Beauty Hunter–David’s Blog is back on

Sawadee Khrap

BeautyHunterDavid, in London, got his Google Blog “Beauty Hunter” back up and running.  It was shut down for some unknown reason by the censor gods of Google.  He’s got a post about it so I won’t elaborate here.  Welcome back David and all the luck keeping it up. (pardon the pun)

Ciao

Poi Sang Long–Shan Festival–Chiang Mai

Sawadee Khrap    or for Shan    “Mai Song Kak”

_MG_7957Today was the last day of the 3 day Shan festival “Poi Sang Long”  at Wat Ku Tao. This festival is for the young boys to enter the Monkhood – boys 7-14 ,dressed in their finest attire, are carried 3 times around the temple and take the robes of novice monks.   I made a

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of most of the images taken. 

I had to use my old camera because the new 7D’s shutter stuck and now I have to send into Canon for repair.  Needless to say I am very disappointed – I hope the Service department can make me feel better with a quick repair.  The new lens on the old 350D camera really helps and the photos are very clear – I’ll let you know what happens as I’ll probably rant and rave if the new one doesn’t get fixed soon – I paid a lot of money and don’t expect a “Professional” camera to go tits up after 300 photos – they advertise a 150,000 shutter life – We’ll see.

Ciao

Just had an Earthquake

Sawadee Khrap

We just had an earthquake – or at least I felt (and my neighbors) a real strong one.  Checking the USGS Earthquake Site – I see TWO  7.0 quakes happened in Myanmar.  Earthquake3-11I felt both of them – the first one real strong, the second just a slight movement.  But, I did feel both.  WOW, actually got up and started to go toward the door, it lasted for what seemed to be about 20 seconds – quite long.

Ciao

Ben’s Taxi Service

Sawadee Khrap

I was just checking my blog and noticed that I did not have a link to Ben’s Taxi Service.  

BensTaxiSorry Ben – fixed it now.

The last couple of times Mohamed visited me from the States he partook of Ben’s services in planning and taking his tours and told me he was extremely happy and will always use Ben’s again. 

Check out his web page for all particulars.

Ciao

Café Khun kru–Off Suthep Rd.

Sawadee Khrap

KhunKruCafeMax told me about “Wit” and his Café, take the second Soi on the left past the Canal Road on Suthep Rd.  (See the map) .  It is hard to find and when I went there Sat it was still raining and so they were not open.  I did get to meet Wit and managed to take some quick shots.

It’s located in the front yard of the house and can be a little difficult to find.  I plan to go back and visit next Tuesday and see how the drinks are and what kind of customers he draws – students, students and more students – hopefully it won’t be raining .

Wit seems like a real neat guy and we will chat later and I’ll tell you more about the Café and him.  Maybe I can find some models there too.

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and here’s a shot from the front road – don’t go past it – more Tuesday

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Ciao

Prostate Exam…Thai Style..

Sawadee Khrap

After experiencing the discomfort and embarrassment of a prostate test on the National Health Service, a friend of mine decided to have his next test carried out while visiting in Thailand where the beautiful nurses are rather more gentle and accommodating.

As usual he was asked to strip off, he lay naked on his side on the bed and the nurse began the examination.

"At this stage of the procedure it’s quite normal to get an erection" said the nurse.

"I haven’t got an erection" said the man.

"No, but I have" replied the nurse.

Thanks Jerry

Ciao

Miserable Rainy, Cold in Chiang Mai

Sawadee Khrap

It’s been raining for 3 days and cold, cold, cold – temperature dropping to almost 15 degrees in the evenings.  I don’t have a room heater so even the studio is hard to use – giving all the boys goose bumps – not good for sexy shots. I’ll wait till the rain stops.

I had planned on visiting Fang Lagoon this week but I am sure glad I didn’t go – I’d of froze to death there too.  It is amazing how I feel the cold now.  When all of this clears up I will go up and get some photos of the new staff – of course using the new camera. I understand they now have installed air-con in the massage hut and have hot running water for the showers (donations from extremely happy customers).

Waiting for the rain to quit – Ciao

Coming to Thailand–Want to learn “Thai”

Sawadee Khrap

Narin-ThaiTeacherPlanning a trip to Thailand, hopefully Chiang Mai, and need or want to learn to speak some Thai while here – I just met a great guy who can teach you.  Narin – He has developed a “new and easy way of speaking the Thai Language”.  He offers a 20 hour class, at your home or hotel and will guide you through the Thai-language-culture, and history.  He is a professional teacher and it sounds like a great program.  You can reach him at:

 

Email: narinthaiteacher@hotmail.com

Mobile:  082 411 6199

I am going to do some photos and give him some pointers on setting up his web page and  he said he would help me with my Thai.  So, I will up-date this post later this month with more particulars about his services and costs.  Stay tuned.

