Wellyoudidask

Don't cigarette companies still claim there is absolutely no scientific studies linking smoking and cancer?

No, they don't.

Then are they prepared to pay the NHS etc for lung cancer sufferers treatment/funerals ?

I doubt it, but the lung cancer sufferers who smoke need to take personal responsibility for their incredible stupidity anyhow!

As a person who uses a car to get from A to B, perhaps someone could enlighten me as to the point if it's not willy extension?

So all motorcycles should be 100cc and all cars 1000cc, as they would be perfectly adequate for A to B travel ?

Some people spend 10,000 Pounds on a watch, some people spend 2,000 Pounds on a bottle of wine, some people spend millions on a painting, and some people go to Thailand and spend all their money on a house they cannot own...........................

I have a Fortuner and as I also have a miniscule dix, and I want 1000 BHP under the bonnet...

To have the fastest SUV in the traffic jam would be a life changing experience......................

As a person who uses a car to get from A to B, perhaps someone could enlighten me as to the point if it's not willy extension?

Drive, and you shall know.

I used to say the same thing back when i was a student and had a then 20 year old Ford Fairmont station wagon.

Then I got a Mazda MX-5 - cheap but a true roadster with perfect 50/50 front/back balance and rear wheel drive - and suddenly this all changed. I could say a lot but only this much: It's way more fun to drive, that's all. And frankly if you spend a lot of time in the car, why not have fun while doing it.

In fact, I think it would be irrational to not try to make the experience as pleasant as possible.

That's why people buy BMW, sports cars, etc. And that's why people mod their Fortuner to 300BHP. Sure, some might try to impress their peers. But the real beef is for your very own personal pleasure.

I would not mod my Fortuner like this mainly because I do need the 4WD for some seriously muddy roads around here and increasing the power and turning this into a sports car would mean lowering it, putting on wider rims, and adding some serious brakes. At which point the off-road capability would suffer. So - I can't do it. The Fortuner as is is just ideal for me - pretty great car all around, but also able to plunge into the mud with authority.

As a person who uses a car to get from A to B, perhaps someone could enlighten me as to the point if it's not willy extension?

So all motorcycles should be 100cc and all cars 1000cc, as they would be perfectly adequate for A to B travel ?

Some people spend 10,000 Pounds on a watch, some people spend 2,000 Pounds on a bottle of wine, some people spend millions on a painting, and some people go to Thailand and spend all their money on a house they cannot own...........................

I have a Fortuner and as I also have a miniscule dix, and I want 1000 BHP under the bonnet...

To have the fastest SUV in the traffic jam would be a life changing experience......................

Piracy is wrong, but the big corporations have to lower their prices to realistic lewels in the poorer countries of the world, how many Thais could afford to buy their products if they where priced normal.

I saw on TV Banglamung cable, a western teenage girlband on walkingstreet, finding a vendor selling copys of their latest cd, they got very upset and the two 17 year old girls was rambeling on about how hard they had worked and how they now was loosing money because of this trade with copys in walking street.

If they had followed the vendor to his home after he had finished his 12 hour day, (7 days a week), they would proberly have found that their shoes back in the UK/US wouldent even fit inside this mans home.

How many cd would these two girls have sold in Thailand at full price, probably very few, and would they have been able to hold concerts packed with thousands of young Thai fans, if their music hadent been spread out through Thailand by cheap copys?

The computer industri, intertainment industri have to rethink their approch to these markets and lower their prices significantly if they want to eradicate/reduce the piracy buisness. how many cd/dvd is a Thai earning 4000ish bath a month going to buy at 600Bath a pop let alone talking about computerprograms running in the several thousand Bath range.

Kind regards

I actually thought the same until I read recently that Thailand is classed by The World Bank and the IMF as having the world's 20th and 21st largest economy respectively. Thailand is not a poor country in global terms.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_count...y_GDP_%28PPP%29

1950 cup final Warrington v Widnes. Two Naughton brothers played in the final, Danny & Johnny. One was playing for Warrington and one for Widnes. After the prentation, The losing brother gave the winning one his medal.

Easier question. Which was the first team in the south of England to play rugby league. Clue - they did make national news headlines!

I could be wrong but does a rugby league trivia quiz belong here? Or perhaps rugby league is a joke????!!!!

