Teak

If you are going to have chickens for eggs you know you do not necessarily need a rooster for eggs....just for future chicks. Without a rooster and you have say...6 chickens they will fix upon you as the 'rooster' and become more like egg laying pets.

When bees swarm they are engorged with honey and cannot (generally) sting . Create a smoker of some sort and engulf them with dry/cool grass smoke. The queen is inside the group. Have a  a temporary cardboard box  and a lid. Take off the lid and place below the swarm. Give the swarm a single hard downward 'dump' and they will fall en mass into the box, literally like raisins. Cover the lid . Move to a new location and remove lid off the box. They will eventually leave. If you are a little apprehensive put on a large round hat and drape some mosquito netting around yourself, being sure to tuck it into your pants. They are not dangerous at this point. remember lots of smoke first. I have known people to do this naked except where hair may trap an errant bee. I tend to use a bit of mosquito netting around a broad brimmed hat and bare hands. Quite exciting to do.

Dragon Air (Cathay) direct to Hong Kong.

Certainly by temptations....

I had one about 10 inches crawl over my legs while asleep. Thought I was dreaming so went back to sleep. In the morning as I stood up it fell out on the floor. Tiny ex wife body checked me out of the way and in a flash had chopped it to pieces. Thais really don't like them.

I do have a definite bias towards teak....but, I suggest you consider teak as a countertop/butcher block. I have made both for myself and they have stood up well over a dozen years. Yes, teak is a 'soft' hardwood, but the inherent oils and waxes stop the penetrations of accumulated liquids/bacteria into the end grain. The Thais also know how to work with it to some extent. Cut the teak into cubes, end grain up, and use a high quality epoxy resin as an adhesive. What the Thai builder may need to know is that the teak cubes must be cleaned with a solvent like methyl hydrate prior to applying the epoxy resin. This will strip the natural teak oils on the surface to create a long lasting bond. For any such wood project make sure the moisture content is at approximately 10% to avoid cracking,

 Padauk (mai pradoo) would be my second choice of local wood as it is often very tight grained. Meranti from Malaysia/Philippines is available but often loose grained and will absorb bacteria. Dark Red Meranti (a shorea species) is the hardest of the 'Philippine mahoganies'  Eastern hard Maple is, of course, an ideal butcher block wood.

Dr. Pairat, can also prescribe methadone for those intending to slow down their  'self medication' or attempt abstinence. 

When you stop being an official tourist and live here you should always have some form of back up. Your wife (if from CM area) has connections with Thai family men who always know some tough guys. Throw a small party and show strength of back up. 4 Thai men with tattoos should suffice. Good food and drink...just a pleasant time for your guests and a few baht in their pocket.There should not be a further problem with some Foreigner unless he really needs a serious tune up. All your kids see is their folks having a party with some new 'interesting' friends. Let your wife control the situation with the Thai guests through her family.

Years ago....there was a tourist who stopped off at that nice stretch of forest near the elephant camp on the way up to Chiang Dao.

He went into the bush where he set up his tent for the night. Unfortunately, this was an area where the elephant camp had turned out a bull in musth. Apparently the camper's light inside the tent set it aglow, which enraged the bull and he literally stomped the light out. The tourist died.

17 hours ago, elektrified said:

That's good news for the plaintiff. Justice was served. But I don't understand why every time you provide updates, that you always include this old chestnut "a Shinawatra was in power at the time".  It's really quite odd.

When shot by a policeman it is best to go to court when the military runs the country.

When shot by a soldier it is best to go to court when a former policeman runs the country.

I believe their rivalry is well known. I remember years ago (late '80's) when police in Chiengmai arrested a soldier for some misbehaviour and was held in a police box.If I remember correctly, fellow soldiers stormed the police box, saved their buddy and blew a wall off the side of the building as a warning.

40 years old with $300 grand to worry about ?

Okay, marry the first bargirl you meet and build her a house in Issan. Easy, now you needn't worry about the 300 grand.

