mikebike

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!

The idea of this thread is more to discuss and debate as to whether riding slower is necessarily safer than riding faster, conditions permitting. Some riders seem to adhere to a maximum speed limit, regardless of conditions, in the belief that going any faster than that would be dangerous. I beg to differ, which is why I opened this thread for discussion and sharing of opinions.

I think there is a personal safety zone in which going too slow results in lack of paying 100% attention to the road and going too fast results in going down - there's no MotoGP-style runoffs in life so keep it to 8/10ths of your (and your bike's) ability at the upper end for safety!

Anecdotally, when I was young(er, ish) and invincible, I used to subscribe to the theory that when the weather gets bad - go faster, you'll be dry, warm and comfortable sooner! That practice lead to some interesting aquaplaning adventures... no downs though and ultimately valuable experience!!

...and another guest, paying exactly the same rate, for exactly the same advertised amenities, not being allowed to use those amenities to the same level, even wastefully, if they so desire?

But in your example, you're not in the room. You've gone out and left the AC on, because you can't face a few minutes of a warm room when you return.

IMHO, that's plain selfish and an avoidable contribution to global energy waste.

Given a choice, (not practical I admit), would I rent a room to someone who insists on leaving the AC on when they go out for the day? No I would not.

We're talking about leaving the AC on - not leaving a 'live' electrical socket to allow notebook/phone-charging

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?

It IS very US-centric is viewpoint and humour. Mrs Browns Boys doesn't tickle everyone either!!! Lol!!

Society has pretty clearly demarked the definition of success

In your 'society' does the success of a orphaned, developing-world child reaching maturity safely and in good health, then going on to live a healthy and personally rewarding life equal the success of privileged child graduating from schools then going on to lead a life of monetary and material growth?

Are you trying to tell me that the majority of **** ups in this part of the world are Western orphans escaping care homes? I think you might want to recalibrate the advantages of growing up in the West and compare them to the disadvantages of growing up for most people in the 3rd World. Nearly every expat has had the benefit of a free education, free/subsidized healthcare, a decent diet, etc. the fact that they took all these advantages and turned them to living in a shack eating rubbish and drinking 20 lagers a day is not something to be proud of.

You said 'society' which I responded to. If you meant 'expat society' or 'western society' you should have said so... My point was that success is entirely subjective.

Possum: I was referring to your post. I may have mistakenly thought you were agreeing with neer's very clear (really, he left no room for interpretation) statement that 'riding a bike on country roads at any speed is suicide', which is patently ridiculous.

Society has pretty clearly demarked the definition of success

In your 'society' does the success of a orphaned, developing-world child reaching maturity safely and in good health, then going on to live a healthy and personally rewarding life equal the success of privileged child graduating from schools then going on to lead a life of monetary and material growth?

What's the speed limit?

Anything over that is dangerous.

I would never ride a bike on country roads at any speed - suicide.

Drama queen... it might be 'suicide' in your mind yet others do it daily like brushing teeth.

One reason why motorbike fatalities are so high in Thailand.

So it your opinion also that a motorcycle should NEVER be ridden on a country roads AT ANY SPEED? Unbelievable as these are the roads of choice for most riders... Are you seriously suggesting highways and urban roads are safer? That anyone riding on a country road has a death wish, rather than just choosing it to enjoy its scenery and laid-back nature? Motorbike fatalities are high in Thailand because 90+ percent of the population use them daily and 90 percent of those do not use even minimal safety gear...

So by making sure you can't run it when your not in the room you will bring down the average and need for higher price.

Simple economics

(provided the profit margin stays the same )

Look, I get the wasteful, environmentally unfriendly nature of this, and its affecting costs, but...

Is it fair/equitable for one guest to stay in the room (for whatever reason: business, sickness, weather, just felt like vegging...) and consume aircon 24/7 and another guest, paying exactly the same rate, for exactly the same advertised amenities, not being allowed to use those amenities to the same level, even wastefully, if they so desire?

I contend that it is up to the proprietor to clearly define exactly what is maximum usage and to apply this equally to ALL customers. What about temperature? Who uses more energy, the aircon at night only set at 16C or 24 hours at 28C to keep the humidity out? Owners costing MUST include the entire spectrum of guests from the very light users to the over-users.

Only one answer. A speed at which you can safely stop.

I'd say there is no safe speed then, as the unexpected can happen at any speed... I've seen infinitely more crashes at low speeds rather than high...

It is annoying that so many here fixated on the word failed as this is an interesting topic. I found the comments on the link more interesting than most of the comments here.

I'm as pedantic as the next guy but the article adds up to little more than 'I didn't like it - reality did not live up to my abilities or expectations'. Seems simple, end-of-story to me... where is the deep question or meaning to be found in this migratory minutia?

For all those that are saying you paid for it so you can run it.. if everyone ran it 24/7 we would all pay a lot more. This is a way to keep costs down and a good one. I am ok if there are still live plugs. I usually take a socket extender with me and leach of the fridge (should always be on)

But that's the thing, we are not all 'average' users, but collectively we add up to 'average use'. The customer who hates aircon and leaves it off, balances the over-user. It is up to the proprietor to determine mean usage at their establishment and price accordingly.

I agree if you are actually in the room, or if you're paying top $ for a hotel room. But 'budget' hotels operate on that budget, which is why it is standard practice to switch off the air-con when not in the room.[/font][/color]

Besides the costs, what about wasted energy? Why not be more responsible and minimise use of the air-con?

In general I do agree Simon... but to continue as devil's advocate... I know peeps here who run air cons at home 24/7, full blast, with windows wide open in every room - they like air con AND fresh air at the same time, and can afford it. They rarely stay at budget places anyway but... If they did book into your establishment advertising air con why would they not expect to use it as they do at home? Unless you, as the vendor, state specifically that only X hours of air con is included at the room rate and that extra air con time will receive a surcharge it is their amenity to use/abuse as they wish. Notably, and thankfully, I believe these types are at the end of the bell curve and most peeps are conscious and respectful of proper energy usage.

Ride Alone.

I'm sorry you don't have any riding buddies you can trust, but this is a stupid statement. I would agree with, 'don't ride with others who don't follow the rules of group riding and put others at risk'...

Have purchased rather extensively from Lazada with 100 percent satisfaction, in fact often above expectations as others have noted. No need for a maid as Kerry rings you when they are near and, again as others have mentioned, the delivery guy will meet u anywhere you wish!

Most of us have a maid available...

Really? MOST of us? How myopic we get in our own little cliques!

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Thailand gets boring after a while, I get bored towards the end of month long trips and can't imagine ever want to live there. Pretty sure many expats get bored after a while too.

55555 - we must have vastly different interests, you're bored in less than a month and I'm 9 years and counting and not a dull day yet!!