misterfloppy

3 hours ago, Nick in Thailand said:

These are not working girls. Look real ordinary, not particularly hot, girls. 

You will be struggling to find girls, particularly the younger ones, who aren't just there for the money, whether in the short or longer term!

Clearly, a deaf person cannot use a phone, nor hear a horn or doorbell. It all has to be done online.
Is there such a service set up in Chiangmai?
It would help very much if the driver could help with a wheelchair and walker, since one, perhaps both, would be needed to ensure the lady's mobility and independence around the city, and perhaps to or from Lamphun.
Thanks

I believe you should be able to apply for a new passport for the girl if you have photocopies of the Thai mother's ID and the blue book showing the address where the girl has her address registered. I am about to do exactly this for my thirteen-year-old daughter, though I will be taking copies (and originals) of my daughter's Thai birth certificate, showing me as the father, along with my UK passport. My wife recently had her Thai passport renewed here at the Chiangmai office where she said they didn't seem at all interested in the clutch of documents she had brought, with the original passport seeming to carry enough information to (most sensibly, I might suggest) enable a trouble free renewal. Though they claim it will take five days, the new passport duly arrived in the post just four days later!

My daughter will go through immigration for Thai nationals when we leave or return to the country, while I am a foreigner who must use a different channel. We will both use our UK passports through UK immigration.

Travelling into a country on one nationality passport, then out on another, is to be avoided since this will show up at immigration, and passage denied. My other daughter, whose Thai passport had expired, has had to come into Thailand on her UK passport, and do the 90-day reporting for, at one point, years, though, because of her status as a citizen, she hasn't had to go out of the country for visa renewal like us falangs. As far as I'm aware, she still uses her UK passport as she now spends three months here, then three months out of the country on a regular basis (because she has no wish to upset US immigration!). This unsatisfactory situation arose because the airline staff provided wrong advice, as we understand that she could have entered Thailand on the strength of her ID card alone - she could not have been denied entry as she is a Thai citizen, with the relevant document to prove it.

Hope this helps!

The sharp end of the 'patronage' system, perhaps?

Of course it should be legal!

If the evidence from other countries is anything to go by, road accidents will come down as less alcohol will be consumed.

But too many vested interests, too much corruption, and too little common sense for this to happen in my lifetime.

Unfortunately!

Do you have an appointment? If not, be prepared to get there at 5 AM and make a day of it. It's really quite fun!

well no. how do you get one? we are new to city been here only a Month, and why 5 am? can you expand on that? rather than just hanging that out there? i need real answers that are complete if you dont mind we are new!

I was there yesterday for my 90-day extension. Had planned to go at 7am but got a call from a friend, who has the same visa and dates, at 5:45 to say: "Get here quickly!"

Apparently they were only issuing 65 numbers, and I got no 53 after arriving at 6:08 am.

Around an hour later they distributed the numbers and told us to wait inside, which I did until 7:15 am, when I was called to show which visa type I had and given another number and told to return at 2:30 pm. This gave me time to then get photographs and photocopies. There relevant forms available in the office too.

On returning I waited 1 1/2 hours before being called again and crossing the counter for my documentation to be processed and to pay the fee. There was no interview, as such, for this renewal of my student Non-Immigrant ED visa, though I was asked if I was learning Thai okay - 'nid noi', being the appropriate response. Then I was told to wait again.

An hour later I had my photograph taken, waited another half-hour and was given passport c/w visa and was able to leave.

All in all, reasonably efficient - make sure you're in the correct queue in the morning - and not unpleasant. But it's still a pain to have to go through the process at all!

Good luck!

I happens fairly frequently in our village where there is the local water supply, not the government supply.

Whenever they do work on the pipework, they put activated charcoal into the supply to remove any impurities. Unfortunately this clogs up filters and leaves toilets needing cleaning. Presumably the water tank will need cleaning too, eventually.

The estate office tells us that this shouldn't occur once (if?) the govenment supply is connected, though I thing she's being rather optimistic!

Some plastics last just about forever. Some degrade in UV light or oxygen. Most give off harmfull PCB's or dioxin when burned, which seems to be the standard method of waste disposal here; these nasty chemicals then fall back to earth and become part of the food chain.

Is there any requirement that the above be addressed?

One of the better things that Thaksin Shinawatra introduced was a telephone hotline to report poor performance by government employees and departments. This was quickly killed once he was out of the way.

I can imagine that, not only was it extremely unpopular with certain parties - as well as highly popular with the electorate - but it was probably hopelessly overloaded.

Such a pity, as it had the potential to drasticly reduce corruption as well as greatly increase efficiency.

