aarn

Tesco and BigC have various 14" screen machines, 4Gb RAM, for 14+k Baht. Thai keyboard and no operating system (OS) installed. If you buy from them, keep your sales docket, if anything stuffs up just take the machine and docket back and ask for a new one!

No operating system - no problem. Using a friend's computer, load a linux system - I like mint 11, but mint 12 is more modern - onto a 4gb 'live usb'. Just google 'how to make a linux mint11 live usb...' - easy if a simpleton like me can understand, anyone can.

OK, now put the stick in your comp, turn the comp on, and tell it to open from the usb (need to get into your BIOS - google 'how to ....' on another computer before doing this, if you are not already savy).

Now you have good non-Windows OS. But maybe you would also like to use Windows?

At present, you can download for free windows 8 preview (just google it). Load it onto another 4Gb usb stick (but if your new comp is 64-bit rather than 32bit/i386, you will need an 8Gb usb) using the windows usb download tool (google it).

OK, to use both windows and linux as operating systems, you will need to start the comp from the win8 usb, which will wipe out your linux OS. But that is OK, because you again insert your linux usb and reinstall it side-by-side with windows. You can tweak the startup arrangement so that, by default, you start in Windows.

Why have side-by-side operating systems? Because if one is having problems, you can still try to resolve the problem, using the other operating system to 'spy'.

Good luck, AA

Big cities the same the world over - expensive, vehicle exhaust fumes, rats/roaches, fresh food expensive, lack of running places (at least BK has Lumphini).

Go west young man - or as in my case, go south. Jog on the beach 9and suck up negative ions0, eat local food without preservatives, you are never isolated if you are within 20 km of Tesco/BigC/transport hub. If you develop a 'drinking problem' - maybe it will be because you didn't bring in enough supplies, affordability of sato is very favourable... AA

After doing all the things suggested above, would be a good idea to change your email password, too.

I use hotmail (10+ years) and thrice the pword has been cracked.

You can check to whom you have sent the Spam by checking in your 'sent' box.

Most people know not to open emails tha thave nothing in the subject line...AA

As for the seat post, if you can't get the right diameter, you can make a shim from PVC pipe if the post is too narrow, or get to work with an angle grinder if the post is too wide. My two bikes thus...AA

7-speed freewheels should be available generally, but you'll have to look around for bigger cog range than 14-28. 14-34 'megarange' available, but you may have to reset some adjuster screws on your rear derailleur. The chains for 6/7/8 clusters are all compatible.

There was a bike shop with 'LA bicycle' signage on Sukhumvit, almost as far as Ekamai, when I was last over that way. Otherwise, I have been told that in BKK Chinatown there is a street full of bicycle shops by day, butterflies after dark. AA

I have bought a very reasonable killifish breeder, based in Chantaburi.

What are you seeking? - PM me if confidential. AA

I did an International Money Transfer (of $AUD) to my Chumphon KBank - as SWIFT code I just used KASITHBK then my acct. no. (don't worry if it looks like the moolla is going to Bangkok). Money arrived next day, generous exchange rate.

Hi,

I am out at ThungWuaLaen, have a heap of .pdf/.mp3 Thai resources, if you want them can put on a usb (free). I probably learn 50% eating and joking in the market, and 50% with the computer. AA

no checked baggage will make the process faster

I had an airasia flight Australia - KUL, then Penang, November 2010.

Flight left Austr late, so I missed connection to Penang.

Went to ticket office, they gave (free) me a ticket on the next (last for the day) flight to Penang.

Had to spend all night at Penang airport, however - flight arrived 2330.

Good luck, AA

I live near Chumphon, did the Burma visa run about five months ago. Used Fame Guest House

http://www.chumphon-kohtao.com/visa1.html

Am not an agent for them, but it was an easy trip. Cost 1100B ($US10 included in the fee,need to book 1-2 days in advance), leave ~ 0530, back in Chumphon before mid-day. English speaking locals facilitate everything, no 'tips' expected, you hardly leave a footprint in Burma.

I think you might find a few days fooling around in Chumphon more enjoyable than Burma. It looked pretty grim to me (and I lived in Cambodia in 1998), hopefully things in Burma will be more pleasant within a few years. AA

demon not working for me also, piratebay still flying the flag

Suggest you download libreoffice (now version 3.4, it is free).

