strabel23

1 hour ago, marc651 said:

The safety limit for pm 2.5 is not 50 but just 12 micrograms per cubic metre.  

 

https://aqicn.org/faq/2013-09-09/revised-pm25-aqi-breakpoints/

 

Seems they confuse the air quality index with the pm2.5 microgram count.

 

Improving air quality is simple,  its not rocket science.  Just make particulate filters mandatory for all diesels (and check yearly), and create low emission zones,  in other words no diesels nor 2 stroke engines allowed in the city centre. This is what is being done in European cities to combat air pollution from traffic. 

 

The other source of air pollution is burning.  Just outlaw (and strictly enforce) all burning.  Do this and your air pollution problem is as good as solved.  Air pollution causes massive health problems, the cost of those, and loss of productivity,  is many times the cost of solving the problem. But it takes understanding and courage,  which are both in short supply in Thailand...

Good idea restrict diesel engines in the city. Since 90% of the vehicles on the road run on diesel traffic problem solved. Lol.

Copy of wife's name change? What if your wife chose to use her own surname? At least in some countries a marriage does not mean an automatic name change and even if the wife chooses to use the surname of her husband there is no requirement to obtain a separate document other than the marriage certificate.

The simple answer to this question is yes. Just ask the bank to add your wife's name to the account.

16 hours ago, Lacessit said:

It's a good wage compared to the rice fields. If you read my previous post, it's the family hangers-on and commitments that are the problem.

If you believe the Thai minimum wage of 325 baht a day is paid out in the boonies, you probably believe in the tooth fairy as well. The work is seasonal and casual, and some are paid as little as 150 baht a day.

My GF's brother earns on average 2500 baht a month. Her father gets a Thai government pension of 800 baht a month. They manage to survive on that, along with about 10,000 other villagers where I go on occasion.

There's a lot of barter that goes on in such villages. The next-door neighbor grows bananas and chickens, and swaps them for vegetables. Another neighbor is a handyman, quite good at fixing things.

I'm not arguing the rights or wrongs of the situation. Just saying that's what it is. If you want to call me a falang kee nok, you are just demonstrating your own ignorance.

I have hired workers in the boonies so to speak and they would not work for less than 400 baht/day. Virtually all that work in construction demand at least the minimum no matter where they live. In 15 years I have not encountered any Thais living on 2500 month unless they just were too lazy to work. Many receive funds from their children which is the Thai custom and culture which there is no way around this. Yes the elderly now receive 800 baht/month from the Government which is a joke. Sometimes they hand out a 5 kg. bag of rice when there has been flooding happening which is also laughable. 15,000 a month for a falang to live on is doable only if you live like a poor Thai in the countryside and yes that would be living like a falang kii nok.

20 hours ago, Kerryd said:

That doesn't make sense that he wouldn't operate unless you had full range of movement. You operate when the patient does not have full range or it is excessively painful to even try.

If your MRI shows the tear then there should be no reason why he could not operate on it to fix it.

 

The only way I had "full range" of movement is if I clamped my teeth together on a leather strap and then used my left arm to lift my right arm as high as it could go. 
I went about 3 1/2 months from the time of the injury until the operation. As mentioned, it didn't seem to bad at first but I guess that small bone spur under the clavicle was like a nail gouging into the tear and making it worse. 

If I'd gone for the MRI right off the bat we would have seen the extent of the damage and I'd have probably had the surgery a month early, instead of spending that month doing physio and trying cortisone.

The guy I saw at Bangkok Pattaya hospital is this guy: https://www.bangkokpattayahospital.com/en/doctor-profile?v_id=171&depid=22

Speaks English of course and, from my experience at least, seems to know what he is doing. I was quite happy with the end result.

 

Might want to set up an appointment with him to see what he says. Just having an appointment wouldn't be too expensive. As you already have an MRI and know you have a tear, you can skip any suggestions of cortisone shots and physiotherapy as those aren't going to do much for a ligament tear.

 

Yes I had a cortisone injection already and didn't do a thing but the dr. wants me to do physio because as he says he won't operate on me if I have a frozen shoulder. He did ask me my age (65) which made me suspicious because I had read about another doctor that refused to operate because he said the patient was too old (53) and not strong and the results would not have been good. I am not in Thailand at the moment and am hoping to do the operation before returning to Thailand but it takes so long here to do anything. I will make another appointment and try again.

