chingmai331

My poverty stricken friend wants to buy a 2nd hand shipping container, aka, in USA a semi-trailer but without wheels.  I guess the sort of thing loaded onto the giant sea vessels: steel boxes with big doors on one end.  She would 'install' this thing on her tiny plot of land, make needed mods and move in.  She hopes to save at least half the cost of building a new small house.

Does anyone here have any experience with such a 'house'?  How to evaluate the box before purchase, how best to support on the land, interior walls, exterior protection from sun...the list of Qs could go on and on.

So help me out here.  Good idea or rubbish?  Don't forget she's paying 5K baht per month rent now and will be forever, if she has no house of her own.

Started my project.  OMG, i'm already over my head.  The sewing machine i bought cheap is 'computer sewing' so once i opened the thing up, wires and chips galore.  Very unlike the old mechanical clunker i have.  But, the new thing more or less, sews the same way.  Thread tension, internal arms and gears, dog feed, etc but probably various stitch control functions computerized.  Lots to learn for me.

And yes, 100 V.  I may need to use a voltage controller to control the computer part, but not the sewing part.  

Transit visa fees at Thai border?  That would make sense and if farang, double the fee!

It's an opium laden pipe-dream to think that any farang can exert any influence or pressure on Thai govt operations. 

Farangs are not paying customers, as in a hotel, but rather tolerated guests who must conform to Thai rules or find another, more welcoming, land to live in.

We may moan in public  over some aspects of life here which are not to the farang's liking, but there is no evidence of change.

Salsa Kitchen: food OK, ambiance poor, sterile and loud.

I hope you are not talking to me.  And IMO, many of those at the door today were casual folks here on holiday, or such.  Most of those think only of in-person Immigration.

Even many long timers do not use the online or mail-in 90 day reports. They go to the office and get it done.  And usually fast.  

Just now the high season and big crowds.

Certainly some folks turned away today who had waited hours in the outside queue.  Confusion and big crowds.  I blame new admin (was better with big Joke), and many chinese unwilling to go home now so they want to extend. 

And would be helpful (Immig probably doesn't care) but some sorting outside into various queues, (short term, long term, 90 day, tourist extend) might speed things along since now all Immig needs wait in one line; today down the steps and around the corner.

One unhappy sight was very old farang lady, seemed comatose, in a wheelchair pushed by helpers. Seemed criminal to make her wait for a number, but wait they did.  

I checked the Lazada url and i never knew so many sewing machine parts available.  Thank you for that.

That's what i will do, change motors.  Since i already have an even older sewing machine with motor attached i'll simply !! swap out when needed. It's only a casual hobby idea which may prove useful or educational and the machine was cheap.

Retired gentlemen, like myself, need something to keep brain and hands working or go bonkers.  It may take months to get going, but that's the advantage of 'retirement': all the time in the world.

I bought a 2nd hand japanese made sewing machine 110V.  Now i need to convert to from local 220v down to 110v.

Amorn shop had a big one for 2500baht, way over my budget but it did go both ways, up/down.  I note Lazada has many but some are no name, travel gadgets, low wattage etc.

I need min 200 watts. 

Any info on these and is Lazada the best source?

If the alcohol in gasohol is causing rubber ring problems, what merit in adding more alcohol as HEET? I want to keep the alcohol, and water, out of my system.

Agree that if this cruise ship carried Chinese tourists, the ship would be welcomed to Thailand.

A decree some days ago (which cannot be refuted, denied or even discussed by any Thai) was issued welcoming all Chinese to Thailand. The decree mentioned no other nationality. 

You may recall that certain Ministries argued both for and against welcoming Chinese, but suddenly all discussion STOPPED. Case solved: must welcome.

Here in CM, i've never found a Caltex with benzine.  A few years back  some  Susco stations had benzine. Now only a very few PTT seem to carry it.

Found one PTT near MaeJo univ still selling.

If anyone knows of benzine for sale in CM, plz inform us here.

thanks.

I do wonder if Thai govt will ban it.

And then what shall i do to counteract the effects of alcohol in my fuel?

3500 km from S'pore to Wuhan.  Not exactly next door.  

And racism usually implies 'superiority' in your own race.  I certainly don't think white folk are 'superior' to yellow folk, but white folk don't generally eat bats and get sick.

Anyone getting hassled about providing a 'long term' housing lease by Immig?

I was told last year when applying for extension to O visa that lease was required, yet i do not find anyone on these pages needing to show a lease to IO.

The lease was, in a sense, bogus coz i could cancel the lease anytime without penalty. Immig continues to be a microcosm of Thailand: my desk, my rules!

Got to go!  Friday/Saturday/Sunday. The entire area around Suan Haad Park (SW corner of moat) will be devoted to lovely flowers, delicious local foods, handicrafts, pedestrian only roadways, etc.

Saturday the big parade starting at 8am, at the River, then to Tha Pae gate and along the moat road to the park.  Marching bands, colorful floats, beautiful Thai maidens decorating the floats, including MISS Chiang Mai. 

Weather always good, and if cool, the flowers  bloom even longer.

And just a reminder that Sunday (also maybe Saturday) is a Thai Holy Day, so no alcohol sold by big shops; do check your nearby 'mom/pop' shop for beer.

More info here

https://www.chiangmaitravelhub.com/events/chiang-mai-flower-festival/

Metal bottles may get stopped at every airport.  I suggest a plastic bottle, with a wide mouth for ice cubes, which formerly held fruit juice, not water.

Water bottles are the very cheapest and thinnest plastic possible.

Juice bottles made to take boiling juice and are much stronger.  Mine have lasted years.

I esp like the cone shaped top to slide into the backpack easily.

Cheers, Bob.

Yeah, 90 mins of non-stop action.  What's the final score?  Nil vs nil.  A super game!   555

Don't think treatments for 'advanced lung cancer' will amount to much.  At that stage, it's the end game.

I always thought he appealed to racists, homophobes, women haters, and similar others.  I listened twice, then never again.

I hope he does not get too many 'get well soon' cards, but rather 'good riddance' flowers.

If my one year non-o visa extension expires on 1 march, how many days prior to that date can i re-apply?

thnx, but plz no guesses or maybes.  

Cycling hard and breathing heavy- masks are not pleasant. 

Let me ask, when do you guys NOT wear the mask?  Shower, sleep, sex, eat, drink, smoke?

Plz stop ur moaning.  It was a good game, sorry you missed all the action. 

Sure, cricket is great for the aged crowd who can hardly walk any more.  Sitting in the arm chair for 5 bloody days watching the test match...how good is that for beer swilling.

The park, Suan Hard,  is closed for reno until the Festival. Festival First day Thursday, 6 Feb.  Big parade thru town on Saturday.