Vintage_Kwai

They are also dead scared of all the different ghosts and spirits so this could well be the first time the police have come up with a decent idea. Note that it is only still in the 'to be possibly considered' stage... I really hope they do it...

1. Nokia 101 'brick' cost 44,000 baht back then. Ouch. (Now that I think about it. On the other hand, a land line would cost even more on the black market; Bangkok exchange was full and I was on a waiting list for almost five years.) Company phone was one of those things like a backpack with a handset. 2. Motorola Startac - my favourite as it was a good convenient size and folded well in my pocket. Made redundant when service went digital. 3. Sony-ericcson - nothing to shout about 4. Nokia N79 - nice, with maps but no GPS 5. Nokia N97 mini - first touchsreen ever but preferred the flip keyboard. Always trying to jump on the net, though. Also was tied in to one service provider's frequency so couldn't just switch SIM cards. 6. Samsung Galaxy S2 - hand-me-down from my brother - took some getting used to after using Nokia so long. 7. Samsung Galaxy Win - cheaper alternative bought upcountry during Christmas rush when S2 decided to give up the ghost. 8. Sony Xperia Z3... my present one and happy with battery life. Water resistant too so one reasonably happy camper. Good GPS reception and Map program (Sygic) is transferable from phone to phone. Side note: I do keep another el cheapo Samsung Hero - 600 baht new - in the car glove box for emergencies; battery lasts for almost two months on standby unlike your average smartphone battery life of a day with careful usage...

BuBi by your actions you have made a friend for life. We all come to a point in life where sometimes it does not matter anymore and by understanding that the wait staff are typically unable to think outside of the printed page, nor can the kitchen staff do the same given their meager existence and similar payscale it was kind of you to look the other way. The tip made all the difference. The toast in question would either be thrown away in the bin or taken out of their salary. Perhaps both, if the boss man was petty. Note that this malady regarding inability to think outside the printed page can also be applied to government workers the world over... Cheers VK

Rat.

Khun Kanokwan, I seem to remember a similar request on the Hua Hin forum a couple of months ago, regarding retirees in Thailand and 'expats only'. Are you the same person with the same questionaire? Just curious...

Sigh. The wonders of FarceBook...

Flash, if you're using GPS for navigation, get an offline GPS program for your phone instead. I'm using Sygic because after the initial purchase, all map updates are free for life (unlike most of the others where you pay an annual subscription). I toyed with the idea of getting a dedicated GPS in the car, but even the dealership admitted that renewal fees are quite expensive. I use the phone with a windshield mount and a charger plugged into the lighter socket. The advantage is that you can use it anywhere as it is on your phone. Or if you have a data plan Google Maps has a GPS routing function which works quite well. The GPS in the car is a tracker in case the car gets stolen; I can also locate the car, remotely start and stop the engine, and am informed if any door is opened or the car started. Not cheap but compared to losing the car and going through a lot of hassle - police, insurance and whatnot - I have a bit more peace of mind. A word of warning. All GPS programs and navigators are not infallible. If you lose the signal in a tunnel it can take a while to re-orient itself so always plan ahead to be safe. Use it as a backup. Tall buildings in Bangkok also create multiple reflections and can confuse the navigator. Metallic window tinting will also reduce the signal strength so be warned.

Any outlet should be able to do this for you. However, if I remember correctly, there was a cut-off date for you to be able to keep your old number and I think it has passed. I had to switch to DTAC (who still have the 900Mhz frequency) as I needed it in my GPS tracker. The GPS service provider did the card change - it was registered as their card, after all. (Yes, I do have GPS tracking capability for my personal vehicle)

I am in agreement that my personal privacy and security is mine and mine only and I don't need some Tom, Dick or Harriet sniffing through my used undies. It's bad enough with Big Brother and his network of cameras and whatnot; if they can't pick it up through a full body scan at the airport I don't see why they should have access to what is not theirs. Things like OnStar that can track your car and record your speed etc (car blackbox) is already installed on most late model cars in the US and can be accessed and am not sure if it can be used as evidence in a US court do we need more of this??

Read somewhere that maybe ten to fifteen percent do actually pay taxes though a larger percentage file (through the employers). That percentage is largely in Bangkok and it's surrounds and does have an effect on political inclinations... Someone correct me if there are updates to this figure

Bankbook signatures are visible under black light. BL used to be quite unusual back in the 80's but now you can buy a BL LED pen for almost nothing to check your currency for validity (AND your old signatures). So... If you can, so can a lot of other people...

I feel your pain. Remember when I had dislocated a finger and on another occasion fractured my elbow, nothing looked like what it was supposed to be. As an aside re MENA countries using a thumbprint as ID, I have heard that in India the ATMs also have a (heat?) sensor to ensure the thumb is still alive... Yes, passport is biometric so I get in and out using the fast lane in my country of origin..

Amen.

What happened to Bernard Trink? Used to look forward to his spread in the Bangkok Post (Nite Owl) until they decided to go PC (politically correct).

29th August 1988. How time flies.

That is sad. Although I don't remember meeting Darel, I do remember the fun times I've had at Dollhouse in Clinton Plaza and am sad to hear of his demise. Ditto the time when Steve of Three Roses in Nana passed on and there was an 'Irish Wake' where even a Pattaya biker's club attended.

I am a Wood Goat so I guess I'm already starting my sixth cycle. Don't trade in experience for youth, have seen some train wrecks with colleagues who should have known better... Prefer the older gals myself, especially the ones you can have a decent chinwag with over a couple of beers and still retain the benefits. The younger ones just take too much effort and energy.

Sigh. Can't delay the inevitable. Already into my fifth cycle. Still, guess I'll have a hard time catching up with Flash...

Yes. Gong Xi Fa Cai to all who celebrate. It was the only holiday that used to completely shut Singapore down back in the day.

เลยโอน = after transfer (of number) ตัดเบอร์ = number was cut/ cancelled Which can happen for a number of reasons. Change of service provider, wanting a new number, or possibly non-payment on an overdue bill.

Think the fig leaf came about as a compromise to save the paintings in the Sistene Chapel

In the picture of Soi Nana, there is a Datsun Bluebird 410 going up the soi, manufactured mid 60's. The car parked on the right is a Toyota Corona Mk II, manufactured end 60's into early 70's. (I used to hitch a ride with a friend who used to drive one to camp). Sigh. Sign of old age.

Interesting. There is a Toyota Corolla on the left with what looks like '7ช' on the number plate. This type of registration was introduced circa 1975. Next to it is either a Toyota Cressida or Crown circa late 70's and a red Mitsubishi Lancer extreme right also late 70's model judging form the tail lights.

This mamasan I know goes back to the days when Three Roses, Hog's Breath, DC10 etc. were in their element. So if I ask her I get a straight answer. But I don't disagree with your statement; the guy who walked out the door with the tranny with the modified undercarriage that night was totally unaware and nobody saw fit to enlighten him. YMMV. VK

Ask the mamasan and tip her accordingly