fiddlehead

I live in Rawai. 
Paid 50 baht for my lunch today. 

Was over in Kata last week, and paid 120 baht for basically the same thing. 
Probably because I don't know any more than the typical tourist when over there as far as where to eat good food at good prices. 

When you live somewhere, you learn where is good and where to stay away from. 

That goes for most places. 

I suggest to the OP that he come and live here for a few months. 
Then try somewhere else and compare. 
The biggest problem living here is Chalong circle. 
But if you don't need to go through it, life is pretty good. 

Their new factory in York, Pennsylvania (near where I come from), is very automated with robots doing much of the work. 
They use real humans to put in the engines, and feed the cables through, and to push carts around the factory because the union makes them keep so many paid employees. 
But the robots and machines are doing most of the work. 
So, yes, they can probably be built just as good in Thailand. 

In the old days, the assembly line had the bikes come through in the order that they were ordered.   (old factory where all the Harleys used to be put together, although the engines and trannies are all built in Wisconsin)
They figured it would keep the job from being boring and monotonous.  
Now, all that's changed too and they do different models on different days.

The tour is free, although if you want the full tour (paint room, some souvenirs, behind the lines, you can pay for and get the "steel boot tour"      

We've done both. 

If you're ever there, go for the free one, you see almost just as much. 

My son wanted one and we went to a mall here in Phuket. 
A few of the kiosks in the aisles were selling them. 
So, I would imagine if they are here in Phuket, they would be selling them at those little kiosks in the malls in Bangkok too. 
Somewhere in MBK would be my first try. 
A few of his classmates had them too, so, they are making their way into Thailand. 

Good luck. 

There are young kids (8-12?) sniffing glue and trying to rob tourists who hang around the waterfront area around 138. 

They tried to grab my shopping bag and another farang pointed them out to me and what they were doing. 
After I knew about it and could spot them, I saw a few different groups of them. 
Just beware. 
Apparently the cops take them in for a week or so to the detention centers but then let them back out.

Poor country with some desperate people. 

Mostly though:  I loved the place. 

After reading a few posts on this thread and experiencing my mother trying to collect on a travel insurance policy a few years ago:  I really don't understand why anyone would buy travel insurance. 
They don't want to lose money 
So, they don't pay. 

They pay their lawyers good.  But not their customers. 

Ever see how much some of these insurance people make? 

No thanks.  

 

2 minutes ago, Keesters said:

No mention of whether the motorcyclist was wearing a helmet. That should be a compulsory mention in all accident reporting. It might drive home

 

1) How useless Thai helmets are

 

or

 

2) How wearing one might save your life.

 

 

Or whether he had his lights on. 
Last night I was out late again (I don't do it often) and once again was amazed at how many Thai motorbike drivers don't have their lights on.  
Usually it's kids, and this guy was older, so.......... who knows. 
But, all the bikes without lights are asking for trouble IMO. 

17 hours ago, toenail said:

Waiting for the day when the government does a huge advertising campaign educating its citizens to take pride and not litter their seas and countryside....for the department of education to teach the future of Thailand in schools to NOT pollute....and for monks to also take a pro-active stand in emphasizing to respect nature and not litter. (Note: I have also participated cleaning up beaches in Thailand but this will not prevent the "clueless" ting-tongs from continuing throwing their bags of trash into the sea or locals leaving their foam cartons or plastic litter laying around. )

 

It's coming I believe. 
If enough people complain on tripadvisor and FB and other media about the problem of garbage strewn around all over Thailand, the government will eventually get the drift and clean it up. 
Hopefully by educating the children first. 

The parents must know it's wrong. 

But society allows them to do it, and it's easier than putting their trash in a bin or dumpster. 
But when their children start pointing it out............will take a while I know..........but I do believe it's coming. 

I probably would.
If I trusted the operators.
But my boy is 11 so, it is a moot point I'm making.  
 

1 minute ago, djayz said:

A good sugestion but I believe it might be better to spend the money on a simple but effective campaign educating people about keeping their country clean, the impact all the rubbish has on tbe environment, our health and the country's image/tourism. 

Spending a few Baht more, they could buy and install bins along the streets, beaches, etc. which should be emptied on a regular basis (e.g. every few hours/3 times a day, etc.). This in turn would create employment. 

 

Yes, it's hard to blame the people when there are no bins to place your garbage in anywhere near the beach. 
Now, they've finally put some at Nai Harn (I hear a few hotels got together and paid for them), and the beach is noticeably cleaner.

Now it's more the dogs attacking the overflowing bins and dragging the garbage back to the beach.  

I once saw a school group walking down the road, picking up garbage.  
I thought this was a great idea because some of them, probably didn't know it was wrong to throw your garbage out of the window as their parents often do it.

Education!   And bins so you have a choice! 

The Laguna marathon is coming up Jonathon ^. 

June 4 or 5th this year. 
Marathons can be brutal, or they can be fun and not so stressful. 
Depends on your training and how fast you want to go. 
My goal is always to run it faster than last year. 
But each year, my times get slower. 
But I don't quit. 
Cause I don't want to look like some of these pregnant looking geezers I see at the beach some days.  (i'm talking old men)

Back in my heyday,  I completed the Leadville 100 in 26:39.
I trained for a year for that one and felt great. 
Up until mile 87. 
Those last 13 were something I'll never forget (and hopefully never feel like that again)
In retrospect, maybe I should have quit. 
 

I don't normally drive much at night, but just got back from a 1 1/2 hour drive in the dark. 
I'd guess 5% of the motorbikes have either no tail light or no headlight, or both. 

