buddhaland

Hi Folks -

I am leaving Thailand on Tuesday Oct. 7 (a week from tomorow - eek!), after being here for a year. I have already sold - or rather agreed to sell - my motorbike to someone, with the understanding that I would keep the bike till next Friday, when we would go to the Department of Land Transportation and formalize the deal - and I would turn the bike over to him. As the days count down, it is becoming clear that it would be better for me if I could keep it till the following Monday, as I will need the bike that weekend to take care of numerous last-second tasks.

But here's the thing - when I bought this motorbike in Krabi last November, from a Swedish/Thai couple, it turned out to be a complicated, multi-stage process that wound up taking two days and two separate trips from Ao Nang to complete. The Dept. of Land Transportation there told me I would need to go to immigration with the lease agreement from my landlord to obtain an official document that verified that I had an official Thai residence (they had already seen my Non-Immigrant B visa). I had a hand-written rental receipt on a sheet from one of those receipt pads you can buy anywhere - not good enough. I had to go through the realtor who rented me the house and get an official Lease Agreement, which finally got me the required proof of residence form to take to the Dept. of Land Management.

I have heard informally that the process is much simper and more streamlined here in Chiang Mai - I have the Green Book in my name, and the tax, license and insurance were all renewed in April. If it's true that it should be a quicker, simpler process to transfer title to the bike here, then I will wait till Monday. Otherwise I will initiate the process on Friday, to allow for any glitches. The buyer was very nice and flexible in agreeing to wait to take ownership of the bike on my departure, as we shook on the deal a few weeks ago. But naturally, no money will - or should - change hands till the bike is officially his.

I will probably go to the Dept. today or tomorrow, or call them - but anyone with experience with this type of transaction in Chiang Mai who can share their experience or offer advice, would be much appreciated!

Thanks in advance for your help........

Well, I have only myself to blame for letting this silliness get so far...especially with Meatboy. I'm actually embarrassed that I've just wasted so much time today acting like a petulant child on the third grade playground playing neener neener neener with a couple of the folks here.

There is an actual, factual, logical and legitimate answer to every one of Meatboy's points from his last post, but I am only willing to give time to the last one. My one year teaching visa expires in a few days, and I borrowed most of the money for my ticket home (with a 9 hour stopover in Dubai - cheapest ticket I could find, as it entails 36 hours travel time and two layovers) from a friend at home, and got the rest by eating a lot of ramen and living here practically rent free for quite a while, thanks to the kindness and compassion of the dog's owners.

So I will say La gorn krap and wish you all well......and leave you with what I hope is a helpful suggestion - I suggest that you check out the Siberian Husky Rescue of Florida, Inc. website - you can find some interesting information at www.siberrescue.com/huskyed5.html You might find it enlightening - I sure did, especially where Huskys (Huskies?) and heat are concerned..........(hint: I always wondered why our Husky absolutely loves to lie out in the middle of our driveway at midday on hot, sunny days!)

Blessings to you all - Michael

P.S. I will delete any further posts on this subject without opening them - so take a deep breath, relax, and go play with your dog!

Great response, Wayned - and I thought of the "remain silent" quote many times during this surreal exchange, and should have taken its advice rather than get dragged down into the mud - but then, I am just as capable of being a knucklehead as the next guy/gal.....

I have actually had many really kind, useful and well thought out posts with great advice, as I trust yours is. As for the rest..........thanks again for that quote! (I did specifically say that I contracted the skin disorder after - quite a while after - the housesitting assignment started. But Meatboy may be dyslexic, for which I certainly can't fault him.....) The dog's owners will be home and I will be in Dubai, and then Seattle, also in a few days - so there is no point in starting the course of shots now - but since the owners seem to be vacillating about whether (rightly or wrongly) to breed her again, your suggestion seems like an ideal solution. I will certainly mention it to them!

