mark131v

I have been riding with a helmet cam on the chin bar of my helmet and rarely get pulled now and when I do it is a quick license check and then waved on, thoroughly recommend it as the BiB really don't seem to like cameras, cant think why....

Thanks for the update Litlos!

I have a Kasikorn account and like the rest it works well for any small cash in cash out stuff but I get the impression if I asked for anything out of the ordinary they would be just as bad as Krungsri, don't know for certain as I don't use them very often now but they gave me that impression hence why I did most things through Krungsri until recently

If I could sort out a regular Foreign Currency Deposit for my wages with a bank that can also do basic International stuff that is all I really want, I would be happy and if they have internet banking that would be a bonus!! tbh I am not overly wanting something which requires transferring my wages in as I have found that all the Thai banks I have used have been a complete pain in the shitter when asked to do anything even slightly out of the ordinary

I don't do online trading and nor am I some International jetsetter, I do get a good wage paid in GBP every month and just require a bank that is not populated by idiots masquerading as bank staff who have the ability to do basic banking tasks without myself or the wife spending hours getting messed about, I know that's a tough ask in this country to expect a person to be able to do their job to a reasonable standard......

Natwest and Halifax wont send cards to Thailand American Express credit card from the UK will

Thanks for the replies guys much appreciated I nearly didn't post as I expected it to turn into the usual bitch fest so I am pleasantly surprised!

I will give Bangkok Bank a look when I get home but Litlos if you have any information about setting up the Citibank Singapore I would be really interested as I am pretty much disillusioned with Thai levels of service and ineptitude so even if it costs a bit more it might be the way ahead for me...

JMWPACIFIC pm inbound

At the moment I am out of Thailand working but wanted to book a course in Malaysia for mid July, should not be a problem I thought....wrong!!

As background we have been in Thailand coming up for 5 years and have banked with Krungsri for most of that time including getting my wages paid into their Foreign Currency deposit. I had a fair chunk in there and also have a couple of current accounts with them as well

I have noticed over the past few years that the branch we use is getting worse and worse. They are Ok at basic paying cash in or taking it out (so long as it is small amounts!!) but absolutely anything other than those basic tasks requires a lot of time and several phone calls to BKK, they truly seem unable to do anything by themselves

Today the wife attended after going in the day before and being told that foreign transfers need to be done before 15:00 hours, no problem will do! on getting there this morning with all the paperwork from the company in Malaysia including all the account details address swift code etc the usual circus commences

'Need invoice'---you have the invoice it is the email with the letterhead saying on payment of the bill through the Account number /swift code then I am booked on this course with this company and it costs MYR 3223

'Cannot work out the price'---- It costs MYR3223 you can either tell us how much in Baht or transfer as MYR as I do not really care if it is a couple of thousand baht more, I just want to be sure it is paid----cannot because every day the exchange rate changes, no shit isn't that what banking is all about!!!---- Cannot work out the price....

Ok no good speaking to the monkey at the desk so can I speak to the manager as every time we do anything in this bank it is a nightmare, 'not here but if you come back later will be in' Ok will do that then...

My missus goes back later and spent another 2 hours being messed around and waiting on inept staff who patently have no clue of how to do their job, several more phone calls to BKK still no clearer on how much it costs to send the basic International transfer to Thailand's close neighbor and soon to be AEC partner Malaysia

In summary I have given up and the wife has closed all the accounts and withdrawn everything other than the $500 deposit in the Foreign Currency Account which I will withdraw as soon as I get home and sort out an alternative. My wife is not loud or gobby but in her words she lost it with them today and ended up making a scene due to their complete inability to do their jobs

The missus withdrew 1.4million baht and stopped an account that has had a large monthly wage paid in for over 4 years as well as 2 current accounts that were well used and I wont use that Bank again ever due to the clowns who work there. All this has happened because the staff are absolutely useless problem is I now need to find if there is any Thai bank in Pattaya that is staffed with slightly less cretins than the old Branch and are able to do basic bank transfers without it turning into another farce like todays epic

I am not holding my breath but thought I would ask.....

