canerandagio

3 minutes ago, smotherb said:

You seem to want to use the knowledge of potential sexual abuse to justify your statements that not many knew. I don't follow that.  However, I too feel 99% is no more than exaggeration.

Hi Smotherb, I am just saying is that if somebody is ignorant then he/she can be easily manipulated. For those girls to whom this applies (many or most, whatever that is), it's unfair to say that they make a conscious decision to go there and do sex, some of them don't do it, and some of them don't know they will be forced into it (I think a minority will be forced), whilst others may be induced or tempted into it when they are there. Fundamentally though many are not armed with the same rational ability or life experience that we may assume. At least that's my view.

However, I think this is plenty for a forum conversation. Beyond this it should become verbal, so let's leave it there :)

Bye, have a good eve.

5 hours ago, smotherb said:

While I am willing to believe there are girls who have no idea of what may happen to them in a foreign country; I seriously doubt it is the majority or even a considerable number. A common fear held by girls and their parents throughout Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines over 50 years ago was to not let your daughters leave country for work, vacation or even marriage; because they would be sold for sex. In the years since, some girls may have had fine experiences overseas, but far too many have been sexually used. I doubt the known potential for sexual abuse simply went away.

Oh, yes sure I agree with you. I experienced concerns on my girlfriends family, who knew me well, when I wanted to go on holiday with her in Myanmar, because they were afraid I may sell her away lol.

But this example only helps me to illustrate my point in a clearer way than i did before. It shows the ignorance (a relative term) of some/many of the girls and the families which educated them... the key to read this matter is therefore not to use our own informed judgement but rather using the less informed and devoid of reference points judgement of the girls. This then generates situations in which a girl is concerned of going on holiday with her boyfriend (near nonsense) but such a simple mind is easily manipulated and convinced to go there where the danger really is. So, my point is - there are yes prejudices, awareness and fear - of being sexually exploited abroad, but they are in the eyes of often naive and ignorant girls. This leads me to agree with you that most of the girls are aware that there is danger out there somewhere, but that 'many', I don't necessarily say 'most', once they make the step have been somehow convinced that it's ok to go, whatever that means in their mind.

Whether we are talking of 'many', or talking of 'most', I think both differ from the 99% which was mentioned above, a virtuous way to say 'virtually all girls', which I disagree with. :)

I know many a girls who went to Korea with no intention of giving any service other than massage and I pray that they were able to stick to their intention,. Call me gullible if you wish, but I have a few decades experience on the matter and I think I know what I am talking about: I am talking about honest, respectable girls with a naivety and family circumstances dire beyond the understanding of the average farang.

Those who write here saying that 99% of the girls working in massage parlours are engaged in sexual activities, and those who write that girls who go to Korea know exactly what they are going into should reconsider their views, as many girls go without having a clue where they are going or what they are getting into, they just follow friends after they have tried all the options they could find at home to make a living.

Many thai girls in Korea work 24/7, that means, they are available anytime a customer walks in, day or night. Often they are prohibited from leaving the shop because of fear of police spotting them in the streets, so they are confined inside the shop virtually all the time. They have the choice of paying the air ticket by themselves (which they often don't know how to do) and take the risk of losing the money if they are rejected at immigration and sent back to BKK, or they can let their future boss buy the ticket, paying it double the amount through their work, which means the first month or two of their work is unpaid (they work for free).

Some of the views expressed here seem to lack respect for many girls who did not have the opportunity to get a proper education to life from their families not to mention from a formal education or professional training and I do not for a moment believe they enjoy going to live in a shop in a foreign country far away from their families at the mercy of a boss who can easily decide not to pay them if they don't behave as he sees fit. They do not go for one or two months... they go for one or two years, or more, unless they are caught, imprisoned and - if the boss pays the fine - repatriated to their life as it was before...

Sounds harsh, but sometimes it's useful to look at things as they really are...

Thanks all... First of all I think I found a solution to the right-left debate. I will not change the indicators but I will drive with my arms crossed, left hand on the throttle..., that should do, it's only a few days.

