AddyA

I'm not sure what point the OP is trying to make with their headline. Vaccinations don't prevent COVID-19, either. However, multiple research has proved that adequate levels of vitamin D—like vaccinations—reduces the risk of severe COVID-19. 
 

Here's an extract from 2022 research;
 

Feb. 8, 2022: People with a vitamin D deficiency are more likely to have a severe or critical case of COVID-19, according to a new study published in the journal PLOS ONE.
 

Patients with a vitamin D deficiency, were 14 times more likely to have a severe or critical case of COVID-19. What’s more, the mortality rate for those with insufficient vitamin D levels was 25.6%, compared with 2.3% among those with adequate levels. 

Source: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0263069 

If god does exist, then she's a nasty piece of work. I mean, sending folks to burn in the fires of hell for infinity. And for what? Because you commit one of ten tin pot sins. Seriously, it's the stuff or horror stories. 
 

But let's just suppose for a moment you do get sent to hell for being naughty. Well, all you have to do if you want to go to heaven is the reverse. That is, become a devil worshiper and do something good. Then, the bloke with the horns will most likely punish you by sending you to heaven for your benevolence ???? ???? ????.
 

It's really quite simple when you weigh it all up.

I have family and friends in England, Wales, Holland, USA, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, and of course, Thailand.

So far, I don't know anyone who has had COVID-19. That doesn’t mean they haven't, but if they had, they didn't know about it. Age ranges of the above groups are mid-30s through to early 80s. Some have had vaccines, others have not. However, I KNOW OF plenty of people who have had COVID-19, especially well-known names, as they make news headlines.
 

I don't know if my situation is unique or not. Most people tend not to talk about coronavirus much in the real-world these days.

8 hours ago, Sheryl said:

You can get English language on the Thai iherb site. At the very top right side there is like a picture of a globe and then it  says TH. Click on the TH (not on the globe) and you will get a menu with site preferences, the second line is language and set that to English. On this same menu you can also select the currency you want.

Thank you, Sheryl; that's perfect ????
 

I've attached a simple screen-print should anyone else have the same issue.
 

Enjoy your Sunday.

 

Good afternoon, Forum.

Does anyone know how to open iHerb English version? I'm trying to track my order. Clicking on the globe icon does nothing. Even when I clear the cache and use a VPN, the site still reverts back to https://th.iherb.com
 

Any tips, folks?

2 hours ago, seedy said:

Just take off the cover for the stator. Point to it and say New. Along with all the other parts you wish replaced.

Thanks, Seedy. I'm going to get translations for all my parts and those you mention over the next couple of days ????

9 hours ago, Sticky Rice Balls said:

kruang jak dee        west side of old city

 

he gets his kid to translate apart from his basic english.....

 

just picked up the bike today--running like a ............Dream....Honda that is....

 

 

Thank you, SRBs ;)

10 hours ago, captainjackS said:

I've gone to both Nat Motor and Sahapanich (just North of super highway khuang singh intersection).  Good service at both shops on my Honda Click. I saw the guys disasembling older bikes down to skeletons at both shops.  I prefer sahapanich now because the scheduling is more convenient for me.  From what I could see, the garage at sahapanich had more workstations, so I'm guessing they can process more customers in parallel.  The service manager was friendly and spoke decent English.  He also notified me of a factory recall on a fuel injection part and replaced it for free when he could have sold me the new part to fix my original problem.  

I don't expect my Click to last 20 years or 200,000km though.  I should get a Wave to survive the apocalypse.

Thanks, CJS, that's useful to know. I've committed to Nat now, not least because I know the shop, and they're a official Honda dealer. But it's always good to have other recommendations to fall back on ;)

6 hours ago, seedy said:

Keep us posted.

Most important for piece of mind to ensure carb and ignition box, coil, stator replaced with NEW. Replace wiring harness also if possible to get one without soy bean insulation.

Then you good for another 20 years

Thanks, Seedy, all points noted. That should be fun trying to translate the above suggestions into Thai ????

55 minutes ago, seedy said:

I hear that. Been going there for over 15 years. Runs a good business. I have never had a problem - besides they always tighten the chain on my CRF too much. Mentioned once to leave it alone on warranty service and never a problem after

He's already replied to my message, Seedy. He simply said, and I quote:
 

"Sure, Nat motor can do all that for you."
 

I will head down there with my list in a week or two. I will also post a photo of the results once everything is done.

1 hour ago, seedy said:

The owner - he is the older gentleman who is at the front of the service bay and handles the preparation of the work orders, has passable English.

But - as always - a good Thai speaker makes everyone feel comfortable.

 

Thanks, Seedy. Yes, that guy is always there at the front and is super helpful. He doesn't seem to age, either.