On 10/10/2018 at 6:34 PM, Kerryd said:

The pain had gradually increased to the point where I was having problems sleeping or doing little things like putting on a shirt (or taking one off). Initially the pain was like a "pinched nerve" that goes away after a couple of days. After a couple weeks though it had gotten to the point where it was a relief when it was only a "dull ache" instead of the stabbing pain that was happening more often.

I actually found myself cradling my arm like you would if it was broken (trying to stabilize it so that it doesn't move and cause more pain).

 

Did the surgery and the pain was gone. Obviously you take it easy for the first little while, but I was able to sleep normally and dress/undress without problem.

I waited for 3 months until I started exercising again. Used light weights (maybe half of what I'd been doing before) and took it easy but within a couple days I was getting an dull pain in the shoulder joint. Took a week off and then tried again. The pain came back again so I stopped exercising altogether.

 

3 months later I tried again. Same thing, light weights and easy routine. This time there was no pain. Took it easy and worked my way back up gradually to where I was able to use the heaviest weights I'd been using before (even had to buy some additional ones).

 

It's been a little over 2 1/2 years now since I had the surgery and once in a blue moon I will get a small ache in the shoulder. Could be arthritis though (apparently the Doc noticed some when he had the camera in the shoulder socket during the surgery). It's minor and infrequent so it's not a concern.

 

In addition to the exercising (with the weights and machines) I've also taken a few trips on the Harley and had to lift the bike up a couple times (once after a minor accident) and the shoulder never bothered me at all. (The bike is about 325 kgs "dry weight" and bit of a ***** to lift if it ever goes over on it's side for any reason.)

I haven't tried doing any chin-ups though. I'm working on dropping a few kilos before I try that again ! It occurred to me (after I injured the shoulder of course) that the last time I'd done chin-ups was something like 12 years earlier, when I was also something like 25 kilos lighter as well ! Maybe if I can get back down into the mid-60 kg range I may try again. Got a ways to go though so it won't be any time soon !
 

Sorry but you didn't answer my question. My Orthopedic surgeon told me he won't operate on me unless I have full range of movement in my shoulder either on my own strength or using my other arm to lift my injured arm. I can only lift my arm to shoulder height on my own arms strength but can pull it overhead using my other arm. I had the same symptoms as you did exactly except I felt pain from the first day and knew when it happened I had torn the rotator cuff which the MRI confirmed as a full thickness tear. I am wondering if other doctors have required their patients to have full range of movement before surgery or if it is just my doctor's requirement. He says he won't operate on a frozen shoulder and it has been 4.5 months since my accident.

On 10/5/2018 at 8:40 PM, Lacessit said:

My GF's family earn about 2000 - 3000 baht/month in the rice fields and on building sites. Does that answer your question?

You've got to be kidding. Do you actually think that a teacher after spending years acquiring a teaching degree should be satisfied receiving only 15,000 baht/month and you think that is good? You compare that with your girl friend's family working in the rice field? The minimum wage in Thailand is 325 baht/day so if your girlfriends family are working in construction then they are making a lot more than 2000 - 3000 baht a month and no one could live or should live on that paltry amount. A single person would be just scraping by at 10,000 baht/month and living at poverty level in a small 1 room accommodation. The Teacher has good cause to complain and should not have to live like a peasant. There must be a lot of immature and ignorant falang kii nok on Thai Visa to criticize a Teacher for complaining about such a meager salary.

17 hours ago, Kerryd said:

Couple years ago I needed surgery for a torn rotator cuff injury.

 

2 nights in the hospital (Bangkok-Pattaya Hospital), surgery for the rotator cuff and to remove a small bone spur that was aggravating the initial injury. Total - 300,000 baht. (Not including the costs I'd paid over the previous month when they had me doing physio and getting cortisone shots that did absolutely nothing.)
 

I didn't remember that I had bought coverage from Bangkok Bank but the bank reminded me about it when I went to get a cashier's cheque to pay for the operation.

 

Insurance ended up covering 160,000 of the costs. If I'd remembered I had it and used it (when the hospital first told me how much it was going to cost) they may have covered it all (or they should have covered it all). 

I'd been expecting to pay the full cost so when it turned out I was only going to have to cover less than half I was somewhat relieved.

 

just curious, before the surgery did you have full range of shoulder movement and how did it turn out?

so can an address be registered online especially if the immigration office is located 60 km. from the house of stay?

