mikebike

Thinking about this some more, I remember years ago a bunch of distant relatives of mine migrated from the Soviet Union to the USA. All of them were having a really hard time adjusting. The USA was anything but a dream for them. Some of them stayed, and some of them decided to leave (I'm not even sure if back to USSR or not). What we thought about the ones that left was not at all controversial or ambiguous -- their immigration attempt had FAILED.

Hmm - let's say a bunch of your distant relatives decided to go on a group vacay to Disneyland at Xmas time. It was a crappy trip to get there - weather sucked, airports jammed and delayed, obnoxious travellers... Upon arrival they got the "sewer room" to stay in, beets and potatoes for meals, and told they must work as sanitation crew while enjoying the park... Some of your relatives buckled down, accepted their lot, and tried to enjoy the vacay. One group of relatives said fry this shizzle, we've heard of this chill, half baked, community up in Napa let's bounce, and off they went. Another group said this is worse than being home at least I know when I'm being served a poo-poo plater there, let's bounce. Are there any failures here? Or just a group of peeps who decided to try something which wasn't everyones cuppa. If everyone's happy in the end who's the failure?

Hmmm, a much more levelled post lacking the vitriol of your first post, thanks!

[yeah really? try telling that to Michael Brown and those protesting the fallout of the court decision regarding Ferguson] I have no interest in the color of a person’s skin; I engage mentally with people and judge them on their intellectual prowess. I know no one in America that cares either; I’m sure there are people in America that care about such issues but I don’t know any. I believe racism in the US is promoted by the media and the government, a physiological operation, primarily hype, used for destabilization and misdirection. I can’t think of a single American that I know that has any interest in human skin pigmentation, the color of someone’s skin is meaningless. American police may be are out of control but I pay no attention to "Ferguson" or any mainstream media it is IMO a staged controlled fiction. What I’m referring to is the Thai racism not American, the people are fixated on the meaningless preoccupation of having white skin, IMO a complete and total waste of time.

[stereotype much? I'm guessing you live in one of the Farang Ghettos... Where I live most of the locals are hard working, industrious, and community minded.] Do I live in a ghetto? Hardly. [Phuket, Samui, Pattaya, Sukumvit area?? If yes, you live in a farang ghetto - it is an expression, not a condemnation.] However I agree there are some very decent respectable Thai people and to those people I have respect. [interesting change of tack from your original statement... "Thailand is filthy and reflects its people’s attitude; they are a lethargic group, most sleeping over a bowl of rice at there job with little pride in their surroundings."]

[Why, oh why, would the Thai government be spending its time and money protecting you - a non-citizen?] That is why I will be removing myself from Thailand I want a home, not a country were the government cares only about certain people but about all the people equally and treat all individuals equally under the law. I'm finished with the police shakedowns and being looked down on by their government.

[Ah, here it comes - "They're gonna miss me (my money) when I'm gone... You find the answer to that is, "Not so much"!!] I could care less about how my money effects the Thai economy I use it for my needs not theirs. In the "Land of Smiles" I'm an incredibly wealthy person [Compared to whom? Farmers or average businesspersons or the real Thai wealthy who buy and sell businesses like used cars and holiday in Monaco?] that has lived there for full time for 8 years and was planning to spend the next 25 years paying for goods and services in the Kingdom. I’m not foolish enough to believe that when I’m gone the loss of the disbursement of my wealth into the community will have no effect. [And yet, it will have no effect. Employees will find other jobs, suppliers will get by,and the community will trudge on without you. They may mourn the loss of their golden goose for a short while then poof you're ancient history.]

["I've spent a boatload of money - why doesn't anyone like or respect me."] I have not spent a boatload of money in Thailand I made investments and retain there value, I will unwind those investments and take that value along with myself to a place were I feel more comfortable living. [if you have just "made investments" which can be "unwound" and taken AND have not spent "a boatload of money in Thailand" how large can your "disbursement of wealth into the community be"? Your two statements are diametrically opposed to each other!] I could care less if someone respects me or not it’s meaningless. [Another interesting change in direction. From: "my economic footprint is easily 20 times that of a typical Thai yet I feel unwelcome and unsupported in Thailand." Almost like two different people!]

