wjmark

it would make the claims of motorcycle.in.th about Honda not being able to put EFI on the CBR 150R a bit suspect.

FYI - The Canadian CBR125 (same as CBR150 but SOHC) comes with EFI. But apparently it is gutless...

I am pretty sure that Amorn, (bkk, CM) that Thai electronic discount place, has some.

In CM they have a big shop on the north moat - I think in Ikon plaza. In Bkk, they have the whole top floor of Old Siam Center (NOT Siam Center - Old Siam Center!.

There is a bin behind the Novotel Hotel (beside the new Tops off Chang Phuak rd) that has lots of boxes.

If you are facing the hotel, go down the little lane on the left side of the building. It ends 20meters up, and on the left you will see the cages with all those lovely boxes. Staff have smiled at me and nodded ok when I have taken them...

As for the post-office, I believe that the rules are "nothing printed" on the box. I showed up to a Bkk post-office, and they made me tape plain paper over the printing on the box.

In Koh Tao, the local PO branch used to charge 200bt per box (while refusing other boxes), but now they have a real PO, and boxes are 30-50 baht.

I have used the same big boxes to mail between CM and the islands many times - just cover up any old printing...

Boxes! I can't believe I logged on to talk about boxes!

Back in Sept - see y'all (in the box).

p.s. - hey Greenside - shouldn't that be posted in the "businesses to avoid" thread too - I hate that kind of greedy lying. Greedy, and mean too - making someone repack everything just to cheat them out of a few baht (business owners too - not poor people - greedy and mean business owners).

Really the best way is to take a 6:00am bus/ferry combo from a company called Lomprayah

They have a very good VIP bus that leaves KaoSan rd at 6am, and connects with their own high-speed catamaran in Chumporn which gets you to Koh Pangan about 4:00pm. I always go to Koh Tao, and it gets there around 2:30 and then goes on...

About 1000 baht from Bkk

Do not take their evening service - it stops for about 4 hours of waiting for the ferry - really a drag. But the morning service is great

http://www.lomprayah.com/E/index.htm

This Acer Aspireone AOA110-1955 has some much better specs:

http://canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=Sh...&cid=896.86

Intel Atom 1.6GHz, 1024x600 monitor, WWAN8: UMTS/HSPA, weight 1kg (SVOA says theirs is 1.5kg - very heavy, I think)...

Of course it only has 512meg RAM, and an 8gig hdd, but it is a ssd (solid state drive - no moving pieces), so it is much higher tech (faster, cooler, and much longer battery life) than the 30gig drive in the SVOA

This Acer is not out yet(!), but is coming soon, and the same price -- $380 here in Canada - about 12,000 baht.

Asus has the new version of their EEE machine - and it is 9" monitor as well, and has a larger ssd, but is slower than the Acer (but faster than the SVOA) - and is about 20,000 baht

http://canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=Sh...amp;cid=896.862

Personally I am waiting for 20-30 gig ssd harddrives to be affordable (can easily run WindowsXP rather than Linux) - then I will go for some little machine...

fyi

Mark

What a crock - saving face for the people who you trusted in your home. Nuts, crazy and stupid.

They deserve to lose face - they steal. And they steal in a dispicable way - from people who trust them in their home.

As one poster mentioned, a Thai employer would crucify them.

OF COURSE COMES THE QUESTION OF SAFETY AND TACTICS. If you cause them to lose face, they may come back and kill you! They should lose face, but one should consider any possible ramifications (probably none, imho).

My maid I trust completely. She has proven herself time and time again. She found a 1000bt note under my desk, and she put it on my important papers for me. She has keys to my apartment, and takes care of it while I am away. Lovely, honest, shy, hard working, and also seems proud that I trust her. A great relationship. I just gave her a raise.

If you think someone is stealing from you, why shouldn't you try to find out. Sensitivity to Thai thieves, liars, cheats - just because they are Thai? Get in the game - that is nuts. That 'save face stuff' both protects and justifies all the shit that Thais would never accept.

That is not cultural sensitivity, that is just pandering.

I am not a great guitarist (by any means!), but I agree about the Yamaha - great guitars.

I played a friend's Future - I was impressed - good action, easy playing, and decent sound...

Thanks everyone!

I got dropped on the side of the road near the Tesco Lotus in Ayuthaya. Saw a sign to Pattaya, and followed it for about 15 k. Ended up at the toll-motorway, and they let me through!!!!

And without paying!

I blasted along for about an hour (running a few toll booths along the way), and made it close to Chonburi, and got onto the regular highway.

Driving was fine (I did 125-145 almost all the way), and only got a little bit wet...

My first day in Rayong, someone stole my new 'REAL' helmet - sigh.

