borracho

In the past a 2 day grace was normally allowed.

You can also extend the 30 day stamp for a week in country.

Getting a 60 day tourist visa is an easy thing to do as well.

In any case it's nothing to get too exited about.

Gasohol will absolutely destroy an aircraft engine such as a 100hp Rotax 912S. I'm sure other engines are at risk as well. Why take the risk to make a few corn barons wealthier?

This isn't entirely true.

Rotax does allow a 5% ethanol mix. And mixes up to 10% appear to have been used safely.

Other factors to consider is what you fuel tank is made of and how the ethanol might affect it.

But the engine will run.

Fuel storage of an ethanol mix seems to be the primary issue. Ethanol absorbs water. Once saturation is reached the water can separate which caused problems.

I would avoid using an ethanol fuel myself but in a pinch it would work.

I did much flying of reciprocating aircraft in wintertime in the Arctic. We routinely added isopropyl alcohol to our fuel to disperse the ice crystals which would form in the fuel tanks and clog the screens.

I have just been quoted 400,000 baht by Jaguar Thailand to rebuild my transmission for my 1998 Jag XK8(I am told they send it back to the Uk to be repaired!) . Does anybody know of a specialist in Thailand who might be able to repair it???

Ouch that's a very steep repair.

There are some enthusiast car clubs in Bangkok and associated support networks.

I would seek them out. You will likely find a Jaguar specialist who really knows his stuff.

There are many such people in Thailand. Sometimes you have to be patient and wait for parts. Sometimes those parts can be very expensive.

You can also shop for a rebuilt transmission in the UK and have it shipped here. Compare prices. Don't be in a hurry. Buy a beater Toyota Corolla in the interim.

I don't think you get a Wave 125 for 36K. The price difference is no mystery: Honda is a very popular brand, Suzuki isn't.

But you can buy a Wave100 for 36K! Which is a great value.

It's inaccurate to say Suzuki isn't a popular brand. Suzuki makes many excellent products and produces engines for many other manufactures.

In Thailand Suzuki just isn't as popular as Honda.

Some of Suzuki bigger bikes are really fine machines.

Today I saw a new Suzuki Best 125cc clutch bike for 36,000 baht, about 10,000 to 15,000 cheaper than comparable Yamaha's and Honda's. Why the price difference? Is the Suzuki much inferior, or a better buy?

If I was in the market for a scooter I might give it a whirl. Sometimes up and coming manufactures make equal or even better product to their competitors. Subaru is one example.

I wouldn't be afraid of a Suzuki just because it's a Suzuki.

Most of the bigger tire shops offer tire rotation and balancing free for the life of the tire. It does help extend the life of the tire because a tire will develop a wear pattern regardless of the mechanical condition of the car. The driven tires do indeed wear more than the non driven tires. Rotating the tires breaks a wear pattern which could allow some of the tires to wear out before others. As it's preferable to buy 4 new tires at a time it's preferable to have all 4 tires wear as evenly as possible. Rotating the tires every 10000km or so improves the odds of getting maximum life out of a set of tires.

Radial tires with few exception are rotated front to back.

On a newish car or small truck with top quality michelin tires you can easily get 100,000 km out of them with modest care.

That's a good price you arranged for that boat. You probably won't be going far.

I'll take a pass as the seas this time of year aren't especially comfortable.

You can charter a long tail boat for a day out of Phangna for about 1500 baht. Take you to some nice sheltered beaches with good fishing. They are comfortable for 4-6 people. Or you can charter 2 boats as they are so cheap.

I also know someone who can arrange the whole experience for about 2500 baht a head including a picnic lunch, drinks and transport to Phangna.

and if you can't read Thai don't ride in BKK ....

<deleted>!

Half the thai people out there can't read either!

That road into BKK from Pattaya is under a lot of construction. I'm sure many signs aren't in place.

But most highway signs are marked in english as well, though not always easy to decipher.

It's incredibly easy to get lost in BKK.

I've been on the freeways many times with my big motorcycle. I do know where I am though and when a cop waves at me I pretend not to see him.

They have managed to stop me twice by being sneaky. The rate for this infraction has been 500 baht on the spot. Leave your drivers license in your pocket as the 500 baht note doubles as drivers license.

