[Are Expat's Opinions of Thailand Influenced by how much money they have?]

No need to read the op through, the title is adequate enough for response:

 

Peoples opinions of everywhere they visit are filtered through the amount of cash the have available. 

[Shops charging 1 or 2% for using visa machine in the store]

reverse psychology, offer a 2 percent discount for cash payments. have original price include markup for credit cards.

[Tzr 150? 200+km/h?]

2 hours ago, thaiguzzi said:

Instead of coming out with inane comments, why don't you actually go and ride and test a well sorted two stroke water cooled power valve 150 and get back to us.

I have and they surprised me.

It may be hard for you to comprehend, but they will actually do what they say on the tin.

I have a Thai friend who runs his own mom'n'pop corner m/c shop, fully trained Yamaha/Honda mechanic, specializes in KRR's. His own personal KRR WILL HIT 200 kph. The same bike has taken him 80 kms the OTHER side of Udon Thani, down to Buriram, and back in the same day.

I have ridden another one of his KRRs, it was effortless @ 160, cruise all day @ 120 and topped out around 180-185. And i'm a big bloke, 193 cms, 100kgs.

Try it, you might like it.

But then again, i doubt it.

i have owned, in thailand, a vfr 400r (NC30 derestricted), an nsr 250r MC21, and an NSR150sp,

 

the first 2 did 200 after derestriction, the nsr150 struggled after 180, as another user said, maybe 200 downhill with a tailwind and a lot of very smooth straight road.

[Tzr 150? 200+km/h?]

19 hours ago, GazR said:

 

Yeah, blurry photos will do instead. Very precise. 

[Tzr 150? 200+km/h?]

9 minutes ago, GazR said:

On my speedo with my 70kg - yes. The TZM has 36hp stock compared to the 33hp of a stock a TZR.

 

i suggest getting a gps reading

[Expats need to organize in face of Embassies discontinuance of income verification letters]

These letters are meaningless. they are embassy affidavits that you claim your income is true. 

 

If the Thai government agrees to accept original documentation of income you have all saved a step. 

 

If you have no such documentation, it's likely the income isn't genuine either. 

 

Not sure why the outcry at the discontinuation of an entirely redundant process and additional cost. 

[Why is Beer So Expensive in Thailand Grocery Stores?]

4 minutes ago, pikao said:

Leo is part of the Singha Corporation

Yet his entire response is so typical of Tha visa when explaining all things thai - authoritative yet uninformed. 

[Why is Beer So Expensive in Thailand Grocery Stores?]

I don't think many of you understand that Thailand is expensive. 

 

Prices have risen steadily over the past. 20 years, partially to compensate for the baht crash. 

 

As the baht became stronger, prices did not necessarily correct to reflect that. 

 

Taxes from a morilstic and greedy junta on what they consider vices haven't helped.

 

Still considering Thailand home, but working around the region,  especially in the Philippines I am shocked when I return every month or so and review bank statements that reflect my spending. 

 

Thailand is 50 percent more expensive in almost every way. 

 

The days of cheap Thailand are over. Accept it. 

[I am almost ready to Pull the plug and leave]

On 10/14/2018 at 6:36 PM, meechai said:

That of course is an excellent reason????

Excellent indeed, but quoting the cheap price of vegetables is a false economy if he means to. Provide them with decent schooling. 

 

Of course if he's happy with public education, that's great, but I can't see how any parent truly would be if other options exist. 

[I am almost ready to Pull the plug and leave]

On 9/5/2018 at 9:12 AM, sammieuk1 said:

Your not alone death by slow financial strangulation is relentless?

Thai visa in a nutshell

[Haggling,do you feel guilty?]

On 7/31/2018 at 7:52 AM, BritManToo said:

The funny thing is, it's all changed.

On the green bus, I was the only white guy, at the border hardly any whites, in the market almost deserted.

Five years back the place would have been packed with white foreigners, surrounded by packs of touts.

As a white man, I was almost invisible to immigration, don't even need to put my backpack through the x-ray machine.

On the bus back at the two police checkpoints, when the police board and shout 'passports', they don't mean me, zero interest.

 

It's a funny old world!

Well they obviously could tell you were an upmarket, desirable, viagra-buying sex tourist of the highest ilk.

 

An honour to have you, it must have been.

[Haggling,do you feel guilty?]

On 7/30/2018 at 7:09 PM, from the home of CC said:

Whenever I see something I like that there's no price tag on I stand out of sight and let the wife go deal with it. Once the price has been set she gives me the signal and I walk and pay for it. Sometimes the vendors face displays dismay but when me and wife both smile at them they'll chuckle and shake their head. I treat it as a game and the wife says when foreigners overpay, some vendors considers them rich fools. 

Yes, hiding behind your wife is certainly the way to do Thailand right.

[Some thoughts after the Chiang Rai rescue]

1 hour ago, Spidey said:

Yes, in the UK.

Neither do you have any say regarding the coach, or what I say' thank heaven.

to clarify, as you seem to have had difficulty understanding, thailand is not the UK.

they are radically different places.

but i appreciate you went to alot of trouble writing a post on how things are in the uk, so i suppose your cutting and pasting it into every thread you can is understandable.

