sly4all

As posted, describing how the fish are dying (behavior like gasping for air, flashing, jumping, not eating , changes in color, mucus on skin/, white spots, damage to fins...) will be very helpful in trying to understand why.

Could you also describe your water system (pump, filters, aeration...) and the exact size of the pond (depth?). You mention 1.5mx2m which is rather small, have you tried to fill it with tap or well water ? Do you have some equipment to test the water ? (Ph, nitrates, O2 ?). Maybe a few pictures of the whole installation can help.

how small are your fish when you buy them ? My experience with very young koi here is that a lot of them can carry disease and you must quarantine the fish for 2-3 weeks before adding them to an already populated pond. But that would apply to any fish anyway.

Cheers.

I will apply for a non-O based on marriage, multiple entries and will fly to Savannakhet airport.

Dear TV members,

I will be in Savannakhet in a few days to process a visa. First time there. I will fly in and out, Would you have a good hotel to recommend for 2 nights. Need to be clean and comfortable and with things to do around if possible (ie not isolated). I dont mind if it is a bit far from the embassy, I will use local transportation.

Anyone knows if there is anything worth doing for the day ? Dinosaur museum ?

Also for information, Savan Vegas does not provide visa services anymore.

Thanks for any good tips regarding Savannakhet.

It's willful ignorance of the most offensive kind. History is full of abominable exterminations and depredations. Our ancestors have all suffered at one time or another.

Do the descendents of Hitler's victims think they're unique?

Yet there is little in contemporary history that compares..

Mao and pol pot had an idea they could improve peoples lives by their misguided actions.. People died on mass, but in events more accidents of social mismanagement. Even Stalin probably fits into that mold.. And yes these are terrible events also, and should not in any way be celebrated or used for play acting and amusement.

Wars happen, its conflict of cultures..

But outright genocide, purported across all levels of society, religion, race, sexuality, etc.. Wiping out huge percentages Jews, Roma and Gypsies, the mentally and physically handicapped, homosexuals, etc etc.. And to do so in such a systemic, organized way.. This organized outright slaughter of so many millions simply because of a belief of racial superiority..

Can you name another in contemporary history ?? Rwanda slightly fits the bill, but again goes much more to a tribal conflict / war in the region than this simply exterminating those they felt untermench..

Given its probably the primary example in living memory.. I feel history teachers and educators should be keenly aware of it.. And sensitive to it.. Globally..

The Cambodian genocide perpetrated by the Khmer Rouge was not the results of accidents from social mismanagement. You do not wipe 25% of your population inadvertently. It was planned torture and mass murder following an ideology, that was no "collateral damage". Whatever the ideology is, a genocide is a genocide regardless of the numbers yet some feels some genocides deserve more attention than others. This is just a point of view. We want to pretend than we can learn from these events but sadly our human nature will continue to prove than we don't, just open any history book from any civilization. No matter how hard we try, history will just repeat itself at some point. To each his own education, own feeling and own memory. We will all forget at some point, some faster than others. The ideas of universal human rights, equality, democracy is still and will continue to be an utopia for all of us.

Now we can continue to write on Thai ignorance regarding WW2 imagery or accept that ignorance is bliss .

If on arrival in Bangkok you declare your port of origin to be in Liberia (or any flight coming from most sub-saharan countries), you will be asked to pass by the health control office to show proof of yellow fever vaccination.

This topic has been discussed dozens of times.

It is and unofficial fee not a bribe or any other form of corruption. The money does not go into anybodies pocket.

It actually does!

In CM about a year ago, I had to get 2 COR. Because the proof of residence was on my wife's name, the officer took me inside the office and ask for 500Bht. The bank note went directly into his pocket - literally. That was at the "old" location.

Now, it is still officially free after 10 days, but a couple month ago I was told to pay 500Bht to ensure it would be issued within a week. Otherwise, I would wait a very long time.

I have no problem paying the 500Bht as a facilitating payment especially if it can speeds things up, it is just the paper you sign when you pick up the COR that states that you did not pay anything for the service that I find disturbing. The last COR was for my yellow book so hopefully I don't have to ask for COR anymore.

