Gsxrnz

Yeah, but "normal" is a very subjective state. What was normal for me then is not what normal is for me now. My normal has been recalibrated and now I don't think of it as being abnormal/unusual.

Every now and then I visualise all the excess food that I used to eat during a week sitting on a table. It was literally enough to feed a family of three for a week, and that's no joke.

I said earlier that I always feel hungry - that may have been an oversimplification. It's simply a different way of feeling than I used to have. If I overeat (which I do occasionally), I feel so damned physically uncomfortable that it scares me. And while it may be a little uncomfortable having that "hunger" bug telling you to have a snack because your body thinks you're hungry, having an enlarged belly through overeating is a damn site worse.

The hunger bug goes away when you eventually eat something in line with your regimen. That bloated uncomfortable feeling always stays with me for a full 24 hours and coincidentally, my bowels shut down in sympathy which makes it worse. My body tells me that if I have a choice of feeling a little hungry or very uncomfortable, the best option is to feel hungry - and that feeling is normal. Maybe it's not even "hunger" in the true sense, maybe it's how those that were never fat always feel?

JT - I lost 30% bodyweight at age 35 and kept it off for 18 years. That video is no news to me. To paraphrase Julia Roberts from "Notting Hill": "I've been on a constant diet since I was 35, I've been hungry for 18 years".

In the same way that those who are prone to get drunk easier than somebody else need to drink less, those that are prone to gain weight more than somebody else need to eat less. It ain't rocket science.

Right now I'm starving. It's my usual indulgence day for a great big mother of all mothers English Fried Breakfast - my weekly food treat for myself. But I weighed in 500 grams under my trigger weight this morning, so it's 2 weet-bix and no sugar for me, and that will be it until tomorrow. My trigger weight is what sends me into a tailspin and have had the same weight (or less) for those 18 years. I know that in 2 days I'll be 1kg below my trigger weight and can start to eat what has become my norm.

I could say "oh what the hell" and cook myself that huge breakfast, but do that 5 or 6 times and suddenly I'm 2kg over my trigger weight, depressed, uncomfortable, ashamed of myself, and will probably decide to increase my trigger weight in my mind. And then in a month I'm buying clothes one size up, and then a month later I'm 2 sizes up and spiralling down a miserable road.

IMHO the only way to lose weight and keep it off is to learn the art of self control. Not saying it's easy, but in time it becomes normal.

thats the best news i have heard for about 10 years I might start looking for the new car then///and start going out more with the extra pension money....so its not all bad...exports will rise also

Good for tourism too. The prices for "everything" will be better when quoted in baht.

Hmmm.....Thais aren't as green as they're cabbage looking.

Overheard the two owners of a restaurant discussing the weakening Baht and a decision to increase their menu prices by 10%.

I've noticed some very large increases in prices in Jomtien and Pattaya over the last 3 months. The smart ones get new menus printed. The cheap Charlie's put a sticker over the original price which makes it a bit obvious.

I'm a little disappointed. No wheelie in the whole performance. Use the rear brake for speed control, slip the clutch, static throttle, a doddle really.

Say what you want but id love to have control like that guy. He knows his bike well. I think its sarcasm as nobody can downplay this kind of skill. I am sure there will be some forum users that claim (and some that can) do what he can.

My comment was tongue in cheek. The guy has amazing skills and that's undeniable. Not many everyday riders would even know how to begin to use the throttle/clutch/brakes in unison to achieve that sort of control.

We had a test at a training school that consisted of 30 cones in a row spaced one metre apart. The objective was to go as slow as possible through the cones without touching the ground and not going more than one metre to the left or right of the cones The best time on the day was just under 2 minutes and that was by the instructor. He was keeping the bike (R1) upright through clutch slip, steady throttle, and rear brakes to control speed. he was going so slow the bike was almost stationery most of the time, but was smooth and stable at all times.

That's the same skills the bloke in your video is displaying. Handy skills on a scooter in slow traffic around Pattaya as well, even easier because only have to worry about the rear brake and no clutch.

Maybe an alcohol ban in BKK will keep those hotheads a bit cooler ...

blasphemy

Worse!.......Heresy!!!

For the same reason they call the world series, "The world Series". No logic whatsoever. Like, I mean....where's the rest of the world?

