KhaoYai

A few years ago I was invited to complain about the entrance fee at Khao Yai by the manager who was equally disgusted at the racist pricing for foreigners. She gave me an e-mail address for the head office in Bangkok. It took 5 months for a reply to come which basically stated that its free for Thai's because they pay tax. I wrote back asking exactly how many Thai's pay tax and what about working foreigners that pay tax? I also pointed out that in that year I had probably paid more in VAT than most tax paying Thai's had paid in income tax. Of course, I didn't receive a reply to that e-mail. National Parks in the UK are free for everyone - resident or otherwise and that's the way it should be. I wouldn't mind paying a reasonable amount to enter as long as its the same for everyone. I've seen others turn around at the gate to Khao Yai NP and I'm sure that like me, its not because of the price, its the dual pricing that really grates with most people. Until that day arrives, I will continue entering the way I always do...........in the boot (trunk).

Are you one of those who also forecast 23 a couple of years back?

Totally agree - I've read all these explanations from the 'experts' many times before yet the baht seems to do what it wants. To a stupid layman - what I don't understand is that when the pound was at 1.08 dollars, the pound was at over 42 to the baht. Today the pound is 1.22 to the dollar yet its down to 40.14 against the baht. This is what I, and I'd guess many others don't understand when we're told the pound/baht is directly related to the pound/dollar. Mind you, if we'd listened to the 'experts' the pound would be down to 23 against the baht now. Nothing seems to affect the baht. If another country had a coup, its currency would collapse - the baht hardly faltered in 2014. Toursim collapsed in 2020 due to Covid - baht remained relatively stable.

Somehow I fixed this problem on my old laptop but I can't remember how - I seem to remember that I sought help here. I've just replaced my laptop and am now getting pop up advertising all over Asean Now - it drives me crazy. The main ones are one just above the bottom right of my screen that often contains videos and comes and goes and another that goes right across the bottom of my screen that seems to stay gone when I click it off. I'm using Firefox on W10 and pop ups are supposed to be blocked with no exceptions - how do I get rid of these these guys?

Drugs + Russian.......................not a good mix.

I hope she's also ready for some trumped up charges and a prison sentence.

On a similar subject, I read on Asean Now last year that national parks had reduced the admission fees for foreigners to 200 baht. On New Year's day, faced with very heavy traffic on Mitraphap on a trip to Bangkok, my friend and I decided to go a different way, passing through Khao Yai National Park - my friend told me it was free for New Year. It was free - for her but it wasn't the 200 baht for me that I was expecting. The fee for foreigners to enter Khao Yai National Park is still 400 baht. I've refused to pay 10 times the amount that Thai's are charged since they enforced it for local foreigners a few years back but it was my friend (Thai) who told them to stick it this time and u-turned!

That they even put this out beggars belief. Seem to remember a similar report a few years back - I think it was the police chiefs of Bangkok and Pattaya who went on a tour of Pattaya's streets and concluded there was no sex for sale. They need therapy.

Heaven forbid!

You people are really amazing - you can read a simple few lines from a reprt and know exactly what happened. The amazing part is they you can make these judgements without seeing the evidence reports or witness statements - truly amazing.

As with most things in Thailand - I'm totally confused. Last year when they were talking about the new points system on licences the reports said that DUI would carry 4 points, meaning that you could be caught twice and keep your licence but would lose it if you were caught 3 times as that would use up all 12 points. This news appears to be completely different.

Don't worry, you're not the only one. I printed all my vaccine certificates thinking I'd need them - I didn't.

Something wrong with your maths me thinks - 1500 x 1500 = 2,250,000 - I doubt ANY FL's earn that much - ever. However, I suspect you made a typo???

Up to you

My bike insurance states that I must hold a licence to ride a bike - the ThaI wording says something like 'legally riding a motorcycle with the correct documentation' - possibly deliberately vague. Believe me, Thai insurers wriggle more than others - I've had recent experience. If they can get out of paying in any way - they will.

I don't know why people are arguing this point - there appears to be some confusion. However, avoiding any confusion is really quite simple. For those living in Thailand - get a Thai licence, its not difficult. For those visiting who have a licence in their home country - get an IDP. I can't speak for other countries but in the UK it takes minutes at the Post Office and costs just £5.50 (230 baht). That way you know you're fully legal and will have no problems with the police or an insurance company in the event of a claim. You should still check that you are actually insured to drive a particular vehicle though and that you have adequate cover - the compulsory insurance is pretty much useless if there's serious injury or damage. Remember, if you're on holiday and you are accused of being at fault in an accident and can't show insurance that fully covers you for any potential claim, you may be prevented from leaving Thailand until the matter is settled.

