Nigelmartin

Anyone interest in Judo practice. We will be training tomorrow 5pm at Chiang Mai Uni Gym. 5thDan instruction, beginners or experienced players welcome. Anyone interested please pm me.

is it free to get into the gym? is it the gym near the swimming pool?

If you come in on the Canal road the Gym is about 200m up the road on the right hand side. Just tell the security guard yo are here for the Judo - should be no problem. There no charge. Friday 5pm

how did it go? i couldn't make it. would like to come after songkran if it happens again. i forgot to get my gi when i was in the states. do i need one?

Because of the Thai new year postponed until next Friday 18thApril. The success will be down to everyone attending. No Gi needed but you can obtain a Gi from FBT Sports in Bangkok (nr the National Stadium) for about 800baht. As I have said before - mixture of beginners and Black Belt most of whom are willing to past on their experience free. So see everybody next Friday.

Nigel

Anyone interest in Judo practice. We will be training tomorrow 5pm at Chiang Mai Uni Gym. 5thDan instruction, beginners or experienced players welcome. Anyone interested please pm me.

is it free to get into the gym? is it the gym near the swimming pool?

If you come in on the Canal road the Gym is about 200m up the road on the right hand side. Just tell the security guard yo are here for the Judo - should be no problem. There no charge. Friday 5pm

Anyone interest in Judo practice. We will be training tomorrow 5pm at Chiang Mai Uni Gym. 5thDan instruction, beginners or experienced players welcome. Anyone interested please pm me.

I'm out of my element in this forum, so please bear with me.

Does anyone have any experience with BMW cars in LoS, whether purchasing or service? The new models are prohibitively expensive, but there appear to be some decent used models available. I'm curious if used Beemers in LoS tend to fall into the same category as a lot of other used cars, basically pretty good for the first 6mos to 1yr and then start failing like crazy.

Are they actually made in Thailand, or another SEA country, or actual imports from Germany? Is it possible to get the level of service required for a relatively high end car, or will most mechanics treat it like the uncle's tractor? Is there a BMW club in LoS where I might query for more info?

Although nice products, I don't particularly care for them. They appear to be far too expensive for what you get. Plus I think they would appear a bit too "uppity" out in the country where we are. But my partner has it in her head that she would like one. We're looking at getting a new car next year and a used one might just edge down into the upper end of my price range.

TIA for any advice offered. Feel free to post here or PM.

Cheers.

Of course it depends what your budget is!

But you should keep in mind that there is free servicing for 100,000kms. A new 525 is about 4.3mbaht but you can get 6 mnth old for 3mbaht - still a lot of money. I purchased a 6 month old 525SE. I've had the car now just over a year. Faults - the neon side lights didn't work but soon sorted with a new software down load by BMW. Also had some marks on the chrome - replaced under warantee. The service has been first class from BMW. Other than the faults I mentioned the car has really been very good.

I would like some feedback from any TV members/readers who have installed, at their house, one of the many sattelite TV systems that are available--NOT UBC--but one of the fixed or moving sat setups--I have had a quote from one operator for about 14,000 Baht and he claims I will be able to view multiple foreign, but english language, channels--films, documentaries, news, childrens programs etc...you are all familiar with what I am talking about--the brand name of the device that my informant was trying to sell, a moving sat dish, was 'D-Move, but there are several--what are the pros/cons, what's a good one and so on--please. I really, really don't want to give UBC any more money and we can't get cable TV where I am renting. All help very grateful, thanks.

pm me, I can show you what I have. Nigel

The best car for you is obviously the car, which fulfills all your needs and is within your budget. Of course, we all dream about the car we would buy if we had unlimited funds, but it's just dreaming. However, I like that. I always bought my car with my heart and never regretted it. Once I bought a car listening only to my reason and got so bored after a short time that I sold it again after 9 months.

If I would be able to buy whatever I wish and if Thailand would let me import this car, I guess I would buy an AUDI A6 Allroad with the V8 engine.

But having a somewhat limited budget and the major importers not importing all models, I looked around what is available now in Thailand.

