featography

Just got back from Maya Mall. It looks like 70-75% of the shops are occupied. Those of you who thought the Rim Ping was that candy shop on the fourth floor are just like Hubby. That's just a little shop to catch the crowd buying snacks on their way up to the excellent cinema on the fifth floor. Yeah, English language movies within walking distance of home! Didn't catch a show today, but the prices looked very reasonable, the selection of movies is first rate and the lobby area as nice as the cinema at Promenada.

As for the Rim Ping -- it opened at 4 pm, in the basement, where most grocery stores are located in malls in Thailand. Every woman knows this is the proper place for a grocery store. We're not fooled by some candy closet on the fourth floor!

The Rim Ping is about the size of the store at Nim City Airport Plaza (maybe a bit smaller) and it's targeting the Japanese and Korean expat crowd. Guess what, we're not the only expats in town! But, they still had a good selection of everything you expect from Rim Ping -- cheeses, 399 baht bottles of wine, beautiful produce, excellent baked goods, plus a sushi and sake bar.

Meanwhile, the mall is pretty. The first floor is airy, with high end stuff like cars, leather goods, designer clothing. You know, stuff you'll never buy, but it makes you feel special to walk in the place. Go up the escalators and you'll find there are at least three drug stores, 4-5 places to buy athletic shoes, 3-4 places for jeans, at least one export clothing shop, couple of book sellers, couple of banks (but the major banks are under-represented) and yes, there is a KFC plus the Japanese chain restaurants. There were some interesting looking Thai food places (looked to be a cut above food court offering). A few places to buy phones, although high tech stuff did seem to be under-represented.

In general, for those of us who live in the central city and rely on song thaews and tuk-tuks for transport, this mall is a welcome addition to Kad Suan Kaew and Central Airport Plaza. For those of you with cars, it's probably just another yawner and you can point your cars toward Central Festival.

Awesome report!! Strolled all the floors with notepad and pen? Did you by chance see a Sante Fe Steakhouse, or a Kanome Chin Bangkok restaurant?

Hello All, jaideeguy your wife is just down the road from mine, she's a convert to Mex chilies.

Se was snacking with one of mine.

I thought chipolte was from red ones? This is the closest I've got, they don't last long here.

A couple of yellow(jalor) jals last week from the driveway.

The driveway a few minuets ago.

rice555

All good places to check. I.ve been looking for years. This is my first year in Chaing Mai, so good to find jalapeno's are around. In central Th. I never found any in the 7 yrs I lived there, had friends mail me packs of seeds, but had little to no luck with them. Biggest issue was the humidity down there. The only time I got plants to mature and produce, I found each pepper soft and turning red prematurely. Upon opening each one up, I found what looks just like maggots, but smaller, inside eating everything. None of the neighbors had ever seen anything like that before.

I personally think that, as foreigners being guest in this country, we shouldn't involve in national matters that we mostly do not understand.

1- We have accepted (for different personal - good - reasons) to have no domestic right.

2- Paying taxes and spending money here didn't change our blood. None of us can become Thai nor can "think Thai"

3- Even after 10 or 20 years here, we will not understand totally the positions of each side.

4- If we want Thai people to respect us, let's start to be respectable. Let's be out of these national matters concerning Thais only.

5- Whatever the government is or will be, if we want to live in Thailand we must follow the rules.

6- If we are not happy, so let's go back to our countries and be fine there ;-)

I am totally against the foreigners who are taking position for this color or against that one, blablabla.

This is kid game played by old kids who have nothing to do in Thai people stories.

I am sure that most of Thai people do not appreciate this kind of behavior from some farangs...

My wife is Thai.

I share some of her points of view, I disagree with some others. I talk with her and try to help her comparing different possibilities, avoiding straight and strong positions.

At the end of the day, I will always back her (and protect her) just because she is my wife, and also because she is bright and totally involve in a positive social life.

But I will never go to protest in the streets, nor I will take any political position in public.

It doesn't mean that I cannot be an observer and have my own analysis of the country and current situation.

But I do know that can understand only a very small part of the problem.

This is my own way to show respect to Thai people who have welcomed me, and to give them a good picture about foreigners as well. As I told above, if we want to be respected we should start first to be respectable.

Any country out of mine that I have visited, I have never got any trouble with local people.

I can hear and read so many complains from foreigners here that I often wonder why they stay in Thailand...

Why do they want to get more trouble by involving in Thai private matters?...

Cheers ;-)

I am married to a Red Shirt, we discuss politics in the privacy of our home, I too, stay out of it in public. My answer to questions posed by people as to my beliefs, is short and simple. ''I am not sedang, not seleung, I am se-farang''. That gets chuckles, head nods, and other positive reactions

Having a 250cc cruiser, it could be fun to organize other lifan cruiser owners for a recreational ride. Other Lifan models welcome of course.

