StrandedBusinessPerson

I wonder when they will start to do something about the legalised side of scamming.

Bankers I mean.

Because of those bags of sh** millions of people lost money, jobs, houses, futures.

But the banking gangs just go on doling out bonus after bonus while gambling with other people's money.

exactly! i took a legal loan in 2007 from an american bank that went under. another american bank received government dollars from the bailout, bought my loan for pennies on the dollar, and now i will spend the next 30 years paying off that bank the full amount of a loan they bought at discount using my money, and paying interest through my taxes to the federal reserve who gave the money to the bank. crooks!

why didn't i get a chance to buy my loan back at a fraction of the cost? why didn't the government give me money?

Man, sorry for your loss. But I know others in the same boat as well. To answer your questions 1) because the consumer is the stooge, and 2) it would not be a government if they did not steal from you.

"We offer consumers prices 1020 per cent lower than our competitors' similar basic products and up to 4050 per cent cheaper for midend to premium products," he said.

All products or just the occasional loss leader he asked knowingly

I had no idea there was an ikea in BKK, but I went to Index Living Mall last month and was much impressed. Are the prices at ikea BKK comparable? BTW, is most of the stuff at Index made in Thailand, or is it just good quality Chinese? Thx!!!

"We offer consumers prices 1020 per cent lower than our competitors' similar basic products and up to 4050 per cent cheaper for midend to premium products," he said.

All products or just the occasional loss leader he asked knowingly

I had no idea there was an ikea in BKK, but I went to Index Living Mall last month and was much impressed. Are the prices at ikea BKK comparable? BTW, is most of the stuff at Index made in Thailand, or is it just good quality Chinese? Thx!!!

Interesting thread! I have a 3G running 3.1.3 and with modem firmware 04.26.08.

and I want to upgrade to the latest iOS just so I can use iBooks. The phone is unlocked/jailbroken

and works great here in Nepal.

I used to be an IT person but still can't make heads or tails out of iClarified instructions...the problem is not that I can't

follow the tuts, I just can't find one that looks right for my current config, and there are so

many warning disclaimers, it's really hard to parse. Can anyone clarify iclarified for me? thx!!!

I've been thru the new airport dozens of times, and noticed nothing in regards to what the OP wrote about. I just see short lines at immigration, decent selection of food and gifts (often sold at the exact same prices as say PanTip plaza) and metered cabbies that offer no hassles whatsoever. Perhaps it's my karma?

If you really wanna complain about airports, pick any American one - I could back u up there

Hi all, I am in BKK for a few days and would like to get a pink one of these for my daughter: http://www.iphonespeakerreviews.com/ihome/ihome-ip9-iphone-alarm-clock-review.html

but not sure who sells iHome or iLuv docs in the capital. Any help greatly appreciated, thx!

I think this was a grand move by Guinness, even if a token gesture. And as for horses vs. elephants, the treatment the two receive is vastly different for this sport. Elephants have the unique problem that they are more then likely owned by people who don't know how to care for domesticated or wild animals, or don't have the financial means to do them justice. I am sure the stables owned by Pablo Wilson operate much differently then any elephant polo stable. The ones here in Nepal are a disgrace.

www.animalnepal.org

A PETA spokeswoman told AFP that the decision "reflects the public consensus that the archaic use of live animals for human entertainment should remain in the pages of record book history"

However, it's ok for other polo forms, because, while elephants are "live animals", horses are not...

The most durable polo player is Pablo Moreno Wilson (Chile) (b. 15 October 1924), who has been playing polo regularly for over 62 years.

Guinness World Records

Funny, just blogged last week about Thia Airways & terrorism here: Kuire Ko Kura in the Republica.

Cheers,

Jigs

Kuire Ko Kura

Just under 2000THB on Commart site.. http://www.commartth...ion/brand/jabra

Thx so much for that. Is commart a physical store? I need to go someplace and get one of these this week. thx!!!

