Holmsedale25

How about he looks at using those funds to improve the infrastructure first. All the major tourist cities & islands are gridlocked and becoming a nightmare for local residents both Thai & Expat to just go about their normal daily activities. Pattaya for example, where the traffic is absolutely out of control every weekend (and weekdays more frequently now), with even Grab and Bolt taxis refusing to take business. And splitting some of that money to renovate/refurbish many run-down beauty spots that are, in some cases, in a serious state of disrepair and not something most tourists would be pleased to have spent money visiting. First impressions count and many places of interest would not want you going back or recommending 

On 12/6/2020 at 6:06 PM, solent01 said:

The Tracer 900 GT is a great cheapish sport tourer, I got one 5 months back. 3 things that niggle me though.........

1. Panniers are meant to be standard equipment on the GT...... NOT IN THAILAND

2. Passenger foot pegs are too close to riders foot pegs.... I like to ride with the ball of my foot on the pegs, can't on the Tracer without getting caught up on the rear pegs.

3. Snatchy throttle.

 

Over all I'm very happy with the bike, and for the cost it's a no brainer

solent01 did you ever get a clear reason from Yamaha Thailand why the GT does not come with the Standard panniers. I just got fobbed off at Yamaha Pattaya, so looked at other brands. Was not happy to pay extra and wait for 3 month delivery of spec boxes. Pattaya dealer just kept pointing to the Givi boxes on sale...<deleted>

This bike is now sold

Price now reduced to 400,000 baht, open to sensible offers.

5 hours ago, overt2016 said:

a broken record!!!

Thailand has enough road laws to lower this daily carnage, but 

1.. incompetent enforcement.

2.check points to squeeze funds.

3. no patrols on streets.

4. me first attitude

5. no knowledge of road rules

 

Totally agree. The rules are in place but the enforcement of them is an absolute joke.

Road blocks, now what the **** do they achieve in the way of clamping down on ludicrous driving, Red light jumping (my pet hate), L turns across all lanes of traffic, instead of a correctly manouvered u-turn, overtaking at insane moments, forcing oncoming traffic off the road and having the ignorance to flash as if they are in the right. The list of unsafe behaviour is endless but as many of you have highlighted not a finger lifted to improve things, either by better training or giving the cops a large size 9 up their rear to change they way they operate, I saw quotes of 10,000 baht fines for not wearing a face mask during this crisis but yet only 200 baht for not wearing a helmet or 500 baht for jumping a red light... mental, just bloody mental. I am led to believe that Vietnam increased their fines 10 fold and now everyone (ish) wears a helmet, although not sure if driving standards have improved.

Before i turn this into a complete Thai bashing rant, i must add that i spent 4 years living in South Korea and the driving was just as bad (Red light jumping, scooters riding on pavements, parking at right angles to the road on bends (yes really!!!)), so lets hope the Koreans also spend as much focus on saving lives on the roads as they have been trying to prevent this virus from spreading

1 hour ago, Max69xl said:

"Social distancing was impossible at bars and clubs and discos"

And social distancing is possible in markets in BKK with thousands of people shoulder to shoulder every minute? 

Totally agree. Their arguments are flawed, especially if you include the BTS station crowds in Bangkok. As it has been stated, there has been more cases of Dengue fever (8,147 people) than this daft virus. So with the current mentality, the Dengue fever and deaths on Thai roads figures, no one sits outside and no one drives anywhere, ever!! Total madness 

8 hours ago, Benmart said:

"We"? Don't include me in your know all statement. 

Dear me what a statement you have just made. So why the **** are you still here and why did you come in the first place. Oh wait! It was the beautiful beach, etc. ????

