You can buy some more effective capsules here, than the almost useless pure powder capsules. I got some recently at a Citrus called Ya Capsule Kaminchan Plus. Includes pepper and oil. But I think Swanson’s Theracurmin will be much more absorbent as they do some science do make the particles easier to get in the bloodstream. 

I am pretty sure they dont know the destination before you get in the car as it is normal for them to ask where you are going, especially for new drivers. Grab was awesome a few months ago with loads of money off coupons, but I guess they got what they wanted- market share, so that seems to have stopped. Grab had a good deal for Tesco online the other day - 750 Baht off if you have enough points. I am going to try it now actually towards a bottle of Jack Daniels.

Can they see our location on their map like we can see them? Because they often call me to ask where I am when I am at the pin, usually when they have driven off past a prominent stop like a 7/11.

I have had a few situations where they insist they are at the pick up point but aren't and even if we move a bit to a well know shop they dont respond. Getting picked up at Airport Plaza is the worst (e.g. the pin is at Starbucks but they insist on asking us to walk about 400 meters around the back, not the normal drop off point, all the way round to the southbound main road). I crosed the road the yesterday to save everyone time and told him (he was able to explain he would be late with a toilet emergency but not able to understand my message but he still said "OK"), but he didn't see me. He was parked in the traffic I was trying to avoid and I was flailing about like a crazy person trying to flag him down (i.e. he definitely saw me), just feet from the car at the end, but he still drove off. Managed to get in eventually.  

Prices are going up now but I hope the tuk tuks will be alowed soon, like motorcycles are allowed in Bangkok.

Get an iPhone 5 or 5c for probably 2500 baht in Santitham. They are so common that you can easily get them repaired e.g. if you need a fresh battery or get water in it or crack the screen. The best shop is carry on north from the moat, straight though the traffic lights (at Morakot Road) then straight over at the crossroads (where you can turn right to Tanin Market). The 4th ish shop on the left has 2 very nice ladies who sell for a good price and make the phone clean and add protective glass and covers.

Just been today and it was wonderful. The standard is really nice. After 10 minutes looking at the photos I went off to eat lunch, but felt compelled to go back and enjoy them all again. They are actually intimidatingly good for a novice photographer like me. 

Thanks for the effort y'all put into it, might pop back before it closes on 4th February as I noticed I missed a couple the 2nd time I looked, so may have missed something else.

Martin.

Looking forward to seeing this, hopefully tomorrow. I remember loving a few of the photos last time I saw it in Maya. Are they available to buy?

On 21/01/2018 at 8:06 AM, wildewillie89 said:

From what he was saying he was wanting to go to the tribunal first. If he got an appointment quickly (that is if the tribunal isn't busy), then the tribunal would have to contact Tessaban and tell them to investigate the matter before a full hearing would occur. Which is why normal procedure is to go to Tessaban first, just like the West as my previous comment stated. Unfortunately here, most completely ignore common sense and go police.

 

Completely forgot about this. You really need to get out more if you're tracking something as small as this in your diary in the hope of being right lol.

Actually I have been away for a while. My wife never got around to going to the City Hall with a Thai friend to interpret, before we went away. There has been a change- a neighbor apparently snapped and went ballistic at the woman who owns it. It has been closed mostly since we got back. I think it was just open and noisy the first night back a few days ago, maybe Saturday. I nearly started shouting at her as it was very obviously the owner who was making the most noise. My wife took an interpreter in the daytime and complained to her and got a predictably bad look, but that was all. The neighor was out again last night at another disturbance, I think he may now be on the ball and standing up for himself. I have a good feeling that the end is nigh for the crazy witch. If not we shall go to City Hall soon.

Maybe 2% of people wear surgical masks here. Why? They do almost nothing for pollution or is there something about particle size that makes them effective? They are for stopping you infecting others but not that many people are ill. Polarizing glasses seem more use to me as they see through haze.  

Although I have to admit on a terrible March day the other year the cheap surgical masks did help a bit.

On 27/12/2017 at 11:49 AM, thaibeachlovers said:

Anyone feel like reporting on their restaurant dinner?

