scotinsiam

So.. Is this the best place for burgers in Bangkok?

probably not, I enjoy this burger blog about various places in the City to get a burger worth a read,

http://www.bangkokburgerblog.com/

LOL at you guys

The Ford 2.2L is actually quite impressive when compared against most other 2.5L engines in the segment (bar the Mitsu 2.5L VGS), but it's pushing several hundred kilos more than most of it's competitors, so doesn't feel as eager off the line as a more torquey >2.5L lump or a much lighter aged design - once underway it 'punches above it's weight' though, IMHO.

I have a 2.2 Wildtrak and am very happy with it - no issues at all, It is my leisure vehicle and a 2 wheel drive. I have no problems at all keeping up with anything and even in town it performs well.

It is almost as comfortable as a saloon but for me has exceeded my expectations, great vehicle.

For work I am provided a 3.0 Toyota 4 WD - It (IMO) seems to be around the same power wise as my Ford, It is a great truck and obviously is a proven entity - again no issues, great machine. I am happy to be able to drive both but my favorite is the.....

FORD

LOL at you guys

The Ford 2.2L is actually quite impressive when compared against most other 2.5L engines in the segment (bar the Mitsu 2.5L VGS), but it's pushing several hundred kilos more than most of it's competitors, so doesn't feel as eager off the line as a more torquey >2.5L lump or a much lighter aged design - once underway it 'punches above it's weight' though, IMHO.

I have a 2.2 Wildtrak and am very happy with it - no issues at all, It is my leisure vehicle and a 2 wheel drive. I have no problems at all keeping up with anything and even in town it performs well.

It is almost as comfortable as a saloon but for me has exceeded my expectations, great vehicle.

For work I am provided a 3.0 Toyota 4 WD - It (IMO) seems to be around the same power wise as my Ford, It is a great truck and obviously is a proven entity - again no issues, great machine. I am happy to be able to drive both but my favorite is the.....

I find it amazing there is no blood available. It's not like it's rh-.

This blood is not uncommon.

B- is not uncommon? One more from another planet.

Indeed > B- is only about .4% of Asian population in general. Thailand possibly less but don't have the numbers at hand. Red Cross

Capture.JPG

Indeed

Bump up,

If anyone in the area is B- and needs transport to donate please PM me and I will pick you up and take you home. Even a beer to top up the fluid levels

I called the number and spoke with Ta, I know my blood is B type but unsure if Neg or Pos - I am going for test tomorrow. Hope to hell it is neg as I am in Chiang Mai now.

Barbers usually closed on Wednesday

Thanks. Another Thai tidbit of information to file away.

David

I read a long time ago in an old Thai book that Wednesday is an unlucky day to get a haircut - I usually go then as it's quieter as the Thai's are scared to go lol

I've lived in three different condominiums in Chiang Mai, in every one the parking was full but most of the units empty.

You managed to choose the three condominiums where "most of the units were empty"?

I wouldn't be able to take you to ONE like that.....certainly after it's had time to sell.

(unless you mean empty as in residents were away a lot)

ps: If I see a variety of different blinds and curtains at the windows I draw the obvious conclusion.

pps: actually I heard the Unique hadn't filled up yet, but that might not be surprising givenonly three months old and it's lousy location feet from next door condo and there's a Unique 2 now on plan which will steal the view of Unique 1 the other way!!

I agree. The fact that condos are so easy to "lock and go" is why many expats choose to rent or buy them, as many only live here part time, or live here full time but travel overseas for work. I did this, and still do, for many years, and know of many others in the same position. A condo may sit empty for half of the year, but does not mean its un occupied.

I have bought one in CM and it is in a great location and close to everything I want. The building is completely sold and my place will be empty for 6 - 8 months per year as I work in Bangkok / Sattahip so keep rental places there and in Pattaya.

It has good security which is important to me and plenty of parking - lol, so my truck can sit there while I am elsewhere - I have done 600KM this year since I got it.

Strange, my wife's friend just told her that starting next Monday, Immigration will start issuing certificate of residencies again.

She needs one to buy a car.

Anyone been by Immigration in the last few days and noticed if the no certificate issued sign is still up?

