gomangosteen

Round 3 on 13-14 July 2024 in Chanthaburi

Updates and further information on Facebook: Underground Drift Grand Prix

Location on Sukhumvit Rd - 400m past Global House heading south, opposite Thai Watsadu

Anyone heading for a border run to Ban Laem, there's a border trade fair there from 10-14 July.

Chanthaburi Border Trade Fair 2024
July 10-14, 2024

Thai-Cambodian Border Trade Market (Ban Laem Market)

Business Matching on Wednesday 10 July 2024 at 09.00-12.00 hrs. at Good View Conference Room, Soi Dao Goodview Resort

150 booths to display and sell products. Agricultural products, processed agricultural products, industrial products and other products at the courtyard of the Thai-Cambodian Border Trade and Tourism Association, Chanthaburi Province.

Mini-concerts from artists such as Belle Warisara/Am Chutima/Parkmalody

Giveaways and prize draws.

Organized by Chanthaburi Provincial Office of Commerce

I was at the main Chanthaburi bus station two weeks ago noted there's now a marked counter there for minivan service to Ban Laem (via Pong Nam Ron); used to be over the river near Robinsons, then at the second bus station one block from the main one.

Long time ago I took it once, entertaining in its way with multiple stops picking up people with their sales items to take to the market, returning with people loaded with things they'd bought, including one person with two chickens in a box. All part of the fun.

Just my own experience, and helpful staff/service at TA.

I brought back a triathlon bike from storage in NZ, Thai Airways Auckland - Bangkok. Only had a small carry-on bag they counted the bike as check-in luggage well under the 32kg allowance, cost me zero extra.

Had contacted them beforehand and was emailed a pdf (in English) detailing preferred packing methods, what to remove etc.

Bike arrived on normal luggage carousel at Suvarnabhumi, undamaged.

One question before exit 'was it new or used?' and away I went.

Saw this Lambretta G350 in Chanthaburi on Friday (that's a 300 behind it) then on Saturday stopped in Klaeng (Rayong) seven Lambrettas on a day ride stopped at Banta Cafe.

At Banta Cafe (in Shell Station at Klaeng) theres a few old vehicles, two US yellow schoolbuses converted to diners, and this lengthened Vespa on display, just how many could fit on that?

Some Pattaya views on Wednesday

12 June 2024

Sukhumvit Rd from the pedestrian overbridge

Masjid Darul Ibadah, Pattaya

Eastern Thailand: Chachoengsao, Chanthaburi, Chonburi, Prachin Buri, Rayong, Sa Kaeo, Trat

Click 160 ABS bought December 2023, 4600km so far including two 380km trips, one of 160km. No problems, one puncture though can't blame the bike for that. It's a scooter and does what i expect of a scooter.

Bought to replace the Fino that won't die (now almost 98,000km) for daughter's travel to uni each day 12km each way, but so far she prefers the Fino as finds the Click too bulky, harder to manoeuvre.

Thinking of a Scoopy or Giorno for her when the Fino finally passes away (if ever).

Mr. Davis raised his hands to apologize to Tum at the Udon Thani City Police Station on May 24, 2024.

UDON THANI – A 44-year-old British national apologized to a gas station attendant whom he had punched two days ago as he was too drunk.

Mr. Davis explained that he was a former mercenary from the United Kingdom and had moved to Thailand 22 years ago to start a family and had an 18-year-old daughter with his Thai wife. He admitted to acting irrationally due to personal and family problems and regularly taking sleeping pills or tranquilizers.

The Udon Thani Immigration Department documented Mr. Davis’ criminal record, as this was his first offense. Given his previous assistance to the Immigration Department on Koh Samui and his remorse, he was warned that any further misconduct could result in the revocation of his visa and a ban from re-entering Thailand.

Full article here

Kites at Laem Sing beach, Chanthaburi

22 May 2024

Eastern Thailand: Chachoengsao, Chanthaburi, Chonburi, Prachin Buri, Rayong, Sa Kaeo, Trat

55 minutes ago, Neeranam said:

Indeed, every 5 years DL renewal it saves you a visit to immigration for a residence letter. Khon Kaen doesn't accept the unofficial pink card but ask for the housebook, the yellow one that many foreigners call tabien baan. 🤣

Extra value in our province Chanthaburi where Immigration do not issue residency letters - they refer applicants to their embassy.

Saved me another trip to Bangkok, DLT took copies of card and yellow book.

But as others have mentioned, different rule interpretation in different provinces.

9 hours ago, Neeranam said:

I was lucky enough to get one of these things, however it was useless. Couldn't even use it to renew my 5 year driver's license. The bank didn't accept it. Once I used it to get on a plane but I could have used my driver's license. 

Maybe it's you?

Used recently - since December - for two new driver licences, new bank account with Kasikorn, and to purchase a new vehicle.

