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I have had Thai Expat TV since September 2012, on the whole I have been happy with the service, though some channels don't seem to work. I have the original set top box and tomorrow will be fitting the new one. I also have UKTV which is brilliant.

But most drivers don't know what the rules are do they and many will not even stop at red light crossings, good luck to the cops.

Neither do the police.

How many have you seen:

Ride without helmets

Ride on footpaths

Ride on the wrong side of the road

Jump red lights

Talk on mobile while riding motorbike

also (not traffic related) throwing cigarette ends on the floor.?

Don't get me started! Daddy with baby on his lap while riding.The look of surprise and more than a little laughter that I observe when I position myself correctly with arm stretched out to take a right turn, not forgetting the 'life saver' before the turn on my....bicycle really gives me a sense of superiority over the buffoons I see on my daily travels.

Yes! Mine is very slow as well. BKK.

I think these labels are loaded.

When I was a yuppie and raking in the dough I spent liberally.

Now I have no choice but to watch the baht because if I didn't there would be no baht.

Does that make a cheap person or a sensible person who is smart enough to live within their means?

Yes there are extremes of frugal behavior but there are also extremes of decadent spending behavior as well.

Well I think it doesn't apply to someone who tries to live within what they can afford.

I think it is more like: Trying to haggle the motorbike taxi down from 12 Baht to 10 Baht. Eat a very good dinner, everything perfect with the service and not giving one Baht tip, just because it is possible to save this 20-50 Baht.

Getting away with 5 Baht less bus fare due to a misunderstanding and instead of correcting it, be happy to cheat them the 5 Baht.

Mean unreasonable things....not reasonable saving money.

Stop talking about me! Remember being in China Town 20 years ago and paying 2 Baht for the Chickets when they should have been 1 Baht. Got my money back, I did. Anyone beat that for "CHEAP CHARLIEANISM?"

What a load of rubbish. Riding my bike down my soi, I would say I'd say I've seen the same damn street dogs for years. The attitude here that we can't put dogs to sleep in this country means this will never work. Nothing will change.

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Well, when I can travel from Klong Tun to 'Humpalong' for 3 Baht, it's no wonder the railways are not fit for purpose.

No replies yet.. Well, I have a 2012 Spark 110cc and I did notice that it sometimes cut out as I changed down for engine braking. Strangely, seems OK now, either that or I have changed my riding style. Apart from that, it's a great little bike, a big difference from my 18 year old Honda Tena, which I still have.Let's start a Spark forum, I bet there must be at least 3 falang owners in BKK!

Well, there me and er'indoors were in TOPS the other day, with the chap in front being served by the assistant, 1 bag for this and 1 bag for that. Being a "Holier than thou" sort of chap, I'll get my teeth knocked out one day, I found myself holding my 2 large white plastic bags up and telling the others queuing " bring your own bags, I've had these for 2 years." True story, yes, I must get out more.

I urge everyone who reads this article to buy a Smoke Detector. They cost Bht620 at Homepro and could save a life in a situation like this. An 85 Decibel shrieking alarm can be a life-saver.

Many of you complain and are aware of the electrical short-comings in Thailand. And basic design flaws, too. A neighbour in my condo lost her apartment when it caught fire. It was a Sunday morning some time ago and I could smell that tell-tale aroma of burning plastic. Looked over the balcony and saw black smoke coming from her pad. Raised down, rang the doorbell, no answer. Hit the fire alarm and all hell broke loose. Managed to knock the front door down with neighbours to see her kitchen alight. Her apartment was nearly gutted. She was away at the time. Anyway, the cause? She'd just had a new fitted-kitchen installed and the new fridge was boxed in too tightly that it over-heated. There was no air circulation behind and to the sides of fridge.

Go and buy one now if you don't already have one. Such a waste of life when a few hundred baht could mean the difference between life and death.

You have made me realize that I have completely neglected to install detectors in my home.

I will be acquiring some as soon as possible.

Has anyone any suggestions on reliable brands?

This is the one I bought last week; In fact, got 6 of them. There're only two types on sale at HomePro Chidlom..both the same brand, The other is Bht700+ for the identical device but it has a light attachment which I think is a bit redundant if there's smoke. This one here is Bht620. I couldn't see them in Tesco nor Big C. 9v battery included and a snitch to install into the ceiling with two screws provided. But suggest you use raw-plugs if you have a gypsum board ceiling to keep them firmly in place.

