pgrahmm

I don't speak Thai & they are not English speakers.....They eat, laugh, take neverending temple explorations.... I have to give them credit, they maximize every moment they spend together..... I tuck away in a bedroom somewhere & read..... They know that I don't speak Thai, so all I do is interrupt their table talk.... I'm invited to all, but choose carefully....12+ hours a day of temple hopping isn't on my to do list.... When face to face, I ask if I don't know but keep it smiling & light.... Fortunately, family wise, there's always a lot of good humor and laughter.... AND - We are settled in 700k away....So, it's either a long drive or train travel = no surprise drop in's or nearby family drama or rescues..... Distance is a good thing.... My wife is good about remaining informed, yet uninvolved....

Here, it's all about the way it's said.... If you said "You forgot this" it might offend....If you said - did you forget this? It probably would have ended with a smile & a giggle..... Usually, one of the two at the registers is a day/night lead or manager & the clerk handling your transaction felt exposed....

Makes you a Bi-Sexual = a switch hitter.....

The wife is out of town..... Shredded Wheat biscuits with home baked bread, toasted - with peanut butter & jelly..... Easy & quick..... Breakfast comes after feeding & servicing the koi pond, fish ponds, cats, and our dog.....

To put an overnight rush on it was 500B when we went.....Several people walked in to pick them up during the short time we were there..... I was just using it for an IDP so opted for the 3 week wait/mail out....

Initially, was how easy and comfortable living here could be.... I travelled to here 3 times to check & double check for extended periods, to make sure what I experienced was not an anomaly..... I made the move & never really regretted my decision..... Sadly, my 26 y/o Daughter in the US that I raised as a solo parent/Daughter duo had recently died in an automobile crash & freed me up for a life changing move.... Now, settled in - with a great wife & 2 daughters; it's helped heal a hole in my heart.....

We have/have 2 Samsung washing machines.....We out grew out first one after using for 12+ years....Passed it along to family & it's still purring along.... Our Current Samsung is about 3 years old and no problems....Our Samsung fridge is 12 years old & has been trouble free....Our Samsung A/C, water heaters, & TVs have been trouble free.... The only Samsung products we have not have good service from are their phones - which we will never buy again....

I had my Toyota SUV lift gate struts replaced at Pro Auto in Hang Dong.... The cost was minimal.... Daengs off Mahidol Rd would also be a good choice....

Bob, drinking & a balcony.... What could possibly go wrong....

I only had one Grandmother that was alive for my childhood....A wonderful lady with a French accent so thick you could cut with a knife when speaking english....She actually arrived by sailing ship.... All of the family conversations with her were primarily spoken in french..... I'm sure she'd experienced a lot along life's path.... Unfortunately, I couldn't understand a word....

Get a helmet !!! Riding here is contentious .... Cars & motorcys are not shy about buzzing the tower....They drive in reverse directions so you need to be aware of danger coming from all directions - including friendly & unfriendly dogs.....I ride only side streets (not the busy main roads) to run to the small stores, exercise, or run the dog.... I have tried going on a few busy roads but you're basically invisible to most of the Thai drivers....I live close to a canal road that's very popular with riders....But, about once a year somebody gets killed out there & it's never their fault.... I have a nice bike & bike rack, but, I'm just not enthusiastic about loading up and scouting for other places.... If you're balance impaired & cannot master it - don't try it.... Also, get a good quality bike lock.....

Up & walking the dog for the first time by 6:30..... Lazy days exist = between chores....

I've used my TDL with no problems.... A buddy who had both his Tex licence & Thai license presented his Texas license & was told he wouldn't get the lower Thai rate if he used it.....He them used his Thai license to get the lower contracted rate....I usually back that up by getting an IDP as some states require it.....

I did my in person after our last trip knowing it was required....Now,I tried online & was rejected on 2 attempts for Chiang Mai.....Each came back within 24 hours, so not much time lost.....Cruised through the drive up window with no queue - then off to the Dukes where we chowed down..... Fortunately, immigration is only about half an hour's drive.... I'll try online next time and see if it wants to go through....This is the only time I've been rejected via online.....

As mentioned before, I'd take the RV & SUV out of storage & explore the US.... When I moved here from CA rents in the larger SF area were within reason at about $600/$800 per month.... Now, in the same block area the rents are now $2600 - $4400 a month for what was around $800 before..... I'd explore areas I haven't seen before, including bounces into Canada staying a day, week, or months at someplace I fancied.... Our last trip, Sept-Jan took us to some interesting places I'd not seen/considered before (some plans went sideways in the first week & I had to remap our original plans & options) & we had a great time - just not where we planned.... We had the freedom to do so.....

Check Yokohama.....There's a tarrif on imported tires that raises the price.....Get local built brands..... Yokohama makes them in Thailand..... Unless you have an odd sized tire the prices you are sharing are a lot more than the Maxxis I had put on my SUV - about 7k each for a meaty, all terrain truck sized tire.....

My wife usually has 3-4 varied, good, and healthy dishes for breakfast Meaning, I rarely eat breakfast cereals.... If I do, it will be Shredded Wheat with brown sugar....Topped off with homemade garlic, oregano, & onion bread, served with peanut butter & jelly.....Which I will dip into the cereal milk...

One reason I store my (paid for RV & vehicle) back in the states.... I could happily explore the US & Canada state by state for a long time.... I had almost convinced myself to sell them during the last trip but decided it's a good safe harbor to keep in place.....

Yes, there are compounds to take the yellow off the plastic lenses.....Big C, Lotus, & auto supply shops should stock.... Some report that a brush & toothpaste works.... I had mine done at a car wash place that charged 300฿ to remove the yellow stain....Took them about 10-15 minutes by hand.....

I like it here more than in the west & can understand why some were monk initiated to ward off ill health or bad spirits, bring good luck, whatever.... But, I still don't like them....To me they cheapen/lessen their beauty by getting tatted up..... I won't get into the character flaw judgement thing.....

Turning the rotors trues them & takes any warp out....Under normal braking conditions the rotors get polished & less responsive as the brake linings wear down.....Along with truing that glaze needs to be broken so the linings & rotors can break in together for maximum efficiency..... Hondas are notoriously lightly constructed.... I'm surprised there's enough meat on the rotors to withstand turning..... If turned too close to minimum specs there could be problems arising such as overheating & warpage..... I'd want to know the rotor's specs before any decisions are made ....

Maybe not so different than the pork balls your buddy ended up with?

They don't look below Toyotas..... 🛻

No, about 6'2" 220/225