Pdaz

From the image it looks as though the minibus had completed his U-turn and had moved over to the left hand side of the road. The damage to the front of the minibus and the position of the bike ( if it hasn't been moved ) probably shows that the bike exited a side road and was mown down. Or was travelling in the wrong direction on the highway ( not unusual ) and didn't see the minibus.

Both are probably guilty of driving without due care.. No word on whether the biker had a decent helmet on - Probably not, hence not much chance of survival.

Full tails at my place. My old Burmese managed to get a kink in the end of his tail during a scrap with the neighbors moggy. Luckily my Coon and Brit short hair don't go out beyond the patio.

11 hours ago, Don Mega said:

overhead speed camera that puts your vehicle up on the big screen ?

 

Been meaning to blaze through that 180km/h (damn speed limiters) and smile and wave.

I just wish I knew exactly where it was.. No point in waving as the pic only shows the licence plate.

I had thought of that too.. Pretty sure the old TT is good for 240 kph. Would make a great FB post*

*Note to uptight members... This is only banter and neither myself nor DM would ever drive that fast...

12 hours ago, gdgbb said:

 

You prefer to "pay attention"?  You got a speeding ticket, didn't you?

How do you manage to find so many arse holes in Fortuners to tailgate you at 5am on empty highways?

Not just at 5am.. There are arse holes in Fortunas 24 hrs a day.. Guess you have a fortuna ?

I

I just drive as the road conditions allow. Whether it's 5kph in heavy traffic or 140 on an empty highway. I just try to get the best compromise between safety and making progress. I rarely notice posted limits and I'm happy to pay 500/1000 baht fines if I break the law. In 17 years I think I've had 3 speed cam fines and two from the very nice cops waiting at the toll barrier where highway 7 ends. Their buddies must have clocked me with a radar gun and radioed ahead. On the second occaision they also stopped an orange TT RS which I was trying to catch up with (I have a TT Quattro so wanted to check out the RS ) The Thai guy in the RS had been doing 150 so paid 1500, I was slower so only had to pay 1000 

@ Jas21. Nice list of cars you had there. Some of my favorites among them. 

San Fran Foodies is code for Wealthy Gay Asian Americans I believe 

By Western taste I was trying to describe the different expectations of a particular dishes.

Asian guy, Good Curry = Meat/Fish on the bone, Fish paste/Lot of chilli and garlic etc

White dude, Good Curry = No bones, Lean meat, Creamy coconut milk, no fish paste and not too spicy

Different folks, different strokes.. Of course these are simple stereotypes as despite myself being a whitey expat I love curries with bones, skin, fish paste and heaps of chilli

Actually bearing in mind that Thailand drives on the left ( like the UK, Australia etc ) you will find that most of the "rules of the road" are similar to the British system.

It's really no different. Thailand has plenty of road traffic regulations. It's just that due to poor enforcement and training Thais tend to ignore them. That said the standard of driving is better in Bangkok than the provinces.

Simply:  Make every current holder of a driving licence attend mandatory lessons and practice. 

Retest them all using British or European standards. If they fail they lose their licence.

They can train and re-take the test until they pass ( if ever ) 

This should be rolled out nationwide.. Firstly it would reduce accidents and ensure every driver understands the rules of the road. Secondly it would ensure that anyone not bright enough to be in charge of a car isn't on the road.

If discovered driving without a licence they would face stiff penalties

In addition start driver awareness training at school for early teens.

18 hours ago, HooHaa said:

 

Nah most amazing thing about this is a man I dead and all you could see fit to do is make a cheap helmet comment.

Even with a helmet you can't fix stupid... Accidents like this just improve the gene pool.

16 minutes ago, JHolmesJr said:

 

Supanigga....lol...love to see them open a branch in harlem. 

Sorry JH Jnr.. I quoted your post not JT's. But yes great name for a Harlem or Downtown LA resto 

JT.

Very nicely presented. But they are just tidied up versions of dishes I can order at my local "Aharn Dahm Sang" Some like the bitter gourd stuffed with pork and glass noodles I can buy at the market for 30 Baht. Yes I'm not doubting that in the restaurant they are using much higher quality ingredients and they are being prepared in more hygienic conditions etc. But I have found many simple favorites ruined by attempts a improvement too. TBH there are many places in BKK similar to the one you have suggested. They sell Thai market favorites prepared to a higher standard and served in a clean air con environment. They are aimed at the well dressed middle classes who have the money to enjoy them and been seen doing it. 

Sometimes the food is wonderful and a worth every penny. Other times it is a bland representation of the original served up in a pretty dress.

For me in anywhere but central BKK the bi-lingual menu is something that usually warns me off this type of Thai food to be honest. I like to find places that never expect a foreigner then I can usually be assured as to it's authenticity and flavour.  ( of course this doesn't apply when overseas when Thai isn't the national language )

"Sophistication" normally implies high price point. Unless you are saying, "The food cart is very sophisticated as he uses gas not charcoal" 

I understand your point regarding Thai chefs/cooks here in Pattaya. They are very cautious and don't seem to want to develop dishes to a higher level. I noticed this when I originally move here from Singapore. In Singas if you asked a local about a good place to enjoy say "Bak Kut TeH" they would reel off a list of recommendations. In Pattaya most of my local friends may have a place they use but it will be based on location and ease of use more often than outstanding food.

