A few years ago we started talking about buying a car or pick-up truck here in Thailand.
It started out in 2009 with us renting a Honda Jazz and traveling through out northern Thailand in a counter-clockwise trip. You can read of the start by CLICKING HERE.
You can also read of the many road trips we have done by CLICKING HERE. They are written in reverse order with the newest on top. There are many pages so when you get to the bottom just click on "Next Posts".
Of the rental cars, we have driven the Honda Jazz, Toyota Vios and the Nissan March. We liked the Honda Jazz as an all around vehicle.
Due to the price of gasoline is very high here, presently about $6.00 USD a US gallon, with gasohol a little cheaper and diesel being a little over $3.60 USD a US gallon we started thinking diesel. Also because diesel vehicles get higher mileage we started thinking about a diesel pick-up truck instead of a car.
We have also test driven the Toyota Varis, the Chevrolet Colorado 2.5L Diesel 2 WD X-Cab LT Z71 and the Toyota Hilux Vigo Smart Cab 2.5L Diesel model G. I thought I would like the Chevy Colorado but after driving the Toyota Smart Cab and the Chevy Colorado back to back, we like the Toyota far above the Chevy Colorado.
The Colorado just seemed to be a lot looser, sloppier to drive, than the Toyota. The Toyota does have a little stiffer ride but is very quiet and comfortable in the cab. Both are pick-up trucks so empty they do have a little bounce when you hit a small bump in the road.
Here is a video review of the Toyota: CLICK HERE. That video is of the "E" model. We like the "G" model as it has some extras like back up camera and DVD player.
It is also comparative to the Toyota Tacoma in the USA except the diesel is not available in the USA yet.
After doing all the talking, we can buy it here with all the goodies for 777,000 THB or around $24,280 USD, out the door, including all taxes, the first year registration along with first class insurance for a year.
I laughed at the cost as the first new car I bought was a Volkswagen for $1,400.00. That was before Lincoln was shot.
We also see the price of used pick-up trucks stays pretty high. Here is a 4+ year old Toyota Hilux pick-up for 498,000 THB.
Yesterday, we test drove the Toyota Hilux Smart Cab 2.5L diesel above again and made the discussion to buy it if we could get it out of dealer stock. We did not want to order one from the factory as that takes about three (3) months to come in.
We wanted it in white with cream interior, front and rear bumpers, roll bar, Toyota brand bed liner, dark tinted side and rear windows, floor mats, side door window rain covers, automatic transmission with first class insurance included.
As you can see in the picture of Daeng above, due to the way these vehicles are built with no center post between the side doors, we will feel safer with a roll bar installed.
Ta, the lady we were working with said she would call us Monday morning early and let us know.
She called us early and said it was in stock with everything we wanted at their main dealership in Chiang Rai, about 60 km south of the Mae Sai branch here.
She suggested we come in right away and give her a small deposit before someone else bought it. It was the "bus is leaving" close! She did a good job.
We hopped onto a motorbike and met her, giving her a 5000 THB deposit. That is about $156 USD. She said she would try to have it here in two days but for sure by Thursday.
We might also add that "Ta", the sale lady that helped us, was the nicest of all the sales people in any of the dealerships.
In one dealership a man told us we could not park our motorbike in the shade and had to park it in a spot in the sun. We did not stay because we did not want to get back on a vehicle that was in the sun at 90 degrees F.
Another sales person at the Chevy dealer in Bangkok told us they had two other vehicles that we wanted to see but because it was Sunday, that area was closed.
We came back on Monday morning and were told they only had the one on the showroom floor. I told them: "You have a good location for a Chevrolet Dealership." Of course, they had no idea of what I was saying but I felt better.
The sales lady in the Chevrolet Dealership in Chiang Rai would not stop talking. I, at one point, walked away and told Daeng to let me know when she was finished talking so I could ask some questions. She never did stop and I had to ask another person my questions.
By the way, I finally got to the sales manager and he answered my question about getting the Chevy pick-up in Orange. The answer was: "Yes, that is the new color and they have some on order." It is to bad I did not like the way it felt driving as the 2 WD Chevy X-Cab was cheaper than the Toyota, about $2,500 cheaper. Maybe it is a "get what you pay for thing".
I think the sale lady is still talking, but to herself.
Again, thank you Ta, Ann and Jib-jib for all your help. You reassured us that "buying local is always the best".