I'm a little disappointed. No wheelie in the whole performance. Use the rear brake for speed control, slip the clutch, static throttle, a doddle really.

Haven't seen the movie.

Is It a Thaksin biographical type movie?

Sorry, you don't win the coconut for introducing Mr. T to a thread totally unrelated to him.

I believe the record is 2 posts, so you're well behind at post #10. Have another go in the motorbike thread - plenty of opportunity there.

Your departure card DOES have a number on it. They all do. Have a closer look.

EDIT: The new cards have a smaller number than the older cards. Under the barcode, RH top corner.

That's about the most intelligent observation I've ever seen about Thai politics.

The population will increase as Bangkokians (ites?) migrate to Patts. It will get busier but I can't see food or the basics becoming a problem except maybe some short supplies at the 7/11's or supermarket. Could be more interesting if the tanks do roll and they introduce a curfew.

Just in case I'll keep a good supply of the essentials at home.

Cigs, JD, coke, ice, baked beans, man-farang, cash, diesel in the tank and a 20ltr of 91 for the scooters. Sorted

I just hope all the temporary residents don't rock up to my golf course!

Gsxrnz

The new rules were introduced around a year ago, and unless you were just arriving and trying to open an account you wouldn't be aware of them. The 800K wasn't mentioned initially, only the wish to open an account for retirement purposes. I don't know why you're surprised that they're enforcing new rules, I've just said that 3 banks knocked my friend back today, so obviously they are.

I'm surprised they're enforcing rules on the simple basis that "this is Thailand" where rules are made up, enforced, or forgotten on the spot and depending if the bank teller had enough som-tum at lunchtime or likes/dislikes the way you might be dressed or if your smile is big enough, or your sa-wat-dee krup is polite enough.

I just found a thread that you should look at as well as a link that explains why you're experiencing what has happened to your friend. Based on the article which is a little vague on what the rules actually are, it seems they probably want a proof of address document from Immigration, plus proof of a long term visa. Anyway, read the article/thread and see what you can glean from it. A Thai speaker in these situations is always helpful.

I'll report back tomorrow if I can find the chap tonight that had planned, to open an account a few days ago.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/577113-stricter-rules-for-foreigners-bank-accounts-more-documented/

Anecdotal evidence and comments in other threads lead me to believe that Kasikorn is the easiest to open an account with. Just make sure you take your passport, proof/evidence of your address, and the cash. Don't take a cheque or bank draft, have the FX or at worst, traveller's cheques.

I must have advised a dozen friends on this, one as recently as last month and all accounts opened with no problems. The work permit stuff is utter rubbish in terns of "law", but some banks have idiotic rules and use this as a reason. Hey, TIT and all that. Rock up to a K Bank in a tourist area who have English language skills and you'll be sweet. Taking a Thai speaker with you means the staff will be more inclined to be less obstructive if they were ever going to be.

Kasikorn was one of the banks I tried today, the first thing they asked was "do you have a work permit", and that was it, a flat NO. I took my friend to my bank (Siam Commercial) first where I know a couple of the staff quite well. The lady who opened my account 4 years ago said the rules have changed for ALL banks. She suggested going to immigration and getting some kind of letter from them, so that might be my friends next step.

Where are you? BKK? Pattaya? I'll be seeing a bloke tonight that was talking of opening an account with Kbank in Jomtien a few days ago - I'll see how he got on.

I'm in Pattaya. I went to the three banks at Tesco Lotus near the corner of Sukhumvit and Thepprasit.

I have mine with Kbank in Central Plaza. I've dealt with the Jomtien branch for bank statements and letters for renewing a visa and replacement cards many times. If there are new laws/rules that they're enforcing, I'd be bloody surprised. Maybe because you're mentioning 800k they are baulking - take a Thai speaker with you and deposit 2k and see if that solves their possible laundering concern.

Anecdotal evidence and comments in other threads lead me to believe that Kasikorn is the easiest to open an account with. Just make sure you take your passport, proof/evidence of your address, and the cash. Don't take a cheque or bank draft, have the FX or at worst, traveller's cheques.

