jacko

The power within is strong Luke........

I saw this posted elsewhere and found it ironically apt and amusing.....Chiangmai yes... but one sees the mentality. The 'range of responsibility' theory looks solid! https://www.chiangmailocator.com/wiki-traffic-rules-in-thailand-and-how-to-avoid-traffic-accidents-p169?fbclid=IwAR0BZJaouisfZ2hDlIOvLdVsgN7i4tWnRkUsEocabzxq3AYe1F1LXd8W2uc

Yes, and the mess they make is usually substantial. You were fortunate to be warned.

On a red light too of course.

That said, had a bit of a scare yesterday as I drove my truck... coming out of soi Yume from Big-C and aiming to go straight across into Soi Arunothai. Couple of young girls on a motorcycle took the left off Klang without stopping, or even looking. Of course with traffic waiting to exit Arunothai, a lane of cars/trucks and a line of bikes central, nowhere to go. Maybe my view changed slightly, but I personally would not have gone against the lights without looking off Klang there!

Don't really see it that way.... a motorcycle is just so convenient and there as you need it. Works for that day when you want to do a few things....risk is not high in the main in town. It is the big junctions and trips out of town where the danger lies.

Like you, my Mrs has always done mine. But she needs little more than the green book...and the insurance (CTPL) certificate... the bottom strip. She says bike has to be inspected, done there at the place. I found a couple of girls that spoke good English at the entrance who helped me, and from then just a matter of sitting waiting..... Or use an agent, maybe MOTs if you can't be bothered.

Seth Rogan

I recall having tight transfer times in Vienna in the distant past, Austrian seem to do that...although I might have been on Austrian to Lauda myself. Ancient history.... Surely there can't be security involved in such a quick one.

Well I was thinking in relation to the Russian ban.....Thai can still use their airspace I believe.

Nor utilizing their security to stop me trying to get to Naklua Beaches from North Pattaya, and forcing me to walk the long way around up Beach Rd to the Dolphin and Pattaya Naklua Rd.

Hadn't BA already cancelled flights to both Bangkok and Hong Kong?

I ride a motorcycle round Pattaya, it isn't so bad ....... but my worst concern is the out of town part of my ride. Lately the railway line bypass Rd has been closed many times Southbound, forcing me to use Sukhumvit... bits of it that are open have some big potholes created by the many heavy vehicles working there. So onto Sukhumvit... now that is scary at weekend, the lorries, minivans and Bangkok traffic is tough. I have a pickup/truck, but driving it around town is slow and arduous... have taken to parking it in Big -CX and then leaving it there. (Get there early).Wish I could borrow a bike for 2-3 hours from there..... usually get a couple of M/C taxis, and shank's pony, but miss the flexibility. Masks were mentioned above, I put one on for the WIN, seems considerate to the driver. It doesn't seem to bring me out in a rash or make me cry, or stomp my feet at all.

My experience of the documents one needs, if you use an agent, is that it is not much. After I saw the queue at immigration, I balked and took my usual pile of docs to an agent. They took my passport, bank letter, copied the bankbook, and didn't need the other pile of copies I had.

Jeff Goldblum

Frozen to their seats....... It is such a long while since I went to the cinema...a combination of no film I particularly want to see, and the fact I come out of there chilled to the bone.

Catch Me If You Can

The Deer Hunter

Dog Day Afternoon

Reply to a post elsewhere..... Insurance that is available in Thailand I would generalize as not good value.... that is me being diplomatic. If it were made compulsory it would very likely get worse... and they may even restrict it to domestic suppliers. Self insurance is an excellent alternative, giving flexibility and no exclusions on pre-existing conditions. But it needs to be serious... say 2 million baht put away. We hear so many examples of people needing to go begging or 'Fundme'... I am not surprised, I ask around and many Expats do not carry insurance. I have a policy, but it is rubbish, and just had a load of exclusions added as pre-existing. They got their hands on my medical records and details of a thorough check-up I had near a decade ago...never knew I was so poorly!

It is along time ago but I flew them once. It was a cheap price yes, but not a pleasant flight....stuck cramped in the middle of a long row of 4 or 5 at the back of a 747... never used them again. Frankfurt a busy place to transit in. German punctuality the good thing.

Yes, me too. Even paying an agent somewhat more to do the job I had to go back to their office later, I think it was a few days later actually.

There actually was some restriction applied to exchanging cash in banks at some time, as a Covid measure. Although I didn't think TT Exchanges ever did that, simply closed numerous kiosks due to reduced business. Surely you or your wife has a Thai account and simply uses Wise or Swift transfers into it, to get better rates.