pab

Built a House some time ago in Buriram (well village outside of)

First Wife now deceased but still maintain contact and support son and Family,

2 Bedrooms........... Mama and Papa still sleep on Floor

Washing Machine......... Still wash by hand after cycle from machine finish

Western Style Toilet....... Papa still cr@ps in feild opposite

Nice shower unit...........There still use scoops

Dining Room area with table and chairs..........still eat on floor

There hound me for car (few years ago)I buy then discover ...........That there cant drive

Buy 2 nice fridges........ still keep unused food under them mini chicken coup things

Always buy bottled water......But there continue to replenish the containers back in fridge with crappy rainwater from outside

Install Air Con....... There still use electric fans

This List can go on and on W.T.F. i still love them

Totally realte to all you say Issanpaul - and like you still love them even when father-in-law breaks his leg drunk as a skunk on a motorbike...then we rush him to a Si Sa Ket hospital, have the leg put into a plaster caste then after an overnight stay we bring him back to our village only for him to go visit the local "spirit doctor"...have the plaster removed immediately, given herbs and tree roots to cook and eat to fix the broken leg....now walks with a permanent limp....but still trusts the village doctor more than any trained medical professional....yes you just have to love 'em

Please provide necessary evidence (if available) and write to editor of bangkokpost and nation paper plus other media in order to have this story followed up....would be interesting to see this on news including statements of workers on camera....

Now at a funeral. Will talk to the guys and see whats possible when we get back to the village tomorrow - no high hopes for "real evidence" but will do my best.

May I start by stating that I have lived in Thailand for quite a few years, love the place and have absolutely no political ties in this or any other country.

Today 6 people returned to our village in NE Thailand after spending about 1 month in Bangkok for work - this is a regular occurance in order to supplement their income requirements after the rice planting season has been completed.

Whilst they were there they were offerred 500 baht/day plus free meals to attend rallies against the government (about double what they would get from their normal work on the building sites). This was increased to 800 baht/day if, instead of just passively being there in the grounds of government house, they would be more active/vocal especially in the presence of any TV cameras.

Isn't this the same mob who is critical of the current government re vote buying practices ?

In our neck of the woods every political party is guilty of paying for votes and I am surer we are not an isolated example. What a farce !!! What a joke !! We can easily say TIT but sadly corruption is alive and well in so many aspects of life here.

As I've said before...........and I'll most gladly repeat it......... Nevada Grand Hotel, now called Ubon International Hotel, is my first choice.

Since I live in Ubon (province) and not only visit for shorter periods, I occasionally try most hotels just to satisfy my curiosity. (and short memory)

Laithong, Tohsang and Ubonburi are all a bit off centre with not many things to do nearby.

Nevada Grand - now called Ubon International has Ubon's biggest disco/nightclub The Rock in the basement, and a good sized swimmingpool on 5th floor. In addition there are 2 places with live music, Starbucks and Black Canyon Coffee, a cinema comlex, Nevada Inn Motel, Chester's Grill, Sp Restaurant, food court, snooker hall, internet and more within 100 meters.

A large room is 1000 baht, and a double size suite is 2000 baht, and the staff are always friendly. (well at least to me )

Tokyo, Montana, and other centrally located mid range hotels are ok within their price range, but offer far less opportunities. In the end it's all up to what each individual wants.

And no............I have no shares in UI.............though I wish I did.

Just looked at the website today as I am considering a trip to Ubon and the rates appear to have gone up.. Standard room now 2000 baht, deluxe 3000 and suite 4000. I guess they have to pay for the new signage somehow!

Never mind the web site.........

I stayed there yesterday and the prices are still:

1000 B for standard room

1500 B for de luxe room with balcony/direct acces to swimming pool

2000 B for suite room

Glad to hear it, looks like quite a decent place, maybe the web rates are special offers for gullible tourists - like me !

