gerry53

If you want to compare the USA to Canadian drugs maybe you should look into ordering out of India. I know many will claim it's unreliable and poor quality but the USA pharmaceutical industry says the same about Canadian and Mexican products. It is all about protectionism and these corporations want you to buy these products from them. The generic drugs have the same ingredients and are less expensive - new drugs coming online are an exception. In my case I can buy a 1 year supply of all my drugs for about $650 delivered in Thailand, my experience was the Thai prices were much higher and trips to the doctor were needed. Many Thai doctors do not like giving 3 or 6 month meds even though it is a long term non changing condition. I know some only do 1 month so you keep returning and pay for their services - your results may vary! My 1 year supply costs about 25% of what I paid for generic drugs in my own country. If I insure myself for drug costs in my country it costs me twice as much as I pay for all the drugs in India? I then have to pay a 20% deductible on the drugs I buy also. For me it is a win - win situation. Now I self insure and it costs me far less and I get my blood tested when I return to my country to see if the Indian drugs are working properly. I have been doing this for 3 years and there is no difference.

I think you are correct about the Nouvo at only 115cc - I never owned one only the Nouvo 135 Elegance. Keeping legal definitely helps but sometimes they go after you anyways - what about the no green book phoney fines??? You have just been lucky or rather many of us have been unlucky. Incidently the "normal way" the Thais OFTEN drive is no helmuts, 3 plus on a bike and lets not forget the baby too. If you want to guanantee no problems leave the bike in the garage!

I got caught on this scam beside the railway on the darkside. I had copies of the 2 pages required from my green book. This cop wanted 500 baht and wouldn't budge. I told him I don't keep the book on the bike due to the reasons already posted. After his second attempt to relieve me of 500 baht I said no and lets go to station so I can speak to his boss. He had a sudden change of heart and looked at some of the paperwork and said "same same" and let me go - they were the same papers he looked at earlier. He was stopping many farangs and was making a fistful of baht - if he had to take me in it would of prevented him from getting more "tea money" and this may have been an embarassment also. Stand up to the thieving bastards when you know you are right.

The Yamaha Nouvo Elegance is 135 cc, the regular Nouva is still only 125 cc.

There are pros and cons of riding a motorcycle here in Pattaya. As an experienced rider you will have a good time and love the freedom to travel anywhere you wish. I suggest an international drivers permit but many Brits get by on their regular motorcycle license alone. If you plan on retiring here or are here long term and meet the requirements I suggest you get your Thai drivers license ASAP as the cops seem to like it and is less hassle. MM has only been stopped 3 times in about 7 years, my experience is different - over 12 times in 3 years and over 25,000 KMs. Most have been positive experiences especially in regular Pattaya roadblocks. There are some rogue cops on the darkside and NaJomtiem that demand "tea money" on trumped up charges and these guys usually operate alone and not in proper offical road blocks. I have had I cop start writing a ticket but he convinced me it would be in my best interest to pay him directly to save me time. Once he got his 500 baht he tore up the ticket, I have to suspect he ran 2 sets of books! When they ask you to slip the money in your license you know it is "tea money" (= bribe) When driving be VERY defensive but keep up to the traffic tempo and don't stop unnecessarily for pedistians because the Thais don't and it upsets the traffic flow - even the Thai pedistrians seem confused. Wear your helmut and obey traffic laws - especially drinking driving as that can cost you alot officially or unofficially (paying cops and victims should you have an accident - you will be at fault automatically). With the BKK flooding and huge traffic volume in Pattaya right now I would give driving a miss until the area clears out, I am finding it much worse now than high season. I love riding motorbikes here inspite of the horror stories from many B/Ms. If you are older (= slower reactions), inexperienced, freeze up under pressure or don't drive a motorbike in your western country I'd suggest giving it a miss here. *** note *** this is Thailand and your experiences and results may differ!

I have eat at Mikes Mexican about twice every month for the last year and have never been dissappointed. I usually order one of the combination meals and find them tasty and very filling. The atmosphere and ambience is nice and the service is always great. It is on a quiet street so parking is never a problem either. If I have to sprinkle a few drops of a hot sauce to spice up a mexican (or thai) dish it is no problem. Restaurants can't please everyone by making it too hot - easier to add the heat later if possible. Usually a customer from the southern USA is going to want a hotter meal than a Scandinavian - you can't please everyone all the time.

I think you will need to post a link to this story as it is too unbelievable - did he walk back up the 9 floors and throw himself off a second time or was it different days. Maybe he will get lucky the 3rd time around!!! Nagging wives can give anyone a sudden adenalin surge .

The Thais have been living forever without these expensive crosswalks, it seems it was farangs who complained about the safety hazzards. I got a 500 baht fine last week for missing one accidentally in Jomtien. Now I stop as the Thai drivers, large buses and baht busses drive around me and thru the red light. The police seem to only target the farangs who apparently created the problem and expense.

Possibly you could provide some rules of "irony" from a Brits perspective for the rest of the board members. It's bad enough that we need a dictionary to figure out what some of them are talking about.

Does the poster read the crap he writes? Or is it because its his 555th post? Bragging about driving on the wrong side of the road for years in numerous countries then proclaims "safety first guys". I am certain your wife is already more competant than you to drive. Too funny.

"All these idiotic countries that drive on the right sure confuse issues." So only smart countries drive on the left side? Wee bit ting tong don't you think, did you ever consider becoming a dicktator?

Yes some cities have roundabouts in Canada but they are not as popular as the UK. Do you think maybe the root cause is the fact this Lebanese - Canadian was pissed drunk and possibly on drugs at the time he caused this carnage ???? I'm Canadian and I know this shit happens but this guy's behavior is not typical of the average Canuck. A sad event that could have been prevented, throw the book at him.

Pick me - that was a nice looking mare!!!

I think it is a popular destination for criminals on the run especially Europeans and rightfully so. I find many north americans prefer hiding out in Mexician and central american beach destinations due to closer proximity. The Scots on the lam (lamb) well that's another story!

"Ass backwards" means reversed order for those unfamiliar with that term. Sorry you can't blame the Yanks on this one - I'm a Canuck EH (Canadian). You Pommies butcher the Queens english pretty well also! Sometimes us north americans need a dictionary just to figure out what you are saying.