crocken

too many druge used on the river.....

Hi I just managed to load a few photos of my drive into Laos onto skydrive....see if this link works....

https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=a6725924028df700&resid=A6725924028DF700!782&parid=A6725924028DF700!776&authkey=!ABn32_oAx16QZvQ

Got the car passport and headed for the new bridge at Nakhon Phanom.very nice place to cross into Laos,the staff are very friendly and helpful.They filled all the forms in for me and i was thru in 20 minutes.the other bridges (nonh Khai ) i had to do paper work and very confusing .so crossing at NK is easy,$30 for my visa and 60baht for the car and 260 baht for 7 days third party insurance for the car.

short drive into Thakhek nice place some old french style buildings,i stayed in the meekong river view hotel 500 baht old but ok.had a few large bottles of beer Lao (40 baht) and dinner in a place by the meekong.

next morning headed north along rt 13 to Vieng Khan then turned left onto rt 8 heading east to Khoun Kham then south for 40 klm to a place called Kong lor.....amazing place has a cave 7 klm long runs thru the mountain and you can travel thru it on a long bout for 420 baht and it take up to 4 people for the trip.so 100 baht each if you have 4 people.It was a fun trip 7 klm thru a dark cave and some times we had to get out and the guys pushed it over a few rappids and then back into the boat and at one place they turn on some light and the cave lights up and amazing is all i can say.We stayed in a guest house 230 baht a room very nice and good food.

Next morning continued east along rt 8 to the vietnam border got very hilly and very cold when we arrived at the border it was 13 c and light rain (dec 2011).i was not allowed to take my car into vietnam so i headed back to lak Xao and stayed over night there.not much to do or see in Lak Xao.

next morning headed south on rt 8s,down to Thapa the headed east along rt 12.that is a fast road to the vietnam border again.then 20 klm before the border i turned right and headed south on a small dirt road that was once the ho chi minh trail and the MAG people are still there locating the many many bombs left from the US bombing from the vietnam war.A few caves to visit and many nice villages.Many poor children.Lucky we had brought some books and pens with us for the kids in the villages we went thru.We headed back to Thakhek and stayed another night in the river side hotel.

next morning we off along rt 13 going south to pakxe...a long drive ,wanted to see the waterfalls on the meekong river,Very nice to see them too near Sophamit near the southern border with Cambodia.stayed over night in pakxe,room 400 baht ,next day headed east along rt 16 e and then rt 11 to Sekong,a beautiful drive thru the Laos country side and so many hills and villages to see.

We came back into Thailand then drove up to Nong Khai and crossed the friendship bridge into Laos again then headed north up to phonsavan to see the plain of jars,but thats another story.

was not able to upload photos....kept getting error message.

so many silly comments.....looks like every one is an expert....

sky hotel 200 baht ...fan and 400 a/c clean and quiet....

Anyone care to comment on the crowd who hangs around the PS Guesthouse ?

The Guesthouse that rents the rooms 15 times a day to the Beach Rd skank?

No, never heard of the place...

15 times a day ....dont be silly.........................its more than that.

Anyone care to comment on the crowd who hangs around the PS Guesthouse ?

you the guy who lives in that big old GLASS house.....!

i went over 5 days after it opened great service they even filled all the paper work for me and full of smiles......

Yeah, let's see him try to buy some Coke Zero or Pepsi Max.

I scored three cases of coke zero and 36 of the big bottles the other day. I see it in cans in many places. (Not tourist heavy places)

Absolutely no Pepsi max any where. I hope Pepsi takes note of how fast it ran out and increases the supply. Many times stores have been out of it. This is the first time all of them have been out of it.

so thats why we have a shortage of goods because you hoard..........think only about your self ...now now now....grab.....you took the lot ????

i went into the red shirt camp at 5 pm monday 17th.every one seemed relaxed and many people sleeping.there are many children and old people in there,they are happy to see farangs come to visit.

a very interesting wall they have built from bamboo and tyres.they are very brave people.

thanks mario.

i will try to get coordinates from my gps now i have address.

There are several passport offices in Thailand, and Bangkok has several passport offices.

For a list look here: http://www.mfa.go.th/web/2633.php

Just click on consulair affairs in the middle screen and a list inclusing the passport offices will appear.

Applying takes about 30 minutes, they will send the passport home for 35 baht. Only takes a few days.

do you mean kampaeng phet? its north on toll road 9 then follow signs to nakon sawan and keep going north.

hi, does anyone know the coordinates for the office in bangkok where you go to get a thai lady a passport.

thanks.

so many angels in this site.you guys hear about glass houses.

