Hanuman2547

I used GRAB taxi when I was in CM in December.  It worked very well.  No problems, much cheaper, and quicker than other modes of transport.  I have used them in Bangkok as well and they work very well, especially from my house that is deep in a back soi.

Well it all really depends how invasive the Thai minder assigned to you is.  If your Thai minder is something like this I don't think there will be too much of a problem.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fdepositphotos.com%2Fstock-photos%2Fcute-thai-girl.html&psig=AOvVaw3-F2adKIa5IRJwKp_UU5hC&ust=1602785343501000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAIQjRxqFwoTCLjpqp_XtOwCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAO

I would suggest calling the hotel that you want to stay at directly to see that they are open.  Probably best to do this near the time that you are leaving.  Then I would go through your favorite booking site to make the reservation.  I've heard of a few people making online reservations, pay for it, and then get to the place and find it closed.  They sometimes have difficulty in getting their money returned in a timely manner.

I put my bike on the train a couple of times.  Going up to Ayuthaya and also Nong Khai.  The fee was very little.  Maybe 30 baht but this was 20 years ago.

Too bad he isn't in the USA where the laws are much more lenient for juvenile offenders.  The laws vary from state to state but most likely he'd be looking at 36 to 52 weeks and upon release would have to register as a sex offender.  This would severly limit where he could live and what type of work he could do.  If he was an adult (age over 18) then he'd be looking at a sentence similar to Thailand.  He would also have to register as a sex offender.

I thought he was going to say he stumbled across the Royal Varuna Yacht Club.

This couple just did all the wrong things.  They were merely marching past their house to the mayors house.  There was no reason to come outside with firearms.  They should have just stayed in their house, with their guns if they want to, and let them pass by.  If someone, anyone, were to enter their house without permission then they would be within their right to display their weapons.  Instead they escalated a situation which didn't need to be done.  Hopefully they will be convicted, sentenced, and serve their prison time.  In addition they will be disbarred from the legal profession.  

18 hours ago, Falcon said:

It’s a simple matter of choice. There is no way around it now, other than to take a chance and draw a ball on selection and Hope you get the right color so that you don’t have to enlist. In order to get the Thai passport, you’ll need to be entered in a blue book (house registration), no way around that. When you get the Thai passport, the ONLY way that you can be sure if to be safe is to not travel to Thailand again until you reach 30 years old. After this age, you’ll be exempt. If you try to enter before this age, when you reach the airport and present your passport, you will most likely be detained, arrested and then taken directly to the military for 2 years service. This also goes the same if you try to use your NZ passport too as they will link it. I’ve seen people in the same situation think that they can beat the system by using their foreign policy to enter only to be marched off to military camp and we’ve two years service.

This is absurd.  Both of my luk krung boys, who now live in the USA, have travelled in and out of Thailand with both their US and Thai passports.  They hold Thai and US citizenship, have Thai ID cards, are fluent in Thai and English, and are both registered in the house registration blue book (Tabian Baan).  Not once has the subject of Thai military service ever come up either entering or exiting Thailand.  They have entered and exited the country numerous times in their 20's with no issue.  Now that they are both in their 30's there is no chance that they will be drafted.  You definitely do not know what you are talking about and have no direct experience with this.  

A friend of mine who is a Thai citizen just returned from Singapore where she has worked for a number of years.  She had to do the testing for Covid-19 and also is in quarantine for 14 days.  She's on Day 8 now.  

13 minutes ago, Promula said:

Don't hold your breath. It'll probably arrive around the same time as this https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phuket_Island_light_rail_transit

If it doesn't go to Patong then it really is missing a major hub on the island.

Always practice safe beer drinking whether from a can or a bottle.  Use a beer condom!  Keeps the beer cooler longer.  Maybe not as long as your ex-wife's heart but almost. 555

17 hours ago, Berkshire said:

You've completely missed the point.  The reason Sizzler doesn't have much competition in Thailand is because there isn't a huge market for "American food."  Perhaps you need someone to explain to you that in Thailand, the Thais prefer Thai food.  Sizzler Thailand does just fine in the little niche market that they occupy.

