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And that's how <deleted> happens.....testing a heavy vehicle every 2 or 3 years is nothing less than criminal. Even in New Zealand where transport companies have a high level of willing compliance for safety, the vehicles are still tested by a certified testing authority every six months. The fines for non compliance are huge.

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.

When I glance at most prime mover trucks around the port area, I can see dozens of things that need correcting. The trailers are worse and it's a miracle some actually stay attached. Saw one with no functional twistlocks on one side of the trailer (the twistlocks secure a 40' container to the deck). This thing just had to do a moderately fast left hand bend and it would be on its side.

Having said that, there are one or two companies who have exceptionally well maintained trucks. I've seen a few that are in the 10 year old and probably 5-7 million klm range, and they look exceptionally well maintained. These are the exception by a factor of 20/1.......nuh, more like 50/1.

I'll ride in a modern taxi, but will get out the minute the driver shows suicidal tendencies or poor driving skills, and have done that twice. Talked to one of the drivers that I bailed from once and he had literally been cat-knapping for 4 days with only one decent stretch of sleep of 6 hours. Go figure!

Can anybody translate the Russian wording on the warning sign? Hopefully it does actually translate correctly and isn't bad ThaiRussian that implies the opposite through bad grammar or something.

swim.jpg

The Russian wording on the warning sign corresponds to the text in English and is clearly written. Somehow I doubt this guy bothered to read it at all and even if he did, he didn't care.

RIP

Thanks for the translation. Yeah, you can't legislate against stupidity, or put up enough signs when people are too dumb to follow them. As Forrest's Momma used to say, "stoopid is as stoopid does".

They only offered a 2 year guarantee? Lucky it fell over inside the guarantee period. Maybe when it's rebuilt they should inquire about an "extenda guarantee". I'm sure for only an extra 1,000 baht they could get an extended 5 year warranty.

Honestly, what a pack of muppets to use slings that are nearly 50% less than the plan specifications. A simple comparison is using 2" nail instead of a 4" nail - it should be as obvious as hell to the constructor that they didn't even look right.

My very first experience of anything practical, after self study for a few weeks, was telling a taxi driver that he was charging me too much, should be 40B, not the 100B he asked for. Big smiles, 40b and a 20B tip.

The OP, in deciding to get a high quality and safe seat is showing more common sense than you or many other posters are prepared to acknowledge, because of our propensity to accept the western conformist norm that "a child is unsafe on a motorbike".

Erm.... The Op is showing more common sense because he wishes to use a child seat on a bike rather than use his car with a child seat just to save a little time ?

I'm not sure our interpretation of 'common sense' is the same...

This discussion has little to do with comforting to Western Standards, it has everything to do with minimising the risk to a child and while the Op is taking steps to minimise this risk while riding a bike, he has a car and only chooses to ride the bike to save time, how he may regret this decision IF events took a tragic turn, which is far more likely in a bike.

The pushchair argument is moot: I agree that pushing a pushchair around the streets is not a great idea in Thailand, however, this can only be compared to carrying a child - making the comparison to pushing a child in a pushchair and taking them on a bike doesn't add up (to me at least) as the speeds involved are significantly different.

Erm...can you please point out in my original post where I mentioned "saving time"?

The arguments raised by opponents to the OP's intent has everything to do with conforming to western standards. It's the norm in the west NOT to transport a child on a motorcycle. In Thailand it IS the norm to do just that. All she wanted was some advice on how/where to obtain a safe seat, but instead has faced a barrage of criticism for her intentions, as have I for daring to support her non-conformist intentions.

Re the pushchair - when you've tried using a pushchair in Pattaya/Jomtien, come back and give us the benefit of your experience. I have used a pushchair, so am perhaps a little better informed to offer an opinion - your choice to agree or disagree.

And you're correct, our interpretation of common sense are obviously not the same, but that's life hey?

Op - I applaud your confidence in yourself, and I applaud your willingness to ignore the political correctness that pervades our western society today.

Good on you for taking an extremely mature attitude and concluding that you, as an informed adult, are quite able to make such a simple decision as conveying your child around on a motorbike.

