richard_smith237

It's several years ago since I made that trip. I know I made it once on my VFR400, and I didn't like it because of all the trucks. I sold the VFR and a few years later I bought a Duke 390. I don't think I ever made that trip with that bike. If anybody would suggest now to make that trip with any bike, I wouldn't want to do it. But if I would do it, then with a bike which can at least accelerate to 140 or something like that. Maybe the road is better now. I have no idea. Yeah... I recall it was a 400cc something.... and recall you also have (had ?) a Duke... It was good info at the time - put me off doing a similar trip... Getting out of Bangkok is a PITA on a Bike.... not something I've ever had interest in doing to uch a point I ended up downgrading to a scooter that I know I'll never bother exiting the city on. I drive all over Bangkok.... and obviously have driven out of Bangkok (in each direction)... but thats mostly on Expressways and made much simpler (and safer) being elevated and out of the way of all the BS going on on the main roads. I've ridden Bang Na-Trat to a mates house..... I really didn't like it, I had to wave a couple of cars to back off... they were so close behind me as if they thought I was blocking their progress, although I was following another car in front of me.... (and the traffic at the time was too variable and erratic to start lane splitting).

Didn't you do write on here of doing that journey on a KTM Duke a few years ago ?? If I recall correctly, you wrote of how terrifying it was on the Bang Na-Trad road with the lorries and nutty delivery riders etc...

Correct.... the reading of 0.79 % is deadly..... So is 0.5% BAC... I think the article refers to either 0.079% which is a dash above 0.05% BAC 0.08% BAC is considered to be about 4 cans of beer or more realistically, 6 cans of been in a 2 hour period. That doesn't take anything away from the fact that he was over the limit - broke the law and he was impaired, even if slightly and his BAC levels (regardless of being relatively low) could have been to blame for his hurting (or worse) innocent others... ... So, Good job on the Police for catching him... I just wish they'd place exactly the same level of outrage and apply serious penalties for ALL those caught... (Thai's and non-Thai's).

What's Cannabis got to do with two tourist thieving ??? Is the implication that tourists who thieve are dope heads ????

+1 on this..... Very professional. Dr. Payna did my meniscus repair at Bumrungrad last year... Initial MRI and Consultations were 24,000 baht. The Cost of Operation itself was directly charged to insurance but was about 360,00 baht.

No where in the original article does it mention bad foreigners. It was you who used that term. Perhaps you are just naturally obtuse... thats ok, plenty of folk lack the smarts and are a bit too literal.... ...... you may be too new here to remember the Immigration Cheifs slogan of 'Good Guy in Bad Guys out'... news such as this feeds off similar rhetoric....

The fact that it is you telling us, Bob, confirms a grade A1 degree of utter bu!!shi££ery !!!

Yes it is.... given the attitudes you display on this forum, I'm 100% sure the negative experiences you encounter are self generated. I rarely encounter a negative interaction with any Thai people, thats not to suggest a negative interaction never happens, but a negative encounter is not an common experience. Myopia and bias are difficult to overcome for those so cerebrally challenged they are irreparably blinded by their own ignorance.

Porky pies is putting it lightly - incessant bull s£!tting is more accurate... Live and let live - agreed... but Bob enters the fray with posts designed to deliberately trigger a response.... I reckon its about time Bob starts wearing a body cam.... Nope... But I'm sure people believe your Special Services tales.... Agreed... But, its sometimes so easy to bite at the repetitive constant BS'ing.....

Just not true, housing committee + maybe an office girl. What is the difference between a Juristic Committee and a Housing committee ?? The rolls seem exactly the same - In our Moo-baan we pay a per sqm (land) rate and that goes towards the upkeep, pool area, gym, rubbish collection etc and security guards. Residents can be voted into the 'committee' There is an office in the Moo-Ban in which a number of people work (about 4 ppl I think).

Yes they do.... moo-baans... Our has a Juristic office... That doesn't make this topic any less of a dumb troll though...

