spidermike007

Instead of criticizing, I applause. thanks for the great work. For those who think there is such a huge difference between 3 and 4G.... I think a normal user won't see much of a difference, but will see it on his phone as it will die much faster than 3G. They have not been able to overcome the power consumption issue with the introduction of 4G. So, even tomorrow, I get the choice between 3 or 4G, I'll stick with the 3G just because of the battery life that is once more scarified for a tiny bit of more speed.

Your information could not be more incorrect. When I am in the US using a 4G network, my ACTUAL download speeds are around 9MB, and my uploads average 4MB. Sometimes my speeds on 4G exceed my wireless speeds. So, there is a HUGE difference between 3G, and 4G. Of course, the 3G in Thailand is slower than most. How long till we have 4G in Thailand? Five years? They have had 3G now in rural Africa for years.

Mike Macarelli

Chaiyaphum, Thailand

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I have come to these conclusions about Thais, and noise.

1. Most Thai people do not hear noise. Very few are bothered by it.

2. Most Thai people are pathologically afraid of silence. Most will do ANYTHING to avoid that dreaded silence. Perhaps they do not like what they hear inside when all is silent. Perhaps they are unaccustomed to that weird thing called silence. But most prefer to have a song on their cell, or a radio, or the TV, or anything that makes noise.

I find if I ask a restaurant owner if they can turn the TV down while I eat, most will. Sometimes I do that myself. Have offered many, many taxi drivers a tip, if they turn off their radio. Most comply. Does not hurt to ask. You are the customer.

Another sad example of a bridge built to a price not a spec. Engineers should be held to account, especially if the bridge was just 'repaired'. But it will be put down to karma and no doubt politics will enter into it as blaming a past govt for the failure etc.

Exactly. Someone needs to spend a long time in prison, and their immediate family needs to be fined 1,000,000 baht for every person who died, at a minimum. Unless and until Thailand starts behaving like a responsible member of the world community, this nonsense will continue. Taking responsibility seems to be a very foreign concept in the LOS.

This is a hysterically funny article, and a pretty lame response, which is completely untrue. Officers or the law, and corrupt officials are NEVER punished in Thailand. It is a country where the term absolute immunity seems to apply the most. No officials or police are EVER punished. They are all above the law. The law does not apply to them. No one cares. No one has the balls to do anything about it. No change ever takes place. No progress takes place, and perhaps the very concept of progress is impossible, without the will, conviction, or even the awareness that something is wrong. At this moment in time, Thailand is a terribly dysfunctional society when it comes to the implementation of law and order, with regards to corrupt or criminal elements within the police, or the government.

Would appear that China is not too tolerant of the LBGT culture.

Still, this is an odd story. If he performed his duties during the day,

and has a photo taken with some lady boys at night, not really sure

that is a firing offense...

Could it be the use of public funds for personal enjoyment is a crime in China. It is not in Thailand?

Of course it is not a crime in Thailand. When was the last time we heard about an official being convicted and jailed for stealing funds, corruption, drugs, gun crimes, etc? How many years has it BEEN? Thailand had essentially given up on corruption crimes against officials. Given up. Thrown in the towel. No punch left, no fight left. Surrendered the battle. Period. 100 percent tolerance.

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This government is supposed to represent the poor (their voterbase) and yet, they have no problem of taking from the poor and give to the already VERY rich.

When will the Thai people wake up ??

In your dreams. This government has never represented the poor. They told a pack of lies to get into office, and a percentage of people bought into the lies. But, representing the poor? That is a bit like saying Obama represents the average American, or that he cares about the average American. Even some of us that voted for him realize he cares little for the small guy. The same applies here. Do you think that the woman who wears 30,000 baht outfits, and 15,000 baht shoes cares about the little guy or gal? There are very, very few politicians worldwide who give a rats ass about the poor. Very, very few. Do not be fooled. That is what these cretons are hoping for.

Mike Macarelli

Chaiyaphum, Thailand

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This is a great program. Thailand, for some reason, has one of the lowest levels of accountability I have ever seen. So, any way to make the culprits accountable, has to be a positive step. Some of these drivers are positively insane, or lacking skill, or judgment. They should not be on the road. I wish they would figure out a way to make the mini van drivers accountable too. The vans should have phone numbers or identification markers on them. They cause tremendous amounts of death and injury in Samui alone. Nationwide, it is hard to imagine how many accidents are caused by the careless, daredevil mini van drivers.

