JimsKnight

I recall the buzz and bally-ho on this 'elite' card way back.

There were some real 'heavy-weights' proclaiming that the card was going to be there ticket to a 'new' Thailand.

Don't forget this came just as the visa clampdowns occured and I think Thaksin was gambling on this factor playing into their hands on card sales.

I have to admit I felt a little bit tempted, until I saw the clunkin' chunk o' change they were after!

A bit about the journey.

Setting out was fine and traffic was light (a big plus in Ranong).

Up and into the mountain was a little tricky to get back into again, especially as you're faced with steep climbs.

No fast cars to race on this leg, just a skirmish with a silver pick-up.

The full journey took about half an hour (to the Chumpon border bridge) but I've edited it somewhat for brevity and the fact that LiveVideo and Youtube have restrictions on how long and how much you can upload to their servers.

The rest of the journey was pretty boring to say the least, although some potholes north of Chumpon nearly gave me a close encounter with the guard rail! (more on this for my next videos).

Safe riding out there folks.

Youtube video of the journey.

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The Shorter version on Youtube.

A bit about the journey.

Setting out was fine and traffic was light (a big plus in Ranong).

Up and into the mountain was a little tricky to get back into again, especially as you're faced with steep climbs.

No fast cars to race on this leg, just a skirmish with a silver pick-up.

The full journey took about half an hour (to the Chumpon border bridge) but I've edited it somewhat for brevity and the fact that LiveVideo and Youtube have restrictions on how long and how much you can upload to their servers.

The rest of the journey was pretty boring to say the least, although some potholes north of Chumpon nearly gave me a close encounter with the guard rail! (more on this for my next video).

Fair enough mate.

The Youtube versions finally grinded its way online:

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This might make your headaches go away

Has anyone considered that this might actually be a strategy? The USA uses it's political might in the middle east to buy foreign oil, then once the oil here begins to run low they start drilling for their own domestic oil giving them their own free oil but also a surplus that they can sell the now oil starved world at a premium price......

This is what I've heard a lot of folk say about other countries with oil reserves, from the UK right up to places like Iran.

It makes sense, but if a cheaper form of energy comes along the glut of existing, defunct energy infrastructure can then be seen as a missed opportunity.

Tell 'em they've got more chance of winning the thai lottery, see if that works

I stopped watching after 1 min, way to bumpy to watch for me sorry!

Sorry dude, it's a motorbike and the road out Ranong is a lumpy mess.

Hope you didn't get too dizzy and vid-sick

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8...24670&hl=en

Enjoy

Highlights from the adventure

The video quality isn't that great on this link but a Youtube version (should be ready in a few hours) will be getting fired around which will improve on it.

It's not got the heroics of the outward leg (Hua Hin to Ranong) but should prove interesting if nothing else.

Hope you enjoy it!

JK

The livestream's sporadic (or just plain broke) so this link will get you too it:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8...24670&hl=en

I'm interested and waiting hear THs theory as well. Because the commodity based system is one every country should consider if the crisis gets any worse!

Biking, diving and living the dream

This next week will be the decider methinks.

Then we'll see what tune the pipers playing!

G'day - been reading how all the folks in Chian Mai etc love the CBR and I agree it looks great. Im wondering if it is going to be a bit of a pain the in the bumper to bumper traffic as I live in downtown Bkk.

Am I better off going for a Nouvo or Air Blade for squirting through the traffic?

Cheers

Rack,

CBR 150s rock and roll in Bangkok traffic, they are light and can cut it even with the piddly scooter brigade.

Crucially they can keep pace with fast moving rush-hour traffic near the airport as well.

Here's my old CBR 150 in Bangkok traffic to reinforce my point:

Enjoy Bangkok Rack

Now I have a CBR 400 I'll be giving that a dance in Bangkok soon! Cutting through the traffic will be a blast in that too I expect.

I know all the words, but am not a Royalist so i dont and wouldnt ever sing them.

I've read the words and know the tune (UK Anthem), but the tune is quite lame compared to other nations anthems and needs a re-boot!

The US anthem sounds a lot better IMO and is probably one reason the US folk can sing it so well. It references the country and people more than the distant notion of a monarch from a by-gone age.

