...i.e., the Eastern Province of Khashoggi-murdering Saudi Arabia aka Kingdom of Justice...Quote:
Originally Posted by happynz
Printable View
...i.e., the Eastern Province of Khashoggi-murdering Saudi Arabia aka Kingdom of Justice...Quote:
Originally Posted by happynz
mmm Sharkier in Sharqiyah eh, to happier thing sa lovely Utah photo that won the Greenwich Observatory prizeQuote:
Originally Posted by tomcat
https://teakdoor.com/attachment.php?a...id=21809&stc=1
https://teakdoor.com/attachment.php?a...id=21810&stc=1
Sunset from a ferry, somewhere between Batangas on Luzon and Calapan on Mindoro.
https://teakdoor.com/attachment.php?a...id=21874&stc=1
A model presents a creation designed by Rya Baraba during Jakarta Fashion Week in Jakarta, Indonesia, Oct. 23, 2018
https://teakdoor.com/attachment.php?a...id=21876&stc=1
A young Chinese team recently went viral for reproducing the beauty of Hanfu, a traditional Chinese clothing of Han nationality
Ready and awaiting your return.
I was in Mandalay a few days ago and the town is chockablock with these great little tuktuk taxis imported from India. I took a ride across town in one and asked the driver about them. Apparently, just 12 months ago there were none in Mandalay and now their use has exploded. There are 4 companies operating these tuktuks, including Grab and OK.
Unlike Thailand, you don't need to ask the fare before taking your trip, because the driver uses the GPS 'meter' on his phone app.
I'm well-chuffed with these little taxis. Might buy one myself :)
https://teakdoor.com/attachment.php?a...id=21882&stc=1
...^Mandy will be sorry he left...
They have grabtaxi in thailand too, with 4 wheels and aircon:)Quote:
Originally Posted by Simon43
Eerm. So, assuming they're 2 stroke and Mandy has 1 1/2 years to go in UB, projecting the existing Tuk Tuk growth rate, when Mandy returns from UB he's likely to find it would have been healthier to stay there.:)Quote:
Originally Posted by Simon43
I smile when the plastic is left on the seat to show that's new.Quote:
Originally Posted by Simon43
Quote:
Originally Posted by Simon43
A fleet of 'em can be quite profitable in the right locale and situation....
https://teakdoor.com/attachment.php?a...id=21887&stc=1
"When a Michelangelo with a camera captures David fighting Goliath in action."
Icon for the oppressed by Mustafa Hassouna
I have been told that foreigners can not buy a tuktuk in Thailand, even if it's purely for private use; too much risk he could pick up a fare. Don't know if it's true or not, but before buying one in Burma, you might want to check if that's the case there.Quote:
Originally Posted by Simon43
My GF's brother has bought one of those for use as the "family car".Quote:
Originally Posted by Simon43
He's pretty happy with it.
Not true I have seen a few foreigners driving around in tuktuks spoke to a guy in Bangsaen who proudly told me he own one. He rolled up at the same restaurant were we we eating my first thought was what a moron why own one. After a quick chat i still couldn't understand why you would want one .Quote:
Originally Posted by Maanaam
Mentor, Ohio (E of Cleveland - Lake Erie)
GoPro Karma Drone
https://teakdoor.com/attachment.php?a...id=22021&stc=1
https://teakdoor.com/attachment.php?a...id=22022&stc=1
Morning 8 mi stroll :)
https://teakdoor.com/attachment.php?a...id=22024&stc=1
https://teakdoor.com/attachment.php?a...id=22023&stc=1
Late foliage this year. Was 90 degrees F last week...
https://teakdoor.com/attachment.php?a...id=22025&stc=1
^ I thought you were still in the Amazon...I can't keep up
...what makes you think he's not?...Quote:
Originally Posted by SKkin
^ I assumed those Mentor pics were taken today...
...Hick's obviously having an out-of-body experience at his Ayahuasca retreat...it's part of the package...
^ I wonder if the serpents in that pkg advised a Mentor visit.
...Plan A: you get serpents; Plan B: you get Mentors; Plan C: you get a side excursion to Lake Eerie...boo!
Just arrived to Mentor yesterday to surprise my Aunt (81st bday), sister, niece, 3 cousins and eight 2nd cousins.....one is pretty hot.
Flinging to Florida Tuesday ;)
A picture paints a thousand Lulus.Quote:
Originally Posted by hick
Before they decide to repair the drains On Nut 44 was nice and dry also clean. Now it's flooded everyday everyone ignores the road closed signs and have traffic jams everyday. Luckily we are off to Pattani tomorrow no traffic jams no road repairs nice and quiet for a few day's.
Not out of bounds.Quote:
Originally Posted by hick
Before they decide to repair the drains On Nut 44 was nice and dry also clean. Now it's flooded everyday everyone ignores the road closed signs and have traffic jams everyday. Luckily we are off to Pattani tomorrow no traffic jams no road repairs nice and quiet for a few day's.
https://teakdoor.com/attachment.php?a...id=22041&stc=1
https://teakdoor.com/attachment.php?a...id=22042&stc=1
The long and lonely road......
https://teakdoor.com/attachment.php?a...id=22045&stc=1
Probably my final early morning bike rode through the diplomatic zone in Naypyitaw, (where there are no diplomats, just overgrown fields.....)
I'm flying back to Bangers on Thursday, sort out a few things and then move on to a new and very challenging project in Kawthaung, (tip of south Myanmar), assuming that the authorities there allow me to live in the town :)
https://teakdoor.com/images/imported/2018/10/129.jpg
Methy Cartel run.
