sean in udon

You plugged something which is suppose to run on 110v into a 220v supply didn't you ? silly boy ?

The reason your laptop charger, mobile charger and some other devices work ok, is their design. They are made to adjust to the incoming voltage. Take a look and you should find something like 'input voltage 110v - 250v'.

From a manufacturing perspective it makes life easy. Mobiles and laptops are sold worldwide. Making a one size fits all charger is, overall, the cheapest option.

Some devices are made and marketed specifically in their country of origin. Why bother with the expense of making it worldwide voltage compatible?

Hopefully you realise now that you should always check the label before you plug any device into a foreign mains socket.

Take a look at your flat screen TV. You'll probably find the same '110v - 250v'

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I challenge you to find a scientific link between Alcohol and violence.

Alcohol is implicated in many violent incidents, but by no means all drunks are violent, added to which there are wide cultural variations in the occurrence of violence where alcohol use is present - There is no scientific explanation or positive link between consuming alcohol and violence has been proven.

The mechanism between consuming alcohol and violence has not be found.

If you find it, let the scientific community know.

Have no scientific evidence, but plenty of anecdotal evidence.

I worked in the night club industry for 12 years. Clubs that serve alcohol have a problem with violence.

Clubs that serve alcohol but play rave style music, tend to have minimal problems with violence. Most of the customers are too loved up to care about fighting and a good proportion of drink sales are non-alcoholic.

Ask any bobby, or a&e staff if they think there is a link between alcohol and violence. They won't have any scientific evidence, but I guarantee you'll have anecdotal evidence up to your ears.

Try a google search for 'wife beater beer' or Stella Artois as it's officially known.

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Have posted this info previously, but it seems appropriate here as well.

Came through November 2013 with 2 like new laptops, 3 mobiles (2 in suitcase, 1 in my pocket, electric toothbrush, PC speakers and a 2 month old 3 tier steamer for veggies.

Had no problems/no questions asked in UK or Thailand.

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The Glock seems a little extreme.

Salt in the face seems like a good option. If it gets eyes, nose or mouth I think you are guaranteed a safe ride and a very distracted dog.

Best non-aggressive option I can offer is treat them. Had a similar problem with 2 dogs yapping and chasing. For the best and quickest result, stop the bike and toss the treat to them. They may not instantly realise what's happening 'cos Thai dogs are usually treated like sh*t.

But they'll soon get the idea.

You may find they still come after you on your bike, but happily not nastily. Hoping to get a bit more.

If you go for the stop option, try and stop wherever the dogs normally rest. They'll get used to that as well and usually wait for you.

If it works, everyone's a winner. No jail time, happy cyclist and happy dogs.

Treats I use are chicken flavoured, cost 99 baht from tesco and I break them in half.

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Apology appreciated and graciously accepted.

I think we're on the same page where religion is concerned.

Could you provide a link for the Burmese flower children that you mentioned? I've searched with a few combinations of words but can't find anything.

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The bible, or good book, does seem like a good topic for a new thread. Plenty of for and against.

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We're getting off topic a little here, but I wasn't cherry picking. Simply providing some information to a fellow TVF member.

I think your comment infers that I'm pro Christ/Christianity/the bible.

I'm no bible basher but was, unfortunately, raised catholic. As I got older and wiser, I made it a point to educate myself thoroughly about the bible. 'Know your enemy' is too strong a phrase for how I feel about religion, but is accurate to a good degree.

I enjoy a good debate when I'm well equipped with facts. The Jehovah's stopped coming to my house because I was always happy to 'discuss' with them and pull their interpretation of the bible to pieces. On one occasion the Jehovah 'discussing' with me got quite agitated and started raising his voice. One of his superiors stepped in and apologised.

The converted trying to change the views of the unconvertible is a waste of time and energy. The reverse is not always true.

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That's a fantastic link. Thank you.

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Can anyone please point to any verse in the bible where Christ made any remarks about gay people.

Gives various versions. My 'schooling' was with the King James Bible:

Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.

EDIT: Didn't read your question properly. Leviticus is bible old testament. I don't believe the bible has anything about Christ commenting on gay people.

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Josh88, how did you get on with your search for the Olympic bar and weights?

I will be starting a similar search soon.

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Hi all,

Have read and read and read, now it's time to start doing.

TVF has prepped me well for my venture into the world of frogs, but

Is there anybody with a frog farm near Udon Thani that could spare a little time so I can see a 'live' farm?

