I'm working as much as i can, weather permitting, although august was the wettest since 1929 which is when records began. Saving as much dosh as i can for my 96 days out there because exchange rates are not so good now as £ weaker. oh **** !! Roll on 29th november when i arrive. No cabbaging on this trip ..... Any news from the welsh loonies?!

We would like to teach you the word "Chu Chee" = "ฉู่ ฉี่"

ฉ  = Chor Ching (Name of Alphabet in Thai)

Meaning = name of food which is from Chinese style as curry with spicy suace, mostly we cook with fish :)
If you want to try cooking this menu we have details below

INGREDIENTS :

 

Vegetable oils 3 - 4 tbsp.

Chu chee curry paste 3 heaped tbsp.

Coconut milk 2 cups.

Salmon fillets 5 oz. each 4 pieces

Coconut sugars 2 tsp.

Fish sauce 1 tbsp.

GARNISHES :

Red spur chili, julienne 4 peppers

Kaffir lime leaves, shredded 1 leaf
(4 servings)

1. Heat vegetable oil in a shallow sauce pan or in a frying pan until hot.

2. Add the chu chee curry paste and cook for 3 - 5 minutes over a medium heat, stirring constantly. Should the curry paste be lumpy, add a little coconut milk to loosen the lumps and make it more manageable.

3. Add coconut milk to the cooked curry paste, stir to mix well and bring the liquid back to the boil.

4. Once boiling, add pieces of salmon and cook in the curry sauce, turning once to ensure even cooking on both sides. The length of time it takes to cook the salmon depends on the thickness of the fish.

5. Reduce heat and cook slowly to allow the sauce to evaporate and thicken. Season with coconut sugar and fish sauce. Serve with curry sauce spooned over the fish and garnished with julienne of red spur chili peppers and shredded kaffir lime leaves.

Tips

The spiciness of the curry is controlled by the amount of curry paste you use. If you like your curry hot and spicy, simply increase the amount of curry paste. Coconut sugar can be found in most Asian grocery stores. It comes in round patties the size of cookies; Use a knife to cut shavings from this sugar when seasoning curries. Other fish that hold together well can be used for this dish. Cod or snapper are excellent.

What do these PAD people think they are really achieving by hijacking the airport?  The Thai economy, that's what. 

You would have thought with an economy that needs tourism, Rule no. 1 should be -- do not piss off the tourists! Simple.   This is my 14th trip to LOS and i reckon with internal flights , hotels , transport and spending money i must have pumped  £50K + into Thailand .  ( Excuse the phrase "pumped"!)   Do they not realise people have a choice and may decide to go elsewhere because of all the recent instability in Thailand?   I've been on to my airline and they are not re routing to other Thai airports .  All flights are cancelled i was told , try phoning again tomorrow.   Great .    Still , at least i'm not stuck at the airport like some poor sods.  They said in the news the PAD have planned this hijacking well,... seems to me they have not thought of anything except themselves and are just hurting their own country, own businesses and their own people.

You can upload music to thailandwebzone by using the Music tab.  Upload WMV, MP3's etc, rate others and listen online.

We hope you enjoy the tunes!

TWZ, http://thailandwebzone.com

Thai style project management

I had to laugh the other day, I requested that a Thai PM in our company confirm the deadline for delivery with the Thai vendor. This deadline affected me and other people and tasks.

After a couple of follow ups, I got a response "Maybe next week.  Or the week after".

Mmmm... this is a bit grey by Western standards!

It made it hard to plan my related tasks and increased frustration with foreigners working with the Thai team.

How do companies here operate with this slack attitude to deadlines and project delivery??

Frustrated farang...

 

Did anyone see that news about a farang murdered in Bangkok by having his head cut off and strung up under a bridge? 

Pretty terrible stuff.

Thai soldiers are detaining illegal migrants from Bangladesh and Burma and forcing them back out to sea in boats without engines, survivors say.

