Ajarn

lopburi3, still a good point to make. I've wondered in the past about how well that might work, and now I know better...Cheers

Sure, I have a pump with an auto-pressure system, set to a fairly low pressure. I'm not a plumber, but it's the same setup I've seen most places, with the tank on the ground, with a pump using water from the outside main.

As for pressure, It's usually good enough during the day (But my house is only one floor...), and can be quite a bit stronger at night. My pump maintains the pressure if it falls below the pressure from the outside main, as I understand it. If the main pressure is more than than the pump, the pump doesn't go on...I'm pretty sure 

Before I moved in, they didn't have a pump, they used the water direct from the main. I don't really need it at all. I just installed it for a further guarantee that I'll have water when I want it. Thinking about doing someting similar to guarantee my air-con 24/7, too 

This is exactly what should not be used as if you and folks near you all draw water at the same time the water main can go to negative pressure and invite dirty ground water into any leaks and into your home. You should always pump from a storage tank of some kind rather than directly from mains. That also gives you water when the mains goes dry for maintenance or whatever and helps to get rid of chlorine as the water has a chance to stand before being used.

lopburi3, maybe I'm not explaining things correctly, but I think I am drawing from my tank, not directly off the main.

I had three of those paragliders (the one with the parachute and engine strapped on your back) fly in formation over my house a couple of evenings ago....Man, that looked like fun!

Hmm..Wonder what the weight limit is on those things... 

Ajarn.

Don't know the limit, but I'm afraid either of us would be counted out...

Maybe we could join two or three of those chutes together??

Me thinks it'll take a better idea to not violate the Local Laws.

The Local Laws of Physics, that is

What's the chance of taking your roof off??

Think it would be best to wait for the rainy season to end before removal...

Ajarn

Where is your tank?

How do you get pressure to the taps?

Unless the tank is 30ft off the ground, surely you must be using a pump somewhere?

Sure, I have a pump with an auto-pressure system, set to a fairly low pressure. I'm not a plumber, but it's the same setup I've seen most places, with the tank on the ground, with a pump using water from the outside main.

As for pressure, It's usually good enough during the day (But my house is only one floor...), and can be quite a bit stronger at night. My pump maintains the pressure if it falls below the pressure from the outside main, as I understand it. If the main pressure is more than than the pump, the pump doesn't go on...I'm pretty sure

Before I moved in, they didn't have a pump, they used the water direct from the main. I don't really need it at all. I just installed it for a further guarantee that I'll have water when I want it. Thinking about doing someting similar to guarantee my air-con 24/7, too

I didn't even know you'd missed one out (I use them like full stops!) just being facecious (sp?)! Shall I edit in the interests of not being funny?

Just having fun, as I'm sure you are...My crank's not wound up, and neither was it my intention to wind you up. I sense you're not, and just checking on me...If that's the case, thanks for the kind consideration of my feelings. The feeling is mutual, I assure you

Humour gets a bit tricky here, at times

If you have a regular flow of water into your underground tank (cistern is the right word) then you are lucky.

We have a 2000litre tank to cope with the times when the mains water does not flow.

Without a pump just how does the water get to the taps in the house?

It is an essential part of Thai household plumbing.

You need to work out how many taps will be open at the same time

to get the necessary capacity for the pump

If it was an essential part of Thai household plumbing, then most would have pumps. Fact is, most don't. Instead they rely on the city water with it's up/down pressures and supply. In our area, that mostly works well enough

Most of these old cisterns were built because the house had no plumbing, or before the water mains arrived near enough to tap into. We have a concrete cistern, but I sure wouldn't want to use any water that had been in it. I feel far safer with our stainless steel storage tank that holds 1250 litres... About a two-day water supply for when the tessabaan cuts the water...Unfortunately, that's usually when we realise that the water has been off for a couple of days..

I vaguely remember someone posting another story here on this topic with the info on the CM zones...A few months ago?

When I bought my tank and pump, the company installed everything for free. The price was the same as buying myself, but this way, I just pick up the phone if there's a problem. Two year guarantee on everything except the pump (six months) Same with aircons and water heaters- or any other appliance- I buy them, and installation is free. But you won't get that kind of service from the Mega-stores, that's for sure.

^ You missed out a comma there

"...but they still want to be a prick, somehow."

My mistake

For example, I've been drinking about 8 cans of diet cola for many years now (and am still healthy!). 

I also drink about 8 cans of Pepsi Max,

You realize this stuff doubles as paint thinner...

Which I was paint

There always chances to prove things....

Certainly true here, but at what price?

I also feel some similar feelings about writing in text. Without the voice and face gestures, it's quite easy not to always get your point across accurately and also it's easy to misinperpret or maybe read too much into what someone wrote. I try to be very careful about my choice of words and how I interpret the words of others, but I'm only human, too.

