xylophone

The Thai EIT code is actually pretty good though not as rigorous as the international IEC60364 standard and the individual country codes which are harmonised with that.

Problem is that you very rarely see a copy of the code and most Thai "electricians" are ignorant of their own country's code and the basic physics behind it.

In my opinion, things will not improve until:-

1) All electricians are registered, having passed tests on their knowledge of the EIT code.

2) All installations are independently inspected, tested and certified as a condition of compulsory insurance.

Contact me directly if you have any specific queries.

Totally concur AND all electrical equipment/switchgear has to pass stringent safety standards/controls, particularly imported gear as that is where I have seen dubious standards (refer to my previous post) and no matter how "safe" Thai installations are made, they can easily be undermined by incorrectly wired imports.

Everyone should be aware that your entire building can be properly earth-grounded with earth-grounded receptacles and you can still get zapped by purchasing power-strip/extension-cords that DO NOT HAVE the earth-ground continued through to its receptacles.

In the states, many homeowners have these outlet testers for peace of mind. I brought several with me, however I'll need to crack them open and make some adjustments for the higher voltage here. I haven't seen them for sale here, not even at Zeer Rangsit where they seem to have a wide assortment of electricial testing tools. They look like this:

They even have a little button on them which allows you to test the GFCI breaker upstream (if there is one).

Has anyone seen a Ground Fault Isolator (GFI) in use in Thailand? Maybe the import duties are too steep for such an unessential item. Ever check the prices of smoke detectors at Home-Pro?

I've looked but haven't seen any. I've noticed references to a "safe-t-cut" here, which I thought might be a GFCI, but after a little investigation these look like ordinary load center circuit breakers.

Safe-T-Cut devices are available here and could save your life. They operate as a ELCB (RCD, RCBO). ELCB breakers can also be installed on individual final circuits at the breaker box. The Thai EIT code requires these for all water heaters and to protect equipment in wet locations. IEC 60364 (BS7671:2008) also require these on all circuits supplying socket outlets. Note the trip current must be 30mA or less.

Unfortunately what the Thai EIT code requires and what is actually done are as far away from each other here as the police force are away from honesty.

Recently tested two different 3 pin switched muti-socket extensions and one had the live as right pin facing whereas the other was left pin facing, not helpful as the appliance could still be live when switched off. Different colour coded wires available which makes life hard, and the little adaptors which take a 3 pin plug and convert it to a 2 pin means that an appliance which should be earthed is not.........and so on.

Regulations mean nothing unless they are taught, monitored and enforced and certification should be required from all persons working in this field. Until then TIT, and these sad events will continue.

No disrespect meant the deceased and condolences to his family, and I hope the hotel employee fully recovers.

After years of installing electrical systems and upgrading electrical systems in Thailand nothing surprises me any more, I see bad electrical work all the time, if the earthing and bonding is done at all, it is generally done very badly with shoddy connections, I am sure that most are not tested and I hardly ever see an RCD (residual current device) for protection... R.I.P. and condolences to the family.

I have seen nothing which compares to the shoddy workmanship as regards electrical installations as here in Thailand and I have worked in many third world countries. To give a few examples: -

- At the distribution board, black being live and grey being neutral, no earth.

- At another house, black being neutral and grey being live, no earth.

- Various wire colours used throughout the house and interchanged as and when.

- No earth on water heating appliances, when it states, "This appliance must be earthed".

- Three pin socket outlets installed but with no earth connection behind them.

- Aircon unit wired direct from the supply from the external power pole without going through the distribution board.

- Wires just twisted together behind sockets/in the roof etc which result in overheating/burning out.

- Washing machines in a laundry with a wet floor, fed from two pin extension outlets.

- The earth pin being cut off on an appliance which needs earthing.

- Many switched outlets are switched on the neutral thereby making the appliance still live even when switched off.

This place is a death trap for the unsuspecting tourist as far as electrics in general are concerned.

He could start by simply educating the Thai drivers on the meaning of pedestrian crossings................what they are for and how to deal with them. One recently installed/painted outside of the Jungceylon shopping centre means that pedestrians use them to cross the road and the Thai drivers use them for target practice.

Many, many near misses and some serious accidents will certainly occur.

