Ajarn

Ajarn, is that an older email? The Nuvi 205 has been out for a long time and can be had in the US for under $99

One would assume you could load maps of Thailand onto models that allow you to load maps, thus it might be cheaper to pick em up elsewere and just load maps on em here.

Yes, it is an older letter, but that is the price I paid for my 205. American prices are sure to be cheaper than here. It is called business

Amazing ThaiVisa.......... after 50 posts, it seems mine will be the first that actually cites what seems to be a BiB scam.

On the way back to CM from Chiang Rai, I was pulled over at the checkpoint on the ring-road around CR town. Usually just a couple of BiB there, but this time about a dozen. Senior officer (I guess a captain) comes to the car.

"Your insurance not correct" (true - I had inadvertently let my compulsory government insurance run out though I still had current first class private insurance)........ "You must pay fine".

"OK" I say and walk with him to table where a female clerk is waiting. Officer asks me "Can you read Thai?"

I say "No - cannot".

Officer dictates in Thai to the clerk who fills out details on a printed form. Finally, I'm asked to sign the form and pay 500 baht. All I'm able to check on the form is that it does show my name in English, car registration and the figure 500. BTW, all of this was done quite pleasantly and a lot of smiling/nodding all round. I'm given a copy and escorted back to the car. Officer tells me to keep the form to show in case I am stopped again: "You paid already - not pay again today".

Next day in CM, I show my souvenir of the CR trip to a Thai friend - who immediately tells me that it doesn't mention anything about expired insurance but it does say that I wasn't using a seatbelt (not true - I always use the seatbelt and make sure passengers do). I'm told that the expired insurance fine would have been only 200 baht........

Overall, my attitude to the BiB is that I just try a] to avoid them and b] give them zero opening. I'm happy to accept that not all are actively corrupt, but also have no desire to explore the statistics personally.............

Just to give a little perspective, if this was in the USA ( Hawaii) you would have been given a ticket to appear in court the next day and your car would have been impounded. At traffic court you would pay a $500.00 (15000 fine and get release for your car. You then have to pay the tow company $100.00(3000 . Then when you go to insurance company to renew you must pay a premium of 30% because you got caught. My educated guess about the Thai ticket you got was because they did not have the right form for your infraction TIT . Be grateful for small favors, does not sound like a scam .

Chok Dee.

Point taken out about comparisons with other jurisdictions - 10 minutes delay and 500 baht penalty thus rates as nearly a clean getaway. But - the invented offence was handwritten onto a standard form........ so nothing to do with them not having the right form.

As to WinnieTheKwai's smug comment about not signing the form.......... the alternative would have been closer to cmdream's Hawaii scenario .

If you don't sign, the alternative is they take your license to the station where you have to go and pick it up, and they are not nearly as friendly, and the fine can be a lot more than 500 baht

How does it work?? Do I sit on it? Lie on it? What do I excercise with?

I wish the picture had someone using it. It would be a lot clearer to me

I don't know if my old body can use it easily...

How do you think a rower works, Ajarn? Did you have trouble finding Thailand?

I could always afford an engine in my boat, so I never rowed. And thank goodness the pilot knew where Thailand was...

Because my left side is week, my left arm is almost useless, so I think ths rowing machine is a 'next step' for me, but thanks for the video. Any ideas for something to gain leg strength ? I though a stairmaster would be good, but I have no idea what is available out there...

I'm not sure where to get the best deal, but be sure to get a Garmin. The Garmin units have a good mapping system of Thailand. I have a very good Magellan that I use in Canada and the USA, but Magellan doesn't offer any detailed maps of Thailand. I was traveling with a Thai friend who owns a Garmin and her unit had an excellent built in map. It gave us advice (in English) as we were driving, and told us on what road to turn onto to reach our destination. It was so accurate that even when we stopped for gas it corrected us on how to get back on course.

I also own a Magellan, and it has a good Thailand map, but not as good as Garmin

I would recomend Eagle GPS at Pantip plaza, Chiang Mai. I have attached a letter from the manager regarding the GPS..

I bought a Nuvi from them and am very happy with it

"Being honest with you; there are some troubles with the nuvi 710 - it's just very slow. It can be really upsetting. I just had a customer who returned the unit. Not mentioned that we were sending it two times to the service in Bangkok and also switched for another one.

The Garmin support informed that the problem should be resolved with the new firmware version, which should be ready in one month.

