Electric Motorcycles

Thanks to the Chinese, you can now buy an Electric motorcycle in Thailand. These silent savers come in at 800 and 1200 watts. A charge of 6-8 hours gets you 70-80 km of travel. Top speed about 40 km/h. The model shown is a Vestor-b 2008 and runs 38,500 Baht. One that looks more like a Honda Dream comes in at 36,500 Baht. Check out the Vestor.

The only problem seems to be the main dealership is in Mukdahan.

How to avoid Google in Thai Language

Are you sick of Google showing you what they think you want to see just cause you are in Thailand? Here's a quick fix to get the non-regional results Google would give if it didn't try to guess where you are.

Instead of just doing your search at google.com, enter this instead:

http://www.google.com/ncr

This little trick will get you seeing the results the rest of the world sees, and not results Google thinks you want to see cause you are in Thailand. You can also make is your start page.


Update: Take this example. Do a search for "water buffalo" at google.co.th (link) and at google.com/ncr (link). You'll notice totally different results. Keep this in mind when you query Google for a term. There is a difference between Thai results and no region results.

True WiFi hotspots for free?

This could be some great news for Bangkokians.

The BMA will give away 500,000 free WiFi cards to the public at more than 50 travel centres and leading department stores. The sites, to be available free for a year, require access cards.

Anyone seen these cards yet? More..

UPDATE: Yeah too good to be true. Finding one of these free cards is next to impossible. The speeds, availability, and hoops necessary to jump thru make this pretty much a joke.

Thaiand Blog Watch - Yahoo Pipes Widget

Ultimate map resource guide of Bangkok

There are a lot of great map resources for Bangkok these days. Let's have a look at some of the best map resources for checking out Bangkok.

Satellite imagery maps

Google Maps - The clear winner, although sometimes annoying because place names only in Thai.


Windows Live - Less resolution than Google on satellite imagery. Less place names.


Yahoo Maps - Same satellite data as Windows Live. Terrible road view coverage.


Some great Google Maps overlays:

• Wikimapia.org - A wiki for places on a map. Many places (many in Thai) are described in Bangkok, and you can add your own.
• Panoramio - Users upload photo's and place them around Bangkok. Great to if you want to see what stuff really looks like.
• PanoramicEarth.com - Find full panoramic photos of Bangkok.
• Bangkok Recorder - An overlay of around 100 popular tourist spots, restaurants and hotels.

Other resources

Thaiways - Thaiways publishes some good paper based maps. Some of their specialist maps include Metro & Skytrain, Sukumvit, and Rattanakosin Island.

For nightlife, check out these maps with many bars, pubs and massage:

• New Petchburi Road Massage Parlors Map
• Ratchapisek Road Massage Parlors Map
• Sukhumvit Area Map
• Soi Cowboy Area Map

If you really want to get into it, the Bangkok Metropolitan Authority Department of City Planning has some map data, but mostly in Thai.

If you are using Google Earth, you're going to need these helpful overlays. If you are curious NASA WorldWind is a similar product (.Net required).

If you have Google Earth, check out these KMZ files:

1. Thailand Placemarks 7.2
   
2. 40 Bangkok Spots
   
3. Subway and Sky Train
   

AIS to get iPhone?

AIS is in talks to bring the iPhone, which is already sold everywhere in MBK:

"We are negotiating on details, including a revenue sharing standard. Apple needs a local operator to promote iPhone," Prattana Leelapanang, assistant vice president for AIS's wireless business marketing, told Reuters.

He gave no details of when the talks would be completed. More..

Apples's big iPhone mistake

On a recent stroll through MBK's 4th floor (the phone floor) you would think I was lying if I told you the iPhone HAD NOT launched in Thailand. The iPhone was everywhere. Every booth large and small is selling them for between 22-28,000 baht($650-750). Big signs are up promoting the phone in Thai language, Thai script is available for the keyboad, and there are just as many iPhone accessories as any other phone. One guy was loading the latest software, was offering the new 1.1.1 crack already (just a few days old) and could answer just about any question you had about one.


So Apple's mistake? I guess it's to be expected from an American centric company like Apple, but selling the 8gb iPhone in the USA for $399 (13,600 baht) is way to cheap. They should have skipped the deal with AT&T, skipped the whole attempt at locking the phone, and sold it world wide for $699. That's what most of us are paying over here anyway for an unlocked version- except for now $300 of that goes to those that import, sell and unlock it. Unfortunately for Apple, Americans have been trained to expect subsidized phones and lengthy service plans. This is not the case in most of Europe and Asia. Here we buy a number, and buy a phone. Switch the phone when you want. Switch the number when you want.
Just more proof the "walled garden" is dead.

iPhone doesn't let you have friends from Thailand.

Adding a contact from Thailand? Sorry, but that is not going to happen according to Apple. Thailand is not listed as a country option on the iPhone.

Unlocked iPhone working in Thailand as of Sept. 11

Great news all you Thai iPhone fans. We have proof of a working unlocked iPhone in Thailand on AIS. You can order your own here. But now it looks like you will be able to unlock one yourself. These guys have the first open source unlocking software.

Radio Thailand News, 88FM

Ever tune into Radio Thailand News? Ever wonder where they find their anouncers? Or how credible their new can be when they broadcast from the Public Relations Department of Thailand? Well ask them: radiothailandnews@gmail.com. It seems they now have a commercial free easy listening station at 88FM. Great for some light jazz.

JI Net offers VOIP via ATA for your hard phone.

JI Net's VOIP promotion states calls as cheap as 1 baht, but The Nation says 2 baht/ min. Either way, what you need is a ATA (analog telephone converter) to plug in your home hard phone into. (can use your home cordless if you still have one.)
JI net is selling it for 2,795 THB. Then of course you need a JI broadband connection.

Another option is getting a Skype Wifi phone for about 5,100 baht allowing you more freedom to roam about in your wifi hotspot. Skype Out rates are as low as 0.58 baht / min. You can pay with your Thai Paypal. And Skype to Skype is of course free.