Gsxrnz

The "it's a hair so I'll split it until hell freezes over" brigade.

"Concerning organized crime in Phuket, this is my last warning you have 15 days to legalize your activities. After that, we will clean up the entire island," Mr Tarit warned.

Please, don't make us laugh. If you really want to get rid of organised crime, you'd better start recruiting a few thousand more police as replacements.

The last thing that's needed is even MORE corrupt BIB.

It's official - Phuket will be crime free in 15 days. That should raise the value of property no end!

Seems like there's possibly some Internalised Homophobia whizzing around this thread. Perhaps those that are the most critical of the gay community and ladyboys (for their sexual orientation) might need to come to grips with their own sexuality.

I've known three people (2 men, 1 woman) who were so anti-gay it wasn't funny - complete homophobes......until they came out of the closet and admitted their homosexuality in their early 40's. All are still good friends.

Didn't a thread a while ago state that taking the red plate off is more convenient than having it on? Less obvious at a distance and therefore less likely to be stopped was the conclusion I think.

Same as the fact that they would stop minivans speeding hefty fines and such... has anyone seen that happen ? Words that is all there will be if there is no money in it for the government nothing will be done.

How can you say nothing will be done? I have lived here fifteen years and only last week saw the police nab a truck that went through a red light here in Chiang Mai. I think I can honestly say this is the first time I have seen a vehicle pulled over for a specific offence.

I've yet to see the police stop anybody for a specific offence. I thought I'd see it happen last week because I was behind a police (traffic) car in the middle lane near Laem Chabang doing 110klm/h. Limit was 90 but may have been 100, not sure. A Toyota Vigo fully loaded with about a dozen people in the back shot past us in the inside lane doing what seemed like close to 200klm/h. The BIB didn't do a thing.

About 3klm later I had to stop for a red light, still behind the cop. In the other lane was the Toyota. I thought they'd be bound to get a ticket. Nope....light turns green and the Toyota effs off like the driver is late for his own funeral and gets to supersonic speed in seconds - BIB dawdles away from the lights. Mai-bpen-rai.

I recall reading the following somewhere - may have been on this very forum in fact:

"If you perceive a ladyboy to be a chick with a dick, you're probably straight. If you perceive a ladyboy to be a bloke with tits, you're probably gay".

And I don't necessarily subscribe to this theory, I just thought it was interesting.

That's an easy fix, even if the forks are bent. Had some forks straightened locally here in Pattaya and can't fault the job. A rule of thumb is 1,000 baht per piece of plastic - not sure about the gauges etc.

You don't need to talk much Thai. And as the post above says, consult your local taxi driver as they are THE most informed and connected blokes in Thailand for this sort of thing (if you want a left handed whatsaname for a thingamagig, they know where to go).

Give him a tip for his time and he'll also get a kickback from his "cousin" that he recommends to repair it. Be careful you don't get ripped off - go to a Honda Dealer yourself and try and price the most expensive parts for a comparison.

If you want to do it yourself, all you need to know is:

"Can you fix this bike?" "som motosai dai mai na kap"

"How much?" "tow rai kap"

"How long to fix?" "som motosai naan mai kap"

Suss out a place where there are a few places in the same location and if the bike isn't rideable, throw it in the back of a song teaow for a few hundred baht.

Hope the GF is OK and back on her feet soon.

Apologies to the Female readers in advance ... but it's a fact of life for us men ...

Thought you should know that the book "Understanding Women" is now out in paperback ...

Good news for men.JPG

.

I have the electronic version. 859 terabyte file. width=18 alt=w00t.gif>

What compression program did you use on that?

WinZip. And it's only the abridged version of the book!!

Apologies to the Female readers in advance ... but it's a fact of life for us men ...

Thought you should know that the book "Understanding Women" is now out in paperback ...

Good news for men.JPG

.

I have the electronic version. 859 terabyte file.

I understand that you can simply ask for a "statutory declaration" from the Aussie embassy in BKK that states that your income is sufficient to meet the requirements of the income for a retirement visa. No proof of income is required.

I have several friends who have done this here in Jomtien with no problems.

And Immigration recently relaxed the rules whereby the letter/declaration can be up to six months old.

Section 4 has a "purpose" field. That's where you would put the reason for the transfer. This is the form that must be completed for all transfers to/from Thailand that are greater than USD50k equivalent. It's a multi functional form as it can be used for personal as well as import/export and commercial type transactions. You'll see areas that can be used to specify if the funds are foreign currency borrowings made in Thailand, or repaying a foreign currency debt.

I assume only sections 1-4 apply to you if it's just a personal transfer of funds coming in to Thailand. Normally the bank will complete this form for you when the money arrives.

Many times the usual three clamps/clips used to hold the light in the ceiling are adjustable to allow for variation in the ceiling board thickness. By adjustable the clamp/clip can be repositioned within its holding frame for a snugger or looser fit. Did you check to see if the clamp/clip can be repositioned in its holder assembly. Take another look at the clamp/clip assembly...it may be adjustable.

