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Market, Sub Somboon, Sa Kaeo 30 December 2024 Eastern Thailand: Chachoengsao, Chanthaburi, Chonburi, Prachin Buri, Rayong, Sa Kaeo, Trat

Hi - have you replaced your tyres - and if so, at how many kms, and what brand did you put on? Thanks

Click 160 ABS one year old on 19 December. 12 months, one puncture, two scheduled services, 10,400km. Regular trips Chanthaburi to Rayong, Trat, and Sa Kaeo (going there again tomorrow). It's a 70k scooter, no complaints. A note on the Fino that won't die, now 104,000km.

Abandoned quarry - Google Maps identifies this area as Chanthaburi Grand Canyon! Eastern Thailand: Chachoengsao, Chanthaburi, Chonburi, Prachin Buri, Rayong, Sa Kaeo, Trat

Various news sources / reports. "not one hundred percent" as my wife politely described him ... Thai tv news report this morning was clear in pointing out this guy was mentally challenged / intellectually disabled. Goes some way towards explaining the peak of his career was selling flower garlands and traffic lights and more recently singing and dancing with the flowers to get more sales. Orphaned / abandoned seems he'd do any stunt to support and house the grandmother who raised him. Also apart from alcohol already consumed it reported he was also force-fed 'lubricant' but didn't specify exactly what that was ... and ended with a 350ml flask of Thai whisky. No doubt the person/people behind this will have been getting their lies straight. Nothing will result from his death, a wai or two and and a donation towards the funeral. He was in no form an influencer, rather he was some notoriety from other people's videos of him on tiktok etc.

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It's six lanes through that intersection on Sukhumvit and an absolute racetrack at all hours of the day, go through there often as wife works 400m before the lights, daughter is at uni a few km further along and there's no choice but to carefully drive along. 10.40pm ideally the pickup had functioning headlights and was visible, though it's well lit. Wife saw the pickup still there in the morning. Just a guess, it was moving fast. The risks people take on that stretch of road - as the u-turns are about 1km apart there's also a steady flow of vehicles going the wrong way on the hard shoulder so save time . . . Long time ago now but i was new to the area, cycling, and stopped by Highway Police, he was very clear in saying 'never' ride along there; gave a number of how many deaths in that year on that road; handed me a bottle of chilled water, took my photo for his 'helped a daft farang' report and showed me an alternate route to where I was going. Good advice.

Yes, a real classic, blame that bend in the road, despite: "suspected he might have been intoxicated and lost control of the motorcycle on the bend, crashing into the streetlight pole." I had my closest miss in my years here at 3am Sunday morning - I was in Chanthaburi heading on motorbike to the start of the marathon / half-marathon at Laem Sadet; aware of car approaching fast from behind I went as left as possible it went past me at high speed by which time I was braking due to the 90-degree corner before a bridge, car crossed the road, spun 180 so now I had its headlights in my face. Driver re-started, did a wheelspinning u-turn and raced away. Almost a pity he hadn't gone into the river, would have been a favour to humanity. A reminder of how quickly it can change from life-death.

Some useful tips! for avoiding confrontation with elephants

Chao Lao pier, Chanthaburi 18 December 2024 Eastern Thailand: Chachoengsao, Chanthaburi, Chonburi, Prachin Buri, Rayong, Sa Kaeo, Trat

All aboard! Someone has removed the safety barrier and left a rather dodgy ladder from the pier to the HTMS Phosamton / HMS Minstrel at Samet Ngam, I had a careful walk around the decks on Wednesday, just a few others there, fishing.

How does anyone know? Embassy, Immigration, DLT, bank - none of them have followed me home to check. Apart from us owning the house since 2018 and me having held an account at that branch since 2011, I had a letter from that bank branch dated 3 November - that I received it should be a clue. Anyhow, all sorted, didn't mean to upset you, suggest you go and have a cup of tea and a lie down.

July 2023 there were two Indian icecream salesmen in our Chanthaburi town with their motorbikes and sidecars. They were both arrested and taken away after the usual photo session with Immigration Police posed for local Facebook. And before that .... it's an icecream crime wave! On May 19 2023, officers from Hat Yai Tourist Police, Immigration Police, and Tamhod Police Station in Phatthalung Province, southern Thailand, arrested six Indian nationals who were engaged in the sale of ice cream as a profession, despite being in possession of a tourist visa and having overstayed their right to reside in the Kingdom.

