Beacher

Just a thought: I came up behind the most luscious Italian classic coupe this week, sans rear bumpers. Must have been an early VW Karmann Ghia.

When did they move Germany to Italy? I really must keep up on the news -- a little embarassing to miss big stories like that one.

But to answer the question, I'd like to get my hands on an early 70's Toyota Celica coupe. It may not seem terribly exciting to most people, but there's something about those cars that I've always liked.

Foresight. Se-ed gives two long explanations for it.

LOL - That certainly makes sense. If the concept doesn't exist in one's culture, why have a word for it?

Great stuff!

I suppose we will see this speed here in LOS next year then?

Let's see...CAT has been offering "high speed" internet for years now, and it's usually just a little worse than the old dial-up speeds, so I figure this country will see super high speed internet somewhere between a thousand years and never.

Yes, for sure every person who perceives themselves as being in a position of power, or more often authority, will don "the uniform". How close are security men's uniforms here to the police? It makes them have that feel good factor and give them an air of authority in situations that most of us here would walk away from and not get involved in.

I commend and admire anyone who gives up their time as volunteers. It is all to often a thankless task and they all too often go as unsung heroes. How many here know the RNLI (Lifeboat rescue around the coasts of Ireland and the UK) are unpaid volunteers? The odd coxswain and engineer gets paid but the crew regularly put their lives on the line, to save others, for free! The Vincent De Paul? The Samaritans? Habitat for Humanity? The list is endless. These all are people who try to do good and help others. I won't be an armchair megaphone and rubbish them.

I personally have no problem with the uniform. I couldn't care less what uniform they wear. But put these guys in a white polo shirt/black trousers and stand back and watch the abuse and fights. They would have no chance. The uniform helps to keep the human flotsam that they deal with at bay, and somewhat under control.

I think that this touches on a problem the OP is pointing out. Where these types of programs have been successful, the volunteers don't "deal with" the human flotsam - they assist the police, usually with barriers involving language and customs. The REAL police are paid to deal with the "flotsam" (BTW, you probably couldn't have picked a more derogatory term when referring to fellow human beings. LOL)

And I really don't understand what you're saying about, "But put these guys in a white polo shirt/black trousers and stand back and watch the abuse and fights." Perhaps you could elaborate.

These are good, interesting, and valid points. I agree that the concept of tourist/racially mixed community police volunteers is a good one - only a fool would say otherwise, but the OP is spot on with his criticisms of what's happening in Pattaya. The successful programs in other countries have very stringent rules about how far these people can take their limited authority, and as pointed out, the attire is vastly different from the black, threatening costumes that these guys wear. I also suspect that in countries where this type of assistance has been successful, it would be very much frowned upon to see these volunteers walking 5 abreast in a thugish manner down one of the busiest tourist-attracting streets in the city. I would bet big that if these people changed the way they dress and put on a sharp looking (white) polo shirt with a discreet logo on it indicating their association with the real tourist police, instead of these all black menacing looking outfits, they would be accepted much better, and negative comments would be greatly reduced. We must remember that in cinema and stories the good guy wears white and the bad guy wears black. We've had that relationship with those two colours etched into our minds from the time we were quite young, so I really can't understand why these people choose the much less friendly (and trustworthy) black option, unless they want to be "bad boys" that are out to intimidate. I would also bet that the "bad boy" look really appeals to some of the volunteers, and if the black outfit was done away with, so would their interest in being part of the program.

I'm not too sure that it is illegal, you are paying a fee for the service, the provider is paying a fee to get it too you.

See the two posts above this one, you are paying a scammer to rip off a service provider...... the scammer pays next to nothing, but has a hundred, two hundred, a thousand customers, each paying 300B a month, guess who will pay a fine when you are found out.

Bottom line .... if it doesn't have True stamped on the decoder and/or it doesn't have True written on the access card, and even if it does, you don't get a bill from True...... it's a scam and illegal.

