Cyclist

I've done it a few times, a lot depends on size of the cargo area in the bus. When buying the ticket just tell them you have a bike and if they will tell you if it'll fit or not. The cost it usually 100 baht.

There's secure parking at the border that costs 50 baht a day, I've parked my bike there many times without problems. If your worried about doing that just spend the night at a foreign friendly guesthouse and and ask it you can leave the bike there while you're in Laos, most will let you.

A good route to take would be Chiang Mai, Lampang, Wang Chin, Sri Satchanalai, Uttaradit, Nakorn Thai, Dan Sai, Loei, Chiang Khan, and follow the river to Nong Khai. Enjoy.

Thanks for the replies so far. Yes realize that some pre-travel arrangements might need to be taken care of and thus I'm starting my research here. I'm driving my own (fully paid for) vehicle which is a new Hyundia H1 van w/two wheel drive in case anyone has advice about road conditions. Naboo what is the DLT?

You can cross all 3 border crossing mentioned above as long as the vehicle is in your name and proper paperwork done before hand.

The roads are in excellant condition except for the 80km section between Pak Mong and Oudomxay. That section is in shocking condition.

1. The village of Bang Beut on the southern east coast

2. Ao Kanom which is south of Surat Thani

3. Chiang Khan 10 years ago. Now over run with Bangkokians.

What's Special about Bang Beut and where is that ?

Thanks

It's a small village on a beautiful bay south of Lang Suan. There's a couple small resorts that have great seafood and both times I've been there I didn't see any other tourists.

1. The village of Bang Beut on the southern east coast

2. Ao Kanom which is south of Surat Thani

3. Chiang Khan 10 years ago. Now over run with Bangkokians.

You might think that some of the dams planned would have hydro-generation included to produce the cleanest and "greenest" power available, pleasing the Stop Global Warming Association.

OTOH their name could be a facade, like "Mum and Apple Pie", to conceal a pack of ill-informed do-gooders.

Dams aren't really clean and green since they tend to produce a lot of methane which is more harmful the co2 gasses.

Payap is the best but I don't think they do ED visas, at least they wouldn't for a friend of mine. It's expensive though, 8000 baht per term. I've heard good things about Pro Language on Nimmanhemin Rd. You can google them, they have a website. I've had other friends that have gone to Whalen and none of them can carry on even the most basic conversation in Thai.

You might want to check out gt-rider.com. I believe they have a forum and have many members in Chiang Mai area.

This lot need to face reality, the rice is too expensive and no one is buying it!

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I'm here right now in Vietnam.

There was commentary in English on a Vietnamese news show I was watching last week.

It seems the rice farmers in Vietnam have had good years the last 3 years or so.

This year 2013 should continue that trend.

The sales of Vietnamese rice is booming .... high demand.

They can offer a better price than their competition now for the same quality of rice.

As the commentator specifically said, "because we now no longer have any realistic competition for rice sales from Thailand in particular."

I'm sure the Vietnamese rice farmers would like to thank the Thai government personally for that.

This lot need to face reality, the rice is too expensive and no one is buying it!

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I'm here right now in Vietnam.

There was commentary in English on a Vietnamese news show I was watching last week.

It seems the rice farmers in Vietnam have had good years the last 3 years or so.

This year 2013 should continue that trend.

The sales of Vietnamese rice is booming .... high demand.

They can offer a better price than their competition now for the same quality of rice.

As the commentator specifically said, "because we now no longer have any realistic competition for rice sales from Thailand in particular."

I'm sure the Vietnamese rice farmers would like to thank the Thai government personally for that.

Just curious but is the Vietnamese farmer gaining or is it the middlemen that are gaining?

By the way, I read in another paper that the farmers here would be happy to accept the 12,000 baht but since they never got the actual 15,000 baht they don't expect to get the 12,000 baht.

A lot of cynicism here, I've been riding my bike all over Thailand and it's neighboring countries for almost a decade now and have never had a problem. I've treated with more respect from car drivers while on my bicycle than I am while on my motorcycle.