Interesting article in the Bangkok Post, can't put the link but search for "Hitler 12 values". December 10.

It answers most of the questions regarding how Thais see and understand the image of Hitler and associated nazi symbols. Food for thoughts.

Would they process the visa if there is no proof you actually are in Indonesia (no stamp in passport) ? I am not in Thailand but working in a country where there is no Thai embassy. I am looking for a place where they would process the visa remotely through an agent without me being physically present, that would save me a dedicated trip just for the visa.

Thanks,

Thanks Ubonjoe.

Thank you. I am not in Thailand when sending my passport away, I have 2, I would send my passport while I am working outside Thailand (where there is no thai consulate).

So noted for Savannakhet, if you know a place where a visa agency would be able to process this visa (it is possible in the UK for UK citizen and was possible in France for french citizens) I would appreciate the information.

I am traveling a lot and used the services of a visa agency to get every year a one year multi entry non O based on marriage from my country of origin. As of recently, they do not issue one year but only 3 month with a single entry which is somewhat useless for me.

Going through the option in the region, it seems that Savannakhet will be the easiest place for me to get a one year with multiple entries.

I have 2 questions:

- do they require you to be present in person for the visa application ?

- If not, does anyone know of a visa agency that could process the visa for me if I send them all the right paperwork ?

I would like to avoid the hassle of making a trip there.

If not at Savannakhet, does anyone know a visa agency that would process this visa for me in a different country ?

Thank you.

No, I wouldn't have pink concrete. I'm thinking more a cool dark grey. Anything coloured would clash a bit with the house. Also I'd rather the plants / tree's / flowers were the centre piece rather than the paving. The reasons for the paving are mostly practical, can't be bothered with getting the grass cut all the time, we've had a few issues with bugs and snakes, also we'd like to be able to walk around the garden barefoot if we want without having to slip on the shoes I just don't want the garden looking like a car park, so less keen on anything too plain. The pebble on concrete does look nice in the video, though not so conformable to walk on. I think when I said chippings it was the wrong word, if I was to go that route it's be something more like this...

...doesn't have to be slate. Just a thin, flat, rock chips to sit on top of the concrete. Is this sort of thing cheap to buy?

I have made a terrace that is exactly looking like your picture on the top right. I bought the stones at this location, on the road from Meechok to Mae Rim.

18°51'58.97"N

99° 0'51.85"E

The stones are bought by the weight (sorry, cant remember the cost at all), and they are sorted by size so you can make your own mix. As for drainage, it really depends on your plot and how the water runs through it during heavy rains.

To help with the moss that will build up over time and blacken the surface, you can paint (colorless) waterproof paint available in big places like Home Mart/Home Pro. Can be expensive depending on the surface to cover but does a good job at slowing down the moss and ease of cleaning, does a great job on sand stones and cement (porous) but will leave a sticky feeling on stones (non porous) which goes away after a few weeks.

For stamped concrete, there are a few companies offering this, you can find advert brochures in tile shops or big outlet like Home Sukkapan.

Thank you for the feedback, I am planing to take the kids as well. Appreciate if you could help with some facts that I couldn't find, how much time is worth spending there (half day, full day, couple hours ?) and what time it opens ?

Thanks.

Thanks.  Will check with Chiang Mai Ram and the Malaria Center (I recall seeing it in passing).  So far all I have found has been Doxycycline, but that is not for kids under 8 so not really an option for our daughter.  In worse case scenario, there is always copious quantities of parfum de DEET.

Actually your worse case scenario is the best one! The only way to be sure of not getting infected is by not being bitten by mosquitoes, there are a few rules to protect yourself besides prophylactics and they must be followed. Medicines will not protect you 100% against malaria and on occasion do more harm than good.

There is a malaria center  on the moat (west side outer ring, before Chiang Mai Ram). I visited several years ago and if I remember correctly, I believe it is the only place holding medicine for malaria in the area, and only doxycycline was available. Again, from memories, the medicine was not available for sale, only for treatment locally if you are infected - but please go there to confirm this and get a complete update of what is available in Thailand.