Pick-up trucks and their modifications (Fortuner, Miu etc) are out of the question for me. They are unsafe an any speed. I have a family with 2 kids; a safe care is a must.

So my choice would be limited to cars like Honda Accord (new model), Toyota Camry, Nissan Teana. Personal taste and experience make me lean towards the new Honda Accord with the 3 liter V6 engine. I think it costs about 2.8 Million THB and features all the options and luxury gadgets you can imagine. Honda sure knows how to build engines and I like the racing commitment of the company.

All I need now is to convince my Missus that this car is absolutely necessary.

I agree with you the Honda 3.5litre is very nice. I purchased an almost new BMW 5 series 2.5 litre for the same price plus free servicing for the next 100,000kms. Although the engine of the BMW is not so powerful 200 against 280bhp the BMW is much fast because of the six speed auto, better brake and fare better suspension. I also still have the old 3 litre Honda Accord. Since new (3years ago), I have had nothing but trouble with the brakes. To date this still hasn't been resolved with the Honda dealer. I find the steering vague with very little feel with what going on up front. Just my personal view on my experience with both cars.

Just a whim, but hopefully the guys who read this thred may have some experience.

I have never done anything like martial arts at all. But I think I'd like to give it a go. But have 3 concerns.

1. I am 40. Have almost no agression inside me, though I would like to create some. I really would like to change from a sappy weakling to a man who controls his own destiny. Have you seen anybody my age change in the way I'd like to?

2. Although in good shape. I exercise daily, I am very unflexible. I can barely touch my toes and I would really like to change this.

3. This is my biggest concern. I have always had a weak back. These days standing still quickly produces a dull pain. A movement can suddenly feel like the wall of muscle in my lower back "disappears" Jogging and walking though seems to help a lot. I have no idea if my body could take hard impact though when hiking etc real physical extertion seems to actually be of great benefit.

Which martial art would anyone recommend?

You have to practice with the limits of your body. Through my Judo years my techniques have changed to allow for the physical changes in my body, less flexibility as you get older alters the techniques that you use. Also as you get older the warm up and warm down tends to take longer. Before you start I would suggest you have a check to make sure that you are ok to start. When and if you start your Instructor will give you a program to meet you needs. My experience in Judo is that most Blacks in fact started in the 20, 30 and 40s.Most children that start at an early age find it difficult to making the transition for Junior to Senior level. So don't be disheartened have a go!

I have just built my own Dojo (Hall for training) about 10kms outside Chiang Mai. Area is about 10m by 8m enough for 20 people to practice. My intention is to start a Judo Club with free lessons.

At the moment I have about a dozen people interested ranging from beginner to Black belt. I'm a 5thDan (Black Belt), National Coach in the UK, been practicing about 50 years now so a bit old for serious training but can still at least teach!

pm if you want to know more details. Nigel

You can buy a set of front gas shock that will have the right spacing for the disc. About 4000baht for the shocks. Don't be tempted to put a larger,than standard, disc on the front (although it looks good) as it locks up to wheel on heavy braking.

PM me as I had an accident a few months ago as I can go through the process with you. Nigel

Nationwide will be introducing a new security procedure to access the Flex account after March 2008. This is similar to HSBC security process. Read more on the Nationwide web page.

I have a Tunit unit for sale. This will fit your Fortuna, raises the power 200bhp Contact me if you are interested. Nigel

Just completed my own Dojo in Chiang Mai. Anyone interested e-mail me. Nigel

Certainly, I've about come to the end of my tether with UBC/True - just so many repeats for a high annual subscription cost. I've been reading the J-Sat website and it looks interesting - particularly as I am about to move to a new rented house next month and need to decide whether to go for another True deal or give the J-Sat package a go. Movable dish about 21,000 + 2,000 baht one-time payment and then you buy whatever programme package subscriptions you want from the transmitting companies (e.g. Astro etc).

