Ajarn

Chiang Rai people have access to most the farang groceries aren't they? I think they have Northern farm in Chiang rai too?

Yes, but their groceries are more thai food than farang food, unlike Chiang Mai.

600 baht for a pizza is not delicious, it is expensive.

Give me a thick crusted pizza from the Pizza Company any day

Chiang Dao is my favorite city near Chiang Mai. The new road makes the travel time a lot less. Beautiful area

It might be worth going just to meet a sarcastic Thai! I have not met many.

Probably because sarcasm among Thais is a very hostile action

A good family friend, always there when he was needed, RIP

I like your attitiude about living here

This pool 2meters x 10meters cost me 200,000 baht. It has all the piping, pumps, skimmers and solar heating.

Anyone report any problems using a salt water chlorinator ?

What is the salt used for?

It sounds like Mike has a salt water pool and you have a fresh water one. There is another thread running on salt water pools here.

Thanks for the thread. I knew nothing about salt water pools before, and now I'm considering a change to salt. Anyone report any problems using a salt water chlorinator ?

In my pool, I simply use 1 tablet of Tri-chlorinator twice per week, with no problems to report after doing it for six years... What kinds of problems do you have that require a salt water chlorinator cell ?

I did not choose the pool system - it came with the house. I have no specific problems. The advantage of a salt water chlorinator is supposed to be that the chlorine is released only in the cell so that there is no free chlorine in the pool water to upset your eyes or hair.

I never have had the problem with chlorine upsetting my eyes or hair..

In my pool, I simply use 1 tablet of Tri-chlorinator twice per week, with no problems to report after doing it for six years... What kinds of problems do you have that require a salt water chlorinator cell ?

What is the salt used for?

I did my annual visa extension last Thursday which, at about forty minutes, was by far the swiftest and also the most pleasant renewal I have enjoyed, in nearly twenty-five years, in Bangkok and Pattaya as well as CM.

A lot of new fresh young faces amongst the staff and very pleasant, chatty and polite they were too as well as jolly efficient. No today's new rule, no two copies of everything that I had only one copy of, no birth certificate for my Grandmother's cat showing its blood group and no tee hee hee we give farang the run around. I have had good service here in CM for the past two years but the big change last Thursday was service with a nice smile and a good grace, which seemed to make everybody happy.

I suggest that the new Honorary British Counsel organizes a "Thank You" party for our new Immigration Staff at The British Council and Consulate Office, funded by contributions from appreciative customers of all nationalities. It must surely be in everybody's interest to foster the closest, most amiable, happy and effective relationship between the foreign community and the Immigration Service, in our lovely city of Chiang Mai.

Chiangmai Immigration has always been like this. Ten years ago the Immigration Chief often went down to the Gymkhana club and asked the many expatriates there if he could help them in way

No, it hasn't always been like this. A few years ago, under the old management, it was 'suggested' to me that if I were to 'give' my case worker 100,000 baht, my visa would be no problem. As a result, I complained to a friend who had some influence, and was invited by management to get my visa in 10 minutes, no hassle. And the case worker was quickly replaced... It is not going to be great at immigration for everyone, but in my experience they do take care of problems that can happen to you.

It is my suggestion that you buy from the main gold shop at Worarot Market. It is the oldest in Chiang Mai, and I feel they have the best designs, and the best service. I have been buying and selling through them for more than 20 years with no problem.

Ajarn G - of CMU days - says that there is a "very vocal minority of real wanke_rs" and I must concur.

I agree, and I feel they are responsible for me feeling 'strange' about offering support and knowledge to others here. It is not as nice as it once was here, imo.

Andrew Drumond described the ThaiVisa people as mostly Dorks and Rednecks

And:

The Patimokkha (monastic code) according to the Theravada school of Buddhism

Under the Theravada tradition, fully ordained Bhikkhus have to observe 221 precepts or training rules while novice monks or Samaneras have to keep 10 basic precepts.

