Thai team to explore North Pole to better protect ecosystem

[NCC1701A]

"Hello we are the Thai research team. We are so glad to be here in Svalbard. You want massage?"

 

[toofarnorth]

6 hours ago, Darcula said:

Don't forget to say hello to Jinger Ben.

I wonder if they will visit Ludolph the Led nose leigndeer .   Hope they are not going by bike , roads can be slippery there this time of year.

[melvinmelvin]

3 hours ago, worgeordie said:

I think the headline is a bit misleading, they are not going to the North Pole,

but to  Norway’s Svalbard islands, which has population,hotels,ect,so I think

they will survive OK,

regards worgeordie

 

still a pretty cold place, not too bad in the summer though (that also applies to the actual North Pole (not far away))

several Thais live/work in Svalbard - in fact the 3rd largest population group on the islands is Thai (only beaten by Norwegians and Russians)

(why Thais in this remote outpost? Work permit and visa not needed)

 

strange place this Svalbard - worth a visit though

 

 

[melvinmelvin]

38 minutes ago, NCC1701A said:

"Hello we are the Thai research team. We are so glad to be here in Svalbard. You want massage?"

 

 

FIY

 

there are Thai massage parlors there

 

[yellowboat]

Has all the sounds of a national ego boost with little substantive data.   Everyday I am in Bangkok, I see Thai throw crap in the water.  That is were to put your energies, not some vanity laden prance in sub zero weather.  The lack of attention to practical matters in Thailand is mind numbing

[klauskunkel]

The PM told them to borrow the pole, he wants to use it for the weekly aerobics exercise at Government House:

 

[hotchilli]

A THAI TEAM will be the first from Asia to explore the North Pole on a mission to conduct underwater exploration and the impact of microplastics on marine life.

 

Just an excuse for a good "Jolly" if they really wanted to study the effects of micro plastics on marine life they could dive off many beaches here in Thailand and get first hand knowledge of what happens!!!

[stanleycoin]

Think they should give it a miss

they look a bit pasty already. 

or are they deep in thought. 

 

[melvinmelvin]

3 hours ago, worgeordie said:

I think the headline is a bit misleading, they are not going to the North Pole,

but to  Norway’s Svalbard islands, which has population,hotels,ect,so I think

they will survive OK,

regards worgeordie

 

yes, have hotels - also polar bears

 

polar bears are freaks, most animals kill their prospective meals and then proceed to eat,

not so with polar bears - they cannot be bothered with the killing - they just grab you and eat

 

to illustrate a bit;

 

the main city has about 1800 inhabitants I think - maybe 2000 today - dunno am out of tune

the archipelago boss (normally a very high ranking official from the Norwegian Justice dept) sometimes

issues polar bear warnings - in particular during snowy times when heaps of snow makes it tricky

for bears to find food; they seek areas where there is people and maybe food to be found

DO NOT VENTURE OUTSIDE YOUR LIVING QUARTERS WITHOUT BEING ARMED!!!

(this includes going to the supermarket for fags and a six pack)

armed doesn't mean you have to carry a machine gun - signal pistol or the like would do - would normally scare the shit out of polar bears

 

on the roads leading out of the city (if you can call it that) there are road signs (very close to the city)

depicting a gun or so and clear text saying DO NOT PASS THIS POINT WITHOUT BEING ARMED

 

first time I arrived there (by airplane) I was rather shocked,

out of the plane into the terminal building - lots and lots of people there to meet friends and relatives

and almost everybody carrying rifles on their shoulders

normally airports are void of shooters  - not so at Svalbard - rather the contrary

 

some more off topic

 

one time I was there;

we were a party of 7 my boss me my wife 4 foreigners and  had a very productive drafting meeting

now SValbard is a superb place for satellite tracking and downlinking data - many tracking stations there

one day we visited one of the tracking stations (on top of the mountain next to the main "city" )

first a session in  the "office building" where properties and purposes and the like were explained,

then off to the antenna building to actually see it seeking/scanning the sky - finding the bird - then following it and doing the downloading

 

now, the antenna building was about 150 meters away from the office building, across a flat top of a mountain with no vegetation,

we were 7 + the guide / 4 people with high powered rifles (not on the shoulders but in their hands) ready to shoot followed us those 150 meters

 

2 weeks before, on the same mountain 2 teenage girls were <deleted> up by polar bears,

they had gone hiking from the main "city" to the top of that mountain - then spotted by hungry freaks

one lass was eaten the other one was seriously mutilated

'

don't <deleted> with polar bears

 

nuff off topic

 

 

 

 

[Justgrazing]

Immigration officers eagerly awaiting arrival of the ( unlucky ) 13 at North Pole Int' .. 

 

[balo]

6 hours ago, peperobi said:

13? this number remember me something...maybe we will see another rescue action....

And why do you think they choose to go on an expedition with exactly 13 people ?  Thais are superstitious , now 13 is a lucky number after what happened in CR. 

 

Says it all really. Stay home is my advise. 

 

 

[candide]

I have no doubt that the specific expertise they could build in their home country will allow them to bring a distinguished scientific contribution in the North pole. Ahem..... ?

[balo]

4 hours ago, worgeordie said:

I think the headline is a bit misleading, they are not going to the North Pole,

but to  Norway’s Svalbard islands, which has population,hotels,ect,so I think

they will survive OK,

We've had tourists at Svalbard been eaten alive by polar bears in the past , so I wouldn't bet on it.  BTW I am from that region.  But they will probably be fine. Lots of big Norwegians with rifles up there. 