Cheers -

Michael

First, a big thank you to the poster who noted that I DO care about this wonderful animal. (Though like so many of the other posters, you are advocating that I get spayed a dog that belongs to someone else. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY WRONG, AND NOT MY PLACE TO DO. The best I can do is talk with her owners about this issue.)

Second, I am always curious about the fact that nearly all the incorrect, frivolous, sarcastic and ignorantly mean-spirited posts on Thaivisa are from people who have posted many thousands of times, which I think says volumes about how much time they have on their hands and how they choose to spend it. Some of the responses to my post are perfect cases in point, as they were based on literally dozens of incorrect assumptions from people who evidently want to help less than they want to hear themselves speak, with few - if any - facts on which to base their tirades.

My post is a perfect case in point. For the record, I am a 66 year old retired professional seaman, with severe chronic pain issues caused by cervical radiculopathy resulting from a bad fall I took in a storm in Antarctica when I was working for the Scripps Institution of Oceanography on one of their research vessels . Also, I am still recovering from a head-on collision in April between my motorbike and a passenger van. This accident, apart from further incapacitating me, also cost me my entire savings and my ability to work and earn an income - but fortunately for me, when I was selling off possessions to make ends meet, the lovely couple who bought my camera offered to rent me a room in their house for almost nothing, with the understanding that I would house-sit for them this month and care for one of their dogs while they were out or town. The responsibility was to be shared by me and one of our neighbors, such that I am responsible for the care, maintenance and security of the house, while the neighbor mows the lawn and takes care of the yard work. This neighbor actually asked if he could walk the dog, which was fine by me. We live in a gated community complex way out of town, where the norm is to let the many dogs here have the run of the place, unattended. This includes the dog for which I am caring. She is not leash-trained and really gives anyone who walks her on a lead a real workout! So I was more than pleased when our young, "husky" neighbor offered to help out in this way.

This was especially helpful as I am also at this point somewhat housebound (I was recently also diagnosed by a dermatologist at Chiang Mai Ram Hospital with a major skin condition, and he recommends that I avoid sun and sweating as much as possible). As a consequence, I spend most of every day at home with the dog, and we play chase-the-tennis-ball, we wrestle and tussle and I giver her lots of her favorite tummy-rubs - I brush out her coat daily, "spike" her normal kibbled dog food with bits of chicken, egg and sausage (on her owner's advice) to help with her poor appetite while in heat, and when she has to be in the yard I watch her as much as I practically can, chasing out that little mutt that sneaks in between the fence posts numerous times every day. I NEVER let her out of the yard unattended, as one of the more uninformed posters asserted, as if it were a fact (can I borrow your crystal ball sometime?).

Like most of the posters here, I completely disapprove of keeping a Siberian Husky in this climate - or leaving her un-spayed. But as many of the more sensible posters have said, this is not my decision to make. My responsibilities are only to see that she is fed, kept safe, and is given lots of attention, all of which I do, and take very seriously. Those who actually took the time to read my whole post know that almost the whole, long thing was about my feelings about seeing so many un-spayed and un-neutered dogs in Thailand. The last brief paragraph, where I asked for advice, was almost an afterthought. I wasn't distressed, worried or concerned for her health, having talked many times about this with one of her owners. But it is always sensible to get other opinions when one is responsible for the care and well-being of someone else's pet.

I am still reeling, though, from a couple of particularly arrogant and mean-spirited responses I received, stating, among other sarcastic comments with no basis in fact, that I only want to deal with the fun aspects of house-sitting, and not the inconveniences. Yes, Nienke, I much preferred to deal with the major water leak we had in our upstairs plumbing system than I did playing with and otherwise caring for the dog. Clearly, you know me so well that you can make such assertions with assurance. Such omniscience is clearly a gift.........

I have a friend here who has lived in Asia for 30 years and in Thailand for about eight. He won't go anywhere near ThaiVisa - and I can see why. The answers to the few questions I have posted here have turned out to be contradictory, often completely contradicting each other - and/or were just plain wrong, though invariably stated as fact.