As for a lot of lifan owners, i am paying the price for trusting in a so called technician,

so now i have been told i have to wait for a tech from bkk to come and put the problem in order

3 weeks down the line, i was told to wait because he was up in the north of thai doing some work there???

only one tech? so yes the bike has been great up to now until a so called tech told me a gasket was leaking..

so ask if the guys are trained techs or just grease monkeys,, good look

should have bought honda,,,

I had this problem, waiting for tech to show up, while living in Samut Sakohn. Being closer to Bkk than you probably are, I never waited more than 2 days for him to show up. I will say this for the Bkk Lifan mechanics, they are top notch. They know their stuff and I loved those guys. I moved to Chiang Mai last Jan, and had the wife call the lead mechanic on his personal mobile phone and beg him to transfer to C.M. We told him the mechanic here is an on the job trainee type skill.

The truth is that you can buy a good set of shocks for the Lifan LF250-B in Thailand for a reasonable price. You just have to contact a Yamaha big bike dealer and order the rear shocks for the Yamaha Virago 535 (Yamaha Thailand has them on stock). The rear shocks for the Yamaha Virago 250, 400 and 535 are the identical.

The official Yamaha (Thailand) parts number is 2YL-22220-01 (you can download the official Thai Yamaha Virago 535 parts catalog here https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B0fPe4feWkfeVk5KX0FYWWFRTXE1cUk2eDZaTXBHdw/edit?pli=1)

Awesome!!!

This has been an exercise in futility. The local bike shops stock shocks for small bikes and scooter (say that 5 times really fast).

Haven't been able to find anything comparable to the shocks on the Lifan (I've gone store to store with my Thai wife and a Lifan shock in hand). Finally stopped at Lifan, and they basically said that new OEM shocks aren't going to be any better that what is currently on the bike. So now putting the old shocks back on and just accepting that this is going to be part of the Lifan 250-B Cruiser experience.

Just a 'heads up' for anyone thinking of buying one. Spongy shocks are just part of the ride.

If anyone has successfully changed the rear shocks on a Lifan 250-B to a non-OEM shock, please let me know the manufactures name and part number that you changed to (and where you bought them). If I had that info, at least I could order a set from somewhere. Thanks!

I live in Chiang Mai, have a 250 Lifan, almost 4000k on it. When I have to replace anything, I go to CM dealership, ask to speak only to Kune Chaichanna, the owner, ask for what I need, pay, walk out, and have someone else put it on. Their mechanic is not the sharpest knife in the drawer. That would be my suggestion about shocks. I have no problems with my shocks, in fact I love them. Possible you got stuck with a flawed pair from the plant. Buy 2 more, and see how they work in the long term.

Better dealer service then on a KTM RC8 for sure, Lifan is the brand to be if you know what company is behind it.

You're not really going to try and compare KTM's race proven RC8 against a Chinese company's first attempt at a liter bike, are you?!

True in Thailand KTM has only one dealer and service center, so if you live far from Bangkok it might be a bit inconvenient to get your bike serviced, but at least they have trained techs who know how to work on the bike.

Lifan?! Even if their liter bike exists, who in the heck is going to service and repair it in Thailand?

Get real!

there is a KTM authorized service center hwy 11 Chiang Mai, across st. from Big C. In the same parking lot with KTM is a McDonalds

Well, I'm keeping an eye on the Lifan 200 Cross reports. But QC seem to be a major concern, also for their 250 cc V-twin (Yamaha Virago copy).

Jeff, when you sell your bike, how much do you reckon you will get for it @ 20,000 km and after 1 year? Good luck getting more than 11,000 Baht!

As the cold start accounts for some 95% of an engine's wear & tear, your long rides mean that the average abuse of very many very short rides is far tougher.

Enjoy your trips!

Chris

I.m coming up on 4000k on my lifan 250 twin. The only problems I have had with it is dealership mechanic incompetence (Chiang Mai). Basic service with them requires a 2nd trip to undo, or fix what they messed up, every time. If I were to mention anything negative about the 250 by design, it would be they are geared too low. Top speed about 60mph/95+kph and are loud (Harley owners call that a bonus). I have throttle left at 50mph so not sure if it would top out at 60 or go higher. Seems to be enough to take it faster, but without a wind screen, I keep it at 50-55. That's all the wind blast my scrawny body can handle.

