gomangosteen

Cycle shop staff I deal with in-person and for online ordering address me as 'sir', and 'yes sir' for responses. Mister wouldn't bother me.

Just my own experiences . . . and accepting Chanthaburi roads and traffic volumes would differ from other areas. Sold our first motorbike at 54,500km; our current one has done 92,000km; I bought a new bike, the pedal type, after Songkran this year and have cycled 4700km since then, best months May and July over 1000km each. Cycling routes a mix of minor highways and rural roads, just the occasional ride on Sukhumvit #3 which runs through Chanthaburi, prefer to keep to roads with less traffic though there's a 2m shoulder most of the way. Strong cycling scene in this province with social and more competition-focused group rides. For all the NEVER posters, I'd never be without a bike, whether fuels or pedalled, best way to get around. 20 September 2023, sunny day ride to Rayong province on rural highways rather than Sukhumvit

Don't know about other countries, but in New Zealand the Salvation Army and Red Cross charity shops are accredited supervisors for court-ordered community work.

I have a good sporting/social/family life here; no desire or need to meet other foreigners - which is fortunate as there are very few in Chanthaburi. Since April this year (returned from six weeks out of the country) I've met an Englishman at a 7-11, an American at the beach, and a NZer at the NZ Embassy earlier this month. Less than an hour in total. Too late if I've gone slowly mad - don't suppose I'd have noticed!

I kept a house in New Zealand for after I moved here, steady rental income at (varied on currency exchange rate) 12-14,000 baht a week (taxable in NZ), leased a storage unit for the same period. Went back for the first time in 2014 and reviewed what i had store, any sentimental value had expired, cut down to a few items to be stored securely in a friend's house, sold the rest apart from one 30kg suitcase I brought back with me. Have since sold the house, happier with money in the bank, as it neared 20 years old there was extensive maintenance due I wasn't keen on arranging from another country. No intention of ever returning, I stopped going back for contract work in August 2022, no family ties there now and have a few friends who like to visit us more than i like to visit NZ.

< welcome to Chanthaburi; we moved here 2011 with the intention of staying two years. 12 years on, no thoughts of moving. Great place. Khung Wiman with Noen Nangphaya viewpoint feature in your first two photos, that area was barely developed in 2011, since being added to the coast highway it's very popular with coach tourists, running and cycle events from here. Snorkeling off the headland is ok in calm conditions. Pics from Sunday, street art at the Nong Bua market (open each Saturday/Sunday); Mrs M came away with two hats and a handbag, believe that's a success!

It's a jungle out there 4300km since mid-April; service and new tires this week Eastern Thailand: Chachoengsao, Chanthaburi, Chon Buri, Prachin Buri, Rayong, Sa Kaeo, Trat

Manufactured not just assembled Is Your Triumph Really British? “Manufacturing started in 2002. The company decided to start with component manufacturing, beginning with the main frame, swing-arm and header systems. Until that point, we had never made our own fuel tanks, even in the UK. We had always purchased our tanks from a supplier in Europe, but because we had this facility in Thailand, we then had the ability to say ‘Okay, what else can we do with that’. About a year after that, we had decided to start making the fuel tanks there too. “About three years later, we set up another factory in Thailand to do plastic injection moulding. We put a paint shop in there, and started to do some chassis assembly. Originally when we started that we were bringing the engines across from the UK and building them into the chassis (in Thailand) before painting them. “An additional three years after that, we built our third factory in Thailand. Historically we’d always bought our crank cases from suppliers in Europe, but we decided that – to ensure our own quality standard– we needed to try something we hadn’t done. In that third factory we have expanded to high-pressure die casting, frame painting, crank-case and cylinder-head machining, as well as the full assembly process to build a bike. The Bonnevilles were some of the first bikes that we built there.” Are any Triumphs still built here at the old Hinckley plant? “We’ve got camshaft and crankcase machinery there. All of the cranks for bikes around world are made here. We have a paint shop, as well as a setup to prototype anything that’s made in Thailand. When we go into the development stages. A lot of the time the early fabrication for things like frames and swing-arms would be done in the UK. We have an assembly side here as well.” And 85% of all Triumph motorcycles are now produced at the three Thailand-based facilities, with “8.5%…assembled at their Brazilian facility and the remaining 6.5% (TFC models)…built at one of the Hinckley plants.”

