Thailand Right Now

RAINY

2012-10-21T20:32:00.005+07:00

Now it has rained a few days. No tennis. But then in the afternoon we had a visit from Mrs. Sun. Welcome.

Quickly on the outfit and head to Nam Kila. Two men had already started and had cleared a path free of water. Soon, even the second path clear and more players had arrived. The game is in full swing as usual.

Yesterday morning had the city center a parade that wriggled main street. They usually start out at the stadium, but then as rebuilding a bridge now turn off the way I was wondering how they had done this time. The parade meant that I could not visit the usual ATM, it was blocked. But there are other ones. All banks on the main street of the city was, however, clear from the list of options that I drew in my memory.

This week you can see from the news that Pol Gen Vudh Liptapanlop in police management determined that the Tourist Police will speak fluent English within six months. The proclamation was viewed with great skepticism in the comments on the forum.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/592034-thai-tourist-police-soon-to-speak-fluent-english/

MIRACLE

2012-10-17T13:21:00.004+07:00

Today, or rather tonight Thailandtime, at roughly 03:50, there was a global event that is not directly related to Thailand.

The case of Germany against Sweden in football World Champs qualifiers. In Thailand, it is the UKwhich is the big attraction. Other nations will more come first in 4th place. But as I sat up and listened to the radio, I would like to share with you the outrageous experience that gave a sense of dreaming. Beacuse it was in the middle of the night and I was sitting in an armchair next to the bed.

Fifteen minutes into the second half led Germany with clear 4 goals to nil and looked to go to another safe secure outstanding game. The team had on the Friday before, in Dublin, defeating Ireland 6-1.

Then arose the Swedish football warriors as a phoenix out of the ashes. Nibbled into its lead with furious determination. In the last trembling stage chirped the team to draw 4 to 4.

Absolutely incredible.

Please excuse me that I use this forum for this kind of thing. But, patience. Ahead Christmas, the relevant reports about life down here will be.

I want to take this opporturnety to thank everyone for happy and nice comments. THANKS.

To tell something about what is happening in Nakhon si Thammarat, I can mention that this is a large festival dizzy for a few weeks. Thalad Parkand Na Muang is packed of tents with vendors and in between a scene where shows of mainly singers an orchestra _ is held. Although Nam Kila has occasionally had similar arrangements on large football field. Thai boxing has had its program, and more, and more ...

Tennis gang chugging along however as usual. We have been lucky with the weather for a long time now. When it rained, it has been at night or day. Evenings have been precipitation free.

We also thank for it, maybe even that one lord miracle, or maybe Buddha?

Big meeting in TEMPLE

2012-10-14T12:04:00.002+07:00

Today I've got some time, and got back something of mood to make a post.

I hope it will be some sporadic appearances and then more and more until the next year beginning. Then I will be back in action.

Though I do not know if it will be so much video filming, we'll see.

The rainy season shines more by its absence, pepper, pepper ... (I do not know if English has this expression?)

Admittedly september was rainy, but the real big cats´n dogs that lasts for hours did not occur. Somewhere in the back of your mind is the thought that it will, it will ...

At the same time, it is hoped we do not have anyway so it does not get flooding.

Schools have holliday. In month shift a new academic year begins. My daughter and her friends seem to think that the best preparation is to beeing lazy, talk and noise around. Sometimes we have long que with mates who come to visit. And suddenly, the entire gang dissapears and maybe visit another girl. Teenage years is knocking at the door so you can imagine that boys are a topic of conversation that has started with the expotentially development to wait.

Some time ago we were at a big meeting. We were three people who took us one hundred kilometers to a temple. It became afterwards several thousand visitors. First we got a red note and some flowers lashed on a stick. With the yellow flowers we would be expected to go into a house with altars and several Buddha figures. Incense was lit on the altar and in front of this one would kneel in front of Buddha statue, bow down to the floor and some persons expressed a kind of prayer. The flowers was laid in front of the altar.

Then there were several ceremonies that you could choose whether to participate or not. For example, there was a station where there was a wooden bowl with a hot drink.

We had arrived at seven o'clock after driving from home in the middle of the night. During the morning, streamed more and more people. At 12 o'clock began the meeting to be held in a large room of about 16-18 times 30 meters. All could not be accommodated there, where we with red notes were first. There were people with different colored patches and they had to patiently wait on the stairs and under the tent roof outside. Meeting leader who was a monk in his orange mantle with a microphone so everyone could hear in the thousands of crowded area.

At the same time the rain started. Occasionally blurted it down. When we went into the hall everybody took off her shoes as custom says. Most had such simple slippers that are most in common here.

We sat on the floor, on your knees. The monk talked for a long time, and then came another monk chanting long prayers as people joined in . Forward half past two the meeting would end with everyone would be awarded a bag of different pieces of wood. A small bag whose contents should be boiled and make a drink that was a kind of natural medicine.

The bags were distributed at the rear door and people thronged to come out with their ration. From behind pressed all who stood outside, but the guards let order of entrance only as people made their way out through the back door. Outside it was raining yet and courtyard was one grieve.

We had no shoes, the ones we had taken of. At the entrance there, where were the shoes were still a few thousand remain, and to access some shoes were impossible. We got barefoot to take us to the car and the nearest town, we bought new. These slippers are pretty cheap so it did nothing.

But the situation and the entire experience was of the sort that could both cry and laugh. at least for me as a foreigner.

How the Thais took the matter is more difficult to find out.

A LITTLE NEWS while waiting for the NEXT POSTS

2012-05-23T23:00:00.000+07:00

Meanwhile, as I recover from the trip on Tuesday, comes some news via Thai-visa expat forum. During the last part of the journey between Had Yai and Padang Besar, which is the village at the border 60 kilometers south of Had Yai, I went by local bus. This very old bus can not be accused of possession of even a chicken feather. And any other suspension, either in the chassis or the seats were absolutely not. My back got its fair share of this shaking trip and probably I have to visit the dentist even when his teeth chattered so that the damage probably occurred on old fillings.

