fire2rescue99

I bet his feet must be pretty ripe in those insulated boots w/o socks. Leave those outside please.

Things that make go arghhhh....

1. The guy coming head on towards you in your lane and won't give way.

2. The a hole in the BMW going 170 kph climbing up my bung while I am overtaking a slower vehicle at 120 kph in the passing lane.

3. The a hole in the BEnz going 170 kph climbing up my bung while I am overtaking a slower vehicle at 120 kphin the passing lane.

4. The stick that comes at you diagonally against traffic whilst trying to get to the dirt crossing in the median.

I have an idea for a live TV show: simply drive around Thailand in any vehicle with cops on board, wait the inevitable 10 or 15 minutes or so for a real bone head move by someone to almost end your life. Chase them down, pull them over and out of the car and proceed to pound the tar out of them on TV.

I bet everyone one love it.

Although, I am sure there are foreigners that are problem drivers, but really, why not start with the major offenders. Oh, that might make sense, cannot.

Villa Markets carry it,also In Central Chidlom supermarket . Good luck

Jet skis operate much differently than propeller powered boats. There is a lag in the response to the steering control. The uninitiated often corrects their slow to respond directional effort with a countermand ing measure. It results in loss of control and many times a collision. I think the operators probably count on this characteristic to collect outrageous repair fees from the unsuspecting.

Why doesn't a hotel chain on the beach contract to a legitimate sea sports outfit with proper equipment, instruction and insurance to offer the experience? Could the Jet Ski Association (read mafia) be the obstacle? Pattaya seems to have a lot of similar experiences with jet skis. Go Cha am!

"Rearrange their marketing plan and reduce their productives"? Aren't these the cars that had to be sold to Thais because they were flooded and Japanese told them to come up with a plan to unload them? There no no cars produced, tHese were damaged goods for the home market.

The banks will get aggressive. Also, many will lose their houses as they go to local loan sharks first and then unable to keep up, the cha note will pass to the local goon.

Yes, Kurnell, you are right. Money loaned out never get repaid. Maybe partially, but not in full. Lesson learned.

Anyone for a rice subsidy?

I was speaking the " cry" of the sort of person that posts here. It' s a common sentiment that guests and visitors in Thailand express, that if they only could act more like the West. Going back through this thread, I don't see an abundance of People proclaiming to be Thai posting. I was adressing this forum.

I cant believe everyone wants Thailand to change that much - do you all want Thailand to look like Singapore or resemble the utterly characterless streets of KL - the banners , yep get rid of them, but the rest it is what Thailand is - i love all the food stalls, good hard working Thais producing some the worlds best food, day in day out, to the whole hearted appreciation of the Thai people from North to South - long may they stay in place - go to the UK or US and see the town centres, all ghost towns, all sterile carbon copies of themselves - give me the clogged soi's of Bangkok any day thanks.

+1 my sentiments exactly. Why is there always a cry for whipping these Thai's into shape and conforming to the way visitors experience things in their countries? I for one, enjoy the vast differences and thrive on the chaos in which things work, people go about their business and there is form in the madness.

That is one of the most enduring qualities of this beautiful country. It's different from what I know. I love it. It is what I may from time to time be exasperated with, but would not change. I have visited and lived here almost 20 years. I pine for the good old days when you could see across Sukhumvit view unconstructed by the Skytrain. I don' t mean the Skytrain is bad, it's fantastic and useful. It is just not the same. The same goes for all the old trucks and cars that used to ply the streets. They were cool. A huge honking Isuzu 2 1/2 ton truck with all the decorations of the owner onit. Also, all the old mercedes that used to cruise around, classic.

Anyways, my rant is done. Let them live as they please without our undue influence. Cheers.

The Scarlet Pumpernickel? It's vented, so perhaps a vending cart? I like the tires and spkes being painted red as well.

I sincerely hope that the engrish faux pas' live on. It would be so boring if everything was perfect all the time.

Hi folks, just returned from a nightmare trip to thailand (no 21 in 8 years),I read all the boards so I am not a total greenhorn.I purchased a house pattaya 2 years ago soley in my name via a company and was planning to go live there soon . Ive had long standing tgf who I allowed to live in the house, known her 5 years, supported her for 4 of them,she been holiday visa to uk about 8 times she just returned 1 week prior with 100 000 bht in her pocket same same each holiday trip before working little bit for me uk . We go out with a mate who works for me 2nd night of my latest holiday,get a bit drunk having a laugh in kareoke bar,she tries to take my keys and wallet off me I resist get my wallet back so she smashes a bottle on my head . I stay out that night after recieving tretment at hospial, on going home next day there is a battered rented pickup outside my house and all the items of furniture ie, sofa, washing machine ,fridge ,beds are being to be loaded into it, I say I am calling polce, bluff !! ,my phone battery is flat and I dont even know their number. the stuff is unloaded and they get off. I ask her the wherabouts of my motorbike (which I stupidly put in her name) and she states shes sold it , I take her bike which I bought for her and tell her she can have it back when mine returns . She goes and shocked ,I start to assess the damage looking round the house in the garden thres a pile of ash from which I recover a unburnt fragment of my passport , the tv and cabinet are missing,Ive forgotten the combo of the safe so when I find the pass key and manage to open it Its empty bar for the company stamp shes had my wallet all my atm cards bar one, £500 cash and all comany papers and chanote from inside the safe. This must be a bad dream....... not!! Last year I allowed her to put her name in the tabian barn / house book and went with her to near Banglamund police station where they copied my passport and I signed somthing written in thai which I could not understand Next day she says she wants to collect the rest of her stuff from the house and arrives alone I give her everythink 99%of which I purchased for her , micrwave, rice cookers kettle dvd remotes from when she rented a room .She says to me mabe I cannot live in my house anymore ,Is this a threat ) I speak to the accountant for my company immediatly, on her departure they have photocopies of my chanote, check my company papers saying to me that she cannot touch the house .I arrange to visit them and leavetheir office 16,000 bht lighter .They reccomend to register new minor shareholders ,their staff on the company, but I can not get a new chanote immediatly as this takes about one month toprocess Ten days later and two trips to the embassy in Bankok and I am in reciept of a new extra pages passport and my pocket is 10,000 baht lighter for the trouble Meanwhile back at the house ,I change locks, alarm and safe numbers have a stainless steel overdoor made and the wrought iron entrance gate made higher ,all the windows having been been grilled by me before . I go with my mates thai wife to Banglamund police station and she speaks good english and we make a statement so it is on record If anything happens to me or the house .I hear from some friends of hers in the uk that she has been to see a solicitor about making a play for the house.She has had acess to all the house papers in the safe for two years and I am scared that somehow without me knowing that she has managed toget her name on them . By me allowing her to put her name in the house book tabian barn haveI left myself open?