Hi i have just arrived in kamphaeng phet does any one know if there are any farang eating places or bars in this city???

thanks for any help

ken phone 0852767796

can anyone tell me where in pattaya i can buy some U bolts.

thanks ken

try true value hardware across the highway from lotus/tesco. American hardware store and although noting remotely as good as in the US not bad for thailand and there is a german one upstairs although much more sophisticated

thanks lost in LOS,

i will be in pattaya tonight will try to find true value hardware is that lotus in north road?

and this american hardware store what soi is that one in /

thanks again ken

can anyone tell me where in pattaya i can buy some U bolts.

thanks ken

My FIL says he got harassed by the cops in Malaysia quite a few times driving a Thai registered car. basically the Malaysian version of the thai cops asking for tea money I guess. Has this happened to anyone here? Also, if you are given a ticket, what is the procedure?

I am considering driving there for the New Year if possible. Any advice specially applicable to this time of the year would be appreciated.

Is it possible to buy car insurance from the border ? i know you can buy third party insurance there but what about full insurance for the car ? while you are driving around malaysia for a month ?

I am going down there in a few weeks i will post my story on return

Hi read in bangkok post about a new road R3E thru laos to china ,I was thinking about doing that trip in a few weeks ,is there any old or new info about this on thai visa somr place thanks ken

Hi has anyone ever taken a drive into malaysia with a thai car?

just sold my car had to get letter of residency from immigration in bangkok ....but they told me to go to embassy so i did and it costs 470 baht for stat dec.if you are in pattaya they still do the letter at immigration for baht 200 did one there too just in case.this news is only 3 days old.

Following,

Me and wife want to buy a car, and let dad use it at times we are not in thailand (3/4 a year).

I want a pick up because handy for transporting goods.

Wife wants a sedan for status blabla.

Dad doesn't care.

We have a budget of 500000 max,.. so forget status i said,.... anyway,.. it will be a second hand because it has to have 4 doors and seating for at least 4, and it must have airbags and ABS.

Now i have been looking around and found some reasonably priced vehicles.

But which one to choose,...

Caba,... is a Toyota Hilux vigo double cab d4d,... (diesel engine is not to economic) about 459000 (2006)

Caba,... is a Mitsubishi Triton double cab commonrail,... (diesel too) about 499000 (2006)

Caba,... same as above but then in petrol and a little over budget (+50K)

Caba,... Chevy Colorado crew cab petrol engine, 525000 (2006)

Sedan,.. Mitsubishi Lancer new cedia for around 435000 (2005)

Sedan,.. Toyota carola altis around 480000 (2004)

Sedan,.. Toyota Vios new model around 499000 (2007-2008)

Sedan/whatever,.. Honda Jazz, petrol, around 525000 (2006)

Which car centres (BKK area) should i avoid because of bad name?

Which car centres (BKK area) should i use?

Which car would be best on economy and perhaps lpg build in?

Which cars are good for weekly travel trips to 700KM under BKK. (highway only)

Which car is cheapest in insurance?

What car is most stolen in Thailand?

I know Thaivisa offers auto insurance, but i can get a quote when i fill in data,... and i do not have a car yet so i cannot fill in the data,... (yes i am not to smart on this, so help me out please)

Ok thanks for any help/advice given.

i have a very nice ford ranger diesel 4 door great cond for sale 240.000 baht low klm auto blue not a mark on it. i just bought a new fortuner so need to sell pick up.

I have heard about these ladies that some how get gold and money from people by putting some cream on their wrists.

Well this happened to my girl friend in Sakon Nakhon yesterday in big C at 5pm.She and her friend went from big C to their car in the car park when 2 well dressed ladies asked them to come back inside to eat with them in the food court....thats all they can remember till the police tried to wake them from some kind of trance.they then realised they had their gold taken 5 baht (75,000baht)in total ,and 20.000 baht from my g/f acc,and 100,000 from her friends acc.the police showed them the cctv from big C and they saw them selves take the ladies to the ATM take money out and give to them.they dont remember any of this.the police told them these 2 ladies had done the same last week in Udon Thani same style and at big C their too.so be warned tell your ladt friends not to wear their gold out in public.they took 200,000baht in less than one hour.

so many stories about kidnapping in thailand does anyone ever get caught ???