fm2002

Was recently up at Mityon on Sukhumvit Pattaya and saw the new Ninja 650's. Man I wanted to buy that bike right than and there. I decided to put some thought into it before making such a important investment. I would be doing about 70% on road and 30% off road. I would say 50% of my total driving would be in remote areas like Malaysia, Laos, Thailand and possibly Vietnam and Cambodia. So it has to be reliable and part availability friendly. Some of the time I would have my gf on the back.

Alright guys what bikes available in Thailand would be the best for me ???

Well I'm sure everybody remembers when the airport closed to protesters a few months back. Well I was one of many who had a ticket out. Mine was on Cebu Pacific to Clark, Philippines. As this was just a trip for fun I wasn't to disturbed when I couldn't go. Especially when they promised to return my full fare. Well it's been what 4 months and still no refund. Everytime I call I'm told still no money from Cebu please call back. Today they actually told me at least 2 more months. As Cebu doesn't have a company here in Thailand, but just agents there really isn't any recourse. Great prices, but if anything goes wrong or you have to make changes you better just forget it !

If you didn't this is one reason you should always pay with credit card even if a few dollars more.

I always do except, of course this time. My card had expired and was awaiting the replacement from my home country.

Well I'm sure everybody remembers when the airport closed to protesters a few months back. Well I was one of many who had a ticket out. Mine was on Cebu Pacific to Clark, Philippines. As this was just a trip for fun I wasn't to disturbed when I couldn't go. Especially when they promised to return my full fare. Well it's been what 4 months and still no refund. Everytime I call I'm told still no money from Cebu please call back. Today they actually told me at least 2 more months. As Cebu doesn't have a company here in Thailand, but just agents there really isn't any recourse. Great prices, but if anything goes wrong or you have to make changes you better just forget it !

As I wrote a few months back when the Yellow shirts were in charge of the airport. The core problem is lack of funding to educate the poor. If you educate the poor they will be smarter voters and thereby be represented by those that are truly acting in there best interest. This will lead to the poor blossoming into a middle class. A strong middle class is the sign of a working democracy. As it stands the Yellow or the Red leaders don't give a dam_n about the poor just controlling them and what better way to keep them under control than by keeping them ignorant.

Side note - I feel sorry for Thailand. What just happened at Royal Cliff must be an embarassment for Thailand. People from the outside and I hope inside Thailand will not look at this as a sign of democracy, but instead as a step back into third world status. I'm from the USA and believe in democracy, but in this case I wish the King was back in charge for only He demands the respect of the people in this country no matter how much money is involved !

i am not yellow or red

What horse manure. You are a Thaksin hater and not real big on telling the truth either!

Boy that sure is a leap of faith ! No affiliations here. Just stating fact and amazement what someone would endure for 500 baht.

I take no sides between Yellow or Red, but I know for a fact that people from Issan are being bused up here, given free food and 500 baht per day to join in the protest. What is hard to believe that they do all this for only 500 baht ! I live right next to where the Red Shirts are congregating in Pattaya (behind Big C soi 2) and it's basically a empty dirt lot where they setup floodlights and blare loud speaches and video all night long. It's almost George Orwell "Big Brother" like. There meant to eat, sleep (don't know how; I can't), and be brainwashed all right there. It's 5:30AM now. In about an hour the buses will start departing for Jomtien where without any sleep they will herd up in the hot weather all day. All for 500 baht

I'm very interested in how you plan on getting your vehicle in to Cambodia ??? All the research I've done says you need a permit which is very expensive $1700 USD 1-5 cars and takes 1 month. Unless you plan to roll the dice and pay off the border agents. Which IMO is very risky. Please let me know if I'm wrong.

To answer your question: other than taking the normal precautions I would recommend the device that locks to your steering wheel and a good alarm.

don't take it....is safest i guess.

In the process of building a house for my Tilac's Mom in That Phanom. Have decided on building it cost & materials. Have already negotiated labor cost and now want to source out materials. Compiling a materials list so my Tilac/Mom can take it around for quotes. There is very little in That Phanom to do this so I was thinking of Mukdahan or Nakhon Phanom. Anyone out there know of 3 or so places I could submit my materials list to for quotes ???

Thanks

I have to agree with bkkjames. IMO Thailand just doesn't have the proper climate to ever be able to produce wine worthy enough to put in a bottle. Perhaps a box or bulk for export. I grew up 30 minutes from Napa Valley and what makes Napa or any other good growing area is DRY heat at the proper temp to ripen up them grapes before picking. (Can you imagine what a humid rain would do to grapes right before harvest) Also with lots of quality water and dirt. I would agree with Jingthing if they could produce good wine, but I don't see it ever happening. It really is a case whereby the government is protecting a market with unrealistic potential expectations.

Thailand has to be the worse place I know of in the world if your a wine lover. This is why you'll find me every visa run in Vientiane enjoying great wine at duty free prices !

Well, I had some 8000k ones put on my Isuzu Gold Series truck. Just got back from a trip upcountry where you really need them. They worked great and much better than the ones that came with the truck. Installed, I think they were 9500 baht and come with a 1 year warranty.

You will get oncoming traffic flashing you as they will think you have your highbeams on. I do feel for them, but I have bad nightvision and when I have to drive at night they really work for me.

Need to find a professional Private Investigator to a locate the whereabouts of a Thai national. I believe this person lives in Bangkok. This has nothing to do with locating a bar girl, but instead for a legal issue. If you are qualified and can prove it please feel free to post or PM me directly.

