pastafarian

Looks wise I'd go for the HRV over the Ecosport or Juke but will do a bit more research before deciding.

Bought three new cars in Thailand, of course it is nice to get a new car but next one will be 1-2yr old used car so someone else can take the hit.

Met some Thai friends from Chiang Mai there recently one evening at the on-site bar. A couple of sofas with girls to choose from and more arrived soon after. A very nasty looking 'pimp' arrived in a minivan and unloaded them, mainly hill-tribe by the language being spoken and not at all happy to be there. The drunk Thai guys were very happy though. Made my excuses and left.

I've also used wemoto, similar story as very quick and usually no import tax.

Last pads were from a Ducati dealer in Yorkshire, Ducati Chiang Mai quoted 2500baht per pair for stock Brembo pads but the HH pads I ordered were 750baht per pair as VAT free and only 10quid shipping. Paid 2000baht in total for two pairs, same from Ducati would have been 5000baht but an inferior pad!

Bought an LG G3 a few weeks ago and very impressed initially, still am when it works properly but having some issues which, after a quick google search, others worldwide are too.

The phone sometimes shuts down by itself.

Sometimes when I turn on the camera I just get a blank screen, same for when I try to access my pictures. Made a video recently and during recording it often froze for 2-3 seconds.

When I open youtube the screen often freezes.

When using the internet the page often closes by itself.

I've had two software updates since buying it and currently it is V10g-ESA-XX which, when I check for software updates, is the latest version although other markets are on V10h and V10i.

Spoke to LG who suggested driving 400kms to a service centre as I need it every day so can't send it to them for who knows how many weeks while they fix it.

Anyone else having similar problems?

Yes and yes. Can't believe you even asked if it helps!

Spoke to CAT and they said it needs have WCDMA 850 connection which it does so they said to go in and they'll see what's what.

Replaced my S3 with a G3 but for some reason the new phone can't connect to 3G.

My Samsung connected fine but when I put the sim card in the LG it doesn't connect. I searched for networks and chose mine (CAT/MY) but still nothing!

Any ideas?

Thanks

For a word to be used solely based on the colour of the person's skin in 2014 is wrong, of course all the Thai apologists will say there is nothing wrong with it though.

All caucasians are referred to as Farang despite their being a more polite description which is something about a person from a different flag.

I've sat in hospitals and government offices before listening to the Thai people being called by their name Khun Porawit, Khun Apichat, Khun Patree etc etc then when it is my turn I hear Khun Farang even though they have my name on the documents and it isn't hard to pronounce.

Most societies that used to use names for people based solely on skin colour such as Paki, Chink, <deleted> and the dreaded N word no longer consider it acceptable yet here in Thailand it is still accepted by the locals and even the people being called it. It doesn't matter that it usually isn't used negatively.

But after a fair few years here I know it won't change so just try and ignore it. So to answer the OP's question, I don't like it but don't react to it either.

I note the model in Thailand is the 2gb ram/16gb rom version. has anyone seen the high spec 3gb/32gb? I mean if you are going to spend that sort of money on a phone, you may as well get the best.

Just bought a 3GB Ram/32GB G3 from MBK for 18,800 baht :-)
 

Do yourself a favour, buy from here.

https://www.facebook.com/rolexthai?fref=ts

Thai students in Thailand start their degree (at Technical Colleges) at 16 too.

It's a longer, more hands on program, than the average 4 yr degree started at 18.

No they don't, they can do a pre-degree course at a vocational or commercial school at 16 but the actual degree doesn't start until at university at 18+yrs of age and is normal length. This is different to the Philippines where students would graduate high school at 16 and then start their university degree the same year.

Most of the Filipinos earn more than the Thai teachers, IIRC

As they should. They speak good English and have degrees.

Some speak good English with little accent while many speak OK English with a very strong accent. And worth noting that up until very recently the university starting age in the Philippines was 16, 2yrs earlier than most other countries so they have 2yrs less education than someone that has a degree from the UK, America, Australia, Canada etc and surely the degree isn't to the same standard if 16yr olds are studying for it!

" ...surely the degree isn't to the same standard if 16yr olds are studying for it!"

Surely not. The piece of paper they have is definitely no guarantee of anything. I wouldn't dare to compare a degree from a university in the Philippines to a degree from the UK, America, Australia, Canada etc.

However, at least it's a degree and in most cases better than nothing.

I wasn't aware that in the Philippines the kids could start university at age 16. Thanks for that.

I think it changed to 18 last year so all Filipinos currently working in Thailand would have studied at university from 16-19/20 instead of the usual 18-21/22. Those extra 2yrs make a big difference!

With the Thai made BMW F800GS about to be sold here for circa 480K I'd go for that, different bike but just as good and probably more suited to Thailand.