So, it sounds like the choice is to be scammed by some pirate operator or be scammed by True/UBC if you want sattelite TV. I'll stick to torrents, thanks.

Bigger Trouble, Yet in Tourist Thailand.

My sincere sympathy goes to this poor woman. I realize that the taxi driver has only been charged, but if convicted, I wish I was confident that the perpetrator will get a truly fitting punishment. Unfortunately, precedent has shown that crimes against foreigners are viewed as not being such a terrible thing, and the "poor desperate" Thai is often treated leniently.

Since the scams and violence against foreigners in Thailand are obviously out of control, and these problems are being exposed, I suspect we'll soon see some draconian measures by the Thai government to suppress the media, especially foreign media.

Perhaps a bike matching the description of yours was stolen recently.

I had a little whinge at Carrefour in central Pattaya today because yet again, and this has happened to me numerous times, I was short changed because the cashier had no Satang coins in her till.

The total due was 500.25 Baht and this was rounded up to 501 Baht.

You don't have to be a rocket scientist to work out that if this happens to every customer whose bill is rounded up, it will make a significant difference to the takings at Carrefour each day.

As I was paying my dues one of the ladies on roller skates was there and when I asked her why, when they include the Satang in their pricing policy, they don't have the change available in the till to give to the customer.

Her answer was that many customers have asked this question and so I suggested that the management should be made aware and that something should be done about it.

Anyone else had this little problem?

Man, you have no luck! That's never happened with me at Carrefour, Tesco ,etc. and personally, I wouldn't care less if it did. I must have about a kilo of those useless little buggers sitting at home. However, what pees me off about Carrefour happens in their food court - those SOBs refuse to use 5-baht coins when giving change. Instead, I always get five 1-baht coins.

^I know that sort things go on in karaoke bars, pay for time with hostesses. First time I heard a bg trying that one on. Makes good tele though - had a good laff.

Yes, and the presenter/production team made another one of their glaring errors when they said that this was the standard way that business is done in Thailand, with referrence to BG"s.

I also laughed when the presenter (more than once) referred to the farang police volunteers as people who were, "drafted in from around the world". It make it sound like the Thai police actively sought out these people in their home countries and recruited them. Of course, many of jnow that's not the case at all. Typical TV productions that take liberties with the truth and sensationalize the not so sensational.

And why the h*ll didn't that bonehead presenter take a few minutes to learn how to pronounce the the locations they were focusing on? This production is not one of Bravo's shining moments.

This is old news.

Then there should be a sticky or at least results for "DNS" from a forum search.

What a great idea...a forum search

Ya, a forum search THAT WORKS would be a really great idea. Sorry, but I rarely get any relevant results when using the search feature here, and at times it flat-out refuses to work at all - returns an error message. But that's OK, I get a search error message sometyimes just when hitting the "View New Posts" link.

I hate this type of avatar that flashes away off to the side while trying to read something.

Just press "Esc" on any page to instantly halt all animated avatars in their tracks.

Thanks - I didn't know you could do that. Your cat is now in a state of suspended animation (and will stay that way on my computer - LOL) Nothing personal, once again.

I read the original on these disappearing and on the up dates to the forum, have not seen much

about them, but there is no change on my comp I still can not see them or get them, help please.

Can't see them - lucky you!

I end blocking most of the animated ones as they are usually just distracting. A good example of one that's terribly distracting when trying to read the post is on right on this page. Nothing personal, bazmlb, but I hate your avatar with the DJ cat working at 90 MPH. I have nothing against you, cats, or DJs, but I hate this type of avatar that flashes away off to the side while trying to read something.

That seems like a good price for smoked salmon. Unfortunately, Pattaya doesn't have a Makro (yet?).

My favourite way to eat this tasty treat is on a toasted bagel with cream cheese and a bit of lemon juice on top of it. Very yummy. Otherwise, it's good on some small pieces of French bread.