I was there today at 8am - no certificate being issued. The lady spoke in Thinglish and said something like - finish already canceled, cannot do, not do, as I started to leave She said try next week maybe can.

strange but well TIT - I was actally relieved as the place was VERY busy, It looked hellish, glad not to waste my morning / day there. I have been told they are trying to get 14 or 15 more staff but Bangkok do not have trained people for them.

Thanks for the tip, sounds like a good place to try out!

Some of my friends use www.chiangmairiversidecondo.com when they come to CM. On every occasion they found a decent studio less than 15.000 a month.

Riverside is well out of town and ... what maybe 5 or 6 K from Nimman ?

Thanks for the recommendation. Will be sure to check it out.

Don't mean to hijack the thread but since we're on the subject, can anyone give the location of the newest Pun Pun Restaurant on Th. Suthep? I had thought I saw on a TV show that it is located at the very end of Suthep but I have passed by that area 3 times looking for it and can not find it. Thanks in advance.

It is definately there - I passed it on Saturday, Drive out of town on Suthep road go past canal road and it is further up on your left side, I am lucky as I live very close to the Pun Pun in Wat Suan Dok I am not a veggie but I think they could convert me the food is so good!

I wouldn't recommend anyone to come to Chiang Mai for anything but a holiday. Too polluted now, not just the burning, but the fumes from too many cars in a bowl of a valley. Too much uncontrolled development. Too much noise pollution. There are beautiful places to visit, at the right time of year, but, to be honest, any newbie thinking of settling here needs his / her head examining. And costs are sky rocketing both from inflation within Thailand & the strength of the baht. Mind you, if any newbie wants to buy my wife's house, "Go for it"

+1 on all he said

plus ...

since the past weeks its the hottest spot in thailand 40+ Celsius, no wind (at least in Hang Dong)

somedays the air is so shitty here, you are basically suffocating right on the spot you are,

I am seriosuly considering sometimes leaving thailand forever, just cause my GF doesnt want to move away / outside this hell, by all love, anybody moving to chiang mai should really gets his head examined

I am near Suandok and it was 47C although it was hard to read the thermometer with my gas mask on, the fumes are horrific and if I try to drive to the old City (1 mile) it can take me 2 hours due to the traffic - it's a nightmare I wish I was in Pattaya and breathing the fresh sea air surrounded by the friendly locals there

Taken just now: one of these aircon filters (3M Filtrete) is new, the other is six days old.

Aircon location:

Ground floor of San Sai residence inside a high-walled project, 2km away from any main road.

That is a scary picture, imagine that crap in your lungs

I see the big bubble in CM as mainly Foreigner Condos and Thai shop-houses........

Condos for foreigners .... 5M, OK so seem cheap to newcomers who can't buy houses, but I can't see anyone ever recovering the initial cost.

The new condos are not "foreigner condos". Their main market is Thais. Many of the ads don't even have English language on them, and they are certainly all mainly Thai.

As to 5m. What does that and the fact that "you can't see anyone recovering the cost....." mean?

Why not give a cogent argument why a certain price per square metre is not realistic and tell us how you would offer condos cheaper than the developers are?

When a 3 bedroom house (inc land) sells for 2M Vs a 2 bed condo selling for 5M, one can only assume a measure of profiteering somewhere.

I thought the whole idea behind condos (western reasoning) was that they cost less to build than individual houses.

Perhaps this only applies to housing in America, or do you know better?

Hi,

I imagine the difference is in the location, For example the condo I recently purchased is a few minutes walk from the moat and not a drive from the City. For me as a foreign buyer I also enjoy the fact that I do own the condo and do not have any land ownership issues. I also enjoy the extra security I have with being in a condo complex - All in all very happy. I was also brought up to believe you residence is just that and should not be looked at as an investment - I don't really see a price slump on the horizon in CM however.

best regards

S

There's no smog during songkran

I noticed that.

Pretty much of a way to wave a flag saying he has never been here for songkhran. His loss.

As a previous poster said many of us long time residents avoid it but we have enjoyed it at one time or another. Now If I go out it is in a pick up truck with kids on the back and a barrel of water.

I sincerely hope the OP gets to enjoy it at least once.

If it is to short a period I am told Pattaya last one week longer. But that city is noted for fun of one kind or another.

It lasts about 10 days there - I still enjoy it but not for 10 days!!!

