masuk

What can I say

Why are you laughing?

They are entitled to ask to increase their income as any other person does on this earth.

Charging for luggage is very common in Europe.

Why not in Thailand?

10 or 20Baht will hurt the pockets of the tourists?

In my opinion they should be allowed.

I'd be happy to give these guys a tip, more than they're asking for here, if only they helped me get the baggage out of the car.

They just sit behind the wheel and do nothing.

In China they have escalators at the underground stations, which almost reach street level.

There is always a haul of about 20 steps to lug your heavy suitcases up or down.

Somewhere recently, I have read where those who have a mobility problem are referred to as 'handicapped" - NOT Politically Correct, and sometimes "Cripples". not very P.C. either.

Searches for bacon bones has not helped: I want to make a few litres of thick pea and ham soup.

For this I need some smoked pork hocks and pork knuckles, with a bit of meat on them of course.

Anyone got any ideas?

Also dried green split peas. Are these easy to find in C.M.?

I dont understand world economics, it makes no sense! The yanks owe so much money that they cannot fit it on the computer screen and just keep making more! As I understand it, from my history at school, that is what caused the 'great depression'?

Why do they continue to have such a control over world economics, when as I see it, China is really the leading country economically speaking? They are

all concerned about 7.4% growth rate in China, but that is about twice any other country at the moment.

Have a look here in Thailand, if they are not in economic s...t then I dont know what would constitute a country in recession?

Australia is also in trouble due to poor economic management after 7 years of mismanagement.

If I am off the makr, can someone try and explain it to me in layman's terms, as I have run out of hair to scratch.

You're dead right there mate! Aussie miners have been digging out coal, iron ore, diamonds for years.

To maximise profits, the Govt cut back taxes on the mining companies, abolished carbon tax, charges their super-rich mates a ridiculously low income tax, and wonder why things are not 'working out'.

The main problem is it is a rental.

If the owner is understanding or even smart minded about improvement benefit

he may allow & even help pay for the insulation & exhaust fan.

If not then of course you cannot make a hole in his roof to install the fan.

Plus the cost of both the fan & the insulation is hard for you to justify in a rental

unless you have a very long lease.

The sprinkler rooftop cooling is a simple inexpensive option that does add quite a bit of relief

It can all be done with inexpensive 3/4" blue pvc glue together pipe...or even hose & 2 or 3 sprinkler heads

Then if your lucky enough to have rain gutters you could even catch the majority of water when it comes back down

into a barrel & have a small pump recirculating it back onto the roof.

But yes being a rental makes it tougher for sure...Good luck

A mate of mine in Australia did this. He built a large swimming pool, and then had water run down the iron roof, into the pool, where it was re-circulated back onto the roof.

This was in Tasmania, the coolest state of Australia.

Within 2 weeks, the water in the pool was so warm that no-one would swim in it.

I really think we should start up an 'IGNOBEL" award for one of the craziest ideas of the year. Putting metal bowls (without water) into the roof space.

"Under the new restriction stipulated in the announcement of the PM’s Office, alcoholic drinks are available on sale two periods within a day – from 11 am to 2 pm and from 5 pm to midnight."

Why?

Obviously it's going to save the nation from alcoholism and drunk driving.

Maybe if they reversed those hours, and ceased all alcohol sales from 5pm, that might have the desired effect!

I'm not going to hold my breath waiting.

It sucks..sam for Aussie dollar, luckily I am on a US dollar contract at the moment but most of my cash is in Aussie so we are bleeding too. NZ dollar is fairing well though

Yair, last year this time my Aussie pension was 31 baht to the OZ$. Last night my pension exchange rate was 24baht!!!

I would like to ask the OP, how high is the actual roof of the house from the ceiling?

Ours here is over 3 metres. If your roof is low than you have problems, it means there is no breathing space above the ceiling between the roof tiles for the hot air to circulate creating a very hot ceiling.

If this is the case, then there is not much you can do about it. One method that maybe worth trying, is to purchase about 10 light weight aluminium or metal medium size washing up bowls and place them above the ceiling. These bowls will absorb some of the heat. That`s about all I can suggest.

words fail me! You might as well cast spells on the roof. The roof temperature will be over 70C on a normal day and the bowls would need refilling every few hours.

Cheapest way as I've suggested is to install a large industrial fan on a tripod near an entrance to the house and force air through the place.