Quote…….."Suicide is for cowards" another, sadly typical, macho, "nothing can reduce me to that stage" statement. Meaningless and untrue.

I agree with that statement. It seems strange to me that as human beings we put ourselves at the top of tree as regards evolution because of our superior ability to communicate, think, rationalise, strategise, love and show emotions and so on, and we use these abilities when we make a decision to euthanise an animal. We make a decision that the animal is suffering too much; has no useful life left; has no quality of life etc. etc. so we end it for them out of compassion.

But do we apply the same principles or logic to a human being, absolutely not. We are prepared to let someone we love dearly fade away to a mere gaunt and yellow skinned skeleton, and nothing like the person we knew (or how they wished to be remembered), in much pain and unable to control their bodily functions, lacking dignity and respect for themselves, and we do it under the guise of what?

Given the chance to wind the clock back a few months, many of the folk I knew would have been only too pleased to have departed this mortal coil on their own terms and without extreme suffering, and I know that for a fact.

The medical profession know that as well and that is why euthanasia, despite what is publicly stated, does take place at the hands of doctors and medical professionals.

Agree with above about its use, and with an increasing number of expats living in and around Patong, why not process the 90 day reporting here. Would make life simpler for many, esp as the Phuket Imm office is becoming more crowded.

One of the better definitions of alcoholism:-

"Alcoholism is a primary illness or disorder characterised by some loss of control over drinking, with habituation or addiction to the drug alcohol, causing interference in any major life function, e.g. health, family, job, spiritual, friends,legal."

Notice there that it doesn't say anything about how much you drink. So having a drinking problem isn't defined by quantity - but rather loss of control, which ultimately causes problems in other areas of your life, i.e. health, work, relationships etc.

If you drink good quality wine you should not have a problem. Unfortunately such wine is very expensive in Thailand. Cheap wine may not make you an alchoholic but can damage you health in the long run ,if drunk in the quantities you quote

There should be no problem with "cheap red wine" as it contains nothing different to the expensive red wine as a rule. I say, as a rule, because sulphur dioxide is used in all wines as a preservative, antioxidant and steriliser, and it is possible that cheaper producers may well not monitor quite how much is used, or use too much to cover a fault in the wine. Some folk may to be sensitive to this chemical.

I once met an 80 yr old Frenchman working in a vineyard in Burgundy who looked great and still worked a full day despite having drunk at least a litre of red wine per day since his late teens. Also many farm and vineyard workers of that time would regularly consume a bottle or more working the land, although it had an alcohol content of around 9% and was certainly not the highest quality wine!!

Some good comments above as regards how much to drink..........and a scientific study has shown that many Asian folk lack a gene to process alcohol so it can make them feel very unwell.

You can easily work out the numbers so that you can see the pros and cons of renting vs leasing cost wise. I did exactly that when I bought a house here and for many of the reasons you did.

I sold it when I realised that the Thai Gov't/local officials can make life very uncomfortable for expats, at a whim, and having money tied up here would restrict any future movements for me.

Now rent, have my funds invested overseas and can pack a suitcase and leave the country at a moments notice......all cashed up and ready to try a new country/life if necessary.

Still enjoying Thailand but have the freedom to move as and when it pleases me.

Not easy to play the 'family' card when you have a long-distance relationship. How much time do you spend in Thailand with your family ?

Having had a Thai girlfriend for 6 years you should understand that their attitude to sex is one of a bodily function rather than an emotional attachment.

As an earlier poster stated - it will probably happen again. Your own words said that she wasn't bothered about it - that may be a clue for the future.

Put it behind you or move on. The kid will be looked after by the family 'Thai style' and will just lose any benefits of a multi-cultural upbringing - and, of course, a Falang wallet.

A great reply with very valid points...........can't add much apart from to quote a previous (long term) Chinese girlfriend of mine, when she said, "you own a beautiful vase which you admire greatly, then it gets broken, but is able to be fixed. However when you look at the vase you always know it's been broken and isn't really the same as before".

Good luck to the OP, a difficult position to be in.