As an American travel writer living in Nepal, I can't agree at all with this recent swag at Suvarnabhumi. Granted, I liked the old airport better (mostly because of the attached hotel) but come on, the facilities in Thailand compared to say India, Nepal, or other SA regional airports is top notch. The fact that the train links to downtown now is a great big plus. I get to try it out on Monday, and if I think of it, I can report back. I have been coming to BKK several times a year for the past decade or so, and I have not once had a problem with a cab from the airport. I do agree that prices are high, but what airport in the world isn't plagued with that? As for sleeping quarters, well, it's not like I ever plan on that. During the Yellow Shirt takeover I was stranded, but Thai airways put me up for more then 5 days at a great hotel and paid for most of it. What a great cheap vacation! How much more hospitable can one expect? Well, that's the views of one frequent tourist...

Hey, if you don't like it, don't use it! Continue to take your taxis and leave more room for those of us who believe in public transportation.........it will be a much more comfortable and relaxing ride without your grumbling!

Any tips for a flyer coming in a few days? I really want to try it, but need to get to Sukumvit asap...no luggage to speak of:) thx.

Hi all, just wondering if dental services are good at Bumrungrad? My very expensive porcelain crown just fell off and I need to get it glued back on. Any tips appreciated! thx.

jigs

Flying in next week and looking forward to using this new service. I need to get to Asoke but can't figure that out from the website http://airportraillink.railway.co.th/en/index.html seems there should be a map in english somewhere that shows the entire system. And what's up with the dude's pants around the ankles video on the home page of the new train's website. something lost in translation perhaps. anyway, thx for the thread here...

I know this is an old thread, but I am in town next week and want to pick one of these up. Anyone know how much they are going for these days? Are they over in MBK? thx!

Try any Copperwired outlet. I have used the one in Siam Paragon (4th floor) I think. Great service, both customer wise and for repairs/customizations. I would avoid the smaller iStudio outlets however...good luck!

Here in Kathmandu local travel agent is offering incredible package: Nrs 42,000 for 4 days/5 nights all expenses paid (hotel, airfare, food, all taxes, etc.) RT KTM to BKK. only I guess you would have to be nuts to bite on that one right now...

I will offer a suggestion and it may or may not be true.

In my employment, I work with over 250 Thais. I have a great relationship with them, without exception, although differing personalities make for variations in the amount of friendship and warmth received. However, a few years ago when I first came to Thailand to work in this place, after a few weeks I decided that they were sullen and unfriendly people. Guess what the problem was? ME! I am not a morning person. After having an argument with a motorbike driver about the fee, nearly getting knocked over walking into work, trying to dodge people wandering aimlessly in uncertain directions, I glared at each Thai fellow-worker as I came to them because they did not wai me, smile, or even greet me. What I thought about LATER, was that this culture is one of vocal thriftiness. The most economical way of saying something is the correct way, even if it misses communication necessary to the Westerner. The rest is done with facial expression and body language.

The next morning, I smiled at everyone I came to. I waied them. I spoke to them in my most warm and friendly voice, in my feeble Thai at the time, "Sawatdee krup!"

I made a lot of friends and I learnt a lesson. The rest is history.

Your experience may or may not be about politics - I suspect it is not. I suggest that it may have been more about your wife than you: "my wife refused to even go near these people and was also clearly uncomfortable about the whole thing". They would recognise this immediately.

I visited a Red Rally twice out of interest. On each occasion, I could feel the people watching me and checking to see whether I was friend or foe. As soon as I smiled at them, or spoke to them, the friendship was returned.

This is Thailand. It is not the Land of the Stiff Upper Lip. But anyone who finds Thai generally cold needs to know that it is an equal and opposite reaction to the behaviour that they perceive you are displaying yourself. I have met many nice conservative Western tourists who say that they didn't find Thais particularly friendly. They just didn't know how to reach them.

Interesting topic, but keen to see what others have to say.