You get a big thumbs up from me. The PC world has gone to hell in a handcart. Hell I can recall at the age of 3 or 4 sitting behind my Mum on a bicycle seat racing down a big hill at breakneck speed, it's one of the few childhood memories I have - maybe that's why I love speed and motorbikes.

You go for it girl, and ^%$#%^ *&^ to the PC brigade!!

The line between Political Correctnessbis not a fine now. I don't know how you have managed to blur the two.

The op has a car, taking his Baby on a bike has little to do with breaking PC and everything to do with lacking in common sense....

One individual's common sense is political correctness to another individual - that's why the west is so screwed up. The vocal PC Correct minority overrules the common sense of the silent majority.

The OP asked for advice on where to obtain a safe seat for HER to transport HER child on a motorcycle. It's called self responsibility, and we should have more of that in the world, not less. We've been sold down the road by our western governments who have convinced us that we need to be wrapped in cotton wool and "they" should make all the decisions for us through legislation.The nanny state.

The OP is rebelling against conformity and I say good for her. Not just for being non-conformist, but because she's actually considered the options and concluded she has made a good decision. Unlike many posters who haven't probably considered the alternatives.

How many Thais do you see using a pushchair? Next to none. I've seen many Russians pushing them around and they have a nightmare. Seen one nearly get wiped out as they sprinted across the road as there are no pedestrian lights here.

Quite frankly I believe it's safer for her to ride a scooter around Pattaya or Jomtiem than push a pushchair around the streets with poor paving (if any), blockages crossing the footpath etc. Safer to ride a motorbike - assuming of course that you aren't geriatric, half blind, never ridden a motorbike before, and think that 50klm/h is too fast, or 70klm/h isn't fast enough. And I don't think the OP fits that category, but many Falang do.

How does a motorcycle differ from a pushbike in regards to safety around here. How does (gulp) crossing the road compare to riding a motorbike? Have you seen the fear in the eyes of pedestrians? Can you imagine trying to get a pushchair across a busy intersection, because yeah, all the cars and bikes will stop for you I'm sure. And the Farang drivers/riders will be worse than the Thais, because Thais are more prepared to yield than the " I have the right of way, this is my territory, silly bitch for crossing the road with a pushchair" Farang attitude.

And as I transport my 4 year old around on my scooter (SHAME on me!!!), I can tell you that Thai motorists and motorcyclists will almost invariably yield to other motorcyclists carrying kids. I can also tell you that most Falang don't yield. I get a bow of the head from so many Thais as they let me through, which I acknowledge. And I do the same for them when they're carrying kids.

The OP, in deciding to get a high quality and safe seat is showing more common sense than you or many other posters are prepared to acknowledge, because of our propensity to accept the western conformist norm that "a child is unsafe on a motorbike".

And that's a good idea about imposing a fine for being too PC - I'll suggest it to my MP back home.

OP - you should try getting something like the picture below. It may need modifying but will be a good start. Or in the alternative, I'd recommend that you buy a child's car seat and get a secure/rigid frame made that bolts to your bike. It shouldn't be too expensive to get made by a local engineer/fabricator - just cruise down Thepprasit and you'll find someone.

With a helmet, your kid will be in a cocoon type setup that will be as safe as you can make it. You could probably get it made so that the seat can be released from the frame and transferred to your car, or for taking the kid into a shop etc. Don't forget the helmet.

The "I have a policy of not commenting on parenting skills, but here's my comment about your parenting skills" Brigade

I've seen them in most of the bike repair shops I've been to on Pattaya Sai Saam. They were pretty rudimentary though - I'd assume you'd want one with restraints etc for a kid that age? I haven't seen a more advanced style other than the simple little plastic seat on legs that bolts to the deck and the front fairing/plastic.

Can anybody translate the Russian wording on the warning sign? Hopefully it does actually translate correctly and isn't bad ThaiRussian that implies the opposite through bad grammar or something.