A lot of guesswork there. Not what I said at all. I took a previous letter I had from same branch last year which showed my name and account number, only change was i asked for it to include my address and that day's date, nothing more, no need to explain my purpose.

There was a photo on Facebook of him sleeping it off (whatever it was) in a police cell, and stating that his family have left the country. "He was taken to the Karon Police Station to face charges of public intoxication, causing a public disturbance, resisting law officers by doing an act of violence or threats, and causing property damage."

Cheers; I'll look at transfer options mid next year (on basis it's unlikely I've won 6m in Thai lottery before then)

Only twice a year - just use the 'old' method via my NZ bank they charge NZ$20. I have fixed deposit accounts there from a property sale, earning 6.15% is more attractive than having money here; in terms of their new anti money laundering laws Thailand rates as potential 'highly suspicious activity' and I have to comply or they kindly offered to freeze then close my accounts. Rules are rules, I did inquire whether they had anyone with common sense on the payroll, but apparently not. So I had to get yet another Notary Public (too far for Embassy) copy of my passport as the one I'd supplied was over three months old . . . third time in recent years - I'm tempted to 'doctor' one and just add a new date each time in future.

This must depend on branches of Kasikorn. Thursday I was at Kasikorn in our town requesting a letter that showed my full name, account number and address to meet requirements of my New Zealand bank and their new anti money laundering laws for when I transfer funds; branch manager said they "could not provide address verification". Could only laugh. I opened that account October 2023 and they required my 'yellow book' plus a letter from NZ Embassy to confirm my address, as well as the house tabian baan (in wife's name) and her ID. Obviously only works one-way! Plan B I went to a Notary Public that afternoon, he signed/stamped a declaration for the bargain price of 2000 baht.

The 49th Thailand National Games are being held across Chanthaburi province 9-20 December 2024; over 10,000 competitors plus supporters - a boost for local accommodation and hospitality. 57 sports plus five demonstration sports. Rugby! Based at Burapha University, there's been 4 matches (XVs) a day Mon-Thur, they have a break today tomorrow before quarterfinals on Sunday, meantime two days of Rugby Sevens. Photos from Tuesday, first match played in 32C, later in the day 34C. And ground like concrete, Eastern Thailand: Chachoengsao, Chanthaburi, Chonburi, Prachin Buri, Rayong, Sa Kaeo, Trat

Helmet - always have, always will. Follow a local emergency responder on Facebook her day is mostly just a succession of motorcycle accidents, commonly head injuries minus a helmet of course. Yesterday afternoon I was cycling home there'd been a motorscooter accident a few minutes before, dry, straight road, separate 2.5m motorcycle lane; rider had gone off into the long grass head-on into a concrete lighting pole. Later I'm passed by an ambulance - according to Facebook rider is 'critical'. My guess, texting or talking on her phone. But my best story of the week, Sunday we were coming home from the beach, ahead a saw a motorbike weaving across the lane, got closer and realised he was trying to do a wheelstand. No helmet of course, male, 20s. I slowed and stayed well back, to my delight he got it up near vertical, lost balance and went into a roadside deep ditch of long grass. Gave him a toot and wave ....no interest in helping retrieve the bike.

Eco-nomical? Replaced at about 2500km on daughter's Yamaha Fino. This was an 'ecotire' brand, she bought it on the way home from uni one night due to a piece of wire embedded in the tyre, paid 650 baht. No other options and needed to get home. I found them on Shopee for around 300. Regardless of price, the 'eco' part may be they're made from recycled cardboard. Replaced at 12 weeks when bike in for service at Yamaha. Each week she does 5 x 28km plus some weekend riding to/from part time job, so around 200km at most. In MotoGP terms this would be the soft compound tyre?

Lambretta and Vespa dealers are less than 100m apart in Chanthaburi, lots of choice though see more Vespas - popular with uni students

and of course always wear the correct safety gear

I hadn't seen a Zontes scooter before, then two in one day in the carpark at Central. The Zontes 350E uses a 349cc water-cooled 1-cylinder, 4-stroke, 4-valve engine that delivers a maximum power of 36.7 hp at 7,500 rpm. 16 litre fuel tank gives longer distance range for travel. Zontes 350E In Thailand, Zontes is distributed by Dynamic Motor, the same dealer as Lambretta motorcycles, so Zontes now has more than 60 dealerships and service centers nationwide.

Chanthaburi Moto Coffee and Cars Honda Julio