khunPer

A not to slim housekeeper and a fat cook is okay; but the girls I date needs to be slim.

16 hours ago, CartagenaWarlock said:

I am going to Samui in February during the Full Moon Party.

Are there any nice cannabis cafes in Samui?

Are there any Thai nightclubs like Mahanakhon in Pattaya Tai? 
Is Bolt service readily available, like in Pattaya? 
I'm also going to Koh Phangan for the full moon party. Any tips?

There are plenty of cannabis outlets and cafes – in number more than there are 7-Eleven shops – however, I have no personal experience if they are good or not. There are also a number of them in the nightlife area at Chaweng – mainly around so-called Soi Green Mango – you might even be eligible for a free joint, if you dine at Pineapple...

Yes, you'll find Thai nightclubs in Chaweng. By the lake on 2nd road from the beach is Old School Bar (marked on the map), and on the peninsula in the lake Ma-Ha-Te is about to reopen in a new build club-building next to Lakeside Hostel. Also Roza Bar has many Thai guests...

As mentioned above by @Tropicalevo, Grab is available.

If you stay on Samui and commute to the Full Moon Part by speed boat, there are many operator which includes transfer by minibus from/to your hotel. Book in advance for transfer and to be certain of space. Some of the major companies are Lomprayah/Lomlakh (Bang Rak), Ruangsri and Mr. Tu (Phu Yai Non pier), and Grand Sea Discovery (Maenam).

If you commute to Haad Rin on Koh Phangan for the party, be aware of that most resorts have a minimum stay of about 4 nites around the FMP dates. As mentioned above the Haad Rin Queen – she sails from her Bang Rak pier – can be heavily booked around FMP. Another option is the Lomprayah catamaran from Pralarn Pier (Maenam) that sails to Thiongsala on Phangan, you need transfer from there to Haad Rin. Lomprayah offers a minibus transfer servide from/to hotels on Samui; I have no kn owledgeif they have similar service on Phangan.

On 1/25/2024 at 2:15 PM, Startmeup said:

Is it enough to have a driving license to buy a new bike or what documents are needed? 
If buying cash? 

You need passport and a proof of address in Thailand – you don't need a drivers license to own a vehicle, only to drive one – proof of address is norm ally issued by the local immigration office. Some land transport offices accepts a Yellow House Book for foreigners as proof of address, and some always request a letter from the immigration office. The local dealer for new motorbikes would know what documents are needed and will normally take care of mandatory insurance and the registration at the local Land Transport Office.

On 1/26/2024 at 1:36 AM, surreybloke said:

In the mean time can someone help me out with a couple of questions.  Her family  have land and a house but not on the same plot.   There is a name on the house book.   We are advised to get a copy of the Chanot.   

What is the house book if it is not a proof of ownership.    

Also what are those metal signs I see in the countryside  with what look like lists of names.   Are they lists of land occupancy or ownership or something else. 

Not sure what you mean with "have land and a house but not on the same plot".

"Chanot" is a nickname for the Nor Sor 4 title-deed, which is the only title deed with full ownership. There are numerous titles for deeds, some of them are only for right to use the land for farming (a post above has shown names).

A house book – also called the Blue House Book – is NOT proof of ownership, it just shows the house number and address, and who is registered as living at that address. One person will be registered as "host" – which can be the house owner – that person can allow other people to be registered on the address in the house book. Foreigners are listed in a separate Yellow House Book.

I'm not aware of what "metal signs" you mention.

On 1/25/2024 at 12:05 PM, pj123 said:

I'm interested to hear from people who self build whether this is something they specified in their build.

Yes.

3 hours ago, Pique Dard said:

 

...what to believe? because the article  says nothing about  this reunion!

"The next day they finally contacted Mrs. Sun and found she was safe with a different group of friends on the Pha Ngan Island in Surat Thani."

19 hours ago, henrik2000 said:

Thanks, you cleared up some questions that baffled me. I've seen discarded spirit houses also in backyards of wats, always around a tree. I wonder if there are ceremonies to put up or unemploy a spirit house.

 

You explain also why the spirit houses i see in the fields always have a ladder.

Thanks for your comment.

About ceremonies.

When a spirit house is put up there will (normally) not be any ghosts moving in. You need a brahmin or shaman to make the ether-beings aware of their new home(s). There are going to be both be plenty of food and other stuff to make the new place interesting for the ghosts. The Shaman will place the small figurs that symbolic are going to host the invisible inhabitants of the house. The shaman will also shout at the spirits to force them to move into the house and often use noisy fireworks, just like the Chinese use fireworks at Chinese New Year to clean the houses from bad spirits. That kind of beings hate loud noises, also cymbals and drums are effective.

Some of my images from a housewarming party for ghosts...

As with the much in Thailand, the ceremony can vary from area to area, some places Buddhist monks will do the ceremony and persuade the spirits to move in.