I am back in the uk now and stewing till my next trip in 3 months .Anyone any thoughts? Sorry for the bad spellings and lack of proper punctuation but its been a while since I was at school and I USED TO LIKE IT BEST WHEN IT WAS SHUT

I advise all farangs prior to coming to Thailand , to watch the movie Casino and remember what De Niro tells Sharon Stone : " Once a hooker , always a <deleted> hooker".

or ' You can the the girl out of the bar, but you can't take the bar out of the girl"

excuse me, i should qualify, drop the zero from USA

yes, drop the zero to bkk

There's a wrap machine just inside of either door 5 or 6 at departures.

Jim's Lodge 1200 baht

Conrad 6000 baht

we report, you decide

Jim's Lodge on Soi Ruam Rudee. Like was said before, it's on the backside of the Embassy and it would require a walk down the street and around the corner, 10 minutes. Good luck

There's a place just next to the Fresh Inn, 1 door to the north, directly across from the Hilton. ( I cannot remember the name) It was 800/night and just fine. Breakfast included. I don't think you any reservations in Hua Hin right now. Good luck.

Addicted2Pattaya: 3) Thinking "little bit spicy" actually means little bit spicy.

Same! When I was explaining "little bit spicy" sore belly whilst rubbing my belly I honestly thought the waitress understood. Silly me!

The dumbest thing was going to Pats with my then GF. Another wasted opportunity!

Like taking sand to the beach!

That's a long night. If I wanted to arrive sober, I would take a cab to one of the hotels around Don Muang and get 4 hours sleep. I've stayed at the Asia Hotel and Comfort Inn. There are cheaper places, but I would pay for some sleep myself. The Amari Don Muang used to have a 4 or 6 hour rate, but it was terribly expensive. I don't know if they have come down since losing their crown seat.

Option #2, take a cab to Soi Cowboy. Have a beer and get a short time room at the Penny Black for 300 baht. I am not encouraging any running on the wife here, simply an option.

As far as what to get the family, I would tell the family, the wife and you want to take some food to the monks one morning. A small contribution to the temple is fine too, in the family's name. Sorry about Paa. You're being there will greatly increase your currency as a good, serious guy. Best of luck.

Stacking Chairs game. It's kinda like Jenga with legs. The whole thing eventually comes down.

"Want to go fishing in the US? If you're not a citizen and not established as a permanent resident (green card), you'll pay more for your fishing license in every state."

By the way, I believe it has to do with if you are a resident of the state that you want to go fishing. In Pennsylvania, a fishing license is about $20. If you live next door in Maryland, you pay about $50 for a PA fishing license. That's for a one year fishing license. It has nothing to do with being a citizen or having a green card. I would suspect there are illegal aliens that live in PA, that have resident fishing licenses. Pennsylvania also sells a 'tourist' fishing license for $35. Makes sense and seems fair.

The way I see it, it is nothing more than a gouge. I certainly don't mind paying more than a national. Go ahead, charge me double or even triple. But 10 times as much, which is common? Give me a break, it's a rip-off, no matter what you want to call it. I certainly don't have a problem helping those less fortunate than I. I've given time, sweat, labor and money over the years. I'm not bragging, I just saying there's a place or opportunity to pony up for charity or those in need. There's going to be times when you will pay because you are with family or friends. But, I have often not paid admission at 'rip-off' parks and found amusement or a way to pass time when others carried on. I say walk away when you can.

I saw one in a mom & pop hardware store. It was directly under the Saphan Kwai BTS on the west side of Phahanothin Rd. just north of Pradiphat Rd.

Has anyone ever heard of a line extension (for a fast train) to Pattaya?

A K-1 fiance' visa allows you to bring her to the states and then you have 3 months to have a wedding. It takes 6 months or less to get her stateside once you file.

You can have a lavish, elaborate ceremony in Thailand and invite the entire village. You will be married by an odd number of monks and blessed with holy water and well wishes of all the witnesses. That said, you do not go and register the marriage in Thailand. The religious, very public ceremony is sufficient for the family here. When your tilac arrives in the states, you get your marriage license at the courthouse, then you perform your own religious/civil ceremony.

If you decide to get married in Thailand and have the event legally recorded here, then you are asking for a different type of visa from the American government. It can take 18 - 36 months (I'm not sure on this wait, but I know it is significantly more than the fiance' way) to then bring your wife to the states. It seems the reverse of the way one might think how it should work, but that's the deal. Good luck!