tfc

the next time you know about unfurnished is that it doesnt even have tiles

Wait a minute - you got tiles in yours? dam_n.

Mmmmm Bt900 million to tell the public NOT to light any fires, seems to me to be another recipe for some serious pocket money ??

Why not try what the local government do in my home country.. DO NOT LIGHT ANY FIRES OR YOU WILL GO TO PRISON !!

That cost's nothing !!

Same as in mine. Even though prisoners cost a lot to upkeep in my country it's a big enough deterrent for this sort of thing that people just don't do it (much). Needs to be enforced which is the next problem here.

They seem stricter with this in Chiang Mai. When I was in Phuket the police often used to let tourists go if they could show they were a tourist. Even if they were not they could be let off if a little tip was added. Of course sometimes they'd have special fines. A friend of mine had his Thai license, rego and green book and the policeman said that he had not paid his "today only driving tax" of 500 baht.

Sounds like you dodged a bullet there. This is the sort of landlord that wants you to fix the roof when it falls in.

My Thai teacher said that calling someone a Buffalo is really bad.

During

Air quality in the hot season, before the rains, is the biggest problem for the North, with Chiang Mai among the worst because of its geography (surrounded by mountains). Burning of rice fields is the main cause.

Compare with other parts of Thailand here: http://ourchiangmai....g-mai-thailand/

Terrible shame, it has only gotten worse over the years...

How does that pollution compare to Bangkok? Is it always polluted or only during the rice burning? If only during the rice burning, when does that take place. I could move there for 6 months that are outside that period.

During smoky season I go to Bangkok to get fresh air. Seriously. One never wants to be saying that they are going to Bangkok for fresh air but it is an indication of how bad the smoky season can get in Chiang Mai. This year it was post apocalyptic.

Most traffic victims are motorcyclists and they will live shorter because of the polution.

One thing I have noticed riding here is that the bikers are generally much better drivers. They have a situational

awareness of what is going on around them more so than the car & truck drivers.

The same goes for bikers I know back home in Australia. Comes from knowing how it feels to be on the other foot.

This guy is already in jail huh? Gee, I remember reading a story about a coked up, drunk kid driving a ferrari who killed a cop and tried to do a runner and he's still living large.

Send him to work in a restaurant for a month or two first as kitchen hand. This will give him the experience of seeing how the back end of a restaurant works and give him a bit more insight into whether or not it is for him. If he doesn't last as a kitchen hand he will probably not last as an apprentice chef.

Most traffic victims are motorcyclists and they will live shorter because of the polution.

I can't argue with that however you forgot to mention that the car drivers will probably die while waiting for a car park.

Thanks for the further suggestions, she already headed off to Wat Doi Suthep today mainly because it allows more flexibility of options. I'm curious to hear of her experience as I know that that wat is very popular as a tourist destination but haven't heard too many experiences of the meditation retreat itself.

Thanks again and that list your provided above is a useful one.

Even though the bicycle has been my primary mode of transport just about everywhere in Bangkok over the past three years, I don't hold much hope for this effort. They should improve the antiquated bus system IMHO, as that would improve the transportation for a greater number of people. I subject myself to the rolling torture chambers myself occasionally, but would still rather bike it than subject myself to them.

For you folks who believe that the high level of pollution is an argument against bicycling, I believe you are at the same or even greater risk of breathing pollutants when walking. This was brought up to me someone a few days ago and on the return trip I realized that I wasn't breathing as hard when keeping a medium speed as I would have been had I been walking and covering distance much faster, minimizing my exposure time. I certainly was not breathing as hard as I would have been had I been jogging and still moving faster than a jogger. Bicycles are a very efficient form of transportation. More efficient than walking? I would say so.

In my early web readings of bicycling in Bangkok, I ran across this web site that I'd like to share with you:

http://www.kutu.com/...bike/bybike.htm

Buried within is something that is claimed to be a 'Survival Guide'. I'm going to make comments (in bold italics) that are based my three years of experience of bicycling in Bangkok. I would rather believe that the Survival Guide was an attempt at humor, but I don't believe that to be the case. Here it is:

Survival Guide

Want to give it a try ? Here are the rules:

1. Don't be a nice guy. If there is little space, ride in the middle of the road to prevent motorists from doing things that could hurt you. Surely, they will be very angry, but they won't run over you. If you instead move to the side of the road, vehicles will speed up while something unexpected (let's say a hole or a dog) could make you move back into the lane.
   Very bad advice! Give the right of way to all motorized vehicles AND pedestrians. This advice will irritate drivers and could lead to road rage. If necessary, walk the bike and become a pedestrian for a short period.
   