7 hours ago, Sticky Rice Balls said:

basically rebuilt my asian mule aka honda dream - new sprocket-chain--new piston--new carburetor..new seat--  plugs, oil..tires..battery, tachometer cable....my guy is even putting in a new carb for free as the first one he put in was a bit iffy.....picking it up to tomorrow....

The shop mentioned above, SRBs?

1 hour ago, seedy said:

I know that feeling.

Is it a Honda Wave ?

Nat Motors close to Maya shopping centre is good - I have bought 2 bikes from them, my PCX and CRF

A full rebuild of the engine and transmission will be cheap, add a new carb, ignition and that takes care of the motive power.

New brakes, wheels, tires, plastics if you need them not expensive.

Good Luck with your faithful companion

 Great response, thank you, Seedy.
 

I know that shop. I thought it was just a sales & service center. I had no idea they also do what you said. And they're official Honda dealers, so they'll know what they’re doing. If memory serves me right, English is quite scarce, and my Thai isn't good enough to explain everything I want. I'll probably get a translator or prepare a list in Thai and get a quote.
 

And yes, you guessed right, it's a good ol' Honda Wave 125cc, and still going strong after 17 years ????

Ayup, Chiang Mai.

Has anyone here ever had an old bike reconditioned in Chiang Mai? My little Honda is an OAP now, and its gaskets, seals, etc., need replacing. I'm considering getting a complete bike-lift if I can find a suitable garage. It still runs well, and it's only for sentimental reasons that I don't want to get rid of it. Some of you will understand, while others may think I'm nuts. But it's been a constant in my life for 17 years, and the little beauty has never let me down mechanically in all that time.

Thank you.

1 hour ago, seedy said:

Online shopping the #1 reason why people can not find brick and mortar stores anymore.

All that product knowledge, customer service lost. Now it is minimum wage packing box stuffers who you are dealing with. Knowledge - zero. Customer service - who cares ! I make minimum wage

So true.

29 minutes ago, elektrified said:

Forget Lazada (owned by the Chinese now). Stick with Shopee and you will be completely protected.

That's useful to know. I suppose it depends what you're looking for and whether the said store has what you want/need at the time. But I will make a note to check out Shopee. If anyone can support what Elektrified said, that would be useful. It's all a bit new to me, this online shopping malarkey. To be honest, I'd prefer to support local bricks and mortar businesses, especially smaller concerns. The problem is, it's getting forever harder to find what you want off-line, these days.

Just a quick update here.

My beautiful new Paperwhite Signature Addition arrived yesterday, and the extra Kindle cover came today. It's the first time I've ever used Thai online shopping, and I must say I'm impressed with Lazada. I know it has developed a reputation for allowing dodgy sellers, but my first experience has been all good. And I must say, the detailed tracking system is second to none.

Just learn how to say this every time a Thai asks, "You su-peak Thai, or not? You will then be forgiven for trying, and it'll give 'em a good laugh. 
 

ผมพูดภาษาไทยได้นิดหน่อยนะครับไม่เก่งจริงๆผมรู้บ้างคำเท่านั้นครับ ???? ผมพยายามพูดภาษาไทยแต่ว่าคนไทยทุกคนนะไม่เข้าใจเมื่อผมพูดพวกเขาบอกว่า"เฮ้ยฝรั่งคุณพูดภาษาอะไร" จริงๆ

Or, if you prefer...

Pŏm pôot paa-săa tai dâai nít nòi ná kráp mâi gèng jing jing pŏm róo bâang kam tâo nán kráp pŏm pá-yaa-yaam pôot paa-săa tai dtàe wâa kon tai túk kon ná mâi kâo jai mêuua pŏm pôot pûuak kăo bòk wâa, "Hóiie fà-ràng kun pôot paa-săa à-rai?... jing jing.

6 minutes ago, retiree said:

More general comment here.  There is a tendency for foreigners to see a single monolithic Thai market that is stacked against them.  I think, rather, one has to see four distinct markets  operating in parallel.  In order of prices they are: 

 

 - the fine print market:  both online and in sidewalk vendor stalls.  Prices are very low, usually because of small quantity, short expiration date, used item, off brand, etc.

 

- the rational market:  mostly online.  Both sellers and buyers have access to "true" best legit prices (e.g. Amazon + VAT + shipping).  At the low end prices are competitive with this, but there are also somewhat higher prices for value-added features, e.g. local seller, local service, easier returns, C.O.D., high number of reported sales, better seller reputation, etc. 

 

- the traditional market:  mostly regular stores or their online presence.  These continue to reflect pre-Amazon/Lazada/Shopee pricing, when brands and/or competition in Thailand were limited and consumers were much less informed.   They persist among less-informed consumers and those who prefer local stores, lack credit cards, make impulse purchases in the store, rely on store-owner's advice, etc. 