Sounds like some members should give it a try before denouncing what you don't know about.

I am not sure to understand how GPS works on smartphone. Do you need internet in order to use it ? Even if you have 3g, I guess you will be ofen lost in some area where internet is not avaible...

If using google maps you need internet connection. I downloaded both the Garmin and TomTom app for my iPhone and once downloaded no internet connection is required.

I mostly use them for getting in and out of unfamiliar cities.

thanks for the tips.

I just ended up getting oem pads, the last pads were for the ABS model now that i think about it, i remember asking if they were abs or non abs. He told me they were abs and i said screw it i'll take them .... (bike is non abs)

Im not 100% certain if abs and non abs pads are the same part numbers, but these new pads are non abs for sure and they feel grippier than the previous pads and can see copper strands in them, they also feel like they have more rolling friction and feel slower than previous pads.

So i think it may be possible to get a little quicker by using the abs pads on non abs bikes at the expense of shorter pad life and slightly less stopping power

Or i might just be imagining it, wont know for sure until i know the part numbers.

Cost in CNX was 409 baht at Sangchai Honda...over at Niyom Panich cost is 500+ baht (last set)

Here's a downloadable parts manual for the CBR

http://tyga-performance.com/cbr250r/CBR250RB%20PARTS%20MANUAL.pdf

Try here.

http://tyga-performance.com/th/index.php?cPath=71_855

I know a few people with a Lao business visa, they obtained it in country. Seems like your school should advise though.

Is it OK to ask for a little bit of help here plse. I am not a native english speaker, so som clraification would be great.

By this talk of letters and validation. Does that mean what the americans bring to their embassy in order to have a certificate of their income???

This has nothing to do with the immigration in Thailand I presume? I mean a special law for only americans. This must be something internal for americans with their own embassy?

I would be happy if somebody could help clarify for a "falang"....

Glegolo

The United States is the only country that Thailand accepts an affidavit of monthly income for expats living here. While expats from other countries my show proof of 800,000 baht in a Thai bank account. This change does not affect anyone that is not USA Nationality. Meaning, I can go to the US Embassy, with the appropriate affidavit form and just state that I receive $$$$$$ amount of money, swear to it and it is notarized by a consoler there, with no proof of 800,000bt in a Thai bank account. This is done by a treaty signed by Thailand and the United States of America.

I'm pretty sure you're wrong about that, I know people from many other countries that do the same thing. The only difference is most embassies want to see proof, the US embassies take your word for it.

Just curious if anybody knows, as I live in Nong Khai is it possible to get the embassy in Lao to verify my income? If so do I need a change the header on the form to read US embassy Lao? Thanks.

Like like like like hope it goes in freefall bigtime

That would be great. Not just for me and you, but for the tourism as well.

A strong baht only scares people away.

Yup, looking forward to watching the petrol prices rise asap. This is a double edged sword for Thailand.

That would be great, less cars on the roads.

Now, if someone can figure out (and they will) how to produce hydrogen cheaply and in volume, this will be the future. The real breakthrough will come when the car can produce it and not need fuel.

I think the air is two parts hydrogen - H₂0. So it's abundant and cheap. What's not cheap is separating it. Someone will come up with a breakthrough and there's our fuel with only water vapor for exhaust.

Stay on it, guys.

But does absolutely nothing to relieve congestion on the roads.

There is one on the 3rd floor of Kad Suan Keaw. I've had good luck with them.

ATM's in Lao only give lao kip. If you want US$ you get do a cash advance at the window of most banks.

Is a bicycle path network something that the indigenous population of Chiang Mai is crying out for? If so I dare say they'll sort it out to suit themselves. If it's yet another attempt by immigrants to mould CM to resemble their old home town then...

Probably, it's the locals in BKK that are pushing for bike lane there. Contrary to what a lot of TV posters are saying there are a lot of Thais cycling and there are a number of good quality bike shops in CM. but yes, I think it would have to be pushed by the locals.

Personally I like the way the baht is. if it gets any weaker it brings in more riff raff. If it gets any stronger I become the riff raff.