bradiston

2 hours ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Its actually Kin 

 

Ok. I never saw it written down. Sounded like a hard K. Thought it was just Thai humour, calling yourself "King".

They need to do a forensic analysis of the stains. Not sure where? Google the tests?

9 hours ago, Cereal said:

It's all a smoke screen. The Chinese officials tipped off the Thai police about this guy while a dozen others got through without an issue and a lot of envelopes changed hands. 

Everybody always assumes that, but they obviously never have any evidence. How could they have, unless they were in on the scam. It's just an urban myth. You think the Oz authorities would be partial to some fat backhanders also? From like 10 couriers? Any complicity and they'd suffer the same fate.

4 hours ago, bbi1 said:

Where do you get long-term rentals for 1,200/month? What type of bike? Are we talking about a very old beat-up Honda click 125cc or Honda Scoopy?

It was during COVID. Everything was cheap then. But after COVID it went to 2k. It was a decent 125 honda click. Not the most up to date version, but a good runner. What more do you need to get around on? Pointless buying/renting anything more than that in my book.

Btw, the same place I rented from has quite a few 2023 Yamaha 125s at 39,999. Hondas at 44,999.

It was Jack's on Buakhao, next to the khao man guy shop, but his name, or nickname, is actually King. I've always known it as Jack's but they have a new shop on BK Soi 15 where the mum I think works. They had or have a tiny office also next to subway on corner of Buakhao and Diana. A family business.

5 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

5-6 hours is enough, stressing about it makes it worse. I go to sleep early, wake up early, get up 4am, if i wake up early 3am i get up, don't fight it

Exactly. It's quiet enough at that time of night at least in Pattaya. Watch TV, go for a drive, read. If you can't sleep, chances are you don't need to sleep.

I should add, I did 10 years of night shift. 5pm to 5am. Stopped work 9 years ago. Probably still recovering!

Long term rental in Pattaya is/was ridiculously cheap. I rented for 2 years. It started at 1200 a month and went up to 2000. 6 months ago, I bought. You'll need a lot of bikes to make any money. And English speaking, trusted staff, mechanics, etc etc. And the aggravation you get from customers. Nasty, aggressive white guys.

5 hours ago, Lacessit said:

Why would you worry about that? Dying peacefully in one's sleep is a much better alternative to being racked with pain, going out screaming.

Dying while fully conscious doesn't necessarily involve screaming in pain. I'd rather know what was happening than just not waking up.

Cos most guys are total losers that a girl can definitely live or do without. And yes, I guess I'm speaking for myself, though I think there's life in the old crock yet. Toms are real tough, and provide a lot of stability I think. I've met girls who have a tom boyfriend. It seems quite natural. Makes a lot of sense in a place like Pattaya. Many girls will tell you how sympathetic ladyboys are too. Always lend a helping hand, a few quid or whatever.

1 minute ago, sirineou said:

It pays to have targets in life 

My main anxiety is NOT waking up, not the inability to fall asleep. Is there a cure for that? I guess not.

3 minutes ago, sirineou said:

They say that people who sleep good live long lives. My brother John sleeps like a baby , and I don't want to die before him, because god knows what the bastard he would say at my funeral. 

 

I like that. I decided that setting yourself a target NOT to die before, was a good way to keep ticking along happily. I'm refusing to go before the tundra melts and swallows up most of Siberia. Nothing personal you understand.

7 hours ago, Dolf said:

How does any business make a profit? By being busy. Buy a bike for 50,000 baht and rent it for 200 baht a day you need to rent it for 250 days to get your money back but then you have maintenance. It might not be busy more than 33% of the year so take you 2.5 years to make get money back. 

 

Kind of a side business to add to a guesthouse.

Plus it's depreciating in value all the time. You have to factor it all in.

You were asking about businesses recently I think. There's a Russian not far from me who runs a bike hire business. Has about 60 bikes I'd say. Pratamnak area. Great location. And they're opening bars and heaven knows what on Soi 6. You might learn something from them.

5 hours ago, sirineou said:

66 years old and for the past year I have not been sleeping well. I don't eat after six, I take multivitamins , B1 complex, melatonin and Magnesium.

I also often take Benadryl which gives me 7-8 hours of sleep.

If I don't take Benadryl 6 -7 hours  Usually interrupted by  1 hour half way through, which is why I always have a book on my nightstand.  . 

I am aware of the health benefits of  a good night's sleep , but also apprehensive about long term Benadryl use, 

I understand that as we age our sleep patterns change, and I am sure I am not the only one with this issue.

So I wonder how do you deal with such issue. I would appreciate and would consider any advice. 

