Eazy-Going

OP, please beware when buying a secondhand here, a lot of them have had serious accident damage repair completed, particularly if they seem cheap. As one poster said, you get what you pay for. I went through this whole process in January with my g/f's BIL who works in a motor repair shop on BKK, it is surprising the percentage, (or not seeing how Thai people drive), the amount of 'cover-up' repairs done on vehicles to sell, they hide the damage very well and his help was invaluable. However, reading from your post, you are quite profficient yourself so obviously know what to look for. I ended up buying a new pick-up, at least I knew its history...also why a Ford Ranger, why not go for an Isuzu or Toyota, far more about and their re-sale value is a lot better?

Why is the 'racist' card always played in these discussions. What the OP writes IS fact! Why must we all try to be so PC about things all of the time, if they were white we would not be screaming racist! These Nigerian gangs are rife in the UK too, and the government there does not do anything about it, and I would hazard to suggest that the UK is more advanced in such issues than Thailand, however, I await the flaming regarding that statement.

They, (these gangs, regardless of culture, race, ethnic background), are a menace and what really peeves me is that honest, law abiding ex-pats like myself and many others on TV, jump through hoops to establish a life in Thailand, whereas these law breakers and scammers are allowed into the country, flaunt the laws of the country, have dealings in a multitude of illegal activities yet still live here. This also goes for the white people here engaging in illegal practices. It so bugs me when people start shouting 'racist', how do you know the colour of the OP's skin or religious undertaking? They are criminals and the Thai authorities should do something about it. They should not be as weak willed as those in the UK otherwise the system will break down and then you really will start to see nationalistic tendancies as we are not starting to witness in the UK.

Yes...it's a Volvo!!! Are you old enough to drive one?

On reflection, big apologies to our simian cousins, do you think donkeys would be agrieved if I use them as a comparison?

In the UK we've got a monkey leading the country...go figure!!!!

Steady on, monkeys have feelings too you know. I hope you retract that regrettable comparison and apologise to the simian brotherhood.

In the UK we've got a monkey leading the country...go figure!!!!

How long you intending to stay? If permanent, can buy a very decent 2nd hand 125 for about 12000 to 15000BHT....

I am only attracted to feminine women. Thai women, I find, are generally very feminine. A Thai idiom says that gentle drops of water on to a stone over time change the shape of the stone to the shape the water wants. This is far better than hitting the stone with something hard and sharp as all that will be achieved is a cut or shattered stone.

Like women across the world Thai women have expectations from a relationship; and there are also mercenary gold diggers here, as there are in every society. I've been reading the story of the French 'model' (a euphemism if ever there was one!) in London who worked as a hostess in a bar where wealthy English Premier League players frequented. She hooked up with a succession waiting for the opportunity to hit the jackpot. Wayne Bridge made her pregnant and as a result she will receive 1 million pounds. Between the pregnancy and the 'employment' bonus she was shagging anything that had potential including the English football team captain. Her behaviour, despite wearing Gucci, is that of a bar girl. I don't find bar girls attractive as they do not have feminine souls.

I like that, very poetic. Will have to remember this analogy and also put it into practice on a daily basis...

Your welcome.

Just been informed by my other half that it is a Buddhist tattoo and is supposed to protect the bearer from any bad accidents, death, being killed and of course as this is Thailand, protects from ghosts too....

I think that you will find that although people from Issan speak with a dialect similar to that of Southern Laos, in school they are taught to write Thai and can adapt very easily and understand, and speak, spoken Thai. Besides saying that nobody outside of Issan can understand them is a bit of an oxy-moron, considering that the majority of BKK is made up of people from Issan.

Why thanks a million rgs, your compliments are well recieved. I see many ex-pats in the area with their massive mansions and I also often wonder to myself if they are enjoying it here any more than me, I have cable TV, internet connection, transport etc, just the same as them but without the enormous outlay, and they always seem to be whinging, bitching and whining about life here in Thailand, whereas I just enjoy each day with no regrets of what I left behind in miserable old 'blighty'.

Note to self..."think about changing avatar". Don't want to percieved as a hamster!!!

Never been to Pattaya so cannot comment, been to Phuket for 2 nights, did not like the 'in your face' trade, but then that was our fault as we stayed in Patong, liked Chiang Mai, loved Samui, totally hated living in BKK but for me Udon Thani is just the right mix, if it had a beach nearby it would be tops, however domestic flights are so cheap it's not a big issue. Admittedly Udon is not for everybody but as I said, it suits me. I'm not heavily involved in the expat scene, Thaivisa is probably the exception, love Issan food, the people are just so caring and I hope my attitude towards the place continues for a very long time to come. Each to their own, it's all a matter of personal taste, instead of the condescending remarks can't we leave it at that....but I guess not!!!

Those of you from UK how severe is the penalty for first time offense?

Considering your over the limit and no accident involved.

First time offense if caught driving over the alcohol limit is usually a court case, a hefty fine and also revokation of your driving license. The driving ban is usually dependant upon how many units over the limit you are but as a rule of thumb, one unit over is not tolerated, and you can expect a ban of at least 6 months. This is also a criminal act in the UK, you will have a criminal record, your insurance premiums go up, you can go to prison, you have points on your license and there is a massive stigma attached to it, which is rightly so.

