laobali

What if he turned out to be part-aboriginal? Wonder how the Aussie-bashers, racists and PC brigade would handle that can of worms.

So, who let this idiot on the plane in the first place?

Maybe he drank his own duty free on the flight.

Do you understand Thai years ? As in this year is 2557, if not you'll need to memorise it and convert later.

Is it so difficult to remember 543 and subtract it?

On a note that other posters are making about safety standards , i was reading sometime ago on a forum here about manufactured vechiles here in Thailand ie: Toyota pickups, Isuzu, etc.

A transport engineer from the States said that they would not pass any safety standards in his Country let alone EU.

I can't go into any detail as it was a few years ago, but it stuck with me as ive driven both, now driving a Hilux, both bought new. Oh dear !

Why is it that some of these trucks are being exported to Australia, NZ then (the former is about to lose it's entire car manufacturing industry in part due to the grossly unbalanced Thai-Australia FTA where Thai vehicles can enter Australia duty free but Australian ones are still subject to up to 300% duty) and some even make it to Europe (although not America) and they seem to pass safety standards in those countries alright?

My brand new Isuzu pickup seems to do just fine, so far. So I don't believe what that guy said unless you can be more specific. All I can think of is that Thai vehicles sold locally generally only have 1 or 2 front airbags and no side airbags like in many foreign countries. Not that many years ago extra or extended cabs only had seat belts in the front seats, although I think seat belts are now installed in all seats. So in that sense they're a bit behind on the safety aspects but that's a legislation issue. That doesn't however imply that quality is somehow less - as mentioned Thailand has become a manufacturing base for export of vehicles, particularly pickups.

Your suppositions facts are incorrect

The FTA - was not a single industry agreement - it covered almost ALL trade between the 2 countries and was mostly set up to take place in 5 year steps.

. Thailand has reduced duties on commercially imported vehicles from Oz and by 2015 they should be eliminated altogether. Personal imports and second-hand vehicles are not covered.

Australia actually has more lax regulations than Europe in various vehicle - especially Utes.

If you go into the spec of pickups , that leave the factories here in Thailand you'll find a huge list of variations on the vehicles depending on which country they are being sent to.

This can be from minor electrical specs - even heaters! - to major running gear, suspension, transmission, engine and body variations....as I said they are priced accordingly too.

That said - over the past 10 years or so the Thai market destined vehicles have added many safety features...but you still have a chassis built vehicle with leaf sprains and a high centre of gravity.

in most countries they are sold as work vehicles, but in Thaiand they range aright actress the market from humble work horses to luxury family transport - they'r still a pickup at heat though.

PS - as for aussie cars and the demise of the industry - firstly it's economy of scale and secondly who in their right mind would want a 4 litre saloon car or ute outside OZ - they built for a small home market and they simply didn't have an exportable product

Just wondering, did you actually write this?

... leaf sprains ... Thaiand they range aright actress the market ... they'r still a pickup at heat ...

When will bus drivers be subjected to a stability test?

That's a different type of slope test.

Only to complete sex maniacs with plenty of money

I hear Cambodia is cheaper for those on a budget.

would love to know how many Thais work abroad illegally .... I know a lot in Germany already

two wongs don't make a white.

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I don't even like girls talking about sex during sex

You have people watching?......................

With each other

Threesomes?

Hate is a very strong word...should be used sparingly...like all 4 letter words...

Four is a 4 letter word.

Good to hear about two happy guys!

It’s pretty much impossible to argue against racism these days, so if they don’t want to appear utterly out of step the general mores of society most racists have to take a different tack … they argue that they are NOT racists which is naturally enough, is an equally untenable position.

I think it is fairly obvious by some of the replies that it is beginning to dawn on some posters that maybe their views are in fact untenable e and racist, so their next step is to deny; this is accompanied by random insults to the messengers in an attempt to divert from the debate, or the introduction of flippant comments about how this is more racist than that, or how “boring” “long” or “trivial” the thread is. Anything rather than directly address the matter in hand. ….and as their unsupportable arguments increasingly make them look more and more daft they feign disinterest and fade away.

... more and more daft ...

Daft as a brush - a tar brush?

Why I do not worry too much about what Thailand has or has not become:

Don't own property. Don't own a house. Not married. No children for whom I am legally responsible. Don't own a business. Not employed. Don't go to a shared work space and say I'm not working. Don't live in a tourist area. Don't much hang out with persons who speak or speak only English. Don't own a car. Don't frequent bars at 2 AM. ...

