Oscar2

ill be staying santitham, but anywhere around there, inside the moat or nimihamin area is fine. The only place i know that is open early is the 24 hr thai restaurant on the moat but they dont have the full menu available in the morning, or didnt the few times i went there last year

that would be Jok Somphet. i go there perhaps 4 or 5 times per month at odd hours and the full menu is available. once in a while if they run out of something at like 3:30-4:00 a.m. , it may not be until perhaps 6:00 when the next shift comes that they will bake more chicken, fish, etc. but it's not often.

there are a lot of farangs drinking after work at Gekko Garden. some work in offices, some are teachers. some nice blokes in there.

But it is nice to have so many people to blame for the shit we find ourselves in.

Would far rather have no one to blame.. Just someone to pay..

Anyway...

i feel your pain OP. trying to recover from surgery and just want to get the problem solved. it's not easy finding someone to do good plumbing work, believe me.

For the OP, ride around to nearby high quality houses under construction and find a plumber there, if none are on site, ask the foreman for contact information of the plumber for the house(s).

i've already tried that in my area (Sansai) and they all said that they work for the contractor full time and that they can't take outside jobs..must speak with the boss and go through him/her. i've also been by nearby [not so] high quality houses under construction and looked and decided i can do better plumbing work (but don't know how to solve a leak). in the usa i would go under my house or in my basement where all the copper pipes were clearly exposed and solve the problem. here, the pipes go into concrete!

+1 to the list for needing a competent plumber. we have a leak but don't know where. with everything shut off, the meter is still spinning slowly. last month our bill was 800 Bath. never been more than 500 in 10 years. i'm getting sick of turning off the valve 2-3 times a day to try and save money. had 2 locals come by and look (and just scratch their heads....("mai loo".....)

i can assure you that Amphur Sansai will not be willing to help you at all. don't waste your time.

Unfortunately the situation is not going to improve and I can foresee the eventual closing down of most of the adult entertainment venues in Chiang Mai.

You've been predicting this for many years already and it has never happened. I am guessing that things will continue pretty much as they have been.

right. his predictions and tips from "inside connections" have not gone the way he predicted. in fact it's just the opposite. i think he may be a NARC.

this is news?

none of those herbs will do anything for you. what you need to do is visit your pharmacist and order Alfuzosin XL 10 mg., manufactured by Sanofi Aventis. works like a charm for issues related to enlarged prostate.

boiled rice water???? durian leaf??? come on...

just thought i'd bump this as i still haven't found anywhere that can do simple repairs to gold jewelry, re-size a ring and so forth. anybody???

Oscar2, are you sure you heard correctly? How did you determine what documents the men were presenting? Did you see the documents? How did you determine the men were retired law enforcement?

Also, you say, "perjury carries a penalty of a fine and up to 3 years in federal prison." Where do you get that?

I've had things notarized there that had nothing to do with retirement income.

When I've sat there, I've been unable to hear what was said to the person due to that weird "cone of silence" they use.

You also state, "it's obvious that what is happening is what has been reported in other parts of the country - the beginning of the crackdown by the new government." Where do you get that? Do you really think the new government is capable of getting the US Consulate and US Embassy to verify income? As they say on the US consulate website, "To extend your stay in Thailand, Thai immigration might ask you to get a letter from us to “verify” your income. In fact, we are not empowered to do this. Instead, you may execute an affidavit in which you swear under oath or affirm your monthly income. "

I, for one, am having a had time buying your story.

MY APOLOGIES TO OSCAR2

Well, I just got back from the US Consulate to get my notarized income statement, and you can hear every word that is being said.

They asked one guy what was his source of income and he told them and that was it. Then when it got to me, the man asked me, I told him, then he asked if I'd brought documentation. I said no and he rephrased the question about the income, this time asking for more detail. I gave him the answer and that was it.

He took my oath and gave me the letter and told me to bring documentation next time, which I will do.

no problem at all mesquite. i haven't bothered to reply to some of the posts people made. i was only passing on information. i don't really care if people believe it or not. makes no difference to me. and as i said a few days ago, i never saw any of the 3 men that day, actually pass their documents through the window/counter. they were only asked if they had the documents with them. it's just a sign of the times.

i am only stating what i witnessed the other day. i'm not in any way stating there is a an official change in policy.

i had some business at the U.S. Consulate the other day that took about 2.5 hours to complete. while there i sat around a long time waiting. some of the time was spent sitting in the back behind window 3. as you know, you can hear everything that is going on... during that time there were 3 single American men who presented for their income letter. each of them was asked prior to taking the oath, specifically what the source(s) of their income was and if they had the documents there with them to substantiate their claim. now, none of them were asked to slip the documents through the window, only to show their file folders, manila envelopes, etc. the 3 men i saw were all able to immediately state their income sources (2 were retired law enforcement and had pension incomes), and the other didn't flinch and reported his sources from overseas business. all had their proof sitting right on the counter.

it's obvious that what is happening is what has been reported in other parts of the country - the beginning of the crackdown by the new government. keep in mind that if caught and if convicted, perjury carries a penalty of a fine and up to 3 years in federal prison. people should consider their actions carefully.