This map came up when I googled:

http://thailand.embassy.gov.au/bkok/AboutUs_map.html

Looks like your nearest BTS is Saladaeng I have attached a map but it looks like you need to change at Silom:

http://www.pnclink.org/pnc2011/english/download/Bangkok%20BTS%20Map.pdf

Every time I go to BKK now for passport or embassy stuff or most anything else really I have found driving to Swampy then leaving the car on the airport car-park costs about 300baht for the day then a quick stroll over to the Sktrain and BTS, for me this is by far the easiest and least stressful option. I needed a work visa a few years ago and made the mistake of driving into BKK, never again it took way longer and lifted the stress level right off the scale, probably more expensive than the coach to do this way but for me by far the best....

SJCAM SJ4000 Wifi Action Camera

Lazada Thailand

Baht 3490 with extra battery and charger

A really good bit of kit, comes with many fittings that work for Go Pro with multiple fittings for helmets and bars. I have actually been using it with the Velcro straps that are supplied and fitted to the chin bar of my helmet using the 2nd case that though not completely waterproof works really well in this position and holds the camera very securely

Picture wise the camera is way better than the price would suggest especially when you put it against the Go Pro series and as far as I am concerned the picture is very good at 1080p 30 fps. The audio is not such a strong point in that it is quite muted and when used as I have described fitted to the chin bar in the unsealed case you do get quite a lot of wind noise

Playback is easy and you can use VLC or any standard player and the data is recorded on a normal removable Micro SD card. Mine also can be viewed on IOS or Android mobile over wifi but I have a windows phone so have never tried it though having watched several online reviews through a guy called Techmoan (google him the reviews are very good and in depth) the wifi functionality does work but is a bit unrefined

I also have a windscreen sucker mount which works with another case that is included to turn it into a dashcam, this works really well for me as I might go a week without using the truck so gives me the option to swap and change plus it works really well as a car cam just plug/unplug as needed

In summary I think it is a really good extra layer of insurance with the added benefit of it gets you waved through most checkpoints, it certainly does not look or feel cheap and the ease of use and quality of the picture is really good. I get about an hour recording time per battery so having the extra and external charger covers me though tbh I have never changed the battery mid ride. I would highly recommend it.....

SJCAM SJ4000 Wifi Action Camera

Lazada Thailand

Baht 3490 with extra battery and charger

A really good bit of kit, comes with many fittings that work for Go Pro with multiple fittings for helmets and bars. I have actually been using it with the Velcro straps that are supplied and fitted to the chin bar of my helmet using the 2nd case that though not completely waterproof works really well in this position and holds the camera very securely

Picture wise the camera is way better than the price would suggest especially when you put it against the Go Pro series and as far as I am concerned the picture is very good at 1080p 30 fps. The audio is not such a strong point in that it is quite muted and when used as I have described fitted to the chin bar in the unsealed case you do get quite a lot of wind noise

Playback is easy and you can use VLC or any standard player and the data is recorded on a normal removable Micro SD card. Mine also can be viewed on IOS or Android mobile over wifi but I have a windows phone so have never tried it though having watched several online reviews through a guy called Techmoan (google him the reviews are very good and in depth) the wifi functionality does work but is a bit unrefined

I also have a windscreen sucker mount which works with another case that is included to turn it into a dashcam, this works really well for me as I might go a week without using the truck so gives me the option to swap and change plus it works really well as a car cam just plug/unplug as needed

In summary I think it is a really good extra layer of insurance with the added benefit of it gets you waved through most checkpoints, it certainly does not look or feel cheap and the ease of use and quality of the picture is really good. I get about an hour recording time per battery so having the extra and external charger covers me though tbh I have never changed the battery mid ride. I would highly recommend it.....

Always good to hear an happy customer! Big Wing Pattaya let you use Sukhumvit road for test rides plus nobody else comes with you, not quite a racetrack which I cant see happening anytime soon for a test ride but you do get to go as fast as the conditions allow and you can always take a wrong term for a longer test I guess....

Blimey Jonsell50 your are a bit touchy aren't you, where in the statement am I bashing anything I am merely pointing out that virtually all the rest of the world do it one way and other than California you lot do it another way, you call it reckless endangerment where as I call it using the road space properly to filter through traffic, just because it is not what you do does not make it wrong, you'd think after living so much in your first 30 years you would have developed a thicker skin....

ps. sounds like scared to me

'' I don't ride here because way too may crazies, both Thai and foreign, the same reason I quit riding in America'''

so there you go another none rider giving us the vast experience of his not riding in Thailand, you couldn't make it up....

