Offroadlanna

Just an update:

At the moment the S.E Asia map version 4.50 is available and is in NT format. (Family ID is 2044). This map covers Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Hong Kong and Macao and is sold by Garmin

ESRI has version 9.0 available (Family ID = 57) and is also in NT format.

The SE Asia has indeed many more roads in rural areas. However, a lot of these rural roads shown on the GPS map are nothing more than walking trails so when you use auto-routing blindly you may end up in strange places.

The Rotweiler map appears to be an edited/modified copy of the ESRI version 7 map (Family ID = 5065 if I am not mistaken) and is in the non NT format

Both maps (SE Asia and ESRI) are available as gmapsupp.img files which is the format which is used by the GPS. Using GmapTool the gmapsupp.img file can be split in individual "maps" and the map can then be used in Mapsource as several people have indicated here. The Rotweiler map comes ready for Mapsource.

There are some rumors that ESRI will come out with a new version soon (probably version 10 I guess) and I assume that this new map will also be in NT format. This NT format is a special format (kind of .zip format) which compresses the file and makes the map considerable smaller when compared with the non NT version

This NT format, up to now, has not been hacked in terms that the contents can not be copied and used in another map - this could also be the reason why the Rotweiler map is behind the time. The map however can be hacked in that a new lock (25 numerical code) can be inserted to make it compatible with other GPS ID's or the lock can be completely removed so it can be used in any Garmin GPS.

Once a year my mother has to go to the Dutch embassey to ask

for proof of life to extend her life retirement benefits .

Not sure about Immigration but a good friend of me who lives in Lampang and is Dutch has to go to an office in Lampang (Social Security or something like that) to get his "Proof of Life " letter signed for his old age pension (AOW). Will see him on saturday (24) and will ask him about it.

Another Dutchie in Chiangmai

Some friends and I plan to cycle to the peak of Doi Inthanon later this year and would like to get some feedback on the ride from the main road to the peak, especially the tough higher parts and decent. Anyone care to share their experiences doing this? We regularly do the Samoeng Loop, Doi Su Thep etc. and are looking for a challenge. Times & tips greatly appreciated.

Have never done this myself by bike so can't say anything about it. Saw last year or so on the Thai TV a program about a race up the mountain. Many did not make it as they found it very difficult as the versy steep parts are on the end and it is almost all uphill. I do have a GPS track from the turnoff on Rd 108 (at Chomthong) to the top which shows the elevation profile over distance. Not sure if this would help but attach it here as it will show you where the difficult parts are.

Im off to Laos with my wife next week just wondering will my phone that has a Thai sim card work or will i have to get another sim card when i get to Laos,i am sure some of our intrepid explorers on the forum will have the answer for me....Thanks!

Yes, it will work if you ask your phone company to allow International Roaming. However I find it cheaper to use a local SIM card as the charges for International Roaming can be quite steep.

Oh, in addition to deciding it's best to come early, very early, Hubby learned you need to bring correct change.

Was there also yesterday (14th) and arrived at 8.30 or so. Was number 8 in the queue for a Retirement visa. Paid with the correct change for my retirement visa and got a receipt. After photocopying the page with the new visa I requested the multiple Exit/Re-entry permit. Took all in all about 10 minutes and got a receipt with 200 Baht change stapled to the receipt.

Walked out at 10.15 with my visa and a multiple exit/re-entry permit .

Oh, in addition to deciding it's best to come early, very early, Hubby learned you need to bring correct change.

Was there also yesterday (14th) and arrived at 8.30 or so. Was number 8 in the queue for a Retirement visa. Paid with the correct change for my retirement visa and got a receipt. After photocopying the page with the new visa I requested the multiple Exit/Re-entry permit. Took all in all about 10 minutes and got a receipt with 200 Baht change stapled to the receipt.

Walked out at 10.15 with my visa and a multiple exit/re-entry permit .

Now my question for a diesel engineer, and parked up truck driver. How much do you know about gas replacement ratios in diesel engines? I am looking for some information to prepare for the methane usage. Plan to use it for electricity generation, and also for drying.

Isaanaussie

Depends a bit on how you set it up. If dual-fuelled, you can go for about 80% biogas and 20% diesel oil and the engine will run without much of a problem. In practice the replacement rate is lower and a pig farm in Chiangrai manages a 62% replacement rate (62% gas and 38% diesel).

What you can also do (and what quite a few of the large pig farmers do here around Chiangmai) is to buy either secondhand petrol engines or converted diesel engines and run the engine on 100% biogas. In all cases you will require more maintenane due to the hydrogen sulphide in the gas and you will need to overhaul the engine in 3-5 years time.

The snake I used when things were overflowing can be reached at 081 9936338. They do not speak English but they came with a motorized "snake" on their day off which after quite a bit of wriggling finally managed to cut through the roots of bushes growing into the main sewer line on the main road.

The Seng Pacha is probably the SENGPHRACHAN HOTEL which is opposite the National Tourism Authority on Lane Xang Avenue. It is a new hotel where a lot of the Thai tourists stay which arrive by the bus full for sightseeing and sometimes stay a night.

Anyone here using the Garmin Thailand gps map?

Just got a Nuvi 200 for Xmas and would like to have the Thai map in it.

It currently has the US version.

Should I just buy it from Garmin direct ? Or are there any others out there that will work in it?

Thanks

Contact Maurycy at Eagle GPS (3rd floor Phanthip Plaza in Chiangmai) for the latest Thai Street Map Version 8.0 from Thai ESRI/Garmin map. Cost about 7-8000 Baht. Tel/Fax: +66(0) 53 288060 e-mail: [email protected]

Uhm, everybody against me? I guess he will smile when I show him this, better not maybe ;-) Anyway - I was most concerned about the saftey issues, driving a small bike with crazy drivers everywhere, I doub't he will do 80 kph all the way - even I get scared to death sometimes driving my wave on the highway and suddenly a pothole the size of my bike just happen to be in front of me ... tried to search but couldn't find any threads - anyone have a link?