If you move from Pattaya to Issaan you will really know what the word BORING means I find I am going out of my mind with nothing to do after 3 to 4 weeks up here & have to get back to Pattaya/Bangkok to regain my sanity!!!

Pattaya has many faults but there are plenty of activities for expats to take part in as other posters have said.

Honda #1 worldwide, finish, reliability .resale,etc, cant go wrong !

With about as much character as a doped-up John Major. That said, I've always reckoned you could pass your test and hop straight on a honda fireblade and all would be fine as long as you were careful with the throttle. Go on, prove my theory correct.

Not for you? Ok, just make sure you buy something with enough power to accelerate up them hills when needed. You may not feel you need it now but you will in six months. Good luck

Libya, may I help you here? A joke is something said or done to provoke laughter or cause amusement, as a witticism, a short and amusing anecdote. Your 'joke' has been viewed 411 times and this is the 25th reply. You replied to my fish joke with 'Not Bad, But I refer you to my hilarious Fish & Chip joke on this board, which has attracted much attention.............. ' How many replies say that it is hilarious? How many just say'??????' Even a heavy reworking will only produce

A boy went into a fish & chip shop and asked for cod and chips.

The proprietor asked the lad:

"Anything on it?"

To which the boy replied:

"I want it on my bike!"

Still not amusing, were you trying to do something similar to the old lady asked the greengrocer for 2 lbs of potatoes?

"I'll have 2 pounds of potatoes."

"Will you take King Edwards?"

"No let him come and get his own"

For those who are not familiar with the term 'King Edward' in this context is a type of potato. I hate explaining jokes but felt that because some readers are not familiar with the term may need assistance.

Normally, if you have to explain a joke then it is not funny. Can you show your face on this topic and explain it so that we might be able to improve it for you?

Would anyone care to enlighten me?

I grew up in north-east England on fish and chips.................but I still don´t get it at all.........................

Sounds like my sister..... Had a flight into BKK once during the rainy season with some heavy turbulence. She is not te bravest of travelers.

It doesn't help nervous flyers when people blow a rough landing out of proportion with an "almost crashed" description either.

Here is a nice and clean modified Fortuner with a 1-JZ VVTI single turbo engine. This is the latest 1-JZ in production and is as bulletproof as previous JZ engines. Its seen here as a stock engine with its 280 bhp from Toyota. This engine will on stock internals keep up with 750-800 bhp.

This Fortuner has been given a Vigo 2wd gearbox so its now only a rearwheel drive car. As the owner says; Its a Bangkok car and I never need the use of a 4wd.

From what I think, who really does. Its true some Fortuner owners might use the 4wd on a few occations, but who really needs the 4 wd on this car here. Not too many out there who wants to bash this fine car offroad I belive.

Some small modifications to the clutch and the connecting rod is needed when using the Vigo box.

This vigo gearbox will for sure not hold up as much power as the JZ boxes so if modifying this engines more I would go for either the 5 speed manual from a 1 JZ, the 6 speed Getrag monster box from the 2 JZ or the JZ A340E auto gearbox with cool mods as F1 paddle shifters.

If using JZ boxes no clutch or rod mods are needed. Then you need some mods on your driveshaft. Mods like that are just easy and painless work.

In my opinion. Just lower this car a few more centimetres and go for a bigger turbo setup These engines are so easy to get 500 bhp from and are more than reliable. As an example if you dont have any good friends in the business, a 800 bhp setup will set you back some 300.000 B on a 2 JZ engine in Bk.

And for you guys who think a 5-600 bhp setup would be too much. Its all possible and is all about the brakes, springs, shock absorbers, bushings, rims and tires in a proper setup to make it work good.

Height adjustable TEIN coilovers and Brembo brake kit is already availbale to the fortuner so with some nice Japanese VOLK rims on Yokohamas, and off you go!

just keeping your minds busy...

It is psychologically frustrating:

Own cash (earned not inherited) do I spend an extra 500 GBP for BKK-MAN-BKK business class.

Benefits: lounge access and legroom, a glass of champagne.

Or: Suffer economy (14 hours X 2): Then........

