floridaguy

I was approached by a guy years ago outside the palace. Told me he would take me to 3 tourist sites for free if I visited a jewelry shop and a tailor shop. I agreed...but was nervous. I did get the tour, but did not buy anything...I guess he got free gas for bringing visitors into the shops. Same thing with the tuk tuk drivers trying to get you to go to the massage parlors.

My wife's uncle is a taxi driver...can't remember the place he got money from, but I think it was Future Park in Rangsit? If he brought in tourists, he got a cut of the entry fee....like 200B each or something like that.

tour guides get 100 baht to take anyone to the shop, then 5% of the purchase price. standard for most jewelry shops throughout the Kingdom. Most places give commision. For instance, taxi's get 200 baht to drive you to the Spicy nightclub in Bangkok, that is why the fare is free from anywhere in Bangkok.

And, BTW, the palace is never closed. You were at the wrong entrance. You must enter at the main gate.

Also, all around Bangkok you will see a (usually) lady sitting at a sewing machine out on the sidewalks. She will charge about 40-60 baht to do what you are asking, assuming you find a shirt that is not tapered and that is all you want. Take them to her and she will have you try them on, show her how you want them, and then have them ready usually in a day, depending on how many you need. I regularly visit one of several around Sukhumvit. I have had locally bought shirts and shirts brought with me from the US altered. I have had both dress shirts and t-shirts altered. I have also had windbreaker jackets and jeans and dress pants altered. If you go to anywhere around Pantip or Pratunam or Platinum as suggested, if you walk south on Petchburi road, just past Thanon Ratchadamri, there is a couple of ladies on the West side of the road, about 50 meters from the corner; it is only a 5 minute walk from Pantip.

Sorry, I know I have seen something similar to this elsewhere but I couldn't find it, and I am in a hurry and need to get on the road. I am riding my bike to Pattaya, and I need to know the locations of any petrol stations that sell real petrol or gasoline. I can't use gasohol in the bike. I will be staying on Beach Rd.

Thanks, and again, sorry if this has already been discussed, I just didn't have much time to find it, and I won't have my laptop with me later.

Cheers

ipad in puntip bkk?

a real ipad?

what is the damage?

I saw one for sale at Gadget Trend in the Amarin Plaza for 35000 Baht.

Patrick, go to Control Panel/Network and Internet/Manage Wireless Networks. You can get there from the Start button or right click on your wireless icon in the lower right hand corner. From there, you can delete/modify any networks that your computer remembers.

I have had 1.5 accidents here. First, a delivery truck merged into my lane without looking. Knocked me sideways a bit, but I managed to keep it under control. No damage to me, but a nice nasty gouge on the truck door. My second was, I GUESS, my fault. The a$$ in the next lane decides to come over into mine, I managed to give him enough room to do so, and would have been ok, but then he slams on the brakes. Well, I locked up the front wheel and the bike took a bit of a nap. I managed to just stand up, landing on my feet. The bike took a little scraping on the tank, and a little bend of the handle bars. Right as rain after a quick trip to the local mechanic for a straightening and a carb tune up. It would have been very funny to see me riding down Sukhumvit in BKK with the handlebars cocked, so it looked like I was making a hard left turn, but the bike was driving straight as an arrow.

To the OP's question, my biggest concerns are the cagers turning right across my path. Hard to see sometimes, and they always want to turn out in front of you.

A useful answer to the OP's question would be that they are in fact not free. You must have a subscription or a top up card to use them, I believe. If you are a True subscriber, you get a certain number of free minutes per month based on your package. For some TrueVisions packages they were offering minutes, and TrueInternet packages offer minutes. They provide you with a log in and password that you can use at any of these hotspots. Alternatively, I believe you can buy minutes by connecting to the hotspot and entering the codes from a top up card. You can buy these at 7-Eleven.

I thought this is what he meant by cool.

http://www.collthings.co.uk/2009/04/motorcycle-helmets.html

To AmooxC:

I think everybody here can understand your problems and reasons why you want to run away from your family in Kuwait.

Let's assume you are able to obtain a new Passport from the Thai Embassy in Kuwait.

But now you should ask yourself the following questions:

1) where do I get the money from to pay for a flight from Kuwait to Bangkok?

2) will the Kuwaiti authorities allow me to board an international flight (due to my young age and being a female) without parental consent?

3) Thai immigration at the airport may want to know why I don't have an exit stamp in your Thai Passport. How will I answer? They may want to see some sort of ID or Passport to show that I have another nationality.

4) What will I do once in Thailand? To obtain a Thai ID card I'll have to be registered somewhere in a house registration book. Are my grandparents still able to assist me in this matter considering their age?

Please think very carefully about what you plan to do and about your future.

Anyway, good luck with anything you plan to do.

opalhort

1 & 2, I have no comments.

