting a protest on an internet forum. Nothing wrong with the latter exercise but it doesn't accomplish much.

What kind of help do you need? Directions?

That could very well be. I was told I was paying for a 10' container which I took to mean a container 10' x 10' x 10'. But perhaps I was paying for a partial container, hell if I know (I never saw the actual container).

A few years back, I bought a teak roll-top desk and three large teak chests (very heavy "hope chest" type items with hand carving on all sides and the top) and paid just shy of $500.00 for all those items (I'd guess one of the chests is worth more than $1,000.00 in the states). It cost me $450.00 to ship all of them back to Michigan and some idiot in California made me pay $45.00 for something (think it was a bribe to some longshoreman). Still, got everything back here for just shy of $1,000.00. Great deal in my view. P.S. When you pay for shipping, you end up paying for an entire container and it's the same cost whether you have the container full or less than full. The furniture vendor pointed that out and told me I could buy more items to fill up the container (I declined as II already had what I wanted). P.S. The value for customs was what I paid for the items and, based on that, there wasn't any cost (I could be wrong but think US citizens can bring back about $750.00 worth of stuff duty free).

Naraiphand is a 4-5 story government sponsored handicraft center in Bangkok. If you are ever interested in buying better quality (better quality than night market items but still reasonably priced) Thai handicrafts (many varieties of lacquered boxes, the gold-edged porcelain, silk items, and everything else under the sun), Naraiphand is a great place to pick up your souvenirs/handicrafts. There is a much smaller version of Naraiphand in Chiangmai. It's on the southeast corner of Chang Klan at the south end of the night market (it's over and behind the McDonald's on the corner - and now kitty corner to the new Le Meridian Hotel). Some pretty decent items there (it's a branch of the Bangkok store) and there is a very decent shipping outfit 10 feet outside the Naraiphand door. Just noting this as I'm doubtful if just about anybody knows about this place (at least the one in Chiangmai). For flowers, I think GT is referring to Warrarot Market (which is just north of Taipae Road along the west side of the Ping River). Huge selection of flowers and fruit (and many other items). And if you go to the north end of the market and head west 1/2 of block, you'll be in the middle of a ton of gold shops, clothing shops, etc., that are busy all the time. For wood furniture (and some larger wood handicrafts), spending a few hours walking around the furniture area of Hang Dong is a lot of fun (I'm occasionally a wood handicrafter at home so I can get real excited window shopping in the Hang Dong area). This area is 3-5 miles south of the airport area. And you'd be surprised that the cost of shipping some of these items back home is really not all that expensive.

GT, the baht busses are usually 30-50% less than the tuk tuks. I do about 50/50 on the tuk tuks and baht buses and, recently (just returned from 2 weeks in Chiangmai), I don't think I ever paid more than 50 baht for a baht bus for two of us. The tuk tuks were generally 50-100% more going the same distance (although, as you note, they do tend to demand more later at night). I've found the Chiangmai airport very easy to use (the domestic end is actually not that large given the size of the city and traffic going through there) and, of course, easily accessible (probably only a 20 minute drive from as far away as the Narawat Bridge). From PJ's, I'd guess it's a 10-12 minute drive. The international terminal (south end of the airport building) was just opened about 2 years ago and is very nice.....and and extremely easy way to travel internationally from Chiangmai. There are direct flights from there to Luang Prabang, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and Kunming, China....as I and the beloved have gone to those places. I hear they are about to fly direct to Seoul....and it's kind of nice to have them add new flights annually so one can avoid going through Bangkok. EDIT: While making this reply, I see GB's post arrived. You're driving to Chiangmai?!? Perhaps you're either a brave (or slightly nuts) soul....but I'd love to hear how long it will take you (I'd guess about 8 hours from Bangkok if you drive steady?). I only make the "slightly nuts" comment not because of your driving skills but because I would have a hard time trusting the rest of the drivers (Thais) to stay the hell away from me. I hope your journey isn't as tense as I suspect it will be.

Have enjoyed your Chiangmai reports, GT......CM being my regular haunt in LOS. Have been there, done that, with the elephant rides and rafting (but haven't done the mountain bike trek). While it's sorta cool to do the elephant ride thing once or twice, I'd had my fill of those beasts. Every time they step forward (especially if it involves any step in a downhill direction), I always feel that I'm going to fall off the damn thing. The last time I did the elephant thing, I had hired a driver (Chai) to take me up to Doi Suthep. For some reason (I'm usually not that insane), I let him talk me into an elephant ride. Having been at the bars late the night before, I was hung over like a dog. After getting on the elephant, I told Chai I'd see him in 15 minutes and that's when he told me "oh no, ride is for one and one half hours." I was trapped! What made it worse was it was hotter than hell out (probably an April trip), Mr. (or Mrs. - I didn't look) Elephant smelled very bad, and the tout driving the beast could speak no English and didn't want to bother trying to understand my pidgeon Thai. How I ever managed not to get sick on the back of that beast that day is still a mystery to me. But I did learn something - Mr. Bob will never again sit on the back of the big beast!

GB, I'd suggest you try One2Come (on a soi off of Chang Klan across the street from the Park Hotel). I've only been to Classic and One2Come and One2Come has far nicer rooms. Each has some nice employees. Haven't been to the other places the GT mentions but I would note that I don't particularly like the ones with a small mat on the floor such as Classic.

Same here, Buckeroo. Maybe it is the timing. My last dozen+ flights to LOS have all been on EVA and I'm either on the 11AM or 11:30AM flight. And I've never had to wait more than 10 minutes and a few times less than 3 or 4 minutes (once I had zero wait time as I walked up to an open desk).

While perhaps of some use symbolically, the notion that there is any signifcant addition to the water shortage because of the Songkran water throwing is a bit ridiculous. Doesn't everybody remember the stories about the water pipelines coming to the resevoirs? And then finding out a year later that they hadn't even started building the damn things? Only in Thailand! (tit) If they had half a brain, they'd put in a pipeline from Bangkok (or north of Bangkok) to the current resevoir in Pattaya (and perhaps to even new ones they would build). Every single year, there is excess water in the north that ultimately floods the central part of Thailand and, at times, parts of Bangkok. They could solve Pattaya's water problem that way and, perhaps, help alleviate the annual flooding.

Somewhat pathetic and also humorous. The pilots bitching (legitimately) about not having adequate runway lighting and, at the same time, bitching about their image being damaged by the new Thai soap opera featuring Thai airline pilots having affairs with the stewardesses. Back in April, when the new Airbus A-380 was preparing to leave for Chiangmai, the trip was delayed for repairs when the pilot clipped the wing on one of the hangars at the airport during daylight hours. If only the lights had been on! (well, it was 10.00 in the morning).