judokrab

He also urged passengers to avoid using the services of cabs equipped with smaller sized wheels...

Are we now supposed to check whether taxis have 15" or 12" radials? Are the meters "set" for a certain radius of tire? Do smaller wheels have to rotate more thus clocking the meter at a higher rate? Lots of unanswered Qs!

Free answers! First, yes altering the wheel diameter to smaller would alter the gear ratio for the speedometer/odometer (and hence the fare meter) because the smaller wheel has to rotate more often to cover a set distance.

For standard 15" wheels fitted with 195/70 tyres, dropping to 195/60 would reduce the diameter 195mm x 10% (change in tyre aspect ratio) x 2 = 39mm. Wheel and tyre diameter = 381mm (15") + (195 x 0.7) x 2 = 654mm so percentage change = 39/654 = 6%

A narrower tyre on the same rim would have a larger effect, but for something a bit more radical, lets assume the cab is retro-fitted with 14" wheels and narrower tyres, say 175/60. The diameter becomes 356mm + (175 x 0.60) x 2 = 356 + 210 = 566 and the percentage change (654 - 566) / 654 = 13.5%

Well, it's actually the circumference © that is relevant for road distance - not the diameter (D).

(But as C = π * D, there is a constant relationship between C and D, so the percentage differences are the same.)

Crackdown of the week becomes the joke of the week, Thailand has as much control over the taxis as it does over the police....and we all know how that goes.

What about taxis being driven by off-duty policemen?

Had them too. No meter. The old "pay me whatever you like" trick.

slampolee wrote: "who is going to pay and who pays the V.A.T. the co-operative that rents the taxi out to the drivers or the drivers themselves"

UbonOz wrote: "It is the customer that pays the VAT not the supplier"

That is not how VAT works. Each supplier pays VAT to their upline supplier all the way back up the chain. But if they are registered for VAT they can claim it back. So pretty much everyone gets to claim it back, apart from any final customer who is not a business registered for VAT.

So, the owner who rents the taxi out must charge the driver VAT on the rental. But the co-op gets to claim back any VAT they paid on mechanical reapirs, for example. The taxi driver will charge VAT on top of the fares he charges, and it is the taxi driver (the supplier) who 'pays' the VAT, to the government - but he gets to claim back the VAT he was charged on the rental and on his fuel. If the person who pays the taxi fare is a business person registered for VAT, then they can claim back the VAT they paid on the fare.

A tax that is only paid by the final customer is called a sales tax, not a value added tax.

Dr Soontaracharn is very nice, quietly-spoken guy, and a fantastic dentist. He and his staff speak good English. He was recommended highly to me, and I have used his services. In the middle of the old city.

Dr Suttipong Soontaracharn

Phone: 053 416 328

11/3-4 Jaban Rd (behind Three KIngs Monument)

T. Sripoon, Muang Chiang Mai 50200

Email: [email protected]

Open Mon-Sat 9am - 8pm

GPS: 18.78977, 98.98577

Re: "Paying 4 thai workers peanuts for helping out with something couldnt cost that much, especially if your targeting russian money. "

Actually, I understand that they will accept phantom employees - you are only required to make their employee social security payments, not pay a working salary.

Anyone else noticed the large amounts of foreigners working at one particular stand in several Bangkok malls?

Yes, I saw them last year. Plus a lot of African prostitutes working Sukhumvit Rd, ignored by the nearby police. I was wondering why they weren't being asked to show their "entertainers" work permit.

If you are leaving from BKK airport you can also get it there between the hours of 0600-2400.

It's now open 24 hours (according to the sign above the re-entry permit counter), but still 0600-2400 according to Chang Wattana office.

I have never tried checking in for a local flight with my driving licence and wonder if they would accept it with my photo of 40 years ago which I hardly resemble any more ( I started driving at the age of 18). The licences of those days have no expiration date.

Try it. I never take my passport when flying only within Thailand. In the US, I used my European DL and they accepted it. (The TSA officer asked, "What is this, a driver's licence?" and he was satisfied when I confirmed.) Next time, I shall try my Thai DL over there.

I, and others I know, have travelled on domestic flights in Thailand using Australian or UK drivers licences. I just showed the drivers licence and was not asked for my passport.

BTW... unlike Thailand, which requires a Thai DL or an International DL to drive there (for no more than six months, or three months for kiwis), Australia only requires (a) overseas licence, and ( a translation of that licence into English, if it is not in English. Here's the surprising bit: the translation does not have to be certified - you can do the translation yourself!

I've also checked into a Bangkok hotel with just a photocopy of the front page of my passport.

Also opened a bank account with just a copy of my passport (I may have given them a copy of the visa page too, and my Australian DL.) I did have a Thai "guarantor" which I presume made a difference, however one should not be allowed to open an account with such poor ID!

Wow, 26C is too hot? We barely run our AC units below 28 here!

Yep... I normally use 28 deg too. (I'll sometimes use 25/26 briefly if I want to cool down quickly, and then I put it back up to 28.)

They should have a campaign to encourage businesses to stay no lower than, say, 25 degrees - I hate being frozen in offices and restaurants in Thailand at the oft-used 21 degrees. And the big inside/outside temperature differentials can cause nasal problems for some people.

The requirement to have an outbound ticket is not usually enforced. It is Thai law, so the airlines are required to enforce it. On the rare occasions that they might ask, you can just show them a credit card and that is good enough. Even if you had a problem with that, as long as you checked in early enough you could simply buy a throwaway ticket (Hat Yai to KL is the cheapest) and show it to them. Then you're on your way!

Edit: re the posts about needing to "show a return ticket" - there is no such requirement... the requirement is merely to show an outbound ticket.

Hi, I am A-. I will be in Bangkok next week - will donate on Monday or Tuesday.

Called Chris, but no answer. Wife called Pilapon who said hospital only wants A neg (?!)

Yes the hospital seems to be a bit ignorant on thsi subject.Thanks for your reply , we will contact you if we need.The good news is that we all ready have 7 donors coming round tomorrow , should be enough for a week or so.Thank you so much and if we need further along the line we can contact you ?

Thanks again,

John

The hospital is ignorant on this subject? I don't think so... O negative is not truly universal - it is more complicated than that.

DB