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wjmark

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    Pizza Rustica Is The Best Pizza In Chiang Mai!

    in Chiang Mai

    Posted

    I went to Koh Lanta Pizza on Nimman soi 5 a couple of weeks ago. ... They say they use a wood fired oven, but the pizza looked like it had been cooked in a microwave. It's safe to say I won't be going back.

    Thanks for posting, Keo.

    I've noticed Koh Lanta Pizza tucked away on Nimman 5.

    Each time I pass by, I glance in, wondering if the pizza is any good.

    And each time I see the same: lights on, doors open, but no customers.

    After reading Keo's comments, I'm not going to try my luck there either.

    -- Oneman

    Chiangmai

    Tried Koh Lanta a couple of days ago. Had the 8" pineapple, ham and tomato.

    Firstly, it was closer to 9", so that was nice.

    Not a bad amount of toppings - but not much tomato.

    I mentioned I like lots of sauce, and there was almost enough to keep it juicy, but not by any means a lot. I like lots of thick sauce cooking into the melting cheese - a little gooey, and a little juicy (don't like just watery sauce painted on to give a bit of red colour on the crust.). But not here...

    The crust was not super-thin like a Roma style Italian pizza, but was a little thicker - more like a Naples pizza. But unfortunately, unlike a nice bready Naples pizza, this dough was hard, tasteless, and not even crispy on the bottom. I agree - didn't seem wood-fired to me (I don't think it was nuked, as the crust wouldn't have been hard,would it?). And no yeasty, doughy smell from the restaurant either. Good pizza smells like pizza!

    For Thailand, it was ok, but it really didn't hit that pizza 'spot' for me.

    Dukes is ok - I liked it better a few years ago when it had a cheddary taste - now the cheese, and his (kinda boring) sauce don't really do anything together. Lots of decent toppings though - generous, but missing that cheese-sauce-dough cohesion that I like so much.

    I've had a few Mad Dog pizzas, but not recently. I remember them being thick and generous as well, but missing something.

    A little place called "8 inch" on Huay Keow makes nicely thought out little pizzas (if they are still there!). Good salads too...

    Anybody tried Guitarman? I had only one slice there a few years ago, enjoyed it, and keep meaning to go back...

    Later, wj

    Hey - if you have a couple of hours to kill, read up on Pizza on Wikipedia - really a learning experience!

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pizza

    Honda Cbr150

    in Motorcycles in Thailand

    Posted

    ===

    The mechanic suggested disconnecting one low-beam - so only on 'hi' is there too much load - not a bad idea.

    I was thinking maybe run the two low beams in series. 2x35 watt bulbs in series - that would give me 17.5 watts total, wouldn't it? Would the plasma bulbs even light up?

    ..relay u said? Hmm, the mechanic must have wired your headlight directly to the steady current (DC circuit) of the bike, unlike the panel lights, tail light (except the brake light & signal lights), those flickering lights if im not mistaken are all connected to the magneto (running on the AC circuit, thus the bulbs pulsating along with the RPM). Yes there will be a very big improvement if the headlight is connected directly to the steady DC current of the bike.. but beware your headlight bulbs will burn brighter & hotter too.. and im 100% sure if you dont install a manual switch on that new electric scheme.. it will burn your reflectors.

    So should I try to have the headlight wired to the magneto instead of the battery?

    Btw., it might help since all HID fitted bikes are modified to have the headlights connect via stable DC current of the bike.. get a bigger battery. The stock CBR150 battery is around 5A (like some honda waves & other small bikes).. you can change that into a 8A thus the battery can hold more charge. Some modify the battery compartment to make it fit. However there are also batteries that have the same size with a higher Amp rating (im not sure but i think the only difference is its got more elec plates in it or something).

    But if the charging voltage is too low, then won't an 8A battery give up too - just take more time to die?

    Another mod (which i have no personal experience myself), is changing or adding a diode to the magneto / AC generator of the bike itself.. making it charge at a higher voltage. Consult a qualified electrical technician for this.

    Sorry - but "a qualified electrical technician"? Are you being mean, or funny?

