lannarebirth

The farmers that supply the food (the ones I know) generally grow two crops. One for sale in Chiengmai and one for local consumption. The chemical rich crops go to Chiengmai. Very few rural Thais will buy strawberries, cucumbers, garlic, watermelon......etc. in CM. They know what was sprayed upon it. Although it does look 'picture perfect'.

So what do you suggest to do about vegetables for people who live in Chiang Mai and want to get stuff that isnt as heavily sprayed with pesticides?

I would and do buy vegetables from Doi Khum (Kings Project). They have a store at the corner of Suthep Road and the Klong Road (NW corner).

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recent...region/Asia.php

http://www.iris.edu/seismon/

Thailand coup 'a U turn,' but not a regional threat: Rice

An ignoramous on the scale of Condolezzie Rice .....

I agree, but for someone who has done a degree in Russian and is a concert pianist one would think she would know better ?

She DOES know better - at speaking Russian and playing the piano... nothing to do with her current job of course!

Seriously though - for CR to say that an elected governement would reflect the desires of the people, and presumably she is inferring that the coup leaders do not, is to be so out of touch with the Thai people as to be laughable.

Perhaps what she learned at university may not have sunk in sufficiently enough to allow her to understand that what happened here actually IS the will of the people. Seeing the world from the perspective of someone who dos not live here and has no idea of the way things work here means that it is simply impossible to understand why the coup should have such popular support.

I would also remind you that His Majesty, our beloved King Bhumibol immediately recognised the military governement. He is a great and wise leader, and Thailand is incredibly fortunate to have such a monarch at it's head.

To criticise the very people who have worked to solve the problems we faced under the Taksin regime is a dangerous occupation, and one that simply distances the US Admin from reality even more...

Love her or hate her, Condeleeza Rice is an extremely capable individual who, in her current job is charged with the promotion of democratic societies globally. Reasonable people can argue whether or not that's a worthy goal, but it's beside the point.

The recent coup is a failure of democratic principles, who the person you menton is strongly for. All parties fully realize that what starts out well, may at any time veer off course and create instability for the nation, it's people and the region. One could hardly expect that the rhetoric from abroad would be anything but negative and urgent. The4se are very important days and the more that pass without a reversion to civilian government, the more dangerous they become.

I wish peace and wisdom to the Thai people and their leaders.

it is not a question of love or hate: she is working in a mass murder not democratic elected gouverment. TV should not even spend a minute to show her criminal face. She should suggest a military coup in USA and keep silent about thailand.

That's a lot of loathing you got there. I hope you find another, suitable outlet for it when that administrtaion is gone in 2 years.

Here, near Chiang Mai, many people plant Morning Glory (pak boong) in their fish ponds. The fish use it for shade, I believe they can eat it too, and of course, you can certainly eat it yourself.

Only in Thailand and Issan do the poor who beg for money think they are the best.

You would seem to be a good example of this claim, but I don't think it follows that all your fellow Issanites are as avaricious and lazy.

Thailand coup 'a U turn,' but not a regional threat: Rice

An ignoramous on the scale of Condolezzie Rice .....

I agree, but for someone who has done a degree in Russian and is a concert pianist one would think she would know better ?

She DOES know better - at speaking Russian and playing the piano... nothing to do with her current job of course!

Seriously though - for CR to say that an elected governement would reflect the desires of the people, and presumably she is inferring that the coup leaders do not, is to be so out of touch with the Thai people as to be laughable.

Perhaps what she learned at university may not have sunk in sufficiently enough to allow her to understand that what happened here actually IS the will of the people. Seeing the world from the perspective of someone who dos not live here and has no idea of the way things work here means that it is simply impossible to understand why the coup should have such popular support.

I would also remind you that His Majesty, our beloved King Bhumibol immediately recognised the military governement. He is a great and wise leader, and Thailand is incredibly fortunate to have such a monarch at it's head.

