scorecard

My guess (just guess) is that battery technology will continue to improve and costs will come a bit because of competition, over the next several years, and charging options will expand, and these items will expand into area/systems not yet known. I saw one advertisemnt (forget where), EV car had a separate box ready to drop in a new bought or hired battery, available from multiple tpes of shops, to provide 2 hrs extra driving or something similar at reasonable cost. If hired can be returned at many locations for return of deposit. ALso mentione buying a 'spare' small battery to be lefy in the smaller storage with a long life, if needed in some emergency situation. Seems to me more and more such things with mutiple options will be designed and be on the market from multiple types of shops/facilities etc., into the future. Just one of course, and already available, is solar panels under the roof of the car.

"Real estate tycoon Srettha Thavisin made clear today (Friday) that he will not accept any ministerial portfolio other than that of prime minister if the Pheu Thai Party becomes the core party in a new government coalition after the election." Real estate developer. His purpose is obvious, push for special deals, reductions in taxes etc., etc., for his industry and especially his own quite large company. As he's stated he doesn't want to be bothered by any other subjects In a couple of words 'unethical greed'.

Add... and locked into rote learning, children not allowed to ask questions. Plus 'I told you the answer, you don't need to know why it's the correct answer'.

From many levels including the highest...

Singapoe scores well too, and the quality is excellent. Many countries would love to have the same rankings as Singapore, all levels of schools. Vietnam is interesting, one of the ministerial advisors is my old student. Hee won scholarships to study for years in Singapore and came back to Vietnam with a persoal dream 'to copy the Sinagpore model into Vietnam and there's some success. He's told me it's now common in discussions about future policies that Sinagpore is touted by many senior education officials as the way to go.

In other words daddies cannon fodder / daddies guarantee to keeping a finger in the trough / daddies way of controlling the pheu thai 'gang', who are his cronies / partners in crime but could if they wanted push him out, but right now still too frightened to do so.

Or maybe she will be happy to be relieved of the pressure of being PM given that she knows she has no experience whatever to take into the job. What must also be on her mind is 'how long before i'm the next shin to be forced out by a coup or whatever'.

Currently NO.

"Some fruits & veggies, you can get cheaper at local fresh markets, if convenient. " My son visits the cleaner fresh markets regularly, buys some meat (especially pieces of beef which is BBQd at home on coals after adding a sweet sauce then sliced into narrow lengths, a favorite of all the family and especially me. Also decent size chunks of good pork which we gring at home to make a pork/tomato spaghetti sauce. He buys many vegetables at the markets, often a big bag of Thai radishes (very cheap) which his wife uses to make a very nice Thai soup. The main focus at the markets is fruit. Son has taught himself how to select better quality ready to eat, especially oranges and wtaremelon and other melons (checked always for sweetness), and he found a market with imprted dark grapes from Peru (always checked for sweetness). Always a variety of 2 or 3 fruits on the table after every meal. Fruit and carrots cut into small pieces always ready for the 3 kids. Son also buys 1 or 2 kilo mesh bags of quite small onions. Peeled and steamed and ready for the kids as a snack. Kids love them. He also buys half / full liter containers of freshly made Thai yoghurt at the markets. Kids consume that quick smart. Market shopping (as above) certainly reduced overall food costs.

In simple specific English make and seriously implementen policies and laws which ensure ' equal opportunity '.

Maybe. Is working in Thailand 35 years an 'automatic' route to Thai citizenship? All countries have prescribed factors which must be 'ticked' to gain approval for citizenship, and I suggest it's not desireable for 'make your own rules' to be part of the process. A simple further example: To gain the OAP there's laid down parameters / tests etc., which must be met and they aren't flexible.

Thanks.

Volt EV Chiang mai by Sangchai Website Directions On the website showing several photos of VOLT, interior ad exerior there's a panel just left of the steering wheel with 3 buttons: D N R I'm guessing this means: Drive Neutral Reverse ?? Save Call Motor vehicle dealer in Fa Ham Service options: In-store shopping Address: Fa Ham, Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai 50300 Hours: Open ⋅ Closes 5 PM Phone: 090 656 2449

The VOLT website mentions "push button gear". I can't find any further detail on this point. Just wondering if there's a requirement to change gears as speed is incrased from starting. On the other hand my non-professional understanding is that all electric vehicles don't have / need a gear box, Is that correct?

Nice points. Re visa for VN, easy, quickly availabe on line, done that many time to enter to lecture at unis in Hanoi and HCMC. No need for work permit.