That's the thing with the matter and when I fail to sit at the computer for any length of time it becomes a bit sporadically with posts during the healing process of the back. The journey to the border, of course, to be documented, but it must also contain video, so it may be deferred.

Go ahead then with this news for so long, there are two major events that occur in Thailand.

On one hand, freedom fighter Suu Kyi from Maynamar (formerly Burma) visit Bangkoknext week and also the king to visit Ayutthaya.

Excitement builds in Ayutthaya

The Nation

AYUTTHAYA: -- Excitement is mounting across the country in anticipation of His Majesty's first trip outside of Greater Bangkok in recent years. The much-beloved monarch is set to visit Ayutthaya on Friday.

The King's trip will also be special because he has rarely left Siriraj Hospitalsince he was admitted for medical treatment in 2009.

"It's a big honour and an extreme delight for Ayutthayaresidents," Ayutthaya Governor Wittaya Phiewpong said yesterday.

His Majesty will visit Thung Makham Yong in Ayutthaya's Muang district and pay respect to the statue of Queen Suriyothai there. Thung Makham Yong was where Suriyothai climbed aboard an elephant in battle against an invading army and sacrificed her life to defend her king in 1549.

Under an initiative of His Majesty, Thung Makham Yong is also a "monkey cheeks" area for water retention during the flood season. According to Wittaya, it has saved a number of people from floods each year.

During the dry season, Thung Makham Young is a public park that can accommodate a huge number of people.

Wittaya said the park has been spruced up in preparation for the royal visit, which will not only include the King but Her Majesty the Queen. The pageantry will include an elephant parade. And a procession of boats, to replicate an old-time floating market, is also planned.

Rehearsals took place yesterday and will be repeated today.

Phranakhon Si Ayutthaya Rajabhat University has been preparing 2,500 decorative krathong floats for the King's visit.

His Majesty, who will turn 85 this year, commands much love and respect from his people, having reigned in Thailandfor more than six decades. When his health was better, he travelled extensively to reach out and extend help to his people, especially those in remote areas.

On May 14, 1996, His Majesty visited Thung Makham Yong and personally laboured to harvest a rice crop there.

Wittaya said he plans to ask the King's permission to use the actual sickle from 1996 on a statue that commemorates that rice harvest. The sculpture stands at Thung Hantra in Ayutthaya, but the sickle is a replica.

The authentic sickle has a pearl handle and it features the emblem marking His Majesty's Golden Jubilee, as well as the name of Ayutthaya province.

Wittaya said after the statue was cast the provincial government launched a project to encourage residents to grow rice for consumption themselves.

"The project has already kicked off in two districts," Wittaya said. "In August, the locals will be able to harvest the rice." He said the programme would be expanded to 14 other districts.

Ayutthaya Rice Research Centre director Apichart Lawanprasert said His Majesty was the "King of Agriculture".

"He's my inspiration. His Majesty has done so many things for the country's agricultural sector. He has provided many solutions to farmers," Apichart said.

The area at the monument can accommodate 20,000 visitors and residents, who can wait for and watch the royal motorcade as it passes along the route, said Dissathorn Watcharothai, deputy secretary-general of the Royal Household Bureau. There are 10,000 sets of documents about the royal visit that will be given away, he said. He added that a grand rehearsal of the ceremonies will be held tomorrow - the eve of the royal visit.

His Majesty's public appearance has always brought much happiness to his people. The upcoming trip will be particularly special because he has rarely left the Siriraj Hospital since he was admitted for medical treatment in 2009.

"It's the big honour and extreme delight for Ayutthayaresidents," Ayutthaya Governor Wittaya Phiewpong said about the king's upcoming visit.

His Majesty will visit Thung Makhamyong in Ayutthaya's Mueang district and pay respect to the statue of Queen Suriyothai there on May 25. Thung Makham Yong was where the late queen fought against an invading army and sacrificed her life in defending the Kingdom during the Ayutthaya Period.

Thung Makham Yong, according to Wittaya, has also been an area earmarked as "monkey's cheek" or an area that will serve water-retention purpose during flood season under a His Majesty's initiative. This monkey cheek has saved a number of people from floods before.

During the dry season, Thung Makham Young is a public park that can accommodate a huge number of people.

Wittaya disclosed that his authority had already revamped the park in preparations for the king's visit. Her Majesty the Queen is expected to accompany him too. Grand performances including an elephant parade and a procession of boats to replicate a floating market in the good old days are also planned.

Performance rehearsals took place yesterday and will also repeat today.

Phranakhon Si Ayutthaya Rajabhat has been preparing 2,500 decorative floats or Krathong for their beautiful procession during the king's visit too.

His Majesty, who will turn 85 later this year, has commanded much love and respect from his people. Reigning Thailandfor more than six decades, he had traveled extensively to reach out and extend help to his people especially those in remote areas when his health still allowed him to.

On May 14 1996, His Majesty visited Thung Makham Yong and harvested rice crop by himself there.

Wittaya yesterday said he planned to ask for His Majesty's permission to place the sickle that he used in 1996 in the hands of his rice-harvesting statue. Cast to highlight His Majesty's attention to paddy fields, the statue has now stood at the Thung Hantra in Ayutthayabut with a sickle replica.

The authentic sickle has a pearl handle and it features the emblem marking His Majesty's 50th Golden Jubilee. The name of Ayutthaya's province has appeared on this sickle too.

Wittaya said after the statue was cast, his provincial government also launched a project to encourage Ayutthayapeople to grow rice for consumption themselves.

"The project has already kicked off in two districts. In August, the locals will be able to harvest the rice," the Ayutthayagovernor said, adding that locals in 14 other districts will also follow suit.

Ayutthaya Rice Research Centre director Apichart Lawanprasert said His Majesty was the King of Agriculture.

