makavelithedon

Aitch52 and anyone else who is interested,

In regard the Wave and replacement chains. First chain went at 17000 km and I was told the Honda replacement was not up to much by an ex Honda mechanic. Went for a heavy duty replacement with sprockets and it was about the same price. Got it done in one of the 'Bad boy' tuning shops. I recall it was a D.I.D and the guy held up the difference I could see it instantly, sprockets and chain looked double the weight!

Just had it replaced last week again and the bike is now showing 53000 km's so it speaks for itself. I also recall them saying you can't take a link out of the genuine chain but I had one or two taken out the non-genuine one along the way.

Never known the mechanics stick to the service schedule but don't sweat it <deleted>. As long as the oil is changed you're not in danger of breaking anything and it's hardly a big deal. I remember asking for a change of spark plug a little early and within a day it died on me and was misfiring. Careful what you wish for eh! Took it back they swapped it for free. Other than that I've had brakes replaced a couple of times and that's about it.

Fingers crossed it should last me as long as I need it. I do the oil every 2000 k's and it appears as strong as ever for a bicycle with an engine!

Hi all,

I have searched for this and found fragmented (mostly beer inspired) questions/threads in regard the ASEAN rules and what will happen in regard tax rates. Does someone know if there is a Q and A type site I can look at in regard this and more on what ASEAN will mean for most of the members?

I was wondering if Thailand will be forced to reduce the ludicrous taxes imposed on just about all day to day purchases other than food or, will it be optional get out clauses galore?

Many thanks

Mak

this is far too general, touching on racist

I have had very nice thai people say sorry to me ,police included, surely you cannot tar everyone with the same brush

and real horrible westerners behaving awfully

remember, country's which have almost nothing to really be proud of are the most "touchy"

its the simelar vague logic one can apply to racist jokes

sport becomes their substitute for non achievement in other areas

and sports like football usually do not have the most easy going of people attending

Hmmm,

Sorry Bjoe but you don't exactly excel yourself with posts full of exactly what you feel are pretty poor virtues in others. Conveniently sidestepped a valid comment by another member about tarring all with the same brush, then rant at a guy for calling you a pretty mild expletive on an internet page on sports of all things; advocating nothing more than violence yourself.

Certainly looks like your 'taking it all too serious' as you said yourself !

Yep, that's the same one I use Nash. I get it from the guy at my local fitness centre. I've still had to pinch myself a few times that I've actually paid a fair price for something here!

Maybe I;m wrong; it's only a guess.

What you will probably find is that they won't be worth more, but perhaps may hold a price slightly better than before, but it depends on availability, ie: old hack like you will remember the rules of supply and demand.

I have found in recent years that good examples of the Suzuki Raider are becoming rare and therefore examples of such are holding ground.

Automobiles are nearly always a depreciating asset.

I didn't mean a used CBR150 will increase. It will decrease, but not drastically.

PB and anyone else interetsed in this. I got a friend to post the FI question on the official Honda CBR website (in Thai) a week or so ago and someone there claimed a FI model will be out in 4 months. Don't know if there is any truth in it or not, I don't want to get anyone's hopes up.

I've been hanging on to no avail. I guess the crux of this now is whether to buy one of the last carb fed brand spankers or hold on for the 223 cc or whatever it is, hoping they undercut the Ninja 250R by a fair amount?

Hmmmm toughy. I won't pay 147,500 for one when the CBR is just 65,000b or so. But if it was 105,000 ish then I'd hang on!!

Picking your battles are wise words indeed.

The old 'it should be free bit' is all well and good but as usual, not very realistic. Where would you be if the guy dealing with it gets upset and refuses?

Can you imagine the hassles you'd have then all for the sake of 1-300 poxy baht? No thank you.

I read a few pages of this (not all) apologies if it has already been noted. But I saw Soros branded gold the 'ultimate bubble' a while back and hasnow apparently DOUBLED his holding in the recent dip!

hello, i have been teaching in Thailand for two years now. Ihave a degree, tefl and thai culture seminar certificate. I am planning to move to Phuket and teach there in April, but im looking for jobs on ajarn.com and cant find anything. I was wondering if anyone knew how easy it is to get a job there?

