ChiangMaiMike

I used to hate mosquitoes, but I love them compared to termites.

I noticed on the 4th floor of Ram hospital they had eaten away the wood frame of the doors!  

What they've done to my wood working tools I brought over from America is incredible... Now I see the foolishness of my ways in using the old lanna style house on stilts as my room after putting in interior cement board walls and a ceiling.  They've eaten some rafters away completely in just a few years... omg!.

Chandrite 30 sc has now been sprayed liberally after first vacuuming up all the termites I could scrap away... at 72 am too old for this stuff, but have seen the corners Thais will cut if you don't watch every minute so since I sleep under this roof I felt I needed to do myself.  I'll die a happy man if never see another termite.

later,

Mike

Are you saying that I can show them my U.S. Social Security Statement and deduct that from the 800k? 

I heard today that the 800k baht has to be in only 2 months before you renew your retirement visa, and must remain for 3 months after you renew at which point you can remove 400k but must keep 400k baht there indefinitely.  It's not clear to me if I can show them my U.S. SS statement and then deduct that amount from the required 800k baht, but I think not.  Was told by an assistant that talked to someone at C.M. Immigration that need to transfer it in to have it count.  Sigh...  Was also told that the 90 day clock started when I got my extension, which was 40 days before it had to be done. That was on July 8th and no mention of any insurance requirements... But TiT and things can change at anytime.

"Had horrible experience trying to get checked out when they wouldn't accept my KBank Debit card... but that's another story."

You didn't do a runner?

Haha congratulations i saw you liked my post #18 just now and was about to send a PM but here you go saw your post good luck to you.

Actually you were mentioned on a bike ride I was having with by a pal a couple of weeks ago. Samll world....especially in CM!

Actually I did a 'walker'.

I had paid 64,000 with my debit card a couple of days before the surgery for "Surgical Supplies" with my KBank Debit Card so assumed would have no trouble.

But they wouldn't accept it... not for any of the 118,000 still owing. I showed them my ATM receipt from like an hour before that showed I had 200k in the account... but that wasn't convincing. My Thai friend finally got a KBank rep on the phone and after properly identifying myself he said could increase my debit card limit. I whined any said ' I old sick man, just want to pay my hospital bill and go home, PLEASE help me.' and gave phone back to my Thai friend. Turned out we had to call their damn number, enter my 16 digit number, and do the whole telephone tree to raise my limit. I just about went totally ballistic trying to do that. And couldn't. Finally made so many mistakes got locked out. After another 10 minutes of my friend talking to the Cashier and my blood pressure though the roof, I just walked out to my waiting friends car and we left... I felt I had to do it or would die from the absolute stupidity of it all. Was very sorry to abandon my ex, but they didn't grab her as she feared.

Couple of days later they tracked me down... Had a nice male nurse I'd liked ask my ex if he could come visit me. She gave him my address and he showed up... after a few 'How u feeling questions' the subject shifted to money and he asked if his rather large 'friend' and a nice girl interpreter could come in. They wanted the money. I told them if would take me to ATM I give them 50k right now and rest tomorrow... They wanted me to go to hospital with them cuz had no receipt... I refused, said 'Not need receipt'. Got in the van and noticed a policeman sitting there! heh heh... just a backup guy I guess... I was afraid they were planning on kidnapping me, but they didn't. Went to ATM and back home... Next day they came back and I had the rest of the money for them... All was really most pleasant, and when I showed the nurse some redness and swelling on my arm incision he took photo and said would talk to doctor. He called later saying Doc wanted me to take some antibiotics and that he would bring me the meds!!!

He paid for them with his own money and brought them the next day. I gave him a 'thank you tip' of 300 baht once was sure he wasn't just looking to hit on me ... and thanked him profusely. What a nice bunch of people to deal with... Thank you Suan Dok Hospital, nurses, med students, doctors and all for taking such good care of me. After ten years here I'm not surprised at how nice the Thais are, but almost everyone really did try to make my stay as pleasant as possible.

Later,

Mike

Well, the long term outlook is better with the CABG over the stents... but I'm glad I didn't have to make that choice.

Weerachai does seem to like to scare you about the dangers... I think he told me I had a 5% chance of death during the op... Not sure I believe that.

His 'Team' came in the day before surgery and told me "You have a 10% chance of death, M.I.,stroke, renal failure, infection, etc., do you consent to take the risk."

I decided that 10% was the total chance that something bad could happen and so is probably about right. They also told me I had to shave my mustache. (I didn't...)

I still have a lot of healing to do, but since I can sit and walk with essentially no pain, I am actually surprised I feel as good as I do.

Life is Good!,

M

Woo Hoo! I'm still alive!

And back home. Did a triple CABG. LIMA not good so had to discard but was able use the RIMA, a radial artery and a saphenous vein. Did the whole thing off pump! No transfusion!. Took 4 hours... Dr. Weerachai earned his 38k baht fee, imho.

Not sure would even be called a complication, but had some irregular heartbeat problems caused by electrolyte imbalance... some magnesium sulfate drips and horrible oral potassium(?) sorted it out. Had surgery on Thursday, discharged on Tues.

Had horrible experience trying to get checked out when they wouldn't accept my KBank Debit card... but that's another story.

Would probably not recommend it for a farang who hasn't lived here awhile... Not your Ram hospital luxury experience, but for a grand total of 184,000 baht I felt I got a great deal.

Later,

Mike

Thanks all for the good wishes...

Must say not looking forward to this... and fyi I switched (too late) to a Plant Based Diet and no oils... Cholesterol dropped from 224 to 127! Wish I'd done this years ago... check out Dr. Ornsby and Dr. Michael Greger if interested.