Btw, the original head in the sand comment didn't pertain to you, since I referred it to people who think there is no recycling here, which you clearly stated you were already aware of....It also did not mean that anyone not agreeing with me had their head in the sand

I'm Thai, home country Thailand....lets call a truce...we're both on the same wave anyways I'm not much of a fighter.

Sorry, I didn't mean to have it look like a fight. I just think it's good to debate points where disagreements or different experiences occur, but like you said, were both on the same page as recyclers. Sorry also if my slight humor was too slight to notice

Btw, I'm a lover-not-a-fighter, too, though with far fewer chances to prove it now

I agree that there are those that do recycle, god bless them, but are you aware that most of these people do it as a living?

Because a homeless person needs money to buy food

Sorry, but you seem to be thinking of your home country, maybe. This is a big business, and many of these recyclers, even the homeless ones, can make quite decent money from this job by Thai standards. You seem to see it as a dirty job, that only homeless are interested in....Hence, my head in the sand comment looking a bit on target, maybe...Anyway, nothing nefarious in the comment, I assure you

Can you honestly vouch yourself that there are Thai people out there that are wholeheartedly involved in separating their garbage? Can you actually tell me that these people are aware that there are two types of garbage bins for separating garbage in Bangkok?

Who cares what the house owner does, when at every change of hands, someone is searching your garbage for valuables. They're happy to separate and recycle your garbage for you...I couldn't care less if they do it for money, or for the thrill

For example, I've been drinking about 8 cans of diet cola for many years now (and am still healthy!).  Back in the States, over half or even 80% of aluminum cans are recycled (in the UK, maybe 80% of the aluminium?).  Here, I can't tell what's happening.  In the province where I work, somebody sometimes takes some of the cans and maybe takes them somewhere.  I doubt it.

Why do you doubt it? Aluminum cans are among the most valuable of the recyclables. I also drink about 8 cans of Pepsi Max, and at my house, I'm always hearing the smashing of cans in preparation for sale to the recycler. And I constantly see people downtown cruising the garbage bins specificaly looking for cans....

It wouldn't surprise me one bit to learn that more than 80% of aluminum cans are recycled in Thailand.

'Puu Yai Baan', is what I said, and Phangnan has at least one, too. As I also mentioned, this was long ago. Sorry if I didn't make that clear enough. We're talking at least 40 years ago, as I have heard. But, this was the system for a LONG time, to be sure. It's not that much different in some parts of the Kingdom, even now...

Huh?

To my eyes, thailand is about a million times cleaner now than when I first came here. Plastic garbage literally everywhere, all the time then....

And who says there's no recycling in Thailand? Must have their head in the sand, or never lived here. Their are plastic, metal, glass, paper recyclers in every part of the Kingdom..Prices are pretty good, too. And from reports, the garbage hauling crews can make some pretty good dosh from some of your junk, too. A report in the post a couple of years ago wrote about a crew that claimed to make at least an extra few hundred baht per day from recyclables...

I imagine that anyone living in a house in any neighborhood has the individual recyclers coming around to your house regularly with their handcarts and simple hand scales. If you don't know about them, it might be because your maid/wife already has a deal going with one of them...

Surely more needs to be done, but I've seen huge increases in general cleanliness here, and that should be applauded and encouraged by supporting them yourself directly, by making sure your wastes get recycled as best as practical. Easy to do, and some baht in your pocket, in my experience. Just don't expect the government to make everything so convenient for you

I heard many years ago that, because of a lack of any goverment presence, the 'Puu Yai Baan' also took on the role of Judge and Jury, and sometimes executioner.. the Final Authority. They settled all disputes, down to inter-family squabbles...

In later years, Samui was said to be controlled by 5 families. One was (likely still is) the major rice distrubuter on samui. Another family head is now a C-8 government official in Nathon and he owns a Bungalow in Baan Tai . Another family head was the Chinese 'Sia Yai' of the area, and quite the Wheeler-dealer in the coconut business on Samui. Not sure about the other two, having never met them or heard anything about them except that they had bungalows.

Quite an interesting place under the covers, from what I remember many years ago

Same with ending a sentence in a preposition. If it makes sense, don't worry about it. The Grammar Translation Method is what inspired these 'rules', and they served their use at one time, but English, since escaping the yoke of class-based UK English, is much more flexible now, and 'common usage' has become the (common-sense) rule-of-thumb now as to whether it's acceptable usage now, generally. Of course, there will always be those anal types that just can't let go.......

I do still get a bit annoyed when I've seen others get flamed for their spelling or grammar, especially the splitting infinitives/dangling prepositions issue. Says to me that they don't really have anything to say, but they still want to be a prick somehow.

I had three of those paragliders (the one with the parachute and engine strapped on your back) fly in formation over my house a couple of evenings ago....Man, that looked like fun!

Hmm..Wonder what the weight limit is on those things... 

Ajarn.

Don't know the limit, but I'm afraid either of us would be counted out...

Maybe we could join two or three of those chutes together??

