Riley'sLife

Waste of money. Thais don't do the diamond engagement ring thing. When in Rome.........

Seriously, it won't be as much appreciated as some (crap looking) Thai Gold.

So why don't you?

Visit Dtac office and speak to the lovely English speaking girl. Easy!

They are referring to teachers of Thai Nationality under contract of employment directly with the Government schools, and where the salaries are paid by the school - as opposed to other teachers of Thai Nationality employed under the regulations of the Office of the Teacher Civil Service and Educational Personnel Commission where the salaries are paid from the budget of the Ministry of Education.

A similar situation exists within the Thai Health sector, where some staff are considered to be civil servants while others doing similar, and sometimes identical tasks are employed under contract directly with the hospital.

A monstrous injustice which, IMHO, only serves to further increase the social divide. Civil servants here seem to see their role as being that of hiso, educated elite rather than true servants of the Thai people as a whole.

I lost the front plate on my 4x4 while fording rivers on an off-road trip about 7 years ago. I went to the nearest police station once back on normal roads and made a report. I subsequently drove the car for about 2 years and 30,000+Kms without the front plate, both in Bkk and up-country, through police checks etc...never had a problem. Even was stopped by police a few times - they trying so hard for their tea money making up non-existent offences like "no turn right here"..etc especially in Bkk - but they never even thought it was unusual to NOT have the front plate.

Also on a new Vigo, the local Toyota dealer had used all their red plates and that was used without any plates for maybe 6 months all over Thailand. Never a problem.

If the condo layout will allow it, I would use less costly natural cross-ventilation, perhaps aided by portable fans timed to operate for 30 minutes at 7pm and again at 7am to utilise the cooler air and ventilate the living space. You'll need to have the fans arranged correctly for both ingress and egress of the air, and of course have widows or other vents open. Keep all doors open - including wardrobes - to allow the air to circulate. Far cheaper than aircon, but only if your condo layout and security concerns don't over-rule the idea.

How does having a Pacific coastline or not have any bearing on participants in the A.S.E.A.N. - U.S. Leaders' Meeting?

...and since when did Canada, Mexico, Chile, Peru, and Russia form part of either ASEAN or the US?

I've got loads.....how much are you paying?

Without exception every one of my very wealthy friends would all say that they are not wealthy, but, then immediately follow that up by telling me of someone that is really wealthy.

This just goes to show that wealth is a concept that can only be judged subjectively. Chasing wealth is futile as most never realise when they have achieved it.

Attaining happiness, now that is a goal worth the effort. .....and the first step is to never compare your life with that of others.

80 baht transparent plastic one (- I removed the blue LED as unnecessary) plugs into USB. Made in China, bought from Amorn Electronics. Used for 3 years, no issues. If it melts today, it's still been good value.

Yep, so true. I'm nursing a series of cuts bruises and gravel rash right now from my stupid use of front brake on a corner yesterday. In my village a woman in a car came around a corner on my side of the road leaving me nowhere to go other than brake hard all on a corner with wet sand and gravel on the road. Fortunately all slow speed stuff, but even that caused my hip, elbow and shoulder to swell up. Too easy to get injuries.

Did she stop?

Or give the buffalo-stare ahead, avoiding any acknowledgement of the effect her idiotic behaviour is having on others?

She had no option other than stop (or drive her car over me) as I fell off by braking using too much front brake on a left hand blind bend and my bike slid infront of her. No impact. She craftily reversed her car into a better position on the road as I was picking up the bike. It was outside one of the village shops though and many people saw it happen. I was thankful that everyone berated her too for driving too fast and cutting the corner.

Love your "buffalo stare" analogy,,,had that experience so many times.

Do 3 wheel bikes with 2 wheels up front provide any additional safety? Like the Piaggio MP3 etc

If I was buying new I think the most important safety feature would be combi-brakes.

Yep, so true. I'm nursing a series of cuts bruises and gravel rash right now from my stupid use of front brake on a corner yesterday. In my village a woman in a car came around a corner on my side of the road leaving me nowhere to go other than brake hard all on a corner with wet sand and gravel on the road. Fortunately all slow speed stuff, but even that caused my hip, elbow and shoulder to swell up. Too easy to get injuries. I'm wondering what age I should attain before giving up the bike!

