andrewrooney

l say pick your battles. If she wants to iron your underwear, let her.

This might be kind of nitpicky but who at Khaosod decided that pad grapow is the same as fried rice?

Do what most of my Thai friends are doing:

Switch to ya dong!

I did them both on the same day back in March. I extended the visa in the morning, then went to renew the work permit afterwards.

I don't know if it's required to do it in that order or not, but that's what they told me at work so that's how I did it.

iPhones and Furbies.

Any word on pricing?

Not sure about the official amount, but a Thai buddy of mine once told me he had been stopped and had paid 2,000.

He was in a car, not a bike, but I imagine it's the same.

I was well aware that foreigners get ripped off and taken advantage of in Phuket, but I didn't know they were being rounded up and sent to death camps. Thanks for the heads up, OP.

If you don't want anything made in China, you probably shouldn't be looking to buy an Apple...

It really depends on the restaurant. Some places will use MSG, while some places only use fish sauce. Best just to ask.

I helped my girlfriend's dad catch one of these once. Not too difficult with two people; one guy knocks it off the wall with a broomstick, the other guy catches it in a bag or pillowcase or whatever.

He was planning to keep it for awhile, fatten it up and sell it. Evidently if you can get one nice and big it can fetch quite a bit of money (one of those Chinese 'make you strong' deals). Never got the chance, the MIL felt sorry for the poor thing and let it go.

The Villa Market on Ramkamhaeng has California cheese that is priced cheaper than the local stuff. Only a bit over 100 baht for 200 grams. The mozzarella is pretty bland but the pepper jack and the sharp cheddar are good.

Not a bad start, Darren, but if you're really trying to save cash why not use the Mama in the regular pack instead of the cup? That way you can come in at under 10 baht! Truly the meal of choice for the Hiso Chinese Prince on a budget!

So... what are the other 21 provinces?

Found this on Facebook today regarding the new Suzuki bikes:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151955022486414&set=a.181262441413.152758.177246421413&type=1&theater

There's some kind of Big Bike event happening at the Promenade Ram Intra.

The picture says 13-25 October, but in the comments they state that the picture is incorrect and the event is taking place 13-25 September

They say they will introduce 3 bikes at the event: the Hayabusa, the GSX-R1000, and a third bike to be announced.

There will be special promotions for people making reservations at the event, although no further details are given.

Any bets on what the third bike will be?

Perhaps the Inazuma or the Gladius? it would seem weird to introduce the Van Van at a "Big Bike event," but who knows...

---------

*edit*

Checked the Promenade's webpage, found this:

Looks like 13-25 September is in fact the correct date, and there will be other manufacturers there as well.

This is a typical example of the cultural gap between the West and East. In the West we look at screwing someone over as being fundamentally wrong. In the East - Thailand screwing others over for money is acceptable. Money is the priority without exception. Bargirls have no problem grassing their mates up to customers if they think they can make some money. It's not rocket science, Thai's will do anything for money and nothing is ever as it seems. Imagine the lying and deceit in an Issan household. It's alien to westerners but standard for Thai's. We should only judge when it impacts majorly on our lives. The trick is never letting it get that far, no matter how attractive the bait.

So you're judging the entire country just based on bar girls?

I have used the English to Thai Google translate when I was writing email letters to ThaiLoveLinks ladies.

Not bad, very usable and, fortunately, I read Thai so I was able to correct the meaning/words mistakes before emailing them.

A couple days ago I translated a UK mailonline article in French to email to a French friend.

It came out mostly intelligible but not very good.

I don't know what sort of Ubon Isaan Thai my present Pattaya TGF uses when not with me but I often can't make sense of what she writes on her facebook and neither can Google translate !!

Here is one of her fb postings today in "Thai" (?) :

อีควายมึงจะคุยหาพ่อหาแม่มึงอะไรนักหนากูจะนอนอีสัสมึงรู้จักปะความเกรงใจปะอีเหี้ย

and here is what Google translate gives me :

Easy to talk to his mother buffalo U U E week's What's So I'm going to bed as the cover art, e dam_n rude.

I hope that wasn't directed at you!

It's not really Isan, pretty much everything there is Central Thai... it's just way too rude for google!

I'm guilty of doing this now and again, but I usually go pretty slow when I do.

I think Mr. possum 1931 is out there, waiting for you...

I'll keep an eye out!

I don't think it was me, though, I'm in Bang Kapi and I haven't run down any other farangs lately.

I'm guilty of doing this now and again, but I usually go pretty slow when I do.

talking about emission test, last week have encountered a bid police stop in Ratchaphruek Road in Bangkok and there were guys with a hose connected to a computerized machine inspecting some cars, trucks and bikes for emissions. God knows how much you have to cough to police.

They did not stop me but seen it first time in Thailand, what i can see they are getting more imaginative to get money!

just beware guys!

Guess I'd better be careful with that old Kawasaki then... that thing smokes so much my girlfriend started calling it the "rot gai yang..."

Semi-related so I thought I'd ask here:

What exactly does the "inspection" entail? Is it an emissions test or do they just look the bike over and say, "yep, it's safe to drive!" end of story?

I ask because I've got an old Kawasaki KR150 that the registration has lapsed on. I have the green book, a signed copy of the original owner's ID card and a couple other signed forms, but tax hasn't been paid in 6 or 7 years so I'm wondering how big a headache it would be to get it legal again.