transam

I believe it, cos it's ABBA.

I'm really surprised at the level of hatred here.

There is no such a thing as justice in case of murders and the illusion of it (eye for an eye) only leads to even more human suffering. Don't tell me the "US Justice System" is about justice, it's just about revenge and inflicting hurt on people who have hurt others.

And yes - the Norwegian prison system (which is fantastically successful both at results and costs) are just about two things:

• Protecting society from offenders if they're dangerous
  
• Rehabilitating the offenders and making sure they become safe and productive members of society, facilitating release after the mandatory part of the sentence is finished
  

We don't punish people here because the primal sense of revenge humans have. When we punish people by taking away basic human rights, we do it because we have to and would like to do so for a short a period of time as possible instead of gleefully legally torturing them for the enjoyment of the masses.

If YOUR daughter has her brains spread over the scenery then come back here with the same post.

Also that it is still a nice light pink colour.

Unless he is using B&M Trick Shift Trans Fluid, then it should be green or blue (can't remember, long time ago)

Noooooooooooo, it's all pink for us lot.

Learned from my dad (a bus driver).

To start a reluctant diesel. Air cleaner off, rag soaked in diesel (NOT petrol / gasoline) near the intake, light the rag, operate the starter. Works every time

But now you have to pay for a fire brigade call out.

How can you force someone to run and listen to music.. That is a disgrace and what century is the judge and the country of Thailand living in.. 10 years in jail maybe ok but to torture someone is not acceptable... 1 rule for falang and bail if your a Thai... I hope he complains to the U.N or a world office because that sentence is digraceful

Yep, LOS really is a legal laughing stock, and the accused is laughing too cos he's deaf.

If anyone want to see what this man Breivik was thinking, he made a video manifest:

http://www.telly.com...<br /><br />I do not think he was insane. Just extremely radical.

Extremism comes in many forms and have many faces .....

Today the world is a little safer.....

Noooooo, he's not underground. The greens will probably release him as a nice chap and he will kill somebody else's kid.

I will risk a ban as a tear has been in my eye, BUT, I hope a grieving dad will carry out the right sentence 21 years down the line.

I have rented bikes in Chiang Mai, Koh Samet, Koh Chang, Hua Hin, Cha-Am, Koh Tao, Koh Samui, Krabi, Phuket and probably a few other places. I have NEVER left my passport. I ask the price, I ask whether they need a passport, I tell them my passport is not with me, its at home and I'm away on a trip, I offer my UK driving licence, at most I'll give them my Thai car licence. If they require a passport, I walk away.

Anyone who doesn't do this is asking for trouble. I've had numerous people refuse to rent me a bike without a passport, but never had trouble finding someone around the corner who doesn't need one. I've even had two PCX's with the guarantee of my UK car licence. A dutch guy in Lamai, Samui did get very arsey with me when I walked away from renting two of his Hayates though, he really wanted my passport. I wonder if that's our friend loserlazer above.

You are a guy with a brain in your head and not elsewhere. I cannot believe the naivety of others here, but YOU and I will go through stuff with no worries. 10 out of 10.

I have thought about it, but you stated l am an ignorant long time expat, yes/no.

Tell me, why in all my rentals in LOS l have NEVER been asked to leave my passport ?, a simple scan copy of my passport's relevant pages are always sufficient, probably cos l don't have a ''MUG'' tattoo on my forehead.

My eyes are open to any scam in LOS, and not having my passport in my pocket is a field day for the scammer.

I rented a car once in LOS where the damage sheet was clean, l inspected the car and found minor dings and scratches, went back and called the guy out, pointed to all the stuff, hmmmmmm, he reluctantly noted all the stuff on the sheet and l was away.

If l did not do this AND they had my passport, VERY nice money earner.

The passport thing is a scam, take a bike back, OOOOOOOH, look a scratch, 10,000bht please or Noooo passport, farang coughs up cos flight in a few hours.

Must admit, don't like being called ignorant, as l do try to provide info to the new guy in LOS through MY experiences.

sorry if i offended you but if you call 'rubbish' on ideas of someone then you get the stamp man.