Am a little anxious about the trip so forgive further questions.I will get evisa for Cambodia, right? Any recommendations on this?

On 10/7/2017 at 3:46 PM, MaksimMislavsky said:

If it is a small bike - all you need is the green book, liability insurance, and the technical fitness card + copies.

It is a small bike indeed (Honda PCX). What is the technical fitness card? I don't have one.

On 10/7/2017 at 6:37 PM, rosst said:

Much the same, I had to get an English translation of the green book and insurance from traffic in Nong Khai, it is illegal to drive with lights on during the day, so I fitted an extra switch but they did not check it, was not too difficult, fill out the temporary export form and then do the visa shit and all good.

I have the standard Thai insurance, will that suffice?

How is the translation to be? An official paper or just plain?

I am in BKK, do I need to go through an agency?

As for the lights, I intend to just cover them during the day with some dark paper, would that do?

On 10/7/2017 at 3:46 PM, MaksimMislavsky said:

can cross at Had Lek to Koh Kong (longer but more interesting route), Aran to Poipet (the shortest and easiest route, but can be harrassed at the crossing), and a few smaller crossings from Isaan.
 

What difference betweek Koh Kong and Poipet aside from the harassing?

How much longer is it please?

Further questions:

1 - Worth getting a SIM card (and where?) or should I roam with my Thai AIS?

2 - Where can I change money and should I bring cash Thai baht or US dollars?

3 - Aside from the dangers of riding, is it safe? Anything I should be wary of?

PS - Am an experienced traveller and biker, just not familiar with the country and I will be on my own.

Hi All,

Quick question. I live in Thai and have a regularly registered motorbike on my name as well as an International Driving Permit.

I'd like to drive to Phnom Penh for a few days and back to Thailand.

Can someone handhold me through this please?

I am concerned in particular with:

1 - Documents required.

2 - Which border posts

3 - Best route to follow

4 - Dangers and nuisances at the border and within Cambodia (assuming there are any worth mentioning).

Thanks in advance,

Straydog

3 minutes ago, papa al said:

Proportionally.

 

√ air filter.

Did you mean to say something about air filter? :)

Thanks... will making the changes to the variator affect consumption? Significantly?

Cheers,

straydog

Is there a way to modify it like opening up the injections or changing gears? Sometimes there are very fast bikes around that are obviously modified. I don't think there is anything wrong with the bike. I myself tried a scoopy and a rented filano and there was a significant difference, beyond the lightweght factor.

Hi,

A friend of mine is here as a tourist and keeps coming in and out of the country on tourist visas. He wants to get a motorcycle driving license.

He has an international license for car but not for bikes.

He has a contract for the long term rental of his studio in Bangkok.

I advised him to go get a certificate or residence in Pattaya because (1) In BKK he could not get one as he is a tourist and (2) he cannot get a letter from his embassy.

My thinking is that with the certificate of residence he will be able to then get a licence in Bangkok and by a motorbike.

Does it make sense?

Will he get a certificate of residence in Pattaya with the tourist visa and with an address in Bangkok?

It's obvious that it is hard, but if someone could provide hard facts it would be great.

Thanks,

straydog

Hi,

A friend of mine has a Grand Filano. It's beautiful as hell but it's not greatly reactive, it seems slow when starting, and a bit reluctant to pick up speed. A Yamaha XT or even a scoopy are more reactive. There is nothing wrong with the bike, but is it possible to make it more reactive by changing exhaust or doing some other trick?

If yes, where and what are the costs and implications please?

Thanks,

straydog

Cannot compare the two as I only know the PCX. It's superb, manouvrability in traffic is good too, just need to get used to it. I only wish it had a led flashing when you are close torunning out of petrol :)

I have a wire cup holder (made for motorbikes)  bolted to my handlebars. I use it as a hook for shopping bags when I don't have a drink in it. Most motorbike shops have them, they are pretty inexpensive.

Close your eyes an quietly chant:
"go talk to an insurance agent r 2."
Repeat until you reach enlightenment.

