Bicko
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Posts posted by Bicko
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My wife is about half way through her 2 year probationary period. We applied for and were granted her sub class 309 visa in Bangkok. We have spent about 4 months of that 12 month period in WA and SA and she was working. We also applied for the 510 hours free TAFE English classes whilst in Perth and she is well advanced with her lessons. Now that we are back in rural Thailand she is receiving her lessons by post and continues by correspondence (They call it distance education). All very simple and the staff at TAFE in WA are most helpful and friendly. We applied for the English lessons and had the interview at a Federal Government Migrant assistance office in Fremantle. They then referred us to TAFE.http://www.ames.net.au/education.asp?articleZoneID=6I think Australian Migrant Education Services might be able to help. Try the link above or ring them. I can't remeber exactly how we went about getting into the courses - I think they are a separate entity fom TAFE. ......but make the effort, 500+ hrs is a lot of learning!! (for free).
I guess you are aware that a person on a 309 visa is also entitled to Medicare benefits and can open a bank account with out the normal pre qualification points if she applies within a certain time after arrival in Australia. A tax file number will be granted online. The Australian system is very simple and uncomplicated and it is a credit to our Government that they assist us as they do.
The Australian embassy staff in Bangkok have been fantastic and we have never had a problem.
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You are right mate. You don't have a clue.I am sitting in the sofa watching football, when i hear my dog start barking in the garden, so i went to the dorr where i suddenly hear alot of stones slamming down into my drive way and see a thai guy running of to the house across the street.So i went out ask him what the fuc_k hi do? Hi stood there like a ? ... deniing that he even had come close to my gate...so i told him tlf the police, then my lady come out asking whats wrong, she said it was no problem cause its only a dog...a said fuc_k hel_l, so i asked the guy if he would like me trowing stones on his "precious" piece of shit car, didnt say that though, then he suddenly try to come at me like he wanted to fight me, i have really big problem understanding this people...Any ideas? best go back to the sivilication?
I sure dont have a clue...
I suggest you stop posting when you are drunk, cut out the bad language and find somwwhere else to live - like the Antarctic where there are no people.
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See you all at the Dawn service which starts at Hellfire Pass at 05.30 then breakfast at the carpark with a shot of Bundy Rum then back to the war cemetery for the service at 11.30 hrs. Have a look at the Australian Embassy website. All the details are there.
I will be laying a wreath on behalf of my Regiment - New Guinea Volunteer Rifles/Papua New Guinea Volunteer Rifles ex members Association.
LEST WE FORGET
Bicko
Buri ram
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We've had some good rain over the past week and on Monday night we had 20 mm in a bit over an hour. Washed off the roof and cleaned the gutters. The place has freshened up and greened up overnight - in fact my lawn needs mowing after being almost dormant for ages.My wife tells me we have had good rainfalls over the last three days.As we have put in new gardens , trees and lawn turf this is most welcome.
Might flush all that Kee Nok out of the roof gutters as well
My wife tells me it is normal to get good rain about Songkran time and it is necessary to ensure a good mango crop.
Lightning and thunder in the distance as i am typing this so i guess some more tonight. Fantastic.
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We think Makro is great. We drive over to Buri Ram about once every 4 to 6 weeks and stock up on bulk items like tissues, toilet paper, washing powder, soap, beer, soda water and the likes and get big savings compared with the individual item prices in Big C. My wife cooks excellent pizza and she buys a 2kg pack of Mozarella cheese at Makro for about 500 baht and that lasts for ages. Normal supermarket items like butter, bread, milk, cold meats, vegetables, fruit, jam, peanut butter, pork, chicken, fish, bacon etc can be purchased in single packs. The savings are substantial. For example a few weeks ago I bought a jar of Smuckers jam in Big C. It cost 108 baht!!!!. (I wanted to try this U beaut American stuff but what a rip off particularly when there are comparable local products for 25% of that price) Exactly the same item in Makro we noticed a couple of weeks later was 20 baht less.
Go for it. They are good value but as mentioned above you do need a membership card. They will do it at the reception desk as you go into the store while you wait or they will give you a temporary card and post the plastic out to you. The card can be used in any Makro store anywhere in Thailand.
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It is April Fools day!!!!It has been proposed that in the near future, because of the growing number of Farang home owners in the district, that new Vice-Governer of Surin will be chosen from a short list already made up comprising of 12 Farangs from 12 countries around the globe. He, or she will report directly to the Governer. Although this plan is still in the development stage, a number of the candidates have been already informed of the plans. This does seem a step in the right direction, and maybe we cwill see it in more provinces.