Have a look at http://www.gt-rider.com/thailand-motorcycl...nmar-t3341.html for a trip report from 5 Malaysian guys who rode to the North of Thailand on bikes ranging from 110-150 cc.

You could try a pico-hydro unit - basically a generator with a rotor in the water and the flowing water drives the rotor. Seen them at a lot of places in Laos just suspended from a wire in the river. Prices vary with capacity but have asked in shops in Laos and you can get a 1 kW unit for less than 100 USD. Not the safest though and every year several people are killed when they connect the wires while standing barefoot in the water.

Did they ask for proof of foreign import of the money?

Went today for a 1 year extension. No problems at all and they did not ask for proof of where the money came from. All in all it took 2.5 hours from the time I registered till walking out with a 1 year extension and a multiple exit-re-entry permit also valid for 1 year.

I have had a couple of people tell me that there is a 10,000 baht fee when you take your car into Laos. Is this true?

But seriously no . . as Jai Dee says a few hundred baht is all that is required.

Just crossed yesterday. On the Thai side you need to have your "Passport Rot" which you can get at the Land Transport Department in the province where your car is registered (70 Baht and it took 1 week in Chiangmai). If the car is not in your name make sure that you have written permission from the owner of the car unless the owner joins. On the Thai side you need to fill in some forms: 2 Copies of "Information of Conveyance" (information on engine, chaasis no. number plate, owners name and the number passengers and crew, 1 copy of the Crew List (basically only the names and passport number of the crew) and 1 copy of the Passenger List (again name and passport number of the passengers).

In Nongkhai at the bridge head to the immigration counter where they will stamp you passport and you will get 1 copy of the "Information of Conveyance" document duly stamped. Then head to the booth next the immigration booth (on the right - I think it is called the Customs). Hand in your passport, "Passport Rot" and the "Information of Conveyance Form). They will make an Application for Temporary Export which you need to sign. With all these papers head to the booth opposite (also Customs) where they will sign you out and you will be able to leave Thailand. On the Lao side, take you passport (with visa in case you don't have a visa you can apply on the spot for about 32 USD) and the "Passport Rot" to one of the immigration booth's, get your passport stamped and your "Passport Rot" stamped. After that you will have to get the import permit (Hand in your "passport rot" and pay 310 Baht for a 1 week permit which is a green form in 2 copies and a kind of sticker). If you want to stay longer than 1 week mention that - about 560 Baht for 2 weeks, longer period needs a special permit from the big boss who is not always in the mood to give that. With the two green forms and the sticker, passport rot and your passport you drive up to the booth where they will sign you in and will keep one of the copies of the green form.

Next head to the insurance office (on you right hand side (AIG or something like that) and pay for insurance for the number of days you plan to stay.

Can go very fast if you know the ropes - took me yesterday only 20 minutes from arriving at the Thai side to driving into Laos.

Hope this helps

Yes, it is very good in urban areas but in case you want to go "off the beaten track" in particular in the more remote areas, the ESRI/Garmin map lacks detail and often has no roads at all.

See http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=85778 for some info

Greetings all

I know that laotions drive on the opposite side of the roadway to their Thai counterparts, nevertheless is it possible to take a Thai registered vehicle use it in that country (Laos) and then return to Thailand with it ?

I am going off to live in Laos for a while and I ',m wondering whether it would be possible to use the one car for travelling around both laos and northern thailand.

I'd really appreciate receiving any advice about this motoring possibility

No problem taking your car into laos. You need to have a "Paasport rot" available from the land Transprot Department at a cost of 55 baht. It is important that either you are the owner or have an authorization from the owner to take the car out of the country. In Nongkhai generally it is easy to manage - you will have to fill in a few forms and on the lao side also nor problems. On the lao side they normally will give you permission to enter for a week but they are willing to give you two weeks. Costs for a 2 week permit are about 630 baht. Never had any problems with the police in Laos although going up north to Luang Phrabang they sometimes will stop you and ask for the papers. Have been numerous times to the south and have never been stopped. In case uou need more info please contact me directly.

Auke in Chiangmai and Vientiane

Also remember when taking your RHD Thai registered car to Lao that the Laos drive on the'wrong' side of the road ie LHD

That most probably was Arthur who was an artist (painter if I remember correctly). Sorry forgot his last name but he (or his family) was in the diplomatic service of the Netherlands. Died sometime in the late seventies or early eighties I think. He was a regular and heavy drinker at Daret GH when this place was still inside the moat (almost diagonally opposite where it is now near Thapea Gate)

Do any of you know of an old dutch guy used to live there.

I don`t know a lot baout him, except my uncle used to tell me about him, when my uncle when to los in around mid 70`s . Used to imbibe heavily I gather.

Have a look at www.gt-rider.com and then look for the discussion board where there are separate discussions for laos as well as other countries. Mainly motorcycle related but provides a lot of relevant information.

Offroadlanna

Methink it's not worth to drive the car into Laos if you only go to Vientiane;on the other side,if you want to drive around the country,don't forget to tell at the Lao border (and pay),or you they will give you only permission to drive in Vientiane Municipality.It can be very costly if the Police stop you withaut the proper authorisation!

where eles can i get imformation about traveling in laos ............easy to understand

Weren't we told a few years back that the switch to phone numbers which included the city code would solve the number problem for many many years or so and that a swith to an additional digit would not be necessary.