aussiebrian

If you go to Malaysia best to get one of these. I think best value phone on the market with a great 13 mp camera. http://www.mi.com/my/note/ IM me if you want any more info. Beware of copies, only buy from MI site. Many poor quality copies around. My battery last all day with a lot of use.

Redmi NoteCore MTK 6592 1.7GHz processor

5.5" HD IPS display
3,100 mAh lithium-polymer battery
13MP rear facing camera | 5MP front facing camera

MTK 8-core processor available at 1.7GHz, 78% higher processing performance than Quad-core MT6589T.
Cortex-A7 architecture individually allocates tasks to each core, reducing power usage and heat.
Games, webpages, and apps, look stunning and run smoothly.

RM509

Try Ranong. If you stay at Tinidee inn, (No, I don't get commission) not the main Tinidee building but only 50 meters away, with all the use of the facilities for only 8000 baht a month or 580 baht a day. You get a nice large double room with wireless internet, A/C, TV but not English stations, room cleaned each day, clean towels too, you have a free gym, large swimming pool, hot spa, sometimes very hot as it comes from the hot springs, jacuzzi also very hot, and sauna. Food in Ranong is reasonably cheap, If you want to eat till your hearts content try farmhouse buffet for breakfast, (all you can eat between 8am to 10am, for 100Baht sounds like what you want) Ranong is on the coast, but any beach worth swimming at you will need to travel a bit. Beautiful waterfalls nearby, Ranong canyon, rain forest and just a 1 hr ferry ride to Koh Chang,(Not Trat there are 2 Koh Changs in Thailand) and Koh Phayam being some of the nicest islands in Thailand.

Many people go there for visa trips to Burma, and they only see the smelly pier and leave the same day thinking there is nothing there.

There are many other options there if you want cheap accommodation and an Aussie friend of mine has opened a gym there where you can get monthly membership.

Run this simple test H2testw to check if is a fake or not. I have bought fakes on aliexpress, and got a refund after proving they were fake. http://sosfakeflash.wordpress.com/2008/09/02/h2testw-14-gold-standard-in-detecting-usb-counterfeit-drives/ Direct Download Of Software For version 1.4 of H2testw

Money would be better spent on old-fashioned justice. An eye for an eye.

Are you advocating Sharia law?

Great idea. Sentence him under Sharia law. When do we start?

I think you need to think again. There is no so called Justice with Sharia law. If he was given the punishment that a 13 year old girl got that was gang raped, then he may get the punishment that you believe he deserved. http://archive.frontpagemag.com/readArticle.aspx?ARTID=33098 But in reality, as I am against capital punishment, it still would be too harsh.

What this article fails to mention is that the majority of deaths were motorcyclists. Of these, most could have survived had they been wearing helmets. I think that the current laws and 'enforcement' regarding motorcycle helmets has proven to be ineffective and, quite frankly, a joke! Riders simply pay their insignificant fine and continue their dangerous practice of not wearing their helmets. Since the Thai law enforcement systems do not allow for monitoring of repeat offenders, more significant penalties are needed to 'encourage' compliance with helmet laws. I welcome a time when Thailand gets serious about this and ups the ante for helmet violations to more meaningful levels like 500 to 1,000 baht per offense. Maybe then this law will finally have some teeth in it and there will be fewer deaths on Thailand's roadways.

Helmets are not going to do much in the way of safety if it is just a thin piece of plastic and also not done up properly.

It is sometimes difficult having 2 bitches together, but you say they are both puppies. How old is the older one? It is unusual if she is under 6 months for them to be fighting. Have you socialized the older one? If not, you could have problems with her with being around any other dogs.

Had a vasectomy about 35 years ago by a Dr. from India practicing in a small town in the US...quick, simple, and relatively painless...have had no problems...or children...Amen...

I always thought your profile picture was you, but I suppose it is Thailand.

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Maybe a bad fill ?

Was my 1st thought too, until someone else mentioned they were on rebreasers.

Diving in fresh water is different as you are less buoyant. Maybe it was inexperience.

But it does sound like a bad fill.

What happened to the third guy?

Very little difference and no special training required, all you really do is add a bit more weight.

Manu Russians know nothing about diving. They might have thought same rules apply for snorkling. Who rented them the equipment???? Sorry though for their families.