Quick ol' in-out-in-out, get the keys, CM - Hat Yai - Hush Hush.
Keep it on the QT like.
Simon, i thought your Myanmar days were nearly over, and Thailand was your next destination.Quote:
Originally Posted by Simon43
Kawthaung (known in colonial times as Victoria Point), is Myanmar’s southernmost town. An important trading point, many people make the 20-minute trip across the water from the Thai border town of Ranong for a visa run or a bit of sightseeing and shopping.
Despite its waterside setting, Kawthaung itself is not a particularly beautiful town – but it is an interesting and culturally varied place to wander around, with strong Indian and Muslim influences. As is customary for Myanmar towns of this size, Kawthaung is home to hilltop pagodas offering good views of the sea and surrounding area; the Pyi Daw Aye Pagoda is close to the centre of town and has market stalls at it entrances.
...*cough*...Quote:
Originally Posted by NamPikToot
I've visited Kawthaung maybe 50 times over the past 15 years or so. Initially, I was doing visa runs from Phuket. But then I ventured into the town and combined volunteer English teaching in the town with my visa runs.
I have a choice of living in Myanmar or Thailand. The reason for my move from Naypyitaw probably seems utterly crazy (the lack of access to female company that I previously mentioned is one issue that can be overcome at any other location in Myanmar or Thailand).
Many years ago, when I was going through very bad times with my mad ex #2 who successfully destroyed our marriage, family life and business in Phuket, I was helped by some friends who provided small but very important help for me to get out of my predicament.
At that time, I made a promise to myself (I'm not religious), that if I ever got myself back onto my feet, I would not forget the kindness of my friends and would do what I could to 'pay it back' through helping others by small acts of kindness.
Well, I did get back onto my feet, (at least to a quality of life that I was happy with). I moved to Myanmar in 2012, got a good teaching job at a private school and started doing voluntary English teaching on my days off in the 'slum' district of Dala Township, just across the river. Myanmar students often lack spoken English skills because of the lack of foreign teachers and the (often) atrocious pronunciation of their local teachers, who also never had the opportunity to learn from a native speaker. Being able to speak English can be a route out of poverty for the student - competence in English is desperately sought by almost everyone in the country.
Time moved on and so did I, to Mandalay and then to Naypyitaw where I held down a good job teaching English and Science to some great students. At the same time, I continued my volunteer teaching at local orphanages, and also donated school books and learning aids to many other orphanages and poor schools throughout the country, and developed a free Android app to help local teachers practice and improve their English skills.
My 30 or so students at the international school are very lucky, because their parents are well-off government, police and military. But if I had the time, I could educate many, many more kids who are not so lucky to have rich parents.
So it is that I resigned from the school! My plan is to base myself in either Myawaddy or Kawthaung, (in reach of the Thai mobile networks for fast internet access), and earn a salary from teaching English online from a custom-built classroom. (I have several teaching companies who have signed me up). I will then use that classroom and video/audio facilities to also teach local kids in the town, but especially use it expand the content that I make available on my android app and Facebook page for local teachers.
Probably most people will think I'm completely mad to leave a cushy, well-paid job in Naypyitaw. But I've learnt over the years that if you don't go and try something yourself, you will never know if it works or not. Maybe my plan will all go tits up and I'll have to return to teaching rich kids again. But maybe, just maybe, the promise that I made to myself all those years ago to give back, and which has been very successful to date, (I have helped about 2,500 kids in the past couple of years), will be even more successful :)
Anyway - life is full of surprises - maybe I'll find wife #4 in Kawthaung..
Yes, sorry Tom
Simon, I don't think you are crazy at all and you certainly don't need to justify yourself but thanks for the update. You have to do what you think is right for you and in this case being philanthropic just speaks of your character, so good on you.
You've been hanging around Pat too long mate.Quote:
Originally Posted by hick
Yes, and Philanthropy means the love of humanity. A conventional modern definition is "private initiatives, for the public good, focusing on quality of life", which combines an original humanistic tradition with a social scientific aspect developed in the 20th century. The definition also serves to contrast philanthropy with business endeavors, which are private initiatives for private good, e.g., focusing on material gain, and with government endeavors, which are public initiatives for public good, e.g., focusing on provision of public services.[1] A person who practices philanthropy is called a philanthropist.Philanthropy has distinguishing characteristics separate from charity; not all charity is philanthropy, or vice versa, though there is a recognized degree of overlap in practice. A difference commonly cited is that charity aims to relieve the pain of a particular social problem, whereas philanthropy attempts to address the root cause of the problem—the difference between the proverbial gift of a fish to a hungry person, versus teaching them how to fish.[2][3][4][5]Quote:
Originally Posted by NamPikToot
:rolleyes:
I think there must be at least as many wondering about what the terms 'cushy' and 'well-paid' mean to you.Quote:
Originally Posted by Simon43
16 hours of teaching per week for a $3,000 monthly tax-free package (salary + hotel +) :)Quote:
...what the terms 'cushy' and 'well-paid' mean to you..
Do you mean the cost of the hotel is included in the 3K, or 3K plus hotel accom?Quote:
Originally Posted by Simon43
Thanks.
If they start flying there from CM I'd consider it if it's the latter...
The hotel cost is about $500 a month, and basic salary $2,500. I can earn the same salary teaching online for say 30 hours per week.
Sure I'd like to earn more. Back in the days when I was writing mobile phone applications 30,000 GBP was my typical monthly income. If I had my time again, I'd do somethings a helluva lot more useful with that sort of money than what I did with it in those days :)