I have found that the 3M Velcro good for attaching them to my concrete ceiling. It's stayed put for the last 2 years.

I urge everyone who reads this article to buy a Smoke Detector. They cost Bht620 at Homepro and could save a life in a situation like this. An 85 Decibel shrieking alarm can be a life-saver.

Many of you complain and are aware of the electrical short-comings in Thailand. And basic design flaws, too. A neighbour in my condo lost her apartment when it caught fire. It was a Sunday morning some time ago and I could smell that tell-tale aroma of burning plastic. Looked over the balcony and saw black smoke coming from her pad. Raised down, rang the doorbell, no answer. Hit the fire alarm and all hell broke loose. Managed to knock the front door down with neighbours to see her kitchen alight. Her apartment was nearly gutted. She was away at the time. Anyway, the cause? She'd just had a new fitted-kitchen installed and the new fridge was boxed in too tightly that it over-heated. There was no air circulation behind and to the sides of fridge.

Go and buy one now if you don't already have one. Such a waste of life when a few hundred baht could mean the difference between life and death.

You have made me realize that I have completely neglected to install detectors in my home.

I will be acquiring some as soon as possible.

Has anyone any suggestions on reliable brands?

Yes, I think it is rather odd that more are not fitted. I brought one back from the UK last year, my friend, who I rent the apartment from more less laughed at me for having it. Queuing at Big C the other day, they were selling a simple spray fire extinguisher for a discounted price, I grabbed that, too. You can't be too safe in my opinion. In fact in the UK you are expected to fit a smoke alarm to ensure insurance cover. Correct me if I am wrong.

All this peaceful protesting is not poking the bear enough to get a reaction. Suthep better turn up the heat.

Just what I was thinking. Bit of a damp squib IMHO.

Errrr, thanks for the info?

Update on the RKV 200 so far .....

The pre-delivery prep by Yamaha Square on Rama IV was not as good as I'd thought. Tyre pressures were 5 PSI front and 10 PSI rear (should be 28/30) and the allen screws on the front fork clamps were lose. The bike will have been delivered with the front wheel removed, so I guess the wheel was fitted by the local dealer.

I was surprised about the low tyre pressure .... I gave the tyres a 'squeeze and a tap' before I rode away from the shop and they felt OK, and the handling seemed fine. Tyre pressures so low on my Triumph RS in the UK would have had me off on the first bend, but I assume the RKV is so light the pressures are not so critical? The front fork clamp screws was a concern, but they were 'finger tight', so I don't think the wheel was going to fall off any time soon, but a good reminder to check the bike thoroughly. Other nuts and bolts seemed good and tight, chain tension was correct and all lights worked, but the tool kit was missing. After a call to the shop they found the missing tool roll and I picked it up on the way out for my first proper ride to Samut Sakorn.

It's a very pleasant bike to ride. Neutral handling without that slight 'falling into a corner' feeling you get with a cruiser. The classic street bike seating position is also easy on the wrists and makes threading through traffic a breeze. The mirrors are small, but well spaced, so rear view is decent, but getting the wide bars and mirrors between cars can be tricky. The riding position is very comfortable, so during the 120 second red light sequences in Bangkok I found myself sitting with both hands still on the bars, whereas on more 'sporting' bikes I would use red lights as a chance to sit back and take the weight off my wrists.

If you are long in the leg (like me) the raised ridges in the tank, which would go above the knees if this was a Benelli sports bike (a brand recently acquired by the owners of Keeway) actually align with your knees creating a slight pressure point on long rides. This is a compact bike which is very popular as a 125 learner bike in the UK - and this makes it good in traffic, but if you are over 6' tall it may be physically too small for longer rides.

The brakes have improved, thought they still feel 'learner friendly' and need a good squeeze. The handling is neutral and feels like it could cope with much more power and the ride is excellent even on bangkok roads. The power is modest, but it has good low-down torque so it copes well in traffic and on back roads.

I had a chance to ride on wet and flooded roads this weekend, and the tyres seem OK. The gearbox is my main concern after the weekend ride. Neutral is hard to find when stationary and impossible to avoid when moving. Going from 1 to 2 you hit neutral 50% of the time. Giving an extra big push to the gear lever by moving your foot forward and up will get into 2 without a hitting N, but this is a nuisance. I hope this is a running-in issue, as none of the reports I've seen from the UK and Latin America mention a gearbox problem. I've found a supplier of a rack and box for the RKV in the UK but the cost is steep (£81 for the rack not inc shipping), and some throw-over panniers from Paddocks may be the answer, or I could get something made locally.