First tank 50 klp

Wife says the seat feels higher than the Wave

Second tank 57 kpl

Highest speed noted so far 110 kph

On the way taking my daughter to school a PCX 150 smoked us. Yes we are on the humble Ares 110 and about 160 kilos of weight and moving along at 100 kph

The Aries failed the Egg test. Purchased 10 eggs at the fresh market,put them in the basket, then drove the long way home, 50 km, over the bumpiest roads I could find. Half were broken half not. Had scrambled eggs for breakfast.

This morning went up to Doi Sethep. 20 km up winding hills. The bike did 60 80 all the way up without complaint and down the brakes worked as they should and the handling was confidence inspiring. Better than the Wave

Third tank 50 kpl but was all hill work. Gas gauge is pessimistic. Shows empty when it is half full

Every morning the bike starts right up with no choke. Mornings are cool too at 12c with sitting all night

Did some unofficial drag races with a friend on a Honda Wave 110. I am heavier but the Lifan was faster off the line and only on the very top end near 100 kph did the Honda seem to have more oomph !

1 thing that could be a safety issue is the bike will start in any gear. The Honda only starts in neutral

Oh yea buddy. My wife and I love to ride up to Doi Sethep, and Doi Saket. Let.s get together with the women and go sightseeing.

My Chum has two Harleys in LOS, both works of art.

is there official service in bkk, pattaya or CM for harleys? or you need to go to local hanymen who do now know shit about HD?

There are 2 in C.M. I.ve been in both of them.

dam_n, i thought chinese bikes generated a lot of hate but that is nothing compared to what a harley does to people

Hence the envy reference previously.

I.ve got one of those Chinese cruisers, bought it new, paid cash (78,000B), eat your hearts out Harley owners.

The only problems I.ve had with it is under educated mechanic at the dealership that would mess something up while doing warranty maintenance, forcing me to go back and have him do it right. Other than that, its been trouble free, allowing me to spend my discretionary funds on customizing it with saddlebags, shoulder high ''ape hangers'' and minor odds and ends, eat your hearts out Harley owners.

Coming up on 4000 kilometers and running just fine. I can live with the top speed of 60mph/98kph. It.s comfortable to ride, a whole lot quieter than H.D., eat your hearts out Harley owners.

I figure if she dies at age 5, I got my money's worth out her, eat your hearts out Harley owners.

Added thrill I got a week ago; BIB were set up on a corner checking bikes. While sitting at the red light, I could see they were eyeing me. Light turned green, I proceeded thru intersection, they waved me over. Here comes the fun, a BIB strolls over, sees the brand on the tank, realizing my ''chopper'' aint no Harley, and gives the most disappointed facial expression ever. Asked for license, gave it to him. He sees the insurance sticker, then asks for copy of green book. I failed that one. It was at home. He said that is a 400b fine, and asked if I had it. I opened my wallet, showed him no money in it. Very disappointed look on his face. He asked how much I had. Pulled 120b out of my pocket, he took it, and said ''GO''.

The moral of the story;if you ride Harley, you must be rich, you can pay. Ride a Chinese cruiser, get discount......eat your hearts out Harley owners.

andbuying a HD is not cheap with 130% import tax, that is why those hoggers are pissed extra, paying so much extra doe, they are ready to destroy some stuff

I was going to post something at the 100th post, and this turned out to fit right in with my thoughts. Cruisers and crotch rockets have one thing in common; one has to get the bike that fits their body. You wouldn't go in and buy an expensive suit off the rack without tailoring, then wear it, without bad mouthing the suit and sales outlet later. Same with big bikes. A 240lb man on a Sportster will not like his bike in time.

There are 3 kinds of bikers, generally speaking, the majority riding small motorbikes around town, the crotch rocket set that likes high speed and open roads, not a lot of fun in Thai city traffic, and the cruiser crowd that can handle city traffic, if not doing the stupid stunts of crawling around stopped cars at traffic lights, rather, having the patience to wait like a car for the green lights. Cruisers tend to be more comfortable for a lot of us old guys, on trips, true travelling slower, but we see the scenery. This group I fall into.

OneVoice, who posted his thoughts earlier, is a crotch rocket pilot, and my riding buddy. He likes to race up ahead, pull over and wait for me, like Im going to get lost without him? More than once, on the side of a road, here or there, he has mentioned, ''Hey I didn't know that was here!'' My response always is, ''If you kept it under 120kph, you.d see this stuff in plain sight''. Half the fun of our rides together is the ribbing we give one another.

About Harley, no, I don't have one, I have always thought Harley Davidson is wearing blinders to a golden opportunity in this country. Honda and Yamaha discontinued their cruisers in Thailand, as possibly Kawasaki did. If Harley would open a plant here, and offer bikes with engines in the 250-400cc range, I believe they would dominate the market until Honda and Yamaha woke back up.