Nuvi 310 is an older model (with a flap antenna) but has some extra features like MP3 Player and Bluetooth (Hands-free system for a mobile with Bluetooth). ESRI is clearing stock and selling it in promotion for

12.900,- THB

Nuvi 205 - it's a new model in Thailand. It has a track log function, which can be useful for your trip records, also can be send as a file to your friends and be diplayed with Google Earth (http://earth.google.com/). Price: 12.700,- THB

All the units include car charger. The wall charger is an extra cost. If you need to use the unit indoors, you can charge it via USB cable with your computer.

Also if you are interested in any particular model from Garmin we can make a special order. "

Maurycy Siedlowski [[email protected]]

Probably be better off with a rower than a stairmaster ole mate. It'll work most of the body as subtle or as tough as you like (if you have a good un) and they're comfortable for the most part. There's only one to get and that's the Concept II. There's a farang distributor in Bangkok who delivers up here - sorry, no longer ave details but a bit of digging on Concept II Rower Bkk and you'll come up with it. Will cost you in the region of 70 big ones, though, but will easily outlast you. The best all-round bit of kit I've ever worked with. Anything developed here will eventually just fall to bits.

Wiki

If you want to purchase a Concept II rowing machine in Thailand then the best way is to contact Concept in the USA. Get their web address from the internet and email them. I did this, and have documented it in several posts on here some 12-18 months ago. I purchaed the bog standard one for some 1100 US Dollars, 40,000 baht approx. and that included all the taxes and delivery to my front door.

The reason Concept will sell direct to you is that they do not have a registered outlet in Thailand, (well they did not when I bought mine). Even the top of the range one will not cost too much more, certainly not the 70,000 you mention.

If you want to pay through the nose then go ahead, but why when with a little work on the keyboard, it can be purchased at half price.

Hope this helps Ajarn

How does it work?? Do I sit on it? Lie on it? What do I excercise with?

I wish the picture had someone using it. It would be a lot clearer to me

I don't know if my old body can use it easily...

I want some excercise eguipment, but not the kind sold at Tesco, et all. I'm looking for a Stairmaster, and something else you would find in a good health club. Cost is not very important. Any ideas?

SPORTathlon in Bangkok. You can call this # 086324179 the guys name is Preecha, speaks OK English. Deals with high end fitness equipment, I just bought a machine from, nice smooth transaction. Professionally installed and serviced. I can highly recomend him & his company.

Thank you sk1max, this is the kind of information I'm looking for

I build studio-quality Pilates exercise equipment. But I am in Canada until September. Can you wait?

Cheers,

Mark

(Pilates-Chiangmai)

What type of equipment do they use for Pilates? I thought you just needed a floor...

Yes, because of my inabilty to go ask, I thought I would ask here.

Thanks for your help UG

Agreed, once you figure stuff out, and where to get it fixed...You can relax and enjoy everyone or no-one. Everyone has differing desires here, it seems. Some like me (now) prefer the isolation from any hassle very nice. But that takes some time to accomplish, in my experience

I want some excercise eguipment, but not the kind sold at Tesco, et all. I'm looking for a Stairmaster, and something else you would find in a good health club. Cost is not very important. Any ideas?

People new to driving here must realize that the Thais drive differently here, with good reason, and should simply go with the flow...

Actually, this is good advice. A few years back, my best mate was approaching the Amari Rincome junction from Central and he braked as the lights went from amber to red. Next thing he knew, he was flying forward through the air as a pick-up, which was hoping to make it through the red light, rammed him from behind. He spent a couple of days in hospital and had to pay to fix his bike as the other driver sped from the scene of the accident. He learnt his lesson and now speeds up if he approaches an amber-changing-to-red light.

thats the reason when im waiting for the green light, and im at the front of the line, i never speed off...many times ive seen cars/bikes running the red usually at speed, it seems to be the norm, and not an exception

I used to drive taxi in San Francisco and we had the same 'rule' there too

In my opinion, all the people complaining about the bad drivers here, they should be avoided for fear of an accident

I have driven almost a million Kilometers here in 25 years, never an accident

You just been lucky mate accidents happen to people all over the world so because you so far escaped just makes you a more fortunate person or are you just bragging about being here for 25 years

If you see it as bragging, I feel sorry for you... My point was as I stated, no more, no less

I have driven almost a million Kilometers here in 25 years, never an accident

Exactly - that just confirms what sk1max said.

What the hel_l does that mean?

As a driver who learnt how to drive in the West, your driving skills/road awareness are better than those of drivers here and so you're less likely to have a crash (sk1max was saying that the standard of driving is better in England than it is here).

I did learn to drive in the west, but the majority of my driving years have been spent here, and I don't think I posses any more skills than another Thai. but I feel that the Thai drivers are doing fine, with a few exceptions, like in the UK. People new to driving here must realize that the Thais drive differently here, with good reason, and should simply go with the flow...