I am a kuire (farang in Nepali) and have lived in Nepal for many years and totally agree with what you say. Asians are very aware of body language and facial expressions in ways that westerners are probably not, even though all of this is subconscious and very difficult to describe. I have a goofy way of smiling and saying Namaste, which I have done in the face of angry Maoists, and they have had to just forget politics for a moment and laugh - thinking what a dick! In short, i think that visitors need to learn to "bow" in ancient terms, using whatever grace you can muster in any way manageable. People will receive that message and return the grace, as it's hardwired down deep somewhere in the human animal psyche. Anyway, good post!

India should take the Thai lead...I hear they are not doing this and giving all kinds of headaches for travelers...

I agree with all those that say it's cultural, and not a lack of curiosity. My Asian wife knows things without asking, and she does not believe in small talk, or idle chatter that has no real purpose but to fill space. I on the other hand chatter non-stop, asking the stupidest of questions. It must be annoying...

Ha, if it were not for PAD's protest I would not have found or joined this forum, or had such a grand week long full expense paid vacation at a nice 5-star hotel, compliments Thai Airways. I also understand this was not the case for many travelers that week. But what I noticed the most was that most tourists/business people that come from a "democratic" country, is how intolerant they are were when faced with democracy in action. I guess freedom is only for those that already have it, and for those that do, they can't be inconvenienced when others want it. Just my opinion:)

The PR person for the police dept. must be using some form of template regardless of whether or not there is any relevant information to fill in the blanks. Is this article even remotely significant in anyway other than reinforcing to the populous the ineptness of this taxpayer funded money trash receptacle? PR In A Box - how ironic and fitting would that product/title be?

That template is already for sale here in Thai Visa Classified. Also available there is a team of SEO writers who will fill in that template for less then 100 baht per.

I just wish that Enfield were selling their bikes in Thailand.

That's why I am trolling this area today...wondering if i can get parts for my enfields (350 bullet, 500 classic) in tland...but if they don't sell them there, not much hope eh? ps.those tigers just look awful, but have never ridden one so best to hold judgment.

btw, do they sell the sidecar separate? wonder how much t would cost to import one to nepal, and if i could attach to 350 bullet... i need one for my German Shepard:)

Hi there, I used to have a 125 yamaha ybz (indian/jap colab) here in nepal, and I drove it over 20K all around Nepal and India on long trips. I finally broke down and got a real bike...an enfield bullet 350cc. The yamaha was okay, if u were not in a hurry. I rigged some panniers but made the mistake of using the tail as a luggage area, and that broke early on. petro mileage was great - over 50 per litre - but whenever i went over 65 or so, the bike started to shake pretty bad. the best ride, and the last one, was from kathmandu to gantok in sikkim. i was ferrying a few friends back and forth between darj and gantok on the back road and the engine finally blew with 200kg of people and 100kg of luggage. we sold the smoldering hunk of junk and bought an ancient enfield to get back home. later i got a 2004 bullet and it's been the best bike ever. btw, can i get enfield parts in bkk anywhere? there is a serious lack of aftermarket parts here in nepal. cheers!

This is a really nutty one, considering how easy it is to buy pirated versions in the malls. But I don't think the Thai government is stupid with their approach, as cutting out the DVD sales at Prantip etc. won't do a thing really, as all that stuff is just downloaded from the Internet anyway. So are they really that intelligent, to go after the users instead of the sellers? But where would it stop, as some have already suggested: searching student and tourist laptops on the street? Will they start checking serial numbers against purchase orders? How the heck can they possibly regulate at the user end?!? One has to wonder where this is coming from. Perhaps from Micro$oft, with the new release of Win7? Hmmmm....I smell a rat.

Demps1, what are these bugs you talk off ??

These are not bugs, just possible problems for u:

* if u have XP, there is no upgrade. u have to copy ur docs and whatnot somewhere, install a fresh copy of win7, then copy ur gunk back.

* if u have vista, certain programs are removed, like itunes and google toolbar, and you have to reinstall. there are others, but i don't have the list.

But i have been running Win7 in VMware fusion on a mac side by side with Vista, and the things I noticed are:

* much better performance

* no more nag screens

So for those two reasons, I would upgrade...cheers!