ChiangMai101

Whilst we're discussing cleaning methods, can anybody recommend a product that will kill mould in the shower?

Is there secure long-term parking available at the airport (one week) ? If so, how much do they charge for the privilege and what is the correct procedure?

cheers

some ppl want jam today...AND jam tomorrow....hmm

on a tangent have you noticed that those packs of 30 Nescafe 3-in1s now contain a mere 27 tubes,,,AND the price has gone up.

You counted them? Wow, that's impressive. Do you think I should count the number of teabags in each 250 pack just to be sure?

We moved to the area 2 months ago. I also have not seen any speed signs. Of course road conditions and other traffic must be considered when choosing your speed. On a few occasions when it has not been busy I have managed to do 80 on that road in the SUV but then I realised my white knuckled husband was not enjoying it as much as I was. Going faster than that just won't feel right. Too much swerving going on. Being high up in the SUV has its advantages in being able to see what's ahead a lot better than in a sedan. In Aus I always drove a sedan and cursed the SUVs and 4WDs because I could never see past them. So I decided that if you can't beat them, join them! I feel a lot safer here in one of those. Apologies to all the sedan drivers for blocking your view. Will try my best not to...

Thanks for the link MrBrad. Very useful.

What is the speed limit on Hang Dong Road? More specifically the section from Airport Plaza down to Kad Farang. Can somebody shed some light on this as it seems anything from 20 to 100 km/h is standard. I would't like to be fined.

My wife likes to hold her mums hand - sort of arm in arm whilst out together.

The first time I saw them at it I was shocked

I have noticed this a lot. It's very sweet and makes me smile. When I first saw it I was a bit taken aback but decided that they had to be mother/daughter or in cases of girls/women of similar ages, sisters. We would never do this in the Western world because we would be too worried about what others may be thinking.

Perhaps some Paul Gallico titles: "Manxmouse", "Mrs 'Arris goes to Paris", "The Snow Goose". Lovely stories but not sure if any of them are still in print.

Shooting range

Fishing

Both can be easily organised when you are here

Also had a good experience at arrivals a couple of weeks ago. Took about 5 mins to clear immigration. Well done Thailand!!

Any worthwhile recreational fishing in the lakes on the eastern side of the mooban?

no idea but sold up in that moobaan due to the soi dogs taking over

That was a very useful post in response to the question about fishing!

Anyway, I have fished there in the past with very little success apart from a few small perch like fish.I do know there are catfish up to about 10 kilo. Not a lot of space left to fish now as most of the land is sold/being developed.

Soi dogs,all dogs are now registered in BWT and strays will be rounded up and residents are encouraged to report any problems to the office. Owners are warned if their dogs are a nuisance.

I guess they waited to implement this until the op left the estate?

Thanks for the comment on fishing. Will give it a go sometime with bread bait!

Any worthwhile recreational fishing in the lakes on the eastern side of the mooban?

If today was officially Day 1, why have I been watered since Wednesday? When is it going to end?

A scooter or bicycle handlebar mounted camera recording the rider through peak traffic.

Plus, review of health and/or accident insurance.

Thanks. That gives me a bit more confidence.

Mods: Do you think I would have more luck with this question in the Chiang Mai forum?

Packing like the clappers here at the moment. I have a Pashleigh bicycle made in UK. My local bike shop prepared and packed the bike ready for transport. I am considering bringing the bike over to Chiang Mai with me. This bike is perfect for shopping rides and getting around flat areas. No intention of trying to go up Doi Suthep on this baby! (Guess that's why they call them 'push bikes'.) Is there a recommended bike shop in Chiang Mai that will be able to assemble the bike again? It has the Stumey Archer gear system which I believe is a difficult one to do assemble again. There is no point in bringing it over if it is just going to sit in its box.

Thanks!

Thank you - a lot clearer. Suppose I should go back to Australia in May to clear the mail as I have a flexible return ticket with Thai Airways. Subsequent trips will try to go to KL direct from ChiangMai. No visa issues in Malaysia for commonwealth citizens I understand. Seems less complicated than the the actual organised 'bus border runs' (for now).

All rightie then - seems like frequent shopping trips to Singapore or Hong Kong is on the cards during the first 12 months of our stay in Thailand. Will check what international flights operate out of Chiang Mai.

So, when the multiple non im o visa is activated when we arrive at end of Feb does that mean I have to have a trip planned before end of May, and must the return date be before the 90 days are up (ie. before 27 May).

Thanks also for clarifying the 90 day reporting requirement. Guess it will all become more clear once we are there and in the thick of things.

The more I read up about this the more confused I am becoming. I thought we had it all worked out but now I am starting to have doubts.