If by chance you resist marring and building that house for your  'namphung' (honey) ...You are still only 40 something and you NEED to be doing something ! I stopped at 38 and spent the better part of ten years building up a small 'back to the land cottage...up past Chieng Dao. Country living at its best, except people go to bed at 8 pm and up at 5. Chiengmai was still wide open then, so every 10 days I went to town, but, after two nights it really gets down to being boring. both in the country and the city...if you do not have a "project". Drinking and whoring works for the first few years. Now, CM is polluted, crowded and just boringly unpleasant. I can see that it provides stability for people who were bureaucrats in their home countries. You are at your best between 38 and 55. I am now 65 and should have used my 40's more creatively. It was lots of fun though.....but, I could have done all I did then....now at 65...with the old man's dole.

And the present political situations does not give any assurance to security over the long haul in Thailand. for tourists...and retirement visas are just enhanced tourist visas.

My advice quit your job, dare to be great.......but, be smart about it ;-)    Yeah....there is always a catch  ;-(

There was an English library at cm unîversity. I used to cruise it to meet young women as well as attractive ajarns. yes, and to read books !

Of course, young men on motorbikes the world over are a hazard in many situations. I have logged thousand of kilometers in Thailand both during mid youth and older and of course seen far too many chalk lines drawn around where a body once lay. However, when it comes to young Thais who are on their game, have incredible eye hand coordination. Going 100 kmph between cars coming and going with the bike mirrors mere inches from the oncoming car and the car they are passing. Most of us would say that is some dumb (foolish)....but, damn, also skillfully impressive.

Last winter I was stuck (on a scooter) in traffic alongside a Thai gang on Huey Kaeo on big bikes called the Necromancers. That is a big word also. Theses are big bikes with short legged people going slow. One tipped over against a car, than another, than another. Fortunately it did not matter which side they tipped over as there was a car on either side to keep them part way up. It was embarrassing. They ride with their faces covered, but posted a You Tube video partying with their masks off. Yep, still Thais.  

# 2 ex said once.. "want to but USD for .75 per dollar? "  Ahhh..."how can this be?  " She said they are fakes, but good  quality fakes, and accepted at  $1.00 USD.

It is a piece of paper....if it looks good you get your cao neeow.. If not, no rice today for you. The trader just has to feel confident that he can pass it on.

     ...Ken

Some of you may remember a young Canadian woman Carly Reisig, who was shot by a cop in Pai some 8 or 9 years ago. The cop killed the boyfriend and shot Carly in the chest. Why or how is irrelevant. The Pai cops tried to cover it up, but unfortunately for them , this same cop later killed his own young wife…. and confessed to all shootings. He was sentenced to 30 odd years. I have met Carley a few times recently and she is suing the Thai Police Force due to their lies and intentional coverup. She has gone to court over 9 times. The cops admit guilt and the judge has ordered a settlement. This progressed and then the Thai police refused to negotiate. Carly will be back in court in Bangkok during this first week in August. Three final court days have been slated for this settlement hearing. There is no love lost between the two powers…and a Shinawattra was in power at the time.

From what I understand, the BIB are being told to close down shops and it is up to their discretion which ones. Up North of CM you now really have to ask around to find them. Availability of inexpensive prostitution lessens the number of rapes.30 years ago in Chieng Dao it was 100B for a woman, not to pretty (farmer value) 200B for a pretty enough lass (successful farmer) . For 300 B you went to Rim Doi Resort (Muang Ngai). Ran by the army and where Thai/ Burmese and associated militias would meet to negotiate. As a White guy...only in the daytime. Someone mentioned 30 years ago and the Karen Hut. A few sois away from the Las Vegas was a hole in the wall that had a girl (probably Thai Yai) with a chain on her foot and a number of Thais waiting. The old Jungle Food restaurant in CM had a live bear in a cage and on the menu. Some things have changed for the better. However, there are still some very odd things occurring now in the mountains not too far from CM.

Old story, true story. I was drinking in a bamboo hut with a Thai, a Hmong and two Lisu. The Thai said that White women were most beautiful. I said I thought Lisu women were more beautiful. The Hmong said no it was Thai women.....