Go talk to an insurance agent r 2.

23 minutes ago, chrissables said:

If you mount the hook in the middle of the handlbars, the bags will stay in the middle. :)

The hook didn't fit in the middle (couldn't go through the lower part of the steel bar), but I'll get a twin one for the other side and look for a different for the middle, will post photos.

Thanks for your help.

straydog

1 hour ago, DILLIGAD said:

Great improvement. When are the 'go faster stripes' being fitted!! 555


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1 hour ago, DILLIGAD said:

 

I took them out :)

Now it's time for elephants :), see attachment... ideas welcome...

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Straydog is proudly presenting the very limited edition Milky PCX, masterfully (err... reasonably masterfully) wrapped and de-orangised by Wrap Society, Rama III BKK.

Very pleased to have done it, work is 80% OK, price probably too high (7500 thb), but I do have that feeling of having my very own bike now... and that's priceless :)

Next step is to apply some creativity to it... ideas welcome, for now I enjoy my milkshake :)

Comments welcome

PS - obviously the second picture is how it was prior to the cure..., note the box...

5 hours ago, canthai55 said:

Bought mine 2015. Had First Class every year since. Tokio Marine

Can you tell me more?

What it covers and how much you pay?

What docs you need to provide?

Does it cover only one driver?

I'm looking for one, so you can easily sell it to me, just give me some details, including cover name, documents I need to provide, do I need a certificate of residency?

Thanks in advance,

straydog

18 hours ago, Agusts said:

You didn't address the part what happens if you loose the fob... ! Don't they give you a spare... !? How much are the replacement anyway...

I don't know how much a replacement would be, and I don't know how they would know ho to code it for my bike either... anyone knows (could it have to do with a barcoded plastic tag I was given?).

And no, no spare given when the bike was purchased.

11 hours ago, genobkk said:

I live in Bangkok, just want to know if a rental agreement or any proof of Residence was required doing the Tourist visa conversion to non-O.  Looking for a list of requirements to make sure it goes smoothly. I will use monthly income method with letter from U.S embassy  thanks 

Please see post 44 in this thread, which contains the official list of documents - handed to me by immigration at CW - required for the conversion to Non-O visa.

As you can see there is no mention of the rental agreement in this list, although I did bring it over, so I can't say with certainty whether it was used. If getting it is an issue for you then you can attempt to go without the document.

Couple of things: there are 3 bank papers, on which the officer was rather inflexible, to the point of sending me back to the back when she found one missing. These papers can be easily obtained on the ground floor at CW by Bangkok Bank (if you bank with them) or by another bank I would imagine (they all have branches there and seem to be very familiar with what your requirements are).

The other point is that - if as the list provided seems to indicate - there is no need to provide a rental agreement, then we have an answer for those who posted most recently in this thread who live in Pattaya and need to appear as Bangkok residents.

If no rental agreement is actually needed then it'd be sufficient to turn up at immigration with a Bangkok address (a friend) in case one is asked, but no official papers backing it. It should be sufficient to go through the application (first visit).

Have to say also that I was told that when applying for the extension to a 1 year from 90 days all documentation will have to be provided again, therefore any tricks regarding residence would need to be replayed.

Cheers,

straydog

All, reviving this thread to say that I took the PCX up to the wrapping shop today to make it as white as a vanilla milk shake..., covering all those hideous orangey bits.

The material of the orange areas was examined by the shop expert and the response was that it can be wrapped as long as it's primed with some glue.

The SD39 topbox will also become white. I should get it in the next couple of days and will post pictures... 7500 baht for the work, seems pricey to me but hopefully worthwhile...

Once it's full white I may let the fantasy run...

2 hours ago, genobkk said:

Thanks for the help.  What do I need as proofread  of Residence?  Dtac phone bill? KBank credit card bill?  or do I need a lease agreement?

I did exactly this whole thing last month (on kind instructions from buick), all I brought to CW concerning residency was the lease agreement. I can't tell you if they even looked at it, but probably yes. It was no hassle, no questions, quite kind lady.

