RandyWhite

"And so, you must be silenced for 'speaking the truth to power' "

(or, as the Chinese used to say, 'Tremble and obey!" )

BTW: Just when I thought he couldn't sink any lower, I see that the Thai Minister of Health (!) has promised not to embarrass China by allowing milk poisoned with melamine to be returned. In most other countries this career clown would have died of 'lead poisoning' years ago and most of his sons would be in jail for life. Can anyone name a bigger Richard Cranium-type ?

RAW

What this country needs is a modern tuk-tuk i.e.

one with four wheels

more compliant suspension

better space utilization

four wheel (!) braking

a small turning circle

proper driver comfort

an attractive total ownership cost

cheeky Thai-style good looks

various power options

You know it makes sense.

You know it makes a taxi-meter...

Maybe so, stranger. Maybe so...I ain't too particular these days...or purty neither.

What this country needs is a modern tuk-tuk i.e.

one with four wheels

more compliant suspension

better space utilization

four wheel (!) braking

a small turning circle

proper driver comfort

an attractive total ownership cost

cheeky Thai-style good looks

various power options

You know it makes sense.

BTW a friend of mine in Nonthaburi with an old Jap 'big bike' shop reckons he can get a SRX 400 (first model, no registration)) for 20,000 anytime. I guess he can, but I also reckon he would expect a steady stream of my money on running the thing properly. Caveat Emptor

PS: anyone care to advise how much the boys in brown charge for not having rego papers these days?

RAW / BKK

Moved to bikes in Thailand

Yeah, whatever: Live free - ride fast - wear a helmet next time.

Hi Thanh,

Thanks, but the GTO Mk4 still has that odd GPz-ish kicked up rear end, so I'll probably be trying to use a BOSS tail light in a custom piece of metal fender - or simply pay more for a later model, which wouldn't be nearly as much fun or hassle. I always liked the idea of a long low VRR (not a VR though), but it'd still have that doesn't-like-constant-throttle power valve character which was the biggest fault in my NSR150R - and aren't all the small ones like that? I would love a GB250/500 Clubman or SRX400/600 but they seem to be at least sahm moon qwah. So a GTO with rear-sets and clipons and a custom seat and paint job then - but would heavier fork oil improve the bouncy handling much and can you ring much more power out of them?

RAW / BKK

Hi

Get a Yamaha RXZ - i ride one, and it eats GTO's for breakfast GTO, being a nice bike, has a flaw - the carb is sitting under a cover on the right side of the engine (crankcase inlet), if you happen to get into a flooded area the carb will be full of water in an instant (the cover is NOT watertight!) and you need tools to get to it.

Apart from that - my personal choice, as in GTO's, is the Mark VI - a beautiful bike, classic look, has it all. Mine RXZ is outfitted with a headlight from such GTO

Best regards.....

Thanh

Hi,

I am looking to buy another Kawa GTO: dodgy on the highway but as fast as anything through Bangkok traffic - except for any young daredevil, of course.

Used to run a GTO (silver with red/black stripes) with the big ribbed rectangular stoplight. This version came between the first GTO with the freestanding tail light and the GTO CitySport which dropped the metal 'Kawasaki' name on the tank. Then came the GTO Classic and finally the GTO Speedster. Seems to me that the mechanical specs. never changed though, only the appearance and stuff like the seat and headlight.

So...save me a trip to Glory Kawa and let me know if the above is right. I am thinking of using a Boss or KRR taillight and a mild custom job because I reckon the Boss is still a bit fat and ugly despite the new colours and graphics and powervalve two-strokes are never good for simply holding a nice speed. They are fun though. Unfortunately, it's rare that I see anyone other than a cop on a Boxer, so that's a bad look.

Anyway, GTO's still have that nice purring sound and I should be able to get a late model one in top condition for 12,000 baht, so a classic seat and some other cheap mods should see me on the road in some style for a measly song moon hah. Anyone got any better ideas?

RAW

PS: Yes, I already have a bicycle.

"...have spent most of the past 30 years working here and based on that I would say that suspicion was a very reasonable reaction on my part. As for fear, seems to me like you are taking a cheap shot by implying that my reaction indicated an unreasonable fear AKA paranoia."