We all stay here because we initially came for the same reasons, women/men/ladyboys, booze, sun and lawlessness. Nothing has changed since the US GIs first set foot in this town, so please stop these daft comments and lets hope the lunatics up in the big smog wake up and realise this virus, like others, will never go away in full and all of us just need to get on with our lives. If you feel sick, go to the doc. If a mossie bites you bad, go to the doc. If a street dog bites you, go to the doc....it ain"t rocket science, unless that is a bar girl bites you ???? 

13 hours ago, RedPill said:

If all comes back to normal, I would love to see ppl seeing and remembering this. 

 

Phuket completely destroyed, nature wise and by corrupted & greedy 'businesses'

... after so many helped to re-build and send donations after the Tsunami. 

 

For this, I hate Phuket ... been back there 4 years ago and left after one night. So many other nice places and national parks in that area.

 

Sadly i agree. My first time in Thailand was a week in Phuket back in 1994. I loved it. Beautiful place, beaches, food, etc. Hotel was cheap but amazing for the price and the locals were an absolute friendly riot to be with. Roll on 20 odd years and greed, ignorance, racism, and pure stupidity have destroyed Phuket. Pattaya, Samui, Chiang Mai.... unfortunately all the bloody same. They know best...but they don't do they! The best resorts in Thailand now are run and owned by those who have the money and savie to travel abroad, see what tourists/travellers want, bring the ideas back and take it to the next level.

The amount of run down, poorly maintained, poorly managed and quite frankly shocking establishments that still claim to be the place to stay is astonishing and they all need a f**king size 10 up their backsides before anything improves in LOS

9 minutes ago, Traubert said:

2BN in Shanghai and Beijing yet only 1.4bn only in China?

 

I always thought the Indians could hold their own on University Challenge too. ????

my bad, 20 million not 2 billion... just a few zeros out.... off with his head☺

54 minutes ago, WillyPlatt said:

Brilliant Sherlock.

Let's create a virus that not only could wipe out are own country, but one that spreads to all our customer's countries so their economies are driven into the ground and then they will not be able to buy any goods we make.

You aren't one of the people in the UK climbing 5G masts to set them on fire are you?

Apparently, the internet says that these are spreading coronavirus and of course the chinese created this as well.

 

Easy Tiger..

I am no fan of conspiracy, just sharing what i can see and read on the world web. One Indian news channel was very critical, highlighting how was it possible Beijing and Shanghai (populations both over 2 Billion we are told) were hardly affected and how all the chinese based factories have managed to fire back to full operation so quickly....

Makes you think but like you i believe in facts, so lets just stick with what we know and move forward to act the right way to defeat it, which we all hope is soon.

10 minutes ago, khaowong1 said:

Are the golf courses there closed now?

yes they are

11 minutes ago, Toany said:

Don't worry.  Wuhan airports are open again.  The Chinese tourists will soon return

when money talks, you are probably not far off. There is a very large (and growing) group of conspiracy theorists that are convinced the Chinese planned all of this.  

4 hours ago, Chivas said:

More to the point why are there any foreigners still in Pattaya in the first place.

They've all had time to abort the country completely or move to another city even if only a temporary measure

Now we'll hear farang whinging left right and centre. With the 10 day booze ban as well coming shortly they must be gluttons for punishment

Dear me, you need to get out more.

For many Pattaya is home and are happy to stay. If booze is a life line, enough notice has/will be given, so everyone is stocked up. Life is OK in Pattaya if you have prepared. The streets are nice and quiet, food delivery services via Food Panda, Grab or individual restaurants are very good (if your are not a Gordon Ramsay in the kitchen) and ipads, etc., fully charged. No punishment here, only reading daft comments from those who obviously need help...

3 hours ago, Kerryd said:

Hmmm, with the lock down in Pattaya, it seems those on the darksidecould still drive/ride to Ban Chang. Not sure what the powers that be have regulated there, but I'm sure there are a bunch of locals in need of support, especially the ones that work (or used to) on a certain soi there.

That'd be a hoot - us on the Darkside can still drive around but the people in Pattaya proper are stuck in the city ! 

