Ajarn

They always have these checks out at the Superhighway coming in from Bangkok

Not always.. I've never seen them there. And I'm on that section of road a lot...

Maybe I'm going by too fast to catch their attention.

Bus is the most direct way...

Chiang Rai <---- Not enough McDonalds.

Chiang Mai <---- Still don't get it why they don't have McDonalds in Airport Plaza or Kad Suan Keaw. McDonalds is the first restaurant to open in any mall that I have been to in other countries.

McDonalds????????????????

Sorry, but I truly believe this country hit the heavy downhill when US fast food joints started spreading "‘like monstrous carbuncles on the face of a well-loved friend’, to misquote Prince Charles.. but perhaps I am a bit too old-fashioned for today's lifestyle.

Sure, sure, but I'd say that most of us have still enjoyed a respite there...

Some parts of Sankampeng are very nice, like around the hotsprings..

But, the hospital sucks, city services are non-existant, security? telephone? You're on your own out here. I used to love isolation, now a good hospital nearby is a bigger consideration... Such is life, I suppose.

Also, stick to established muubaans (gated communities). There are a million dead muubaans around. Many of the older ones are still quite nice, with big trees and security.

Frankly, if I was new here, considering settling in, I'd likely be looking more to Chiang Rai...

Sorry to hear about your accident, p1p...

Get well soon!

According to the Chiang Mai Mail article referenced it is against the law to burn.

Again a question of enforcement.

While the Thaksin government dreams up new regulations (and that's all they are because these new rules-- about cigarette displays, liquor laws, internet shops, etc. -- have not been passed into law by parliament) existing laws/regulations are no where near enforcement.

Seriously, they should mount a media campaign and a hotline for people to call when the see open burning and have people ready to issue 10,000 baht fines.

I have lived here long enough to know that the phrase "what Thai people should do" is p*ssing in the wind, but this is serious enough that I have broken one of my cardinal rules. There needs to be a big effort here from everyone. I don't know how or who, but if there is no hope for improvement we better book our plane flights or our high-coverage insurance or our plots at the foreign cemetary.

Perhaps we can put our thinking caps on and try see if we can make a positive contribution somehow.

Suggestions?

I think the best thing that you can do is to keep raising your voices on such issues. Every year for the past few years, around this time, there are always such threads here. Contributing to such threads gets it on the record, and into the search engines for others to come across... Takes time, but it all contributes...

I'd also be interested in any ideas on making it more of a public issue.

I often find chillies (both red and green) that I have had for a while go off. I was wondering if anyone has any ideas on ways to keep them longer. I thought about preparing them and freezing them, but there must be other suggestions.

ps I'm talking about the very hot varieties.

pps I know they are cheap to buy, but I just hate waste.

Any thoughts?

Information on growing chillis http://asiarecipe.com/chilliegrow.html

Information on buying and saving chillis http://asiarecipe.com/chilies.html

Mostly crime by stealth, I'd say. Plus, the crime of romance here....

It's clearly different than San Francisco, where physical crime is more popular than being a burglar or some other kind of thief.

Personally, I have taken normal security precautions, including bars on my window.. That's just the norm here, pretty much everywhere. I don't think I'd feel unsafe without them

I do feel completely safe everywhere I've been in this country, from riding a bike alone along a lonely road on the Burmese border, to Patpong. I've never been to Pattaya, but Chiang Mai is definitely safer, from reports.

Just use common sense and pay attention. That's my great advice.

Any places worth visiting on the ring roads??? Where I wouldnt be a "foreigner"???

Haven't seen any good places.

Unless you're Thai, you'll always be a "foreigner" here...

I was at immigration yesterday morning and could only faintly make out Doi Suthep. However, I'm pretty sure that this was mostly due to visibile humidity... Frankly, in this area, I haven't seen much burning the last few weeks, especially when compared to the Phrao valley

I think Huay Thung Thaew Lake is one of the best deals in the area. Beautiful. Numerous spots to choose from, depending on whether you want peace and quiet, eating, swimming, kayaking or peddle boating... A place where kids have plenty of room to play, and where parent's chances for a quiet momentary respite from kids is a good possibility..

Ajarn, sounds like it's well worth a visit. Can you give me directions please coming from CM

Many thanks

The most direct route is to follow the road that goes to the new stadium. About 2 kilometers past the stadium, before the road goes to the right and connects with Chotana rd., you'll see a sign and a turn to the left that crosses over the klong. Follow this paved road about 2 more kilometers, until you reach the front entrance to the lake. Admission for one person/one car is 15 baht. Basically, the lake is due north of the stadium.