To criticise the very people who have worked to solve the problems we faced under the Taksin regime is a dangerous occupation, and one that simply distances the US Admin from reality even more...

Love her or hate her, Condeleeza Rice is an extremely capable individual who, in her current job is charged with the promotion of democratic societies globally. Reasonable people can argue whether or not that's a worthy goal, but it's beside the point.

The recent coup is a failure of democratic principles, who the person you menton is strongly for. All parties fully realize that what starts out well, may at any time veer off course and create instability for the nation, it's people and the region. One could hardly expect that the rhetoric from abroad would be anything but negative and urgent. The4se are very important days and the more that pass without a reversion to civilian government, the more dangerous they become.

I wish peace and wisdom to the Thai people and their leaders.

If the junta puts a competent government in place they would change their tune. They, the US, need liberal policies in telecoms and banking sectors. TRT government was stalling liberasation and FTA was turning into a PR mightmare.

Generals might talk less, do more, and face less hostility internally than the previous government.

Thailand signed an absolutely horrendous FTA with Australia. Basically, it opened up the Thai agriculture industry to competition from Australian interests, putting 100's of thousands of Thai jobs at possible risk. Australia opened up satellite telecommunications for Australia (SURPRISE!) to Thai business interests. It should come as no surprise that the USA will try to shove an FTA down Thailands throat that will be well skewed to it's own interests and not to those of the majority of Thais. Only time will tell if whatever new government Thailand comes up with, will work in the interests of the Thai majority, or in the self interest of high ranking officials and their cronies.

This year, the Loy Krathong festivities fall on 4 and 5 November, with the 5th being the full moon day of the twelfth lunar month, and the day when most of the festivities happen ("Loy Kathong Yai").

With this enforcement of the Visa Law, one might consider three month in Laos,

You can stay longer than 15 days in Laos now?

Hi all. Any recommendations on used car dealers in Chiangers, (besides drowning them all).. Looking at 200,000 to 350,000 range.. Cheers.

Can't recommend any particular place as Used Car dealers throughout the world share the samne reputation.

There are many Used Car yards on Rattanakosin Rd between the Municipal Sports Stadium and the River. From Changpuak Gate head towards Mae Rim for about 500-700 metres and take a right at the Changpuak Bus Station, continue straight ahead past the stadium, the yards are on the right.

I walked into one of these lots a few years back and was just floored as I watched the Indian owner helping his mechanic turn back the odometer on a late model truck. He didn't seem the least bit disturbed that I was watching him, and when he was done he came over to see how he might be of service to me. Buy new, or maybe from a farang who has to leave town suddenly is my suggestion.

Thanks everyone for the Italian restaurant tips. I'm going to give that Buonissimo a try.

and Suthep Steve: GREAT idea for the vegetarian website. I personally love this one, run by my friends Khun Pyack and his wife Khun Eeyoo.

http://www.chiangmaivegetarian.com/Restaurants/index.php

The "Vegetarian Thai Orchid" v08 on the map. Delicious food and really inexpensive.

I hear a lot of people recommending Khun Churn here, and I have to say it's probably the worst vegetarian restaurant I've tried here. The food tastes like cardboard IMO. Thanks again.

I don't think that Thailand needs US aid (military or other) so badly that the kingdom will fail without a few dozen million dollars. Of course, wasn't 90% of the tsunami aid from "America" private, not from the national treasury?

I seem to recall the prior American ambassador say that the US aid included educational money used to coordinate something. He first came to Thailand as a Peace Corps teacher of English. How many ex Peace Corps hippies do we have here? Ask not what your country can do for you......I met a Peace Corps worker in a northern province a few years ago; she was a professor of education in the USA.

When Thailand was surrounded and infiltrated by communists,(both Vietnamese and Chinese sponsored) it was the King who asked for and accepted Americas aid. When the King no longer wished them here, they were asked to leave, which they did. It was the wisest use of the American military I've ever seen.