Quote by W11guy, "I read an interesting article that outlined just what you said. But these were rental properties, so even if they don't have mortgage, etc, they are still losing money by not renting. Even if they are super rich, it still makes more sense to have rent coming in than not. But other rentals are VERY negotiable".

Hmmm, sense and Thailand = an oxymoron as far as this sort of thing goes. Many, many empty apartments, shop houses,rooms and abandoned projects here, but still the building goes on at a fast pace. No rhyme nor reason to it.

Bought a Philips rice cooker almost 4 yrs ago and just replaced the inner bowl. Ordered from local Philips agent at a cost of 900 baht.

Main cause of the teflon coating vanishing was that my lady always washed it using the "green" (abrasive) side of the washing up sponge!! So, buy a high end cooker and be careful how it is washed!!

Try the Australian Shiraz/Cabernet called "The Pump" at Makro, a very sound drinker for under 300 baht.

The Wine Connection has a couple of reds I like, the "Rare Vineyards" Cabernet/Syrah (Vin de pays D'oc, France)at 499 baht and is almost a cross between an old world/new world red, and the Italian wine Primitivo/Zinfandel at 449 baht.

Have enjoyed on many occasions, however everyone has their own personal tastes/likes/dislikes.

Construction is going ahead in leaps and bounds in Patong despite the fact that there are blocks of apartments which have been empty for years, along with shop houses and similar style dwellings. Then there are the barely started developments which have been abandoned for one reason or another, yet new building goes on alongside of them. Add to that the fact that there are many guesthouses with very few if any guests in them (and some for sale) and you have a puzzling situation -- -- why build more?

One reasonably wealthy Thai family I know has said that it is because money is fairly easy to obtain, so why not buy and build!!

If there is a property bubble in the making then, in my opinion, it is certainly evident in Patong.

Hi Raindancer, I hope you stay on the TV forum because in my opinion it is one of the better ones around and although there are perhaps some posters who will antagonise you, in general I have found it to be a great source of information.

There are some truly helpful people on TV and I for one have been most appreciative of the information provided by the likes of, “Crossey”, “lopburi3”, “Mario28” and “Jingthing” to name just a few.

This contrasts with my experience on a forum here in Phuket, based around a bar in Patong, where bullying and ignorance seem to be the order of the day.

On one occasion, a particularly hostile and long-term poster replied to some of my posts regarding the seemingly high funeral expenses for my lady’s deceased mother, by pointing out that I had probably been ripped off by her, and when I defended my/her position, after many other posts he basically wanted me to, “own up and admit that I was ripped off by my long-term partner”, thereby branding her a thief and a liar.

Both he and one other know-it-all also took a hostile stance at another one of my seemingly innocuous posts.

I have since stopped posting, as I want nothing more to do with these inadequate individuals, although I occasionally visit the forum to check up on a couple of friends.

Taking a step back has enabled me to view the above forum from a different perspective and looking at it now, I would say that it is best described as puerile, very cliquey and much of the information on it revolves around poster’s sexual encounters, where to find particular services related to this etc etc. Made the mistake of joining it when I first arrived, but then we all make mistakes when new to this country and in particular when seeking information and contacts.

In summary, it is my opinion that TV is a great forum to be involved in and one which will provide you with endless information, given by helpful people. Of course there will always be a few folk who see things differently and to me that is not a problem, but antagonistic and outright misinterpretation of the facts are usually picked up by the moderators, and I believe the moderators are very fair-minded individuals, so in the main the forum is kept “clean”.

Stay with it and take heart from the supportive comments which have been posted prior to this. Good luck.

As dave 111223 has said, it could be very difficult to ascertain the "real" price paid.

Anyway am not sure that it is relevant............if the guy bought it for a real bargain price due to a distressed sale, for example, he is probably not about to resell it under the same circumstances i.e. a bargain price.

Take a look around at similar places which have sold to see if this place is in the same price range (a friendly RE agent would give you the sale prices, not the asking price) AND is it what you want/are you satisfied with the asking price/does it represent good value to you............if so. what the guy originally paid for it is not relevant.

Good luck

Thanks Philnz good advice that I already subscribe to. I have lived in Bangkok for 9 years, and I am savvy regarding what is fair value for the considerations that meet our families needs in buying a property. Have been doing due dalliance for years. For eight years I have been renting two 1 bdr. apartments next to each other, at a fantastic price, with all the convinces. If I did not have a growing two and half year old son, I wouldn't have reason to want a bigger place.

