MilesCh

Loved that man! And believe I had most everything he recorded and a few he didn't. Bought all on new 78's and cleaned a few up and re-recorded to 7" open reel. And when I left the States in 2010 gave them all away to friends. Did I miss any? I certainly do now!!! You couldn't beat his sets at the Sweetwater and one I caught in Sausalito. Wow!!! Got to email this website to friends.

Miles

My 2 cents:

1) Yes, the first Thai drivers license is for 1 year. Renewal is for 5 years -- I've just done that and it's remarkable how fast the DMV is here as opposed to California!

2) I am ignorant as to the Thai international license. Is the expiration date fixed at one year or more, or if a lesser time, maxes out when your visa expires or Thai driver's license expires?

I would be curious to know as well for this year I'll be applying for an Int'l DL since my USA Int'l and California DL both expired. And it's good to know that it's in English as well as Thai (country of issuance), which I believe is the int'l standard.

Miles

Activity on this thread is quite old My laptop screen has many of these little buggers shooting around and I believe the keyboard as well. A year or so ago I used Chaindritr water base flying insect killer and repeatedl sprayed the table and chair base and wires to the computer and componants which seemed to work for awhile. Now we have moved and again are infested. Any tips would be appreciated -- I fear using a water base spray or any spray directly to the computer scereen or it's sides.

The only one I know of is the Siam Commercial Bank (Thai Panich) near the foot of Taipei Rd on the left coming from the bridge with plent of parking below and I believe they have another branch in CM also with boxes. Don't know if any remain available, so best you call or drop in.

Not in your area, however 2 places come to mind:

1) Kasem store a few blocks from Warorot Mkt - the bakery is at the that store and the other ia on nimmanhamin.

2) A small bakery owned by an Englishman on Chiang Mai Land Rd -- about 2 blocks in from Mahidol on the left near the corner -- a bit hard to spot, but it's recognized by the greenery out front. Excellent sour dough and their brownies are the best.

From both stores I slice off bread for today and securely wrap the remainder and freeze it for up to a week. The brownies I eat one and refrigerate a few more. Now that I've moved out close to Mee Chok and Rimping where I avoid their bread (and the same for other Rimpings), am in a bit of a quandary as you find yourself..

A few weeks ago I was trying to reach a place after dark close to a McDonalds which had an icon on the map. I thought I was just a couple of kilometers away and asking directions several times finally brought me to another city 30kl distant. There I found a police station and a plainclothes officer who didn't have a clue. However his wife did and had me follow her for a few km weaving around town and then she stopped and said go left here for 30kl and you'll find it. And she was right. Evidently everyone knows the McDonalds icon regardless of where it's situated on a map!

Does anyone know where to obtain Mesquite or something similar for smoking fish or chicken?

100% agree with those who have professed avoiding milk is the best bet -- at the most drink fortified low to non-fat milk when older than x-years -- probably thought of as about 15, but most likely best at 7 or below. Sounds s though the western dairy industry is attempting to gain strength in Thailand -- let them sell at the poison food establishments such as 7/11, not to mothers sending their kids off to school.

I also found the referred to Cockpit very competent. I had front end noise which 2 Nissan dealers simply said was normal in that car (2004 Sunny Neo GL). Went to the referred to Cockpit and they quickly and inexpensively cleaned the front brakes and replaced the "plastic spacer" and it's quieter than a mouse. So quiet I'm beginning to hear other noises!

The car was originally checked by Expat Auto who did a great job checking it out. They missed a few things, of course, such as the rear shocks needed replacing and the headlight coverings badly scratched which requires replacement of the entire assembly, not simply the plastic cover.

As to replace/repair, the idiot light was on/off and the Nissan dealer checked it out and replaced the spark plugs. After completion I was shown one "worn out spark plug" which only needed cleaning and gapping. In their defense, the used car dealer where it was purchased said there wasn't a light in the shifting mechanism area and Nissan promptly replaced the one bulb! Same for dashboard lighting which was dim and Nissan replaced 2 bulbs saying that is common for that side. (It's apparent that Expat doesn't thoroughly check the lighting so best you ask that be done.)

Overall after a year's ownership I'm happy with the car and the service received.

