greenmonkey

2 hours ago, NiwPix said:

Take a look at some imported products, especially from the UK. Then look at the back of that product and it usually has a sticker on the packaging with the name of the importer. Google that importer and send them a message.

My only "concern" would be that these are companies and work for profit.

1) Their license may not allow to resell to a private person ( I am not sure of this by all means...just a guess/thought )

2) They may like your idea and import it and resell it to stores themselves.

Good idea - I will try that next time I am in the supermarket!

Re:- 2) I had considered this point but believe the product is quite niche and not something that can be commercially 'rolled out' - although I will still be cautious!

Thanks for the reply!

Okay so I have a certain food product I would like to import and sell in Thailand. My understanding is that importing food into Thailand is extremely difficult and requires a lot of know-how and mountains of paperwork  (plus an import license if importing food). So my mission is to find a company that already does this and to see if I can consolidate my goods with theirs (which I will most likely pay a premium for but is fine by me). So my question is... does anyone know of any companies that import food stuff from the UK??? Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Many Thanks

 

Who is gonna buy a guesthouse/Hotel that has been closed due to not meeting planning regulations?

Hahaha you would be surprised! 5 or 6 years ago my mother-in-law bought a shed of a guesthouse in Australia (30% over market value) that was falling to pieces. The mother-in-law was then denied entry to Australia on her arrival  to start her new life and then subsequently blacklisted (in her infinite wisdom she planned to do all this without bothering with all the boring stuff such as paperwork and visas).

As the months turned into years she slowly learnt that the property she had invested her life savings in (on a wim without doing any research or having the property surveyed - again boring... and costs money!) was riddled with asbestos, with no license (to be a guesthouse), that needed all new water pipes laid, had backdated unpaid taxes, did not meet fire regs, needed a new roof, with a partner that forged her son's signature (bought in her son's name), and the same partner that also secretly took out loans on said property which then caused said property to have a caveat placed on it by the bank making it unsellable. And what made her throw away her pension and life savings on a wim.... its simple really. The local fortune teller told her it was a winner!!!!!! Unbelievable.

So in answer to your question who is gullible to buy such a guesthouse/hotel with no planning regulations.... my mother-in-law for one!!! And there is likely to be many more gullible fools just like her!

Dead or alive it is a terrible way to treat a 'family' member. What on earth was she thinking!!!!

and in a blink of an eye a life is lost... absolutely tragic and wholely caused by one idiot's impatience. I hope they throw the book at him but most likely he will pay his way out of it.

Just today I witnessed a car do the same thing and overtake on a very small soi even though it was only 200 metres until it opened up. There was car infront of me that was nearly in a head on crash with him but luckily slammed on his brakes in time. This sh#t makes me so angry as it is so easily avoidable. Poor lady and her family.

2 hours ago, dinsdale said:

Need to change the culture of absolute selfish idiots into responsible drivers/human beings. Good luck with that.????

Agreed. So many times my missus will say to me " why is that person driving like this or parking there or... etc..." and at first I always tried to find an answer. Now I have given up trying to answer and use the same standard reply to all.... "because he/she wants to" And this is what it comes down to. People here do whatever is the most suitable for them. If it breaks the law or impedes other drivers or risks a serious accident.... it doesn't matter - as long as it benefits them. Completey self centred and selfish attitude that needs to change. Trust me - if the police start doing their jobs properly their attitudes will change quickly!

5 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:

"...Central agency needed’ to tackle rising road accidents..."

 

What a pile of crap.

 

What is needed is for the police to get off their asses, get on to the roads and patrol. And, when they see someone driving badly, stupidly, under-age and/or drunk, take action.

 

It ain't rocket science.

 

This is a police problem. If the police did their job, Thailand would have MUCH MUCH safer roads.

 

End of discussion.

 

BTW: this "Central Agency" is yet another case of Bureaucratic BS. Stop wasting everyone's time and money on Bureaucratic empire-building.

 

 

Completely agree.

Yeah this pi##es me off and also doesn't ring true at all especially when she is quoting what the Thai guy supposedly said to her in perfect English. It seems people are jumping on the bandwagon of knocking Thailand at the moment. I wonder what would have happened had she acted in the same way in her native country i.e. got s#itfaced drunk and accepted a ride from a stranger.... oh hang on she wouldn't have behaved like that in her native country... but its okay to do it here!!!! Fool.

I have always believed that much in the same way that Europeans strive for tans (because tans are a deeprooted and indirect symbol of money and wealth) that Thais do not want dark skin at any cost (as they are a symbol of low status / working outdoors/in the fields). It could be a load of sloblocks though I guess!?