Sometimes though it's easier and more pleasant to potter on the bike rather than get the car out.

Maybe you didn't manage to convey to your gf exactly what you want to see. The festival takes place anywhere there is water. In Pattaya that means the beach, in Bangkok it could be any klong or the Chao Prya river, in many towns it's the local lake or the largest klong.

It is a current, contemporary ceremony in which almost all Thais participate . Any involvement with Traditional Dress will not be the "genuine" article but will be a staged event for the benefit of some group of dignitaries or for tourists. If that's what you want then head for the river, maybe at the north-western end of Khao san road..keep going to the river.

In catholic countries the church which is aligned with the State, has methods of entertaining the masses (religious festivals) and retaining their adherence to the faith which keeps the minds of the general populace focused upon retarded trivia, rather than critical thought.

Here, the power base has the same motive, but uses a different faith's festivals and fills the gaps with television as the retarded trivia. All very sad in my view.

My wife, a highly educated and well traveled, intelligent lady with her own views constantly amazes me by watching her TV "series", as she calls them. The mixture of Shakespearean asides employed along with pantomimic over-acting and make-up, and childish sound effects makes me cringe.

Often if I am working on my laptop and some idiotic scene catches my eye, I glance at my wife- and in my mind I think our eyes will meet and we will give each other a knowing nod and a smile, you know the one that says "yeah" to each other. Ha, it never happens. She is transfixed and is "living" the action on the TV, her face expresses emotions which mirror the TV action. She is lost to me!! I tease her about this, which she takes in good humour, but it is the one area of our life together where we are, in fact, apart.

I don't seem to be having the same experience as you. I find it easy to put up and down with the help of my wife it's especially quick. I don't find I have to climb into the pick-up deck to attach the bracing poles and it's all a 30 second job for 2 people.

I've had mine on one of the vehicles for years. Before I bought it I thoroughly researched the competition. I have had to have it re-aligned once, and the rubber seal replaced in the leading edge and one spring replaced.... total cost less than 400 baht, The paint finish on mine was poorly done and I have been promising myself I'd get it re-sprayed but never got around to having the work done.

I would not have a pick up without a Top Up as the benefits of keeping stuff dry, and security of goods being carried, especially if making numerous stops at suppliers where the vehicle is un-attended far outweigh any possible negative.

If you fail to secure the stabilising poles with the lid fully up for travel, the top may require re-alignment, or if you travel at speed it could damage the joint between the metal and fibreglass shell.

The only negative I find is that it restricts the height of what can be carried.

I would first try a small area scrubbed with bleach -wear gloves and goggles- as that is the cheapest. But, look out for the bleach staining it pink.

If that works, or if you try the helpful suggestions others have given, I would- once it is clean- apply 2 or 3 coats of PVA (Polyvinylacetate) as the stain is a mold which will find a porous surface easy to re-inhabit. PVA will seal the surface without leaving a sheen and would make it easy to clean again if necessary.

PVA is a white liquid which can be diluted with water up to 1:1 ratio. clean brushes with water.

Good luck!

As a guide the volume s/h dealers usually look for 20,000 to 30,000 profit on each vehicle they sell. As Soundman has already stated, the discount you will get will be less on popular low km, one owner, vehicles with f.s.h., and anything you show you are very keen to buy!

Beware that clocking is normal, as is replacing parts with inferior and cheaper origin. Only buy from a tent if you have a good working knowledge as there are more unscrupulous dealers than honest ones. Even buying late model repossessions direct from the Finance Co is not always what it seems. Many borrowers strip parts from the vehicles before they are repossessed. My wife's cousin's car was total'd at just 60kms and rebuilt. It will be sold soon but there will be no way for the buyer to know its history. S/h cars are a huge risk here for the buyer.

All considered, it's wise to buy direct from someone you know and trust and that has looked after their car well, or buy new. If you still want to buy s/h try to take someone with you who knows both about vehicles, and the tricks dealers get up to - worth a couple of thousand baht to do.