3. Tell the Thai immigration officer that you just received your passport in Kuwait, and this is your first time traveling on it. They will stamp you in. You should receive an exit stamp out of Kuwait.

4. You will be on a house registry somewhere in Thailand, probably your grandparents house.

To AmooxC, you need a copy of your house registry page that has your name on it. Ask your aunt or grandparents to fax it, mail a copy or scan and email it to you. There will be a place in every town that can do that. Use that and a copy of your old ID card or passport to get a new ID card at the Embassy. It will take time, the Embassy in Chicago said it could take up to 6 weeks to get mine. They have to verify with Bangkok, and I believe the card is made in Bangkok for security reasons. Getting a passport should be easier and quicker, 3-7 days. They will either mail it to you or you can pick it up. Given your situation, I would pick it up so that it doesn't get mailed to your fathers house.

You are still a Thai citizen, you don't have to worry, they will help you. But there is the age thing. I think that you will have some trouble not being able to do this without your mother's help. She can sign the necessary documents for you at the Embassy, but is she willing to help?

If you are doing video blogs, you definately go with the iPhone 4. It has HD 720 video capture. Check out this short video, shot entirely on iPhone 4. Pretty amazing. Also, their is a distinct disadvantage for Android apps, in that they are not regulated or checked by Google. There are plenty of stories out now of apps for the Android that track and collect data and do other nasty things, without your knowledge or permission. Try a google search for it. As bad as Apple may be on controlling the apps that are on iTunes store, at least you know they went through a check and are not going to steal your data.

I love my iPhone, and I have played around with the Galaxy S, and while the Android phone is great, I still prefer the many more options available to the iPhone.

Why, I have driven over 300,000 km in Thailand and never felt the need for it

If, god forbid, I ever seriously injure or kill someone.. then I'd like the option of being able to prove my side of the story separate from my status as a farang.

If God forbid you ever got accused of injuring or killing someone you had nothing to do with, it would be an even more valuable tool and also an even more likely scenario..

True..

This reminds me. About five years ago, maybe six, I'd just picked up my new Fortuner and was driving down Wireless Road. I was reviewing a new point and shoot camera at the time which could capture movies, so I had the camera (very small) in my hand on top of my steering wheel with the movie mode on. About 15 seconds later a big tour bus, the big double decker ones, came into my lane and I moved as far over as I could, but it kept coming. Finally it pushed me into cars waiting to turn in the lane over.. kept it up a few seconds longer, and then I could clearly see the guy (I think the drivers assistant) look back at me and then they took off. I had to stop because of the other guys he'd pushed me into. I sat there staring at my new Fortuner with both sides messed up feeling pretty chuffed I had top insurance. I'd forgotten I'd taken the movie.

I told the insurance company what happened and they immediately told me "everyone tells us the big bus did it, do you have the buses number or proof?" They really weren't going to pay on the claim because they didn't believe me.. and they figured I just blamed a bus on me hitting the other people. We're only talking about a 2000-4000 baht part of the claim they didn't want to pay since my insurance covered me no matter what.. but it was irritating to be called a liar.

This is when I remembered I had the video. My wife invited the investigator over and I brought it up on the 50" HDTV and he was shocked I had the video. Then when the bus drivers assistants face popped up nice and clear he started apologizing heavily. The claim didn't cost me a single baht.

Two years went by without even a ding.. when one weekend while working in Pattaya I was hit three times in two days. All three times by a drunk motorsai driver with an ice cream cart attached. Figure the odds. One day the drivers side, the next day the passenger side, and finally one rear ended me. Each they took off. Same guy? I dunno. But when I called up the same insurance guy (I'd kept his card) and asked told him I'd been hit three times in two days by what I think was the same drunk on a binge.. he didn't sounds like he believed me until I said "do you want to see the video.." I didn't have a video, but that was all it took to make him apologize and fix my car.

These are small things.. but with Thai business practices, corruption, the way farangs are often accused or held liable.. it seems like a video coverage would make a great accessory. And so far I've never hurt anyone by driving.. and all incidents I've had in Thailand I've either been stopped in traffic or at a light and someone hit me.. or going only 10-15kmph in traffic and they hit me. Yet, I can't count the number of near misses in the early morning, rain, evening, etc.. of a pedestrian wearing dark clothes, kids on motorsais, drunks on motorsais, and so on.. I've been very fortunate. Most Thai's weren't raised in a family with a car, so they have little experience from an "inside the car" perspective.. so when they walk out in the street.. they think the driver of a car can see them just as good as they can see you. They have no idea you can barely see them at all in some circumstances.

The potential for a serious injury accident is very high in Thailand.. imo.. and I'd guess if you have one.. the injured party will be poor and uninsured and you'll be the rich farang who caused it. Sure, the insurance covers any civil liability.. very small amounts in Thailand.. but each party has the option of filing criminal charges if they feel they've been wrongs and Thai's often use these criminal charges as a method of extracting more civil payments. And the amounts will be whatever they think you can afford and what you end up negotiating. A million baht? Two million? How much do most Thai's think a rich farang who can afford a car can pay?

