NoshowJones

I you were taking a guess, what proportion of westerners driving motorcycles in Thailand do you suspect of not have a motorcycle licence in their home country? Do you think that farangs driving motorcycles for the first time in Thailand is widespread? Generally I would say that many of the most experienced drivers in the UK are motorcyclists.

I you were taking a guess, what proportion of westerners driving motorcycles in Thailand do you suspect of not have a motorcycle licence in their home country? Do you think that farangs driving motorcycles for the first time in Thailand is widespread? Generally I would say that many of the most experienced drivers in the UK are motorcyclists.

I would say the biggest majority of them, and yes, it is widespread, but no, most experienced drivers in the UK, would not have motorbike licenses.

Yes, this place is totally lethal to a biker, i'm scared every second i drive,

primarily because of the car drivers, who don't hesitate to cross my lane

Westerners, Thai or both?

Like I said when it comes to common sense and driving, the Thais lose against the Westerner 99 times out of a hundred.

Just need to regularly watch the News Clippings part of the Pattaya Forum to see how many accidents involve expats. Definite room for improvement

Dont be silly Farang drivers are much better than Thais,especially on motorbikes

Driving motorbikes and cars need a lot of common sense, and that's one thing the majority of Thais don't have, hence the 13000 road deaths every year.

Instead of making photocopies of the passport name page etc, can we not photocopy the bar code sticker supplied by Immigration and send them that, seems much simpler for everyone?

How long haved you lived here? Nothing is ever simple in Thailand, if there is a harder way to do something, that's the way it will be. But in saying that, in seven years, I have never had any problem with Thai immigration either at airports or bordering countries, all I have ever had is good manners.

Hi, I worked in BKK as a teacher for 2 years. It depends where in BKK you are but in my experience its not worth the hassle You save about 1000BH and you are more likely to have a problem at both ends. Better off sticking with Jacks Golf or The one that leaves From Ekkamai on a sunday Morning.

Kind Regards.

The one that runs from Ekkamai is good apart from one thing, if you are getting off the bus at Ekkamai after returning home, be prepared to spend about 2 hours going round Bangkok to drop people off, and sitting in traffic jams.

Poor guys , sorry for them but also stupid of them for using drugs (if they were really using). RIP.

If they really were using drugs, then I don't feel sorry for them. As a previous poster said, drugs are the scourge of our time.

Please be aware that relatives and friends of the deceased might also read these posts. You don't feel sorry for them, if they wanted to use drugs, got the wrong stuff and died?

Drugs were and will always be around us. Used for medicine, but also used as drugs to get high.

Considering that alcohol is the worst, but -of course- legal- drug, because of incoming taxes.

I'd say that alcohol's the scourge of our time. What's also fascinating is that TV members do know so much about drugs that we could make our own police force and a story telling department for mentally destroyed dinosaurs.

Whatever they wanted to sniff or inject, you'll find places in Thailand, where it's tolerated.

There's a place in the north of Thailand, where something similar happens pretty often. Of course the foreigners didn't die overdosed on heroin as Thailand is drug free regarding some politicians.

Rest in Peace guys.---

I will agree with you that alcohol is indeed the scourge of our time,and in my opinion, the majority of retirees in Thailand do have an alcohol problem.

Poor guys , sorry for them but also stupid of them for using drugs (if they were really using). RIP.

If they really were using drugs, then I don't feel sorry for them. As a previous poster said, drugs are the scourge of our time.

Please be aware that relatives and friends of the deceased might also read these posts. You don't feel sorry for them, if they wanted to use drugs, got the wrong stuff and died?

Drugs were and will always be around us. Used for medicine, but also used as drugs to get high.

Considering that alcohol is the worst, but -of course- legal- drug, because of incoming taxes.

I'd say that alcohol's the scourge of our time. What's also fascinating is that TV members do know so much about drugs that we could make our own police force and a story telling department for mentally destroyed dinosaurs.

Whatever they wanted to sniff or inject, you'll find places in Thailand, where it's tolerated.

There's a place in the north of Thailand, where something similar happens pretty often. Of course the foreigners didn't die overdosed on heroin as Thailand is drug free regarding some politicians.

Rest in Peace guys.---

With the possible exception of cannabis (I understand people with MS and such like use cannabis and it benefits them greatly)people who use drugs are as guilty as those who supply them, as there would be no dealers if there weren't any users, but let me emphasis again, as far as I know it hasn't yet been proved that the deceased were using drugs.

Poor guys , sorry for them but also stupid of them for using drugs (if they were really using). RIP.

If they really were using drugs, then I don't feel sorry for them. As a previous poster said, drugs are the scourge of our time.

All of those arrested were first-time offenders. They will face the criminal charge of reckless motorbike-riding disturbing others, he said, adding that their parents might also be subject to charges of violating the Child Protection Act, which attracts a three-month jail term and/or a Bt30,000 fine.

probably a lot more time in the big house than Mr Red Bull will get

Why can't the police go and round up the underage motor bike riders all over the Thailand suburbs who are obviously given the keys by their parents and confiscate their bikes and prosecute the parents?

Good post. My thoughts every day.

Must admit, l was doing it still in my late 50's, in a V8 ride though.