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There is a great pool at the Thepnakorn hotel. Not sure what the deal is to use it but sure if you took kids or family there for a drink or a meal you would be OK. Last time I was there I checked in at the reception desk and if we had a meal it was Ok but that was a while ago.The pool in town is not bad though but all a bit too formal. (How casual do you want to be?? I hear you ask).Wasn't aware that there was another pool in Buriram. Can you provide info please. Thanks maybe can use that if we have another abortive visit to the "Beach".
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Agreed - Easter is not known where i live - in fact when i first came to live in our village in Buri Ram 5 years ago they did not know about Christmas.Happy Easter everybody, but i havent seen any chocolate eggs anywhere, dont Thais celebrate Easter?You do realize Easter is traditionally a Christian holiday right? It's not as commercialized/globalized as Christmas, so you probably are not going to find much for Easter.
That has changed but only because we have a Christmas tree with lights and coloured baubles on our front verandah at Christmas and on Christmas day we invite all the villlage kids in and give them a good meal and some sweets and balloons then they go crazy playing on our front lawn until they wear themselves out. Now in December they start asking when is the Christmas party.
By the way talking about Christians i saw a huge bannner in our locaL town (Lam Plai mat) promoting a "Born again Christian" rally near Phanum Rung I think next month and my wife tells me that pickups often drive through the village asking people to attend the local Christian church in town. I guess there must be some Christians around but i haven't seen Xmas or easter promoted to any extent in this part of the world.
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Bina i do apologise. It was not intended to be rude but simply factual. My problem was that you started your post with the word "Not" when in fact my information was correct and simply referred to a local traditional medicine which was the reason for the post.gee bicko that was a rude answer....1. i'm not a 'mate'
2. all the better if u are a horticulturist , then u can add your knowlege to what can be an interesting discussion...
since my husband talks alot about remedies that his hunter father uses (or used to before the jungle was 'used up'... )
and i am always interested in the different 'remedies' for each locale.
here we have the beduin remedies etc....
well, ill just go off and eat some belladonna then....
bina
israel
Again my apologies. I was not aware that your were a lady but in my country we do refer to men and ladies as "mate" . It is a form of greeting and it certainly is not a derogatory greeting.
As a humanitarian aid worker i have worked in many underprivileged countries for many years and i know a great deal about "Bush" medicine from the middle east, the Pacific countries, Asia, SE Asia and Aboriginal Australia.
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Mate if you really want to get down to some detail then by all means let's do so . I have a degree in Horticulture and and I am very aware of the Family, Genus , species and sub species of the multitude of rhizomatous Zingiberaceae, two of which we are talking about here. However I chose not to do that because it is not the purpose of this topic.not(they are all rhizomes)
ginger = khing
galanagal=khaa with specifically different medical properties
fingerroot = khrachai
ginger is good for nausea and sore throats and stuff...
as is kha as is khrachai which is also similar in chemical make up
they all three cause blood to flow better (topically) so on bruises it causes the blood to flow and not become a big hematoma....
My inital posting was the story of how my wifes elderly uncle dealt with Cobra venom in my dogs eye- he use ginger and saliva.
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Cheers mate. I will drive a little more slowly next time. Normally at that point I am in the RH lane as I turn right into 226 to Lam Plai mat.Hi Nick. where is that place? i was told that if you come out of Makro and turn left (there is no alternative) it is further along towards highway 226 near the place with restaurant with the big prawn out the front.It's a bit further than the big prawn, very near the Chevrolet showroom. There is a sign outside, which from recollection does not mention swimming, but indicates it is a fun centre for kids. If you pass it then "U Turn" and try again.
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Hi Nick. where is that place? i was told that if you come out of Makro and turn left (there is no alternative) it is further along towards highway 226 near the place with restaurant with the big prawn out the front.You might care to try the Buriram Beach, a large swimming complex. Somewhat closer than Surin. Open daily (supposedly) and sure to be during school hols. Admission 40bt. Just down the road from the new Big C and Makro.Also bedbandit if you go north from the middle of Nang Rong on road 2073 to Chamni and Lam Plai Mat at about 30 kms on the right hand side there is a Cabbages and Condoms resort and restaurant. You can fish there and they will let you take the fish home or they will cook a meal for you. Nice spot with lots of big trees to sit under and a cold beer available if you want it. Not much traffic on this road.