But I do want to extend a sincere thank you to those of you who actually took the time to read my entire post, gave it some reasoned thought, and offered sound, non-judgemental advice. (Unlike several of you apparently think it is OK for me to get a purebred dog fixed on my own initiative, even though that dog belongs to someone else, as was clearly stated.) A special thanks to Media Watcher - who not only stated the obvious, that I can't have someone else's dog fixed, but offered a kick-ass suggestion - diapers. I don't know if they are available in Chiang Mai, but I am going to make some today. Great, very helpful idea! Many thanks, and my best wishes to all the rest of you who posted - may your lives all be filled with peace, happiness, love - and above all, truth.

Wishing you both peace, love and happiness.......always.

Thanks for the lecture, Nienke. Apparently you didn't read the last paragraph of my post. And though I didn't think of it at the time, perhaps by mentioning the dog by name, I was subconsciously hoping to reach out to her owners, who also happen to be my friends and housemates, with whom I have discussed this problem via Skype. (I just happen to think that part of being responsible means using every resource at your disposal - such as this forum - to solve a problem.) As for the rest - there are a multitude of facts about this particular situation you know nothing about, making your severe judgementalism nothing short of profound ignorance. BTW - I don't hide behind screen names. My name is Michael Gamble, I am an ESL teacher who is just about to end a year here. I don't think I can provide this kind of information on this forum, but I will be happy to provide you with my local phone number and my email address if you have any interest in actually having a civil dialogue - and learning the facts that would answer each of your angry, uninformed rants. And please do re-read the last paragraph of my post. Even if you actually knew what you were talking about, you can't browbeat and insult someone who asks for help and expect they will change. People respond much better to constructive criticism. Just a hopefully constructive suggestion............

Thanks for the deeply penetrating answer. I'm sure her owners would be thrilled. BTW - I frequently get replies from people like you who have thousands and thousands of posts. And they are most often the ones with frivolous, obnoxious, insulting or just plain stupid answers to people's serious questions. My suggestion - get a life.......and stay out of others' unless you actually have something to contribute.

Hi Folks - I have been living in Thailand for about a year now, and am currently house/dog sitting for friends in Chiang Mai. I have noticed over the course of this last year that many, many, basically unbreedabe male dogs are running or lying around with their cojones still attached. Obviously I couldn't tell with the females, or if there were any neutered males out there - but I really consider this a problem, especially now.

The dog I am dog-sitting for is a fairly young female purebred husky, who has been in heat for many days now. Her owners bought her thinking they would breed her, presumably for profit. She had one litter, and then they changed their mind, so she lives here now as a house pet. She detests being on a leash, but prefers to run free in our gated community as dozens of other dogs do here. That's great, most of the time - but not when there is an un-neutered husky who is hangs around almost 24/7, and many other all un-neutered male dogs hanging out as well. There is one ancient mutt with balls bigger than he is that can actually squeeze through our wrought iron fence to get at her, and often does. Thankfully, I think he would need a ladder or step-stool to do the deed with the husky!

But though one of the couple who live her is a farang, they don't seem particularly concerned. That leaves me mopping up bloody smears off the floor all day, and her behavior involves: no appetite, unless I spike her kibble with chicken bits or egg; and listlessness, broken up by lots of howling and yelping and a plaintive high-pitched wails at random but frequent times of the day, combined with wanting constantly to be let out and then right back in again. (Presumably she can sense the nearness of eligible bachelors when they are nearby but out of sight to me.)

The owners take good care of their dogs generally (one of them went with them on their trip) - they feed them well, give them plenty of exercise and affection, take them once a month to their vet for some kind of shot, etc. But even the other dog, which is a small, adorable mutt of unknown genetic makeup, is also unspayed, which makes no sense at all. I can almost see leaving the husky fertile, thinking they might change their minds about breeding.