When riding around BKK always have a purple bank note handy.

You can bring a bike into the country easily enough with a temporary importation permit. But you must exit the country every 30 days with it to stay legal. If you overstay you're bike expect a 2000 baht fine at the border exiting the country.

There are many illegal bikes running around and their riders keep a purple note handy for the policemen. Most policemen are satisfied with a quick 500 baht in their pocket.

There are quite a few fully legal imported bikes here for sale, you can buy a brand new one if you like. They carry about a 30% premium over what could buy the same bike for elsewhere where the duties are less restrictive.

To my surprise the gf got home from work early to find myself, legs splayed on the floor shaving my ass in front of the sliding wardrobe mirrors, not good. I always thought that shaving certain areas would resemble a clean, healthy way of dealing with personal hygiene, she was shocked never to return............

I know a few ladies who like to do it for you. It's quite enjoyable. The shaving anyway. One lady I know works in a spa and after significant coercion talked me into the waxing procedure described in the above link. I does sting a bit. It's worth a try!

Airfare down here is cheap now. Either AirAsia or 1 2 Go. Hardly worth suffering in a bus for 12-15 hours for to save 500 baht.

There are many low season accommodations available. Shopping around will turn up something decent in the 400-1000 baht range.

Why do you attack Kinsey? Oh yeah he implies that you might not be 100% str8!

If you did your homework you would find how Kinsey's research was fraudulent. His test subjects where from a prison population. According to Kinsey everyone is homosexual. Simple logic dictates otherwise.

And again just because I don't kowtow to the convoluted and erroneous postulations of homosexual dogma you suggest I need therapy!!!! Are you unable to discuss this issue without denigrating or insulting me?

You can live your life as you choose, it only bothers me when I see homosexual recruiting attempts in schools which are based on the fundamental lies of Alfred Kinsey.

I wasn't until 1972 when the APA removed homosexuality from their list of pathologies.

Care to venture a guess who influenced that decision?

Nope I am suggesting what Kinsey suggested <and many many after him> ... that sexuality isn't static it is dynamic

Kinsey was discredited because he manipulated his research and advocated sex with children.

Kinsey laid the foundations of the modern views of sexuality.

Seems like shaky ground to base ones life on.

.... Sorry if that offends you but it seems to be the current thought in the field with very little change since the 1950's. If you happen to be 100% heterosexual then you are in the minority. That doesn't mean that even men that are 99% homosexual ever have sex with men.

Why be afrid of human sexuality when it doesn't affect you? 'phobes are a funny lot and more often than not have severe issues with their own sexuality. Folks from the Judeo/Christian/Islam background have far more trouble with this at least intellectually than folks from elsewhere!

Unlike some many of us have lives that don't revolve around an obsession with sex.

Generally the homosexuals I encounter are more obsessed with sex that other segments of the population.

Just having a homosexual sub-forum proves it.

Talk about bar girls here and you get directed to another forum.

Thai folks just don't care who you sleep with if you are a decent person <and strangely I have found that to be true even in the Muslim village I live in!> But then again they are Thai first ...

And ... just because you didn't see it doesn't mean it wasn't there Could be many reasons you didn't see it! Not cute? Obnoxious? Zealously religious? didn't brush your teeth? weren't cool? weren't a nerd? you had a GF and folks just didn't bother?

Where was this non-coed school you attended and was it public or religious?

It was a private school in New Hampshire. Not overtly religious or otherwise, focus was on a balanced education.

We weren't encouraged to experiment with homosexual sex, though I know some who did.

I didn't feel overtly compelled.

Why do you feel compelled to suggest denigrating scenarios because I didn't participate in homosexual activities?

Why do many homosexuals feel compelled to share their sexuality and encourage others to try it?

Why are homosexuals so quick to label as "homophobe" or "religious zealot" anyone who dares to point out the fundamental fallacies of Alfred Kinsey?

Never mind I know. I suppose if I'd built my life around such a shaky philosophy I'd be defensive as well.

The real sophisticated "drink spiking" happens in Las Vegas. Where you can wake up with a neatly removed kidney. About a $20KUSD score.

North Africa you can loose your life just for the value of your blood and gold fillings. Sometimes just the gold. Life is cheap in some areas of the world.