Had a fuel pump fail when away from home, left bike with a repair place, they didn't do rentals but another shop did and accepted pink card to allow me to hire a bike for two days. 

Required for competition sports events I enter, and again to prove ID when I'd won a prize.

Hotels accept it as ID.

Was simple to obtain after I got my yellow house book, just a few minutes in the same office, fingerprints and another photo, 60 baht fee.

Any rain welcome in Chanthaburi, our area surrounded by durian and fruit orchards, for months we've had six cloud-seeding rainmaking aircraft buzzing the skies in search of the right clouds.

And the last week of distant thunder, clouds pass us by to go inland and east.

7.16am this morning at the temple, and light rain, still falling now near 9am. Need a lot more, but it's a start.

The 'Chanthaburi 10' fun run Sunday 12 May 2024, 5.50am start for the 10km event; course follows the Bhakti Rambhai canal, background is the hills of Namtok Phliu National Park

Here again today for my latest 90-day; I was first one here for 8.30am opening, on the motorbike heading away at 8.34am. Small delay as I was asked to pose for a photo by the IO - today's happy foreigner!

New process since last time - TM47, IO put my passport into a reader, checked address the same, and 'print' received a receipt showing name, dates etc.

Built 1911, now a protected heritage building

The recreation and gardens area at Central Chanthaburi, waited here yesterday while daughter was at the book fair in the exhibition hall - 'one hour' she said . . .became over 90 minutes.

10km road running event this morning on the east side of Chanthaburi city, didn't need assistance from the mobile medics.

There are 13 days protected by law for all employees.

Government employees get minimum 19, plus recently these 'special holidays' that come out of a magician's hat 

Depends what country you are from in terms of comparison. 

New Zealand: 11 public holidays, work on one and you get overtime rates plus an additional day's annual leave. Minimum 20 days paid annual leave per year, most companies increase this to 25 after five or seven years service, or in the case of my last employer there, 25 is the starting allowance for new employees. 36 paid total, add on minimum 10 sick (many companies higher or unlimited) - think that's more than Thai employment contracts.

1 hour ago, Korat Kiwi said:

That's one thing I like about here.  Inexpensive repairs.  In NZ they no longer do the plug repairs. They have to take the tyre off and repair from the inside. 

 

Naturally it costs a small fortune. I found a gun on Aliexpress that puts an arrow shaped silicon/rubber plug into the puncture. 

 

It's a step up from the previous plug type as the arrow head is inside the tyre and forms a better seal. 

 

But at only 400 baht over here for a repair... Don't need it! 

They didn't plug - that's what I expected as I've seen them used on tubeless bike (the pedal type) tyres. 

The tyre was removed and a patch repair put on the inside. 300b, turns out the pickup service was free as I'd bought the bike off them only six months ago.

Didn't get to see what they removed, usually get it presented to me at bill-payment time as 'proof' (like the dentist offering me my extracted tooth last month)

Life's full of surprises.

Puncture, tubeless rear tire

Local places 'dont' do tubeless' so called Honda in Chanthaburi city where I bought the bike in December, pickup arrived and I took a ride approx 20km with bike on the back, went for a wander at Lotus the around the lake then collected the bike

300b total - wasn't sure what to expect have only had tube repairs previously.

And I checked - inflated to 32 according to my gauge - not 62!

whatever the brand, don't care, when its around 40 at the beach I'm happy to see a motorbike-sidecar selling icecreams

Air pressure!

Checked after MrsM had air put in the Fino tyres on Saturday ... this is a new record of over-inflation, I always check - rear was 72psi, front just 58psi.

I don't think so!!

Successful (*see below) ride on the Click160 up to Rayong province yesterday, arrived at destination just ahead of planned 5am for a running event beginning 6am. 

Mostly on highway 3399, quiet in early morning wouldn't have been more than ten other vehicles until we neared Prasae. Have cycled this route often but first time without pedals. 

Return journey a temple stop at Phang Rad, then took the long way home, nearer the coast, a cafe stop at Khung Wiman.

Washed off the road dust last night - bought in December and still waiting for rain this is the only time it gets wet.

*Checked pressures and found a piece of steel in the rear tire and down to 18, slow leak.

Today's task get that repaired.

Sunday temple, Wat Tha Makok, Phang Rad, Rayong 

3 minutes ago, smedly said:

 Phuket is not a place I would want to visit right now considering the seemingly active effort to by law enforcement to pick on farangs right now, I'd be giving it a very wide birth right now

I don't know that this qualifies as 'picking on farangs' - the IO doesn't have an option in this instance

She'll have this story forever

"Did I ever tell you about the time an Englishman gave me his cocaine?"

A: "Yes only about a thousand times"

[a wide berth]

Another Thai scooter manufacturer, SOLAR, launched April 2022 at the Thailand International Motor Expo.

All SOLAR models are powered by a 125cc 1-cylinder, SOHC, 2-valve, air-cooled 4-stroke engine

The SOLAR Groove Urban model