One big incentive is that this particular flat is on our soi where all are friends live.

Go kindly,

-O

Hi Orangutan, good to know that you have been doing your homework as many don't.

Another suggestion, if the asking price seems to represent "reasonable value" to you, then you could always make an offer, say some 25% below that price and start negotiating from there.

Let us know how it goes and again, good luck.

As dave 111223 has said, it could be very difficult to ascertain the "real" price paid.

Anyway am not sure that it is relevant............if the guy bought it for a real bargain price due to a distressed sale, for example, he is probably not about to resell it under the same circumstances i.e. a bargain price.

Take a look around at similar places which have sold to see if this place is in the same price range (a friendly RE agent would give you the sale prices, not the asking price) AND is it what you want/are you satisfied with the asking price/does it represent good value to you............if so. what the guy originally paid for it is not relevant.

Good luck

So if learning to love yourself has something to do with staying sober a curious alcoholic (like myself) would probably ask some questions. Probably something like this.

"OK, great, you tell me I need to learn to love myself. Now, that sounds very nice and all, but I'm a practical guy. Just how do you do that?" What do I need to do to learn to love myself?

So, anybody? In simple terms how do you do that?

Not that easy I am afraid, and you have to work at it. Admitting that you have a problem with alcohol is a start and if you are honest with yourself you may well try to go to AA or similar meetings.

However with many folk there is an underlying problem which you need to identify and very often this means going back into your childhood experiences and look at what shaped you/what influenced you/what made you happy, and what made you sad/what did you want in your younger years and what did you actually get...........and so on. This could take a long-time because every experience which you can remember needs to be written down and examined.

Then see if there is any link between any of these experiences and what your behaviour may be now and when did it change.

Many things can influence children and young adults to make them go off the rails or exhibit destructive behaviours (such as alcohol and drug abuse, anger, violence towards others and self and so on) and identifying the root cause usually presents the key.

There is also a fantastic book called "Mind Over Mood" (Change the way you feel, by changing the way you think) by Dennis Greenberger and Christine Padesky which amongst other great things contains little worksheets which you need to do in order to get to the bottom of why you do what you do and how you can attempt to change it.

I can thoroughly recommend this book, and really encourage anyone to go through it and work at it, not just skip through it because it can be a life changer..............only if you want to change it, that is!!!

The words to the George Benson song,"The Greatest Love Of All" reflect that sentiment.

Back in biblical times, the Gnostics believed (amongst other things) that if you were a good person, did good things and were able to look inside of yourself to understand what you did and why you did it, then the chances are you had found "god". They believed that true understanding of oneself and being a good person were the key elements, and that God existed inside of oneself and was not an external entity that had to be worshipped mostly through an hierarchical structure.

Alcohol can be destructive, especially where it is used as a crutch, however enjoying a few glasses of red wine with food is still a very pleasurable experience. I suppose it is the old saying, "moderation in everything" which comes to mind as well.

Good to hear of your experiences and your new outlook on life, long may it continue.

Good luck Yuri and I have admired the way you have stated your case here, despite some of the other posters "advice".

I'm guessing , but think the ride from Phitsanulok to Chiang mai will be about 5 to 6 hours . I AM NOT A 130-160 Kmph rider (as if a phantom would even dream of doing ) I enjoy the ride and want to smell the roses . In my younger years I would go from point A to point B as quickly as possile , but after a C1 C2 fracture , fractured skull and a fractrued hip and ribs all in separate accidents I've mellowed out. I will keep you posted on my progress and look forward to be be in the little village of Chiang Rai .

Mike

Just recently did the drive from Phitsanoluk to Chiang Mai by car, however being a bikey from my younger days I was appalled at the state of the main road between these two places, especially if one was riding a motorbike. There are huge troughs (for want of a better word) mostly on the inside lane of the duel carriageway where large trucks have plied their way backwards and forwards.

Certainly the car had great difficulty on some parts of the road so be especially careful if you are riding your bike. Hopefully all goes well for you.