In the Western wold, the anti-promiscuity attitude is originated in the late 19th century and lasted till the mid 60's of the 20th century. And this was only an typical middle and upper-class phenomena. But in the lower classes, through history, promiscuity was a normal part of live. I was one of the lucky ones who experienced the transition. Occasional sex just for fun and without any commitment was started when the PILL was widely available. There is a reason why this era was called "The Golden Sixties"

Modern Thailand still have the 19th century attitude of puritanism. Just go to an swimming pool or a beach in a non tourist area, you never see a bikini, when a girl or women come out of the water there is another girl waiting with a towel; so nobody can see her wet swimsuit accentuating her body.

On non tourists beaches you still see Thai girls go into the water fully dressed and immediately take a towel to cover themselves.

Most people don't seems to realize that outside the tourist areas there is a complete different attitude towards sexual morality. Nudity is taboo in Thailand. 85% and maybe more of the TV programs in Europe will be banned on Thai TV. Puritanism as very much alive in Thailand. And when I write Thailand I mean the Thailand outside the tourist areas, and this puritanism go's also for middle class Bangkokians.

Look to the girls who wearing a mini skirt, they always wearing a hot-pant underneath, you could never see their slip like in Europe.

So even history books about sexual behaviour in the past are interesting, but are not related with the 21th Thai society.

He's right to a degree the olde worlde (not just Siam) was pretty saucy pre-19th century.

Just look at Hogarths paintings and what the Babylonians, Greeks and so on got up to etc.

An argument for the puritan style victorian mentality was that it allowed the repressed energy to be channelled into inventions and engineering marvels and so on.

However I can say that the surface level 'puritanesque' vibe we see is more of a facade in a fair few cases.

When the parents aren't looking or the youngsters are behind closed doors, believe you me, the puritan vibe gets dropped like a sack of potato's!

Interesting take on the dress change Nan. You might be onto something, but I have a feeling it was just a transition to cosy up to the western powers more than a reaction to a colonisation threat.

Will watch this intently. I have serious misgivings about this and i doubt that this will have no impact on the lack of bias on this forum no matter how good the intentions are.

Simple fact is that the forum is now allied with a news outlet that is not free from political leanings.

The political leanings being what exactly? Left? Right? Up or down?

Get a grip man, we're here still posting our things afterall!

TV is already allied with various factions and elements within Thailand as it is, being with the Nation people isn't going to change the idealogy as it stands

No can do from me, too busy.

Have a good one though lads

Some of the shops have a futuristic digi readout continually updating or a manual system.

Some don't have either but instead ring up the Bangkok 'Gold HQ' (if in the provinces) every day at 0900 hrs for an update.

Heh, it's a long one I know bro. But it's the full package.

I've weaved some funky tunes in to keep up the interest and edited the traffic lights hold-ups to a minimum if that helps

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Although it's not the hardest place to find it can be unfamiliar to drivers and bikers who've only visa-ran on the bus previous.

Hope you find the vid useful

You can do in 2 hours if you get your skates on.

If you want to stay a few days you can do that as well no problem. The Burmese stamp you in for 14 days.

The full bifta of info is here:

http://www.ontheroadthailand.com/Ranong_Visa_Run.htm

As yet I haven't 'videotroned' the pictures into a video clip, give us time beach man we are not Skynet Mainframe machines you know

Borders open and It's busy busy bumble bee

Here's how to get to it:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Ranong-Visa-...ml#entry2495562

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Yeah some people are just born to be critical I guess.

I misread your intent on your response walkerman, but then that's what emoticons are for I guess

The go-go reference was aimed at you directly as I felt you're the kind of expat who is a sugar-daddy on the prowl who was hardened to night scene.

I await his videos of Thai ninja-lady dancers with earnest.

But at least this vid got a response, albeit from the walkerman.

I find this video section to be sleepy hollow for TV users at the best of times

For me I wear jacket leathers and leg armour when out touring, when in a town or city its the lightweight jacket and sometimes the leg armour.

Biker Leathers are the way forward, a good middle-ground. Just make sure you get proper leathers with the reinforced sections in the jacket