And also, does that sign with the raised arm automatically imply "no swimming". It could imply that swimming is allowed, or that a lifeguard is on duty.

Traditionally a "no swimming" sign would have the classic red circle with a 45 degree bar through it.

There are basically NO geriatric health care providers here.

Wrong, wrong!! There are plenty of them. They are called BG's !

Now that's amusing. May upset some of the more aged and PC segment of TVF, but taken with a grain of salt, it got a huge laugh out of me.

Teach him/her The Sunscreen song as soon as you can, and encourage him/her to make that their philosophy in life.

So what you're really saying is that Microsoft have diverted 12.5 million hours away from Facebook?

Here's a prediction for the next scam.

Three Indian chaps will approach you and say "Kind Sir, can you help, we have no money. We just have massage from ladyboy on bed and........"

I'm surprised that you haven't had offers for the hive. They are worth money even if if it's a hornets nest. Ask someone from Issan (m/cycle taxi driver?) whether he can help. I'm sure he'll find someone who can.

Or take a stroll down Pattaya Tai and find one of the dudes that have the mobile hives selling honey - they'll be able to help I'm sure.

The "I'll be a smart-arse and show how clever I am by posting that another poster got his facts wrong, but Oh Bugger it was me that was wrong and now I feel like a <deleted>, but I'll keep arguing even though I know I'm wrong" Brigade

I sincerely hope the NZ authorities are applying as much diplomatic pressure as possible against Sweden to get this man brought to justice. If they leave it to the Thai authorities it's unlikely anything will happen in a hurry.

The fact that a fellow Kiwi was killed in a foreign country should be irrelevant to the NZ Government - they should be acting on behalf the deceased NZ Citizen and his family and affording every conceivable assistance in bringing the fugitive to justice.

But knowing the wishy washy, namby pamby, socialist doo gooder, tree hugging, politically correct, "we need to get elected next year so just keep the seat warm, don't want to upset the Swedes 'cause it might hurt the lamb and cheese exports", kind of government that we have......this ain't going to happen any time soon.

Sometimes I wish we had a government like Israel or the US - send a couple of the SAS over there to bring him back to Thailand or NZ for justice, or dish it out summarily on the spot.

The SAS are a unit of the British army. They are not for hire. The last phrase in your post persuades me that you do not know this.

All three phrases in your post convince me that you should probably check your facts before you make an inane and incorrect post. From wiki:

The New Zealand Special Air Service, abbreviated as the NZSAS, was formed on 7 July 1955 and is the special forces unit of the New Zealand Army, closely modelled on the British Special Air Service (SAS). It traces its origins to the Second World War and the famous Long Range Desert Group that a number of New Zealanders served with.

No apology necessary, but check your facts in future huh?

Classic reporting - nearly more words used to name the four "dignitaries" that started the race than were used to tell us about the actual event and the winners.

The "I've got 500 plus posts on TV and none of them are more than 10 words" Brigade.

I sincerely hope the NZ authorities are applying as much diplomatic pressure as possible against Sweden to get this man brought to justice. If they leave it to the Thai authorities it's unlikely anything will happen in a hurry.

The fact that a fellow Kiwi was killed in a foreign country should be irrelevant to the NZ Government - they should be acting on behalf the deceased NZ Citizen and his family and affording every conceivable assistance in bringing the fugitive to justice.

But knowing the wishy washy, namby pamby, socialist doo gooder, tree hugging, politically correct, "we need to get elected next year so just keep the seat warm, don't want to upset the Swedes 'cause it might hurt the lamb and cheese exports", kind of government that we have......this ain't going to happen any time soon.

Sometimes I wish we had a government like Israel or the US - send a couple of the SAS over there to bring him back to Thailand or NZ for justice, or dish it out summarily on the spot.

Gosh!

The "I'm too scared to contribute to this thread for fear of repeating an already posted brigade, and can't be buggered reading all 50 odd pages and I've got a bad memory anyway" Brigade

I know that some of the bars in Jomtien have to take their rubbish to Beach Road to be collected. Asked why but....shrug of the shoulders and mai-roo.