In Bangkok this is different. Food outlets are all looking to differentiate themselves from others with a similar product. They have also started to understand the idea of brand awareness and how to promote their product as special.

This is happening slowly in Pattaya but at a more grass roots level. Think small noodle shop rather than higher end multi cover resto.

There are many Thai language foodie sites on the web and many revues on Thai social media. I've visited some with BKK friends while they were in Pattaya. But not massively impressed. They have felt the same and say "better in BKK"

It's is slowly getting better. But don't expect too much. I can remember when there was only one Japanese resto in Pattaya and Thais had to be dragged in there kicking and screaming..

Pattaya has "higher end" Thai restaurants. They are packed at the weekend with Bangkok Thais. But the market here in Pattaya won't support the price point and the guests see what you call "sophistication" as pointless and overpriced. I've tried quite a few of them and to be honest I prefer the food at my local "Aharn Dahm Sang"   I don't need a mountain of garnish, tiny portions and overbearing service to enjoy a meal. "Creativity and Sophistication"  sounds very pretentious to me.

I'm there to eat...

I'm willing to pay for location, Views and good atmosphere but I'm mostly disappointed with the overly embellished and "played with" versions of what should be a simple, tasty cuisine. 

If you want that style of food head to Bangkok.. Many Thai restos with International awards and wonderful reviews.  

At 5am on an empty stretch of highway you'll find 140 is the speed most are doing. I hate having a55holes in fortunas tailgaiting my a55 so I just keep ahead of them. If you want to battle along in the middle lane with them driving all around you.. Up to you. As for cruise control ...No thanks I prefer to pay attention and drive. 

It's not 'better'. It's just Thai style food made for Western Taste. The poncy Michelin judges wouldn't know what real Thai food is meant to taste like if it bit them on the a55.

It's no different to saying a Michilin starred resto's interpretation of "Roast Beef" is better than my home cooked version.. Their's maybe fancier and prettier to look at but it's not "better"

Horses for courses... 

9 minutes ago, canopus1969 said:

 

A ' vomit-Comet' is an airplane   

Yes. Coined from the parabolic flights used to give prospective astronauts the feeling of weightlessness... But you can imaging the carnage would be similar on a bouncing boat filled with Thais...

You have to remember that there are people who think a Honda Accord is a "Luxury Car" and those 1.5 Mil baht shoeboxes for sale in Jomptien are "Luxury Studios"  

I think many would be surprised to find out just how rough the Gulf of Thailand can get.

Knowing how seasick many locals get I would be a real "vomit-Comet" unless they use a sufficiently large vessel. If just a small cat the weather could impact profits.

I thought the latest feasibility study was for a vehicular ferry ?

If just pedestrians it would be pretty pointless IMHO.

Stupid idea.. This just encourages more illegal entrants. Process their asylum claims at a faster pace. Anyone who has crossed international borders illegally - excluded. Anyone coming from a country not in a state of war - excluded. Anyone without skills or considered to be a burden - excluded. Criminals and anyone with false papers etc - excluded.

Shouldn't take more than 12 hrs to consider a claim. Exclude any that fail and deport them immediately with all the other illegals. Until a hard line is shown the hordes of Africa, the Middle East and South Asia will continue to arrive. If they want a better life return them to their backward country of birth and have them work for it.

Genuine reffos can be housed in refugee camps paid for by the do-gooders, religious nutters and liberal lefty types.

Anyone wealthy with skill can be admitted on a limited time visa and taxed on their earnings..

Sounds fair....

Lucky he never tried for a Bee Jay..    

The idea that other countries may have been through this. Have gained experience and may possibly be able to assist and provide insight is totally alien to Thainess.

Most amazing part of this is that he was wearing a helmet ! What chance of that ?

Even after thirty years in Thailand with fluent Thai, residency, a thai wife and three look kreung kids my good friend is still "farang" to all and sundry. Wish the bloody BBC would adopt the same policy.

Tired of reading about stabbings and violent crime attributed to British teens only to discover that the "Brit" came from Turkey, Albania, Congo or wherever.

The press should tell the truth of their origins and maybe the public would wake up to the amount of troublesome and violent people being admitted to the UK. The prison population demographics tell the story but once again it is "racist" to mention the facts.

All gone too far.

The kid isn't British. He is Somali, as are the rest of his relatives. They might possibly be British residents but that is all. Same goes for Somali born Mo Farah.. Who the Beeb love to call British.

Brought up in the UK by Somali family, British citizen but Somali by blood..

If, I as a Caucasian lived in India for 25 years would that make me Indian ?  Or after 17 yrs in Thailand do I magically become Thai ? Of course not. I may gain citizenship or residency or a foreign passport but none of the above can change my genetic makeup.. 

Wife received one in the mail yesterday. Me driving to the airport last month at 5am - 137Kph in 120Kph zone

resulting in a 500 baht fine..   Gotta love law enforcement in Thailand.

Must have got the team that built every tennis court in Pattaya...