Hope that helps a bit, and isn't too negative. Whatever you decide I hope you enjoy your new ride, and keep safe!!

I haven't used public transport in Bkk for a few years, but, when I did, several times I would see older teenagers and young adults give up their seats for younger children. One day I remember on a crowded aircon bus my wife actually gave up her seat to a 9yr old girl! My wife was in her late twenties at the time.

I was surprised and afterwards asked why. She said that many Thai people think that children aren't as strong as adults and adults should help them whenever they can.

Her loving and caring character is very endearing and I wouldn't want to alter any aspect of her, but I did mention that in my culture kids need to be trained to be strong and independent, and that I would willingly offer my seat to a pregnant woman, or a woman with a small infant, anyone with a disability, or an elderly or infirm adult but never to a child.

Nothing like this is a real issue for me but I do find the cultural nuances quite fascinating.

Contrary to popular belief by many expats, Thailand doesn't actually need your presence for the country to prosper.

Based on these GDP stats I would say it may not need it but it would certainly slow it down.

Source - WTTC (pdf)

A good point, BUT...unfortunately your GDP stats make reference to Tourism, not contribution to GDP by expats.

No definition of “Expat” that I am aware of would encompass tourists. To be an expat there must be an element of living/residential status that I am certain the majority included in the GDP figures would not represent. The OP is complaining of his treatment as an expat, not as a tourist (notwithstanding the fact that he appears to be bending the immigration rules by doing visa-runs to top up his tourist visa status!! ..a point which I find ironic as well as amusing).

The wider point I am making is that too many expats seem to believe that Thailand “owes” them something by virtue of their very presence here. We expats are not essential for the country to prosper.

Why bother with one of the Private hospitals when you could use the facilities of a Thai Government hospital if you are concerned at the high cost. Many Specialists in the Private hospitals only work there part-time, having their main job at a Govt. hospital. You will find the costs to be a fraction of the cost of a Private hospital, although you may have to wait around for a while to see the Specialist after first being seen by a GP.

I remember the first time I used a urinal in Thailand when two Thai men came in and stood one on each side of me. They both undid their belted trousers and dropped their trousers almost to their knees - I wondered what was about to happen!

I finished peeing first and went to wash my hands, next they each appeared one on each side and both started washing their faces and necks splashing water everywhere and hawking and spitting into the handbasin. My immaculate linen trousers were covered in water and I returned to the bar looking like I'd pee'd my pants.

Why do they drop their trousers to pee? -it's often older guys.

Can't you arrange your life and your body clock so that you are able to have a crap in the comfort and convenience of your own living space?

I have been travelling the world for more than 25 years and have never used a public toilet for a dump even once, and perhaps only a couple of times in my whole life.

Being organised in your life takes even less effort than writing a rant on a forum!!

so you clock your bowel movements. how to you do that?

are you so regular that you can make travel arrangements based on a set schedule?

are you taking a supplement like metamucil?

Can't you arrange your life and your body clock so that you are able to have a crap in the comfort and convenience of your own living space?

I have been travelling the world for more than 25 years and have never used a public toilet for a dump even once, and perhaps only a couple of times in my whole life.

Being organised in your life takes even less effort than writing a rant on a forum!!

so you clock your bowel movements. how to you do that?

are you so regular that you can make travel arrangements based on a set schedule?

are you taking a supplement like metamucil?

I have never understood why anyone would, from choice, use a public toilet for a crap.

My brain has a permanent arrangement with my bowels in that they are subservient to my brain. It is simply a matter of training and discipline. It’s all about mind over matter!!! While it is true that diet and metabolic rate can have an effect on digestion, neither dictate when a bowel movement will occur. My brain is in charge of that decision.

Other than fish oil, I don’t require any supplements as my food intake is adequate. I don’t clock my bowel movements. I am as regular or irregular as I decide is necessary. I am in control. My brain decides what travel arrangements are convenient and then I have this ability to co-ordinate my life - in all its aspects - to accommodate the said arrangements. Everyone has this ability…. It’s called, being organized.

Every major hospital in Thailand will have a Genito-Urinary Department. Take your pick!