Like any other country that is (was) at risk for malaria (mainly sub-sahara african countries), prophylaxis is not recommended locally to prevent the disease to develop an immunity, they actually use the same medicine (malarone, coartem...) to treat the disease...

 

 

 

If you can go further out of the city, try to go there in Sansai noy area:

Lat  18°49'47.52"N

Lon  99° 1'44.14"E

 

It does not look like a shop at all but you will find there a large choice of second hand bikes, very good quality, for as low as 1,200Bht. Thai speaking.

 

Had a look on google street, hmmm. You sure you got those co-ords right? It's in the middle of nowhere!

 

 

Like I said, does not look like a shop, it is not on a main street, bikes are sold out of the house, but if you manage to go there, you will be surprised.
 

 

 

Does sound interesting, I'm sure I'll have some excuse to be out that way sometime and will check it out, thanks again.

 

Can you see the bikes from the road or do I need to ask around?

 

The GPS coordinates are the exact location of the house. It's at the north end of the Pimuk village. It's a large house, the car port is the workshop and full of bicycles but you will have to be in front to see it, the google car did not pass there so no street view. No signs indicating a shop at the house itself. Many thais in the area have bought their bicycles there so it is not unknown to the locals, better if you speak thai or be with someone who does.
 

 

If you can go further out of the city, try to go there in Sansai noy area:

Lat  18°49'47.52"N

Lon  99° 1'44.14"E

 

It does not look like a shop at all but you will find there a large choice of second hand bikes, very good quality, for as low as 1,200Bht. Thai speaking.

 

Had a look on google street, hmmm. You sure you got those co-ords right? It's in the middle of nowhere!

 

Like I said, does not look like a shop, it is not on a main street, bikes are sold out of the house, but if you manage to go there, you will be surprised.
 

If you can go further out of the city, try to go there in Sansai noy area:

Lat  18°49'47.52"N

Lon  99° 1'44.14"E

It does not look like a shop at all but you will find there a large choice of second hand bikes, very good quality, for as low as 1,200Bht. Thai speaking.

Since you have 2 passports you may also consider contacting a visa agency to apply on your behalf abroad. Just send them your passport and the required paperwork. Do you have to apply in person in the UK ? Or maybe there is this type of agency in Laos ? It will save you to do the trip yourself.

I am in a similar situation but too young to apply for a retirement visa so I renew my non-O multi entry in France this way. I do have to enter on a visa exempt stamp once a year so I can send one passport out to get the visa. I do it in France. This will last as long as they don't ask for the applicant to be present in person.

Never tried to get an extension in Thailand due to the timing of my rotations and the requirements.

Try to contact Tui at 08-3762-2648 (thai speaking only).

He has been very reliable over the time we have used his services for the past 4-5 years. He mainly does pool construction and general maintenance but can do also pool cleaning.

I am also interested by writing down a will in Chiang Mai. I have been told that I would need first a medical certificate for me and my wife stating that we are sane to validate the will. Is this true ?

Otherwise if a simple will can be completely done at the local amphur, all the better. Thanks,

Not 100% sure but I believe I have seen some (mecanical, not digital) at the Daiso shop at Central Festival.

Toys'R us @ Promenada has them.

You will have to go to Bangkok. The process is done through a 3rd party TLScontact.

https://www.tlscontact.com/th2fr/login.php

You apply online for an appointment, then in Bangkok you need to make sure you have all your paperwork in order. Your passport can be sent to the CM consulate once your visa has been issued.

AirNet is not an air card. They will install a fixed antenna at your house. Contact them, in my case they came the same day, run some test to see if the connection works, if it does, you can have it all installed/setup the same day and browse the net in the evening.

I used air cards at the beginning with mixed results and at more expense if you are heavy on data such as videos (works on 3G network as any phone would work with data package). AirNet offers a 24/7 connection for about 600Bht/month which suits my needs. I do not have a fixed phone line so I do not have other options for internet connections.

If you haven't tried yet, give it a chance and that may be the solution for your internet problem.