a quick isaan moment at 1500h 31.03.12 #Amazingthailand #thailand

I had just got back from a road trip was was bout to try out TRUE 3G when this parade passed

Is it Racism or just Ignorance in Thailand

I spotted this on twitter yesterday and read it with interest as I know quiet few westerners in the area that follow and enjoy watching sports, many follow the Provincial Football Cluba and other sports. Now here is one of the signs I have seen around town

 I am sure it comes as no surprise that there is nothing in English. I looked at the aircon bus and train station, nope. And their won't be. How much work or money would it take to make signs at arrival points, hotels and other places non-thais might see them. Now I guess someone is going to tell me that of course this isn't racist and might not even be ignorant, but "O contrer mon frere" and bullshit. Notice I said non thai at the end there. There are a lot of not only westerners, but japanese, chinese, lao that might be interested in the event and live and work in the region. Will there be a schedule of events in English? will there be anything in English? I doubt it. The National religion of Thailand is Narcissism. Just ignore everyone else.
Thus ends my bithching and moaning for the week, enjoy your weekend

Tukcom Center Khon Kaen, Thailand

Tukcom center near the 3 major hotels in town, to me is still the best place to shop for phone and computer equipment. Perhaps not the stock or the lash of the new mall I find the staff here more helpful and knowledgeable than the folk at the mall.

Luangta Maha Boowa Thailand and Gold

There was an article in one of Thailand's Nearly English Language Newspapers today about the gold Luangta had collected for the Thai Government following the 1997 crash. As he well knew the buggers would be trying to get their grubby hands on it.
Well a real newspaper with real journalists might have given you abit more information about that 13 tonnes of gold.
Not too worry some of us old expats do a bit more than sit around and drink all day. My friend "Khon Kaen Retirement Larry" did a bit of math for us.

13 metric tons = 458561 oz (rounded down from 458561.507)
Gold in December 1997 was $290/oz.
Gold in December 2011 is $1600/oz.

1997 = $132,982,690 or  3,989,480,700 Baht
2011 = $733,697,600 or 22,010,928,000 Baht

There are also long tons and short tons but I just used on.
Nice little profit sitting there.
Keep the money where it belongs.
Luang Ta Mahabua, who demanded the country's reserves be permanently safeguarded from potential manipulation or use by the authorities.
And he is not dead quite a year yet and they are already after it.

An Isaan Persprctive 21.12.11

I guess the "Bog Blog" is as good a place as any when talking about the Tourism Authority of Thailand. This story appeared online yesterday from the "Phuket News" and there were a few things that struck me.
The first thing hotel management did was accuse them.
Is it just me or does this the first line of defense regularly in Thailand when dealing with a problem,
Jet skis, motorbike and car rental, robberies, the customer is always at fault.
I am surprised they weren't charged for damage to the safe.
Next, as always, nobody knows anything.
CCTV security camera installed for the floor  was “misaligned”.
This along with, dummy cctv cameras, locked fire escapes seems to be the norm at the higher end tourist destinations.
And finally "Ms Wong asked for the CCTV camera to be repositioned for better security." WTF, why does she have to ask that the hotel align the camera and just how many cameras are misaligned.
But to me the real grabber is the comments.
It seems like this is a regular occurrence. Getting mugged by tuk-tuk and\or taxi drivers and hotel and jet ski rip-offs.
Where are the tourist police and all the other authorities. The other part is that everyone is always too embarrassed to open their mouths.
Recently, here in Khon Kaen I listened to a Thai gentleman talking about getting ripped off by a taxi driver, with the "meters not working" scam. When asked if he argued with the driver or reported it to anyone he repleied "Oh no, I couldn't do something like that"
Do tourists expect to get ripped off where ever they go?
I am just an old man in Isaan, but from my perspective  I sure as hell would not be back "Mr Nagi told the hotel owner that although he was dispirited by the incident, he would be back to stay at the hotel next year."
And to me none of them are operating with a full deck

kathin at Wat Po Non Than, khonkaen, isaan 06.11.11

The temple is an old one in town and is home to both city and forest monks. The kathin is held on standard time as opposed to forest wats where the meal us offered for 0800. If you are ever in khonkaen, it is worth a visit for the weird scenes around the temple

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Another Tourism Authority of Thailand Error in Isaan

"Make merit in 'Tak Bat Devo Festival 2011' October 15-26 at Kalasin City Pillar Shrine, Kalsin. Call 043 – 871146 for more info."
That was the Khon Kaen TAT post on their "face is more important than fact" page on Facebook.
I contacted a long time contact for 2 reasons !
I have never heard of a Tak Bat Devo go on for that long and If TAT posts it I assume an error.
Here is the reply to my question
Dear Khun Tom, Tak Bat Devo you mention will be at Larn Tham, Phoo Sing Temple, Sa Hat Sa Khan. The event will last only 2 days-15 to 16 October. More info may be at Nonbuee Municipality's website . If you call that number u gave me please ask for KhunTukta.
Prasit Galasilk.