Enjoy Nang Rong. It's not a bad little town
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OK thanks but I am not sure what you mean when you say I may be right. My wife tells me that ginger root, kha and galanga are all same same.Bicko,You may be right but I suspect what you say is ginger root is really Kha, I think the English word is Galanga. My do has gone at it several times with cobras and the wife always uses Kha. she does it 2-3 times a day for 3 days. Dog is still good as new!
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A couple of weeks ago, in the evening, my wife and i were having drinks with some friends on the front lawn. My dog was out the back barking her head off. I went out to investigate and she a cobra snake bailed up. I managed to get her out of the way and the snake took off but unfortunately not before the cobra had projected venom into her right eye. They can spit venom 2 or 3 metres and always go for the eyes. The elderly uncle who was visiting us, immediately chopped up some ginger root, chewed it up and spat it into her eye. He did it again a couple of hours later.
Next morning I took her to the vet in town and he confirmed that that treatment had saved her eye. if that had not been done she would have been permanently blind in that eye. He gave us some eye drops and a couple of tablets and now she is as good as gold again.
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A Thai person can cross the border into Laos at the Friendship bridge at Nong Khai using their ID card. The cost is 30 baht if I remember correctly. They will need a passport photo and be required to fill in a form and attach the photo. If that Thai person uses a passport they will pay the same as a Farang - $35 US dollars or Baht 1300.
My Thai wife and i crossed there last month to get my Non Imm "O" visa
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It's all good information although it obviously varies from Amphur to Amphur.
With regard to Police stopping me on the road i have always had the same experience as Prakonchai nick. I guess i have been stopped in Isaan about 5 times since Christmas.
Never a problem, produce my Thai driving license and answer a few questions, politely I might add and then drive on. I have never been asked for money. The standard question is "Where you from?" and i am never sure how to answer that one. If I name my village i usually get a smile and then tell them my country and they are happy.
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Yesterday I was at the Buri Ram police station to get a security clearance to renew my 5 year driving license. They gave me the clearance OK but said that they did not have me on their computer and it is a requirement for all foreigners, apart from short term visitors, to register with their local police station and advise them that you are still there every 6 months or so.
I can see the advantages if i get sick or have an accident or die and I've certainly got nothing to hide.
This is my home and i am a member of the community so why would I not register with the local cops. All Thais over 15 years old have an ID card and the government knows everything about them and there is some form of registration in most other countries - smart card, driving license, electoral roll etc etc.
I make no judgement on this. These are my thoughts and of course some will agree and some will disagree. So be it.
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After cutting down the remainder of the trees, I will plant cashew trees. Nobody will steal them and buffaloes/cows aren't partial to eating them.
Chevy just a word for you to consider before you cut the remainder of your trees.
My wife recently cut down a large tree on one of our farms and someone dobbed her in so the next thing we had a visit from the Amphur's office and the Police. Fortunately she got away with a warning on this ocassion so the word is to let them know first -although i am sure your tree robbers did not - or MAYBE THEY DID!!!!
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Cheers mate. I know Bribie Island well and have good friends living there. Surfing on the back beach is fantastic. 40 years ago my late wife and I had a farm at Palmwoods strawberries, ginger, oranges etc.To answer your questions, Ningi is near Bribie Island 30 minutes North of Brisbane, I was stationed 8kms south of Leong Nok tha in the early 60,s in the early 70,s I spent a great deal of my free time doing volontary work in the leper colony near amnat charoen, we were given the use of a village house in 1977 which over the years we have enlarged and modernised, thai friends use and look after it for the periods we are in australia or travelling ,it was all done on a handshake with the puyai baan all those years ago,we have even got a plot for our ashes when the time comes in our local Wat, we are part of the village furniture,it is nearly always mrs nignoy who starts to get a bit homesick for her thai friends,and cannot get back quick enough, and she is english I found this photo,possibly the The Sawadi Bar taken near leong nok tha 1964 NignoyMy late father in law worked at the Buderim ginger factory which is now an open market in the middle of the main street in Buderim.
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It's supposedly the second biggest city in Thailand - everything you need is there WITHOUT the "attractions" of Pattaya.
A very fine city.
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Fantastic Nignoy. Yes please let's see some more.
Where is Ningi?
My old man was a water diviner and whilst many criticised him he was uncannily accurate. He could even tell the direction and volume of the flow of an underground stream.