Dutchy, the husky in question, has been yelping and howling the whole time I've been composing this message. I'm sure the neighbors love it - I'm convinced that my Russian next-door neighbor thinks I am a terrible dog-sitter - he took her out on her leash - once. The walk exhausted them both!

Anyway - there really is no question in here - unless someone can enlighten me as to why there are dozens of vets all over town, yet not much (if any) spaying and neutering going on!

Thanx!

Actually - I do have a question. I have had several dogs, but they were all fixed. Dutchy has been in heat now for about two weeks now, and everything described above - the bleeding, the lack of appetite, the odd and constant vocal behavior - has been going on the whole time. Is it possible that there is something else wrong going on here? Could she be ill? I'd like to take her to the vet to find out, but have only a motorbike that's not much bigger than Dutchy is! I may call one today, but if anyone out there has any insights, they will be appreciated!

Hi folks - I am moving back to the U.S. in October after a year in Thailand, and will have a little over $3,000.00 in baht in cash when I close out my local bank account. I don't currently have an active U.S. bank account, but of course will open one as soon as I arrive back in the States. Am I better off changing baht to dollars here before I fly out - or at a bank or Thomas Cook in the States? Thanks for your help - it's been a great year here - but time to get back to "reality"! I am on Social Security and live on a fairly limited income, so don't want to lose any more of it than I have to when changing money......

Anyone happen to know a name - or more importantly a phone number - for the Yamaha motorbike dealership/repair facility on the north side of 106 in the San Kamphaeng/Bo Sang area? Thanks!

Anyone happen to know a name - or more importantly a phone number - for the Yamaha motorbike dealership/repair facility on the north side of 106 in the San Kamphaeng/Bo Sang area? Thanks!

I have a 2010 Yamaha Mio 125 with a tad over 20,000 kilometers on it. It generally looks nice for its age, and I plan to detail it (buff out the oxidation in the plastic parts, polish the rims, etc. The muffler, though it still does the job, looks rusty and grungy - would replacing it raise the value of the bike enough to justify the expense?

Thanks in advance for any thoughts on this!

I have a 2010 Yamaha Mio 125 with 20,000 kilometers on it. It's been in a couple minor scrapes, but is in perfect running order and overall looks very nice. the muffler could probably stand replacing though - and I'm thinking of getting it detailed, or detailing it myself. I haven't priced mufflers yet - the old one still works fine, but looks pretty funky. Will it be worth it to put much time and money in this bike or will it help enough with the sale price to make it worthwhile? Thanks in advance for any help you all can provide.

I am also a fan - used to be with the "yellow" bank and had nothing but problems. Their ATM ate my Social Security debit card and was told that the machine automatically destroyed it. I can still scarcely believe that's legal! Were it not for a sizeable loan from friends at home, I would have had to go a month or more with no social security payment. I switched to Bankok Bank, and they have just been the best - unfailingly helpful, many English speaking employees, and they are the only Thai bank that can receive my Soc. Security direct deposits. I truly can't see why an American in Thailand would bank anywhere else!

My one year visa is up soon and I am heading back to the States in early October. I should have gotten on this sooner, but I would like to have a broken molar extracted and have an upper bridge made to fill in for 4 missing teeth. I live in the Sankhampaeng area, but will travel wherever within reason to visit a competent, reasonably priced dentist. Any suggestions based on your experience would be much appreciated. I understand that many hospitals have dentists on staff - how do these generally compare skill- and price-wise?
Thanks in advance for any help!

I live in the Bo Sang area, and don't want to ride any farther than I have to without that all-important mirror for my Yamaha Mio 125. I am pretty new to the area, so directions would be a big help also, if you know of a place I can go to in this area. Many thanks in advance for your help!

