AverageAussie

555 @Ralf001 Yes, comments at 2'30" are noted. 42C wouldn't be the best seat if you had a choice.

If you have seat selection available, make sure you pick a good one. Always use SeatGuru. I haven't flown on TG yet, so don't have first-hand experience. But some of the reviews I've read are mixed. BTW - I've been on plenty of other airlines' 787s and it is a comfortable modern plane. My preference is for a window seat. They have large (long) windows that give you an excellent view and electronic dimming. You can also have a close look at the wings' flex on take-off & landing. It's not unusual for the composite material to bend a metre or more. Technically, I believe they could bend all the way around so that the tips touch each other - although this has never been proven in tests.

What airline will you be flying on? That's what makes ALL the difference. Airlines select the configuration and Boeing just assemble to specifications. Well, at least that's what they claim to do. If you are on Cebu-Pacific, then I hope you are under 180cm tall. They have the world's tightest 787 cattle class with 436 seats. Totally different experience to say JAL with 144 economy + 42 business seats on their 787s.

Staff tardiness increased another 350% after this policy was implemented.

I haven't been here long enough to know you, Mr Real Bob - but on behalf of everyone, thanks for turning the Community Pub into an Airport departure lounge.

NB. I missed the bit about 1,000m² in your opening post. That's only 0.1ha, not the the 10ha you subsequently alluded to. Let me guess further....metrology isn't your strong point?

It's good of you to be cryptic with your clues and thus keep an otherwise boring thread alive. But 1km ≠ directly north ≠ 300m Also if you measure it out from Google Maps, the land size is irregular but closer to 90m x 300m. Therefore we aren't discussing a 10ha parcel of land. More like 3ha at best.

Only 8? That's almost a strike.

Is AN posting multiple April Fools jokes now?

Yes, remember that one too. It has to be a world record. I often wonder how much cumulative weight is in the cables and how that compares to the poles. Those stresses will still be okay whilst the pole is vertical, but once there are lateral forces applied that's a recipe for disaster.

With so many poles around Thailand carrying literally dozen/s of lines, I'm surprised that this incidence of multiple poles being downed doesn't happen more often. Knock over just one or two and the combined weight of those pulls down others in a domino effect. powerlines.mp4

Today's Venn Diagram. No need to thank me.

LOL at the label on the first unit. English text:: Made in Vetnam Russian text: Made in China

@KhunLA - thanks for the first-hand feedback and advice on this thread. I don't have much experience with batteries (other than laptops, phones & a drone) - but might be looking at similar transport options in the next year or so. Comments like yours all go into the knowledge bank. I do have a question about the charging precautions that you mentioned. Risks with cheaper batteries are obvious, but what about the charger itself? Are these factory-supplied by Deco along with the bike, or is it something you need to shop around for separately? I can't remember where I saw it, but for mobile devices I've been advised to spend a bit more & use only those chargers that have built-in voltage sensing & over-charge protection. Do the Deco chargers (if they are available) have this feature? How long do you leave it on charge; overnight trickle & rapid recharge for a top-up?

You're right, but only about the definition of a condo. You are buying the "airspace" (as you call it) in a condo plus an interest in the common property of the building. That's distinct from the land that it sits on. But if you scrolled down just 3 sections to "Process of Buying a Condo in Thailand" on this non-government/ private law firm website, they provide an explanation of foreign quota and how it applies. Put simply, each building has a max 49% quota (based on floor area) that can be foreign owned. If not in that quota, then your options are company name or a 3rd party Thai national - as pointed out by @SAFETY FIRST .

Agreed. I think visitors globally have different expectations & requirements for accommodation - and Airbnb (as a platform) does fill a market niche. Otherwise they would never have succeeded as they have. Management in most of bigger & better condominium buildings are alert for the short-term tenancies and will crack down on infringers. In some cases I've heard that there is a hotel licence in place for the building (or parts of it). That's okay if standards are up to par and they're staying within the law & pay their fees, taxes etc. I'm not suggesting that there isn't a lot of illegal short-term stays, but that's an enforcement issue (as you have pointed out). Nothing to do with the platform. If you make Airbnb illegal it will be quickly replaced by marketing services elsewhere - probably a lot less secure & open to scams such as those already prevalent on social media. What could be done is more clarity & simplicity in licencing for the short-term market. For the long-term rentals (>30 days) I'd hate to see an extra layer of regulation imposed. It would be an administrative nightmare for agents and those owners already doing the right thing. The only exception might be the creation of a rental bond agency to hold & manage those funds and independently adjudicate in disputes.

Also a Reuters article published 28 March 2024 by The New Daily here. And a Twitter Post by Thai Enquirer.

Good for you and an amazing effort! I didn't share the link, only a screenshot. Of course there's nothing to stop you searching for the same DOPA link on their website and putting your own ฿2 in, but if you do - that would be more than the remaining apathetic 99.99% of the population would ever consider.

Just for a bit of clarity, under the current act there is nothing illegal about listing accommodation on Airbnb - provided: the building/ room has a hotel licence the term of the lease is at least 30 days if there is no licence. A lot of guests houses etc also list on that platform.

I received the following email from Airbnb today. It seems that the Thailand Ministry of Interior’s Department of Provincial Administration (DOPA) is currently holding a virtual public consultation until 31 March 2024 to gather feedback on the effectiveness of the Hotel Act in Thailand. Hosts are encouraged to voice out their concerns and advocate for a fairer Hotel Act 31 March 2024.

I wouldn't read too much into it. VA's entire fleet is based on the 737 (post administration) and it would take a quantum leap at a time when they are still consolidating to swap over. They'd be on the short-list for one of the least likely carriers to switch manufacturers. Other airlines? Who knows? How quickly they can get delivery for a new order also matters.

I remember reading somewhere that even if Boeing suddenly ceased production or went out of business (unlikely), then Airbus is in no position to ramp up production to meet the shortfall anytime soon. Personally, I think that Boeing might be a prime target for takeover (hostile or otherwise) given the value of it's other businesses - especially military. Maybe the previous joint ventures with Embraer could be rejigged - if they can raise capital and/or finance and overcome their own issues. Maybe a syndicate? But one entity that is out of the running would be Comac. Congress would never allow it, especially as they are currently shooing off other Chinese entities such as Tiktok and some infamously opportunistic & nationalistic Presidential candidate is watching in the wings.

Thanks for sharing that. Looking at the overall sequence of events, it seems there might have been some real victimisation happening (by Boeing directed to their employee). If nothing else, here is an exemplary long-term staff member that suddenly took a nosedive in (internal) ratings. So something changed. I do however agree that this is a historical HR issue, not "directly" linked to Boeing's other current issues. If Boeing is going to get out of this mess of its own making and doesn't address their culture of fear first, then it will all be a waste of time & investor's money.

If you're planning well in advance, then I would arrange take the path of least resistance and arrange for the visa prior to departure in Australia. It saves you time (visa extension in TH), risk and probably a few $. Watch the dates though as the Visa has limited validity before you need to start the trip.