About the rights and wrongs of driving/riding too slow why should it not cause aggression it does in the rest of the world!

If someone is so selfish or in their own private dream world when waiting for a traffic light to change or are so self absorbed that they do not care about holding up their fellow commuters who have places to be and livings to earn I can completely understand aggression and frustration creeping in

It isn't right and in a perfect world it would not happen....guess what it aint a perfect world and this happens everywhere, see what happens if you are on a bicycle in the UK holding up traffic there's a good chance you could end up the victim of a bit of road rage or in the US you might get something worse than a few verbals

People do get nicked in the UK for going too slow and holding up traffic and I remember seeing something somewhere that there was a thought that going slow and holding up traffic was just as dangerous as speeding as it makes other users angry and frustrated

All that said I have never seen any of the things described in the OP done by bikers though I have seen a lot of aggression from people in cars. I have also seen an over abundance of self absorbed people pottering about with not a thought for anyone else on the road so thinking about it I am surprised there isn't more aggression

johnsell50, you from the USA by any chance.....

There is a whole world out there that rides bikes and do so in a different and arguably better trained and safer way than in the US, why exactly do you believe he would be banned for filtering through traffic

I happen to believe that people pottering along or too scared to ride in traffic are actually as big danger to themselves and cause a lot of annoyance on the roads

''is it legal, no! Is it safe, Hell no! And I lived more in the first 30 years of my life than you probably will in 130''

(DELETED) such and so forth....

You do sound like a potterer.....

English

Alternative forms[

putter around (US)

Verb

potter around (third-person singular simple present potters around, present participle pottering around, simple past and past participle pottered around)

1.(chiefly UK) To potter, to be gently active doing various things in an almost aimless manner. I like to relax pottering around the house doing this and that at the weekends.

Synonyms

potter about

Related terms

potter

Translations

to be gently active aimlessly — see putter around

My apologies if you are not an old fart but I am sorry to tell you that is exactly how you come across to me, sound like a quintessential opinionated old know it all which I generally associate with bitter old farts

Pottering to me means aimlessly bimbling about and has nothing to do with not driving like an idiot, I see a lot of 'potterers' and have a deep dislike for them and try to get away from them

Still not told me if you get any pleasure out of giving your 300kmh superbike a squirt when you are pottering about and generally getting in the way...?

'Thais will do anything to get in front of me when I'm pottering around town on my big bike'

'For me it is nothing more than immature childish rivalry that has no place on a public street in or on a vehicle'

Have you ever thought (I already know the answer to this!) that your 'pottering' about may have something to do with it as I really hate being stuck behind anybody who is 'pottering' especially on a main road, many have places to be and things to do so some old fart pottering can be really annoying and I want to be far away from them

'I give the throttle a squirt just to remind them what they are dealing with'

Do you feel better when you give it a squirt.....

In my experience a PETRONAS medical is one of a few separate medicals usually required for specific projects and roles and prolonged stays in specific areas, I am no expert on this and have never had a PETRONAS medical or anything other than a bog standard NMD/UKOG/Eng 1

If you work globally on a Seismic boat and you are only required to have a NMD medical unless there are other flag state stipulations (for example full drugs check) which the company should make you aware of then the details I have added are correct

I have worked all over but always on boats so I have no knowledge about rigs and working for prolonged periods in the GoT so I do not know the rules for that, I have however worked off Thailand before and have not needed anything other than the standard NMD medical

I have had a very interesting chat with a lady from the Norwegian Maritime Authority today reference NMD medicals at BPH. Turns out rather unsurprisingly that they are aware of problems with foreign doctors incorrectly giving out 1 year medicals and it is a big problem in Asia

'Good morning,

With reference to our telephone conversation. Please find contact information to the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Bangkok on this website. The embassy is responsible for approving seafarer’s doctors who issue medical certificates for work on Norwegian vessels.