Thank you for all of the informative replies. FYI, although the landlord said he would not add tanks/pumps, one day they appeared, 1500 liter type, and water is fine. He added one for himself, and one each for 4 other houses. My lease has expired and I've moved from the dump where nothing works to a smaller house (for 1/3 the price) out by Mee Chok. The air is clean -- perhaps partially due to rain --, it is quiet day and night, reaching town is not as convenient, there is a water pump/tank, internet speed is fine using DTAC. Only problem is it's too small so will be looking for a larger place a bit closer in. I had extensively searched the area where I was and the difficulties were insurmountable such as flooding, noise, air quality, etc., so am comfortable without the ability to walk to Central.

Recently moved from nearby Rimping near Robinson to close to MeeChok which is a disaster parking-wise at it's best prior to construction, so I simply avoid shopping there. Will spend more time at local markets and other stores as they are located. And I'm also avoiding other businesses there such as The Bus restaurant which was thoroughly enjoyable. Two nights took 3 Thai friends to dinner looking for Pizza only to discover there is no pizza available (at least in the evening). Last night went to a Japanese restaurant and at 10:05 pm attempted to drive out to make a U-turn and return towards the river and the exist was closed out so had to drive out the wrong way and down a kilometer before returning at a U-turn place and then wait for the traffic light. No thank you!

For about 7 years I've been using a Philips Sonicare 120/240V purchased in the USA. Originally had to have 2 bases, one for each 120 and 240V, now it's universal voltage. Once in the past year purchased a new brush head at Robinson in Chiang Mai, not exactly cheap, however all continues to operate and charge as it should.

Also using an antique Water Pik multi-voltage water spray after use of the toothbrush to clean gunk from those impossible to reach places between teeth and passages between roots at the gum line. This unit is from the 60's and sooner or later will need to replace this boxy old unit with a newer version since parts are no longer available from the factory. (FYI, the booklet warns of forcing sludge down into the gum line, so use a Water Pik as directed.

A Thai lady friend recommends checking the plaza building in chang kran road. I know nothing about the place, but probably worth a look since she is quite astute, although perhaps not overly knowledgeable about computers.

In past years in the States I made solution of ammonia and perhaps vinegar or another liquid, but can't recall what it was. Be careful for you could have a very harmful gaseous mixture. Here in Chiang Mai when I moved into a rental house a year ago, the windows hadn't been cleaned for a few years, so I bought Mr. Muscle Windex and the lady cleaned them in no time using newspapers to wipe them dry.

Thank you, you saved me a useless trip!

Had intended to renew my driver's license Monday the 6th, but apparently it's a holiday. Does anyone know if the "DMV" is open that day?

In the USA I spent a couple of years replacing all plastic containers with glass. Then dumped everything before moving to Thailand two years ago. And here it's very difficult to find glassware except at a high premium price at expensive stores. What an mistake just to save Customs duty and freight! Why doesn't the government reduce import duties on beneficial products and only tax the harmful stuff?

NOT ALL DEALERS IN PANTHIP PLAZA are crooks!!! Six month ago I bought a computer printer refill kit from G Inkshop on the ground floor of Panthip Plaza and service has been great. I've returned twice with it not properly printing and they showed me how to clean it up and this last time gave me printed instructions taped to the outside of the printer -- different from what's in the Canon booklet or on line -- Canon doesn't tell you that "if it stops printing due to being out of ink simply depress the stop button for few seconds and it resets."

And in the past I've bought a few things from the camera shop (forget the name) also on the ground floor without a problem. And have bought several items from Office Depot without difficulty. Of course, I don't know the vendor the op questions.

About 4 pm yesterday attempting to go to the gym across town drove car through Chiang Mai -- cross town via Air Base road moved right along. Reached Suthep which was at a standstill. Cut across Sri Mangalachan and it was OK with several groups of kids having fun & splashing, and older ones with big guns also having fun.

