When driving on Mondays, make sure you have all of your papers in order and are wearing your seatbelt when driving on the highways. Or bring lots of hundred baht notes. There will be police checkpoints every 20 kilometers or so and they will be collecting fines to replenish their coffers after the weekend.
I GET A RESIDENT DISCOUNT!!
Thinking back to my years of travel in Russia, the tour guys and I used to always try to get into the various Russian museums, operas, and ballets for the Russian rate. The local rate was either free or a nominal fee like 10 rubles. The foreign rate was 10 times that amount or even higher. There were teams of little old ladies that would sniff out the foreigner by such methods as haircuts, clothing, demeanor, and language. I had been successful in getting into the Summer Palace at Peterhof as a Russian and wore that as a badge of pride.
Here in Thailand, there is a foreigner rate for many exhibits and the wood museum was no exception. 100 Baht for foreigners and 30 Baht for residents. It is impossible for me to pass for Thai-wrong race and wrong size. My wife tried to get a discount for me and the girl sniffed- if your husband had a Thai drivers license, he is considered a resident. OHHHH boy- I got one of them thar motor car licenses!!! Thirty baht it is.
While 7-11coffee really sux in Thailand, you can usually go next door to Amazon Coffee for a really tasty iced expresso.
In Thailand, SIZZLER Steakhouse is very high class. Most Sizzlers are on the top floor of malls. Foreigners frequent the Sizzlers for a taste of home.
In Thailand, SIZZLER Steakhouse is where you get the Sizzler PORK steaks or fried fish platters. Beef is available but at about $25 dollars per plate for quality and about $16 for the Sizzler steak US equivalent.
Things to do in Thailand- take a TEFL/TESOL Course. English teachers are wanted. Pay is low but the environment is great!!! Plus- English school operation is a prestigious job with government approval.
Food prices are up about 20% for prepared foods.
My wife took a cooking class; now we dont go out as much. That is a good thing. Now if she could just make it taste like the restaurant does. . .
The mall stores are beginning to have shoe sizes in 11 and over and 2XX-still translates roughly as XL; good for us foreigners who have had to have shoes and clothing custom made or brought from abroad.
Amway still lives in Thailand
The western concept of fast food and TV is here to stay in Thailand- there are fitness centers open in Bangkok now and fat Thai people-almost unthinkable twenty years ago- abound. They do so want to be western. . .
Paula Abdul quit American Idol!!! Never watched it. . . .
You can buy gold jewelry here and trade it in years later for the market price of gold!!!! Gold is bought and sold by the weight of the metal AND NOT BY THE WORKMANSHIP!!! Dont tell your wife- she may want to invest!!!
You really can get good deals at the malls in Thailand.
Rules aimed at curbing foreigner small business operations are being enacted. Rules aimed at restricting foreign property ownership through proxy are also in effect.
If you want to die young, try driving on the Thai roads. There is no method in their madness of vehicle operation except perhaps a sense of confidence in reincarnation if they die. Probably come back as a dog and get run over by a car- that would be justice.
If you want to shop for casual wear, shop the Night Bazaar. 3-6 bucks an item. If you want to dress with class, shop the malls. If you want to dress formal, see a tailor. I recommend Outlook in Udonthani.
Sean's wife gets a Hard Rock Cafe Phuket Tshirt. Sorry Sean, they were out of large and, after I bought this one, had no shirts left. I got one more shot at hats on the way out of town on Sunday.
This will be the last Thailand post until I get back