Survivors say their hands were tied and they were towed out to sea with little or no food or water.

About 500 migrants are now recovering from acute dehydration in India's Andaman islands and the Indonesian province of Aceh.

Thai officials were not immediately available for comment.

But sources in the police and army confirmed to the BBC's Jonathan Head in Bangkok that asylum seekers are being pushed out to sea. They did not provide further details about the practice.

Thousands of poor Burmese and Bangladeshis try to reach south-east Asian nations in search of work.

'Without food'

Survivors rescued by Indian coast guards say hundreds of other asylum-seekers are still missing after leaving Bangladesh and Burma since the end of November.

They told the BBC that they paid agents to take them to Thailand by boat so that they could have a better life.

 

They said that the Thai authorities detained many of them in Koh Sai Daeng island.

"Thai soldiers tied up our hands and then put us in boats without engines. These were towed into the high sea by motorised boats and left to drift," said Zaw Win, a survivor rescued by Indian coast guards off the coast of Little Andamans after drifting for 12 days.

"We were without food and water. The Thai soldiers clearly wanted us to die on the boats," Win told the BBC by telephone from a camp where survivors are being cared for.

Other survivors said that about 400 migrants were put on a huge boat by soldiers. It was equipped with only two bags of rice and two drums of drinking water.

"The food and water ran out in two days. After that we were starving for nearly 15 days before we saw a lighthouse and jumped into the sea and tried swimming ashore," Mohammed Said told the BBC.

This group of migrants was also rescued by the Indian coast guards and put into relief camps.

"They have all suffered huge dehydration. We are taking care of them the best we can," said Ratan Kar, deputy director of health services in the Andamans.

'Dehydration and starvation'

Nearly all of those rescued have equally harrowing stories.

 
The asylum seekers are dehydrated.  One Rohingya villager from Burma said that his son and seven friends had left together on the same boat.

He said that after they were arrested by the Thai authorities, they were forced onto the same large boat without an engine:

"Four of them, including my son, survived but four died," he said.

"My son told me that many died because of dehydration and starvation but many also jumped into the sea.

"When the boat finally drifted close to an Andaman island, there were only just over 100 still onboard."

The refugees say that hardly any of them escaped the Thai military guarding the country's coastal islands.

Human rights activists have condemned Thailand's "inhuman and brutal response" to this new wave of illegal migration.

(Courtesy of BBC website)

Did you know that Thailand is one of the best places for Lasik? Every year there are thousands of foreigners coming to Thailand because it is much cheaper to have it done here.

It is for example only half the price what you would pay in UK and also 50% cheaper than in the US. If you are looking for Lasik we can recommend TRSC on Rama IV road (U Chu Lian Building). They are the biggest Lasik Center of Asia (!) and very professional. The clinic is impressive, very clean and modern equipment.

If you are looking for more information please visit www.medithai.net. And better, you can enjoy a THB 2,000 discount if using www.medithai.net.

Thai blaze club boss faces charge 

 

Hot from the BBC: Reports suggest the new years eve fire at the popular night clun Zantika, or Santika, may have been started by fireworks lit on stage.

 

Thai police have said the chief owner of a Bangkok nightclub where a fire killed 62 people celebrating New Year's Eve will face criminal charges.

 

TV footage showed Wisuth Setsawat, the main shareholder of the Santika club, crying as he apologised to the families of victims before he was questioned.

 

More than 200 people were injured in the fire, with more than 30 still in a critical condition, officials said.

 

Reports suggest the fire may have begun when fireworks were lit on stage.

 

The venue, which was packed with up to 1,000 revellers, had no fire exit and there were bars on the windows.

 

Survivors have accused the venue of ignoring basic safety rules.

Hot from the BBC:

Thailand's opposition leader, Abhisit Vejjajiva, has been confirmed as the country's new prime minister after winning a special vote in parliament.

