petedk

I spoke to True today, CAT under ocean cable from Thailand to Hong Kong damaged by storms, expected to be fixed by 17th October!!!

So why is only True experiencing problems?

What a load of #$/^_^$@@^

I haven't tried True today but last night my speed test to a server in USA just froze.

I have noticed that there is absolutely nothing in the press about this. Usually there is an article if there are any serious problems with the Internet.

I asked some Thai colleagues about this and they claim they don't have problems with True. Maybe they just don't think about it.

I just called True (1686) and eventually got through to some kind of recorded message about the slow internet due to installation of ???? I couldn't make out what she said.

Anyway the message ended with the fact normal service will resume at 01.50 September 19. God knows how they know exactly what time it will be ok.

The problem definetly lies with True. It has nothing to do with the undersea cable break.

Last night I couldn't open any pages (or they took at least five minutes to open). Here at work no problem. AIS 3G no problem,

I wonder if it is to do with the surveillance system. I want to write more about my theories as I have a little inside knowledge of what is happening at True but I think it is too risky to mention.

Whatever the reason is I hope we can get some decent service soon. I wonder if there is a chance of a discount in Internet fees if the problem persists? We are paying for a service that is not being delivered.

It took ages just to open the log in page of Gmail so I decided to do a speed-test.

I am using True Ultra Speed on cable and it should be 16 Mbps. Surprise surprise it was 16.5 Mbps.

I changed the server to a US server and then the speed was 0.54 Mbps !!!

Something wrong out there? I haven't read anything.

Ok guys I forgot to mention one little detail. No it wasn't me. (I see nothing exciting about that).

If you notice I didn't use any personal pronouns. The "guy" filming was in fact a girl....a Tom.

When I talked about it at work, I got the same reactions as from the posters here..

When I later mentioned that it was a Tom, all the Thai staff changed their attitude and said that it was ok then. No harm done.

Strange mentallity.

What would you do?

Today, as I got off the boat on Klong Saen Saeb there was a young girl wearing a short skirt in front of me.

She had to step over another person's knee to pass them.

The other person had a mobile telephone resting on their knee and it fell off and at the same time it turned over so I could see that the camera was turned on and had been filming up the girl's skirt.

The person filming was clearly embarassed but I didn't say anything.

What would you have done?

I am curious with all the clean up being done, thanks to the new govt. where is our dear friend, Voyaruth Yoovidhya? what happened to this story?

As we all enjoy transprency and clean up, shouldn't this be included?

Let me know,

P

There was a small article in the Bangkok Post the other day stating that most charges have been dropped. I guess from the report that he is back in Thailand.

They have also blocked livescore.com , I used to keep up to date on the football from round the world on this site, then about a month ago it was blocked.

The wife is a football fanatic and she's been complaining for some time now about the football score sites being blocked.

Livescore app still works on the mobile.

I realise they are trying to stop gambling but ................

A very long way to go, indeed!

at least you don't risk your life when walking in the city, using zebra crossings, etc.

just my 2 cents

Thailand will beame same as singapore in future, dont chew gum in public, dont walk there,dont smoke there, dont do this, dont do that. haha

I disagree. I use the pedestrian crossings on Asoke and cars do not stop when the light is red.

I was nearly killed when a bus drove on the wrong side of the road at one of the crossings.

I have seen two people killed on Asoke. Both by buses.

Also I might point out the the lights at the crossings are often turned off.

Such a sad story. Bullying in any form is to be abhorred. I am a little confused though, the unfortunate lads age is given as 16, but it then says he was at University. How can this be?

There is a 15 year ole girl at the university I teach at. She attended an International school. I forget what she told me but something about the British curriculum and that enabled her to enter the university.

Promoting alcohol through word of mouth is also illegal

Does that mean I am not allowed to recommend Beer Singh to my foreign friends when they come here?

when i went for my last work permit it stated that i had to get a hiv clearance,medical cert usually 50 baht at clinic now 500 baht at hospital do i think it is another money making,screw the farang trick YES

I agree completely.

I think it is just another way of getting money out of us.

I had surgery at a Bangkok hospital a couple of years ago and was forced to take an HIV test. The insurance paid all fees for my surgery but wouldn't pay the HIV test.

Cost 800 Baht!

It is necessary if you are being insured by your employer, otherwise should not be. The Insurance agent comes to the hospital to verify.

No insurance here.

Are you worried about the result ? Sounds like a good idea to me.

No not worried at all. No need to be.

I just think that is a breach of human rights. I mean, suppose someone was found positive he/she would be hung out.

I have thorough health checks every year anyway.

I am teaching at a university and it is time to renew our visas and work permits.

We have to provide the usual health certificate showing we don't have Leprosy, TB, Third stage syphilis and Elephantiasis but this time we need to also have an HIV test.

Is that a new requirement?

Why show how it is done?

What is the point of the photo of this guy?

Sad incident.

Actually a good idea to show the bag and how people are carrying them, my 5 year old has one of these sleepers and they all put them around their neck.

All the schools should make a picture and ban this method, warning all the children. There is likely other freak ways they could hang themselves with the straps

.

Good Idea Sailblue

Better still, get the parents to cut the straps off, shorten them and sow them back on as handles, only large enough for their little hands to fit through, not their necks.

With kids of that age, you have to have eyes in the back of your head (I know, as mine is 4 and does some really dumb things) as they have no concept of danger, nor the effects of their actions.