Mike Macarelli

Chaiyaphum, Thailand

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Thailand completely dropped the ball, when he went into exile. Something should have been done to him at that time. Use your imagination. It was their responsibility. He has created nothing but problems since. He is a very small minded man, with an agenda to rule his land. That is obviously not going to happen, and this prick just cannot accept it. He cares about few other than himself.

Mike Macarelli

Chaiyaphum, Thailand

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Be extremely careful. The small shops are ALL grey market. This means alot of their products are NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. Of course, they will tell you it is. I spent 20,500 on a Samsung galaxy SIII, from the shop at tesco lotus in Samui, as you enter the doors to the food court, on the right. When the phone quit after just 4 months, I brought it back for warranty. They tried to charge me 6,000 baht. After days of wrangling, they finally relented, and agreed to fix it for free. That was over 7 weeks ago. Still waiting for the part, supposedly.

Avoid the grey market thugs. Nearly every small shop in Thailand is grey market. I brought the phone to the factory warranty shop in bangkok. They looked it up, and said it was not covered. Not a phone that was supposed to be sold in Thailand.

Better to spend the extra 1,000 baht or so, and buy from a factory store, the apple store, or a big retailer like Banana, etc. Take my advice. I wish I had gone down that path.

SPECIAL REPORTGraft charges continue to haunt Yingluck

Opas Boonlom

The Nation

EC probes claim that she aided Pongsapat's city election bid

BANGKOK: -- Although the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has dismissed an allegation that Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra submitted a false asset declaration over the Bt30-million loan extended to Ad Index Co Ltd, the PM's path is still paved with thorns as several complaints of corruption, abuse of authority and dereliction of duty have been lined up against her.

Yingluck has said she would like to complete her four-year term, but her wish is achievable only if she can clear herself from allegations of irregularities involving projects ranging from the rice-pledging scheme to the dispute over the Bt2-trillion loan bill; as well as charges that she failed to provide details of procurement procedures and mean prices on the Internet and that she interfered in the transfer of the Defence Ministry permanent secretary.

The next issue that could cost Yingluck her premiership is the allegation that she abused her authority. Green group coordinator Suriyasai Katasila alleged that Yingluck as PM rallied to help Pheu Thai Party gubernatorial candidate Pongsapat Pongcharoen by misleading voters.

He submitted to the Election Commission (EC) taped scripts of Yingluck's statements made at campaign rallies. The Yingluck statement in question, Suriyasai said, was that if residents voted for Pongsapat, the government and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration would work together without conflict.

Bangkok voters would gain benefits if they voted for Number 9 because the government had funds to support mega projects, such as more Skytrain routes. But if people voted for other candidates, they would not receive support from the government.

Suriyasai said as the PM, Yingluck had the responsibility to provide mass transit systems and other services to the public in accordance with the constitution. The EC's panel is investigating the petition.

Bangkok Election Commission chairman Thaweesak Toochinda said Article 60 of the Local Election Act bans state officials from carrying out any activity that benefits candidates or causes them to be at a disadvantage.

If found guilty, Yingluck would face up to 10 years' imprisonment and a fine up to Bt200,000 including a ten-year political ban.

A highly placed source in the EC said Yingluck said she did not use office hours to help Pongsapat campaign for votes - but he believes the law would look at the content of the speeches she made, not when she made them.

The source said Article 57 bans candidates and anyone else from promising to give assets or benefits which could be calculated in amounts of money. The EC has asked all television stations for full taped scripts Yingluck made at election rallies.

[thenation]2013-04-10]

And it might be the first time in thai history that a politician was jailed for corruption. Not sure how many other countries are less willing to fight corruption, but Thailand has to be on the top of the list of completely unwilling, unable, and uninterested in doing anything about this problem. The anti corruption commission is less effective than my armpit, at waging this battle. The effort Thailand is making in this area is pathetic. Yingluck should be crying in shame. More of the same. She is a defender of the status quo.