One of these precepts explicitly forbids both Bhikkhus and Samaneras to accept or hoard money:

“Jatarupa-rajata-patiggahana veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami (I undertake the precept to refrain from accepting gold and silver)”

It is also an offence for Bhikkhus to “pick up” or “consent to the deposit of gold or silver (money)”

“Should any bhikkhu take gold and silver, or have it taken, or consent to its being deposited (near him), it is to be forfeited and confessed.”(Nis. Paac. 18; BMC p.214)

“Should any bhikkhu pick up, or cause to be picked up or consent to the deposit of gold or silver, this entails Confession with Forfeiture.” (Nis. Paac. 18; Paat. 1966 Ed. p.42)

“A monk, who accepts gold or money or gets another to accept for him, or acquiesces in its being put near him, commits [an offence requiring Confession with Forfeiture.]” (Nis. Paac. 18; BBC p.116)

“If a bhikkhu himself receives gold and silver (money) or gets someone else to receive it, or if he is glad about money that is being kept for him, it is [an offence of Confession with Forfeiture.]“(Nis. Paac. 18; Nv p.11)

Bhikkhus are only allowed to keep four basic requisites of robes, shelter, food and medicines to maintain their physical bodies for the purpose of practising meditation with the eventual aim of freeing oneself from all defilements.

http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/buddhi...ld/faqmonks.htm

There's more, but we're already ridiculously distracted. I don't want to stubbornly focus on a minor point and will not reply on this issue hereafter.

Thank you for the excellent information. I was wrong to suggest that it is okay for monks to handle money

> This has nothing to do with what you said.

I'm saying it now. Again the greater point remains lost on you.. Are you TRYING to miss it?

Monks should not be trading, making money and/or accumulating wealth or assets.

Can't put it simpler than that. Sorry if I wasn't clear in my first reply. Sheesh.

Still no restrictions on handling money.

it's frowned upon for monks to engage in rampant trading and wealth accumulation. (And yes, it happens, but it's frowned upon. And if monks take it too far they do end up de-frocked.)

This has nothing to do with what you said.

True, of course, but usually around themples there'd be people taking care of the financial affairs that you inavitably need to get anything done. When you donate money to make merit you typically don't hand it to a monk, at the very least you put it in an envelope, and more likely still you'd then put it in a collection box.

Monks do most of it, and envelopes with money isn't just for monks, but is the standard form of payment for most anyone, and is a Thai Standard. Fact is, most monks have no restrictions against handling money.

monks (who aren't even supposed to touch money)

Where did you hear this?

I don't believe it because a monk would hsve a hard time doing most anything without touching money.

Thammayut monks, okay, but they aren't most of the monks....

Pepsi has longer shelf life. Looking at any can will confirm that (production date -> Expiry date)

I don't doubt that it's only 10 weeks for Coke though, it really is very short.

Yes, you are correct, according to the can, Pepsi Max expires 4 months, 2 weeks after manufacture.

They must have changed the Pepsi Max recipe in the last 10 years, because when they both came to Thailand about 15 years ago, 10 weeks was what was advertised, now it's 18 weeks...

I like Pepsi Max much more than the coke light. I get 5 cases of Pepsi delivered every few weeks.

Both coke lite and Pepsi Max have a 10 week expirary date because of the 'diet' feature. They don't turn vile, just lose their gas and their taste. Buyer Beware

Thanks for the report. It is nice to know what is going to happen to me in about 5 years.

Typical May weather, with slightly less rain than the norm I feel.

Can anyone suggest a cheap rental organisation to rent a pick up from? Thankyou

I rented a pick-up from POP rental for 1000 baht per day, I hear he will go cheaper if you haggle. It's on the outside of the moat heading east past Tapae gate on the left hand side.

POP used to plant heroin on their rental bikes. Not recommended for that reason.

Really? And why do you think they would do that?

From http://AsiaRecipe.com/larry/motor2.html

Lastly, and most costly, but thankfully, extremely rare anymore, is the shop that plants a bit of dope on your bike and then sends a friendly cop out to your guesthouse or hotel for a 'routine inspection'. Finding the dope, you will be offered two choices: go to jail or pay-up. Obviously, they want your money more than taking you to jail, so you will end-up paying until they are convinced you are dry. This will include your jewelry and everything else of value you have.