Me thinks it'll take a better idea to not violate the Local Laws.

The Local Laws of Physics, that is

I had three of those paragliders (the one with the parachute and engine strapped on your back) fly in formation over my house a couple of evenings ago....Man, that looked like fun!

Hmm..Wonder what the weight limit is on those things...

When I bought my new car last year, they (Isuzu) gave me the option of running with no plates, or with red plates. They told me this red plate is registered to them, and along with the plate, I got some type of registration booklet that went along with the plates...

The comment on the website that said the plates can't be traced isn't true, it seems to me...

Never had any problems. Even drove to Bkk on them where I paid a small fine for a traffic infraction, but the cop never mentioned my red plates...

It took three weeks to get my regular plates and registration finished...

From the Chiang Mai Mail...

Zoning holds the key

Nopniwat Krailerg

The Ministry of the Interior (MOI) has spoken again, and closing times for entertainment venues are no longer open to debate. It has now promulgated the Interior Ministerial Law, published in the Royal Gazette of September 16 and effective from September 17. Venue owners must strictly follow Section 3(1)-(5) of the penal code or face punishment according to the law.

The Act setting the operating times of entertainment venues first came into being in 2003, and distinguishes between five categories of service locations.

According to Section 3(1), dance venues (with or without partners) within the zoned area and locations operating before this Act may open from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. Those outside the zoned area can only open from 9 p.m. and close at midnight.

According to Section 3(2), venues where food, alcohol, tea or other beverages are sold or served may operate from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. to midnight depending upon whether it is inside or outside zoned areas.

Section 3(3) covers showers, massage parlors or saunas inside the zoned areas and locations that were operating before this Act, with service persons, may operate from noon to midnight. Those outside the zoned area may open from 6 p.m. to midnight.

According to Section 3(4), any venue where food or alcohol is sold or served with music performances or other entertainment; or where singers, dancers or waiters are allowed to accompany the customers; or where singing equipment is available to customers; or which has a dance area or where dance performances take place or are allowed to take place, providing it is within the zone and the other venues being operated before this Act may be open from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. The others outside the zoned area may only open from 6 p. m. to midnight.

According to the Section 3(5), venues where food and alcohol are sold or served with music or other performances, which cease at midnight, may operate from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m.

General restaurants where food, beverage and alcohol are sold or served with music, but without live music performances, are not considered entertainment service locations. These may remain open 24 hours; however, music and the sale of alcohol are not allowed after midnight.

To additionally complicate matters, the Ministry of Interior is considering to amend the legislation covering entertainment service locations of 2003 (Act 4) by adding another category: Restaurants similar to service locations according to the Section 3(4) but without music performances and temporary structure restaurants where alcohol is sold and karaoke jukeboxes are available will be grouped together in order to fill a gap in the regulations.

As they are mostly located in community areas, they might be annoying and bothersome to nearby residents, and give rise to threats to the safety of persons and property. The matter is being considered by the Legislation Office in the Ministry of the Interior and will be submitted to cabinet later.

So to provide a short pr้cis, if you know whether you are inside the proscribed zones and your establishment is covered by 3 (1) or 3 (2) then you can stay open until 2 a.m. If you are under 3 (3) then you can open at noon, but must close by midnight. 3 (4) can stay open till 1 a.m. and 3 (5) can also stay open till 1 a.m. Restaurants can stay open 24 hours, but cannot sell alcohol after midnight.

A restaurant that supplies service girls who dance and do massage will be covered by further legislation that will be enacted to cover all possibilities!

I heard that once exposed to Dengue you develop a resistance to the pathogen, making reinfection unlikely, any truth to this? 

I had a friend who was infected twice- in Chiang Mai.

Also, I haven't seen any posting here mentioning that Dengue mozzies tend to bite in the daytime, malarial types bite mostly at night....

KHUNDAN

ONCE A MARINE ALWAYS A MARINE

Please spare us this Dan, I have some respect, yes, but please!

What the ###### is wrong with expressing some PRIDE?

I’m certain that expats who have been here for 10-20 years would say that this anti-foreigner violence goes in waves, but is it worse now than ever before?

You shouldn't feel certain about that.

Hey, Thailand is becoming more and more violent, just like the rest of the world. What the ###### did you expect- Shangrila?

I was married to a Thai women for 7 seven years. Had one teenager make a brave comment once- which he sincerely regretted and apologized for immediately after our chat about about it. Never had any other problems...I'm treated with respect wherever I go, mostly because I am a respectful person, too, I believe. I can easily say that I've been treated better, generally, by Thais than by those in 'my' American society...

If you think of them as animals, you're more likely to treat them as animals, and that usually invites problems of one kind or another.

I generally believe that if you don't make problems, problems are unlikely to occur for you. Of course, there are places and situations here where that might not always be a safe bet.

Just keep your own head on straight to begin with, and always cover your ass as best you can