Nah, you just don't get it.  Sure Thais prefer Thai food.  They also seem to enjoy American fast food as well.  There actually is quite a big market for "American Food".  Have you ever noticed how many McDonalds there are in Thailand?  Maybe not, but that's ok.  However, that's not the question.  Sizzler is just kind of mediocre but the Thais are fine with that.

On ‎9‎/‎23‎/‎2020 at 7:26 PM, Berkshire said:

Not a valid comparison.  Sizzler in the US had many competitors, most offering superior products with competitive pricing.  Sizzler in Thailand is unique and reasonably priced.  And everybody loves their salad bar.  I do hope Sizzler Thailand continues to thrive. 

Sure is a valid comparison.  What you are saying is that Sizzler isn't that great in the USA because there are better competitors.  Here in Thailand there is less competition so they can churn out the same quality as in the USA but do better because of little competition.  The end product is still the same, just kind of mediocre.    

I never thought that Sizzler was that great of a restaurant in the USA.  It explains why I never stepped foot in one in Thailand.  

4 minutes ago, Nout said:

Very few Americans come here these days but you are correct about the small town Americans with parochial views whose idea of fun is visiting a mall and find WS den of inequity. They moan because Thailand is not like the USA. I dont know why you have problems with Germans.

Actually if you read my post I never mentioned anything about small town Americans.  That was all you.  They type of American you do describe is hardly the type that travels to Thailand.  I don't have a problem with Germans again that is you fabricating more nonsense.  I guess reading comprehension isn't in your skill set.  

This program that they are touting is going to fall flat on their faces.  Very few people are going to want to stay for 14 days cooped up in their hotel room that they are paying for.  I wonder what the “14 days of fun” are that the TAT has planned.  About the only people that might benefit are those who are stuck outside of Thailand and are trying to find a way to get back in.  Then they get 270 days and hopefully by the end of that travel will be much easier.  Of course they will have to prove that they are "deep pocketed" tourists.  

On 9/18/2020 at 4:54 PM, ubonjoe said:

The instruction for the WP3 form required documents does not show a teachers license for it.

See: https://www.doe.go.th/prd/assets/upload/files/alien_en/df172270ff13dbee9ce60cc34f9b698d.pdf

It appears the local office where the school requested the WP3 is wrong and I don't recall it being asked for before.

To borrow from another source,

Rule #1:  The local office is always correct.

Rule#2  When the local office is incorrect, see Rule #1.

I'd be very careful in showing them their errors.  Making someone lose face could give you more problems than you bargained for.

"All cyclists can obtain a free-ride coupon at the ticket offices at BTS stations, he said."

Again, Thailand shoots themselves in the foot.  Users with bicycles will now have to endure standing in a line with a bicycle along with all of the other commuters.  What idiots!  The bicycle IS your ticket!  No need to line up and get a useless ticket.

He will probably pick up a couple of new charges.  Theft of Government property...….the clipboard and clothes!  555

Back in November 2018 I packed up my old 2002 LeMond Zurich triple (52/42/30 - 12-25 9sp cassette) and headed off to Thailand.  I packed it in pipe insulation and bubble wrap.  Took off both wheels, handle bars, seat post, and pedals.  Individually wrapped each piece.  I used a soft sided bike travel case.  I reinforced it by cutting out cardboard from an old TV box.  It made it a lot stronger and added a lot of protection.  I also added some T-shirts and bike clothes for additional padding and to keep items from sliding around.  Arrived in Bangkok and breezed through customs.  They didn't even bother to stop me despite having the one larger than usual checked bag.  I flew on EVA airlines from the USA with a stop in Taipei.  At check-in in the USA I didn't have to pay an extra fee for the oversized bike bag.  It was not overweight and they just counted it as one of my two free checked in bags.  The bike now remains in Thailand as now I don't have to drag a bike back and forth between countries.  Someday I'll upgrade and bring one of my carbon fiber framed bikes to Thailand.  

On 4/30/2020 at 2:30 AM, Gabe H Coud said:

thanks Steve, much appreciated

not my end of town but it doesnt matter . Plus i might see some others on the way down there on the songtheaw, cheers

hopefully there's some threads re rides around hua hin as thatll be my next challenge

I believe there are a couple of expat groups that organize group rides in the Hua Hin area.