I hope the kid survives.

petedk are you a parent? if you are, I would have thought that seeing the pic, would give you a heads up on the dangers of this product.

Yes, I am a parent and grandparent!

I agree that if the show the picture and write that is wrong then it is a good idea.

On the other hand if they just show the picture as is done here then kids will copy. It doesn't take much to wind the strap too tight and the kid may panic and not be able to loosen it again.

A Thai friend of mine had a bottle of water with a meal but didn't drink any. She tried to pour it back into the bottle but the ice had melted and so there wasn't enough room for all the water.

She asked for my bottle to put the remaining water in.

This really amazed me as the woman's husband is a multi millionaire.

Maybe if they introduced 'standing time' to the ticking meter it might help with drivers willing to take fares they know will cause them to be in traffic.

Meters in cabs in many countries around the world still tick over when standing still. With such low per km rates a little extra for being in traffic might encourage use of the meter by more drivers.

They have this is Thailand. Just look at the price list which usually hangs on the back of the front seat.

That is not the reason they refuse customers. I have tried to take a taxi from Asoke to Esplanade on Ratchada 10 am on a public holiday. I had two taxis refuse. The third took me and it took about 7 or 8 minutes and cost about 50 baht. I have no idea why the others refused.

Any taxi driver that rolls down the window and tries to interview the customer is a scammer.

Any taxi parked outside your hotel is a scammer.

Taxi drivers agree to take all fares when they sign up for the job.

Get in and inform the driver of your destination and pay what the meter says. Simple.

Just be sure to watch the meter.

Drivers have a secret button that can run the meter up. If you see this, change your destination to the police department.

I disagree with the first part.

I often feel like walking away as soon as they roll down the window, but I think about 50% of that type will take me to my destination and some of the drivers are very pleasant and friendly.

Try this....always open the back door to ask and if the driver refuses leave the door open. He will be furious and have to get out of the taxi. While he does this nip round the other way and get into the driver's seat and away you go. Remember to turn off the meter before reaching your destination.

Uhm not a good idea. Driving taxis is one of the "restricted" jobs.

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rejecting passengers in favour of foreign passengers

Many time I have been rejected and I am foreigner.....

Yes, when I am calling a cab in the same area as a Thai person, often the taxi will go to the Thai person. I am not complaining about this, the reverse happens as well. I am only repeating your quote because of the number of Thai people I hear say that the cabbies pick up farangs and not Thais.

There are loads of reasons for preferring a Thai or farang passenger, we don't need to go over the reasons.

On another point: Those cabbies have a pathetically low salary. Shouldn't they have to right not to pick someone up? I'm not talking about based on Thai or non-Thai, but about distances. If they don't want to get stuck in nasty traffic or go drive way out of their way, I think they out to have a right to decline. I know it's frustrating when we're trying to get somewhere, but they are independent contractors. I am a freelancer, and I refuse jobs that I think are undesirable all the time. It would suck to have to do every stupid job request that people send me... how is it different for the cab drivers?

I have lived in Bangkok for about 15 years and had never experienced that until about six months ago.

Now it seems to happen very often. I can flag a taxi and he will slow down for me but then he'll see some Thai 10 - 20 meters further along and go past me and pick them up.

This has happened maybe 20 times in the last six months. No idea why. No remarks about appearance as I often wear a suit or jacket.

We all know when the cab stops, the window slides down and you get that "look", he ain't gonna take you. He'll gaze for a moment down the road and with a slight shake of the head say, "Mai pai." This crackdown, like all the previous crackdowns, will accomplish nothing. And we all noted the following: "must not refuse to accept Thai passengers" so once again, Thailand sanctions discrimination against foreigners just as double pricing, refusing legal residence over 60 to get the senior discount on the BTS. Thailand shows its distain for us.

haha slightly off topic but I was surrounded by four security guards at a BTS station for trying to top up a senior card. They didn't give any explanation but kept asking my Thai ID card and of course I don't have one. I offered them my passport. The manager came out and all they kept saying was "farang no ID"

After a few minutes of confusion I started to speak. "What's the problem?" (in Thai) Oh I knew all along what the problem was but pretended not to know. They then said to me that Senior Cards were for Thai people only. I pretended to be surprised and asked why was it that MRT offered a senior card to foreigners. They kept on saying "No farang.. Thais only."

I couldn't hold myself any longer and gave a big smile and said "Oh I am topping up for my wife..... and her she comes." as she had grown tired of waiting for me and showed them my BTS card.

The problem is exacerbated by the habit of passengers opening the front door to tell drivers their destination. This gives drivers the easy option of declining. I don't know why people just don't get in the back and then tell the driver where they want to go ( probably because of fear of being kicked out with menace? ).

I have tried that but it is a bad idea.

I was waiting at a bus stop late in the evening but decided to stop a taxi. I got into the taxi and he seemed reluctant to go to the destination but started to drive slowly. After about 200 metres he stopped at a very quiet place and decided to make me get out. I then had to walk back to the bus stop as no taxis wanted to stop in that area.

Now I always ask before getting in.

Actually it can be quite annoying for the taxi drivers. I slowly open the front door, slowly move forward and wait a few seconds before asking. The cars behind start to get impatient and often beep their horns. Then when the driver refuses to take me I close the door slowly and as he drives off I smile to the cars behind.