Thread: Post a photo a week, of anything/anywhere

^ 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

Originally Posted by hick

.....one is pretty hot.

A picture paints a thousand Lulus.

Originally Posted by hick

2nd cousins.....one is pretty hot.

Not out of bounds.

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.

Methy Cartel run.


Quick ol' in-out-in-out, get the keys, CM - Hat Yai - Hush Hush.


Keep it on the QT like.

Originally Posted by NamPikToot

for more information on Thai-Myanmar border crossings, go here

...*cough*...

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.

Originally Posted by hick

cousins and eight 2nd cousins.....one is pretty hot.

You've been hanging around Pat too long mate.

Originally Posted by NamPikToot

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

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]

Originally Posted by Simon43

Probably most people will think I'm completely mad to leave a cushy, well-paid job in Naypyitaw.

I think there must be at least as many wondering about what the terms 'cushy' and 'well-paid' mean to you.

...what the terms 'cushy' and 'well-paid' mean to you..

16 hours of teaching per week for a $3,000 monthly tax-free package (salary + hotel +)

Originally Posted by Simon43

a $3,000 monthly tax-free package (salary + hotel +)

Do you mean the cost of the hotel is included in the 3K, or 3K plus hotel accom?

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

Originally Posted by Simon43

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

...a number of us probably feel the same way...

I ain't pushing one more grammar rule (to be broken) for anything less than:

6,000 usd/mo.
car (shared ok)
2 b/r, 1.5 bath
3 mos paid vaca.
Elec, water, satt tv, internet

12 hour max student contact/wk


But that's me and I actually like deserts

desserts aren't half bad either...


My ultimate goal is to only teach English (for free) to those with a real need but (obv) cannot afford it.

Trust I can be there in couple more years...

Originally Posted by hick

Trust I can be there in acouple more years...

...perhaps if you cut down on the Ayahuasca rehab visits...

Perhaps if I quit drinking expensive java or buying toys or giving gifts, buying cars, etc...

...^all you need is B65K monthly income to enter paradise...