There are lots of very qualified and experienced Russian divers, a lot more than you can even imagine and many take their training and get experience in cold waters further north so many of the Pattaya know it all PADI divers don't stand a chance against them. Better not spread your Russian hatred here, a tragedy happened and it could have been any nationality.

You said " Very little difference and no special training required, all you really do is add a bit more weight" I think you mean less weight.

Yes, many good and bad divers from all countries, but looks also like you are spreading your PADI hatred here.

One of the first topics you cover when taking diving lessons from an approved international organization such as PADI or NAUI is to always dive with another person (buddy diving". The second lesson that you are taught is how to share breathing apparatus in the event one of the divers equipment malfunctions. Lots of potential questions in this case. Did the divers stay together, did they have the proper education training, did the dive store provide quality equipment and the list goes on.

PADI is no qualification. Its just an "ego' thing. They love to call themselves proffesional divers when all they really are , are SCUBA equipment teachers. If you have the money you get certified. Anyone can become a PADI instructor. It is well known that a man got a PADI certication for his dog in the UK by just sending the money. We often refer to it ' as "Put Another Dollar In" I Personally checked what was required to become an instructor. Like like diving ability without SCUBA. None was required.

It is reported now he died of a heart attack, but not sure if that is from a post mortem done in Surat Thani, which I would take with a grain of salt, or a wild guess. Anyway, I will still post what I had just wrote before I read that, as if it is a guess, I think this is just as likely.

Firstly, In response to the gamini

A well known fact.Right. Well known by whom? Evidence?? So anthony77 quoted he received an email from an unnamed well known diver who said that Bob Marks wrote.

"someone sent photos of his Alsatian dog and a pet seal and they both came back featured on instructor's cards!

supposedly mentioned in his book. The only reference I can find on that is a post in TV back in 2010 which was disputed .see http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/393130-padi/

I have my advanced open water and I can say it wasn't that easy. Maybe some schools make it easier than others, but you say you personally checked what was required to become an instructor and no diving was required. Now that is totally unbelievable. Now I know how you believed the dog story.

Ok, you go and get your PADI instructors licence from PADI and not Khao San Road, and I will believe you. Maybe take your dog along with you and a seal if you can find one

I dived in Ratchaprapha Dam 3 years ago. As you descend there are many dead trees like ghosts in the mist still coming out of the soil, the finer branches mostly crumble with a gentle squeeze, but the larger ones are still quite solid and unless you are looking all around he may of possibly hit a larger branch he didn't see, potentially ripping his mouth piece out of his mouth or possibly damaging his regulator. I've never used a re-breather, so not sure what damage could have been done to it. There is also a lot of fishing line with hooks in them that he may of got tangled in, but then he wouldn't have floated to the top..

I dived to 30 metres and was told if I had of dived to 50 meters I could have seen the village that is still there after it was flooded in the Kings project.

Attached is some video I took in the dam at 30 meters.

No leprosy in Thailand. Besides, easily cured when found out in time. Stop scaring people!

There is leprosy in Thailand. Back in the 70's I visited a leprosy colony in Chiang Mai, which is still going. From my recollection, it is the least contagious of all contagious diseases, and you need to be receptive to catching it and be around someone with it for many many years to get it. It is almost impossible to catch and if you do, it can be treated.

In India, some people that get leprosy don't get it treated as it helps with their begging.

Didn't watch the video, but I don't think from the post they are trying to scare anyone.

Would Aljzeera lie for any reason?

I wish Thailand would take a Hint and Decriminalize ...

Ehm...It's not being decriminalised. Oil will be extracted and will be used for certain patient's treatment...

What are you talking about? It will be decriminalized in NSW for the medical research to take palace, otherwise you couldn't use it. Once the trials show the medical benefits then it would be legalized for patients.

