[Nothatspecial]

Keep your hands off my Vegemite:
Julia Gillard says Vegemite is part of being Australian and has assured it will not be banned.

Acting Prime Minister Julia Gillard says there is no way she is giving up her breakfast ritual of Vegemite on toast.

A shadow has been cast over the future of the iconic spread as a federal government taskforce considers special taxes and other deterrents on the sale of fatty, sugary and salty foods.

But Ms Gillard on Thursday said Vegemite's future on Australian grocery shelves was assured.

"I am a very happy Vegemite eater and there is no way in the world that Vegemite would be banned in this country," Ms Gillard told reporters in Melbourne.

"Vegemite is part of being Australian, part of our history, part of our future and I'll be continuing to wake up in the morning and having it on my toast."

The government set up the taskforce last year to recommend ways to tackle preventable health problems such as obesity, which cost Australia an estimated $8.3 billion in 2008, according to a report in Thursday's The Australian newspaper.

The taskforce's final report, due in June, is one of the most eagerly anticipated of all the health reviews under way, the newspaper says.
______________

Part of being Australian???

Why should they ban it? It's a legal product. Just another example of "nanny" governments trying to control every aspect of people's lives. Keeping their populations under control by means of crippling taxation levels.

That's just one of the many reasons why I live in Thailand.

[adverwork]

There won't be any happy little vegemites around if that ever happens.

[InsManKV]

I LOVE Marmite (NZ type), beetroot, mutton and lamb (with or without mint sauce) cause I grew up with them. I have heard that when Thais are invited to have a traditional Kiwi meal of roast mutton or lamb they almost vomit at the fatty smell as soon as they enter the house and actually eating it is a real challenge for them. Its probably equivalent to us eating Plalaa in LoS!! My wife says Marmite and Vegemite are different because one is a meat extract and the other is a yeast extract, she's not sure which is which.

[Nothatspecial]

I LOVE Marmite (NZ type), beetroot, mutton and lamb (with or without mint sauce) cause I grew up with them. I have heard that when Thais are invited to have a traditional Kiwi meal of roast mutton or lamb they almost vomit at the fatty smell as soon as they enter the house and actually eating it is a real challenge for them. Its probably equivalent to us eating Plalaa in LoS!! My wife says Marmite and Vegemite are different because one is a meat extract and the other is a yeast extract, she's not sure which is which.

Both of these foul substances are vegetable based.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marmite

[uC4F0NVL]

Both of these foul substances are vegetable based.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marmite

They are, in part, the by product from brewing beer!

Our old local brewery-before it was demolished and a wonderful new shopping centre erected (to match the 2 we already have), used to have tankers calling daily to take away the remnants of the brewing process, yeast, hops, etc and take it to the Marmite factory for processing.

[Nothatspecial]

They are, in part, the by product from brewing beer!

Our old local brewery-before it was demolished and a wonderful new shopping centre erected (to match the 2 we already have), used to have tankers calling daily to take away the remnants of the brewing process, yeast, hops, etc and take it to the Marmite factory for processing.

They should have diverted the trucks to the nearest rubbish dump

Now......If I could only buy haggis in Bangkok, my life would be complete!!!

[PoideAdelereX]

I always buy some David Jones vitamin E creams for my friends ,don't know what the fascination is with David Jones creams l have no idea but Thai ladies just love them.For men l have bought Ripcurl/Billibong/Quiksilver leather belts,shirts etc,you can buy the fakes at a fraction of the price in Thailand but originals always go down well also Australian leather wallets and keyholders are a good fall back make sure all the made in China tags are removed Haha!.For boys its not so easy but l did take an Australian rules football over and that went down well, it was taken to school and shown off as well as having lots of little boys lining up for a kick ,a bit of a status symbol for the proud owner.

[uC4F0NVL]

Now......If I could only buy haggis in Bangkok, my life would be complete!!!

Surprised you cannot-I trust you have tried all the high class delis in the likes of Siam Paragon?

[BUMbaronos]

I've ever sent gifts over to my bf's hometown before, most of them are quite the same age as the son of your thai friend here. Most of the time, I'd send them the latest games (playstation) which have yet been released in Thailand. For his nieces, it's really easy to buy gifts for girls(barbies, dolls, bracelets, necklaces), as for boys, I have to ask what he lacks of or try to recall what are his hobbies(his hobbies are apparently, PC games/Playstation). It doesn't have to be something they don't sell in Thailand, just as long as it's something they WANT, they'll eventually feel grateful for that.