Thanks again,

Mark

Don’t be an idiot. Take the bus all the way to Rayong.

TH

want to. can't

all booked...

Thanks!

As I am coming from CM, it was suggested that I miss Bkk completely- which is fine by me!!!

Out at the Tesco Lotus in Ayudya, and head to Rayong that way. A little further, but much easier and faster...

I hope!

(I had forgotten that bikes aren't allowed on expressways)

Hi,

Anyone help me please?

I arrive at Moshit bus station at 5;30am with my little CBR150 on the bus.

What is the easiest way to head towards Rayong?

Thanks, wj

CBR150 - that's a small motorcycle, btw

ie, how do I ride my motorbike from Moshit bus station towards the Rayong highway?

thanks

Hi,

Anyone help me please?

I arrive at Moshit bus station at 5;30am with my little CBR150 on the bus.

What is the easiest way to head towards Rayong?

Thanks, wj

Firstly, congratulations on doing this in such a clever way. Nice website - but the colours (eg. light orange test on soft orange background) make it a little difficult to read the text. I need more contrast these days!!!

It is very smart to keep it so cheap. If you can stay busy, then you have a little goldmine, I believe.

Question. Where are the menus? - scans of each restaurant's menu on the website. (separate pop-up window - won't affect your main page)

Do you have a maximum order size? I mean can I order food for a hundred people from one restaurant and pay only 70bt? (Not that I am planning that!)

Another idea: I don't know where you are based, but if you have local Thai street-food vendors next door, you might include them on your menu - maybe Kao Man Gai, or noodle soups, or Issan food. I for one would pay 70 baht to have someone bring 'stall food' to me... It is cheap food, but all the same to you - same delivery charge. IF there is a market near you...

Good luck!

Sound good, wonder that I live in Land & House Maejo & how can I have fresh Dim Sum (Yangzi Jaing) for my lunch, need to check it out

Is this good dim sum? Where are they please?!

Northern Farms has very nice ground beef - 180/kg - Makes good burgers. - sometimes I ask them to grind it fresh with %10 pork added (juicy!)

"Maybe for her 25th when I'm ready for my first Mia Noi"

In this comment I was saying that I might get here a dildo for her 25th if and when I'd been with her for 4 years (she's 21 now), then I would be looking for a Mia Noi.

She wont be the Mia Noi.

Koa Chai Mai?

She's not a uni student and has never been to uni. So I guess chocolates will be fine.

Koa Chai Krup (if that is really a good spelling for it).

And it is funny - I misunderstood, and didn't get the joke first time...

Good luck!

Mark

p.s. - My young 'uni-student' girlfriend loves chocolate (most girls do, I think!), but she likes dark bitter chocolate with orange flavour...

<br />A dildo , it will show that you want to take care .<br />

All that will show her is that I want her to take care of herself, and I don't want that yet because I haven't even got in her pants yet, have I?

Maybe for her 25th when I'm ready for my first Mia Noi.

But I must confess, this has all along been about a Khmer girl in Cambodia and not a Thai girl, sorry.

I thought the responses would have been different if I had told the truth.

In answer to an earlier question I am 37 years old but look a little younger.

I just want to be sure I understand.

You are 'dating' a young, straight, sincere, honest virgin in a country where (at least publicly), virginity is kept until marriage. And, assuming she is all of the above, and not a seasoned bar-girl (seafood optional), she would probably only sleep with you before marriage if she thought that you would marry here.

But you are already involved with someone else, and you want her to be just your 'bit on the side'?

Did I get that right?

Also, is she really a university student?

Ate there last night and the staff said it was the last day of operation. Many very sad as had worked there a very long time, felt like their family. So if heading over there for seafood don't bother as closed. There may be another operator coming in a few months though.

This should be in the Chiang Mai forum...sorry.

Do this mean that Yamato's (the Japanese buffet in the Nang Nual grounds) is closed too? I think they are the same thing, aren't they?

Too bad - I liked the place.

Used tp have a 340 baht sushi, tempura, teriyaki buffet, but the last time I was there (about 2 weeks ago), they had dropped the price to 240 baht, and cut back on the dishes.

"Chiang Mai people not like to spend money" said the manager...

Being abusive to staff would constitute doing harm, and as such he is fair game.

I asked her if she was game and she said yes

So I shot her

I condone the proposed actions by TV members attending this AM and I do not think that putting this GOM in his place publicly is the wrong thing to do. Wish I were in Bangkok at the moment so that I too could attend the coffee shop and participate in some behaviour modification therapy on this bloke.

There are a few people on this forum that seem to set themselves up as the "morals police" to them I say, "lighten up" there is no harm in the actions proposed. Just maybe, the guy will take a long hard look at himself and realise what an A##hole he has been. Spare a though for the long suffering, poorly paid staff at the coffee shop, I'll bet the pri#k never leaves a tip either!