I can't see them. 
Must be the cause of many of the accidents. 
 

We were false charged by an elephant in that park about 5 years ago. 

Scared the hell out of us and we took off, fast. 
Later, we were talking to a park ranger and told him about it. 
He said, yes, there's one elephant there that doesn't like cars or trucks and sometimes does that. 

He said, he hadn't killed anyone but has flipped over a few cars. 

I wonder if it was the same elephant. 

DinoPark has got to be the biggest in square kms. 
It is pretty much a water park though and no rides, you have to work for your fun. 
Consider it a plethora of obstacle courses in water. 

I always thought the mahout stayed with an elephant for life. 
Maybe that's not true. 
But if it is, why not ask the mahout the elephant's name and if he knows the present owner? 

360 is a Thai style place, just up the road from Dino Park. 
It is quite unique in itself and not so easy to explain. 
Some time when you are up that way, go look for yourself, no admission to look, just to swim. (100  baht)

Heading north, look for the truck weigh station about 10 kms north of Sarasin bridge on the opposite (southbound) side of the road. 
Make the next u-turn and take the road just south of the weigh station up the hill to the top, park and walk the rest of the way. 

https://www.facebook.com/AndamanViewPoint/

We went there yesterday. 
Wow!

It is HUGE. 

They've spent a lot of money to create this place. 
Must've been more than 150 water pumps, and air pumps. 
At least 100 person staff. 
Plus the lifesize plastic dinosaurs that move. 

My son talked them into letting me in for Thai price of 350 baht. (not sure how)

We got there early and had it to ourselves for an hour or so.  (11 am)

There is so much to do there, you can't do it all in one day. 
It is mostly all inflatable sliders and massive obstacle courses everywhere. 
There is a 7 meter high jump with a dinosaur ................well, here's a picture: 

We can hope it's a hospital.  Or a park,  community swimming pool and sports complex or good school. 
But it's probably going to be  condos, a mall, or fast food conglomerate. 

Or the world's second largest ferris wheel.

I am planning on taking a bunch of Thai kids, so it sounds OK to me. 
Probably built as a rival to 360 up there. 

My kid and his friends love that place.  
I think it's 100 baht there and the people there are probabaly 95% Thai. 
But I'm not, and will check this dino place out. (I probably  won't pay, just watch)

Thanks for all the info guys. 

Anyone been to this place yet? 
My 11 year old says lots of kids talking about it and he wants to go there. 
I see it's 950 baht for all day. 
Sounds OK price-wise. 

I wonder if it has all the safety precautions of nearby "360"  ?   (satire)
We love that place but it sure seems a bit unsafe by western standards. 

News to me that Thai Farmers bank went bankrupt a few years ago. 
I've had my account with them since 2000 and been adding money and taking money out all along. 

I bought their stock too and it went up nicely in the 8 or 9 years I held it.  (KBANK on the SET)

They did change their name to Kasikorn band at one time. 

When did they claim bankruptcy? 

Here's an article on some things to do up in Issan:  http://factsanddetails.com/southeast-asia/Thailand/sub5_8j/entry-3524.html

I remember going to a cave, somewhere in Khon Kaen or Loui or thereabouts (a long time ago) where millions of bats flew out every night and many people gathered to watch.    But I can't find it online. 

Anyway, lots of national parks up there. As well as ruins and temples.

I always  enjoy driving around Issan. 
Lots of hard working people who don't have much money and many live the old fashioned way, making string  out of bamboo,  carrying their rice to a restaurant, eggs gathered by nets strung around chicken coops:   Memories! 

I had one catch on fire once. 
I borrowed my neighbor's pickup, which had been sitting for a few months. 
Turned out a mouse family had built a nest in the carb, and when I was going down a hill, the old engine backfired and caught the mouse nest on fire, which burnt thru the vacuum lines, and, well, there were flames, and it was scary. 

My mechanic fixed the whole deal for a few bucks. 

Just saying. 
It can happen. 

What money?  How much? 
When I was in Cambodia, things were done in dollars. 
Change (smaller than a $1 bill) were done in Cambodian Riel 

So, how much money are you trying to exchange? 
I have a few US quarters with me, although I'm here in Phuket, not Pattaya.

Go to the beach, (almost everyday) which is only 2 kms away. 

Get an $8 massage

Hike anywhere I want in the jungle and no one ever tells me to get off their land.

Eat foods from 8 different countries, all within 3 kms of my house.  (and if it's pizza, it's for sure to be made in a brick oven)

(but prefer delicious Thai food)

Stay warm all year. 
Take 1-2 hour flights to 4 or 5 other amazing nearby countries.  (each for $100 or less)

Get $60 5 star resort rooms in low season.

Swim year round (outside)

I must say, the new terminal building (international) impressed me. 
Very nice

 Very modern. 
Lines were short. 
Baggage was ready and waiting when we got through immigration  ( 3 people in front of us )

If there was any holdup, it was customs with only 1 guy working (1 am).
There were about 15 in front of us, but line moved quickly. 

Then, all the Chinese turned right and the sign said: Taxi to the left, so we were the 1st ones to get a cab.
 

If I had a complaint it would be that we had to take the bus from the tarmac to the  building although I can understand there is no room to expand it enough for all the flights to come to the terminal building itself.  

Taxi driver was from AOT and very nice. 
Even stopped so we could get some  noodle soup on the way  home. 

Of course, within 15 minutes of our taxi ride home, we saw a motorbike accident in front of us. 
Bike and debris in middle of highway with no people in sight. 

Noticed 2 bikers without lights. 
Jeez people.  Get some sense..