We went to The Pub. Amazing value for a lamb roast (think it was less than 300). First time been there and will certainly be going back. Flat-ish Guiness, but still very nice. No bitter on tap or Magners bottles, but seems like a good option in a great location.

Anywhere does bitter on tap near Thaepae Gate or towards center of Old City? 

Just been to Saturday night market and we mistakenly ordered something near the start, so had to walk back. The crowds were too thick, it was horrible. We have cancelled going up the mountain tomorrow as I assume half the people will be doing that in the day. Might do the one near Hang Dong and the royal gardens there too instead, or just have a walk around the old city in the day.

Will still try Annies for the music tomorrow night, but it sounds like the whole area will be the same elbow to elbow crowds. Wish there was a simple rooftop bar, or ground floor with a view. We tried Nimman Hill (Maya rooftop) last night and it was horrific - 6 or so bars all blasting out music so it was a terrible loud noise of them all combined. We might just stay in and play cards then go to the roof for midnight. I am getting too old for shuffling around crowds.

Thanks for the Riverside option, it sounds nice but not for my wallet this year. Have a good one all 

Actually, that bar may not be open late. Are there fireworks in the Old City? I know they have them at Maya and I would assume a couple of hotels east of the old city? Would be nice to have a good vantage point for half an hour around midnight with a drink or two.

2 minutes ago, sfokevin said:

Royal Flora Ratchaphruek has a New Years Eve fireworks display

Thank you. I was going to take them there in the day. Someone has kindly messaged me a bar where there will be a Brazilian musician who is likely to play their kind of thing (Annies near Zoe in Yellow), so that is a good central location to see fireworks and maybe a bit of bar hopping in the direction away from Zoe 

I will look into your option but they are always desperate for some latin music on holiday, so Annies will probably win.

Do you have any recommendations for where to spend New Years Eve for people in their mid 60s? I mention their age as they won't want to go to a nightclub with a DJ playing house/techno music. I am not really interested in the paid buffet dinners with a band. Would much rather visit a temple, then go for a normal meal, then have a relaxing drink (pretty lively is fine) somewhere where we can see the fireworks. They love Salsa and Tango dancing but I don't think there is any of that on except Tuesdays.

Really it is for the part between a meal and midnight. I am unsure what the vibe is on Maya rooftop or if there is anything decent along the river? or elsewhere?

Thanks.

Star Wars is on at the cinema too for Xmas day. They didnt have the fancy Jack Daniels at Tesco, must be in Rimping or Tops. Cheapish brandy is fine for Christmas French coffees though. 

Maybe we will just go to Dukes for the early bird 205 Baht meatloaf and mash the day before or after xmas. All the decor will be up. Close enough. 

Any idea when the main race will finish? May pop down to take some snaps.

My landlord doesnt know how to fix it. That's it. The end. He has no further involvement in this situation, no concern to me. Forget about him. This will probably be an anonymous complaint. Speculating about other parties and my lease is not something people need to worry about. Let's just get the noise fixed.

On 21/12/2017 at 8:53 AM, JLCrab said:

If you read Post #1 it says that called the police have been called, the police have been visited, and the landlord has said that nothing can be done. Maybe the landlord wants that nothing be done.

 

So after going against the preference of the landlord, regardless of the results, the landlord might choose not to renew the lease when next due for renewal.

I was referring to my apartment landlord. The bar is across the street.

On 21/12/2017 at 8:24 AM, canopy said:

Why give up when help from the government is 4 button presses away? People who have used it have posted many positive experiences. I look forward to reading about yours.

 

Thai Government launches 1111 hotline to receive complaints from foreigners

 

Is that the army thing Willie was talking about? I called that number a month ago, they just gave me the local police number. 

I think I might settle with a delicious 7/11 45 Baht frozen Japanese curry heated in the microwave. Then spend my savings on the delicious more aged version of Jack Daniels (was 1200+ I think in Tesco which sounds reasonable, especially if a liter). Should be having French coffees too at this time of year, so some brandy as well. Getting drunk is just as much a Christmas tradition as turkey.

Thanks for most of the replies. I think the fact that the police have told a Thai family to move house is an indicator that this will not change easily and a farang who doesn't speak Thai who is a guest in this country probably doesn't have a chance of changing it. Going on social media would expose me, complaining to the Bangkok Police HQ would, I assume, get me passed along to the Chiang Mai police and maybe even to the local ones who profit from the bar.