Sounds like you are the 'morals police', no?

The Centara Duaangtawan Hotel near the night bazaar has a couple of buffet restaurants.

The top-floor Chinese has dim sum, but they are not very good, and not a huge variety.

The second floor restaurant has a variety of buffets depending on time and day. Japanese, seafood, mixed western - always a great variety, expensive ingredients, and usually very good - I think they are just under 300bt with a member's card...

===

Alas, the terrific Yamato Japanese buffet at Nang Nual (south of the Holiday Inn) has suffered dramatically.

It used to be 340bt, with sushi, sashimi, fantastic beef teriyaki, plus a tempura-to-order bar (including shrimp and oysters!).

They have dropped the price ("Chiang Mai people not like spend money" - waiter) to 240bt, but the teriyaki is gone (as are some other hot dishes), and the tempura is prepared in advance, and is cold, and sucks.

The sushi and sashimi were still decent - but the unagi is gone.

A decent deal for 240, but not the really nice Japanese feed that they had before.

Yes its a good bike to learn on you can buy the 125cc kit for thb 2500 also i changed the rear sprocket which made mine a lot easier to get up the hills

Thanks. I've been thinking about this a lot, and it does feel like the right bike for me. I don't mind not having the clutch, even though I do love clutches (I have a CBR150 - triple down-shifts going into hilly curves, fun!). But for the aggression I'm going to show, I don't really need the clutch - full throttle will be enough for me.

A 125cc for 2500 - perfect. PLEASE GIVE ME DETAILS!

I am amazed at the torque of even the stock 110.

I would come into a hill pretty fast in 1st, and keep the revs up, and shoot up most hills (kick up some nice dirt too - so much fun - noisy and dirty!). But my fat friend (and a real motorcycle beginner), had the same bike, and he would come up to the base of the hill slowly, and in 1st just crawl up at low revs. BUT IT DID IT! I was sure it would just die in places, but nope - straight up the hill - all 90kg of him - 2km/hr. Probably 1900rpm (sounded like about 900rpm)

So a 125, geared low (my top speed will never be more than 30-40k/hr) - it should zip me up anything!

Thanks for the affirmation! I did love it for the week I had it on Koh Tao, and it felt good on dirt in a way no other bike ever has, so (having blown the wad on the CBR and my beach holiday)...

I am looking for an cheap ugly beat-up KSR to equip with stupid tires (and 15 more cc's), and beat up further!

---

I live in Chiang Mai, and on my 150, I do about 500km a week in the great mountain roads around here. In the middle of the mountains I have found a place to leave a dirt-bike at the base of some trails. So in the middle of some great mountain road racing... take a dirt-bike break!

It's almost a triathlon I have planned - 15 minutes at 120km//hr on brand new super highway that is usually empty and has some great high speed turns. Then there is an hour of a medium speed great twisty mountain road (also newly paved and pretty empty). In the middle of that road, I would stop where I keep the KSR, make some noise and kick up some dirt.

Turn around and do it in reverse - go home...

My girlfriend is away for the year, so I have to keep busy and have lots of fun!

I already have one 'mia noi' to keep me company - she's all lovely and black and I'm giving her a racing CDI and exhaust next week. But this is Thailand, so I need a 'third wife' as well. Small, noisy, dirty - something you can really spin around! And then just lock to a fence 'till the next time...

If you want to go in the mountains and do jumps anything over 1ft ! the ksr isn't much good. but ok the sand tracks and road use. The klx 140 is well worth the extra money.

It has a clutch and 5 speed box, compared to the ksr 4 speed no clutch

Being a 50 year old beginner dirt rider, I am not sure that I will be doing more than 1ft jumps!

On the KSR, I found it very easy to climb all over Koh Tao's mountain 4-wheel tracks - pretty rough terrain - steep hills, rocks, ruts, sand, , but no real jumps.

And actually, with the big knobby tires, the KSR did not feel very stable on concrete, but very comfortable off road...

But I want it for off-road only. And I felt so capable on the KSR - the times I have tried a bigger bike (eg. XR250), I get in trouble immediately - it is so dam_n tall, that I cannot do anything off-road on it. If I get in trouble, I just fall over - can't touch the dam_n ground with my feet! I know that short guys can ride big dirt-bikes, but that takes real technique - I don't have it.

On the KSR, I feel I have 'technique'. I could even do real donuts on it!

Maybe after some practice on the KSR, I will become so good that I will need a bigger bike! Then the KLX140 (not the "L"!!!) would be what I would look at.