    Still another possibility is changing to a higher specs Rectifier (again i've never tried this myself before). The Rectifier is the little metal heatsink you will see on the left hand (if i remember right) rear fender of the bike when you remove the tail fairing. Never get that wet -thats the reason why manufacturer designed it to be situated high above everything else to avoid splashes of water. Again its best to consult a qualified technician for this.

    And what motorcycle shop in ChiangMai has one of these "qualified technicians? Oh please tell!

    Btw., extensive electrical charging mods are popular with disco-bikes where i come from.. they install neon lights, loud sound system, flashers, HIDs, fancy leds all packed in a small bike.. just imagine how much electricity this eats up http://www.motorcyclephilippines.com/forum...ies/biggrin.gif

    I think that it is worth the trouble to get these lights working - the high-beams on at night in the mountains light up everything! Nice to be able to see!

    .

    Honda Cbr150

    in Motorcycles in Thailand

    Posted · Edited by wjmark

    check the water in the battery lately? unless of course if its a sealed one.

    BTW you can push start the CBR no problem, just make sure the key is switched 'on'.

    Thanks. Yes, the battery is sealed...

    And, as Gerry Austin says in Goodbye Pork Pie (after selling the battery from their Mini), "No worries mate. We'll crash start the bitch."

    Honda Cbr150

    in Motorcycles in Thailand

    Posted

    Perhaps running the power directly from the battery would help with this? I know that stock electrical systems are designed on a budget and using cheaper wires that just get the job done at stock levels allows the manufacturer to save some money....

    Thanks Dave_Boo and songoku.

    The only electrical mods that I have done are to install an unlimited CDI, change the coil to NSR (same size - probably the same coil), put in a silicon spark lead, and install a platinum spark plug. Not any real changes at all.

    A mechanic suggested putting in a relay from the battery to the lights, and I had him do that. Lights work fine - nice to be able to see at night in the mountains...

    But now there is a charging problem - only charges to about 11.5 volts - not the 12.5-13 that it should be.

    The tach is fine, but the dash lights flicker at idle.

    I dunno...

    Currently I am turning the lights off a couple of minutes before I turn off the bike - just to have enough charge to get going again!

    Just tell them u want a pair (sometimes sold separately) of 12v (H6 type) halogen bulbs. the stock is not halogen (those are stanleys -ordinary bulbs) 18w.. just a little brighter than common automobile break lights (not very good illumination) ..I then switched to 12v H6 yellow halogen bulbs 18w ..they're crappy too. I changed to 12v H6 non-colored halogen bulbs 25w this time.. better. Still no signs of burns or over heating. Then I put on 12w original stanley bulbs 35w this time since i didn't want to overdo the wattage and they might burn.. several months, no signs of burns or overheating whatsoever.. Finally i got these blue 12v plasma bulbs H6 type still 35w.. the best i've tried so far.

    I strongly recommend you install a headlight kill-switch so you can turn them off in traffic and waiting at well lit intersections. Btw., Raider switch assemblies work well.. most CBR's who install a switch on their's get switch assemblies from the Raider150.

    Hey! I put in a pair of 35wt zenon bulbs, and it overloaded my electrical system. Bike ran ok, but all my dash lights etc dimmed, and the headlights didn't work properly (very dim).

    I have a pair of 25 wt stanleys right now, but was wondering how to make the 35wt bulbs work. Did you do anything special?

    Anybody?

    Sorry about the electricals wj. Mine never had any problems at all. I started out very cautiously. From the original 18w bulbs, i changed to 18w yellow halogens (no good), after a month or two i changed to 25w shielded clear glass halogen bulbs (better, but still not enough), then after 2-3 months i switched to 35w (some rate at 32w) original stanley bulbs (a lot better, but i dont like the yellowish tint), i finally popped in those 35w halogen / plasma bulbs (IMO the next better mod would be HIDs).. been using them for about 5 months now.. no signs of burns, dents, my wires, reflectors, and lenses are in mint condition. The only thing i altered from the original electric scheme was a simple toggle switch that acts as a circuit breaker so i can turn the 'dim' circuit off in traffic (not the 'bright' circuit is normally cut when you press the left hand switch) -and thats all.

    Maybe you have other electrical mods that somehow conflict with high wattage bulbs?