Next would be to fit 'cyclone' type ventilators on the roof. These rotate under their own power as hot air passes through them and will keep the roof cavity cooler than being totally blocked off as is usually the case. They are available in Thailand.

http://www.twista.com.au/How-Roof-Vents-Work/

http://www.bunnings.com.au/our-range/building-hardware/building-construction/ventilation/roof

If the house is rented, negotiate with the owner about sharing the cost of insulation. This should be 150mm thick, and ensure it's not fibre glass which is not used in most countries. Polyester mix is safer for installers.

A positive step noting that even where there are elevators they are frequently unmanned and locked and have to find somebody to unlock it. Just getting to the stations is a nightmare and probably impossible for somebody on their own who is wheelchair bound. The size of some of the kerbs are difficult to negotiate even with assistance, which is why wheelchair users are forced to use the road.

They will have to enforce that disabled folk have first priority on lifts/delevators, as some lazy s...ds will move into them rapidly.

I wonder if a CD will re-commence playing from where it was last halted?

This happens with movies.

Try Chi Chang, in Panthip Plaza or Malls.

Make sure you get a legit copy of Windows with it and you can change this for free for Windows 10. I'm stuck with a non-registered copy which crashes when I try to update.

Chi Chang have an excellent service centre near Chang Klang road, and they're great at fixing software bugs and have never charged me.

Yup, agree with the insulation and roof exhausts. roof cavity temps often exceed 70C and the heated ceiling radiates this into the rooms.

Recommended insulation for the tropics is 150mm minimum.

I also had water on the roof set up for bush fires, but if you run this every day, you'll be up for a large water bill, and the dams are getting a bit low just now.

I rented a house here with the same heating problem, and overcame a lot of this by purchasing a large industrial type fan on a tripod stand. This blew air into the house and forced it out upstairs. Not the quietest of fans, but it did the job.

Fascinating! Looks more interesting than now. Wide footpaths, not blocked by motorbikes, stalls. Everyone wearing shorts which are better suited to the tropics.

Is that a tram line running down one street?

I think I recognise a street or two, but can anyone add to this?

I often get disoriented as a newt.....

I thought it was 'overwrought' as a newt!

As a matter of interest what do Ausies do re documentation in CM?

We've got a very helpful honorary consul.

I hope all the cost-cutting in Oz does not alter things.

No buses, no taxis cruising the streets. Plenty of red vans @ 20 baht within the city. Also tuk-tuks, but more expensive.

If you buy a map and it shows the underground stations - don't believe it!

"If you buy a map and it shows the underground stations - don't believe it!"

On Thai Visa if you say something like this you have to attach one of these.

TV is awash with literalists and others who fall prey to the April 1st fake "news" announcement every year. Naïveté is sometimes charming, at other times alarming and on TV it explains why a lot of factoids pass for facts.

Huh? I'm stating a fact. In Chiang Mai there is at least one foreign produced map showing the train stations for the city of Chiang Mai. These in fact DO NOT EXIST.

Maybe the map producers need to add the SARCASM tag

Banning of diesel cars:

This might be old news for many, but printed newspapers take a week just to get from BKK to Chiang Mai, after their overseas delivery.

The Mayor of Paris has announced radical plans to ban diesel cars from the city from 2020.

The mayors of all major European cities, including London, are grappling with how to tackle pollution emitted by diesel fumes, whose tiny particles and nitrous oxides are harmful to health.

Diesel fumes are becoming a major problem in Thailand's cities, as there appears to be no check on exhaust systems, and it's quite common to see trucks and song tiaws spewing out black clouds of exhaust every time they collect a customer and move off.

Motor cycle riders would be most at risk, as well as passengers breathing in the fumes from the back of the song tiaw. In the narrow streets of Chiang Mai, it is particularly bad, as the air is filled with fumes.

Some Chinese cities have already banned diesels and it's made a large difference in pollution levels within 12 months.

Methinks those squirrels know best.

They can no doubt smell what the apple is loaded with.

There are no underground stations. CM doesn't have a subway.

Some time in the recent past, an underground system was mooted, but unknown powers thwarted that, same as with municipal buses I believe.

A German designed map came out recently showing the stations, but they don't exist.

Sheltered bus stops do exist, and have recently been renewed, but I have yet to know why.

Regarding producing an alcoholic drink from apples, I used to do the same in Australia, brewing up 40 litres of apple juice each Autumn. However, we called this APPLE CIDER.