-thanks for reading

I ride a Harley here in Los Angeles, but will probably switch to a Jap bike in LOS. HD is just too expensive over there. I will stick with the cruisers though. The sport bikes (crotch rockets) just aren't my cup of tea.

Good luck finding a cruiser here that's not overpriced/used with license and green book. As far as new ones go, the big 3 don't offer cruisers anymore.

The bikes made their way through Bang Saray the other day. Same slower than molasses Hoggin up the entire road. They even had police & rescue trucks Looked like when they ran the Gypsy jokers out of Oregon & the Hells Angels in California. Escorts to get the bikes out of town.

They really are that slow. I never lost to any Harley on Beat the heat Wendsday night drags in Sonoma . Even my Honda 750 superfour blew the doors off the Harleys in the 1/4 mile. It got to the point of being really boring. They are wide out as I shift into 3rd gear LOL!

The V-rods are for what Harley hopes to enter the realm of (more toward superbikes) as the ancient crowd is approaching permanent retirement. But like usual Harley is always way late to the party

What do you ride now, Beardog? What part of Th are you livin in? I.m in Chiang Mai and always looking for someone to sightsee with.

Mine is not a HD, but it is a cruiser.

My baby is doing exactly this at the moment. Some words are quite clearly spoken in Thai, with others in English. For what it's worth I've read about both the positives and negatives of this very subject. One article I read spoke of how beneficial it is to introduce a child to another language as early as possible. Whereas another article I read said that learning two languages so early in life can in fact have a detrimental effect on the child as they pick up their native language much slower because of the use of an additional langauge.

So to be honest, I'm none the wiser if it is good or not but I'd also be interested to hear about anyone elses experience in this.

I am the parent of a 3 year old, who is in a very good school that teaches English. She speaks Thai primarily with family, neighbors, etc. but can hold an English conversation with teachers and parents of the other students. I agree with the post that they are sponges soaking up water. Their brains absorb everything much easier than older kids or adults. My wife converses in Thai with her, I converse in English. When speaking in either language, if mid sentence, she cant think of the word she wants, she uses the equivalent from the other language. To the prospective parents, go for it, and worry not about language issues. As the Brits say, ''Little Pitchers have big ears''. Kids don't miss a thing.

Bangkok sinking could be a blessing in disguise.

Not likely. They.d start moving to Chiang Mai, and in time, turn that into a 2nd Bangkok.

That's why I ask if someone does know how early before it expires I can renew it. A 5 year license.

I just did that one. You can renew within 30 days of expiration. Also you have 30 days after expiration to renew if that happens too.

How long before or after the expiry date can you renew a five year licence? And do you really need a medical certifcate? I have never been asked for one before. In Chiang Mai.

I believe its within 30 days of exp.

Found this link for the Thai license written test. http://apps.dlt.go.th/driving_hp/ELearnning/E-Learning2.swf

Most of the questions are not complete, because the setence does not fit in the line allocated in the flash application. I seriously hope in real life it looks different.

Worked fine on my PC, could see all Q no problems. I got 24 out of 30 without watching the vids or reading the help stuff. Anyone know the pass mark? Be embarrassing if I failed, been driving for about 30 years.

24 out of 30 is a fail.

Always good to read positive stories to balance the often negative tales we see and read.

I hope Possum thought to get the drivers name and number. I do that with the few taxi drivers that stand out among the herds.

On my first trip to Thailand, I caught a minibus from Rayong back to Bkk. That driver did a fine job, and made us all feel safe. I didn't know at the time the reputation of these drivers, and since living here, aware that its out of the norm to get a safe one.

To avoid the bus-stop problem, buy a car and start driving here, and you will experience some real Thai mentality!!

Possums first mistake was going to Pattaya and Bangkok.

Even with a car there is the excitement of hearing my wife say, ''Stop at that big sign in blue and white'' I would love to ablige but cant see the tree for the forest and cant see the sign for the million others.

I have frequently encountered "common sense" in Thailand..................just never exhibited by Thais though...............

A British friend and I were talking about the lack of common sense in Thai's. He had a great one liner. ''In this country, when it is rarely found, it is Uncommon sense.''

Bizarre.

The police are, once again, useless here.

God help any person who even attempted to take my child from me. Woman or not, I'd of had my two week vacation, and been back to work a week, before she woke up.

The parents are on vacation without a camera?

Had, but didn't think to shoot a few pictures of the woman??

The American consulate adds extra pages for free. Go to your consulate and request additional pages. I don't know if your consulate charges for them.