"Chiang Mai Grandview: 143 bht for lunch "

If I may say this: We have been there, too. Well, it's mostly a buffet with asian food. When we were there they only had one hot western dish. Also the starters are very limited concerning western food. The customers are mostly asian tour groups .

Why not spend 22 Bt more (with member card) for the buffet at the Empress Hotel, which has a much larger choice of asian and western dishes.

I don't want to say, that the Empress has an excellent buffet, but for only 22 Bath more you get a much better value than at the Grandview.

In the low price range the Empress is certainly the best.

I am surprised!

I have been to the Grandview many times (including once this past week). I would say that there is at least a 50/50 balance between Western and Thai foods. (True what you say about the starters).

They always have at least five hot Western dishes that usually include things like fried fish in a cream sauce, mexican chicken, mousakka, german-style pork stew, and many more (those are just some that pop into the head).

There is a decent salad bar and a cold cuts section that usually has very nice rare roast beef (I always start with a stacked roast beef sandwich). There is also a basic sushi-roll bar (even some hot-dog sushi rolls - vile yet compelling - something like that disgusting appeal of a Big Mac!).

There are desserts including my friend's favourite creme caramel, and a variety of cakes topped with whipped edible oil product. Free coffee and tea.

I must say that it is rare that something there is unacceptable, and often there are dishes that are surprisingly good.

Like most Thai buffets, they do not keep the food hot, and that is unfortunate, but the food is always fresh, and it keeps coming out. Over all I find the Grandview very satisfiying. Big variety, good food, nice local, and cheap.

Oh yeah - the Thai food section is quite good - always a sour melon soup (that I don't find anywhere else and really love), a couple of other varied dishes including crispy fish-nuggets in a sweet sauce, and always a small Lanna section with a Lanna salad, nam prik, and great fried chicken drumettes.

---

Not haute cuisine, but always an honest attempt to provide decent (and sometimes very good) food in very comfortable and spacious surroundings.

Don't like the Grandview? Fine. But it is certainly a western oriented menu, and i would say at least 60% Farang clientelle.

I don't know what day you went, or what happened.

Are you sure it was the Grandview you went to, and not the little Thai street restaurant just around the corner?!?!?!!?!?

cheers!

ps - I will check out the Empress

Count me in as a customer!

Don't forget that we now have Patak's chutneys at Tops (maybe Rimping too by now) and good ole Sharwood's sweet mango chutney too.

If you can get the strong and very strong brinjal flavour 'mixed vegetable pickle' by a company named Priya please do. Can't find it in CM yet. Any lime pickle anywhere, or is that too much to ask?

Hey. We have the makings of a Curry Club here!

I always bring back a few jars of Pataks Curry Paste from Canada - haven't seen them here - they are great.

And I brought you a jar of Priya mixed vegetable pickle.

We'll talk!

Cheers, Mark

Hi WJ..............

Tried to talk - and brought 2 or 3 things for you to taste too.

Waited at Royal India on the 20th from 11.30am, as you suggested, for very nearly an hour and you didn't show.

The boss there even offered me spoons to help taste the goods I'd brought in!!

But no WJ, no phone call, no letter, no PM, no Priya - aaarrgghhhh - how can I go on????????

And why?

VERY SORRY! - I was sure you said you would call me first in the morning to confirm. I just assumed you were busy...

Lunch tomorrow? Can you manage two Indian meals in a week?!?!?!??? LOL

Call me early as you like in the morning - I'll try you too...

Let's satisfy this itch!

Mark

ps - And I will certainly bring some treats

Count me in as a customer!

Don't forget that we now have Patak's chutneys at Tops (maybe Rimping too by now) and good ole Sharwood's sweet mango chutney too.

If you can get the strong and very strong brinjal flavour 'mixed vegetable pickle' by a company named Priya please do. Can't find it in CM yet. Any lime pickle anywhere, or is that too much to ask?

Hey. We have the makings of a Curry Club here!

I always bring back a few jars of Pataks Curry Paste from Canada - haven't seen them here - they are great.

And I brought you a jar of Priya mixed vegetable pickle.

We'll talk!

Cheers, Mark

Hi WJ..............

Tried to talk - and brought 2 or 3 things for you to taste too.

Waited at Royal India on the 20th from 11.30am, as you suggested, for very nearly an hour and you didn't show.

The boss there even offered me spoons to help taste the goods I'd brought in!!

But no WJ, no phone call, no letter, no PM, no Priya - aaarrgghhhh - how can I go on????????

And why?

VERY SORRY! - I was sure you said you would call me first in the morning to confirm. I just assumed you were busy...

Lunch tomorrow? Can you manage two Indian meals in a week?!?!?!??? LOL

Call me early as you like in the morning - I'll try you too...

Let's satisfy this itch!

Mark