Stayed there many times. Good value for money but some of the rooms could do with a face lift !!! Great location, lots of facilities, good for kids and oldies alike and I think the other mentioned Ubon hotels are now where near the value for money the Nevada...oops the Ubon International...provides

I think that anybody who encourages the less able westerner to enter the teaching profession is doing a disservice to ESL teaching as a whole. There are plenty of able alternatives to the white faced westerner and these seem to becoming more attractive to employers as time goes on. A continued flood of applicants who are illiterate, dressed for the beach, and smelling of alcohol turning up for interviews is helping to cure the Thai teachers of their objection to darker skinned Asians. The majority of students actually believe that Filipinos are native speakers anyway. I think the problem is that many westerners who teach ESL don't see themselves as professionals and so don't feel any urge to protect the profession. Many may argue that this is all the fault of Thailand, but I think that is the individual teacher's duty to protect the profession.

Garro could not agree more with your sentiments. I am not a teacher but I have a good friend in Australia who has visited us many times and wants to teach in Thailand. She is a very experienced and successful English teacher as well as having extremely accomplished musical/drama capacities. Obviously she is very highly regarded by her current Australian school and they would be sad to lose her. She wants a new challenge and a change and is able to move easily. However, she wants to teach in Si Sa Ket as that is where we live but we have advised her that the salaries in this area would probably be far lower than in Bangkok. She does not expect Australian equivalent salaries but could you recommend some schools for her to approach in Bangkok? Also as an experienced teacher (more than 20 years of successful experience) would she need to do any qualification courses?

Fortunately,I like Thai food,but must admit the choice of farang food in the mentioned Supermarkets is very poor and unreliable.

When I can be bothered to cook,let the ingredients come from Bangkok;a farang meal,once in a while,appeals to many of my friends,and,of course,all of our children.

This said,I believe there is an international conspiracy to sell in Thailand only western junkfood,in the market and the restaurant-chains!

Thanks; yes, Tesco sells the same filthy junk cheese brands in UK, but alongside quality alternatives. Why no choice here (Ubon)?

I would email Tesco, but their website has no customer feedback address, unless anyone has it?

In a similar vein, I advise scotch lovers to avoid very expensive labels. The bottles & the labels are identical to what you see in Scotland itself, but the stuff inside is NOT.

A wealthy Thai scotch connoisseur confirmed this. He buys his abroad - avoiding a farang scam.

Of course, if you mix in lemonade or coke, any hooch will do. I can recommend Thai Regency brand. Altho Regency is actually brandy, it's rattling good taste & value.

Go to the Tesco website and under the heading "Community" select "Talk to us".

I live in Si Sa Ket that now has a Tesco outlet and have received good feedback from their site re requests and suggestions

Apologies if this has been clarified previously but my searching has uncovered various answers.

For another 12 month extension of my stay re retirement do the required 800k in funds have to be banked at least 3 months prior to the extension application date? I know for an initial retirement visa application this is the case but is it the same for an extension? Thanks for you help re this clarification.

Yes, that is the written rule, 3 months before, even for subsequent extensions, but there have been reports of variances of enforcement from different offices. In other words, if you transferred later, at least its worth a try, you might still get the extension.

Thanks Jingthing - don't want any problems just wanted to know so I can organise the required funds in time. Do not want to take any chances so to be sure will bank 3 months prior.

Apologies if this has been clarified previously but my searching has uncovered various answers.

For another 12 month extension of my stay re retirement do the required 800k in funds have to be banked at least 3 months prior to the extension application date? I know for an initial retirement visa application this is the case but is it the same for an extension? Thanks for you help re this clarification.

It sounds like you didn't get what you thought your were getting when you thought you were getting stainless steel!!!

Unless your tank is undergroud, which I have no experience with, my stainless stell tank is now 7 years old and not a mark or sign of deterioration. I am not even sure my tank is stainless, just looks shinny and is a very common tank sold my many appliance retailers. I haven't seen one in our mooban deteriorate yet. Could it be salt air?

Actually we bought 2 stainless steel 4000 litre tanks at the same time from a very reputable dealer in Ubon. One is absolutely clear of any rust etc and we use it for rainwater storage. The other is a mess with rust, especially along any weld lines. The tank with the rust is the one we use it for ground water storage and its located on the top of a 7 meter tank stand. Both tanks are open to the elements but its a bit hard to get salt air where we live at Si Sa Ket. Perhaps the problem comes from the well water but what ever, its a hel_l of a mess and getting worse quickly.