Well then, in your 30 years of working in BKK, please provide us with your reasonable reaction of suspicion, fear, and paranoia. You're quite in a fit, fearing both providing and not providing a phone number...and you think you're reasonable. So be it.

Perhaps you are sure what you mean, but I am not. Anyway, seems to me it's really just a case of 'damned if you do, damned if you don't' - one of those dilemmas that life has in store. Actually, I have to agree that a practiced liar would have probably gotten away with thinking of a fake number right in front of the officer who was waiting expectantly with pen in hand, so 'mea culpa' if you like for not being a practiced liar, but, LOS has quite enough of those already.

I just renewed my retirement visa for the 4th time and, all 5 times that I've gone through the process, I've been asked for my phone number. I did not realize that the appropriate farng response was supposed to be suspicion and fear. Next time, you can give them a phony number.

I have spent most of the past 30 years working here and based on that I would say that suspicion was a very reasonable reaction on my part.

As for fear, seems to me like you are taking a cheap shot by implying that my reaction indicated an unreasonable fear AKA paranoia.

And as for you condescending advice to give the cops a phony phone number next time, if I ever did have another problem to iron out with them, they wouldn't be inclined to be nearly so helpful as they were last time to someone who they knew had tricked them. It's about 'face', sport.

By the way, last time I had a visa problem it took a day and a half down there to sort it out: a relatively junior public servant (Australian) at the Oz Embassy trying a get-even 'power-play' confiscated my old passport with my Thai visa in it while I was picking up my newe one because he deemed that the elephant I had drawn on the front cover (so as to distinguish it from others since the cheap gold embossing had completely worn away in only a year or so and sometimes they all get heaped together so someone else could quite easily walk off with mine) amounted to an "act of defacing Australian government property" for which he was considering to bring the Federal police all the way from Oz.

I said he could keep it and laughed and told him what a clown he was.

All TM.7 forms now seem to have a requirement for your home phone number. For a tourist I suspect they ask for mobil expecting that to be what you have - it you don't have I would put your hotel number. For those of us using yearly extensions of stay we are also being asked to include our telephone number on the back side of form and have been asked for about a year now.

FYI: I have double checked and there is no requirement to supply any phone contact number on my TM.7

Re "Who cares!!!...Why are you making such a big deal of it ??" or whatever from phuketrichard (?):

Well sport, I reckon I would have been making a big deal of it - if I had questioned her reason for asking me and not any of the other people there, but as I didn't I reckon I wasn't, comprendre?

As the Cisco Kid would say, " Adios amigos! See you soon - Ha!!! "

RAW

Thanks sniffdog etc. but having worked for a politically sensitive (aren't they all?) office of the RTG and being singled out from a dozen or so other applicants twice now, I think it would be unwise to assume there's nothing sinister in it.

Actually, my best guess now is that they want to know if potential farang 'trouble-makers' are going to show up in numbers to the PAD protests like we did (some with kids and all) back at Suan Luang in 2006 because that would not do the image of Mr. Thaksin...oops, I mean the government, any good.

But like I said, if they really want to know my number they don't have to ask so why should I question them and end the smooth sailing when I already have a red stamp on my last visa? Besides, I haven't been down to govt. house since '06 and have no plans to and it's on TV anyway.

RAW

Hi,

I am curious to know whether anyone else has experienced a new (new to me anyway) ID requirement when extending a tourist visa at Police Immmigration in Soi Suan Plu.

The last two times during the wait when I have already given counter number two downstairs my payment, xeroxes, application, smile and goodmorning and have beenwaiting for my passport to be returned with a new 30-day extension this has happened: the officer who accepted my money etc. has called me back and asked me to write my mobile/cell phone number on the front of my form.

From past experience, it's better being honest with the police (after all, there job is to catch people's lies) because I'm not a practiced liar so I have complied without asking why although there's no such requirement that I have ever seen on the application form itself. What I do know is that if my mobile is on and they know my number then they can trace my whereabouts which sorta makes me feel like one of those guys on parole that has to wear one of those electronic ankle bracelets. Of course, they could get my number from my service provider, so this seems to be an attempt by the powers that be to

make their job easier. So what does that make me - a threat to 'national security' ?

RAW / BKK

Passport returned from agent today with normal TR visa stamp so my decision to stay the course has paid off.

However, booking a return flight BKK-PEN two months in advance I had to allow for the May Day govt. holiday at the Thai Consulate here.