 

- the irrational market:   online.  No upper limit on pricing, because as a rule sellers do not maintain any inventory -- they simply resell goods they themselves buy in the rational market.  This is very easy to see on used book sites and Amazon books, where ordinary used books that are available new are listed for hundreds of dollars.   The usual explanation is that these sellers hope for accidental sales and/or very uninformed consumers, and persist because there is essentially no barrier or cost to market entry (or lack of sales). 

 

 

As for the D3 puzzle, Costco's Kirkland brand (a reputable seller) is readily available for $11 - $15 / 2,000 IU / 600 gel caps in the US, so we know for a fact that good D3 can be cheap.   This is the target the better Lazada/Shopee sellers will approach (plus shipping, VAT, and their profit).  In this particular case, expiration dates add downward pressure (I sometimes buy very short-date stuff if I'm confident it's stable and has been safely stored). 

 

Interesting question,

-- Retiree

 

What an excellent reply; thank you, Retiree.
 

When I was growing up, the advice was simple, i.e., You get what you pay for. Another was, If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. But I guess globalization and intense competition have changed things…. a lot. I'm not a penny pincher, but at the same time, I hate to pay over the top for something. I've done that a few times in the past, mainly through impatience.

I've lost count of how many times I've asked about a thing so that I could hopefully make a better-informed decision based on the experience of others. And I've also lost count of how many times someone has turned up after I bought an item only to say how much cheaper I could have got it if only I... Then there's the; You've been ripped off, mate, brigade that likes to join a conversation after it ends.

Anyway, I think I will join iHerb and order the FutureBiotics capsules above. I've researched the brand, and they've been around for a good few years.

Thanks once again, Retiree. I agree, all is never as it seems ????

I found a couple of options with D3 + K2 at great prices on that site called iHerb that so many recommended.
 

FutureBiotics: Vitamin D3 (5000 IU) + K2 w/ Vitamin K2 (90mcg) as MK-7, 120 Capsules 501 THB

NaturesPlus: Vitamins D3 (2500 IU) & K2, 90 Tablets 408 THB.
 

Any advice from those who know about vitamins is greatly appreciated.

21 minutes ago, Walker88 said:

Bumrungrad Hospital in Bangkok has a retail pharmacy where you can get D3 and K2 in the MK7 version.

 

100mcg of K2 is the recommended daily intake, while recent studies show that even 5000 IU per day of D3 has no negative effects. Because D3 is fat soluable, it was long thought taking supplements could have negative effects, but the dosage turns out to be massive before it could cause harm.

 

The MK7 version of K2 is the most biologically accessible version. It promotes calcium in bones and there is evidence it removes, or at minimum prevents, Ca buildup in arteries.

 

 

Thanks for that, Walker88.

Bumrungrad doesn't seem to have an online store, so I can't check out their supplement range.

I just searched online generally, and it seems that you can by 360 x vitamin D3 (2,000 IU) softgels for around 300 THB. In the Thai drug stores, it costs around 500+ THB for 60 hard tablets. How is that even possible? Surely the cheap options can't be genuine? Either that, or someone's making an absolute killing selling these on the high street. 

I haven't been able to find any 2,000 D3 and K2 combos online, though.

18 hours ago, retiree said:

Fwiw, I take 1,000 IU of D3 daily 'cause I get nearly zero sun exposure.  I don't worry about K2.   

-- Retiree

With next to no sun exposure, Retiree, I've read that of at least 2,000 IU daily is an ideal amount. For some reason, I've not seen 2,000 IU available in the high-street drug stores. One could always take 2 x 1,000 supplements, but that would get expensive. I think that's why a lot of people order online.

15 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Which "real people", rather than anonymous donors, did you see making contributions and where?

One assumes that the folks who typed onto a keyboard informing of their contributions are real people, not bots. While someone posting the total received thus far tells you nothing of who those donors are. OK, you could argue that the forum posters are anonymous by name, but they are still real people reporting their deeds, albeit by their aliases. 

3 hours ago, Golden Triangle said:

Far too many judgemental people on here, not your body, not your skin, not your business.

But people should still be allowed to voice their opinions on tattoos, as with certain clothes, hairstyles, piercings, etc., right?

However, what would be out of order would be to personally attack an individual for their tattoos, clothing, hairstyles, etc. Unless, of course, they asked what a person thought, in which case they'd have to take the answer on the chin if they didn't like it. But your response suggests that the topic and public opinions on tattoos should not be open for discussion and that people should keep their thoughts to themselves. 

Well, I think tattoos, especially on older women, look awful, trashy even, and I should be allowed to say that out loud. But, of course, others will disagree, and that's also fine.

If anything needs to stop, it's the growing and toxic cancel culture.