GarryP

Cooking oil is a price controlled product and the price was fixed by the gov't at no more than Baht 38 a litre. The big cooking oil companies claimed that supplies were limited and the cost was so high that if they supplied at Baht 38 they would be losing money. There were claims of hoarding, but probably just waiting for the gov't to up the price (hey that's hoarding isn't it?). The gov't has since raised the ceiling for cooking oil to 47 Baht a litre. Lo and behold, suddenly there are supplies.

There are also shoratges of refined (white)sugar which have been ongoing on and off for quite a while. But that is supposed to be bad for you too.

I did notice something strange with the stickers. They do not give out stickers for purchases of alcohol (I assume this also applies to ciggies). When I asked the cashier she indicated that they did not suppport the sale of alcohol so it was not included in the promotion. Strange huh!

My wife is gonna cash in for two of those big Doraemon crate thingies. As if we haven't already got enough junk as it is. I think she should just exchange the stickers we have for half a dozen bottles of beer

When walking to BTS with a member of staff (with whom I get on great at the office), she half jokingly suggested we should not walk too close to each other or everyone would think she was "mia farang". So from this little gem, I conclude that there is some stigma attached.

Go visit the bike shop across the road from Sukhumvit Soi 101. The shop is not that big, but they use the footpath as part of their showroom. They have KSRs, KLXs, KickAss (or is that MadAss), and probably a few others on display. I see them every morning coming to work. The size difference between the KSRs and the 125 Kawa is very noticeable. This shop also sells Lifan and would be able to order the 200 if interested. Worth a visit just to compare sizes side by side (bikes!).

My son says I look like John Terry (I don't agree). My wife doesn't look at me anymore, so God knows what she thinks.

Collect enough and you get a free something or other.

I've heard somewhere that you can use them in 7-11 as money, although I'm not sure how true that is. Come to think of it, I think I read that on ThaiVisa which means that it is probably not true at all.

Absolutely true. I was in the queue behind a piss*d security guard who managed to buy a couple of packets of instant noodles with them. He didn't know what the hell he was doing and just held out a bunch of Doraemon stickers. The salesgirl took the monetary equivalent in stickers from him. The gold ones are worth 3 Baht and the smaller silver stickers are worth 1 Baht. Can use them to buy goods or collect them and exchang 'em for certain Doraemon merchandise.

Hurry while stocks last, the promotion ends at the end of this month. I have far too much time on my hands.

Unless there's a motor attached.

Sorry to threadsmeg, but I'm looking for similar info, in Bangkok. Not in Bangers proper obviously, but some desolate vehicle free place where someone can drop 2 motorBIKES & a Thai man for the afternoon, so he can teach me how to ride (snigger).

I too would be interested in something like that. To get my license I took the AP Honda Safe Riding course, but was on an auto. I haven't ridden a bike with clutch and gears since I was about 18 which is a long time ago (30 years). A refresher would be great.

In fact I have good relationships with my female coworkers. However when they see that I am only a small time earner they loose interest. Having Thai roots and speaking Thai fluently has not helped me much so far. Maybe I am going for the wrong type of girls.

How small is small exactly? And how do they see it? You show them ATM receipts, pay-slips or live in a ghetto?

I have no car, which already eliminates me from the equation.

Well I'm buggered then. Wonder if any would be interestted in sitting on the back of my pushbike.

"Another"? Doesn't say much for the OP then does it. If you don't like listening to blah, blah, etc. don't go. Sheesh, what a pointless thread. And here am I posting on it.

You're no longer a novelty.

I have read here many times posters saying that Sin Sod is not due for previously married women. May I ask people their sources ? By what authority do they speak ? I know a lady who says that in her area (North of Udon Thani), parents ask for and keep Sin Sod. And she is a really decent person.....a government teacher. I have tried my absolute UTMOST to change her mind about Sin Sod, but she is adamant that I need to pay her father 40,000 + 10,000 for the small wedding.

I have pushed as hard and as far as I can, but everything will go pear-shaped if I refuse.

Again I ask : May I ask people their sources ? By what authority do they speak ? Anecdotal evidence ? History ? She says her father asked for and received SS for her sister's second marriage and that it happens in this area.

What you are talking about is not technically sinsod. My wife's nephew is being hit for a similar amount for his previously married girl friend. The amount is much less than would be asked for sinsod. She is from Roi-Et I believe and he is from Ubol. I am not in the picture whatsoever, so it is not a case of her parents thinking he has someone to bankroll him (he doesn't anyway). It is a normal Thai-Thai thing. They use a different term for it, which has slipped my mind, something like pluk kwan. So yes it is not unheard of for previously married folks and it is not just because you are farang. Thais also are paying, although I understand that it is not very common.

P.S. This is not something old, he visited her parents for the first time 3 weeks ago.