Can do an amazing number of tricks using the appropriate spreadsheet. AA

Lop3,

you are a legend here and we all want to help (your further ability to educate us re. visas etc.). The post from Phil Conners - right on the mark.

I had problems about a week ago with microsoft silverlight crashing (when adding attachments) using Chrome. Seems to have been resolved by MSE security update. Also was necessary to clear out caches, as Phil C suggested

But if your problems are more profound, how is your antivirus status? MSE is good these days.

I have my comp set up with linux mint 11 as the frontline, opens by default into Win 7 (starter). If the later stuffs up, have the option of restarting and going into mint, to check out the Win problem.

Good luck, AA

By the way, grease is important in bearings for headset, bottom bracket, wheel axles, gear/brake cable housings. For derailleurs, and rear derailleur jockey wheels, WD40-like surfactant works. I also prefer regular surfactant sprayed (then wiped) on chain, others may prefer machine oil. AA

I've had rear DR problems in my 17 years cycling here. Suggest you DO NOT try to dissemble rear DR. Hit everything with copious amount of WD40-type spray-on surfactant (BigC has generic version, big can ~ 50B). Pick out all the crap with a tooth pick. Wipe up with toilet paper etc.

'Noise', if persists, may be due to lack of alignment between rear DR and sprocket cluster. You may need to reset the high and low limit screws. More advice later if needed.. AA

Good luck on your travels. If you get no better offers, I am a farang now anchored in Chumphon(500km S of BKK) (after 17 years cycling Thailand). Have two 26" folding bicycles, set-ups are: freewheel 21 spd 24/3848//11-34, 27 speed freehub 26/36/46//11-34. Plenty of bike shops here, I have spoke cutter etc., can do wheel rebuild - free! (actually beers would be invoiced).

Basically, you should find parts easy to obtain most laces (maybe expensive in topnotch BKK bike shops), labour affordable, but not much thinking outside the circle (in terms of increasing your gear range etc.). AA

Similar to my experience, skype automatically debited my paypal twice for a sensational night's telephonic activity to Somalia, six months ago. I politely whinged to Skype, and extinguished the 'automatic account top-up' feature. About 10 days later, the money was refunded to paypal. AA

Wherever you are booking from, try to change your 'location' to Asia. Fare differences may be substantially different in, say, $AUD v ThB or RM, much more eventually in your favour despite the rip-off 'conversion fee' charged by the rip-off Australian banks.

Airasia has now made 'sporting goods 20kg' baggage charges almost universal. In 2004, no such charges existed. A friend recently bought 30kg luggage allowance, dismantled an entire bicycle, stuffed it into big (75 x 35 x 30cm) suitcase, packed with other stuff. Saved heaps on the charge for 20kg + 10 kg excess. AA

Tesco have a 7.2Mbps-capable modem on sale this week for 1000B.

I was recently on the northwest tip of Penang, where Celcom had good coverage. I paid 690B for 30-day use of a SIM with 4Gb allowable download. Fast connection - could livestream sports etc. Apparently, if usage exceeded 4Gb, connection slowed right down...

The three big providers in Malaysia - Celcom, Maxis, Digi - try to get users to 'register' (1000B), but there are ways of getting around this. Also, these companies should have online maps of their coverage.

Haven't been to Cambo for a couple of years, but a friend was using a modem/dongle at that time

Hello fellow linux users,

all comments here very interesting. I am a linux newbie, using toshiba NB305 with RAM upped to 2Gb. Have triple-installed Win7 starter (default) (in 150 Gb partition), Mint 11 (in 60Gb) and now Ub 11.10 (12Gb).

Many more competent people than myself recommended to stick with Ub 10.04.3, but it lost wireless connectivity during upgrades on a few trial installations. Incompatible with atherion wireless driver???

The simplest solution to my problem was to make sure Ub 11.10 (the 697Mb torrent version, running from a usb stick) was working, format the 10.04.3 partition, and install 11.10.

For me, 11.10 was unexplored territory but very functional . Need to install BUM (sudo apt-get install bum) to turn off some startup applications, as 11.10 startup manager hides things! Also installing htop was recommended, as apparently system monitor hogs resources... not sure how to exterminate system monitor, which is is presumably scoffing strawberries in the background.

Mint11 runs very well on my netbook after a few tweaks, and can recommend it.