Most of the Filipinos earn more than the Thai teachers, IIRC

As they should. They speak good English and have degrees.

Some speak good English with little accent while many speak OK English with a very strong accent. And worth noting that up until very recently the university starting age in the Philippines was 16, 2yrs earlier than most other countries so they have 2yrs less education than someone that has a degree from the UK, America, Australia, Canada etc and surely the degree isn't to the same standard if 16yr olds are studying for it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXRO1YFreNA

I agree with the late, great Carl Sagan.

http://www.popsci.com/article/science/how-carl-sagan-described-death-his-young-daughter

Just to clarify.

No, I don't enjoy or regularly bitch about the country that is hosting me but at the same time I don't feel we have to agree with everything that goes on here and not question anything that affects us or our families. I'm very happy living here and have been for many years, a trial move away last year didn't work out as we realised we'd generally be happier in Thailand so came back but I care about my daughter and feel that the 12-15hrs wasted every week for 2-3 yrs could be used more wisely.

I'm well aware kids need afternoon naps but not right up to the age of six, most have stopped their afternoon nap by around 4yrs old which is why I'm questioning the need to have a sleep/rest period of almost 3hrs every afternoon which is what they do in every kindergarten school where I live, not just KG1 but also KG2 & KG3.

So to reiterate, I know young kids need afternoon naps/rest time but they don't up to the age of six and definitely not for almost 3hrs every afternoon. It would be nice if people read the original post propery before commenting and also be sure that what they are saying is correct.

Not surprisingly those that enjoy having a dig at Thais have turned up, as have those that like to accuse every OP of being anti-Thai regardless of what they actually wrote. For those that have said kindergarten children in the west also have afternoon naps you obviously didn't read my original post. My daughter attended a kindergarten in Belgium last year and all kids were awake all day, no afternoon naps were forced on them, if the parents wanted to take them home at lunchtime they could.

Most nursery schools worldwide (2-4yrs old) allow kids an afternoon nap but not at kindergarten which is 4-6 years old and most kids of this age have stopped having an afternoon nap. It is a waste of about two and a half hours every day, that is over 12hrs a week wasted as only about 3-4 kids actually do sleep, the rest just lie there rolling around or kicking their legs in the air...for over two hours! They could be learning or doing other activities in that time. My own mother used to work in a kindergarten over 10yrs ago in the UK and I've also checked with her, only those in nursery would have a nap back then, not those in KG1-3 which is what they still do here.

http://issuu.com/benjaminlindley/docs/pb_march_month_in_bikes

Some info in that link re the new R1. Another option would be the CBR1000RR which is about 640k, plenty left to pimp it out if your budget is 799K although it doesn't have the looks of the R1!

I would not necessarily hold the TCT responsible for a school making poor choices in who is hired.

I have a couple of young, inexperienced teachers as well, but with a little bit of guidance and help they are headed in the right direction. Turning them loose on the students without some supervisory oversight would have been a disaster waiting to happen.

But that is my point Scott. In many places in Thailand, especially up-country where we are, there aren't that many suitable native English speakers applying for jobs so schools often have to hire unsuitable applicants while releasing perfectly competent and experienced teachers because the TCT won't approve them. There are a number of schools here still without foreign teachers even though the new term started over a month ago.

On this subject it is worth mentioning what happened at my neighbour's kid's school.

Two teachers that worked there for a number of years, very competent from what he said and well liked by the kids, recently had to leave as weren't approved for another waiver letter from the TCT. Their replacements are a couple of young American kids travelling the world after recently graduating from university, they plan to teach for 1yr only then move on. According to his kid they are useless, the girl has ended up crying in some classes as can't control the students and the guy just shouts at them. No teaching experience, no work/life experience but the TCT are happy for them to teach Thai students instead of experienced, competent people with years of work experience, one ran his own furniture company and the was a manager at BT.

Really is a sorry state of affairs when this is what is happening, doesn't benefit the Thai youth at all by enforcing this rule as hundreds, probably thousands, of experienced and competent teachers are having to stop and being replaced by kids with no abilityor desire to teach. Hiring backpackers also prevents the continuity that a student/teacher relationship requires.

I've been reading up about Pirelli Angel GT's. Thinking of fitting them to my Triumph Thruxton. Anyone with experience with them?

I have the Angels on my CB500F.

Great tires for everyday use and touring, nice grip, sticky in the corners.

Did 10K km now and they can do with a replacement.

Not bad value for the price.

I think I paid around 11K baht for the set at Showpow.

You sure they aren't the previous Angel ST tyres as the Angel GT have only been available here a few months?

I bought an integrated brake/signal LED light from customled in America for my Ducati, can program a variety of options including the flashing when braking.

They make for a few different bikes including the Ninja 300 here