I was riding a Honda250 Superdream without a licence when I was in my mid thirtes back in Scotland, but the difference is we are both mature adults, and a little green piece of paper doesen't make us better riders, besides I was an experienced HGV and PSV driver.

Now that it seems the floods won't come this time, can I change the topic? I live in Photaley and the road between the 117 Highway and Photaley is an absolute disgrace, this wasn't caused by the floods. The road as you leave Photaley to go to Bangmunnak has been resurfaced when it was not really needed, but other parts of this road nearer the 117 intersection is just impossible to drive or ride on. Does anyone know why this road is never repaired apart from some temporary work that does'nt last long? The Thais are so non confrontational that they just accept this, and that includes my wife also.

I think we have better and more important things to worry about than watching Elton John. You're doing the evenly corrupt entertainment business a favor by filling money into their pockets

I will make sure I am well away from Bangkok on that day. What ordinary person wants to see someone performing with teenage boys dressed in very short pants dancing behind them?

Thanks Transam, we sure seem to have a lot in common.

Visa rules the world over should be abolished. We should be free to travel and live wherever we like. I just don't see why we have to be denied the right to live in a particular place for no good reason. The super rich are allowed to live almost anywhere. But even those with enough money to live anywhere are denied the right.

I do see where you are coming from Dave, I don't know if you are from the UK.but so many emigrants are arriving there all the time because they are being given free houses etc That's definitely not right.

That's better, if there is girls in short skirts dancing behind her and all you want to do is look.

I saw Elton John in concert back in the States. He puts on a great concert. Hope to catch this one.

I saw him about 10 years ago here at Muang Thong Thani. Great show.

You must be easily pleased.

Gone are the days when songs stayed in the charts for many months. These days, a song shoots into the top 10 for a week or two and then disappears into the ether.

Oh, you mean back in the days when a band meant musicians playing instruments?

There are plenty of bands out there that play their instruments. Lots of really good bands. You just have to look. PRoblem is most people when they reach the age of 30 or so stop looking for bands they would like and complain instead about what mass media pumps out on the radio, pining for the days of yore when they were a kid and all the bands were good.

I have played in live bands all my adult life, and although it is hard to find a good Thai singer, male or female (I'm not saying there aren't any) I have heard live bands here in Thailand with some very good musicians.

Another date is scheduled on december 14.

This time it will be unplugged, and will only play flute at pattaya... soi boyztown

Careful. He's a married man!

Another date is scheduled on december 14.

This time it will be unplugged, and will only play flute at pattaya... soi boyztown

Careful. He's a married man!

Man?

Pattaya is getting quite busy these days with stabbings/crime. Great for tourism. Wasn't Pattaya going the be the prime location in Thailand to take your family on vacation?

Name any one tourist destination anywhere in the world which is popular with most people and you will get the same.

Singapore ?

Is Singpore not mostly popular with rich folk?

I think we have better and more important things to worry about than watching Elton John. You're doing the evenly corrupt entertainment business a favor by filling money into their pockets

I will make sure I am well away from Bangkok on that day. What ordinary person wants to see someone performing with teenage boys dressed in very short pants dancing behind them?

Pattaya is getting quite busy these days with stabbings/crime. Great for tourism. Wasn't Pattaya going the be the prime location in Thailand to take your family on vacation?

Name any one tourist destination anywhere in the world which is popular with most people and you will get the same.

Hmm common occurance is it now?!

Not any more common than in most other countries. Walk through most parts of Glasgow alone at 02 am in the morning and see what happens, I speak from experience, but I'm a fast runner.

Surprised no one has mentioned the one that opened with Terminal 21, Asoke BTS, all the way in the basement. But glad to learn about the one at Ekkamai. Maybe even more convenient.

Actually I like the Citibank ATMs across the road. They cannot eat your card, which Aeon sometimes does. There are a few reports on Aeon which are not good regarding their customer service. But YMMV.

You are right about Aeons customer service, I asked how much I was allowed to draw per day from my UK account. I was told 40.000 Baht. It is in fact 15.000 Baht. I am not complaining though as they don't steal from us like all the other banks here. I think you know what I mean.

Yes, I have heard some stories about ATM malfunctions. Happened to me once and for a machine, over a period of 40 odd years, that's not a bad rate. Easily sorted out too, but that was in US. But, not enough to put me off using them.

Correct on AEON. I would further recommend (if you are from US?) opening an account for overseas travel with a bank offering no % foreign transaction fee ATM/Debit cards - some examples are State Farm, Capitol 1 and Charles Schwab bank. This, plus AEON, is a great combination and what I've organized for myself.

Far as credit cards, also not put off by them and as far as having your account "wiped out", if you've been swindled and it's clear you have been, there are consumer protections for that - pretty standard these days. I would further recommend finding a card for your overseas travel which offers no % foreign transaction fee. I have Capitol 1 MasterCard and it's worked as advertised and has a cash back feature which is even better.

Safe travels and good luck to you.

J

I have a Mastercard, and I have always had to pay a Foreign Transaction Fee while in Thailand, if what you say is true, then I should be getting a big refund.

I assume you mean Don Muang Airport.

Same question about parking at Don Muang.