I've heard that riding in Speedos pinches the balls.

I'll leave now.

You are 48 and worried about the inlaws? You have a choice to make. What's more important? Paying for your kids education or giving money to a greedy old man? Very bad form. Sin Sod might be a part of Thai culture but does that mean it trumps western culture where a grandparent would never take away from a grandchild's future? Your wife teaches at a uni which means she knows about the cost of a western education. And yet, she would tolerate this money grab attempt?

One word. NO.

They are not her kids, they are his so they don't count.

But if I put a 17" on the front won't that affect the angle of the bike, would it be awkward to drive?

My thoughts exactly, but then I have been told many times that I know nothing.

Well, I waited to see if anyone with experience would answer but will throw in my 2 satang...

Look at the pictures above of the 250 Lifan motard...

Do you think they and all the other brands offering motard-syle bikes would do so if if it screwed up the handling? Common sense will give you the answer to your question.

I just thought you would have to extend the forks to compensate for the smaller wheel size, otherwise wouldn't the handle bars be a few inches lower. Surely, your position on the bike would be different. As to handling, I leave that to the experts.

But if I put a 17" on the front won't that affect the angle of the bike, would it be awkward to drive?

My thoughts exactly, but then I have been told many times that I know nothing.

Isn't this type of behaviour supposed to be a cry for attention? Is he acting out because he is lacking attention at home and this is the only way he can get it? The kid is feeling neglected at home so joins a gang where he feels wanted. Amateur psychology on my part but from the very lttle information given it seems to fit.

I sincerely hope you get things sorted out, but don't think changing schools is the answer.

I'm not interested in a motocross bike per se, but am I correct that a motard-style bike is a motocross bike with street tires?

If so, and nice wide road tires are available, then voila!, instant 200cc motard for under 50k! That I am interested in. Great for the less than perfect roads around town with the long suspension travel.

Please keep us up to date with your impressions.

I don't see any reason why you couldn't put street tires on this bike, but it comes with moderate knobby tires, and it is doing fine on the street. Don't know how long they last though.

I think you may have traction issues with knobblies when the road surface is wet. I understand that many riders of trail bikes have two sets of wheels, one set with knobblies and another set with road tires, which they switch and swap as needed.

For less than the price of a 250 Ninja, Canuckamuck has a 250 cruiser and a 200 trail bike. That sounds good to me. Two bikes for the price of one and suitable for various terrains.

I repeat myself, but I think you definitely made the right choice with black.

Probably this little fella the green vine snake.

This species of snake is mildly poisonous. They visit us quite often, beautiful creatures.

Better make sure you don't eat too many then if they're poisonous!

David

Petty, but funny nonetheless.

They're more liberal than what is made out in the papers, there are many legal and cheap abortion clinics in Thailand, the 'health' requirement for abortion is very low and anyone can easily get one. Which makes it even more ridiculous punishing this man for disposing of these bodies to this extent. I would have thought most people would think it's better to cremate them in a temple with religious services then burn/bury them in a ditch somewhere like they could have done. This sentence is absurd.

I am suprised that this has not been picked up on before. To quote DP25 "there are many legal and cheap abortion clinics in Thailand", and as a result there should be no need to resort to illegal clinics. The person seeking the abortion would have lie a bit though, i.e. give an acceptable reason why an abortion is required. They basically accept what they are told and do not verify such information.

8. Likes Me

I hope she enjoys my company. I hope she laughs at my jokes...even if they are not funny..I hope she misses me. I hope I can tell.

Buy a dog.

As far as I know, there aren't any bullet ant species in Thailand. We only have those that bite. Most ant bites don't affect me much at all, but boy those solitary black ants pack something powerful in their bite. Definitely to be avoided. Hope the OP's daughter recovered quickly and is not scared to go out in the garden now.

First, was one of those pedal mopeds. Managed to wrap myself around a goal post on the football field in front of my house. I was 14 and it put me off for a while. The second time was on a monkey bike and I popped the clutch too quickly and the bike tried to climb the nearest conker tree with me hanging on for dear life.

4 wheel vehicle virginity lost in a friend's mum's Hillman Imp. His parents were away so he decided to teach me to drive in the front driveway of his mansion like house. Again a sticky clutch, releasing it slowly nothing seemed to happen so he told me to let it out all the way. I just took my foot off while the other pressed down on the accelerator. Bast*rd didn't stall and took off. Drove the thing straight up his front steps, damaging the car and the shock resulted in the front door to the house jamming. Took more than a month for the house to settle and the door to open normally. Took me more than three months to pay for the damage from my summer job. Those were the days!!!!

I think you made the right choice with black. It looks a nice bike. Hope it runs as good as it looks. If it does, you are on to a winner. Didn't you just buy a Lifan 250 roadster thingy?