Jump to content

losworld

Advanced Member
  • Posts

    2476
  • Joined

  • Last visited

Posts posted by losworld

  1. Thai roads are dangerous, but if you're bent on doing it, go for it :D

    A couple of guys on this forum have done it. Wait awhile, they'll come on and comment.

    I did it on a bicycle so it should be more relaxing on a scooter.

    The biggest headache is getting out of BK. If it were me, I'd jump the train from Hua Lampong and get off once I see the countryside (you can take a scooter on the train). Another option is hire a motorbike taxi to lead you out (make sure he's a local guy people know, and get his license/ID number to leave with your friend, just in case he gets tempted to relieve you of your motorbike :D )

    The roads are fairly decent from around Cha-am southward. You'd be better off staying off the Petchkasem hwy. Note that the Ranong Andaman side gets lots rain in Sept/Oct (actually it rain year round, the rainiest spot in Thailand). If you're going the Surat-Gulf of Thailand side, it's worth a hop onto the ferry to see Koh Samui/Phagan/Tao if you haven't been there already.

    I'd take at least 3 days to do the ride. Enjoy the view. Remember that exhaustion is a huge factor in rider's error and judgment.

    Good riding :)

    Now that sounds like fun. I would think a Nouvo or similar bike would allow you to do easily over 100km on open stretches just watch out for obstacles. If I were leaving Bangkok I'd simply do it very early around 4 or 5 in the morning. Should be a great ride... report back if you do it!

  2. Here's a possible theory:

    1) A large concrete project was completed and the victim was responsible for final inspection and signing off. Shortcuts took place (anyone remember the Montreal Olympics where sawdust was used instead of sand and the tower eventually toppled?) and the German refused to sign off in the sake of public safety.

    They tried to force him to sign and, recognizing he had a bomb on him and was unlikely to walk away alive, he refused. Or he simply refused period.

    I would think a good police force would be questioning the company as to what projects he was working on, etc.

  3. Okay the medical hub with plastic surgery, cheaper surgeries, etc. for foreigners did make sense.

    The education hub idea is truly bizarre particularly since India, Cambodia, Philippines, Malaysia, etc. seem to be doing as well or better jobs of educating their citizens than Thailand. So where do the students come from?

    Unless of course the hub only operates in Pattaya during spring break?

  4. The outlook for the U.S. dollar is bleak. Continued printing of money combined will simply dilute it. The only thing holding it up right now is world instability and a lack of other places to invest. Couple this with the speculation on commodities and oil and you will see oil go through the roof once again. As long as Wall Street is allowed to behave like a bull in a china shop there is little hope for recovery and stability.

  5. Blowing him up with military grade explosives isn't exactly your average bump off the competition with a .38 revolver.

    Sounds like someone is sending a very clear message going to such extremes.

    What this tells us is that there are others who know what this man knows and they are trying to intimidate someone else into not coming forward. I'd advise anyone with knowledge or involvement in this case to get on the nearest plane and spill your beans to the media outside the country.

  6. Agree be safe for sure. 2 good old mates and very viagra sexually active have been coming to LOS yearly for over 30 years and they only take girls (regulars) that dont insist on condoms. There attitude is they are in their 70"s so they dont care however they are both super fit one being ex SAS. They do all their blood work at buhmingrad whilst here. Never a problem so the girls I assume would have many clients insisting the same. I dont get this and certainly dont agree but you cant argue the facts, you cant get lucky every time over so many years can you?, go figure

    You should have a serious talk with your friends as it takes two to tango and although they may not care for their personal health they are endangering others. I would also be a bit more particular about who I hang around with. These are not good people.

  7. I do like the "Mazzia" far better than the "Nana" name... no offense.

    Now consider this:

    "Momma Mazzia" - "home recipe" or use "thick and delicious". This conjures up Italian and the goodness of a home cooked meal. I think you have a winner here.

    If you need any other marketing assistance let me know. I'll be in Thailand this fall and will try your sauce.

    cheers

    Mark

    I meant that to be "Mama Mazzia"

    Thanks for your suggestions and willingness to help.

    However, for certain the FDA label lady would have a kanipshin fit if we put the word "delicious" on the label.

    It's not allowed.

    "Thick" may also prove to be problematic (imports like Prego can get away with this, but locals can't - not a level playing field).

    Our experience is it's best to keep things (especially the front label) as simple as possible.

    "Home Style" would also be a problem - how do you prove that? Our first labels had "Italian Style" on them, and we had to prove to them what "Italian Style" meant. This term may be a given or common knowledge to you and me - but not an easy task to present this to someone (the FDA label lady) who knows absolutely nothing about Italian food. With much headache and delay, we made our case, backed with research and publications on the subject, and got it passed. But on our latest label revision we decided to just leave it out, and things went much more smoothly and swiftly - well worth the omission.