"He's my inspiration. His Majesty has done so many things for the country's agricultural sector. He has provided many solutions to farmers," Apichart said.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/557259-his-majesty-the-king-to-visit-ayutthaya-this-friday/

-- The Nation 2012-05-23

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/557470-suu-kyi-to-visit-bangkok-next-week-party/

Suu Kyi to go abroad for first time in 24 years

YANGON, May 24, 2012 (AFP) - Myanmarpro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi will visit Bangkok next week on her first trip overseas in more than two decades, her party said Thursday.

"She will go to the World Economic Forum in Thailand," said Nyan Win, a spokesman for the Nobel Peace Prize winner's National League for Democracy.

The event is being held from May 30 to June 1.

The veteran activist also plans to travel to Europe next month where she will accept in person her 1991 Nobel peace prize in Oslo, and address Britain's parliament and an International Labour Organisation conference in Geneva.

The 66-year-old opposition leader spent much of the last two decades locked up in her Yangon home by Myanmar's former junta, but has now been issued with a passport and is able to travel abroad for the first time in 24 years.

She had previously been unwilling to leave for fear the former British colony's military rulers would not let her return.

Myanmar's relations with the international community have improved dramatically since a nominally civilian government took over last year and Suu Kyi won her first ever seat in parliament in by-elections last month.

TODAY NO POSTS

2012-05-22T23:00:00.000+07:00

Due to the leaving from home, attendance for a visa to travel, there will be no post today.

DIADEM and FRILLS makes BEAUTIFUL WOMEN

2012-05-21T16:15:00.002+07:00

Hair accessories, this is about. And we are talking of course about women. Men use hardly this category, if one can not count Toupe for this.

Lots of sweet and gorgeous tings such is now available at low prices on Swedish eBay; TRADERA.

Here are some links to vendors that are promoted:

http://www.tradera.com/finding.mvc/itemlisting?ftgnr=2996910

http://www.tradera.com/finding.mvc/itemlisting?ftgnr=1405241

http://www.tradera.com/finding.mvc/itemlisting?ftgnr=2642059

INHIBITED

2012-05-20T23:00:00.000+07:00

Because of some reasons I can not make a post or shoot video or so, today. A bit more about that tomorrow, about diadems and other beauty accessories such as sunglasses and more ...

A lot of work and travel visa on Tuesday, for which preparations are made tomorrow.

Will come back with stories about visa-trip will be on Wednesday or Thursday.

BIRD-WATCHING

2012-05-19T23:00:00.000+07:00

Birds are an important part in many Thai peoples life. The relationship is personal and private in a way, at the same time wants to present his beautiful bird to the world.

"It's beautiful." "Oh, yes. Very beautiful. But my bird has a beautiful color on the chest. ""Yes, but my bird's beak is so beautiful to look upon."

Or how it might sound like when these bird enthusiasts meet. Especially during the weekends, people gather in specific locations where there are racks of pipes, where a bird owner can hang his cage on. Or if the bird is resting, you take it under the roof, and either with or without a curtain. The transport of the birds usually go with the bike, it comes to having your tongue right in the mouth when you balance the cage with one hand, control the handlebar and gas with the other.

I agree, the birds are nice, beautiful and good singing. What I know from Sweden are bird lovers and many cares as much there as here. But at the special relationship, as the mascot and luck donator.. Companion and friend. One of Bhudda raised creature fills the mankind, lift her up to the heights of happiness. I understand that the bird is such a saintly glory here.

In Nakhon si Thammarat is one area where specialty shops are close. It provides the cages in all sorts of looks and style. Proper carpentry in the creatures. It is also cages in plastic-coated metal, and they may be the neat, but the durability does not extend as far as the cages with wood or cane. Bird seeds and all sorts of accessories are also available. Specially-made fabrics to cover over the cage when the bird to sleep.

The chirp anywhere in this area. A number of small fields for shows scattered where surface fiinns. Even major exhibitions organized. They can be compared with like a dog or cat. Best in show and lots of other prizes.

Birie, birdie! Birdie Nam

Nam

We show a clip from Wild Film IndiaDecember 2, 2011

Various birds of

Thailand

“982 species of bird have been recorded in the wild in

Thailand

, of which three are endemic, one introduced by humans, and 45 rare or accidental.”

This HAPPENS in Nakhon si Thammarat

2012-05-18T14:35:00.004+07:00

Yes, certain things happen. All the time. When I have time and feel like I just glides around on the mop and is ready with the camcorder. It should be said right away, the camera is not of higher quality, it is one which is primarily to take photos digitally, but also has video capability. The basis for inskaffandet was to shoot stuff to post on the web. For there is no need for expert camera and is not an expert, you should not concern itself with such fancy stuff. Stuff I sell is of course also no treasures, just simple little things and objects.

My camera's good enough for YouTube works it anyway ok.

Despite round-turns are the most at the stadium that happens things. If you go there every night, one can not avoid incidents. Today, one paint line, for example. Motions as running, jogging, walking or lumbering around the stadium finally get their own lane separated by a wide solid line dash.

Then it's life and activity among those waiting to play a set, as usual, of course. It's good mood at all, jokes and rampant forest, perhaps gossip too.

When I go home I check out the daily built restaurants along the wall. There are carpets and low tables. Going to dinner is excellent here. Sitting on the butt or lap also, of course. Cooking smells fumes into my nostrils, I get hungry.

Gotta go home and eat a little.

BUDDHISM

2012-05-17T13:00:00.000+07:00

In response to the Protestant doctrine, special day, I take a little hold of the religion Buddhism.

Ascension Day makes me think of Buddha, the man who should have founded Buddhism.

Prince Siddhartha Gautama of the Shakya clan should have meditated extremely intense, for how long the meditation was going on, I can not find answers, unfortunately. However, this should have happened 2555 years ago. At least according to the Thai view of the matter, chronology of this kingdom started in all cases. Which kingdom that rules here are probably not fully established, there are only guesses, but it must have been a precursor to the claims that based Siamkingdom. Probably there were several small groups.