Medical cannabis can be administered using a variety of methods, including vaporizing or smoking dried buds, eating extracts, taking capsules or using oral sprays. Synthetic cannabinoids are available as prescription drugs in some countries; examples include: dronabinol (available in the United States (US) and Canada) and nabilone (available in Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom (UK), and the US). Recreational use of cannabis is illegal in most parts of the world, but the medical use of cannabis is legal in certain countries, including Austria, Canada, Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Israel, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain. In the US, federal law outlaws all cannabis use, while 20 states and the District of Columbia no longer prosecute individuals merely for the possession or sale of marijuana, as long as the individuals are in compliance with the state's marijuana sale regulations. However, an appeals court ruled in January 2014 that a 2007 Ninth Circuit ruling remains binding in relation to the ongoing illegality, in federal legislative terms, of Californian cannabis dispensaries, reaffirming the impact of the federal Controlled Substances Act.^[7]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medical_cannabis

If you care to look at the videos I posted a links to earlier you will see how it is done in other countries and it is not only decriminalized, but legalized for medical use.

It is smoked in hospitals, nursing homes and you can get takeaways too.

Imagine the Prime Minister and other politicians sharing a joint before parliament

That would be a joint session of parliament.

I have been booked in Bangkok for this many times. The other crazy rules are, on a motorcycle you are not allowed over certain bridges, can't ride on freeways, expressways or tollways. Total Madness!!. My Harley will go faster than most cars and is worth more and does less damage to the road. The last time they tried booking me for not being in the left lane I was 10 km past Cha am, heading to Bangkok. I argued and joked with him for 30 mins, then he eventually let me go with no fine. Must have realized he could book many more in the time he was wasting with me. He even said I can pay him or go and pay at the police station. I laughed and said I don't like either of the options.

I once was booked on Sukhumvit for moving to the right 150 meters before I was turning right. Even showed him on my GPS where I was going. He said not to move till you are 30 meters before the intersection. I ended up having to pay that time.

My friend in Melbourne got booked for having a go pro on his helmet. Went to court and the magistrate said if Michael Schumacher didn't have a camera on his helmet he might be ok now. He is appealing the decision.

Thanks, I will have to give the camera a go next time in Bangkok.

I recommend the Xiaomi, (I got theXiaomi Redmi Note $160 US 2 sims) but make sure you get a genuine one, (as there are many fakes around on ebay and aliexpress,) not a copy or you will be very disappointed. Check out the specs and the price. I got a friend to buy me one from the factory sales and love it. It was a lot of trouble but it was worth it. Ok, you haven't heard of them, well It is the world's 3rd largest smartphone distributor that designs, develops, and sells smartphones, mobile apps and consumer electronics, They are even developing an electric car.

According to wikipedia "Xiaomi's flagship mobile handset line is the Xiaomi Mi series, past being the Xiaomi Mi3. The newest model in this line is the Xiaomi Mi4.^[57] It was initially launched in mainland China, followed by Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and India on March, May and July 2014 respectively. The Xiaomi Mi3 uses a modified Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 and has been tested as the world's fastest Android smartphone according to benchmark testing apps Antutu, Quadrant and Geekbench.^[58]"

Can't wait till they are released in Thailand. The biggest problem is there is no warranty outside the country where you buy it. After 5 months, no problems. There is a site Xiaomi Thailand but I am not sure if they are genuine or the cost. If you look at the Singapore website, you will see what the prices should be and specs. www.mi.com/sg/.

"The indictment was unexpectedly brought forward by three hours, meaning the suspects did not have time to be brought from prison to hear the charges,"

What?

The defendants have not heard the accusation?

A technical trial error?

Just one more in a long line.

According to http://www.thailandtoday.in.th/

"Modern Thailand is building a democracy that is based on good governance, the rule of law, human rights, transparency, and accountability, and one that would lead to sustainable development."

Looks like due to all the f---ups all along with the investigation, the court will have no alternative, based on good governance, the rule of law, human rights, transparency, and accountability, to throw the case out or find them innocent.

TIT... You really believe the Thai authorities are based upon good governance...... rule of law (in whose back garden), human rights, transparency (in whose back garden) etc., to really care about Western attitudes towards this case.

The case will not be thrown out now, nor will the innocents be proven guilty......... money has proven them gulity, and that is the be all and end all of this disgusting case.

Your batteries must be running low in your sarcasm detector..

"The indictment was unexpectedly brought forward by three hours, meaning the suspects did not have time to be brought from prison to hear the charges,"

What?

The defendants have not heard the accusation?

A technical trial error?

Just one more in a long line.

