jayenram

Never heard of it. Anyway, just take it off when you are due to tax the pick-up.

Also been told to carry my passport at all times.

Can I carry a photocopy and keep my passport secure in the hotel safe?

By the letter of the law, you should always keep your passport with you.

However, I've yet to hear of anyone having a problem with the police by only carrying a photocopy. Make sure your passport is available 24 hours/day (e.g. not in a bank safe deposit box).

Try yorky's site here:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=119099

It gives a few examples of what you may expect Thai drivers to do (or not to do).

I couldn't open the link..

It appears that the host server is down at the moment because neither can I.

Try yorky's site here:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=119099

It gives a few examples of what you may expect Thai drivers to do (or not to do).

You can either instruct Kasikorn Bank to pay your utility bills (direct debit) or you can make the payment on line with internet banking. As has been said, you will need to complete the utility company's paperwork to instigate the former but not the latter.

Note: Or that's how it happens in Surin

If you're looking for something quiet and remote, there is Long Beach to the South East of the island (circled on the map). It's in the vicinity of a naval monument.

I was there just over 12 months ago (November 2006) and there was a small 'resort' consisting of 3 or 4 concrete bungalows with air-con for Bht 1,000/night and a few bamboo bungalows with fans for Bht 600.00/night.

There was quite a large bar/restaurant but it was always empty when we visited.

There are some pictures in this gallery:

http://gallery.thaivista.net/thumbnails.php?album=11

I would take a different route as I dislike the Kabin Buri/Chock Chai road (notorious for speed traps).

Join the 304 east of Pattaya and turn north towards Kabin Buri.

Before Kabin Buri, turn off right on the 359 towards Sa Kaeo and Aranyapratet.

Just before Aranyapratet turn left on 346 to Nang Rong.

218 from Nang Rong to Buriram.

By-pass Buriram taking 219 to Satuk then Phayakkhaphum.

202 to Kaset Wisai then 214 through Roi Et to Kalasin.

Obviously depends how fast you intend to drive but I would guess if you keep within the speed limits, the trip should take around 9 hours (700 plus kilometres).

Please could we calm down in this thread!

does anyone know the yearly cost of road tax here in Thailand ?

A two door pick-up is in the order of Bht 1,000.00 p.a.

A four/five door people carrier is around Bht 7,000.00 p.a.

Maybe someone else knows about the car tax.

Sorted now. Thanks George.

And yorkie!

I have downloaded the first 4 Series (24 Episodes) and burnt them to CD. Brilliant!

PS: I have no qualms regarding downloading BBC TV series which were made during the time I was paying for a TV licence.

Excellent thread. To me the OP and the replies indicate how different life is here (in Isaan) to that in Pattaya/Bangkok/etc. And the quality of the people who have made their homes here.

Very similar to my preparations Hurdy Gurdy:

1.) Collect six cases of beer

2.) Go t'pub

Only kidding - looks great. Just wish I lived closer!

Cheers

Happy New Year

J

I've finally found an online store which will, so they say, deliver to Thailand.

They appear to have an extensive stock of cameras and accessories at what look to be reasonable prices.

If anyone is interested, it's here:

http://www.microglobe.co.uk/catalog/

J

Just an update on Microglobe:

The item was said to be in stock.

"We will ship products that are in stock within 2 days of receiving your order."

Order placed 20th December 2007; order still "pending" 31st December 2007. It may only be a "Christmas delay".

In a recent thread a point was raised questioning whether image manipulation (via Photoshop etc) was actually "cheating".

The OP suggested that a doctored image was a fraud as it had been tampered with.

What do you think?

IMO it depends upon how and why the image is tampered with. Adjustment of brightness/contrast can be achieved by bracketing shots (as with the old film cameras) but it is simpler with digital cameras to use Photoshop type software to achieve this.

I do not consider superimposing for effect to be cheating either because it is generally obvious what has been done therefore is not meant to "lie" to the viewer.

The one effect I use regularly for portraits is the "healing tool". Many subjects in Thailand wear only minimal makeup and the general population's skin quality is rather poor. Whereas in the West, any skin blemish is disguised by make-up (cheating?) this is unusual in Thailand so the "healing tool" is of advantage.

