thedi

In Khon Kaen is Index.

It is near of Lotus, about 500 meters south on Highway 2. Big yellow sign on its roof.

Index is not cheap but has excellent quality. Also lots of farang sizes. Very much ruh rah.

Regards

Thedi

I am returning to Thailand tomorrow and wonder where the best place is to pick-up a taxi for a long-distance trip to Lopburi. Is the arrival's hall recommended for getting a taxi?

I may need a taxi from BKK airport to my place, 50 km from Khon Kaen again in the future.

I used a taxi last year. I was approached by one of this illegal taxi drivers in the airport and took the chance. 3'500 Baht at 20:00 in the evening. There where two drivers: one drove me to Khon Kaen, the other was then driving the taxi back to Bangkok. It was an old Mercedes with a changed engine to run with gas. It did not run faster then the allowed 90 km/h - which was OK with me. We arrived save and well at my home at 02:30.

Did you get a taxi - and if so, where?

How much did you pay and how much hassle was involved?

Thanks for sharing your experiences.

Regards

Thedi

No, its usually not a problem entering Thailand.

I second this:

I arrived three days ago, April, 9-th in BKK.

When passing customs (green line), a custom officer X-rayed my bags.

In it were 1.5 kg of cheese (different kinds), 3 kg chocolate and two spices (Tymian and Salbei) in pots (with soil, roots and all) and a laptop.

The custom officer didn't say a word but gave me an OK sign to go on.

Regards

Thedi

Last year the Swiss embassy send all BKK-registered Swiss nationals in Thailand a letter which included new 'rules' for issuing income certificates by the embassy.

Unluckily I did not keep this letter because I was not interested. But I remember that the 'rules' where rather stiff: they required original documents from AHV in Geneva and/or pensions not older than - if I remember right - 30? days. I thought then to myself: "luckily I will never need this kind of 'service', because in combination with the Thai postal 'service', this may turn out to be impossible".

I would recommend the original poster to try the 'statutory declaration' as mentioned above. If this does not work: write directly to Bern: 'Sehr geehrte Frau Bundesrat...' Such a letter helped me 15 years ago, when I had a dispute with the same embassy. The letter should be correct and exact. Don't rave but state facts. Be short and concise. Don't expect an answer from Madame Bundesrat herself, but you will get an answer and you can be quite sure of speedy actions behind the scenes - if your complain is justified. Especially with our current foreign minister Madame Calmy-Rey whos ideas about service public are in some respects contrary to the 'Excellencies' ideas of their job

Regards

Thedi

I met my girlfriend in Bangkok ...what would you do ?

I would probably do the same as you did: ask for advice in thaivisa.com

Hi, I am trying to find some lemon trees, so I can plant in Khon kaen area. I am refering to the proper yellow lemons and not the little green Thai ones. Can anyone, please help me, as to where can I buy these trees, from and also if you would know, if I bring them from England, will they grow in Thailand (isaan)? Thank you very much. Costas

I never saw this kind of lemons around here.

I tried the green lemons in my garden and they are difficult: insect larval eat their leaves. They are not dying - but they never have any fruits because they are always fight to survive the insect larval attacks.

Before, I tried several flowers from Europe here. I imported seeds: they started well and then died without any visible reason. Never had any success with seeds from Switzerland.

Last August I brought 'Rosmarin' a spice from south EU as a little plant in a small pot from Switzerland. It grows now well here in Isaan. I enjoy its taste with sauces. Wonder how it will do in the hot season.

All I can suggest is: try it!

Regards

Thedi

I will be 60 in May, hence I have better options. But if I would qualify for the poll I still would vote NO.

400'000 for PR would be OK. I would consider that even now.

500'000 for PR without the need of 90 days address reports (reports when changing address would be acceptable) AND a life log reentry permit would be a deal.

Regards

Thedi

Thedi, ฿250,000 for a private school may be a good investment, but I teach in a government school with an EP program, my students are getting 18 hours of English instruction a week and 12 hours of Thai. I only have 8 students and thus have time to work with each one individually. I believe the parents pay ฿50,000 for the program and I doubt if at a private school the students would get as much individual time spent on them as my students get. Also the savings of ฿200,000 would pay for a lot of private tutoring if you felt it was needed. Issangeorge.

But there is no Issangeorge in our village school or in our Amphor. Would you consider to move?

Regards

Thedi

Our village has its own 'matayom' school, but the school in the next Amphor has a much better reputation.