Not much help for you, though. I doubt if you'll get a reciept so try and do it though your bank so there is a record in case you can address it later if the situation changes.(unlikely). But hey, THB 1000 may rankle, but it won't break the bank.

Welcome to LOS!

I just came back from Nan with the missus where we stayed a couple of nights in the clean and very reasonable Huang Khueng Nan Hotel (THB 500/night). a bit noisy from the nearby temple and poor soundproffing but friendly and right in the town (city?) centre. Two or three other reasonable looking hotels are nearby.

We took the scenic route to Nan via Chiang Klang, turning left after Pau market via Doi Phuka National Park. However, although the views are jaw-droppingly spectacular for most of the way - so many opportunites that we gave up stopping to take photographs - the roads are hard going: two hundred plus kilometres of up and down, often dropping to second gear - and first on one occassion - trying not to overheat the brakes on the way down, in my three litre, four-wheel-drive Hilux, with only two passengers and their luggage, is not for the inexperienced driver though the road surface is good, with light traffic in the middle of the week when we went. The return journey to Chiang Mai via Route 11 was a doddle in comparison. We have a big road map - try Asia Books or other good bookshop - which purports to be in English and Thai. This was adequate, just about.

Nan itself is quaint with little development in the compact centre. No malls or high rises is a reminder of what the boring parts of Chiang Mai no doubt looked like a decade or two ago. Nan will surely become more developed over the coming years as it gets clogged with traffic and speculators so best grab a slice of history now. There are already many farangs about and, apparently, property prices have leaped in the last couple of years.

We did see a red taxi, though we had been advised there was no public transport or taxis. Best to hire a motorcycle, we were told, but found the town centre small enough to just walk round and didn't venture any further.

We had dinner in the excellent Poom3 Chinese Restaurant but didn't try to find any other decent places to eat.

Have a nice trip!

You and your friend should read this:

http://blog.priceonomics.com/post/45768546804/diamonds-are-bullshit

My ASUS Transformer developed a crack across the screen after less than six months - a known problem, according to an internet search, and one not recognised by ASUS under their guarantee.

The ASUS service centre on the corner of Route 11 Super Highway and Route 1001 quoted a silly price - don't remember exactly what - but do remember it wouldn;t have been much more to get a new one.

I was back in the UK recently and bought a new screen for about THB 1400, which I successfully swopped over.

Instructions for doing all sorts of jobs are available on Youtube. I've replaced screens and cases on iPhones as well as cleaning out fluff that tends to accumulate under the iPhone button.

It's worth having a go as the cost of parts can be quite low if you can find them., But I never did find the correct 000 cross-head screwdriver for the iPhone, managing with a very small flat bladed jewellers screwdriver instead.

Just try not to lose those tiny screws!

My daughter has attended the Lanna International School (http://www.lannaist.ac.th/) in Chiang Mai for the past two years.

She loves it though she was initially disappointed at the low level of equipment available in the classrooms compared with what she had been used to in the UK. It took here a little while to settle in and meet the demanding homework requirements but now she has made lots of friends who she will miss when she leaves at the end of this term, though the plan is to return in a few years. We have talked about all this.

It is unfortunate that we have to bring her back to the village school here in Scotland, which, though by all accounts above average for the UK, appears to me to have a poor work ethic in comparison and may not create the driven individual that I feel would be the result of staying at LIST in Chiang Mai. This may be the result of differences in teaching policy and style between the two countries and my interpretation, but this is eventually manifest in a country's culture and people - something I worry about for the long-term future of the UK. The teenage years can be much more of a problem in the UK.

We will be taking her away from LIST even if the building may not be the best. But the not unreasonable fees are spent mostly on high quality teachers - and to my eyes, it shows - with admissions to Oxbridge every year, and a great atmosphere, with none of the bullying that is still resisting attempts to eradicate it in the UK. Perhaps a fee-paying school in the UK would be better, but I'm not in a position to afford that.

A degree at a good UK or international university will allow a career in either or both countries. It will take a good school to achieve this, and from my previous research, St Josephs was at the top of my list if we'd been living in Bankok and I'd been satisfied regarding its Roman Catholic status. Perhaps they'll allow entry if Buddhism (or Evangelical Atheism!) is your religion? Perhaps not.

Even without a degree, an education should prepare the child for adulthood. Other posts on TVF suggest to me that the average Thai school, with its emphasis on doing as you're told and avoiding questioning the teacher, should be avoided at all costs!

And what about all the fish, birds, bats, dragonflies and other animals that live on mosquitos as a staple diet?

-mel.

Not much disincentive here - nothing here says he cannot keep the money. Where's the punishment in being barred from office or whatever when he, and all the others guilty of such practices, then have the opportunity to spend and enjoy it all.