The speaker of the lower house, Chai Chidchob, said the Democrat Party leader had beaten former police chief Pracha Promnok by 235 votes to 198.

Mr Abhisit will become Thailand's fifth leader in a little over two years.

The previous prime minister, Somchai Wongsawat, was forced to resign after a court ruling earlier this month.

The 44-year-old British-born politician needs to restore battered economic confidence, cool the emotional political climate, and impose his authority on a cabinet drawn up as a result of days of bargaining with his coalition partners.

'Silent coup'

After the speaker of parliament had gone round and asked each of the 436 MPs to state the choice, he announced that Mr Abhisit had won and that the Democrats would be given their first chance to govern for eight years.

"Abhisit gained more than half of the vote, therefore I declare that Abhisit has been elected the new prime minister," Mr Chai said.

 Protesters reacted furiously to the confirmation of Abhisit Vejjajiva as the new PM.

However, correspondents say the new coalition may only last a few weeks, as by-elections will be held on 11 January to fill 29 seats held by Thaksin supporters barred from politics by the court ruling.

There are also questions about the nature of the behind-the-scenes bargaining needed to persuade Thaksin loyalists to switch sides, with lucrative cabinet posts and, allegedly, large sums of cash being offered by both sides.

Outside the parliament, about 200 supporters of the ousted government reacted furiously to what they called a "silent coup", hurling barricades at the gates and stopping MPs from leaving. Several cars had their windows broken.

Some chanted "Abhisit, army nominee", Reuters news agency reported. The military is seen as being close to the Democrats.

Most demonstrators dispersed peacefully but promised to gather again later in the day.

Months of deadlock

Earlier this month, the Constitutional Court found Mr Somchai's governing People Power Party (PPP) guilty of fraud during the last election a year ago, and banned it and two other parties in the governing coalition.

Mr Somchai and several other PPP leaders were also barred from politics for five years.

However, lawmakers from the three parties who escaped the politics ban quickly formed a new party - Puea Thai (For Thailand) - or joined other parties.

On Sunday, Mr Somchai's brother-in-law, exiled former PM Thaksin Shinawatra, accused the army of using the courts to undermine the government and warned them not to interfere in politics.

The country was stricken by months of political deadlock as anti-government protesters from the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) mounted a campaign to topple the PPP.

The PAD accused the PPP of being a proxy for Mr Thaksin, who was ousted in a coup in 2006.

The protest culminated in a week-long occupation of Bangkok's main international airport which left 300,000 foreign tourists stranded.

The PAD called off its action following the Constitutional Court ruling.

Is it just me or is anyone else getting reeeeally bored about the US preseidential elections?  Covering most of the news every single day, it is thrust down our throats day in day out. In my opinion it highlights the Americans' own obesession and misplaced opinion of their own 'importance' and popularity.  Even the BBC has sold it's soul and covers it more than any other news item on any given day. 

 

I bet most Americans cannot even name the British Prime Minister, let alone those from other countries who are all key players in the world arena.

 

Not only that, but I heard today that Obama's estimated TV campaign budget has been 230  MILLION DOLLARS!  On TV commercials only.  Not including magazines, newspapers, internet advertising, campaign events, travel etc etc etc etc.  The end amount must be unimaginably huge.And this is for one runner in the election.  Add McCain and Clinton's budgets to that and you must have an amount that would be enough to start a small country or bring a small country out of poverty.

 

I cannot help feeling that this money would be better spent on the American problems they are all promising to fix, or on some of the world poverty we see evrery day.... but hey, they are Americans, so whatever they do must be right.