Nice points, thanks.

And I wonder how many quotations they need to follow government regulations? And how many did they actually receive? I would just hope the work is completed to a much higher standard than at my old Thai uni, 9 floors, 3 to 4 toilets rooms each floor, 3 years to complete with numerous stops / starts. Finished work way less than disgraceful. Some inestigation revealed that the 'contractor' had never done/managed any similar work or any work involving plumbing/tiling etc. "Contractor' in fact someones brother in law. Buidings/engineering/maintenace manger for the uni was told to NOT visit/inspect the progress of the work and NOT do a final inspection. Within 3 months of completeion more than half the stalls blocked and unfixable, half the urinals unusable, always water all over the floors in every toilet block. Five years later even less stalls/cubicles work, still water all ove the floor in every toilet room.

Good info, thanks. In our case, my Thai son and his wife have decided to seriously look at all their costs and aim for some level of quality but lower price to buy and operate. One important factor - reduce costs but ensure their 3 kids have good education. (They'r also looking at food costs; can they buy somewhere cheaper than Makro, quality but lower their costs?) Why the focus on car? Currently costing around 4,500Baht a month for gasoline plus maint. cost etc., a for mid size Honda 5 door car, 2 trips to 3 different schools every day, also transport kids to sports activities every week-end/some evenings. Three kids, 16, 11, 7. Plus shopping, son's transport to his teaching/coachin locations 3-4 km there and same back 5/6 days a week. So they're trying to get a lot of info re small electric vehicles. Interested in quality but not interested in prestige brand names etc. (Son not interested at all re brand names etc., son's Thai wife the same. But her older sister and brother (who have no assets whatever) are manic about brand / prestige etc. Continuously come to the house with brochures about deals on Benz, BMW, Lexus etc., which son/son's wife refuse to look at. They've even asked my son to promise when I die my son will spend at least 500,000Baht on a lavish funeral, chinese banquet etc., to make the family look important/wealthy. Every time this discussion comes up son walks out of the room and drives away. Thanks to all for the info shares, much appreciated. More details/suggestion/brenad etc., very welcome.

Maybe Imm. will try CPR?

I got a call from Centrelink 18 days after submitting online at a Centrelink office to say my OAP full rate was approved. First payment including backpay to submission date was in my Oz bank the next day after approval. Nowadays OAP applications are not processed at local C'link offices, processing of all applcations is by computer in Canberra. Mine was approved at 18 days from submission.

Thank you Crossy> You mentioned "If you get a dedicated meter for the EV (talk to PEA) you can put it on TOU (Time of Use) and get very cheap power overnight!" So I guess that means: - Separate meter which is set up for lower xharges between say 8:00 pm and 6:00 am. Could the several air cons in the house also be connected to this meter to achieve cheaper running costs for the air cons? Approx. what reduction would that bring both the chargeing the car and say for the air cons? Approx. 10%, 20%., reduction?? - But I guess the car could be charged at normal electric power rate using the dedicted meter outside of the TOU timing? - But does is need (either approach above) special outlet boxes and plugs where the electricity is drawn from or standard plugs same as TV, fridge etc? Thanks. ridge etc? that r outlesterNAd

Located in Chiang Mai. Son and his wife want to buy a full electric small / very small 4 door city car, mainly for shopping and transport 2 small kids to/from school. All suggestions / comments welcome, including cars from China. Not interested in other comments like 'go hybrid' or similar. As per the heading. One item needing advice. From other comments seems that there should be a 'dedicated charging station' at home. - Is this true? and Would that reduce the electric bill? - Can the car be plugged into basic at home power outlet, same as used for TV, fridge, wash machine etc? Thanks.

Vietnam hires better qualified English as a Second Language teachers and it's well known that in VN kids and adults are very keen to learn and pay attention. I've seen this aspect in Bachelor and Masters programs (all in English) in 4 locations in VN, great students, apply themselves, ask geat questions, work handed in is excellent and on time.

Doesn't interest me. but it does interest many many western visitors.

Agree, and is it valid to try to compare the two countries? Thailand has attractions which don't rate too highly re Vietnam. And Vietnam has great attractions which are not so good in Thailand. I have no data but I suspect Thailand rates higher for the total numbers of easily available 'entertainment' girls. English language is developing faster in Vietnam. Great food, friendly helpful people, beautiful scenery everywhere. Ever visited Halong Bay? Totally beautiful and lots of folks take an overnight boat trip to get there from Hanoi. Gets good reviews. Ultimately though it's personal choice.