Was there a bear involved?

Chao Lao beach; this dog wasnt't bothered that the beach is red-flagged for no swimming Eastern Thailand: Chachoengsao, Chanthaburi, Chon Buri, Prachin Buri, Rayong, Sa Kaeo, Trat

BBC have used a Getty image with title: "Iraqi women mourn at the site of the bombing back in 2016" - note 'at the site', not at the execution.

£10,000 - wow that's a big amount, didn't know there was/could be such variations between embassies. We had a friend staying from NZ - I just checked the NZ Thai Embassy and amounts are the same as when they applied, for Single Entry Tourist visa NZ$2000 (£930), Multi Entry TV NZ$9000 (£4,200) METV "Bank statement with a balance of at least 9,000 NZD (credit card and home loan accounts not accepted)"

Provincial variations. I've been dealing with Chanthaburi Immigration since 2011, last week asked for another residence certificate and a very clear 'No we cannot issue them any more'. An affidavit of residence is new required from the embassy in Bangkok. Such is life. I'll get two - Friday I went to the local Bangkok Bank branch with view to finally opening an account here as the one I have is from another province. Another 'cannot do' without an embassy letter.

Read the post - that 37 baht should read 'I was paid 37 baht for it (the ride)' then "but I have to pay over a thousand to replace the shock absorber''

Single rear shock absorber bikes, eg Yamaha Fino - has a maximum passenger/cargo limit weight of 163 kg (359 lb). If the rider is 60-70kg, many a bloated farang would put it well beyond recommended/safe carrying capacity.

How about: Thailand Office of the Council of State: Motor Vehicle Act Section 57 When practicing to drive a motor vehicle, the learner must be under the instruction of a driver who has had the license for that vehicle for at least 3 years. During the driving lesson, no other person than the learner and the instructor may stay in the vehicle.

England's wait to win a first Women's World Cup title goes on after Spain deservedly triumphed in the final in Sydney. The Lionesses, looking to become the first England senior side since the men's team in 1966 to win the World Cup, suffered heartbreak after being outplayed by a Spanish side full of flair and creativity. SPAIN 1 - ENGLAND 0

Asking about a post from 2009, to a poster who was last here January 2016. You may be waiting some time! Macaws at Tha Mai airstrip, Chanthaburi, have seen up to 16 at a time out for free flight

160 page Road Code available from bookstore eg SE-ED often found in shopping centres/malls Daughter, 18, having further lessons on October at a driving school prior to sitting test, this was required reading prior to lessons.

Baht weight: One baht = 15.244 grams; around half an ounce.

May have needed to break it. We stayed in an 8th floor hotel recently, windows had security stays fitted allowing them to open about 15cm / 6 inches maximum. Presumably to stop them being caught by wind and swung back on their hinges.

Approx 6km inland from Paknam Khaem Nu on the estuary. No fishing or net mending today - they were playing snooker! The hills in the distance are Namtok Phliu National Park. Eastern Thailand: Chachoengsao, Chanthaburi, Chon Buri, Prachin Buri, Rayong, Sa Kaeo, Trat

Rest break on a 60km cycle ride, 7 August 2023, Laem Sing beach Eastern Thailand: Chachoengsao, Chanthaburi, Chon Buri, Prachin Buri, Rayong, Sa Kaeo, Trat

Around new year we bought a Sharp EM Ice2 from Powerbuy based on a friend's recommendation; been great, gets good family use 2-3 times most days for fruit smoothies

Why? I have zero feelings of brotherhood or kinship with someone I don't know based upon their country of origin/skin colour, why would I?