That is a good story, I like it. I have a generic GPS holder/mount that I have attached to my motorcycle and I have been trying to figure out how to mount my point and shoot camera there. It works great in the car, but a little tricky on the angles on the bike. It takes HD video. I wanted it more to show how crazy driving a motorcycle and car through BKK and Thailand can be, but also thought of the possibility of capturing video and vindicating me (hopefully) in case of an accident. Also, I thought of a discreet helmet mount to document any traffic stops. What would the BIB do if they were shown a video of a cop asking for a bribe? Everyone does it, but do they really want to have a video showing it? Probably more trouble than the entertainment would be worth. Better leave that one alone.

Anyway, my point, I am interested in this concept and will follow it.

Yes, I used one from Best Buy.

OP, I also had the exact same problem with my HP that I bought from the US. Exactly the same issues. I took it to the 4th floor of Pantip in BKK. Without looking at it, he immediately said it was the video card. I insisted that he explore other options before swapping out the card. He said since it was a US laptop, it would be 2000 baht and 2 weeks to get the part. Well, 2 weeks later, he called and said that it wasn't the video card. I told him I would not pay for his mistake, since I told him it wasn't the vga card.

He then changed something with the power supply, and it worked. Well now, there is absolutely no battery. I think he kept my good one and gave me a bad one. Oh well, nothing I can do now. The laptop will run off the power cord. It cost me 4000 total. If they tell you it is the vga card, tell him it isn't, or walk to the next booth.

I'm sorry but the OP's was:

There are a lot of thefts in Thai even from the reception safe. Is it possible to open current account in thai banks for non-residents?

and I just cannot figure out what "a lot of theft in Thai even from the reception safe" has to do with getting a bank account? I feel that Thailand is no different to having thefts anywjhere else in the world. Also do not catagorize "ALL" of Thailand for its theft standards. If you live in Pattaya then yes a lot of theft but if you live in a small village in the province its not the same.

Anywhere in the world is the same, If you invite theft, theft will come to you. You walk around cities looking like a narcasist with a Rolex, Gold neclaces etc what do you think will happen?

I feel safer walking down a street or soi in Bangkok at 3:30 am more then I would feel safe walking down a street in Toronto at 1:00 pm.

Yeah, what does that mean, "There are alot of thefts in Thai"? Have you been personally robbed many times in Thailand, or is this another instance of someone reading a few stories on online forums and concluding that first, all stories on the internet are true, and second, all stories are told on the internet? Don't you think for every 1 person complaining of theft, there are thousands that never have an issue? I have never been robbed here, nor had anything stolen. I have (accidentally) left laptops, cameras, and other electronics laying around my hotel rooms in Thailand, including Pattaya, and have never had them taken.

Don't generalize. Say "I have been robbed many times in Thai hotels" then maybe we would sympathize with you more.

And I agree with Thailandbluegrass, I certainly feel safer here than in my previous homes in Michigan and Florida. I have never been held at gunpoint and robbed or carjacked or had my ass kicked here, like I have there.

We had problems at one bank, then went to Bangkok Bank and got our account opened. We even had the residence form from immigration.

One issue with BB is their new ATM card has a chip on it. Not many ATMs will accept this card. So be careful!

Why don't you just use an ATM here and withdraw funds from your home country's bank? Take out 20,000B a pull and the costs are fairly low.

I have a couple of BKK Bangkok ATM cards, with the chips, and have never had a problem in any ATM machine from any bank in any province. Perhaps you have a problem with your card. Have it replaced. BTW, I also use this chipped ATM card as my BTS card and it works flawlessly every time.

I had several great teachers at Pro Language School in the Times Square building on Sukhumvit in BKK. There is a branch in Pattaya as well. They do groups and personal lessons either at their office or a place of your choosing. They were by no means the most expensive, actually, on the lower end of the price scale. But I sat in on several different classes at several different schools and like their system the best. I can't remember their names, but I like them all there.

In the bad old days she would have had to go all the way back to Sisaket, but that's no longer necessary. Now my wife says any district office can process and replace her ID card. Their computer records and authority cover the whole country.

Yes, this is correct. I can replace my ID card anywhere, even though the address is Kanchanaburi. Modern technology is great, isn't it?

As for the Tabien Baan, just get a photo copy of the page with her name on it from her mom's book. You don't need the book itself. Things are a little different around here than they were 6 years ago apparently, much easier to get things done/replaced, etc.