There very well could be a chemical or mineral that is causing the deterioration from your ground water tank. It could also be that the stainless used for the tanks is 420 or 430 instead of 304 or 316. Take a magnet and test it. If it is 304 or 316 the magnet will not stick. If it is 420 or 430 it will. The 420 and 430 do not have all of the anti corrosion elements that what we all know stainless steel should have.

Just used one of the kids magnets and it well and truly stuck on the tank with the rust but not on the other one we purchased at the same time. Unbelievable as they were from the same vendor. Thanks anyway, you and the others have taught me some very valuable lessons.

It sounds like you didn't get what you thought your were getting when you thought you were getting stainless steel!!!

Unless your tank is undergroud, which I have no experience with, my stainless stell tank is now 7 years old and not a mark or sign of deterioration. I am not even sure my tank is stainless, just looks shinny and is a very common tank sold my many appliance retailers. I haven't seen one in our mooban deteriorate yet. Could it be salt air?

Actually we bought 2 stainless steel 4000 litre tanks at the same time from a very reputable dealer in Ubon. One is absolutely clear of any rust etc and we use it for rainwater storage. The other is a mess with rust, especially along any weld lines. The tank with the rust is the one we use it for ground water storage and its located on the top of a 7 meter tank stand. Both tanks are open to the elements but its a bit hard to get salt air where we live at Si Sa Ket. Perhaps the problem comes from the well water but what ever, its a hel_l of a mess and getting worse quickly.

There are many two-part epoxy/polyester glues that can be used to patch your tank, a look around your local hardware store will reveal just how many. Even plain old Araldite will perform well if you give it something to bind to like glass matting.

BUT

Most will not adhere to wet surfaces, so you'll have to drain the tank and key up the surface with emery paper.

AND

You are only putting off the inevitable, in a few more weeks the tank will have rusted out around your patch, you'll have to replace the tank sooner rather than later. Best bite the bullet now and rip it out and replace with a decent plastic / GRP tank.

Watch the blue plastic ones, they tend to algae growth inside.

The Sandstone brand are very highly thought of and robust, should last for many years. Pictured in this post http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?s=...t&p=1824062

Sorry Crossy - missed your post the first time. Very sound advice and maybe I should just bite the bloody bullet....will now have a hel_l of a job trying to get the old one down and replace it with a Sandstone as we have done some extensions and added a satellite dish immediately in the area around the tank tank since the initial tank was installed. Stupid me thinking stainless stell would last forever !!! Hopefully I can a sandstone plastic tank around Si Sa Ket. Appreciate the help mate

You can try what is called liquid metal or try fibreglass. The liquid metal comes in a tube and it is like plastasine. One tube inside the other. You just cut of the required amount and then mold it together. Put it in the holes and it will set in no time.

Not sure where you can get it though.

Thanks. Any idea of the name?

Liquid Metal is call just that - it will depend on the manufacturer if they've given it any trade name.

This is just one of the reason why I purchased a plastic water storage tank!

Thanks technocracy and wolfmanjack - sounds like fibreglass maybe the way to go. I actually initially considered a plastic storage tank but thought they would suffer from severe algae problems !!! Any signs of this with your plastic tank?

You can try what is called liquid metal or try fibreglass. The liquid metal comes in a tube and it is like plastasine. One tube inside the other. You just cut of the required amount and then mold it together. Put it in the holes and it will set in no time.

Not sure where you can get it though.

Thanks. Any idea of the name?

We live near Si Sa Ket and rely totally on the underground water supplies for many of the basic water requirements apart from drinking water. Our tank is only 2 years old and leaking a lot with many rust areas - and its stainless steel !!!

The tanks location makes it very difficult to replace with a new one and I have heard that these tanks can be patched from the outside.

Is this correct? If so what is the patching material called and where can I buy some ?

