AlexRich

Thanks OP for comments,especially its source

At my age its hard to pull a rubber on once the initial urge has passed,but I do get checked out regularly and after years of unprotected sex,save for warts twice ,nothing to register,so as earlier posted it appears as virtually impossible for heterosexual relationship for man to pick up HIV, not to say its impossible,but highly unlikely

I'm no expert, but I understand that in Africa the problem affects a large percentage of heterosexuals, men and women. So condoms are very necessary for heterosexuals as well. Better to be safe than sorry I reckon.

One of the posters referred to the British Council ... I think they would be good. However, if you learn a language alongside other foreigners you tend to pick up the collective groups bad habits. As long as you are also speaking to her in English (slowly, BBC newsreader style) every day she should pick it up fairly quickly. If you speak English with a local dialect, you need to consciously amend it. Good luck.

Take a trip "up North" to Isaan territory, have a look at Udon Thani, there is a good chance a dusky maiden from that area has already chosen you, you just dont know it yet

If you take a look at a map the thing that jumps out about Udon is the excellent parks - most places have nothing like them. They're really nice for daily use, and within Isaan there's obviously massive national parks for longer trips. There are at least two "western" gyms, Your Fitness and Fitness First, and they're both in/next to UD Town, which is a pretty substantial shopping mall complex. You might be a wee bit limited at night, though. If you're in and out regularly timing it so your December-January "in" leads to 90 days in Udon, with the rest in Chiang Mai, might mean more to do most of the year, with clean air during the burning season.

A bit off topic ... is Udon Thani clean during the burning season? No haze/pollution?

Which part of Europe is USA in?

The Upper Swedish Arctic

You both seem to be confused or delusional.

The USA has dominated Europe since the 1940s when they saved their butts from the Hitler,

Just before they saved Asia from Japan.

What part of USA is Europe?

Confused and delusional, maybe. I tried a joke but you took it seriously. Up to you.

Re saving butts and Hitler, since we somewhat are into history.

I'd say that the butt saving was hardly singled handed by the US, several took part in that.

Now, about saving butts:

Sure US put a lot of effort into that, for a price. Every damned bullet, tank, aircraft, ship, soldier was paid for by the UK government.

A very few years back when Mr Gordon Brown was the UK Minister of Finance he paid the very last installment back to the US for their war time efforts.

The butt saving effort ended favourably for most tastes.

The US mercenaries were decently paid.

Most people concerned were comfortable with the result.

No free lunches, not during the 2nd WW either.

(note, my comment is purely about the war time effort, not about the post war efforts)

He forgot to mention that they also saved Vietnam from Communism, or not as the case may be. The first time they go it alone they get their buts kicked.

Which part of Europe is USA in?

They meant before 1812 ...

Thais appear to immediately recognise countries like US, England, Germany, France quite well ... but struggle with Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Belgium, etc. I don't think many could point any of them out on the map though, even the ones they'd heard of. They ask and then smile, nod and look a bit puzzled.

I don't mind ... I guess kids in school focus more on ASEAN?

I think Chiang Mai is good for 10 months of the year, the period outside the burning season. Plenty of outdoor activities and pretty decent malls and food locations. Nightlife is okay but is not like Pattaya or Bangkok. If you have access to a vehicle you can also spend some time in the Chiang Rai region, great for exploring the countryside and mountains. No beaches though, so that might be an issue.

When referring to the nightlife.. Are you referring to the opera, live theater or a major artist concert? No? I didn't think so. No really good nightlife here in Chiang Mai City.

You'll rarely find these things outside of a capital city, unless you are in Europe. You forgot Ballet, Museums and Art Galleries, and major Exhibitions. The Op never mentioned that he had a taste for these activities, so I presumed they were not high on his list of priorities.