Reached Huai Kaeu which was at a standstill. Pedestrians using the left lane and all shooting or squirting and having a great time. Many on the back of open pickups and pickups with top on back shooting water cannons, and at each other. Took an hour to reach Hadsadhi where we crawled along until the 1st intersection and turned right to the back entrance of Thai Fitness Gym which traffic didn't budge. And the 8-story parking lot was full, so continued at a snails pace to the moat where even water hoses were in use from the sidewalk such as Icon, and music blaring & people dancing in the street. Soon crossed over & reversed directions on the inside. People were having a great time throwing/shooting water, Latin dancing in the streets to the tunes from bars/restaurants/pickups. Motorsys squeezing through which everyone enjoyed throwing water at and the bikes seemed to enjoy it as well. This blocked all lanes but one. Went around and out Thipanetr Rd. which was quite civilized, by then it was 8 pm and I had dinner and wine at Nim which was an area as if SongKran didn't exist.

All Thais of all ages were having a wonderful time, reminding me of Carnival in Rio, dancing & singing in some areas of the streets. Police doing a good job directing traffic away from the "sidewalk lane" and allowing vehicles to cross the moat.

The prior night was caught up in the farang side of town by Thaipei Gate and observed only grown farang males shooting water canons with a vengeance and not really having the same fun as the rest of town. Drove a ways down Loi Kroh which was relatively quiet and bar girls inside, not shooting water cannons with drunken farangs. (Were the bars closed off from selling booze?) And what I historically called "wet T-shirt week" wasn't seen, for most Thai women were wearing bras, and couldn't see them clearly inside of the bars on Loi Kroh through my closed darkened windows.

Didn't see any colored water and assume much of the water was from the dirty klong which was very full; perhaps not that dirty if water was flowing freely. Recommend one not drive their car around for risk of being scratched up enumerable times by motorsys squeezing through.

In my opinion, Chiang Mai should close the the moat roads to all traffic except one lane to allow motorbikes & pickups to shoot and be shot at in the evenings of SongKran week and allow the Thai revelry to take over and hopefully the City Water Dept. will supply free clean city water for everyone.

Thoughts: Over the past few years I have found excellent quality & service with Rx non-sunglasses at Tokyo Optics in Chiang Mai. Also they have the quality lenses I am looking for which includes progressive darkening, non-scratch high quality glass (forget the name off-hand), and filtering A and B. Also from them I have found the blue colored clip-on Polaroid sunglasses where other stores usually only have brown.

Normally I would never leave my front door this week, but today had to look at a house for rent in Chiang Mai. Driving the roads was relatively slow I must have narrowly avoided running over at least 10 bikes who illegally crossed the intersection in front of me usually at a high rate of speed and some that swerved in front of me. Can't understand how I managed to miss them, guess the reason for fast reaction time was concern for damage to my car since many/most bikes are uninsured. Also avoided a couple of pickups that deserved to be smashed.

How many of you have noticed that the majority of Thai pedestrians walk on the side of the road with the traffic, not against it? I've asked several in Chiang Mai why they do that and am told that's what they were taught. In my opinion if parents have no knowledge, then the schools should teach the young ones. How to remain alive in the army of motorbikes, the drunk weaving down the road, and the hue trucks coming at them and get out of the way. How many pedestrians are killed or maimed each year?

I have a Thai Panit account in Chiang Mai Main and they don't know of a branch in USA. The only one I know of is BKK bank which is very easy to make transfers (not wire as they cost more) from Schwab to BKK in NYC and they send it the next day to BKK where the local R/E is provided, although that's usually not the greatest. Cost is $5 + 0.25% from BKK Bank for a transfer up to US$2,000 and plus some low percentage over that.

If there is another bank with a branch in the states, please let me know.

#1 Re: '...I've given notice of "uninhabitable and notice to immediately vacate" '

Hi MC, was this clause part of your lease; is so, where did you obtain the lease?

Very insightful on your part.

This was not part of the lease; however I'm certain in most countries it would stand up in a court of law. The lease does read: "The landlord warrants and guarantees (to) maintain the premises in a structurally and livable condition."

A liveable condition by all means includes running water to flush the toilet, wash dishes, shower, etc., which were available when the tenant moved in. It would also include electricity shut off by the electric company for an abnormal length of time. Believe it would also include a roof should it be blown off in a typhoon. If a tree is blown down into the building, I should think that the damaged area could be closed off for a short period of time while repairs are made, probably deducting the rental of the unusable area.

I should think the 1st thing that's needed is to change the seat from black to a light color.