I am now closing in on 65 yrs and have more young women approach me than ever in my life. Caucasians and Asians, 20 odd year olds. It was a sad realization...but, soon realized they simply thought me 'safe' like an old uncle. Certainly a blow to my ego :-(

The "mot daeng' have their purpose. Bad village boys would be occasionally tied to a tree where the 'mot daeng' were present and left there. The other bad boys would quickly repent their poor behaviour and the village would be peaceful again....Ken

Can anybody recommend an honest bargirl in Chiang Mai?   Yeah, sounds silly.  I knew Shiraz and he would sometimes give me advice. One time I arrived with a handfull of cut stones 'from Burma'. He had a good look at each one and said "how much did you pay?" I puffed out my chest and said 400 baht each. He said "well done, they are worth at least 600 baht each !  I had miscalculated my expected profit. He then told me how they were made in France in long rods and then cut, machine faceted, sent to SE Asia to be sold to tourists. He told me I could definitely make a 200 Baht profit selling in CM.. Decide on the stone you want and do some research. Ruby is actually one of the easier to authentic. Buy a 10 power magnifier and look inside the stone for the 'silk' You will see the silk like 'fibres , if it is a ruby. Now, another story....I took some rough rubies once to Shiraz and he had a good look at them "congratulations, genuine ruby."  Then he says " unfortunately, they are not attractive."  How much did you pay ?  .......... he said "too much."    ...Ken

There is a growing Thai craft beer market. Some excellent IPA's 

Great place in Chiang Dao. English sign.

Not cheap, just high quality beer and good food also.

I have been riding motorcycles here since '89, primarily back and forth from the Chieng Dao area. I believe that the Thai drivers are far better now than they used to be. There was a time when we all were forced to accept 'might is right' or get run down. Remember the honking and flashing lights signifying to get off your side of the road, because a Benz, or bus or simply a vehicle larger than a motorcycle was in an oncoming passing frame of mind? There is far less of that now. At U turns  a car will actually wait for the one motorcycle to pass by before turning. I suppose in one way it IS more dangerous now, as we used to never trust ANY vehicle to not have us literally in their headlights. Now, there is a mix of good and bad drivers. I would guess the Thais are 75 percent better drivers then they used to be, However, they do drive faster and there sure is a lot more cars. It seems one has to get past Mae Malai (Mae Taeng) area before the traffic thins out and a rider can relax a bit.

As to the water throwing at motorcycles, this is not new. In the early 90's I had a 5 year old boy sitting on the tank in front of me with the Mom behind. While approaching Mae Rim at 40 kph we had a bucket of ice water thrown at us head on. The 5 year old got hit directly in the chest and face. He was in shock for about 3 hours.

The water throwers were two young teenage boys....not malicious, I expect. Just as most young boys do....they get an idea and the thinking process stops at that point.

I don't know....sitting with some fellow barflies late one night, bored, and in comes three young rats who start wrestling and playing with each other a few meters from our feet.  If we spoke or laughed aloud they would pause for 5 seconds, look up and than resume play wrestling. When this becomes normal it is time to move on...or stop drinking ;-(

Chiengmai....my living in town was relatively short term for a year or two,  mostly in Chieng Dao for more  than  25 years intermittent years . There was a  time in CM when we would sit and 'watch' traffic go by in Chiengmai and if a white woman walked by,  we would wonder if she was a missionary.  Chiengmai traffic to Mae Rim was a car race even back then, now the race course extends to MaeTaeng. It certainly is not getting better. I am now worried to survive a ride from Chieng Dao to Chiengmai. You folks seem to be worried about smoke and ignore car traffic/ pollution and tobacco and death on the highways. Chiengmai is not a pleasant place to retire in , or be 25 years old in.....except for  few weeks.  ;-).  There are many small Thai cities where people are most pleasant , especially if you learn a dozen Thai phrases to start with. Sure there is agribusiness  burning fields..............but, also just folks who need to replant and harvest the mountain's natural bounty. 'Old world' Thailand does still exist....you just need  to be smart enough to appreciate it when you find it.  It is there and it needn't change.

                                                                ...Ken ( formally a Teak Wallah)

I found, after repeated stops, I simply keep my IDP in my shirt pocket and helmet on. When I see the road stop and the first cop, I go slow, hold up my IDP,  smile a bit and usually get waved through without having to stop. Even got a smile back and a joking salute from a cop once.