Chiang Mai has a mix of bars, restaurants and cinemas, markets with the odd cultural event. There was a Jazz Festival last year, for example.

awful smoke today and yesterday, me and my family have become ill, awful coughs, sore throats, eyes are red and irritated. I wish I could find those 3m filters that seem to be out of stock everywhere. Not worth going outside at this point...

I bought a 3M 95 mask today from a chemist in the basement of the Maya Shopping Centre. It was not a Boots or a Watsons ... looks like a Body Shop type of shop [but not Body Shop] ... it was next door to a conventional chemist (Boots, I think) close to the doughnut cafe place.

I think Chiang Mai is good for 10 months of the year, the period outside the burning season. Plenty of outdoor activities and pretty decent malls and food locations. Nightlife is okay but is not like Pattaya or Bangkok. If you have access to a vehicle you can also spend some time in the Chiang Rai region, great for exploring the countryside and mountains. No beaches though, so that might be an issue.

I bought a 3M N95 mask today in a chemist at the basement of the Maya Shopping Centre. Haze is high today so I will keep wearing it outdoors until it clears, hopefully in April.

I'm not as pessimistic about the future for the younger generation, they're not dying at the Somme or Gallipoli, or being exterminated in concentration camps. There is the terror threat of course, but you are more likely to die at the wheel of a car than at the hands of a terrorist. This too, shall pass. I suspect they will find a way to progress like all the generations that came before them. We're an enduring lot, us humans.

I would guess that it refers to many of the unique Thai traits that bind the country together...

One example might be the familial aspect, such as referring to your waitress as "younger sister" - anyone can be called, younger sister, older brother/sister, the lady who sells the soup can be "aunite" whether a relative or not.

And ... allegedly, your boyfriend can be called "cousin". :-)

Thanks everyone for the information. I'll head for Thapae Gate and invest in a mask just to be on the safe side. But from what i'm hearing I might just be okay.

The burning season is not as bad as being around so-called "smokers" who feel it is their god given right to foist cigarette smoke on all and sundry. At least for me. And being very active the typical traffic smoke/exhaust in Bangkok is worse. I once walked from Silom road to Sukhumvit and I have never blown more black crap out my nose. Perhaps walking around all day in in Hong Kong is worse, where eyes and throat literally burn from exhaust fumes.

Do not want to mimimize the health effects of the burning season but it it is impossible to predict what the increased mortality or disease will be for any one person. Unless you stay in sealed room for months you will be taking an abnormal amount of particulate matter into your lungs , It is certainly not healthful.

That being said some people are bothered more than others. I find it to be more like a bad smell, it never goes away even at night, and is accompanied by the blistering heat of the season which makes daytime outdoor activities unpleasant. I still ride bicycles a couple hours a day with no burning throat or eyes, and I have not used masks.

Cigarette smoke is much much worse.

Don't know if the OP is bothered by the burning season or has ever experienced it but if so it would be better to not come to Chiang Mai or anywhere in the North until it is over.

I was in Kuala Lumpur for one month last year and the pollution and haze was terrible; I was ill within three days and barely recovered before it came back again. So I am wary of haze after that experience. But as some have commented the situation in Chiang Mai may not be that bad in 2016, so it may not be an issue. The AQI indicators have been "moderate" ... I suspect that Kuala Lumpur was much worse than this as visibility was very poor.

It's actually one of the better years so far. By all means keep an eye on things, but it's not too bad. (and I'm someone who goes for a holiday when it does get bad.)

Thanks for the feedback. I heard that it clears up before Songkran so I only have a few weeks to be concerned about. If it continues to be clear then I won't worry to much about a mask.

Does anyone know where in Chiang Mai I can buy an industrial mask to protect me from the effects of haze during burning season? I will be in Chiang Mai soon and want to protect myself as much as possible.

Thanks in advance.

My favourite is The Roast Coffee in Chiang Rai. The cafe is very small but the young owner is a real coffee connoisseur and they combine great ingredients with the right equipment and technique.

