johnopolo

I posted this in the (gasp, cough, sneeze, choke) smoky Chiang Rai forum but it didn't seem to generate much interest. It's applicable to all of Thailand so perhaps here is a better place.

***********************************************

If anyone would like to know exactly where fires are and have been burning over the past 24 hours (continuously updated every two hours from NASA satellites), then go here:

https://earthdata.nasa.gov/data/near-real-time-data/data/firms/active-fire-data

then click on the KML tab and download the KML file for SE Asia. If you are new to this stuff, download the KML README PDF from the link on the same page. Open the KML file in Google Earth and all will be revealed. Here's an example from 13th Feb 2013.

Despite much effort I am unable to make the embedded images visible. So if the above images don't appear on your screen, just click on the links below:

https://www.dropbox....t) (Medium).jpg

https://www.dropbox....n) (Medium).jpg

(Anyone may freely copy this information together with the links and images and post it to other forums as they see fit)

If anyone would like to know exactly where fires are burning over the past 24 hours (updated every two hours from NASA satellites), then go here:

https://earthdata.na...ctive-fire-data

then click on the KML tab and download the KML file for SE Asia. If you are new to this stuff, download the KML README PDF from the link on the same page. Open the KML file in Google Earth and all will be revealed. Here's an example from today, 13th Feb.

https://www.dropbox....t) (Medium).jpg

https://www.dropbox....n) (Medium).jpg

(Anyone may freely copy this information together with the links and images and post it to other forums as they see fit)

If anyone would like to know exactly where fires are burning over the past 24 hours (updated every two hours from NASA satellites), then go here:

https://earthdata.na...ctive-fire-data

then click on the KML tab and download the KML file for SE Asia. If you are new to this stuff, download the KML README PDF from the link on the same page. Open the KML file in Google Earth and all will be revealed. Here's an example from today, 13th Feb.

https://www.dropbox....t) (Medium).jpg

https://www.dropbox....n) (Medium).jpg

(Feel free to copy this and post it anywhere else)

If you don't want to pay for the software, go opensource

Now that's a refreshingly sensible suggestion! A very significant % of software can be legally substituted .....

You wimps had better steer clear of South Africa. The population is around 50 million, less than ten percent of the populace own a vehicle of any description (including bicycles) and there are no motorcycles to speak of. I quote news reported today: "Over 1 000 people have so far been reported as having died due to road crashes since December 1" http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Festive-carnage-concerning-dept-20121227 But, that's just the start of it - the real mayhem will begin today!

It's a very positive (and welcome) move by the authorities who are passing on a part of the cost (the 1% is surely only a part of their costs - retailers where I live charge an additional 2.5% for credit card payments). And after all, it's not a replacement for cash payments - it's merely an additional payment option! Sadly, it seems that some people are simply incapable of a positive statement when it comes to anything Thai ....

Yep, this farcical, idiotic, corrupt, dumb, stupid country doesn't deserve the likes of us. What about we all vote with our feet and leave?

Everyone here has a lot to say about the "poor electrical work in Thailand" but all of them have overlooked the fact that it is THEIR responsibility to ensure that THEIR house or THEIR premises are safe. Not to mention that all the posters here seem to be very knowledgeable when it come to (after the fact) electrics - yet NOT ONE has mentioned the one inexpensive little device that could have saved ALL of those lives. It's called an Earth Leakage Relay - or a Residual Current Device. Look it up - and if you don't have one installed, then install one immediately. Before we have to type in yet another RIP!

Some, the deceased, may not have had a clue about electrics. The fitters of the stuff should have, BUT they don't.

Perhaps so, but it's apparently "common knowledge" how "useless and incompetent Thai electricians are" - so everyone should already be forewarned! Nevertheless, as of now, anyone who reads this lot doesn't have an excuse. Get an ELR fitted IMMEDIATELY!

I got a Chinese tourist visa in Bangkok last week. Things have changed recently so older advice may no longer be valid. Apparently, same day issuance of visas is no longer an option and you must pick-up your visa in the morning. In addition to the air tickets and hotel booking, I was asked for a copy of my bank book, a copy of my passport and a copy of my Thai permanent residence book. I'm not working but my wife needed to provide a letter from her employer. Arrive before 9am and the wait should be less than an hour or arrive later and it may take two hours.

Let me add that in April they wanted a formal bank statement (produced by the bank) from me. A bank book wasn't good enough nor were two platinum credit cards issued by Thai banks.They also wanted a hotel booking. I vacationed somewhere else .....

Well, I am very surprised to hear that you have had a response from AirAsia. I had baggage broken into on a Thailand internal AirAsia flight in April 2012. I reported the incident via their online eForm but didn't get any response whatsoever.

...and be relieved of 190,000 Baht to be granted this Thai version of a "green card".

Does it really cost over $6,000 to apply for citizenship? Yikes.

Yes that expensive. A real Green Card on the other hand is much cheaper at $745 and offer much more rights and they are approved in a much shorter time frame.

Am I to assume that a "Real Green Card" is the USA variety - or have I missed some Thai option here?

What many people here seem to overlook is that all countries (including their own country) have immigration rules and regulations, which include "overstay penalties". One can't just breeze in and out and about as you please - not anywhere. So, just respect the law and you'll be fine. Break the law and you're looking for trouble - no matter what country you're in - and you'll only have yourself to blame!

If you would like to see EXACTLY where all the major fires are burning, in almost real time, just go here:

( seems one can't post links here so just figure this out - map dot geog dot umd dot edu/firms/kml dot htm )

Of course you have to have Google Earth installed.

Do any of the Thai Bashers here have the slightest idea what the consequences of NOT burning every year would be?