I do not condone drink/driving at all but it seems to be done very widely in Thailand. My g/f's brother-in-law is a taxi driver part time in BKK, he is always 3 sheets to the wind, as are most of his taxi driving colleagues, so are you safe getting into a taxi??? Firthermore, when I lived in BKK, there was a motorcycle taxi rank below my balcony, I would watch the drivers drinking all night and regularly take fares before coming back to continue the party...I would rather have the control of the wheel if I had been drinking rather than a severely pissed up Thai taxi driver, at least I have more confidence in my driving skills than theirs.

Well I can reccomend it Somtampet, it definately suits me anyway and have made many great Thai friends here, they're lovely people. It's a great laidback life...it reminds me of why I came to Thailand for in the first place.

Totally agree, I love living in Udon. It has everything Bankok has, obviously on a smaller scale and without the hassle and stress, major traffic and polution issues, is cheaper, the people a lot friendlier, so much cleaner and you can actually walk down the streets without the risk of getting knocked over at every juncture. I rent a nice little 3 bed bungalow with it's own garden, (inc. mango tree and small pond), all for 3500BHT (inclusive of elec and water per month), my one room apartment in Phra Padaeng BKK cost twice that and was noisey all of the time. Quality of life here, imo, is so much better. One drawback...only 1 hours drive from the g/f's village so we are always on call, but they're great people so I don't mind so much.

I can also personally recommend a 'Hatari' card for making calls only. I paid for one, (100BHT), in January, have made numerous long calls to the UK and was surprised when called home today that I still have 32 mins remaining. Works best when calling back to a landline only though...a well worthinvestment IMO. Just a little recommendation.

Tired of trying to cut my food up with a spoon, chasing it around the plate/bowl with a pair of chopsticks or spreading my butter on my toast with a meat cleaver/pairing knife, I really thought it was time to invest in some cutlery knives. I'd asked all local market vendors, (or rather the other half had), as to whether they sold such items, a resounding NO, as Thai people never used them.

After bending my spoon today trying to cut through a piece of pork at breakfast, I decided it really was time to persevere in sourcing a set of suitable eating irons, so a trip to the local Big C was on the cards....109 Baht for 2 sub standard table knives...couldn't believe it. Could buy 12 spoons for les than half this, a set of chefs knives various sizes for a fraction more, meat cleavers, fish slices, chopsticks to last a lifetime, ladles, scoops etc. for less. Asking my g/f as to why they are so expensive and if we could find cheaper, or at least a better quality elsewhere, she could only assume that they were priced as such because only 'farangs' used them, (incidently she thought I was just being pathetic wanting such items as she has coped all of her life without, she was probably right).

This peeved me all day and I now feel better for getting it off my chest. What little glitch has peeved you today?

You sure or have you had a few too many drinks tonight? If not I suggest you have a few more drinks and then things will become clearer....besides, why marriage? A bit drastic I think, just find yourself a nice steady Thai girlfriend and take it from there would be my advice, but then I've never been married so I guess I am not that qualified to answer, I have always taken my own advice and eered on the side of caution where marriage is involved, enjoying my co-habitation in Thailand though, could not ask for better!!!

Having recently purchased a new car I dont know if this also applies to used cars, however my experience was thus; you must have a certificate of residency to have the vehicle registered in you name. At the time I did not not, so I purchased the car in my g/f's name, who insidently does not have have a driving licence, she needed her Thai ID card only. The insurance is in my name name though, and when we get the red plates changed to white, I have been assured that I can then change the car into my name as owner, as I have now aquired the certificate of residency. If you have the residency certificate, there should not be a problem, this can be purchased from your local embassy, price depends on your citizenship....or if you have the patience to go through the lengthy chanels it is free!!!

Had one in UK about 4 years ago, bought from new, mine must've been made on Friday afternoon because nothing but trouble. Engine management system never was set right, panels never seemed to look right on fit, big engine lag, car really drifted and not good on wet corners...swapped it next for the BMW M...evrything the Merc wasn't, and more besides. BIG money to be laying out on a small car, they are v.cramped, imo.

I'd keep well out of it mate, it'll only back-fire on you when it hits the fan, if you add your two-penneth. May be hard but I would distance yourself, at least going out as a foursome. I'm sure if she is bragging about it as much as you intimate, it'll all come out soon, just be around to be a sympethetic ear when it does...he must have some sort of an incline...but then again, he may not even care and that may keep their boat floating in the bedroom!!! If he were a close friend of long standing, no doubt tell him, but as he isn't, don't get embroiled in it all....that's my advice for what it's worth.

Where is the certainty that pesticides are the cause of the demise of the bee population? A quick google and a scan of several sites say that might be the problem or part of it but that's never the first place they go when mentioning possible causes.

Why does life in Thailand have to be as it was in your home countries?

Growing up in Florida the people moving or vacationing there would start sentences with" where I'm from we do it this way" and go on a rant about how backwards we were to their home environs of New York or where ever they came from. we just did it a way we liked at the pace we wanted, not at what some loud mouth yankee thought best.

Its the same with many people here who constantly complain on how that needs to be changed or this needs to be done that way. Accept the differences, enjoy life. Bunch of whining old farts too set in their ways to accept a different way of life. embrace and go with the flow, might be a hassle at times, but lifes full of little problems where ever you be. Don't change paradise into a parking lot.

I'm with you my friend....live and let live!

That blackboard thing sounds completely idiotic to me.

I wonder what PC name we must use for whiteboards now? We can't exactly call them 'whiteboard-marking-pen boards' without being just as racist as if we did say 'whiteboard' so what adjective is allowable? Texta-boards?

They must now be called wipe boards, insane but true.

That blackboard thing sounds completely idiotic to me.

But totally true!!!