As regards your problems with thread tape - most times when I see a problem is because too much tape has been applied - 4 to 6 cycles should be sufficient. There is only one way to apply the tape - clockwise, but that depends on how you look at it. Put simply - the cut end of the tape should face towards the direction of travel when tightening the coupling. Otherwise the nut will unwind the tape as you turn it. Be sure to just 'nip' the fitting up - no need to over-tighten when you use thread tape. If you still have problems - I'd suggest buying the liquid version but you will have to thoroughly clean the threads if you dismantle the joint again.

It most certainly does not. Some police officers may accept it - one even accepted my passport but try making an insurance claim without an IDP.

Incorrect. Holders of UK licences are required to have a type 1968 IDP.

I do not falsely believe anything. I know my reactions are better, 1. from the police test and 2. because I start from a better position. I pay more attention to what's going on around me and therefore start from a position of greater awareness than I did in my younger days. When I was younger I rarely paid attention to the fact that I was vulnerable and as is common with bikers, blamed car drivers for everything. These days I start from a position that car drivers are not always aware of the speed that bikers are travelling at and also may not see bikes as easily as cars. Whereas ulitmately they may be to blame for an accident, its me that's going to get injured or worse so I am constantly on the look out. In other words - car drivers do pull out on bikes but that will never change so its up to me to watch out for it. If I am like that then its not unreasonable to think that others also are - older riders are more likely to ride with the maturity that comes with age rather than the arrogance of youth. However, I believe that thorough testing is required as people get older and I think the UK has the age when that begins (70) is about right. The testing though, needs to be far more rigorous and probably should include a reaction test. I believe the UK's testing is also carried out every 3 years from 70 onwards - I think that needs reviewing. I have to have a medical every 5 years for my UK HGV licence (from 45 onwards) and when I reach 65, that increases to anually. I cannot understand why the same doesn't apply to all drivers. The risk of serious medical events obviously increases with age but that is a generalisation - it would be wrong to lump everyone together and consider that just because one person may be more at risk of having a heart attack, for example, everyone in their age group is. That is simply not true and proper, thorough medical examination should identify most of those at risk. Each and every one of us is a potential killer when we are on the road and holding a driving licence should be taken as a privilege not a right. Through medical examinations are the best route, not a blanket ban based purely on age.

Sorry but I can't agree. I'm in my 60's and ride a big bike in Thailand. I ride almost as fast as I did in my 20's but there is a difference - I now pay far more attention to the conditions around me, in other words, I'm more careful. However, I know a guy who is a similar age to me and lives close to my home (Thai). He scares me - I've ridden out with him and to put it frankly, he's bloody useless. My reactions are just as fast as they always were - and that's not just me saying that. I recently had to take a speed reaction test after being pulled over for speeding in the UK. My local police force had a caravan set up just beyond the speed trap and instead of fining speeders, they sat offenders down at a video reaction test as an alternative to a fine & 3 points. Try as they might, I beat their test every time. The test was supposed to show me how reaction times are a big factor in accidents at speed. I wasn't expecting that and accept that some people may have slower reactions as they age, hence my preference for a UK style medical test after a certain age - UK style but as we both agree, upgraded. There can be no justification for simply applying an age limit at which your licence is taken but the physical and mental eligibility to that licence must be thoroughly checked.

That may not be so far from the truth. From memory, the air ticket for my first return after the 're-opening' of Thailand in December 2021 cost me sub £700. This year its just shy of £1500. For a 2 week stay I usually allow £2000 including air fares. This year, if I stick to the same budget (and I'm likely to) I won't be doing much travelling after I arrive as most of the remaining £500 will be spent on meals and a few nights out. I've also had to half the amount of trips I put in - previously every 2 months, now every 4 months. Thailand needs tourists to return but to fix the damage the tourist industry suffered during the pandemic, those people need to be spending. At the moment it seems only the airlines are recouping their losses.

So what? How do you know that anyone is unfit to drive based purely on their age. If properly checked, there would be very few at that age that would be allowed to continue driving. People in their 50's have heart attacks at the wheel - there is no particular age of risk, it is wholly dependent on their physical and mental state. A registered physician should make that decision, not you or me.

If of sound mind and physically able - why not?

You will need the Affirmation of Freedom to Marry document as mentioned by Joe above and you will also need a certified copy of your passport. Those documents will both need to be translated and the translations certified by th MFA in Thailand. Most of the translation agencies provide a service where they will take the translations to the MFA for you - you just pick them up a few days later. I can't speak for other countries but if you are British - you can only get an Affirmation at the British Embassy Bangkok - ignore stories that state you can get them in your home country - you can't. Be aware that many Thai Amphur's now operate an appointment system for marriage registrations that include a foreigner. Good info here: https://www.gov.uk/marriage-abroad/y/thailand/opposite_sex