Yes Rice Bran Oil is very healthy, has a high flash point and doesn't impart any "flavour" to the food being cooked. Never use anything else. More expensive at around 90 baht a bottle, but well worth it.

Quote Katabeachbum: "That may be true for you/your friends, but the majority of expats and tourists coming to Phuket are not exposed to such risks. It is safe, and the "exciting" episodes are being overcharged by aggresive tuk tuks or sunglass vendors. As long as you are polite (in Thai culture), you are likely to be very safe here".

Don't quite know how you have arrived at the, "it is safe" conclusion, when in my fairly limited circle of friends there have been physical attacks, robberies, muggings, beatings and shootings!! Not to mention the fact that there has been little short of 50 murders on the island in one year. And for the record, none of these folk did anything at all to antagonise the perpetrators.....in fact they did not know them, and none of them are involved in anything "shady".

Being realistic, with the crime statistics readily published on this island, and the first-hand knowledge of the above, one would have to say that you could not consider this place "safe".

I feel very safe. More safe than in most locations in the world.

The few conflicts I have been involved in have been business related or road rage. Solved.

Keep smiling

If you are in fact being truthfull..why then do you feel the need to live in a fort knox security type residence, have at the ready a 9mm pistol or two [ you once said you had two pistols in your bedroom ] and a large black dog to protect you??? doesn't really gell does it? or is it only because of these features that you feel very safe...?? in that case your comments are irrelevant because nobody i know needs all this in order to say that they feel safe...anywhere

I am truthfull, indeed

For the past 8 years I have spendt 350 nights a year in Thailand

I feel very safe in Thailand

because I have never been mugged or anyone tryed to mug me, despite walking dark alleys rather drunk when most people sleep.

because I have never experienced a pick pocket

because I can send my 1000 baht across the bar to pay my bill, and always get exact change back

because despite the insane looking traffic, I have not been close to a major accident with a thai rider/driver

because my savings are safe in the banks

because my shares are safe in SET

because I have never had anything stolen from me privately, except for one pair of sunglasses from my motocy basket when parked

because I have never had a brake in in any of my homes or vehicles here

because my cars or bikes have never been vandalized, and on the occasions I forget the key in any of them, no one wants to steel them either

because I can enter 7-eleven despite having a bunch of testostoride bikers "watching" me, without the discomfort this would usually involve in other countries. Smile and they smile back

because I am allowed to protect/defend myself with a 9mm in case someone would be silly enough to burglar/trespass my home

I do not live in "a fort knox type security residence", there is only one simple lock on all my doors and windows, and an easy climb to come inside without breaking the door. My dog would get angry though. Why I have a Rottweiler? Its my third one, and hard to get another breed when you have had one. Best working- and familydog in the world

How is that compared to Australia, UK, New Zealand, USA or anywhere else in the world?

It seems as if you are a very lucky man as my experience has been somewhat different, let me explain: --

-- I have been attacked in the early hours of the morning walking home down my own Soi.

-- the house behind me has been broken into and some of the contents stolen, so the owners put bars on the windows.

-- after that was done, someone managed to break into the front door whilst the occupant was asleep and steal his computer, television and the wallet beside of his bed.

-- a friend was shot (in the side and sustained no more than a "flesh wound".....lucky man) when coming to the rescue of a Thai lady who was having her handbag stolen, and this just metres away from a busy street in Patong.

-- another friend has had his car "coined" for no apparent reason.

-- a bar owner I know was robbed at gunpoint whilst on his motorcycle and clubbed unconscious.

-- a gentle giant of a man who would do no harm to anybody was beaten around the head by a Thai man wielding an iron bar. He had not even spoken to this person, and had no prior knowledge of who this person was.

None of the people concerned(me included)had any previous knowledge of, or interaction with, the perpetrators.

IMO, once the police start to do what they are supposed to do and protect the innocent, rather than being part of the problem, things may well improve. Until that time, events like those listed above will continue to happen.

Cranberry juice can help prevent UTIs because it can prevent bacteria sticking to the bladder wall. It cannot cure a UTI but what little research there is seems to favour taking it if one is susceptible to these types of infections.

I would think that there must be other berries/juices which would have a similar effect so searching on Google or the like might work.