People from our village can send their kids to the village school for free, or to the school in the Amphor for a entry fee. This is the official statement from the school manager in the Amphor. Nothing shady.

Regards

Thedi

PS: I pay ~ 250'000 Baht a year for our daughter to visit a private school - I think its good invested money

I have 2 kids [9 and 11 yrs, Thai] and and am considering moving to Nong Khai area and am wondering what the schooling options are there or near NK. My kids now go to a Thai school which is a step or two above public school system and I would like to keep them on the same level [or above].

What are the options there in Nong Khai or within a 40k raidus of NK??

Our daughter visits Khon Kaen Vithes Suksa Bilingual School ( http://www.kkvs.ac.th in Khon Kaen). The school operates a dormitory. 50% of the teachers are from NZ, the school follows a NZ way of education (think for yourself, not just repeat after me).

Even so we live only 50 km from this school, our daughter stays in the dormitory from Monday to Friday. There are several Matayom kids from Udon and Nong Khai there too.

The school is a bit more expensive: school fees, dormitory and this and that may add to about 250'000 per year.

Regards

Thedi

Reading your posts I now tend to go the 'do it yourself' route for the desk, but buy a chair.

BTW: I do not live in a big city - Khon Kaen is 50 km from our village.

Regards and many thanks for your detailled descriptions.

Thedi

If I remember correctly, there's a "ModernForm" shop in Khon Kaen (along the National Highway 2 on the left side of Mittraphap road when you come from Udon Thani on the way to Khorat). Their furniture are usually nice and comfortable, but certainly not cheap.

Thanks, I will take a look there.

Any other insider tips?

Regards

Thedi

I am looking for a comfortable chair to sit and work on (computer). Maybe together with a desk.

Not a cheap affair which will give me a sore arse and will break down under my 100 kg within a week. It should be comfortable. I want to be able to put my legs under the desk without squeezing - farang size. I am willing to pay an adequate price for it.

It does not have to be impressive. But it should be comfortable, solid, if there are drawers, they should be gliding smoothly ... just the contrary of what I have now: the desk is to low to put my legs under the center drawer of the desk, the drawers are hard to open and then tend to come out all the way, the plastic of chair is to flexible for may weight, the chairs leg threaten to break when I do not sit orderly and center my weight carefully ... I guess most of you know what I talk about.

Now I want something better. Where should I look for it - in or near Khon Kaen?

Any suggestions would be welcome.

Thedi

sadly cannot offer anything further----tig

Thanks tig - your answer does help me.

I think I will buy a new tank Then I will try to repair the old tank with a paint or spray and use it as a second tank. The additional 4000 liter will be welcome in a long dry period.

In the old house we used tanks made of cement: about 20'000 liters in two big tanks. We thought the water is OK to drink - until we had the stainless steel tanks. The difference is remarkable. Water from a stainless steel tank tasts much fresher.

How are poyester tanks? Is the water tasty - I mean - rather not tasting like plastic?

Regards

Thedi

I am seeking to buy a second hand Honda Shadow (built 1999) in Pattaya. However due to the fact that Benzin 95 is getting rare. What can I do to get to get it to run on Gasohol?

Since 2002 I drive a Yamaha Royal Star (V4, 1300cc) 1998 model which I fill up with 91 gasohol or none-gasohol whetever they have and it runs and runs. Never any problems for more than 50'000 km. I never felt any difference between 95, 91 with or without Gasohol.

Regards

Thedi

I have a 4000 liter stainless steel water tank which we use to keep our drinking water in. After 3 years without problems, it starts to leak now: about 5 to 10 liter a day sicker out from a leak which is hidden behind its feets.

Does any body know where such a stainless steel water tank can be repaired?

BTW: I leave near Manchakiri, 50 km south-west from KKC. So a repair shop in Khon Kaen or nearby provinces would help me - not one in Bangkok.

Thanks for any suggestions

Thedi

... that's just a good reason to use a desktop PC.

Gary, you are naturally right.

But

I use for myself a Mac NoteBook. My daughter has a Desktop PC with a Thai Windows XP. Bought in Khon Kaen, maintenance in Khon Kaen: the real standard Thai thing. Last week my daughter complained: "Papi, my Word does not switch between Thai and English keyboard any more".

To make a long storry short: she had 32 botnets, viruses and other malware installed. None of the Anti-malware program i had access to (and I have access to many, because I work for a University in Switzerland) was able to clean the system.

Naturally, my daughter and her friends install everything that God forbids: Games from the net, from CDs with unknown origin etc.