Buddha, that the prince, freed his body from the cycle of birth - aging - disease - to death. This should have taken place in Bodh Gaya in India. The prince did not suffer any longer, he "dissolved" in a state of happiness in the last step in the liberation that calls itself "the truth of all parties 'termination'. This final step will be nirvana.

Practitioners of Buddhism to live ethically, meditative and gain insight. Shila, Samadhi and Prajna. You should train in these subjects, find happiness and well-being, do not be greedy or have aversion.

Going deeper into this doctrine can not be done for a non-believer like me. When I asked of my Thai friends about my religion, the answer is that I am an atheist. This raises many wonderings and considerations, how can you not believe in anything. Is there really such a thing, must not a man to have a religion?

It's a good question. To consider.

THE THAI RAILROAD

2012-05-16T19:05:00.004+07:00

InSuratthani province rolls the trains from Bangkokto Phun Phin station. By the way, one wonders how Suratthani really be spelled. It is often a discrepancy in how cities and towns to be spelled. I usually stick to what road signs are spelled, but even with that you can be sure that the signs say different in some places. Surat Thani it is spelled sometimes. It may be that often shortens and just says Surat. Well, there will certainly trains come anyhow.

From there the highway, 150 kilometersto "our" city, Nakhon si Thammarat. But the railroad is another stretch west of the mountains and down towards the south. The tracks makes a long bend to the south before it turns north again. From Suratthani train takes about 5 hours. The road takes 2 hours if you drive at a leisurely pace. This was a friend of mine to become aware. Many years ago he traveled by train from the north and in Surat Thani he thought that "now we are almost there in Nakhon si Thammarat." Oh what he deceived himself.

Here's my previous post on the railroad in the replay:

The Thai railway history begins some years before the turn into the 1900s. There is anexcellent website Thailand By Train, which explains how it came about and some interesting passages. On this page are also schedules for the five different routes all radiate from Bangkok, Hua Lamphong Railway Station.

I have traveled by train up or down from Bangkokand it is perfectly acceptable since most trains run at night and you can sleep well during the trip. The railway is narrow gauge and this line to the south have long distances with only one track. Thus it takes quite a long time because the locomotive must await oncoming trains. Down to Nakhon si Thammarat, it will take extra time when you travel a long round down to the south before moving around up north again. The start dividing after Thung Song Junction, a city about 60 kilometers south of Nakhon si Thammarat.

By European standards are the trainsets in a low standard. But ticket prices are low and you sleep or sit equally well in these pretty worn out cars. There are dining car and also service rounds of salesmen. In addition, many vendors on the train at the major stations and you can buy all sorts of things, food, fruit and drinks, and more.

I am at the crossroads of central Nakhon si Thammarat when a train is approaching (see video). Bells ring and the bars begin to precipitate. Many sneak in before they had gone too far down. In a small cabin is a train guard, maybe he is called the station master, who comes out and stands beside the track. The locomotive will be quite slow, it has just started from the station just a few hundred meters away. I think it's an empty train passing by.

The train barely have time to pass before the booms will be raised again, I think it's the stationmaster that operate them manually, but I'm standing on the wrong side in order to verify this.

As the train passed. All waiting vehicles can pass on, return to the journey you have to cancel for a few minutes.

HEAR ABOUT HAPPINESS ON THE RADIO

2012-05-15T14:00:00.000+07:00

Sweden

's Night Radio, the eminent channel that broadcasts between midnight and morning, is always on via web radio on my computer. At the moment of writing, playing a song about happiness and more.

And then I wonder: Am I happy with life here in Thailand. The answer is undoubtedly yes. I think everything is much simpler here. If you need some eggs, go to the shop 20 metersfrom the door. Or do you drive moped to Seven Eleven to a few hundred meters from here, open around the clock for a quart of milk. It is never far from anything.

This morning after dropping off my daughter at school, I drove a puncture on the mop. I got the lead bike 200 hundred meters to the nearest workshop. There are lots of them. With probably one million motorcycles in this city is the need for servicing large. There are many who are ready to meet that need. It is my philosophy of why everything is so much easier here. If you want to start a mobile food sales with a cart, or want to open a shop for groceries, just to pop up.

No hassle with the bureaucracy, and state tax authorities or health authorities for that matter. Should the company grow and become large, one can fix the company registration and other things later.

I remember the square in my hometown was full of vendors every Wednesday and Saturday in the sixties. Nobody asked for VAT registration or consumption document for allowed sevice state then. How was it then that Sweden was so complicated and difficult to access? What made this situation like it is now?

Authorities should come here and study life here. There is no social assistance or unemployment. People without jobs, there may be, but is it probably depends of that they do not accept any job or does not even want. But I never hear anyone complain.

You're happy and satisfied with what you have, simply.

REPEAT VISIT with the ORTHOPEDIST

2012-05-14T14:45:00.003+07:00

It's time for another visit with my orthopedic surgeon. I arrive in Nakhon Phat, as hospital name is. There one gets first visit the front desk where the girls sign me up after studying my badge that tells you the name and patient number. They ask if I want to visit orthopedist or if I have any other matter.

Then I sit in the waiting room among other patients and wait for your turn.

This reminds me of a funny story that I learned many, many years ago. Maybe it has nothing to do with this blog's subjects, but I want to share with you this so you will have discretion in determining its maintenance value.

A man rushes straight through the waiting room which is packed with visitors who are patiently waiting their turn. But the man ignores alland rips up the door to the doctor's consulting room.

- Doctor, Doctor, cries the man. I have swallowed a billiard ball, help!

The doctor looks up from the patient that he was just investigating, pointing with his hand and index finger out to the waiting room.

- The queue is out there!