Phuket has changed a lot since I first stayed here in 1995. We were going to move back in 2014 but after a few months found it to be too congested and beaches too inaccesable with no or very little parking available. What's the point of living here if you can't get to where you want to go without a lot of hassle. Frankly speaking I don't see the attraction anymore unless all you want to do is go to the bars to meet the ladies in waiting. Having said that if you want to buy a nice size building lot not far from a  quiet beach area just let me know.

Is it really that hard to understand currency conversion?

10 baht at the beginning of 2016 would get you 1 Malaysian ringgit.

Presently it takes only 8.05 baht to buy 1 Malaysian ringgit. This is a devaluation of the ringgit.

For those still confused if a Malaysian was to purchase a drink for 10 baht 1 year ago he would now have to  pay 1.2 Malaysian ringgit for that same 10 baht drink.

Despite this the Malaysians are still happy to come to Thailand for whatever reason.

9 hours ago, chiang mai said:

 

A professionally composed and written will, written by somebody such as Kuhn Sumalee in CM will cost about 7k Baht, assuming it is not overly complex and lots of assets are involved.

 

An alternate and far cheaper way to go is the Amphur will which costs under 100 baht and is a simple process involving Amphur staff.

 

Both achieve the same end result although unless the will involves minimal simple assets, probate is required. I have read reports of posters saying the Amphur will alone is sufficient to allow transfer of simple assets although the discretion of individual bank managers seems to be a major factor.

 

Finally, I've read reports that lawyers may charge up to 7% of the value of an estate to conduct probate through the courts for a farang will. I can't comment on the validity of those reports but it might be worth asking questions, if you have the chance.

 

Finally finally: some posters have set aside an amount of transition money in an account that is accessible by both parties, that's money to be used in the event of demise that will sustain the partner for x months, during which time probate can be enacted - I think that's a very good approach and I have done similar. Maybe something to consider.

 

How does one get a hold of Khun Sumalee ?

9 hours ago, brain150 said:

Nice ... taking the highest in August at 1,548 instead of the actual number of 1,436 as of now.

Makes numbers look much nicer and hides the fact that Set has lost just 100 points in the last 2 weeks ... that's just 7% loss in 2 weeks.

 

But it makes people happy even if it's all fake.

Did you even read the article? His comment follows the drop in the SET from 1548 to 1430 as he clearly and correctly stated  as being nothing out of the ordinary for traders to sell off their stocks and take profits. This is how the market moves and has done so many times in the past only to move higher once a bottom has been found. An astute investor would take this as an buying opportunity to buy following these sell offs. Take note of the recent movements in the DOW as an example. Are you sure your forum name is  displayed correctly as brain150 and should maybe have been displayed as braindead?

At full capacity the airport will be handling a flight every 2 minutes. Pity anyone who owns a house in Hangdong or Nimmanheman. Better get used to wearing ear plugs or move out of the city.

Do they actually have a decibel meter? And do they know what the legal limit is? Do they know what a decibel is?

I changed my Scrambler exhaust to a Termignoni. I keep the baffle inside and measured with the phone about 90 dB but phones have crappy mics and another guy with a proper meter measured 84dB from a 50 feet distance which I think is a bit far but well within the 95dB limit in Thailand. To go from 84 to 95 is actually a tenfold increase.

And my exhaust is pretty audible. I try to not ride it in the night in order to not upset any neighbours. But it's not as loud as some Thai scooters...

Anyone know of a shop here in Chiangmai where one could purchase an internal baffle and install it in the pipes of a customized exhaust system?

I know that there is no perfect place. I don't expect perfection but from what I have learned from my research and in country experience is that Thailand is less and less welcoming. I realize this a general statement and I have met some very nice Thai people over the years. But even the ones I have come really close to I find there is always an invisible barrier. I will never be Thai to them and thus never an equal. I know this exist in other cultures and it certainly exist in my own. Also I have traveled all over Thailand not just the sex tourist locations. There are parts of the country I truly love. But you should never confuse the words " I love you" with "I want to marry you". Thailand is a lot of fun. For me personally, it is best as a vacation destination and not a permanent home.

Oh by the way cost of living does play a role in my decision as well but it is not the deciding factor.

Yes I agree Thailand has changed since I first came here in 1993. The Thai fascination with foreigners is more normal now like a common event and not like before when many Thai would gather around to get a glimpse of the tallish white skinned strangers amongst their midst. What would one expect after so many years of being exposed to westerners? It is just as welcoming as before but Thai realize that it is also an opportunity to make money just as we do with tourism in our home countries. I have many Thai acquaintances and they treat me as a good friend equal to how they treat their Thai friends with hugs, handshakes and/or traditional Thai wai.

