Miami Bob

I'm wondering if anyone has any information as to whether or not there are any plans go give the Thai version of the new Ford Fiesta 7 airbags as the USA and European versions have? The joke is that the Euro version is being made IN THAILAND at the same factory in Rayong as the watered down version being sold on the Thai market that only has 2 airbags! If there is any hope of getting the full featured version here in the near future I will hold off on buying one for now. I realize personal safety is not a high priority in Thai culture and they are trying to keep the cost down but it is conceivable they could offer it as an option in the future. All comments welcome.

Al Gore will probably try to say it's " climate change" caused by our SUV's!

First thing that popped into my mind is how much did it cost to get the police to make the effort to find these guys.

however they giva offer also thai tourism want to take more step to get peoples

Well said!

Well said ??? How could you even understand what he was saying?

I stand by my original comment when this all started weeks ago.... You can go on forever about the details but in the end it's just two groups of corrupt self serving leaders trying to wrestle the money and power away from each other, neither are working for the good of the masses. Pretty much the same deal in every country, always has been and probably always will be.

Its not going to be good Today - looks like the Army will wipe out the camp this Morning, Thailand needs to resolve this I suppose, I hope they realize the World is watching

The press in the US is giving this minimal coverage. All of my family/friends say nothing has been on the news of what's going on over here.

Your family must be watching different news shows than my sister in Michigan. I tell her not to worry about me way down here in Phuket where heavyweights on both sides of the struggle own nice properties. Most of the poor rural folks that came to Phuket to get work are losing their jobs as their red brothers in Bangkok destroy the tourist industry.... I doubt there is much sympathy for the red cause on this island. Sorry, I got a little off topic.

Ohh and I also should say I think the risk of a second confiscation order to be highly unlikely and the realm of the paranoid survivalist types because.. Back when that happened in 33 the dollar was gold backed, at a fixed rate, gold = dollars, so the confiscation of gold then was swapping hard currency for 'backed currency' it was a way of forcing fiat on the population and increasing the gold stocks.

Fast forward to now, when thats irrelevant, the dollar isnt backed by anything.. Nixon closed the gold window in 73 and its been unbacked ever since.. Since then the money supply has risen exponentially and the entire amount of gold in the market globally is a spit in the bucket compared to the money supply. Confiscating gold would do nothing to help the currency and actually be counter productive by reducing the public perception of faith in paper.

Looked at logically theres no good reason for a gold confiscation, it a lose lose proposition for them.

But again, this isnt the right place for a discussion of fiat money, metals or fractional reserve banking.

Excellent point. This balances some of the extreme paranoid outlooks I get from some of my American friends.

are you able to test it to be sure its real gold?

like the jem scams, gold is risky

The baht bars with the chinese chops on are bought and sold fairly easily here.. Yes there are scams but some of these gold shops have been around a long time.

Personally I wouldnt buy Thai bars, not easy globally to sell baht weights.. Much better with eagles / krugerands / etc..

Thank you for your input. How easy would it be to sell Eagles, Krugerands, Buffalos in Thailand? That's out of their box. I can just hear them saying " Mai Dai" [cannot]. Leaving gold in the USA is not an option as far as I am concerned. In 1933 they passed a law making it illegal for private citizens to own gold and it's not at all out of the question that they could do that again the way things are going. I have no land in the USA to bury it and as the police state progresses they may start requiring video records of everything that goes in and out of your deposit box or just search them. And how would you bring it back to Thailand? Talk about the metal detectors at the airport going off! ...and all the complications that would bring. There is no perfect way.

are you able to test it to be sure its real gold?

like the jem scams, gold is risky

Yes I know. I just finished talking to my broker in NY and he also pointed some things out. I'm sure there is a way to do it without getting beat but with a lot of planning. I'm to old to make mistakes now. Thanks for you input.

The website I liked.. Gold made simple.. Its the only online web sales and storage company I know that works purely for allocated storage, so that its your gold, in your storage account, that you can if you wish go and collect.. Most of the others (kitco, goldmoney, etc etc etc) are not allocated segregated storage, so actually taking delivery is either not possible or very costly and complex.

Where can you rent deposit boxes ?? I tried to get one for 2 years, I was told theres a waiting list (from the Phuket town banks) and unofficially told that the list is just a face saver and their preferred customers only get them. Secondly (most people dont know this) when you have a safety deposit box with a bank, if the bank goes under, the deposit box is considered their property / asset, not yours !!

This isnt really the place for this kind of discussions, and I am not a world is going to end kind of thinker.. I have used metals simply as a hedge against inflation due to fiat money printing.

Now that you mention it I do remember hearing something a long time ago that there is a waiting list for a box and what you say about saving face and preferred customers sounds right. And if the bank goes under...oh boy...time for a rethink!

Thanks for taking the time.