[.... the phobes were usually just the one's that actually were gay and came out much later

Interesting observation....Curious as to how it came to be! I certainly didn't see it during my years of non-coed boarding school.

To me the OP is making the erroneous assumption that just because you group a bunch of men/boys together you are going to have gay sex.

It's like saying everyone is a homosexual by nature and it is by nurture that you become heterosexual.

I've observed that it is the homosexuals who try to paint everyone as homosexual to rationalize their behavior as being the norm. Alfred Kinsey was one the first ones to do this. Much to his discredit.

Can you really be serious to suggest heterosexuality isn't normal?

Bumrumgrad offers a neat comprehensive package checkup of your health.

Aside from that should find plenty smaller facilities that offers cheaper packages. You will still need to consult with a doc to order up the appropriate tests. Unless you are a doc yourself or can pretend to be. Most of the doctors out there are just pretending!

I'm waiting for the Pattaya crew to get organized.

I'm expecting free beer and a plentiful BBQ.

hurry up before the slow season get any slower!

Organised? We just had an Offical Pissup at Tropical Berts about 2 months ago so the next one wont be for a while I am guessing. so in the meantime any suggestions for venues to be checked out would be great

Hey I'm just a tourist from Phuket. I don't know squat. I looking for another excuse to visit.

I've swung back and forth on this thread, wanting to make comments but then thought about what the OP has posted.

And have to say, the simple answer is "Yes, Pattaya is great for lonely men".

I'm confused. I this a gay thread?

Then again on my way to the gogo bars in Pattaya I've passed Boyz Town. I reckon that's a gay boy area.

Even on soi pattayaland 2 I've seen the world's most stunning katoeys. I know they're not gay but their clients clearly are borderline.

So I agree Pattaya really is the greatest for lonely "people" of all persuasions.

I'm waiting for the Pattaya crew to get organized.

I'm expecting free beer and a plentiful BBQ.

hurry up before the slow season get any slower!

Are all male boarding schools, with limited female companionship, teaching young guys, more than just academics, but possibly teaching them gayness. Have heard of some experiences by friends in US. that while they were attending, were first introduced to gay sex.

This is perhaps the same in many western countries, if not Thailand.

Yes , I know that if someone has gay proclivities it should not matter how, or where he first experienced gay sex. If a straight gay can also just say Thank you, no thank you.

Any one have any experiences or thoughts about all male boarding schools.

But then I'm digressing into another possible thread.

Is being gay a matter or nature(born gay) or nurture (learnd behavior)

This seems to be a case of trying to see the world as black or white.

Most people can readily observe that the world is filled with color.

Varying shades of mauve seem to predominate certain venues.

I attended boarding schools for many years during a time when coed boarding schools weren't the norm.

The homo boys stuck out. They weren't treated with much respect. Homosexuality certainly wasn't part of the curriculum. The all male boarding school would be better described as a homophobe breeding ground.

I wonder if it's because of all the gay advertising and the fact that tis forum seems to be(unjustifiably) gathering the reputation for being a gay thailand forum.

and later switched sides to bat for the other team, shooting blank bullets. Is that a great story, or what?

I don't understand! Why would you want a vasectomy if you're gay.

I am sooooooooo sick of these people in general not just in Thailand. Seriously isn't it easier to do nothing and go about your daily business worship your god and do what it is you have to do rather than cause problems on a global scale. I just don't get the ignorance and yes I know it is not all the Muslims but they need to take care of their own and show the world that they are part of the solution not part of the problem.

If you don't like Muslims get the helll out of Thailand!

Just go home! Its that simple!

No Shi*e!

Extend you 60 day tourist visa for 30 days!

After that go to Penang, KL, or Vientiane for another 60 days tourists visa.

You're allowed three 30 day entry stamps every 180 days. But these days having multiple 30 day stamps just raises the level of arbitrariness Thai consulates/embassies might choose to exercise.

To my knowledge no one is being denied 60 day tourist visas in KL, Penang, or Vientiane.

I haven't heard yet whether or not people are getting 60 day tourist visas out of Phenom Phen.

There is some very nice boating activity out of Phangna. I know of a couple of longtail boats available. Good fishing and scenery.