Just to confirm that the Thai Consulate in Bali is open for business. I arrived this morning (Monday), passed them my details (as detailed in original op post) and was told to collect the passport with visa on Wednesday afternoon. To confirm, a three day process.

So the biggest mafia wants other mafias to turn themselves in?

I used to speak regularly to a lovely girl who worked in Starbucks. One day I noticed her name on the badge was "Prik" ... I didn't have the heart!

But I quite like chuu len ... nicknames, as the tend to be easy to remember.

I wonder if when I die at home of natural causes Pattaya One will come around and trample through my house, take a photo of my corpse and report it as news for my grieving relatives to see?

It acts as an incentive to wear a clean pair of underpants every day. And although your passing will be from natural causes, the forums will be ablaze with alternative theories ...

But on a serious note, there is an appalling lack of respect for the dead in Thailand. Perhaps the attitude to death is connected to the culture or religion?

Nevertheless, RIP Mr.

a lot good that'd do you. People shit themselves when they die. Guess you could always do enemas to help keep the undies clean.

Noted. I'll stock up on incontinence underwear in my twilight years. :-)

I'm hanging out here for a few years ... so far so good. Like the previous commentators, I like the weather, the relaxed atmosphere, the food, the generally pleasant people and pretty much anything that I need I can find here.

I don't mind too much the visa requirements and use it as an opportunity to check out - so far - Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia. i'm in Bali next week for a few weeks and then off to Chiang Mai.

I don't have any bad experiences to report but I am aware that Thailand has a dark side ... so I recognise it, and take steps to avoid being caught up in it. I personally don't mind people raising negative aspects ... for a person new to Thailand it can be quite helpful.

Everywhere has a dark side. Especially some places in the country everyone seems to want to go.

I quite agree. And your enjoyment of Thailand will be enhanced if you are aware of them and take steps to avoid them. And that's why i don't mind people bringing up the negatives, some information can be helpful.

I wonder if when I die at home of natural causes Pattaya One will come around and trample through my house, take a photo of my corpse and report it as news for my grieving relatives to see?

It acts as an incentive to wear a clean pair of underpants every day. And although your passing will be from natural causes, the forums will be ablaze with alternative theories ...

But on a serious note, there is an appalling lack of respect for the dead in Thailand. Perhaps the attitude to death is connected to the culture or religion?

Nevertheless, RIP Mr.

I know what you mean, but turning it on its head, perhaps some wonder why we Westerners try so hard to hide from the realities of death?

Agreed. We all pass on eventually. I don't mind my photograph in the Thai Media if I have a 'Mexican Suicide' (found asleep on a chair), but I'd not be too pleased if I went like Elvis Presley (on the throne). The only thing I want to know is where I will die. And then I'll make sure I never go there.

The date the visa starts and the date of entry to Thailand are different things.

All Thai visas are valid from the date you receive the visa from the consulate.

They may have an "must enter before date" which is when they expire.

When you enter Thailand the visa is considered "used" an d you will get a "permitted to stay" stamp in your passport from the day you enter Thailand.

So if you get a visa from the consulate it may have a "must enter before" date which is the date before you must "use" it by entering Thailand with that visa.

If you enter one day before that date....and your visa is good for a 60 day....you will get a "permitted to stay stamp" in your passport for 60 days from the day you enter Thailand.

The "must enter before" date and your "permitted to stay" stamp are different things.

The OP and I will be in Bali at some point in the near future. We want to get a tourist visa for Thailand in Bali. The question is what steps do we have to take, how much will it cost, and what documentation do we need? Additional information, like, for example, checking that the Consulate is open, is relevant and useful.

The technical details of how a visa works, and the legal definition of terms used in the visa together with the powers of immigration officers, may be interesting for some, but not really relevant to the information required by us. But thanks anyway.

The consulates twitter page is still available. No new tweets since one in December announcing holiday closure. If it was closed I think they would put up an announcement. See: https://twitter.com/RTCatDPS

Thanks Joe, hope you're right.