Still early days, and after the longer ride and the rain I'll be able to see what starts to rust or fall off, but with the possible exception of the gear change I'm pleased with the bike, especially considering the price. I'll post an update after more use.

Very few thai shops have pressure gauges, much less use them. They prefer to feel the tires, and they guess wrong, 100% of the time! They are simply untrained, or do not care. 5 lbs. of pressure is downright dangerous. Where there is no pride, there is no room for shame.

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Yes, I really don't understand this. Makes you wonder how well they service the bikes. Yamaha dealer(since gone)Phrahonyoutin road managed to put 55psi in my Sparks tyres, should be 33psi rear/29psi front....

Shad topboxes are readily available in Bangkok. The plastic plate comes with the box and enables the release / locking mechanism. I suspect that given enough time a local dealer would import the rack for you. Add the rack / box and a tankbag for a nice looking budget touring rig.I'm tempted ...

So they are at Dr Bike

http://www.dr-bikeba...-616042-en.html

Chock chai 4, Ladpraow

I would recommend the Givi E20 topbox which I have on both my little Honda Tena and Yamaha Spark

Shad topboxes are readily available in Bangkok. The plastic plate comes with the box and enables the release / locking mechanism. I suspect that given enough time a local dealer would import the rack for you. Add the rack / box and a tankbag for a nice looking budget touring rig.I'm tempted ...

So they are at Dr Bike

http://www.dr-bikeba...-616042-en.html

Chock chai 4, Ladpraow

I would recommend the Givi E20 topbox which I have on both my little Honda Tena and Yamaha Spark

"He also pointed that many parents failed to install child car seats for their young children."

Usually the children are bouncing all over the vehicle with the baby sitting in the driver's lap.

"Parents should be more careful. Most children riding motorcycles do not wear helmets," Anucha said.

I guess they had to arm wrestle for the two helmets in this photo. Of course the YOUNGEST child DOESN'T have a helmet.

Kids on the drivers lap. You should know by now that this is so they don't have to take the airbag option. 9 months and mums produced her own.

I guess buses will have to stop in the 3rd or 4th lane to pick up or drop off passengers now. That's chaos.

Just another normal day, then...

Just like what the American embassy said, which so many British angrily attacked as paranoid panic. In fact, it seems that the Malaysians and most nations considerate of their citizens are giving the same or similar notifications. About the only country that hasn't, at least as far as I have seen so far on these pages, is the UK. I'm starting to think that the UK regards its people in Thailand as mostly a lot of riffraff who the nation is better off without.

Calm down old chap. We British are a proud lot.Stiff upper lip and all that. A? Excuse me, I'm just going to join the memsaab for tea and tiffin.

What do the PTP care about money wastage? It's not them that's paying, it's us taxpayers. We have to pay for their charade of an election even though there weren't be enough candidates to form the next parliament.

So how much tax did you pay to Thailand last year?

What's that got to do with the price of fish, mate?

Quite. What is wacky BAK talking about?

Bkk is effin cold too! slept fully clothed under 2 duvets last night.

MUst be acclimatised as I ain't turned me A/C on in over a year, only use fans. Even so, for the locals, this must be like the Arctic, and like dropping tropical fish in the Atlantic.

I feel for the sick and the old.

LOL.I had the aircon on low. It's still hot in Bangkok.

Really? I have just taken the reading on my balcony, Don Muang area, 22'C. So nice not to have the usual sweaty back problem!

I got a bit worried reading this. I have been using a SHARP rice cooker, which has an aluminium pot, for cooking most things, though mainly porridge most days, does anyone think I have cause for worry?

Well, I rode my pushbike 3 kms yesterday and counted 28 traffic offences, one nearly causing an accident, motorcycle taxi going the wrong way at what appeared to be at least 80kph past a turning on the wrong side of the road. Me, well I felt a little guilty as I wasn't wearing a cycle helmet..

Why do I have the mad urge to jump up on the stage and sing OOO OOO OOO the funky gibbon, we are here to show you how, OOO OOO OOO the..... Made er'indoors laugh, but I must control myself.