I must have advised a dozen friends on this, one as recently as last month and all accounts opened with no problems. The work permit stuff is utter rubbish in terns of "law", but some banks have idiotic rules and use this as a reason. Hey, TIT and all that. Rock up to a K Bank in a tourist area who have English language skills and you'll be sweet. Taking a Thai speaker with you means the staff will be more inclined to be less obstructive if they were ever going to be.

Kasikorn was one of the banks I tried today, the first thing they asked was "do you have a work permit", and that was it, a flat NO. I took my friend to my bank (Siam Commercial) first where I know a couple of the staff quite well. The lady who opened my account 4 years ago said the rules have changed for ALL banks. She suggested going to immigration and getting some kind of letter from them, so that might be my friends next step.

Where are you? BKK? Pattaya? I'll be seeing a bloke tonight that was talking of opening an account with Kbank in Jomtien a few days ago - I'll see how he got on.

Anecdotal evidence and comments in other threads lead me to believe that Kasikorn is the easiest to open an account with. Just make sure you take your passport, proof/evidence of your address, and the cash. Don't take a cheque or bank draft, have the FX or at worst, traveller's cheques.

I must have advised a dozen friends on this, one as recently as last month and all accounts opened with no problems. The work permit stuff is utter rubbish in terns of "law", but some banks have idiotic rules and use this as a reason. Hey, TIT and all that. Rock up to a K Bank in a tourist area who have English language skills and you'll be sweet. Taking a Thai speaker with you means the staff will be more inclined to be less obstructive if they were ever going to be.

OP- in your post you say: "Siam CC road, I hit sand, locked the front wheel and then panicked".

I was just wondering if you'd like to reconsider what you wrote. Because it would seem to me that you have those things in slightly the wrong order. I would say the order of things would be first you saw the sand, secondly you panicked, then you hit the sand (although the video suggests that you actually missed the bulk of it and were past it before you braked), then you locked the front wheel.

I appreciate that you want to learn, so arguably there's at least 9 things you were doing wrong immediately prior to hitting the tarmac. Have you had the time to analyse what you were doing and draw any conclusions yet?

Don't be so mean. He said he wants to upgrade to a bigger bike. That makes me think that he is an experienced rider.

I think what he meant was he panicked because he realized that locking the front wheel was going to put his ass on the asphalt in an instant.

Sent from my GT-I9500 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Nuh, he definitely panicked before he grabbed a handful of brake. I'm not being mean, but the OP has asked for advice so I'm fully prepared to offer my critique. I've done a lot of track tutoring and found that people who often want to ride aggressively just don't understand the physics involved in riding a bike. Simple things can make a huge difference.

OP- in your post you say: "Siam CC road, I hit sand, locked the front wheel and then panicked".

I was just wondering if you'd like to reconsider what you wrote. Because it would seem to me that you have those things in slightly the wrong order. I would say the order of things would be first you saw the sand, secondly you panicked, then you hit the sand (although the video suggests that you actually missed the bulk of it and were past it before you braked), then you locked the front wheel.

I appreciate that you want to learn, so arguably there's at least 9 things you were doing wrong immediately prior to hitting the tarmac. Have you had the time to analyse what you were doing and draw any conclusions yet?

Have you read the manual? Maybe that's what it's supposed to do.

What make/model is it?

Hopefully you've run that road again to figure out what you did wrong (ideally without crashing again, and in better footwear).

Yep, run it again many times since then. Don't have boots yet but going to buy some when I get back to the UK.

My suggestion is that you buy the boots and then find a rider training school in the UK that can teach you how to ride a bike.

And I don't mean a defensive driving school, I mean a proper school that that will teach you the physics of riding a bike, how to knee-down, understand apex, entry and exit points, wheelie, and brake with your rear wheel dancing in the air.

Once you've done that, you will understand how many things you are doing wrong in your everyday riding that your video reveals.

Shouldn't this be in the Jokes forum?

No parking between the hours mentioned on odd numbered dates of the month.

Park your bike on the pavement is OK though.

I've seen as many as 20 bikes in a row down Pattaya Tai with a chain through the front wheel. They really are pretty strict on enforcing that area, it's one of their main revenue sources.

Oh the shame ...

Did mention that I'm actually from New Zealand's West Island ...

.

You Aussies - you knick our Pavlova, you knick all our best League players, you knicked Pharlap, you knick all our musicians......and now you knick our right to call you Aussies "West Islanders".

Jeez! When will it end???