That was the lapsus. I remember it while waiting for the doctor. I get your blood pressure checked in the meantime. All patients are tested prior medical examination, blood pressure is absolute, amounts in cases in which this task can be valuable, and nurses take his temperature. There is a lot of nurses to your service.

I'll never go into the doctor's room, she has ordered that I be shown into the treatment room immediately because this is a visit to the a part where I get treatment every three months and my orthopedic surgeon is well aware of this. She is a good orthopedic surgeon as I can judge, a native of Japan, but more about her story, I can not, our relationship is strictly professional between patient vs. physician.

The treatment takes 10 minutes and then everything is clear. I can go home after having paid and got my medicine.

See you in 3 months if nothing else intervenes, I greet goodbye.

MARKETS FOOD is KEY for our STOMACH

2012-05-13T14:37:00.000+07:00

I have written and shown video of a lot of markets and other posts on food. By the other day about fried rice and then breakfast. And the food is unequivocally our most important living conditions.

Therefore, I take this Sunday a little break from writing and refreshing with a couple of previous posts.

******************************

Early, early the work starts on the main market in central Nakhon si Thammarat. Already at midnight starts the day with all the preparations. How it works where we will return to in a separate article.

Today shall be focus on when the market is well under way for customers to buy their breakfast, or for today's cooking. The smaller eateries as well as the larger come here to feed. Here's everything you may need. All kinds of meats and fish. Chickens and other flying birds, butchered and cut, or cut up on the customer's request, according to his wishes. A long pork steak, so called pork chop boneless, maybe a customer wants one kilogram of. The clerk cut a bit saturated and sometimes puts a small slice more to obtain a kilo evenly. The meat will be mostly shredded in small pieces for the different pots to cook. But you can also use it as a steak, both plain roast pork or the so-called. Moo deng, a steak marinated with red rot and become quite red when serving.

You can also order food by a motorcycle taxi, then they come home and deliver what it ordered, mostly with cell phone. Taxi drivers have a number of customers who call and order, either pick up to go to the market, or let the driver perform purchases.

Around the city there are a number of markets. Some are morning market like this, or it may be a day market that does not open until the afternoon. Morning Market closes normally some time before noon, around 10 latest,, 've been running for almost a half days.

So some markets are empty, and rest before the busy traffic that occurs later. In some places occurs spontaneous small markets selling mainly morning food in portions. It can be, for example. "sala pau", a steamed buns with sweet minced pork meat, but it may also have other ingredients. It can be fried donuts the coffee, various other sweets as sticky rice with a filling, it can be a piece of banana prepared. Morning dish can also consist of rice soup or "Jokk" a kind of porridge. The breakfast is as important here as elsewhere. A construction worker need many calories to cope with today's hard work.

Certainly many people cook breakfast at home, but usually this is supplemented with some bought out, the plastic bag or small containers. At breakfast they tablecloths the mat on the floor with various bowls of morning delicacies. Then family members sit down in a ring around and enjoy the day´s first meal.

Ready for work and school. Now the stomach set until lunch, though perhaps a snack is needed before that.

Enjoy your breakfast!

***************************

From all corners of the province's farmers swarming of different types, manufacturers and sellers of bric brac both this and the other, into the city to sell their work.

They gather in a large area, in and around Phattanakan amused. Well, almost the middle of the street, pick it up their stalls. Well, almost in middle of street, in any case. Staying in the front provides better exposure, but not everyone can fit in the front rank. Among long, narrow and winding paths they spread their mat or plastic sheet. This stacks the vegetables of all kinds, meat, fruit and everything else.

It's crowded and tight. But no yell for that sake. Customers viewing and value, which position has the best tomatoes? Where can I find the very special thing I seek?

"The bananas are fine today."

"Look here, what a nice cucumbers I have."

Yet it is not a direct alarm, crowds drowned out by vehicles that force their way into the small dividing strip left on the street. Motorcycles parked outside the stalls crowd into the street edge. Some sell directly from their pickup. The bikes run taxi stand with their waiting drivers hanging beside. Waiting for customers which shall to home with their purchases.

Early, early morning starts organizing of the market at the wide area. At sunrise shortly after six o'clock, they are prepared to welcome the first customers. Forward lunchtime they start to pack down, and at two o'clock in the afternoon only remains the cleaners who sweep up any debris that inevitably formed during this kind of events. Saturday's performance is then played again on Sunday.

And next week it's time for the replay.

BREAKFAST

2012-05-12T03:00:00.000+07:00

What does Westerners eat for breakfast when you live in southeast Asia. Well, many probably are eating the same as the Thais. Self, I eat sometimes the regular breakfast of rice soup. But quite often I want a sandwich and yogurt. My tennis friend Wolfgang has baked bread and I'll be offered a real rye bread loaf of sourdough. Super.

Eggs, I try to avoid the morning. Saves them for lunch that even if there is rice, can be nice to have as a complement.

I checked what they wrote about breakfast in Asia on the web. Found in on Swedes in the World where I am a member.

An anonymous writer answers a wondering about breakfast. The wondering is moving to Singaporeand want to know what to eat for breakfast if you do not want rice or noodles.

Hi Anna, I just got home from Singapore. We move down the New Year's Eve for 2-3 years we've been there now to select residents. Yes, Anna our Swedish friends who eat at home yougurt sandwich, vegetable, Our friends from singaporeeating three cooked meals a day. I started every morning with fruit that suits me because I'm struggling to lose weight. We were there 3 weeks now, and it is much rice, noodles. Are you moving soon? we are 45y.o. or my husband 53 our son in 19 years to me 6 months please let me know would be fun. There are many Swedish girls in singlets in singapor I am me in SWEA singapor pretty fun.

But then I see that the answering machine is not anonymous, maybe just do not have account with the Swedes in the World, a website with forums. I will email him and announce that the answer lies in this blog.

