No1

The policeman is doing all concerned a favor. Any motorbike rider who does not wear a helmet gets what they deserve.

Very sad to see Darwin's law in effect.

If you are referring to severe head injuries, I don't agree. Nobody deserves it. Do we? Usually, a driver who does not wear a helmet dies earlier than someone who doesn't. Sad for the relatives and friends only. Personally, I don't mind being dead. Dying is a bit of an issue.

Not sure of the intersection your talking about, but I know by Airport Plaza they have been doing it for almost a year.

This one: http://goo.gl/maps/qWF9

What makes me happy is this way the funds go to the Government and not in someones pocket for lunch ( or anything else they may want) money

Fully agree.

And the government plough it all back into road education, road repairs etc.

No matter what I think of the government and what they do with our taxes and contributions, but still better they get the money than the copper to pay for his lunch.

I know it's a bit far but on a recent trip up to Doi Pui I realized that the doggies in the village could really need a bit of help.

... I saw a brown shirted gentleman walking behind the bikes which were in the first line at the red traffic light and he took photos of the license plates of those ones who didn't wear a helmet. A pretty good way to record the evidence and to fine without any need to stop the offenders.

I have seen him in time before he could step behind my bike and take the photo, so he just tipped at his head indicating I always have to wear a helmet. Of course, I duely apologized with a smile.

Now, I hope I haven't started off a useless discussion on the sense of helmet laws. Just wanted the other ones out there to be aware of this practice. (new to me)

... and here I thought the reason for living in Thailand was to live more of a Thai lifestyle. My bad.

Can't we just come to see and sense some parts of their life, culture and enjoy their friendliness without any need to live Thai lifestyle whatever this could be? I thought Thai lifestyle is for Thai people.

It is still a very poor country and Thai life comes with many hardships which I am not willing to put up with nor would I want to miss the comfort of technological and economic achievements of the Western world. (Hey, they love their iphones, too, don't they?)

Personally, I don't know how I could live here on a 100k per month.

No1, it doesn't sound like you are one of the 99 percent.

LOL, you're far off. A one percenter would have a bit more than the average income. Correct me if I am wrong.

150k THB exchanges to $5k. The average income in Norway is about $7k/month, in Germany maybe $5k, even in Spain it's still around $3k. People spend it on taxes, health care, houses, cars, vacation, gadgets etc. My point is: if you want to maintain the same standard of living in Thailand as you are used to in the western world, you really have to spend the same or more. A lot of the Thai domestic products would not satisfy a European average customer. So you have to pay even more for the importation.

Did anybody here mention taxes? Retirement funds?

Personally, I don't know how I could live here on a 100k per month. Life here is as expensive as in any other country if you want to enjoy the same lifestyle as over there. Computers and IT-gear is more expensive and the cars cost 3 times as much as in the US and Europe. My aircon wastes as much energy as my heating back in Norway.

Now, I don't have kids, but that makes it really expensive. School in Europe is mostly free. Here you would need to pay for it, pay for school uniforms, tutoring, etc.

(All of the the above is only true if you want to keep up a Western lifestyle.)

If you didn't get here as a kid, you will never integrate. Nowhere. But there is nothing wrong in trying.

Briley,

may I interpret your post as a possible answer to my initial question? In that case, do you suggest that there is a law firm called "Chiang Mai Properties"? Thanks for clarifying!

Ask at Nova Art Jewelry Shop. They have a big can of it in their workshop and must have bought it somewhere. http://www.nova-collection.com/

Sell up and walk away. It won't sovle the problem but it won't be your problem anymore.

...or accept the things they way they are.

If you push too hard they will push back a lot harder and it can turn nasty very quickly. Life is cheap here.

Yep. I realized they are not open to reasoning.

Yippieyeah. Bedlam in Chiangmai. I like! Where can I sign up and is there a waiting list?

Sadly, it seems most lawyers don't want to get involved. The people who built/run the condos are often well connected and can bring pressure to bear on the lawyers, land office, amphur officials etc. You are likely on a hiding to nothing......

It must be possible to find a lawyer. I am capable and willing to fund this venture and don't care about the cost.

Kuh Krit, 053 277 292

Krit, Sunbelt? Yes. Nice guy. I am a regular customer of his. First he told me a very high price to attend an AGM on my behalf and much to his surprise I accepted immediately. It is strange that he told me a price in the first place because usually he does things and eventually I get an invoice and paid it. I am not going into details, but he still found his way out....

To make a long story short: he is not interested.

If there are any recommendations for a Bangkok based lawyer specialized in condominium law, it would be very helpful, too.

Thank you!

We need a lawyer specialized in problems related with the management of a Condominium building in Chiangmai. The current manager has been in office for 15 years and deviated funds. They did not send invitations for the last AGM and the manager believes his wife has a majority....

Any recommendations?

I understand there are people with kinky tastes. But on Thaivisa I see nothing than Where-is-my-mayonaise-oil-fat-coke-diet-brew-and-why-is-it-all-so-expensive-threads. I am now closely watching myself and hope it is not contagious

Meanwhile, enjoy your benign addictions, guys!

For a fantasticaly memorable meal in Mae Rim I'd recommend The Orchard (Nicky of Guitarman's new place) . The food is absolutely EPIC, the setting is wonderful and on Sunday afternoons, past 2:30ish, great live music.

Address/directions, please?

http://bit.ly/ze5vfV

When making a choice for a parrot I would like to remind everyone that they are animals which get very old, up to 80 years and they are animals which need a partner. They do suffer from being kept alone and especially African Greys tend to suffer when not kept in ideal conditions and pluck their feathers. Please, do your due diligence before making a commitment to these beautiful and sensible animals.

Great help! Thanks to all! Will send a friend to pay at and organize shipping from IKEA.

I saw your picture and IKEA popped into my head. There is an IKEA in Bangkok now. There is a website and it looks like they sell the "slatted bed base" separate from the frame. I don't know if they can ship.

Thank you! I have checked with IKEA before but didn´t find anything. Looked again, this time for "slatted bed base" and found it!

Can you post a photo of what a slatted frame is?

LOL,maybe the picture just didn't load correctly in your browser and I will take it as a chance to post another example of what I would call a "slatted frame", but if anyone has a better name for this thing, let me know

Maybe I am just looking for something impossible to find here, but if anyone has an idea where to find a slatted frame, please let me know

Hello,

I was sold a fully refundable ticket from Thaiairways. Now when asking for a refund, Thaiairways wants to deduct 100 USD in fees. I thought, if it is fully refundable, they have to fully refund without deducting fees which make up nearly 25% of the ticket price.

Is this o.k.? Or am I missing something?

Thanks for your ideas!

There's density altitude to consider too.

No factor. Phuket is always a few degrees hotter and more humid which will take the average density altitude to the same or higher levels as prevailing in CNX.

Now, with only 3100 m of runway the airlines are somewhat limited to certain types of aircraft: 747s could not be used, they all come with more than 3000m of take off roll. Also the A340s require around 3000 m, so you get either less range or less passengers than max possible in this type. Forget about A380s or 787s.

From long range aircraft, probably the A330-200 is one of the few possible choices for direct hauls into Europe.

So, it is possible but the runway length in CNX limits the airlines' options. Please, excuse this brief deviation from the initial question.

In order to become more attractive for airlines, Chiangmai had to be promoted as a tourist destination but that takes the initiative of the regional tourism-boards to pay incentives to the airlines and to give them guarantees during an initial period. Probably they are not organized or funded for this (yet).

Thank you very much!

Sorted.