Mike Macarelli

Chaiyaphum, Thailand

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The ancient Chines and Japanese believed that red meat creates alot of heat in the system, and would create discomfort during the warmest months of the year. Therefore they would limit maximum meat consumption to the colder months. Same goes for pork. I have found this to be the case. This time of year it is simply alot more comfortable when avoiding much meat. The body seems to run alot cooler.

Mike Macarelli

Chaiyaphum, Thailand

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Well, lets see. A former soapy massage maven, is not adept at negotiating a settlement to a century old problem, with a variety of very complex issues. Surprise, surprise. If Yingluck would just get serious and appoint some qualified people to solve problems, so,e problems might actually get surprised. Now, that would really surprise the nation! Chalerm is unqualified for nearly any task he undertakes. There are fewer men in Thailand with less talent and capabilities.

Mike Macarelli

Chaiyaphum, Thailand

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5 years certainly seems like a low sentence for a bombing, but he was blinded in the process and I guess that being sent to prison at the same time as being injured and being blinded must be a terrifying experience.

The judges would have weighed his previous character, the damage done, and likelihood of re-offending, and his cooperation with the investigation, which may have gone far beyond simply confessing to his own involvement.

Under the probable circumstances, you cannot really say that 5 years is all that lenient.

Correct but don't let facts or compassion get in the way of a good-old, obsessive, anti-Thaksin, anti-red shirt tirade.

This really has nothing to do with the ill mannered, greedy, selfish pig living in exile in Dubai. This has to do with the gutless behavior of the Thai judiciary. They are some of the weakest, smallest, least courageous, and least independent judges in the world. They are simply afraid to hand out sentences that are commensurate with a crime. They are the laughingstock of the world, and will continue to be so, unless there is serious reform here. And the chances of Thailand becoming the number one economy in the world are greater than the chances of reform here.

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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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The bottom line is that they are simply not afraid to manifest the dignity within femininity. That is what many of us find the most appealing. Simply said, they are not afraid to be women, and to behave like women, and they carry themselves in a feminine manner, and we love that. Many back home were more masculine than I, and who wants that? Nothing appealing about a woman who insists on wearing the pants.

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Eleven years in Thailand is NOT going to look good on your CV.I wish you all the luck in the world on making money, you're going to need it.

Hopefully he will not need a CV. There is far more money, and a vastly higher level of fulfillment to be had working for ones self. If you are entrepreneural. And no need to kiss the ass of someone you may not respect. With corporate culture being what it has become, why work for some company anyway, if you do not have to. 31 is a spring chicken. This guy has his whole life in front of him. I often wonder where I would go, if I wanted to move on. Just do not know. Fortunately, I still enjoy each day here. I tolerate as little nonsense as I have to, and enjoy the disposition of most Thai folks.

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The wisest tip I was ever given, is to really take your time. Most Thai women have an agenda, and it serves their agenda to move things along very fast. This rarely benefits you. Nothing but downside for you, really. So, take your time. And I am talking 6 months, 12 months, 18 months. You will know who she is after that amount of time, and not before, regardless of how deluded you are, into thinking otherwise. And if she is real, she will probably wait and bear with you. Never even consider using the love world until you have been together for months. She may start using it after a week or two. This is always an illusion. Mind that word with a grain of salt. It means little after so little time. And ALWAYS be prepared to either let her walk, or give her the directions to the door, if she turns out to be not who you hoped she was. Leave your western standards of being accustomed to emasculation behind. Be a man. Most really good women here appreciate you being a man. And remember, if you do not take control of the relationship, she will. I see this all the time. Do not be afraid to make decisions, as men do.

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Commando??? Stop using this term if you can't even handle such a simple task. You are ruining the meaning of the word. And don't resent when your senior officer calls you "k- - - ii"!!!

Very good point. I thought that term denoted skill and tactics. How about the goombah squad? Or the 200 stooges? Or the clown patrol? Or the guys who could not. Or the small brain squad. Or the gutless wonders?

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@ madmitch

I had given thought to the operating times of the buses as well.

I think many people will use the bus to go out, and possibly have to get a tuk-tuk home. So, the tuk-tuks will face some loss of income. To make that income up, they will put the price up for taking people home after their night out. It's aready 400 baht up, and 800 baht back - it could go to 1000 baht or more to get back home.