I'd say your luck will one day run out using the "no fare" option. If ever in this situation again, you should at the very least pay the minimum fare which would be on any meter.

Kasikorn Asset Management Co. chairman Piyasawasti Amranand predicted that economic growth next year will outpace that of this year, which is expected to expand 4.5 per cent if the interim government to be appointed by the Council for Democratic Reform under Constitutional Monarchy comprises high-caliber persons acceptable to the public.

All speculation of course, but even if true, 4.5% growth is actually negative growth (recession/depression) if 6% + inflation remains.

For people in Thailand it is a lot easier.

Just use coconut oil, pour it in your tank and you're ready.

No messing with ethanol/methanol.

Coconut oil will keep fluid with temperaturs like in Thailand, and it is the best of the best biodiesel you can get.

Do a search on coconut biodiesel and phillipines. A guy there has a business already for a few years in coconut biodiesel.

Just what are the legal issues in Thailand regards production of biodiesel - can I just start making the stuff, or are there a set of admin/legal hurdles I have to jump through.

If I did - it would only be for my own use. Keep my mouth shut and just get on it with it (???)

Anyone know what's up from a legal perspective?

Tim

Hi Tim,

I grow a few rai of sabudam (Jatropha) which the ag dept is really pushing right now. I did it at the insistance of my girlfriend, but it is my belief that is far more expensive to harvest and process it, than it is to simply buy diesel. Sabudam does make a good living fence for livestock however and you might consider it for that purpose. Then maybe you get some utility from the trees mitigating your expense for the biodiesel, glycerine, and fertilizer the sabudam yields. edit- Sorry, there are no legal issues for personal use.

And, as for Loom's suggestion to basically "hunt and gather" - that's fine for those property seekers who want to live outside the beaten track, but many of us want at least some semblence of "security" that a gated community might provide. That is what I was referring to in an earlier post, regarding the seemingly overnight 60% increase in property and building costs in some of the newer developments, particularly between the airport and Hang Dong.

What I truly want to know is: how sound of an investment is Chiang Mai real estate at the current rates? And, can MOST property buyers/house builders, at best, get back (if they decide to sell) what they invest?

Hi Tom,

I have a house in one of those developments between the airport and Hang Dong and it's value has not increased 60% overnight. It's worth about 4 million and it's in a development of 3 - 12 million baht homes. If I had to sell it in 2 days I could get 3.5 million easily. Could it go down to 3 million or 2.5 million if the economy weakened? Sure it might, but that's really not much risk. compared to the fact it's in a good location in the nations second largest city, whose population is becoming better educated and more prosperous by the year.

You know Tom, I trade stocks for a living and it's really hard for me, as I see most of the things I trade being without much intrinsic value. Compared to most places I've ever been (and probably where you're from too), I find land and homes here are dirt cheap and I'd be very surprised if that remained the case. I'm not saying you should speculate in real estate Tom, but everyone has to live somewhere and if you pay a little bit over or a little bit under present market value it's really not going to matter much later is it?

Well, it's kind of a silly poll, but it does highlight one interesting thing. It seems 2.4% of the population would prefer a dishonest Prime Minister.

Hello out there,

Yes.. I am an American. While I constantly feel the need to apologize for the behaviors of some of my countrymen, I'm actually quite proud of this fact.

I'm a 23 year old female expat/student who is currently working in Iraq, but I've taken three months off to do studies on the violence against Buddhist teachers in the south. Low and behold, the day I book my ticket, there is a military coup. My intention now is to focus on the sociological impact of a bloodless revolution in a developing country.

Generally, before ever entering a country, I learn the language sufficiently so as to not depend on English. Unfortunately, due to time constraints, this won't be possible. I hope to get a trustworthy interpreter in Bangkok.

I will be arriving in two weeks with my camera, laptop, cell phone, pool cue, five changes of clothes and an open mind.