Rereading your question, you shouldn't have any trouble doing all this in 1 day. Get photo done, 15 minutes. Go to ampur's office with photos, copy of ID and tabien baan to get new ID, 1 hour. Go to get new passport with new ID, 1 hour, wait 3-4 days to be mailed. Have lunch, 1 hour. Go find a car and buy it, 2 hours. Done, have dinner and drive happy.

Yeah, for Thailand the SR400 would get my vote too. Infinitely customizable and very easy to work on. Legal SR400s are rare but they do exist. Friends Highway Club in Chonburi has some amazing SR400s:

My personal favorite- Cafe Racer:

Keep your eyes open on Mocyc.com and you may find a legal SR400. Good luck and let us know how it goes!

Tony

I love the first 4 bikes. The cafe racer is not my cup of tea. I will keep my eyes peeled and keep you updated. Thanks all.

By all means build a custom frame if that is what you want. Just transfer the factory frame serial number to the custom frame by cutting it off the old frame and welding onto the new frame. Grind, sand smooth, paint and - Viola - new frame with the same number. The 'Pencil Rub on Paper' style of number recording will match exactly.

Yep, and slip the guy at the DMV a little tip at the next inspection and you should have no problems :jap:

You know, I asked my insurance office to handle it all for me, and they did for no charge. They reported my plate lost, got a new one, with a new real green book, all for nothing extra than buying the insurance from them. Best part, they didn't even ask about doing an emissions test, inspection, anything. They just barely glanced at the frame and motor serial numbers to make sure they matched the book, and away I went. I tipped my insurance guy 300 baht for his service, since he had come from Kanchanaburi to Bangkok to arrange it for me. Easy as pie.

Thanks for all the replies guys, very helpfull. I also got a tip on a large area with all motorcycle gear. its English name is The Thieves Market.

No idea why they call it that , Great place though. lots of bike gear at low prices. used gear is sold there as well.

Greg

So where is it? You aren't talking about the bike and car shops around China Town are you?

I have never been asked for my actual ID card. I usually come prepared with a copy of my Thai ID and sign it in front of them. They are happy enough not to have to make a copy themselves. Even at the bank and at Immigration for my kids, they never asked for the original. The one exception was when applying for my Thai passport. I had to show them the card, they swiped/scanned the card and it brought up all my info, my picture and a copy of my ID card on the computer screen. They were very careful in comparing the screen to the actual card to make sure it was genuine.

My advice, try it. If they refuse, they lose your business and the next dealer will take your copy and your money.

Good luck.

I have an old Virago xv 750 and am sure this would be one of the bikes which would be very suitable to do this.

BTW the last picture is best

Tiger/Sachs Club - Mbox

Well, the rider was the only reason why I included the last one......

The Yamaha SR 400 would definitely be a good bobber. Lots of people transformed the SR in cafe racers, choppers and bobbers and there is a huge following in Thailand. Lots of spare parts and aftermarket stuff. Great, reliable engine, lightweight bike with good handling, pretty easy to transform into whatever you fancy.

Only downside is the paperwork. SR's without green books cost around 50-60.000, but a no-no in Bkk. Green books can be bought for an additional 35000, but they're not 100%, meaning they've been recycled from older/other bikes and numbers have been magically changed to match. So for a semi-legal bike you would have to spend around 90000 Baht pre-bobberization.

Yeah, I totally forgot to mention, I live and work in BKK, so a legal bike, plated with a genuine green book is a must. That is why I was leaning toward the Steed or Phantom. There is an old Kawasaki I see quite often, small, older looking. They have plates. I don't know if they are "legal" though. Anyone know what they are? I think only 1 cylinder. But, any other options? I see alot of old bikes, Rebels and Viragos, but can they have a legal book?

Ok, so I am still new to motorcycles, and relatively new to Thailand. So my question is, what kind of bike would be suitable to build an old school bobber similar to these:

Basically, I want something light, maneuverable, with some kick to it. I thought of trying to use a Phantom, but am not sure it will work. I am leaning toward a V-Twin, like the Steed, but want it to be light. Maybe 250cc or more. I will probably use it exclusively for city driving in Bangkok, but may take the occasional 100-200 kilometer run. I have a 200cc Phantom and a 400cc Steed, and definitely like the power of the larger motor. In the future I will probably upgrade the Steed to a 600 or something else larger. Now I am looking to sell the Phantom, and want a quick runner to replace it.

I am mechanically inclined and know my way around cars, but motorcycles are new to me. I can't do welding myself, but could do assembly. Anyone seen anything like this around Thailand? It seems that the locals prefer either giant custom choppers, or heavy cruisers with side bags and engine guards and such. Not what I am looking for, and I haven't found a bobber for sale either. BTW, I don't want a suicide shifter or the ape hangers on 2 of those photos, but the rest of them look good.

Cheers

You can do it anywhere. My address is in Kanchanaburi on my license. I renewed my temporary 1 year license for a 5 year permanent while here in Bangkok. They don't give a hoot.