I hope to get back here in a couple of weeks...

Later,

Mike

If you don't mind me asking, was it your lifestyles or genetics that led to your heart problems?

Both...

I'm going to be admitted at University Hospital/Suan Dok/ Sriphat/etc. on Monday for CABG. Dr. Weerachai and team will do the procedure. Was referred to him by Dr. Patarapong from Ram after he did my Angiogram. Dr. Weerachai can do the procedure at Ram but was told it would be about 1/2 as expensive at the 'University' Hospital. The word is will cost 'around 200k'...

Surgery is scheduled for Wednesday. Dr. Weerachai seems competent. Very good English... he was at Mt. Sinai Hospital in Chicago and in Columbus, Mo. but not sure what he did there or for how long. Also not sure what he will do 'zactly. Patarapong said 5 bypasses... but Werachai wasn't sure... guess depends on condition of my harvestable arteries/veins and how things look when gets me opened up.

I was charge 100 baht/day today!...

Guess price went up.

m

Crying WOLF!

I've about had it with these misleading NEWS ALERTS!

Bombing in Chiang Mai! WFT?

Guess 'Explosives Found' too wordy???

Hmmm.... None of the Judges have reported any attempts of bribery?

I guess that means either there have been no attempts or they accepted them...

Leaves one to ponder which is the more likely scenario...

AND "spray disinfectant at medical operation rooms."

Way to get on top of things!

I'm in Chiang Mai and went by my favorite computer vendor Ionon last week and asked if the new machines came with Win7 and the owner told me they were not installing any illegal software on the new computers he sold... but he had lots of boxes of legal Windows stuff for sale... Maybe times are changing...?

Uh... Are they missing the point? Or is it just me?

Hitler was a significant person in history... fine to include him, imho.

Truely evil people should not be forgotten... but also they certainly should not be glorified.

Not ok perhaps is saying "Hitler is not dead", which I think implies that his ideas should live on, when they clearly belong in the garbage dump of horrific realizations of human madness...

Seems like slander and conspiracy always the 'go to' things...

Why not busted because they made too much noise and annoyed neighbors who then reported their illegal activity to front desk?

Is it even possible that the cops were honest and didn't try to get tea money?

I guess it would fit into the Forum better for me to suggest that those Italians were so cheap or stupid as to be able to comply with a simple extortion demand?

Am I too naive?

(did I set myself up for a *brilliant* rebuke?)

Extraordinarily stupid move! This will only hurt tourism and the economy more. Thailand's reputation as a tourist/expat friendly country is going down the drain. Hope that is civil enough for Thaivisa.

When did Thailand have an expat friendly reputation?

I think "semi- expat tolerant" would be the Offical designation...

hmmm..

The purpose of this is to accomodate farang?

I don't recall spending a lot of time at Thai Immigrations...

This doesn't make sense to me... I think missing some imformation.

When I used to complain about the speed the answer was "Sorry, many kids play game." Now I guess they can add "many people download the movie"... oh them pesky customers... They not only want to be connected to the internet, but want to use it as well.

Now... if everyone only sent one email a day...

Dave, I think about a year ago CAT was offering 2,800 baht for the 2MB speed... and they said it would be good.

I currently have HiNet... a combo of TT&T and CAT. It is 1,060 or so for "2MB"... and I do get that (1,750up and about 450 down to Chicago) most every morning before 8-9:00. Then it's downhill from there on.

I think both CAT and TT&T love the HiNet... it works great for them because if I have a problem then it's always the other companies' fault.

Of course how your service is and what's available depends upon where you live... and personally I would pay to have ADSL hooked up and then test it before committing to a place unless I could find neighbor who already had it and could 'prove' it worked well.

Good luck,

M

Does anyone know of any issues where the authorities have disputed an individuals entry and exit dates ?

Seems I recall a fellow that had a big problem with an altered entry date... He changed it by a few days to avoid overstay problems. He was arrested and thrown in prison and died. I believe he claimed nobility and was perhaps Italian. I think something like $12,000 had been paid to spring him too...

In Chiang Mai the red rubber stamp they use to print the check back in date was rolled to the side making it look like 15 instead of 5, so I showed up 10 days late.

They noticed I was late and when I realized what had happened I started to get a bit excited. The girl/woman looked up and gave a bit of a smile and put her finger to her lips.

I went silent and she just processed me as though I was on time.

I've never had anything but smiles and good service from the 90 check in folks.

The pressure is on to do something.

So what's wrong with a plan to enact something that's basically unenforcible?

Can show the Americans that drastic measures are being taken and not actually have to do anything.

Or can argue that it in fact it worked, and that "NO movies have been prirated using cell phones since steps were taken!"

Win/Win... good plan.

We may think we smarter than them... but they know they 10 times more clever.

Talk about Stupid.

Is it the 1st of April or what?

@msn.com also blocking mail from maxnet (again)... Had this problem before...

And to answer OP question with a personal quote "you seldom get more than you pay for".... if money no object I think you can get some ###### decent internet here for 27,500 baht per month.... and even 7,000 probably pretty good. But since all International Internet is by law required to go through a government agency, there is no private competition, so expect the same great service you get from any government bureaucracy. If you want good internet ask if you will get a 'fixed IP address'... and be sure to ask if service good for Internation Internet. Amazing how quickly they'll sell u a service that is mainly designed for Domestic use... which is what most of the internet traffic here is...

Personally, I'm sick of the idiots at TT&T and will find another ISP to be disgusted with tomorrow... I know that when they say 1mb that only 85% of that speed is possible because of 'internet overhead'... but they misrepresent the service and then fail to give you even 50% of what you think you are buying... I cannot stand to give them another satang... Adios MaxNet.