sandyf

It is certainly not a fact, one is just as likely to catch fire as the other when subjected to a can of petrol and a match. Statistics are the fall back for those that want to channel their perspective in a certain direction. The main weapon in any politicians arsenal and mainly used to avoid the root problem.

All vehicles will go on fire if set alight. The source of ignition can be deliberate, accidental or malfunction. Lithium batteries are exactly that wherever they are used, I would have thought by now everyone would have been aware of the risks involved in their use.

I think there is a certain amount of luck in not coming across a "Jobsworth" at check in. I have flown with Emirates quite a bit and never had a problem with carry on baggage. A couple of weeks ago coming back from the UK the guy at checkin weighed the carry on baggage separately. My wife had 9Kg and was told too heavy, she opened her bag, I put some stuff in my pockets and she did the same, then told ok, the mind boggles. On the 2 item issue I think you would be ok, I think other than the "budgets", most see the laptop a bit like a ladies handbag rather than actual baggage. I have done that a few times without question.

Try and stay in context.

You would have to show me where I ever implied that formula racing took place in Thailand. It is however recognised that Formula One is a direct descendant of Grand Prix racing, so it is only a question if evolution will be encouraged in Thailand. The Thais are not dependent on any encouragement from foreigners.

Isn't the thread about development of Chonburi and Rayong. My understanding is the high speed passenger service will run on elevated sections above the existing freight lines between Chachoengsao and U-Tapao not sure about the Bangkok end. Freight cannot be pulled at the same speed as passenger trains and would restrict viability. I am not aware of any freight being moved on the elevated sections between Bangkok and Laos but you may be more informed. I was on the Laos HSR last year and didn't see any sign of freight but it may be moved through the night, passenger trains are ony during the day. At the moment the HSR comes to an end at the new HSR station at Vientiane so not sure how they link to the freight terminal near the Friendship Bridge.

I don't think there is any plan to put freight on the HSR. The line runs close to my house and there is a train about every 20 minutes, would take away the whole purpose of "high speed". They have to address the lack of passenger facilities in this direction and with the amount of freight there is little capacity on the existing line. There was significant disruption when they put in the second track a few years back so hate to think what we are in for when the HS work gets under way. Could be pushing up daisies by then.

Obviously escaped your notice that Pattaya will be the first stop out of U-Tapao. You may never have had to travel between airports but you had to travel somewhere, Apart from the 3 airports there are 12 other stops on the line. As far as I am aware Pattaya has a proposal on the table for a monorail from the station to the beach area but I believe subject to the HSR being built. U-Tapao expansion is an ongoing project.

Indeed, took my wife to Turkey last year. No problem whatsoever getting into Turkey. Different story trying to get out, passport checked multiple times and every check resulted in a protracted phone call over her UK visa. Scared stiff of any fallout from UK immigration.

Yes it is possible. The Schengen guidance says the visa should be obtained in home country before travelling unless there is some reason why it couldn't be done. I know a few that have made successful applications in London, mainly on the basis it was a last minute decision to travel to Europe. For example a last minute promotional deal that wasn't available before leaving Thailand. My wife has recently done one in Bangkok for Germany, more tedious than anything. The first since she stopped being the spouse of an EU citizen.

At the end of the day it is all about money, after all it is how the middle eastern countries came to the racing scene from nowhere. When I was stationed near Dubai it was nothing more than a shanty town but as a young child I had watched the Monte Carlo rally pass through my home town. Having established a successful racing presence in Chonburi it will be strong motivation for further evolution. However there are those that seem to think they have a god given right to tell the Thais how they should utilise what resorces they have, it's as though there is no poverty or hardship in the so called "advanced economies".

Fairly obvious your ability to read is about as good as your comprehension. Your words "His Land-Bridge will be completed before Thailand hosts an F1 race." That falang mentality again, with such a derogatory attitude towards progress shouldn't you find somewhere else more likely to meet your expectations. Why do some think their way is the only way?

"Basket-type reserve currency" does not equate to a new currency. Currencies are regulated by ISO 4217 and very unlikely that will come about, more likely evolve as some form of trading instrument and may well reduce trading in the US dollar.