I'm in Kut Chap.

Any tips or tricks that you can throw in would also be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Irrelevant again. Nothing to do with Uganda.

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LOL.

Your 2 posts, in response to my posts, also have nothing to do with Uganda.

Can you see the irony?

Or too many dots again.....?

These may get deleted as irrelevant, but I am enjoying this.

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So protest about that on another thread. This one has zilch to do with Guatmo.

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I don't feel the need to start a protest thread about Guantanamo Bay.

My post included a quote from the White House which referenced human rights. My inclusion of Guantanamo Bay also referenced human rights.

This was to make it nice and easy to join the dots together, but for some, it would appear, still too many dots......

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Every 4 years it's the same story.

We've got a great line up this time. We're in with a chance.

Then, when England lose and sooner or later, get kicked out of the running, everybodies surprised and want the manager fired, the coach fired, etc.

Be realistic, if England make it to the final in any World Cup it's a miracle. As for winning......

When was the last time England won the World Cup?

How many times has England won the World Cup since it's inception?

Come on, be realistic.

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The legislation "runs counter to universal human rights and complicates our bilateral relationship," the White House said, renewing calls for the law to be repealed.

I don't like Uganda's new law on gays.

I don't like the bible 'cos it's a joke (everything created in 6 days and God has a day off - yeah, right).

Although the parables of Jesus making interesting stories for kids and when I was a kid, the Hollywood movie interpretations of biblical stories were awesome.

I don't like the koran because I'm an infidel.

And as for the White House bleating about human rights, IMO that is a particularly sick joke. Guantanamo Bay is one of the most public abuses of human rights by any nation.

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Very grateful for all the info on this thread.

Similar situation. Local shop sold me a chainsaw with no mention of any legal requirement for permits.

Locals see me using it and say be careful as I may have problem. Search on TVF brought me here.

The English speaking guy in the shop is very helpful, looks after me and we have a good 'relationship'. He's worth more to me than the money I paid for the chainsaw.

Spoke to him today and he's still got the impression that up to 12" is ok.

Don't want to upset him by kicking up a stink. But not happy with the situation he's put me in. So went for scare tactics.

Told him I'd phoned the forestry commission, explained what the new laws are and then told him that they demanded to know where I bought the chainsaw - and that I'd told them.

His jaw literally dropped. I can't say the look on his face was priceless, but it was a picture.

Then told him I wouldn't do that to him and I'd hung up when they asked. He couldn't thank me enough.

Hopefully, I've got a string of favours coming my way.

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I would also be very interested to hear the answers to this topic.

I would like to have a gun, but not to shoot people, burglars or not.

Just want to use it on the bloody dogs that they won't let me sleep all night, barking and howling and barking and howling.......going mad soon

How about a paint ball gun?

Farang neighbour was having a whinge about a similar situation and voiced his thoughts about getting a paintball gun. Quick search on the internet and we found rubber balls with no paint.

He's very tempted.

Next trip back to blighty and I might bring one for him. Or are they available here?

PS Although we are on the same street, he's on a corner where the dogs like to get together and howl. Hundred yards away I can hear it, but nothing like the volume he gets.

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I don't think its Thailand per se, there seems to be large numbers of farangs living in Thailand who would be whinging irrespective of were they lived, they are not happy unless they are complaining, they are just miserable ba@tards

Was just going to read tonight and not bother posting, but your comment nudged a brain cell. When I lived in Turkey, there were quite a few whinging ex-pats around.

They seemed to spend quite a bit of time drinking in bars.

With reference to the op's question, I don't recall any particular bias. They moaned about everything, not just the Turks and/or Turkey.

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One of the daughters of my host family in Thailand 'bought' a car on finance as she is the most credit worthy.

She has no driving licence.

I was driving the car when a dog decided to play chicken and lost. Did a stupid amount of damage under the wheel arch and attached panels.

No questions whatsoever about her drivers licence at any time - finance company, main dealer and insurance company.

Insurance company took pictures of my licence before assessing the claim.

Insurance company then paid the bill no problem.

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PTP lied 3 times before house dissolution that they had the money in budget to pay the farmers up until February 2014. They lied.

PTP promised 4 times after house dissolution that the farmers would be paid. 4 broken promises later they were still not paid.

General Prayuth promised they would all be paid by the end of June. Actions speak louder than words.