The J-Sat website seems very BKK-oriented. Can anyone with first-hand experience in CM tell me what (if any) loss of option/signal there is for a CM-based set-up? I know that J-Sat will do a site survey for 500 baht - but I still feel better having the benefit of other's real-life experience/impression - as to dish-size, orientation, usability etc. The new place I'm moving to has a sizable balcony (facing south/south-west) which would be great to take the dish. If all came to all, there's also a sizable garden - but with a lot of trees and I'd rather not have all the dish ironmongery in it.

Grateful for any user's comments and guidance about J-Sat or the alternatives such as they may be. I'm not a complete techno novice, but I'm really looking for a relatively straightforward, hassle-free but versatile set-up and don't mind paying a sensible price to get it.

Thanks in advance.

Steve, contact me I have experience with Satellites - Nigel

Dream TV is switching between up-dates ie May06, August 06, March07 etc. I have downloaded each up date (on my DM500) and when the decodered ceases to work I just switch to one of the up dates. I have had no problems and I have beed receiving the Dream network with no downtime at all. I suspect that people selling the DM 500 in Chiang Mai will have to come out everytime the up-date is required.

I am wondering if anyone knows anywhere in Chiang Mai where they teach Brazilian Ju Jitsu? If not does anyone have any suggestions for other self defence classes?

I'm planning to set up a Judo club, I'm a 5thDan ex-National coach and I have three other Black Belt interested in supporting me. At the moment looking into accomodation for a Dojo in Chiang Mai. Contact me via e-mail

Nigel

I have a friend who will coming to Thailand in April. He will have a Non-Immgrant Multiple type O visa (to visa friends). He is 65 years old and has adequate funds. He plans to stay one year leaving thailand every 90 days to visit Singapore , HongKong etc.

Question: At the end of the year when his type O expires he may decide to stay in Thailand and retire, can he transfer his type O visa (not OA) to a retirement visa, and if he can what information will he need to supply to immigration.

thanks

I contacted JSat recently on the recommendation by some members, and was disappointed to find out they dont cover the northern region. However, I do know that Dynasat does cover CM, but are there any others non- UBC sattelite companies that install and service which you highly recommend?

Looking for free to air sports ie F1, rugby, tennis, BBC, and some documentary channels

thanks.

You can get the latest DM500 ( you need a hight speed internet connection) decoder from J-sat and arrange Tech Sat (Dynasat are in Bangkok and only make dishes) to fit the dish, LNB and motor. This will give you multichoice and Dream. Alternatively get Tech-Sat in Chiang Mai to do the lot for you. However you will need a further 'fixed' dish to access Asiasat-4

regards

Nigel

Can somebody please tell me where in CM I can find a shop selling satellite receivers? I am looking for a Panamsat 7/10 so that I can pick up the Multichoice Network.

Cheers.

There are several shops in Chiang Mai - e-mail me and I will forward the details

Nigel

I am thinking of having a house built on the "Home in Park" Moo Baan out Hang Dong/Samoeng. Has anybody heard of anything negative about the build quality of the homes or the Moo Baan itself.

Thanks.

I living here, so contact me via e-mal

Nigel

I live in Chiang Mai, give me a ring and I will try and help, 0819264210 Nigel

Is anyone in the CM area able to find/watch this satellite ABS-1 (formerly LMI) satellite (75 Deg E).

I have a Dynasat moveable dish with a Dynasat F1 STB.

I cannot find/tune the ABS-1 (formerly LMI) satellite (75 Deg E)

I can pick up Insat 3C (74 Deg E) , Telstar 10 C band (76.5 deg E), unable to find Telstar 10 KU band.

The satellite name & channels are preprogrammed into the STB (upgrade L355). I have also manually entered in new channels for ABS-1 to the STB.

With thanks

If you go to JSat.tv web site there is a fair bit of information on ABS-1, I think they provide an up-grade for Dynasat boxes.

Nigel

Hello.

Taipan..... sorry you got misinformed.

All karate, all Tae Kwon Do, all any martial art is only as good as it is taught and, obviously, this is relative to it's effectiveness.

I must disagree with whoever is saying that karate is useless. As for the others I cannot say for sure.