Simple Green is great stuff! i used to buy it by the case for my business in America.

they sell it at Rimping Promenada. i saw it there when i was there last about 10 days ago. about 395 Baht for a bottle.

thanks for that. I was going to go to Bangkok in 2 weeks and get it repaired while there but now i've had to postpone my trip.

does anyone know a shop that repairs gold jewelry locally?

thanks again.

how foolish. pay the money. you know it costs 500 Bath.

does anyone have a recommendation of where to go to get gold jewelry repaired in C.M.? i've been to about 6 shops now that sell gold jewelry. when i ask about repairing jewelry they all look at me with a bewildered look and say "mai dai". when i ask where to go to repair jewelry i get "mai roo". certainly in a country that sells gold jewelry on almost every corner there must be the need to repair it from time to time?

i need some simple stuff, like up-sizing an 18K gold band and repairing the eye on the clasp of an 18K gold chain. the kind of stuff that could be done in any jewelry shop in Europe by heating up the gold.

thanks!

Amorn sells Chinese tools. i agree with the recommendation for Nana Screw.

the traditional dancing at Khum Kanthoke is very good. food is good. a nice evening out.

Galore food court dance shows are typically around 19:30-21:30, with breaks in between. nothing to write home about but for a condensed version - not bad.

you are a bit late. most of the places that offer the service had a cut off by 21 or 22 December. Airport Central Plaza had a few models of small ovens on promotion the other day. i would imagine most of the shops (Siam TV, Niyom, etc.) do also.

Rooms from 1,600bht/month, free wifi, shower heater, etc.

250m from MaeJo University, 5Km from Tesco and Rimping, 8KM from Central Festival, 10Km from the moat in CM.

2014-12-12 14.47.14.jpg

what an amusing thread! didn't realize there were so many cheap charlies around.

buildings like the one pictured above located near universities are for student housing in Thailand. i doubt they would rent to single older farang men. it would be somewhat unusual and seen as downright 'creepy' by the landlord. we have a relative attending Mae Jo university who will be moving into a similar building. like most of these student housing buildings, there is a list of rules of what students can and can't do on the properties as part of the rental agreement; including the gates being locked by a certain time at night, how many guests allowed in the apartments, etc.

Stalk? Yeah they tend to stalk me and if one pays any attention they are interested in other men also.

Maybe you don't look attractive to them but when I go to a mall they are trying to catch my eye. If a girl catches your eye after the first contact then it means they are interested in you.

I guess some people don't understand that concept.

I just give them my email or phone and that's that.

Women like attention and if you slip them your email or # then even if they don't call you they feel good about themselves. They feel desireable and that is a big part of why women go to malls etc. They like attention.

And have a card or piece of paper all ready to give to them so it's not awkward. Just say excuse me.. Call me if you like and give them the paper.

Anymore fake moral outrage you would like to display BJ?

So you actually take pre printed cards with your personal info, to the mall, to slip these lucky ladies and make them feel desirable?

*chuckle*

OP, if nothing else you'll find the CM nightlife (and malls) good for comedy, sometimes intended... sometimes not. But always there. Have not yet had a night out in CM that I would classify as grim (maybe a couple grim moments though). Bottom line with the diaspora of opinions - you're going to have to investigate and make your own call. Beautiful city and place to be. Best of luck.

many, many long-time expats in Thailand have cards printed in Thai language with their contact info and they give them to ladies they meet. many get a good response; provided they are clean, physically fit, nicely dressed, etc. if the lady chooses to make contact, a conversation ensues (in Thai language) and usually a meeting is arranged to meet for a meal. what happens next depends on the chemistry.

if you are obese, dirty and unshaven, wearing flip flops, and are a cheap charlie, can't speak a word of Thai even though you've lived here 10 years, then don't bother trying this!

same in Beverly Hills California but they are much bigger. this is not a joke. they are everywhere.

have to agree. older, balding, out of shape, sweaty pot bellied farangs don't stand too much of a chance these days in Thailand. things have changed, the economy is strong, young people have quite a bit of spending money. many young, good looking Asian men come here with plenty of cash to burn. and yes, social media and electronic communications are where most of the deals go down -- and as has been said - you won't find much but some hill-tribes in dives unless you are ready to pop 5K Bath and more. in high end places in Hat Yai i't's not uncommon for Asian tourists to drop 10-20K on some drinks, ladies, etc. every night of the week. in the big mango - even more.

If you buy at RimPing you pay more - Get used to to it! It's a farang trap - It's designed that way.

It's a trap! A farang one at that. Are the majority of Thais that shop there also ensnared? What bait are they using?

lol what a joke! it's probably 80% Thai clientele there.

the wife is an expert at finding things cheap at Rimping. she goes to Promenada, Mae Ping and Meechok and finds different things at different stores. she also knows a couple of the ladies who work there and often they will tip her off to some real bargains. if the deal is so good she will often buy (in the case of canned goods) 40+ cans. the other day she loaded up her car with Swiss Christmas chocolates, cookies, etc. for business associates of hers after checking prices everywhere she was certain she had a bargain. often items at Rimping are cheaper than Big C, Lotus, etc. we like YOK but you have to look quite hard to find a real bargain there. but sometimes they have something really good like Spanish olive oil for prices as much as 40% lower than anywhere else. they buy many, many cases and it only lasts a couple of days. we've been using the same batch of olive oil from YOK for about 2 years now.