Tine,

If you are looking for a vacancy in an actual school, most are contracted out now to agencies so that's probably why you can't find much advertised. Your best bet would be through one of the locals like ECC etc. I would imagine that it is still very yearly rotational, so you may find an opening in one of those places; a lot of it really is timing and luck to be honest.

If you want something shortish (up to a year) then a language school as mentioned is probably best before the paperwork hassles mount. If you MUST live in Phuket then Kajonkiet or Satree always has vacancies (red flag) but I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.

Phuket is not really the place to be trying for that narrow field of employment if you want to reside long term.

Just as a guide, a friend has been working for an agency/language school in a fixed local school placement for the last 3 years. He is up for interview to work directly at the school come May. He's stuck the language school job and all the hassles for 3 years just for the opening and 3 others have also applied who have similar experience!

Hope it helps and good luck.

Nice to hear everyone involved had a happy ending!

Whilst it's nice to hear of the happy ending, I can't help feeling this story highlights the unbelievable way so many ill-informed members jumped to the wrong conclusion and wanted the teacher hung drawn...............

Furthermore it shows that misunderstandings in meaning when translating Thai to English are very easy. I have asked a number of Thai friends the meaning of 'Na Farang' and most (although not all) in that school environment, certainly didn't say it was how the little girl should have ended up feeling.

I would hope the OP has his wife explain this to the 4 year old, because it seems apparent that she has a very confused understanding or impression of its contextual meaning and use which would have probably avoided her feeling upset at all in the first place!

Just what Phuket needs…more shopping malls, more concrete… think I already can see the slogan to the travel agencies a few year out…. Special shopping fare to the Thai concrete island…

Mall burger breakfast and security guard included.

Yep, another load of shop units filled with the same shop names and cartel pricing. Can't wait.

We are staying at club bamboo. at patong. Yea, she will need special, We were just thinking for after... just to get some nice stuff to take home, if its cheap

I wouldn't expect anything to be cheap to be honest. This misconception baffles me. By far one of the most expensive places I've ever been to buy anything unless you're after some replica stuff in Patong.

Hi all,

I wonder if anyone knows when the CBR will have fuel injection fitted? I read in a Honda newsletter last year (while waiting for a service) that all their bikes would be fitted with fuel injection by the end of 2009. Well that's come and gone and I admit I haven't checked in a few months, but I take it they're still carb fed!

I really am against buying one until this is done, but have been waiting 2 years now. Considered a new Ninja 250 injection, until I was told the price. CBR 150 64000 baht..................250R pushing 150,000 uhhh sorry, no thanks I'll leave it, being about 50k too heavy in my reckoning.

I suppose I could always try the Honda website, but it appears a little English unfriendly when I visited some time ago!

Is there any mention of a 250 by Honda it may be a little more realistically priced than the Kawazaki?

Any help would be appreciated.

Firstly you need to look up the law and definition of what is meant by the word prostitution and the context in which an act is considered to break the law. It is not as simple as having sex for some consideration of value. If that were the case then any girl who goes out for a date where the guy pays and then consents to having sex would be a prostitute wouldn't they? The definition in the law is all important.

Secondly, I agree most posters condone the free choice of a girl to consent to have sex with a guy for money (= consideration) - why shouldn't people have a right to agree to whatever they want to without religious or politicians dictating how we all have to live. If I want a girl and she wants me, it doesn't much matter the reasons why, we'll both have a good time, whether or not I pay in money, love, companionship or giving up half my wordly goods. The first in that list is the cheapest although I confess I am doing all four in the list and don't regret any. And if you are inferring that the authorities in accepting the breaking of the law are somehow 'better' than the guy enjoying himself or the girl enriching herself and I dare say sometimes also enjoying it - then I think it is you who has his priorities wrong.

I take it that 'farangs' here for pleasure is also a terrible thing - atrocious that anyone should have any pleasure - let me flog myself morning noon and night to make sure I never enjoy my life - I think not.

Lastly it is not just the sexually desperate who are looking for girls to spend time with - there are a host of other reasons but something tells me they might be wasted on you since you seem to distain pleasure.