There are a few check points when crossing into Rayong province, so there is a possibility you will have issues getting to Ban Chang without a valid reason

On 4/1/2020 at 6:24 AM, Don Mega said:

if that kinda content upsets you why are you watching it ?

Because they are repeated over and over again where movies should be. I watch a good movie, wait for the next and boom, the two idiots are on again....and again....you get the script!

Guys thanks for that but you didn't get my vibe. I know and have all access to the best and most updated movies, my rant is about the idiots still being paid to repeat complete garbage for months on end on our local tv. That fxxking loud mouthed chef just needs to get off tv. Arrogant, ignorant, half wit...

Its not about what i can't see, because i can, its about why are those fxxking clowns still on our screens. Benny b....whatever his Bang Saray real name is & that idiot burger burner...GET OFF THE TV

On 8/14/2019 at 5:26 PM, Benmart said:

Exactly. There seems to be a lack of police will to ticket, clamp or tow vehicles that park or stop anywhere, anytime and for anything. The buses, scooter taxis, regular taxis and baht buses operate with impunity. Traffic wise, it is a town out of control

Totally agree. Police at Teedin intersection South Pattaya are hopeless. Forget their traffic jam causing checkpoints (for which they have just received a dressing down about) they don't even prevent people parking in Red and White "No Parking" zones by the 7/11 & food stalls which block the filter lane to turn left towards the Mind Resort. Total chaos, everyday, right under their noses!!

8 hours ago, Bluetongue said:

Well I hoped to having a beer at the World Superbikes in Buri Ram on the 17th, it is sponsored by Chang, I wonder if there will be any leeway shown to former politicians who own race tracks. My guess is no leeway, we shall see

I understand elections are important but this ban will be a nightmare for Superbike organisers. International event, loads of visiting bike fans from around the globe, who will expect to enjoy the event with a few beers.

Add this to the loss of revenue the local bars and restaurants in Buriram who rely on the increase in customers will miss out on.

When will those in charge not learn to check on major events beforehand? 

I am surprised sponsors like Chang have not raised this point as a PR failure.. 

On ‎8‎/‎2‎/‎2018 at 9:50 AM, Just Weird said:

Grab has not been forced out of Bangkok by anyone, Grab taxis are all over the place, neither has Uber been forced out of anywhere, Uber were here illegally right from the start and were taken over, not forced out.  Do some research before you rant ignorantly.

Just Weird, think you need to see the recent reports from Pattaya, Chiang Mai and others. Grab drivers are being hounded/forced out by local taxi mafias in many towns. Agreed it may not have fully got to that stage in Bangkok but it will come if Grab is not given the support it deserves. I used Grab in Buriram during the MotoGP weekend and the service was above and beyond what is normally available

As many of you have mentioned, its not the size of the bike; its more to do with what is between the ears (or not as the case may be) and how strong your local law enforcement are.

I have spent a few years working in South Korea and they have the 125cc and below, no license or training required policy. Many of us expats (and Koreans) that wanted to ride big bikes had to take a handling test to gain our license regardless of home country license, experience, age, etc. This was done on a 400cc chopper style bike (like a Stead) and was strictly monitored due to electronic strips on the extremities of the very narrow test course which would sound an alarm if your wheels touched them. More than 1 alarm was a fail and re-test.

So based on this testing requirement you would think life was good...not a chance. The biggest idiots on the road were the thousands riding bikes/scooters 125cc or below. Riding along pavements, wrong way down a one way street, weaving in-between traffic at stupid speeds, ignoring traffic lights,....sounds familiar? At the end of the working day from the worlds largest shipyards, thousands would poor into the urban streets heading home on their bikes causing absolute chaos and this right in front of the local police. Accidents daily and deaths very frequent but nothing changed in the 4 years I was there.

I suppose my overall point is, to target big bikes is pointless it needs to be all bikes, it needs to be stringent and bad habits need to be policed.