By the way this invisible barrier you speak of exists to a great extent possibly because you cannot speak the thai language effectively or maybe not at all? You will probably find the same wherever you go if they speak a different language other than your mother tongue.

I wonder if she was a natural blonde that dyed her hair a different color? hmmmmm..........

The sad truth is, that there are many like him running around in this country and thinking how invincible

they're, until they end up in a mess like this....

and beside, doing steroids and wowing women for what? for cooking together? coz that's all you

really can do with a woman when you do steroids, your sex life is pretty much in the crapper....

Just the opposite happens when you are on steroids. Since your testosterone level is many times higher than normal it's not too difficult to become aroused.

It's a very good question and I understand your dilemma. The first thing I would say to you is that your age is part of your problem. Thai women usually are looking for an older man if they are in the market for a falang. Over 50 means being able to stay in Thailand indefinitely as a retiree and is generally accepted that you have the funds to do so.

Being young most Thai would naturally assume you are here for a short vacation and then back home. If I were you I would look for a private thai tutor to begin with as they are usually university educated or at the very least a student. From there you can mention that you are interested in meeting a compatible Thai lady and perhaps they might have some interesting connections you can benefit from. One might want to seek out an attractive tutor as well as it seems that sometimes good looking ladies like to hang out with other good looking ladies increasing your odds.

Good luck.

Just played a gig at Papa Rock in CM....

Wasn't there but heard it was good...

.

Your source of information must be living in another dimension. Bumblefoot doesn't play Papa Rock until Feb. 5th. LOL

Thailand's economy expected to be in very bad shape in the coming year. not a good time? What are your sources?

IMF has stated Thailand's GDP will rise in the coming year.

1. you are about 4 years+ too late.

2, Air BnB is in a tough position in Thailand - see news. also many AirBnB falangs were busted by immigration for renting w/o work permit, not paying taxes, etc...

3. Thailand's economy expected to be in very bad shape in the coming year. not a good time.

4. consider other options; securities...

The lantern release is on the 25th which is today at 9:00 P.M. https://www.google.com/maps/dir/%E0%B8%98%E0%B8%B8%E0%B8%94%E0%B8%87%E0%B8%84%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%96%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%A5%E0%B9%89%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%B2+%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%B3%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%A0%E0%B8%AD+%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%97%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A2+%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%8A%E0%B8%B5%E0%B8%A2%E0%B8%87%E0%B9%83%E0%B8%AB%E0%B8%A1%E0%B9%88+Thailand/Soi+Phra+Pok+Klao+12,+Amphoe+Mueang+Chiang+Mai,+Chang+Wat+Chiang+Mai+50200,+Thailand/@18.910938,99.013139,14z/data=!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x30da232d2627caad:0x3cae048a5260e84c!2m2!1d99.0135941!2d18.911916!1m5!1m1!1s0x30da3a98f68e44c9:0x926b75f2f39ef796!2m2!1d98.9889875!2d18.7894269!3e0?hl=en-CA

IMO, you should abandon the idea of living in the countryside. Not becoz of its merits/demerits but the wife will be bored out of her skull in one week. When out of town, one is far too dependent on car to find ANYTHING. Oh, maybe a noodle shop down the road but if i know the Filipina ladies they NEED heavy duty socializing, esp on Sunday.

Depends on what you want. For some living in the heart of the tourist area can become a little annoying at times with noise pollution, congestion, parking and obnoxious tourists being the major complaints. Sure Philipinos like to have their social gatherings, and so that will have to be a consideration, but for me if I had a Filipina for a wife I would prefer to keep her away from the Philipino community. Why, because once she establishes connections with the rest of the Philipino community it will be harder for her to tear herself away from her group to mingle with the general expat community and having her friends around all the time can become a little nerve racking for a guy that is looking for a little peace and quiet in retirement.

Having said that living only just 10 kilometres out of the downtown core you will find secure gated communities with cheap rent and sporting amenities within from swimming pools and gyms to tennis and badminton courts. Sure you will need transportation but you will probably need it anyway unless you want to be lugging your groceries home all the time and sweating in the hot sun.

Some come here to live as cheap as they can. Others come here because they can afford more luxuries than back home. Just depends on your preferred life style I guess. Just my 2 cents.