Win 7 starter- well, default O/S on toshiba NB305, have an emergency reinstallation disk on 16Gb usb. Presently MSE antivirus seems to be pretty good, viruses (or my attempts to eradicate them) killed two previous laptops.

I purge totem, brasero etc, just use VLAN/VLC.

Word is that computers are moving more towards touch-type interfaces, and new computers to be setuo with Win8 will be incompatible with linux??? Maybe just a dirty rumour...

After clearing immigration/customs etc., walk out of the terminal, avoiding taxi touts. Look for the free intra-airport bus, there are express and all-stop services, leaving every 10 min or so (in the middle of the day). Get off at the Public Transport (bus) hub - this is actually where the bus will terminate. Walk on a little (50m), and there are a series of signposted services. To Sai Tai there should be a 500 something-number (large orange) bus, leaving every 40 min or so. Ticket sellers for other services will be able to point the way. Tickets are 40-50B. By now, there may also be minibus services running between SaiTai and the airport, not sure...

The problem at present will be diversions due to flood waters on the roads... The bus drivers will be up to date on getting from A to B. I am sure the trip is do-able, might throw the journey time out beyond 90 min, however.

Good luck, I have no idea about my intended trip MoChit to SaiTai on Sunday, just have faith in local knowledge

With hubs/rims, don't worry too much about what 'the experts' say re. incompatibility with # spoke holes.

You can - if you have time - lace any hub to any rim.

I've been riding (rear wheel) 32h hub with 36h rim for almost a year.

Looks a bit kooky, about every month I retrue it (using brake rubbers as guide).

So, if you have the time to true your wheel/hub, any combo should do!

Hi burgdawg and others,

just want to say how much I appreciate this post. Have been cycling Thailand since 1995/2538, now moved to Uttaradit, we have the best country for cycling... just out the front door. Coming from Australia, perhaps this doesn't mean much...

I ride full-size folding mountain bike (Dahon, Montague, plus obscure brands), 26 x 1.5" slick tyres, and carry a bag in which to fold the bike, then catch the bus (rain/boredom/time running out). Never have to pay for the bike EXCEPT sometimes 'service charge' catching bus from Pattaya Neua to Ekamai/Moh Chit/Sai Thai 'Mai'.

The ride from Patts to Chantaburi on Sukhumwit is a pearler - 185 km, leave Patts 0600 and I see the gates of Chanta ~ 1700. Beg to differ on one point - last Time I was savaged by a curr was 10km S of Patts, pair of big black labrador X things (not rottweilers - I used to be a vet, can pick those bastards from miles away) and chomped on my left calf.

Anyway, enjoy your treddling - I only go ~ 19km/hr but starting at first light, 160km/day is a regular ride.

Some great cycling possible here: Chantaburi to Trat is very pleasant 65 km, then Trat to Cambo border (Cambos there are very corrupt) 90 km, the last 15 very hilly. on the south side, if you leave Prachuap via the airforce base (crossing the airstrip - no problems) pleasant ride past technology museum to get back onto Petchkasem Hway. Turn off the Hway (another 40km) to Bankrut. BKrut to BangSaphan - you can virtually ride adjacent to the beach for 20 km, little traffic, best-ever cycling in my opinion. BSaphan towards Chumphon is OK off-Hway, a bit boring after BSaphan Noi (60km, hilly, just rubber planations) but come back to the coast at Saphli, net 20 km to Chumphon very pleasant (and quicker then the Hway). The next 'treasure' is the ride from Nakorn Sri Thammarat to Songkla, head west for 40 km (big windfarm industry starting at teh coast) and then 100km riding on the coast to get to the (free) ferry to Songkhla.

Get back on year bike, aarn

I'm a 53yo ex-Aussie vet living 28km out of Uttaradit.

Mostly did horses, buffs, cattle and dogs in Cambo/PNG/Austr

Haven't done paid work since Jan 2010 (up near Cairns).

Only place I (volunteer) worked in Thai was the clinic on Koh PhangNgan,

pretty good setup there

But to ingratiate myself at thaivisa.com, would be happy to offer free advice.

WWW. access seems to be pretty good.

Use this forum or can try [email protected].

ps. just moved to UTTDT. Am into jogging,

cycling,rockabilly, and have GGbs of films/music to chare.

Enjoy

google airmp3 for just about any era rock/pop music. enjoy