farangcm

Before I used CSLox with a tt&t line. Then CSLox technical support was quite good and they always called you back. They also had a nice office on Canal road, but now I don't think there is a Chiangmai office, only business partners, and I called one of those and they didn't know anything about CSLox adsl service. So now, unless things have changed again, you have to call Bangkok to get CSLox service or call tt&t, whose support I find is terrible: they never call me back!

More than half of the problems with CSLox turned out to be tt&t problems. That is when I decided to change to CAT Hinet. I can't easily get rid of the weak link, tt&t, so might as well go with a much faster speed and lower price. I still have outages, and usually now I don't even bother to call tt&t, I just wait an hour, or maybe several, and the service comes back. The speed is up and down but averages much higher than 256k.

It sounds reasonable, any details on the location of the small shop as CM-Lamphun is quite a long road. Many thanks!

The shop is on Chiangmai-Lumphun about 2 kilo past Siriwatana (where Mahidol road crosses). There is a bridge where a highway goes underneath, then the shop is just before the PTT service station, both on the West side. There is usually some furniture visible outside waiting for repair. It is just a little room. I did copy their phone number, but I haven't used it: 053-424-915.

But there are also places in Got Luang (farang call it Walarot--I call it Chiangmai's Chinatown ), where the upholsterer had to go to buy the tarp, so it may be more convenient to just have it done there. I wouldn't expect much price difference.

The tarp is black (I think a pea green is the only other color available) and is pretty rain resistant but now I wish he had made the tarp a little bigger so that it hangs down over the sides more. I think that would keep water out better, and is the way they do it at that Hong Dong Accessory store. The tarp may be a little more because your truck bed is probably larger than the one on my NV Queen cab.

I wanted some kind of "tonneau" cover for a Nissan NV. I stopped at some place on Hong Dong Highway (maybe PPS), but they only make covers for full-size pickups. They suggested that I go to an upholsterer and have them make one. I used a small shop on Chiangmai-Lumphun and they made a tarp that attaches with velcro. It cost 500 baht for the material and 500 for the sewing and installation.

I have been transferring money to Krungthai bank this way for a few years. I deposit a personal check which they exchange to Thai baht at the current rate. The exchange fee is 203 baht per item. It used to take a month before the money was available, but now it is usually available in a couple of weeks--but sometimes I still have to remind them to remove the hold.

I paid my first visit to Ram hospital today following concerns about a persistent chest ache.

Since settling in Chiang Mai my overall impression gleaned from various sources was how good Ram Hospital was. Expensive with up to date treatments and good standards of care and service, as befits a top Thai hospital catering for farangs and Thai’s alike.

However my experience today was not very favourable...

Same on my first visit. Our 3-yr old was having an itching/rash problem. After being shuffled around, they sent us upstairs to the clinics (I expected to see a pediatrician). Then they sat us in a front hall waiting-room for about 20 minutes. Next they led us down the hall to another waiting room. Again we waited about 15-20 minutes, then someone finally looked at her for all of five minutes and asked a few questions in Thai, concluding in English: she has eczema or allergy. I didn't need to wait 30-40 minutes for that diagnosis!

I have been there since and have seen a pediatrician, and I am still not impressed with the

caliber of diagnosis and treatment. I have to suggest blood tests or xrays, otherwise they are not done.

I primarily use Rajavej hospital now, near Nonghoi. It is smaller and less expensive, but the quality of child care seems about the same. At least there, on another occasion, the pediatrician took initiative, ordered an xray then diagnosed bronchial pneumonia.

I use both Chiangmai Ram and Rajavej for my two migraine medications. Rajavej stocks one and Ram stocks the other.

Allen

I have tried Narai, AIG and Thai-Zurich, which is now ThaiSri Insurance, and none of these American/European companies have anyone that speaks English in their Chiangmai offices. Narai even sent notices only written in Thai.

So I am still looking for a firm that I will be able to communicate with in English, both over the phone and in person. Also I would like the premiums to be reasonable, and the people to be honest. Perhaps this is too much to expect in Thailand .

From what I have seen the coverage may be government mandated since the English/Thai policies I have read/deciphered are all almost identical. And I have been able to transfer my accident-free discount to the new company. My policy renewal date is in early February.

This is my first post, but I have read the Chiangmai forum off and on, so I know to expect a variety of opinion. I hope the question is straight-forward enough to elicit a meaningful response. Thanks in advance.

Allen