Nobody dare to touch an abandoned spirit house remaining in place. It needs to be moved to a forest. There might still be some beings living in the house and – probably not to be haunted by ghosts – abandoned spirit houses in a forest might still have fresh gifts placed in front for a while, like this abandoned home at Ghost Road, where a figure that might be hosting a ghost is still sitting there...

If a ghost has already moved in, you can satisfy it with a shrine. The story here is about a spirit that lived in a sacred palm – a very high straight palm, unlike the often bended coconut palms. A foreigner bought the land a wanted to build a house, but was told that he could not cut down that sacred palm in the middle – no workers dared to do it – so he had his coming luxury house designed with the sacred palm standing in the middle, actually in a part of the living room, which made the house look quite outstanding.

However, the coming house owner didn't show up for a ceremony to ask the spirits of the land's for permission to build the new house. That means bad luck – the house will never be a lucky home. A lightning hit the sacred palm-tree so it died during the building process; not to forget to say that the workers got really scared. Now the house was reconstructed so there would be roof over the area where the sacred palm once was.

A old lady living nearby had a dream – or enlightment – where a ghost came to her and told her that it's home had burned by lightning and the new house owner didn't give the spirit new home – i.e., placed a spirit house on the land plot, where you some times will place a temporary home for the spirits of the land during house construction – so now the spirit has moved in a big three on a nearby land plot, neighbouring the old lady.

The old lady had a shrine placed for the new inhabitant in the tree...

The foreigner that build the new house never placed any homes for ghosts and (therefore) had many problems – the roof was leaking and resultet in heavy water damages – and finally he had to sell it, as it became too expensive to keep, some of the money also came from a mortgage. A new foreign owner also got lots of serious problems – and also more water damages plus the costs of a new roof on top of the old one – and finally gave up to stay in the house, which is abandoned at the moment. It has been up for sale – however, the sign seems to disappear a couple of times, without the house being sold – so if you are interested in spending $2.5 million in a haunted home, you might have a bargain right here.

Therefore, in Thailand it's (very) important always to ask permission from the ether beings and in general have a good relationship with them. If you build a house, have the monks or an astrologer to give you the right starting time and point the lucky post, which is the first one to be raised. And don't forget to place a small piece of gold under it. And don't forget gifts to the spirits and attend the ceremony yourself as coming house owner – even that you don't believe in ghost, your workers and neighbours do – you never know what is the truth.

The photo is the erection of the lucky post when I build my house in 2009 – and yes, i have had no problems (so far)...

"Additionally the autopsy result is awaited to determine the cause of death but it is still uncertain whether he was hanged or hanged himself, they said." (Quote from article.)

Probably difficult to hang oneself with hands tied on the back with cable ties; even if one suffers from depression and is a long time habitant on the island.

The are a number of Ukrainians living/staying on Samui, some have been here since before the Covid-pandemic.

15 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

If it is anything like the "interview" I had for my yellow house book they just ask you questions about yourself.

 

Parent's name. Where born. Dates you lived abroad etc.

 

Definitely not a test as such.

I was also asked about religion and why I wanted to live/stay in Thailand. It seems to vary a lot between the provinces, others have posted that they more-or-less got their Yellow House Book with only an approved translation of their passport.

22 hours ago, henrik2000 said:

Hello, if you are a a non-Buddhism-practicing household in small town Thailand (Thai household members also not practicing Buddhism), how do you deal with

- alms for monks

- spirit house?

Do you just don't do these things? Or do you follow the custom partly anyway; if yes, why? What are your thoughts around this?

 

-- Irrelevant background: --

I bicycled a lot through rural and small town Thailand as a tourist, often at 6 a.m. already, seeing the monks' alms rounds, and I dreamed a lot about moving there, and these questions came up, silly as they may sound. Thanks for your real life experience! So sorry if question annoying.

I just follow the local traditions and what my lovely girlfriend decide to give of alms for the monks; it's her money. I also attend service in a temple – when needed – and politely try to follow the custom.

I was mainly the one that insisted on a pair of spirit houses next to my house. Both because it's custom, but also because I like them – I chose a pair of wood houses from Chiang Mai – and just in case, if there are spirits living on the land or from any ancestors, I might also be prevented from being haunted by angry poltergeists inside my own house.

Just got my ghost's houses replaced – I hope the ether beings will be happy now – as the former set was worn out after almost 14 years heavy use, helped by the local weather gods...

16 hours ago, ibjoe said:

Questions:

 

1) When should I target renewal process? I consider there may be holiday activity around 18-April, so some time in advance may be good.

 

2) Should I use the same Bangkok immigration center as before, or can I visit any immigration center, e.g. in Phuket?

 

3) Should I use an agent again? It was an easy process for what was very confusing to me. The agent walked me to all the various stations, filled out all the forms, I just had to be physically present and sign papers.

 

4) If I use an agent again (maybe the same one again), what should I expect to pay? Including for the re-entry permit.

 

5) If I go it alone (with help of my Thai wife for translation, etc.) what is the correct process (including forms, etc. url references also appreciated)?