What a system!

Disappointingly, I wasn't able to be at the party, which was held at the Vdara Resort pool, as I am back in the UK.

But photos and first hand reports tell me that they had a great time - best party, ever! - and Nickey Fynn (www.nickeyfynn.com/) , who had been recommended, went down a storm.

So did the chocolate cake!

Thanks for all your suggestions.

The vet we went to was on the west side of the road - on the left as you go north. Probably less than half-a-mile past the Airport Plaza. Best avoid....

Good luck with Rigs -

Just after Xmas we took three dogs and two cats to the vets just up Hang Dong Road from the Airport Plaza, on the left. Two of the dogs were neutered and the other was too young to be spayed so got her jabs. The male and female cats were neutered and spayed.

One of the dogs refused to take his medicine so got sick, and the vet's taking a sample was, in my opinion, a bit unprofessional - the poor beast was screaming in pain. Anyway, he had to be kept in for a several days as he "might not survive - 50/50 chance." A few thousand baht, rather than the ten you mention. He survived.

Now we come to the reason I write this:

- The young bitch died.

- One of the kittens back home died.

- The other kitten contracted feline polio.

- The female cat turned purple and started to bleed from every orifice - but eventually survived, and is fit and healthy now.

These are the facts - you can draw your own conclusions.

As an aside, the kitten with polio could do with a home since the new apartment doesn't allow pets, and the land she is now living on is not really suitable. This is a house-trained and reallly affectionate tortoise-shell kitten who likes the company and physical contact of humans. She is playful, like others of her age, but the back legs are a bit stiff and don't always do what she expects of them.

We will be sad to see her go, but know we can no longer provide the home she needs - get in touch if you're interested and we can come and see if you can provide a suitable home for her.

Guano,

I recently shipped 1.2 cubic mtrs (two items) back from Chiang Mai to Aberdeen, Scotland using Noi <[email protected]> at Vanat Shipping www.vabatshipping.com - who charged me THB12,000. I received several photographs showing the conditions of the goods before they were packed and generally, the whole operation went smoothly, taking about five weeks to arrive in the UK, where I collected the goods from a local warehouse in my car.

This all sounds very reasonable until you find out how much everyone else in the process charged, which Noi may not be able to inform you about.

• Terminal handling charge GBP 55.00
  
• CAF (I think this was for fumigation in Singapore) GBP 14.50
  
• Documentation GBP 82.00
  
• Temp ROE differential GBP 29.00
  
• Customs clearance GBP 135.00
  
• VAT GBP 52.80
  
• Deferrement (something to do with VAT) GBP 45.00
  

As you may imagine I wasn't too chuffed at the extras - but at least I've a better idea when I need to ship things again (in about three months!).

Can anyone recommend a good children's entertainer for my daughter's birthday party, which will take place at the pool of a local hotel?

She has just turned nine-years-old, and most of the kids attend attend an international school where English is the language used. Four or five boys will be among those invited.

Does the British Consul have anything to say about this?

Now here's an ideal opportunity to introduce low CO2 cement.

But not much scope for back-handers there...

It's the actual discs I need - forgot to mention...

Where can I buy genuine software, such as Photoshop, in Chiang Mai?

How do prices compare with in the west?

Is mail order too risky to be worth considering?

Any suppiers recommended?

How do prices compare, or should I wait until I'm out of the country to buy?

Advice would be welcome. Thanks in advance.

I met my wife in a Bangkok bar...

...and celebrated our tenth wedding anniversary earlier this year.

I/we've been very lucky as she'd only worked there two months and hadn't 'hardened up', and we are still very much in love - we have a lovely daughter and they both have Thai and British passports. I was twice my wife's age when we met and had enough experience of human nature to know she was no gold digger (of which there are an uncomfortably high proportion here in the UK).

A couple of months ago my wife effectively 'divorced' her parents due to the unacceptable way they have behaved: only making contact when they want money; trying to squat on our land in Thailand to take it over despite having plenty of their own, etc. On two previous ocassions when we'd given them money, the father had ended up in jail followed by pleas to us for the bribe to release him - the first time he'd used the money to buy tree-cutting equipment and was caught illegal logging, much to my dismay. Such contact and the demands caused dreadful stress for my wife, which we could really do without - after all, life in the UK has its own problems.

In my experience it is not uncommon for girls to break with their parents once they feel secure in their new family life (getting married might be part of the formula). But this would be her decision, not yours. Many opportunist Thais try to convince falangs that some kind of dowry is due (previous postings have covered this).

Notwithstanding what I've said, you've already been given good advice, and at your age, in your circumstances, with the cosh she has been under for so long, the chances of you making it as far as I have look poor.

Good luck!