Hi OP,

Might I suggest your 3 months might be better spent studying Thai language, Thai history, Thai culture and The Thai monarchy. Then, later, when you have more time, you can come back and conduct your study of the bloodless revolution. I think you'll find your insights may be better, given the background you'll learn and you have the advantage of perspective that the passage of time brings. I think you'll also find that Thailand is a rather unique country, and what happens here may not be applicable elsewhere.

If you do press on anyway, might I suggest you get a native English speaker who is fluent in Thai, rather than a Thai interpreter. I have never used a Thai interpreter that didn't convey what he thinks I must have really meant and come back with what he thinks I would prefer to hear. Good luck to you.

Spotlight on ex-Thai PM's assets

POSTED: 1157 GMT (1957 HKT), September 24, 2006

BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) -- Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra may have whisked some of his assets out of the country aboard two aircraft days before a military coup ousted him from power, airline officials said Sunday.

An official from Thai Airways International, who demanded anonymity because company policy did not allow him to speak to the press, said he wanted the new ruling military council to investigate the incidents.

Speculation has been rife in Thailand that Thaksin may have sneaked money out of the country in the days leading up to the coup, but there has been no confirmation from the council.

Thaksin departed for Finland to begin a foreign tour on September 9, loading up his government-assigned aircraft with 58 large suitcases and trunks, the official of the national carrier said.

The prime minister's aircraft, named Thai Koofah, was then inexplicably left parked in Finland for more than a week as Thaksin continued on his trip on other transportation.

A second aircraft carrying 56 suitcases -- an Airbus 340-600 -- was dispatched from Bangkok to meet up with the prime minister just days before the coup, the Thai Airways official said.

Another official in the airline industry, requesting anonymity because of the issue's sensitivity, confirmed the second flight, saying it left on September 17 -- two days before the military toppled Thaksin in a bloodless coup.

It was unclear why Thaksin needed a second aircraft when his own plane was already assigned to fly him to Europe and the United States.

Speculation has surfaced about whether Thaksin knew of the coup in advance and moved some of his vast assets out of the country.

Asked about Thaksin taking his assets abroad, ruling military council spokesman Lt. Gen. Palanggoon Klaharn responded: "No comment. I can't comment on that."

Thailand's new ruling military council says it will launch an investigation into alleged wrongdoing under Thaksin's government, which critics charge was riddled with massive corruption and abuse of power.

A spokeswoman for the airline said she was not aware of the incident "and even if it is true, Thai Airways would only report it to the (council), not to the media." She said company policy did not allow her to use her name.

The Thai Airways official said it was not known what was taken aboard the second aircraft because only Thaksin's aides, citing security concerns, were allowed to supervise the loading.

"I want the (military) council to investigate this because we, the employees of Thai Airways International, believe that Thaksin exploited the company through his power as prime minister by using a company airplane to transport his assets out of the country," the official said.

Air force spokesman Capt. Pongsak Semachai said the Thai Koofar aircraft arrived back in Thailand several days ago, but declined to give the exact date.

Earlier, one of Thaksin's staunchest opponents, publishing tycoon Sondhi Limthongkul, alleged the former leader had chartered two Russian aircraft to take some of his assets out of Thailand.

Sondhi, a key leader of mass street demonstrations against Thaksin earlier this year, made the allegations on his weekly television program a week before Thaksin departed for Finland and repeated them the following week.

Rumors of such an airlift by Russian aircraft have continued to circulate in the international airline community in Bangkok but could not be confirmed.

Thaksin's family is among the wealthiest in Thailand, and in 2004 the American magazine Forbes ranked Thaksin as the 16th richest man in Southeast Asia.

In January, the then-prime minister sold the centerpiece of his empire -- telecoms giant Shin Corp. -- to Singapore's state investment company, Temasek Holdings, for a tax-free 73.3 billion baht (US$1.9 billion; euro1.55 billion).

The head of the country's central bank, Pridiyathorn Devakul, has said the proceeds from the sale were probably still in Thailand.