The law is mad in whatever country it is in force. It does nothing for the betterment of anything in my opinion except in the case where a girl is made to do something against her will by a third party. In that case the law is also mad since the penalties are woefully inadequate.

Here we go again, yet another law this law that. Statute means nothing without consistent enforcement and respect of by a nation of citizens. Neither are in this country are or appear to ever have been. It has the largest scale of grey and kick backs outside Africa and still they spout on.zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Day in day out the Farang traffic wardens quote this or that......... crash helmets not being worn to married expats being taken by their lady of the night for all they possess and yet still the penny doesn't drop.

It isn't a country of laws. Those who continue to rant on about it will go round in a circle from now until domesday and bore those few of us who so clearly see it enough to drive a man to massage parlours..........

I believe it is against either some law or some regulation regarding Thai public schools that teachers are not now allowed to hit students. This was explained to me a number of years ago in a somewhat rural school. Nevertheless, parents at that school nearly unanimously requested that the teachers continue to use corporal punishment, and at the time I worked there, they did so.

Yeh, and good on um!

In regard the hair cutting business, why is it that so many western parents appear to be against strict discipline? It's also not lost on me that some of the most prestigious and expensive schools (with maxed out enrollment) on the planet are also the strictest!

Perhaps if some of these useless parents did their job and held a minuscule amount of responsibility for their own children, teachers wouldn't have to resort so much to a tap on the hand which now constitutes 'torture' and western society would be in a better moral state than it is at this sorry time.

A few weeks ago I went for a ride around the beach road up around Surin beach and through the town towards Laguna. I was shocked at the amount of vacant and sign posted 'for rent' business units. It really has changed.

I've also noticed around Phuket the huge numbers of advertsing boards which are now for rent too, which must be a tell tale sign big and small!

Hi all,

If we could presume for the sake of my post that hyper inflation or near to it occurs in the medium term to the US economy can you tell me what difference you see in holding gold mining stocks or those in oil companies? At present I prefer the oil play because of the high dividend and its flight to tangible goods as with gold but am trying to gauge whether I need to make an adjustment to gold stocks.

I would appreciate comments from PCA ,Abrak and others if you have the time on this area if possible. Also which gold mining stocks to look up that have little or no US dollar exposure? I have looked at AUS company Newcrest but would welcome views.

Many thanks

Mak

What actual stories to the PG actually break? The rare occasion I have bought it (and it was the same a few weeks ago as it was 5 years ago) it appeared nothing more than an outlet for advertsing hotels and housing and where 'news' is covered it just replicates other stories already in the media.

There is not an ounce of investigative journalism done ever.

As for the bar mat episode, maybe international media chose to 'defend and spin it' the way they did because 1 day in the local Thai cell was certainly punishment enough for such a pathetic story and episode.

"It's like...purchasing a 35m2 pad and then when it's finished it ends up 70 m2 "

Unless I misread your post, the situation is nothing like that. First you comment that the final cost is 10% more than originally thought, but this example is 100% more.

"In the contract it states that if the unit ends up bigger or smaller, that you accept you will have to pay less or more depending, I find this unbelievable."

It's a common phrase, believe it or not.

Wow,

And as appears usual on Thai Visa these days there appears little positive to the post other than try and pick a petty squabble.

I think everyone else saw my comment as exaggerated, but nothing in Thailand would surprise me and having to suddenly pay another 70% or so on the original deposit is a sizable amount however you look at it.

On listening to other views, it appears actually it's not that common and there are usually caps.

So to everyone who replied constructively thanks again.

Wow how do you get debts on a gym at such a nice location?

I knew it was badly run from previous times, but omg.. it's like almost IMPOSSIBLE to lose money with a gym.

if you dont pay the sign up fee, you have to pay like 3000baht for 1 session.

Let people that dont wanna sign up(vacation) pay u 300 per session = 3million baht a year in extra money instead of driving them away.

Simple. Same old deluded Farang story. Charge Western prices outside the beach areas and think enough people will be stupid enough to pay it. If you have Thai overheads then I'm paying Thai prices!

