MangoKorat

We've all done it but getting under a car without axle stands is very high risk.

I'm not referring to the ones selling 'packages' whilst they are in Thailand but the law on tour guides is stupid. People from other countries feel much more comfortable with someone who speaks their language as a native. Don't they realise that foreign companies actually bring tourists to Thailand - if having a foreign guide encourages that, what's the problem? Tourists actually create jobs! I'd also like to hear what the Professional Tourist Guide Association has to say about the thousands of unlicenced Thai tour guides and companies. Guides are required to undertake formal training and sit an exam in order to obtain a licence which needs renewing after 5 years. Tour companies also need to be licenced and lodge a security deposit with the TAT. I wonder how many Thai guides and companies comply with these requirements - I know of several that don't.

Didn't the Pattaya police state that they would be reminding bouncers what their job entailed following a similar incident? Maybe they haven't got as far as Soi 6 yet.

Agreed but it doesn't change the fact that bouncers are not supposed to attack people. He may have done something before and was clearly taunting people but he was not being violent in the video.

I'm pretty sure I asked for help on this issue previously but didn't get a reply that helped. I have now found the cause - completely by accident - hopefully this might help anyone else who has the same problem. The issue: My laptop would go slower and slower when I was on Facebook Marketplace - eventually going so slow I had to exit and re-enter. I was often impossible to be able to see all the items I was searching for. The fix: I had another issue that required me to turn off my adblocker. I couldn't find out how to disable it so deleted it with the intention of re-installing it. Since then 'Marketplace' has run perfectly and I can view as many items as I like without any slowing.

A popular and common opinion - but not one I agree with. I can't say what else happened but in the video, it was the bouncer that started the violence. Thai bouncers need to learn that their job is not to attack people, its to stop disturbances. There is no doubt that this man was an idiot but it goes with the territory. Venues that sell alcohol should expect drunken idiots and deal with them appropriately. Any one of those kicks and punches could have killed the idiot - would you be saying he deserved it if he died? I don't know about Thailand but people have been killed and seriously injured by bouncers in the UK - which is why the trade is now regulated and bouncers have to be licenced.

Then you don't know people very well. For example, when you know you're way around, its pretty easy to find a decent hotel for 1500 per night in central Bangkok. If you don't know - you might spend 2500 - 3500 on a room and think that's what you need to spend. However, some people think others are impressed by where they stay. They will often tell you where they are staying when you haven't asked. Many years ago, I stayed at the Amari Watergate, from memory I think it cost me 3500 (at least 10 years back). Yes, the room was nice but I tend not to spend so much time in my room when I go away. The TV was much the same - 99% Thai and the water still ran out across the bathroom floor instead of down the waste. The bedside lights didn't work and I didn't find the staff very helpful. The food was ridiculously expensive and there were very few alternatives close by. The security staff asked my wife for her ID card as we were entering the room and told me I should register 'guests' with reception - you can imagine my response to that - one of the words was 'off'. Fast forward to last month when I had occasion to stay in Bangkok, I stayed on Soi 33, nice room, good size, clean, friendly staff and plenty of food available nearby - especially at the Irish pub, just around the corner at 199 for a 7 piece English breakfast. You really do not need to pay a fortune for a good room. As for flights, I know plenty of people that travel business class but couldn't afford to if the travelled often and I also know people who like to say they travel business class who I know actually travel economy. As I say, if you think people don't massage their ego's by attempting to show off or appear affluent - then you don't know people very well. I am not saying all by the way and I am, in the main, referring to people who post on here, not necessarily in real life. But versions of the same also happen in real life - people often project an image, other than their real one because they want to impress. I know people in both the UK and Thailand who live in a hovel but drive a BM or Merc. Why? Because in the main, people don't see their house - but they see their car. I have a relative who rents his home (not through choice) but drives a Ferrari 488. Fools may be impressed, I just laugh. As for flights, I can only repeat - business class is very nice but for me, no way is it 3x (+) as nice.

Probably another sad one for you.

Take no notice - there are always these types on here. I have been berated in the past because I seek out the best deals on flights because I don't just visit Thailand once a year, I travel often and am able to do that because I look for the best deals. I've only ever flown business class when I've been upgraded, yes its really nice but is it worth 3 x the price - no way. I sleep all the way in any case. I have a home in Thailand so don't often need hotels but when I do, I rarely pay more than 1500 in Bangkok or 800 in the provinces. Why pay more when decent places are available at those prices? When backpacking there are plenty of places much cheaper than that. There will always be those who like to massage their ego by flying business class and paying 5000 for a room - maybe they think others will be impressed? I tend to spend most of my time out of the hotel, if I wanted to stay in my room, I would stay at home. These people think you are broke because you like to travel cheaply - leave them to it. I suspect that those who make such claims are actually the broke ones.

Then you lead a very sad life.

I'm sure the 'tourists' will be happy to learn that they are regarded as potential criminals and will be 'cracked down' on over Songkran - welcome to Thailand! In fact, there seems to be a disconnect between the post's title and its content. The title refers to a crime crackdown whilst the content seems to concern how Immigration plans to deal with an expected influx of arrivals. Quite how an attempt to 'streamline' the entry process will 'crack down' on crime is beyond me. Maybe tourists will have to take a lie detector test prior to joining the entry booth queue where they will be asked if they intend committing any crimes?