There are a couple of facets of characteristics specific to Thailand which 'could' be called Thai culture (these characteristics are not the solely Thai and are also characteristics of general behavior and attitudes in some other countries). 1) A General lack of confrontationalism. In General people don't get upset, angry, moan or cause confrontation about simple things - this makes life more enjoyable and stress free for many of us living here. But, this is a double edged sword, as this lack of confrontationalism also causes issues as the same attitudes and apathy prevail, things do not get done which also causes issues. I prefer the lack of confrontationalism, at the same time can get exasperated with things which people seem not to care about. It seems to me that a lot of what makes Thai Culture likeable are the very same things that make it frustrating too, not just for foreigners, but also for Thai's.

Amazing Thailand- this heatwave hotter & more dangerous than the Middle East… … where car windows do not explode or crack from the heat… … Look for a sheepish looking boy & golf club would be my suggestion !!!

You're literally posting on a thread where a Thai is resisting the current offer !!! (there, I corrected it for you !!!)

Everyone has their price (apparently)… … she just hasn’t been offered enough yet…. Are the police also holding out in lieu of a better cut from a higher payout ??? (Oooh what a cynical world we live in !!!)

Heres my experience with this... NDID (National Digital ID) - its a government requirement. SCB - Foreigners cannot register with NDID - but can sign a waver that they are not held accountable for any fraudulent activity on their account (or something to that effect) - then transactions to your normal limits are permitted. Kasikorn - Foreigners cannot register with NDID (I'm not sure if a disclamer can be signed). Bangkok Bank - Foreigners can register with NDID - I have uses this successfully to transfer more than 50k baht.

I that case... it was just a kid smoking a bit of dope and when you complained you had the desired result - no smoke blowing in the direction of your family... I think he reacted better than many would... it could have ended up confrontational. I don't think this is specifically a foreigner thing.. as in "why do foreigners come here and believe they can behave this way ?" I think its just the way quite a lot of people are these days. ------ I had to giggle in France a few months back.... In a queue for a ski lift with my Son and get a strong wiff of weed blowing towards us.... I turn round see a boarder with dreadlocks... I look down at his hands, see the joint and he just grins at me.... I couldn't help but grin back... he's just enjoying himself.... 1 min later we're too far away so its no big deal at all.... .... Its very different in an area where its more difficult to escape - restaurant / boat etc...

I think you missed the point... Its not the news thats the issue, no need to censor anything... Its the 'added rhetoric' that I'm criticising in mentioning another 'bad foreigner' in the same news article... Perhaps I've been reading too many bad foreigner stories, but it seems this really is flavour of the month (two actually)... so they had to add an additonal story to drive home the point that 'foreigners are naughty'... and then perhaps realising that this add on was unnecessary decided to add in a comment about a Thai breaking the law so they 'appear more balanced'... Its a bit transparent IMO - media sources such as The Thaiger are tripping over themselves to report 'bad foreigner stories'.... I guess its better for add revenue when it generates more traffic....

Smoking in general ? or smoking weed on a boat in public ?.... in either case some people are just ignorant ayholes and don't care where their smoke blows - they are either dumb and ignorantly inconsiderate, or deliberately careless. I've had a couple of issues in the past with ignorant cigarette smokers being completely careless.... Weed smokers seem to be a little more considerate but the smell goes a long distance. In this case it seems and idiot was just being a careless idiot... throwing the joint into the water highlights the degree of ignorance there.

Yes... The Op clearly stepped as far as he felt he needed to without pushing the issue any further and risking escalation. He's then asked for a general consensus and opinions on here - thats exactly what such public discussion spaces... i.e. Forums are for !!... You on the other hand are making somewhat of a pillok of yourself !!!

The Beer Lao IPA and Beer Lao White are both very nice beers !!.... Its definitely worth looking out for those.

I think they're about 85 baht for a can (500ml).... given the quality, where we are and what else is available from a craft beer perspective its relatively good value...

And the rest thinking... 'a fool and their money........' Why would someone give you such an amazing deal at 50% or 33% of the real value ???.... As Trans mentioned - no book = its still on finance... or the vehicle is used as collateral for an outstanding loan (loan-shark etc).

Agreed.... I tried Carabau the other day for the first time.... 'orrible is the word - way to malty for my tastes. 7-11 (In Bangkok) now sells a couple of good beers from the Fullmoon Brew works in Phuket - very good IPA beers (IMO).