Great stuff - thanks, I didn't realize immigration was done in Bangkok near domestic - I will look out for the signs.

Hi

I do the Singapore to CNX flight via swampy quite often on Thai. You need to clear immigration at swampy (there are big signs directing you to Chiang Mai, Phuket, Hat yai, etc.. transfer in swampy)... don't go through normal immigration processing for those going to BangKok directly . if your flying thai all the way through you can check your bags all the way through and collect them at CNX... They will give you a special yellow sticker at immigration at swampy that will direct you to international baggage claim at CNX where you will clear customs..

Great stuff - thank you, I was hoping to avoid Swampy immigraton altogether hopefully this isn't so bad!

Hi Folks,

I will be flying into Chiang Mai from Ho Chi Minh next week with Thai
Airlines all the way. I have about 1 1/2 hours in Swampy before the
Chiang Mai flight sector. I have never done this before and was
wondering what the procedure is in Swampy for transfering to Domestic
without going to immigration there?

I am hoping I can check my bags through all the way from HCM to Chiang Mai.

thanks

S

Thanks - I was hoping to do immigration at Chiang Mai and not have to deal with immigration at Swampy!

Hi Folks,

I will be flying into Chiang Mai from Ho Chi Minh next week with Thai Airlines all the way. I have about 1 1/2 hours in Swampy before the Chiang Mai flight sector. I have never done this before and was wondering what the procedure is in Swampy for transfering to Domestic without going to immigration there?

I am hoping I can check my bags through all the way from HCM to Chiang Mai.

thanks

S

Unfortunately I know one of the victims of Dengue,

I have sponsored some children for a numer of years in Pattaya Orphanage and have met them and their classmates on many occasions - Sadly 7 year old Tah (one of my sponsored kids classmates) died on January 29th from this disease. I confess to knowing little about it before this tragedy but am surprised how little defense there is against this. He was a really nice and happy little guy.

http://thepattayaorphanage.org/?s_page=13&ac=2013&page_sys=updatenews

RIP

No medical required for vehicle registration. Maybe you are thinking about a Driving License ?

It was for my license actually the last time I needed a resident form - that makes life easier, thank you for the help much appreciated.

Hi folks,

I need to get an resident form from immigration sorted out to register my vehicle in CM, I understand I need a medical cert to accompany it.

Can anyone recommend a small clinic around Suthep Rd / Nim area to get one?

I have picked a one up previously in Pattaya and the main part of the "medical" was an inspection of my wallet.

thanks in advance for any help

S

For me a deal that includes hassle, and ends up still costing more than that I would pay back home for a pizza isnt really a good value in my books.

So pop home and get one...

Indeed. Besides you won't find a pizza in Europe or America for 350 THB. I recently checked a number of places I used to go to in both Europe and USA and the pizzas were around the 15 Euro/USD 20 mark.

Wrong. I can get a pizza in Europe for 4 euros (160 baht) in a restauraunt setting. That is a large size pizza compared to Thailand, and I can pick the 4 toppings for it. The Turkish/Middle-Easterners have hundreds of these places in Europe, and the prices varies from 4 to 8 euros. A pizza by one of the more known franchises is about 5-10 euros. The size is smaller, but still about the same size as Thai pizzas. The family versions are a little more than double of this at the franchises, but at the Turkish places the family pizzas might sell as low as 8 euros, and sometimes they include a free 1.5 l soda as well. Thats good value and a good pizza. Though the regular size (4 euros/160 baht) is big enough for 2 thais.

Please dont try to educate me on the price of pizzas in Europe. You are just wrong. The profit margins here for Pizzas are great. Pizza company use to deliver 2 medium X-pan pizzas for 199 baht not long ago until they realized they can charge more.

I appreciate the effort, and would just rather donate directly to the organizations bank account than jump hoops to help.

Why bother with this rant - go back and eat the Turkish pizza and let your blood pressure settle down. a low price is not everything, sometimes it is better to pay a little more for quality. Not really interested in the price in Europe as it is irrelevant.

Great advice people thanks, I do eat it every morning for breakfast but have my own office at work lol. I know it is considered to be healthy but that's not why I eat it - I just love the stuff. No-one I work with here from the west will eat it but thats fine by me as I can have more from the limited daily supply at breakfast!