I decanted it and added sugar and it had a kick like a mule! SCRUMPY CIDER.

However, can anyone tell me what Thai wines cost? I've never seen them on sale in the larger wine shops here.

There must be some reasoning to justify a 300% price difference between wines sold in Australia, and what we're being charged here.

Don't tell me that's it's to control alcohol consumption, as it's obvious that the "Whisky" they sell here is not imported and had Duty and Tax added.

You made a simple, but big mistake you add sugar this produce headache and is ingeneral unhealthy.

Applewine (Apfelwein(ebbelwoi) is naturally sour and is very healthy, I mix it usually with about 50% or more clear sober water in my glass the best drink, when it is hot weather.

I use it also as Vinegar in all my salads together with olive oil extra vergine.

If your drink every day minium 1/4 ltr. of apple wine you will never getting a thrombosis, caused this make the blood thinner and keep it running.

Keeping this rule a lot off ppl can just throwing their medicines away, about blood sugar, high blood pressure etc. check the links.

http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apfelwein

99% of the apple wine sold under the name Cider or Cidre is just rubbish, caused they add sugar.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-116454/A-cider-day-keeps-doctor-away-say-scientists.html

http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/apple-cider-vinegar-and-health

http://www.rd.com/slideshows/apple-cider-vinegar-benefits/

I wonder if adding honey as a sweetening agent would improve the sweetness without having a detrimental effect.

My aunt used to make a great Mead wine from the remnants of the honey combs, might make a very pleasant blend.

Mead beer is one of the oldest alcoholic drinks produced.

The mistake I made was that adding the sugar caused further fermentation and thus a higher alcohol content. Honey would do the same.

I was pleased to find that at least two eating houses in Chiang Mai have cider on their menu, one English, one Irish.

Go to the taxi counter at the exit, tell them where you're going, you'll be issued with a ticket and told the cost; wait outside, and the taxi will pick you up. If you have extra large baggage, best ask for a van as the LPG tanks take up a lot of space.

Oddly enough, Thailand's 2nd biggest city does have taxis, but they don't cruise the streets. you need to phone for these.

Public transport is almost entirely red van within the city area. ฿20.00

No buses, no taxis cruising the streets. Plenty of red vans @ 20 baht within the city. Also tuk-tuks, but more expensive.

If you buy a map and it shows the underground stations - don't believe it!

It will be most interesting to see what the tourist numbers from the UK will be, after the three one-hour BBC programs on the joys of entering Thailand, will be.

While I don't like to see the country being taken apart, sometimes folk at the top need the obvious pointed out to them. Incoming tourists are not going to enjoy standing in line for more than half an hour, while Immigration laboriously scan each page of a passport, taking some minutes per passenger and half the desks are empty.

Last time I went through KL airport, Immigration there processed almost everyone at 20 second intervals.

Now there's a video gone viral, showing what the taxi drivers are like once you've passed through Customs.

searched youtube but cant find the viral video you mention

when entering Singapore it takes seconds for the customs to look at ones Passport. they also offer a sweet to freshen the mouth and wish you a pleasant stay.

what is it with Thais?

The video has been on the Thai Visa news through the day.

song tao = two benches

Song taew is สองแถว, literally "two rows". The vowel in the second word (or second syllable) "แอ" is pronounced similar to the "a" in "apple" followed by a "w".

Sometimes referred to as a sii-lor too, which translates as 4 wheels, of course.

Ah now I understand the word saam lor. The 3wheeled bicycle taxis.

Just remember with only 3wheels you should be able to negociate a 25% discount very easily.

and I recently learned that a train is a "rot fai". 'rot' being car and presumably fai is 'fire'?

Same in Malay - kerata api = car fire

Maybe we should ask Thai Visa pundits to start up a 'word a day' - I might even be able to absorb these at that rate!

It will be most interesting to see what the tourist numbers from the UK will be, after the three one-hour BBC programs on the joys of entering Thailand, will be.

While I don't like to see the country being taken apart, sometimes folk at the top need the obvious pointed out to them. Incoming tourists are not going to enjoy standing in line for more than half an hour, while Immigration laboriously scan each page of a passport, taking some minutes per passenger and half the desks are empty.

Last time I went through KL airport, Immigration there processed almost everyone at 20 second intervals.

Now there's a video gone viral, showing what the taxi drivers are like once you've passed through Customs.