You're a man, I'm sure you remember what you used to love playing when you're a kid yea?

Cheers.

[adverwork]

I was taught it's the thought that counts and there's no thought behind a gift voucher or money.

David

[Emunsesoxmete]

you must have been darned unlucky with your shoes mate. I haven't had to buy a new pair of Bata sandals for 4 years, same for my mum and sis who bought theirs here.

[adverwork]

Parfume for the mother; as Parfume is expensive in Thailand and there are many fake ones.

My wife enjoys perfume I take for her but always complains because she says she can get it much cheaper in Thailand. "Only 200 Baht, smell beautiful."

David

[lXwVlTgO]

Chocolate, Yelly Gums etc. are always very appreciated by kids.

Like Jas mentioned, Computer Games (Playstation etc.) are good.

What about a nice watch for the father, as in Thailand many fake watches.

Parfume for the mother; as Parfume is expensive in Thailand and there are many fake ones.

[Emunsesoxmete]

I don't think a gift voucher is an impersonal, inconsiderate present. I suppose they are not very rich, so probably better for them to decide what to buy, a big bag of rice or a new pair of shoes for the boy or a golden necklace for the wife or whatever. I think just add something small that's personal.
btw, Timtams are available in Tesco/BigC/ even in 7-eleven recently.

[obHQNsY2]

I guess I may be somewhat alone in thinking this, but a gift voucher or money was always the gift you settled on when you weren't able to think of a gift.

I suppose I was brought up to think giving a gift is giving a gift, giving money is, well, giving money.

Certainly becoming a more prevalent, common and accepted thing though.
Hmmmm.

[bobibnoxx]

If David thinks gift vouchers have no 'thoughts' behind it, then he can send 2 flower bouquets with very warm thoughts, one for the father and one for his son.

[vNQmO2BF]

Plez believed me >>>>I was an international student at JCU and QUT.
I lived with Aussie homestay and also the other thai students.From our observation,
Aussie people likely pround and presented Velgamite.
I asked my friends and found out more than 95% of thai do not like taste of it.

[boXGWf04]

A gift voucher would be best so that he can buy whatever he needs.

also known as 'money'

[DexOnenlyCymn]

A Thai does not want a pair of shoes, if you did send them, in a week they would have lost the laces and stomped the counters down til they looked like those rear loaders that have laces but rear entry and no counters.

and money to a Thai is the gift that keeps on giving and it is the thought that counts, and they think a great deal of money.

[obHQNsY2]

Not sure if this is the right place to post this question.....


Have visited Phuket a couple of times.
Each time a very helpful chap by the name of Winai has acted as our driver and driven us a round, taken us to see everything we have wanted to see, and patiently waited in his car whilst my fiancé (and sometimes myself) indulged in massages, elephant rides, shopping, assorted beauty treatments, shows, dinners, etc, etc, etc, etc.

Now given that this fellow feeds his wife and child and pays his bills by being helpful to tourists, it is no surprise he is friendly and nice.
And of course we paid him well for his services.

Once whilst we were there, his car broke down, and rather then display the reaction he expected us tourists to display, I opened his bonnet, and with the aid of my Leatherman, some cable ties I happened to have, and some stuff from his boot, I fixed his car.

So in spite of the fact he is just a man trying to earn his living, and we were just one of many many tourist customers, we kind of became mates.
He asked endless questions about Australia, etc, and we in turn about his life, family and Thailand.
Have kind of kept in contact, exchanged a few emails, phone calls etc, once back in Australia.

So here is the point:
Would like to send something to him, or at least to his 11 year old son.

He hasn't asked, and I imagine he probably does ok financially driving tourists around, but never the less I think it would be a nice thing to do.

Now.
What to send?

Is there something that I could post from Australia that might be easy to obtain here, but expensive or not heard of in Thailand that might be appreciated?

Obviously, the quintessentially Australian stuff is no good.
If I send a jar of Vegimite, a box of Lamingtons, or TimTams this seemingly average Thai fellow with a wife and son won't know what to do with em, much less appreciate them.
Similarily, Blundstone boots probably arn't real smart in the Tropics, and a rabbit fur Akubra would be next to useless.

Suggestions?
Thoughts and comments?