So what is it that makes Thailand so attractive to you?

laobali,

JLCrab's post pretty much describes me as well and is has not had any noticeable impact on my enjoyment of or attraction to Thailand. The people are still nice, the food is still good, the scenery is still beautiful, and the culture is still interesting. The description applies to me in all the countries I travel to and it has not impacted my enjoyment of any of them.

David

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

I was just curious what he (and for that matter, you) do to occupy your time in Thailand rather than somewhere else.

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The accident, like all similar accidents, is very sad and most likely an avoidable tragedy. Quite why it's necessary to condemn Thailand and Thai people as sad, corrupt, 3rd World etc etc is also sad. Why live (or visit) here if it's such a horrible place?

The rose-coloured glasses are cheap?

My glasses are not rose-coloured. I'm well aware of this country's many shortcomings and find the carnage on the roads very upsetting. For three years I drove regularly, around Bangkok and monthly trips to Surin, and it was a scary experience. I'm quite happy to no longer have a car, although taking taxis, motorbikes and buses has its own risk. There are many other aspects of life here that are annoying, disturbing and that present some risk. But I still to choose to live here as the good things about life here and the decent Thai people I work with and am friends with, outweigh the negatives and the risks.

I sincerely hope Thailand's attitude towards road safety (and many other things) changes and if I could do anything to speed up change, I like to think I would do so. But posting insulting and reactionary posts on ThaiVisa isn't going to that.

... the good things about life here ... outweigh the negatives and the risks ...[and] many other aspects of life here that are annoying, disturbing ...

I think the "rose-coloured glasses" expression means exactly that.

No one said it's such a horrible place to live.

You already know you can't speed up change even if you'd like to. So you live with it, preferring to think about the positives for you. Fine.

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what a waste of time, why do they need such a letter?

Because they do !

If it's not a Thai passport, it might be fake!

With the death toll being so high so this must be classed as a national tragedy. Obviously the government will be addressing the nation at some point. Won't they??

A priminister who stands next to Barack Obama on state visits must feel the need to address such a tragedy. The truth is unless it reaches foreign media they just ignore it.

Condolences to the bereaved.

Even with foreign media coverage they still ignore it. Familiarity breeds contempt. Just another day, another bus/minivan/car/truck/bike 'accident' with dozens dying. What's new?

The sad thing here is that without knowing the full details of this mans background or what was the cause of death, many are quick to start pointing fingers.. shame on you

Exactly; the repossession of his new pickup or tractor might have been the last straw.

Wake the f up Thailand.

I know what you mean but the problem is who the f*kc is in charge of this place right now? I mean, who's got any real power or even any incentive for that matter to think seriously about these issues?

Governments may come and go but 'thainess' stays the same.

Like a fellow member quoted, I too have said to my Thai Partner about the Carnage on the roads, and i get a look like ''Whats the problem'" ???

I find that difficult to fathom out, Life is cheap as chips here...

He no my friend I no care.

The accident, like all similar accidents, is very sad and most likely an avoidable tragedy. Quite why it's necessary to condemn Thailand and Thai people as sad, corrupt, 3rd World etc etc is also sad. Why live (or visit) here if it's such a horrible place?

The rose-coloured glasses are cheap?

He said the bus driver attempted to overtake another car at the curve, but skidded off the road.

Why would you decide to overtake a car at the curve on a dangerous mountain road?

What in god's name was he thinking?

And then turn around and blame it on the brakes...

That driver is directly responsible for killing 32 innocent people!

What in god's name was he thinking?

You're giving him far too much credit for having the ability to have cognitive reasoning capabilities.

I think it was a rhetorical question.

Government officials, maybe this will cause some real action to be taken for once instead of the usual PR which is put out. RIP

Why would you think that?

Thailand's roads are among the most dangerous in the world

What a statement that is. It's not about unqualified drivers, not, or a bad maintenance of vehicles, ignorance, speeding and drunk drivers, without a license (to kill), corrupt police that oversees everything when getting money for it. Etc...

It's all the roads fault. Rest in Peace, hope not many will die in the hospitals.

But the poor souls who do are not even included in the road death toll.

Its deteriorating into a 3rd world country..

Time to open the 4th World with Thailand already the de facto #1?