Under the visa banner on Thaivisa it states the following regarding non-immigrant visas:

“Your best choice is to obtain a multiple entry Non-Immigrant visa which valid for 12 months. With this visa type you will need to exit and enter Thailand at least every 90 days to get a new entry stamp allowing you to stay a further 90 days.

If you utilize your visa the last time just before it expires, you will get an extra 3 months "bonus", so the total validity will be nearly 15 months.”

Our situation: Husband and myself have just been issued non-immigrant O multiple entry visas which expire in January 2013. We will make our first entry into Thailand using those visas on 27 Feb 2012. Ok – so as I understand it, our passports will be stamped with a 90 day stay stamp (not sure of the correct terminology) hence we are allowed to stay until 27 May or thereabouts. Husband is a frequent traveller. He will leave Thailand once a month at least and would be away for about 2 weeks each time. He already has trips booked for 13-20 March and 1-18 April.

I will not travel overseas that often and I am aware of the 90 day reporting requirements for myself.

In light of all of this when is the best time to convert the non-O visas to extension based on retirement? He qualifies for the retirement extension and I will be added as a dependant. I believe one should only apply for the retirement extension during the last 30 days of one’s valid stay. Therefore, should we convert soon - in May 2012 (which is the last 30 days that our collective first 90 day entry stamp is valid for) or can we wait until the last 30 days of his last entry stamp from one of his trips while the non-o visa is still valid? (Which probably means I will be in Thailand illegally if I don’t also exit the country and get a further 30 day stay each time?)

I get the feeling that a little bit of knowledge can be a dangerous thing and am worried that we are going to stuff up the dates. Help --------- pleeeeeeaaaaaaase!

Thanks

+ 5,000 toolbar pleading smileys

As said no problem with lack of 90 day address reports but do not try to use your old multi entry visa again - you will need re-entry permit for new returns to keep your extension date.

Sorry to jump in here...

So does the OP just apply for a new multiple entry permit once the 12 month extension kicks in or does every trip out of Thailand have to have its own entry permit?

Many thanks for the comments. Greatly appreciated!

We spent 5 days at Studio 99 last year. We rented a two bedroom apartment - we had our teenage son with us.

We enjoyed our stay there. It is in a very nice location. Handy to Tha Pae Road and within walking distance to a lot of restaurants.

Reception staff were very helpful and their wifi internet is very good.

I don't think I would stay there for more than a couple of weeks though. The kitchen facilities are very basic and there is no garden for your kids to play in. There is no swimming pool either. They do not offer parking - if you intend to rent a car...

Because it is in a back soi it can feel boxed in. I would say it is more suited to somebody on a business trip rather than a family on vacation.

Can't comment on the other two.

Is it possible to purchase Nexium, Crestor and Spiriva (capsules for inhalation) over the counter at pharmacies in Chiang Mai?

Or does one need to get a prescription from a local doctor?

Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

In order to use the programs already installed on the old disk you will have to be able to boot from that disc to run the operating system in which each of these programs have been installed including all corresponding registry settings. Then that registry may contain essential program related application settings. Be aware some of those programs (including the booted operating system already installed on the old disk) could have additional not well and clearly documented license and copy related protections which may or may not relate to missing old and/or actual new different hardware installed making a simple copy of installed programs between two too different machines by a simple exchange of discs almost impossible to do. Be sure that all hardware on those machines is the same. Hopefully that will allow and successfully do the trick. But there are no real guarantees that it will work. Other problems that can come up when you are going to use the old disk are specific unsolvable network related problems related to the contents of the old registry and corresponding old driver software not properly matching new network hardware, eventually requiring a complete repartitioning and reinstall of the operating system and all of its programs. Yes, you can simply connect the old disk and see what happens, but nobody will be able to help you in case specific problems do occur. Those problems will be very hard to understand. You will also not be able to trust some of your old programs anymore, become much too dependent upon what todays creator of that program may have added as an undocumented unexpected surprise. Your new system will already be crippled before being able to make full use of it and only the creator of that program will be able to know and see that, internet forums will be filled with similar problems unsolved, no really good working solutions, only forcing you going to use his or her latest program update in order to keep generating money. Solving those modern most nasty little issues will cost you much more time, thus money than simply reinstalling all software. No, it is entirely up to you to decide, but I would start to install all software on that new machine again (for also being able to check whether or not all new hardware functions are working properly) and at the same time save the initial installation software of these programs including their licenses at a save place somewhere. That’s the savest and normal way to do it. After installation of all programs and operating system updates, before using the machine, I would make a complete disk image of the boot device that can be restored in case of severe future problems. I would not rely too much upon the presence of restore points because in case of severe future problems that functionality needs to be able to start and operate in a maybe too much troubled environment.

Holy schmoly - think we'll just bring the laptops!