Bottom Line: Things have eased off. I DON"T have to have a flight out of SE Asia after all, which means I DO have a flight I can use next time (i.e. no 'Apply Elsewhere Next Time' stamps). I have heard that a return air ticket from anywhere in Thailand to anywhere outside Thailand is all they want at the moment.

So I should be able to front up here in two or three months with all the docs. and money etc. etc. required for a new Non. Imm. 'O'

Lucky I had the money to buy the ticket now though!

RAW.

Penang:Tuesday, March 4, 2008

Bought a return ticket BKK-PEN for two months time and submitted that with my TR visa application form.

NB: remember to check for Thai Govt. holidays when booking this far in advance - otherwise I would have been screwed by the May Day holiday)

PP returned today with usual TR visa (good for 60+30 days one would assume)

Bottom Line: "No problem, lovely budgie!"

(not even an 'Apply Elsewhere' next time stamp)

RAW

Heads Up: Too many 'banana lassies' - not enough real lassies

Muchos gracias amigos!

However as it's too late to cancel my flight I have decided to go for it in Penang. Besides, school's over and I don't have to rush back, so I can go on to KL or get a 30-day at Suwannapoom...Oops - you got me! I'm an Aussie.

Sum up: Don't cry for me, Argentina

PS: I'll let you know how I get on.

Quick! Can anyone be more precise as to the chances of getting a laos visa at the border?

I have just heard of the new hassles at the Thai Consulate in Penang and already have a return flight booked for tomorrow (Sunday 2/3/08). Lucky me!

If I can be very sure of getting a Lao visa at the border AND of getting a two month tourist visa to return to Thailand (I'm on my second Penang-issued 60-day tourist visa + 30 day extension) then I'll go to Morchit 2 and take the dam_n bus. I already know the Thai Inter airfare BKK-Lao rtn. is over 10,000 baht. All this because my school has been playing Cheap-Charlie with new teachers who started in the second term. Of course, they are laughing all the way to the bank now, but if they want us back (and they do - we're both really good) they'll have to do a lot better before the end of March - as I have been hammering into my coordinator ever since last October.

She has a good heart - it just doesn't pump enough blood to her brain.

Randy White / Chatuchak BKK.

Why am I not surprised?

Bangkok is full of Randy Whites - I'm just one unfortunate that hasn't read this forum since booking his flight. Please read on...

I have an AirAsia ticket to fly to Penang EARLY TOMORROW MORNING 2/3/08 which is also the day my second tourist visa from Penang runs out i.e. two 60 day visas and two 30 day extensions at 1,900 baht each. So I will start collecting overstay fines at 500 baht per day if I leave a day later.

What to do? Unless anyone out there can provide a convincing update on the Vientianne situation I will be staying with the brothers at the Pin Seng Hotel in Love Lane as I have for years and hope that the situation has eased somewhat. Anyway, as I am flying back direct to Bangkok on Wed. 5/3/08, this should improve my chances of at least a 30-day visa at Suwannaphum. Of course, if there is a delay in penang, the nice people at AirAsia will charge to change the flight.

So I hope someone is out there and able to provide some practical advice.

RAW in Chatuchak.

Just to let you know that, not having done a visa run to Poipet for 12 months or so, there is ONE BIG DIFFERENCE. Last Sunday I found a very big pink notice taped to the counters that the Thai Police Immigration officer's work behind to the effect that intending tourists to Thailand at the Poipet boarder crossing who do not already have a visa are required to show an onward air ticket out of Thailand before the officer is allowed to issue one. The same large notice was at both the exit and entry counters and they are NOT KIDDING. I only got back home to Bangkok afetr my school emailed some documents to me at an inet cafe in Poipet about my Non-immigrant E appplication and I went back to talk to them a second time. Apparently, the word from the boys in brown is that the cheapest solution these days is actually to buy the airticket because there are no exceptions being made - at least these days.

You should not rely on this solution unless you speak Thai well and can also speak honestly to the officer(s) concerned. The nice officer who let me back also put a small mark with a yellow fluorescent marker on the entry stamp which I guess tells them that I'm special i.e. my papers have to be 100% in order within 30 days or else - which is what he indicated to me anyway without actually saying so.

Randy White / Bangkok