I am going to be doing some business at the east end of the night market area soon and also need to print and send some documents, but haven't yet spotted an internet cafe in that area. I just moved here from Ao Nang, where you can't swing a stick without hitting at least three of them - but though I have walked around that night market neighborhood quite a bit, I haven't seen one yet. Anyone know the whereabouts of one in that area? thanks!

Anyone know where I can pick up a meditation cushion? Doesn't much matter which kind (zafu, gomden, etc.). Thanks!

I neglected to mention in my initial post that my condo is on the fourth floor of an 8 story condo tower. I reckon that negates a lot of the good advice you folks have provided. Any particular insights now that you know that I am quite high off the ground? Otherwise, I think I will go the snake route. Thanks so much, though, for all your help!

Recently, my toilet has started backing up frequently. I don't flush any paper products down the toilet, but the problem keeps getting worse. Even this condo's ancient plunger isn't working any more. I think only a plumber's snake will do the trick - anyone know of a hardware or other store in my area that would have one for sale? I live on highway 118 (the road to Chiang Rai) just past the intersection with Ring Road 2. Many thanks!

Thanks all - I just went crew cut last year, and it is just the thing for this climate. Glad to know the clippers are out there - I was having visions of developing the Duck Dynasty look without intending to. Or of having said clippers shipped from Seattle! Big help, all.....

When I moved here from the States last year, I brought my old workhorse hair trimmer set. It has a rechargeable, with a number of different heads - a hair clipper with adjustments for different short hair and beard lengths, a mini-shaver attachment and a nose and ear hair trimmer. This particular one is a Philips Norelco, and is my first choice - but it is giving up the giving up the ghost, and I need to replace it. I have been to numerous drug stores (where they are most often found in the States), barbers and beauty shops, etc. at the large malls and elsewhere, but have had no luck finding one. In a few days I am going to go from well groomed to shaggy if I can't find a replacement. Anybody seen what I am describing for sale anywhere here in Chiang Mai? With the plethora of things to be found here, it's hard to believe that one of these isn't available somewhere. I just moved here from Krabi, so as detailed coordinates as possible would be much appreciated! Many thanx.....

I just moved here from Ao Nang and in the short time I have been here have encountered a number of personal financial setbacks, from a motorbike accident followed by a stay in the hospital, to being unemployed at the moment (I am an ESL teacher who left a job in Krabi to relocate here - and without my motorbike I have yet to find work. I also may need to go back home to Seattle due to a family emergency. I have advertised my gear (a Nikon D80, and lots of professional grade lenses and accessories), in all the usual places - Craigslist, Facebook's Chiang Mai buy/sell/trade groups, etc. - and will give it some time. But at some point I may have to resort to selling to a camera shop that purchases such gear. I am hoping someone can share with me from their experience which businesses might give me the fairest price for my gear. Thanks so much for your help!

I spent the last six months in Ao Nang. The whole time I was there I had a Nikon D80 with several top-of-the-line lenses and numerous accessories for sale - I started wide with Craig's List, and had two nibbles - then went principally through a couple Facebook groups devoted to buy/sell/trade, with no response whatsoever. I think it may have been the wrong market - too many transients and not enough permanent ex-pats.

Now that I am here in Chiang Mai, probably till November, I have placed ads in similar Facebook groups, as well as having left the craigslist ad up. The asking price is already cheap - one brand new lens, barely used and still under warranty, is worth roughly the asking price for the whole package i am offering. I still have hopes of selling my gear through these private channels or any others local Chiang Mai types can suggest. But since moving here I have been in a motor accident, spent time in hospital, and though I came up here to look for another ESL teaching job, I have yet to get back to work. So now selling the gear is imperative, even if I have to take less than a private sale would yield. (Though if anyone reading this is interested, I can provide technical details and photos of all the gear.)

I have googled some promising looking businesses, but my motorbike is still in the shop, so it is a hassle to travel all over town looking for the best deal, Any suggestions of places you have had experience with or have heard good things about will be much appreciated!

I would also consider trading for an iPad, which I could use for teaching.