Thanks for the info folks, I will check out all these suggestions. I lean heavily toward the idea of having physical gold in my possession where no one, especially the US government, can find it. Besides I just like to look at the stuff! I'm a bit of a doomsdayer regarding the US rapidly becoming a police state among other things and I'm worried they might revive the 1933 law making it illegal for private citizens to own gold. Of course now gold has bumped up so much with Greece etc. but it was this high last Nov. and came back down to about 1050 2 months later. I just want to have a buying plan in place so if I decide move some liquid assets into gold I can do it quickly.

The problem with physical for investment amounts is safe storage.. Not only from house robbery, but house destruction, all manner of unforseens (my last villa slid down the hill in a land slide so I kinda have a strange perspective on that) even stored at home, with a safe, buried in the floor.. You have the need to be constantly aware of it, you cant relax on a holiday away, etc.

Of course thats not for a couple of ounces, even a kilo maybe, but if making investments.

GMS is not in the USA.

A jewelry shop told me you can rent deposit boxes in Thailand.

I'm looking at a worst case scenario which means having a house that's paid for with solar panels, a garden and something like gold that would still have barter value in a total meltdown. If I was still in the USA I would include in that list my 45 and a lot of ammo.

Forgive me but what is GMS?

www.GoldMadeSimple.com and keep it in free storage. Proper allocated bullion, your own, not pooled or shared. Can even go pick it up in UK or have delivered in many western countries.

A buddy was buying bars from shops in Phuket town.. I think the ones close to the circle..

Thanks for the info folks, I will check out all these suggestions. I lean heavily toward the idea of having physical gold in my possession where no one, especially the US government, can find it. Besides I just like to look at the stuff! I'm a bit of a doomsdayer regarding the US rapidly becoming a police state among other things and I'm worried they might revive the 1933 law making it illegal for private citizens to own gold. Of course now gold has bumped up so much with Greece etc. but it was this high last Nov. and came back down to about 1050 2 months later. I just want to have a buying plan in place so if I decide move some liquid assets into gold I can do it quickly.

Does anyone know where to buy gold bars [ bullion, not jewelry] in Phuket and how much of a price difference would there be as opposed to buying it in Bangkok?

It's just one group of corrupt thugs trying to wrestle the money away from another group of corrupt thugs. A fight over the money. So what's new in this country or any other for that matter.

Way to "hide out" -- strut around in a biker vest with the letters MAD DOG on the back. On a Harley Davidson, a ridiculous bike.

Ridiculous bike!....that borders on blasphemy!

"behavior problems related to addictive substances" .... I think I must know that guy!! LOL!

But seriously, rape, assult etc., glade their getting him out of this country.

I bought 1 from Home Pro about 2 years ago, they had quite a selection. Can not remember what I paid for it but think it was about 3500 Baht 2 x single beds. Its quite good and has been used a lot with out problems. Still I think it was over priced as I bought 1 in Australia for about 2500 Baht ($80 AUD) and it is better with a built in pump.

Hope you can find a Home Pro near you...

Thank you Bartman. I'll stop by Home Pro today here in Phuket and check it out. The kind of airbed I am talking about you couldn't touch for 3500Baht. The one I had in the USA had two totally separate chambers that could be inflated/deflated individually for you and your spouse with separate digital remotes. They have a foam topper and look like a regular mattress only it's the most comfortable bed I have ever experienced. I paid $850. USD for a low range one 12 years ago in the states. You can see what I mean at www.airbedsunlimited.com

I really appreciate your help.

Back in the states my business required many hours a day in the worst city traffic and I think I learned the secret to staying calm....LOWER YOUR EXPECTATIONS! Seriously, if you go out on the road expecting everyone to drive correctly you'll just get nuts every time they cut you off, etc., but if you expect everyone to drive like an idiot it's just normal and if they do drive correctly it's a pleasant surprise that brings you up instead of down. I remember once a guy ran me completely off the road, I slide sideways in the dirt and pulled back onto the road without even touching the brake then reached over to adjust the radio ....just another sunny day in Miami!

Does anyone know where I can buy an airbed in Thailand? I don't mean the temporary single chamber guest bed type, I mean the high end double chamber, foam topper type that looks like a conventional mattress and costs about $1000. in the USA.

If I try to have one imported from the states what kind of trouble can I expect from Thai customs? Thanks in advance.

For years I've been listening to Farangs badmouthing Thai drivers but I don't think they are really that bad when you consider that there is little or no threat of being stopped for any moving violation or drunk driving. What would it be like back in Farangland if the police suddenly announced they will no longer be stopping people for DUI, speeding, reckless driving, etc. ? ....I submit the streets would be flowing with blood. The Thai's are actually rather laid back and well behaved when you factor in no police cars in the mirror or cameras everywhere like the UK for example. One thing I immediately loved about Thailand is they rarely honk their horns. I remember many years ago driving in circles around the coliseum in Rome honking our horn, waving our fists out the window while laughing our heads off....no one even noticed because they were all doing the same thing!! Meanwhile it seems like almost every Farang I know here in Phuket has had at least one accident and they were always at least a little drunk. So we have no room to criticize.