The pump has a height of 150mm which matches the both the original and new pump. Using a reducer would mean shortening the pipes to suit - not too difficult and it may be how I go but I'd rather not. As I said in my OP, I am getting someone to go to my house and let me look at the pipework through either photos or preferably, a video call. Most pump unions are compression fittings so if the ones on my Heat Pump are also compression, I should be able to remove the original fitting leaving the compression nut and olive in place - depending on the pipe size. 1.5" BSP pump unions are available to suit both 22mm and 28mm pipe. If it is a standard pump union, the larger union should screw straight on. The problem is, whilst I don't remember what the unions are like, I have a feeling they are not standard pump unions - they are quite bulky as they also incorporate a valve. I don't remember them being bulky. In any case, I'm not being rude but I didn't ask for suggestions on how to do the job - I'm fully capable of sorting that. I'm looking for a fittings stockist in case I don't take everything I need. I'm over for 2 months next trip and 2 months without a hot shower is not something I relish. This is a standard circulation pump union (with valve)

I'll never understand why foreigners waste their days drinking in bars, talking rubbish and growing their bellies day after day. I go out and I have a drink but I have never and will never fall into the daily ritual that so many do. Get out, do things - you might just live a bit longer.

I can't for the life of me find a forum relating to plumbing so I'm putting this in here - hopefully the moderators will move it if there's a more appropriate forum. The ciruclation pump on my Air Source Heat Pump has failed and I could not find a replacement whilst in Thailand and the manufacturer appears to have gone out of business - he may have even died for all I know. I've bought a compatible pump in the UK but just discovered that the union size is different. I cannot find a pump that has the correct specification with 1" 1/4 BSP unions and 150mm height, union to union. In the UK, they are all 1" 1/2 BSP. The obvious thing seems to be to change the unions and I'm getting someone to visit my property and take photos of the pipes etc. to make sure I can do that and hopefully I'll take the correct fittings with me on my next trip. However, we all know Sod's Law - I'll probably find I need something I haven't brought. Buying brass plumbing fittings is easy in the UK but apart from some 15mm fittings used in aircon units, I've never seen any brass plumbing fittings in Thailand. Does anyone know a stockist? - Bangkok is not a problem.

Look again.

Unless the airlines get their act together, the whole thing will have failure written all over it. Just as there were people creating long queues at the immigration booths because they didn't have a paper TM6 - unless the airlines advise people that they need to complete this online application, the queues will return. I can already hear the critic's keyboards cranking up telling me that its up to the traveller to check the entry requirements - we know about this, many travellers don't. They check if they need a visa and that's about it - especially the ones that have visited over the last few years when there was no TM6. Provided these people are weeded out before they get to the booths/automated entry barriers, it won't be a problem. When there was a paper TM6, sometimes there were staff checking travellers had a completed one, sometimes there were no staff. When there were no staff, most I.O.s would send them back at the booth but there were so many that it still created queues. Ditto when you had to present your boarding card - many leave them tucked in the seat pocket on the aircraft. How many people are going to clog up the auto booths trying to go through, having failed to complete TDAC? I've just booked my June ticket with Qatar direct - e-tickets came immediately, no mention of TDAC and I don't expect anything further.

Not that is seems to matter sometimes in Thailand but all this talk of it being good for the island - increases in toursim etc. - let's not forget that most of the island is a National Park. The protections that should afford have already been abused. If this bridge goes ahead, the pressure to increase development will be huge.

Yes, I use that section regularly when I'm in country - can I ask you what you think about it being built with just 2 lanes on each side? I think that they have made a mistake doing that - its already difficult to overtake when its busy - much will depend on what the toll charges are when they introduce them. Another problem that will crop up when the cameras are installed, is the speed limit. On much of the old road (Highway 2), the limit is 120kph - the M6 limit is 80kph (50mph). If the cameras work that will put many off using the road - 50mph is way too slow for a motorway.

Don't forget the lights that they left on on the elevated section near Lam Takhong for around 2 years. Lasy week I used the open section between Pak Chong and the 201 exit - no lights 555

One of the main reasons many go to Koh Chang is because its not over-developed. If this happens, and I very much doubt it will, its at least 20 years away and it will wreck Koh Chang. I've been many times and I can honestly say that I've never had more than a 30 miniute wait for a ferry - maybe I've been lucky but I do try to avoid busy periods - the hotels are cheaper too. After a long drive down, to be honest, a rest is welcome. The ferry companies usually put extra boats on at peak times.

Unlikely in our lifetime. M6 still not open - 6 years late in September.

Woman's fault? Complete claptrap. Even a hooker has the right to say no. They have a right not to be raped and they have a right to expect their customers to behave hygenically and safely. You have a strange attitude towards these women. I find that treating everyone with respect, unless they disrespect me brings rewards - give it a try. In addition, although there are some that 'work' for years, the average working life of a hooker is actually very short. Many girls will not know anything about the disgraceful ways some Indians behave.

Doesn't take long does it? I've visited that area on and off for around 22 years and yes, I've seen badly behaved British tourists. However, I've also seen badly behaved American, Russian, German, Indian and just about every nationionality of tourist you can imagine in and around Nana. It has absolutely nothing to do with race and you make yourself look ridiculous with such claims. Don't be an ass all your life, have a day off.

No, the 'Indian Gang Bang Thing' is actually rape. What they do is agree a price with a girl to go back to their room. Only when she gets there does she find that the Indian's 5 mates are also waiting in the room. One girl who it happened to told me she was terrified - they were rough with her, refused to shower or use a condom. That sort of behaviour is horrendous in my book, everybody has a right to be treated with respect.

Believe it or not, there are non hooker staff in every bar. The Irish pub in question has never been a place to pick up girls. The waitresses working there are non p4p to the best of my knowledge. My ex wife worked at the Marriot which is not far from the top of said soi - she was continually harrassed when she waited for a taxi home by people who think like you.