Another nice breakfast is porridge. Oatmeal can be bought here and such a porridge with jam and milk is delicious. And do not forget coffe.

Enjoy your meal.

NEW SCHOOL YEAR CALLING

2012-05-11T19:40:00.004+07:00

So now "summer vacation" is over for the students and teachers. Yesterday was registration day and today began work in earnest. My daughter now starts the stage of the last year in intermediate level of compulsory school, class 6. Now the school's role into a new phase. Now it will be more focus on important topics. Only one school year to go until the upper level lower secondary school, climax of the elementary school.

Lots of people are in place to meet and bring home their sons and daughters. Especially today, as first-class students requiring parental care to get to and home from school. So it is "crowded" with private cars, public buses, minibuses, big buses, mopeds, and all these crowded with parents and students who spill out of school.

Already, it is time for weekend off time. Only one hard day at school before Saturday's and Sunday's resting. Thankfully, perhaps?

FRIED RICE - A FAVORITE

2012-05-10T20:50:00.000+07:00

Fried rice, or flied lise - which tourists use to joke to it - it should be the story today. This food dish is the most common in Thailand. Among tourists as well as natives. Soup kitchen koi theo or other dishes may excuse but fried rice is by far the most ordinary dish. All times over the day. Maybe not so common for breakfast, but other times it is suitable, other dishes are more time-bound.

The most common way is to buy a box at a food stall/ restaurant. Although you can sit there, there are usually a few tables, but it is most lunches as food will be eaten in place and stead. Bring in a cellplast container is easy and quickly.

I stop at a food stall where the cooking kitchen is located outside on the pavement. So it looks usually. Should you want to sit you have to go through the kitchen. I wonder what English or Swedish health authorities would say about that.

Purchaser before also bought fried rice - khao pad. Wook-pan is made clean with a whisper. Then heating oil up the fried egg that I ordered as an additional option. Fried egg and some oil is scooped out, there is too much fat otherwise. Thank you, you have to think about this. Then pan fried lightly the chicken meat. The egg that to be inside of the food baking on the side of the meat. It's like an omelet which then chopped and mixed. After that it is rice and vegetables to be in. Finally, the spices and seasoning sauces. Two different fish sauces and soy.

Simsalabim. The whole thing is finished.

I pay 70 baht. 30 baht each for fried rice-portions, and 10 baht for the extra egg. It represents about 1.50 Euros.

My daughter and I have dinner fixed. The bag is in the moped basket on the way home, the box keeps food warm during the trip home.

Thanks for dinner it was good, for me and Robin Hood.

HIDDEN GRIDS

2012-05-09T15:53:00.000+07:00

This reflection I wrote for about 8 years ago, but everything is the same today as the data remains unchanged. However, I have no pictures specifically. You get "street law" in replay instead.

THAILAND CITIES usually have a number of broad avenues. But in between the streets are narrow, vehicles, people and street trading are fighting for space.

"My Town", Nakhorn si Thammarat in southern

Thailand

, is no exception. The area where I live, binds a narrow street, up the lanes that flow from the through road, I call it "middle street". It is about seven hundred meters long but only four meters wide. Along this street, people live in a townhouse-style apartments and crowded with about forty shops of various kinds. Grocer in the majority, but there are restaurants, barber shops, scooter shops, electronic commerce, and more.

One day I went driving with my scooter and noticed that new asphalt coating was provided. Black shiny asphalt. However, ... something was not right. A candle was lit for me when I realized that missed was the drains. Its grid of about six feet square, were visible only by their absence.

What the hell now? The grids had been like that with six to eight feet away, so now we were in the absence of a huge mass of sewage. What will happen when the storm rains start? Flooding was still, now we have probably to buy a boat.

A few days later eased my heart. The grids were there half hidden under the black mass. For now, the cars had passed, which meant that the asphalt was pressed down by the iron, here and there. Whew! But how were they supposed to mean?

The answer came a few days later. Now, all the bars exposed, to some extent. Workers chopped up the asphalt around, lifted up the grate, putting on a new socket. Once the cement was burned finished grille, smooth and even with the street in general. Not too bad thought though. Thai logic in his element!

WHEN WE ARE NOW IN THE LOGICAL ...

Another illogical and at the same time logical phenomenon is the electricity company's billing practices. The tariff for electricity cost is based on one hundred units' range. And this is rising! This means that the more you consume, the more you pay per kilowatt hour. Western friend of order stands puzzled? If you buy a lot usually it's cheaper? Myself I buy at wholesale and a dozen will be cheaper price per unit than a single one. As usually it is. But so is not electricity. Why not?

Will you think of that hard, and you should so, conclusion gives that big consumers pays exceptionally lot more for their energy use than the little one. The core family in their humble abode, with TV, fridge and fan, will get power cheaply. The giant factory owner by mass pays multiply.

Fair? Judge for yourselves!

CONCERNS - WHAT IS CULTURE? part 2

2012-05-08T15:00:00.000+07:00

We come at heart of the question: what is it that can be counted to be culture. Is it the glamor and glitter that we looked into in the last section of the royal family. Could it be even the simple man in his small apartment. The typical family with working father and the children in school. Is it culture? We continue to look at life in

Thailand

and YOU get to decide what is culture.

In the last post I discussed the royal family and rojalismen. Today we take a walk into town, this goes along with the possible.

From the royal family we step down a few steps.

The man on the street then? When you think about street life will naturally to the sale of food in different forms. I would think that Thai eats about 50-75% of the total intake, out at restaurants or take-away in bags and light-weight boxes. In the evenings, assembled all restaurants on sidewalks and plazas. In particular with noodles in various forms. But even carts with grills and deep-fried, is abundant. Daytime attracts dealers their carts through neighbourhoods’ and promote the sale of its product line by queens on a horn. Some mobile kitchens are motorized, a sidecar connected to the motorcycle. The ceiling looks like these little houses that rolls around.