The 16th Bang Saen Grand Prix starts next week, 3rd -7th July 2024. Obviously in your expert opinion Grand Prix racing can only evolve into Formula One outside Thailand. Grand Prix motor racing eventually evolved into formula racing, with Formula One considered its direct descendant. Each event of the Formula One World Championships is still called a Grand Prix; Formula One is also referred to as "Grand Prix racing". Some IndyCar championship races are also called "Grands Prix". https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Prix_motor_racing#:~:text=Grand Prix motor racing eventually,also called "Grands Prix".

There has been racing at Bang Saen for nearly 20 years. I used to go along on the practice days but stopped as the event got just too big and became more difficult to see anything. It is not out of the question to capitalise on the success of Bang Saen with a bigger venue elsewhere. I would think that the organisers are a bit fed up putting up the track and more and more stands every year. Also the disruption to the resident is getting out of hand. Relocation is probably a good idea but F1 by 2028 does sound a bit ambitious. https://www.racingcircuits.info/asia/thailand/bangsaen.html

An IDP is not a license. It is a permit that supports a valid driving license for use in other countries. An IDP issued in Thailand is of little use in Thailand as you would need a valid Thai license to get it. It should be used to validate driver details when a Thai license is used outside of Thailand. It cannot be used instead of an out of date national licence.

Indeed. I landed at Brize, got pulled by customs for not declaring my watch so missed the transport to the railway station. Had to get a taxi which turned out to be LPG, ran out of gas half way to Didcot. Over an hour to get replacement and frozen to death. Many complained about being there for various reasons, one of them being the food, but I quite enjoyed the time.

Asking questions on here will always lead to conflicting answers. I have done it a couple of times, first time you had to go to the embassy but then they opened the VAC. I found it all very straightforward but I was on a Non O. I would suggest you just make the application in Bangkok and when interviewed you can plead your case. All you need is fairly reasonable reasons why you did not get visa before travelling. The same thing is said about Schengen visas for Thais, yet I know of several successful applications made in the UK. I would also suggest that your case would be stronger if you came to Thailand on a tourist visa rather than visa exempt. I am aware that many will disagree on that but it is all about perception, at the end of the day, up to you.

Tell me about it, some of it very vague now. As you said a small world, looks like I may have been on the same VC10. After Sharjah I went to Brize Norton, workd in the instrument bay before going on the VC10s/Belfast Line.

You can go to Bang Saen, not that far away. I was 14K to have a chunk of my ear removed.

Certainly can be. Take it you were at the army garrison, I was in the RAF there from Jan 70 till Dec, got early repat as they started to close down. Think the Queens Own left in April 70 but can't remember who replaced them.

Abu Dhabi is not part of Dubai, it is a separate Emirate, the airport for Etihad. I haven't been back to Dubai, other than staging, since I was stationed at Sharjah in 1970, lot has changed since then. In those days they were called the Trucial Oman States and Dubai was nothing more than a shanty town. The oil came along, the British pulled out and the rest is history.

I usually have Tapper in, great when watching TV. I also like that Carabao Dunkel that has come out, being a dark malt beer not so gassy as the average, goes down a bit too easy. Made by Tawangdang.

It is each to their own, and not always about the money. I was on Multi Non O from 2018 till 2014 and went to Ban Laem all the time without a problem. Right sleepy hollow at the time, could be 'out and in' in around half an hour. Got held up one time, the IO asked my wife to help load some carpets into her pickup. The debate about staying the night has been around for as long as I can remember but like many things in this life, pay your money and take your chance. Of course you can reduce your chance, a friend of mine went to Ban Pakard and wouldn't pay for the Cambodia visa in Thai Baht, insisted it should be USD. He was lucky it was only 5 hours to get his passport back, that could have been an overnighter.

As far as I am aware passports were returned to the appllcant by courier when it came under the FCO. In March 2014 foreign passports were transferred from the FCO to HMPO. It was originally intended that passports were returned by courier, hence the requirement for proof of address in Thailand. However there was so much chaos in the beginning the policy never came about. I was one of the first to use the VFS service in April 2014 and had to get the British Embassy to intervene and try and get my passport back. When it did turn up my wife went to collect it and she was told by VFS that I should cut the corner off the old one. They never asked to see the old one, only interested in the letter of authority to collect the new one. Looking at the Home Secretaries there has been since 2014, not surprising things are not as they should be. I went back to the UK in Sept to renew mine.