I am not telling you ignorant but on insurance policies possibly.

your experiences of course are appreciated man anytime with all respect as long you know how to act on opinion of others.

Anyway, you think it is only Thai people as scammers then you are wrong there. these stories has both sides you only see one side. the farang side.

anyway, you do not give your passport. i hope in the future they change their passport keeping story to something else but i as a foreigner do not see any solution once i think about a rental business in Thailand.

And, if they want to scam you with scratches and dings, you give your passport or not, they get your money anyway in Thailand.

Think you are twisting stuff here, don't care about scams elsewhere, and of course a rip off will happen anywhere where the police will not help, BUT,BUT, my comments are to tell

ALL READERS, DO NOT GIVE YOUR PASSPORT TO ANYONE, PERIOD, find another renter or walk.

I have thought about it, but you stated l am an ignorant long time expat, yes/no.

Tell me, why in all my rentals in LOS l have NEVER been asked to leave my passport ?, a simple scan copy of my passport's relevant pages are always sufficient, probably cos l don't have a ''MUG'' tattoo on my forehead.

My eyes are open to any scam in LOS, and not having my passport in my pocket is a field day for the scammer.

I rented a car once in LOS where the damage sheet was clean, l inspected the car and found minor dings and scratches, went back and called the guy out, pointed to all the stuff, hmmmmmm, he reluctantly noted all the stuff on the sheet and l was away.

If l did not do this AND they had my passport, VERY nice money earner.

The passport thing is a scam, take a bike back, OOOOOOOH, look a scratch, 10,000bht please or Noooo passport, farang coughs up cos flight in a few hours.

Must admit, don't like being called ignorant, as l do try to provide info to the new guy in LOS through MY experiences.

Insurance coverage for an accident involving a drunk farang? do not make me laugh man. I am sure you live here for a long time so hard to understand your ignorance.

yes, renter can fool the insurance company a couple of times but not more than that. Insurance companies are not stupid man.

ignorance hmmmmmmmmmm. Tell me any country that asks for your passport for assurance ?

It is illegal.

Insurance can be provided for any eventuality at a COST to the rental business. If a farang OR Thai is drunk then that is a case for the law, nothing to do with the rental business. If a conviction then they can claim what ever. NOBODY gives their passport to a stranger, except a few daft folk. Credit card details ARE the norm.

I have rented stuff around the world and NEVER been asked to relinquish my passport, cos it is illegal.

Scenario. A guy rents a bike for his two week holiday, has handed the guy his passport. Last day of rental, cos flight home, takes the ride back to find the store had a break in and his passport is gone . Flight home in 3 hours, who TF is going to sort it ?. He cannot leave the country, misses his flight, and tries to sort out a new passport AND pay for a new flight, WHO pays for this shit ? Daft to the extreme. BUT, your OK with it.

I am sort of writing about my life for my Thai son.

I am now 68 and over the years I have owned 66 cars and motorbikes.

Some were legal, some not, some were fun some were real dogs.

At one time I owned a 1958 Wolsley 6/90 which was an ex Metropolitan Police car. I paid about £25 for it, Never taxed or insured it or even did much with it even though I did have some ideas they never worked out.

The good old fun days.

No wife, no girlfriend, plenty of money, few responsibilities and good mates (but crap cars). I still miss them sometimes

But the smell inside that Wolsley was great eh.

it is funny to see people here stating like " why did you give them your passport?"

In Koh Phangan, no one give you a bike without a passport man. in many other areas of Thailand as well.

If you are so worried on handing your passport, then you do not rent a bike, that easy. Please stop bitching about it.

Many shitty farang crashed the bikes and run away before so of course they will ask the passports to protect their business. I can understand them. if they are doing so it is because of us shitty farang before, i am sorry but do not blame the renters. think about it. We created this monster

They cannot rent the bike for god knows how many days due to repairs besides just drink responsibly and drive nice and do not do accident with someone else's bike man.

If they try to get more money for repairs, that is fine. Think about what will happen to you if you crash a bike in UK without a license? they screw you out man with fines, right?