1. A beer will not get angry if you come in after 2am. 2. A beer is always wet. 3. You don't have to wine and dine a beer 4. You can share a beer with your mates 5. A beer always goes down well and goes down for you whenever you want it to 6. A beer will not throw things at you when you come home with beer on your breath 7. A beer doesn't get jealous when you grab another beer 8. You can enjoy a beer all month long 9. If you poor a beer right you will always get good head 10. Hangovers go away 11. When you have finished with a beer the bottle is still worth 5 pence 12. You don't have to wash a beer before it tastes good 13. You always know if you are the first one to pop a beer 14. You can have more than one beer and not feel guilty 15. When you go to a bar you know you can always piuck up a beer

Am in Pattaya this weekend meeting up with an old school friend who I have known for 25 years, Jamie, my main memory of whom in school was him drawing a small willy on an eraser then stamping it repeatedly all over my chemistry book.  That and Niel Main challenging him to kick him in the goolies without flinching, which he did, and he did not flinch either, sand went down into the legends of Abergavenny youth folklore. 

 

Started off last night in the Beer Garden near Walking Street and went downhill from there, although I do not feel too bad this morning. Am meeting up with him and a mate of his later and a couple of other fellas I know here, let's see what happens....

Off to Thailand in a week.....  Beer session of biblical proportions. Oh yes.

THE WAI The Wai is not just a gesture used to say hello without speaking, it is an sign of respect. Its use demonstrates much about Thai values and attitudes. It is the most important of the many social customs that are used in Thai society. It does so by publicly demonstrating what we call the 'superiority rule'. This basic rule is simple and clear. In any social meeting, the socially inferior person assumes a physically inferior posture and the socially superior individual takes a position that is physical superior. The person in the higher position is dominant both physically and socially. How to Wai The wai may a method of showing respect in different degrees. It is done as follows.The lower the head bowed to meet the thumbs of both hands which are pressed palms together with fingers pointed up in a praye like position, the greater the respect being shown. There are four basic positions with each having many variances. 1. Hands close to the body with fingertips reaching to about neck level but not above the chin. This position is used between equals or between strangers who are not yet aware of each others social positions. 2. Hands close to the body with fingertips reaching to about neck level as in position #1 or lower with head straight or slightly inclined is used by a superior returing the wai to an inferior. 3. Head lowered so that fingertips are above the tip of the nose is used by an inferior showing respect to a superior. 4. Forehead lowered to base of the thumbs and lowered body is the position used to show respect to the King, monks, temples, statues and spirit houses. When to Wai When to wai and how to wai is learned in early childhood and is second nature for a Thai. It is sometime confursing to a visitor. The fact is that Thais use the wai to say Hello, Thank you and Goodbye. They also use it to show respect to the Buddha, the King, the monks, older people, statues and spirit houses. As a foreigner, the best advice maybe to wai when someone wais you. or smile and nod you head when you are not sure what to do. As for the King or monks let your own religous and political beliefs be your guide, always remembering how you would like your countries leader and your religious leaders to be treated. In other words, showing proper respect for them will go a long ways in presenting a good image for you and your country. The Thai people would most certainly show that respect when visiting your country.

Going to Hong Kong for holiday!

Thinking of doing the cross Pattaya bay swim on the weekend... anyone want to come along for the swim or the beer?!

I like this one:

"Everything must be taken in moderation, including moderation."

Buddha

Prince Ludwig: Ah, Lord Melchett, we meet again!

Lord Melchet: Mmmm, no, I don't think we've have the pleasure.

Prince Ludwig: You do not recognise me then?

Lord Melchet: Nooo.

Prince Ludwig: Let me refresh your memory. You remember when you were in Cornwall, when you were at the monastery, there was an old shepherd who you used to talk to?

Lord Melchet: Good Lord, Timpkins!

Prince Ludwig: Yes. I.....  was one of his sheep.

Lord Melchet: But.... uhm... one of the sheep, you say?  Not......

Prince Ludwig: Yes!

Lord Melchet: Flossy!

Prince Ludwig: Yes!

Lord Melchet: But. didn't we......

Prince Ludwig: Yes, Lord Melchett! Baaaaaaaah!

Lord Melchet: Oh, GOD!