Sojourner

No country will give passport to fugitives.

Well Montenegro gave Thaksin one. I think the reporter had in mind that if the Thai government issues a new passport to Thaksin it would be an ordinary passport with no diplomatic privileges and as such won't give him the ease of entry he was accustomed to as a PM.

Check out GT Rider's website for the info you're looking for. Generally, you must have proof of ownership, you must have a visa for the country you are visiting, you will need to buy insurance for your bike in every country you enter. Your bike will be written into your passport so it must leave with you. There may be some border crossings that won't allow you entry with your bike but other's will. I don't know the rational there but it has happened.

Is it always the same CBR? If so then the problem is most likely the external shift linkage needs to be cleaned and lubed.

I've ALWAYS been asked by the Korean Air ground staff in Chicago to show a visa before they will issue a boarding pass. My re-entry permit wasn't enough one time and they asked their supervisor to clarify. I would guess it depends on the airlines and the country you are leaving as to how serious the employee enforces their policies.

One previously mentioned is outside the moat just as you come up to Chiang Mai Gate and the split for Wualai Rd. They seem to have the best variety of salon tools and products. Another is a couple of doors away from Riders Corner restaurant on Mun Muang Rd. I believe they have someone there too that can service clippers.

One direction you may want to explore is a Kawasaki KLX250. Two of our more experienced riders did a ride to Mae Hong Son a couple of weeks ago and swear by them. The roads are not always the best and they claimed the bikes were able to adapt to those conditions, as well as good road, without any problems.

I know of twelve or fifteen hotels with in room hot tubs under 2000 Baht per night but sorry I can not help you because I do not know any around 3000 Baht per night.

If you know of that many why don't you share your information with others???

Because they are soapy's and he's trying to be funny.

Just get your caddy to carry them on the back of your scooter. Don't see a problem here.

Does anyone know exactly what documentation is acceptable and what is not? I will be applying for my first extension based on retirement next year. I am planning on using the income method. I have more than enough income from my investments. If asked for additional documentation, I was planning on providing copies of my US bank statements which show sufficient income being deposited, and ATM withdrawals into Thailand. Will this suffice? Thank you.

When I first moved here twelve years ago they wanted to see a letter that confirmed I had set up an account that would send me money from abroad. I asked my brokerage house to compose a letter stating how much they were sending monthly (I have it sent quarterly)and get as many signatures as possible at the bottom of the letter. Since then there's never been a request for additional confirmation of my "pension" draw.

are you referring to the import tax, VAT or excise tax they had to pay to get the bike into Thailand or the tax the buyer has to pay when buying a big bike?

Richo motor sport in Chang mai do excellent work and would be well worth thinking about sending the bike there than take a gamble with a shop in Bangkok.

Richie wouldn't be interested in working on a metric.

Ah, a heart attack on a plate. Making my mouth water now. Well, I've got Bisquick on the shelf so may have to get something started.

i can ride small bikes already be ok on a 250 maybe but just wanted a few pointers before heading of into the sun set on a more powerful bike

maybe im bein to sensible but after 2 near death car crashes iv got a bit more careful in my old age lol

but still like the idea of a big bike

Download the torrent of Ride Like a Pro and watch it over and over until you feel comfortable.

Just visited Big C in Lampang and their shelves were full. Fresh fruits, veggies and meats. Milk from three different dairies, Tiger and Heineken in cans and bottles as well as all the Thai beers. Things may be returning albeit slowly but surely.

So what is Obama after from Thailand. Does he really think it was an Inspirational Victory?

America heed the warning signs. Me thinks that you have Presidential elections coming up soon?

jb1

Very simple. China has become a major influence in this region in a very short period of time. The US wants to get support from friends, including Thailand and Australia, to re-establish a power base in the area. Like it or not, China has missiles that can easily take out American bases in Korea, Japan and Guam with very little warning. By controlling the sea lanes in the Indian Ocean the US can keep a leash on China's maritime trading with Africa and Middle East.

The emmisions test for importing a bike is a completely different thing from emmisions test for the yearly registration.

The test which cost by memory around 28.000 baht and which is only on invitation is done in a controlled environment.If you fail the test you can have a retest but have to pay the 28.000 Baht again.Forget to do it by yourself as you will surely fail..

To comply, the people who are specialised in doing these tests will strip the exhaust of your bike and mount a special exhaust with 2 or more catalyzers built in and will modify the gasoline and air intake of your bike since otherwise they will not pass.

That is the info I am after. Have you had this done yourself ? Any recommendations for a specialist that does this ?

You have not mentioned the bike you want to bring in. If it is not a fuel injected bike you can forget it ever passing the required emissions test. If it is a bike that complies with Euro 3 or Euro 4 emissions standards you stand a good chance of it passing. Bikes that meet US standards, including California, are less strict than the Eurozone so you can expect more problems. You have only touched on a privately imported bike passing Thai emissions but there are many other hoops you will need to jump through, especially if it is used.

It is a 2002 Honda VT750 DC, not fuel injected. Are you saying this cannot pass the test even with the modified exhaust etc that has already been mentioned ? ..... and of course some tea money to ease the way ?