All I can say is groove-on Robert, I hope your bubble of self-importance doesn't burst!!

Soutpeel, you discribe your Two children as sprogs, I think this says it all about failed ex-patsSorry I am only replying in open forum because QUOTES has been blocked my end

Not me I don't have two children, have none in Thailand and my daughter and only child, from the 1st wife is in medical school in the UK

Or are you just another TV half wit, with a chip on their shoulder trying troll people ?

I think he may have been referring to TransAm... his cockney was showing!!!

I see an opportunity here... Who's got the dosh to build a private facility!!

I'd suppose the business would be cut short while you'd be competing againts AOT PLc.(read: the govt.) administering most of the air traffic in the Kingdom - the other option of course would be that you'd have REALLY deep pockets, like Bangkok Airways- deep (see: Samui airport)

Yep, properly deep pockets and the right Thai partner would be a good start... Avoiding the commercial carriers turf... Might be a tough slog but if done properly I believe it would be a success. AoT may actually welcome the unburdening if proposed as a win-win... (spread the wealth)!!!

Yes wife is Thai and has land. We live in Ameica. I told her I want to farm and live off land. It's what my recent ancestors did.

Good, that should help with the initial hurdles! It will be an adventure and I wish you the best of luck!!

My wife (farang) and I have gotten a great deal of enjoyment out of a little de-evolution... We grow many fruits and veg, do all our own baking, cook (mostly) all our own farang meals (for Thai its just too easy, cheap and tasty to go out for take-away!) and we have chickens, goose and goats... maybe cows next! 5000 baht diners for two at a good restaurant are now a real treat rather than another mundane meal, although some of our home-cooked experiments are better than the chefs seem to put out!

..wife and I plan to lively farm there. Not perfect, but don't want a boss anymore, including customers from private business. Some of us have run the world and been everywhere and seen it all. Time to live In peaceful place. Farm. Whether in Thailand or where ever.

Before I comment, may I ask if your wife is Thai?

So I see it as a comfort-level thing then. You are riding at a pace with-in your perceived safety zone. It is not a judgement of the engineering/mechanical abilities of the bike. I would be interested in know what, if any, motorbike experience you had back home?

I tend to prefer 'big-wheel' scooters over the small-wheel automatics (finos, scoopys, and to a lesser extent pcxs) because the larger-diameter front wheel IS more stable under extreme (read: just about to wipe-out) conditions.

@ Jacz:

Two thoughts...

1. A good English friend, who has resided in Thailand for a couple of decades, has been dealing with Brit govt regarding his disability benefit for a year now. Horrible business, demeaning and requiring multiple trips back to balmy old England...

2. How can British law govern your visa status in Thailand? Just come with tourist visa, convert to non-o then apply for extension based on age ... you only have to be 50.

"...except those involved in transporting sick people, VIPs or people from the Thai government, may land."

There's no class system in LOS. Bringing happiness but no money to the people.

It's sad that the Thais have a ruling class of nothing more than "government officials."

Is this post supposed to be humorous? Is it supposed to make sense?

No small bikes are stable enough to ride at speeds of 90 KHs...

Damn!! I better tell my friends who commute on Waves, Scoopys, Finos, Jelatos etc... at 100-110 kmph to stop! They probably just don't realize their bikes are unstable!! My modified Kawi 125 at 140 must be a nightmare - how is it I missed this obvious 'instability'??!! LOL!!

I'm sorry Mikebike, but IMHO, the bikes you mention (I have never heard of a Jelato) are not stable enough for speeds of 100-110 Kmph.

Gelato is Suzuki's version of Fino/Scoopy: http://www.thaisuzuki.co.th/products_detail.php?id=91

I AM curious as to what sort of 'instability' you encounter on smaller bikes? A properly serviced, tyred, and maintained 125 can easily cruise at 100kmph or more. Tracking is true, one hand riding is easy and no-hands doable. Braking is more than enough - I can stop faster than cars travelling at the same speed. Wind buffeting is a pain compared to 'big-bikes' but its not a safety issue. Where exactly do stability gremlins affect you?