I don't try and regulate it. If I wake up in the early hours, I get up and go for a spin on my scooter. My sleep pattern is all over the place, but it doesn't concern me. Sleep when I'm tired. That's it.

But I do visit a spa or other form of sauna/hot/cold baths almost daily. That will make you extremely drowsy. Knocks me out about an hour later. Might try that. Pills and the like? No thanks!

1 hour ago, IndomitableSpirit said:

True that. Filipinas with foreign boyfriends need to attend a certain seminar and get a certificate before leaving the country. The immigration also checks the phone for photos if you have been together already or you are meeting somewhere for the first time. I get that they are being cautious for human-trafficking, but they go over the line as to even tell these women they might be prostitutes! However, I am not aware it's also hard for them to enter Thailand. What's the deal with that?

 

My friend's gf got hauled off to the immigration lock up at BKK despite having all her docs in order etc etc. Finally got a call out to my mate who went down there sharpish and rescued her. Brutal. And tried to force her to buy a ticket back to Manila on the first available flight. I've heard other stories similar to that. They get treated like scum. I think they're singled out for making people feel superior. Soft targets. They know no embassy will help them out. And they're ASEAN members. A fricking joke. Treat Lao, Khmer, Myanmarian all the same. But Singaporean? Oh, step this way sir, yes sir, no sir, yes madam, bow wai wai etc etc.

" ...officers observed suspicious behaviour". What, he legged it?

I drive past it on my early morning (2-3am) outings. One of the few joints still operating in the wee small hours on Sukhumvit, empty, but extremely noisy. I guess that's it for now.

Meanwhile, down Na Jomtien Beach Rd, it's all go opposite the Pizza place right through the early hours. Many groups of people camped on the enormous beach, enjoying an open air party with friends. All very civilized and well behaved. And the side car food stalls do a great trade. Seems the locals and the tourists have managed a compromise. Just goes to show.

10 minutes ago, IndomitableSpirit said:

At least it's SK's interrogating Thais or Thais interrogating other nationalities. I am currently in the Philippines for vacation and people here are complaining that their own immigration interrogates them like hell when leaving the country. They also "off-load" right and left their own people even if they are genuinely going for just a tour/trip. Have you ever heard of an immigration officer asking their fellow citizen to show 10 birth certificates and year book? It happened in the Philippines. 

Yes, leaving the Philippines for especially filipinas is notoriously difficult. No idea why they do that. But also foreigners here who have Filipina gfs have a lot of problems getting them out of the Philippines and into Thailand. No amount of bank statements, cash, covering letters, addresses will do. You're just immediately singled out for extremely harsh and unfair treatment. Maybe because the average filipina is 10 times smarter than her Thai equivalent.

5 hours ago, orchidfan said:

True. But 90+% I fly Emirates, they email me about 48hrs ahead with a link to online checkin.

So I was mainly referring to my experiences with them....and the OP photo appears to be at Emirates checkin counters (?)

Online check-in? Sure, web check-in lines might be shorter, which is about the only advantage. But the airlines can't issue boarding passes as far as I know, and if you've check-in bags you have to go to the check-in counter in any case. Also the check-in staff check any entry requirements at your destination like onward travel bookings.

Fatal attraction between motorbikes and concrete poles. What's the answer? Has anybody here had a near miss or collision with a pole while out and about? Do these things move around like in a computer game? Sure, some poles are stuck some way away from the side of the road. Using a phone at 30 or 40 kmh, enough to kill you, not possible, surely? Never ride within 2m of the edge of the road. You'll end up in a hole, off the road, wrapped around a pole or wires, or banging into the back of an unlit stationary tank carrier. It's all part of the Thai driving experience (all rites (sic) reserved).

4 minutes ago, orchidfan said:

I just cant understand why people don't do online check~in and join the much shorter queues. Maybe something to do with their Sim cards and data roaming.

I departed BKK a few days ago on EK,  (check in line T/U as depicted in the OP report) and online checkin line very short , but dozens waiting in the other lines. All done in a few minutes.

 

On another note I also tried the "Fast/Priority line for the first time, as I already had a re entry permit.

It wasnt fast track and took ages to get through.

The main hold ups appeared to be small family groups....especially of middle eastern and Southern Asian origin.

Not sure I'd bother with that again !

 

I was only a cheap old Economy pax, but the people who had paid for expensive tickets must have been p***ed off

Yes, groups with multiple passports are a nightmare.

It's not just in airports. Shop in any supermarket here and 9/10 you'll see long queues at the 3 checkouts that are open, while 17 others are shut, staff on phones etc etc. Managers probably don't even bother turning up for work most of the time. They're the ones they should go after. They're the ones responsible.