Validity of medical certificates is mentioned in § 5 in Regulations of 5 June 2014 No. 805 on medical examination of employees on Norwegian ships and mobile offshore units. A medical certificate shall be issued for two years, unless the seafarer’s doctor finds a reason for limitation or restriction. In that case the seafarer’s doctor shall specify the limitation/restriction on the medical certificate.

Should you require further information, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Kind regards,

S

P.O. Box 2222

Direct: +47 52 74 52 56

Adviser

N-5509 Haugesund, Norway

Working and Living Conditions

Telephone: +47 52 74 50 00

www.sjofartsdir.no

I also mentioned that BPH often wrongly tell you that you need to have fasting blood tests and an ECG which all have to be paid for the lady suggested taking a printout of the Medical form I attached the link to yesterday as this is what the Doctor is required to fill in for the medical and clearly states what is required and what is not ie, no need for Bloods and ECG's and if you are only visiting Thailand and usually live in the EU or US then Xray is also not usually required

If you get no joy there then the in-depth link to the medical gives specific illnesses and conditions and what they should be classed as in the medical, it is quite specific and in general if it is an unmedicated condition generally you should be given a full ticket

Good luck and I will let you know how I get on and if anybody else is getting 1 year tickets that they think are wrong then it is well worth dropping the NMD and the embassy a line as it is the only way to stop this

Ps I have had an email from BPH about the NMD medical and it is now 9500baht so it is a large chunk of money especially if they can get you doing it every year....

Edited to add the link to the pdf containing the in-depth medical and table of conditions:

http://www.sjofartsd...al-examination/

http://www.sjofartsdir.no/PageFiles/362/5%20June%202014%20No.%20805%20Medical%20examination%20of%20employees%20on%20Norwegian%20ships%20and%20mobile%20offshore%20units.pdf

I cannot argue with that and it is probably a pointless thing but it will make me feel better, Doctor Newin was mentioned last year by a few guys who said he routinely gave out the correct medicals so I would use him if it was up to me and possible, it has been very quiet about him this year so maybe he has moved or retired....

That's right, if you think you are not being treated fairly first of all mention these rulings (take a printout) then if you still aren't happy follow the link then email the appeals people, if BPH keeps being mentioned something will be done. I work as a medic so see loads of medicals and there are very few 1 year ones being issued since the ruling changed and when they are it is usually obvious why! I would still rather use Bangkok Rayong though as I hate giving more of my money to people who have ripped me off before

Hi

This happened to me before at the BPH.

One time I got 1 year and the next year I got 2 years. Our HSEQ on our vessel told me that it was illegal for them to issue 1 year NMD's He was even saying that mine wasn't valid because it was issued for only 1 year and should be 2.

I just think it was the hospital pulling a scam because that's what they do here.

Make an appointment via email to [email protected] ask them for a 2 year one and see what the reply is.

NMD Norwegian Maritime Directorate medical check up with either Dr Prasan Stianrapapongs or Dr Worathorn Muninthorn at BPH Pattaya.

I stand to be corrected of course but think your HSEQ is wrong as well, if memory serves, a 2 year certifcate is only applicable if your not under 18 or over 50, once you hit the big 50, they are entitled to limited your medical certificate to 1 year.

Further as regards "legality" as the accredited doctor, they can limit you anyway they see fit on your medical certificate for offshore if there is reason, although not under the NMD rules, I have know guys who have had their certificates limited to 3 months and 6 months, and the doctor wanted to see them again due to underlying conditions and these were not hosptials in Thailand BTW.

so if you get issued a 1 year certificate, you need to ask them why, there may be a very valid reason

Hi Soutpeel the ruling on getting a 1 year certificate when you turn 50 was changed last year, now everybody other than if you are under 18 gets a 2 year ticket

You are correct about the Doctor being able to downgrade the ticket and that is where the confusion comes in especially with BPH in that someone having a minor ailment or minor raised level should not usually be used as an excuse to cut the validity of the medical down, in essence it is just there to see if a person meets the minimum standards to be safe to work on a Norwegian flagged vessel and not actually a way to get GP work off the person or use it as another income stream

I have attached the NMD Medical which is supposedly the same everywhere in the world I have also attached the link to the NMD which also has a link to use if you think the Doctor is incorrect or using the medical inappropriately

http://www.sjofartsdir.no/en/forms/medical-examination/

http://www.sjofartsdir.no/en/legislation/regulations/medical-examination-of-employees-on-Norwegian-ships-and-mobile-offshore-units/

There is a pdf you can download in the 2nd link which goes into depth with the medical but it basically says:

• LIMITED MEDICAL CERTIFICATE o There is a risk of adverse effects, but these only develop over time, hence work in near-coastal waters may be acceptable.