If karate is taught properly, it is quite effective in a street fight. There is a big difference between competition karate and self-defense... karate or anything else. Just as there is a difference between Muay Thai in the ring and the original Muay Thai.

As for judo, I think it is as good as the teacher a person learns from. There are definitely self defense techniques in judo.

Any altercation without rules is dangerous. It is the reaction that might save someone. In a quick, no rules altercation, probably just a few techniques would be used.

I would suggest you think

about what you want to learn, then seek out a good instructor. Usually this will not be a highly paid instructor... that I do agree with the person making the other posts.

If you are interested in more information, you can email me at [email protected] .

I wish you well.

Just for interest. I plan to start a Judo Club (and Jujitsu), I'm a 5thDan (Black Belt), qualified national coach. I have also two other farangs both 3rd Dan (both English)that will help. At the moment I have been looking for premises but I have found it difficult to find suitable premises, FT Gym above Rimping was going to help but when he discoved the cost of mats he lost interest. There is a club at the Wattna Phayap school. I was asked to teach there but when I took my qualification with me the resident thai instructor *who was a black belt and no coaching qualification) didn't wan t me there - Loss of Face!

I f any one knows of a suitable room then I will be happy to give my services free

Nige;

Hi

If you live in Chiang Rai province you are just in the coverage of Agila satellite. It has all the best channels from UBC - including ESPN, Star movies, star world, discovery, history, geographic, hbo, AXN (new season of lost is playing), BBC, CNN etc etc

When you next go on your visa run to Tachilek, pop into a few of the electrical shops in Tachilek and pick up a GA Titanium satellite decoder, a dish and LNB all for about 3300 Baht.

When you get home grab your nearest satellite engineer and pay him about 500b to install the dish and point it to AGILA2KU satellite - its about 140 degrees east, - he will know (you should check that there arent any building in the way before you buy a set up)

You need to retune the decoder every 6 months when it is scrambled, your satelite engineer should be able to do this for you, if not take the decoder back to the shop in Tachilek and they will do this for you.

No Thai subtitles though, you do get 2 pornchannels too. The signal isnt great, it pixelates some times (for a few seconds every 10 mins or so).

Oh yeah, its free - no subscription

The UBC police are looking for your address. 50,000 baht fine, 5 years in jail and deportation.

These services such as J-Sat are freely advertised in the Bangkok Post and in fact all around Chiang Mai. I don't see any prosecution of the suppliers. Where I live there are a large number of Farangs (and Thai) receiving the both Agila and Panmarsat! The information received on these satellite are not specificially UBC channels!

Hi

If you live in Chiang Rai province you are just in the coverage of Agila satellite. It has all the best channels from UBC - including ESPN, Star movies, star world, discovery, history, geographic, hbo, AXN (new season of lost is playing), BBC, CNN etc etc

When you next go on your visa run to Tachilek, pop into a few of the electrical shops in Tachilek and pick up a GA Titanium satellite decoder, a dish and LNB all for about 3300 Baht.

When you get home grab your nearest satellite engineer and pay him about 500b to install the dish and point it to AGILA2KU satellite - its about 140 degrees east, - he will know (you should check that there arent any building in the way before you buy a set up)

You need to retune the decoder every 6 months when it is scrambled, your satelite engineer should be able to do this for you, if not take the decoder back to the shop in Tachilek and they will do this for you.

No Thai subtitles though, you do get 2 pornchannels too. The signal isnt great, it pixelates some times (for a few seconds every 10 mins or so).

Oh yeah, its free - no subscription

I better option is to go to J-Sat (Bangkok) or there are several providers in Chiang Mai such as Tech. Sat. They will provide you with a steerable option that will allow you access to Panmarsat (South Afician). In my view this is better than Agila (Philippines satellite). You will lose Agila in the rain. Panmarsat will work even in the heavest of rain. Also they can proved a second dish to downloadthe key codes. The latest option is E-box where you satellite decoder is connected permanentley to the internet for the downloads of the key codes. Let me know if you want more infomation. I have had my sytem installed now for a few months and it is certainly a better alternative to UBC. You will recoup you intial capital in 9 months

Nigel