I am Italian and agree 100 per cent. Thais drive very slowly compared to Italians and are more polite drivers. If in Italy we had the big roads they have here, 3 or 4 lanes, and not so many controls by police, people would just drive as fast as they can.

I didn't mean to pick on Italians, I am from Miami and trust me the drivers are crazy there also. Miami is now mostly latinos from South & central America and they tend to be a little hot headed or maybe coked-out. I remember when my friend came from Miami to visit Phuket he commented to me that he didn't think the drivers here where that bad. It's all relative to what your used to. I would be happy if they would just fix the lights on their motorbikes...no excuse for that.

Yes laffin outloud, fix the lights on their motorbikes, so they can cover them with plastic bags of food loaded in the basket. I've been shaking my head over that one for years. Baskets in front of the headlights, and is no one selling small saddlebags for that task??

Yes I agree, no lights on the motorbikes is my number one "pet pev" about Thailand. My one great fear in this country is pulling my pickup out in front of a motorbike I can't see coming and the Thai or maybe the whole family dies and then I'm in deep doo-doo!. Your comment about the basket is one reason why I bought a Honda click because the lights are below the basket. I also agree with the poster who said that Thais think if they can see where they are going it's safe...I don't think it even enters their mind that the car driver cannot see them! All they have to do is take a few seconds to check the lights at the helmet roadblocks they already have set up and it would be another easy source of income for the state and the individual cops...so why don't they do that? I will never understand Thai logic! [ or I should say lack of it ]

For years I've been listening to Farangs badmouthing Thai drivers but I don't think they are really that bad when you consider that there is little or no threat of being stopped for any moving violation or drunk driving. What would it be like back in Farangland if the police suddenly announced they will no longer be stopping people for DUI, speeding, reckless driving, etc. ? ....I submit the streets would be flowing with blood. The Thai's are actually rather laid back and well behaved when you factor in no police cars in the mirror or cameras everywhere like the UK for example. One thing I immediately loved about Thailand is they rarely honk their horns. I remember many years ago driving in circles around the coliseum in Rome honking our horn, waving our fists out the window while laughing our heads off....no one even noticed because they were all doing the same thing!! Meanwhile it seems like almost every Farang I know here in Phuket has had at least one accident and they were always at least a little drunk. So we have no room to criticize.

I am Italian and agree 100 per cent. Thais drive very slowly compared to Italians and are more polite drivers. If in Italy we had the big roads they have here, 3 or 4 lanes, and not so many controls by police, people would just drive as fast as they can.

I didn't mean to pick on Italians, I am from Miami and trust me the drivers are crazy there also. Miami is now mostly latinos from South & central America and they tend to be a little hot headed or maybe coked-out. I remember when my friend came from Miami to visit Phuket he commented to me that he didn't think the drivers here where that bad. It's all relative to what your used to. I would be happy if they would just fix the lights on their motorbikes...no excuse for that.

For years I've been listening to Farangs badmouthing Thai drivers but I don't think they are really that bad when you consider that there is little or no threat of being stopped for any moving violation or drunk driving. What would it be like back in Farangland if the police suddenly announced they will no longer be stopping people for DUI, speeding, reckless driving, etc. ? ....I submit the streets would be flowing with blood. The Thai's are actually rather laid back and well behaved when you factor in no police cars in the mirror or cameras everywhere like the UK for example. One thing I immediately loved about Thailand is they rarely honk their horns. I remember many years ago driving in circles around the coliseum in Rome honking our horn, waving our fists out the window while laughing our heads off....no one even noticed because they were all doing the same thing!! Meanwhile it seems like almost every Farang I know here in Phuket has had at least one accident and they were always at least a little drunk. So we have no room to criticize.

The security guard fell asleep. How typical

Like that never happens in Falangland !?

Well I'm for just about anything that keeps drunks off the road [ like I occasionally was 30 years ago] but what I would like to know is when are they going to start checking the lights on motorbikes at all their checkpoints? It would only take a few seconds to look and see if the lights work and it would be another source of income for the state and individual cops and the public would be much safer, so why don't they do it! I suppose I'm making the mistake of expecting logic to influence Thai state/police decisions. My biggest fear in Thailand is pulling out in front of some stupid rider with no lights at night and he/she dies hitting my pickup and than I'm in deep doo-doo!

If you drive a lot around Thailand you will see this sticker or a mud flap on many of the big trucks. It’s a silent cry for help. Serpico the NYC police officer that would not be corrupted and would not take bribes. Maybe some day a honest police officer will rise in the Thai ranks but I am not holding my breath.

So that's who that picture is I keep seeing on the mud flaps! ...very interesting, Thanks!

When I first read this story I thought I had clicked on the New York times by mistake!