Correct, if it's not FI it doesn't stand a chance of passing emissions test. I wouldn't know anything about an illegal activity to get around the law. Sorry

I'm not taking sides on this so don't get me wrong. On one hand there's the farmers who need water from the reservoirs for a second crop, and since Thailand is usually the number one exporter of rice, it's a big deal. Then if the irrigation department guesses wrong about the rainfall in September-October all hell breaks loose down stream from the dams that have to open to keep from failing. I wouldn't want to be in their shoes. We experienced just that scenario six years ago in Chiang Mai only to a much lesser degree to what's going on in BKK now. Either there needs to be a means to direct flood waters around urban areas as in Los Angeles and more recently Kuala Lumpur or the managers of the dams need to exercise more discretion and favor the urban areas over the rice farmers. I don't think there's a simple solution.

I've been to Mae Hong Son before,but never did the loop...I think we may be going for this trip,so what are the good(economy) places to stay in Khun Yuan,or MHS ?You've mention booking early...Is it better to go all around by Mae Sariang,or use the "shortcut" via Doi Inthanon?...and witch direction,clockwise or counter-clockwise?...thanks...

...hey...hope I will get some advise to my post too......Happy Loi Kratong !!:jap:

My personal tastes are to travel anti clockwise from CNX, stay in Soppong instead of Pai, then another night in Mae Hong Son followed by an early start to the sunflowers near Khun Yuam, across to Mae Chem, up to the Doi Inthanon junction and either up to the peak (don't have to pay to enter the national park) or down and back to CNX.

The emmisions test for importing a bike is a completely different thing from emmisions test for the yearly registration.

The test which cost by memory around 28.000 baht and which is only on invitation is done in a controlled environment.If you fail the test you can have a retest but have to pay the 28.000 Baht again.Forget to do it by yourself as you will surely fail..

To comply, the people who are specialised in doing these tests will strip the exhaust of your bike and mount a special exhaust with 2 or more catalyzers built in and will modify the gasoline and air intake of your bike since otherwise they will not pass.

That is the info I am after. Have you had this done yourself ? Any recommendations for a specialist that does this ?

You have not mentioned the bike you want to bring in. If it is not a fuel injected bike you can forget it ever passing the required emissions test. If it is a bike that complies with Euro 3 or Euro 4 emissions standards you stand a good chance of it passing. Bikes that meet US standards, including California, are less strict than the Eurozone so you can expect more problems. You have only touched on a privately imported bike passing Thai emissions but there are many other hoops you will need to jump through, especially if it is used.

Fridays Report of the Sunflowers on Doi Suthep.

About 30 - 35 % with a lot getting ready to bllom.

We rode around the Samong Loop yesterday and saw a lot of them at PEAK.

Even some of the older flowers had already died off.

Check evelavtion on the maps and the evelation is about half of Doi Suthep

at the top sooo will still to my plan of going when it's near peak on

Doi Suthep.

Guestimating we will depart on Monday heading around the Mae Hong Song Loop

to see the flowers.

Looks like they are going to be wonderful.

Have Fun.

Thanks for the update vacationman.

Need an advice, i am still unsure how to plan my itinerary to see the field.

Would it be more advisable to stay at Khun Yuam or Mae Hong Son if i am doing a 2 days trip.

Do you think a day trip is sufficient ?

I be traveling with 2 kids and their grandparents.

A day out and a day back is about the best you can do if time is at a premium. Mae Hong Son is a bigger city than Khun Yuam so more restaurants to choose from as well as hotels & resorts. I'd book before leaving CNX.

other places north of Thailand were getting excessive rainfall also so did they then have to release more water from their dams?

got message from a friend in Nan about heavy downpour there today and wondering whether all this water will add up to that already surrounding Bkk

There's still rain in the mountains around Chiang Mai. Tonight we have rain in the city. I road up from Lamphun along the Ping River two days ago and water was still rushing over the spillways. It sounds like water flow has been reduced out of Bhumiphul Reservoir but not stopped.

what's curious: where from so much water coming into those dams?

(does China releases more water from its own dams than usually?)

I was wondering the same thing. Was the amount of rainfall just too much in too short a time?, other places north of Thailand were getting excessive rainfall also so did they then have to release more water from their dams?.

Any ideas?

No water came from China. Their water flows into the Mae Kong. All the water into the Bhumiphul Reservoir and the Sirikit Dam is domestic rainfall.

I downed a few cans of Chang Export at a bike party recently. The PG servers were cute and that may have distracted me more than a little. Still, I found the Export to be somewhat tasteless. Maybe the blood flowing in the other direction caused my taste buds to go on strike.

I don't know how current this information is but check it out.

German Consulate in Chiang Mai, Thailand

Consulate of Germany in Chiang Mai, Thailand

199/163 Moo 3, Baan Nai Fun 2

Kan Klong Chonpratan Road

Tambon Mae Hia, Amphoe Muan

Chiang Mai 50100

Thailand

City: Chiang Mai

Phone: (+66) (53) 83 87 35

Fax: (+66) (53) 83 87 35

Email: dekonsul at loxinfo co th

Office Hours: 09.00 - 12.00

Once here get aunty outside during the day for as much as you can for the first few days. She doesn't have to be in the sun but just being in the daylight makes the adjustment go much faster.