Just my 0.83 new penneth!

Tigerbeer,

Xbox360 is a whole lot different story for jenna game try:

Press XXX

69,69,69

You appear to be a whizz at these hacks, dekka. Where do you find them all?

I've looked in vain throughout the net for a region code hack for my Denon DVD and have found every other known Denon model except my own (Denon DVD 2500). There is no official Denon retailer in Thailand and my approach to the UK supplier has fallen on stony ground.

:D

It's far from useless if a serious legal issue arises. The IDP is valid because Thailand agreed to accept them.

I would be interested to read where this fact is published.

http://www.iadc-club.com/pr2/eng-con.html

"DRIVERS OF MOTOR VEHICLES

ARTICLE 41

Validity of driving license

1.Contracting Parties shall recognize:

(a) Any domestic driver's license drawn up in their national language or in one of their national languages, or, if not drawn up in such a language, accompanied by a certified translation;

( Any domestic driver's license conforming to the provisions of Annex 6 to this Convention; and

© Any international driver's document conforming to the provisions of Annex 7 to this Convention, as valid for driving in their territories a vehicle coming within the categories covered by domestic driver's license, provided that the license is still valid and that it was issued by another Contracting Party or subdivision thereof or by an association duly answered thereto by such other Contracting Party. The provisions of this paragraph shall not apply to learner-driver permits."

Maybe I'm reading the article incorrectly but to me it appears to say that a domestic licence or an IDP shall be recognised.

No mention of the 90 day rule though.

It's far from useless if a serious legal issue arises. The IDP is valid because Thailand agreed to accept them.

I would be interested to read where this fact is published.

Check out here:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=160316

And here:

http://www.dvd.reviewer.co.uk/info/multiregion/hackable.asp

Cheers

J

Yep, agreed totally bl00dy useless, no Thai anywhere. HOWEVER that doesn't change the fact that to be legal you must have one. There's no Korean either, but at least the Korean cops know a. What one looks like and b. That you need one.

I am not disagreeing that you should have one.

It's another case of "it says you must, so therefore you must".

As with the British Embassy letter (which I understand they're now charging almost Bht 4.000.00 for):

"Jayenram has indicated that he resides at ............................... and there is no information in our consular records to the detriment of the applicant"

I other words, if it's all crap, you can't blame us!

It's only a risk that the insurance won't cough up, I'm not aware of an actual instance of a failure to pay but why take the risk when being fully legal is not exactly difficult

Crossy - I now have a visa extension based upon retirement so now have a Thai licence.

However, in the dark days before that I found it very difficult to obtain an IDP being resident initially in Malaysia and thereafter here.

BTW, as a legal document, an IDP issued by the RAC or AA is useless in Thailand in my opinion. The original idea of IDPs (at least in UK) was to provide a translation of your British licence into foreign tongues and include a picture. As far as I remember there was no Thai translation on the one I used to have.

Not a direct answer but.... I am using a Sigma 70-300 (1:4-5.6) DL Macro Super that I bought for my Pentax film camera with my Pentax K10D with good results. Auto focus, auto exposure works as advertised. So you might find a suitable substitute at a bargain price by looking at film lenses, specially a used one.

I already own a 75-205mm Hoya zoom lense (for film camera) but it's getting a little long in the tooth and it is not auto focus. I'm not really impressed with the results either.

If you drive a private car there is a risk that when you have a shunt the insurance company will use the fact that you don't have legal driving documents to avoid paying.

When I was in Thailand on a Multi Entry "O" visa, I asked the insurance company if I would be permitted to drive on my UK licence (no IDP). They said it was no problem. However, I ensured that they kept a copy of my licence in their files.

One accident during that time and my licence was acceptable for the claim. Btw, the driver of the mo sai that hit me didn't have a licence, tax or insurance!

Many thanks to Sumrit. I've finally cracked the LG player and it's now all hunky dorey. Unfortunately the Denon is still locked solid.

It still beats me why in this world of virtually instant travel, I'm still not "allowed" to play full priced original* DVDs anywhere that I wish. Bloody monopolies.

I suggest sending it back to get it replaced.

I love that movie, it has tigers in it.

The player or the DVD?