I do not care what anyone says. The PTP said they had the money in budget 3 times when they knew they didn't. They made a promise that irrespective of why the farmers were not paid the promise should not have been made. Do not make a promise unless you can follow through with it. That is called holding the population in contempt.

The road to democracy is steaming along swimmingly. The farmers are happy and they have money to pay for food, education for the kids and a life style albeit one that is still bordering on the poverty line. Though with the new initiatives under the democracy restoration team this "poverty line" will be no longer after they empower the farmers to reduce production costs.

Can't ague with progress which has been sadly missing for 3 years.

I have to ask you: why was no money available when PTP was in power and suddenly "a miracle occurs" and the money is made available?

Sounds like selective guarantors to me...

Generally, people with common sense and businesses with good business sense, tend to avoid lending money to anybody who repeatedly lies.

Back to the farmers. Fantastic news for them. Anybody know if the main stream international press are sharing this news?

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What about the practical driving test?

Shouldn't that be reformed to enhance driver capability?

One step at a time.

From the op:

'Of more than 200 to take the test Monday in Chiang Mai, fewer than one-in-10 managed to pass, according to the Bangkok Post.'

Can you imagine what the overall pass rate would be if they toughened up the practical at the same time.

If a reformed practical had the same pass rate, overall, less than 1-in-100 would pass.

Did I say one step at a time? Forget it, that's the kind of pass rate this country needs.

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Thanks for all the sensible replies.

Thanks Ladysquare.

Your info sent me in a new direction and led me to the following links which may be beneficial to others as they're in English:

http://www.windowonphuket.com/features_property_phuket/legal-matters-81.htm

http://www.thailegal.co.th/articles.php?no=00035

Particularly like the second link and am going to pursue the suggestion of having the rights mentioned, registered against the land.

This being Thailand, I have had a mixed response. Had a farang friend phone a Thai lawyer and explain my situation. Response - cannot work on the land at present.

Had a Thai friend phone a Thai Lawyer, who said I can work on the land as it would not be considered business premises. The same Thai friend phoned immigration in Udon, explained the situation and they said no problem.

Armed with this information and the comments from falang07, kunPer, ericthai, wotamess, Suradit69 and Mario2008 I'm back in my happy bubble.

So, screw it, I'm pottering.

I didn't mention this in my first post, but during the conversation, the fellow farang stressed 3 times that he wouldn't be phoning immigration 'but you never know who might'. And gave assurances that he wasn't bothered that I was 'working'. My original concern was exacerbated somewhat as 'I think thou doth protest too much'.

Justanotherpassword, not come across the 'coffee ring' scenario yet, but, sadly, it'll only be a matter of time.

Problem I have at present, is nothing in writing to say this will be my home.

It feels a bit grey. Yes, the locals know I'm going to live there and the builders know I'm paying the bills, but would that be sufficient should immigration come knocking?

I was blissfully ignorant of any curtain twitching until now.

In the UK I would phone the relevant authorities and discuss the situation directly.

Unfortunately, not so straightforward here. But it may come down to taking a trip into Udon, with family and translator, and having a discussion with immigration.

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As the dust is settling, thoughts are occurring.

Would being on a retirement visa make any difference? Would a marriage visa make any difference?

Not sure which forum is appropriate for this, so I'll start here and mods feel free to move.

I'm in Thailand on an education visa. I'm residing with a Thai family. Have funded the purchase of some land and am having a house built on the land.

I've been quite happily pottering about on the land, planting banana trees, pineapple, water melon. Drainage ditch was blocked, so I dug it out.

Bubble got burst today. A fellow farang advised that i shouldn't be 'working' on the land. He suggested that if someone told immigration, I could be in a bit of poo.

Having researched a little, I believe that my pottering would be considered working, so I now need to find a way to be on the right side of the law.

I'm a little peeved as I do find pottering quite relaxing.

What are my options? The house won't be habitable for at least 2 months and is therefore not currently my home.

What are the legalities once I am living there? Can I work on the land or would that also be considered working illegally?

If I lease the land and house, even on a short term lease (1 or 2 years) would I then be ok to resume pottering?

I'm also a little confused about ownership. I understand that land can never be owned by me, but can I own the house in my name? If yes, would that help with this situation?

Or is this going to be one of the lovely grey areas that Thailand has. Depends on the immigration officer and which way the wind is blowing?