I am not trying to be an arse, I am genuinely curious of your opinion.

No small bikes are stable enough to ride at speeds of 90 KHs...

Damn!! I better tell my friends who commute on Waves, Scoopys, Finos, Jelatos etc... at 100-110 kmph to stop! They probably just don't realize their bikes are unstable!! My modified Kawi 125 at 140 must be a nightmare - how is it I missed this obvious 'instability'??!! LOL!!

I see an opportunity here... Who's got the dosh to build a private facility!!

driving is more about common sense than rules and regulations, although they are important too.

Of course you realize that "common sense" is NOT a universal... it is culturally and socially defined.

there are so many Thai drivers with low mentality, on the road coming out in front of you or cutting you up.

If anyone wants to accuse me of Thai bashing, then go for it, I don't care.

Nothing do do with your sense of "low mentality". Maybe you didn't realize the car-culture in Thailand is about 50-60 years behind the USA... Reminds me a lot of 50s-60s car culture in the USA... with a spicy dash of Thai "freedom" in regards to road rules!!

White America is beginning to get just a taste of what black Americans have always been subjected to at the hands of the police. This isn't the kind of equality anyone should want.

No surprise, things always shake out to the lowest common denominator! No need to rise-up the peeps of colour when you can just marginalize middle and lower income whites instead... Hmmm, who gains from this?

You're not supposed to "fix" people's posts but I don't care but sometimes the mods do. I'm saying the laws and the application of those laws are racist but generally speaking most of the people are not. So, you're saying it is the people of colour (American?) who are the racists?

"Fixed it for ya" is a forum joke! Your post remains as written, The "edit" appears only in the reply!

Any who... What I am saying is that peeps of colour in the US see an unfair playing field, institutionalized racism and an ever-dwindling, culturally segregated, white population fooling themselves into believing there is no racism.

Whenever I move into a new condo, one of the first things I do is change the locks to good quality ones that I have purchased myself. I like the satisfaction and peace of mind that comes with knowing that I have the only set of keys to my home. No previous tenant or nosy landlord is going to be walking into my place without my knowledge. I put the original locks and keys in a bag and re-fit them when I go.

Thanks for the tip, really clever, will remember this.

But where do you buy good quality locks, they all look crappy to me at global house/home mart etc. Etc.

http://www.directtoshop.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/en/directtoshop/home-improvements/yale-ca5807us32d-ss-entrance-knob-p249455

http://www.lazada.co.th/veco-digital-lock-finger-printpasswordmachanical-key-pr-6u2-model-sliver-450321.html

For me life in Thailand proved itself a lot different than I thought it would be. The people that I thought were kind hearted (the “Land of Smiles”) in reality more than not revealed themselves to be con artist and jealous thieves. I never dreamed I was moving to such a raciest country, in the US the pigment level in an individual’s skin is more or less meaningless, I find the Thai’s preoccupation with skin color revolting.

Wow. I'm an American and I find the level of your ignorance/denial/lie rather breathtaking.

"...in the US the Pigment level in an individual's skin is more or less meaningless...?"

I'm speechless, especially in this day and age where issues related to race in the USA have been splattered across the news day after day. Racism is a huge problem in the US, and it goes well beyond police brutality. Have you been living under a rock?

So the rest of your rant related to Thailand pretty much has no credibility as I'm sure you know even less about Thailand than your home country.

To be fair, while the comment "...in the US the Pigment level in an individual's skin is more or less meaningless..." is preposterous on one level it is not on another. I think for most individual WHITE Americans though, what the poster said is accurate.

Fixed it for ya!

I think you'll find a very different conclusion from US people of colour.

Why not leave the lights or TV on all day, just because you can?

Many do... Also many TOURISTS enjoy returning to a cool room between the beach and the massage table - is this unreasonable when they are enjoying their hard-earned, capital-depleting two week break from the rat-race?

For me life in Thailand proved itself a lot different than I thought it would be. The people that I thought were kind hearted (the “Land of Smiles”) in reality more than not revealed themselves to be con artist and jealous thieves. I never dreamed I was moving to such a raciest country, in the US the pigment level in an individual’s skin is more or less meaningless, [yeah really? try telling that to Michael Brown and those protesting the fallout of the court decision regarding Ferguson] I find the Thai’s preoccupation with skin color revolting.