Decheeso, a wholesale supplier of farang food located in your neighborhood, is a place you might find value in for your restaurant.

053-274-521

I suspect, cuz it's normal to do, that this guys lawyer paid off the girls for their statements, and now the government ain't interested in reading them, or hearing anything more....

You can't have been in Thailand very long. Internet now is better than ever. Just 3-4 years ago there was no ADSL and the dial up was so slow that you could brew a pot of coffee before a page came up.

Thailand is of course still lacking hopelessly behind the rest of the world with Internet access, but it's certainly better now than it ever was before.

I agree, I use dial-up with CS-LOXINFO, I think it is much better than it used to be. I bought CS-INTERNET by mistake - it was rubbish.

I've been using loxinfo dial-up in Chiang Mai since 1995. It's always been crap, but still the best among dial-ups, imo.

Overstay charge hiked to B500 a day

PHUKET: The fine for remaining in Thailand past the expiry date of a permit to stay, currently 200 baht a day, will rise to 500 baht a day with effect from March 15.

However, the maximum fine payable will remain the same, at 20,000 baht, Pol Lt Gen Suwat Thamrongsrisakul, Commander of the Immigration Bureau, stated in a document posted in Thai on the Bureau’s website. The document gave no reason for the increase.

http://www.phuketgazette.net/news/index.asp?id=4848

If you're thinking about travelling on and on, simply collecting the 200 baht a day fine, first consider this...

For most people, most times, everything goes smooth, and they pay when they depart. The others, having run into a checkpoint that checks, or cops checking-out guesthouses, or ANY situation where you might be asked to show your passport.. Bank? Post Office? These will most like likely be leaving via a jail cell. Really...

Thailand is very flexible for many situations, but rarely on this one. If, before you leave, any cop sees that you're overdue, you're busted. Don't get caught out on this one

Directions, map? Since I live near Hang Dong sounds like not to far from where I live. If you have a website PM it to me.

Yeah, great idea. Even just the menu on a free geocities.com website.. Same thing for Dukes

Oh, and don't forget a stop at Charin Garden Resort, Km 141 Doi-Saket - Chiang Rai Rd.

I'm not all that impressed by the branch at Airport Plaza, although it is OK.

Is the original better?

I recently bought an apple pie from the airport. Maybe it's because I've known the folks in Mae Suay for so long, but, I think the original is best. Better atmosphere, too

Oh, and don't forget a stop at Charin Garden Resort, Km 141 Doi-Saket - Chiang Rai Rd.

specifically what was it that you guys liked about the AUA course?

Good course, well presented, dual language... The key is the teacher, who took us outside the box in our daily learning, talking about language history/origins and the 'logic' behind some words/word combinations...

It was a long time ago for me, so I can't remember all the details

Maybe as with hospitals, it depends a lot on the teacher... Lots of bad (lazy) teachers to be found. I can only recommend AUA's course because of the teacher I had named Ajarn Oranute. This was 18 years ago, but I've heard she is still there. She gave me a great foundation and background of Thai that has always been valuable. Tough course, requires commitment. Make sure to include reading and writing, too. It's the key to good pronunciation.

The Farang connection and The Blues Factory are Thaivisa institutions by now

I've never heard of either one of these places...

I'm going to the Dukes next week anyway - I want to see if it lives up to the hype!

At lunchtime, try the steak sandwich with french fries and carrot cake for desert (if these are things that you normally like). I would be surprised if you are not impressed.

By the way, ice tea is all you can drink; they keep refilling!

Just by chance, that was my lunch today. Everthing was excellent

I've been here more than 20 years and am happily entrenched in Chiang Mai, but if I had to start over again somewhere, I would definitely choose the Chiang Rai area. Best potential for a good quality of life in the future, in my view.

No worries on the transfer, from what I can see. Your visa is no problem, and it looks to me like you only need an 'address verification' paper from immigration (300 baht, 2 photos, no hassle)

The key to that independence is to speak and understand the language, as I'm sure you already know. Ignorance isn't always bliss

Unfortunately one is required to be in posession of a Non Immigrant visa to hold a Thai driving licence and to register a vehicle in their own name. There is a notice displayed on the wall of the registration offices on the Hang Dong road to this effect. I just purchased a vechile last week, and they requested a copy of my visa page from my passport.

Polecat, you can reregister and insure the vehicle if you have the book, by proxy. At least then you will have a legal vehicle all be it in someone else's name.

If you would like to PM me I will give you all the details along with a reputable english speaking repairer.

Thanks for the updated information, Maejo Man.