 

Brit 17, killed in polar bear attack

 

 

 

[balo]

1 hour ago, melvinmelvin said:

- in fact the 3rd largest population group on the islands is Thai (only beaten by Norwegians and Russians)

(why Thais in this remote outpost? Work permit and visa not needed)

Haha , good point , I don't know why this happened , maybe a couple of the women married Norwegians and moved to Svalbard. Then they found out we need more food choices so within a couple of years a group of Thais were cooking food.  Then others followed .   Funny place Svalbard. 

 

Anyway the "expedition" will feel at home there with the "local" Thai food. 

 

[upu2]

Have they actually ever been in conditions as cold as that part of the world has on a daily basis? They are in for a big, big shock

[melvinmelvin]

4 minutes ago, balo said:

Haha , good point , I don't know why this happened , maybe a couple of the women married Norwegians and moved to Svalbard. Then they found out we need more food choices so within a couple of years a group of Thais were cooking food.  Then others followed .   Funny place Svalbard. 

 

Anyway the "expedition" will feel at home there with "local" Thai food. 

 

 

yep,

probably

 

most of 'em working as cleaners in hotels and the like I guess, but there are some exceptions

not long ago a Thai lass was elected to (let us call it) the city council - hence, now an official bureaucrat of Svalbard

 

why thais there? visa/work permit not required - taxes are very low - salaries are very good

 

 

[Justgrazing]

And will shortly be adding spicy Thai to the menu ..

[Justgrazing]

Apparently a group of Polar bears is a celebration .. And no doubt they will be when this lot turn up .. 

[melvinmelvin]

34 minutes ago, upu2 said:

Have they actually ever been in conditions as cold as that part of the world has on a daily basis? They are in for a big, big shock

 

summer time is no challenge really

0 degrees no challenge

-5 degrees no challenge

 

just a matter of proper clothing and footwear

(no sweat really)

 

now,

when you start talking -10 -15 -20 -25 -30 degrees things change a bit

not all humans have respiratory organs that can hack that - at least not without considerable training

 

now,

there are a fair amount of reindeers in Svalbard, these creatures are somewhat different from those you find in

Norway - Sweden - Finland - and Russia

the Svalbard ones are generally smaller and with shorter legs (i e closer to the ground)

 

and their breathing organs differ from their sisters on the mainland

the nose/mouth part is particularly designed for the extremely low winter temperatures

 

the "face" has the opposite of an intercooler - it has a pre-warmer, before the air is dragged into the lungs

 

 

 

 

[melvinmelvin]

anyway,

now is a very comfortable time of the year to visit Svalbard

no blizzards no need for wading through snow in order to get your fags and 6-pack - reasonably civilised the place is now

 

now,

the Thai team may enjoy bright sunshine round the clock (24/7) the sun is shining - might make an impression on them

 

[Bwlch]

They do realise that it’s cold there do they. ☃️


Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect

[xtrnuno41]

It's incredible, they better start in Thailand first with waste management.

Guess they want to know how cold it is?

[BobBKK]

Amazing just as they cured ebola and HiV?  can't wait for their results!

[electric]

This Thai team has already done a visit to the South Pole, so this northern visit should hold few unknown challenges weather wise.

 

A foundation sponsored by Princess Sirindhorn is funding this expedition, so I guess they've got good intentions, but it's difficult to know what they hope to achieve in 3 weeks that has not been thoroughly researched already.

 

If they find a couple of BigC bags floating at the North Pole, I guess that will justify the trip very nicely. 

[DrTuner]

How will they ever survive without a 7-11 in immediate vicinity?

[DrTuner]

5 hours ago, toofarnorth said:

I wonder if they will visit Ludolph the Led nose leigndeer

Cold smoked Ludolph is arrrrooyyyyaallllloooyyyy

[curlylekan]

Actually, I don't really see a problem with this. If the government or the Thai people will not take action on things until there is proof, proof observed by other Thai individuals, then let them go. Worst that can happen is the status quo stays the same, best is that it is leading towards a society who is beginning to take a look at the impact they are having on the world, thus making the appropriate changes. Now if it were the government saying a "war on Plastic," then I actually think nothing will be done than lip service. Here, everyday Thai's are stepping up to look at the impact they are having on the world. The best change happens at the grassroots level.

 

What I'm wondering is how the Thai people will survive without Thai food, or are they bringing their own. I've never been around such picky eaters.

[StayinThailand2much]

14 hours ago, webfact said:

A THAI TEAM will be the first from Asia to explore the North Pole on a mission to conduct underwater exploration and the impact of microplastics on marine life.

They messed up Thailand. Why do they have to mess up the North Pole too? Hope, they get eaten by polar bears!

[StayinThailand2much]

22 minutes ago, curlylekan said:

What I'm wondering is how the Thai people will survive without Thai food, or are they bringing their own. I've never been around such picky eaters.

Thais crave Som Tum. Being without it for more than 48 hours, they will be suicidal. Do they expect that som tum is sold at the North Pole? They will be back in Bangkok less than 72 hours after leaving for the North Pole!

[balo]

Thais crave Som Tum. Being without it for more than 48 hours, they will be suicidal. Do they expect that som tum is sold at the North Pole? They will be back in Bangkok less than 72 hours after leaving for the North Pole!

Please read the whole thread will you ? We have just confirmed they are not going to the North Pole but to the Svalbard islands, and there is a small Thai population there , working in restaurants, so there is a good chance they can eat Som Tum anytime they want.