I left my passport in Koh Phangan for months for rental and i do not have any trouble. Besides, my passport is much more secure in their safes than my room:) haha.

and 'gosoon', 20,00 thb is a good price for a fix on a new bike. congrats but still be careful and do not be around that shop or change your accom or leave Koh Phangan as if you get it reduced too much, they might still wanna find you

Rubbish. The renter should have insurance to cover any eventuality. Do you hand over your passport in farangland, eeeeeer NO. How do Thais rent a bike.

Just to clear a thought in my grey cells, take out the dipstick and smell the oil/fluid on the stick, should smell sweet and not a burnt smell. Also that it is still a nice light pink colour.

A lot of Western tourists come into my business every day and I have never noticed them judging me for being an overweight, aging man living in paradise. In fact, most of the Western women are friendly and pleasant to talk to. Pimping, you must be doing something that sets them off.

I agree mate. Most of the western ladies I have met have been very pleasant and love to ask questions about Thailand etc. Must be something about the OP.

AH, back to the ''Farangs smell'' topic eh.

, Irishman, 700bht, drunk . Not news, just a normal day.

Dead Horsey Stay down I think we have pretty well covered this topic. Then again I could be wrong. Have we talked about the sausage McMuffin's?

Nooooooooooooo,

Thanks bro, i could do with landing this..it looks like a decent job for a newbie like myself.

Think positive, and be positive, BUT, be courteous at all times even if you feel a bit put down. A smile works wonders here even if you think it won't help.

Sadly it is daily stuf,f but natives just do not care about safety, even a simple thing about driving on the correct side of the road. Don't worry about it, l have, l see young kids every day riding a motorcycle home from school, 3 and 4 up, no license, no insurance, no helmet, and no problem with police. BUT, the main thing is the parents give them the keys to the bike and if an accident they're the first to scream it was somebody else's fault,so give me some money.

Forget it, this is not farangland, a different way of life, sadly.

Sorry chum, but you are saying that you do not want to see successful fast food outlets on your holiday destinations. The stuff you have talked about is not liking a successful business because it's from the USA.

You cannot accept my answer about Lao or Cambodia, Why ?.

Out of season nobody can afford to buy in these countries, simple stuff. In LOS, some Thais can afford to buy and have a bigger expat farang community. .

Ok cheers anyway transam...i will just go along suited and booted with my degree etc and see what happens...

Good man. My thoughts will be with you.

There seems to be many FARANG posters saying that the Thai police are on a par with the British police

And some even suggest that they are better. Yet when I speak with my THAI friends, they ALL say they

Dispise and hate the Thai police. I have also spoken with Thais who have lived for a considerable length of time in the UK, again all of them have only praise for the British police, so why is it that some Farangs on TV

Have opposite experiences and thoughts ?.

The LOS farang are talking bollo...s, and probably have been lifted by their police countrymen.

And here we go with the guilty by association comments, if you defend somebody you must be one too - yawn, yawn.

Perhaps l am/was.

Stay in the UK with your daughter.

(Don't send the gf any money)

I'm always deeply suspicious of these stories, this could be a scam to get money out of you, it could be a scam to get your daughter back to Thailand, where you never see her again. Or maybe your gf is just a bad sort and you never noticed.

Blimey, we agree on something.

OP, do not think we are being negative but some of us have seen some serious sh_t that beggars belief, so keep your mind/eyes fully open.

I'm surprised people are still arguing about this. Nobody has answered one of my questions. I mentioned that there are NO McDonald's in Vietnam, Cambodia, or Myanmar (Burma). And my question was, do you want there to be McDonald's in those countries?

Post # 138 for the financial stuff,

are you against Thai, Lao or Cambodian grub in USA or UK. ? Please answer.

And if you think it OK, then what if they come successful and make bundles of cash, will you then be against them ????

I've gotten that vibe more than once from falang women while in Thailand. Funny, no where else I travel, just Thailand. I chalk it up to the feminization of the western world where every man MUST comply with women's ideals and wishes. If not, you are branded by one of many characterizations. Of course, Thailand's reputation fuels this perception of all men who travel / live there.

No,No,No, it's because you are perceived as a sex pest.