Sick of not being able to flush the loo or have a decent shower or complete a washing cycle because the tank empties so quickly. Will greatly appreciate any help and suggestions

G'day mate. Anyone or anywhere with DSTV satellite package that has the South African based SuperSport channels. We have this system at our home in Si Sa Ket and its great but not sure where in Ubon. Have you checked out the Nevada Grand hotel that I think now has a new name something like Nevada International hotel? Maybe worth a shot. good luck and go the aussies.

Thanks for the info mate but looks like I will not watching the rugby today. Where did you get your satellite setup and I will be ready for the next game. Go the Wallabies.

Check out www.jsat.tv site. Jsat is run by a guy from NZ called John and located in Bangkok. You have to pay for the equipment like the dish, decoder etc (about 20K baht when I purchased about 18 months ago) and either go and collect it or have it delivered. Then have it installed by someone local in Ubon who deals with satellite dishes like the PSI guy (about 2k plus a few beers) then after that its FREE...that no monthly fees. My system is the "multi choice sports package" identical to the ones you see in many bars and pubs in Bangkok. The system is OK seing there is no monthly fees like True Vision but is requires you to have an internet connection to operate and that can be subject to the weather conditions. We also have a TOT satellite connection because we cannot have a landline in our village...maybe you will be lucky and live in the Ubon metro area with all the services and not be subject to the limitations of the TOT satellite system. You dont have to turn the PC on for your TV sports package to work...just as long as its connected as your Jsat decoder will rely on your interent connection. The system works pretty well ...but dont ask me why you need the internet connection as I am a complete dummy when its comes to technology of any kind. All I know is I can get the rugby, cricket, AFL weekly highlights, and many other sports on 8 sports channels ( including 5 channels to be fully dedicated to live coverage of the Olympics in China) plus the usual CNN, BBC, History, Discovery, 5 movie channels, cartoons for the kids etc. Hope this helps. Good luck mate

G'day mate. Anyone or anywhere with DSTV satellite package that has the South African based SuperSport channels. We have this system at our home in Si Sa Ket and its great but not sure where in Ubon. Have you checked out the Nevada Grand hotel that I think now has a new name something like Nevada International hotel? Maybe worth a shot. good luck and go the aussies.

Over the last 3 or 4 years I seem to have amassed hundreds of DVD's and was interested in finding out if anyone in the Si Sa Ket/Ubon area was interested in swapping a few (or many)? Simply selected this area as we live about 20 klms from Si Sa Ket - but I guess we could use mail and expand the area.

Most are in pretty good shape and are mainly action, thriller, adventure type movies but no guarantees re reliability as nearly all were purchased as the usual "master copy" quality.

Anyway for what its worth, let me know. I often enjoy a good movie but if there is no real interest then I will donate quite a few of the movies with a Thai language option locally.

11 weeks old, fully vaccinated, dewormed.

male and female, for sale, only to home with walled in garden.

pls pm.

Hi Elfe,

Apologies for such a late reply but did not see your post before. No doubt we are too late now but we would have loved to have one of your puppies.

We have a complete walled garden and our family loves GR's but live in Isaan - Si Sa Ket so I guess there may have been a problem there. We would have been willing to drive to Bangkok and meet you if that was an option.

Anyway please let us know if there is any chance next time. I hope you found great homes for your dogs as this breed of dogs is really so special.

At least in the Bangkok area work permits seem to be available again for those on retirement extensions of stay so it is best to contact your local labor office and find out if they are available there. You can always return to retirement so not sure, unless it is the 40k income factor, why a family extension would not work if required.

I assume from your reply Lopburi that having a work permit together with a retirement visa does not constitute a problem. That really was my question. An extension on a retirement visa to me was clearly indicating to the Thai Immigration Police that I was no longer working (and paying taxes) in Thailand whereas the general idea of a Thai work permit was the complete opposite. Obviously there must be different categories of work permits. In my case it would constitute a voluntary type WP and I will check with the local labour office. TIT

2008 represents my 3rd extension on my retirement visa but now I also want to provide some voluntary/community service work.

I have been informed (maybe incorrectly) that to provide this service I will need a work permit - even though there is no paid services being offerred.

If this is correct then how do I maintain my existing retirement visa extensions whilst holding a work permit - the two items seem to be in conflict.

