alanrchase

I was at Villa Market this afternoon and notice they were still out of several American brands that I usually buy. I thought because last week was Songkran so no big deal. After doing some investigating and reading I believe the reason might be the recent tension between Thailand and the U.S.

They do get their supplies from Bangkok,( the warehouse) and I'm sure they still have some items still in stock. It will be interesting in the near future if products that are imported slowly disappear. Reading the other posts it appears to be mostly U.S. Imports.

So you think due to "tension" between the two countries certain food exports will be affected. No sanctions food wise as far as I know. Previous poster mentioned a labour dispute at US ports. Most likely problem.

Do like the quest for decent PG Tips tea bags. Seems to be a necessity. Am a Brit myself and the quest happens everywhere. Chins up and good luck.

Thai inventory control is appalling; and that will be at every point in the supply chain.

I assume that everybody is like me, when the thing, finally, comes in, if it comes in.

If I'm there on lucky day, I simply empty the shelf into my basket, so the shop is immediately back to square one. All of the farangs I know do exactly the same - and I'm not just talking about "farang" goods. It's anything we like, which is the victim of Thai inventory control - which means any and everything. I assume Thais do the same.

Totally possible. Would think that a store such as Tesco is computer driven as far as stock keeping is concerned. Still needs a human to monitor things I suppose.

With imported goods I assume all stores are at the mercy of customs control.

Being cynical I often think that supermarkets do not restock popular brands to force people into clearing the shelves of the less popular brands before they go life ex.

Try being logical ... it's much more productive than being cynical. What you propose is actually a great way to lose customers who'll go elsewhere.

Agreed. Trouble was where I used to work as soon as someone suggested being logical the realists reminded them of where they were. Logic never came into play.

Noticed that Tesco are running out of Brook baked beans. Was visiting immigration today so thought I would get a few cans at the nearby Tesco, one can left so now all Tesco for a 50 kick radius are out of stock.

You can get packs of 3 in Makro (Korat city). loads left, bought some myself.

There is a local Makro but never been sure quite how they work. Can I just walk in and buy? Do I need a card? Can I get a card? How much do I need to buy?

Being cynical I often think that supermarkets do not restock popular brands to force people into clearing the shelves of the less popular brands before they go life ex.

Noticed that Tesco are running out of Brook baked beans. Was visiting immigration today so thought I would get a few cans at the nearby Tesco, one can left so now all Tesco for a 50 kick radius are out of stock.

Was on the bus to BKK a few years back, sat at the front, driver kept falling asleep. As we approached Pinklao he drifted off and so did the bus. Sat in a stationary bus on main highway till conductress woke him up.

Quite happy I no longer have to go to an airport three or four times a year.

Interesting.

So in this case it's neither the Tenant nor the Landlords individual obligation to submit the TM30. But one of them has to do it, and if neither do they can be fined a total of 2,000 baht between them.

Immigration Act; "Section 77 : Whoever fails to comply with the provision of Section 38, shall be punished with a fine not exceeding 2,000 Baht. If said person is a hotel manager, he shall be punished with a fine from 2,000 Baht to 10,000 Baht. "

Personally I fill it in and get the blue book person to sign. Do I care about it? Not a lot. Necessary for proof of address.

You need to remember where your at.This is Thailand.You should have been in this country 45 years ago.

Thailand has changed for the better but it has A long way to go.Just be patient,it'll get there.

Let's hope it never does.

Thailand, the last refugium of anarchy. Sadly thats not exactly what the natives want. If i talk to thai people they mostly say that they do not like the chaos on the streets either. Everyone is just doing what the others do but most people do not like that the others are doing it. Thais who have visited other countries often praise the ordered traffic there.

They learn their road skills on the front of a step through. Hard to change.

I'm still trying to fathom out how you sever a main leg artery by kicking a "wall mirror", unless it fell off the wall in huge slices and his leg fell on a piece or the wall was hollow.

Is it too difficult for you to imagine pieces of a large wall mirror falling towards the ground and hitting the drunk's leg? Those mirrors are made of heavy glass and, surprisingly, the pieces are sharp.

Obviously youngsters with little experience of life. Have a friend die from similar circumstances they would know.

Another story of a break up, upset falang and he dies or kills himself. Getting beyond ridiculous now.

Seems to be a bit of a sad old place. Thought of something clever to add but pointless.

RIP. But bar girl, relationship on hold? And he freaks because she's not waiting for him the moment he beckons. Why do some men think they own their Thai gf.

There is nothing in the piece saying she is a bar girl, Bar girls are not the only women farang meet in Thailand.

"Reports suggest that 40 year old Iain went into a bar where Patty works and became infuriated when he discovered she was not there."

Maybe should re-read OP properly

So girl is a barmaid in Thailand so is for sale?