[Some thoughts after the Chiang Rai rescue]

3 hours ago, Spidey said:

In the UK, all pots (caves) that may be hazardous (Tham Luang certainly falls into this category) have their entrances gated and locked. Some just appear as a small hole, barely large enough for a man to squeeze through but open out into much larger cave systems. These are secured by the local speleological societies and to gain access you must apply, in advance, to them and prove your capability as a potholer to enter said cave. Also, the party is logged in and out by the keyholder. Larger caves that are open to the public generally have their access controlled by the cave owner. Before entering any cave system it's normal practice to check the weather forecast for the time you plan to be in there from a reliable source (normally the Met Office). Had these basic precautions been followed, none of this would have happened. As for the coach, I can understand him not following any basic safety precautions as this isn't normal practice in Thailand. What really baffles me is why he led them 4km into the cave system, barefoot with no hard hats. If he had only gone as far as the first large cave and had his picnic there he would have easily led the party out when the water started to rise. The route they took was the same as the route used to rescue them, a route difficult enough that, even when dry, should only be attempted by experienced cavers with the appropriate equipment.

Guy was irresponsible and unthinking and seriously endangered the lives of the children in his charge. Personally, I wouldn't want to see him prosecuted as he knew no better but would ensure that he was never put in charge of children again.

Hopefully, the Thai authorities will restrict the access to all caves in Thailand (not just Tham Luang, which is what is currently proposed) but I won't hold my breath.

 

not the uk.

 

and you have no say regarding the coach.

thank heaven.

[Visa madness has to stop, calling all US citizens]

Considering a us citizen is eligible for a visa exempt upon landing in thailand, and a thai needs a visa to even get on the plane to the us, the whole topic seems to be based an a rather spurious premise.

 

However i do understand where the op is coming from and hereby propse a special Immigrant E - Entitlement Visa for just this situation

[Give The British Divers Who Found the Kids And Their Instructor In The Cave Thai Citizenship And The Highest Civilian Medal.]

13 hours ago, Badrabbit said:

I'm surprised they haven't been arrested for working without a work permit such is Thailand!!

Sent from my SM-G610F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

Im not suprised some asshat with an axe to grind trotted out this tired old saw.

[So why don’t Thais want to wear their bike helmets?]

its an education thing, i remember mandatory helmet protests in US and canada when the laws were introduced.

we have very short memories, if the law is strictly enforced now, it will be the norm for the next generation.

education is like that, anti littering campaigns, the banishment of plastic, seat belts, anti drink drive campaigns etc, all take time to become second nature, no matter where you are.

those who cant learn get old, die, and their children get it.

[Serious price increase on cheese in big C]

i love these threads. sigh.

[Buying a GoPro on Lazada - any recommended vendors?]

https://www.goprothai.com/เช็คราคา/

seems to have better prices than lazada, there is a bundle deal for 16,900 seems rather reasonable.

i wakeboard and we shoot alot but use cheaper versions like sj cam because its easier to walk away from it when lost. 

the gopro hero 6 is sweet though

 

 

[Big changes in Thailand for farangs]

17 hours ago, Sheryl said:

The tourist visa is I think the root of your problem.

 

I'm not sure it has ever been possible to open a bank account with one.

 

Those of us with non-O visas or b visas and one year extensions of stay, have nto usually had much difficulty.

it has indeed been possible and remains so according to published bank policy. whether it is possible in reality, i dunno.

[Big changes in Thailand for farangs]

3 minutes ago, pr9spk said:

It was her presence that allowed me to open the account.

 

You just sound helpless to me. 

 

Thailand may not be for you.

[Tops home delivery log in]

so give em a fake number. if they want a copy, send em a doctored version.

 

[How can newbies to Thailand avoid paying farang prices?]

i have found arguing and accusing every vendor you meet as being dishonest and ripping you off works especially well, especially if you want to alienate  even the few good-natured vendors left in the country.

 

better answer, watch what others are paying, ask around beforehand and get an idea of the real cost of things.

you will get hosed a few times, but be aware of the value of the currency relative to your own, and simply walk on and find the next vendor or taxi if you feel you are being asked for too much.

with taxis, drivers and the like, be wary of anyone whose english is too good or seems overly friendly, but dont be rude, on occasion people are genuine.

 

As has been said before, always flag a cab in bangkok, never get into a car thats sitting still soliciting riders.

 

but most importantly, consider the cost relative to what you would need to pay back in the real world. 

if you do get rinsed a few times for a few extra dollars or baht, learn, suck it up and remember next time.

 

[Is your Thai companion averse to questions?]

On 6/3/2018 at 11:01 AM, FritsSikkink said:

Jeez, why would you marry someone who doesn't even answers your questions ?

Presumably she answered one.

[Is your Thai companion averse to questions?]

sounds to me that the op could avoid half of his dependency on his wife by having made an effort with the language and asking others directly. Eg for directions.

 

Personally, the kind of relationship described is my idea of a living hell.