According to http://www.thailandtoday.in.th/

"Modern Thailand is building a democracy that is based on good governance, the rule of law, human rights, transparency, and accountability, and one that would lead to sustainable development."

Looks like due to all the f---ups all along with the investigation, the court will have no alternative, based on good governance, the rule of law, human rights, transparency, and accountability, to throw the case out or find them innocent.

I taught a 7 month old labrador to jump up into back of toyota SUV.....have some kibble or some snack that they love and a 10-12' running start to give them some momentum. snacks and praise and a command they will come to recognize ("load up")....and some repetition so they get used to the commands. took me approx 10 minutes to teach and the owner no longer had to keep helping the dog up into the back of the SUV. my .02 worth....hope it helps.

mac

It is good to teach your dog being a Labrador to jump into the back of a SUV but 7 months is far too young. It is recommended not to start to teach your dog to jump, walk up stairs except when necessary and not too many, or even take your dog on long walks till it is 12 months of age. Hip dysplasia is a terrible possibly preventable disease that afflicts large dogs and jumping is one of the most harmful activities he can do.

Also be careful when you do start that if the dog is running up fast to the back of a pickup etc, he as capable if jumping that high, because if he can't may suffer serious injury.

So wait till at least 12 months of age till you try and teach your dog to do this too...

You can teach it to jump when you command him to. Put some obsticles down and put him on a lead. Run so he has to jump over the obstacle and say over. Praise him when he does it. Continue till he will jump on command treating it as a game.

^^

I'd say bangkok is one of the best places for motorbikes - they are allowed to go nearly anywhere, on the pavements etc and even flee fro the police(without chase). The helmet law is often forgotten. You are allowed to take your dog on the bike etc.

I think the responses are because it isn't really worthy of a news story just because he was riding an expensive bike.

I see you defiantly don't ride a motorcycle in Bangkok or anywhere and I also suspect you hate motorcycles. You are NOT allowed to ride on the pavements, (but many do), freeways, tollways, bridges expressways, and you can take a dog on a bike all over Thailand. Trouble is I don't have a dog, but I do ride a bike in Bangkok often. The rider MUST wear a helmet or potentially be fined. YOU MUST RIDE A MOTORCYCLE in the Left lane or be Booked. Full stop. I was booked on Sukhumvit when I moved to the right to turn right. This was 150 meters before I wanted to turn right in heavy traffic. I showed the policeman my GPS that I was going to turn right. His answer, "You can't move to the right till 50 meters before the turn!" You can drive a car, truck taxi, on any road, in any lane, but NOT a motorcycle. What are you trying to say? Please be informed before you start writing!!

Why is this? , because Thais think motorcycle riders are second class citizens and they feel superior in their cars, and don't want motorcycles on their special roads!

I don't hate motorcycles, I have one which I seldom ride due to the wild dogs and drunks around my neigbourhood. I never rode one in the UK as there is no freedom.

I generally drove a car in Bangkok, where I lived for 10 years and you are wrong about what Thais think about motorcyclists - they have right of way, When I did use a bike it was much better than other countries. My son loved it beng able to hold on to the handlebars when standing on the front bit. This wasn't in central Bkk, of course.

always. Personally, I think riding motorcycles in Bangkok is only for those who can't afford a car or the BTS and farang with mid-life crises, so in a way you are correct re second class citizens but they do have right of way. Way too dangerous in central Bangkok.

Ok, you don't ride a motorcycle often, due to fear and you no longer live in Bangkok. Ok, you don't hate them, but I thought your comment aimed at the footpath riding was heading that way. Sounds like you don't live in Bangkok now. Well believe me, if you ride, Bangkok is the worst city to ride bikes in. I ride a big bike and have done so every day of my life for 43 years. I must be having a very long mid life crisis, I know many very rich Thais of all ages that ride big bikes, so will have to widen your views on who rides motorcycles. Most Thais who ride scooters, ride them because they can't afford a car. If you are not experienced on motorcycles, then they are dangerous, and the restrictive laws make them much more dangerous, but if you are a competent rider then dogs, drunks and Bangkok traffic are just other hazards to deal with. Can I guess that you made those comments unaware of the restrictions that are placed on motorcycles in Bangkok and from as far away as 10kms from Cha-um (which I found out last week when riding from Phuket to Bangkok)

Thais do think that about motorcycles, but there are just a lot more polite and motorcycle aware than people in western countries.