500 GBP spending money, upon landing for the first week back in Pattaya?

I am new to motorbikes, but after a few months of renting I am ready to buy my first bike. I've searched this forum and noted that Honda and Yamaha owners seem generally satisfied, JRD owners not as much. I haven't found any discussion of Kawasaki. I will appreciate any information or suggestions on manufacturers and types of bikes. My situation: I live in Chiang Mai, I am a little over 100 kg (trying to get down to 90), I am not looking for a racing bike but want something with good acceleration, and I am leaning towards a clutch bike--not as common in Thailand but I like shifting gears. My top considerations are reliability, ride and handling, fun, and value for the money. Storage and resale value are lesser considerations. Thanks for any help you can give me.

I got a bit of a surprize the other day. While driving into Khon Kaen, I was pulled over at a roadblock. No problem I thought, Im obeying the law and have my Thai license.

The cop told me I had to pay 400 baht for driving in the passing lane. Its a divided highway with two lanes each side. I said I dont get it, whats the problem. He said the right hand lane is for passing only. We discussed it awhile and he called over his boss. I explained that I was passing a car, but that unlike most drivers I see here, I pull out to pass when Im about 50 meters from the vehicle Im passing and then I wait till Im about 50 meters passed before I return to the lefthand lane. I said its much safer that way than just whipping around a car coming within a meter or so of the other car.

The guy was very nice, asked about me, where I live etc, and said he would just give me a warning this time. He also said from now on, dont stay in the passing lane too long. I didnt want to get into how long was too long, I just gave him a few wais and thankyou very much.

I really didnt know it was illegle to drive in that lane and probable many others dont either.

Well, now I know, but that brings up a question. A couple kilometers past where I was stopped, the road changes to 4 lanes. Where is one supposed to drive on a 4 lane highway?

It's well known among the Thai's in Issan about getting stopped in KK for this very thing. My wife warned me long before we reached KK so I stayed in the correct lane and no problems.

They do the same thing from time to time on the road between Udon Thani and Nong Khai. They use a camera there to catch 'passing lane' drivers. Same 400 baht fine but can be talked down to 200 baht. They got me fair and square so I paid the 200 with no complaints. I was going 140 in the passing lane kilometer after kilometer. Strangely they didn't care that I was going 50kph over the speed limit.

Probably should have started another topic ,but has anyone ever pleaded not guilty to an offense and gone all the way to court ?

Even on Thaivisa I don't think anyone is that foolish.

I got a bit of a surprize the other day. While driving into Khon Kaen, I was pulled over at a roadblock. No problem I thought, Im obeying the law and have my Thai license.

The cop told me I had to pay 400 baht for driving in the passing lane. Its a divided highway with two lanes each side. I said I dont get it, whats the problem. He said the right hand lane is for passing only. We discussed it awhile and he called over his boss. I explained that I was passing a car, but that unlike most drivers I see here, I pull out to pass when Im about 50 meters from the vehicle Im passing and then I wait till Im about 50 meters passed before I return to the lefthand lane. I said its much safer that way than just whipping around a car coming within a meter or so of the other car.

The guy was very nice, asked about me, where I live etc, and said he would just give me a warning this time. He also said from now on, dont stay in the passing lane too long. I didnt want to get into how long was too long, I just gave him a few wais and thankyou very much.

I really didnt know it was illegle to drive in that lane and probable many others dont either.

Well, now I know, but that brings up a question. A couple kilometers past where I was stopped, the road changes to 4 lanes. Where is one supposed to drive on a 4 lane highway?

It's well known among the Thai's in Issan about getting stopped in KK for this very thing. My wife warned me long before we reached KK so I stayed in the correct lane and no problems.

They do the same thing from time to time on the road between Udon Thani and Nong Khai. They use a camera there to catch 'passing lane' drivers. Same 400 baht fine but can be talked down to 200 baht. They got me fair and square so I paid the 200 with no complaints. I was going 140 in the passing lane kilometer after kilometer. Strangely they didn't care that I was going 50kph over the speed limit.

If the Police asks 400 Baht for every driver who are using the passing lane without overtaken a car they will be very rich.

Wake up guys......... any old excuse to extract cash from u. Thats the real issue at hand here.

not here to discount either way, however.....

Everytime you get into a plane, you are doing something that is highly unnormal......