This is most definitely not the norm. Get rid now and save yourself a whole load of pain! Sorry to be so blunt.

MY GOD.... THAILAND.... NO.... WAKE UP!!!! Talk about insensitive.

Having visited China many times I can tell you this is completely normal behaviour. I expereinced it within minutes of landing at Guangzhou airport on my very first visit. The queue for the taxi's was pretty large so we joined the end. Luckily it had barriers on both sides to stop people jumping in, however, my partner and I were amazed that the queuing Chinese behind us constsantly kept trying to quielty shuffle past us in the queue. And not just on one occassion but many occassions. Obviously we weren't having it and so blocked the lane to stop them doing this. There is no shame or embarassment on their behalf - it is completely normal to them.

I often wondered why they behave like this and I concluded that living in a country with SO many people you simply do not have time to respect other people's time.

10 hours ago, balo said:

So other potential criminal scumbags can see them and learn that crime  will only lead to your place being invaded by Thai cops .  I find it fascinating. 

 

 

 

Do you know that point never occured to me! I always thought it was the police's way of giving themselves a pat on the back and a little bit of self-promotion. Cheers

I recently took a Grab from Denpesar airport in Bali. The driver gave us directions to where he was waiting which I thought was odd as he could just collect us from the door. Then I realised why as there were laods of taxi drivers waiting and they were quite aggressive towards me when I refused their offers of a taxi and one or two were 'accusing' me of booking a Grab taxi. I got to admit I felt a little intimidated and lied saying that I was being collected by a friend. This is not only happening in Thailand!

This country really does amaze me. All these police, staff, photographers etc involved for a small theft crime. I mean the number of man hours wasted is quite staggering. Can someone explain to me why they feel the need to make these videos and reanactments... what purpose do they serve?

40 minutes ago, greenmonkey said:

Holy c@#p OP you still don't get it yet!!! You keep focusing on the technicalities of the incident. It doesn't matter that he ran the red, it doesn't matter that he accepted fault. The point is you clearly saw him do all these things and clearly saw him coming but still decided to make your manouver when infact you should have stopped and let him go!!!! The point is this - If you see something unfolding (whether it is right or wrong) and you have the opportunity to take evasive action then it is your responsibility to do it!!!!!! You chose not to, and that is why people are putting the blame on you.

btw, i just watched the video again and you keep stating that the bike goes thru a red. But it only changes to red at the very second he is level with it (and we are talking milliseconds here). And whether it was red or wasn't red it doesn't matter - he had right of way and you should have let him through.

1 hour ago, Kwasaki said:

 

Or you could of adjusted your speed to let them go.

 

As for "back home" forget that and learn the Thai driving habits "right or wrong" it will keep you safe.

Yep I agree. I have been driving here for 5 years now and have learnt and adapted - in a perverse kinda way I enjoy it! Although as I write this I just remonded myself of the dangers of driving out in the country with the amount of overtaking on completely blind bends.... that blows my mind!

Can anyone tell me the best online site for booking flights to the UK? Many Thanks

2 minutes ago, simoh1490 said:

You may have been in the intersection already but you didn't have to turn, it was your choice and you chose poorly. Again, regardless of whether the motorbike was breaking the law or not, it was in your power to prevent that accident and you didn't....this is not about attacking you it's about declaring who was right and who was wrong which is what you asked us to do at the outset.

sorry OP I agree with these sentiments 100%. It's not an attack on you - I think you have been lucky that this guy was not seriously hurt and should just learn from the experience. Driving in Thailand is NOT easy. A lot of drivers do not care for the rules or their own safety so you need to be on your guard at all times. Regardless of whether another driver has broken the rules - if you can taken action  (without endangering yourself or others around you) that will ensure an accident does not occur then that is your responsibility to do that. I think that this is the message most are trying to convey on here.

Happened to me in 7/11 at the end of soi cowboy - I think they had a scam going there to target the drunk farangs. The 7/11 guy counts your change out of view (but so you can hear the notes as he counts out loud) and then hands it to you folded up. When I unfolded it and recounted it was a hundered short. The funny thing is I didn't say a word but just stopped and gave him the look as if to say I know what you are up to. He still had my hundred hidden in his hand and just handed it to me without a word.

Rule of thumb is that if anyone gives you your change folded up. Unfold it and count it. Same thing happened once or twice with street vendors down Khao Sarn. And when you spot their 'error' its all 'Ah sorry na, sorry I miscount.... here is the rest'.