I remember when it first opened I went down to find out the price structure with 3 minted Swedish mates and all 3 just wouldn't pay it saying they don't even pay that in Sweden!

Let's just hope the new owner learns from it. But I doubt it.

Many thanks for the replies everyone. I do know an excellent property lawyer so I will pass on the details, but as highlighted by some of you, the fact the measurements are 15 ft or more out is a little concerning regardless of the financial side!

Thanks again.

Hi all,

I don't know if this one has come up before but I thought it was a cracker and would like to offer some sound advice to the owner.

A really good friend (Thai) decided to buy a condo a couple of years ago and had to pay 15% over 2 years whilst it was built. It was a good location, and they are very responsible and together! They paid what amounted to about 400, 000 baht over that period and I know it was quite a struggle. Now it is finished and just before she gets a mortgage the company has sent a letter to say that it is 10% bigger than agreed in the contract and they have calculated that it is another 250,000 baht (by the m2 ) and she will have to stump that up too!

In the contract it states that if the unit ends up bigger or smaller, that you accept you will have to pay less or more depending, I find this unbelievable. It's like a single person purchasing a 35m2 pad and then when it's finished it ends up 70 m2 which they can't possibly pay for or have budgeted for and why the hel_l should they have and still have to pay double!

The only thing I can see, is that a judge could possibly ,decide that there is no actual cost per m2 extra listed in the contract, so why should she pay the retail m2 price just because they want you too? You signed at a certain *** m2 in good faith and they have ended up constructing it way outside that, so why shouldn't it be either nothing more, or the building costs only?

I really feel for them, and it is not simply an easy 'oh get a refund type situation' as they have struggled and waited for 2 years whilst built and the value now built is way over what was paid. If this happens on a large percentage of the units it appears like a total scam to me in adding a % profit to the whole project for the owner.

Any expert advice would be appreciated.

Mak

Hi all,

I would appreciate if you would advise me on the best way to purchase blue chip type Thai stocks. I want to be able to buy direct on the exchange with an online platform, without pink slips etc. Is this difficult to do? Is it a simple credit card transaction?

Also, being far from fresh off the boat here, I am uneasy about the slightest risk and extra cautious, so an example.........I have a large stake in a top Thai stock and I run someone over one day by accident and kill them. I am chucked, out black stamp in the passport etc. How are my shares protected, private and easy for me to sell in this eventuality?

Don't wish to sound paranoid or OTT but we all know where we are!!

Many thanks in advance.

Hi all,

I have been asked to come up with an entrance test for a new Pratom 1 EP at a government school and some input would be appreciated by those who have a number of years experience.

The kids have had one year of English in Kindergarten and I have been given a list of topics that are meant to have been covered with the teacher to base it on! However, my concern is not necessarily getting the top kids at that age who happen to know or have picked up a little, but weeding out those who have learning difficulties and/or concentration problems that end up holding the whole class back.

This may sound a little harsh to some, but the actual guidelines for this programme state that it is meant to be for students showing a natural aptitude for ESL and liking for it (which is rarely if ever followed) but I agree and take the line that this is a paid for programme not one where students have a right to be placed. And where the school has no understanding or support of learning problems or support for teaching staff dealing with them and the consequent loss in learning time they can and do invariably cause can be monumental.

Therefore, I have asked the Kindergarten teachers for a list of their 10 most well behaved and enthusiastic students per class to help with selection. I'd imagine this will be pretty minimal in helping, but at least it may give a slightly better picture of the student.

If there is anything else you feel could help It would be appreciated.

Good on him. He's a highly educated Thai who frequents the island for holidays with his family. He's obviously seen the downward spiral of rip-off prices and the environmental damage being done and has spoken up.

I'll just wait for the usual responses now from the Thai apologists and entrenched ignorant farang to pop up.......................

A government led by arrogant, stupid thieves and idiots. (and their relatives)

A government that the majority of the Thai people want, proved by them being voted in at the last two elections. It's just the "money men" in Bangkok who don't like them and therefore the normal up country Thais won't ever have a voice in their own country!

Dictatorship anyone..??

Ignorant to claim PPP had a majority of votes, if that was your intent?

Yeh, but a glance to the left and 'newbie' said it all.