dddave

About 40 years ago, in Cambridge Massachusetts on New Years Eve, a co-worker of mine intervened when he witnessed a man beating a woman on the street. He never made it to the new year. Not only did the man attack him, the woman he had been assaulting also piled on. They bashed his head repeatedly against a curbstone, He was DOA at the hospital. Both the man and woman somehow were able to claim self-defense, got plea deal for involuntary manslaughter and walked.

"I'm smart! I won't live around Sukhumvit with the rest of the ex-pats, I'll just get a little place around Chatuchak...they'll never think to look for me there."

I've had an earlier version of the BMax B2 for about 2 years that I use for internet and streaming on my TV. Mine came with Win 10 Pro, 8gb ram and only a 64GB eMMC boot drive. There was a slot for a SATA 3 SSD and I installed a 512GB unit. The BMax was about B6500 at that time, In the first year, windows crashed several times. The final time with the BSOD and could not be revived. The consensus of various Windows gurus was that the version was a corrupt copy installed by the manufacturer. I had to do a clean install of a legitimate new copy of Win 10 and it has functioned pretty well since then. I changed the boot drive to the 512GB SSD and that improved things considerably. The only issue I currently have is that HDMI ports often require a bit of fiddling to get them to connect to the TV. I also have a Intel NUC mini Windows computer that has a very similar form factor running on my main living room TV. It also runs Windows 10. It has been trouble free since day one. Base cost was about B6000 but boosting memory and adding an SSD brought the cost up to about B9K.

I have been a member of this forum and it's predecessors since 2004 with thousands of posts and comments. Why am I classified as a "Rookie"?

If you are considering buying a cheapo Android box, I suggest you watch this YT video from "Linus Tech Tips" (LTT) LTT is one of the most popular tech blogs though he has been accused of mixing paid promo with content, as have many media vloggers. That aside, I think this is a warning regarding built-in malware worth watching. He gets kind of technical at times but the idea comes across.

Before you depart write down the phone number of your hotel or put it in your mobile contacts. If the driver does not know the location, you can call and they will explain the location in Thai to the driver.

You don't have to go to CW! You can get a re-entry permit at passport control when you depart. Open 24/7 at all major Thai airports.

It actually depends on where you opened your account. To get the one year statement can take 5 working days if requested from a Bangkok Bank branch in another province from the branch where you opened your account. Timing can be crucial because when applying for your extension at immigration, the statement can not be more than a certain number of days old. Sorry, I do not recall the exact number of days, I think 3 but not sure.

My left eye is much weaker than my right, totally different lens, never a problem for Zenni in my experience with them.

In Boston, a truly ugly and intimidating 19th century jail (The Charles Street Jail) was converted into a luxury hotel 10 years ago. Check out "The Liberty Hotel" https://libertyhotel.com/hotel/history/

A number of years ago on this forum ("Thai Visa" at the time) a young man signed onto the forum from IDC where he was being held for some violation. I don't recall just what his situation was but he was frantically posting, looking for advice and help. He described at length the conditions in IDC and indeed, it seemed a harrowing experience. I remember him saying some fellow detainees had been there for years, caught in a horrible limbo, no money for a ticket out, no prospect for release, no appeal available.

Why online? The progressive lens glasses I'm wearing now as I type this cost me $90 including delivery from Zenni. The lowest quote for the same lenses from optical dealers in Thailand I ever found was more than B15,000. I've been getting progressive lenses from Zenni for more than 5 years, probably more than 10 pair of glasses including reading, computer and sunglasses. I also have a very difficult prescription. Never a problem with any glasses from Zenni. This is very distressing news.

Many expats prefer to buy a used vehicle directly from another expat, assuming correctly or not, that the vehicle has been maintained to a higher standard. Interest has already been shown here and I'm sure you will get many more bites if you post on local expat FB groups.

Eye-opening chart! Thanks for posting it.