 

Thank you to all helpful responders.

To my experience and knowledge – I'm also extending stay based on retirement...

1) You can do it up to 45 days before expiry date of your present stay, but you need to check with the local immigration office, some don't accepts more than 30 days before.

2) You shall apply for extension of stay at the immigration office where you live (i.e. your registered address).

3) Retirement extension is simple, you don't need an agent, just follow the local immigration office's rules (they are little different from office to office).

4) You don't need agent; however, for service with paperwork a few thousand baht would be a fair price.

5) You can go alone, you don't need a translator at the major locations with foreigners, they often have a list in English with requirements; all forms are in both English and Thai language.

5 hours ago, Rookie1 said:

I'm trying to go in a blue book.  I believe you can't get an ID unless you're already in a blue book.  Everyone I've talked to said you can get your ID the same day you're added to a blue book but you have to get in the blue book first

Yes, to my knowledge you need to be registered in a house book to get a Thai ID-card.

The interview is probably needed if you have not been registered in a house book before and lived abroad; just like when a foreigner applies for being registered in a yellow house book.

Yes.

3 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

Are you going to tell us the track title please?

Link HERE – it's fusion jazz; I'm the original producer and publisher.
Same theme use HERE (YouTube) in a more contemporary remix/new-work, one of several.
More HERE of recent re-releases on vinyl and contemporary remixes/new-works.

23 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

It's only a passing trend. They have to make an LP a double because it is not possible to fit the data of a 33rpm LP onto one running at 45. 

Isn't that what I just said: "double albums"...
PS: I just got one of tracks I've produced re-released on a 45RPM compilation double-album vinyl.

On 1/22/2024 at 4:25 AM, Enquiry123 said:

Have people applied ? Is it a hassle ?Do I need to have a Thai friend to certify the application ?

It's depending of where you live. Some has reported here – in ASEAN NOW forums – that it's an easy process, for others it has been complicated. In my own case it was almost like applying for permanent residency; apart from not been paying income tax from work in Thailand; I was allowed a translator (my lovely girlfriend) for the interview; and I should not sing the national hymn (the tessa ban-staff shall be happy that I did not sing).

21 hours ago, KannikaP said:

And superceded by far better audio quality. A chunk of VINYL (not VYNIL) going round and round with a needle taking up the vibrations up to maybe 16kHz in most cases.

Wasn't the idea patented by a Mr Edison?

No, the flat disc was invented by Emile Berliner in 1887, and further completed by Peter Goldmark to the LP-vinyl disc in 1948.
Frequencies over 16kHz are not interesting, as you hardly can hear them, one non-existing musical octave more is 16-32kHz. In the lacquer cutting process the treble limiter would normally be set at 15kHz. 44kHz 16-bit linear digital sound goes up to 20kHz, which is just 1/4 of an octave over 16kHz, where you might be lucky to find some key rattling sound; which was our usual HF-test in recording studios. And you still need microphones to record acoustic sound – and overtones – but also microphones has a limit in frequency range. The best studio microphones, for example the Neumann U87 or Røde NT1, don't snap anything higher the 20kHz. Many microphones are in the range up 15kHz, which is enough in most cases...
 

21 hours ago, KannikaP said:

Why?

21 hours ago, Digitalbanana said:

 

Why would anyone search for a vinyl record shop? The chances of finding some thing you like would be infinitesimally small since the technology is now superseded?

Vinyl sales are up and vinyl is the present trend, numerous of old albums are re-released, some even a double albums with 45RPM instead of 33RPM.

Different sites have different measuring stations, which will gives different results depending on placement and wind...

Source link HERE.

Source link HERE.

You can search on Google for a site that reports from a station nearby where you live.

20 hours ago, malasa said:

 

 

Please stop posting this link, it is not working at all. 

 

 

It shows always the same values. 51/50 since weeks, nice. Or is it me and I'm doing something wrong?

 

I don't think so, just tried another browser.

 

Compare this with other pages, it is a no-brainer that this page is broken or the sensor is hidden in a compartment with always the same air quality.

 

Maybe it works for other cities, but not for Samui.

 

It's an international air quality site and it's working – you can check the historical hourly readings (time is UTC/GMT) or monthly readings day by day – there is normally not that much difference on the air quality in Samui. It's mainly when wind carries haze from Malaysian fires up to here that the air quality get's bad...

The ASEAN-site HERE is however, not working.

14 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

I am looking for recommendations for an accurate air quality monitor.

This HERE (AirQuality.com) is the normally used for Thailand...

On 1/20/2024 at 11:33 AM, DrJack54 said:

No.

If one is maintaining ongoing permission of stay by extensions (eg retirement/marriage) then a new TM30 is not required every time they apply for extension 

Ask the local immigration office – not all offices follow the official regulations – it's better to just do it online than being refused extension of stay until you have made a new TM30 registration, and return in the queue line with same-day bank statements.