A poster on anther thread reported this. I recently went in for a report and handed in my form without any proof of address and no comment was made. Based on these two reports, I think it is reasonable to assume you no longer need to provide proof of address for these reports. On the other hand, if you hand it to them, they will likely take it.

If you have been giving them proof, I suggest for the time being bringing it along and not giving it to them. Over time if a number of people do this and nobody reports they are demanding it, then there will be no doubt left at all that it is no longer needed.

(Until such time the enforcement policy changes yet again, ha ha.)

I hate to assume anything in Thailand. I test the need for proof of address everytime I do a 90-day report. I always take it with me, but I don't give it to them unless they ask for it. So far, it's about 1/2 the time they ask for it. I went 2 times in a row without being asked, then the next time they wanted it.

However, saying that, I think we all expected that this (like many new Thai rules and regulations) would only have a honeymoon period then fade away (until something happens to make them enforce it again).

The best thing that could happen to 90-day reporting is that it's dropped, and a logical requirement to report only when there are changes in your contact info put in its place.

Ohh come on people..!!! How cheap are you guys, 1000 baht for an experience like this. Tell me where else in the world can you do similar for that price? Try going to one of the theme parks in Australia, it will cost you about 3500baht for a photo with a tiger, not to mention the 1800 baht just to get through the front gate.

Curious as to just how much life long financial support you give. Some of the better hotels in the country have been over booked occassionally. Get over it, have a gigle and put it down to the experience.

Wow you had to pay a 1000baht, what a HUGE ripoff..!!!!

You are probably the same farang who haggle a poor stall owner over the price of a banana...

for the cheap charlies...

This sounds like a case of saying that 2 wrong make a right. Just because people get ripped off in Oz, it doesn't mean that they should get ripped off here.

Thanks for sharing your discoveries with us. Hopefully, others will follow in your footsteps and let us know about any good accommodation deals they find.

For somebody like me who seldom spends a night in the Big Mango, this is quite helpful.

I get tired of reading all these anti-American comments here that has nothing to do with Thailand. Kiss my red, white and blue American a$.

That's not fair! Anti-Americanism isn't just limited to Thailand - it's very wide spread - probably exists now in most countries of the world. (Personally, I think you Yanks can thank Mr. Bush (the evil puppet) for alienating the rest of the world.)

my gfs son w/o permission used my bmw. short story, he hit neighbors buffalo, he says buffalo hit him.

neighbor wants me to pay as i have money, about 20,000 baht. i say boy pay. my gf say i pay as boy said he sorry.

ps. we been having lots of buffalo casserole lately, getting real old.

i pay for everything, is this how to treat a bf?

You've got to try to understand Thai logic. I'm not saying that I do - 10 years of trying to figure it out and can't say that I do, yet. I do know it's got something to do with your gf truly feeling that you are now responsible for the 20,000 because the boy said he was sorry.

Look at the bright side of this. After eating an entire buffalo, you should be able to write cookbook specializing in that particular type of meat.

I'm trying to figure how this is Thai related. The inconsistency of what's allowed and not allowed is annoying here.

Expect to pay 4000 Baht for your cab from the airport to your hotel, If the Cab driver insist to take you to a restaurant for dinner you should take up his offer as your still new and might get lost or mugged! Also tip the driver after your expensive meal

Somebody's taking the piss out of you. This is worst and most eronious advise you could possibly receive.

4000 baht is a ridiculously high price, but as I haven't taken a Taxi from the airport lately, I'll leave suggested prices to others - more like 1500 to 1800 I would think.

Also, be sure to check out the jet ski scam info - I'm serious.

(BTW, since you're 19 and from N.A., you might not know that "taking the piss out of..." means "pulling your leg" in American slang.)

"We believe the global financial market remains volatile and the baht is likely to strengthen or weaken depending on economic indicators in the US," she said.

Thankfully they got it nailed down. I feel secure already.

Ya, I thought that was pretty funny as well - talk about stating the obvious.