Buying a car is fun, fun, fun with lots of laughs.
Daeng says she wants to learn to drive a car. I think that would be good for her, also.
We will post some pictures and maybe a video of our new vehicle.
It's March 6th and we're on our way back to Thailand for three months. We pack pretty light as we have clothes and everything we need at our home on the Myanmar (Burma) border.
The worst part of our trip is the 18 hours and 10 minutes in the air. The whole trip to Bangkok is about 30 hours pillow to pillow. What that means is from the time we get up in California to the time we get back into bed in Bangkok is about 30 hours.
We use China Airlines as we can fly round trip for about $1,000 USD each. Of course that is economy fair as first class is about $5,000 USD each. I am small enough now to sit okay in the tiny economy seats. I have lost about 76 pounds from my top weight of 326 pounds.
Everything went smooth, the immigration officer laughed at me as I sang my "Good Morning Song" using English, Spanish and Thai. Because the streets were pretty empty at two in the morning, the taxi driver took us on city streets so we did not have to pay the 75 THB (about $2.40 US) for tolls on the highway.
Pam at the White Orchard Inn II had our favorite room ready for us. We like this little place as it is clean, close to the sky-train (BST) and the staff is very friendly and helpful.
I have made the trip over the Pacific Ocean 21 times. The longest trip was in 1961 from Korea to California with 44 hours in the air on prop planes. I was a young man of 21 years old and the trip still beat me up.
When we arrived, we checked in our room, showed, eat and took a little nap. Bangkok is a 24 hour town so we had no problem having breakfast at five o'clock in the morning.
This is Sukhamvit Road at Soi 5 at 5:00 AM. The party is still going on.
We had breakfast at Took Lae Dee Restaurant in Foodland. They have Farang food so I had an English Breakfast.
"Took Lae Dee" translates from Thai to English as "Cheap and Good". That is a excellent translation and the folks there are very friendly.
Here is a picture of our server at 5:00 AM. This is why they call Thailand the "Land of Smiles".
A few hours sleep and up again. With the red shirt and yellow shirt demonstrations happening in Bangkok it is hard to move around this Sukhamvit Road area by car or taxi but very easy on the Sky-Train.
We'll talk of the red and yellow shirts at another time.
By the way, you can even get fresh vegetables right in the city. Yea, Thailand.
I wanted to go to a noon meeting on Saturday with some English speaking friends so I hopped onto a motorbike taxi. At that time of day we were able to travel through the Tobacco Monopoly.
The Tobacco Monopoly is a several square mile area in the center of Bangkok that is used to dry, treat and cut tobacco.
On the way through the area, the smell of tobacco and the chemicals that they add was so strong I almost vomited.
I wish I could take my smoking friends through this area as maybe smelling this stuff would help them quite smoking.
We have been talking about buying a car here in Thailand for the last few years. Gasoline is very expensive so we have been considering vehicle with a diesel.
At this time, real gasoline, when you can find it, is around $6.00 USD a US Gallon. Gasohol is a little cheaper and is what most folks buy for their cars. Diesel is around $3.54 USD a US Gallon.
Also, a diesel pickup truck will get about the same mileage as a gasoline car. Being a guy, I like the idea of having a diesel pick-up truck, too.
So we found the closest Chevrolet dealer in Bangkok and went to see the Chevy Colorado. This is the model we liked. It is a X Cab with a 2.5 L Diesel.
The folks at this dealership were not very friendly so we agreed that we would look more when we got home in Chiang Rai. There is a Chevy dealer there, as well.
During our stay in Bangkok, we took a little time to smell the flower, so to speak.
The flowers here are beautiful.
We also walked around the more know areas of Bangkok.
We stopped for a coke in the Nana Fun Area. It is know as the World's Largest Adult Playground.
By the way, here you can still buy Coco-cola made with real cane sugar in 7 oz. glass bottles.
We were also a little sad as we made a little side trip to the little coffee shop were we bought coffee every morning in 2006.
It was run my an elderly couple that always smiled and treated us nicely.
When we got there we found this, an empty shop. We went through the open doorway and found the owners. He was ill and they had to close the shop.
We spent some time talking with them to be sure they had enough food and could live alone okay. They said their son was helping them so they would be okay.
Things change but this made us both sad.
It also reminded us that life is like a roll of toilet tissue. The closer you get to the end the faster it goes.