"I estimate that no large amount of Thai baht has been converted into overseas currencies. However, I don't know whether the money could have been packed in suitcases and taken abroad," he said last week.

Thaksin and one of his children have stayed in London since the coup, while his wife and two other children remain in Thailand.

Thai PM will return, says his astrologer

By Sebastien Berger in Ban Mi

(Filed: 23/09/2006)

The astrologer of the ousted Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra said he had foreseen his demise — but also his return to power within little more than 18 months.

Phra Khru Wichitsuthakarn, 64, is the abbot of a monastery around two hours north of Bangkok, and one of the kingdom's foremost soothsayers.

Phra Khru Wichitsuthakarn

His last consultation with the ex-prime minister was by telephone two weeks before Tuesday's bloodless coup that removed him from power.

"When it's an important situation he will call me for a suggestion," the monk said in his office at Wat Khang Khao, or "Bat Temple".

"I warned him before the coup to be careful, there will be enemies who want to attack you but they won't kill or hurt you. After this period, be careful of the revolution."

The week before the coup, launched by the head of the armed forces, an attempt was allegedly made to assassinate Mr Thaksin with a bomb.

"I suggested he change where he sleeps, where he stays, and that he go travelling temporarily," the monk said. "Of course he believed it. He went outside Bangkok and stayed in the villages; he went abroad."

The abbot glossed over the fact that his advice had not saved the prime minister's job. "He couldn't stop the revolution happening — it has to happen this way," he said.

In the months leading up to the coup, Mr Thaksin had grown increasingly unpopular, with critics accusing him of using his position to increase his wealth and of failing to cope with a Muslim insurgency in the south.

The army finally moved against Mr Thaksin while he was in New York at the UN.

But Phra Khru Wichitsuthakarn said the bad influence would wane from April 16 next year, "and he will be the prime minister again".

His prediction will be carefully noted by Thais, the vast majority of whom subscribe to various superstitions. The monk said Gen Sonthi Boonyaratglin, the coup leader, visited him some years ago.

His revelations came as the leaders of the coup were given formal royal approval in a special televised ceremony.

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It's a pity the monk didn't see fit to lay some dhamma on the former PM, rather than the soothsaying.

A friend of mine did a study of Merril Lynch Buy/Sell recommendations(as they're notorious liars). If one bought when they issued a sell warning and sold when they issued a buy, you could more than double the market return. That said, I have no idea what the Thai market may do here, but if I were wagering, I'd guess an initial move that strongly reverses. Up to down, or down to up, I know not.

Don't just take my word for it: http://www.donttrustmerrilllynch.com/pages/1/index.htm

Unfortunatly I like many other pickup owners are stuck with medevil leaf springs ( cart springs ) They might have been ok for Ben herr's chariot but I can't believe in this day and age we're forsed to still be useing the bledy things, anyway my point is, looking at mine they are dry and rusty, in europe I would oil them but here with the dust everywhere Im not sure it's a good idear, do I leave them dry but clean or oily and coverd in dust ? what would you do ?

If you feel its a problem oil grease and wrap them, but be aware that springs are designed to operate under the conditions you state, you could end up jumping everywhere

If one wanted to be even more anal about it, they could affix sacrificial zinc anodes to the springs. Me, I'd just let'em rust.

Yes, there are soldiers in Chiang Mai. There are many bases here and soldiers can be found at most major intersections. It is a very benign presence IMO. Yesterday my girlfriend visited one group in Mae Rim and brought them flowers and fruit, which trhey seemed to appreciate. They also seem to know they are well supported by the citizenry.

Sorry guys. I forgot to mention that I have lived here for 8 years on a work permit that I will have to change soon. I am not a newbie. I am just wondering if I will have to pay a fine when I leave the country because I have never done a 90 day check in. EVER. Hope this helps you answer my question.

You have been making annual trips to Immigration for your one year extensions to your Non Immigrant visa, correct?