Ciao

Oy Vey — Not again

Sawadee Khrap

Recently while going through the airport on one of his many trips, President Bush encountered a man with long, gray hair wearing a white robe and sandals…and holding a staff.

President Bush went up to the man and asked, "Has anyone told you that you look like Moses?"  The man never answered. He just kept staring straight ahead.

The President said "Moses!" in a loud voice. The man just stared ahead…never acknowledging the President. Bush pulled a Secret Service agent aside and, pointing to the robed man, asked, "Am I crazy, or does that man look like Moses to you?"

The Secret Service agent looked at the man carefully and then agreed. "Well", said the President, "Every time I say his name, he ignores me and stares straight ahead, refusing to speak. Watch." Again the President yelled "Moses!" and again the man ignored him.

The Secret Service agent went up to the man in the white robe and whispered, "You look just like Moses. Are you Moses?"

The man leaned over and whispered back, "Yes, I am Moses. However, the last time I talked to a bush, I spent 40 years wandering in the desert…and ended up leading my people to the only spot in the entire Middle East where there is no oil."

 

Ciao

Traveling ?? Protect Your Credit tips

Sawadee Khrap

Jim just send me these great tips for protecting your Credit Cards whether at home or traveling from “Courtesy of the Lancasters”  apparently a group of Attorneys.  Excellent Advice.

1. Do not sign  the back of your credit cards. Instead, put ‘PHOTO ID REQUIR ED.’.

2. When you are writing checks to pay on your credit card accounts,  DO  NOT put the complete  account number on the ‘For’ line. Instead, just put the  last four numbers. The credit card company knows the rest of the number, and anyone who might be handling your check as it passes through all the check processing channels won’t have access to it.

3. Put your work phone # on your checks instead of your home phone. If you have a  PO  Box use that instead of your home address. If you do not have a PO Box, use your work address. Never  have your  SS# printed on your checks. (DUH!) You can add it if it is necessary. But if you have It printed, anyone can get it.

4. Place the contents of your wallet on a photocopy machine. Do both sides of each license, credit card, etc. You will know what you had in your wallet and all of the account numbers and phone numbers to call and cancel…… Keep the photocopy in a safe place.  I also carry a photocopy of my passport when I travel either here or abroad. We’ve all heard horror stories about fraud that’s committed on us in stealing a Name, address, Social Security number, credit cards.

Unfortunately, I, an attorney, have first hand knowledge because my wallet was stolen last month…. Within a week, the thieves ordered an expensive monthly cell phone package, applied for a VISA credit card, had a credit line approved to buy a Gateway computer, received a PIN number from DMV to change my driving record information online, and more. But here’s some critical information to limit the damage  in case this happens to you or someone you know:

5. We have been told we should  cancel our  credit cards immediately. But the key is having the toll free numbers and your card numbers handy so you know whom to call. Keep those where you can find them.

6.  File a  police report immediately in the jurisdiction where your credit cards, etc., were stolen. This proves to credit providers you were diligent, and this is a first step toward an investigation (if there ever is one).

But here’s what is perhaps  most important of all: (I never even thought to do this.) 

7. Call  the  3 national credit reporting organizations  immediately to place a fraud alert on your name and also call the Social Security fraud line number. I had never heard of doing that until advised by a bank that called to tell me an application for credit was made over the internet in my name.

The alert means any company that checks your credit knows your information was stolen, and they have to contact you by phone to authorize new credit.

By the time I was advised to do this, almost two weeks after the theft, all the damage had been done. There are records of all the credit checks initiated by the thieves’ purchases, none of which I knew about before placing the alert. Since then, no additional damage has been done, and the thieves threw my wallet away this weekend (someone turned it in). It seems to have stopped them dead in their tracks..

Now, here are the numbers you always need to contact about your wallet, if it has been stolen:

  • Equifax:   800-525-6285
  • Experian  (formerly TRW)   888-397-3742
  • Trans Union:  800-680-7289
  • Social Security Admin. (fraud line):  800-269-0271

Ciao

Coincidence ??

Sawadee Khrap

A chicken farmer went to a local bar… sat next to a woman and ordered a glass of champagne. The woman perks up and says, "How about that? I just ordered a glass of champagne, too!"

"What a coincidence," the farmer says, "This is a special day for me, and I’m celebrating." "This is a special day for me too, I’m also celebrating!" says the woman. "What a coincidence" says the man. As they clinked glasses the farmer asked, "What are you celebrating?"

"My husband and I have been trying to have a child, and today my gynecologist told me that I’m pregnant!" "What a coincidence," says the man … "I’m a chicken farmer and for years all my hens were infertile, but today they’re finally laying fertilized eggs."

"That’s great!" says the woman, "How did your chickens become fertile?" "I used a different cock," he replied.

The woman smiled and said, "What a coincidence"

Ciao