I remember she asked me colloquially where I live and I couldn't remember it lol (I confused Bang Chak with Bang Rak), so she laughed and made a comment about how far it was.

Just a note on the most recent JackThompson post, strictly speaking you don't need to even keep your residency for 2 weeks, as the only time when my 'resident' status was considered was when I applied for the conversion. Collecting the passport with the O visa two weeks later was as simple as taking the number, dropping my passport and the receipt from the first visit to a desk, stand 10 minutes outside of the booth for the passport to be handed back to me with a smile and some instructions on when to go back for the one year extension. No docs required after first visit, just passport and receipt.

cheers,

straydog

4 hours ago, phetphet said:

I must admit that I never do it myself, but when I bought my PCX, I was told that it is safer to also turn off the remote when leaving the bike. 

By that I mean so that the red light shows on it, and not the green.

 

I don't know why.

First of all you are right, the red light locks the bike and the green light unlocks it.

This said, my view is that I would not give much or any credit to what the sales assistant told you. How could it be 'safer'? Would it mean that it doesn't work all the time?

And - even if that was the case, which I am positively convinced it's not - chances that someone checks if your bike starts with the intention of stealing it right at the time when - by some bad luck - the self-locking mechanism hadn't engaged properly are one has to admit very very slim.

One could turn this on its head saying that perhaps - if the locking mechanism is that flaky - it could be that it doesn't engage properly when actioned through the remote, rather than when self-engaging, after all the remote is 'remote', so more chances of it going wrong.

Moral of the story: enjoy the technology and stop waiting for green and red lights, let the bike do it all for you, after all you paid for it :)

5 hours ago, tazly said:

 

How?  What do you mean exactly, rather than beating around the bush?

Well, JackThompson in a post following yours has cut off one of the options, the most obvious one I had in mind: just apply in Bangkok whilst you live in Pattaya.

Since this option isn't viable then if I were in that position I would assess the financial and non-financial impact of each of the options available and check which is most convenient.

The first idea that comes to my mind is to keep living in Pattaya, go to BKK, rent a room for 3k-5k per month solely for the purpose of getting a contract. Get it with as short a contract as you can, get the contract written and signed, bring int to Chaeng Wattana and say you reside in BKK. Apply for your visa conversion, keep your bangkok condo, get through the 90 days and 1 year applications and then give up on the Bangkok condo and lose the deposit.

This you could do keeping your Pattaya life intact. The condo can be sorted out in 2 hours on the same day as you go to apply for visa in Chaeng Wattana. I think this would cost you less than flying out of the country to apply for a visa. (not sure of your circumstances but the cost of documentation and its certification for an OA visa in London + visa fee can be hefty, not to mention flights and accommodation)

Variants of this option include moving in 'virtually' with a friend in Bangkok offering to pay a couple of months rent in exchange for a document showing you live there (so you don't have to forego any deposit).

Hope this helps.

straydog

To all PCX detractors, :)

I think I am an idiot lol... for weeks I was wondering about the much celebrated smart key and I couldn't figure out why all the fuss really, hence my post above. Then yesterday I had - after posting this - the idea of looking this up online and.... the magic happened... I figured it out!

The smart key is smart because it locks and unlocks the bike for you. No need to do all the messy stuff I mentioned above clicking on the button to engage the lock, wait for the green light on the fob etc.

Simply put the bike knob in the lock position (this will lock the bike within seconds and you can hear an audible signal) walk away and when you come back turn the knob back into the engine on position, the lock checks if you have the fob on you and let's you start the bike.

So, what was I doing wrong? Well, since I didn't know that the lock actually detects the fob within 6ft (manual is in Thai and shop didn't tell me, well certainly didn't tell me in English), I was simply thinking that the bike wasn't ever locked, since it was always starting up for me. This made me engage the lock manually every time. Silly me, the bike was opening up for me because the fob was in my pocket, but it wouldn't have started for anybody else... I tried this morning and that's exactly the case...

So, one more reason to have a PCX :)

Thanks for the err... 'useful' answers :)

straydog