    I havent made any conclusion on when or IF we will change our brand name - its merely a contingency plan. But per our experience, simpler is better. Take "Angesi" and "Barilla": companies with 1000x more experience than us - I assume they know quite well what they are doing. I think a simple "Mazzia" would be more fitting along those lines.

    Thanks again for your suggestion.

    Somewhat ridiculous guidelines you have to follow but I wonder if you could simply do "Mazzia" as you wish then give your product a catchy name such as "mucho mushroom", "tasty tomato", etc. as this is more a name than a description?

    Perhaps you could do "Nana presents" in smaller letters on top followed by "Mazzia" in larger type for the first few runs of the transition.

  8. Yes if you want to sell to Falang I would drop the name "Nana" as it has a connotation of a certain plaza. I used to work in advertising so if you need help with a name drop me a pm. Good luck.

    Funny so did I.

    Here is my suggestion for a better name ; COWBOY PASTA SAUCE - all the great taste of NANA, without the short-term pressure for those times when you just want to relax.

    I appreciate your concern, good wishes, and willingness to help. However, if I ever do change the name, I believe have the perfect name in mind already - and it sounds very Italian - MAZZIA.

    I considered using my last name from the very beginning, but I didn't want any "fame" associated with my name, should our sauce happen to be successful. Nana seemed like a good alternative name - easy to say and remember (especially for Thais), means good things in various languages, and from all who I talked to, they said they perceived positive connotations. I guess I didn't talk to enough people who frequent Bangkok, and I certainly didn't have the budget for extensive focus groups.

    I also estimated more % Thais would make up our customer base.... but as things are playing out, it seems Farang are by far the vast majority. I figured Nana would be easy for Thais to say and remember. But that is less of a factor now than we first thought, it seems. So it appears market forces are putting pressure on us to be more "Italian-sounding", so I may have to give-in and just use my last name.

    Anywho, if we do consider a name change, we may likely have to do it in steps (as other brands have done), so as to keep our customer base and not confuse anyone. First perhaps NANA Mazzia (Big NANA; smaller Mazzia font), then Nana MAZZIA (smaller Nana; big MAZZIA font) .... then eventually drop the Nana. This will take quite some time and expense (and migraine headaches dealing with the FDA label lady).

    I even have sample labels drawn up with the Mazzia brand name - one is attached.

    So how do you former advertising people think?

    I do like the "Mazzia" far better than the "Nana" name... no offense.

    Now consider this:

    "Momma Mazzia" - "home recipe" or use "thick and delicious". This conjures up Italian and the goodness of a home cooked meal. I think you have a winner here.

    If you need any other marketing assistance let me know. I'll be in Thailand this fall and will try your sauce.

    cheers

    Mark

    I meant that to be "Mama Mazzia"

  9. Yes if you want to sell to Falang I would drop the name "Nana" as it has a connotation of a certain plaza. I used to work in advertising so if you need help with a name drop me a pm. Good luck.

    Funny so did I.

    Here is my suggestion for a better name ; COWBOY PASTA SAUCE - all the great taste of NANA, without the short-term pressure for those times when you just want to relax.

    I appreciate your concern, good wishes, and willingness to help. However, if I ever do change the name, I believe have the perfect name in mind already - and it sounds very Italian - MAZZIA.

    I considered using my last name from the very beginning, but I didn't want any "fame" associated with my name, should our sauce happen to be successful. Nana seemed like a good alternative name - easy to say and remember (especially for Thais), means good things in various languages, and from all who I talked to, they said they perceived positive connotations. I guess I didn't talk to enough people who frequent Bangkok, and I certainly didn't have the budget for extensive focus groups.

    I also estimated more % Thais would make up our customer base.... but as things are playing out, it seems Farang are by far the vast majority. I figured Nana would be easy for Thais to say and remember. But that is less of a factor now than we first thought, it seems. So it appears market forces are putting pressure on us to be more "Italian-sounding", so I may have to give-in and just use my last name.

    Anywho, if we do consider a name change, we may likely have to do it in steps (as other brands have done), so as to keep our customer base and not confuse anyone. First perhaps NANA Mazzia (Big NANA; smaller Mazzia font), then Nana MAZZIA (smaller Nana; big MAZZIA font) .... then eventually drop the Nana. This will take quite some time and expense (and migraine headaches dealing with the FDA label lady).

    I even have sample labels drawn up with the Mazzia brand name - one is attached.

    So how do you former advertising people think?

    I do like the "Mazzia" far better than the "Nana" name... no offense.

    Now consider this:

    "Momma Mazzia" - "home recipe" or use "thick and delicious". This conjures up Italian and the goodness of a home cooked meal. I think you have a winner here.

    If you need any other marketing assistance let me know. I'll be in Thailand this fall and will try your sauce.

    cheers

    Mark

×
×
  • Create New...