I agree with you, assuming the ceiling hole is the correct size then the spring clips or whatever system is used to secure the fitting inside the ceiling should be able to be adjusted for a perfect flush fit. The twisting of the lens should not be an issue because this should butt up against a flange.

I assume therefore that it is the flange that is proud from the ceiling and allowing light to emit, plus looks a bit loose?

Which leads me to suspect that the design of the new lights may have a lip or step on the flange that is keeping them "proud" from the ceiling. Perhaps the hole is slightly too small and therefore the body of the light cannot be fully recessed to flush? It's possible that the original lights may have had a different design where a 50mm hole was satisfactory, but the new ones may require a 52mm hole. (just guessing the sizes.)

Edit: Also - if there is up/down movement and you can push the light upwards so it does actually fit flush, then it's definitely the fitting clips that need adjusting. If that's the case and the clips are at their maximum length, you'll have to figure out a way to extend the clips or pack them out. In the alternative, put a few dabs of superglue behind the flange and hold them in position for a few seconds. The glue will hold but will easily let go without damage if you ever want to pull them out again.

There is no way I would ever set foot in a 3rd world bus or train - the maintenance levels are generally so poor it's laughable. It's disconcerting to see a reasonably new bus with a great paint job, lots of lights and decorations...balding/shredded and under-inflated tyres, a lean to port/starboard, and the odd wheel nut missing, and one wheel of a tandem rear axle locking up under moderate braking, Indicating hugely dysfunctional brakes.

What a load of crap.

I see the drivers checking their buses after every trip, go look around Mo Chit bus station and you will see this yourself.

Where I live the drivers take their buses home after the last trip into here and I see them when I go out early in the morning checking everything.

Some of the older buses have been running for years, there is one here that does a daily return trip of 100km that has been running for 60 years, leaving and arriving on time every day.

No vehicle could ever do that without exceptional maintenance.

Sure its grotty both inside and out but the running gear including tyres are in great shape.

I use buses all the time and come across the odd bad driver but most are very good.

On longer interprovincial trips the regular buses have at least 2 and sometimes 3 drivers who alternate, each driving a particular part of the road that they know well.

Many of the long distance buses have a driver room at the back where the off duty driver will go to sleep or at least rest till it is his turn at the wheel again.

Of course if you never use buses you never see these things

I won't dispute what you say. I also said in my post that there are some exceptionally well maintained vehicles, but they are by far the exception.

I've seen trailers with cracked chassis rails, retreaded tyres that have half the casing missing, dodgy repairs to axle mounts, air hoses that appear to have been repaired with gaffer tape, rags used as fuel caps, heavily crabbing trailers,twisted and bent chassis rails, tie-down rails that are substandard, maladjusted brakes, maladjusted wheels (alignment), wheels that fell off (four occasions in the last 8 months),....the list goes on. I mean, I see it all the time around Laem Chabang, it's not like I see the odd one that stands out, it's actually the good ones that stand out from the crowd

As a partner in a heavy vehicle transport company (120 PM's, 200+ towed), believe me these things are at the heart of my interests and I do notice them.

Yes, there ARE well maintained vehicles in Thailand. But compared to internationally recognised standards of HV safety, I would guess that from an R&M perspective less than 30% of what I see in the Pattaya/Laem Chabang area would come even close satisfying a Ministry of Transport certification in NZ. And I'm being generous at 30%. It could easily be 15% if they actually did rollover and brake tests, because Thailand doesn't even have a standard for this sort of testing and certification.

As to the driving skills - truck drivers actually seem reasonably good in their general skills given the pieces of crap that they have to drive. Tiredness is probably their biggest problem. Bus Drivers - well I stick to my earlier point, 85% of what I've seen shouldn't be allowed to drive a dodgem-car, because that's exactly how most drive their busses.

The "I'm getting tired of posting about brigades and think I'm suffering from excessive hyperactivity from alcohol withdrawal symptoms because I haven't had a drink for three days so now I'm off to the bar to order a double JD and it won't touch the sides of my throat going down and the girl better be pouring the next glass before I put the first glass back on the counter" Brigade.

So it's goodnight from him, and a very good night from me.

The" I like.....to use lots......of ........full stops (......periods for you Americans).......because I'm......unsure about.....how to use......colons....semi-colons.....apostrophes and ....commas".......Brigade..

^{The "when I clicked on the page to write a post I hit the x2 button by mistake and now I don't know how to go back to the standard sized font" Brigade}

The "dammit, I knew about the double post problem on TV but still did a double post" Brigade. Dammit!!!

The 'I"ve gOT a buGgered shIFt key with a mInD of iT"s own" BriGade

The "someone liked my post and now I can't go back and fix the spelling misteaks" Brigade.

Dream on - the "steaks" was for dramatic effect.