2. Confuse drivers: If a fast vehicle approaches, you must move about one meter towards the center of the lane, then quickly come back. The driver will be confused and will either reduce speed or keep a safe distance to you. If you don't do this, the draft of the vehicle at close distance could throw you off the bike or a mirror could hit you.
   Again, very bad advice. Appearing to be 'unpredictable' to an approaching anything is the last thing one should do. I've never experienced any kind of 'draft' of a vehicle that would have thrown me off the bike, but my handlebar was hit by a mirror once because I was really not over as far as I should/could have been. Of course, the main threat is a full-on rear ending by a high-speed vehicle which one should be alert for at at all times.
   
3. Do not indicate a turn by stretching out your arm: Drivers will either hit your arm, or speed up to get past you before you actually turn. Simply make sure that there is enough space for drivers to react and slow down, then do the turn slowly, while you carefully watch the approaching vehicles.
   This Is complete nonsense, although I personally rarely indicate a turn, but not for the reasons mentioned. I could make a case for having bicycles equipped with turn indicator lights and have seen at least one bicycle that has them. Whether one slows or not for the turn is determined by the specific situation.
   
4. Don't let public busses go past you, when the next stop is in sight. Being at your hight, the bus will pull to the side of the road and force you into a crowd of people waiting for this bus
   Yes, if you are an imcompetent bicyclist by being completely devoid of 'situational awareness', this could happen. So how is the author proposing to not let public busses 'go past you'? If one cannot deal intelligently and safely with busses (as well as several other problematic situations), they should not be bicycling in Bangkok.
   
5. Try not to dodge minor objects (holes, pedestrians, dogs) without being very sure that no car or motorbike is coming from behind. It helps to have a mountainbike, it can stand a lot more than a roadbike.
   Yes, but one doesn't want to risk an upset by hitting objects in one's path either. This speaks to situational awareness as well. One should be aware of all nearby potential threats at all times so that an evasive maneuver can be performed when necessary. At least one rearview mirror and using it often are mandatory.
   
6. Know your traffic partners: Colliding with a motorbike causes a lot of injury. Hitting a car, badly damages the bike but the rider often slides smoothly over bonnet or roof. Pedestrians and dogs will be propelled away when hit, and often you will stay in the saddle with zero damage to the bike.
   Knowing your traffic partners, as the author put it, is good advice. The remainder of the author's point is very speculative and bordering on black humor. He seems to have had experience hitting pedestrians and dogs and being hit by automobiles.
   
7. Taxis and TukTuks: Be very careful when you follow them, they can stop instantly if a potential passenger appears. A good brake will help, but always think of the guy behind you.
   Be very careful when following anything would have been superior advice, since any vehicle could stop 'instantly' (if that is possible) at any time. If one is following so closely, that an evasive maneuver is not possible (rather than breaking), then one should review their defensive-bicycling tactics.
   
8. Maintain speed: If you go slow, drivers tend to push you to the slower lanes were many funny things happen (and many Taxis linger). If you go really slow, beggars may approach you.
   I don't know where or how the author does his or her biking, but if he or she is out in fast lanes and impeding motorized traffic, he's asking for trouble and may even be breaking the law (not that would be a big issue). One should have a racing bike and be race-capable to be coexisting with higher-speed motorized traffic in fast lanes; but even then it would be risky business.
   
9. Keep in mind that pedestrians don't expect traffic when they don't hear an engine. People step into the road without looking.
   There is often a high noise level on the streets so hearing the engine on an approaching vehicle is often unlikely. In any event, it is the bicyclist's responsibility to be aware of anything that could become in your path and deal with it. A bell is mandatory, but it should be used with discretion.
   
10. Don't count on people to hear your bell: Bells are associated with street vendors and when you ring it, you will make people think of fried noodles or ice cream. A pressure horn instead will give you attention. Anything that sounds like screeching tires will give you a lot more attention.
    Yes. One wouldn't want pedestians to think you're selling fried noodles or ice cream, would one? All seriousness aside, using a warning bell or a horn when approaching pedestrians from behind (not limited to sidewalks in Bangkok - especially Sukumvit) is problematic, but not for the reason mentioned. If on the sidewalk, you are really an interloper, in spite of the lame attempt of whomever to paint bicycle paths on sidwalks here there and act accordingly. Always give pedestrians (and all other vehichles) the right-of-way.
    