    Btw., did your tach flicker or made erratic movements at any point? Often when theres misrouted electricity, the tach is the most obvious electrical component that malfunctions. As mentioned, you might just want to make a direct battery connection to the headlights -however i never tried that before, plus if you'll do that -anyone can turn the headlights on even without the ignition on.

    Most HID systems are connected to the thickest red wire you will see when you remove the tank.. (if i remember right, there are five plastic sockets of different sizes lined up under the tank that connect the harness wires together -its the 2nd to the right socket -just look for the thickest red wire) that wire is the main positive circuit of your bike you can turn off using the ignition key -it means you cant turn the lights on without turning on the ignition first.

    Better yet, you might want to have it wired by a qualified technician to be sure nothing else go wrong :)

    Honda Cbr150

    in Motorcycles in Thailand

    Posted

    Just tell them u want a pair (sometimes sold separately) of 12v (H6 type) halogen bulbs. the stock is not halogen (those are stanleys -ordinary bulbs) 18w.. just a little brighter than common automobile break lights (not very good illumination) ..I then switched to 12v H6 yellow halogen bulbs 18w ..they're crappy too. I changed to 12v H6 non-colored halogen bulbs 25w this time.. better. Still no signs of burns or over heating. Then I put on 12w original stanley bulbs 35w this time since i didn't want to overdo the wattage and they might burn.. several months, no signs of burns or overheating whatsoever.. Finally i got these blue 12v plasma bulbs H6 type still 35w.. the best i've tried so far.

    I strongly recommend you install a headlight kill-switch so you can turn them off in traffic and waiting at well lit intersections. Btw., Raider switch assemblies work well.. most CBR's who install a switch on their's get switch assemblies from the Raider150.

    Hey! I put in a pair of 35wt zenon bulbs, and it overloaded my electrical system. Bike ran ok, but all my dash lights etc dimmed, and the headlights didn't work properly (very dim).

    I have a pair of 25 wt stanleys right now, but was wondering how to make the 35wt bulbs work. Did you do anything special?

    Anybody?

    Bus To Bangkok

    in Chiang Mai

    Posted

    Nakonchai Air for sure. Leave at 8:00pm arrive BKK 5:10am (they say 9 1/2 hours, but usually closer to 9). And the night bus has no movie or blaring music...

    And you don't have to go to their own bus station - they go to Moshit too

    A New Twist On Taxi Scams At Swampy

    in Thailand Travel Forum

    Posted · Edited by wjmark

    Happened to me a couple of years ago. The meter was already near 300 bt and we were nowhere near Banglambpu.

    I watched the meter as it would move normally and then jump really quickly. We stopped the cabby just as we got off a major highway. I plunked 200 down on the back seat (him shouting "300 300"), left the back door open, and walked back against traffic. We hopped in another cab and the second half of our trip cost 70bt.

    One thing I noticed is that the meter itself was different from normal ones. Usually they have little 'distance' and 'time' windows on the meter. This one did not...

    Other than that one incident my experience with cabs has been great in Bkk. Honest, fast, cheap, and usually very friendly. A different story with the tuk tuk drivers!

    Bad Service And Rip Off Prices At A Big Bike Shop!

    in Chiang Mai

    Posted · Edited by wjmark

    I don't know why everyone needs to know the identity of to OP's friend. Accept it for what it's worth...

    As for my experience, I used to like Piston Shop, but he (Nat) did me a nasty once too.

    I gave him a 1000 baht deposit to order a special exhaust for my CBR. I wanted a black Kevlar exhaust, and he told me it would be about a week.

    Almost a month later he called me - it was finally in (I don't blame him for the delay - TIT).

    I went to his shop only to find that the exhaust was the regular chromed one, not black.

    Nat assured me that I ordered the chrome, and when I said I didn't want it, he refused to return my deposit.

    Nat may 'have more friends than enemies', but to me that is pretty crappy.

    Mark

    ps - these days I use Race Shop - not far from Chang Phuak rd (not much English, but good work and reasonably priced. The owner is a racer himself). Also the Honda dealership on Huay Keow - the CBR mechanic there speaks no English, but sure can tune a carb!. The manager is very helpful, knowledgeable, and does speak English.

    Flying Bkk To Cnx

    in Chiang Mai

    Posted

    But thanks, I just booked the TG 12:40 flight today (I assume when you said 1240, you meant 12:40!).