So, many people will be interested in when the first bus runs, the next day. It may be of financial benefit to "party on" an exta couple of hours and get the first morning bus home. Nightclubs may see a rise in early morning sales.

The more I think about it, the more I can understand why the Patong tuktuks should be happy with this service:late night fares to Kata/Karon, Kamala etc; fares from the airport bus stop to hotels and guesthouses; no loss of income on the airport runs as they aren't provided by the tuktuks anyway, though I realise a number of black and newly registered taxis are associated.

The Kata/Karon guys will be affected more and they are the most militant operation. I hope they are brought down a peg or two but it's unlikely. How they have got away without allowing motorbike taxis in the area is outrageous and shows the power they have.

NB I have never paid more than 400 baht at any hour for a ride from Patong to Karon.

Yes, but 400 baht for 4 km is what I pay in London or New York. It is criminal. It is stupid. It is immoral. Get rid of the taxi mafia whores once and for all.

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Just bought a Seagate USB 3.0 2TB, comes with a three yr warranty.

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Yes, the Seagate units are far superior to the WD. There is a reason the WD drives are everywhere. Quality seems to be poor, they are slower, are not as flexible with macs, and are an inferior choice. Pay slightly more for better quality.

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Terrayut has to remain tough. They need to get the central govt. involved. The taxi pigs need to he squashed, at all costs, once and for all. These insects cannot be allowed to continue. Get the army involved. Physically destroy the taxis. Fine all drivers caught blocking one million baht each. Imprison them until they pay. That is how you break their backs. With determination. Something no Thai govt. had ever shown. Thailand needs to get tough, or simply admit there us absolutely no law and order in the country, and the authorities and police are owned and controlled by the mafia crocodiles.

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Will this ever stop?

And please: spare me the "it happens everywhere"- bs!

In 40 years back home, I haven't read about as many fatal bus- accidents as I have here in the last 3 months.

It IS about how a country enforces laws, how it values education and safety etc.

RIP the victims

Back in the 50's and 60's in the US, you used to read about a lot of bus accidents.. I was even in a couple late at night-early morning. But they raised the laws on bus safety requirements and bus driver hours and virtually shut down those accidents in just about 7 or 8 years. Now you maybe hear about 2 or 3 a year. There seems to be no required laws at all here. Thai people tell me, if they too many requirements on bus equipment safety, and bus drivers, the bus prices would rise too high and no one could afford to ride the bus. Which brings it all back to what we are always taling about here.. Money. Lives are cheap.

Safety standards. Imagine such a rarified, sophisticated, and elegant concept? Will they ever even consider them here? I have never seen any. Speedboat crashes, pedestrians getting mowed down by mini vans going double the speed limits, billionaire sons mowing down cops with their ferraris, trucks driving recklessly with impunity, and worse. The authorities simply do not seem to care. Is this a class thing? Is it ok for poor people to die?

Will this ever stop?

And please: spare me the "it happens everywhere"- bs!

In 40 years back home, I haven't read about as many fatal bus- accidents as I have here in the last 3 months.

It IS about how a country enforces laws, how it values education and safety etc.

RIP the victims

Well, there is little, to no enforcement. There is marginal education, due to a short sighted group of elite, who are terribly closed minded, and some of the least creative people in the world. They seem to think the only way to maintain and grow their fortunes, is to keep the Thai people stupid. Why else would they be fighting so hard to maintain such a poor educational system? And there is zero value put on safety. Three foreign pedestrians killed in Samui, in the past three weeks. What is being done, to stop the careless driving? Absolutely nothing.

There are quite a few factors here to consider. One is that the public would show this level of disregard for the police. What does that say? I believe it says that the Thai public does not take the police, nor a staged raid of this sort seriously. That they would do an occasional raid, and make a big show of it, means nothing to the public. They consider the police to be hooligans, and a nuisance, and realize the police have little regard for their safety or welfare. The second point, is that there is a level of ineffectiveness, and a lack of talent, on the part of these keystone cops, that is scary. If you can not pull off a small casino raid, what does this say about one of the least effective police forces in the world? Just that.