Getting in a million pound piece of metal and flammable gas, strapped around a jet engine, all made to defy a basic law of physics, gravity. A rough landing and even a crash are going to happen sometime. Remember that the next time you are stuck in an airplane somewhere. Hopefully the guy fixing it is not in any hurry because the passengers are mad because the 'idoits' can not fix it in time for you to get home for dinner.... (no, I am not an airline employee)

Thanks for explanations Rambo, Don't agree but I used to think just below belt line to so I understand what your saying. You know as young man I had my first devoirce from my high school sweetheart. We went to counceling, the councler kept stressing sex, hel_l she wa attractive and great in bed. That was the point in my life that I realized I couldn't be having sex 7/24, other things mattered as well. Guess you just haven't gotten there yet.

Let me make this very clear, I have no respect for any man that would step into anothers marriage, Thai or farrang. If the mariage is bad then split and let each go and find thier own happiness.

It's interesting that you know exactly how you are going to think in 20 years, do still think in the same manner you did 20 years ago? If so you might be right.

You seem to be enoying yuor lifestyle now I think that is wonderful. Why in the world would you want to judge mine?

I have dated 50 year olds, those that I was attracted to and there were a lot of them. In actually they brought in many instances much to a realtionship then a 30 years old could. But the other thing they brought was thier past exposure to men. You ended up paying in one form or another for everything that any man had done to them on the past. Well you know what I found that to be very unattractive.

My marriage is based on trust and love, not the number times we have sex. My wife is my best friend and I hers. If your lucky you may find that someday. There is no one I would rather spend my time and share activities with then her. To see us apart is rare, neither one insists on that, just the way it is. So could it be that you are only seeing one aspect these realtionships. Or do you think just beacause I'm older then you that I would settle for anyhting less. hel_l man I can get laid by cuties any ###### time I want to, just takes a bit of money and I have it. Not what I wanted not what I settled for.

I guess we definetly travel in different circles you see I know a lot of older farrangs that have real marriages here.

I guess everyone is different. You see I am happy with my marriage, does that make me wrong? My wife is happy in her mariage doees that make her wrong? There are a lot more then you seem to be aware of.

Would it be wrong for me to judge your lifestyle? Yes it would.

Us younger, virile studs don't need to splash the cash in bars to get the ladies' attention, they volunteer for their pleasure.

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Having been lucky enougth to have been here as a reasonably young man I can agree with you Rambo, when I first came out here I too had girls comming with me for no money just enjoyment, the problem was NOTHING in life is free, just keep taking the same (free) girls for long enougth and you will be aware of this too,

The price is not always financial, it may come in the way of constant phone calls, unwanted knocking at the door at 3am, aggression when seen out with another girl, there is always a price.

There are PLENTY of Western women who are quite happy to have older lovers if he is famous or rolling in money. Why should Thai women be any different?

Why all the hostility on some people's part towards older men being with younger women. Could it be the Western prejudice against single older men! Many cultures in the West and feminists have this angry resentment against single older men. I know many reading this have experienced this. In fact this has been a topic of conversation among expats that I know. Granted these men were from the USA.

Older men may have alot to offer younger women. They tend to be more mature. Often are economicaly more stable. They know who they are and what they want. In this day and age older men are often virile and in reasonably good health. Everthing is not just about sex. Not all cultures just value younger people and not those who are older. Some cultures don't even mind men being more overweight.

Good post. There is a lot of angry feminist / liberal nonsense talked about "sex tourism" pertaining to older white males only. There is definitely an agenda here, especially in the US.

Usually written by jealous married men and overweight women with no self confidence !

I've noticed in Khon Kaen anyway that there are a lot more dottery old codgers around than a few years ago.

What's the reason for this?

Are heating bills going up in the Uk or something?

Can they no longer afford their half pint and drams?

Could they all be finding their 'tee ruks' through online agencies?

Are they coming to get their dentures replaced?

Anyone noticed in the other parts of the country?

Yeah, I have. I'm only 64 and I do hate it when all these wrinklies go limping by thinking they've still got what it takes. I'm with you all the way man, ship 'em all off home to care homes, there'll be more fun for us. And I won't have to stand in line any more at the pharmacy or help 'em across the road.

Only the young die good