    Actually, when I said 1240 I meant 1240. This is the 24 hour time format used by most airlines when giving departure and arrival times.

    Here is an example.......

    SERVICE FROM TO DEPART ARRIVE

    -------------- ------------------- --------------------- -------- -------

    THAI AIRWAYS INTL - TG 434

    WED 29JUL JAKARTA ID BANGKOK TH 1235 1605

    NON STOP SOEKARNO HATTA INTL SUVARNABHUMI INTL

    EQUIPMENT:BOEING 777-300

    Learn something new everyday! And what did I learn? Blinky can't be caught on grammatical stuff, no matter how hard people try.

    Flying Bkk To Cnx

    in Chiang Mai

    Posted

    Yes, of course we all knew when you said June you meant September, how silly of anyone to think otherwise.

    Book ahead. If you are traveling from Canada on Thai Airways and continuing to Chiang Mai with Thai you can not only check your baggage through, you can also have your boarding pass for the BKK-CNX issued when you check in in Canada. Just pass through Immigration in Bangkok and stroll on down to the Domestic Departure gate, collect your baggage in the International Arrivals hall in Chiang Mai.

    BTW, TG departs BKK for CNX at 1240 daily. Should be plenty of time to connect.

    Lots of silly people around - I don't know why they don't understand me!

    btw - I am traveling on Cathay Pacific, but I wouldn't want to check my luggage straight through to CNX anyways. The last time I came straight through, customs ripped everything apart. I had cleared customs easily in BKK, but my luggage had been 'misplaced' and when it came the next day CNX had a field-day with it (even though it had cleared in BKK the day before).

    I think they were looking for 'taxable' goods! Never had a problem at BKK (never really have anything of value anyways...)

    But thanks, I just booked the TG 12:40 flight today (I assume when you said 1240, you meant 12:40!).

    Flying Bkk To Cnx

    in Chiang Mai

    Posted

    If you are not arriving until next June and don't think you'll be traveling with heavy bags, you ought to keep watching for AirAsia sales and see if you can't snag a ticket for less than 500 baht.

    C'mon. You must know that when I say June, I mean September!

    But I do like the 500 baht bit...

    Back in two weeks. Thanks,

    Mark

    Flying Bkk To Cnx

    in Chiang Mai

    Posted · Edited by wjmark

    Hi,

    I am arriving Bkk from Canada at 10:30 am Wednesday June 23.

    Should I prebook my flight to CNX for about 2:00pm - hoping than my first flight is not late, or is it easy and cheap enough to just buy a ticket at Suvanabhumi (sp!).

    Then maybe I can manage an earlier flight...

    And who is the best carrier to fly Bkk to Cnx.

    Thanks everybody, Mark

    ps - not carrying much luggage...

    New To Suvarnabhumi And Balking At Food Prices?

    in Suvarnabhumi Airport Forum

    Posted

    I've used the food court a few times and its cheap and cheerful. Will never eat air/land side again. Usual stuff.....curries, nooden( :) ), rice dishes etc for 30B or so per dish.

    If you walk straight to the back and turn right, there is a stall that has 'har mok' - that steamed-in-a-banana-leaf red-curry-seafood egg-custard type of thingy (one of my favourite Thai dishes). Quite good too...

    Curry

    in Chiang Mai

    Posted

    I am pretty sure they don't have any pickles (lime, mango etc), or any curry pastes, but I might be wrong on that. Pickles are easy to find in Bangkok - stock up there and mail them to CM...

    Also, they do not have any Indian snacks - Bombay mix, Chevdo, Dal Moth, etc., but those are also easy to find in Bkk.

    Some pickles are available in Chiangmai's Rimping supermarket now, but you'll likely get better ones in BKK.

    Indian Snacks like Chevdo and Bombay Mix: Where in Bkk can I get them please? Phone number if possible, thanks.

    There is a large Indian area south of Charoenkrung Rd. (south of Old Siam Center and the Royal Theater). One street in that area with many Indian shops is called Chak Pet (Chakrapeth) Rd.

    Lots of stuff in that area - snacks, pickles, restaurants, sari shops, pharmacies, etc., etc.

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