11. Stay clear of cars that have oversized tires protruding from the fenders.
    This could have been abbreviated to 'stay clear of cars', perhaps. I don't know where the author has been bicycling, but if one is in danger of hitting protruding, oversized tires maybe they should consider increasing their distance from cars as a matter of general policy. I have yet to see this in Bangkok in three years of bicycling.
    
12. Rain: Follow in someone else's track as to avoid covered holes. Be prepared to get out of the way, a lot of drivers don't reduce their speed in water while accidents definitely happen.
    This advice is specious because one probably shouldn't even be bicycling in the rain on the road for starters and certainly not where autos have left a water-clear track. Leave this activity to the motorbike-taxis who have to risk it to make a living.
    
13. In the dark, use a strong light and plenty of reflectors. This will give you a tremendous safety advantage over the local cyclists.
    Of course one should be as visible as possible. I purchased (but don't use much) a motorbike-taxi style vest with reflective tape front and back. One should wear light-colored or highly visible clothing. Sometimes I even wear a full motorbike style helmet, which has greatly surprised people on occasion.
    
14. Avoid areas of little traffic after 4pm, when dogs go aggressive and attack fast-moving objects. When you stop abruptly, most dogs scatter. Shoot stones at those who stay on you (and at their owner, for a more permanent effect).
    Once again, I don't know where the author has been touring, but this advice also cannot be distinguished by me from humor. Yes, I've been attacked and chased a few times by dogs. One time it was a whole pack of very aggressive ones at night on Petchaburi. In all cases, I got my legs out of danger and just kept going - nothing more.
    
15. Know a good hospital and have a proper insurance, just in case.
    And if one doesn't have insurance (proper or otherwise)? He forgot to mention identification and a credit card or a lot of cash.
    

All good but you mixed up the first rule:

Don't ride in Bangkok.

Thanks for the suggestion, I did a retreat there some years ago and it was great. My friend is looking for a shorter duration retreat though as she has limited time.

My friend would like to do a short meditation retreat. She has done a 10 day Goenka retreat about 4 years ago but is looking for something "less intense" and would like to experience a different method or perspective on Vipassana than Goenka style just for a different perspective and insight.

She would prefer a retreat that goes for anything from 2-5 days (as she flies out of Thailand on the 6th November) and she would also like to be able to have discussion with the teachers or monks during the retreat. So far she has narrowed her choices down to Wat Doi Suthep or Wat Suan Dok (if anyone can suggest others please do!).

Can anyone relate differences between the two centers, meditation styles, daily routine and most importantly the opportunity for discussion and discourse with monks? She has zero Thai language so English is necessary.

Thanks in advance for any opinions, advice or suggestions.

You might try speedfan, that is the one I have most success with readouts. Just depends on the sensors that are being used and if speedfan supports those.

Speedfan is what I used too. Mine was heating up to about 100 degree C, luckily still under warranty the shop said it was a motherboard something or rather and fixed it a few days.

I'm in the process of learning vocab, reading and writing, grammar. To tell the truth I'm enjoying the experience of learning more than anything else but it's a bonus that the skill itself is helpful considering the country that I'm in.

What a joke.

Only difference is that I usually laugh at jokes.

I all for cycling and I ride a lot when in Melbourne, Australia but no way am I riding at bicycle in Bangkok. All that huffing and puffing and sucking up the pollution. Not my cup of tea mate.

Every time someone wanted fries or a burger, they had to be rushed over from the original Duke's?

Yes.

Pancakes at Butter is Better. With fried eggs and bacon. Best breakfast ever.

But no maple syrup eh?.........well none that touches the bacon or eggs.

I like maple syrup but honey will do.

I bought what the guy insisted was a real and genuine rolex for the bargain price of 150 baht. I was shocked and distraught to later find out that I had bought a fake as my friends consoled me over a couple of beers.

I read in the Bangkok Post this morning that he has asked the police for a postponement without giving any date to attend for questioning, the police are going to seek an arrest warrent if he doesn't front shortly.

Sent from my GT-I9003

He'll probably front shortly in Monaco.

He's only a suspect? Oh, yeah, they also have a maid or servant who confessed... Cut the BS! Any other family (except maybe the shinawatras or yubamrungs) and this guy would've already died in jail.

Yes only a suspect, it's possible that the policeman was suicidal and jumped under the car and held on while being dragged along. There is also a possibility that the local unicorn knocked the policeman into the car which would equate to the usual "no one is at fault don't worry about it."

Can people please keep this thread on topic!?

Duct tape is clearly superior to masking tape.

Sooo.....is he here yet?