The actual community service project I want to establish here in Isaan, is a sporting organisation for children - any members from Australia maybe familiar with the "little athletics"concept that has a philospohy based on participation, fun, family, fitness with the real focus being on an individual's own personal improvements rather than winning and champions.

Following discussions with many schools in my area (Si Sa Ket), I know this "little athletics"concept can be a real winner here.

As I now have the time, expertise, experience and enthusiasm to set up this project, I am simply enquiring if any other member has faced this situation re retirement visa and comminity service work and what the possible solutuions may be. Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

I do not want to put my retirement visa arrangements in any jeopardy and although I am happily married to a Thai lady I do not want to change to a marriage visa in order to facilitate a work permit (if this is required).

I have had exactly the same problems with True billing. The resolution for me has been to sign up for the website and look for the option that lets me look at the current bill. From that page I can get the invoice number needed to go online and pay the invoice with my Bangkok bank account. The bill number is available shortly after the 1st of each month. Using this method I don't have to get out of my chair to pay the bill, and don't have to wait and worry to see if I will get a bill this month or not.

I wish you good luck.

Thanks ThaiAm. Great idea and a simple solution to my problem. As others have said, it is my responsibility and not the fault of their unbelievably bad system

I suppose you could just go and pay every month without waiting for the bill....

totster

You're right and its really no big deal. Just cannot understand why, despite many assurances, that they do not send the account with the magazine.

If I remember I do go and pay without waiting but their organisation seems to be unprofessional. However, the scrolling screen warning does get me into action.

[size="4"]Despite countless attempts to have Truevision send me a monthly bill this has never happened. All I get is after the second month of non payment, a scrolling message on my screen to pay my account or the service will be shut off.

All I want is my monthly bill to remind me to pay for my service. It seems pretty stupid that they cannot enclose the bill with my magazine that arrives every month without fail.

Is this too much to ask? Are there any others will the same experience as me?[/size]

Actually Taxexile I am not sure if the author was trying to teach you anything. He was just relating a series of experiences from living in a Thai village in Isaan and this is a far cry from the "cops and robbers" or Burdett fiction style of book that, whilst they may be good escapism, are nearly always focused only in Bangkok or other major tourist spots of Thailand.

As I also live in an isolated Isaan village there were many things in Andrew Hick's book "My Thai girl and I" that I could easily relate to from my experiences - some of his reactions to various situations may have been completely different to mine but in being able to see myself in many of his experiences provided me with many moments of appreciation and enjoyment.

The day to day challenges, frustrations and fun of living here are never ending and so I envy the fact that someone has the capacity to capture some of these experiences.

As the book is non-fiction and a great attempt to share a farang's experiences of village life in the North-East of Thailand, I believe many people like me will appreciate and enjoy sharing his experiences.

If you want to learn a bit about Thai culture try reading some of John Burdett's books e.g Bangkok 8, Bangkok Haunts, Bangkok Tattoo etc. Full of all the prejudiced opinions that you find on TV but good entertainment and also helps you to understand some aspects of down-to-earth Thai culture. Well that's my opinion. Shoot away!

bang bang !

i dont think these stories will teach you anything about thai culture , they may be entertaining to some , but mostly they are just everyday cops , robbers and romance tales that happen to be set in thailand.

if you enjoy uncomplicated plots in cliched thai settings with cliched characters of little depth ( jaded foreigner , really mean local criminal with big benz , thai bird down on her luck , good cop , bad cop , toothless crone from the village , etc) then these books may find a spot on your shelves......or more likely propping up that wonky table.

you can learn more about thai culture from the first few pages of any travel guide book .

if you want to learn about thai society , then the best available book is "inside thai society" by neils mulder.

Have a look at www.coolthaihouse.com. Great site and full of very practical ideas and suggestions, including your queries. good luck mate

You could cut out the broken portion and install a new section with a couple on one end and a union on the other.

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. I ended up digging to expose about 8m of length and then cut out a 4m section and replaced it with a new length of pipe bent to get it to slide into the couplings on each end. No leaks and we're back in business.

Thanks again for your suggestions

rgds