Am I missing something here? The sensationalist Headline says "...US Dollar Punges". However, when I look at the SCB curreny site the US dollar is the usual 33.xx baht that it's been for ages. When did it "plunge"? Or are the execs at BoT just catching on now that it dropped signifigantly in value a year ago or so? I'm so confused by this thread.

Advice #1 - Any type of illegal drugs is a big NO NO, even as much as having in posession for a "friend"

Advice #2 - ALWAYS have rubber(s) within reach when in Pattaya

Advice #3 - Carry your passport at all times, a copy will do but the BIB will normally wants the original

Advice #4 - If you find a girl you like and she starts talking about meeting her parents after a couple of days - RUN!!!

Advice #5 - Avoid ANY contacts with ladies after your 6th beer, you might waking up regretting your whole life

Oh and yeah, have fun!

Explorer

hah

thanks.

will be sure to keep tip number 5 in mind

hey i got a question though, think i should bring my laptop?

i got an itouch for internet and stuff. not really sure i wanna risk it getting stolen

For the relatively short time you're going to be here, I wouldn't. Like you say, there's a chance of it being lost, stolen, or damaged, and as there are loads of cheap internet cafes around, those shuold suffice fine.

Also, tip #5 is very good and very important, but #4 may be one to heed even more.

And I can't believe that none of us have warned you against renting a jet ski (especuially in Phuket).

Read as much of this forum as you can before coming. Many long-term expats have added a plethora of valuable information here, and taking a lttle time to study up now could save you from both financial and emotional drain or even ruin. Many threads now exist about scams - the increase in their number, types, and how much people are being ripped off for seems to grow daily.

Saying all that, Thailand can be a great place and Thai people are generally friendly and honest, so don't let my or anyone elses warnings put you off. Just be sensible and you should be fine.

i've been reading allot about the scams and stuff, why shouldn't i rent a jetski in phuket?

sounds kinda fun

oh do you guys think its worth picking up a prepaid phone over there?

thanks for all the help so far everyone

You obviously need to read some more.

if they already issued 2 tickets...all you need to do is turn up and check in. i seriously doubt they will disallow you from checking in, after all they issued you a ticket in your name. the other passenger's ticket will lapse (probably non refundable, non changeable).

not that it may not happen, but i have never heard of a ticket holder's checking-in being dependant on the presence of another ticket holder.

Or get one of those life-size blow up dolls and put her in the seat beside you.

Advice #1 - Any type of illegal drugs is a big NO NO, even as much as having in posession for a "friend"

Advice #2 - ALWAYS have rubber(s) within reach when in Pattaya

Advice #3 - Carry your passport at all times, a copy will do but the BIB will normally wants the original

Advice #4 - If you find a girl you like and she starts talking about meeting her parents after a couple of days - RUN!!!

Advice #5 - Avoid ANY contacts with ladies after your 6th beer, you might waking up regretting your whole life

Oh and yeah, have fun!

Explorer

hah

thanks.

will be sure to keep tip number 5 in mind

hey i got a question though, think i should bring my laptop?

i got an itouch for internet and stuff. not really sure i wanna risk it getting stolen

For the relatively short time you're going to be here, I wouldn't. Like you say, there's a chance of it being lost, stolen, or damaged, and as there are loads of cheap internet cafes around, those shuold suffice fine.

Also, tip #5 is very good and very important, but #4 may be one to heed even more.

And I can't believe that none of us have warned you against renting a jet ski (especuially in Phuket).

Read as much of this forum as you can before coming. Many long-term expats have added a plethora of valuable information here, and taking a lttle time to study up now could save you from both financial and emotional drain or even ruin. Many threads now exist about scams - the increase in their number, types, and how much people are being ripped off for seems to grow daily.

Saying all that, Thailand can be a great place and Thai people are generally friendly and honest, so don't let my or anyone elses warnings put you off. Just be sensible and you should be fine.