If that had happened in the real world, somebody would have rushed and tighten the leg from the top to stop the bleeding.

Probably in this world of Thailand, people were watching him dying waiting for the Emergency services to arrive and may be taking photographs.

I hope I'm wrong with what I'm saying but I don't think I'm far away from the truth.

May he Rests in Peace.

Really? Possibly blood gushing? Would like to think I would do as you say but in the real situation not so sure.

[ . . .]

Drive defensively and do not adopt the Thais way of refusing to drive by the rules of the road...

I don't think you get it yet. Those are the rules of the road here. Perhaps not official, nevertheless it is what it is, adapt or move on.

Too true. Crossroads on canal roads, road markings mean nothing. Not local could have a problem, if local know how junction works.

"So many on here seem to want Thailand to 'change for the better' or 'do things differently'. The inference being of course that Thailand should do things, and be the same as the western countries that most of these critics originate from.

It baffles me why, if these people are so discontented by the way Thailand is, and prefer the way things are done in their home countries, that they left their own countries in the first place.. I like Thailand because it is what it is, and glad to escape from the 'nanny state' culture, and political correctness of the west. I do not wish to see it slowly have it's character (be it bad or good), chipped away at until it eventually becomes just another 'westernised' country.

If I'd wanted to live in a country where road travel was uber safe, I would think that either Sweden where everyone drives Volvos. or America with its ridiculously low speed limits would be a much better choice than Thailand.

Hmmn afterthought - maybe America not such a good idea - commit a traffic offence there and it seems you are quite likely to get shot by the police, especially if your skin is of a darker tone - think I'd rather pay a backhander to a smiling Thai traffic cop any day!

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Well, lived there long time & never ever met a nanny except for the goat type.

Speed limit for bikes here, 90kph; Colorado, 120.

I'm not afraid of regular criminals in USA,

but cops there are scary violent.

Suppose if there was no fault in an accident at night with other driver with no lights maybe ok. Get it is what it is out here. Do not want a nanny state. Obvious safety for innocent people should be more of a concern than the "lads" that can see in the dark.

ShadyChris. In principle, I do agree mostly with what your saying, but no matter what country you are living in, you are entitled to be safe, and if those retards who ride their bikes up the pavement risking injury to myself, or riding their bikes on the wrong side of the road does not annoy you, maybe you would not think the same way if one of your children or family were injured or killed by them.

Totally get what you say. Unfortunately life here is not seen the same way. Sad thing in a way is to either accept their different view or consider elsewhere. It will not change very quickly. Your choice.

Part of the problem, and maybe the biggest part, is that most small bikes these days have "daylight running' headlights, i. e. the headlight is on all the time when the ignition is on, but the rear light is off.

The rider starts the bike in the dark and the headlight comes on, so without thinking they set off without switching the lights on.

I know, I've done it myself!

Both rear and front lights come on. Can only talk for Honda, no on/off switch for lights for a long time, always on. People never check rear light and only notice front is out at night. Unfortunately a duff light is not considered a problem and as previous posters have stated no lights makes you a man.

fix light tomorrow or have a chang today

mhhhh

1 tail light =2 chang.

When I stopped at the traffic light with my car at night, I warned a motorcycle driver next to me that he is driving without lights. His answer was: "Don't worry Mister, I can see everything!"

NOTHING TO ADD!

Bit like that out here. From what I can fathom out where I live the only reason to wear a helmet is to avoid a fine. Safety takes a back seat. That said think the safety side of it is catching on but very slowly. Helmet law 15+ years old now?

If turning the lights on consumes more fuel, am i right that a bike goes faster when lights off? That would be a big issue for many young thai men.

Your thinking is correct. Would be more or less unnoticeable. Possibly mention to the lads that shaving their heads and wearing lycra would reduce drag and increase speed as well. Waiting to see some interesting pics of said speed kings.

MOVED to Motorbike forum

I bought a second hand Honda motorbike and it turns out to be Chinese made. The back light, the side lights and the horn are not working and I can't find the spare parts. Everywhere I go they say the parts are not available. Does anyone have an idea where I can buy the parts in the South of Thailand? It has an electrical problem. Help needed.

Are you taking it to main dealers or back street workshops? Am sure a back street place would sort it out. Would not be standard spares but would get it all working.

Where I used to work having no working lights on your vehicle was a valid excuse for being late for work in the morning. Can't leave home till sun comes up!

No what is frightening is this is often intentional. Many on motorcycles here have disconnect switches for their backlighsts and HEADLIGHTS. They ride around at night with no lights. Maybe a plan for illegal activiity or thinking it is cool.

Yes. They turn off the lights when driving down the wrong side of the road. Don't want to be seen.

Would have to be an old bike for them to be able to switch them off. No on/off switch on bikes for a long time, permanently on these days.