I bet the low loader driver got the sack - or maybe he is still running!!!
My wife and I live in Buri ram and we were in Mukdahan 3 weeks ago where there is now a magnificent bridge across the Mekong.
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Hi Lickey. If you look at the photos that OP posted on page 1 you will see that the footings and pier and beam system are excellent - looks like the footings are 600 to 700mm deep and well reinforced and the house is built on flat ground. See my comments at post # 10.At the end of the day, despite the OP's transparent marketing of second rate housing for profit........Just build as the Thais do, it is as cheap as chips compared with your home country. Solid wood houses, or mortar and bricks. The locals will snigger behind your back if you want this, and I translate as a "bird shit farang" to use the local colloquilism
Each to how they can afford, very true, but this is not the future in Thailand, even seen through the poorest eyes, I hope
There are some Thai Visa members that I'm not particularly fond of. When I see them replying to a post, I just avoid reading what they have posted. As for this thread, why would I care if he IS promoting these houses? I have found the posts interesting and the construction method is a good way to have an energy efficient house. The OP has furnished some good information for me and I appreciate his efforts. Yorkman obviously doesn't like the OP so rather than continue to berate his posts, it would be better for him to simply ignore them.
Hi Gary A, perhaps im 1 of those members you scroll over quick, its ok, i dont mind, if you do read my posts, thanks, i read most of yorkmans posts and it strikes me if ive seen a chicken with 3 legs, he has seen one with six legs!!! he also knows exactly why the airplane landed short of the heathrow runway and has an "arrangement" with his wife, whatever that means?
Back on subject, OPs post, how deep have you done the footings for your house? is it on a slight hillside where the rain could affect the surrounding ground ect, Thanks, L
The steel frame concept is used extensively and very successfully throughout the world, yes even in the UK where as a vistor to his country to attend housing industry conferences I have seen many new housing developments using steel frames. The demand for steel framed houses in the US and other western countries is increasing dramatically as the demand for timber far exceeds the availability and Governments are becoming more concerned about the effect on the environment. Steel is far more durable and the comparison of stability between steel frame and concrete and block systems in an earthquake is evident.
The demand is high in Thailand. There is a major manufacturer of steel framing for buildings in Rayong and they produce for the local and export market.
I agree with you. This fellow with 2 heads (see his avatar photo) is handy with the sarcasm. I believe that sarcasm is the lowest form of wit, particularly when you don't know what you are talking about. Let's humour him. Tolerance is a virtue.
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Yep no problems but just bear with me for a day or two as i am busy preparing for wifes first citizenship interview at the Embassy.HI BICKO i saw some where about the tv programs that you get could you please pm and tel me all about it what channels that you get footy etc and where you purchased it i want to put something good that will cover footy aussie news etc not long now the footy will be on cant wait i knw soccer is the no 1 in thailand but there must be a lot of aussies around buriram that enjoy our footyAt one stage i went through all 200odd channels and selected those that were ok and typed up a list. i will see if I can find it and post it ASAP.
Cheers mate
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We visited the elephant village about 15 months ago and then again 3 weeks ago. It has improved a lot and they have spent money on the performance arena and covered tiered seating. The show lasts about 1 hour and is great entertainment. It is free although they do sell sugar cane and bananas for the kids to give to the elephants.I'm planning to go to Surin and from there to the elephant village. I readed bout there's a daily bus service from Surin bus stationAnyone know how long is the trip? And prices to see the show and ride an elephant?
Other attractions nearby for someone with no much time?
Thanks in advance!
If you are superstitious you can walk under the belly of a big old lady elephant 3 times for good luck.
It takes about an hour to drive up there from Surin and Martin could probably arrange transport for you.
The morning show starts at 10 am and i believe there is another show in the afternoon.
Immigrating To The Gulf With An Unmarried Thai Partner
in Visas and migration to other countries
Posted
Even if you did find a way to get a visa you would still be in jeopardy. For example if you are stopped in your car for a police check or perhaps after a minor accident and there is a single girl in your car you could both finish up in prison. This is purely an example and trouble could come from many sources - a neighbour who wants to make trouble, an over zealous guard in your residence building and so on.
When i was there some of the single guys rented a flat in Delhi for their girlfriends and flew over to India once a month. Malta is another alternative which is not too far away and these problems do not exist in those countries.
Emirates have direct flights to Delhi and Malta.