I will plead guilty to having my Debit Card details stored on a number of sites: Lazada, Booking.com and a few more. I assumed these sites were secure. So, not a good idea? Enter details with each sale? How does one clean stored card details out of the PC? (Windows 10, Chrome)

I tried to do this and gave up. PEA office is way over on the Dark Side. After a couple of back & forths, I decided it was just much easier to pay it at 7/11. PEA is technologically in the dark ages. Website and app totally useless.

Fond memories of my 78 CB400 "Hawk". I had been riding a 60's 305 "Dream" and the "Hawk" was such a far superior bike in so many ways. It was perfect for the twisty New England back roads: New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, not so great on hi-ways, really got buffeted around by cross winds. Great bike that I'd love to have in Thailand.

Airlines lost all dignity years ago. I clearly remember a sick feeling in my stomach when my EVA flight pulled up to the gate, decked out like a "Hello Kitty" lunch box.

Sounds logical, then I think about the US School shooting in Uvalde, Tx last year that while a contingent of several highly (and VERY expensively) trained state and local SWAT teams stood around dithering outside, the killer was allowed to wander inside the school, systematically killing 19 children and 2 adults. All those cops who earned tens of thousands of bonus dollars doing SWAT and other crises training sitting around sayin "Nope, not worth the risk." Bystanders, both in the Thai incident yesterday and in Uvalde had long been cleared away, the perimeter had been secured so the "innocent bystander" excuse holds no water.

Not so fast Not so fast. There are a LOT of Russians about and while I have seen no chauvinistic displays (flags on T-shirts, etc.) on their part, there have been a number of reports of people in clubs wearing gear showing Ukrainian support that have been confronted by angry Russians. Like it or not, Pattaya is neutral ground. Why be provocative?

According to many press reports, Russians are taking over many businesses in Phuket. Also renting every villa available, many now at more than B100K/Mo. and sub-renting to other Russians.

Sadly, it's having a negative effect in the condo building where I've lived for 3 years, now packed with Russians. Previously, one could bring a large water bottle down and fill it in the lobby machine, then leave it there while you went out, picking it it up when you returned. Not any more. They disappear. I finally gave up after the third was stolen. Packages left by delivery companies were also safe to leave in the lobby, never a problem previously. Now, signs warn not to leave them there. The security guard says there have been many reports of packages stolen. I now do COD only so I am there when a package arrives.

I think one reality is huge online retail sites such as Lazada which have literally tens of thousands independent sellers have a huge internal problem with these sellers constantly trying to themselves, "game" the system, making collecting money from sales as quickl as possible while making it as difficult as possible for end users to cancel orders or claim refunds. I would not be surprised if the situation Crossy refers to is an example of this No doubt, there are many sellers who will use any subterfuge available to gain an advantage and get the money, even if they don't actually have the goods on hand. One thing I do not know. Does Lazada transfer the payment to a seller on supposed "proof of shipment" or does there have to be a "proof of delivery".

If it's not misbehaving and not burning an unusual amount of oil, your drive train/engine may well have another 100K+ ahead of it as long as you continue the maintenance. The well worn adage, "If it ain't broke don't fix it." really holds true. Totally removed from Thailand but when I owned a fleet of 24 vans, I never had an engine replacement that went perfectly. There were always a raft of issues after each: wiring/hoses/belts not properly connected or installed, gasket seals leaking, mounts rattling...you get the idea.

Took it last month, 1st class compartment. Departed and arrived on time. The ride was comfortable, fold out bed not bad. There was confusion about food, perhaps a bit scammy. A lady came around the compartments at departure with a menu saying we had to pre-order and pay her for dinner & breakfast. Some purchased from her, others, including myself deferred. When we got to the dining car (BTW, NO alcohol) we were able to order off the menu and pay at prices less than the lady had showed. Don't order the morning coffee. Dreadful instant in a paper cup with no sugar or creamer included. The new Bang Sue terminal is confusing and poorly marked. Getting a taxi involved a lot of walking. Many taxi touts around, I finally gave in and set a price with one I knew to be not far off.