Sidewalks-food-servings is hosting a separate chapter. In the afternoon, the restaurant is to be set up from scratch. Tables and chairs, kitchen cart and any external devices. Last but not least the TV! One way to attract customers in the tough competition takes the form of one of the people's favorite pastimes. Being able to eat while watching dumburken, success was assured. Nowadays, television is a must, those who can not entertain their guests will lose customers.

Later that night the curve fitted everything back down to rest for a half day to the next issue ...

Restaurants there are lots of in Nakhon si Thammarat. I have previously spoken of JE cafe and restaurant. It is a type of facilities that will more and more. It serves both Western and Thai cousine. And the Thai food is prepared with more care than lunch restaurants with their big sprints. Also presents food neatly arranged so that the eye along with his. We humans eat the all the senses.

Since we have previously talked about fast food. All these chains establishing themselves even in this city. Most recently, McDonald's and before that Diary Queen. Can you call them for culture? My friend on Koh Samui grilled whole pigs - asado - to parties, can that may be culture?

In addition, I saw another word the other day. Fine culture. Hm? Should we thereby distinguish between different kinds of culture? Divide the culture: Junk Culture, Normal culture and Fine culture. Perhaps even more levels in between. As a grading system perhaps. Culture Class 5. What a culture class do you belong to?

This, ladies and gentlemen, is the blog culture.

MY TENNIS PALS 3

2012-05-07T20:21:00.003+07:00

Anupa and husband Tammanoon

Today I reached to the third presentation of the players in the loosely held club at Nam Kila stadium in Nakhon si Thammarat. It will be three people per post.

As usual, we will find a lady and two gentlemen. Anupa is the wife of youth coach Tammanoon. She has played for many years and is experienced. Strong in the game from the baseline. Like most men who held on for a while, she started first playing at Na Muang city facility. Both she and her husband works as a teacher at the school adjacent to the stadium si Thammarat. As you can see we have many teachers among tennis players.

Jira and Payrooth

Thus Payrooth even he teachers. He engaged in the profession in the place of Ron Phibun about 30 kilometers south of Nakhon si Thammarat. He lives away from school and so there is 40 km to the tennis. Despite this, he will to play 4 or 5 nights a week. He is experienced and safe placement has a deep swing on both forehand and backhand.

So for JIRA that I forgot to find out profession. He is not one of those who come early but shows up just after six o'clock. He has a good serve that is straight and sometimes some "kick", kick serve means that the ball may be a light coat down at the end of the battle finishes. Volley game is also something JIRA mastered well.

Now I have presented nine players. Must see if any of the players can help me with players resume. Maybe later on. In writing it is at once time to go to the facility for tonight's game. Although approaching sixty years, I am still keen on playing as if I still were junior.

Wishful thinking?

Extra: play between Wolfgang and Yu versus Prateep och Sochard

LOOK TO YOUR HEALTH – VISIT A DOCTOR

2012-05-06T13:00:00.000+07:00

Health care is a fairly large portion of a human life. You need to see to its health, visiting a doctor for that - if nothing else check everything is as it should.

Here you can find private and public hospitals. There are also manyprivate clinics. These clinics are mostley run by a physician who work in hospitals and alsoengaged in medical care inown management. Allhospitals and clinics are also pharmacies, either in the reception or the next in a connecting room.

Smoking damages your health.

When the doctor prescribes medication and sets cureperiod, assigned to the patient exactly the amount that is consumed in the case of tablets. Liquid medicine can also be assigned in smaller bottlesapothecary pots up, but there is usually smaller bottles from the factory that is suitable enough for one or sometimes two courses. Butwith pills, it is usually so that theypurchased in large cans. A breakdown of, for example, 20 tablets are better for the patient's point of view. They will not then, as usualin Europe, for example, have to purchase a packof 100 tablets when only 20 are needed.

Instead, prescribing doctors, in my opinion, prescribes too much preparation. It is not uncommon that the patient haswith him six or seven different drugs for a simpleinfection or cold.

Thai in common sets great faith in medical and doctors. They has the impression that those can cure everything, or at least almost everything. Andfaith means a lot to each patient's recovery. I can only compare with

Sweden

,and there isconfidence declined dramatically overa few decades. The patient will feel a lot better if there is a trust between doctor and patient, and that there are so here in

Thailand

, to everyone's benefit.

I visit the hospital Nakhon Pat for orthopedic treatment. I do this regularly so routines are easily identifiable. I will attend the reception and are then shownto seats in the waiting room. Where the nurses takes care for me and for most patients they perform some preparatory survey before the medical visit.

The patient is weighed, measured, and blood pressure and pulse checked. The data recorded in the journal.When it's time, you be accompanied to the doctor. In my case, we need not discuss the long, both knows what appliesand the visit is complete in less than two minutes.

I be accompaniedto the combined treatment and emergency reception room. I put myselfon a couch and need not wait long before myorthopedic surgeon to get there. The treatment is prepared, a couple or threenurses involved in the work. The doctor performing the treatment, followed by a nursefor post-treatment. Since you're all set there,I go to the cashier and pharmacy clinic. After a while the patient is called up, visit thecashier and paythe cover. Shall you ago havemedicn you get sitagain. Order from the Cashier goes intothe pharmacy where pills and other prescribedprepared.

You is once again called and receiveverbal instructions regarding medication. Then you take the bag and gofrom there. I say goodbye to the male carerswho are stationedat the entrance. They are there to take care of the arriving patients, someneed a wheeled, and some require a wheelchair. They serve a wide willingly and politely. Khap khun krap!

SHOUTING CARS

2012-05-05T15:00:00.000+07:00

This film is titled SIX MINUTES of BUSY and SCREECHY TRAFFIC. Six minutes murderous traffic could also have called it. These cars scream - I will into more detail on what happens further down, but the words of the noise decibel multi - namely, have made many friends living in tourist areas, wanting to kill someone. This occurs in the morning when the "day after the day before" tourists trying to sleep the party off in the morning. Then these cars driving on beneath the person's bedroom window. (parentheses)

Jokingly, I usually say that in Thailandit is left-hand traffic ... to 70%, right-hand traffic to 20% and a bit in between to 10%. But so much fun behind the claim is not.