We have been here in Bangkok for six days so it is time to go north. I also have to renew my Thailand retirement Visa. I could do it in Bangkok but it is much easier in Mae Sai.
We flew Thai Airlines as it still has planes from the new airport to Chiang Rai. They also give you 20 Kilograms of free checked baggage. Nok Air and Air Asia charge for all checked baggage. With baggage the cost is about the same. I also got a deal on line for 1900 THB (about $57 USD) each.
The trip was uneventful and we took a taxi the 60 Km north to our home. Every one and everything was good when we arrived.
A couple of new news items. While we were gone, Daeng's brother Tun made a septic room so he could do kidney dialysis at home.
They did a nice job with the glass but the plumbing has a little to be desired.
I have to remember that most folks here have never seen "A" grade work so they think "C" grade is okay and "D" grade is acceptable. Oh well, this is Thailand.
The other new item is Daeng's niece, Nuy, is five month pregnant. She lives with her boyfriend but come here every morning early, when he goes to work, and spends all day eating, eating and eating. I told her she would be as big as me in a few months. I need to try and be loving.
She told me that after the baby is born she will be skinny again and I'll still be fat.
It is also nice to see Bang helping with the laundry business. Her son, Bum, is so cute and growing up really smart.
His nickname is really "Bom" but I always call him "Bum".
It's also nice to have coffee and Pa Thong Ko at the Ban Pa Mueat morning market.
Our friend "Me", the lady on the left is going to have another baby. We asked her is she knew if it would be a boy or girl. She said she didn't know. I told her is she was on the bottom she would have a little girl and if on top, a little boy.
She started to laugh. I ask her why and she said: "I think I'm going to have a puppy!"
Here is a picture of her little girl. She is just like Mom, want more money.
Grandma is going to stick around also to help with the new baby.
We ran into "Mai", the fellow that helped us with our home after the 6.8 earthquake here in 2011. He was a great help and put everything back better than it was.
For stories about the 6.8 just CLICK HERE.
He understand the value of quality work and is an excellent craftsman.
Watermelon anyone? The sign says: "3 for 10 THB". That is about 10 US Cents each. To bad I gave up watermelon for lent. I should have given up Brussel Sprouts.
Tortillas in Thailand? They don't call them tortillas but they look and taste about the same.
Here is the way they toast them on the Myanmar (Burma) border.
I think this is the way they have been doing it for hundreds of years.
Renewing my Thai Retirement Visa was extremely easy as most of the immigration officers have Tun, Daeng's brother, laundry their uniforms. They filled out most of the paperwork and I was out in about a half hour with a Visa until March 13, 2015 and municipal entries. That means I can come into Thailand as many times as I want during the year.
We also visited the big Mae Sai morning market. You can buy just about anything there.
That includes Ant Eggs for Ant Egg soup.
It takes a lot of time to harvest enough Ant Eggs to fill a small bag like Daeng is holding. The cost is 40 THB, about $1.25 USD.
Now that we are here for a few weeks before we do some traveling, we did some shopping for food items, like coffee, milk, bread, sugar, peanut butter, jelly and stuff like that at Tesco/Lotus. Tesco/Lotus is a big store.
Daeng bought cheese and sauce to make pizza.
We also spent three days looking and test driving cars and pick-up trucks. I was thinking about the Chevy Colorado but when I test drove one it was very sloppy in handling compared to the Toyota.
We stopped to buy gasoline for my motorbike and I could hear Daeng laughing. I turned around and ask her why she was laughing. She pointed to the drawing of the pigs on the big truck next to us. I laughed, also.
We went to the Toyota Dealer just south of Mae Sai and test drove the Toyota Vigo Hilux 2.5L diesel model G Smart Cab, again.
Here is a review of the "E" model CLICK HERE. In the USA it is known as the Tacoma or 4Runner. We like the "G" model as it has all the extra stuff like back up camera, DVD player, etc.
Ta, the lady we are working with, is going to call the main dealership in the morning and see if they have it in white with a cream interior. If they have it we think we will buy it.
More will be reviled tomorrow, Monday.
On December 1st we arrived back in California safely. The trip back always messes with our minds as we leave Bangkok around 5:30 PM and arrive two hours later in Los Angeles. Yep, two hours later after being in the air for over 15 hours.