But that just shows: there are always two sides of a dollar

Regards

Thedi

There is a Mac shop in Oasis Center third floor

Tha Li Immigration Office

Moo 2 Tambon Tha Li

Amphor Tha Li

Loei 42140

phone/fax: 042-889208

As of 11. August 2008, Nong Khai Immigration has a poster attached, which directs us to the right Immigration Office.

This was posted in the Isaan-Subforum: 20080925_northeast_immigration_offices.pdf

Nearly every house in our village has a water tank to store rain water from the roof: 2.5 meter in diameter and about 3 meter high, which means they store about 18 ton of water when full.

They were made 25 years ago (an Australian development aid project) with concrete, reinforced with bamboo.

15 years ago was a campaign to reinforce them with three rounds of strong wire, covered with concrete. This was a Thai government action, lead by the phu yai baan.

After 25 years, this tanks still do their job. None of them leaked.

Regards

Thedi

Not Korat, but Khon Kaen:

http://www.iwater.co.th/ are professional swimming pool builders and maintainers.

INTER WATER TREATMENT CO LTD

599 Moo 2 Mittrapab Highway, Tumbol Sila, Ampher Muang, Khon Kaen 40000, Thailand

Tel. +6643-394252-5 , Fax. +6643-394251

http://www.iwater.co.th E-mail: [email protected]

Copyright © 2007. Inter Water Treatment All rights reserved.

Regards

Thedi

Private Boarding is about 20'000 Baht/year (without school fees)

In Khon Kaen are several private boardings for students. I guess, you should find such private boardings in every town in Isaan. It normally includes a bed in a dormitory and meals in the morning and evening. This is not connected with any school, but most schools know about one or another of this places. For a wild boy there may be too much freedom in a place like that.

Regards

Thedi

St Stephen in Kao Yai (Korat) is 500+K year

I didn't look at this school myself, but remember this post here in thaivisa from 2007 Nov 7:

I taught at the Khao Yai Campus for 1 year. My experience was that teachers leave after 1 year. Very few teachers complete their 2 year contract. The reason I left was the school decided to close and then didn't.

The quality of teaching varies according to the annual intake of teachers. In the year I was at the school there were some very good teachers. In addition there were teachers who liked the karaoke bar/bar girl/beer scene too much.

Its a small school and even though its an 'international school' there are no western students. They are mainly thai chinese and some laos. The students generally struggle with English. The other problem with students is motivation. They come from rich families and aren't motivated to pass IGCSE's. The main behavioural problem with students is sleeping in class.

Overall the school has its faults but if you want a British educations its your only choice in that area. St John Mary in Saraburi is an American international school.

Their website http://www.ststephen.ac.th/ does not give too much info, I found more here: http://www.isat.or.th/member_schools_detai...id=mm4667483083 but a google search may bring better results.

Regards

Thedi

Khon Kaen Vithes Suksa Bilingual School is about 300'000 Baht a year, including boarding.

This is where my daughter is now in Matayom 2.

The staff is about 50% from New Zealand. They are teachers, not just 'native speakers'. Small classes (20 students). Very personal atmosphere. Only about 20 % of the Matayom students are boarding. The dormitory is on the other side of the town, but a school bus is there for transport. The school follows the N.Z. way of teaching with an emphasis on independent thinking, take responsability, self initiative, critical thinking.

I think this is a good school.

Regards

Thedi

PS: they have a web site: http://www.kkvs.ac.th/

Kanjanapisek in Chayaphum is about 40'000 Baht/year incl. boarding.

There are more 'Kanjanapisek' schools in Isaan - if I remember right, one is in Kalasin province. This schools are outside of the cities, rather isolated. They were founded on a celebration of the king, about 10 years ago (50 years on the throne).

I visited Kanjanapisek in Chayaphum three times about 2 years ago. My impressions were mixed: a combination of discipline and young teachers. I got the feeling, that the staff does not really know what to do with all the equipment they have. Another impression: the staff is afraid of things getting out of control, hence a lot of fixed rules and everything that is not actually used is locked away. Even in the dormitories: every student locks his/her locker. Very strict separation of boys and girls. On weekends, many of the kids just hang around and are bored. There is nothing to do - nowhere to go. The atmosphere remembered my sometimes on my time in 'Rektutenschule' (basic training, boot camp) of the Swiss army some 40 years ago

On the other side, I got the impression that the kids have good friendships among each others. The young teachers make the atmosphere relaxed.

Students are mostly from the nearby villages, only about 20% are boarding in the school.

Regards

Thedi