• TIME-LIMITED MEDICAL CERTIFICATE o Surveillance of medication effectiveness or side effects is needed more frequently than the full duration of a medical certificate.

• UNLIMITED MEDICAL CERTIFICATE o No impairing side effects, no requirements for regular surveillance and no risk of life-threatening consequences if the medication is not taken.

If you think that the Doctor is wrong and want to appeal you can do so by following the next link or using the attached email address: mailto:[email protected]

http://www.sjofartsdir.no/en/seafarers/seamens-doctors/appellate-body-for-health-matters/

I really don't like the fact BPH appears to be blatantly using the system to mess about or rip blokes off.....

Part from a bit of fun why does anyone need a cam. Not saying their useless. Just replying to the O.P. Do You have one question..

If you cannot see the reason then carry on as you are, hopefully you will never regret leaving yourself at somebody else's mercy in the event of an accident but you are quite right it might never happen. I treat things in the opposite way in that I try to cover myself in case the other person is willing to lie or try to get money out of me, I think a video of a situation is hard to argue with

Same with insurance if you are a shit hot driver and lucky you might never need that too so why bother getting it....could be a waste and it is not often it gets checked and I have never had an accident in Thailand.......

Crash helmet - probably wont need that too the chance of an head injury is probably quite low so get the cheapest for use at check points or just avoid the police, why waste the money....you get the point personally I think you are blinkered and bit of an idiot but it is a free country

I have had dash cams for a few years but at the moment I am using an SJC4000 action cam, works well as a dashcam but seeing as I go days without using the car it can also be fitted to the chin bar of my crash helmet. Since doing this I always get waved through checkpoints now, might never need it but I would rather have it for the 1 in a 1000 when I do

Hi Misterphil, I had exactly the same as you before mate and you are right I too reckon it is a complete scam, I am now looking at paying another B8000 and wasting my time for something that should not be necessary for another 12 months

I have taken your advice and sent an email in stipulating I want to use only Doctor Worathorn as it was the other guy last time that issued the 1 year one even after I queried him about it, I have also asked for confirmation that it is valid for 2 years

Personally I would rather just not use BPH as I hate being blatantly ripped off so if anyone has any info on Bangkok Rayong and Dr Newin it would be appreciated as I would much rather spend my money there and give them a chance

A while ago I had a Norwegian NMD offshore medical done at BPH which was a bit of a rip off as they only gave out a 1 year certificate which is something I have heard happens regulary, lots of people mentioned that you can get this done at Bangkok Rayong through a Dr ? Newin and that he is reasonable and routinely gives out the correct 2 year medical

I have had a look on the Hospital website but cannot find a Dr Newin which maybe through spelling or what not so I was wondering if anybody has a contact number or email for the guy, any recent updates on getting a NMD medical at Bangkok Rayong such as pricing time needed etc would also be really useful....cheers guys

Yeah, I pretty much agree with what the Visor down review said and agree they have cut a few corners but for me the ride more than makes up for it but if it suddenly starts playing up I will report that as well, not sure about the tank but when I have filled her up it certainly feels like steel same as when I was tapping on the tank but then again I could be wrong and it aint something that really concerns me

As for the unstable at speed I have seen probably 10 different reviews on the R3 and even though I know that most have to be fairly positive something like being unstable at speed would not have been ignored especially seeing as both the US and European launches featured long road/highway rides and track days where the bikes where maxxed out. If there was a problem with stability we would have heard but as it is everyone was saying what a good chassis it has and my experience confirms that

I had limited options as the Missus is a dwarf but being as she hates the Kawasaki dealer in Pattaya the Ninja was off the table even though I like the bike, that said I would choose the R3 anyhow as I really like the bike and the seating position is better for me than the Ninja 300's plus I like the fact it is new and different plus the extra few cc's can only be good