You need to do your homework before starting any HRT regime. A very good start is here:

http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/350/5/482

It should cover most of your concerns.

An acquaintance of Naam's became testy

On observing he'd grown rather chesty

While the hair on his head

Had visibly fled

His thorax was bountifully balled.

brilliant! nothing to improve... except perhaps removing an apostrophe i will however refrain to let him know about the limerick as he has become very touchy about being bald although it suits him.

by the way, no such thing like growing boobs happened to him. i think it's lack of testosterone that causes boobs on elderly males.

I travel every year to Northern Japan to do some snow skiing. My Thai GF would really like to experience snow and thought it would be great to bring her along this year. I have accessed the Japan Consular website and am fairly familiar on the requirements. That said I would rather find a Visa agency specializing in this. To be specific a Japanese owned or ran by Japanese company in Bangkok.

Anybody know of any such agencies ? There are so many Japanese in and around Sukhumvit that I'm sure need a service like this, but as I don't live in Bangkok it would be great to have a few names and locations before I drive down.

Actually there is a good detox spa connected to my gym located on Pattaya Nua Road, Pattaya. It's called Rasayana and the link is: http://www.rasayanaretreat.com/. They also have one in BKK. At times they even have a 2 for 1 for couples. How romantic

Got this from some research I got awhile back from a Thai based company who organizes motor caravans;

"Vietnam :costing for car permission 1200 USD per group/30 days for apply car permission."

Sounds interesting, I am thinking of going to Cambodia, any plans to go there?

Interested in any travel in and around SE Asia. Cambodia would be great, but as mentioned to do it legally you have have to purchase a permit costing 1700 USD 1-15 vehicles. Thought we could start a thread and see if there is enough interest ???

To all,

Just returned from Laos where I did 3000 k touring central and northern Laos in my truck. Had a great time, but was thinking how nice it would be if there were more along for the ride. In addition some countries like Cambodia, Vietnam and China the permit price makes it cost prohibitive for only 1 or 2 vehicles. This invitation or discussion is not limited to make or model, but those that have a car might want to think twice. For example Laos has great roads, but there is always that situation where your on a great rode and out of nowhere you hit a pothole that could house a buffalo and there goes your entire front end

To all,

Just returned from Laos where I did 3000 k touring central and northern Laos in my truck. Had a great time, but was thinking how nice it would be if there were more along for the ride. In addition some countries like Cambodia, Vietnam and China the permit price makes it cost prohibitive for only 1 or 2 vehicles. This invitation or discussion is not limited to make or model, but those that have a car might want to think twice. For example Laos has great roads, but there is always that situation where your on a great rode and out of nowhere you hit a pothole that could house a buffalo and there goes your entire front end

Instead of saying Chinese let's say Rich. I have no problem with people working hard and making an honest buck. I do have a problem when a so-called democratic system that allows the rich to control all aspects of government. Most importantly taxation and the fair distribution of public funds. I don't know for sure, but I would bet that little is earmarked for education and lack of education is the main way to keep the rich rich and the poor poor. When you have such great disparity in wealth you than have a system that allows the rich to keep control of elections through buying votes or buying those with influence of large blocks of votes.

So if you agree with the above who really represents the true democratic process in Thailand ? I would say it's the small Thai middle class. If this is who is demonstrating now than power to them and the democratic process. If on the other hand these are paid for demonstrators, well unfortunately it's just a continuation of a corrupt and flawed system.

I'm very suprised Sunbelt didn't explain exactly what you needed to do and/or explained the probability of acceptance using the Thai Embassy in Laos ???

I used Sunbelt for my non-immigrant B and they told me exactly what to do and where to send it (which Embassy). They never told me Laos was a option and in fact they knew I would be in Laos and never brought up to me this place was an option.

Looking for a hygrometer for my humidor. Went to the "Cuban" store on second road yesterday with no luck. Anyone have any ideas ???

Would like to point out a few things. In my experience in the USA (going back awhile) we worked off 18% beverage cost (higher for top end wine) and depending on the level of the restaurant; food cost for buffet type would be 18-20% and say as high as 40% for high end. Labor cost around 20% (much lower in Thailand) and than operating costs vary. Now anyone can debate the %'s above, but using this as a guide it's apparent that your largest margins are on beverage and as a earlier post pointed out water especially the boutique type water has incredible margins. That said who goes to a restaurant because they serve good water? Drinks are a after thought for most. This is my point that it's a small minority that would bring a bottle with them to a Mantra type restaurant and IMO is a bad business practise because having a reasonable corkage fee wouldn't decrease the spontaneous buyer but instead alienate the BYOB customer. Oh and by the way that BYOB customer will be ordering water and probably a before dinner drink and after dinner espresso . Oh and if his date is Thai a fruit shake or soft drink.

Now obviously I have an axe to grind and would prefer if Mantra would change their corkage fee, but isn't this one of the powers of fourums. Where we can pool together our like minded thoughts and try and make changes ???

[email protected]

I am willing to come to the defense of Mantra on one point and that is it really isn't their fault that Thailand has such a outrageous import tax on wine. (Someone told me it's the second highest in the world !) Because of this it's a overwhelming feat to provide value in selling wine on any level.

However I would point out that all over the world the majority of restaurants allow you to bring wine in, and at a lower than what Mantra is charging, corkage fee. If you really look at this as a restaurant owner (as I once was) the % of customers that bring in their own wine to a nice restaurant is very small and the ones that do are usually a customer that eats out often and spends more. Which in the local sector is what any owner would want to capture.