Inside the urban traffic intensity is high. Small motorcycles, motorcycles with sidecar, with dining table hanging on the wheel at the side, with a load of stuff, more than what you could expect to load up a car. All these are to be crowded with cars, small and large trucks and the occasional mammoth big truck. In addition, small people buses, small buses and large double-deck coaches.

Sometimes mixed this collection up with what I call screaming cars. The automobile picup has a construction whereupon it attaches large advertising signs on each side. Signs of about 2 by 3 meters. The car is also equipped with a hefty speaker that is connected to a player. These vehicles then travel around the city in the parade and its loudspeaker shouts out advertising for the company they drive for. The cars have different messages. Usually 4 or 5 cars, but sometimes up to full dozen, depending on how many people bought advertising.

These cars run quite slowly, probably because people along the streets will have time to hear what's called. Western companies doing many surveys. Here it would be interesting to know how good this car advertising goes home.

I guess it goes well. Since these cars moving around the city almost daily.

CONCERNS - WHAT IS CULTURE? part 1

2012-05-04T20:39:00.000+07:00

In some posts I will sort out some cultural differences and or similarities. For non-Westerners and East Asians as different as many seem to think and believe.

CULTURE. Whether this epitets details struck me. What is culture anyway?

Human beings are characterized by their way of thinking, to develop his mind in logical thinking. Are ways to deal with this logic culture? Or is it the klädesdräkt worn in various ceremonies? The concept of culture is quite abstakt and foggy, while in many cases it is crystal clear. Anyway, as it may, on this blog think I at least tell you about my studies of people in the monarchy, Thailand.

A culture completely different than our Swedish or European for that matter.

Pics from SvenskDam

Rojalismen gets point one. The respect and worship of the royal family I think is unprecedented on this planet. King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit is immensely popular. In almost every home there are pictures of these goals. National anthem is strongly associated with the monarch. Officially recorded phratet-thai - National Anthem - at eight o'clock in the morning and six in the evening. It fades out at all the television and through public speakers who are deployed in every major city. People in motion stops, stands almost at attention. In the past also stopped all traffic, but this was banned because of traffic jams in Bangkokcould take several hours to dissolve. The traffic situation is quite chaotic there anyway.

The King 84 years celibration

The king's word is law. Officially, he has no parliamentary power, but it does not matter. There he lay for. The last major reform decree was about health care, the right of everyone to help for very little monetary compensation. Reform paid for with a special alcohol and tobacco. This levy fund is not general, but is administered directly to the expenditure.

Another example of respect for the king's words are a bit behind the times and can not be verified by me as true. The probability is very high that the situation was at that point. The political divisions among the ruling was large, the situation was very serious. The commander threatened military coup. He was called to the king who said: aja baja, so we should not do. Chief obeyed nicely. It's called respect.

To be continued ...

NEW MEMBERS to TENNIS-CLUB

2012-05-03T23:00:00.000+07:00

The married couple Ant och Eon

Phoun

We've had a lot of new players and a few "returners". Therefore, I will publish them here. Some long article is not the case today, so you have to make do with some pictures.

Suethep

Achirawit

Players will be made available on "TENNIS people" see the menu above, as soon as possible. We are now many persons who play every night, waiting times are long and the blackboard to write up is fully subscribed. Maybe we take a rule we had before when it was full of people, namely, that only have a maximum of one "deuce" siuation. That is, at 40 all to play one more attempt to either team to win with two balls. Returns to "deuce" makes the next ball decide who win the game without 2 balls superiority.

We'll see how it goes as it may, for discussion, it will anyway.

Two players who come to us from the second tennis stadium in the city is Manop and Youkon. We know each other and they are verywelcome here!

Manop and ....

Youkon both from Na Muang, the other
tennis arena in town.

Mr. SUMET - AN EXPERIENCED ARCHITECT

2012-05-02T23:00:00.000+07:00

As a designer, and developer of lots of large and small projects in Nakhon si Thammarat - and even other parts of southern Thailand - may be able to appoint Mr. Sumet Ruchivanichkul to the City of the structure, modern father.

He is a man with many strings to his bow - he is also an avid guitar player in his spare time - in addition to the architectural work he supports his daughter Nang driving JE restaurant and Green Planet Guest House. And in a room adjacent to the hotel is located Mr. Sumets office. He employs which is five architects, two engineers and two technicians.

APA-SIRI HOSING DEVELOPMENT

I´ll mention here a couple of his projects, Song Kla Nakarin Hospital, a huge project 180 km from here, believe that Mr. Sumet had to shuttling between cities. We have Apa-siri housing developments and Nakhon International School in Nakhon si Thammarat. Right now a huge project is the city's new IT center, Plug & Play, as the project owner. Of course, they hired Mr. Sumet as an architect and creator for the design.

SONG KLA HOSPITAL *

His education he received at Chululongkorn University (where?) Where he earned a Bachelor's degree and Master's degree. His company is called "Green Arch Architects". It is linked to the Green Planet guesthouse and one can assume that Mr. Sumet is a supporter of environmental thinking.

Mr. Sumets workdays are long, but he engaged in the family too, ma'am Naveesat is a retired teacher, and her daughters Maew and Nang and his son Win may have access to his father's care. He would like televised sports his favorite team is Manchester United. When he takes up the guitar, it will often be songs by the immortal Elvis Presely. One of his favorite Thai singer is Nantida.

When he has time to pursue own activities it is tennis and jogging on the program. Mr. Sumet is a member of the group who meet every evening at the stadium Nam Kila.

* Photo by Chatchai Na narong Law PSU