I have driven almost a million Kilometers here in 25 years, never an accident

Exactly - that just confirms what sk1max said.

What the hel_l does that mean?

Personally I have a rather hefty brush-cutter machete; weighs about 2 kilos....that would lop off an arm (or a head, for that matter) with one swipe, next to my bed.

And he's a moderator.......beware!!

Another moderator brags about 'owning' a 45 calibre pistol...

In my opinion, all the people complaining about the bad drivers here, they should be avoided for fear of an accident

I have driven almost a million Kilometers here in 25 years, never an accident

My daughter has just started P1 at Regina, she finished Anubaan 3 there and all was fine, but now she's buried under a mountain of homework, it's a struggle to keep up as the kids must make a note of the H/W given by each teacher, if the child isn't fast enough the teacher erases the notes off the board and is gone. Then chastises the parents and child for not doing the homework. Anyone with similar experiences?

Also, my daughter is almost fluent in spoken English (for a 6 year old anyway) and was told she must do better after failing the ' Written English Test' I wonder if the teachers are on the same planet as the rest of us.

If you understood the problems from working in a Thai school as a teacher or as an Admin. you might feel a bit better, because you can understand and appreciate the many difficulties. If you have any suggestions and are willing to donate some of your labor as a classroom aide, I'm sure you would be greatly appreciated

What were all those people fishing for, Ajarn? There sure are a lot of them in a small area.

Most often it's just a few anglers with a number of rods out waiting for something to bite.

I enjoy fishing, but don't have the patience to wait for hours hoping something will bite. I prefer casting to fish that I know are there.

At some places for sure. In my shot, taken near Phrao is a small village with not too many places to fish and socialize, so it is a 'group' activity more than the standard 'alone' activity.

Doi Luang, Chiang Dao, 2004

Fishermen near Phrao, Thailand 2004

Phrao Rice Lady, 2007

Samui Man, Kho Samui, 1988

Lisaw Woman, Baan Sam Li, 2006

Beautiful Spot, near Chiang Dao, 2004

'

Buffaloe Fighting, Kho Samui, 1986

Clthes Dyer, a great part of Thailand disappearing from view.

These guys come around on their bikes, which have a fire and a pot of black die

They charge about 15 baht for a pair of pants

In my view of the Ping, all looks normal. Wait until September for any flooding, but at this point, it is too early to tell.

I love this one, Ajarn. It leaves you wondering what is around the corner. The angles are all correct and the curving road sort of tells a story. Did you scan the photos off slide film or off old negatives? There is always a difference between scanned film and digital.

All of the 2002+ photos are digital.

This is one of my favorite photos, too

Because I only have one hand I can use, and I can't walk, all pictures are taken from my drivers seat in my truck

This is a long fire (200 meters) set to find mushrooms, near Wiang Haeng, Chiang Mai 2004

These are kids from the Lisaw Hilltribe, near Phrao, Chiang Mai 2003

A nice and inviying road to Doi Angkhang, Chiang Mai 2005

Kids resting during Songkhran, Chiang Mai, 2005

Hillside Housing, Mae Sai, Chiang Rai, 2005

Chiang Dao, 2006

Funeral, Phrae, 2005

A nice place to relax

Honey Boys, chiang Dao, 2005

Jumper training, Huey Tung Taw Lake, 2006

Lake Fishermen, Near Doi Saket, 2004

Doi Chiang Dao, 2005

I was told that the steering locks for motorbikes are totally useless and that there is a technique to break them which involves lifting the bike and slamming it down on the front wheel whilst twisting the steering column a certain way.

The fact that a friends bike once disappeared from round the corner to a restaurant where we were having lunch, seems to support this.

There are also locksmiths that can break into pretty much anything in a matter of minutes (I know this as I once locked myself out of my car )

As for Lanna Rebirths question, I believe it is in the affirmative, maybe even flourishing.

You can just ram a screwdriver in the ignition and turn it with a pair of vise grips. I don't know about new bikes but this works on older bikes. Or two guys can pick it up and throw the bike in the back of a truck in no time at all.

There's a video I saw on YouTube of guys in Hong Kong or somewhere seizing illegally parked motorbikes and putting them in a truck. It was really impressive how fast they do it. They just lifted the bike up by the front tire an rolled it on the back wheel over to the truck and then right up the ramp. With a ramp one guy can put the bike in the truck solo in just a few seconds. I tried for several minutes to find the video so I could post the link but no luck.

This post is in no way intended to tell someone how to steal a bike. Just warning people of how easy it is to do it. Lock you bike with a good chain and lock.

And don't just lock the tires- they are easy to remove and take your bike. Chain a part of your frame to an immovable object.