The environment in Thailand is filthy and reflects its people’s attitude; they are a lethargic group, most sleeping over a bowl of rice at there job with little pride in their surroundings. [stereotype much? I'm guessing you live in one of the Farang Ghettos... Where I live most of the locals are hard working, industrious, and community minded.] With garbage every ware and raw sewage running into beaches were people swim the Thai government remains focused on shaking down tourists and residents with various third world scamming techniques, protecting myself as a full time expat and a clean environment is not even governmental concerns. [Why, oh why, would the Thai government be spending its time and money protecting you - a non-citizen?]

The practice of double pricing (stealing) permitted for farang, having to deflect every type of scam imaginable day in and day out. After 8 years I have begun the process of unwinding out of Thailand I will begin to reduce my time in the Kingdom, begin the process of removing my assets which of course will radically reduce the flow of income I disperse into the community. [Ah, here it comes - "They're gonna miss me (my money) when I'm gone... You find the answer to that is, "Not so much"!!]

By far the primary reason why I am removing myself from Thailand is that I just don’t feel welcome; I do not feel like I have a home in Thailand. Personally I speak, read and write their language and I’ve made substantial investments in the community, my economic footprint is easily 20 times that of a typical Thai yet I feel unwelcome and unsupported in Thailand. ["I've spent a boatload of money - why doesn't anyone like or respect me."] It has been made very clear to me I am a guest being tolerated, a person being allowed temporary accommodation, this is not the type of environment I can call home or where I want to spend the next 25 years of my life.

I will keep a little place in Thailand for a few months a year on the beach but I know now it is not the place where I want to retire. I don’t feel I have failed with Thailand, I thought it was something different than it turned out to be and now I have decided to take a different path.

Hard to tell if this is a troll-post or not. Definitely a classic in the genre of 'Thailand Filtered Through the Lens of my Home Culture'!!

I know... wasteful, global energy, the room will cool in 15 minutes... all true and valid... yet my question to you as an owner is; having paid my fee, same as the guy in the next room who's too hung-over to go out today, should I not feel it is my right to use the same resources as him, in any way that makes my heart content?

No. The hotel have installed a system that means that you have use of their air-con when you are present, but which switches it off when you are not. It works on a 'like it or lump it basis' and your perceptions of fairness don't come into it. Want hotel air-con, stay in your room.

But there are soooo many ways to circumvent the card that others who r not in their room many well have their aircon running while they are out all day. Why not offer full service to ALL customers?

Its like the hoteliers version of the 'Soup Nazi' (ancient SNL reference...) - No aircon for you!!!

...the only reason to live in Issan is you can't afford to live anywhere else.

You're just full of gems aren't you? Can't yet grasp the fact that some peeps like it in Issan? Each province is like one of Thailand's 77 flavours, something for everyone!!

Of course they like Issan, they like it because it's the poorest place in Thailand and lets them eke out their teachers wages/abysmal pensions just that bit farther.

You may be surprised to find that some lives don't revolve around finances and stereotypes. There's a more-than-a-few oil-patchers, ex-military, retirees, and others up in Issan with more than enough dosh to live where they want - and the wanted Issan. Why the harsh-out on Issan?

...the only reason to live in Issan is you can't afford to live anywhere else.

You're just full of gems aren't you? Can't yet grasp the fact that some peeps like it in Issan? Each province is like one of Thailand's 77 flavours, something for everyone!!

Yes, there is a business membership and a consumer membership. I had a business one - full invoice, and now have the consumer one - regular receipt.

"if your in traffic , go with the flow"

I was also taught this, but that was for cars. I'm not sure if this would be safer or more dangerous for bikes. Personally, I would let faster drivers (cars) stay in front of me but I want to be ahead of slower drivers.

I tend to like to ride faster than the flow, therefore I only have to deal with what's in front of me... (no, I'm not ignoring what's behind me, just paying it less attention if ya know what I mean!). If the odd vehicle is going faster than my pace I just let 'em go - its not a competition!