We called the police last night and it went through to the tourist police instead of the local police. They acted all innocent and concerned and told me to visit their office today to tell police volunteers. I have already spoken with a farang police volunteer and he had one word for me; "move". 

Minutes after ending the call the police arrived, didn't get off their bike and very quickly sped off. Then the lady who runs the show was looking up and down the street for a while for whoever squealed on them. They had obviously been tipped off and told not to make it too loud. They rolled the shutter down 6 inches, a couple left then it quietened down a bit, but not enough. If it was just the drunk kids I might be more confident but there are some middle aged men drinking there and helping out in the day unofficially (e.g. taking the manager on their bike on errands) who have the filled out bodies and short hair of someone in the police force or army.

When the police go to a bar not far away they go in, cause trouble and eventually leave with some money a fine. The noisy place has a special relationship with the police, so I am going to throw the towel in and just forget about it. Otherwise I will just keep stressing, missing sleep and complaining (wasting my breath). 

The army option sounds interesting, but are they really likely to get involved with such a small thing? I can't stop thinking that the elderly Thai family may have lived there for many years before being forced to leave so surely they tried everything, other business owners on the street say nothing can be done and some neighbours refuse to comment on the situation. One Thai says they pay the police in their red letterbox hanging outside. I would like to take a dump in that box, but if I am throwing the towel in I am just going to do nothing.

Life is too short and I always say there is no point complaining about something unless it can lead to action. I will use ear plugs every night, or move to the other end of our building. The funny thing is I will usually be able to sleep through it- it was more a matter of principal for me, the injustice of the whole thing, like why should one lady get away with causing havoc in the neighbourhood.

I am now not going to let it enter my mind at night. l won't go out of my way to, but will just grab photos of these men I see connected, just in case I can find one later in a uniform.

It is Morakot Road in Santitham. It was confirmed that the family who moved out today were advised to leave their house by the police because they were complaining too much. I am going to try the "Contact police HQ in Bangkok" advice above before quitting. 

tl;dr - are we helpless about noisy neighbours in Thailand?

We live on a quiet road, except for traffic in the day. There is a bar which is respectful and never causes noise- they pull the stutter down and turn the music down at a reasonable hour. Then there is a cheap local BBQ place which acts as a bar for party goers and junkies when real bars close, between 1am and 6am. They have no respect for noise and their wide open space seems to amplify their voices. Most of the time people are in the street as the BBQ is outside. It is a bit of a hangout place outside with many motorbikes lining up (some of which are the very loud ones).

Everyone seems to be high or drunk - if you were to watch for a few minutes you would realise as there is a constant stream of wobbly guys and "ladies of the night" falling over and stumbling around. They generally communicate by shouting. There are regular very loud arguments which spill into the road and sometimes these become running battles between a few people on each side. It is amusing as they start falling over each other. This must be the real bottom of the barrel scum of Chiang Mai. It's like one long shouting session all night.

A nice elderly family next door but one is moving out today as they have reached the end of their tether. Someone two doors from our apartment moved out the other day. Is moving away the only option? We have of course called the police, visited the police and asked our landlord, who said nothing can be done. We suspect they have a policeman or military man in the family. The Thai neighbours won't even speak about it i.e. they have been intimidated. 

Any ideas what could help? Our local police are either being intimidated or they are getting paid, so keep going back to them is useless. The police station is a small one just 150 meters away- they know full well what is happening. 

On 28/11/2017 at 7:09 AM, Mahseer said:

In that price range I would suggest Yummy out at Mai Hia, I believe they are doing 3 sittings.

 

If you haven't been there and want to check them out drop in Sunday lunch time and sample the roast dinner which is typically beef at 280baht or chicken and pork at 240. Excellent value.

Thanks for the suggestion, it is 750 for one of 4 sittings. Their promotional image seems to be a ham, which I never eat at Xmas, also quite far, so may keep on browsing. Or stick with Grandview which is half a mile away, with a film at Maya after.

We have done the Grandview Hotel near Maya twice. It is pretty good for 600 Baht. But we fancy a change this year. Any recommendations in a similar price range?