The next day, after uncovering the rest of the furniture and our car, I had to go to Garden Grove to pick up some parts for the winter heating season.
I was hungry so I stopped at Tommy's Restaurant on Chapman Avenue across from See's Candy and had a wonderful breakfast for $3.23, tax included.
Folks, this was one of the best breakfasts I have had in the USA at any price. Try it, you might like it.
Daeng and I will be fixing heating systems here in Southern California until the end of February and then back to "The Land of Smiles" until the summer.
Please do yourself a favor and check your furnace air filter. Dirty air filters cause the most problems with furnaces so change or wash your air filter. It is usually in the bottom of your furnace or in a filter grill where the air returns to your system to he heated.
We do our filter when we change the clocks; the spring ahead and fall back time change. Also, check the batteries in your smoke alarms.
It is also better for your health to have a clean air filter. Please remember you breath that air, also.
We also celebrated life with a lot of folks this winter. That means we ate lots of cake! Congratulations to everyone.
Daeng likes Christmas and all the decorating and package wrapping. She does a beautiful job wrapping gifts, also.
Here is a picture of my daughter Tina, Uncle Jimmy, our friend Bill and Daeng decorating my sister Diane's tree.
Here is a gift that Daeng brought back from Thailand to give me for a Christmas gift.
It is a paper clip holder for my desk.
She said it looks like me sitting on the toilet. We both laughed.
The New Year celebrations were fun as well.
On New Years Eve, Daeng, sister Diane and I spent time with my Mother. She is still hanging on at age 92 and is pretty sharp most of the time.
On television we watched the ball drop in New York City with Mom, had some sparkling apple and pomegranate juice. We were in bed by 10:00 PM.
Give us a break, we're old!
On Sunday, the family and a few friend got together to celebrate the New Year with Daeng's and my birthday.
Daeng was born on Christmas Day in a pig barn in Thailand on the Myanmar (Burma) border. There is no written record of her birth so all her identification shows here birthday as January 1st.
I always kid here as she has two birthdays in a week.
Last year, when she turned 40, I told her I was going to trade her in for two 20 year old girls. She just put her hands on her hips, looked me straight in the eyes and said: "You're not wired for 220!" I love her!
It is great to see friends that we miss when we are in Thailand. Here is a picture of our friends Devin and Peg.
We also love visiting Michael and Charlotte in Wasco, California. Wasco is a little above Bakersfield.
You can read a few more stories regarding Bakersfield by clicking HERE.
Daeng handmade an apron for Charlotte. I love this picture of her modeling it.
Michael's son, Vincent, made the trip with us. He was is a great traveler and was fun to be with.
We also had dinner at a fund raiser put on by the "Friends of Jimmy K". We had a great time.
I love the expression on Charlotte's face in this picture. I was wondering where Michael's other hand is.
I might also add we always have fun with our extended family.
I had to laugh at Daeng as to soften her hair she puts on this mud like stuff that she brought from Thailand. She mixed it up and put it into her hair. Than she wraps it in a towel like rag and leaves it for at least 8 hours.
I must admit, it does make her hair very soft.
We worked a lot in December fixing heating systems but January and February were very warm months. I think that Los Angeles broke their record for having the warmest January in written history.
It was okay for me as I'm getting to old to work very hard.
We did get to go to a few conventions and hook up with some old friends.
We had dinner at Todai's with our old friends, Paul and Cheryl Scaglione. Cheryl gave me a DVD of the "Legend of Masty Huba". If you you like to read more about him just click HERE.
Around 1980 a California artist, Andrew Taylor, painted a picture of me and titled it "Masti F. Huba".
I don't know were the "F" comes from but you can guess.
We also had some time to visit with my daughter, Amy, who lives and works with the Peacemaker group. To read more about their store just click HERE.
The store is wonderful, the people are great and the food is always delicious.
If you get to Costa Mesa, California just stop in and see them.
It was a wonderful winter but it is time to return to our home in Thailand on the Myanmar (Burma) border.
I hope to get some of the medical work done done in Thailand, like joint lubricant injected into my knees, that was denied by my Medicare Advantage Plan through Anthem Blue Cross.
Although the injections have been helping me for years, the insurance company says that they don't feel the health benefit is enough to justify the cost.
The positive side is I can probably have the injection done cheaper cheaper in Thailand than my co-pay in the USA.
We'll write more from Thailand.