I have a car also, but that is hardly used, just mainly for shopping.

^^

I'd say bangkok is one of the best places for motorbikes - they are allowed to go nearly anywhere, on the pavements etc and even flee fro the police(without chase). The helmet law is often forgotten. You are allowed to take your dog on the bike etc.

I think the responses are because it isn't really worthy of a news story just because he was riding an expensive bike.

I see you defiantly don't ride a motorcycle in Bangkok or anywhere and I also suspect you hate motorcycles. You are NOT allowed to ride on the pavements, (but many do), freeways, tollways, bridges expressways, and you can take a dog on a bike all over Thailand. Trouble is I don't have a dog, but I do ride a bike in Bangkok often. The rider MUST wear a helmet or potentially be fined. YOU MUST RIDE A MOTORCYCLE in the Left lane or be Booked. Full stop. I was booked on Sukhumvit when I moved to the right to turn right. This was 150 meters before I wanted to turn right in heavy traffic. I showed the policeman my GPS that I was going to turn right. His answer, "You can't move to the right till 50 meters before the turn!" You can drive a car, truck taxi, on any road, in any lane, but NOT a motorcycle. What are you trying to say? Please be informed before you start writing!!

Why is this? , because Thais think motorcycle riders are second class citizens and they feel superior in their cars, and don't want motorcycles on their special roads!

How about everyone riding on 'sideWALKs'? Parking on them also. Just seize them, load them into pickups and get the selfish idle b4st4rds to pay a BIG fine to get them back.

I got stopped for driving in the middle of the lane last week. I thought my only option now was the footpath.

You must've been out near Bang Na, that's where I've been done by the BIB looking for some tea money.

It used to be just in Bangkok where motorcycles were booked for not keeping in the left lane, but I have just ridden from Phuket to Bangkok, and 3 days ago 10 kilometres past Cha-um there were about 15 police either side of the highway stopping all motorcycles not in the left lane. It is totally crazy and dangerous that I have to ride in the left lane on a highway where the speed limit for motorcycles is 110km/h and the left lane has potholes, sand, big puddles of water, tread ripped off trucks from their retreads, vehicles including buses (almost killing me with their smoky exhaust fumes) stopping along the way and I can't legally even move one lane across to pass them without the fear of having money extorted buy the RTP. Which has happened to me on many occasions.

The police that tried to book me said I need to pay him or go to the station and pay there. I told him I didn't like either of the options. I argued and joked with him for about 20 minutes, before he gave up and gave me my licence back and away I went. Another road block 10 kilometres further on and this time I was in the middle lane again and was just waved through.

After that I tried staying in the left lane and had many cars turning left from the middle lane in front of me, having to follow buses and untold amounts of motorcycles heading towards me in the left lane. It then took me 1 hour 45 minutes to travel from the start of the Bangna toll-way to my place in Bangna along all main roads in the service road in the left lane , with all the hazards I encountered earlier and ride the back roads, where if I was allowed on the toll-way it would have taken me about 20 minutes.

If they made Bangkok more motorcycle friendly, then more motorcycles would be on the road, and 1/2 the amount of cars and traffic problems would be not nearly as bad.

And yes, it had always been legal to ride a motorcycle on the footpath when the road was blocked by cars. So it is not as some people state the police are not enforcing the laws that are there because the law permits it. Now it is booking people for doing what has been permitted.

Section 43 (400-1000B)

No driver shall drive the vehicle:

a. while being incompetent to drive

b. while being intoxicated by liquor or other alcoholic drinks

c. in a manner that obstructs the traffic

d. with carelessness or recklessness which may cause danger to persons or property

e. in a manner not normally practiced in driving a vehicle or while unable to see the way in front or at the back or either/both sides clearly enough for safety

f. beyond or on the line dividing traffic lanes, except upon changing lanes, turning or turning around the vehicle

g. on a footpath without sufficient cause, except a baby-carriage or wheel-chair for sick or disabled persons

h. without thinking about the safety or suffering of other persons.

​The sufficient cause would be if the road was obstructed by vehicles.